The Classes

Lena Sisco ’97 AM published her fourth book, The 13 Power Moves of Dark Psychology: Learn the Tricks to Protect Yourself From Abuse and Covertly Influence Anyone.

Lance Newman ’93 AM, ’98 PhD published a new book of poems, Proverbs of Earth, with Spuyten Duyvil Publishing on January 29, 2025.

Jeffery Lesser ’82 AM, ’84 PhD writes: “I am pleased to report that my newest book, Living and Dying in São Paulo, was published by Duke University Press in April 2025 in English, and by Editora UNESP in June 2025 in Portuguese. An Andrew Mellon Foundation award has allowed open access versions in both languages. The book asks why bad health—from violence to respiratory disease, from malaria to dengue—is dispersed unevenly across different social and national groups. To answer the questions, I focus on the Bom Retiro neighborhood to examine the competing visions of well-being in Brazil among racialized immigrants, policymakers, and health officials.”

Gary Kulik ’80 PhD published Conscientious Objectors at War: The Vietnam War’s Forgotten Medics, in April with Texas Tech University Press. This is the newest installation of Gary’s Peace and Conflict series.

Whitney White ’15 MFA is an actor, musician, writer for theater and television (the Amazon series “I’m a Virgo”), and now an in-demand stage director. This past spring, she directed the ensemble drama Liberation off Broadway, then The Last Five Years on Broadway. Her current projects are all about ambitious women. “I’m weirdly one of them,” she said. 

Silvia Giorguli Saucedo ’04 PhD is president of El Colegio de Mexico (Mexico’s most prestigious university) and a recipient of the Horace Mann Award. Silvia was inducted into El Colegio Nacional en Mexico, which is the most prestigious and selective scholarly body in Mexico. The Colegio Nacional has 40 lifetime members and Silvia is the tenth woman to be inducted into it in the last 82 years.

As the 2025 winner of a New York Times essay contest, history concentrator Sofia Barnett ’25 spent two weeks on a global voyage alongside Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and international reporter Nick Kristof reporting on the humanitarian consequences of the cuts to USAID.  

Courtney Naliboff writes: “In June 2024, the book I coauthored, Your Postpartum Body: The Complete Guide to Healing After Pregnancy (Avery) was released. Language about women and pregnant people is being scrubbed from scientific literature, and one in five postpartum people experience a mental health crisis. The book is a beacon of hope. It illuminates the most current, research-backed, and expert-opinion information about the changes people experience to their bodies and minds during pregnancy, and a clear path towards healing and improving function and feeling. Since its release, the book has been featured in publications like Bay Windows. My coauthor and I have appeared on several podcasts, including Minimalist Moms and Private Parts Unknown.”

Anna Friedlaender Matvija writes: “Since graduating, my musical journey has led me to explore the boundaries of the human voice, embracing extended vocal techniques and establishing myself as a vocal performer under the name Annabelle Plum. I was thrilled to return to the United States to premiere 4711—Intercourse of Ghosts, a contemporary opera by Hiroya Miura, on March 29 at the Bohemian National Hall, home to the Czech Center New York. This multilingual opera reimagines the profound correspondence between Franz Kafka and Milena Jesenská, delving into themes of isolation, identity, and self-expression in post-WWI Europe. I performed alongside two phenomenal musicians, Hidejiro Honjoh and Akihito Obama, to bring this deeply evocative work to life. The evening also featured the premiere of a song cycle by Carl Bettendorf.”

Katie Hunt founded Oh Norman!, a better-for-all dog company, with actress Kaley Cuoco. The company received an investment from Mars Petcare and Michelson Found Animals, was chosen as a startup by Leap Venture Studio, and has been featured in Forbes, People, The Hollywood Reporter and many more publications. Contact Katie at [email protected].

Rehan Abeyratne published Courts and LGBTQ+ Rights in an Age of Judicial Retrenchment with Oxford University Press on Mar. 19. 

Nina Mongendre writes: “I hope this message finds you well. My first book, Reclaiming Your Inner Child, was published on June 10 by Hay House LLC. I also created an oracle deck alongside it, which was released March 11. Both can be found on the Penguin Random House website under my name, and the self-published version of the oracle deck was featured in the BAM gift guide.” 

Michael Rothman writes “I’d just like to give a shout out to fellow alum Dr. Robert “Bobby” Parisien, who just performed a seamless shoulder arthroscopy on my dominant shoulder. Consider this a general note of appreciation to Bob and to the idea that a relationship that started at The Ratty continues 25 years later on the operating table!” Contact Michael at [email protected].

Lillie Marshall has been enjoying a three-part career in Boston. She’s a school librarian and a Reiki relaxing touch practitioner and teacher at Healing Touch “L” Energy Work (healingtouchl.com). She is also a writer at the following: Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog (aroundtheworldl.com); Drawings Of… (drawingsof.com), a hand-drawn educational cartoon site; Reiki Colors: an Energy Work Insights blog (reikicolors.com); and Teaching Traveling Global Education Community (teachingtraveling.com). She sends warmth and hellos to the Brown community!

Andrew “Andy” Golodny married Julia Arons (Case Western ’08) on Mar. 29 in Washington, D.C. In attendance were many friends from Brown including: Ari Gerstman ’05, Ryan Levesque ’04, Tylene Bautista Levesque ’04, Josh Mandel ’99, Evan Parness ’02, Jeff Saltman ’03, Brian Singer ’04, Stephanie Harris Singer ’04, Cara Zeldis Snyder ’04, Eric Snyder ’04, Josh Troy ’04, and Jaron Zitrin ’04.

Katie Bayerl, author of A Psalm for Lost Girls, has a new YA speculative fiction, What Comes After, that went on sale in April 2025. What Comes After follows Mari, a cynical 16-year-old, who has just 90 days to remember how she died and finally make peace with her mother, or risk spending eternity adrift in a vast nothingness.

Susie Kramer Nadler writes: “I’m publishing a book! I sold my debut young adult novel, Lies We Tell About the Stars, to Andrew Karre at Dutton/Penguin in a two-book deal. The book is set in San Francisco in the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake. Seventeen-year-old Celeste searches for her best friend and becomes increasingly convinced that he’s still alive but has chosen to disappear. Meanwhile, the rest of the nation distracts itself from the disaster by obsessing over the first human mission to Mars. The book is coming out in Spring 2026. Can’t wait to share it with the Brown alumni community and the world!”

Shana Liebman writes: “Although I have been writing/publishing for years, this is my first foray into the cookbook world. After attending culinary school in my late 40s (a payoff of the pandemic) I met Hugh Mangum, a chef who founded the NYC-famous Mighty Quinns BBQ. With his help I wrote a 260+ recipe cookbook about global barbecue, detailing the best grilled and smoked dishes from around the world. The book, Barbecue: Smoked & Grilled Recipes From Across the Globe, was published in May 2025 by Phaidon.”

Sharmila Rao Thakkar writes: “Hard to believe it’s 30 years since graduation! I’ve been lucky to see many while living in Chicago and now back in NYC. Since founding SRT Advising, my independent consulting practice, eight years ago, I’ve worked with foundations, nonprofits, and philanthropic families on giving strategies, multigenerational engagement, cross-border philanthropy, and board governance. This year, I’m launching Starting Your Philanthropic Journey: An Introductory Session for Purpose-Driven Philanthropy. Always happy to connect with fellow alums working in or seeking guidance on philanthropy and social impact—find me on LinkedIn.”

Shani King writes: “I’m currently serving as vice dean, Martha L. Minow Scholar, and professor of law at Rutgers Law School. My third children’s book, Finding Rebecca: The Forgotten Life of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, was published by Tilbury House in October 2024. This nonfiction picture book introduces young readers to Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, America’s first Black female doctor, whose remarkable life and achievements had largely vanished from historical records. The book aims to shed light on her story and ensure she is remembered. I’m now collaborating with my children on two new projects: a children’s book on Ivy League lacrosse with my son and another on girl empowerment with my daughter. Additionally, I’ve joined the board of the Lacrosse Club of Montclair, deepening my engagement with the sport. In family news, my wife and I cofounded a new law firm, King & Ruiz.” Contact Shani at [email protected] 

Brandon Barnett writes: “After three decades of developing the art and science of corporate strategy in the high-tech industry, I am happy to announce that I have launched a consultancy to elevate all leaders and teams to master strategy. Find out more at TrigateCoaching.com.” Contact Brandon at
[email protected].

The Computer History Museum, the leading institution working to decode technology, announced the appointment of Marc Etkind ’87 as president and chief executive officer. He has an extensive background in science and technology media, most recently as head of communications at NASA, where he led a team of 400 people across 10 centers, with responsibility for news, exhibits, and historical preservation. Prior to his tenure at NASA, he was the general manager of the Science Channel and has held key executive roles at the History and Discovery channels. 

Pamela Gerrol writes: “Another trip to California, this time for the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) conference in March, meant more Brown mini-reunions! I learned how sprawlingly metropolitan Los Angeles really is, but several classmates kindly made their way toward me for some wonderful get-togethers! Alison Canning Davies and her husband Ashley came south from Sunland for a lovely lunch. Andrea Goldman ’88 and I enjoyed catching up over brunch and a nice walk to Venice (Muscle!) Beach. With help from several local classmates on logistics, Tracy Goldstein Shemano, Ken Gerstein, Jenifer Eslami (and her husband Gary Scalabrini), Andrea Feldman Falcione, Peter Landesman, Bruce Evans, Deb Falb and I met up to share stories, laughs, drinks, and dinner one evening in West L.A. Thank you to everyone for making the trek and especially to those who generously provided chauffeur service! I’m sorry I didn’t stay in the area long enough to have arranged another dinner at a location further east—next time! I also appreciated the VIP treatment from Jenifer and Gary during my stay—thank you for everything! It was a treat to meet a fellow Brown alumna at the ACMG meeting itself. Neha Kumar ’08 is also a genetic counselor, one of only a handful of us. We hope to connect with others through the power of BrownConnect+. If you’re a genetic counselor reading this, please check if your alumni profile is up-to-date so we can reach you. Not sure when or where my next trip will be, but I hope this inspires others to arrange class gatherings, too. Your class leaders can help with local communications once you let us know the location. Please reach out if we can assist at [email protected].”

Katherine Oxnard Ellis writes: “I have a collection of short stories, The Leg in Question, coming out in May 2026 from Unsolicited Press, a small, women-owned publisher based in Portland, Oregon. Several of the stories included have already been published, and two have won prizes. ‘Belle of the Ball’ won first place in the 2024 Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival Fiction Contest, and ‘Cabin’ won Honorable Mention/2nd Place in december magazine’s 2021 Curt Johnson Prose Awards.”

Lynn Nottage ’86, a playwright, screenwriter, and the first woman in history to win two Pulitzer prizes for drama, has been named an artistic associate of London’s National Theatre. In this position she will work closely with Director and Co-Chief Executive Indhu Rubasingham and Deputy Artistic Director Robert Hastie to support and shape the London National Theatre’s creative vision.

Beth Brent writes: “What fun it was picking apples at the West Virginia USDA farm with a recently graduated group of Brunonians! I continue being grateful to Brown for encouraging what is still for me a life of art, activism, politics, and healing. For you theater lovers, check out the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF). As a new CATF trustee I am proud to serve their commitment to antiracism and anti-oppression work. For me, it is an extension of four years with Brown’s Racial Awareness Communications Exchange group and working from 1997 to 2015 with Congressman John Lewis, his staff, and the citizens of Selma on the Annual Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimages to Selma. I have a son, Ryan, who is known for his generously contagious laugh, and my tough as nails, fourth-generation bricklayer, union loyalist spouse died in 2021—a loss for many. Keep on keeping on, friends!”

Andrew Lorin and Cheryl Malat are filled with pride and joy as they celebrate their son, Spencer Lorin ’25, on his graduation from Brown. They look forward to cheering him on through all the bright milestones that lie ahead.

Rick Sacra ’84, a family medicine physician at Family Health Center of Worcester, has been honored with the Massachusetts Medical Society’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. For years he worked with struggling populations abroad. In 2014, he became the third American healthcare worker to contract Ebola in West Africa. After successful treatment at the National Biocontainment Unit and a long recovery, he returned to Liberia to help the nation recover.

Glenn Coates was honored by the Triangle Business Journal with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award for Regional Medical Achievements over his 28-year career. An award ceremony was held on April 10 to celebrate his accomplishments at the Healthcare Leadership Awards in Raleigh. Throughout his career, he kept Wake Radiology on the cutting edge of radiology advancements. Some of his notable achievements include modernizing liver MRI, designing all-body MRI protocols that became the regional standard for decades, transitioning musculoskeletal and neurology to modernized fast-scan protocols, and performing the very first contrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), cardiac MRI, and 3D magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the region. He was also responsible for overseeing the expansion of MRI services from one outpatient magnet to more than eight fixed and mobile magnets, developing Wake Radiology’s breast MRI program, and assisting in creating Cardiac/Coronary computed tomography angiography services, and served as the director and administrator of Raleigh MRI Center for 28 years. Contact Glenn at [email protected].

David Neiman writes: “After a career as both a musician and software engineer (at Harvard–sorry!), I retired from software a couple of years ago. I’m back to playing music full-time, primarily the hammered dulcimer as a former national champion, as well as mandolin, guitar, and bass. I performed and taught the dulcimer in Japan for the first time in 20 years, where I spent a significant amount of time throughout the 1990s. While at Brown I was in a bluegrass band with Scott Elder ’82, Dan Ernsberger, Mark Rast ’82, and Don Wilcoxon, and a few others whose names I cannot remember. I would love to hear from any former bandmates.” Contact David at [email protected].

Patricia McCartney O’Connor writes: “Having moved around a bit in the course of a successful legal then consulting career, and raising three kids, my husband and I are now happily retired. We live on a magical farm property we call Kite Hill Farm, located in southern Maine. We live with two wonderful dogs and a flock of chickens in a very old restored farmhouse (1700s) and get to see a lot of our three kids, their spouses, and five granddaughters. I’m currently writing the story of ‘How my heart found a home on the farm at Kite Hill,’ and would be happy to connect with others in Maine.”

Barry Jacobs writes: “My fourth book, The AARP Caregiver Answer Book, cowritten with my wife, Julia Mayer, is scheduled to be published in July 2025 by Guilford Books. It is the culmination of a nearly 40-year focus on providing care as a clinical psychologist for older adults with serious and chronic illness and their family members, typically sandwich generation caregivers who are struggling to do right by their parents while also managing their own childcare and career responsibilities. My passion for this work stems from my father’s death from brain cancer when I was 15. While I hadn’t quite figured it out during my years at Brown in the late-’70s, that loss has shaped the rest of my life.”

Ellen Raim writes: “It’s taken over 40 years, but I finally have something to add to our class notes. After years practicing employment law and running HR departments at several companies, I pivoted. Now my focus is guiding early career professionals through the complexities of their first jobs. I published a book in January 2025 called Play the Game: Insider Strategies to Thrive in Your Early Career Without Compromising Ambition, Values, or Wellbeing. It’s a guide for Gen Z employees to understand their (mostly) Gen X leaders and the unwritten rules of corporate life. Imagine a cheat sheet for all the things we had to learn by trial and error. It was lots of fun to write and hopefully it will be of help.” Contact Ellen at [email protected]. 

Peter Kovacs writes: “Chris Berman ’77 was in town for the Super Bowl and was kind enough to visit with the Brown Club of New Orleans. I coaxed Berman to speak to local alums at the Garden District home of Anne and Jack Carrere ’06. The gathering drew a crowd of about 50—a big turnout in a community where Brown grads are scarce on the ground—including Louisianians and fans who flew in for the big game.”

Andy Levine writes: “For a mini-reunion in March, Evan Tobin hosted a ski trip in Salt Lake City with Randy Wingate, Fred Schwarzmann Jr., and myself. There was a blizzard of champagne powder snow (‘the gift that keeps on giving’) and we all committed to attend our 50th class reunion next year.”

Tim Smith has produced The Calling: A Medical School Journey, which was broadcast on PBS in March. According to the Wall Street Journal, “The Calling is nonfiction, no-frills, and nothing less than inspiring. It follows a group of students at New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine who may not represent the entire future of American medicine, but are devoted and grateful. And their happiness is contagious.” 

David McConnaughey writes: “An intrepid group of Brown alumni, friends, and family joined a Brown Travelers February 2025 trip to Egypt and Jordan. From a group of six first visiting Alexander the Great’s Alexandria, we expanded to an easygoing 22 who became immersed in the history and culture of ancient treasures and timeless wonders. We scrambled the great pyramids and consulted with the still mysterious Great Sphinx. An afternoon in the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, its own marvel, could easily have taken days. On a visit to the Village of Sakkara, we saw step pyramids that date back more than 4,600 years. We toured in reverence the grandeur and magnificence of Karnak Temple and the Luxor complex, spanning 200 acres, featuring towering obelisks, massive statues, and the Avenue of Sphinxes. We ventured to the hallowed Valley of the Kings, where a new tomb discovery was just announced. Next came sailing up the Nile by small private dahabiya making stops at important sites—Edfu, Kom Ombo, the temple of Philae, and current active digs on Elephantine Island. Finally, we flew down Lake Nasser to the awe-inspiring Abu Simbel where the remarkable story and scale of rescue by UNESCO from modern day dam flooding became all the more amazing. A group of seven went on to Jordan. There we visited Roman ruins in Amman, and Jeresh, the City of 1,000 Pillars. From the top of Mount Nebo we looked out across the Holy Land to the Dead Sea, the city of Jericho and the distant hills of Jerusalem. On to the city of Petra, hiking through twisting canyons to the famous three-story, red-rock carved Treasury. We also visited an extensive Brown archaeological excavation. Traveling on to the Dead Sea, 1,400 feet below sea level, we floated in its warm, supremely salty, soothing waters. Several of us visited the Jordan River baptism site of Jesus of Nazareth and a calm Jordan/Israel border. A remarkable trip exhausting the superlatives of our Brown-educated vocabularies. Traveling with a group of intellectually curious Brunonians was plenty of fun as we relished learning of Egypt’s and Jordan’s ancient histories and exploring their mystical mysteries.”

Candy Doehlert Lingl writes: “My husband, Jim Lingl, and I were unlucky enough to be caught up in the Mountain Fire in Camarillo last November. Along with more than 100 other homes in the area, ours was destroyed and we lost everything. It was a pretty shocking experience, especially at our age. The wildfire was driven by 70 mph winds and we had only 10 minutes to get out, so we grabbed family photos, meds, computers, and the dog. Awaiting news at the nearby Red Cross shelter, we got a call from our stepson, Jameson, living in Hague (ND), asking if we were okay, as he had just seen our house burning on the news there. And so we learned our house was gone. We are rebuilding and have had wonderful support from friends and strangers alike. There is an amazing network of generous individuals, groups, government agencies, and charities who mobilize on a moment’s notice to help folks in need as we were. We encourage everyone to support those efforts, as you never know when you will need them too.” Contact Candy at [email protected]. 

Retired professor and dean of education at Elon University David Cooper writes: “I am happy to share with you my articles on integration of public schools, The Desegregation Penalty, which is a companion to an earlier piece, Reverse the Curse, both available for reading on the Writing About Our Generation website. Although these stories are historical, I wrote them primarily with a future orientation, addressed to educators and communities who will one day be free from the current distractions swirling around schools, and who are ready to get serious about long overdue racial integration of schools. These articles are offered as a guide for how to do (and not do) integration in a way that provides what we should have been providing all along: high quality education for everybody’s children.”

Mark Halliday ’76 AM published Living Name with Louisiana State University Press. He writes: “It is a collection of my essays on recent American poets. I have also written seven collections of my own poems. I am continuing my career as a distinguished professor of creative writing at Ohio State University. I’m still not ready to retire.”

Jennifer Daley writes: “ I am still practicing medicine in Massachusetts after almost 50 years! I can’t seem to bring myself to retire. I have served as CMO and COO for several academic health centers in Massachusetts and now I mostly consult and serve as an executive coach to up-and-coming physician executives. My family of four children are all thriving, but only one is in healthcare. I’m looking forward to the 55 year reunion next year. All the best!”

Thomas K. Lindsey writes: “I continue my 12 years of research about the Daniel Shays Rebellion (1786-1787). This rebellion in Massachusetts actually spread into other states and the Canadian province of Quebec. My primary question now is why were the participants foolish enough to try a military insurrection? And why did Governor Bowdoin and others let a military insurrection start?”

 Richard Brodsky writes: “As I write this on April 16, 2025, it is unclear what Trump is going to do to Brown. If he wants Brown to do what he asked Harvard to do, I sincerely hope that Brown also stands up to tyranny and refuses to agree to anything that he might insist upon. True, Brown does not have the endowment that Harvard does, but what would be the point of agreeing to the destruction of its very reasons for its existence? I’ll put my money on it—I pledge to give Brown the largest gift I’ve ever made to my school and ask that it be used to fight tyranny. I urge everyone from every class to do the same. It’s the least we can do to help preserve this great institution. I, for one, am ‘Ever True.’”

Joel Bennett writes that a Brown group traveled to the Northern Lights Village in Finland on March 4, 2025.

Class secretaries Kitty Walker Keane and Marty Mueller respectfully make this pitch: “Please make a habit of submitting your news, your kids’ news, your grandkids’ news, reports of get-togethers with other classmates, your travels, and anything else of interest. Your classmates really do want to read what you’re up to these days! It’s safe to say most/all of us are retired now, but have you taken up a side gig in retirement? What about your volunteer activities? We all would like to read about that, too! Nothing is worse than to open a new issue of the BAM, go to the Class Notes section and see nothing there from the class of 1968 (except you-know-what’s). Submit Class Notes to BAM via email at: [email protected]. Note: if you are reading this now it’s safe to say that Brown has your correct snail mail address. But does the alumni system have your current/preferred email address? This address is especially important since, going forward, your class officers will be sharing 100 percent of the information about our 60th Reunion via email. Make very sure your ‘mybrown.edu’ account is up-to-date and doesn’t show a work email address you no longer use. When entering your username and password (if you don’t have one yet, set it up now!) at the myBrown Login and verify your profile, please take a few minutes to visit the brand new BrownConnect+ (BC+), the University’s integrated platform for everything related to alumni: class directory, news, volunteer and mentoring options, events.”

David Gardner writes: “This is my first contribution to class notes since my graduation in 1967, but the timing seems appropriate. After spending 46 years in Richmond, Virginia, my wife, Debra, and I moved to Providence in May 2024—a return ‘home’ approximately 57 years after my Brown graduation. As I approach my 80s, I figured being closer to family is a good idea. My daughter is on the faculty of the Brown medical school so I’m hoping that access to good medical care will not be a problem. More importantly, I can now regularly see my two grandchildren, who attend Classical High School in Providence. While in Richmond, I served on the faculty of the VCU School of Medicine for 40 years, retiring as professor emeritus in the Department of Internal Medicine in 2018. I was what is now referred to as a clinician-educator in the division of endocrinology, and my tenure there was recognized in May 2023 by the creation of the David F. Gardner Professorship in Endocrinology. I volunteered at a free clinic in Richmond called the Health Brigade for 11 years and regularly participated in pop-up free clinics sponsored by the Remote Area Medical organization across the state of Virginia, serving communities with limited access to adequate medical care. I continue to ski and to cycle if the temperature is over 50. My wife and I travel regularly with most recent trips being a two-week visit to Iceland, a cycling trip in the Dolomite region of Italy, and a visit to Amsterdam before that. A cycling trip to Puglia is coming up. The Caswell/Littlefield crew, about 12 of us, are mourning the loss of one of our group, Andy Razin, who was my freshman year roommate. I’m afraid we are of that age that we have to acknowledge this will be happening with greater frequency. If any classmates are back in the Providence area, I would be happy to get together. Contact me at [email protected].”

Jon Cole and Greg Fritz have been fly-fishing and/or bird hunting together for more than 50 years and are still at it, sometimes with decent success as documented in the photo taken on the Missouri River in MT last summer. Meredith Cole Shaughnessy ’94 and Mark Shaughnessy ’94 rounded out that trip. In March, they had a memorable dinner in Palm Beach that also included Bob Clark and their respective spouses: Pat Cole, Nancy Fritz, and Toni Allen.

Jeremy “Remy” Zimmermann writes that he retired after 44 years as a trial lawyer and then taught products liability law for 10 years at Quinnipiac University Law School. He is now retired again and enjoying tennis, pickleball, and swimming. In addition, he acts as a “standardized patient” for the medical, nursing, and physical therapy students at Quinnipiac University, the University of Bridgeport, and Southern Connecticut State University. He acts out a script, rates student performance, and provides feedback after an examination. Sounds interesting.

Raoul Smith ’64 AM, ’68 PhD reports that he put his knowledge of Russian, learned at Brown and in the Air Force, to use building intelligence interfaces to databases. These became cores to AI systems developed during the mid-’70s. He wrote Collins Dictionary of Artificial Intelligence, which he published in 1990, one of five books and more than 70 articles merging computers and the humanities. In retirement, he translates the Old Church Slavonic texts written on the medieval icons in the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Mass.

David Parent writes: “We are at the stage in life when we are starting to say goodbye. And so in November of 2024, we said goodbye to my wife Cathy. We were able to test my beliefs about love during one’s eighties. I had previously mentioned that the appropriate analogy was not the afterglow of a fire but rather was the anthracite-fired steam boiler. The fact that one of the spouses passes does not diminish the intensity at all! The love still continues. I am still busy with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Rotary, the Republican Town Committee, my condominium board, my little business, and just running my condominium apartment. I am convinced that my laundry basket grows clothes for me to wash and iron. I am looking forward to our class reunion next year and only have to purchase my class tie to be prepared. Brown had always prided itself on teaching everything from a historical perspective. We are part of that history. I hope you will come.”

Joan Hoost McMaster writes: “All of us are saddened by the sudden death of our co-president Bill Brisk. Bill led a wonderful and fulfilling life with great service to Brown and we will miss him. Paul Choquette gave a stirring tribute to Bill at our Saturday luncheon. “It was a glorious reunion weekend on College Hill. Jane Doane Anderson and I as class marshals marched with Barbara and Ed Nicholson, who carried our class banner to wonderful cheers from faculty, staff, alumni/ae and students alike. It was a thrilling experience!”

Carolyn Nygren Curran writes: “Still hanging in there—like most of us superannuated types. One of my pieces was in Philadelphia Clay Studios’s ‘Small Favors’ exhibit from April 10 to June 29, and I will get back to raku guild firing sessions at a local art center. A demo on the potter’s wheel is coming up to help publicize an upcoming charity craft fair here, a couple of committees and field trips and family visits here and there, but clay remains my main interest. Oh yeah, I keep up my French with Simenon and other authors, and I am now learning Italian. Gotta keep those little grey cells active… bad enough I use a walker now due to balance.” Contact Carolyn at [email protected].

George Rollinson writes: “Judy and I have moved from Prestwick Chase retirement community to Home of the Good Shepherd assisted living facility, also in Saratoga Springs, New York. We are enjoying the people, both staff and residents, and the activities. We have fond memories of our 11 years living in Florida as snowbirds. We made the difficult decision to move north to be 1,500 miles closer to our four sons and their families. I had the privilege, with help from Judy, of founding the Brown Club of the Treasure Coast in Vero Beach. We have fond memories of Brown and activities with fellow alums that included fundraising, interviewing Brown applicants, and serving one term as alumni class president. Judy and I have been happily married for 38 years. I am very fortunate. I encourage classmates to send in their class news.” 

Joseph Gerstein writes: “I am the founding president of SMART Recovery [Self-Management Addiction Recovery Training], a mutual aid group program, science-based and secular. I have spent the last 35 years facilitating 4,000 meetings (almost 800 in prisons and jails) and advocating for Multiple Pathways of Recovery. In the span from January through April 2025, there have appeared three articles in the New England Journal of Medicine on various aspects of addictions. Each article recommended SMART Recovery, along with Alcoholics Anonymous, as evidence-based mutual aid resources for people with addictions.” (See the BAM story “12-Step Alternative,” April-May 2024.)

Bud Feuchtwanger is alive and well and living in a retirement community playing golf and tennis. He writes that his brain is, however, not retired. In the past 18 months he has received four U.S. patents, which he is trying to sell. His wife, a psychologist, was run over in Manhattan in 2021, so they moved to mid Long Island, N.Y. Contact Bud at [email protected].

Jean Fletcher writes that on Easter Sunday (Apr. 20), her husband Alan “Al” Fletcher passed away at his assisted living facility in Naples, Fla., from a progressive form of Parkinson’s disease. Al, she wrote, was happy to attend his 65th reunion, where he joined classmates in the procession marching down College Hill. He treasured his days at Brown and proudly wore his Brown sweater, a gift from his daughter that replaced a lost sweater. Al enjoyed sports and often attended football games while he and Jean lived on Cape Cod. Marshall Cohen writes: “For Jean and her family, our deepest sympathy from Al’s classmates.” Jean’s contact information is [email protected]. 

Marshall Cohen writes: “I was a guest on April 22 at Adas Israel Congregation, where the memories of Waitstill and Martha Sharp were honored for their rescue efforts of children during WWII. Remarks were made by their grandson, Artemis Joukowsky III. Artemis’s grandparents were honored at a ceremony in 2006 as the second and third Americans designated as ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ by the Yad Vashem Memorial in Israel. They were then honored with the Congregation’s ‘Garden of the Righteous’ award. Ken Burns’s documentary film, Defying the Nazis: The Sharp’s War, was shown and discussed by Artemis along with personal recollections about the life and times of his grandparents.”

Class Vice President John Seibert writes: “We are all aware that institutions of higher education are under attack. I was pleased to see Dr. Paxson, in association with 200 other college presidents, following Harvard’s lead in pushing back. As an emeritus associate dean of Dartmouth Medical School, I am also pleased that 300-plus Dartmouth alumni have urged the administration to fight for free speech on campuses. We ’54 graduates are all now ‘in the front pew’ and perhaps as the ‘elders’ are in a reasonable position to rally other classes in support of Brown’s administration, faculty, programs, and above all, students. I believe that it could be helpful if we who represent the Class of ’54 met with one another and with someone from the administration to consider what action we might take that would be supportive.”

Stanford Economist and Nobel Laureate Guido W. Imbens ’89 AM, ’91 PhD became the faculty director of Stanford Data Science on April 1, an initiative housed within the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research that supports research and scholars through data-driven discovery and data science education opportunities across campus. He specializes in econometrics and, in particular, methods for drawing causal inferences, which measure the cause-and-effect relationships between variables using both experimental and observational data. 

Joel Scheraga ’79 AM, ’81 PhD writes: “I was honored on December 17, 2024, to receive a Distinguished Career Service Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (see pg. 51). It has been a privilege to work with so many talented and dedicated colleagues across the federal government for over 37 years to serve the American people and to protect human health and our precious environment.”

Kathleen Hirsch ’79 AM writes: “I’m thrilled to announce the publication of my first book of poems, Mending Prayer Rugs—a milestone in a long life of publications—at the age of 71. The debut of this book, which treats the topic of social healing through the action of women over time and geographies, is more timely than I could have imagined. When I was a student in the writing program studying under John Hawkes and Verlin Cassill, I worked for the Athletic Association as a writer and moonlighted a bit for BAM. My brother, Matthew Hirsch ’84, saw the early days of the Watson Institute and worked directly with Tom Watson. We have deep roots in the Brown experience and extended community.”

Bob Recktenwald ’75 PhD writes that he “taught at universities across Asia till this century.” Currently, he’s been broadcasting hundreds of his new observations, searchable on the internet at “Extra Thoughts by Robert Recktenwald” blog and with different items through the pseudonymic “Surplus Thoughts by Kiersta Recktenwald” blog.

Bakul Kamani ’71 ScM writes: “I would like to send a shout out to my colleagues from 1969-1971 when I was at Brown engineering working on fluid dynamics under Dr. Karlsson. I remember Suresh Rawal ’75 PhD, who was a great cook and was invited to all parties. I remember Amit Bhattacharya ’72 PhD, Tridib Biswas ’72 AM, ’77 PhD, and Dilip Desaias ’70 ScM, as well as a couple of Turkish and Greek friends. My life has been everything a person could wish for. I married in 1972 and have a daughter, Anjali; a son, Amit; son-in-law Manish Singh; and two beautiful granddaughters, Simran (12) and Syra (3). Absolute joy in our life for Pratima, my wife and faithful partner for 53 years. Wishing all our friends a happy and prosperous New Year.” 

Jessica Lévai ’03 AM, ’07 PhD, the author of The Night Library of Sternendach: A Vampire Opera in Verse, published a second book, The Glass Garden. This novella combines space horror and family drama, inspired in no small part by the author’s study of egyptology at Brown. Visit JessicaLevai.com for more.

Adam Furman writes: “The Scientific Foresight Unit of the European Parliamentary Research Service is a wonderful organization that is making science heard in the EU government. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a trainee here, conducting research and publishing articles. My time has reinforced what I learned at Brown: the importance of scientists and academics to step outside of their comfort zones to communicate, interact, and listen to what is going on in other parts of life. I have learned so much by listening, and also found my perspective is appreciated and valued! Science is for everyone.” 

Arvin Singh has been appointed Secretary of Health for the West Virginia Morrisey Administration. Dr. Singh brings a wealth of experience and expertise, including serving as vice president of strategy and communications for University of Maryland Shore Regional Health since 2020. He also was chairman of the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce and chief operating officer for OHL, a provider network affiliate of the Louisiana State University Health System. Beyond corporate organizations, Dr. Singh worked with Johns Hopkins Medicine, where he led initiatives and spearheaded population health projects that transformed patient transportation and care delivery. His professional journey includes formative roles as an intern in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Executive Office of the President, and as a Pathways Program participant at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These experiences offered him invaluable insights into the intersection of public policy, healthcare strategy, and governmental operations—an essential foundation for his current role. His firsthand understanding of federal and legislative processes uniquely positions him to lead West Virginia’s health initiatives with a comprehensive perspective.

In July 2024, renowned science communicators Kimberly Arcand and Megan Watzke coauthored Light: The Visible Spectrum and Beyond. “Light allows humans to see things around us, but we can only see a sliver of all the light in the  universe, also known as the electromagnetic spectrum. Organized along the order of the electromagnetic spectrum—from radio waves to gamma rays—each chapter focuses on a different type of light.” The book contains hundreds of stunning full-color photographs, including new images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Michael “Mike” Makowsky and Cara Newlon ’14 were married on April 28, 2024, in Pacific Palisades, Calif., after a whirlwind 11-year relationship that began at Brown in 2013. Attending were maid of honor Caroline Bologna ’14 and members of the bridal party Alysse Austin ’14, Travis Bogosian, Minji Cha ’14, Rebecca Gevertz ’14, Ava Langford ’14, Matthew Peterson, and Travis Spangler.

Ayoosh Pareek ’12 joined Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City as a sports medicine surgeon. He specializes in hip, knee, and shoulder surgery, with advanced training and expertise in complex reconstructive surgery, arthroscopic surgery, and joint preservation procedures. His interest is in developing machine learning processes to enhance diagnostic accuracy, surgical outcomes, and patient care in orthopedic surgery. 

Daniela Saltzman writes: “I’m pleased to share that I published my first children’s book, Your Mom’s a Person Too!, on Jan. 20. After graduating from Brown, I started my career at Goldman Sachs and eventually left to pursue an MBA at Harvard Business School. Upon graduating, I joined Vice President Al Gore’s sustainability fund, Generation Investment Management, in London. Like my advocacy work in the sustainability sector, I want to help shift the conversation around motherhood to be honest, uplifting, and fun. I’m hopeful this book is a contribution to that end.”

Jenna Grace Sciuto, professor of English at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, published her second book, Intersecting Worlds: Colonial Liminality in US Southern and Icelandic Literatures, in 2025 with the University Press of Mississippi. The book recalibrates readings of southern U.S. writers by exploring comparable depictions of race, colonialism, whiteness, gender, and sexuality in Icelandic literature. Jenna will be returning to Iceland this summer as a writer-in-residence at Skriðuklaustur Cultural Center.

Clare Frost writes: “My first feature, The Sisters Karras, is now available to watch for free on Tubi in North America. I hope everyone enjoys this tale of family, legacy, success… and Greek textiles. My production company SK Deli Market Productions is now in pre-production on our next feature, The Art of Quitting Gracefully.” Contact Clare at [email protected].

Anne Duggan joined TIFF Investment Management, an outsourced chief investment office focused on nonprofits. She was welcomed by two fellow TIFF Brunonians, Brendon Parry ’04 and Samantha Gross ’15.

 Kierstan Carlson was elevated to vice practice group leader of maritime at Blank Rome LLP on January 1.

Lauren E. Oakes published Treekeepers: The Race for a Forested Future with Basic Books in November. Lauren writes: “For many, planting a tree has become a catchall way to do something good for the planet. But to what extent can trees really save us, and how?” In Treekeepers, Lauren tackles these questions by taking readers on a poetic and practical journey through the science behind and legitimacy of the global reforestation movement. Lauren also welcomed a baby girl, Arden (named after the Forest of Arden in England), into her family this year. Contact Lauren at [email protected].

Luke W. Meier was elevated to copractice group leader, government contracts, at Blank Rome LLP on January 1.

Ayelet Amittay is a perinatal psychiatric nurse practitioner in Eugene, Ore. Her book of poems, The Eating Knife, was published by Fernwood Press in March. She is also a winner of the 2024 three-day International Chapbook Competition for her chapbook Therapy Room. You can find her at www.ayeletpoet.com or contact her at [email protected]. 

OpenAI hired Leah F. Belsky ’02 as its first general manager of education. In this role, she will work to bring the artificial intelligence startup’s products to more schools, boost its engagement with teachers and students, and work with OpenAI’s own teams on their partnerships with the academic community, as reported in Bloomberg. She was formerly chief revenue officer at Coursera. 

Andrew Frank writes: “Accelerain, a company that I founded in 2016, was recognized as a 5x winner of the Philadelphia100, which ranks the top 100 fastest growing companies, and was subsequently inducted into the Philadelphia100 Business Hall of Fame. Accelerain serves B2B clients in four continents and was recognized for our innovation by Goldman Sachs.” Contact Andrew at [email protected].

Paul Grellong writes: “After successful productions at the Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, South Carolina, Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, and Menier Chocolate Factory in London, my play Power of Sail has been published by Broadway Play Publishing.”

Numa, the Oakland-based AI startup founded in 2017 by Steven Ginn, Joel Grossman ’99, Tasso Roumeliotis, and Andy Ruff, secured $32 million in a Series B funding round, positioning itself as a transformative force for car dealerships across North America. The company initially focused on a broader AI product aimed at conversational commerce. However, the team recognized the immense potential to specialize in the automotive vertical, prompting a pivot to provide highly targeted automation tools for car dealerships.

Jonathan (Jon) Persky of the Boston office was named a partner at Constangy effective Jan. 1, 2025. Jon represents clients in federal and state courts, arbitration, and administrative agencies. Before joining Constangy as senior counsel in 2018, Jon was an associate at Boston-based firms focused on business litigation and employment law. Jon attended the UConn School of Law, where he graduated with highest honors in 2006. He is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. In 2023, Jon’s dedication and skill were recognized when he was named one of Thomson Reuters’s “Stand-Out Lawyers,” an honor given to professionals making a significant impact in their field.

In Spring 2026, Dutton/Penguin will publish Susie Kramer Nadler’s debut young adult novel, Lies We Tell About the Stars, in which 17-year-old Celeste searches for her best friend in the aftermath of a catastrophic San Francisco earthquake. Celeste becomes increasingly convinced that he’s still alive but has chosen to disappear. Meanwhile, the rest of the nation distracts itself from the disaster by obsessing over the first human mission to Mars. Susie sold the novel in a two-book deal, so she’ll also be publishing another YA book! She works as a school librarian and lives in San Francisco with Saul Nadler and their teenage twins.

Jordan Roter is a published novelist, professional screenwriter, TV writer, and producer living in Los Angeles. Her new novel, Moms Like Us, was published by Little A in May 2025.

Erica Bree Rosenblum, professor of global change biology at UC Berkeley, released a book and companion journal on January 8 titled AND: The Tiny Word That Can Radically Transform Your Life.

On February 5, the Healthcare Technology Report published its Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare Technology of 2024. The list included Atropos Health’s Joy Somogyi, senior vice president, marketing. This award recognizes Joy’s achievements in leading marketing and communications efforts for Atropos Health since joining the team in 2023. Acknowledged for her steady leadership and expertise in the healthcare technology space, Joy’s work at Atropos Health is focused on building a community devoted to making evidence the basis for decision making in medicine.

Sanjay Magavi writes: “I’d like to let folks know that my wife, Zeyneb Magavi, received an honorable mention as one of Boston Globe’s Bostonians of the Year for her environmental work. Her organization, HEET, has championed networked geothermal systems to provide effective, affordable heating and cooling without the use of fossil fuels. They convinced Eversource, a New England utility, to build a neighborhood-wide pilot project replacing gas lines with networked geothermal!” Contact Sanjay at [email protected].

After the death of his father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini ’95 was appointed Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims. The late Aga Khan helped found a charity responsible for running hundreds of hospitals and educational and cultural projects, mainly in the developing world. Prince Rahim is the eldest son of the former Aga Khan and has served on the boards of various agencies within the Aga Khan Development Network.

Leora Tanenbaum launched her new book Sexy Selfie Nation: Standing Up for Yourself in Today’s Toxic, Sexist Culture in May. At the time of this submission, Leora was preparing to moderate a panel discussion on “Changing the Narrative Around Sexy Selfies,” featuring several members of the Brown community, at the Pembroke Center Commencement Forum. Leora wrote Sexy Selfie Nation after fielding panicked messages from parents about their daughters’ “inappropriate” clothes and selfies. She shows that critiques of young women’s clothing and selfies are misguided, even harmful. Rather, the problem we all should be concerned about is the toxic, sexist conditions that shape young women’s daily lives. Leora writes she is also excited to serve on the planning committee for the November 7-9 campus event celebrating 130 years of Jewish Life at Brown and looks forward to seeing alums there.

Azadeh Ghotbi exhibited her work in London at the Marie Jose Gallery between January 29 and March 15. 

Adam Komisarof writes: “I am currently president of the Brown University Club of Japan. I read the BAM religiously and absolutely love it. Thank you so much for your fine work. In February 2025, I published The SAGE Handbook of Intercultural Communication.”

Suzanne Cable was awarded the Bob Marshall Award for Individual Champion of Wilderness Stewardship 2024 by the USDA Forest Service, recognizing her 30-plus
years of service to wilderness preservation and management. 

A distinguished scholar of international law, Sarah H. Cleveland ’87, is the second woman to represent the United States and serve as a judge on the International Court of Justice. Her term is a nine-year commitment that began in February. She has worked for the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the European Commission for Democracy through Law, as well as in the U.S. government, where she served as counselor on international law to the legal adviser of the State Department. She remains a member of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on International Law.

Joan Barzilay Freund writes: “I wanted to share news of my latest book, Defining Style: The Book of Interior Design, which examines 25 interior design styles through the eyes of 150 of the world’s top designers and architects. The project was spearheaded by Keith Fox, Phaidon’s longtime CEO, and includes projects by Nathalie Farman-Farma ’90, Natalia Miyar ’97, Tal Schori ’03, and Rustam-Marc Mehta ’03. The book was published on March 6, 2025, by Phaidon.” 

Chuck Han writes: “On the summer solstice of this leap year, I exchanged vows with Mutsuko Adachi at our commitment ceremony at the beautiful Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley, California. In attendance were fellow ’86ers Wendy Chin, Domenic Di Meo, David Geffen, and John Mannato (my best man when I married my late wife Susan Kobayashi ’87 in 1988). Our children Mina Han, Dylan Han, and Lauren Adachi ’22 led the procession. Susan and I met Mutsuko in 1990 as she was a bridesmaid for her sister-in-law, Wendy. Though our paths crossed only occasionally over the decades, I like to jokingly take full credit for Lauren’s matriculation as I insisted that Lauren practice her alumni interview with me, and we all know how important those were! In all seriousness, I think the example and encouragement of Susan and Wendy, two women electrical engineering alums, influenced Lauren’s decision to attend Brown and concentrate in EE, where she excelled beyond all of us. In an unbelievable twist, Lauren’s West Quad Jameson room was across the hall from the room that Marco Garcia and I shared, the same one that David and Andrew Moran shared! At the end of Susan’s life, she encouraged Mutsuko, also widowed, to get together with a widower, and here we are. As my life has come full circle, I feel immense gratitude to Brown as it has shaped the most important parts of my life: my past, present, and future Brown family.”

Tracey Zeckhausen writes: “My mom, Suzanne Ross Zeckhausen ’55, moved from her longtime home in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, to Chapel Hill Senior Living in Cumberland, Rhode Island, two years ago to be closer to me, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchild. Despite some minor chronic health issues, she is doing quite well. At the time of this writing, she is hoping to attend some portion of her reunion. I am celebrating my 40th and she, her 70th.” Contact Suzanne at [email protected]. 

Dr. Allen B. White retired from his research meteorology position with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in mid-January. He spent his career studying boundary-layer turbulence, air-pollution meteorology, Pacific winter storms (including atmospheric rivers), and precipitation microphysics. He ended his career serving as the chief of the data, instrumentation, and field campaigns division in the NOAA physical sciences laboratory in Boulder, Colo. In retirement, he plans to travel with his wife, Pam, both near and abroad. Contact Allen at [email protected].

Chiyo Imai Rowe writes: “In November, Tuyet Nguyen and I spent two weeks exploring Japan together. I introduced her to around 20 of my relatives and we visited many of my favorite spots, as well as a few new ones. We even found ourselves stranded at a train station for several hours waiting for the winds of a typhoon to subside. Along the way, we enjoyed plenty of tofu and delicious Asian pears from my cousin’s orchard. As we traveled, Tuyet shared stories from her childhood in Vietnam and her experiences as a refugee after leaving the country. Although we decided on this trip impulsively in October, the idea of visiting Japan together had been in the works since I returned from my year as an exchange student at Keio University—44 years ago.”

Terry Horton is working at Indivior as vice president of patient insights and advocacy. Terry partners with other patient advocacy groups to ensure access to quality addiction care and best practices to foster recovery.

Diego Garces writes: “After years of working in the U.S., Switzerland, Germany, and Russia, I’m back in the States and overjoyed that my daughter Francesca will be joining Brown’s Class of  ’29. I’ll bring her to campus in August 2025—excited to relive old memories in a new chapter.” 

Amy Lowrie Taivalkoski writes: “A spontaneous mini-reunion of the freshman of Everett Hall in West Quad class of ’81 took place in January. Living in Boise now, I don’t get to the East Coast often so while I was visiting Jacki Cullen Howitt in Manhattan, we decided to see if others would like to spend a casual afternoon together. Happily we got a great turnout that included Leo Alventosa, Tom Apple, Peter Dain, Marlene DeMaio, Lisa DeRensis, Nigel Foster, Sue Howitt ’80, Toshio Nakamura ’83 ScM, ’87 PhD, Chris Pappo, Grant Price ’82 MD and Frances Wu. Joining on Zoom for a bit were Jeff Alperin and Beth Burlingame. It was wonderful to see the old gang again and reconnect, catch up, and reminisce about our younger days. Yes, we all look the same.”

 Lauren Wolk, New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor-winning author of Wolf Hollow, continues her legacy of writing phenomenal children’s fiction in her highly anticipated middle grade novel Candle Island, where her character Lucretia comes to terms with the loss of her father on a remote Maine island and explores the restorative power of art. Lauren’s award-winning work has long been praised by media and educators alike.

Glenn Stewart published Columbo Explains the Seventies: A TV Cop’s Pop Culture Journey in February with Bonaventure Press. The book explores how Columbo’s TV popularity stems partly from the character sharing many values with his seventies audience, reflecting many socio-cultural issues of the era. Stewart examines how Columbo highlights class conflict, power struggles, feminism, race relations, sex, technology, media, psychology, politics, and violence, revealing the ways this TV cop is a product of his particular time. 

Robert Feder writes: “I retired from the practice of divorce law and moved to New Haven/Yale to be near my son and his wife, who had my first grandson in March. I continue to pursue many hobbies that include pickleball, online courses, community service, classical music, dance, ballet, and movies.”

On Saturday, January 25, at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, Valerie Mehlig Curry was in a cohort of 18 commissioned by the Rt. Rev. Robert Wright as lay ministers. An educator by vocation, Valerie’s lay ministry volunteer work is as a pastoral caregiver, Evangelist, Eucharistic minister, and visitor. Beyond her home faith-community of St. Edward’s Episcopal Church and other churches, she carries her ministry into senior living homes, regular homes, funerals, and hospitals. Valerie supports the grieving, sick, and lonely: “all souls who desire a closer walk with God and connection with the divine as children of God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.” Not raised a Christian, Valerie was introduced to Jesus as an undergraduate via Brown’s chaplaincy activities led by Chaplain Charles Baldwin. 

In a blind competition judged by a panel consisting of choral directors from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the New England Conservatory, a choir piece by David Hahn titled “I Can’t Breathe” was selected for performance for the Voices of NEC concert series on March 6, 2025, in Boston’s Jordan Hall. David’s notes on the piece read: “On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner, who was selling loose cigarettes on the street in Staten Island, died after a police officer put him in a chokehold during the arrest. According to a video of the event, Mr. Garner cried out “I can’t breathe” eleven times before dying. The piece has numbers from 1 to 11 instead of rehearsal marks to indicate the number of times Mr. Garner repeated the phrase.”

Linda Jaivin’s thirteenth book, Bombard the Headquarters!: The Cultural Revolution in China, was launched in the UK in April 2025 by Old Street Publications, and in Australia in June by Black Inc. It follows up from her internationally published The Shortest History of China (named best book on China in 2021 by Five Books). She lives in Sydney, Australia, and can be contacted via her website: lindajaivin.com.au.

Richard Cohn writes: “In December I taught my last class at Yale, completing 45 years of teaching music theory to mostly undergraduate students. I will be spending most of the next two years as a visiting professor at the University of Sydney, where I’ve been visiting when I can for the last 12 years, incubating an incipient community of Australian music theory researchers. Additionally, the European Union Commission appointed me as the European Area Research Chair for a five-year term, awarding a 2.5 million Euro grant to run a music theory research group at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, so I’ll be spending time there when I am able and increasingly so in 2027. Later this year, MIT Press will be publishing my notes for an undergraduate non-majors course, A Simple Mathematics of Musical Pitch and Time.” Contact Richard at [email protected].

Carol Norris Brown writes: “The Brown Annual Fund Participation Award is given in recognition of the alumni class with the highest percent participation in giving to the Annual Fund, and the Class of 1974 is the 2024 winner. Additionally, we had the highest class donor participation of 50th Reunions in recent history with 40 percent. What a wonderful way to mark our 50th Reunion with these recognitions for our class.”

Steve Small writes: “Just when I thought I was out, they drag me back in…. After six years of retirement after teaching high school, All Elite Wrestling invited me back into show business as arena production manager for their weekly live broadcasts and monthly pay-per-view events. On March 3, 2024, I was alongside WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Sting (Steve Borden) as he won his sold-out retirement match in Greensboro, North Carolina. Similarly, I was with Sting for his final match for TNA Wrestling in Huntsville, Alabama, January 24, 2014, and his final match for World Championship Wrestling in Panama City, Florida, March 26, 2001.”

Samuel “Skip” Halpern is teaching a summer seminar at the Chautauqua Institution titled “Retired, Retiring Soon, or Mid-Career: Insights from Work Life that Deepen your Larger Life,” based on his book Wellsprings of Work: Surprising Sources of Meaning and Motivation in Work. The book explores psychological and spiritual drivers of fulfillment that operate beneath the surface of wide-ranging careers and continue operating throughout life. The seminar is aimed at anyone nearing the end of a career or retired, wondering what it all amounted to and what comes next.

Alan M. Birnbaum writes: “I’m now a semi-retired neurologist. I avoid getting bored by serving on three boards—for my hospital, local blood center, and synagogue. I travel with my wife and read widely, sharing interesting articles with a number of friends. One such friend is my classmate and former Brown Daily Herald Editor-in-Chief Terry Schwadron, whose regular articles on national affairs read like the New York Times—not surprising, as he retired from that greatest of American newspapers as a senior editor.”

Jim Falconer writes: “I am always a little disappointed when the BAM arrives and there are no entries from the Class of ’67. Why? I would like to be reminded of my years at Brown, as well as be surprised and/or inspired by what my classmates are doing. Well, I guess I am as much at fault as the rest of you. So, here it goes. I have been married to my Danish wife for over 54 years, which has brought me joy, two children, four grandchildren, and one step-grandchild—plus a large, warm, and welcoming Danish family. I practiced law for 25 years after graduating from Stanford Law School. After working for a large Seattle law firm, I formed a law firm with other Stanford classmates. In 1995, I started a private investment company focusing on urban real estate, the Alaska fishing industry, and various start-ups. Being partially retired, I now concentrate on community projects, including affordable workforce rental housing, independent journalism, and environmental restoration. You can check out some of the foregoing by checking  Seattle Times Investigative Reporting and Climate Lab projects. Also, you can enjoy on your public radio station one of our favorite projects: BirdNote. If you want to see inspired middle schoolers, check out the Washington Native Plant Society YEER project. But, to see what keeps me going, check out the article on my Covid pandemic adventures in the April 18, 2021, edition of the Wall Street Journal. Yes, life has been good, but, of course, not without some sorrows along the way.
So, let’s hear from you.”

Robert Buehler published a new children’s book, Sniffy Butcho and the Flip Flop Bird, available on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble. Contact Robert at [email protected]. 

Charles Townsend writes from his Canaan, N.H., farmstead that he is currently busy as a member of several local nonprofit boards. This after he retired (in reverse order) after three terms in the N.H. House of Representatives, a career in hospital information analysis, and from the Peace Corps work he and his wife did.

Nancy Scull is still active on the board of Friends of Meali, which now has three schools in Tanzania. They have also subsidized more than 50 students for higher education, with many becoming professionals, including one doctor and several more on the way. She is deservedly proud of the organization she founded.

The Class of ’63 Mini Reunion will be held in Providence September 17-19, 2025. If you would like to attend any of the individual events, please let Mary Lou Clark Levine know at [email protected]. If you would like more information on the events, please contact Joe Fisler at [email protected] or  Barbara Smith Langworthy at [email protected]. With so many of our classmates living in the area, we hope to see many of you at some of the events planned. Some will also be extending their stay to attend the football game on Sept. 20.

John “Jack” Crowley is looking for classmates from the Class of 1961. Contact him at [email protected]. 

Jay Gordon published The Diary of a City Priest with Archway Publishing of Simon and Schuster. He writes: “It is the personal story of an Episcopal priest who worked in Newark, Harlem, and the Upper West Side of Manhattan during the turbulent times of the 1960s and 1970s, including his reflections on the social and theological changes at that time.” 

Dr. James Botwick writes: “Living in Hilton Head since 1986, I retired (for the second time!) in 2013. Since then, I’ve been busy volunteering in Hilton Head in several capacities: at our local free clinic Volunteers In Medicine; at our local Hilton Head Island airport as an airport ambassador guiding visitors during the summer months; at our annual Heritage Golf Tournament (total of 21 years!); and at our Concours d’Elegance Classic Automobile Show for several years, to mention a few. In addition, I’ve been a poll worker for the past eight years. In January of 2023, I began hosting at a local upscale restaurant in Hilton Head because I just missed being out there with people. Hosting is so much fun for me, and I think I’d do it even if I didn’t get paid for it! We (my partner Cheryl and I) have also continued our travels throughout the world, visiting six of the seven continents (still hoping to get to Australia). Next up is a train trip through Switzerland. After that, who knows! Who says octogenarians have to sit back and relax? Not this one!”

Bud Feuchtwanger writes: “I am supposedly retired in an active retirement community on Long Island. I play golf and tennis, have a good social life, and invent things. I received two patents in the urology area (with no medical training) and one that encourages kids to brush their teeth (I was bad at that). Now I’m trying to sell the patents, which is no easy task.”

Roger Hale celebrated his 90th birthday with daughters Jocelyn “Jocey” Hale ’85, Leslie Hale ’87, and Nina Hale ’89.

Joan Bliss Wilson writes: “My husband Tom and I celebrated our 70th wedding anniversary surrounded by our family of 30 children and great-grandchildren. We live at Kendal at Hanover near the Dartmouth campus so we keep up with the many activities there. I’m always glad to hear what’s going on at Brown.”

Marshall H. Cohen reports: “On behalf of Herb Cohen’s classmates in the Brown and Pembroke class of 1954, we extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. We will long remember Herb’s loyalty to Brown and the Class of 1954 as class vice president, and his participation at our class reunions and mini-reunions in the United States and abroad. Herb’s sense of humor and wise counsel, his friendship and good nature, will always be in our thoughts and conversations.