1978

Rob Portman may soon welcome two more '78s to the U.S. Congress. NeilMcCarthy is in the race to once again be the Democratic nominee in New York's 19th Congressional District (northern Westchester and environs). Neil made a respectable showing in 1992 against Republican scion Hamilton Fish Jr. Now Fish is retiring, and Neil finds himself running for the Democratic nomination against Hamilton Fish III, who recently changed his name to Hamilton Fish Jr. Up until the campaign got underway, Neil was practicing law in the Albany office of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar, His wife, Kathy, is a health administrator. Neil, Kathy Conor 6, and Courtney 3 live in Waccabuc, N.Y. If you want to know more about the campaign, call (914) 763-6947.

Jim Bassett, meanwhile, is one of ten candidates seeking the Republican nomination for New Hampshire's Second District Congressional seat (which includes Hanover). "My crusade," says Jim, "is to balance the budget by the Year 2000, a large part of which is the means-testing of entitlements, including Social Security and Medicare, as advocated by Senators Tsongas and Rudman and the Concord Coalition." Jim, who is pro-choice and supports regulation of assault weapons, lays claim to being the moderate in die Republican primary race. "There is a big crowd on the far right," says Jim, "and I am not there He is a partner with Orr & Reno in Concord; and Ellen is an internist with Concord Pulmonary Medicine. They have three kids: Jesse 6 Johnny 4, and Hannah 3. You can reach his campaign headquarters at (603) 225-8444.

Bruce Keough who's a real-estate developer in Exeter, is seeking the Republican nomination for the 23 rd District seat in the New Hampshire senate. .

In response to recent columns about 78 moms staying home with their Kids Christine Funk Purcell writes, "Unlike many of 'he women you quoted in the May Alumni Magazine, I have not given up a career in which have a sizable investment. I have an M.B.A. which hangs on the wall, and a strong interest in theology that may someday take me further than mentoring an EFM (Education for Ministry) seminar group.

"For me, the most compelling reason for a parent to be primarily at home during childrearing years is to communicate to the chilerearing that he or she is cherished and valued. I Placed my children ahead of any other work. And the way that I demonstrate this is by being With them by being home when they walk in the door from school. I am there to listen to my eight-year-old daughter's hurt feelings from silly playground spats. I am there to explain to my ten-year-old son that being 'cool' often means missing out on knowing some really interesting nerdy kids.

"I know that many dual-career parents have many similar conversations, but I believe that many of these interactions can't be scheduled into a small window at the end of the day, when I am home to 'hear about the day. "My son [David] and daughter [Amanda] will grow up knowing that I value them enough to give them my time. This is the most concrete way I have to show them how important they are. I do realize that for many the choices are extremely difficult, and I am grateful that I have the financial option to take these years at home." Until recently Christine ran the education program at Trinity Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Penn. Her husband, Bob, is a gastroenterologist in the same medical center as Jeff "Ernie" Verzella.

Zach Simmons writes that he and his family (wife Nancy and children Sarah 6 and Amy 2) have Settled in Hershey, Penn., where Zach is on the Neurology faculty at Penn State's Hershey Medical Center.

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