The Classes

Contify Life Science News reported David Lyden ’89 MD, the Stavros Niarchos Professor in Pediatric Cardiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded the 2024 Paget-
Ewing Award by the Metastasis Research Society for his contributions to the understanding of cancer metastasis.

John Thompson ’92 ScM, ’98 PhD is a professor of physics at the University of Maine with a research focus in physics education. He is now in his second term as chair of the department of physics and astronomy at UMaine. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2023 “for performing seminal research on student use of mathematics in physics and the learning and teaching of thermal physics, for leading interdisciplinary collaborations and conferences, and for leadership in the physics education research community.” He writes that he and his wife, Kate Dickerson, live in Bangor, Me., and have raised two children. Their daughter Claire ’24 is completing her senior year at Brown concentrating in theater and performance studies and in history.

Liane Strauss ’88 AM, ’93 PhD writes: “My most recent book of poetry, The Flaws in the Story, won the Marsh Hawk Press Prize (judged by Mary Jo Bang) and was launched at Poets House in New York City in May 2024.”

Tricia Rose ’87 AM, ’93 PhD published Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives—and How We Break Free on March 5 with Basic Books. In the book she presents a bracing and powerful breakdown of why and how racism works today is most usefully discerned: as a system.

Elizabeth Robinson ’87 AM writes: “In the past five years I have been the recipient of a Pushcart Prize in Poetry and Editors’ Choice Prizes from New Letters and Scoundrel Time. My new books of poetry are Excursive (Roof Books, 2023) and Thirst & Surfeit (Threadsuns Press, 2023).”

Herman Beavers ’83 AM, the Julie Beren Platt and Marc E. Platt President’s Distinguished Professor of English and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, has been elected second vice-president of the Modern Language Association. In 2026, he will become president of the MLA. He has taught African American Literature and Creative Writing at Penn since 1989.

Dr. Susan M. Schneider ’82 ScM celebrated the appearance of a Spanish translation of her award-winning trade book on learning principles, The Science of Consequences: How They Affect Genes, Change the Brain, and Impact Our World. She currently focuses on climate change.

Robert Zatorre ’78 ScM, ’81 PhD is a professor of neuroscience at McGill University in Montreal. He published From Perception to Pleasure: The Neuroscience of Music and Why We Love It with Oxford University Press. He writes: “It is a kind of hybrid academic/trade book, meant to be accessible to intelligent nonspecialist readers but focuses on empirical findings and theoretical interpretations about how the brain enables us to perceive and derive pleasure from music.” It a synthesis of many ideas and experimental findings. 

Betty Gower ’22 EMBA was appointed to the advisory board of BullseyeEngagement LLC, a leading provider of Cloud-based human capital management software solutions. She currently serves as the CMO for Xapa.com and the CEO of their marketing and strategy company. At Xapa, she spearheads a tech company that leverages dynamic digital learning tools for soft skills and personal enrichment in gamified training environments. She is also the founder of Market Ninja, a consulting agency that helps to empower small to midsize businesses with cost effective marketing offerings ranging from focused tools to full service strategy and implementation consulting. 

Stine An ’20 MFA is one of 18 translators selected to receive a Literature Translation Fellowship of $15,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. This fellowship will support An’s translation of Today’s Morning Vocabulary by South Korean poet Yoo Heekyung into English. 

Houston Chamber Choir founder and Artistic Director Robert Simpson ’70 announced his retirement at the end of the 2024-2025 season. He founded Houston Chamber Choir in 1995 and the choir has grown and flourished artistically over the years, receiving a Grammy Award in 2020 for Best Choral Performance. In addition, the Houston Chamber Choir, under his leadership, has presented several world premieres and received prestigious choral awards, including the Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art. 

Geri Lemoi Williams reports that the officers and Reunion Chairs Elaine Berlinsky Fain and Janice Kruger have started planning with their alumni representative for the 55th Reunion which will take place Friday, May 23, through Sunday, May 25, 2025. “We plan to have plenty of activities and time to reconnect as Covid canceled our in-person 50th Reunion. We’ll use our healthy class treasury to defray costs to enable all who want to attend. If you would like to stay in a hotel, you should make your reservations right away as there are limited rooms in Providence hotels and they fill up fast. To boost enthusiasm, share some information by sending a note to me, Class Communications Chair at geri3williams@comcast.net. I will collect notes and send out Class of ’70 newsletters.”

Sean Briody published his first book, The Brown University Band: An Ever True History with The History Press. The book dives into the history of Brown’s beloved band in honor of its 100th anniversary in 2024. The back cover states “A ‘scramble’ band, rather than a traditional marching band, the Band provides cheeky entertainment on and off campus. Legendary antics from the world’s only ice-skating band include the infamous bass drum heist by the ‘Foxboro Four’ and notable halftime shows at hundreds of football games. While invariably adapting over the years, the band keeps school songs and spirit alive and maintains its longstanding traditions.” Contact Sean at: seanbriody@gmail.com.

Jonah Newman announces his graphic novel Out of Left Field, which was published in March. As an author and illustrator, this debut book highlights his experiences as a closeted kid on a high school baseball team. He writes: “It’s aimed at teenage readers, the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone who has experienced the awkwardness and challenges of discovering and embracing their true self.”

The not-for-profit Unjournal, which funds public, journal-independent evaluation of hosted papers and dynamically presented projects by social scientists whose work has the potential to substantially impact global priorities, has awarded Philip Trammell ’15 an inaugural Impactful Research Award. 

Lily Meyer published her debut novel, Short War, in April with Deep Vellum Press.  

Sam Rosenfeld writes: “My wife, Chloe, and I are now both elected members of the Representative Town Meeting in Greenwich, Connecticut! This is a 230-person elected body that passes town ordinances, approves annual town budgets, and more. Notably, we voted to improve air and noise quality by imposing a summer ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, a first step of many toward environmentally conscious changes in the coming years. The Greenwich Time put us on the front page of a January issue of the newspaper, which is crazy!”

Kate Doyle published a debut short story collection, I Meant It Once, with Algonquin Books in the U.S. and with Corsair in the UK in 2023. The Irish Times calls the collection “quietly devastating” and the Washington Post says “Doyle’s prose reads like Lydia Davis at her most arch and pensive.”

Neko Catanzaro was named first runner-up in the Saturday Evening Post’s 2024 Great American Fiction contest for her short story, “Old Growth.”

Mark Bloom and Colleen Gribben Bloom announce the Dec. 21 birth of their son Kiernan Ryan Bloom on Long Island, N.Y. Kiernan joins sister Grace Catherine.

Christina Sanabria writes: “The children’s music duo I’m a part of, 123 Andrés, won a Grammy for Best Children’s Album for our most recent album, We Grow Together. We’re also thrilled that the PBS Kids podcast that we are hosts of, Jamming on the Job, received an Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Honor from American Library Association in January. Find Jamming on the Job on the PBS Kids app, and all podcast platforms, for 20-minute episodes about our adventures learning about cool jobs your kiddos may want to explore in the future. I love meeting Brown alums and their kiddos at our concerts. Please find our concert listing online and say hi, or drop me a line at christina@123andres.com.”

Phoebe Lapine published Carbivore: 130 Healthy Recipes to Stop Fearing Carbs and Embrace the Comfort Foods You Love in March.  

Clare Frost writes: “My production company’s debut feature film, The Sisters Karras, is available on AppleTV, Amazon, and other major platforms. I hope that the Brown community enjoys our film about family, success, legacy, and Greek textiles.”

Two reunion classes came together when Craig Convissar married Philip Maynard ’11 on Oct. 14, 2023. Craig writes that the joyful gathering in Beacon, N.Y. was attended by Brunonians galore, including proud parents Joanne Ahola ’77 and Keith Maynard ’78, as well as friends Jennifer Gordon Collier, Rebecca Dorfman, Ella Evans-Aguiar ’11, Suzanne Farer, Maxine Sharavsky Garrett ’05, Larry Livornese ’11, Karin Miller ’11, Rachel Mehlsak, Serin Seçkin ’11 and David Smith ’11. Contact Craig at craig.convissar@gmail.com.

Brian Christian is pleased to share that the New York Times listed his most recent book of nonfiction, The Alignment Problem, as one of the “5 Best Books About Artificial Intelligence.” In fact, the newspaper writes: “If you’re going to read one book on artificial intelligence, this is the one.”

Chris Norlund ’03 AM published Positive Angle: Reboot Your Mind, Live Your Awesome Life on August 11, 2023. It is available on Amazon.

Raffi Bilek published his first book, The First Ten Letters with Mosaica Press in February. The book is available on Amazon and in the Brown Bookstore.

Alison M. Friedman writes: “I’m into my third year ‘from China to Carolina,’ leading Carolina Performing Arts at UNC Chapel Hill after 20 years in Beijing and Hong Kong. Last year we launched our video series Athletes are Artists / Artists are Athletes. The first features prior UNC men’s basketball player Caleb Love and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer Michael Jackson Jr. showing off the height and hangtime of leaps and layups. The second video features UNC women’s soccer star Sam Meza with MacArthur Genius grant winning tap dancer Michelle Dorrance, showing off percussive kicks and fancy footwork. This initiative is a celebration of common ground between the sports world and the arts world. In this series, we bring this intersection to life, intensifying appreciation for both spheres. Game recognizes game!” 

Dr. Mike Rubin earned his doctorate in education in December 2023 from the University of the Cumberlands. His dissertation study focused on the impact of authentic leadership on classroom innovation practices. He continues his work as a high school principal in Massachusetts, where he also serves as the state coordinator for the National Association of Secondary School Principals focusing on federal advocacy work. He can also still be heard regularly covering a variety of Brown sports for ESPN. Contact Mike at mike.rubin21@gmail.com.

Tyler Denmead was appointed Dean of College, Queens’ College Cambridge. He also received recognition from FindAPhD.com as the 2023 PhD Supervisor of the Year in the United Kingdom. 

Anh Chi Pham writes: “I’ve been in Atlanta, Georgia, for five years. I’m not sure if that makes me a Southerner yet, but my husband and I are grateful for our home, our three fur babies and the beautiful trees, creeks and hills that surround us. Like most classmates, I celebrated my half-century mark and have been reflecting on my life and how I would like to live it for the time that remains. After working in the corporate world, then pursuing creative writing, I am still at my third profession—as a yoga therapist and nervous system coach at Emory Healthcare. I would love to hear from friends at connect@nervous-system-wisdom.com.”

Andrew S. Jacobs published his fourth book, Gospel Thrillers: Conspiracy, Fiction, and the Vulnerable Bible, with Cambridge University Press. Harvard Divinity School’s Center for the Study of World Religions, where he is a senior fellow, hosted a March book launch.

Katie Silberman writes: “After nearly a decade in Brown’s Office of Government & Community Relations, I am thrilled to join the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) as director of strategic operations. I encourage classmates in town for our 30th reunion to stop by IBES’s office at 85 Waterman Street, say hi, and enjoy the greenhouse and lovely Maya Lin fountain. Outside of work, I’m a busy soccer mom to two teenage boys and enjoying the charms of life in Little Rhody.” 

Mike Zamore writes: “I was on campus on Feb. 12 doing a day with the Masters of Public Affairs program and a book event with the Watson Institute. I’m now the national director of policy & government affairs at the ACLU after 22 years working on Capitol Hill, the last 14 as Senator Jeff Merkley’s chief of staff. The senator and I wrote the book Filibustered! to bust some myths about the Senate’s history, lay bare the ways in which the current version of the Senate is instrumental in the erosion of democracy that so many of us are concerned about, and chart a path to viable solutions that can restore the Senate’s crucial role as a functioning legislative body.” 

Diane Greco Josefowicz published a novella through Regal House’s new Fugere series. L’Air du Temps (1985) is set in the fictional suburb of Maple Bay and follows a prickly,  foul-mouthed, but mostly good-hearted teenager named Zinnia Zompa whose life is upended when her family is implicated in the fatal shooting of a neighbor. Diane writes: “The early press coverage for the book has been encouraging. In a recent review for Motif RI, Mara Hagen-Spath  described it as ‘a layered novella about the juxtaposed relationships we have with our family, our communities, and ourselves.’ It also earned glowing advance praise from Clare Beams, Robin McLean, and Kirstin Allio ’99 MFA.”

Resa Lewiss published the coauthored MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact in April with HarperCollins. She writes: “The book is a business self-help book with a focus on educating the ready-for-college, ready-for-work, and early stage career professionals on specific, actionable, strategies to be better at work.” 

Ramona Thomas visited the D.C. area over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. She reunited with fellow class members Hillarie Flood, Matt McGuire, Lori Jackson, and Kerrie Thomas-Armstrong for an evening of festivities, great company and conversation.

Anne Tamar-Mattis writes: “After many years as an LGBTQI community activist, social-justice lawyer, and nonprofit executive, my career has taken a new and very interesting turn.  I am now running a (legal, medically supervised) psychedelic medicine clinic in Sebastopol, California, with my physician spouse. In my free time, I am still riding horses and enjoying life on the queer kibbutz where we raised our kids. Anyone who wants to connect or learn more about psychedelic medicine and ketamine therapy can reach me at Liminal Medicine, liminal-med.com.”

Jonathan Yoder writes: “On Friday, October 13, 2023, I made my first and so far only return to Brown since graduating. This was a great joy. In my journal I noted, ‘We made it to Brown! What a joy and a victory.’ And my mother, Susan, was with me. We had a great time walking around. I showed her Pembroke (my freshman dorm) and other sites. It was Family Weekend, so a visiting spirit was in the air, students and parents walking about. I showed my mother the English department, where I had visited late professor and poet Michael S. Harper during his office hours, and where he had rigorously advised me on life and instilled hope and encouragement in me for the long run. How sad to learn he died. I will always cherish his mailed notes on 3x5-inch tan index cards. I reported all this to David Reinstein and Tim Tibbitts in the hope they can give themselves and their loved ones the same treat sometime.”  

Ainissa Ramirez completed her four-month fellowship at the Library of Congress, where she was the Kluge Chair in Technology and Society. She is currently conducting research on materials in history for a new book. While in D.C., she was thrilled to reconnect with Tehani Callazo ’91, Walter Gray, and Malika Saada Saar ’92. She writes: “Being around books and wonderful friends from Brown felt like a homecoming, of sorts.” 

Chikashi Miyamoto just published her first e-book, An Insider’s Guide to Authentic Kyoto for Foodies: A Curated List of Where to Eat and Drink in Kyoto. She writes: “The guide is about gourmet food, drink, and things related to gastronomy. It is not for everyone. It was curated specifically for foodies. If you are a foodie this curated gourmet guide is a great shortcut, a valuable timesaver to access the gems of Kyoto, a city with tremendous depth and breadth. The book includes practical information about Kyoto restaurants including addresses on Google Maps, hours, price ranges, as well as other practical tips. You will learn about some context: history, ingredients, methods, etc. Knowing some background enhances your dining experience, allowing you to discern certain details that you might miss otherwise. Many of the featured establishments have been around for generations, some for hundreds of years.  It is available to download from Amazon.” Contact Chikashi at: cmiyamoto@alumni.brown.edu.

Garrett Fitzgerald writes: “I’m now working for the University of Maine System on the UMaine campus as a senior programmer analyst focusing on the Peoplesoft student records system. I’m also working on a second bachelor’s in music, as it was always a goal of mine for the CS degree to pay for a music degree some day.”

Elizabeth Bernstein Stix’s short story collection, Things I Want Back From You, comes out from Black Lawrence Press in June 2024. Stories from the book have appeared in McSweeney’s, Tin House, the Los Angeles Times Sunday magazine, and elsewhere. The short story “Alice” won the Bay Guardian Fiction Prize and was optioned by Sneaky Little
Sister Films.

Amelie Hastie published Columbo: Make Me a Perfect Murder, on Feb. 6 with Duke University Press. She writes: “In a way I’ve been writing it since I was a kid, as it was one of my favorite series growing up in the 1970s, and, even practically speaking, it’s been a long time coming, so I’m very happy to have it now out in the world. It’s my third book; my first was Cupboards of Curiosity: Women, Recollection, and Film History with Duke University Press and the second was a British Film Institute Film Classics volume on Ida Lupino’s 1953 film The Bigamist. I am the Nancy and Douglas D. Abbey ’71 Professor of English and Film and Media Studies at Amherst College. I’m also the faculty director of the Schupf Fellows Summer Program at the college. I currently live in Northampton, Massachusetts, and I’d love to be back in touch with Brown alums.” Contact Amelie at: ahastie@amherst.edu.

Calvin Walker has earned the distinction of board certification in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Living in Dacula, Ga., he currently serves as the director of Health Services at Presbyterian Village Athens.

Liam G.B. Murphy writes: “A lot’s happened since I last wrote in 2019. My daughter Emily graduated from Oberlin from our side yard courtesy of the pandemic and is now an award-winning paralegal for Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. My son Tom decided that, after working two school jobs back-to-back 10 hours a day during the pandemic, he would get a master’s and teach. Sue continues as a writing instructor and faculty developer, and I learned how to manage a law firm remotely and try cases by Zoom. Just before Covid, my friends surprised me with nominations for both the Boy Scouts’ Silver Beaver and the Outstanding Eagle Scout awards. To try to stay sane during the pandemic, I also worked with my public library board to keep the library open and with the St. Anthony Educational Foundation to support continued undergraduate scholarship and anti-racism work despite the disruption of Covid. I was very pleased to be back in Providence in January at St. Anthony Hall’s national conference to celebrate the anniversary of Brown’s Kappa Chapter and at the time of this writing,  I’m looking forward to coming back in May for the Jabberwock’s 75th.”

Gretchen McCullough published Shahrazad’s Gift, a collection of linked stories published by Cune Press in February 2024. Gretchen has lived in Cairo for more than 20 years and can be reached at gretchen@aucegypt.edu.

Barbara Weiss Kimmel will publish her children’s book Hanukkah Hippity-Hop, with Kar-Ben Publishing on Oct. 1, just in time for Hanukkah. Barbara writes: “I’m so excited about my first book for kids. Hanukkah Hippity-Hop is a cute interactive book that will have toddlers dancing along as they learn about Hanukkah.” 

Eric Jay Dolin announces the publication of his latest book Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World. This is a true story of a wild and fateful encounter between an American sealing vessel, a shipwrecked British brig, and a British warship in the Falkland archipelago during the War of 1812. A tale of intriguing complexity, with surprising twists and turns throughout, Left for Dead shows individuals in wartime under great duress acting both nobly and atrociously, and offers a unique perspective on a pivotal era in American maritime history. Eric still lives in Marblehead, Mass., with his wife, Jennifer. To find out where he is speaking on Left for Dead, visit ericjaydolin.com/events.

Pamela Gwyn Kripke published And Then You Apply Ice, a story collection in March 2024 with Open Books. The characters in each of the 21 stories manage transgression, revealing the complex resilience that imbues women’s lives.

Kim Triedman and Kathryn Geeismar celebrated their Boston art exhibit, Burning Down The House: Women and Art in an Uncertain World. The show opened on January 11 through February 11 at Brickbottom Gallery and then travels on to other New England locations, including the PEG Center for Arts and Activism and possibly Hera Gallery (R.I.). Kim writes: “It’s important and beautiful and challenging and uncomfortable, and it deserves to be seen—especially this year. Five women artists of a certain age—and a lot to say! I do hope you’re able to get by.”

Jack Silverman is currently living in Nashville with his wife, visual artist Wendy Walker Silverman. He released an album titled Prince of Shadows under the Centripetal Force Records label. He writes: “The music weaves elements of psychedelic rock, jazz noir, and improvisation to create an immersive musical experience—what might best be described as a soundtrack collaboration between Angelo Badalamenti, Pink Floyd, and the Lounge 

Anastasia “Stacy” Rubis published her first novel, Oriana, with Delphinium Books after working on it for 11 years. It follows the life and loves of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Contact Stacy at: stacyrubis100@gmail.com. 

Carrie Noland writes: “After 35 years of teaching at Columbia University, then the University of California, Irvine, I have retired. I’ve published four books on 19th and 20th century artists/writers and I’ve learned much from teaching the large population of first generation students at UCI, as well as graduate students both in the United States and Europe. I had the privilege of directing the UC system’s education abroad program in France, where both my children, Julian, 32 and Francesca, 26, were able to go to school and learn French. A grandmother of two, I intend to spend my retirement starting a new career as a fiction writer. I’ll also spend more time advocating for action to protect the planet and for the protection of voting rights with a political organization I adore—Sister District. Join me! A shout out to my friends from the classes of 1979, 1980, and 1981; may you all be thriving.”

The Science Coalition recognized U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan ’80 as a 2024 Champion of Science.  The Science Coalition is a nonpartisan organization of more than 50 of the nation’s leading public and private research institutions. In an interview with Manchester Ink Link, Hassan says, “Science is necessary for informed decision making, for innovation that leads to economic growth, and for maintaining a high quality of life.”

Peter Simonse writes: “My book, Uncooperative Characters, won the 2023 Best Indie Book Award for best short story collection. You can find samples of my work at
PeteSimonsAuthor.com.”

Terrence Hook writes: “I retired from IBM in 2018 after 38 years there, but I just can’t let it go, so I continue to consult part-time for IBM Research out of Albany (N.Y.), calling in remotely from my farmhouse in Vermont. Our older daughter and our first grandchild live in Westchester County (N.Y.) awaiting baby brother’s arrival. Our younger daughter lives in Los Angeles.  Both fell rather far from the rural Vermont tree! Retirement is good and aside from the IBM work, we ride our horses, play golf, and ski (although not all at the same time).” 

Dr. Michele T. Pato published Nerve with Springer on Nov. 1. The publisher’s synopsis reads: “With profound candor and humor, Dr. Pato chronicles her journey through the enormous physical, psychological, and emotional challenges encountered following her traumatic brain injury, treatment, and recovery.”

Scott Harris writes: “The class of ’74 continues connecting with periodic class Zooms titled ‘Life’s Journey after Brown.’ We have heard from Jeffrey Austerlitz ’78 MD, Mike Balaban, Carol Norris Brown, Pam Constable, Larry Elder, Charles Tansey, and Catherine Vuozzo Ventura.” 

Bob Condon writes: “I had the privilege to give the closing remarks at the 25th anniversary celebration of Community Partners International (CPI) in San Francisco. This event brought together a group of doctors and public health experts that I have worked with for 33 years. For eight years I ran a small nonprofit with a charismatic young doctor before merging with another group with more of a public health focus. This group was the start of CPI. Our initial project was setting up five satellite clinics on the Thai/Burma border working with local partners who were at war with the Burmese military. We were able to document how we virtually eliminated malaria in our border areas. With these results we were able to access multiple grants and other funding which launched CPI on a whole new path. CPI understood that the key to improving health services for the hard-to-reach communities was to support community-led and community-based local organizations as key service providers. Today CPI serves vulnerable communities in Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Nepal. After many years serving on the board and coordinating development activity, I remain involved as board emeritus. CPI will put $40 million to work in 2024. It has been a remarkable journey working with a group of extraordinary people.”

Charlotte Taft writes that she will publish Without Permission, the first of a trilogy that will launch on Amazon in early June. 

David Chichester and his family are faring well. He writes that his daughter Lynn and her fiance Henry Wheaton plan to marry this August. His granddaughter Finley, 19, is a freshman at William & Mary, a midfielder on the lacrosse team, and has proven to be handling college really well. Harper, 17,  is a senior in high school and a captain of the crew team. She has attended tons of concerts this past year, is applying to college, and is by far the best artist in the family. Lowell, 14, is in 8th grade, plays soccer, is president of the technology student association at school, and keeps busy with volunteer work at the church. Lindsey, 4, is tearing up preschool and J.P., 9, is in 3rd grade and busy with Taekwondo, soccer, and pranks. All the big kids are thriving in their respective lines of work. Hilde and David (who had a hip replacement in May) resumed travel in 2023. From New York City, they took the Queen Mary 2 Atlantic crossing to England, Belgium, Holland, and Scotland. After coming home, they traveled east to Providence (for Brown soccer alumni weekend) and Philadelphia. David and his wife were visited by two sets of friends, including classmate Brian Murphy and wife, Terry Simon Murphy ’67 MAT, as well as Lynn and Henry. They immersed themselves in the history of “this great country of ours.” Recently, they also saw lots of the Hoffman family branch and finished November with a wonderful Thanksgiving at the home of Ted and Whit. David continues to serve as copresident of the Sports Foundation, chair of the Men’s Soccer Association, and member of the Veterans Advisory Council.

Don Bernardo published a historic novella called The Lost Colony of Roanoke Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Legend of the Snow White Doe. Don writes: “It is about Sir Walter Raleigh’s failed attempt to establish the first English colony in America and concludes with a magical love story about Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World. It can be purchased from me at donaldbernardo484@gmail.com.”  

Paul Knutson writes: “After 51 years at 16 Highfield Road we finally did it and found a lovely ground floor apartment for easier living. Life continues to be lucky (but we’re not planning too far ahead).”

Rich Ulmer writes: “As my 60th reunion weekend approaches, my 31st year of efforts to replace the use of hundreds of thousands of animals (mostly rabbits and mice) with globally approved non-animal test technologies continues. I retired briefly after 30 years in pharmaceuticals, having been president of Allergan while acquiring Botox. Then within months, I joined InVitro International on a five-year plan to advance a flailing start-up with their pioneering technologies. I’m still here with wonderful purpose and promise each day of a blessed life. A strange pathway indeed for one who did not take a science course at Brown or Harvard.  All the best in ’24.”

Class Secretary Barbara Smith Langworthy reports that the Class of ’63 received two awards at the March Volunteer Summit: the Brown Annual Fund Participation Award and the Association of Class Leaders (ACL) Class of the Year Award. In addition, Barbara received the ACL Nan Tracy ’46 Award. “In 1988, on the occasion of our 25th reunion, the men of the class of ’63 endowed a scholarship in the amount of $136K to be awarded each year. The scholarship has been awarded yearly since that time. Under Brown’s guidance, the fund has thrived and is available to help many more students. We are very proud of this endeavor. The Class of ’63 has embarked on an online update of our 50th Reunion yearbook, an initiative of Larry Gross. If you are a member of the class and have not received the updated bios of your classmates, please check your email address in the Brown directory or contact Larry at lr144@aol.com. Thanks to the many who have responded. We have a mini-reunion planned for Sept. 10-12 in Portsmouth, N.H.” If you have not received information on this and are interested, please contact Barbara Langworthy at blangworthy63@gmail.com.

Class copresidents Len Charney and Dale Burg continue to reach out to each other and other classmates through Zoom reunions, a custom started by Helene Schwartz Kenvin four years ago. “These virtual meetings usually start with a suggested theme, such as book recommendations, what kind of fitness routine do you follow, etc. (anything but politics!), though they often go off topic.” Len organized a Brown ’62 guys Zoom Reunion during the pandemic with Win Himsworth and Bob Saquet and hopes there is interest in more Zoom gatherings going forward. Any alumnus from ’62 interested in participating should contact him at ljcesq@gmail.com.

David Parent writes: “Cathy and I ended the year with a live-in home care aide and a handicapped van. That would sound grim to most, but actually we are pretty happy. It is far easier to go places in the van as opposed to trying to stuff someone into a car. Cathy is starting to make some real progress in her recovery from what her neurologist believes is a rare form of Parkinson’s. At the time of writing, winter has finally arrived and the people who decamped to Florida can feel well pleased with themselves. We are enjoying a beautiful snowscape from our cozy apartment. We hope that the person who is writing the definitive text on being in love in one’s eighties has discarded items such as ‘afterglow’ and ‘warm embers.’ Anthracite fired boilers producing steam heat is more appropriate, if less romantic a term. I am keeping busy with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Wallingford Planning and Zoning Commission, and our small business. We are looking forward to the reunion and hope that this email finds everyone healthy and happy.”

 Nancy Blacher Shuster is still teaching her writing workshop. She writes: “Brown has been in my family a long time. Happy 2024 to my classmates.”

Harold Demopulos celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends at the Rhode Island Veterans Home. Brown alumni in attendance included George Petropoulos ’50, Amelia Demopulos ’90 and Abigail Demopulos ’94.  Harold maintained season tickets near the 50 yard line to Brown football games for decades until age impeded his attendance. 

Catherine Harbour writes: "Please save the date! Informal, unofficial '92(ish) gathering in San Francisco during the weekend of June-14-16, 2024. The main event will be dinner on Saturday evening June 15." Contact Catherine at ckharbour@gmail.com for more information."

Adam Nelson ’94 AM, ’98 PhD, published two books with the University of Chicago Press, Exchange of Ideas: The Economy of Higher Education in Early America and Capital of Mind: The Idea of a Modern American University.

Peter McHugh ’90 ScM, ’92 PhD has been appointed as the deputy president and registrar at the University of Galway in Ireland, where he has been a faculty member for many years. This is the second most senior position in the university and Peter is excited about the very many possibilities that it presents. He will take up the role on May 1, 2024.

Amy Mendillo ’09 MPP published I’ve Just Seen a Face: A Practical and Emotional Guide for Parents of Children Born with Cleft Lip and Palate with Luminare Press on May 15. The book contains essential medical information, emotional insights, insiders’ tips, and personal stories that will help parents feel supported during a challenging time. Learn more at amymendillo.com. 

Theresa DiDonato ’05 ScM, ’08 PhD, coauthored The Science of Romantic Relationships with Brett Jakubiak. The book was published on Aug. 31 with Cambridge University Press. Theresa writes: “I love perusing Fresh Ink.”

Steve Morse writes that he attended many concerts in his Brown days and especially remembers seeing Janis Joplin at Meehan Auditorium and Jimi Hendrix at Marvel Gym. He later fashioned a career as a rock ’n’ roll journalist, spending nearly 30 years as a staff critic for the Boston Globe, for whom he interviewed Bob Marley, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Madonna, Metallica, B.B. King, Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt, the Grateful Dead, Tracy Chapman, and many others. He took a buyout in 2006 and was then hired by Berklee College of Music to author and teach their rock history course for Berklee Online, which he continues to do. “Anyone who knew me at Brown will get a kick out of knowing that I made a career out of what I loved—and that’s rock ’n’ roll.” In 2023, he was inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame. He has an autistic son, Nick, who has become a successful artist. Steve invites you to check out Nick’s website at nickmorseart.com. 

Ross McElwee ’70, documentary filmmaker and professor of the practice of filmmaking at Harvard University, was the recipient of the Pennebaker Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards gala. The film Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie received five awards this year, including one for Davis Guggenheim ’86, as best director.

Joy Javits writes: “Hello all you darlings from my class. I wrote once before, long ago, about Shyamoli Sen, whom we all loved—and I continue to delight in her audacity in directing Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? under the aegis of James O. Barnhill, with a brilliant cast of four men. The person who played Martha revealed this to playwright Edward Albee on a call-in PBS radio program and Albee was furious. But it was brilliant and fit perfectly. If I may, I would like to offer my services as a public speaking coach to all of you. I especially hope to work with progressive candidates for public office, local, state, or national. I focus on the extremely important initial impression and on connecting with your audience. My father, Senator Jacob K. Javits, spoke with great conviction, clarity, and conciseness to boot. We can zoom from anywhere. Contact me at inthepubliceye@gmail.com. See you all at the next reunion. To your good health!”

Richard S. Bush writes: “I took my wife, Arla Couvillion Bush, to New York City on May 14 for her birthday (also Mother’s Day) and had drinks and dinner with William R. “Bill” Griffith, and visited my brother, Fred M. “Mike” Bush ’67. Bill and I, both retired lawyers, reminisced about our years at Brown and talked about what we had done since graduation. Although living in central Louisiana far away from Brown, I keep in touch with many classmates, including my fraternity brother Richard R. “Rick” Funk. I am looking forward to visiting with my classmates at our 55th reunion in 2025.” 

Jessica Dai writes: “The third issue of Kernel Magazine, an annual print publication about technology and society, is now out! It’s filled with carefully researched yet deeply personal pieces, on topics such as the complications of computer-generated legal evidence, a vision for more holistic climate modeling, and a manifesto for grief as political practice—plus, creative work including fiction, poetry, and visual art. Thirty-six contributors poured their hearts into this project and it was an honor to serve as editor-in-chief. Take a look at kernelmag.io." 

Niki Osvalds ’12 ScM and Heather Myatt were married on Sept. 9 in Montreal, Canada. Heather and Niki were introduced through Brown Sailing friends Emily Dellenbaugh ’12 and Elizabeth Barry after Heather, Emily, and Elizabeth met training together during a campaign for the 2016 Olympics for sailing in the 49erFX. Emily and Elizabeth were there to celebrate along with Tucker Adams, Pan Chaudhury, Ashley Noble ’13, Sam Speroni, Fred Strammer, Max Straus, Mark Towill, Amy Walker ’16 MD, Mike Yanagisawa ’13. 

Abby Schreiber married Jacob Stein in Westerlo, N.Y. on Aug. 5 and a multi-generational group of Brown alums were in attendance. Guests included Matt Doup, Ben Hyman, Ariel Hudes, Allie Kriesberg, Whitaker Lader, Maura Lynch, Kate Gannett Merrill, Liz Mooney, Charlie Posner, Kelsey Keith Posner, Kayla Ringelheim, Allison Seidner Robbins ’81, John Robbins ’78, ’81 MD, Eliot Schreiber ’78, Amin Shaikh, and Cecilia Strombeck. 

Taosha Way, a portfolio manager at Fidelity, published Techonomics You Should Know: Life-Changing Economics of Disruptive Technologies on Oct. 10. It is available on Amazon. As a seasoned tech investor and trained economist, Taosha breaks down the techonomic impacts on three essential fronts: jobs, income, and wealth. The book provides refreshing clarity on how to deal with the latest technologies from the perspective of real-life individuals. 

Nat Seelen and Amy Seibel ’09 announce the birth of Elana Seibel Seelen. Elana was born on July 9 at 11:25 a.m. at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, weighing 8 pounds 4.8 ounces and measuring 19 inches. She joins Amy, Nat, and her older brother Benny in Newton, Mass. “Come say hello next time you’re in the neighborhood.”

Christina Sanabria writes: “123 Andrés, the kids’ music duo that I’m a part of, won a Grammy for Best Children’s Album. Our album “We Grow Together/Crecemos Juntos” is a collection of songs especially for preschoolers, with versions in both Spanish and English. The ceremony was held in LA in February. In the meantime, we’ll be working on Season 2 of the PBS Kids podcast Jamming on the Job. The podcast, which features us as hosts alongside co-collaborator Pierce Freelon, gives kids and families an opportunity to learn about cool jobs and careers they may not have heard of, in 20-minute, story-based, sonically-rich episodes with original music. I always love it when we’re performing a concert and a family comes up afterward to me to let me know they have a Brown connection, so please say hi if you catch us at a show!”

Margaret Barry writes: “I write to share that I have had an illuminating, epiphanic experience ghostwriting for my mother’s memoir, AGAINST MY FATHER'S WILL. While my mother, Jane Morgan Barry, fought for and achieved success, her real battles began as she struggled to accept the role of gender discrimination in her life. Fighting publicized legal battles against flagrant sexism felt trivial relative to her discovery that she was ultimately a 'part of the machine'. As a privileged ghostwriter, I eavesdropped on the inner conversation of a woman struggling to find the confidence to assert her equality, both inward and outward. How many women of her, and of today’s, generation can relate?

Karla G. Gallardo ’05 was one of three Latinx women featured in an article about inspiring founders in the Latin Times. Karla cofounded Cuyana, a luxury fashion brand focused on craftsmanship and sustainability. She left a lucrative banking job at a top investment bank and obtained her MBA in order to start her fashion line, she said in an interview on Today.

Eddie Ahn’s graphic memoir, Advocate, about his work and life, will be published by Penguin Random House on April 16. A self-taught cartoonist and public interest lawyer, he works as the executive director of Brightline Defense, an environmental justice nonprofit based in San Francisco. He also serves as a commissioner to three government agencies, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and as president of the SF Commission on the Environment.

Shirley Johnson hosted and taught the Peaceful Warrior Yoga Retreat in Chacala, Mexico, in October. In attendance were Yaya DaCosta and Takiyah Gray ’06. “We had a fabulous time practicing yoga, dancing, going on adventures, and watching sunsets over the ocean.”

Gigi Otalvaro-Hormillosa writes: “My book, Erotic Resistance: The Struggle for the Soul of San Francisco, was published by UC Press in February. The book is based on the dissertation I completed at Stanford in 2018, previously titled Erotic Resistance: Performance, Art, and Activism in San Francisco Strip Clubs, 1960s-2010s. 

Todd Guren writes: “Greetings and salutations to Class of ’96 and all midyears! An impromptu text exchange and a change of jobs prompted me to send a class note. The change of jobs involves starting and leading the product department at iRedeemHealth, a subsidiary of Tryko Partners based out of New Jersey. iRedeem is a full-service healthcare solutions distribution company serving employers and Medicaid and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. I am enjoying working for a smaller organization, which has meant fewer meetings, quicker decisions, and I get to play many roles. The impromptu text exchange involved Halloween costumes and tattoos but the larger Brown alumni group probably doesn’t need to hear any more details than that.”

Bill Watterson writes: “Finally getting around to reading a hard copy of BAM and felt compelled to send in an alumni update. Thank you for curating for all of us. I returned to Providence for the first time in nearly 20 years and was shocked by how quickly I was able to navigate the campus (thanks in part to tour guide and classmate Kip Bradford) and by how many dormant memories sprang to life at every turn. I am currently in Los Angeles working for Mattel on their social media team. It’s Barbie’s world and I’ve just been lucky enough to live in it recently, directing stop motion and puppetry shorts for her TikTok channel, including collaborations with Walmart, Monopoly, and more. I was honored to celebrate classmate Daniel Lee’s 50th birthday in Ojai with fellow ’95ers Ty Alper, Kirby Smith, and Marc Vogl (From left to right: Marc Vogl, Bill Watterson, Ty Alper, Daniel Lee, and Kirby Smith), amongst other alumni and friends. My daughter Ruby turned 4 this fall and is a constant source of inspiration and joy. Wishing you all the best, and thank you again for helping to provide a platform for us to stay in touch and share ourselves all these years later.” 

Eric Klinenberg’s book 2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed was published on Feb. 13 with Knopf Publishing. Eric writes: “The book is about the year 2020 and the cascading crises (Covid, police violence and the fight against racism, the assault on democracy, and the hollowing out of the city) that upended the country.”

Dominic Boyer published No More Fossils with the University of Minnesota Press. 

Meg Bishop Kaufer, Lori Jackson, and Leigh Snitiker met for dinner on a beautiful fall evening in D.C. 

Sharon Lean took on a new role as chair of the department of political science at Wayne State University, where she has been serving on the faculty since 2005. She writes: “I hope to reconnect with Brown friends at our upcoming reunion and would love to hear from friends if your travels bring you to Detroit.”

Daniel Azcona published his third book of short stories, The Adventures of Rufus. 

Ian Todreas writes: “After 22 years in my previous role, I started a new job in July at SLR Consulting as head of U.S. sustainability solutions. This global company is focused on delivering climate and environmental solutions to industry, government, and civil society all over the world. I welcome anyone committed to these topics to connect with me to see how we can partner and collaborate.”

Lisa Amico Kristel invites you to #YeahYouWrite (yeahyouwriteevents.com), the author reading she hosts at Someday Bar (somedaybarnyc.com)  in Brooklyn, N.Y. Lisa writes: “#YeahYouWrite is not an ordinary reading series. Since 2015, critically acclaimed authors have tasted their own custom #LiteraryCocktails, shared their work, and participated in an entertaining rapid-fire Q&A session. Guests enjoy dinner and drinks throughout the lively event. On January 22, guest authors Cleo Qian, Jakob Guanzon, Ben Purkert, and Eliot Duncan appeared. On February 26, Asha Lemmie, Daniel Lefferts, Kerri Schlottman, and Aaron Jacobs read. No cover/no minimum, but please support our hosts at Someday. Reservations required: lisa@yeahyouwriteevents.com. Feel free to contact me if you have a recently or soon-to-be published novel or short story collection and would like to present at #YYW. We are booking late 2024.”

Lisa Rothstein writes: “I was thrilled to be given my very first gallery show of my cartoons (ones that ran in the New Yorker and otherwise) that opened on Sept. 29 at Gallery-by-the-Sea in La Jolla. “Pet Projects” focused on animal themes, with 32 framed cartoons on display, featuring dogs and cats of course, but also a rhino, some horses, a snake, a couple of cows and— naturally—plenty of bears! On the two Sundays of the show, I gave an animal cartooning class and drew live cartoon portraits of people’s pets—both big hits with two-legged attendees of all ages. (These activities were repeat performances of my recent appearances at the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City.) In 2022, I was admitted to the National Cartoonists Society, the world’s largest and most prestigious organization of professional cartoonists, which was established in 1946. I’m still doing business communications consulting after a 25-year advertising agency career. It’s been so much fun to finally see my first childhood dream come true. Please follow me on Instagram.”

Rich Jones writes: “I had an awesome time at my first Black Alumni Reunion. The Class of ’82 had a great turnout. But what made it extra special was seeing classmates from ’79-’85 that overlapped during my Brown years. I’m already looking forward to BAR 2028.”

Paul “Alfred” K. Siewers was ordained to the priesthood in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in August at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, N.Y. Father Paul is assigned to St. John’s Russian Orthodox Mission in Lewisburg, Pa., where he lives with his wife Matushka Olga and their two sons. He also continues as associate professor of literature at Bucknell University.

Thomas Kenney writes: “After 37 years with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Regional Counsel, Region 5 in Chicago as a senior attorney, I have retired from federal service and am looking forward to new adventures and experiences in the coming years, including traveling and chasing down astronomical events like the recent solar eclipse. I hope and plan to make the next reunion in 2026.”

Roberta Lawrence writes: “I’m settling into life in Savannah, Georgia, and the extra coastal garden season we enjoy each year. I’m privileged to work at Ray Ellis Gallery on Ellis Square in the picturesque historic district. Ellis (1921-2013) painted for more than 70 years and on all seven continents. His work was commissioned for the official U.S. White House Christmas card three years consecutively and was awarded the Salmagundi Club’s Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.” Contact Roberta at RobertaLawrence@RayEllis.com.

After long public service careers—32 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs for John and 24 years in the Florida public schools for Meg—John Auerbach and Meg Scholl Auerbach ’81 have retired and moved from Gainesville, Fla., to Plantation, Fla., to work for Nova Southeastern University. John is a professor of psychology and Meg teaches English in the Upper School at that institution’s University School.

Carla Greenbaum ’78, ’81 MD, has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Puget Sound Business Journal for her leadership in type 1 diabetes clinical research. Dr. Greenbaum serves as the director of the Benaroya Research Institute’s Center for Interventional Immunology.

David Hahn writes: “I collaborated on a video with brilliant visual artist Andreas Karaoulanis (also known as bestbefore). People have described the abstract style of the video as a Paul Klee painting in motion. ‘LIGHTNING ON SATURN’ uses my original composition that includes electric guitar, Moog synthesizer, and actual sounds of Saturn recorded by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which explored the planet for many years beginning in 2004. (Andreas also created video for my piece Corporate Coitus.) You can see ‘LIGHTNING ON SATURN’ at davidhahnonline.com/videos. 

Allen Schauffler writes: “I was delighted to host an October gathering of Brunonian friends here in “Sagebrushestan,” Powell Butte, Oregon. On hand for boondocks hiking, high desert exploration, much hilarity, fine ranch dining, and toasts to the past and future were David Ellenberg, Steve Golub, Jeff Janer, Paul Marantz ’78, ’81 MD, Randy Sunshine, Doron Weber, and David Weiss ’78. It was pretty good. Ever true….”

Karen Misler writes: “My husband, Barry Feigenbaum, and I had a thrilling summer of 2023. Our daughter, Stephanie Feigenbaum, married Avi Arfin on July 3. In attendance at the wedding—in addition to her brother Jeremy Feigenbaum ’11—were Laurie Bass ’76, Katherine Johnston Hutto (my Brown roommate who transferred after sophomore year), Susan Israel ’76, and Randa Reitman ’80, ’83 MD (Avi’s aunt). Then our son Jeremy married Adam Amir on September 3. Wedding guests included Laurie Bass ’76, Jerry Cedrone ’11, Katerina Wright ’11, and Gabriella Ra’anan ’11. Our cup runneth over.”

Joel Scheraga ’79 AM, ’81 PhD writes: “I had the privilege of working with a remarkable team of dedicated individuals from across the federal government to produce President Biden’s National Climate Resilience Framework. This document was released at the White House Summit on Building Climate Resilient Communities that was held in September 2023. The National Climate Resilience Framework is a call to action to help communities confront the climate crisis and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change, but also more safe, healthy, equitable, and economically strong. On October 31, I was honored to receive a national honor award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for outstanding performance management as a member of the climate adaptation measures team. I was also proud that the climate adaptation implementation plan development team that I oversaw received an EPA gold medal for exceptional service.”

Geoffrey Garth writes: “In August, eight Sick Puppys floated the length of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River: Tommy Childs, Gary Dunn, Steve Elliott, Gary Faryniuk, Rick Heimbach, Phil McMorrow, David Patchen, and myself. Six of us had floated the top half of the canyon 10 years ago when we were all turning 60. It was an awe inspiring trip and we agreed that when we turned 70, we should float the full canyon. This was the year and we spent 12 days on the river, allowing us to slow down and soak up the grandeur and to avoid having to climb out up the Bright Angel Trail. We organized the trip with Hatch River Expeditions, and on learning that one of the Hatch guides was a Brown alum, we arranged to have him—Dave Kashinski ’93 was our trip leader. Dave has made 300-plus trips through the canyon and added greatly to what was a fantastic trip with jaw-dropping views around every turn, interspersed with some big white water. Getting to spend 13 days isolated from the rest of the world with so many Sick Pups, spouses, and new friends, was incredibly special. I wonder what we’ll do when we all turn 80?”

John Taylor writes: “After 40-plus years in finance I have failed retirement twice already and now am failing again by being elected to a four-year term on the Village Council in Pinehurst, North Carolina.”

George Thurston was awarded a three-year grant from the NIH to continue his work on the human health effects of particulate matter air pollution as a function of particle composition and source. He also hosted a pre–United Nations COP Climate and Health meeting in Abu Dhabi. 

Lewis Kostner writes: “Choosing Fatherhood: America’s Second Chance is a book of mine published in 2012 by George F. Thompson Publishing. Juan Williams wrote the introduction, and as Larry Elder points out in the piece in the BAM, his relationship with his father, or lack thereof, for many years took full precedence over most of what was going on in his life at that time. My book explores, through photographs and interviews and essays by David Travis, Shipra S. Parikh, Roland Warren, and Derrick M. Bryan, the lives of children all over the United States who grew up without a father in their life. In the end, all the fathers and children I photographed and interviewed wanted nothing more than to be part of each others’ lives. Many of them even had to learn how to communicate, an experience they had never been able to learn about until later on in life when they decided to get to know who their kids were. My connection to Larry’s words and thoughts is laid out very explicitly in my book. Thanks to Larry for sharing his caring with all of us.”

Paul Backalenick published his third suspense novel on Amazon. Empty Luck is a new take on the Cain and Abel story. Kirkus Reviews said “Each character’s inner sense of right and wrong, balanced against their actions in the moment, keeps the novel barreling toward its inexorable showdown.” To learn more, see paulbackalenick.com.

John Mogulescu writes: After working for 49 years at the City University of New York (CUNY), where I was the senior university dean for academic affairs and the founding dean of the CUNY School of Professional Studies, I retired in 2021. Since retiring I have been writing a book about my CUNY experience. I am delighted to announce that the book was published in December of 2023. Entitled The Dean of New Things: Bringing Change to CUNY and New York City, it uses the story of my unusual career to consider how change—difficult but necessary—can happen in higher education. To learn more about the book, please visit the book’s website. It is deanofnewthings.com.

Don Roth retired at the end of August after a 17-year tenure as executive director of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis, which was the culmination of a career as an arts executive that began in 1977. Several weeks later, he received the emeritus award from the Western Arts Alliance at its annual conference. Don plans to remain in Davis and remain active on three arts boards: the San Francisco Classical Voice, the Sacramento Alliance for Regional Arts, and the Bear Valley Music Festival. He writes: “It all began with a stint as BRU’s classical music director!”

The Brattleboro Family Health Care (BRHC) softball team, founded by Bob Tortolani in 1974, claimed a division title in the Brattleboro, Vt., area. They currently have a 21-game winning streak. Bob is still playing as he has for 50 years. The age range on the team is 17 to 83 with many team members who have played for more than 25 years.

Nancy Scull writes that Friends of Meali International, the organization she founded to help Tanzanian children, has held a successful capital campaign and built a new primary school in the Monduli District near Arusha. “It serves primarily Maasai families, who otherwise had no school available. This was a joint effort with the Tanzanian government. Ina Schwartz Heafitz ’66 was in attendance for the dedication.” Contact Nancy at
NancyCScull@gmail.com.

Linda and Gene Kopf continue their life in paradise: Jupiter Island, Fla. They are students three days weekly at Florida Atlantic University plus they attend serious drama biweekly and are on the treadmill at home daily and in the gym. Gene writes that they have had some contact with fellow grads, especially Helene Schwartz Kenvin who keeps them updated on other ’62 grads, and Ned Clayton ’63, who leads Delta Phi activities.

Marjorie Tingle writes: “Ten members of our class have met regularly for over 60 years! For the first two decades after walking down College Hill the group gathered annually at a member’s house large enough for growing families. Fiftieth birthdays were celebrated together at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York. In following years, memorable meetings were planned at destination sites across the country. Sadly, two members, Martha and Hope, have recently departed. (The photo was taken in August 2014, the last time all 10 of us were together. From left to right: Martha White Keister, Joanne Tenedine Rees, Marjorie Tingle, Barbara Jones Nicholson, Elaine Tetreault Smith, Minna Saxe, Suzy Werber Dworsky, Hope Cranska, Barbara Little Jaffe, and Peggy Durham). Yet we are constantly amazed and thankful that in our mid 80s, we still have eight members who anxiously await monthly Zoom meetings (husbands included). We still reminisce about our time at Brown but also have good conversations about books, current events, and family members. Over the years, our friendship has grown deeper as we supported others through the many ages and stages of life. Our group is an example of the power of friendships developed during college years.”

Brent Harold, Arnold Hetzer, and Bob Pearson of Wellfleet, Mass and Vieques, PR; Bridgeport, Conn. and Venice, Fla.; and Wellfleet, Mass. and Tucson, Ariz., respectively, converged in Newport, R.I., for a reunion of walking, eating, and talking. 

Bonnie Brooke Hunt Mitchell has illustrated her second children’s book, with all proceeds again directed to a not-for-profit. The first, Willy of the Crooked Lake, by Gary Brown, was for the Finger Lakes SPCA to help increase donations. The second, Maggie of the Crooked Lake, is benefitting hospice care in the Corning, N.Y. area. She and her twice Grammy-nominated daughter, Elizabeth Mitchell ’90, are planning to attend Bonnie’s reunion. 

Edith and Marvin Catler are still living in Sarasota. Marvin writes that he has spoken to Dave Kramer. 

Class President Barbara Kirk-Andrews Hail unfortunately is resigning as class president. She writes: “I don’t get around much due to arthritis and have large family obligations. I loved working on our 70th anniversary memories booklet and becoming reacquainted with my classmates through their reminiscences of their lives. It was special for all of us.” 

Janet Brof published a book of poetry entitled Tell Them My Love Has Come with Levellers Press. 

"Please save the date!  There will be an informal, unofficial ’92(ish) gathering in San Francisco during the weekend of June14-16, 2024. The main event will be dinner on Saturday, June 15. Contact Catherine Harbour for more information at ckharbour@gmail.com.

Class Secretary Marshall H. Cohen reports: "As you probably know, Brown is in the process of creating a memorable weekend for our class during the weekend from May 24th (Friday) to May 26th (Sunday.)  It  will be a notable accomplishment to celebrate our 70th reunion, our last 'official' reunion and I believe we have through our participation in class affairs, reunions, and mini -reunions, friendships and funding shown a rare sense of service and dedication to the Brown Community.  Shortly, I’m told, classmates will receive more details from Brown regarding on campus housing at selected dorms, and locations where we will be enjoying three meals (the venues will be the Hope Club and University Club and subsidized by Brown). We will, as before, hold a class meeting at one of these venues. As usual ,hotels will be in high demand and likely to raise room costs for the weekend. Please make you book ASAP at one of the Providence or nearby hotels, B&B’s, or with private friends. As mentioned, Brown will be sending out information soon about on campus subsidized rooms. Given the senior status of our classmates, all of our activities will be campus centered and a bus or van will be available for the return walk following the traditional College Hill trek (given our VP status we are near the start of the line and the distance is shorter). Looking forward to seeing you again soon on campus. Meanwhile stay healthy and in good spirits." 

Chronicle Books published The New Brownies Book: A Love Letter to Black Families by Karida L. Brown ’13 AM, ’16 PhD and her artist husband, Charly Palmer, in October. 

Claire Donato ’10 MFA is acting chairperson of the writing department at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her third book and first major fiction publication, Kind Mirrors, Ugly Ghosts, was published on Nov. 3, 2023, with Archway Editions, distributed by Simon & Schuster.

Kelly Ricciardi Colvin ’03 AM, ’08 PhD, a history professor at UMass Boston, has published Charm Offensive: Commodifying Femininity in Postwar France with the University of Toronto Press. 

Shani Belgrave ’07 MD (see ’03).