1996

It was a warm July morning in Central Park when I attended the '96 kid friendly mini-reunion organized by Bill Tovell, who continues his career in investment banking with JP Morgan in New York City. Also on hand at the reunion were Andrew Webb (with his lovely daughter in tow), Grace Chionuma, Kimberly Koontz Haring Christine Puleo, Neesha Ramchandani and Lanea Tripp. Following some pleasantries Kim and Lanea asked whether I would be interested in serving as class secretary. With visions of grandeur and following in the footsteps of Monika Oberkof ler and Pei Lynn Yee greatness, I confirmed I was up to the task. So keep me posted—contact details are at the end, and the next deadline is October 20.

First, let me start with thanks to Holly Parker for her service in this role as class secretary. Holly is entering her 10th year as a teacher at the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts, where she is the English department chair. She continues to coach and serves on numerous committees serving the school and community at large.

Congratulations are in order! Leslie Jennings Rowley continues her work at Princeton. She and husband Clancy have just recently closed on their new home and both are excited to put down roots—a baby boy is expected in early November.

Monika Oberkofler finished her Ph.D. in 2003, and is now the director of social responsibility for Gap Inc. in San Francisco. On a personal note, she got engaged in February, when her fiance somehow managed to pull off a surprise proposal on the Pont des Artes in Paris.The wedding is planned for May 2008. Darryl Knudsen works in the same department at Gap. He and wife Laura Tam '97 are well. Mary O'Connor was married last fall to Vince Costello in Tennessee and Kafie (Shutzee) and Jim Brennan were expecting their second child this summer. Laurel (Smith) and Tyler Newby moved from the Bay Area earlier this year to Washington, D.C., where Tyler is working for the Department of Justice and Laurel continues to work with law.com.

Erika Meitner just left Washington, D.C., to relocate to Blacksburg, Virginia, where she received a professorship post at Virginia Tech, teaching English, creative writing and Jewish studies. Erika's now 5-month-old infant son was babbling away in the background as she gave me the scoop.

Old news: In 2005 I attended the wedding of Sophia Zalios to Joseph Smoley in Boston. Other '96s in attendance were Salvatore Spataro and April Kimmel. News since the wedding is that Sal had been named a vice president with Swiss Re, and while April continues work on her Ph.D. at Harvard, she is now married and she and her husband are expecting their first. Following 10 years with Arnica Sophia has taken a director position with PURE High Net Worth Insurance in White Plains, New York.

Rudey Harris writes me from Panama City, Florida. Following eight years or so in Boston she has been basking in the sun of Florida for about two years now and is currently working at Acredo Technologies. Casey Barnett sends me greetings from Cambodia. Save a brief two years at Columbia Business School where he finished his M.B.A. in finance and economics, for the last nine years he has been living in Cambodia, where he owns an accounting school, and does some consulting on the side. He is married to a Cambodian native and no news on children.. .yet.

Keep.on keeping on, and I look forward to hearing from you!

2000 Purchase St, Purchase, NY10577; (914) 316-6882; l.alan.keli'i.opulauoho.96@alum.dartmouth.org