1983
Another autumn, another foliage season, another Dartmouth class ('91s, doggone it) pushing us inexorably towards the middle of the Class Notes section of the Alumni Magazine. There's something about turning 30 that changes your perspective. The other day I was trying on suits someplace, and the woman fitting me said, "Well, well. You're a VERY well-fed man, aren't you." Hey, I get no respect.
Last month I really blew it. I saw the headline "Rugen, Zarchen Win Tennis Title" and it sort of rang a bell, but my breakfast cereal distracted me. Indeed, Kate Rugen continues to storm the tennis courts, this time taking the 1991 New England Women's Tennis Championship in doubles. Kate made a serious run in singles, too, by advancing as far as the semifinals before being edged out in three sets. Kate capped a prodigious weekend by winning the tournament's sportsmanship award. She lives in Westerly, R. 1., coaches tennis at URI, and is the pro at the Wadawanuck Club in Stonington, Conn.
John Leonard is alive and doing quite well, thank you. In June, J.L. was crowned with an M.B.A. at the University of Chicago, caught his breath, and then dived into equity research for the investment management firm Brinson Partners in Chicago. Meanwhile, BradHolmes secured his M.B.A. from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. Brad has a couple of things going for him we should mention: 1) he was the recipient of a Faculty Award for Academic Excellence; and 2) he is now working with Mobil Oil Corporation as Benefits Advisor.
Blast from the Past Award: to DennisLeClair, fledgling father, who found time to crank up the computer and check in from Westford, Mass. Dennis and I have the same high school pedigree, so we go waaaayyyy back. At any rate, Messr. LeClair is now a dad twice over, with son Gregory arriving on July 12 to join 13-month-"older" brother Andrew. Dennis doesn't sleep anymore, but everything else is fine. He recently joined Kodak's Desktop Document Imaging Group in Billerica, Mass., as a project planner.
On August 11, Bill and Hila Robbins threw a party and got married in South Orange, N.J. It was a really great day. I arrived a little early, fell asleep in the parking lot, and was awakened by one of the caterers who said, "Hey! Where's your uniform?" Hila is wonderful; she and Billy R. are a great match. Neil andLiz Donnenfeld were there, along with MarkD'Agostino and Phil Gerson. Neil's now at Procter & Gamble, working on the Oil of Olay account. This marketing stuff gets a little tricky, folks. Neil spent a few days filming Jennifer Capriati in a spot for Oil of Olay. I said, "Geez, the girl's 14 years old. Of course she's going to have young, healthy skin." Neil winked and said, "But it sells, baby." Actually, Neil's perspective on life is kind of refreshing—he's liable to end up in Wyoming on a cattle drive any month now.
And, for all of you Mark D'Ags fans, note that he's in Baltimore working as a project engineer for Fawn Industries. D'Ags has been in Indianapolis, Detroit, and New Jersey in the last 2-3 years.
Back to Bill and Hila: their honeymoon plans were to fly to Paris and ride in a balloon. Other than that, they were just going to "let things happen." No hotel reservations, no nothing. They left for the airport in jeans and backpacks. I like that.
A few notes on Jim Sterling, who spent the summer working at the White River Theatre Festival. Since graduation (1983, remember?), Jim has worked steadily at his art in New York in Off-Broadway productions, with the Jean Cocteau Repertory Company, and in several regional theaters. When he auditioned for a role at White River, there was some serious competition 500 people. Jim played parts in The Alchemist and Private Lives, among others, this past summer. Outstanding work.
Next month, a bird's-eye report on PeteCholnoky's wedding.
Kenneth M. Johnson, 824Judson Avenue #1, Evanston, IL 60202-2461
