1992

Obviously the economy has been a top-bill item for the past several months, and people in our class are not immune to its vagaries. Jill Golderg Arnold probably speaks for others with the e-mail she sent a few months back.

“The last year has been pretty topsy-turvy,” she wrote. “My husband’s team at Johnson & Johnson (Alzheimer’s research) was eliminated and we made the difficult decision to leave Philadelphia so he could take a job with Biogen in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We are getting used to living in New England again. We have seen and been in touch with a few Dartmouth friends in the Boston area but would love to get together with more! I am still specializing in pediatric bipolar disorder and working with my colleagues at Ohio State to publish a treatment manual so that we can distribute the psychosocial treatment protocol we have been developing for the past 10 years. The book should hit the shelves in late 2009 or early 2010.”

Gretchen Almy McNeely sent a quick rundown of what she has been up to in the past few months: “I got back to Philly in October for my 20th high school reunion. I managed to see Julia Hynes Shoff and her beautiful family, who kindly hosted me and my 1-year-old daughter overnight. Julia looks gorgeous and seems like she’s doing wonderfully. Other than that just working as a research librarian with a design firm in Portland, Oregon, and awaiting the birth of our second child sometime in midMay. It’s not the rock-and-roll lifestyle but it’s pretty great.”

A pleasant surprise came in the form of an e-mail from Melissa Rich Skehan, who admitted a lengthy absence from these notes. “My company InterSchola—which helps school districts sell their surplus assets such as school buses, desks/chairs, food service equipment, maintenance equipment, shop equipment, musical instruments, portable classrooms, etc.—is doing well in this economy, as schools across the country see a need to enhance their budgets with much-needed cash. We continue to seek funding, which is not so easy in this economy, to further our expansion efforts to states beyond California and New York. Married life continues to be wonderful—my husband and I have just started to explore adoption and we are both nervous and very excited for this next phase. I have also started to think about a plan to bring many friends together in 2010 for a 40th birthday celebration. We are thinking about New Orleans Jazz Festival in May 2010. Anyone interested should start to make plans!”

Speaking of 40th birthdays, it is with pride (and trepidation) that I acknowledge reaching the milestone back in February. Yup, I’m an old guy…that’s what five years of high school will do for you! However, as more and more of us reach 40—the new 25, people keep telling me—I would love to hear what big plans you have!

Penn Athletic Communications, 235 S. 33rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19104; (215) 898-9232; mahoneyw@upenn.edu