1980

Lets be honest. Negative stereotypes about class reunions abound in popular culture. The "if they could see me now" routine, except you are not so sure that you wish to be seen. But ever since we were freshmen 28 years ago, we have heard that Dartmouth is different. Dartmouth reunions are about the people with whom we shared four special years in a very special place, not about "Who's on first?" as the stereotypes might por- tray. Reunions are not about reliving memories—they are a way to reconnect in the present, a wonderful chance for the whole family to renew friendships where they left off before and to make new friends. And, of course, New England in June is fantastic. So, take a deep cleansing breath, relax and make plans now for June 16-19, 2005, our 25th reunion. We will only have one.

Meanwhile, Jeff Lamont's physician-peers elected him president of the medical staff at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts. On the staff since 1991, Jeff will continue as chief of urology. Jeff is also a clinical associate professor of urology at Tufts and Boston University medical schools. Sounds like a good guy to know at your 25th college reunion.

You have"read here before about Victoria Redel, but there is more to the story. Kevin Bacon is directing Loverboy, an adaptation of Victorias novel by the same name, which stars Blair Brown, Matt Dillon, Oliver Piatt, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick and Marisa Tomei. Bacon also appears in the film and is co-producing with Sedgwick, who plays a mother who was so neglected as a child that she has become a smothering influence on her son. Ba- con and Tomei play the woman's parents, seen in flashback. She is courted by a man (Dillon) who shapes up as a father figure to the boy. Victoria's most recent book of poetry, Swoon, was favorably reviewed back in March in The NewYork Times "Book Review."

Al Noyes and his family moved to southern New Hampshire last year after an absence of over 20 years. Al and his wife, Kathy, are having a lot of fun with their two children, 5-year- old Alison and 2-year-old AJ. Armed with an M.B.A. from Tuck and a wealth of business experience, Al is currently a consultant. Learn more at www.noyesgroup.com.

Maja Wessels is the first American to chair the European Union Committee, an affiliation of the American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium. The American chamber, with ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is made up of European-based companies whose parents are in the United States. Maja is also president of United Technologies Corp.'s European operations. After Dartmouth she graduated from the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in 1982. Maja first moved to Europe in 1993 to be the financial markets core groups manager for the U.S. General Accounting Office. In 1997 she became vice president of governmental affairs for DaimlerChrysler in Brussels, and in 1999 joined United Technologies. Maja is married to Charles Covington. Maja and Charles have a son, Brady.

Dr. Ray Blackwell, a cardiac surgeon in Delaware, is married to Dartmouth Medical School classmate, Dr. Wanda Francis-Blackwell. When not reading to his two daughters or operating on broken hearts, Ray is running. A member of the Sprint Force America track team, he ran the indoor 400-meter dash in 49.4 seconds in 2000, setting a new world record for men aged 40 to 44.

See you in Hanover.

P.O. Box 9848, Savannah, GA31412; (922) 236-2061; (912) 236-4936 (fax);wherring@huntermaclean.com;138 Lake Road, Fiskdale, MA 347-2341; carolwillard@charter.net