1980
The ballots are in, and the selection for entrepreneur of the decade is G. Andrew Watson. A-Wat graduated from Northwestern Law School in 1983 and wasted no time in chucking his chosen profession. After two miserable years as a big city, big firm litigator, he caught the bug. First, he sold sales training programs out of his home. Next, he became a disciple of the late-night TV gurus, investing "no money down " in Chicago real estate. He cashed out in the nick of time and became an independent distributor for National Safety Associates, which manufactures water and air filters. As A-Wat explains it, his pitch is simple and effective. "First, I promise to make Budweiser into water. Then I do it with the filter. Next, I promise that after the customer buys the filter, I will demonstrate how to reverse the process, make water into Bud. Works every time." Even if the filter doesn't.
1990 was a very good year for GeoffEdelson. The awards came in bunches. In December, the Dartmouth Alumni Council presented Geoff with a Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award. But Geoff is most proud of the Grammy he received when he was named best male vocalist in a documentary slide show for his heart-felt commentary in Parker Small's epic. Congratulations, Geoff.
Earl Grossman was married in December 1990. In a truly multi-college affair, Earl married Suzanne Tassie (Ithaca '83) in the Princeton University chapel. Sounds like something out of a George Thoroughgood song. ("I met a German girl in Italy who was goin' to school in France. We danced the Mississippi at an Alpha Kappa dance.") The wedding was glorious. But like all weddings, there were minor glitches in the planning. For example, Operation Desert Storm threw things "out of wack when the C-5A transport jet that Earl had chartered to transport the Bones Gate multitudes was diverted to the Gulf, and Frank Fesnak, Rob Roucco, HansMorris, Craig Lambden, Rick Gemberling,Mark Alperin, Bruce Reeves, and BillStewart were forced to find alternate transportation.
Lori Zelikow was recently named publisher of New Woman magazine, and Lori's husband, Tom Florio, was made publisher of Conde Nast Traveler. They live in Manhattan. In her spare time, of which Lori no doubt has very little, she plays tennis in Central Park. At least that's what I assumed when I saw her there, racquet in hand, last summer. But one never knows. A large wooden object can come in very handy. Before I moved out of the city, I had taken to wearing my hockey equipment whenever I ventured into the park.
Stuart Sarnoff proudly announced the birth of his first child, daughter Chloe, in February. Stuart is a litigation lawyer with the New York office of Morgan Lewis & Bockius. But as many know, his first loves are basketball and the theater. (We'll leave hoops for a later issue.) Stuart starred in many Dartmouth and Columbia Law School productions, and his wife, Gwenn, was in the Broadway casts of 42nd Street and Legs Diamond. Not surprising, then, that five days after Chloe was born, she was auditioning for a TV commercial. Unfortunately, she didn't get the part. Stuart points out that Chloe was up against terrific odds, competing against kids three and four months her senior. Better luck next time.
Paul Elmlinger is a vice president of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, a multi-billion-dollar money management firm. Paul has more titles than Sugar Ray Leonard in his prime. In addition to his duties at the parent company, Paul is secretary of Scudder Canada, and a director of Scudder's British fund. At last word, Paul was on his way to Berlin for the annual meeting of the Scudder New Europe Fund, of which he is vice president. By the way, Paul and Jenny recently had their second daughter, Brooke, who joins her sister Alexa.
I received some sad news the other day. On February 10 we lost Jay Hodgdon. Hodgy was a warm, intelligent person and a dear friend to many. We will miss him.
Unit #61, 320 Strawberry Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902
