1979

Quite a backlog of news here. Two months off from you all will do it! El Nino has finally let the sun shine on us in California once again; La Nina is looming, and it all adds to the excitement of mi loca vida.

Doug "Wally" Walbridge bridge took the time to pen a most thoughtful missive, on official Seaway Electric Supply Inc. stationery, one of the three thriving businesses that he owns and operates. That is when he's not babysitting Ashley 11, Trevor 8, Anne 6, John 6, or Chad 4. Seems that he and his wife, Lisa, have been rather busy since our 10th. If you know what I mean. Besides Seaway, which is an engineering firm specializing in the design and construction of factory automation systems, Doug also dabbles in industrial electrical wholesale and sign industry manufacturing. His ventures span locations from Ohio to New York and Pennsylvania. Regular excursions to Marco Island from their home in Erie help the Walbridges retain their sanity during the long winter months. Visitors are most welcome. No more businesses or children planned anytime soon until hair returns to normal color.

From the wilds of Alaska came the voice of mighty Dan Billman, loud and clear. Ya gotta love his style. "Decided to finally check in with the class after reading the magazine so long. Job: Water resources engineer and section manager. Title: Director of water resources. Employer: HDR Alaska Inc. (part of a national engineering/environmental consulting firm) and self as a commercial fisherman. What I do: Fix what the last 50 years broke in urban Alaska and elsewhere in the U.S. Specifically creek and river restoration, fish habitat construction, water supply for cities, and sewage disposal. Cool stuff if it's your passion. Creek restoration is mine. Also catch salmon, but the price is really poor. What is good for America is bad for the salmon industry. Family status: Married to a Middlebury graduate from Conn. No kids yet, none planned yet. Oudook: Happy and believe in the American justice system (Bill is innocent until proven guilty, remember the Constitution?). Recycle what we can, live in the woods. Recent activities: Took three and a half months off from work and went to Nepal and Thailand. Nepal was eye-opening in both the big mountains Everest and other 8,000-meter peaks and the culture and poverty. I've never seen people who live by breaking rocks into gravel. It is hard feeling good about yourself when your shoes are worth more than the people make in a year. A corpse next to a sidewalk awaiting cremation made me realize I wasn't in Kansas anymore. The two months there were fantastic. It has been hard taking our puny problems seriously. Thailand was western, and the food was excellent. Back home now working and building a cabin. Hello to all I knew and knew of. I still exist and am trying to change the world a little." Wow. Thanks for being in touch, you guys. Great to hear from you. Back to my mundane existence...

In other newsbytes: Dr. Kevin Cullen and Lisa Brown were married just after the New Year in Washington, D.C. Kevin, an associate professor of medicine and otolaryngology at the Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown U.M.C., is a clinician and laboratory researcher with interests in breast and oral cancers. A long way from being my Mass. Hall neighbor freshman year. Miss me, Kevin? Congratulations to you and your bride!

And Deborah Krieger Jennings was appointed the new academic dean of the Montclair Kimberely Academy Upper School in Montclair, N.J., where her two sons attend. Help with homework is never far away in the Jennings family.

Mark your calendars for our fall minireunions. October 16-17 in Hanover: Yale, Homecoming, Parade, Bonfire, etc. October 16: Homecoming Bonfire at Bill Conway's in Washington, D.C. October 31 in Hanover: Harvard, tailgate. November 14: Brown pre/post-game event at Norm Richter's in Providence. Details to follow.

That's it for now. Keep the wires burning. Love to hear from ya.

765 Teresita Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94127; (415) 337-7737: ;

7 Griffin St., Simsbury, CT 06070; (860) 651-0085 (h); (800) 982-6810 (w);