1978

Many classmates have changed careers once, if not twice or more. Rick Spier started out in real estate development but now has published his first novel O'Sullivan's Odyssey. He is currently at work on his second, The Legend ofShane the Piper. According to the press release, it will combine autobiography and fiction and is set during our time at Dartmouth. Roman a clef, perhaps?

Meanwhile, after making many documentaries for The History Channel, Rick Beyer has embarked on his first independent (read: nonprofit) film. The Ghost Army, he says, "is a WWII story of deception, showmanship, art and ingenuity kept secret for more than 50 years." He hopes to find a place for the film on PBS. Mark Tomizawa introduced Rick to the project, and is a consulting producer on the documentary, while Barbara Moses recendy co-hosted a fundraiser for the project. You can find out more about all Rick's documentary work at www.plateofpeas.com. Rick also reports that his second book, The Greatest War Stories Never Told, came out in November and continues to do well, while a third book, The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told, is on the way. Rick and his wife, Marilyn, just celebrated their 20th anniversary and they continue to live in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Scott Brown, former dean of the Tucker Foundation and a 20-year veteran in the renewable energy field, has joined with Dan Reicher, whose experience in the same field included four years as assistant secretary of energy in the Clinton Administration, to form New Energy Capital. According to Scott, New Energy invests in and owns and operates renewable energy and generations projects. Having seen An Inconvenient Truth, I can only hope they are very successful.

Douglas Murphy observed that it's been almost 29 years since he had his last class at Dartmouth (which means our 30th reunion will be upon us before we know it!). He states: "I've missed my classmates as well as the residents of the Upper Valley. I also miss all those associated with the A Better Chance (ABC) program in New Hampshire." Douglas' daughter Jamilah (13) has been playing the piano since she was 8 at the Harlem School of Arts. Her proud father says she's the next Alicia Keys. Douglas concluded, "If I had one wish, I wish my classmates would do more to help each other to succeed. That would complete my Dartmouth experience."

Vito DiPaola sent me an e-mail from Nigeria. "I am currently working in the U.S. State Department as a foreign service officer. I have been posted to Abuja, Nigeria, at the American embassy since December 2004 and will be here until December 2006. From the Small World (or maybe the Small College) Department: One of my colleagues here in Abuja is Scott Judah, class of 2002. He and I are ably representing the Big Green every Sunday afternoon when the Americans play volleyball. I will be heading back to the United States for training in Washington, D.C., before heading to my next post at the American consulate in Montreal.

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Box 4115, Jackson, WY83001;maggiehunt@gmaiI.com