1963

Ernie Torres has been appointed to a seven-year term as chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. He's been on the federal bench since 1988. Before that he was a R.I. Superior Court judge and earlier a general counsel with Aetna, a partner in a law firm and a legislator. The Standard Times in New Bedford, Mass., where Ernie grew up, has proudly hailed him for being the first chief justice of Portuguese descent. Ernie returned the compliment, praising New Bedford as a melting pot that exposed him "to a lot of different people" that gready broadened his mind. Ernie coached and taught before studying law at Duke. "As a young lawyer, I remember the great awe and esteem I had for the federal court. Never did I imagine I would be its chief," he said.

Richard Lewis, who practices law in Miami, also manages to keep his perspective. In fact, if you ever get the chance to watch the Florida Panthers play hockey at home, you'll see a guy between the two benches with a hockey helmet and a camera. That's Richard, the official team photographer whose pictures have made Sports Illustrated and papers in China. Sons Sam and Jon are also photographers and, like Dad, opted too for professional and business careers. David works in Orlando. Wife Micki assists with photography.

Folks in Fitchburg, Mass., find they don't need the Internet for at least one convenience. Did I say convenience? Yes, it's one- stop shopping at the dental offices of ArthurWein, a general practitioner who's assembled a multi-specialty office that includes an endodontist (root canal), prosthodontist (crowns and bridges), oral surgeon and periodontist (gums). While your mouth is stuffed with cotton, Arthur will tell you about his Quechee hideaway and the local ski slope where you can get coffee between runs. He'll also tell you about his daughter Amy, a budding public relations professional, and his son Josh, who just got an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt. Wife Sue handles the finances for the unique enterprise.

It looks like Bill Barker, who attended East Haven (Conn.) High School with corporate sports mogul Mike Letis, got bit by the business bug. After a successful teaching and coaching career at Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Conn., Bill now works in corporate sales for Worldtek Travel in New Haven, the booker for all NCAA basketball tournament teams. Bill left Dartmouth as a sophomore and graduated from Southern Connecticut State with advanced studies at Fairfield University. His basketball teams at Hand won 247 games versus 107 losses. Bill and Barbara have three daughters in their 30s, a 15-year-old son and six grandchildren. Bill reports that Mike Letis' Sports Marketing & Television International Inc. was acquired by Marquis Group, a sports marketing agency that represents Michael Jordan. Marquis is about to be bought, Bill adds, by FSX, one of the largest entertainment companies in the country.

Class president Bob Bysshe retired after 36 years with Bankers Trust Co., now Deutsche Bank. Rob Stephenson is back from an expedition in Antarctica.

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