1980

1980

I am eating lunch in Coffee-Deli in midtown Savanah. A man walks over from another table and sits down. “Aren’t you Wade Herring? I’m a lawyer too. I have a case with an expert witness, a rheumatologist named Scott Zashin. He lives in Dallas. Don’t you know him?” I reply coolly, “I know him as ‘Zeke.’ ”

Dr. Dana Abraham maintains a busy breast surgery oncology practice in Little Rock, Arkansas. Taking spaces that do not work and making them work has kept Scott Daggs busy in the construction business, mostly residential, for 40 years. Scott hopes soon to sit under his own vines and fig tree. With six grandchildren, Scott describes himself as already “very blessed.”

Ron Chen, former dean of Rutgers Law, remains a full-time faculty member there where he teaches constitutional law. After the U.S. Supreme Court’s destruction this year, Ron will need to revise the curriculum. Additionally, Ron judges regattas and is a member of the World Rowing Council. To top it off, Ron is on the executive committee of the ACLU and serves as one of its general counsels.

In the restaurant business since 1985, Rich Brook’s latest project is The Horse Shoe Farm, an 85-acre riverfront estate offering nightly accommodations near Asheville, North Carolina. Its private event space is available for weddings, retreats, corporate events, and other events of all sizes, including class reunions. Subtle hint. The farm is also home to The Stable Spa.

Living in her hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts, Pixie Keating Paradiso has worked for 29 years as associate general counsel for Boston’s Children Hospital. She has loved the work as part of the hospital’s mission to push what is possible in children’s health.

Bruce Fitzsimmons is a real estate lawyer in Arlington, Massachusetts. As I write this, Bruce finds himself like everyone else in the real estate business in a cycle of low inventory but very high demand. At Dartmouth’s School of Medicine since 1987, Dr. Chris LaRocca is busy developing a residency program there in family medicine. Like her dad, Chris’ daughter, Rachel, is an alumna of both the College and Geisel, where she also serves on the faculty as a clinical assistant professor of community and family medicine. You bet that Chris is justifiably proud.

With five children and eight grandchildren, Diana Dean declares, “There is nothing better than grandparenthood.” Her oldest grandchild is already a first year at Yale. Diana has taught anthropology and social science for 31 years at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Retired and relocating to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Alex McCormick until recently worked as a professor in the Indiana University Bloomington School of Education. As part of his former duties Alex directed the National Survey of Student Engagement, the largest survey of undergraduates that examines the quality of the educational experience.

I won my runoff to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia’s 1st District. Now the real work begins. —Wade Herring, P.O. Box 9848, Savannah, GA 31412, (912) 944-1639; wherring@hunter maclean.com; Rob Dinsmoor, 14 Rust St., South Hamilton, MA 01982; (978) 269-4069; dmsmo@ earthlink.net; Meg Coughlin LePage, 8 Brookside Drive, Cumberland, ME 04021; (207) 791-1382; mlepage@pierceatwood.com

Giving of oneself is a strong characteristic of great leadership. Sharing what you have with others leaves a mark, an indelible memory and feeling, that strengthens the receiver’s resolve. Moms do this, dads do this, brothers and sisters and friends too. If we are very fortunate, someone unrelated will see something special in us and encourage us to think high to rise. Jeff Healy has had the privilege of interviewing many first-generation students from the Los Angeles area for Dartmouth through the decades and has seen many matriculate and one serve as this year’s valedictorian. In her speech, available at dartmouth.edu, she credited a Dartmouth environment that fosters community, the Dartmouth first-generation office, inclusive student organizations, and faculty for making her feel she “belonged.” She will follow her mother’s advice to “walk forward with confidence” and recommended the same to all her classmates.

Former assistant athletic director Aggie Kurtz started five women’s teams from scratch in 1972 and continued coaching squash until 1989. At the recent celebration of 50 years of women’s athletics, Hallidie Haid, Annabelle Brainard Canning, Jenny Toolin McAuliffe, and Lolly Bates honored the memory of their coach who gave so much to them and to all women’s programs since.

Byron Boston recalls that several St. Louis, Missouri, Dartmouth alums offered sage advice to him regarding career paths in the financial world that led ultimately to his present role as CEO of Dynex Capital, a real estate investment trust company. This year he has had great interest in an internship he started at Dynex designed to introduce Dartmouth undergrads to the many facets of his company.

Scott Stuart serves as the chairman of the board of trustees of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he has recently recruited an extraordinary surgeon scientist, Dr. Selwyn Vickers, to function as president and CEO. Scott chose him in part for his “charismatic and compassionate leadership style” and his “proven track record of success strengthening clinical care and building innovative research programs.” Thirty years ago we worked together and he is special for sure.

Several classmates help others directly though their example and insights. Jeff Kemp promotes high-level friendships and pride in fatherhood through a variety of media, including his website, MenHuddle.com.

We are fortunate to be able to give to others in the ways we do. Let us go forward with confidence in our role to inspire and to give to others as recommended by the 2022 valedictorian. —Emil Miskovsky, P.0. Box 2162, North Conway, NH, 03860; emilmiskovsky@gmail.com; Ann Jacobus Kordahl, P.0. Box 470443, San Francisco, CA, 94147; ajkordahl@gmail.com

Emil Miskovsky