1985

Although this is my maiden voyage as column author, I've already concluded that writing this column must be similar to being in the fashion industry—you're always putting together your product well in advance of when your market receives it. So how do I know that I can stay topical in October given that I am writing it in July?? Kind of like making a bet on aubergine for fall 1997 only to discover the real "in" color is taupe! Oh well, first time out so here goes!

Let me reiterate what was already transcribed by one of my column co-authors, John MacManus the tenth Reunion (a.k.a., the 11th, but who's counting) was a blast! Many classmates in attendance from far and wide and here's some more note worthy news that I caught hold of over the course of the weekend: Keep an eye out for the publication of first-time novelist Valerie Bloch, who arrived in Hanover having recently completed a romantic comedy set in her hometown of New York City. Valerie's publication fate (and our curiosity) currently rests in the hands of others, but I know we'll see that book jacket on the shelves soon. Good luck!

Perhaps Valerie's freshman year introduction to Steven Mainz served as fodder for her novel. Seems that our world-traveled, legal eagle, linguist extraordinaire classmate, Steve, learned about pick-up lines during a brief encounter freshman year with Valerie in Wentworth Hall. But never mind about that—Steve's now preparing to start a clerkship with a federal appeals court judge seated in New Orleans (even though Steve, and the judge, continue to reside in Dallas). Somehow that sounds like a neat deal funded by us taxpayers. Scott Liebman is running his own business in southern California but preparing to move it (along with himself and his lovely Italian wife) up north to the Bay Area. My last encounter with Scott was as a co-leader of a Putney student travel trip in France in the summer of '85. Remember that great idea of spending the summer after you graduated chaperoning high-school kids through a cultural exploration of a foreign country—READ: you put up with a dozen 16-year-olds whose idea of cultural exploration is buying clothes in Paris in exchange for an all-paid trip to France. We somehow survived!

Linda Cooper Marshall is anticipating the arrival of Marshall baby #2 in January '97. Just to make certain she and Jenkins (and first baby, Jenkins 14 months old) are well prepared for the family expansion, Linda has "retired" from Bankers Trust. She plans to enjoy the summer seeing more of good friends like Donna Fraser (in the Boston area), Sally Crane Goggin (in the Chicago area with hubby MarkGoggin and three children), while tending to her garden and taking some long-deserved R&R. Linda will no doubt dive into another exciting career later on. Stay tuned! Many other sightings throughout the weekend including Elise Miller (living and working in California with fiance, Dan); Ellen Jennings (in D.C. with hubby Mark and son Nicholas 1 1/2); ValerieHartman Levy (in Atlanta with Turner broadcasting, adoring new son Charlie and husband Jeff); Katie Harris Robbins and Kris Robbins (living on Blueberry Hill in Hanover but planning a move to Canaan, N.H., with daughters Heidi and Liesle); Henrietta Hung Perry (married to classmate Paul Perry, living/working with one son in Cambridge); SueMehalick (living in upstate N.Y. and marrying over the summer).

And some notable absentees, among them—Diane Czuchry (where are you and what are you doing these days??), Debbie and Dan Carson (is baby #4 in pink or joining older brothers in blue??), Alison Cooper Phillips (heartfelt congratulations on the blessed arrival of Rebecca!!) and too many others that we want to hear from over the course of the next five years as John, Shelley LeavittHadel, and I scrape and scrimp together any and all information to bring you NEWS, NEWS, NEWS in this column!! So what is the "in" color for fall '97?

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