1998

1998

I present to you the latest in ’98 class news. For Josh Mooney Covid vaccination enabled outdoor adventures with Dartmouth friends. In early April Josh, Justin Wells ’95, and Colter Leys ’96 embarked on a four-day backcountry ski tour in the Sierra Madre mountains. The tour was the penultimate segment of a 20-year project to ski the entire “Red Line Route” ofthe Sierra Crest. The route runs from Mount Whitney (east of Fresno, California, and the highest point in the continental United States) to the Yuba Pass (north ofLake Tahoe, California). Ifthat was not enough, in late April Josh, Justin, Darryl Knudsen ’96, and Carter Wray’97 whitewater kayaked for four days on the Smith River in northern California. Josh sent me links to photos from both adventures, some of which will be published in an upcoming class newsletter!

Alexander Hancock felt lucky that during the pandemic his three children (10,5, and 5) were able to attend in-person school. They did, however, miss out on activities such as the zoo, planetarium, and local amusement park. In April Alex quit his j ob to start his own firm managing individuals’ assets. And in June Alex and his wife visited Las Vegas. Alex reports that Las Vegas is backto its pre-pandemic self, which is good to hear, I guess. Jojo (Blaxall) Longnecker wrote in with a silver lining from the pandemic: she, husband Jeff Longnecker’97, and three children (13,11, and 8) spent lots of time in the Upper Valley at a family condo in Quechee, Vermont. Another pandemic highlight was Jojo’s spending the night in a tent in Heather (Duckworth) Smith’s backyard.

1996-2000

P.J. Halas wrote from Monmouth County, New J ersey, to share the highs and lows of his pandemic experience. He has missed family and friends, including having to skip this year’s annual trip to Hanover to catch up with Dartmouth basketball. Last summer, however, Matt Burke and family visited P.J. inBayhead, New Jersey. P.J. and wife Jessica, aphotographer, have three children (Trinity, 10, Fiona, 9, and Noah, almost 8), whom they homeschooled this past year. P.J. described homeschooling as “unbelievably rewarding,” particularly for Fiona. She has Down syndrome and really benefited fromthe extra attention. In addition, Covid freed up 15 hours per week that P.J. previously endured commuting. He used this time to develop a new and profitable line of business for his medical records company. He also got back into the ocean to surf and to teach his children. When he emailed, P.J. was getting ready for an annual camping trip to the Youghiogheny River for whitewater rafting and unplugging.

Taheerah El-Amin wrote from Washington, D.C., where she is an attorney in the civil division of the U.S. Department of Justice. One of Taheerah’s favorite pandemic activities has been hanging out on the porch of neighbor and sorority sister Llezlie Green’97. In early June Taheerah traveled to New York City to visit Daniel Rivera and his wife, Derly. Recently Taheerah ended a three-year term as vice president ofthe Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association and began a newterm as membership chair. Finally, Taheerah is excited to return to campus in July with her niece, a rising high school senior. Taheerah cannot wait for her to fall in love with Dartmouth like Taheerah did during her first visit in spring 1994.

All who can forget the first visit to Dartmouth? Mine was summer 1993, the start of something good. Thank you for the submissions—I love hearing from you.

—GabeGalletti.4000 UtahAve.,Nashville, TN37209; galletti@gmail.com

Gabe Galletti