1979

Whatever it takes. We wamec you that this would happen. We asked you to send us material or we'd take action and that action would not be pretty. You left us no choice but to COLD CALL! Now, I'm not a telemarketer and don't play one on TV, but I know their tactics and I used them. I called several classmates midday Christmas Eve, knowing they would be home entertaining or busy with last-minute holiday preparation. And by golly, it worked!

I called Bruce and Susan (Astolfi) Mack in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bruce is an at-home dad working on his master's in international relations and serving in the Naval Reserves. Susan is general counsel at Transamerica Corp. In their spare time they are raising three children who are at or approaching teenagedom. I'd have chatted more, but Bruce was off answering the doorbell, or so he claimed.

I then called Dana and Dave Klinges to get a report on the Big Green party they hosted at the Princeton game. Although alums from other classes attended, the turnout of '79ers was, in Dana's words, pathetic. Apparently, our classmates were in such a state of shock at the surprise football win that they couldn't find their way to the party. Just when the conversation was getting going, relatives arrived and the conversation was cut short. Hmmm.

My next cold call was to Tom Mechlin in Florida. There must have been a lull in North Palm Beach chad counting, as he was more than eager to talk. Tom captains a 53-foot sport fishing yacht and has cruised waters from Maine to Venezuela. Wife Stacy manages a law office and they have a daughter Katie, 3.

The final cold call (i.e., person without callerID) connected with Kathy (Peden) Blaisdell. Kathy was actually excited that "someone actually called me!" She's in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (that explains it), as, take note, parents, associate director of financial aid at Franklin and Marshall College. She promised all '79s a "good deal, provided you demonstrate need." As if that helps us. Kathy s hubby, Ted 'BO, teaches, is working on his Ph.D. dissertation in English and works parttime in family practice at a community health outreach. They sing in several choral groups and have daughters, 6 and 3.

Touched base with Steve Koehler, who lives in Minnesota with his wife and three boys. Steve left Hanover following sophomore year to attend UC San Diego, a school that offered a pure computer science major. At the time Dartmouth considered the computing angle as part of the math program. Steve is five years at Secure Computing, where he uses his expertise in cryptography to develop computer security products.

From the newswire, Megan Thomas joined the Glenmede Trust Cos. of Newjersey as VP and trust administrator.

Last, huge kudos for classmates in the national news. Scott Blackmun was named acting CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Scott previously served as the organizations senior managing director for sport resources. He and wife Ann have three children. No word yet whether Scott will become the Olympic soccer teams goalie, having led the Big Green in that capacity during his four years in Hanover. Also in the news, John Hoeven was elected governor of North Dakota. According to an article in the Grand ForksHerald, the former Bank of North Dakota president is described by his father as a "good schmoozer." Love it! Johns campaign was helped by publicity he received when a horse named Bud rammed John, giving him a black eye prior to a major speech. Photos of the gash were prominently displayed in North Dakota papers.

Whatever it takes, eh?

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