1984

Received a great e-mail from Tom McDougal, whose story of "failure" is most inspiring: "The Class Notes contains too many success stories. I think we need to hear more stories of failure! I failed out of the Ph.D. program in artificial intelligence after seven years at U. Chicago. In March '96 took a slot as a substitute math teacher at King High School on the south side of Chicago, the worst school in Illinois by most measurements. Last fall, the principal made me the department chair (like being made chief navigation officer of the Titanic after it struck the iceberg. Anyone looking for a job? We have an opening.) At this writing, I am sorely in need of a six-month nap. I survived both grad school failure

and the stresses of teaching thanks to the unflagging support of Sarah Duncan, who married me in June '96. No failure there she's the best! Was honored at the wedding by several Dartmouth friends. Peter Murphy is running the show at Disney and has two sons growing fast. Dr. Kim Nichols is working at Children's Hospital in Boston with kids with leukemia and also doing cancer research. She is engaged to a great guy, also a doctor. Talked with Christine Estes Burton not long ago. She is unstoppable. Her husband died several years ago, but since then she has gotten her master's degree, taught high-school Spanish, may soon be publishing some very exciting, innovative teaching materials, took second place in a mile run, and proudly reports that she hasn't smoked in two years. Before closing, let me advertise our extra room as available accomodation for '84s passing through Chicago. I remember back at the sth Reunion how much fan it was to see friends, even those I hadn't spoken or written to since College. Please visit!" He's at .

Many thanks, Tom, for your message and for your generous offer of hospitality to classmates. Another '84 who would rather teach kids than do research is Tom Heise. Tom and wife Karinne taught history and English at Deerfield Academy for eight years before they moved to Tom's hometown of Indianapolis, where he began a Ph.D. It didn't take him long to figure out that his love of history is inspired more by kids than by academic journals. In the fall, they are resuming their posts at Deerfield.

Anne Arquit Niederberger, who has lived in Switzerland for eight years, has recently taken a job with the Swiss Federal Office of Foreign Economic Affairs. Basically, she is running an innovative project to encourage maximum reduction in greenhouse gases. Those interested in the nexus between science, policy, and business in the environmental arena should give Anne a shout at . (Feel free to use German, French, or English, as Anne uses all three on a daily basis and is currently learning Italian!)

Several '84s have come through Johannesburg recently: David Cost took some time off from his San Francisco investments job for a walkabout in the bush. Geoff Gurtner and his bride were here on their honeymoon after an April wedding. Geoff has finished as chief resident at Mass General and is taking up plastic surgery in New York. And Ben Wiley, based in Hong Kong, stops by every now and then to shop for companies suitable for purchase by the clients of Asian Partners Ltd., where he is a partner.

My news: Kathy Gord Callahan '86 and I became parents of a sweetheart named Grace in May. She is looking forward to meeting you all at our 15 th Reunion in June! Meanwhile, keep those e-mails coming, and be sure to let me know if you are coming through South Africa.

PO Box 2776, Rivonia 2128, Rep. of South Africa; 27-11 -807- 5769 (h); 27-11-339-3368 (fax); 27-11-403- 8956 (w); ; 4821 Roanoke Parkway, #802, Kansas City, MO 64112; (816) 753-3987 (h); (816) 235-1316 (w); (816) 235-1312 (fax);