1987

1987

Our 35th reunion chair, Tim Parker, is a busy man. As if his plate is not already full with planning for a potential inperson class gathering in 2022 (details to follow!), Tim has announced the formation of our class social justice initiative committee. “The initiative is an affirmation of Dartmouth’s commitment to developing transformative, responsible leaders,” Tim said. “Despite the seemingly chaotic uncertainty we face, the class is driven to make our society more just and humane.” Along with Tim, the committee’s members include Regina Speed-Bost, co-newsletter editor Julie (Park) Hubble, co-head class agent Peter Murane, Beth Paap, Scott Rusert, Holly Silvestri, and Lisa Snyder. Stay tuned as the committee develops its action plan in the coming months.

On a lighter note, our annual 87th day class mini-reunion was a virtual one, just like almost everything else during this past year of surviving the pandemic. Leading off the throwback posts on our class Facebook page, Gregg Rippey unearthed a photo of his freshman-year roommates, Dan Foster and co-vice president Brendan Connell (rocking the flannel bathrobe). “After a long day of‘Math 5’ and ‘Govy 6,’ I could come back to the warmth of 310 Streeter, where the paneling was faux but the friendship was real,” Greg reminisced. “I’ll always be grateful to ‘my Dans’ for supporting a fish out of water from out West.” Janet (Mailing) Wittenberg’s photo of herself—moving into North Hinman freshman fall with some serious 1980s hair—prompted admiration from both class compassion network chair Stacey (Wolff) Savas and Cory Mann: “Love the bangs!” My fellow South Hinman floor-mate Stephanie Taylor Song posted a current photo of her with an ’87 banner “because I didn’t have the presence of mind to take one of my Zoom in February with Louie Crosier, Karen Epps, and Charlie DeWitt. ”

Vic and Leslie (Collins) Trautwein proudly displayed their 25th reunion shirts after a night of camping near their home in the Dominican Republic. “We woke up to the 87th day in our tent! Covid resurrected our goal of at least 10 tent nights a year; this was number 11 in 2021. Much to our joy, some ’87s have ventured down here, including Amy (Strasser) Kistulinec, Ross Jones, and Jonathan Bigelow.” In Rochester, Minnesota, Robert Shen reported on “fond memories ofwhen Rusty and Mich Gardner visited with their son so he could observe surgery at the Mayo Clinic.” Mich responded, “Thanks for inspiring him, Rob!” Conewsletter editor Betsy (Wall) Rutherford shared a photo from Vermont last summer of her and Kevin Wilkins and Ginny Wise—three smiling faces that make you wantto smile right back—during Kevin and Ginny’s trip to drop their ’24 off at Dartmouth.

While I cannot include all the wonderful 87th day posts here, I think Scott Rusert summed it up with a selfie taken on a gorgeous beach: “Looking forwardtowhenwecan all be together! Enjoy life’s moments, ’87s!”

—Laura Gasser, 74617th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94121; marcklaurag@aol.com

Laura Gasser