1981

We round the proverbial homestretch (which proverb, I don't know). Anyway, five years ago at about this time, many of us were gearing up for the most irresponsible month of our lives. I won't go into the usual twaddle about how near or far away those days seem, because one moment the images are as clear as yesterday and the next they're like faded hieroglyphs.

Suffice it to say that a lot of us will show up in Hanover come June: some to be name-droppish and one-uppish, others to flop around on the floor like fish. But whatever your feelings about the distance to Hanover or the frivolity of reunions, just remember that you can't lose by coming. This will be a private party with some of your best friends.

(A note on that score: Jenny Toolin has asked me to remind all that one of our chief reunion czars, Greg Clow, is compiling a "Fifth Anniversary Report" on the class. We each cough up $10, our current address, and some serious or silly info about our last five years. No pictures, which is a good thing, at least in the case of Toolin.)

But enough of all this banter. I'm on my way out of town in about three hours, so herewith is a short, random collection of filched and fabricated classmate updates.

Chuck Batty is doing the brand management thing for General Mills in Minneapolis. Having graduated (I believe from biz school) last spring, Chuck spent the summer in Southeast Asia. Good training for the town that brought us Prince and David McLaughlin.

Laura Ackerman Smoller reports that she is in the third year of doctorate studies at Hahvahd. (Given its politics, I suppose Boston is as good a place as any to study medieval, astrological, and occult sciences.) Also in Boston is Eileen Crane, who says she is directing "translation services" at the Academia School of Languages.

Perhaps Eileen could provide transitional linguistics for Jeff Beil, who has moved down to Dallas's Parkland Memorial Hospital. Jeff ended up in Stetson Land after getting out of Mt. Sinai med school last spring. One can't imagine that he speaks the language yet.

But Susan Pabst Bowman does. Susan is still in Brussels with the State Department. She's an economics officer, shorthand for a government-sanctioned undercover pawnbroker. She knows how to explain trade deficits and threaten economics ministers with cement overcoats in 27 languages. (I just hope Sue never gets hired by the people holding my student loans.)

Meanwhile, here in this, our nation's capital, where your resume is currency and the young fogies insist upon marring what is otherwise a Big Rock Candy Mountain of a metropolis, I recently learned that Steve Sullivan has landed a law gig. Steve is a practicing associate with Ober Kaler Grimes and Shriver.

But before we start discussing lawyers and the stuff that torts are made of, let's get to that never-ending marriage and baby hit parade. Rob Hoffman reports from Chicago that his wife, Penny, recently had a baby girl. No details on names or pounds as of yet.

Even more mysterious are rumors that Molly Sundberg, once of Chicago, has become engaged. Whether true, I have failed to confirm. But as long as someone else is responsible for the rumor ... And likewise having some vague Chicago connection is Chris Niehaus, who is also reported to have exchanged rings, in his case with one Laurie Mathewson.

On the verified front, Barnes Darwin was married last August to Pamela Piezzi. As usual I have been kept in the dark about particulars (you'd do the same, wouldn't you?), but Barnes will be available for questioning at reunion.

Also on the wedding train is Dave Kahler, who was married last year and has taken, up medical residency at Tulane. Okay. That's probably enough on the major life event front. Let's toss in a few recent professional moves and get out of here, shall we? Super.

Mark Frawley is still tiptoeing through the Broadway Dance Machine. Having recently completed a run in CATS, Mark is reputed to have taken up with a production of Singin' In The Rain.

On the other side of the purple mountains and amber waves, San Francisco has seen two new '81s enter its teeming labor force. Jan Gaynor Bandeen is relating publicly for Burston Marsteller, and DougBuchanan is lawyering for the Sierra Club's Legal Defense Fund. Doug recently passed the California Bar, having graduated from Golden Gate University Law School last spring.

Well, I think that's gonna be all I take the time to write this month. As usual, I'm woefully behind my deadline. There's also the bills to pay and lies to tell before I blow this popsicle stand. Au revoir.

Many Dartmouth classes were represented (and captured in a "semiformal pose) at theAugust 1985 wedding of Beth Shapiro '81 to Ray Lewyckyj.

A.D ONE THE FIRST REUNION AFTER DARTMOUTH 1981-1986

1640 19th Street NW Washington, DC 20009