1979

Far be it from me to put down those "even" classes, but I'm compelled to remind them that the class of 1979 blew their doors off as Class of the Year this fall at Leadership Weekend. I'm certain that there were many reasons for our class' recognition. There were contributions by so many '79s. Personally, I think it's got to go back to the 100-story bonfire that the class of' 79 built 23 years ago, and that's a record neither Big Mac, Sammy, or any other class will ever break. PhilOdence and Burr Gray are still locked in a congratulatory embrace. I'd like to nominate them both for another term.

Those of you who haven't been back to Mt. Moosilauke since your freshman trip, you really should go back. On the spur of the moment this summer I brought the family up there for the weekend, and it was like a time warp complete with square dancing called by the ageless Everett. I was drowning a worm in the little creek at the base of the mountain when I looked up and saw on the bridge Kim Donovan Henley. Kimbo was just up for a relaxing weekend with her two boys while husband, Joe, was getting smoked by some 15-year-old in his club championship match. Our kids entertained all the guests at Moosilauke with a very physical game of hide-and-seek-tag on the old volleyball court. The Henleys live in Eve PrattHoar's hometown, Longmeadow, Mass., and Joe does some significant traveling for Spaulding, chasing PGA Tour pros for sponsorship of his Top Flite products.

Fellow LSA Mexico classmate and infa- horse-post leapfrogger Sandy Pooler has been named by Mayor David Cohen to the post of chief budget officer for Newton, Mass., his hometown. Sandy received a law degree from UCLA and a master's degree in public administration at the JFK School of Government at Hahvad.

Also in the news, Chris Whitney, a litigator gator at the law firm of Adler Pollack & Sheehan, was recently appointed president of the International Institute of Rhode Island, a non-profit agency providing educational social, and legal services to the area's foreign-born residents. Chris has provided pro bono services for the institute for the past six years, specializing in construction matters. He was also recently appointed chair of construction management/design build section of the American Bar Association's Forum on the Construction Industry (keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer, right, Whit?). "Guy" Van Wie began his public service career by recently being nominated (and I assume elected) to the New Gloucester, Maine, school board. Guy is president of the board of directors of the Blockhouse preschool, vice president of the New Gloucester Little League, and a former member of the town Conservation Commission, and, in his spare time, is an environmental consultant and mediator raising two kids with his wife, Cheryl Bascomb.

Veronis, Suhler & Associates announced Francis A. L'Esperance III as managing director to head its broadcasting and entertainment group, taking overall responsibility of the broadcasting, cable, and entertainment group, encompassing television and radio broadcasting and just about everything else for us couch potatoes. "L'Esperance has extensive Wall Street background in the broadcasting, cable, radio, publishing, and entertainment industries...(and) brings the best of both worlds from the transactional and operating sides of the media business," said John Suhler, president and co-chief executive. Reading Frank's resume from his press release was like reading a Who's Who of investment banking firms and simply too lengthy to mention here.

That's it for this one. Merry Christmas, ail, and don't look down your noses at those "even" classes. They did their best.

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