Winter 2019–20

CRADLE OF (CONTEMPORARY) CIVILIZATION THE CORE CURRICULUM’S ORIGIN STORY GREENER CLEANERS AN AMBITIOUS NEW VENTURE FROM ECO-ENTREPRENEUR Columbia JOHN A. MASCARI ’08 College SHE SAID HOW JODI KANTOR ’96 EXPOSED Today THE WEINSTEIN SCANDAL

Ann Kim ’95 is bringing fire power to the Twin Cities TOPCHEF Do you know?

What is the longest-running book(s) on the Lit Hum syllabus?

Take the Core Quiz at core100.columbia.edu and share your results with #corecelebration. Then, check out the events, stories and more to celebrate the Core Centennial year! Contents Columbia College CCT Today

VOLUME 47 NUMBER 2 WINTER 2019–20

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexis Boncy SOA’11

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lisa Palladino 14 20 26 DEPUTY EDITOR Jill C. Shomer

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anne-Ryan Sirju JRN’09

FORUM EDITOR features Rose Kernochan BC’82 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Thomas Vinciguerra ’85

14 ART DIRECTOR Eson Chan Fire Power Published quarterly by the James Beard Award winner Columbia College Office of Alumni Affairs and Development Ann Kim ’95 is bringing the heat for alumni, students, faculty, parents and friends of Columbia College. to the Twin Cities. ASSOCIATE DEAN, COLUMBIA COLLEGE By Alexis Boncy SOA’11 ALUMNI RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS Bernice Tsai ’96 20 ADDRESS Columbia College Today First Class Columbia Alumni Center 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530, 4th Fl. How Contemporary Civilization laid the New York, NY 10025 foundation for the Core Curriculum. PHONE 212-851-7852

By the Editors of CCT EMAIL [email protected]

WEB 26 college.columbia.edu/cct

ISSN 0572-7820 The Eco Entrepreneur Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect John A. Mascari ’08 aims official positions of Columbia College to make your cleaners greener. or Columbia University. © 2019 Columbia College Today By Yelena Shuster ’09 All rights reserved.

Cover: The Restaurant Project; Insert Card /Alma Mater: Alyssa Carvara Contents departments alumninews

3 Message from Dean James J. Valentini 34 A Familiar Face in the Storm Reflecting on Columbia College experiences. 35 Message from CCAA President 4 School of Thought Michael Behringer ’89 Let’s hear it for alumni volunteers! 7 Around the Quads A feminist banner hangs at Butler, this year’s 36 Lions faculty MacArthur “genius” and more. Jack Stuppin ’55; Jacquelyn Schneider ’05

12 Roar, Lion, Roar 38 Bookshelf Lions won big at Homecoming 2019, and F**k, Now There Are Two of You we’ve got loads of joyful photos. by Adam Mansbach ’98, SOA’00

31 Columbia Forum: She Said: Breaking 40 Class Notes the Sexual Harassment Story Alumni Sons and Daughters; Just Married! That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor ’96 and Megan Twohey 78 Obituaries How two New York Times journalists Immanuel M. Wallerstein ’51, GSAS’59; John Giorno ’58 blasted open the Weinstein scandal. 80 Core Corner Our Core Centennial cartoon caption contest continues with an illustration by R.J. Matson ’85.

Now on CCT Online CCT

PRINT EXTRAS • Homecoming 2019 Facebook album • Art by Jack Stuppin ’55

Like Columbia College Alumni facebook.com/alumnicc

View Columbia College alumni photos instagram.com/alumniofcolumbiacollege EDWARD KOREN ’57 KOREN EDWARD Follow @Columbia_CCAA “Enough warm-ups, already! When are we Join the Columbia College alumni network going to roll boulders with Sisyphus?” college.columbia.edu/alumni/linkedin The winner of our first Core Centennial cartoon caption contest is William A. Teichner ’86! Thank you for all your submissions. college.columbia.edu/cct This issue’s cartoon is on page 80. Message from the Dean The Foundation of the College Experience

olumbia College students live and learn in a uniquely rich environment, with the opportunities that our college, the many C other schools of our university and the City of New York offer. Approaching that experience with Beginner’s Mind, they expand their knowledge and understanding of themselves and their world as they encounter new concepts, discover perspectives unfamil- iar to them, and engage with their professors and peers in and out of the classroom. The Core Curriculum is the foundation of this experi- ence, expressing a conscious and deliberate institutional commitment to a curriculum taken by every student, specially constructed to prepare each of them to be ana- lytical and imaginative, empathetic and active, and col- laborative and visionary, as well as leaders in advancing their communities, society and the world. It achieves that through small classes in which instructors guide genuine discussions about how societies have been conceptual- ized and developed; how new knowledge has reshaped the concepts and reformed the development; how indi- vidual rights and responsibilities have been balanced; and how the joys and challenges of that human existence have been expressed in literature, music and art. In the Core’s centennial year, we celebrate not only its MICHAEL EDMONSON ’20 value, but also its spirit, and we celebrate it by examining it critically and analytically. We are revisiting its creation; (college.columbia.edu/journey), a strategic planning guide examining its evolution and adaptation to a continually that directs each student to maintain a unique, individual, changing world; assessing its present success, challenges personal attention to developing the attitudes, abilities, and limitations; and charting a future in which it will skills, perspectives and understanding that will empower continue to achieve its ambitious goals. That examina- success in their personal and professional lives, no matter tion, assessment and planning will be most successful if what their path. We express that through 13 Core Com- opinions, perspectives and ideas are contributed by the petencies, which provide the structure for Journey. This thousands of faculty and students who have participated guide encourages each student to approach with Begin- in the Core during its long history. ner’s Mind all parts of their individual College experience, In particular, we seek recollections from you, our and to recognize all of those seemingly discrete parts as alumni, about how it felt to be in Core classroom dis- connected in a self-guided and self-aware approach to cussions, to struggle to understand Kant or Plato, to building the Core Competencies. analyze the complex dynamic of composer and librettist As we continue our centennial celebration and reflect in Le Nozze di Figaro, to explain the many-dimensional on its past, present and future, and as the College con- aesthetic of the works of Bernini. We want to hear how tinues to expand the importance of Journey, I hope that the Core has informed, guided and enlightened your you will join me in taking a moment to reflect on your life journey, so, we invite you to share your personal own past, present and future — wherever your journey history of the Core through our Core Stories project has taken you. (core100.columbia.edu/core-stories), which will run through the end of the centennial year ( June 2020). In 2018, we made a conscious and deliberate deci- sion to focus student attention on that life journey, James J. Valentini through a vehicle we call My Columbia College Journey Dean

Winter 2019–20 CCT 3 SCHOOL OF THOUGHT Saluting Contemporary Civilization for sparking a century of ideas and inspiration

4 CCT Winter 2019–20 Illustration by John Roman

Winter 2019–20 CCT 5 The Columbia College Fund supports the work of the College

Every gift to the Columbia College Fund strengthens the undergraduate experience and helps build community for College students by providing vital resources in support of:

✓✓Student life experiences ✓✓Internship opportunities ✓✓Financial aid and scholarships ✓✓The Core Curriculum

Make your gift today college.givenow.columbia.edu Around Quadsthe KILLIAN YOUNG / COLUMBIA COLLEGE / COLUMBIA KILLIAN YOUNG

A BANNER BEARING THE NAMES OF EIGHT FEMALE-IDENTIFYING AUTHORS AND VISIONARIES — Maya Angelou; Gloria E. Anzaldúa; Diana Chang BC’49; Zora Neale Hurston BC 1928, GSAS 1935; Toni Morrison; A. Revathi; Ntozake Shange; and Leslie Marmon Silko — is now hanging above the names of the male writers on the facade of Butler Library. The banner will be on display through December 16. Learn how the names were selected, about the first female-focused banner (hung in 1989) and more at butlerbanner.com.

Hartman Named Sherwin Service Award Hockley ’05, Captain Marvel director MacArthur Fellow Anna Boden ’02, and documentary The Gerald E. Sherwin Young Alumni filmmakers Ric Burns ’78 and James Professor of English and Comparative Service Award, which honors individuals Sanders ’76, Literature Saidiya Hartman is one of who have demonstrated exceptional service GSAPP’82. 26 recipients to the College’s young alumni community, The annual of the 2019 was presented to Matthew Lemle Amster- Eddie & Ozzie MacArthur dam ’10, LAW’13 at the Columbia College Awards honor fellowship, Alumni Association’s Board of Directors excellence in given out meeting on October 19. Amsterdam was editorial and on the Senior Fund Executive Commit- design across

ARTHUR FOUNDATION ARTHUR annually by the John D. tee, was a member of his fifth Reunion all sectors of and Catherine Committee and is co-chairing his 10th. He the magazine T. MacArthur is a member of the Columbia Law School industry, and

COURTESY M ac COURTESY Foundation. Association’s Board of Directors and a have been Hartman chair of the Loyal Blue Society, which rec- presented by Folio: for more than two earned a $625,000 “genius grant” to be ognizes continued donor support toward decades. This year, 400 winners were chosen distributed over the next five years. “I am the University. from a field of more than 2,500 entries. delighted to receive the MacArthur. It The award is named in honor of CCAA means the world to me,” she said. “It gives president emeritus Gerald Sherwin ’55. me the time I need to write and think.” Hartman is a scholar of African- $3.64 Million American literature and cultural history. CCT Wins! Her works, which include Scenes of The eighth annual Columbia Giving Subjection: Terror, Slavery, and Self-Making Columbia College Today won the Eddie Day, held on October 23, was a smashing in Nineteenth-Century America; Lose Your Award for best full issue (Spring 2019) success! Through 2,242 gifts, the College Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave in the association/nonprofit, alumni/ received the largest sum among all Route; and most recently, Wayward Lives, university category at the 2019 Folio: Columbia schools or institutes. All told, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories Eddie & Ozzie Awards on October 30. Columbians hit a new high, raising of Social Upheaval, explore the afterlife of The winning issue included features on $22,009,151 from 18,622 gifts. Learn slavery in modern American society. Whitney Biennial co-curator Rujeko more at givingday.columbia.edu.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 7 Hall of Fame

The Zoologist Who Was the World’s Biggest Bat Fan

By Thomas Vinciguerra ’85, JRN’86, GSAS’90

or some people, bats are Born in Honolulu, Koopman moved Colleagues who tried to trip him up creepy creatures of the night with his family to California as a child on bat trivia usually failed. “But if you that foul the world with and glommed onto nature with frequent had him stumped,” said Tuttle, “he would squeaks and guano. For oth- visits to the Los Angeles County Museum come back at you pretty quickly with ers, they are the alter ego of of Natural History. He earned a Ph.D. names and terminology that would slow FBela Lugosi and his bloodsucking cohort. at Columbia with a dissertation on fruit things down and have us pondering for a For Karl F. Koopman ’43, GSAS’50, flies; later, he turned briefly to birds and, bit. We couldn’t figure out if he was buf- they were his lifework and love. then finally, to bats. At various times he faloing us.” At professional bat gatherings, Over a long, distinguished (and largely was a biology instructor at Queens Col- Koopman would sit in the front row and obscure) career, Koopman was one of the lege, and was on the staffs at the Academy invariably pose the first question, prefac- world’s leading chiropterologists. In caves, of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and ing it with a high-pitched, “Weeell, it rainforests, wildlife preserves and anywhere Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural His- seems to me that ... ” else he might find his quarry, he obses- tory; he joined New York City’s American “Send him an exotic bone,” wrote sively collected, studied and classified the Museum of Natural History in 1961, author and naturalist Diane Ackerman, only mammals that flap hither and yon. where he stayed for 24 years. “and he could swiftly identify it down to Koopman pored over these “flying foxes” But Koopman didn’t restrict himself the subspecies.” In 1944, a little brown bat in laboratories, published widely and held to his office. Though he wasn’t exactly (Myotis lucifugus) was found in Iceland, forth endlessly about them in public. built for fieldwork — stout and dwarfish, to which no bats are native. Years later, “There’s been a tremendous amount of perhaps 5 ft. tall, with sensitive skin — he Reykjavik’s Museum of Natural History misunderstanding about bats,” he said in a circled the globe twice in pursuit of his sent Koopman the preserved specimen, 1979 interview for United Press Interna- game. He had a penchant for the Carib- hoping for an explanation. Identify- tional. “I’d say they’re as friendly as gerbils.” bean and Latin America, gathering and ing it as a North American (as opposed scrutinizing bats in Jamaica, the Bahamas, to European) variety, he figured that the Virgin Islands, the Lesser Antilles, this particular gatecrasher had swooped Belize, Bolivia and Mexico. aboard a ship at St. John’s, Newfoundland, Slowly and steadily, he acquired an and inadvertently stowed away. After all, international reputation. In books and Koopman pointed out, there was plenty some 100 scholarly articles, Koopman of heavy shipping between St. John’s and made major contributions to bat classifi- Reykjavik during WWII. cation and evolution. His specialty was bat He dealt with laymen, too. A New biogeography — describing how bats were York Times reader once asked in a Q&A, distributed throughout the world and “How can a bat hang upside down for explaining how they got there. long periods without damaging its brain?” Koopman’s fascination, suggested fel- Koopman replied, “This is like saying, low chiropterologist Thomas A. Griffiths, ‘How are you able to stand up and not came from wanting to fill a scientific void: have blood collect in your feet?’” When “He did something no one had ever done someone reported a 130-lb. Philippine bat before — examining the regions of the with a 12-ft. wingspan, he brushed it off earth and seeing how bats related to as a “zoological tall tale.” He dismissed them. And that inspired other scientists popular myths that bats are inordinately to do the same thing.” When Koopman rabid and will fly into your hair. “I don’t began his research, his friend and col- know how that particular superstition got league Merlin Tuttle estimated, there started,” he said. were approximately 850 bat species. By Koopman was a dedicated scholar. In the time his career was over, there were 1977, Queen Elizabeth II visited the Tktk tktk tktktk around 1,300. North American Symposium on Bat

8 CCT Winter 2019–20 Around Quadsthe

Research in Ottawa. Koopman’s col- the passive “yang” and the active “yin” — delicate techniques he used to dissect his leagues were atwitter. But he cared only because the yinochiroptera had a uniquely prizes died with him. But his name lives about the proceedings. “My ancestors mobile bone in its upper jaw. Once, on in the Latin classifications of various fought a war,” he said, “so that I wouldn’t tongue planted firmly in cheek, he said he mammals, including two varieties of mice, have to be excited about that monarchy!” welcomed global warming: “It extends the a rat and a porcupine. And he had a puckish sense of bat ranges of all those tropical bats! They’ll be And, of course, he has a couple of bats humor. In trying to define “microbats,” up in North America where I can study to his nomenclatural credit: the yellow- he proposed two types: yangochiroptera them more easily!” shouldered Sturnira koopmanhilli and the and yinochiroptera. Koopman drew the Koopman died on the Upper West brown fruit-eater Koopmania concolor. The names from the Confucian doctrine of Side on September 22, 1997. Many of the “mania” in the latter was entirely apropos.

StudentSpotlight “While I grew up in BRANCHING OUT ALUMNI ENCOUNTERS New Jersey, my family “I’m taking a class right now that I def- “I don’t think you is originally initely wouldn’t have can go to school thought about taking anywhere else and Egyptian. This when I was a fresh- walk down the street man: ‘Reincarnation and someone who is a huge part of and Technology,’ ran track in 2006 can my identity.” with Professor David see your backpack Kittay [GSAS’11]. and go, ‘Oh my God, The first class on the are you on the track syllabus was titled team?’ That’s not ‘Disorientation,’ and going to happen at I’ve been utterly any other school.” disoriented since — A SPEECH IN in a good way.” A GOOD SPORT PRAISE OF LOVE

THE PRIME VIEW “As an athlete, “My favorite Core I think I’m obliged reading, collectively, “I’m a big fan of the to like Dodge but is Symposium –– Milstein Center and also obliged to and not just because those green comfy not like Dodge!” it’s short and sweet. chairs that look out You read a lot of over Broadway –– serious texts in I’ve finished multiple Lit Hum; I think papers there.” being able to laugh Meet women’s track through Symposium and field team captain was a nice break.” “Outside of class, I’m an athlete MARYAM HASSAN ’20, a Middle Eastern SIDE HUSTLE — I’m a triple jumper on the track studies major (with “When I got here team — and I’m the co-chair for the a concentration in I started shooting Arab/Middle Eastern family tree in the anthropology) from photos for fun and Cresskill, N.J. then I got a job Columbia Mentoring Initiative. I also working for Athlet- really, really love photography — I’ve ics. I’ve been covering home games since been doing it since I was in high school.” my sophomore year!”

Winter 2019–20 CCT 9 FacultyLounge

Nathan has chaired, directed and served in various leadership roles across Columbia. He is currently part of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, which facilitates teaching and research on East, Southeast and Inner Asia; and is on the board of advisors for the Institute for the Study of Human Rights, which provides interdisciplinary human rights education. ISHR’s Advocates Program brings activ- ists from all over the world to campus in the fall semester, and Nathan welcomes them as guest speakers in his “Introduc- tion to Human Rights” course. “Students get to see the actual people who do the work they’re studying,” he says. JÖRG MEYER Despite his deep connection to China, Nathan has been banned from entering the country since 2001, after the publica- tion of The Tiananmen Papers, the book Andrew J. Nathan he co-edited with Perry Link. A whistle- blower approached Nathan with documents By Jill C. Shomer exposing the political process around the 1989 Tiananmen crisis; Nathan spent several years authenticating the material and ndrew J. Nathan has been get a Ph.D. in political science. “I did defi- supervising the translation with his friend teaching at Columbia for nitely enjoy the study of China,” Nathan Link, then a professor of East Asian studies nearly 50 years; as he points says. “But it took years of teaching for me to at Princeton. When the story broke it got a out, he was even born in get into the poli sci part.” lot of attention — The New York Times ran Columbia-Presbyterian He taught at the University of Michi- a front-page article and Nathan appeared hospital.A The Class of 1919 Professor of gan as a post-doc before being hired on 60 Minutes — which resulted in both Political Science, Nathan is an expert in at Columbia in 1971. Early on in his Nathan and Link being barred. Chinese politics and foreign policy; he College career, Nathan was asked to “Some Chinese officials have said they teaches students from the College, Bar- teach Contemporary Civilization. “It was want to give me a visa — maybe they think nard, GS, SIPA and GSAS about China, a struggle at first because I hadn’t had a it’s been long enough, or they like what I political participation, political culture broad liberal arts education,” he says. But did — but they don’t dare unless someone and human rights. he grew to love it, and has taught it since. above them takes responsibility, and that Nathan became interested in China Nathan has helped generations of hasn’t happened,” Nathan says. “I never somewhat by accident. His father was young people to better understand China push it. I’m waiting for an invitation. It “a spiritually questing” person who read and the world they live in; he won the would be good to go and get a more tan- about Zen Buddhism. As a first-year Har- Mark Van Doren Award for Teaching gible sense of the mood, but I can continue vard sophomore (“I was allowed to skip in 2008. “My students have gone into my work without being there in person.” my freshman year — a bad idea”), Nathan teaching, into the media, into think tanks, Nathan has authored more than a needed a social science class; remembering the State Department, the CIA,” he says. dozen less controversial books (most his father’s fascination with the Orient, he (He didn’t teach Barack Obama ’83, “but recently, 2012’s China’s Search for Security) signed up for “History of East Asia.” I participated in a briefing for him when and regularly publishes in academic jour- “In 1960, that seemed very exotic,” he he was President.”) “You don’t change the nals. He’s the Asia/Pacific book reviewer says. It turned out to be his favorite course. world as a college professor,” he says. “But for Foreign Affairs, and contributes articles Nathan declared a major in history I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to say to its website to help readers understand with a focus on modern China, and began what I want to say and be listened to, and China’s point of view on subjects such as studying intensive Chinese — one of only a that’s been a privilege. the recent protests in Hong Kong. few undergraduates to invest in a seemingly “Those semesters in CC when students Outside the classroom, Nathan stays useless language at a time when the United are reading Rousseau or Nietzsche and you busy with his four children (son Oliver is a States and China had no friendly contact. see them get hooked, when the conversa- College senior; daughter Alexa is a Barnard Upon graduation, Nathan was awarded a tion gets going and you can just duck grad) and one grandchild. He loves muse- fellowship to study in Hong Kong; when under the table and let the conversation rip, ums, and hopes to take art history courses he returned to Harvard for a master’s in that’s very cool,” Nathan adds. “The con- when he retires — whenever that is. “I’m 76, East Asian studies, his advisor suggested he nectivity of it is extraordinarily gratifying.” but teaching is too much fun to stop now!”

10 CCT Winter 2019–20 Be an Ambassador for Columbia College

Support Alma Mater by Interviewing High School Students in Your Community

Volunteer with the Alumni Representative Committee and interview students who are applying to Columbia College. It’s quick, easy and fun! You’ll support Admissions and also help bring Columbia to life for these students. Your insight and experience is extremely valuable, and interviews are now even easier with our virtual interviewing option!

Visit college.columbia.edu/alumni-interviewing to learn more. Regular decision interviewing begins January 2, 2020. ROAR, LION, ROAR

Lions Pounce on Penn

Columbia’s 75th Homecoming was a sunny, rollicking game, as the Lions dominated Penn in a 44–6 win — their largest margin of victory ever in a Homecoming matchup. “We picked a good time to play our best football of the year,” said Al Bagnoli, the Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football. As part of the festivities, the Columbia College Alumni Association held its annual gathering of food and fun, with lawn games, archery and more. Photos by Jenna Bascom and Columbia Athletics

12 CCT Winter 2019–20 ROAR! For more photos, go to facebook.com/alumnicc/photos.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 13 FIREPOWERBY ALEXIS BONCY SOA’11 JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER ANN KIM ’95 IS BRINGING THE HEAT TO THE TWIN CITIES

SPACECRAFTING KIM AT THE OVEN AT PIZZERIA LOLA.

FIREPOWER nn Kim ’95 has made an art of playing with fire. pizzas-and-more menu leaned into her Korean heritage Over the past decade, the elemental hiss and and relied on the alchemy created by cooking in that same crackle has fueled the Minneapolis chef ’s rise to style of wood-fired oven (two, in fact) and over a wood- A national prominence and, earlier this year, a James burning grill. Young Joni was named the Star Tribune Beard Award as best chef in the Midwest. It’s the essential 2017 Restaurant of the Year, one of GQ’s Best New Res- ingredient at two of her three Twin Cities restaurants: At taurants in America and one of Travel & Leisure’s leading her hand, it will make you rethink a dish as simple as roasted reasons for food lovers to visit the Twin Cities. (Plus it’s cauliflower and go downright swoony over a charred yet Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs’s favorite restaurant — no somehow still chewy pizza crust. A wood-fired oven stands small endorsement in the city of the Minneapolis Miracle.) literally at the center of Kim’s first shop, Pizzeria Lola; its Young Joni’s success also cemented Kim’s role in what’s gleaming copper back appears to arriving diners more like a been widely touted as a regional dining revolution. Richard Serra sculpture. Only after rounding a bend to sit at “It’s really about understanding fire and how to manipu- the bar does the open mouth reveal the flame. late it,” Kim said. “It’s not autopilot — we’re not going to “Cooking by fire, to me, is a craft,” Kim told me back in turn up the convection oven and just go. You have to focus, July; we were sitting in a booth at Lola, just feet from the pay attention, be patient. And you have to practice. Some- shiny hull. “It’s something that you can’t teach via textbook. times the fire is going to have its own mind and you have to It’s a physical, visceral something that you feel in your body. work around that. But that to me is exciting.” “We burned a lot of pizzas,” Kim added. “We made a lot of shitty pizza before we made good pizza in this oven. We learned. And we evolved.” My lunch with Kim had been in the works for months — Part of the evolution was remaking the dough recipe she’d nearly moved so she could attend an invitation-only, wood- exactingly developed in her home kitchen. “How that recipe fire cooking event in Ireland, then back on again. Arriving would react and cook in a home oven that got up to 500 early, I took time to drive the neighborhood, technically the degrees max is very different than what happens when you outskirts of Minneapolis, where the city meets the friendly get up to 900 degrees-plus. It was back to the drawing board, suburb of Edina. But “neighborhood” was the word for it. testing, until I found the crust that I really wanted to make.” The side streets were primarily residential, and even the That was in 2010, and after opening a slice shop, Hello main road that Pizzeria Lola fronts was house-lined and Pizza, as her sophomore venture, Kim returned to the fiery sleepy; another 10 minutes passed before I reached a typi- theme in November 2016, with Young Joni. The inventive cal small-town cluster of retail, coffee shops and eateries.

THE RESTAURANT PROJECT

16 CCT Winter 2019–20 FIREPOWER

In fact, Kim seems so comfortable with who she is that it’s THE BIBIM GRAIN SALAD FROM hard to imagine that her younger self struggled with expec- YOUNG JONI. tations that she’d pursue a different path — one that ended in a job with letters after it, “you know, Ph.D., M.D., J.D.” She characterizes hers as “a stereotypical immigrant story — the family moves here, they want their children to have a better life.” But the particulars of her experience are quick to emerge: Her family came to Apple Valley, Minn., from Korea when Kim was 4. They didn’t have a lot of money; her father had been an accountant before the move, but here worked in a bottle factory and, later, for the post office; her mother (the “Young” of Young Joni) was a housekeeper in a nursing home. By her own account, Kim was always a creative person, but felt repressed growing up; she was drawn to Columbia

THE RESTAURANT PROJECT by the Core Curriculum and because it was the kind of good school her parents wanted her to attend. But New York also spoke to her secret ambition to be an actress. Kim later told me that her and her husband Conrad Lei- After graduation, she briefly dabbled in law firm jobs before fur’s first home was less than a mile away. “We were walk- returning to Minnesota, where she could manage the cost ing our dog and we saw a for-lease sign. It used to be a local of living while wading into the theater scene. As soon as convenience store; we said, ‘This is it.’” she was cast in a full-time acting gig, she quit her job with Location, as I came to learn, was an essential part of Kim’s vision. When dreaming about what she wanted in a place of her own, she thought back to her College days: “AS A CHEF, I’VE FOUND MY CALLING AND THIS IS “One thing I really missed in Minneapolis was pizza — MY EXPRESSION. THIS IS MY BEST SELF.” and the other was a restaurant that felt like home. Because being in New York, you could go to any corner and there was always a small little neighborhood joint. Here, it was the general counsel of a small company. Her parents found lots of chains. I wanted a place where I’d love my surround- out only after calling there one day to speak with her. ings, love the people that I worked with and could get to “They were really disappointed; they sort of disowned me know my guests as family.” for a period of time. They really thought that I was destroy- Walking in the door at Lola (named, incidentally, for ing my life, that there was no future in it.” She again kept it Kim’s sweet-faced Weimaraner), I certainly felt the warmth to herself when she set her sights on becoming a chef. of a small-town spot. The decor was simple and cheerful, lots Today, Kim says, that’s all far in the past. Her parents of wood and recycled light fixtures. A back-lit, black-lettered now do drive-bys to see if her restaurants are busy. “I was specials sign had the look of something pulled from a road- always fighting who I really was,” Kim muses, “what my side ice cream stand. Strips of smiling and goofy faces, taken soul really felt, versus what I felt like I had to do and had to in the restaurant’s photo booth, lined a side wall. be. And now, as a chef, I’ve found my calling and this is my Kim arrived a few minutes after me — voice bright, with expression. This is my best self.” a hint of Minnesota accent — and ordered up a heap of food: the aforementioned cauliflower, a matchstick zucchini special and meatballs that on another day could have been Growing up in Minnesota in the 1970s, Kim recalls, there the main event. There were also two dizzyingly good pizzas: wasn’t a lot of diversity in the food at the grocery store. the Xerxes (a Greek-y pizza with feta, sautéed spinach and What couldn’t be bought had to be made by her mother and Marcona almonds) and the Korean BBQ (beef short ribs, maternal grandmother. At a young age, Kim was helping scallions, soy-chili vinaigrette). The latter is their bestseller, to make kimchi (they brined cabbage in the family kiddie a one-week special that was brought back for good after pool to make batches large enough to last the winter). In bummed-out customers kept calling to complain. the summer, she tended a garden planted with Korean veg- As we talked, I found Kim to be exuberant, sincere, etable seeds that her mother had smuggled in. While Kim uncensored. I was reminded that this is the woman who never dreamed of becoming a chef per se, she always loved to several years ago went viral with a tweet declaring, “Fuck entertain and have people over. “I’m such an active go-go-go fear, lesson learned” — a reference to how she’d nearly person, but when we cook together and gather people and launched her career with the “safe choice” of franchising slow down, it always gave me a lot of peace and satisfaction.” a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop. This is also the woman Cut to 2009. It was the recession, and Leifur had recently who opened her James Beard acceptance speech by tear- lost his job in finance; she was unhappy and looking for more ily admitting that she’d just come back from the restroom, agency in her work than acting allowed. “We said, let’s do where she’d taken off her Spanx. something that feeds us emotionally, where we wake up and

Winter 2019–20 CCT 17 we’re grateful,” Kim recalled. “Conrad’s the one who said, ones who are trying to achieve greatness.” Ultimately, Kim ‘You’re an amazing cook. Why don’t we open a restaurant?’” designed what she calls “a neo-Neapolitan pie,” with a crust Then came the near-contract to open a Jimmy John’s, that combined attributes of her holy trinity: Neapolitan (soft and their decision to take the leap to open the pizza place and bubbly), classic New York (foldable yet crispy) and New of their dreams. Kim spent countless hours in her home Haven-style (charred and coal-fired). kitchen developing her ideal crust — for her, the key to a When Pizzeria Lola opened in late 2010, Kim was great pie. She did a deep dive into artisan bread-making kneading all of the dough herself; she devised a menu that books, visited crust-obsessed corners of the internet and was simple, seasonal and pizza-focused. In a last-minute kept records of every trial, noting the relative humidity and twist, she experimented with Korean flavors — thus was outside temperature, and how it reacted with her dough. born the kimchi-topped Lady ZaZa. It was a natural com- (Kim is by her own admission a recovering perfectionist.) bination for Kim, who’d added the fermented favorite to When Kim realized she’d need professional help, she pizza (and every other meal) as a kid. For customers, it was a enrolled in an intensive course at Tony Gemignani’s Interna- radical departure. “A lot of people said, ‘We don’t know what tional School of Pizza, in San Francisco. (“I didn’t know it at kimchi is,’ and I always replied, ‘If you don’t like it you don’t have to pay for it, but give it a go if you’re curious.’ I kind of chuckle to think that a lot of customers’ first exposure to KIM DESIGNED WHAT SHE CALLS “A NEO-NEAPOLITAN kimchi is on our pizza, but if that expands their horizons and makes them want to explore Korean cuisine, or other PIE,” WITH A CRUST THAT COMBINED ATTRIBUTES cuisines they’re unfamiliar with, then hey, that’s awesome.” OF HER HOLY TRINITY: NEAPOLITAN (SOFT AND Early success for Lola came from word of mouth. Then, in 2012, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives came calling. “The first BUBBLY), CLASSIC NEW YORK (FOLDABLE YET CRISPY) question I asked was, ‘Do we have to close?’” Kim says with a laugh. “All I could think was, we need butts in seats, we AND NEW HAVEN-STYLE (CHARRED AND COAL-FIRED). need to pay this restaurant off.” Knowing when the episode would air, they timed a change in their schedule and offered lunch for the first time the next day. “Thirty minutes before the time, but if you want to learn about every style of pizza, we opened, we had a line out the door,” Kim recalls. “It was he is kind of the man,” Kim says.) That’s where she fell in love nonstop, just packed, until we closed. It was bonkers.” with fire, and returned for several apprenticeships. “There was Looking back, Kim says they turned inexperience into a lot of R&D,” says Gemignani. “Ann was very particular; she an asset: “We were open to any sort of possibility because would drill me. She knew what she wanted, and when we’d we didn’t know that you ‘shouldn’t do that.’” But since then try something she’d say — ‘nah, it’s too soft, it’s too wet, that’s she has also learned: “If your intention is there and you not it.’ It wasn’t easy. But sometimes the best students are the listen to your gut, it usually turns out right.”

Back at Lola, shortly before our pizzas arrived, a couple stopped by the table to introduce themselves — “We saw you and couldn’t help ourselves,” the woman said. She asked about the “epic dinner” Kim had posted on Instagram the night before, and Kim easily fell into a few minutes of chat (as it happened, the dinner was a home-grilled affair by friend and fellow James Beard winner Alex Roberts, to cel- ebrate Kim’s award). “We’re such fans,” the woman said by way of goodbye. “We love everything you do.” “Everything,” at this stage, includes three restaurants; a fourth is on the way. Kim leads the culinary side of the house while Leifur is CFO (they founded parent company Vestalia Hospitality in 2015). “I love the act of inspiration, creating things and coming up with ideas and places where people can gather,” Kim said. “If there’s something missing — if I say, ‘I wish this existed here’ — then something starts to bubble up. ‘Is anyone doing this? Why isn’t anyone doing this? We should have this.’” She walked me through some of her a-ha moments: an old hardware store struck her as the place for a classic New York slice joint — what became the playful Hello, Pizza in 2013. (The vibe was evident even under construction, thanks to the PIZZERIA LOLA giant Lionel Richie banner in the window.) Young Joni came

18 CCT Winter 2019–20 FIREPOWER from a visit to Northeast Minneapolis, an up-and-coming, artist-driven part of the city. Kim envisioned a neighborhood restaurant like Lola, “but one that was a little different, a little more sophisticated, a little sexier.” The result was a handsome, wood-beamed space that conjures what master food writer Adam Sachs termed a “Korean-Midwestern hygge”; Kim has said that she wants diners to feel like they’re getting wrapped in a bear hug. Kim gets atmosphere, according to Star Tribune restaurant critic Rick Nelson. “I think that comes from being in the theater,” he says. “Her places aren’t showy, but they feel special. She also gets hospi- tality in a way that I think a lot of people here don’t.” He noted that at Young Joni, a lot of the seats are around counters or large communal tables that encourage sharing and conversation. “Minnesotans are a very stand-offish kind of people,” Nelson, a lifelong resident, says with a laugh. “We’re polite, but we’re very particular about per- sonal space. At Young Joni alone, Ann has taught people, it’s really fun to go out THE RESTAURANT PROJECT THE RESTAURANT and sit next to a stranger and get to know them and talk about food and drink and the city and world.” In the bigger picture, Kim is in fact contributing to an She is adamant about not wanting to be pigeon-holed, evolution in Twin Cities dining culture. It goes beyond cul- and indeed, an obsession with handmade Oaxacan tortillas tivating a more social experience; it’s also an expansion of is at the heart of her upcoming not-quite-Mexican enter- tastes. What many think of as traditional Minnesota fare prise. “My food is an amalgam of what feels authentic to — hotdish and tater tots, or Scandinavian fare like lutefisk me — my palate, my soul, my story, my history. And once or lefse — is no longer the dominant mode. Kim credits you try it you can decide what it means to you.” the change in part to a diversifying population: “People are She recalled her mother at the hearth, “throwing a Japa- looking for food that not only challenges them but is also nese sweet potato on the coals on a winter day and us peeling just good. It’s no longer about saying this is ‘ethnic cuisine.’ it and eating it like candy. Those are the flavor memories I It’s just, this is the food that represents who we are as a have. We grew up with very little money, but her food was community, now, in this present time.” always there for us, always comforting. The meat-and-potatoes DNA still exists here, says Nelson, “I know it sounds fluffy,” she added, “but I really do think who has a long view after more than 25 years in the business. that’s why we’re successful. It comes not from a place of “But the dining public is way more adventurous than it used pedigree or experience, but from the heart. And I think we to be, and people are willing to spend money in ways they as a community and as a didn’t before.” Kim was among the chefs he cited in a recent, nation need to do more sweeping overview that declared the Twin Cities’ ascension of this. Share. Come to HOT STUFF! to a three-star — “highly recommended” — town. “In the the table.” Kim gestured We’ve got the recipe for Pizzeria last seven or eight years there has been enormous growth in at Lola’s photo wall: Lola’s Roasted Cauliflower. Find it now at college.columbia.edu/cct/ the number of exceptional and interesting and diverse res- “We have a family that latest/feature-extras/lola. taurants here,” he says. “I think it’s become one of the most has rows and rows of exciting places to dine in the United States.” pictures from when they THE RESTAURANT PROJECT were pregnant to birth, and now that child is older. To me those are connections of Kim told me life has changed since the James Beard award. celebration and memories, and if you can bring a little com- “I wish I had 24 more hours in a day. Right now it’s about fort on a bad day — there aren’t a lot of places where you can deciding which offers and invitations are real opportuni- do that anymore. If I can provide that for people, that would ties, in line with our vision and values and goals.” be my biggest accomplishment.”

Winter 2019–20 CCT 19 How Contempor ary Civilization laid the foundation for the Core Curriculum

FirstClass By the Editors of CCT lato versus Aristotle on the polis. Augustine versus Aquinas on God and the soul. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau thrashing out the lead- ers and the led. Darwin finding our place Pamong the beasts. This is the stuff of “Introduction to Con- temporary Civilization in the West,” aka Contemporary Civilization, aka CC. For the last 100 years, every Columbia College stu- dent has alternately sweated through, fret- ted over, grappled with and (often enough) reveled in this unique required backbone of a College education. It is also, significantly, the first pillar in what became the Core Cur- riculum. Its success laid the foundation upon which first Literature Humanities, in 1937, and later Art Humanities and Music Humanities would be built. It both offered a model for how those classes might be conducted and inspired an educational purpose apart from pre-professional training: to equip stu- dents with intellectual awareness and habits of mind that would be valuable throughout their lives. And yet, CC’s founders never imagined their work would accomplish any- thing so sweeping as that. So what exactly were their ambitions? How and why was Contemporary Civilization created, and what was it like when it began? It turns out that for all the continuity and commonality CC has provided through the years, the course has traveled far from its original design. Stu- dents have read primary texts in full only since 1968, spending bleary-eyed nights with works like Machiavelli’s The Prince and Descartes’s Discourse on the Method. For roughly 20 years before that, CC’s raw material was found in two Columbia-published casebooks (“The Red Books”) that summarized, wove together and offered excerpts from seminal thinkers. Both of these iterations of the class would be nearly unrecognizable to its earliest enrollees. That’s because when CC was unveiled in 1919, immediately following the First World War, it had a highly specific purpose and what was then a radically different approach to undergraduate education. It was meant to instill in the IMAGES COURTESY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES COLUMBIA COURTESY IMAGES College’s first post-bellum classes a fundamental awareness of their essential

The view from Alma Mater in 1919. Winter 2019–20 CCT 21 FirstClass

place in the modern human race — the better to help them forestall another global conflagration and to pre- pare them in case one did explode. And yet, however foreign it may be to today’s eyes, the embryonic CC of a century ago foreshadowed the CC of 2019. From the beginning, the course has sought to introduce young minds to some of humankind’s most essential, intractable questions and dilemmas.

Turning Boys Into Men CC was the byproduct of the unprecedented carnage and social upheaval of the Great War. Millions were killed. Empires fell. A generation was strangled. Some 200 uniformed alumni from across the University died. When the smoke literally cleared on Novem- ber 11, 1918, “the war to end all wars” was not just a catchphrase. The University had done its part. In 1917, Colum- bia had introduced the Student Army Training Corps (S.A.T.C.), a government-sponsored experiment in educating citizen-soldiers that essentially consisted of uniformed students taking regular courses. Part of the instruction was a class called “War Aims” that was designed, by one account, to promote “understanding the worth of the cause for which one is fighting.” But when the guns stopped firing, an urgent ques- tion arose among some faculty members: What do we do now? Among the principals who took part in the discussion was the new dean of the College, Herbert Dean Herbert Hawkes was instrumental in Hawkes, whose 25-year tenure went on to be defined the founding of CC. by his commitment to a general liberal arts education. Hawkes believed that issues of peace were vastly more complicated than those of war, and could also be more important as a field of instruction; he saw an opportu- Dean Herbert Hawkes believed that nity — even a responsibility — to offer a course that equipped students with the tools to “participate in issues of peace were vastly more national affairs with clear judgment and intelligence.” complicated than those of war, And so the College faculty determined that “War Aims” should yield to an undefined yet mandated and could also be more important course that would consider the modern world. as a field of instruction. This metamorphosis, constituting the first step toward Contemporary Civilization, took place dur- ing crucial junctures in both College and University as 1917, Butler was still proposing a separate two-year history. At the time, many elite colleges still doubled junior college for precisely this purpose. as finishing schools that would somehow “turn boys Columbia College, meanwhile, was suffering from into men.” Scholarship often came second to the hazy benign neglect. It was not until 1907, a full decade notion of building character. after the move from West 49th Street to Morning- But character couldn’t always be built. And Colum- side Heights, that the College got its own building bia’s imperious president, Nicholas Murray Butler in the form of Hamilton Hall. Its first dean, John CC 1882 — whose tenure lasted from 1902 to 1945 Howard Van Amringe CC 1860, was very much of — cared little for budding maturity. Rather, he was the “boys into men” school of thought. Still, he some- concerned with molding his growing university into times despaired of scholarly standards. “The present a grown-up, graduate-focused, research-oriented undergraduate course of study [is] not consistent with colossus. Indeed, “Nicholas Miraculous” once accused the true purpose of an academic curriculum,” he com- undergraduates of “intellectual dawdling.” Under plained in his 1904 annual report. The end of WWI his (unrealized) “Columbia Plan” of 1905, College It was against this knotty institutional background raised questions about students could enter the University’s professional or that Contemporary Civilization was hatched. Just two peacetime education graduate programs after their sophomore year. As late months after the Armistice, on January 20, 1919, the at the College.

22 CCT Winter 2019–20 College faculty resolved that a course called Contem- porary Civilization would now be a freshman require- ment. (The name itself was punted around a bit; other candidates were “Contemporary History,” “The World We Live In” and, naturally, “Peace Issues.”) CC even won the endorsement of Butler, who shook off his lack of interest in undergraduates enough to approve of their taking a wider view of the world around them; a Jester cartoon depicted him deploying the new course as a weapon against Bolshevism. As September and the new academic year drew nearer, the program rounded into shape. Fifteen instructors, drawn from the departments of history, economics, philosophy and government, would do the teaching. Professor of Philosophy John J. Coss — the first and only director of CC until his death in 1941 — boldly predicted that the cross-disciplinary nature of the course would even benefit its preceptors, thanks to the need to teach outside their specialty. “The staff will be educating itself as well as instructing the students,” Coss wrote in the July 1919 Columbia University Quar- terly — in the process broadening their own minds, or as he put it, “break[ing] down those ‘idea-tight’ com- partments in which learning too often isolates itself.” With an average of 15 students, each section was small enough to be conducted as a discussion. Sections would meet five times a week, 9–10 a.m., complete with daily quizzes. The 1919–20 “College Announcement” made clear the ultimate goal: “To inform the student of Not the Same Old Thing Professor of Philosophy the more outstanding and influential factors of his phys- John J. Coss was the ical and social environment. By thus giving the student The first-year students drew upon a primer of some first director of CC. objective material on which to base his own judgment, it 450 pages that was prepared especially for their new is thought he will be aided in an intelligent participation class. It was Human Traits and Their Social Significance, in the civilization of his own day.” written during summer 1919 by campus philosopher Irwin Edman CC 1916, GSAS 1920. Not yet 23, he wouldn’t earn his Ph.D. for another year, yet he was charged with writing a seminal book. “To my sur- prise,” he recalled, “I found myself under forced draft … [writing] a book for the section of the course for which, apparently, no viable text existed.” Edman’s tome offered such heady chapters as “The Demand for Privacy and Individuality,” “The Devel- opment of the ‘Self,’” “Art and the Aesthetic Expe- rience” and “Morals and Moral Valuation.” It was an audacious, broad-ranging and, in many respects, idiosyncratic effort. The first two weeks of the very first incarnation of Contemporary Civilization were devoted to discussing the physical features of planet Earth and the natural resources of its major countries. Other volumes written by College faculty and graduates — many of them written specifically for CC — soon supplemented Edman’s. Among these were Man and Civilization by anthropologist John Storck CC 1922, GSAS 1929, which influenced the class’s growing tendency to look further into the past in order to understand the present; and The Making of the Modern Mind by Professor of Philosophy John Herman Randall Jr. CC 1918, GSAS 1922.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 23 FirstClass

“These texts were not easy reading,” wrote J.W. these were such CC 1923 legends as composer Richard (“Wim”) Smit, who famously taught all four of the Rodgers, Oscar-winning screenwriter Sidney Buch- basic Core Curriculum courses. “The first CC students man, humorist Corey Ford and philosopher Mortimer worked hard. The sheer mass of problems thrown at Adler, who developed his own concepts of canonical them was daunting, involving much more than a pass- texts that were eventually introduced to St. John’s Col- ing acquaintance with European and American his- lege in Annapolis. tory, social psychology, world geography, philosophy, “[A] reason for the success of the course which must economics and politics.” not be overlooked,” wrote Coss, “is to be sought in the Despite the burden, the College’s charges seemed to very nature of the freshman class, which is unusually respond. Just six weeks into the fall semester of the foun- intelligent and mature. The maturity doubtless comes dational year of 1919, Coss offered a glowing assessment in part from the four years that have just passed. The in the Columbia University Quarterly: “It is not too early war and its issues have made even boys thoughtful, to state that even the most sanguine advocates of this and the social unrest which has come with peace has innovation in freshman education are surprised by the intensified reflections.” success.” He credited the major part of the success to the Contemporary Civilization was on its way. Through fact that the students liked the material, adding: “As one word of mouth, speeches at academic conferences, rather clever freshman put it, ‘I like this course because it attention in scholarly journals and general press cover- is new and my professor is still interested in it; he is not age, the news about CC spread. Shortly before Christ- just going over the same old thing again.’” mas 1919, Hawkes estimated that more than 100 colleges and schools across the nation had requested A Tectonic Shift detailed information about it. By 1921, Spectator was Coss praised the “unusually competent group of men” calling CC “famous” and noted that Hawkes was get- who were teaching this strange new construct. But his ting about 10 letters of inquiry per week. “Rutgers Col- most personal thoughts were reserved for the hun- lege has adopted the Columbia syllabus,” Spec wrote, dreds of teenagers who were actually taking it. Among “and Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton, Chicago, and Johns Hopkins have worked out courses quite similar to Columbia’s.” The University published a sum- mary of the CC experiment in 1920 as Introduction to Contemporary Civilization: A Syllabus. “At 121 pages, followed by 32 pages of sta- tistics,” wrote Thomas Paul Bonfi- glio in Why Is English Literature? (2013), “this may be a candidate for the longest course syllabus in the country.” The whole notion of CC itself, Bonfiglio wrote, con-

The whole notion of CC itself, Thomas Paul Bonfiglio wrote, constituted “a tectonic shift in the foundations of university education.”

stituted “a tectonic shift in the foundations of university educa- tion.” That shift, however, was not a matter of drilling the thoughts of the many names that adorn Irwin Edman CC 1916, GSAS 1920 wrote the the facades of Butler Library into book — literally — on ARCHIVES undergraduate heads. Instead, this CC; his was the first text CCT was a matter of abandoning classi- used for the course.

24 CCT Winter 2019–20 CC provided a model for cal learning, including the reading of “dead” languages What’s more, although no one planned it that way, the course that became like Greek and Latin, and yanking undergraduates Contemporary Civilization — and the wider Core Literature Humanities, introduced in 1937. into an urgent, present-day life. Curriculum that followed — gave Columbia College Not everyone on campus was enamored. Some fac- something it had never quite had before: a unique ulty said the course was unteachable, or worried that intellectual and even institutional identity. Change it would serve as an alternative rather than an entice- was in the air, and on the heels of CC began the shift ment to deeper scholarly studies. But the balance in in how humanities were taught, starting with an hon- favor of CC — which by the mid-1920s was ranked ors course that emphasized reading classics in transla- by graduating seniors as the most valuable class at tion, without secondary sources — the predecessor to Columbia — far outweighed any skepticism. Con- Literature Humanities. By 1947, the four main pillars temporary Civilization would gradually, and inevita- of the Core had been established. bly, make its mark. As founding figure Edman himself Indeed, as philosophy professor Justus Buchler put it, “The incoming freshmen had the sense of par- GSAS’39 wrote in 1954, reflecting on CC for an essay ticipating in a new and exciting educational adventure composed for the University’s bicentennial, “The year … Within a year or two Columbia College seemed 1919 can be justly regarded as marking the actual always to have had a course in CC.” birth of the new Columbia College.”

Winter 2019–20 CCT 25 Mascari at Blueland’s warehouse in Newark, N.J. The Eco Entrepreneur John A. Mascari ’08 aims to make your cleaners greener By Yelena Shuster ’09

ohn A. Mascari ’08 was 7 years old when he stopped eating his buffalo wing mid-bite. He noticed what looked like a vein and thought about the lion posters and bison wallpaper he saw every night before bed, and about the summer camp he attended that was Jon the same property as a cow farm. That night, to the consternation of his meat-eating Italian household, Mas- cari became the first in his suburban Buffalo community to stop eating all meat and seafood. (This was the ’90s.) It was social suicide. (This was Buffalo.) Like many of us, Mascari lost some of his idealistic resolve as he grew up. But a few years ago, with Earth burn- ing, glaciers melting and oceans choking on plastic, Mascari found his thoughts returning to his childhood commit- ment. Already an entrepreneur, he didn’t just start compost- ing or bringing a tote bag to the grocery store — he went all in. From his home in Boulder, surrounded by majestic mountains, Mascari made a new pact: his next business would be devoted to helping the environment. You could even say he’s making up for lost time. Because nearly three decades after his first pact, he has resolved to rid the world of plastic — starting with your cleaning supplies. Eight months ago, Mascari and co-founder Sarah Paiji Yoo debuted their eco-venture Blueland to much fanfare. The online company launched with $3 million in venture capital ( Justin Timberlake is an investor), won the Harvard Business School Global Alumni New Venture Competi- tion and was featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fast Company and Vogue. In September, Blueland appeared on

Photographs by Jörg Meyer The Eco Entrepreneur

ABC’s Shark Tank and landed a deal with investor Kevin were giants like Pepsi and Coke) to take a chance on an O’Leary, leading to a valuation of $9 million. unproven startup. The winning pitch? Instead of buying a new bottle of Lifestyle influencer Whitney Port — a Bundle con- Windex every time you run out, you have one “Forever” sumer and fan whom Mascari recruited as the company’s bottle you refill with just-add-water cleaning tablets that chief brand director — witnessed this tenacity firsthand. clock in at a mere $2 each. “John has the ability to redirect when people say no,” Port The ambitious goal is to eliminate single-use plastic says. “He will somehow creatively turn it into a yes. He’s while reducing carbon emissions, as the tablets are 300 always trying to figure out ways around roadblocks.” times lighter to ship than conventional equivalents. And His persistence paid off. Bundle made it to national that’s just to start. Mascari wants to transform the entire retail shelves, including Target and buybuyBaby. Four $60 billion cleaning supply industry so it’s non-toxic, years after launching, Mascari sold Bundle to natural waste-free and still profitable. product powerhouse 1908 Brands. Mascari can’t reveal “The world is in crisis mode,” Mascari says, his baritone the dollar amount, but more important than the money (with a hint of upstate New York) filling the room. “I want was finding the right mission-based partner. “When Blueland to be a definitive case study about how to build a I sold Bundle, I was deliberate in finding it a very eco- business that thinks first about the environment, and is still focused home,” he says. “There were other potential more successful than any business that’s come before it.” investors, but I loved knowing that the business would If Mascari sounds confident, it might be because he be joining a company with environmentalism at its core.” already hit the startup jackpot once before. His first busi- ness was inspired by his then-pregnant sister’s difficulty he inspiration for Blueland started with a close look finding a balance of nutrients in her diet. Fresh out of Tat a bottle of Windex. Turns out the ingredients are Harvard Business School, at only 27 years old, Mascari 97 percent water and only 3 percent active cleaning agent. created Bundle Organics, the first line of non-GMO, This “seemed bananas” to someone with Mascari’s bever- vitamin-fortified, pasteurized juices designed for preg- age background. Why ship a product that’s mostly water nant women. around the world when you can just use the tap and reduce Bundle was Mascari’s first experience with building a your carbon footprint and operating costs? supply chain: the manufacturing, packaging and deliv- After realizing the water ratio applied to most cleaning ery process that transforms an idea into a viable prod- supplies, Mascari and Paiji Yoo — who met at Harvard uct. It took him a relentless pavement-pounding year — recruited chemist Syed Naqvi from non-toxic clean- to convince his preferred supplier (whose other clients ing giant Method to join the founding team as their head of development. Blueland launched one year later, just in time for Earth Day 2019. As CEO, Paiji Yoo is the face of the brand, handling marketing, public relations and big-picture strategy. As COO, Mascari is its legs, keeping the day-to-day opera- tions running. During the Shark Tank taping, Paiji Yoo and Naqvi pitched the concept while Mascari sat in a conference room with all of his spreadsheets in case they needed to call him with a question. “Startups are all about operating effectively in a resource- constrained environment. There is no one better to have in the trenches than John,” Paiji Yoo says. “He is really run- ning all things: manufacturing, sourcing, warehouse and fulfillment. And our partners are all across the country — he will fly there and fix any problems himself.” In fact, Blueland’s press-friendly launch date wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Mascari’s sleeves-up ethos. The weekend before, Mascari learned the branded tablet wrappers wouldn’t arrive in time to make their deadline. That night, he booked the last flight out to the manufac- turer in Florida, where he hand-stickered 3,000 tablets. Similarly, when there’s an unexpected spike in sales, Mascari hops on a red-eye to Newark, N.J., and spends the day at the warehouse, packing boxes to ensure orders don’t fall behind. “What am I going to do? Sit at my computer and say, ‘Where are these boxes? Where are these boxes?’ It ’s important for me to go there and do it,” he says.

28 CCT Winter 2019–20 aking a product that didn’t exist begins with cobbling ing with these bigger players. He “I joke that Ma supply chain together from scratch. considers Blueland — which has 18 The first problem? The tablets. “I joke that if I ever get patents pending — to be an entirely if I ever get a tattoo, it will probably be the tablet itself, or that tablet different category. “Asking a tradi- wrapper,” says Mascari, flashing his one-dimpled smile, tional liquid cleaning company to a tattoo, “because they were so impossible to put together.” reinvent itself as a dry tablet com- it will Cleaning companies don’t employ tablet-making pany is basically saying, ‘Clear the machines, as their products are liquid-based. To produce deck and start over,’” he says. probably be Blueland’s 94 percent bio-based tablets (made entirely of Bringing this vision to life has the tablet ingredients on the EPA’s safer chemical ingredients list), been exhausting. A former invest- Mascari visited 50 manufacturers ranging from medica- ment banker, Mascari is no stranger itself.” tion makers to candy factories, searching for the right to late nights in the office — a work type of machinery. ethic, he says, that was cultivated as Then there was the plastic problem — to avoid using publisher of Spectator. He works from sunrise to well past it, Mascari’s tattoo-worthy wrapper had to be developed sunset, with breaks for food and exercise. This doesn’t without impacting the quality, smell or look of the tablet include Sunday nights, when he stays up till 2:30 a.m. over time. to work with his partners in Hong Kong, where it’s Mon- “There was no way we were going to package our prod- day morning. uct in something that wasn’t compostable, recyclable and There is no guarantee that Blueland will have the same safe for children,” Mascari says. “Believe me, it would success as Bundle, and yet Mascari can’t imagine spend- have been so easy to say, ‘We’ll just do less plastic,’ because ing 15-hour days doing anything else. “To go through those machines are in abundance.” the process of trying to build a business again, which is a Blueland was rewarded with the highest rating by lead- grind, it has to be tied to something that is going to pull ing environmental agency Cradle to Cradle. Even the art- you out of bed every day,” Mascari says. “This is brand work on the “Forever” bottles was put to the test, as many new and yet already feels like my life’s work.” label paints contain known carcinogens. “Our suppliers think it’s insane that we’re sourcing inks and dyes from dif- Yelena Shuster ’09 has written for The New York Times, ferent places, but we wanted to know what was in them Cosmopolitan, InStyle and more. Her CCT Fall 2018 down to the molecular level, so we knew exactly what we cover story, “Star Power,” won a Folio: Eddie Honorable were putting into a consumer’s home,” Mascari says. Mention and a CASE Silver Award. She founded and runs Although there are plenty of eco-friendly cleaning TheAdmissionsGuru.com, where she edits admissions essays products out there, Mascari isn’t worried about compet- for college and graduate school applications.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 29 Summer Programs

Visiting Students High School Students

Undergraduates Adults College Edge & Graduates & Professionals An opportunity for high school Fall, Spring, & Summer Offerings Students enrolled at Individuals with a bachelor’s students to take for-credit another institution. or higher degree. courses on Columbia’s campus with undergraduate students Session I: May 26–July 2

Session II: July 6–August 14 Summer Immersion More than 50 areas of study to explore Immersive programs for Session 1: June 29–July 17 and endless opportunities to discover. domestic and international high school students Session 2: July 21–August 7 interested in living and Session 3: August 10–August 14 studying in New York City

sps.columbia.edu/summer20cct sps.columbia.edu/hs20cct Columbia Forum

The Scoop on a Scandal How Jodi Kantor ’96 and Megan Twohey blasted open the Weinstein story

In 2012, when Jodi Kantor ’96 was last fea- writer and editor had gained her, early on, the tured in CCT, her bestselling book The Obamas kind of recognition that many reporters strive had recently been published. Kantor — who for over the course of decades. had been named the New York Times Arts and Now, with fellow Times writer Megan Leisure editor at just 27 — was the paper’s Twohey, Kantor has written another block- Washington, D.C., correspondent. Her subtle buster. Their newsroom memoir, She Said: yet revealing portrait of the President and First Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Lady’s uneasy transition to White House life Helped Ignite a Movement (Penguin Press, was acclaimed in The New York Review of Books $28), has been hailed as the feminist equiva- Jodi Kantor ’96 (left) as “among the very best books on this White lent of The Washington Post’s famous Watergate and Megan Twohey House.” Kantor’s unusual prowess as both a exposé. (The Los Angeles Times playfully head- lined its review “‘She Said’ is more important than ‘All the President’s Men.’ There, I said it.”) A well-matched pair of reporters, Kantor and Twohey seem poised to become the jour- nalistic icons for their generation: Woodward and Bernstein, with a difference. She Said is the inside story of the New York Times investigation into complaints of sexual misconduct by Miramax Films co-founder Harvey Weinstein; the story, a 3,300-word piece about alleged abuses by Weinstein, was published by the Times on October 5, 2017, and won Kantor and Twohey (along with The New Yorker’s Ronan Farrow) the 2018 Pulit- zer Prize for Public Service. After scores of interviews, Kantor and Twohey had managed to substantiate the sinister rumors that had swirled around Weinstein for decades. The writers tirelessly sought out victims both well known (actresses Ashley Judd and Gwyneth Paltrow contributed to the investi- gation) and lower profile. They traveled exten- MARTIN SCHOELLER MARTIN sively in search of leads and breakthroughs

Winter 2019–20 CCT 31 Columbia Forum

— almost everyone they spoke to was hamstrung by a non-disclosure agreement, by a lucrative settlement or by pure fear of retribution from Weinstein. (Though Kantor claims not to have been afraid, the book describes how Weinstein hired an intelligence agency staffed by ex- Mossad agents to find a way to derail theTimes ’s report- ing efforts.) After months of hard work, Kantor and Twohey still had not located a female source with a firsthand account of abuse who was entirely sure that she wanted to speak on the record — but then, slowly, the tide turned. They began to find current and former employees who were willing to share inside knowledge and paperwork that would help substantiate the lurid stories Kantor and Twohey had uncovered. Chapter upon chapter of She The First Phone Call Said details their meticulous work. The moment when Times executive editor Dean Baquet — “jumping out of n 2013, Jodi had started investigating women’s his skin” — decides the story is finally ready to print experiences at corporations and other institu- feels seismic. tions. The gender debate in the United States The results were immediate. A day after the story’s I already seemed saturated with feeling: opinion publication, a third of Weinstein’s board had resigned; columns, memoirs, expressions of outrage or sister- days later, Weinstein himself was out. His corporation hood on social media. It needed more exposure of hidden facts. Especially about the workplace. Workers, declared bankruptcy within a year. More importantly, the from the most elite to the lowliest, were often afraid article’s revelations led to a national outpouring of sexual- to question their employers. Reporters were not. In harassment confessions, helping to reignite the “Me Too” doing those stories, Jodi had found that gender was movement activist Tarana Burke had started in 2006. “So not just a topic, but a kind of investigative entry point. many women phoned … to report allegations of sexual Because women were still outsiders at many organiza- tions, documenting what they experienced meant see- harassment and assaults against Weinstein that the paper ing how power functioned. had to assign additional reporters to handle the calls,” She wrote to actress Rose McGowan, calling on a Times contributor noted. Kantor and Twohey refer to those experiences: their piece as “a solvent for secrecy, pushing women all Here’s my own track record on these issues: Amazon, over the world to speak up.” Starbucks and Harvard Business School have all Two years later, reading the book is a euphoric expe- changed their policies in response to gender-related rience. The two reporters are at the top of their game, problems I exposed. When I wrote about the class gap in seamlessly and effectively cooperating and tag-team- breastfeeding — white collar women can pump on the ing. As feminist author Susan Faludi points out in the job, lower paid women cannot — readers responded by creating the first-ever mobile lactation suites, now Times review, it’s the journalistic equivalent of world- available in 200+ locations across the country. level sports: “Watching Kantor and Twohey pursue their If you’d rather not speak, I understand and best of goal while guarding each other’s back is as exhilarating luck with your book publication. as watching Megan Rapinoe and Crystal Dunn on the Thank you, Jodi pitch.” In the end, what impresses most is Kantor and Twohey’s fearlessness in the face of established power — McGowan wrote back within a few hours. She and the fierce adrenaline that animates them. As Kantor could talk any time before Wednesday. recently admitted to Vox, she and Twohey “kind of relish” The call seemed like it could be tricky: McGowan having had the chance to confront Weinstein’s wrong- appeared tough, with a buzz cut and that call-to-arms Twitter feed. But the voice on the phone belonged to doings. “We’re investigative journalists,” she says firmly. someone impassioned and game, who had a story and “We’re trained to do this.” was searching for the right way to tell it. Her tweets — Rose Kernochan BC’82 about being raped had just been hints, with few details.

32 CCT Winter 2019–20 Generally, the rule in interviews was that they were on the record — meaning the material could be published — unless otherwise discussed. But any woman with an assault complaint against Weinstein would prob- ably be reluctant to have even an initial conversation. So Jodi agreed that the call would be kept private until they decided otherwise, and McGowan started in. In 1997, she had been young and newly triumphant, on a heady trip to the Sundance Film Festival, where she alternated between premieres and parties and a TV camera crew followed her around. She had only been in four or five films, like the teen-horror flick Scream, but she was becoming one of the ingenues of the moment, with multiple new movies at the festival alone. “I was the belle of Sundance,” she said. Independent films were at the center of the culture, the festival was the place to be, and Harvey Weinstein was sovereign: That was where the producer-distributor had bought small films like Clerks and Reservoir Dogs, which he had turned into cultural touchstones. In her telling, McGowan didn’t remember which year this was; many actresses chronicled the past not according to date but instead to which movie of theirs was filming or being released at the time. McGowan recalled the screening where she had sat right near Weinstein: The movie was called Going All the Way, she said with an incredulous laugh. ALEC PERKINS / FLICKR Afterward, he had asked for a meeting with her, Kantor and Twohey’s blockbuster story helped reignite the “Me Too” movement started which made sense: The top producer wanted to get in 2006, leading to women all over the world speaking out against sexual harassment. together with the rising star. She went to see him at the Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley, in Park City, where they met in his room. Nothing happened except bodies as property, required them to look perfect, and the usual talk about films and roles, she said. then discarded them. On the call, her indictments But on the way out, Weinstein pulled her into a room came fast, one after another: with a hot tub, stripped her on the edge, and forced “Weinstein — it’s not just him, it’s an entire his face between her legs, according to McGowan. machine, supply chain.” She said she remembered feeling like she was leaving “No oversight, no fear.” her body, floating up to the ceiling and observing the “Each studio does the victim shaming and payouts.” scene from above. “I was just feeling massive shock, I “Almost everyone has an NDA.” was going into survival mode,” she said. To get away, “If white men could have a playground, this would McGowan said, she faked an orgasm and mentally be it.” gave herself step-by-step instructions: “Turn the door “The women here are just as guilty.” handle.” “Walk out of this meeting.” “Don’t step out of line; you can be replaced.” Within a few days, she said, Weinstein had left a mes- McGowan’s words were arresting. It wasn’t new to sage on her home phone in Los Angeles with a creepy say that Hollywood took advantage of women, forced offer: Other big female stars were his special friends, and them into conformity, and dumped them when they she could join his club as well. Shocked and distraught, aged or rebelled. But hearing a direct account of McGowan had complained to her managers, hired a exploitation from a familiar face, in full disturbing lawyer, and ended up with a $100,000 settlement from detail, and with one of the most renowned producers Weinstein — essentially, a payment to make the matter in Hollywood as the perpetrator, was entirely different: go away, without any admission of wrongdoing on his part sharper, more specific, sickening. — which she said she had donated to a rape crisis center. Did she have her records from the settlement? “They From the book SHE SAID: Breaking the Sexual Harass- never gave me a copy,” she said. ment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kan- The problem was worse than Weinstein, she said. tor and Megan Twohey. Reprinted by arrangement Hollywood was an organized system for abusing with Penguin Press, a member of Penguin Group women. It lured them with promises of fame, turned (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. them into highly profitable products, treated their Copyright © Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, 2019.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 33 alumninews

Contents A FAMILIAR FACE 35 CCAA Message 36 Lions IN THE STORM Jack Stuppin ’55, Jacquelyn Schneider ’05 Alma Mater (Latin for “nourishing mother”) 38 Bookshelf watches over campus through the dark F**k, Now There Are Two of You, days of winter. The sculpture, designed by by Adam Mansbach ’98, SOA’00 Daniel Chester French and cast in bronze by 40 Class Notes John Williams, was unveiled on September Alumni Sons and Daughters, Just Married! 23, 1903, in front of Low Memorial Library 78 Obituaries following the opening exercises to kick off the Immanuel M. Wallerstein ’51, GSAS’59; John Giorno ’58 University’s 150th academic year. 80 Core Corner KILLIAN YOUNG / COLUMBIA COLLEGE Core cartoon caption contest!

34 CCT Winter 2019–20 Message from the CCAA President alumninews

Our Vibrant Volunteers

By Michael Behringer ’89

ne of the great pleasures of being president of the Columbia OCollege Alumni Association is the opportunity to connect with so many generations of College alumni. Passions for Colum- bia run deep, as do alumni’s continued involvement with alma mater. Here, a few updates from my recent encounters with our diverse alumni volunteer community. On September 27, alumni across the decades were well repre- sented at the Core Centennial opening celebration, with almost 500 alumni, students and faculty in attendance. University Trustee Co-Chairs Jonathan Lavine ’88 and Lisa Carnoy ’89 opened and closed the event with their reflections on the Core Curriculum experience and its ongoing significance to Columbia. JENNA BASCOM At the breakfast reception, I connected with former CCAA presi- dents Gerald Sherwin ’55, Marty Kaplan ’61, Brian Krisberg ’81

and Doug Wolf ’88. I’m inspired by how engaged with the Col- focused on enhancing the undergraduate The CCAA Board of lege each of these alums remains, continually finding new ways to experience. BOV member Leslie Gittess Directors met on contribute and inspire the next generation of alumni volunteers — Brodsky ’88, who was awarded a 2019 October 19, before the myself included! Columbia Alumni Medal in recognition Homecoming festivities. I was especially excited to spend time with Noam Elcott ’00, of her many years of service, was also at Art Humanities chair and an associate professor of modern and several of the Homecoming activities. contemporary art. Noam is on the frontier of revolutionizing how Also on hand was Mila Tuttle ’96, who is very involved with fun- art history is taught, having spearheaded the use of virtual reality draising for Columbia, having co-chaired the CCAA’s Alumnae technology in the Art Hum classroom. He demoed the VR system, Legacy Circle and frequently hosted events for alumni leaders. which will be available at different events throughout the year, to I was also happy to spend time with some more recent alumni, Stephen Buchman ’59 and me — and it was impressive! We were including Brian Chung ’16 and Jocelyn Bohn ’15, co-presidents transported into Notre Dame Cathedral and the Parthenon in an of Columbia College Young Alumni, and Carl Yin ’17. Brian and immersive experience that will forever change the way we experi- Jocelyn are feeling energized by their roles and looking for young ence art. Noam also participated in a panel where he previewed the alumni volunteers to help them engage with their peers. Carl was work underway to update the Art Humanities curriculum — the excited to be back on campus, as he recently moved to San Fran- first significant change since its inception in 1947. cisco and started a position at Google with its Business Operations I thank Bernice Tsai ’96, Katie Day Benvenuto ’03 and Stefanie and Strategy group. Carl remains active on the CCAA and CCYA Katz-Rothman ’88 for their roles in helping with this incredible kick- boards, and is a CCT class correspondent. off event and for their ongoing planning of other Centennial programs I am in touch with one of CC’s newest alums, Emily Gruber still to come. Bernice and Katie, both Alumni Office staff members, ’19, who now clerks for Hon. Arthur Engoron at the New York work closely with Stefanie (chair of the Core Centennial Committee) State Supreme Court, and plans to apply to law school. Emily was to help develop and promote Centennial-related programming. The an engaged student, and I’m delighted to see that continue as an F**k, Now There Are Two of You, day was a huge success, in part due to their collective efforts. alumna. She co-chairs the Class of 2019’s First Reunion Fund- by Adam Mansbach ’98, SOA’00 Many alums returned for a great Homecoming weekend on Octo- raising Committee, was very supportive of the new Homecoming ber 18–19, topped by a 44–6 victory over Penn. This year’s activities programming and is a co-class correspondent for CCT. extended beyond Kraft Field to include a new Friday night on-campus The College is fortunate to have such a vibrant alumni volunteer pep rally (including dinner with Roar-ee), the annual Saturday alumni- community. It’s inspiring to see such commitment to giving back student lunch under the tent and a new Saturday night After Party to Columbia and wonderful that there are so many ways to remain for young alumni at the fabulous Hudson Terrace. I thank former involved with alma mater. CCAA president Kyra Barry ’87 and current CCAA secretary Chris Della Pietra ’89 for their work as co-chairs of the Homecoming and ROAR! Reunions Committee in supporting such great programming. At the game, I caught up with Tom Cornacchia ’85, chair of the Board of Visitors, who is spearheading several key BOV initiatives

Winter 2019–20 CCT 35 lions

MARK WILEY Portraying Nature in Paint

By Rebecca Beyer

n his first year at the College, in a studio course with artist time deployment to Japan, he spent a month in San Francisco and Peppino Mangravite, Jack Stuppin ’55 put the skills he learned fell in love with the city. When he left the military in 1958, he made in childhood art classes to work in a charcoal study of a live it his home, working as an insurance salesman, a stockbroker and an Imodel. The professor was not impressed. investment banker. Stuppin helped start several successful technol- “He put a big X on my drawing,” Stuppin recalls, laughing. “He ogy companies, including American Microsystems, Applied Micro said, ‘You’re a human being. You have a mind, a soul, a heart. Why do Circuits Corp. and Autodesk. Meanwhile, he painted on nights and you want to do what an inanimate object like a camera does better?’” weekends and took classes at the San Francisco Art Institute (one of The criticism might have stung, but for Stuppin, it was also freeing. his teachers was Jay DeFeo, a well-known member of the Beatnik “It liberated me,” he says. “I got looser. I let my emotions get involved.” community, who watched her students work while drinking beer and Today, Stuppin’s style as a landscape artist has evolved far from sitting on a folding chair atop a table; she called Stuppin “Smiley”). photorealistic renderings. His California and Hudson River land- By the early 1980s, Stuppin had earned enough from his invest- scapes — known for their bright, super-enriched colors — fuse ments to walk away from the business world. He also moved to a certain folk-art primitiveness with deeply personal feeling. His “the country,” settling in Sebastopol, Calif., where he still lives. work is in the permanent collections of several museums, and he Stuppin’s success is a testament to his talent and creative has had solo or group shows in galleries across the United States, approach. One technique he employs is to print large versions of including the well-known ACA Galleries in New York City and his smaller paintings and apply multiple the Berggruen Gallery in San Francisco. Now in his ninth decade, layers of paint until he has produced an CCT Stuppin shows no signs of stopping. entirely different-looking piece. Famed Print Extras Before he became a full-time artist, Stuppin, a Yonkers native, art critic Donald Kuspit ’55 wrote in a See more of Stuppin’s work at served in the Marine Corps. While awaiting orders for his peace- 2015 catalog that the paint in Stuppin’s college.columbia.edu/cct.

36 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

Hudson River landscapes is “like some kind of embalming mate- Morehouse). Their vastly different renditions of the same land- rial, immortalizing nature in wishful fantasy, magically eternalizing scapes became a currency that brought them exposure and recog- it as a touchstone for a future in which it will no longer exist.” nition, Stuppin says. Still, Stuppin says luck also has played a role in his journey. “It was very interesting to people to see four takes on the same “Everything in my life has been lucky,” he says. scene in such different styles,” he says. His introduction to Bill Wheeler, the late activist, artist and In 1995, Stuppin, Wheeler and King each spent a week working hippie commune founder, was happenstance, for instance: Stup- in the Bay Area’s Farallon Islands, producing a series of works in pin wanted to build a table and Wheeler had a portable saw mill. support of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, which manages the Wheeler then asked Stuppin to join him en plein air painting, or National Wildlife Refuge. The resulting paintings were later exhib- painting outdoors. ited at the California Academy of Sciences. “I said, ‘I haven’t painted the landscape since I was a teenager,’” Stuppin, who continues to show his work around the country, recalls Stuppin, who at the time was doing more abstract work. “I says painting is “almost like a narcotic” for him. “It’s just this com- told him, ‘I’ll go out once, but don’t ask me again.’ But then I thor- plete concentration of the brush and the paint on the canvas,” he oughly enjoyed the process.” says. “It’s part of my personality. I have to paint.” Wheeler and Stuppin became half of a group known as the Sonoma Four (the other members were Tony King and William Rebecca Beyer is a freelance writer and editor in Boston.

Researching Nuclear Risk

By Nathalie Alonso ’08

ocial science meets Dungeons & Dragons” is how Jacque- Argentina and Thailand. Professors at Cornell and the University of lyn Schneider ’05 describes the innovative war game she Wisconsin have also run the game with undergraduates, allowing designed to assess if and how a cyberattack could lead to Schneider to compare the results to those produced by players consid- “S nuclear war. ered experts in crisis decision making. The early returns are heartening: A fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, Schneider’s work is at the “We’re finding that people tend to downplay their own vulnerabilities, intersection of technology, political psychology and national security. which decreases incentives to use nuclear weapons,” says Schneider. For her current study, she has recruited military and foreign policy Schneider was first exposed to war games as an intelligence offi- officials, cybersecurity experts and business leaders worldwide to par- cer in the Air Force (she enrolled in ROTC to fund her studies ticipate in a tabletop game in which four to six players simulating a at the College), a job that sent her to Japan and South Korea for national security cabinet are asked to respond to a hypothetical crisis. six years following graduation. “I immediately used the knowledge Unlike traditional war games used by the military, Schneider’s from all the great courses I took in political science and econom- experimental game is academic. She’s testing for variables; specifi- ics,” she notes. cally, whether a state’s access to cyber weapons or known vulner- After leaving active duty in 2011, Schneider earned a master’s abilities in its nuclear control program would stop or motivate it from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. from The George to use nuclear weapons. “I am always interested in how the human Washington University, both in political science. She’s still an Air being interacts with the technology,” Schneider says. Force reservist assigned to U.S. Cyber Command; prior to being Schneider’s game is more ambitious than most in its scope: It named a Hoover Fellow last summer, Schneider taught at the U.S. has been research deployed in several countries, including Norway, Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Last summer, Schneider was also appointed to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as a senior policy advisor. Created in 2019, the bipartisan commission looks to develop a comprehensive U.S. cyber policy. Schneider’s first book,The Rise of Unmanned Technolo- gies: Explaining the American Desire for Drones, co-authored with Julia McDonald of the University of Denver, is slated for publica- tion in 2020. “I want to do work that makes the U.S. safer and more pros- perous,” says Schneider. “The puzzles that I’m drawn to — about

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY SOUTHERN METHODIST cybersecurity, about unmanned technologies, about strategic stabil- ity — are things that we desperately need answers on.”

Nathalie Alonso ’08, from Queens, is a freelance writer and an edi- torial producer for LasMayores.com, Major League Baseball’s official Spanish-language website.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 37 bookshelf

Putting the “F” in Family

By Jill C. Shomer

an you name a number 1 New York Times bestseller that more he founded a hip-hop journal, Elementary, and straddled the has the F-word in the title? Your ability to answer experience of being a student while running a magazine full-time. may depend on whether you have small children — “There were deep, vibrant conversations going on in and around the C we’re referring to 2011’s Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam culture that weren’t being reflected in print, so I thought I could do Mansbach ’98, SOA’00. The real-talk bedtime book (expertly something about that,” he says. “Elementary became a great com- profane actor Samuel L. Jackson narrates the audio version) was munity of writers and artists and rappers and DJs.” a smash with parents worldwide, allowing them to acknowledge He was also a fan of jazz, and in his junior year, Mansbach and laugh at the frustration of having youngsters who refuse to sail became a roadie for the drummer Elvin Jones. “He was John Col- peacefully to dreamland. trane’s drummer in the ’60s, pretty much the greatest drummer After a sequel, 2014’s You Have to F**king Eat, Mansbach is who ever lived,” he says. “I traveled the world with him.” Jones back with another children’s book. F**k, Now There Are Two of inspired Mansbach’s first novel, Shackling Water, published in 2002. You (Akashic Books, $15.95) reflects the author’s reality, and then Mansbach says the leap from novels to Go the F**k to Sleep hap- some: Mansbach now has three daughters (“TWO OF THEM pened accidentally. “When your mind works in a satirical way ARE UNDER TWO YEARS OLD,” his bio exclaims). “We had and you think you’re funny, you just say stuff,” he says. “I was with the first girl and from that point on I was like, ‘please let the rest friends and made a joke about writing a kids’ book called ‘Go the be girls,’” he told CCT. “Girls have their shit together much more.” F**k to Sleep!’ and as soon as I said it, I sort of knew what that book Still, he says, “two is a million more kids than one.” In Two of You, would be, how it would play with the tropes of the bedtime book.” Mansbach locates the humor in stressful group outings, loss of adult He was surprised by the instant response (“I was mostly tickled time, anxiety over future college tuition, and yes, bedtime. The audio that it was even going to be published!”). But at the same time he book is narrated by famously became a bestselling author, personal tragedy struck: Mansbach’s acerbic comedian Larry David. younger brother took his life. “It’s taken me a long time to talk Though theF**k books are about it,” he says. “I was publicly doing all of this shit, navigating his most widely known (he also the sudden fame of the book, and privately going through the worst penned G-rated versions for experience I’ve ever had.” Mansbach’s next book, to be published in parents to read aloud without September 2020, is a poetic memoir called I Had a Brother Once. changing the words), Mans- Mansbach was thinking of the College when he wrote the bach’s bibliography is unusu- screenplay for Barry, the 2016 film directed by Vikram Gandhi ’00 ally multi-genre. In addition to that imagines Barack Obama ’83 as a young man. “What drew me writing for older kids (Benjamin to focusing on that part of his life is that it’s so opaque, it lends itself Franklin: Huge Pain in My …), to wholesale invention,” Mansbach says. “I had his memoir and a Mansbach writes poetry (Genius smattering of articles for sourcing, but it was mostly retrofitting B-Boy Cynics Getting Weeded in who he was then based on who he is now. I was largely drawing the Garden of Delights), and his on Vikram’s and my experiences at Columbia.” Mansbach’s screen- novels have ranged from satire play was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and a Film (Angry Black White Boy), to saga Independent Spirit Award, both in 2017.

MATTHEW L. KAPLAN MATTHEW (The End of the Jews), to super- Today, reflecting on the latest in his cuss-filled collection, Mans- natural (The Devil’s Bag Man). bach says, “Go the F**k to Sleep became fodder for think pieces about His years at the College were similarly unorthodox: Mansbach, the state of parenting, but these books are an affirmation that we’re who grew up in Boston, was a rapper and a DJ from a young age, not going through this alone — it’s an opportunity for a sort of and “within 72 hours of arriving at Columbia I found everyone shared catharsis. I’ll probably leave a few copies of Two of You at who rapped,” he says. “There weren’t that many of us.” As a sopho- the doctor’s office when I go for my vasectomy.”

38 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

Paul Gaugin’s Son: The Life The Second Founding: How the John O’Hara: Four Novels of the funds against corporate exploitation and Times of Emile Gaugin by Civil War and Reconstruction 1930s edited by Steven Goldleaf ’76. (Harvard University Press, $35). Francis Butterworth ’57 and David Remade the Constitution by In one volume, four novels about the McIntyre. Butterworth, formerly a Eric Foner ’63. The Pulitzer Prize- pursuit of pleasure and status in Jazz The First Dinosaur: How Science professor of genetics and molecular winning scholar outlines the history Age America, from the author who Solved the Greatest Mystery on biology, provides a comprehensive of three constitutional amendments has been called “the real Fitzgerald” Earth by Ian Lendler ’96. The idea account of a son living in the that built equality into America’s (Library of America, $40). that giant creatures roamed Earth shadow of his famous artist father foundation, and how those guar­ millions of years before humans (Saugus Books, $39.50). antees have been shaken over time Exile Home by Mark Statman ’80. was once unfathomable; Lendler’s (W.W. Norton & Co., $26.95). Poet Pablo Medina says of Statman’s book for young readers recounts the Four Men Shaking: Searching newest book: “The father poem, ‘Green fossil discoveries and advances in for Sanity with Samuel Beckett, One Hundred Autobiographies: Side Up,’ is a triumph of courage and science that led to the knowledge Norman Mailer, and My Perfect A Memoir by David Lehman poetry and love. From it the manuscript that dinosaurs existed (Margaret K. Zen Teacher by Lawrence ’70. While undergoing painful opens like a flower of multiple McElderry Books, $24.99). Shainberg ’58. In this memoir, chemotherapy and surgery for petals” (Lavender Ink, $17.95). the author considers how two cancer, Lehman aims to make sense The Passion Projects: Modernist literary friendships and a teacher- of his mortality by composing a Dockworker Power: Race and Women, Intimate Archives, student relationship shaped his life story from 100 short reflections Activism in Durban and the San Unfinished Lives by Melanie Micir experiences of writing and Zen (Cornell University Press, $22.95). Francisco Bay Area by Peter Cole ’03. A look at how modernist women practice (Shambhala, $16.95). ’91. Workers in the world’s ports writers such as Virginia Woolf Resurrecting Leather-Stocking: are often missed in commentary on used biographical writing to resist The Road Traveled and Other Pathfinding in Jacksonian today’s globalizing economy. Cole their exclusion from literary history Essays by Steven Cahn ’63. America by Bill Christophersen ’71. brings their experiences to light in a (Princeton University Press, $29.95). Philosopher and educator Cahn The author argues that James comparative study of Durban, South offers his latest reflections on the Fenimore Cooper’s Leather- Africa, and San Francisco, Calif. Beyond the Boulevards: A Short nature of well-being, the rationality Stocking frontier tales, though (University of Illinois Press, $35). Biography of Pondicherry by of religious belief and the aims fictional, highlighted real problems Aditi Sriram ’07. Sriram, a writing of higher education (Resource plaguing 19th-century America Victor in the Jungle by Alex Finley professor at Ashoka University, Publications, $17). and also suggested a path forward ’94. The pseudonymous author, a traces the historical, cultural and (University of South Carolina former CIA officer, continues the spiritual evolution of the South Press, $59.99). satiric adventures of case officer Indian coastal city of Pondicherry Victor Caro, now on assignment (Aleph Book Company, $16.99). SUBMIT YOUR Graphic Music Analysis: An with his family in South America CCT Introduction to Schenkerian (Smiling Hippo Press, $14.99). How to Fight Anti-Semitism BOOK TO Theory and Practice Alums! Have you written by Eric by Bari Weiss ’07. The New York Times Wen ’74. Wen guides students of The Rise of the Working Class writer delivers an urgent wake-up a book in the last year? Shareholder: Labor’s Last Best Tell us about it! musicology, theory and composition call to all Americans, exposing the through the process of creating Weapon by David Webber ’95. Webber, alarming rise of anti-Semitism in this college.columbia.edu/cct/ graphic representations of music, a law professor at Boston University, country and explaining what we can submit_bookshelf giving more than 650 musical describes how worker organizations do to defeat it (Crown, $20). examples (RL Publishing, $85). can wield the power of pension — Jill C. Shomer

Winter 2019–20 CCT 39 classnotes

COLIN SULLIVAN ’11

A light snow or internationally famous (not just “Don won the Harper Novel Prize 1940–49 well-known in our own Columbia in 1955 for Trial and originated the dusts campus community). I thought that a good popular television show Ironside. Columbia College Today criterion would be a prominent His father, Herman Mankiewicz as winter arrives Columbia Alumni Center obituary notice, with photo, in CC 1917, wrote the film script on Morningside 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 one of our major daily newspa- for Citizen Kane, one of the most New York, NY 10025 pers (The New York Times, the Los famous movies ever made. His uncle, Heights. [email protected] Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune). Joseph Mankiewicz CC 1928, was a Three late classmates fit in to that prominent Academy Award-winning [Editor’s note: Graduates from category: Gerald Green ’42, Don Hollywood writer and director who Classes 1940–49 can now all write to Mankiewicz ’42 and Donald wrote the film scripts for A Letter to Columbia College Today to share their Keene ’42, GSAS’49. Three Wives and Julius Caesar. news. Please take a moment to send a “Gerald was a prolific novelist, “Donald was a world-famous note to either the postal or the email TV writer and producer at NBC. published scholar of Japanese his- address at the top of this column to One of his first novels, The Last tory and literature. He had a long connect with us and with classmates.] Angry Man, was made into a film and extraordinary career with the with Paul Muni. His television Columbia faculty before his death From Dr. Melvin Hershkowitz script for Holocaust drew worldwide in 2019. I knew him only casually, ’42: “I recently wondered who attention and acclaim. Gerald died since our paths rarely crossed during among our Great Class of 1942 in 2006 after a long struggle with his cultural and my pre-medical could be considered nationally and/ Parkinson’s disease. curriculum studies.

40 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

“Gerald and Don Mankiewicz a week or so away, and winter not were two of my closest friends at far behind. But there is not much COLUMBIA SCHOOL DESIGNATIONS Columbia, a diverse group that to report on my calendar except a Barnard College included Donald Dickinson ’42, string of appointments to keep the BC Columbia Business School Arthur Wellington ’42, Dr. Herbert old machine in shape –– doctor, BUS Pharmaceutical Sciences Mark ’42, Robert Kaufman ’42, dentist, audiologist, podiatrist and CP DM College of Dental Medicine Charles Hoelzer ’42, Jack Arbo- ophthalmologist, all of whom give GS School of General Studies lino ’42, Stewart McIlvennan ’42 good reports considering the mile- GSAPP Graduate School of Architecture, and Dr. Gerald Klingon ’42, whose age that has accumulated. Planning and Preservation 99th birthday was on September 22. “I reported in the Fall 2019 GSAS Graduate School of Arts and Sciences “Looking through the old books issue the achievements of my six HN Institute of Human Nutrition section in my bookcase, I recently grandchildren either in gaining JRN Graduate School of Journalism found How To Watch Football by Lou degrees or putting them in practice JTS Jewish Theological Seminary Little, a 315-page book published in in worthwhile jobs –– asylum lawyer, LAW Columbia Law School 1935. It has a good picture of Coach history professor (ahem!), social LS Library Service Little, and multiple illustrations of worker and a couple of miscel- NRS School of Nursing his comments on offense, defense, laneous occupations. That’s the PH Mailman School of Public Health scouting, kicking, passing and football pleasant part of the present. The PS College of Physicians and Surgeons officials. It was published one year current state of the Union under SEAS The Fu Foundation School of Engineering after Columbia’s famous 7–0 upset of You Know Who is not pleasant and and Applied Science Stanford in the 1934 Rose Bowl, and auguries aren’t encouraging, so that SIPA School of International and Public Affairs is available through Amazon. Mean- tends to push me into the past, and SOA School of the Arts while, our current football team has I am thinking right now that 80 SPS School of Professional Studies 61 returning starters from 2018, and winters ago, 1939–40, against the SW School of Social Work what Coach Al Bagnoli calls ‘great background of the early stages of TC Teachers College potential.’ We will soon see if they the war when there was little major UTS Union Theological Seminary can win an Ivy League Champion- action, I was enjoying making the ship. Kind regards and good wishes acquaintance of the Core Curric­ to the few surviving members of our ulum’s classics and the wonderful Great Class of 1942.” professors who taught them –– as the price of letting a barge go “After five years at Worthington From Bernie Weisberger ’43: Gilbert Highet and Dwight Miner through his stretch of the river, and Corp., I enlisted in the Navy, gradu- “Greetings, classmates. I note that CC 1926 in particular. I remember Douglas Moore playing Mozart and ated from Officer Candidate School we are still the second class report- them both as charged with energy Bach on the piano in my second and spent the following two years at ing in to CCT, and I am not at all and enthusiasm; Highet bounding year of Humanities. What a time! sea aboard the heavy cruiser U.S.S. jealous. I want all of us 90-some- into the classroom with a cry of What teachers (and I had yet to Newport News. things still kicking to enjoy a life ‘Good morning, gentlemen, today encounter Jacques Barzun CC 1927, “I worked in industry for many of high quality to the last drop. we’re going to talk about the greatest GSAS 1932 in my third year) and years, helping to solve technical As I write this in September, I am play ever written’ and Miner doing what a mind-opening set of ideas problems involving high-tempera- looking out my window at a scene a hilarious imitation of a ‘robber to carry with us into our lives and ture gas properties, advanced com- of wind-whipped trees, reminding baron’ on the Rhine holding up professions. I make no apologies for posite materials and applications, me that autumn is officially only a juicy fish, which he confiscated ranting and raving a little, exactly and magneto fluid dynamics. because the memories are so sweet. “After retirement, I changed my “So come on, CC’43 classmates technical interests completely and in our shrinking numbers, how became an expert in sundial design. I about sharing some anecdotes of helped to design and install a number your first experiences here? Don’t of sundials. I also authored articles in wait till Father Time tells us ‘our The Compendium, the journal of the revels now are ended.’ And happy North American Sundial Society, and 2020 to us all.” authored two books on sundials.” Harold Edmund Brandmaier Bernie Sunshine ’46 reports ’44, SEAS’47, SEAS’48 writes: on his classmates’ activities: “Albert “After two years in Columbia College I transferred to Columbia Class Notes are submitted by Engineering. I received a B.S. in alumni and edited by volunteer 1947, an M.S. in 1948 and a [doc- class correspondents and the torate] in 1962. staff of CCT prior to publication. “While at Columbia, I met Opinions expressed are those Ginny, then a Barnard student, over of individual alumni and do not a lunch of peanut butter soup in reflect the opinions of CCT, its class correspondents, the the Lions Den. It turned out to be College or the University. By a lifetime partnership. We married submitting to Class Notes, you and had two boys and two girls in acknowledge that the text is eli- five years. All have graduated from gible to appear in print as well as Mildred Howitt, widow of Bill Howitt ’41, with all four of her children, left to colleges with multiple degrees and on CCT Online and in archives. right: Larry Howitt ’85, Ken Howitt ’76, Jeff Howitt ’72 and Arn Howitt ’69. have families of their own.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 41 Class Notes

Lazarus Jr. ’46 on July 27, 2019, our building on Thames Street, and I at 92. According to an obituary in kept a Nonsuch catboat at our dock. The Washington Post, Arthur was ‘a “I loved Newport and enjoyed Washington lawyer who represented visiting and researching all its archi- Native American tribes for more tectural history and its wonderful than four decades, notably securing buildings. I did a lot of sailing, too, a landmark $106 million award for around Newport and the islands, the Sioux Nation as part of its long and Judy and I went on shopping fight for the Black Hills of South trips and to auctions all over New Dakota.’ It was ‘the largest Indian England to replenish the fast-mov- land compensation award in U.S. ing inventory in the shop. history,’ and Arthur is regarded as “It was a wonderfully different one of the ‘preeminent practitioners’ and relaxed life. We became deeply of Indian law. At Columbia, Arthur involved in other things, as well, and VITO was a roommate of Allen Ginsberg I was slowly forgetting about all the ’48 and editor-in-chief of the deadlines and tensions of my architec- Columbia Daily Spectator.” tural life and almost all the houses that MICHAEL D i Edwin “Ed” Paul ’48 writes: “It’s I had done more than 40 years ago. Members of the Class of 1949 and their guests met on campus at their 70th saddening to see less and less about “It came as a pleasant surprise, reunion on June 2. classmates’ activities, as well as the then, when I was informed last classes bracketing ours. Sometimes year that the Greenwich Historical there is nothing at all. So I am going Society, at its annual meeting, rec- Starr ’46, PS’49 recalls that during has perhaps saved many hundreds of to make sure that in this issue, at ognized my first house (ours) as an WWII, most of his peers were in thousands of lives. least, there is something for the outstanding example of mid-century the military, but he was just 16 “And what is life without being Class of 1948. modern architecture. The society when he started at CC and then able to laugh at its insults? Some of “After graduating from Harvard’s mounted a distinctive bronze plaque Larry went to medical school at 18, the Class of ’46 might find Graduate School of Design in 1956 on the house and also recorded the Ross ’46 thereby deferring his service until ’s definition of ‘nonagenar- and working in architectural offices history of the house in stories and the Korean War, in which he served ian’ apt: ‘reaching the age when you for a few years, we were able to a lot of pictures in a little book. as a battalion surgeon in the 1st can enjoy almost none of the things purchase a plot, with savings, loans Subsequently, some of the owners of Cavalry Division. Working in a you loved to do.’ and a lot of dickering, in back-coun- those early houses got together and mobile army surgical hospital (aka “An exception, we think, can be try Greenwich, Conn., which the published another little book, of four MASH), he ‘did more than 1,000 made for keeping in touch with old developer hadn’t been able to sell. It of my other houses, just in time for major abdominal operations in one (I do mean old) friends. was nearly unbuildable for a conven- my 95th birthday this past August.” Mel Dick Hyman ’48 year.’ He returned to P&S, where he “Happy to hear from tional builder’s house. It was a long shares: “On Holson ’46 completed his training in surgery. that he is ‘still function- shelf on a narrow, rocky ledge with October 16, my clarinet-playing His ‘fondest memories involved the ing despite two new hips and one a dramatic view overlooking acres partner, Ken Peplowski, and I courses in Contemporary Civiliza- new knee.’ He looks forward to of forest below. I started dreaming appeared at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at tion, which laid the groundwork another class get-together. Well, of a house that would fit there and Lincoln Center playing selections for a happy and successful life,’ he reader, what do you say? designed a mostly glass house with from our new duet album, Counter- Paul Marks ’46, writes. ‘The rest is history.’ “Dr. PS’49, an innovative closet system hung off point Lerner & Loewe. On October “History, indeed. Albert’s work president emeritus of Memorial the outside of the structure to take 17 and 18, I appeared at a number on the first durable artificial mitral Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, advantage of the view. It attracted of events having to do with my valve and first artificial heart valve but now fully retired and living in a lot of attention, and about a year receiving the Satchmo Award from New York City and Connecticut after the house was finished and the Louis Armstrong Educational with Joan, his wife of 66 years, was we moved in I got an offer to do Foundation. This honored some recently interviewed about his time another house. I gave notice at the of my earlier activities involving on the committee to review the New York office where I worked and Armstrong’s music; at that time I Three Mile Island nuclear reactor opened an office in my house. wrote and recorded special arrange- accident. His growing family now It immediately eliminated the ments of his repertoire and toured includes two great-grandchildren. tedious and often unreliable three- the United States, Europe and “After his Army discharge in hour daily commute to Midtown, the Soviet Union in performance. Norman Hansen ’46, 1946, and I was able to spend more time I’ve continued to be involved with Stay in SEAS’50 resumed his studies at with Judy and the children. We had Armstrong’s music, although more Touch Columbia, earning a B.A. from a small make-believe farm with recently I have composed a clarinet the College and then a B.S. from goats, chickens, coops, sheds and concerto for Ken as well as various Let us know if you have a Columbia Engineering, thanks to gardens. We eventually moved a chamber music.” new postal or email address, the GI Bill. He was an engineer for historic barn to the property. “Hard to believe that it has been a new phone number or Mobil Oil for more than 30 years, “Later, with all the kids grown more than 70 years since graduation, first in Paulsboro, N.J., and then on and an empty nest looming, we when the subway cost a nickel,” writes Alvin Eden ’48. even a new name: projects around the world. Today, he decided to change pace. I retired Dr. “I am still prac- college.columbia.edu/ resides in Bothell, Wash., and is a from full-time practice and bought a ticing pediatrics and starting to write alumni/connect. great-grandfather eight times over. building on the harbor in Newport, my memoirs. I would like to hear “It is with great sadness that R.I. Judy opened a wonderful Vic- from any 1948 classmate. Please email Arthur we report the passing of torian antique shop, St. Albert’s, in me at [email protected].”

42 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

Graduates from the 1940s, please to Scotland, where her children and Phillip handled some of Van Gogh’s Immanuel in this issue of CCT in the share your news by writing to one grandkids live. He has taken this letters written in English. Friend- “Obituaries” section. of the addresses at the top of the opportunity to present a selection ship with artists and privileged Share your news, life story or column; your classmates want to of his art collection to the famous access to works of art went on to be favorite Columbia College memory hear from you! Be well going into Hunterian Art Gallery and Hunt- the theme of his life. by sending it to either of the the new year and the new decade! erian Museum, Glasgow, founded “As the director of New York addresses at the top of this column. 1807 and the oldest public museum art galleries for 58 years (includ- Your classmates would enjoy hearing in Scotland. There will be an exhibi- ing the Staempfli Gallery, and about you. Happy 2020! 1950 tion there, A Gift to Glasgow from later Marlborough Gallery, both New York: The Phillip A. Bruno Col- important venues for contemporary REUNION 2020 lection, until January 12 (it began on art), Phillip befriended and advised 1952 JUNE 4–6 October 18) to celebrate this New collectors and museum directors. Events and Programs Contact York-Glasgow gift, coinciding with He always passionately collected but Columbia College Today [email protected] Phillip’s 90th birthday on January 3. was generous in gifting hundreds Columbia Alumni Center Development Contact “Phillip got off to a flying start of works to U.S. museums. ‘I never 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 [email protected] with visits to Paris to see Matisse, had enough wall space,’ he says with New York, NY 10025 Brâncuși and Giacometti. A stay in a laugh. [email protected] Columbia College Today Holland with the Van Gogh family “The gift includes 75 works of art Columbia Alumni Center soon followed. Phillip’s French father by many American artists, and some Share your news, life story or favorite 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 relocated to New York when Phil- European. During almost 60 years Columbia College memory by send- New York, NY 10025 lip was young, but maintained his at the forefront of the art world in ing it to either of the addresses at the [email protected] European connections, so his son’s Manhattan working with key artists, top of this column. Happy holidays! horizons were always adventurous. galleries, dealers and collectors, CCT wishes the members of the “The single most influential event Phillip’s career gave him an exciting, Class of 1950 a happy holiday season in Phillip’s career led directly from remarkable, close-up view of inter- 1953 and a wonderful start to 2020. Please his passion for Van Gogh. In 1949, national art events. send a note to either of the addresses at 19, he was overwhelmed by the “Phillip was born in Paris and Lew Robins at the top of the column, as your Metropolitan Museum of Art’s his- studied art history and architecture 3200 Park Ave., Apt. 9C2 classmates would love to hear from toric exhibition dedicated to the art- at Columbia before embarking on a Bridgeport, CT 06604 you. And mark your calendars now ist. Phillip took the initiative to visit distinguished career working with [email protected] for Reunion Weekend 2020, Thurs- Van Gogh’s nephew at his New York artists like Avery, Brâncuși, Bertoia, day, June 4–Saturday, June 6. hotel, and invited him to give a talk Chihuly, Christo, Delvaux, Katz, Your classmates would love to hear at Columbia. Not long afterward, Grooms, Desiderio, Jacklin, Kitaj from you, so please take a moment Phillip’s invitation to Columbia and Rickey. Manhattan is a truly to share your stories, news or a 1951 was reciprocated, and he traveled international art center, and while favorite Columbia College memory to stay with the family at Laren, in many of the artists Phillip dealt in these pages. Wishing you a pleas- Columbia College Today North Holland, driving there from with were New Yorkers, he also ant start to the new year. Columbia Alumni Center Amsterdam with the artist’s nephew, had a special interest in European, 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 Vincent Willem van Gogh, who primitive and oceanic art, as well as New York, NY 10025 was the major lender to the show in artists from the U.S.’s West Coast. 1954 [email protected] and went on to found the Van Gogh A Gift to Glasgow features works by Museum in 1973. Phillip’s bedroom American artists such as William Bernd Brecher Clare Henry shared news about her had four paintings by Van Gogh Dole, Lee Gatch, David Levine, 35 Parkview Ave., Apt. 4G husband, Phillip A. Bruno: “Phillip and a window looking onto a garden Leroy Lamis, Robert Andrew Parker Bronxville, NY 10708 and his British wife have relocated with sunflowers. With Vincent W., and Tom Otterness, as well as inter- [email protected] national figures such as Mexican painter José Luis Cuevas and Japa- Gentlemen of ’54, as you read this nese sculptor Masayuki Nagare. column you are aware that we all “Phillip’s stepson Damian Henry are edging toward the opening of is also an artist, so Phillip is happy to a new decade –– 2020 –– that will keep his hand in, while enjoying a new signify for many an opportunity life among the British art world.” to make one more lasting mark Ted Bihuniak writes: “My wife, on our world and on the lives of Marilyn, died on August 20, 2019. younger generations, who might She succumbed to acute myeloid even remember and bless us for our leukemia after battling it for three- efforts and accomplishments. In the plus years. We had 62-plus years of a spirit of Tikkun Olam (“help heal the happy marriage.” world”), will we use our next decade Immanuel Wallerstein GSAS’59 to help correct, make or build a vir- died on August 31, 2019. The New tual if not actually ethical structure York Times featured his obituary that will help define the future of online on September 10 with the our universe? headline “Immanuel Wallerstein, That, fellows of ’54, is the theme Bernd Brecher ’54, Jennifer Anglade Dahlberg ’93 and Helen Brecher Sociologist With Global View, that I felt was pervasive among enjoyed lunch together in Stockholm in September. Dies at 88.” You can also read about those of us who attended our 65th

Winter 2019–20 CCT 43 Class Notes anniversary reunion at the beginning conducting applicant interviews, and As we all are for you both, Stan. Helen and I spent several days of this past June. Highfalutin per- as a leader of the Columbia Alumni We have visited family in New in Halberstadt, Germany (in the haps, but reread our Class Notes in Association in Sweden. Zealand, and just want to alert you former East Zone), where I have the Fall 2019 CCT before you react. When not working on her third –– there are 5 million people and 50 been speaking and lecturing for In mid-September, my wife, novel, Jennifer enjoys spending time million sheep. about five years to audiences of high Helen, and I made come to pass a with her husband, Christian, and “Finally hit the age –– 87 –– school students and adults. I use the long-ago personal promise to visit son, James. She is also the proud where when somebody asks me, Washington, D.C., United States Stockholm. We had a spectacular parent of Yasmine ’23, and looks ‘How do you feel?’ I can honestly Holocaust Memorial Museum’s learning experience, finding ourselves forward to visiting the Columbia say, ‘Fine!’” writes Saul Turteltaub challenge of “Never Stop Asking in a multi-ethnic, cultural, geographic, campus more often, having recently, LAW’57. “I can honestly say it if Why,” and am gratified particularly racial, bilingual –– the list is long –– with Christian and James, helped they ask me when I’m sitting or lying when 16- and 17-year-olds thank melting pot of several million Swedes Yasmine move into her dorm. Jen- down. But standing or walking with me afterward for my message and (and some tourists) who put our own nifer was our new friend and guide, my cane or my walker, I can’t fool tell me that they have accepted and NYC, Chicago or Los Angeles in and a delightful representative of anyone. However, doctors assure me taken it to heart. Basically, I tell the dark ages of multi-just-about- alma mater. “Feel free to contact in four months I’ll be FINE! So, I them it is no longer “our” world but anything. Everything worked, even me,” Jennifer wants all Lions to can’t wait for the next Class Notes to theirs to fix what has been broken. the buses and subways. History and know, “if your travels take you to see how I am. Hope you all are well.” They are especially appreciative that museums were everywhere. Food Stockholm: [email protected]!” Indeed, Saul, we all are weller I do not avoid any issues; neither was of the world. The opera and Herb Zydney SEAS’55, whenever we hear from you –– WWII veterans nor Holocaust ballet were not to be missed. People SEAS’59 represented our class on keep writing! survivors will still be able to bear smiled, responded, and appeared campus on August 25 as part of the “In May, my wife, Ann Louise, witness for long. glad. Glitches? Of course: On our Alumni Procession at Convoca- and I made a road trip from Wash- That’s it, Class of Destiny, for this first night, finding the hotel less than tion, welcoming the Class of 2023. ington, D.C., to Knoxville, Tenn. issue and this decade. We WILL desirable, the American Embassy An estimated 10 alumni from the (where we saw her Mount Holyoke celebrate our 70th reunion, and our helped us find a spectacular hotel ’50s participated. Herb writes that College ’54 classmate),” writes Reunion Committee is in formation. and room at 2 a.m. Ah, travel! (Yes, it was “wonderful to see the 1,400 Edward Cowan, “then to Cincin- At this juncture, we need you to sign Sweden’s open arms to refugees and freshmen ready to learn and grow on nati, where we had lunch with up, share your ideas, and become asylum-seekers has begun to generate campus. Greetings from President Brian Tansey; his daughter, Eira part of the story NOW. Be well, do a right-wing backlash. Ah, world!) Lee C. Bollinger and Dean James J. Tansey; and Eira’s husband, Justin well, do good, never stop asking why. Highlight: We met with and Valentini carried insightful welcom- Levy. We lunched in the restaurant Write, email, call –– and see you in were advised by Jennifer Anglade ing messages, including thoughts on of the retirement community where the Spring 2020 Class Notes. Dahlberg ’93, who graduated the campus challenges of support- Brian has been living since he had a Excelsior! from the College with a degree ing speaking the truth and making stroke last autumn. Brian’s mobility in political science. She was an comments that could be considered is diminished (he uses a walker) executive search consultant for four offensive, under the guise of free but, the stroke notwithstanding, his 1955 years, then moved to Stockholm in speech. Two of my co-attendees thinking and speech remain clear 1997. Her first novel, Uptown and were grandfathers of freshmen.” and well-focused. He and I took a REUNION 2020 Down, was published in 2005. Her Stanley Fine PS’57 wants to trip up memory lane back to 1958, JUNE 4–6 second novel, Lagging Indicators, share some future joy, reporting, “In when I visited him in south central Events and Programs Contact was published in 2018. Jennifer still February my wife and I are planning Kentucky, where he was pastor at a [email protected] resides in Stockholm and is an active to fly to New Zealand and cruise to couple of Presbyterian churches. In Development Contact Columbia ambassador as an Alumni Samoa, Bora Bora, Tahiti, etc. We time, Brian and the churches came [email protected] Representative Committee member, are obviously very excited.” to a parting of the ways and he became an administrator of retire- Gerald Sherwin ment homes. Brian has been married 181 E. 73rd St., Apt. 16B twice and has four daughters. He New York, NY 10021 was unable to attend our 65th class [email protected] reunion and sent good wishes to all.” Thanks, Edward and Brian, for It’s the 100-year anniversary of the connecting, and be well. Core Curriculum. The kickoff event En route from Cincinnati to on September 27 featured speeches Washington, the Cowans visited the from President Lee C. Bollinger Flight 93 National Memorial near and Dean James J. Valentini and Shanksville, Pa., which honors the was held in Low Library in front of courageous passengers who were a turn-away crowd. Other notables on United Flight 93 on 9-11. The who attended were Anthony Vis- passengers’ heroism prevented the cusi and Elliot Gross. hijackers from crashing the plane, Many different events will take probably into the United States place this coming year, especially our Capitol. Says Edward, “The memo- 65th reunion. We hope that a lot of rial evokes memories of 9-11, and is classmates will attend. Jim Berick deeply affecting.” from Cleveland; Stan Lubman from Several 1950s alumni represented their class decade on August 25 at To return, in conclusion, to the California; Lee Rodgers from Los Convocation, to welcome the Class of 2023, by marching with their decade theme at the top of this column, Angeles; Jerry Plasse from Mon- banner in the Alumni Procession. before our week in Stockholm, tana; Bob Dillingham, Mel Holden,

44 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

Daniel De Palma, David Gordon help in planning. And, even better, others to the Class of 2023 (which fish. Not far away are shops selling and Berish Strauch from Westches- let me know if you would like to includes two of my wife Sandra’s and exotic canned goods. There also are ter; Herb Cooper and Barry Pariser help in such planning. my granddaughters). President Lee C. shops selling leather goods, jewelry from Newburgh, N.Y.; Rochester, Send me some news, so I don’t have Bollinger delivered a well-organized and various costumes. You name it; N.Y.’s own Beryl Nusbaum; to use filler. Stay busy. Stay healthy. and intelligent presentation on the most likely you will find what you Dan Hovey; Ross Grumet from purpose of the University. want, and then some. I also went Atlanta; and Milt Finegold from “He also noted that Columbia through the market on my own. Houston, who is looking for Herb 1957 does not offer its space to uninvited On my last day in Seattle, I vis- Rubinowitz. We also heard from speakers with a message, but offers ited the Seattle Art Museum, with Herman Levy Jack Stuppin, who had a showing in a podium to speakers, whether part its outstanding collection of paint- 7322 Rockford Dr. Northern California. [Editor’s note: of the CU community or invited ings and other art objects. There was Falls Church, VA 22043 See “Lions,” this issue.] guests. CU does not censor presen- a particularly outstanding collection [email protected] The latest U.S. News & World tations of ideas that are unpopular of Pre-Raphaelite paintings from Report ranking showed Columbia and that may be unsettling to many. the art museum in Birmingham, Gary Angleberger: as number 3, just below Princeton From “As fall He noted, however, that those England, which I had visited in and Harvard. approached, I was reminded of that delivering controversial messages January 2018. To crown my visit, I Chuck Solomon has been doing time of the year in my first couple of would have to defend them in intel- took the elevator to the top of the yeoman work for the Dental School. years at Columbia (1953–55). Because lectual exchange. In discussion later, Space Needle for a panoramic view We hope to hear from Ted I was on a National Scholarship, I all in our party, including our son and photos of the Seattle area. Ditchek from Phoenix, Ron thought I needed to use any oppor- and daughter, their spouses and our Dubner from Bethesda, Md., and tunity I could find to earn a little bit 16-year-old grandson, agreed that Evan Gerakas from Boca Raton, Fla. of money in my freshman and sopho- it was worth the time to listen to 1958 The Homecoming 2019 football more years. When I heard about the the presentation. Three generations Peter Cohn game took place in front of a big possibility of earning some money by agreed that the message was both c/o CCT crowd, as we played our archrival, selling refreshments at the fall football appropriate and well developed.” Columbia Alumni Center Penn. We can’t forget the basketball games at Baker Field, I applied for the I received word from his widow, Dan Davidson 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 program, as it opened against Wake job and was immediately accepted. Susan, that LAW’59 New York, NY 10025 Forest and number 1-ranked UVA. So my whole freshman year, while I died on September 13, 2019, at his [email protected] Keep your sunny side up. The was at all of the home games, I never home in Washington D.C. whole world smiles with you. Con- really saw all of the game. While Yours truly attended the annual Larry Margolies tinue with your good habits; you’ll touchdowns were being scored (and, meeting of the American Bar and his wife, be a better person for it. at that time, there were not too many Association (ABA) in San Francisco, Sylvia, visited NYC in July in con- Love to all! Everywhere! being scored by the Light Blue), I was August 8–10. I remained in the Bay nection with the Off-Broadway wandering through the stands selling Area through August 16 for visits opening of the play Mojada at the soft drinks. I became much more with my sister and with friends. My Public Theater. My wife, Joan, and I 1956 interested in Columbia football when sister and I, among other things, vis- were pleased to join the couple and my good friend Claude Benham of ited the Haas-Lilienthal House, San their Chicago friends and colleagues Robert Siroty Portsmouth, Va., became the varsity Francisco’s “only intact residential that evening. We learned quite a 707 Thistle Hill Ln. quarterback and passed the Lions to a Victorian house museum open to the bit about the origins of the play Somerset, NJ 08873 few victories. public” (according to its handout); from Sylvia (who is on the board [email protected] “Claude and I became friends the Fort Mason Center for Arts & of the Victory Gardens Theater in through our partnership on the Culture, with its Readers Bookstore Chicago). She explained that the Not a lot of news from this past Columbia varsity baseball team for and SFMOMA Artists Gallery; play is an adaption of the Greek summer. My wife, Margo, and I three years. We were the double-play and the restful Japanese Tea Garden. tragedy Medea, but now the central took a river cruise from Amsterdam combination of the team. While I I revisited one of my favorites, the characters are Mexican immigrants to Vienna. don’t remember our win/loss records Asian Art Museum, with its vast col- illegally in the United States. All Word arrived that Alvin Pouissant during those years, we had a good lection of art from various countries in all, a delightful evening at the has retired as professor of psychiatry time playing and making trips to of Asia and its excellent gift shop. theater to see a well-received play. at Harvard Medical School. He is all the other Ivy League baseball In the background is the magnifi- Larry notes: “Both Sylvia and I known for his scholarly papers and stadiums. In those days, Yale was cent Beaux Arts domed City Hall. have been theater enthusiasts for his position as medical advisor to the team to beat and I think we may My friends, a couple I have known many years. Chicago has more than The Cosby Show. And we have received have accomplished that once or twice. from law school, and I, among other 250 theaters, from huge theaters word of the death of David Nitzberg. Some years after graduation I had the things, visited the extensive Stanford hosting road shows to small store- At the time of writing, Margo good fortune of visiting Claude in his University campus, especially the fronts with 40 or so seats. This selec- and I had just returned from her home in Virginia. He is one of those Rodin sculpture garden. tion leads to many opportunities to 60th reunion at Syracuse University, steady persons who change little with I then proceeded to Seattle for attend performances, whether they and were deeply impressed by the the passage of years. The years do visits with an ABA colleague and be traditional or experimental opera, amount of planning that goes into sweeten our memories.” a friend. My colleague and I had drama from the ancient Greeks or Ed Weinstein: Carlos such an event. I realize that by the From “ dinner at a restaurant specializing in new works. We have been most Muñoz time anyone reads this, it will be 18 and I (and our wives) salmon. My friend and I took a long connected with the 40-year-old months until our 65th. So, if there is attended Convocation on August walk through Pike Place Market, nonprofit theater Victory Gardens. any possibility that you will join us 25. We joined in representing CC’57 with its almost innumerable shops That is where most of our support for the first weekend in June 2021, in the Alumni Procession and then and restaurants. As one enters, there of the arts goes. The theater won a send me a note at rrs76@columbia. settled into our seats to listen to appears the colorful fish market, regional Tony Award for excellence edu. It’s not a commitment, but will remarks provided by the deans and where the salespersons toss whole a few years ago, and we think it is

Winter 2019–20 CCT 45 Class Notes

stronger and more relevant than Notes are one way we connect to ones). In the summers I played with Space Science Board. Our meeting ever before. Mojada is typical, since each other. Please share your activi- the Mostly Mozart Festival Orches- resulted in a white paper that estab- it speaks about illegal immigrants ties with your classmates. tra, the Casals Festival and with a lished the template for future direc- and their problems. Recent plays I heard from Ellen Offner in early summer program for young singers tions of research in the physiology have considered gentrification, July that her husband, Arnie Offner, based in Lucca, Italy. I am an original of manned space flight. The recent urban corruption, racism in Chicago “had an aortic dissection about 10 member of The New York Pops and worldwide celebrations of Apollo 11 and South Africa, call centers in weeks ago followed by two major still play with them at Carnegie Hall. and the 50th anniversary of the first India, adoption, relations between surgeries. He is now recuperating at “My varied experiences led to successful lunar landing served as a neighbors, murder over the theft of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospi- intense consideration of the process lovely reminder of my participation sneakers, reintroduction to society tal in Charlestown, Mass., one of the of music making, resulting in my in this program. after imprisonment, human sexuality top such places in the United States. book Leaders of the Band: A Violinist “My other research efforts were and the Cambodian genocide.” He is expected to recover fully over Discusses Conductors and Conduct- successful in establishing/enhancing Now a word about Columbia the coming weeks.” ing at the Metropolitan Opera. It is two major spheres of clinical medicine: athletics: This column is being writ- Allan Franklin writes, “My most designed primarily to aid aspiring “1. Leading efforts to advance ten as the football season begins. I recent book, Is It the Same Result? conductors with frank suggestions our knowledge and development am looking forward to joining class- Replication in Physics, was published regarding both positive and negative of a newly discovered class of mates on beautiful fall afternoons in October 2018.” approaches to conducting opera. It drugs labeled calcium antagonists at the Baker Athletics Complex to From Ira Lieberman GSAS’69: also informs musicians and the public (or calcium channel blockers) as watch a very competitive team in “I’m very sorry to have missed the about the nature of the collabora- formidable drugs to treat not only its quest for that elusive Ivy League reunion dinner but was regrettably tive experience in the pit. After an ischemic heart disease and hyper- Championship. Then, in November, out of town. I haven’t written to you enthusiastic response from colleagues tension, but also unique applications basketball will begin, with our best before because I wanted to finish in orchestras around the globe, I have such as a role in protection of kidney team in the last few years. But more my project since retiring from the started the second volume. I recently function. Based on my studies, I also about that in the next issue! first violin section of the Metro- received my copyright and can now edited three editions of the premier Reminder: The class lunch is politan Opera. I do treasure my begin to approach publishers.” medical textbook in the field, Cal- usually held on the second Tuesday years at Columbia, earning a B.A. in From Murray Epstein PS’63: cium Antagonists in Clinical Medicine. of every month in the Grill of the ’59, master’s in ’61 and a Ph.D. (in “Although I was unable to attend “2. More recently I focused my Princeton Club, 15 W. 43rd St. ($31 musicology) in ’69. our 60th reunion because of research efforts on extending the per person). Email Tom Ettinger if “I taught music at Midwestern overlapping family commitments, utility of aldosterone blockers (now you plan to attend, even up to the State University in Wichita Falls, I heard how successful it was from labeled MRAs, or mineralocorticoid day before: [email protected]. Texas (1965–69), and Virginia Com- Joel Rein and Herb Dean, who receptor antagonists) in ameliorat- monwealth University in Richmond attended. My interactions with Joel, ing both congestive heart failure (1972–75,) conducting orchestras at Herb and Bob Burd encouraged me and chronic kidney disease. My 1959 both. I was also chief music critic for to write a brief update of my life. contributions helped in part initiate the Richmond Times-Dispatch during “Following graduation from a major global study investigating Norman Gelfand my three years there. Then I accepted the College, I attended P&S, and whether these drugs can confer c/o CCT the position of principal second received my medical degree in 1963. clinical benefit. Columbia Alumni Center violin with the Théâtre Royal de la I retired from academic medicine “In my present quasi-retirement, 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 Monnaie in Brussels. in 2009, after 39 years, where I I co-chair a global clinical effort New York, NY 10025 “After returning to New York I was a professor of medicine in the –– the FIDELIO-DKD and [email protected] began 35 years of playing with the nephrology division of the Univer- FIGARO-DKD clinical studies. Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, with sity of Miami. It was an exciting run, Now in their fourth year, these Our reunion is over, and it will be many of the world’s greatest conduc- and very productive and rewarding. clinical studies have enrolled more a while before our next, so Class tors (as well as some not-so-great “Following my Air Force stint than 30,400 patients with diabetes at the USAF School of Aerospace mellitus at more than 2,100 clinical Medicine in San Antonio, where I sites in more than 70 countries. My conducted research on the effects involvement in these studies entails of simulated space flight on kidney chairing the data safety monitoring Holler at Us function, including hypobaria, committee, which is responsible weightlessness and Gz forces, I for continual surveillance of the in Haiku! joined the faculty at the University enrolled patients to ensure that of Miami, Miller School of Medi- adverse events are detected early Core, one hundred years! cine. There I was able to continue and preemptively, and it is our What’s a fun way to note it? my studies and to pioneer a new charge to jointly decide when the field of research: ‘kidney function studies should be stopped for either Poetry from you. during manned space flight.’ My good outcomes (benefit) or for bad studies were supported primarily by outcomes (adverse events). My We’re celebrating the Core Centennial this year and would research grants from NASA, and participation entails my spending love to hear your memories of the Core Curriculum! But resulted in more than 30 peer- more than 25 percent of my time there’s a catch — you need to tell us in haiku. Send your reviewed publications in medical in overseeing the conduct of these and physiological journals. ongoing studies. Lots of work, but 5-7-5 recollections to [email protected], and “I was also invited to serve as quite fulfilling and I hope to achieve we’ll run our favorites in the next two issues’ Class Notes. a renal expert at a major global a good outcome with clinical benefit summit of experts convened by the for diabetic patients with heart and/ National Academy of Sciences’s or kidney disease.

46 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

“My free time is spent with my and miscast reality, diverting us from “On January 18, 1960, I received I will be including other reminis- family and friends. My wife, Nina, real solutions to social problems. the first of my letters from Professor cences in future Class Notes, includ- and I reside in Miami but our chil- Those who wanted more of Profes- Casey, wherein he informed me that ing presentations made at reunion. dren are geographically dispersed sor Casey’s astounding erudition and he had sent a recommendation on –– our eldest son, David ’01, and lucidity could find him endlessly my behalf to Yale University which, daughter, Susanna ’03, live in New accessible in his book-lined office indeed, helped me to obtain a fel- 1960 York City, and our youngest son, on the second floor of Fayerweather lowship and pursue my métier in Jonathan ’07, is in Norman, Okla. Hall, standing comfortable amidst sociology. In his inimitably gracious REUNION 2020 We Epsteins can claim to constitute antique desk chairs and piles of words: ‘Always remember that I JUNE 4–6 a quintuple Columbia legacy. I hope literary and political magazines such consider it a privilege to write, no Events and Programs Contact Nina and I will be able to attend our as The Listener, which he encouraged less than think, in your behalf. How [email protected] next class reunion.” us to read. Before long, we came to could I do less for one like yourself Development Contact Bob Ratner writes about a understand why those who preceded who so often, perceptively, struck [email protected] revered teacher, William Cornell us had dubbed his courses ‘Caseyol- a light when the path through the Casey: “In my junior year at Colum- ogy,’ in acknowledgment of their imponderables of my own classwork Robert A. Machleder bia I was unsure of my academic unique quality, and why his courses last year bogged and dimmed. I shall 69-37 Fleet St. direction and, more broadly, of my had been voted the best at Columbia be eternally grateful to you for that.’ Forest Hills, NY 11375 purpose in life. I had excelled in the by nearly three decades of graduates. “In the summer of my second [email protected] Core’s Humanities program and “Our last class with Professor year at Yale, a fellow Caseyite and I sampled the sciences with mixed Casey — his last class prior to retire- decided to visit the famed Oneida Calendar rapidly advancing toward interest and regret, but no area of ment — was particularly memorable. Community in upstate New York, another Class Notes deadline. study loomed as a preferred major. A After finishing his lecture he took a utopian commune established in Mailbox wide with vacant space. friend, aware of my confusion, sug- questions, as always, and one student 1848 that Professor Casey lectured An urgent hope for some news. Lee gested that I attend a class taught by asked what singular thought students, about, which had once advocated free Rosner responds. It is not the kind one of his professors in the sociol- now about to graduate, should love and communal child-rearing, of news that ever I would hope to ogy department. I agreed to do so take out to the world; whereupon, and was highly respected for its receive. Lee’s note is a sad reminder without knowledge of the professor Professor Casey, without a hint of industrial entrepreneurship culminat- of our mortality and contained a link or of sociology, relying solely on his theatricality, answered, ‘Oh, you don’t ing in the worldwide Oneida flatware to an obituary: Bill Engler GSAS’65 earnest recommendation. have to ask me that. Just do as the company. On the way, we impulsively died on August 17, 2019. “I came to the class early to Good Lord said, “Walk humbly and detoured to the country estate of Obituaries always contain a ensure a seat and waited expectantly do justly.”’ There was a hush, and then our beloved professor in Mexico chronicle of the items on one’s for the professor to arrive. When the class, in unison, rose to applaud. Point off the eastern shore of Lake résumé: educational background; Professor Casey entered the room, I The professor nodded his thanks Ontario, where he had spent most of employment history; professional was struck by his stately appearance and gracefully exited. The applause his summers since 1931. We parked achievements. But rarely do they — tall, erect, but of gentle bearing, continued, and as I looked around on a dusty road, traipsed across some expose the human element –– the his intense blue eyes lit with antici- for confirmation of my own feelings, adjacent yards, espied his cottage and essence of one’s persona. This obitu- pation of the hour ahead. All at I could see tears streaming down finally beheld Professor Casey tend- ary, however, captured many of the once, I felt a surge of joy and sense the faces of some students, everyone ing to a rosebush in his trim English distinctive attributes that defined Bill. of relief that I had found someone visibly moved but already saddened garden. We called out to him and he I’ll get to those, but first, the who might fulfill my meandering by the realization that we may have rose to his full height, a little startled, résumé. Bill attended Friends quest for intellectual and moral heard the last of someone who was exclaiming, ‘Well, I’ll be!’ With that Seminary in Manhattan. He entered guidance. I was no less taken by his not only a superb teacher, but also a salutation cheerily received, we spent the College, majored in English lecture, which seemed to pry open rare, irreplaceable human being. the afternoon chatting about the and earned his varsity “C” run- my imagination at every turn, and “After graduating with my progress of our studies and touring ning track and cross country. After by the end of the hour I had the B.A., I continued to see Professor the English manor that he and earning a master’s in English at unfamiliar but welcome sensation Casey occasionally, visiting him at a close friend had built from the GSAS, he began teaching English that I knew my destiny. his apartment in Butler Hall on remains of an old carriage-house and communications at Mercer “Over the next two years I went Morningside Heights, often with once belonging to the Mexico Point County Community College, in New full bore into sociology, taking one or two other students, where Hotel that burned down in 1951, Jersey, where he remained until his whatever was on offer, including all we talked through the night and and which was now on a life-lease retirement in 2004. While teaching of Professor Casey’s courses, which early morning, fortified by sherry to Professor Casey. The walls and full time, Bill completed an Ed.D. at were always an exquisite adventure. and orange juice, and the lethal beams of the house were carved Rutgers University in 1973, receiv- His classes ranged from examina- addiction to cigarettes, a habit for with 11th-century figures and old ing the award for the best doctoral tion of everyday case studies, to the which the professor later paid dearly. English writings drawn from King thesis that year from the Graduate strengths and foibles of Athenian Our conversations drew on current Arthur legends, which combined School of Education. He then went democracy, to the workings of events, historical anecdotes and with the stained-glass windows, on to teach part-time at the graduate the British Royal Commission, to the literary passages that Professor rustic fireplace and chapel dedicated school for several years. During his the lofty elocutions of contempo- Casey would have us read, especially to his mother on the second floor, career at Mercer County Community rary theorists grappling with the those he selected from The Knights of seemed perfectly suited to his medi- College Bill chaired the Academic contradictions of modernity. Almost the Round Table, as our little troupe eval tastes, oddly contrasting with Skills Department and received the magically tying it all together in his was intuitively likened to a facsimile his innovative, progressive ideas. Distinguished Teaching Award. incisive chalk board method of pre- of that hallowed circle. How privi- My friend and I reflected quietly on There was more to Bill than that. sentation, unaided by notes or writ- leged we felt to spend long hours our remarkable surprise visit as we The obituary noted, “Bill was a dedi- ten lectures, was the theme of how in unbounded dialogue with our motored toward Oneida later that cated teacher who loved the art of language can symbolically mislead cherished professor. day.” (To be continued.) teaching and his students knew that.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 47 Class Notes

With humor and wit, he taught all seats in the end zone. The seats the kid –– Don Maynard –– breaks and we enjoyed many games of students, from those enrolled in basic are much closer to the field; a roof records in a long, brilliant career that half-court, three-man basketball English courses to those in advanced overhang affords protection from culminates with his induction in the in the Columbia gym after classes, literature, to think and write clearly the elements; the price is heav- Pro Football of Fame. before we headed back on the subway and to love reading in the process. ily discounted –– not much more At halftime, word spreads that to our respective commuter homes. He served as a role model for his than bleacher seats –– as the roof fans in the bleachers set fires in the We reconnected at the 50th reunion, colleagues, whom he regaled at the and a pillar label them “partially trash receptacles to keep warm. Billy where I learned that Bill had battled lunch table with vibrant and hilarious obstructed views” which, the clerk and I are more discreet in dealing MS since his 20s. His resilience conversation. Lunch with Bill was advises, is true for baseball where with the cold. Smoking is permitted and heroism were apparent; he did the absolute high point of everyone’s one might lose sight of the arc in the stadium: Neither Bill nor I not seem to miss a beat. We stayed day. During his lifetime, Bill faced of a fly ball, but the sightlines for smoke. Throughout the game, as in touch intermittently since then. many health challenges, foremost of football are unimpaired. We take conditions warrant, we light a suc- When we spoke earlier this year, he which was multiple sclerosis, which the end-zone seats. The ticket clerk’s cession of cigarillos over which we told me of his joy leading an active was diagnosed in his mid-20s. With description is accurate. We settle warm our hands. book group of retirees where the the same characteristic determination down to watch what will become a The second half is all defense. The reading list included some of the he displayed in his life, he devoted football classic. It’s a masterpiece of Giants’ defensive coordinator, Vince ‘Great Books’ we read in Humani- himself to ‘beating’ the disease by defensive play. In the first quarter, Lombardi, has his middle linebacker ties. It was also clear how much he exercising vigorously and leading a Charlie Conerly takes a snap and key on the Browns fullback on every appreciated the closeness he shared healthy lifestyle. He rode his bicycle tosses the ball to Frank Gifford, play. Sam Huff holds the legendary with his dear wife, Fran. I understand thousands of miles and rowed on his who draws the Browns defense, then Jimmy Brown to a total of 8 yards from Fran that the reading group rowing machine for almost as many. swerves to lateral the ball back to on a dozen carries. This game and members are devastated by Bill’s He served as an inspiration to all Conerly, who takes it in for a touch- the ensuing league championship in passing. I will miss Bill and feel a loss who knew him.” down. That’s the only touchdown which the Giants beat the Baltimore for not having been in closer contact Contemplating Bill’s death elic- scored that day. The extra point is Colts are still regarded as two of the these past many years.” ited countless memories; I’ll share good. In the second quarter, Pat finest games ever played in the NFL. I write this with a heart, heavy one, which will surely resonate with Summerall kicks a field goal –– the On December 21, 1958, this that one of my dearest college many of the New Yorkers in our last points scored in the game. Bronx lad witnessed a thrilling friends is gone, buoyant that it was class. Bill and I prearrange to meet Giants 10, Browns 0. event, and experiencing it with a my extraordinary good fortune to at Jerome Avenue and East 164th Both defenses are fierce and boon companion made it a lifelong have had him as a friend, comforted Street in the Bronx on December produce some remarkable statistics: memory. It was like that with Bill. that he lived his life doing what 21, 1958. We enter a drugstore to A record eight turnovers. The Giants In our circle of commuters who he loved best and, in the process, purchase a box of cigarillos, then fumble six times, but turn the ball met every day on campus for lunch, touched so many lives, enriching cross the street and head for the over only twice. A rookie fielded by Bill was a sparkplug, with a gift of them intellectually and personally, Yankee Stadium ticket office. Skies the Giants as their punt returner –– boundless energy that radiated wit, leaving wonderful, endearing memo- are clear; the weather intense –– a a super-fast, skinny kid from Texas warmth and intelligence. Time spent ries with so many. biting cold. The Eastern Conference –– can’t hold onto the pigskin. On with Bill was always uplifting. It was Our deepest condolences to Fran, Championship of the NFL resulted each of his fumbles Billy and I join a complete surprise to me that he Bill’s wife of 55 years, his two daugh- in a tie between the Cleveland an earsplitting chorus of groans and had MS or any other health issue. ters and two grandsons, and to all Browns and the New York Giants. imprecations that shake the walls of I regarded Bill as the very picture who were his students and colleagues. A one-game playoff will decide the the old stadium. At the end of the of health: trim, athletic, a fitness championship this afternoon. We season the Giants release the kid. buff, full of life and always upbeat. I will sit in the bleachers. A bleacher He is picked up by the AFL’s Titans remember our foot race –– a sprint 1961 seat costs 50 cents. The ticket clerk of New York, which joins the NFL in Riverside Park. I’ll leave it at that suggests that we consider two as the New York Jets, and, there, except to say that his acceleration Michael Hausig absolutely amazed me. I suppose it 19418 Encino Summit was fitting that he ran track and I San Antonio, TX 78259 sat pulling an oar on a sliding seat in [email protected] an eight-oared shell on crew. Holler at Us Lee Rosner echoed my senti- Bob Salman LAW’64, while serving ments: “Billy (I never got used to as a member of New Jersey’s Council in Haiku! ‘Bill’) was sweet and funny and on Local Mandates, is participat- kind and smart. He was dedicated ing in a case involving New Jersey’s Core, one hundred years! to giving kids a great junior college mail ballot law. He has also been What’s a fun way to note it? experience and apparently excelled appointed to serve on a panel of at it. I will really miss him.” NYC’s Contract Dispute Resolution Poetry from you. Andy Feuerstein has this Board in a case involving the City remembrance: “Bill was smart, witty, Island Bridge Replacement project, We’re celebrating the Core Centennial this year and would humorous, literate and sensitive, chairs two FINRA arbitration cases love to hear your memories of the Core Curriculum! But and had a flair for storytelling. I and is a member of the New Jersey there’s a catch — you need to tell us in haiku. Send your well remember his tales of the ‘Rat Democratic State Committee. Pack’ and other Las Vegas characters Avrum Bluming’s book Estrogen 5-7-5 recollections to [email protected], and after he had worked a summer at Matters: Why Taking Hormones in we’ll run our favorites in the next two issues’ Class Notes. the iconic Sands Hotel and Casino, Menopause Can Improve Women’s where his uncle was involved in Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives operations. Bill was a terrific athlete — Without Raising the Risk of Breast

48 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

to Panama City and environs for a was the F-150. The F-150 ultimately $$$. I know, because I had that need week before moving on to Bocas del became the best-selling pickup in a number of times. Toro, Panama, to take four weeks North America. “When I asked to have my little of Spanish lessons and loll on the At 80, Bernie has been thinking contribution put in the Dean’s Fund, beach. The remainder of the trip was and writing, mostly for his grand- I was told all such contributions still in the planning process at the children, about his life choices and had to be put into the College’s big, time of this note. luck. Some bad decisions did not general operating fund! Louis “Bernie” Muench SEAS’62, result in consequences as bad as pos- “But then, guess what? When I BUS’65 writes that after the College, sible, and some good decisions had called the Dean’s Office last month, he spent two years in the Engineering consequences better than expected, I was referred to a special adminis- School, worked for a period and then so his run has been good. He hopes trative office, which told me, ‘Sure, earned a degree in finance from the all of us can say the same as we enter we can put that kind of contribution Business School, ending with a B.A., our ninth decade. into a special fund that the dean can B.S.E.E. and M.B.A. On a sad note, Luke Urban use for students who have emergen- After graduate school, Bernie passed away in his sleep on August 3. cies like you described.’ worked in finance for Cummins In more sad news, Bob Ladau “Thought this might interest Engine Co. for three years. Then, received a clipping from a Guatema- some of our classmates. the Business School’s dean of lan publication that disclosed that “That’s all for now. Off to New Arnie Intrater ’61 (left) and Jim placement, Fred Way, helped him Alan Plihal died and was buried in Brunswick and Nova Scotia; then Mathews ’61 met in Maine in August to identify an opportunity at Ford. Guatemala in September 2017. Nice, Loire Valley and Paris; and to celebrate their 80th birthdays, Bernie moved to Ford Car Product Alan was a member of Alpha finally Chautauqua, N.Y., for my which are two weeks apart. Planning, working on the Mustang. Delta Phi and was part of the fenc- annual Road Scholar foreign affairs Several years later he moved from ing team for four years. After gradu- conference. Hope I come through in car planning to truck planning. Lee ation, Alan returned to Guatemala, one piece!” Cancer, written with social psycholo- Iacocca and Hal Sperlich, creators where he ultimately took over the Bernie Patten PS’66’s latest gist Carol Tavris and published last of the Ford Mustang and Chrysler reins of the family business that book-like object, Neurology Rounds year, has had a second printing in minivan, were among his bosses produced automobile tires and shoes with the Maverick: Adventures with the United States. It has also been and mentors. Subsequently, Bernie in Central America. Patients from the Golden Age of Medi- published in the United Kingdom as became responsible for all Ford light In the 1970s, political upheavals cine, was published in September. Oestrogen Matters and in Germany truck product planning. in Guatemala forced Alan and his Bernie culled from his decades of as Östrogen. For 1976, the federal government family to move to Key Biscayne, Fla. practice the most interesting and Mickey Greenblatt’s son Mark mandated unleaded gasoline for cars Alan required hospitalization for unusual patient stories. He says, was confirmed by the United States and light trucks under 6,000 lbs. some injuries incurred as a result of “Some are funny, some not so funny, Senate as inspector general of the gross vehicle weight, because lead the upheavals. some happy, some sad, some terrible Department of the Interior on contaminated the catalysts that the — but all real.” Bernie’s publisher cre- August 1. automotive industry needed to use ated the title, and Bernie eventually Arnie Intrater and Jim to meet evolving emission standards. 1962 figured out who the Maverick was. Mathews met in Maine in August The government also mandated a But he didn’t reveal that to CCT. He to celebrate their 80th birthdays, 50,000-mile emission-certification John Freidin says classmates might enjoy the book. which are two weeks apart. Arnie test for each vehicle-engine-trans- 654 E. Munger St. It’s available as a download for $1.99! traveled from Washington, D.C., mission combination offered for sale. Middlebury, VT 05753 Dave Nathan was a good high where he lives several months a This was a major issue. It required [email protected] school golfer. At Columbia he was year when not residing in Boynton every filling station in the nation to a backbencher on the golf team. Beach, Fla. He retired from many install new unleaded-fuel tanks and Travelin’ John Garman writes, But in the 1970s he lost his way interesting high-level governmental fuel pumps. The Ford challenge was “Last spring, my wife, Nancy, and I and took up tennis. Now he has positions practicing law in Wash- to test and certify more than 100 had a wonderful four-day trip with a morphed into a “Cal (Iron Man) ington, D.C. Jim drove from Silver vehicle-engine-transmission combi- 13-member Road Scholar group to Ripken” in the 20-team, suburban City, N.M., where he now resides nations, each test costing more than visit historical sites in Philadelphia. Washington, D.C., senior tennis after retiring 10 years ago from $1 million. Ford had the money and On the top of my list was the Barnes league where he plays. His partners teaching psychology at the Univer- provided it to the responsible test Foundation. This museum holds the and opponents are often former sity of Hartford for 43 years. manager. But, there was a problem. largest collection of Impressionist college stalwarts and occasionally Joel Pitt and his wife, Marie, The responsible test manager did art outside of Paris. former U.S. Open doubles players. rented out their home in Princeton not have the drivers, garage or test “While there we dined at The But Dave holds the league endur- September 1–May 31 and plan facilities to do the testing. He was Victor Cafe. Its Italian food was ance record: More than 300 matches to spend nine months exploring caught making up test results, fired outstanding. And all the waitstaff –– during the last 20 years! And he the Southern Hemisphere. At this and replaced with another engineer. both male and female –– were opera claims to look forward to many writing, they had not firmed up After several unsuccessful efforts soloists. So, our dinner was punctu- more years of injury-free tennis. His plans for the full trip and will likely to meet the new product standard, ated by arias in Italian and German. success stems partly from attending not make plans in detail for more Ford approached Bernie for a “I’m thinking about making a adult tennis camp in Vermont. than a month or two in advance. recommended solution. His proposal donation to the College. Nothing Larry Wittner GSAS’67, profes- They started with a five-day visit to meet the new fuel standard, big. Fifty years ago, I tried to give sor of history emeritus at SUNY’s to their son James Womack’s eco- compete with Chevrolet and remain a little amount to what was then University of Albany, is enjoying his tourist resort Equilibrio Surf Art in compliance with the new law’s known as the Dean’s Fund. It was a retirement from teaching. This past Yoga in Las Salinas de Nahualapa, unique model was accepted and discretionary fund the dean could spring, he completed a three-year Nicaragua. From there, they went implemented successfully. That truck use to help students who ran out of term as co-chair of the national

Winter 2019–20 CCT 49 Class Notes

board of Peace Action, America’s Larry maintains contact with with Jungian training analyst Edward Lunch.” It’s been a wonderful time largest peace organization, which Mike Weinberg (now active in Whitmont and Stanislav Grof, as to enjoy good food and conversa- grew out of the merger between local Democratic Party politics well as with Campbell in the under- tion together. A shoutout to the the National Committee for a Sane in Oregon) and Charlie Nadler standing of myth and symbol. eight classmates who joined me for Nuclear Policy and the Nuclear (retired from legal practice in Colo- For the last 10 years, Stephen a September lunch: Steve Barcan, Freeze Campaign. Larry continues rado and posting lots of pointed has been working closely with Len Henry Black, Ed Coller, Mike to pursue his dedication to building political messages on Facebook). Ochs, innovator/originator of the Erdos, Doron Gopstein, Bob a world without war, and recently Mike and Charlie, as well as lots of LENS neurofeedback technique, Heller, Lee Lowenfishand Harvey accepted positions as a board mem- other Columbia students, appear and researching its potential. In Schneier. Please plan on joining us ber of both the Peace Action Fund in Larry’s autobiography, Working 2003, they jointly presented “Fun- next time you are in NYC. of New York State and the Citizens for Peace and Justice: Memoirs of an damentals of the LENS Method: Bill Burley writes, “Driving for Global Solutions Education Activist Intellectual, in the chapter Using EEG Driven Stimulation to through Kansas at the moment, Fund. In March, Larry traveled with devoted to his years at Columbia. Work with the Clinical Spectrum having left home in Boulder, Colo., a small group of concerned New John Joyce writes, “Maybe of Problems: Special Emphasis on this morning. On our way to Yorkers to Vieques, P.R., to learn because my classmates and I are the Neurologically Sensitive Patient” Pittsburgh to begin cycling from about the history of and current approaching (or have reached) 80, at the International Neurofeed- my wife Suzanne’s childhood conditions on that small Puerto the following may be of interest. At back Organization Conference in hometown to Washington, D.C., Rican island, which was for decades the funeral of my youngest brother Houston. Their work is documented beginning on September 9. We a bombing range for the Navy until this past February, I spoke with a in Stephen’s new book on LENS, were married August 2, 1969, and irate residents secured a shutdown former sister-in-law, whom I had which is also featured on Ochs’s thought this an appropriate way to of military operations there. not seen for more than 40 years. I website. For more on Stephen’s celebrate 50 years of marriage.” As a union delegate of United asked her if she recalled that when intriguing work, take a look at If you friend the Burleys on Face- University Professions Joint Labor Baker Field was being demolished stonemountaincenter.com. book, you can follow their adventure Management Committees, Larry in 1982, I had asked her former hus- in text and pictures. was for six years executive secretary band (my other brother, who worked Alexis Levitin sent greetings and of the AFL-CIO New York City in NYC) if he would go to Baker 1963 reports that he is “uneasily retired Central Labor Council before step- Field to ask the workers whether he after 51 years of teaching. The body ping down to become a member of could take parts of any bleacher seats Paul Neshamkin is starting to go, but I still love travel- its executive committee. One of its on which was painted the number 1015 Washington St., Apt. 50 ing. Spent six weeks in spring visiting key campaigns in the past year was ‘62.’ I thought it would be an inter- Hoboken, NJ 07030 the spectacular, awe-inspiring Andes an effort to secure county legislation esting piece of memorabilia. My [email protected] of Peru, including, of course, Machu to guarantee workers paid sick days. brother brought several sections of Picchu. The other high point was a “Unfortunately,” Larry wrote, “pow- the seats to his home in New Jersey. Another academic year is underway at visit to floating reed islands in Lake erful business interests managed to I was living in Maryland then. After the College. If we were still students, it Titicaca. My translation life contin- block adoption of the legislation. my brother and his wife divorced, would be our 60th. I missed Convoca- ues: Cattle of the Lord by Portugal’s But the campaign will continue.” I never thought about the bleacher tion in August for the first time in a Rosa Alice Branco, Palávora by Bra- Although he no longer writes seats until I saw her at my youngest while, but Doron Gopstein was there zil’s Salgado Maranhão and Outrage scholarly books, Larry frequently brother’s funeral. She said she was to welcome the first-years. He reports: by Ecuador’s Carmen Váscones in the pens op-eds. Focused primarily on still living in the house where she “I had the pleasure of speaking briefly last three years. issues of war, peace and economic and my brother had lived. Then, to to three or four groups of the new “My only grandchild, Hannah, equality, they usually first appear on my surprise, she told me that the freshmen, who were spread out as is 3 and a half, but 100 percent a the website of the History News bleacher seats were still lying on usual in groups of about 15 all over miracle. I remain in touch with Network and are subsequently the rafters of her garage, where my South Field with their classmates Peter Belfiore, who never stops picked up by other publications. brother put them in 1982. I asked and their enthusiastic senior student writing; Paul Reale, who never her to take pictures of the bleacher guides. Wished them well for four stops composing; and Kit Wertz, seats and then discard them. wonderful years and tried [to give] one who still perfects the language he “Many memories of our senior or two pieces of advice. They seemed invented almost 60 years ago.” year sitting in Baker Field –– when to listen in awe (or shock?) when I Paul Kimmel writes, “I’ve been Columbia won the Ivy League foot- told them that we were doing exactly retired from public school teach- ball championship –– were brought this with our new classmates (with ing since 2012, after 42 years at back by the pictures.” beanies then) exactly 60 years ago, and, East Brunswick H.S., but I’m still Stephen Larsen, with his wife, to give a sense of time, that John F. teaching at Rutgers. I am one of the Robin Larsen, was on the founding Kennedy would be elected President lecturers in general chemistry and Contact CCT Board of Advisors of the Joseph the following year, the Vietnam War also the administrator of the course, Campbell Foundation and also had not started yet, Martin Luther which means writing the exams, Update your address, founded The Center for Symbolic King Jr.’s ‘I have a dream speech’ doing the grades and answering email or phone; submit a Studies to carry on Campbell’s work. would be five years later, Watergate 13 student email. So with about 1,400 Class Note, new book, Stephen is best known for his work years later and 9–11 not for another students in the course, that keeps me photo, obituary or Letter to in mythology and for being a pio- 42 years (but they wouldn’t remember pretty busy. I’m still an active bicy- neer in the field of neurofeedback. that because they were born that year). clist, putting in around 2,000 miles the Editor; or send us an Stephen earned a Ph.D. at Union Anyway, they were all very nice and a year on the tandem with my wife, email. Click “Contact Us” at Institute & University. He is now cordial and it was nice to spend a Jane. I’m also still playing the piano, college.columbia.edu/cct. a professor emeritus of psychology minute or two with them.” and have performed in local recitals.” at SUNY Ulster (Ulster County We recently celebrated our 150th Mike Erdos writes, “My wife, Community College). He has trained monthly “Second Thursday Class Caryl, and I have relocated to

50 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

NYC, and I’ve been enjoying the Bank Music Hall, despite its bizarre should really be replaced by ‘chase.’ is not like riding a bike. Don’t use monthly luncheons with classmates name, has renowned acoustics with We do not hunt anything! On foot it and you lose it, while we can pick (one request: can we open them to a worldwide reputation and is only a we follow Beagles that chase rab- up bike riding again easily even after spouses/significant others?). I look half-hour away. bits safely into their burrows while years of not doing it.” forward to seeing everyone again, “For decades, Paul had racked foxhunters on horseback follow If you’re back in NYC, you can attending Columbia football games up excellent achievements in the foxhounds, chasing foxes that always reconnect with your classmates at our and taking advantage of other classical music realm with leading win the race. The club’s kennels have regular second Thursday class lunches activities on campus now that we performers premiering his work and more than 100 hounds (if you call at the Columbia Club (for now, we are so close! As of this writing, the putting it on their CDs, but it was them ‘dogs’ you are severely pun- are still gathering at the Princeton next month, however, will be spent the performers who had the real ished). It is all an excuse to leave the Club). The next are on December 12, preparing for our daughter’s wed- clout. In the last few years he has road behind, and get some exercise January 9 and February 13. ding on October 5 in Williamstown, become an A-list rock star in the over hill and dale. And the best part In the meantime, let us know Mass.! We’re very excited about this, neoclassic realm. Now Paul selects is that when the chase is over, we what you are up to, how you’re doing and are looking forward to it!” his pieces and decides who will per- have a big party. We love to have the and what’s next. Elliott Greher has been married form them. He is on a roll — in the club hunt our land — we get a beau- 56 years and has four children, 15 last few months he has made three tiful view without doing anything. grandchildren (three married) and CDs, all of which have received rave I have also co-founded NanoPhar- 1964 three great-grandchildren. Of his reviews from Gramophone and Fan- maceuticals, a cancer drug discovery two sets of twin grandchildren, one fare, the leading music periodicals. company. On mice and monkeys, Norman Olch set had a twin as an ambulance first His three most recently recorded results have been very exciting, but 233 Broadway responder at the same time his twin CDs are Children’s Palace MSR Clas- there is a long way to go.” New York, NY 10279 was a sharpshooter in the Israel sics MS 1715, released in April; Cal- Jack McMullen writes, “I spent [email protected] Defense Force (IDF), so both saving dera with Ice Cave: Music for Strings six weeks in Porto, Portugal, in lives. Currently, four grandchildren MS 1703, released in May; and May and June trying to revive the I am writing in September, but and one spouse are studying in yeshi- Stroke of Midnight Naxos 8.559879, Portuguese I learned on the streets by the time this appears in CCT vas. Another five are in college, one released in October. Despite a recent of Brazil many years ago while we will be approaching the start of is a medical intern and one (a girl) is illness, Paul is composing at a frantic on a traveling fellowship there. I the new decade. I wish each of you in the IDF. Elliott moved from New rate and has plans and agreements made good progress, especially after and your loved ones a happy New York 51 years ago to Silver Spring, for numerous premieres and CDs I abandoned the idea of learn- Year, and a year of good health, Md. He hopes to move back to New in the near future, which he hopes ing both European and Brazilian peace and prosperity. York within the next two years. So includes another visit with us at Portuguese at the same time in I have asked the class two ques- much for gardening and suburban, Lazy Bear Farm, our home. different daily classes. I settled on tions: What do you wish you had endless driving. Elliott still has a post- “Alice and I continue to enjoy Brazilian Portuguese, and things known when you were 18, and what retirement (from the United States good health and good fortune. We went much more smoothly. The dif- advice do you have for the members Nuclear Regulatory Commission) love living on our farm in a house ference between those two forms of of the College’s next graduating business selling books and consult- designed for us to support all of our the same language is much greater class as they face becoming “adults”? ing to the adult disabled and aged interests and hobbies. A real farmer, than the difference between British Responses have been trickling in. population. New York will extend his who lives only a couple of miles English and American English. The Lee Witting writes from Penob- active museum, concert and theater away and is also my best friend in reason: Brazil has a population of scot, Maine: “First of all, thanks for experiences and yet provide more Chatham, does all the actual farming. 212 million while Portugal has only your dedication in producing this time for reading — and attending I make the big decisions like ‘grow 10.5 million, even though it was the column year after year. I was sorry Columbia functions. green stuff, no corn.’ I am very inter- parent country. So, lots of TV shows not to make the reunion, but after Phil Averbuch writes, “Greet- ested in the economics and science and other media flow from Brazil we lost my freshman-year room- ings from Florida. My wife, Judy, of agriculture, but I have no interest to Portugal and virtually nothing mate, Nick Rudd, my best reason and I celebrated our 55th wedding in actually doing it. To be successful, goes the other way. Therefore, the for attending disappeared. anniversary with a Mediterranean a farmer has to be smart, work very Portuguese are familiar with Brazil- “To turn your first question cruise with our entire family. Judy hard, hope that government doesn’t ian Portuguese, while Brazilians take around, I wish (for my father’s sake, and I attended the May graduation upset their life with trade wars and around two months to get comfort- at least) I had known less when I was of my grandson Matthew Kronen­ regulations, and also be lucky. I never able with European Portuguese 18 than I did. When I drowned at 7, gold SEAS’19 from Columbia tire of looking out the windows. We when they go to Portugal to work I went through a near-death experi- Engineering, magna cum laude. He have full views of the Berkshire and (there are many Brazilians doing ence (NDE) that compromised my now works at Goldman Sachs. A Catskill mountains. We share the that these days). Of course, in the focus on this life, and left me with very proud and exciting moment.” place with about 30 deer, bobcats, United States we get Masterpiece a foot here and in the hereafter. My Rich Gochman writes, “Last wild turkeys, foxes, rabbits, birds from Theatre, music and the BBC, while father was a high achiever, and very summer, Paul Reale and his wife, eagles to cardinals, and the occasional the British get lots of American successful in his career. My focus was Claire, visited with my wife, Alice, bear that gives our place its name. films, TV shows and music –– so our just not there in the same way, and and me in Chatham, N.Y., for a Giant trees date from the Civil War. two populations are familiar with I’m sure I was a disappointment to week. We all had a real ball: Carrying Occasionally we have a modest tree each other’s way of speaking our him, career-wise. Instead of focusing on pretty much in the same way as in harvest. The tax laws are pretty good, common language. Still, it’s no walk on economics, I spent my quality college and the 50-plus years after- as they should be, since we are cap- in the park to relearn a language at time on Eastern studies, primarily ward. We even had water fights in turing CO2 and producing oxygen. our stage of life. What I learned in Buddhism. After graduating from the my indoor pool. For the last two days It would be fairer if we were exempt Brazil faded through non-use, so I College, I followed my dad’s wishes of the visit Paul went to a nearby from taxes completely. was quickly disabused of my original and started in the Business School’s performance venue, which turns into “We are active in the Old Cha- thought that I would pick up M.B.A. program, only to drop out a recording studio. The Troy Savings tham Hunt Club. The word ‘hunt’ Portuguese again quickly. Language in disgust. I went to work for NYC’s

Winter 2019–20 CCT 51 Class Notes

Department of Human Services, Steve Case LAW’68 and Barry Sophia writes to the class: “Thank and junior years in (what was then) where my caseload was in West Shapiro. I recently heard from you for establishing the Allen J. Livingston Hall. We didn’t know Harlem, above 125th Street, and Richard Tuerk ’63, my junior-year Willen Memorial Prize. Writing my each other well as freshmen, but we where I learned that people with less roommate, who has had an outstand- thesis was one of the most formative became close friends and he was a than nothing materially had more ing academic career in Texas. experiences of my college career. I was delightful roommate. Bill grew up character and love in their hearts “My three sons are doing well able to explore my passion for voting in Northampton, Mass., where his than I ever would have imagined. and thriving in Brooklyn, Chicago rights, and develop a deep knowledge father was a maintenance worker “Over time we saved some money and Richmond. My wife, Sandy of statistical analysis. Working with at Smith College. That background and my wife, 3-year-old son and Pearlman, who makes my life Professor Donald Green made me a gave Bill a refreshing outlook I traveled to Germany on a coal possible, works in HR for a federal more thoughtful researcher. Even as into issues of relations between freighter and lived in a VW camper agency not far from our home in an academic endeavor, it helped me the academic community and the for nearly a year, exploring the cathe- suburban Silver Spring, Md. I con- prepare for my career as much as any working-class population in a small drals and holy places throughout tinue to freelance for several publi- internship I’ve done. college town. He also had a fascina- Europe and the Middle East. When cations. Life is full of challenges, but “I was inspired to write my thesis tion with neo-Nazis and other we got back, we found an old farm- also rewards; I am resigned to the because of my work on campaigns, weird political groups and collected house in Maine, cleared the fields former and grateful for the latter.” and my whole experience at Colum- their literature, not because of any for a garden and grazing, and raised Paul Neuthaler GSAS’72, bia. I had spent the past three years sympathy with them but rather out goats, chickens, pigs and a horse for SW’96 writes: “While my fingers jumping from job to job, studying a of curiosity as to what could produce the kids to ride. I worked a variety still work and my tired eyes still wide breadth of topics through the such oddities in 1960s America. (He of jobs to supplement, but eventually focus, I wanted to check in and greet Core, and I saw this as an opportu- did get occasional feedback from the went to seminary, where I earned a classmates who, I hope, are feeling nity to dedicate myself to one subject neo-Nazis complimenting him on doctorate in NDE. I recently retired as grateful and fulfilled as I. and develop a deep understanding the similarity between his last name from 15 years as chaplain at Bangor’s “Looking back at my two careers of one of my most passionate policy and that of Field Marshal Hermann Eastern Maine Medical Center, — 30 years in publishing, culminat- areas, as well as statistics and manag- Göering!) He and his wife later where I heard many accounts of ing in having been named chairman ing a large-scale project on my own. founded a very popular and highly NDEs from patients who had died and CEO of the Bantam, Double- It was more of a challenge than I ever respected antique bookshop in and been resuscitated. If that subject day Dell Publishing Group in the thought it would be, and I gained Torrington, Conn. I believe that at is of interest to any classmates, I do a early ’90s; then 25 years practicing more from the experience than I least one and possibly more of his podcast on NDE at www.nderadio. psychotherapy in Westchester, N.Y., thought possible. children attended the College. He org. There are more than 300 shows until I fully retired last year. Four “Winning this prize helped me to was a truly unique and wonderful archived for the listening. children, and seven grandchildren to go to Italy after graduation with the human being, and he will be missed “Oh, and my answer to question date — all four, thank God, healthy, friends I made on my freshman floor by all who knew him.” number 2, advising those graduating, loving and happily and expensively during my first week at Columbia. I I reached out to Dan Carlinsky, is simple: Follow your heart.” educated. I had kids in the ’60s, ’70s, am now trying my luck in Washing- who had sent news about Bill that Gene Meyer writes: “I don’t ’80s and ’90s! How patient and car- ton for a while, before I inevitably appeared in a previous column. I have any great pearls of wisdom in ing my wife, Abbi, has been. return to New York to work on asked Dan if he ever got to visit response to your query about what “Columbia, my intellectual home, voting rights advocacy. Thank you Bill’s bookshop, Nutmeg Books. Dan I wish I’d known then that I know awarded four degrees to me over the very much for your meaningful wrote, “I did visit Bill’s shop –– at his now. So I’ll just give our classmates years, including a Ph.D. in English contribution to the College.” home in Torrington –– once. I also a personal update. Renaissance literature. My greatest The two questions I asked await used to run into him at library book “My third book, Five for Freedom: Columbia debt was to my teacher your response. Also, join us in New sales, where he was always a major The African American Soldiers in John and mentor, Edward Tayler, who died York for our informal class lunch the presence. For decades, if you were Brown’s Army, was published last in April 2018. We were friends for 58 second Thursday of each month. a dealer or collector of old books in year (and dedicated to the late James years — my tribute to him appears Connecticut, you knew Bill Goring; P. Shenton ’49, GSAS’54). It won in the Spring 2019 CCT. I miss him he was really one of the deans of the 2019 award for Outstanding every day. Whatever the future holds 1965 the antiquarian book world in the Biography/History book from the for me, I will try to approach it with state and beyond. For several years, American Society of Journalists and the same naive expectations as ever. REUNION 2020 my wife, Nancy, and I ran a yearly Authors. ASJA also gave me the top My life has been blessed.” JUNE 4–6 book sale to raise money for our prize, the ASJA Outstanding Blog Steve Solomon, happily retired Events and Programs Contact town library, a half-hour’s drive from Post recognition, for a blog I posted in Florida, stopped by the class [email protected] Torrington. We could always count on my website: ‘Pittsburgh: Never lunch in September. He is busy Development Contact on Bill’s showing up to stand in line Again? Just Words.’ In addition, the taking classes three days a week, [email protected] at opening so he’d have a shot at our National Association of Real Estate traveling, visiting the grandchildren best stuff. He dealt in an eclectic Editors gave me a Silver Award this and so forth. “I don’t know how I Leonard B. Pack stock, which obviously represented past spring for a magazine article ever had time to work,” he says. 924 West End Ave. his own mind well. Check his about the Marriott Corp.’s decision Congratulations to Sophia Bock New York, NY 10025 website; I think it fits the personality: to move its headquarters. Finally, I ’19 on receiving the Allen J. Willen [email protected] nutmegbooks.com/about-us.” was honored and humbled to receive Memorial Prize for her paper on Gad Heuman responded to one the Lifetime Achievement Award the impact of voter ID laws, Voter Joel Berger responded to the of my pleas for news: “Classmates from the online Washington Inde- Identification Laws and Their Effects mention in the Fall 2019 “Obituar- might be interested in my book The pendent Review of Books, on whose on Voter Turnout and Republican Vote ies” section about Bill Goring dying Caribbean: A Brief History. The third board I have served for several years. Share: An Analysis of State-Border on July 28, 2019: “I was saddened edition of was published earlier “Here in the Washington, D.C., Pairs 2000-2016. Allen Willen was to read of Bill’s passing. He and I this year and includes an update of area, I see some classmates, including the news editor of Spectator. were roommates in our sophomore recent developments in the Carib-

52 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews bean and new publications. I am also tion of our antiques business (note university (like so many universities position and commissioning, with one of the organizers of a Carib- to antiques collectors: except at these days) is committed to operat- performances at world-class venues bean seminar at University College the highest end of the market, e.g., ing on the factory model (high- including Carnegie Hall and Jazz London and continue to work on Sotheby’s auction sales, antiques are speed, efficient, cut-rate production at Lincoln Center. More than 20 slavery and the aftermath of slavery. dead), and the trip pretty much served of workers) and serving up massive, free and ticketed performances that In addition, I am the editor of an its purpose, at least psychologically. intellectually undemanding doses of reach more than 8,500 people in academic journal in this field, Slav- “My intellectual adventures this the currently most fashionable drivel the New York metropolitan area are ery & Abolition: A Journal of Slave year were of two sorts. The first: as worthy of academic study. offered each year. A concert during and Post-Slave Studies. However, two I published a collection of what I “As with my traveling adventures, the Youth Symphony’s inaugural little grandchildren are doing their consider to be my 10 best scholarly so with these intellectual pursuits: year featured a 17-year-old Israeli best to focus my attention elsewhere. articles previously published in aca- I did them in part because I have violinist, Itzhak Perlman. In the I am now professor emeritus, having demic philosophy journals, a book always loved doing them for them- intervening years, many of the Youth retired from university teaching in called Art and Existence, currently selves and partly to demonstrate Symphony’s alumni have assumed the United Kingdom, and continue available only in hardcover format to myself that I was still capable of prominent roles in the music world. to live in London with my wife, the from me (anyone interested need doing them. Well, so much from San “I’m continuing my work, started former Ruth Weinstock BC’66.” only contact me by email: rosenst1@ Diego, where the temperature so far more than five years ago, in the Leon Rosenstein appears to sdsu.edu). In the meantime, Cornell this year (as of August 1) — at least credit crisis counseling program have had a great summer: “I’ve just University Press has informed me at the coast where I live — has yet with the Community Service returned from a six-week tour to that subsidiary rights to a Chi- to pass the 80-degree mark.” Society of New York and, more Sicily and Greece, voyaging with nese translation of my 2009 book, Barry Kamins was featured in recently, the Trout in the Classroom a friend for whom I more or less Antiques: The History of an Idea, The New York Times on September Program with Trout Unlimited. As a served as Cicerone, as my wife, Sara, have now been granted and that the 13 in the article “Officers Said They result, I have been appointed to the is not currently well enough for Chinese version of my book should Smelled Pot. The Judge Called Them NYS Council of Trout Unlimited, travel. While I had seen most of this be available in a year or so. (For- Liars.” A great photograph of Barry, the governing body for all of TU’s before, it was usually as a tour group tunately, I will not be required to seated at his desk and wearing his chapters and activities in the state. leader for the Classical Alliance of proofread it.) My second intellectual customary bow tie, is captioned “Our travel plans are fluid; we’re the Western States, so it was nice adventure: I had the pleasure (and it “Barry Kamins, a former New York planning a trip to London in Febru- City judge and an authority on ary, Montreal in May and maybe search and seizure law in New York, somewhere in Europe (where we said Judge [April] Newbauer was haven’t visited) in the early fall.” Core Baptized as freshman ‘the first judge to really express an Our class reunion (Thursday, Haiku opinion about this type of scenario.’” June 4–Saturday, June 6) is a mere by the Core Curriculum Michael Schlanger was cleaning six months away. Reunion planning washing over me out his house in preparation for a is getting underway, so you can move and came across an August submit suggestions for activities. The — Jim Siegel ’65, BUS’68 1983 article in Legal Times: The Reunion Committee hopes many, National Law Journal about “worka- many classmates will participate. holic lawyers.” It featured 10 worka- holic lawyers. Two of them are Mike not to be obligated by the usual was a pleasure) of being invited by a himself and Michael Cook. I know 1966 impediments and responsibilities of group of San Diego State University they both continue to practice law, but that role and I could include in our philosophy graduate students to I hope they have eased up a bit! Columbia College Today private itinerary archeological sites participate in their self-instituted Bob Yunich followed up on his Columbia Alumni Center far from the usual tourist locales and seminar to study Nietzsche’s Also report in the Fall 2019 issue: “I’ve 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 the madding crowd — the Temple Sprach Zarathustra. It was a pleasure become more active in volunteer New York, NY 10025 of Apollo Epikourios, for example, not only because it prompted me to work, as I’ve been significantly scaling [email protected] supposedly designed by Iktinos, reread a notoriously poetic/esoteric back my financial advisory practice. and unique for being aligned north/ work (the actual text of which I had “In July I was elected a trustee Sasha Berkman ’05 wrote in to share south, provided with a side door not read in perhaps 40 years), but of the New York Youth Symphony her remembrances of her father, and with the first known instance especially because these students because it is an extraordinary orga- Stuart M Berkman BUS’68: of a Corinthian capital. A Greek chose this study topic on their own nization and I am passionate about “Despite knowing that death is an friend (formerly a graduate student without requiring academic credit its mission. Founded in 1963, its inherent part of life and hearing of mine) regaled us with fulsome for it and without the support of award-winning program is dedicated regularly of its occurrence, the finite accounts of the current Greek philosophy faculty, which was not to educating and inspiring gifted impact turns real only when experi- socio-political situation and made available to them in any case, as and talented young musicians, ages enced firsthand with the passing of comparisons with the United States, no one remains in the department 12–22, through exceptional training a loved one. It has taken me a few e.g., the economic ‘use’ (I employ from which I formally retired 10 and performance opportunities. months to fully come to terms with this term in its several senses) of years ago who is competent to teach Approximately 260 students from all the sudden loss of my father (Febru- Albanians there as Californians ‘use’ this in this area. Indeed, since I left backgrounds participate, regardless ary 13, 1944–January 25, 2019). Mexican laborers here. the department, many traditional of their ability to pay, made possible “A native of Cleveland, he spoke so “The trip was planned as a relief and fundamental courses have by the availability of more than $1 often with infectious enthusiasm of experience — relief from the various been abandoned by the university million in scholarships. Its programs his undergraduate years at Columbia health issues of both my wife and me administration and several of my have grown significantly to include that there was hardly any other pos- this year and from the frustrations own specialized subjects and courses chamber music, conducting, jazz, sible outcome than for my yearning attendant upon the final liquida- have been left unstaffed, since the composition, musical theater com- for a Columbia experience of my own.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 53 Class Notes

“For many decades after his Russian. My father and I, despite us sweet-natured little Cavalier King states (countries with populations graduation he was the CC’66 class both being Americans residing in the Charles Spaniel. Having allowed of 10 million or fewer) that Estonia correspondent for Columbia College United States, spoke in Portuguese to memberships in various organiza- plans to promote as a member of the Today, in addition to conducting each other — Brazilian Portuguese tions to lapse, I did join the local United Nations Security Council, interviews of college hopefuls –– because of his nearly 43-year mar- literary club. For that group I have to which it was just elected and for first in my hometown of Atlanta, riage to my Brazilian mother, Gilda written some fiction, including a which I supervised my SIPA students and later in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Esberard Berkman, whom he met murder mystery, which was pretty in crafting a report. where my parents moved upon my during his years spent working at good, if I do say so myself. There are “And I made headlines in another completion of Columbia in 2005. Coca-Cola Brazil in the 1970s. several classmates still living I wish I paradise, Mauritius, by calling for “One of my favorite Columbia “I miss my father greatly.” had been able to see again. My best it to create a public registry of the stories is how his 28-year career wishes to all of you.” beneficial owners of all of its thou- at Coca-Cola came to be: He Don Shapiro writes, “Over the sands of registered companies –– I was apparently doing poorly in 1967 years I’ve thought of writing to Class cannot say that my interview made one of his classes at the Business Notes but just never got around to me popular. School and built a rapport with the Albert Zonana doing it. Hard to believe that it’s “A high point of the summer was professor, possibly to improve his 425 Arundel Rd. been 56 years since we lived together my proving that I still had what it standing in the class. He was about Goleta, CA 93117 on (I think it was) the 12th floor of takes by dancing the twist at a wed- to graduate, the Vietnam draft was [email protected] ‘New Hall’! I’ll make this short and ding in Hannover, Germany, where looming and he had no plans. One sweet, and leave out the many details. even the 30-year-olds could not go day, my dad’s professor asked what We heard from four classmates My wife, Karlyn, and I raised our so ‘low’ and get back up.” his graduation plans were, and said this issue! family in the Philadelphia area, where Be well all of you, and do write .... he had two friends, one in Atlanta Cliff Dobrin writes, “I received I practiced medicine. We now divide at Coca-Cola and one at another a juris doctorate from Rutgers Law our time between Juno Beach, Fla., in company elsewhere. It sounds like School. A six-month trip to Hawaii the spring and fall, and Aspen, Colo., 1968 my father jumped at the Coca-Cola led me to San Diego. I signed up in the summer and winter. Also, I’m opportunity, and thus began his for a three-year stint with the San proud to say that my son, Adam Arthur Spector international career in marketing Diego District Attorney’s Office. I ’03, is a fellow Columbia College 4401 Collins Ave., 2-1417 and licensing at Coca-Cola. loved the job so much, I stayed for graduate. Lately, I’ve been rereading Miami Beach, FL 33140 “Throughout the years, either for 37 years, retiring in 2007. When not some of our Lit Hum books with the [email protected] business or for our yearly holiday looking after my granddaughter, my Columbia College Alumni Associa- travel with my mother and me, my wife, Mary, and I have been traveling tion’s Core Conversations book club Hello to the Class of ’68! We all father would not come to New York the world. Every couple of years, (college.columbia.edu/alumni/learn/ met about 55 years ago, can you without a mandatory visit to the however, we return to New York City coreconversations). I hope a lot of believe that? I am enjoying my Columbia campus, which he admired so I can stroll down College Walk you are also taking advantage of this home in Miami Beach, but the every time. The visit also included a and breathe in the most wonderful great opportunity. Life is good!” hurricane approaching did make me mandatory stop at Mondel Choco- of memories. I picture my sponsor, Jenik Radon writes, “My vaga- think twice .... lates to purchase chocolate-covered Professor Jim Shenton ’49, GSAS’54, bond ways now find me also return- Visit me! Buzz Zucker, our resi- ing to my California ‘roots’ –– I did dent expert on plays, is coming soon. law at Stanford and grad school at We saw each other in Saratoga this UC Berkeley. I have rejoined Santa past summer –– he won at the race Seth Wein- Core In Plato’s dream cave Barbara-based Direct Relief, the track, I was wiped out. Haiku premier United States provider of stein is also coming, as is Bob Costa we see only shadows of critical emergency medical supplies ’67 and his wife, Joan. I went to their whom we’re yet to be around the world, as a member of its daughter Carolyn Costa ’12’s wedding Board of Advisors. This gives me the in July, the best wedding I have ever — Rabbi James B. Rosenberg ’66 chance to catch up with Al Zonana, been to. Carolyn is wonderful. who is not embarrassed to admit Nigel Paneth, Bernie Weinstein that he loves living in paradise. ’65, Jenik Radon ’67, Robert Brandt “Other than the Bear Republic, I and Seth Weinstein and I go back ginger, a bite at V&T and a pastry and some of my friends and always combined business with lots of plea- and forth on public policy issues; it at The Hungarian Pastry Shop. One appreciate what an extraordinary sure by visiting Estonia, the land that is quite amazing how Seth, Robert might say he had memories tied to all experience it was. Life is good.” invented Skype, this past summer and and I tend to be flawless in our those local spots. Bob Burdette writes, “I was joining in its famed Estonian Song observations. Nigel is again doing “I am fortunate to have been unable to attend our class reunion Festival, which in 1989 sparked Esto- important public health teaching. loved and raised by a man who was in 2017 due to mobility problems nia’s independence movement from Seth is biking and is down to college the grandson of Hungarian and occasioned by spinal stenosis. the USSR. This year was the festival’s weight –– told me he did 18 miles Russian immigrants, worked part My two closest friends from the 150th anniversary; there were more in one day recently. time at his parents’ convenience class, George ‘Jud’ Marking and than 30,000 singers and more than I also heard from Larry Suss- store from the young age of 4 and Michael ‘Mickey’ Lane, and their 130,000 participants, all singing kind, who has a new book out. He paid his own tuition at Columbia, wives, came to my home in Cincin- songs of freedom. It was an emotional teaches at MIT. ultimately growing his passion for nati that spring and we celebrated high. It also gave me the oppor- Heard from Jim Shorter, who foreign languages and becoming a on our own. The fairly large number tunity to check up on my interns. was planning to come to Homecom- self-taught linguist speaking English, of our classmates who had already They were working in the Estonian ing Weekend 2019. Portuguese, French, Spanish, Ital- died surprised me. These days I lead Ministry of Foreign Affairs helping Also heard from Tom Sanford, ian, German, Dutch, Turkish and a solitary life in the company of a to craft a platform for the 105 small who gave us a good lecture at our

54 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

40th about staying fit. Tom writes, of a movie with intrigue. I wonder constitutional rights of Americans valuable treasure trove of videos that “Rowed up the Thames River from what happened to all the Germans. of all faiths and backgrounds. reach far and wide, demonstrating the Hammersmith Bridge to Henley Did they end up in America? “My wife, Cindy, and I continue to the power of listening, creating and over the course of three days in early I wish I had a list of all the live on the West Side of Manhat- improvising in what is usually viewed July with a group of English old professors in our class, as I bet we tan with our daughter Sasha, a as an arcane and painful task. His boys. My second year of this fun. I’m have some kind of record of talent at sophomore at the Fashion Institute published work, including his highly looking forward to Homecoming and universities. Although, we have a lot of Technology, and not far from my influential textbooks on both modal planning to go to the Yale Bowl, too.” of lawyers and doctors, many turned children David ’93 and Laura ’01, and and tonal counterpoint, have created A role model for us all, for sure! out to be professors in some cases! close in spirit to my son Dani, who an extraordinary impact on the field. Ira McCown, a former rower, Have a happy New Year, and lives in Jerusalem and finds opportu- Finally, he has changed the way was planning to come to my place please take a moment to write! nities for me to do good deeds.” musicians think, bringing joy through to watch a Columbia football away My friend Professor David musical insights, allowing students to game; I was to produce lunch. Lehman reports, “David Lehman’s do something that they only dreamed I heard from Hollis Petersen, 1969 new book, One Hundred Autobiog- of in terms of their musical studies who is in hot water with me until raphies: A Memoir, tells the story of and analytical discoveries.” the next reunion –– talk about foot- Columbia College Today his (provisionally) triumphant three- Richard Hobbie reports: “After ball, I bet he was at a game at age 3 Columbia Alumni Center year battle with cancer, with the 23 years as president and CEO of or so, like Paul de Bary. 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 Hollis wrote that he and his wife, New York, NY 10025 Ann, continue to be enthusiastic [email protected] residents of Islamorada, which is in Core Honors, passing, fail — the middle of the fabulous Florida CCT was saddened to learn that Haiku Keys (where the sun shines except for longtime class correspondent For all the lasting mem’ry: Michael S. Oberman an occasional hurricane). While sorry passed away Core, the Core, the Core to miss the recent excitement of the on October 16, 2019. He was a very Lions’s successes, Hollis still claims active alumnus, serving as class cor- — Robert Nordberg ’68 to miss Buff and Archie and sends respondent for 41-plus years, serving enthusiastic greetings to all from the on the Columbia College Alumni Conch Republic (aka the Keys). Association Board of Directors Hollis, I hope to get out to see 2008–19 and volunteering for mul- book’s structure allowing for digres- the Water Quality Insurance Syndi- you there or hope I can persuade you tiple Reunion Committees through sions, memories, fantasies, dreams cate in New York, I have retired and to travel to Miami. the years. He will be missed. and reflections on life and death. am living in Dorado, Puerto Rico.” The latest news from Steve Got- Lehman’s poetry books include Professor Lewis H. Siegelbaum, tlieb’s late-blossoming tennis life: “I Playlist; When a Woman Loves a Man; the Jack & Margaret Sweet Professor was selected for the United States 1970 and The Daily Mirror.” Emeritus of History at Michigan four-member team to compete in Professor Lehman is also men- State University, sent a note about the 70-and-over world team compe- REUNION 2020 tioned with great respect in James the publication of his memoir, Stuck tition in Croatia. Pleased to report JUNE 4–6 Periconi’s letter to our class at the on Communism: Memoir of a Russian that we captured the bronze medal.” Events and Programs Contact end of these notes. Historian (with a chapter on his years George Bernstein recently [email protected] Great news about Professor Peter at Columbia College). His publisher returned from a wonderful time Development Contact N. Schubert of McGill University’s describes the book as a “memoir by with some English friends whom he [email protected] Schulich School of Music. Peter “has one of the foremost scholars of the met 26 years ago in Scotland. They been awarded the Gail Boyd de Stwo- Soviet period from the 1950s when met in London for a celebration. Leo G. Kailas linski Prize for Lifetime Achieve- Lewis Siegelbaum’s father was a George sounds like fun; I recom- Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt ment in Music Theory Teaching and victim of McCarthyism through the mend that any member of the Class 885 Third Ave., 20th Fl. Scholarship. This honor is awarded implosion of the Soviet Union and of ’68 who’s spending time in New New York, NY 10022 every five years and bestowed upon an beyond” and refers to Lewis’s self- Orleans ring George, who probably [email protected] individual who has helped to shape discovery “through the tumult of the knows the best restaurants and chefs music theory pedagogy throughout student rebellion at Columbia during in the city (which has some of the My dear friend Jacob Worenklein the world, whether it be through the Vietnam War and Moscow at the best food on the planet). sent a lovely note: “I continue to teaching at his or her home institution height of détente.” George, we missed you at the focus on electric power in major or through lectures, formal conference It sounds like a fascinating read! 2018 reunion, but we have many United States cities as we transi- presentations and publications beyond Geoff Zucker reports: “As one more on the horizon. tion to a low-carbon future. I the campus. Criteria for the award of the ‘counterculture’ generation of Sandy Zabell writes, “Recently chair the company that owns the also require that honorees have taught students of the Class of ’70, I never published a 75-page paper on Ger- Ravenswood Generating Station for a minimum of 25 years, have thought I’d say that I retired last year man mathematicians who worked in Long Island City (New York’s maintained significant scholarship after 40 years as a gastroenterolo- on cryptography during WWII largest power plant), and am CEO and continued presence in the field gist in Western Massachusetts. This (the German counterparts to Alan of US Grid Co., which is in the of music theory pedagogy, and have year my wife, Donna, retired as a Turing). There were quite a few (not process of acquiring power plants in demonstrated impact on future gen- professor of nursing at University surprising, given their preeminence major U.S. cities. I worry, as so many erations of music theory instructors of Massachusetts. We’re trying to in mathematics then). Other than of us do, about the threats to the (mentorship, successful alumni, legacy figure this out, and some travel (a that, the usual teaching.” basic values of our nation and chair in teaching approaches).” recent trip to Egypt, Jordan and Sandy is a professor at Northwest- the Interfaith Alliance, which is Beyond his excellence in class- Israel) and summers on Cape Cod ern; his 75-pager sounds like the basis committed to the protection of the room teaching, Peter “has created a have been wonderful. In order to

Winter 2019–20 CCT 55 Class Notes

give me a reason to get out of gym Bill Schur writes: “I’m back in America. Part-time work as a book she teaches second semester CC, clothes, I’m president of the medical Fort Worth, Texas, where I have dealer led to research, which led enjoying rereading these magnificent staff at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, taken up bowling and golf 50 years to collecting, and back to a deeper texts –– a somewhat different selec- a Mass General Hospital affiliate, after I quit both. Pursuing a new cit- research, and soon I was publishing tion than ours of a half-century ago, and am on the Board of Trustees of izen naturalist hobby, photographing an article every two to three years –– but not as different as you’d think the Massachusetts Medical Society. plants and animals and uploading practicing law not leaving more time –– and discussing them with really Having a voice in the governance and them to the iNaturalist website/app/ for this activity. smart and (mostly) hard-working policies of the organizations that I database, where I go by the handle “In recent years, I’ve taken several College undergrads. Just remember- belong to has been my best solution cwd912nb. Doing my civic duty by intensive courses in bibliography, ing as much as I occasionally do to avoid ‘burnout,’ a serious problem serving on a stormwater advisory including ‘Principles of Descrip- about texts from that life-altering for physicians these days. Our first group for the City of Fort Worth tive Bibliography,’ at the Rare Book course –– thank you, Pete Pardue grandchild, Evan, was born a year and working on various neighbor- School at the University of Virginia, from the religion department! –– ago, and gives us a strong reason to hood association projects.” enhancing my research and my and from its offshoots, especially drive into Long Island on a regular Larry Rosenwald writes: “I’m collecting, which culminated in sociology-CC, discussing them with basis. I’m looking forward to next excessively proud to have a verse 2012 in an exhibition at the Grolier her, reminds me how much I got year’s reunion, and to connecting translation of mine, of Itzik Manger’s Club New York City of my collec- out of Columbia despite the awful Tom Keenan. with my old friend, ” The Ballad of Old Harlequin, pub- tion, prompting the now-deceased political times. Tom Keenan Well, also sent a nice lished on the website of the Yiddish William Reese, one of the eminent, “I’ve run on too long, but there’s report: “My wife, Keri, and I are look- Book Center, yiddishbookcenter.org/ scholarly dealers in American books, much to say that’s positive, and I ing forward to catching up with you language-literature-culture/yiddish- to buy two copies of my catalogue haven’t even mentioned children and guys again at our 50th! And since you translation/ballad-old-harlequin, for his staff, declaring I had filled grandchildren, in which I’m very asked … ‘In his 2004 book Techno- with a beautiful, heart-wrenching an important gap in American book blessed; no bemoaning the pains of creep: The Surrender of Privacy and the graphic presentation.” publishing history. Whew! old age or miscalculations in my life!” Capitalization of Intimacy, University Finally, news from James “A year ago, the New York Public of Calgary Professor Tom Keenan Periconi (who is on our Reunion Library gave me one of its coveted made some feisty predictions about Committee): “I very much look positions as a Wertheim Research 1971 how the world would change by the forward to our 50th reunion in June. Scholar for a year, and recently 50th anniversary of Woodstock (music I’m happy to report that in my small extended it to May of next year. Lewis Preschel curated through AI, personalized –– but not unimportant –– way, I’m To some a poor step-sibling of the c/o CCT medical tests, direct stimulation of beginning to pick up where I left Cullman Fellows Program (with Columbia Alumni Center the brain with electricity rather than off as a graduate student midway its stipends) perhaps, but a key to a 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 chemicals). Woodstock 2019 didn’t to getting a Ph.D., Columbia’s only private reading room on the second New York, NY 10025 happen, but most of the things Tom Danforth Graduate Fellow in the floor of the magnificent 42nd Street [email protected] predicted did. One thing he didn’t see Class of ’70. I admire classmates library and, even better, a couple coming was the ability for anyone to who successfully finished their of shelves on which to keep books Howie Selinger writes, “I have fake images/documents/videos with Ph.D.s in English literature, too ordered from the stacks brought lived in Denver for 44 years. After commonly available software. He’s many to name. One in particular I’m right there, to keep pretty much as finishing a Ph.D. in clinical psychol- now designed a blockchain-based lucky enough to see a lot of, who has long as we need them. Lately I’ve ogy, I have been in private practice system that can help detect image taught and written some of the best been scouring the Italian news- performing consultations and giving manipulation –– a useful tool in the poetry around (not to speak of his papers in New York in the second expert witness testimony. I specialize age of Fake News. He presented it prose works) and started in 1988 an half of the 19th century for ads for in cognitive behavior therapy, includ- at the RSA conference in Singapore iconic American cultural institution, imported books from Italy –– a ing mindfulness-based stress reduc- this summer. A short video version is The Best American Poetry series: my thriving business, it seems –– and tion and acceptance and commitment online at bit.ly/2mDrdhh.’” good friend David Lehman. It just then for the exciting emergence of therapy. I love my work too much to wasn’t for me then. home-grown materials, in other retire. It fulfills my personal goals of “I continued to pursue a pretty words, Italian fiction, poetry, mem- decreasing human suffering.” good career as an environmental oirs and histories, in U.S. imprints Howie notes the Core Cur- lawyer. This began while I was (not imported). It’s almost entirely riculum created a firm basis for his studying in Paris, attending Michel virgin territory for a scholar in this practice. His wife, Marilyn, has a Foucault’s and Claude Lévi-Strauss’s sub-field (I know most of them), doctorate in neuroscience; their two classes at the Collège de France, liv- so it actually sets my pulse to rac- grown children returned to Denver ing with an American science writer ing when I make a discovery and to live. They practice law and psy- for UNESCO, who wrote about the jump out of my seat, or have my chology. Howie has three grandchil- Send in gradual destruction of the environ- assumptions utterly (and thrillingly) dren, who first heard “Roar, Lion, Your News ment, convincing me that the world defeated by the inexorable power of Roar” minutes after their birth. He needed environmental lawyers to real evidence of historical events and is eager to hear from classmates: Share what’s happening in save the planet more than it needed material culture. [email protected]. your life with classmates. another Ph.D. in English literature. “As if I weren’t already terribly After 40 years of public service, Gary Marton Click “Contact Us” at But starting about 20 years ago fortunate because of this, my com- retired last May. He at a conference I helped organize, panion of the last five-plus years is a notes his path after Columbia took college.columbia.edu/cct, with Edward Said as the keynote senior Columbia history professor at a slight detour: “For two years after or send news to the address speaker (thanks, Jim McMenamin), the crest of a great career, and about graduation, I shared an apartment at the top of your column. I prepared my first bibliography, a to publish at Harvard another one on Claremont Avenue while I drove modest effort at a comprehensive list of her award-winning histories of a cab, played tournament bridge, of the literary output of Italians in modern Europe. Every other year helped to run a food co-op and took

56 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews piano lessons. I lived the hippie medical fields, and it seems the to play on Columbia’s freshman tions as to where we should meet, lifestyle. However, while in college, events and times of our college edu- soccer team in 1967, along with please contact me at l.a.preschel@ 1969–71, I performed draft counsel- cation directed so many of us toward outstanding teammates like Rocco gmail.com. I hope to set this up far ing with good success. The process our appropriate future –– serving Commisso SEAS’71 and Omar enough in advance that some of our was rewarding, so I decided to enroll others to better our world. Chamma.” Another excellent player, out-of-towners can make it. in law school: Boston University. Paul Armstrong follows Mike Vorkas, has passed away. Life presents twisty paths –– we In 1976, I obtained a position with Columbia baseball, and the team is Len continues, “The 1967 freshman have all gone our own way, but we are a solo practitioner, but found no obviously much better than when he soccer team was undefeated, beating not near our finish line. We can still enjoyment there, so in 1978, I took a played, though I can attest that Paul previously undefeated Penn 4–3 in Roar, Lion, Roar. We’re the brother- position with the Office of the New could play quite well. Paul married the final match of the season. (We hood of ’71ers; let’s stay in touch. York City Comptroller. For more Peggy after graduation and did won the hypothetical freshman Ivy than six years I worked on construc- corporate work for 40 years while League Title.) Naturally those of tion contracts, administrative law, living in Colorado, California and us on the team are proud of this 1972 labor law and public procurement Pennsylvania, and finally return- accomplishment and remember issues. In 1985, I joined the New ing to New York. He traveled the it vividly. Now, arguably, the most Paul S. Appelbaum York City Law Department and world as well, including but not important position on a soccer team 39 Claremont Ave., #24 ran the litigation unit. We defended limited to, trips to South America, is the goalkeeper, and I’ll have you New York, NY 10027 thousands of tax foreclosure Japan, South Korea and Europe. In know that the goalkeeper on the [email protected] proceedings, occasional bankruptcy, retirement, Paul devotes his time to undefeated 1967 freshman soccer eminent domain, environmental, his family: two sons and a daughter, team at Columbia was none other Gene Ross reports, “All is well. public procurement and tax certio- plus five grandchildren. The oldest, a than Lew Preschel. Thanks for a My three sons are succeeding in rari cases. We also drafted legislative grandson, is 16; he lives in Califor- great season, Lew!” their careers. I am still busy in my proposals. In 1999, I gained approval nia and is ready to look at colleges. Len remembers back to our dads Westchester County ear, nose and and was appointed, as a judge, to the Paul is making a road trip with him standing on the sidelines cheering throat practice, though, after 43 years New York State Court System, the to UCLA, USC and Caltech. us on. Another great moment for of operating, and a clean record, I housing part of the Civil Court of As a retiree, Paul has stopped both of us. have adopted an office-only practice. the City of New York. I served for solving engineering problems, equa- In an effort to present a balanced My wife and I are taking more time almost 20 years in various boroughs tions and such, as he did throughout picture and give credit where credit off, and have wandered the world this throughout the city. college and his career. He says, “I’m a is due, on the soccer pitch in front year — Peru, Madeira, the Grand “My wife, Monique, and I have liberal arts guy at heart, but took the of me, I had an incredibly talented Canyon, Bulgaria, Greece, Puerto lived in Brooklyn since 1990. We technical route in college out of prac- defense, including Rocco; Rinaldo Rico and eight trips (so far) to our have two grown daughters. We enjoy ticality [and the need to find a job].” Veseliza SEAS’71, GSAPP’74; Joe beach home in Fort Lauderdale. I our lives every day. I am in contact While taking engineering courses Koch; big Jorge Gleser ’72; Rich learned to play Mozart’s Piano Con- with Roger Liwer SEAS’71 and and practicing baseball during the Milich; and also my friend, fullback certo No. 19 a couple of years ago, have Roy Rosenstein, both of whom day, and then studying for engineer- Bobby Brintz, who succumbed to been working on Chopin’s Études live in Paris, and within walking ing at night during college, he had ALS several years ago. That season and plan to resume playing jazz on distance of each other. During my no time to read great literature; so beat the hell out of studying for saxophone. I get to the gym a lot and, time as a judge, I would occasionally in his leisure, he now makes up for organic chemistry. We should also at 69, am 5-foot-10 and 148 lbs.” cross paths with Arthur Engoron. lost time. Otherwise, he spends his note that Len was an All-Ivy selec- He concludes with a welcome From time to time, I run into Larry spare hours abusing his knee and hip tion in 1969 and 1970, and went bit of Columbia patriotism: “Roar, Weiss, who is the headmaster of replacements by playing tennis. on to a career in professional soccer Lion, Roar. Still so honored to call Brooklyn Friends School.” George Quintero lives in Mara- before becoming a high school and Columbia alma mater. I’ve always Ron Rosenberg teaches at the caibo, Venezuela, but notes he was college coach. endeavored to earn her faith in me.” Law School of William and Mary, destined to go to Columbia, as his Fortuitously, Rich Milich, one Bruce I. Jacobs SEAS’73 wrote but will retire at the end of this year. dad, Jorge Quintero ’45, PS’48 was of the starting fullbacks on our that his latest book, Too Smart for Although he and his wife reside pre-med and his mother was BC’44 undefeated freshman soccer team, Our Own Good: Ingenious Invest- in Williamsburg, Va., presently, and also PS’48. George proposes dropped us a line: “For the past 30 ment Strategies, Illusions of Safety, on retirement they will relocate to that Greg Wyatt make a desktop plus years, I have taught psychol- and Market Crashes, which explains Charlottesville. He remembers that replica of his Scholar’s Lion for our ogy at the University of Kentucky; the underlying causes that connect the events of our freshman year reunion. He looks forward to the big however, I recently retired. I chaired financial crises from 1987 to the shocked him personally and intel- 5-0, which is coming up soon. more than 35 doctoral dissertations present, was published last year. His lectually. In retrospect, he concludes Paul Scham is the co-editor and performed research concern- firm, Jacobs Levy Equity Manage- that our class was a firsthand of Israel Studies Review. He is the ing ADHD for 40 years. The topic ment, entered its 34th year this observer of social and political his- executive director of the The Joseph still holds my interest because fall. In September, the Jacobs Levy tory that changed the essence of our and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for new questions arise, begging to be Equity Management Center for country forever. Israel Studies at the University of answered. Having worked and lived Quantitative Financial Research As your class correspondent, I Maryland, College Park. in Lexington has made it my home, at the Wharton School hosted its claim minimal training in psychol- Len Renery, the captain of so I am retiring here as well.” seventh annual conference, including ogy and statistics, but our class our class’s freshman soccer team, On a class business note: I am the presentation of the fourth bien- seems to have a larger than expected checked in: “In 1954, the NCAA hopeful that in the spring we can nial Wharton-Jacobs Levy Prize for proportion of people involved in in its wisdom mandated freshman have an informal class luncheon Quantitative Financial Innovation. the legal system of the city, state athletics teams, so that incoming someplace in Manhattan. It would On the personal front, Bruce and his and federal government. Add in the students could play sports. It was be great to see everyone –– those I wife of 44 years, Ilene, are proud of number of lawyers, judges, physi- required of all colleges and universi- remember and those I never knew. If their four children, who are pursuing cians, and include those in related ties until 1973. I was privileged you like this idea and have sugges- careers in social work, finance and

Winter 2019–20 CCT 57 Class Notes

a food business startup. And, of and I, know how to contact you. So was a sign that read “EEFFOC — Timothy has produced a number of course, they are enjoying time with please send me your email address that’s coffee spelled backwards ... works that have shown up on TV, their four grandchildren. and I’ll pass it along, or submit it and I don’t give EEFFOC before my this is his first major piece for the big Bill Hudgins shared some directly to CCT: college.columbia. first cup of coffee in the morning!” screen. reminiscences of moving in during edu/cct/update_contact_info. Another, in front of Mel’s Burger Bar Distant memories put Jim Freshman Week: “I grew up in a (a great place where The Gold Rail Rouen in the anti-money launder- small rural town in Virginia and was in our day), took a little artistic ing group at Citigroup in New York. spent my last two years of high 1973 license. It had an arrow pointing He updates us that he is still at school at an all-boys school in yet up Broadway and a note saying, Citi but he now heads its securities another rural part of Virginia. The Barry Etra “Columbia: $71,199” and an arrow services legal team. He also teaches Spring 1968 shutdowns worried 1256 Edmund Park Dr. NE pointing to Mel’s that said, “Happy a course at the USC Gould School my folks greatly, but for me, they Atlanta, GA 30306 Hour drinks: $4.” I bet it is a tough of Law (done over one weekend) signaled I was indeed going to the [email protected] choice for the undergraduates! and teaches a course online; he adds, right place. My dad and I drove You’ve got to love the disparate “struggling a bit with the tech.” Jim to NYC — I’d been to New York My entreaties for Class Notes go rankings of best colleges, each using says he is “still married to my college before, but he never had. We arrived unheeded. Thus is a class correspon- different criteria and weightings (but not Barnard) sweetheart, Mari- and got our first look at the campus. dent’s lot, at times …. of the factors. A listing in The Wall lyn Belloch.” They have two grown Hippie-looking people everywhere. Nick Lubar muses about CCT: Street Journal had Columbia at a dis- children. One is in film in L.A. and Scores of beautiful girls (did I “When we entered Columbia, the couraging 15th place. But CNBC’s the other is in the restaurant busi- mention I’d just finished two years oldest classes listed in CCT were from ratings of the “top 10 U.S. colleges ness in NYC. Earlier this year Jim at an all-boys school?). People with the turn of the century; now, we’re in big cities” put Columbia at and his wife moved from the Upper bullhorns broadcasting whatever somewhat in the middle ourselves. A number 2. The granddaddy of lists, West Side to Connecticut. He says position they embraced. And hun- way to measure the passage of time.” by U.S News & World Report, has he took several alumni courses dreds of other confused, confounded Nick was on campus in the spring Columbia tied with Yale at number (French literature, and the history and anxious parents wondering, as for the annual fundraiser for the sail- 3. Take your choice, but we all know of Broadway theater), and says both my dad surely was, what circle of ing team, which now has a coach and “Who Owns New York?”! “have been absolutely great.” hell they were delivering their babies a fleet on City Island –– a marked Don’t wince when your kids tell “I’m a migrant worker these days!” to, and if they’d ever see them again. change from yesteryear. As well, he you they plan to major in history writes Steve Simon. After serving If there was a parents’ orientation met with two students who were the and urban studies. You might think on the National Security Council then, we didn’t know about it. So we recipients of a prize that he created these majors could make it hard to (as director of Middle East and moved my stuff in, and my dad very for students to study the way Latin get a “good” job. But it all worked North Africa) in Washington, D.C., reluctantly bade me goodbye. I went American governments are improv- out for Ken Krug (perhaps helped he accepted a three-year post as a off to find out what new world I’d ing life for their citizens, and was by getting an M.B.A. at Stanford). visiting professor at Amherst College landed in. It was years later when I “impressed with their enthusiasm.” Ken first was an executive at the (in Massachusetts). He is now doing realized how he must have felt after Methinks it’s those little gestures RAND Corp. (the public policy a five-year stint at Colby College (in leaving me in that Boschian scene.” that matter the most. think tank in Los Angeles). In 2007 Waterville, Maine). Steve adds, “It is My wife, Dede, and I were able Barry Etra did not write in, but is he became the CFO of the Jewish kind of a big moment for us in that to do a few days of guided birding running two forums in Atlanta that Federation Council of Greater Los it looks like we are going to sell our in Gibraltar and southern Spain this match up investors and early-stage Angeles. Since 2011, Ken has been farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. year at the start of the fall migration. companies in unique ways that the CFO of The Asia Foundation in This implicitly means we are never Though we’re not fanatic birders, enable the companies to remain San Francisco and says he plans to returning to land below the Mason- we’ve had the privilege of seeing local, thus building up the local eco- stay “for a while” in part because the Dixon. Weird feeling.” these magnificent creatures in some system. The RAISE Forum was his position gets him to Asia frequently. Also leaving D.C. is Steve of the world’s major flyways, includ- invention; he also runs the Atlanta One big change is that he has moved Seidel: “After working on ozone ing Israel and Costa Rica. It’s a chapter of the Keiretsu Forum, the from Berkeley to Los Angeles and protection and climate change for lovely way to spend a couple of days. largest and most active angel group will now make a weekly commute more than 30 years at the EPA and I am also pleased to note the pub- in the world. from L.A. to San Francisco. other environmental organizations, lication of the first book by my son, And there you have it. Until the Another classmate is a CFO in I retired two years ago. Sad to say Binyamin (the only member of the next issue! San Francisco: Tom Ferguson. He there is way more work left to be family without a Columbia degree), works for the Episcopal Church but done by the next generation of a member of The New York Times has a much shorter commute (from activists.” (Officially, Steve was the editorial board. I’m certainly biased 1974 the nearby suburb of Piedmont). director of the Stratospheric Protec- in suggesting that The Economists’ Tom passes on that his daughter, tion Project at the EPA.) But he is Hour: False Prophets, Free Markets, Fred Bremer Elizabeth, completed a master’s at now off on a new adventure: “My and the Fracture of Society is the 532 W. 111th St. NYU last summer. He promises wife and I are heading to Thailand most readable account of post-war New York, NY 10025 details on what he’s up to when to teach English.” economic history that I’ve ever seen, [email protected] work lets up. Warren Stern writes from but there you have it. Timothy Greenfield-Sanders Greenwich, Conn., “I am liber- If you are receiving CCT but Walking around Morningside has a new film. Toni Morrison: The ated from my long legal career at never see an email from me about Heights on a beautiful fall day, I was Pieces I Am is about the Nobel- and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. contributing to Class Notes, it struck by the amusing chalkboard Pulitzer-winning novelist. The Los I remain of counsel. Owning your means the Alumni Office doesn’t signs outside some of the newer Angeles Times calls his movie “moving time is a great privilege.” have your current email address. establishments. In front of Oren’s and profound” and also said, “Look How is he filling his days? “I’m With our 50th reunion looming, it’s Coffee (just north of Tom’s Restau- for this one to be front and center in a devoted angler and boater, and all the more important that they, rant on 112th Street and Broadway), its category come Oscar time.” While like to travel, spend time with my

58 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews wife and two grown children (no five years back. It seemed like such organizers (including Gordon) only Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia grandchildren at this point) and read a good idea that I’ve tried to keep it wrote: “Kit Noir 2020 will feature a diagnostic and treatment center in as much as I can,” he says. up during the non-Lenten months, range of Jewish artists and themes. NYC approved by the Primary Cili- Having retired five years ago from those being most of them. If that’s The festival will include films ary Dyskinesia Foundation. his career on Wall Street, George boring, alas, so be it.” by Jewish filmmakers (Edgar G. PCD is a genetic disease with Bartos (who lives in NYC) says he His thoughts on my obituary, Ulmer’s Detour, Billy Wilder’s Ace chronic wet coughing and lung is “living a life of leisure.” He tells us which he has been planning for in the Hole), films that address anti- infections resulting from the he enjoys “playing the grandfather years, are NSFW, so probably not Semitism (Crossfire) and WWII (The inability of cilia that line the airway role” for the two sons of his daugh- safe here, either! Spiral Staircase, The Stranger) and to perform their role of clearing films on the blacklist and the media secretions from the lung. (Scandal Sheet, Sweet Smell of Success). Bob is also proud to have Once again, a majority of the films established, with the assistance of Core Core too much to read will screen on 35mm film.” his daughter, Elizabeth Kipp-Giusti Haiku I attended the first two and have ’12, the Norman Hildes-Heim Fund Monarch Notes help you indeed seen other ’76ers in the audience. at the College. This scholarship, in With Thucydides Last year, I enjoyed a post-festival memory of Norman Hildes-Heim meal with Joel Silverstein and his ’60, who was the freshman lightweight — Robert Sclafani ’75, GSAS’81 family at Pisticci. I hope to see many crew coach at Columbia, provides more classmates this year; tickets will annual support for an undergraduate go on sale at the festival’s website: in the music department. arts.columbia.edu/noir. Let me know Bob lives in Greenwich Village ter (who works for NBCUniversal). Athens, the Acropolis, Milos, if you are planning to attend. At a with his wife, Leslie Kipp, and tries He also tries to keep in contact with Santorini, Mykonos and more. Not minimum, we can grab some coffee. to stay fit as he approaches his 65th his Columbia fencing team friends. quite how I (Randy Nichols) spent Mark Giosa retired last year after birthday by daily walking a mile to There you have it. Some classmates my summer vacation, but almost. a career in corporate real estate: “I and from his pediatric pulmonology continue in their chosen professions, Since my Social Security checks have been enjoying golf, traveling and practice at NYU. while others are altering their careers. have started rolling in, I’m going to reading books –– one of these days John Connell’s daughter Erin There seems to be an increase in spend those dollars on vacations! I will get around to rereading some Connell ’13 married Christian classmates who have decided to take This past summer, a trip on the Star of the classics that I failed to fully Adams on September 7 in Mount time to smell the roses. Whatever you Clipper –– a four-masted barquen- appreciate during my College days. Desert, Maine. There were a lot are doing these days, take a moment tine –– was a real treat. I was in NYC in May, reunioning of College alumni in attendance, to drop me an email! Joel Stern does it again! He with my buddies from SEAS’76. My including Erin’s sister, Brigid ’16, announced the publication of his wife had never seen campus, so we and brother, Will ’19. (See “Just newest origami kit, My First Origami jumped on the Broadway local for a Married!”) John added this caption: 1975 Fairy Tales Kit, which includes a full visit and happened to visit on gradu- “Special surprise guest appearance: cast of characters –– a princess, an ation day. The campus was beautiful Dorian … as in hurricane!” REUNION 2020 ogre and a witch –– and has detailed and brought back many memories. Toomas Hendrik Ilves writes: JUNE 4–6 step-by-step instructions. Colorful “My biggest claim to fame is “After finishing my second term as Events and Programs Contact paper collage backdrops and brilliant that my son Alex is performing on president of Estonia and after my [email protected] folding papers make it easy even for Broadway as the substitute drummer youngest son was born, Stanford Development Contact first-timers. I’ve ordered mine; you on Hamilton. We hope to make a invited me out for a few years. I am [email protected] can get yours at amazon.com/gp/ return trip to the city soon to catch a Distinguished Visiting Scholar product/0804851468. the show.” at its Hoover Institution. In 2017 I Randy Nichols I went to Syracuse (I need some received a John Jay Award for dis- 734 S. Linwood Ave. destination suggestions for future tinguished professional achievement Baltimore, MD 21224 1976 trips!) to see Mika and her tenants, from the College.” [email protected] Linda and Dennis Goodrich, and Since retiring from Wall Street Ken Howitt to surprise Bob Czekanski and in 2009, Yuji Sugimoto has been Getting a note from David 1114 Hudson St., Apt. 8 his wife, Pam, who came by during traveling and sailing the seven seas Gawarecki is always fun. Here’s Hoboken, N.J. 07030 their visit to their son at Hobart. on his sailboat: “One of the best the latest: “1. I gave up alcohol [email protected] Bob writes: “I live in a small town in experiences I have had recently was as a way of life, not as an option Central Massachusetts, work part- on land, the walking of the Camino in life. 2. I gave up womanizing Some classical music on the turn- time and tend to my apple trees. My de Santiago in the northeast corner because not doing so might shorten table –– Gershwin orchestral works. oldest son is two years out of college of Spain. It is an UNESCO World my remaining years (it’s called I need a lot of time, since I got a lot and my younger sons are in their Heritage Site-recognized activity that mariticide, beginning with the of updates. Thanks to all of you! senior year of college. All is going started about 1,250 years ago as a same three letters as Martha). 3. I To start, this coming March well and I look forward to following Christian pilgrimage but is now done gave up work because it seemed too will mark the third annual Dr. the Lions’s football season.” by anyone, regardless of religious plebian (blame Columbia for giving Saul and Dorothy Kit Film Noir Bob Giusti PH’77, a pediatric background. You hike 10–15 miles me unrealistic expectations). 4. I Festival, a 10-year series initiated by pulmonologist and clinical professor every day in the beautiful pastoral didn’t give up fast cars –– driving a Gordon Kit in honor of his parents. of pediatrics at the NYU School of settings just with your backpack, six-cylinder, standard transmission The festival will run Wednesday, Medicine and director of the Pediat- going from village to village, staying Camaro these days, miraculously March 25–Sunday, March 29, at the ric Cystic Fibrosis Center at NYU’s at hostels and inns. It is a great way without any speeding tickets (so far). Lenfest Center for the Arts on the Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, to see this beautiful region up close, 5. I gave up humility for Lent about Manhattanville campus. The festival says NYU has been approved as the taste real local food and wine, and

Winter 2019–20 CCT 59 Class Notes above all else give yourself some “My construction law practice is Institute’s whale shark database of the Congressional Black Caucus time to think, reflect and reminisce quite busy, as construction in Los regarding their migration, mating, Foundation’s 49th Annual Legisla- about many things –– away from the Angeles is quite busy. I’ve heard and life and times to try to 1) under- tive Conference. Tom commented, internet. And it is a great, refresh- about this term ‘retired,’ although stand and 2) save them –– before “This event provided an opportunity ing, stressless way to get in shape; I’m told I don’t entirely grasp the they are gone forever.” for classmates to reminisce about the great for ’76ers’ age bracket. There are concept. I’m starting slowly and will Mario Fernandez writes: “I Columbia experience and the impact several routes to Santiago de Com- soon take Fridays off. In the mean- retired in 2011 from the United of Literature Humanities readings postela in Galicia, Spain, but I hiked time, I’m still having fun.” States Department of the Trea- of Freud, Machiavelli and others.” the Portuguese Coastal Route with From Gary Lehman BUS’80, sury Internal Revenue Service, So, Gershwin’s Second Rhapsody my wife, Yumi BC’74, BUS’76, from SIPA’80: “Greetings to all with best Statistics of Income division, as (very underrated in my opinion) is Porto, Portugal, to Santiago, which wishes for a safe and wonderful fam- ‘Statistician, Economics,’ after 30 concluding and I have once again took about 20 days. I am thinking of ily/friends time and spiritual renewal years with the U.S. government. I written too many words for my edi- doing the purists’ route, The French over the holidays. I am always was born in Santo Domingo, the tor. Keep those updates comin’ and Way (aka the ‘real deal’ that takes proudly kvelling over my two grand- Dominican Republic. I was part of keep smilin’! about 45 days, starting from Saint- daughters and grandson –– with two the 1967, 1968 and 1969 groups of Jean-Pied-de-Port near Bordeaux in more grandsons on the way — not the Upward Bound program at the southwest France and cutting across to forget six granddogs, who go nuts College. I don’t think I was one of 1977 the Pyrenees range through the when I bring them treats of dried the original members because, as I Basque region to Santiago). If you codfish skins. After retiring from a recall, it started in 1966. I was one David Gorman have interest in the Camino, watch big blue IT company where I was of the students from Jamaica H.S. I 111 Regal Dr. the 2011 movie The Way with Martin for 36 years, I now work for the was also part of the Student Forum DeKalb, IL 60115 Sheen or videos on YouTube.” Department of Homeland Security, when I was a student and I remem- [email protected] A little over a year ago, Laurence which I thoroughly enjoy; it is an ber the other members like Richard Lubka and his partner, Miriam, increasingly important mission. Collins, Paul Nyden ’66, Linda Greetings for winter, Class of 1977! purchased a large house in Pasadena. “This summer I led my team up Nyden, Michael Merryl, Jonathan Hope you’re all having a wonder- “We are now just a few feet from 7,000 ft. to the summit of Pikes Draper ’74 and some others. For a ful time. Please take a moment to the Rose Parade route,” he writes. Peak at 14,000-plus ft. on a cancer while I was a professional student, send a note –– travel, work, family, “Most people are downsizing, but we treatment/research fundraiser (Swim but I ended up getting my degree in favorite Columbia memories and/ upsized (and still lack room for the Across America: Making Waves 1976. I would have to think some or anything you want to share. Your combined households). I spend a lot to Fight Cancer; my photo of a more to remember those years, classmates want to hear from you! of time traveling to my son’s family smiling swimmer and her niece was which is the reason others might not in the Bay Area and to my daughter’s used nationwide on Clear Channel, want to respond. God bless Roger family (including my granddaughter) which I admit was pretty neat). In Lehecka ’67, GSAS’74.” 1978 in Seattle. I recently hung out with a December, my wife, Linda, and I Kevin Berry writes: “Lots going group of Columbia friends (including will tour Ethiopia. And then I will on here in Philadelphia. Our sports Matthew Nemerson some from the CC’77 and CC’78) dive in Djibouti, observing/docu- teams are, for the most part, superior 35 Huntington St. in Crested Butte, Colo. We have menting whale shark behavior and to those in New York, so that is New Haven, CT 06511 gathered as a group pretty much every collecting plankton, tissue and poo always a comfort. Still working, [email protected] other year for more than 40 years. A samples in the Gulf of Tadjoura to out of either masochism or love proud Columbia tradition. capture data for the Shark Research of the game. I am a commercial Here we go again. I don’t mind get- trial lawyer, and a busy one at that. ting older. I’m calmer and happier, Also enjoying time with my three exercise more and generally have a children, three stepchildren and five much better outlook on everything. grandchildren –– most are around Still, I don’t like September. Oh, the here, but one is in Florida and one weather is great, there is football is in Los Angeles. I was in Scotland and baseball at the same time and for a week in June, brandishing my everyone seems very serious about abysmal golf game (I told you I was business and working on Friday a busy lawyer, didn’t I?). I headed to afternoons. But when the holidays Aspen for a week in September, then come and we aren’t going away on took a two-week trip to Eastern the weekends I have a real sense of Europe in October. We will spend another year being etched off the the holidays in Palm Beach, Fla., tablet. There is something both so where we have our second home. cliché but also so accurate about the Running across Columbia grads in fall of life and the very certain smell Philadelphia is like trying to find a of running out of the endless time Phillies fan in the Bronx, but I see we all sensed in college as the leaves some from time to time.” begin to turn again this time. Tom Motley wrote about a Gary Pickholz SIPA’81, who has reception that he attended in been updating some of us on the Washington, D.C., that was hosted nuances of the last Israeli elections by Reynold Verret, president of writes, “English is such a marvelous A September reception in Washington, D.C., brought together Columbia Xavier University of Louisiana, in lingua franca –– recrudescence: Go alumni (left to right) Thomas J. Motley ’76, Reynold Verret ’76, Gustavo New Orleans, at the Qatar-America ahead, find a comparably concise Paredes ’77 and Steven L. Richardson. Institute on September 11 in honor term in any other major tongue.

60 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

Rav Aryeh (Lionel Trilling CC 1925, Grand Slam tennis sites: London, Chuck Callan says he is looking She also won the International GSAS’38) and Reb Zisheh (Sidney Paris and Melbourne. [Also] the ahead and looking forward to “reading Society for Industrial Ecology’s Morgenbesser) would approve with Mauna Kea Observatories on the and rereading the Great Books and Society Prize, awarded every two a definitive ‘yeah, right.’ Reb Zisheh island of Hawaii; I thought there to be transported into the world of years, at this year’s conference in might have added his infamous were a lot of stars at 6,000 ft. –– by the mind. Russian literature, French Beijing. And did I mention that my ‘What is it that you maximize in the time you reach 9,000 ft. there romance, Greek tragedy and comedy.” daughter Joy is working for a food- Jewish decision theory? Regret.’” were at least a billion more. Carl And finally, William Hartung, tech startup in Shanghai and writing Looking back at how we are Sagan was right!” with the Center for International a blog about bugs called “Get Bug- different from our children, he notes, Philip Vecchio has been mar- Policy, is “continuing my work at gie”? You could look it up. “We were vastly more optimistic ried to Catherine since 1985. He a progressive foreign policy think about our futures professionally, per- writes, “I am far more apprecia- tank. I have done a lot of writing sonally and as paterfamilias than our tive of our Founding Fathers and aimed at ending U.S. arms sales 1979 sons today. And both generations are what they have done to create the and military support for the Saudi correct in their respective analyses.” greatest civilization in the history of regime due to its brutal war in Robert Klapper Looking ahead, Gary unveiled mankind. I am also appreciative that Yemen, in which it has killed thou- 8737 Beverly Blvd., Ste 303 a program that he created at some Columbia was devoted to teaching sands of civilians in indiscriminate Los Angeles, CA 90048 of his stomping grounds: “Shira Western civilization and requiring air strikes and driven the country to [email protected] and I have been blessed with the students to read the classics; more so the brink of famine. Congress has opportunity to endow a small set now than in 1978. But when I look begun to take notice of this issue, News from Joe Ferullo: “I retired of Pickholz Scholars as a ‘post- at the campus today, I unfortunately passing a number of amendments from CBS in March. I was the Rhodes Scholar Rhodes Scholar- perceive the inmates now run the to block U.S. arms and military executive VP of programming for ship,’ permitting some of my Oxford asylum. We need to emphasize support to the Saudi regime. So the company’s syndicated television students to go for moonshots that respecting the wisdom that comes far, these efforts have been vetoed division, overseeing such shows as may truly alter the world for good, from experience.” by the Trump administration, but Judge Judy, Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray but require far longer than two years Phil’s goal “is to transition into the political calculus is shifting as I Show and Entertainment Tonight, effort and VC seed funding. I have ‘retirement,’ where I am working write this. I have also spearheaded among others. A wonderful gig, a partnered to create a comparable pro-bono for a Christian charity or an effort to promote substantial cuts great place –– but after 13 years program for Israeli scholars studying mission domestically or internation- in Pentagon spending, under the there (and 12 years before that at at Columbia, Harvard and Stanford. ally. My wife and I have traveled to umbrella of the Sustainable Defense NBC News), it was time to move on Nothing is more vital to future Florence, Italy, and Cork, Ireland; Task Force, a group of experts that and exhale. Israeli–Diaspora relations than to both were stunningly beautiful for includes former military personnel, “I had no Plan B, still don’t. But see a significant number of next- different reasons. We now hope to White House and Congressional I did get a call in late March from generation Israeli leadership secure travel to Alaska and to many of the budget analysts, and representatives the owner of the Washington, D.C., their advanced degrees in the United National Parks that we have not had of non-governmental organizations. newspaper/website The Hill –– we’d States, and live among us.” the opportunity to visit while busy Thinking of campus life today met years ago over business negotia- From Mintz Levin in New York, raising children and paying bills.” he says, “I believe that life is more tions. He asked me to write a regular Jeffrey Moerdler notes, “We Al Feliu LAW’81 tells us, “I stressful for kids coming up today, opinion column from Los Angeles recently had our fifth grandchild, have had a rewarding career as an from college debt to a lack of for The Hill on media and politics. and two of our kids and their fami- employment lawyer and arbitrator well-paying jobs with job security “It’s been a bit of a college- lies have moved from apartments and mediator. Most of my work now to larger issues like the impact of dream-come-true. I was editor-in- on the West Side –– one to New is as a neutral (arbitrator, mediator, climate change on their futures.” He chief of Spectator back in the day, Milford, N.J. (near Teaneck), and investigator), although I have a small plans to “build my organization into and initially pursued a career in the other to New Rochelle, N.Y. law practice and counsel clients. I a bigger player in the foreign policy print journalism –– where almost The third is still on the West Side. live in New Rochelle with my wife debate while making time for family everyone’s dream is to be a colum- We are lucky that they are all within of 33 years, Susan Hobart LAW’83, and fun, including my hobby as a nist. So, this is a fun return to the a 20-minute drive from Riverdale, an attorney with Shearman & Ster- standup comic.” beginning. We’ll see what happens albeit in different directions.” ling, whom I met at the Law School. William’s favorite recent trips from here, but it has been an unan- The always reliable Thomas We have three grown children all include China and South Africa; ticipated gift. Reuter SEAS’79, with General living in the New York area. The he also “has enjoyed regular trips to “Family matters: My wife, Sylvia Electric, is back with a new message classmates I interact most with are Mexico, Paris and London, and a Lopez, spent more than 25 years for us: “My oldest son, Matthew ’07, Joe Greenaway and John Flores. recent trip to Prague.” as a local news anchor here in Los contributed a piece on Columbia “My perspective when I was at the I have to brag a bit as my wife, Angeles, left three years ago to pur- men’s lacrosse for ‘The Last Word’ College was more hopeful than kids’ Marian Chertow BC’77, was sue a master’s in public health and column in CCT’s Spring 2019 issue, today, what with remnants of the ’60s recently put in the Connecticut now does research for UCLA’s Jons- and the staff selected one of my ‘we are going to change the world Women’s Hall of Fame for her work son Comprehensive Cancer Center. color photos from the 2006 Colum- for the better.’ This generation seems as an environmental leader in her My oldest daughter, Daniella, an bia-Princeton game to accompany more inward looking and pessimistic role as a professor at the Yale School NYU grad, is developing an execu- it. Look on your coffee table and you about their futures, with good cause. of Forestry & Environmental Stud- tive career in Hollywood –– she is will no doubt find it. My next chal- However, the College is much more ies and sitting on many boards and an assistant to the president of the lenge is to be paid for my work like attuned to the needs of the student committees around the world. If combined Disney/Fox television stu- my youngest son, Tim ’11. Google body, it appears, than was the case in you remember, her thing is reducing dios. Our younger daughter, Isabella, ‘Timothy Reuter and Syrian Civil the 1970s –– a very good develop- waste and thinking about things is a junior at The George Washing- War’ for a sample of his work.” ment. I plan to continue to enjoy like garbage, recycling and how ton University in D.C., majoring in We asked about favorite trips and time with my wonderful family and businesses can co-locate to be more psychology, which will be helpful to Tom noted, “I have visited all the my legal practice.” efficient and waste fewer resources. the entire family. All the best!”

Winter 2019–20 CCT 61 Class Notes

Howard Z. Goldschmidt PS’83 a box of Corn Flakes and ramen public media station. In his role there, was recently appointed president of noodles on this custom-made table 1980 he oversaw programs including On the American Committee for Shaare over the radiator, it was as though the Media, The Brian Lehrer Show Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. the holy grail of surviving my senior REUNION 2020 and Radio Rookies. Before joining Shaare Zedek is the busiest hospital year came into view. JUNE 4–6 WNYC, Jim spent nearly 17 years in Jerusalem and is well known for I immediately took the A train Events and Programs Contact at The New York Times, where he was its innovative treatment of heart home to Far Rockaway and told my [email protected] associate managing editor. disease, stroke and trauma. Howie father we needed to make a custom Development Contact Greg Peterson was recently continues to teach cardiology and table like one I had just seen. This [email protected] named to the “Best Lawyers in practice interventional echocar- turned out to be one of the great America” 2020 list. He is a partner at diography at Shaare Zedek every moments in my life with my father. Michael C. Brown Casner & Edwards in Boston, where February. The rest of the year, he is To him, it was a perfect way to pro- London Terrace Towers his practice specializes in real estate director of echocardiography at The vide some support for my journey 410 W. 24th St., Apt. 18F development and environmental law. Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J. to a better life. We immediately New York, NY 10011 Matt Kennedy has been work- His wife of 34 years, Debbie, is a jumped in his truck and went to his [email protected] ing with fellow lacrosse alumni to lawyer specializing in immigration wood shop. I remember him say- promote the sport at Columbia, with law; he has three children, and four ing, “Robby, we’re going to do this It’s official. Our 40th-year reunion the ultimate goal of making men’s grandsons who live in Israel. together, because I want to teach will be held Thursday, June 4–Satur- lacrosse a varsity sport. Anyone Howie writes, “I have only you how to make this table.” He said day, June 6, in New York City. Your interested in learning more about fond memories of my years on the skinny legs would be made from Reunion Committee has been work- the initiative can check out makeit8. Morningside Heights. The liberal a long piece of 2 inch x 2 inch wood. ing diligently on the agenda, with a com. Also, for those who missed it, arts education was incomparable. He asked me how high it had to be cocktail party, all-class bash at the check out CCT’s Spring 2019 issue, Exposure to Art Humanities and to sit just above the radiator; I said New York Public Library and our page 88, “The Last Word,” or college. modern literature was the perfect 36 inches. He said, “OK, take my class dinner on Saturday planned so columbia.edu/cct/issue/spring19. antidote to the pre-med grind. ‘Eliot tape measure and the pencil from far. You can expect an event-filled Congratulations to Dr. George Joyce, Pound,’ taught by Wallace behind your ear and measure 36 weekend with plenty of opportuni- Yancopoulos GSAS’86, PS’87 Gray, and ‘Italian Cinema,’ taught inches and make a mark.” We then ties to reconnect with classmates. on receiving the 2019 Alexander by Pellegrino D’Acierno, shaped my used a table saw to cut along the line Please reach out to all your College Hamilton Medal. George is the cultural tastes. In my senior year, I making the first leg of the table. friends to remind them to come president and chief scientific officer was lucky to take Willard Gaylin’s He then said, “OK, now let’s make back to campus! at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. He Freud course and Arthur Hertz- this second leg from this 2x2 piece of Jim Schachter will take over as holds many patents, is active in berg’s ‘History of Zionism,’ both of wood.” He then explained, “Robby, CEO of New Hampshire Public STEM educational commitments which gave me strong foundations you no longer need the ruler, because Radio, succeeding former chief exec- and is a supporter of the College. for continued study.” we will use this first leg as the tem- utive Betsy Gardella. Jim previously Looking forward to seeing you all Robert C. Klapper: Today’s plate for the second leg.” I laid the first held the top news executive position at reunion in June! Drop me a line Columbia memory comes from a leg along the long piece of wood, took at WNYC, the country’s largest at [email protected]. small, skinny-legged, 36-inch-high the pencil from behind my ear and table that I recently uncovered in made the mark. I then cut the second my garage. I made this table with leg. I was about to use the second leg my father, Abraham the carpenter, as a template for the third leg, when before starting my senior year living my father said, “No Robby, don’t do in Furnald. The reason for the dimen- that. The second leg cannot be the sions of tall, skinny legs and being template for the third leg because if 10 inch x 24 inch is because this table you made even the slightest error, this fits perfectly over the radiator (pro- error will magnify with each subse- nounced raa-diator, like radical, not quent leg you make. Go back and use ray-diator, like radiate –– and I still the first leg you made as the template say pocketbooks, not purses, because for legs two, three and four.” I still bleed Columbia blue). He then said something that I As you might recall, it was for- will always remember and cherish: bidden to cook in our dorm rooms. “Robby, you must always go back to But during my junior year, in a visit the original.” This metaphor for my to a friend’s Shangri-La in Furnald life has been my mantra in the many (remember this was a coveted facets of my journey as a surgeon, building, only for seniors), I saw the inventor, author, sculptor and ESPN light –– a custom-made table fitted radio host. That table saved me perfectly over the steam heated money from the meal plan. The Corn coils! My parents could not afford Flakes and ramen noodles it allowed to give me any financial assistance, me to stack sustained me my whole so tuition and room and board came senior year. But it was in building that solely from my work in the Catskill table that I learned the greatest life LEE DARRELL Mountains and the bowling alley job lesson and enjoyed one of the greatest Lance Warrick ’79 ran into Ben Drachman ’17 on July 30 in Washington State. at Ferris Booth. Money was tight, moments I ever had with my dad. Warrick was hiking north on a 75-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail when and I realized I could no longer What relics are in your garage? he crossed paths with Drachman, who was hiking south on his attempt to afford the meal plan. So when I saw Let me know. Roar, Lion, Roar! hike the entire length of the 2,653-mile trail from Canada to Mexico.

62 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

coach could never remember his 1981 name. “Thankfully, that’s no longer a problem,” he said with a chuckle Kevin Fay during his acceptance speech. 8300 Private Ln. My wife, Dr. Deborah Gahr, and I Annadale, VA 22003 again hosted a NYC Summer Send- [email protected] off for entering Columbia students. Several classmates attended, including Greetings for winter, Class of 1981! Ken Chin, Peter Ripin, Bruce I heard from James Klatsky about Abramson, Eric Wertzer and Jon the addition of two grandchildren: Ross. Matthew Patashnick, associate Madeline, born in April to his son, dean for student and family support Michael, and his wife, Lauren (they at Columbia, welcomed the students. also have a son, Sammy); and Mia, Bruce Abramson is a senior born in July to his daughter, Elisheva, fellow at the London Center for and her husband, Marc. I’m not sure Policy Research and director of policy if James is located physically close to at the Iron Dome Alliance. He is his grandchildren, but if so, he now also a technology lawyer and expert has his weekends blocked out with witness in private practice. He is the grandparent duties! author of Digital Phoenix: Why the Roy Pomerantz ’83 hosted an NYC Summer Sendoff for entering Columbia Congratulations, and best wishes Information Economy Collapsed and students; several alumni friends came to the event to welcome the new for your grandchildren. How It Will Rise Again (2005), The students. Left to right: Pomerantz, Ken Chin ’83, Peter Ripin ’83, Bruce Abramson ’83, Eric Wertzer ’83 and Jon Ross ’83. On a personal note, I have moved Secret Circuit: The Little-Known Court from Northern Virginia to Charlot- Where the Rules of the Information Age tesville (again), this time for good. We Unfold (2007) and numerous articles are empty-nesters save for our three on the interplay among technology, partnership disputes; defending Betsy had just celebrated their 30th dogs –– all good. Hope to hear from business, law and public policy. Bruce’s franchise owners; and protecting wedding anniversary. I introduced more classmates in the near future! multidisciplinary practice draws upon trade secrets and confidential infor- them during senior year at Colum- his experience as a computer scientist, mation. He has also written exten- bia and despite that fact I have been an economist and an attorney. He has sively, lectured and been interviewed a welcome and grateful guest at their 1982 helped clients navigate litigation, nego- on numerous legal issues affecting High Holiday dinner table for 29 tiation, growth, technology assessment, the hotel and hospitality industries. out of the last 30 years.” Andrew Weisman merger and regulatory settings. From Eddy Friedfeld: “On From Drew Velting: “For the 81 S. Garfield St. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Bruce August 25, Neal Smolar and Betsy last several years, I’ve been writing Denver, CO 80209 developed deep experience teaching Chutter Smolar BC’85’s daughter and performing Americana and [email protected] and researching artificial intelli- Abigail was married to Daniel Stern roots-oriented music with acoustic gence, big data, Bayesian modeling, at a beautiful event in a converted guitar (6- and 12-string), banjo and No news this time, gents! Please statistics and forecasting. He then make it a New Year’s resolution to deployed those skills in a variety send in some news. Your classmates of economic settings, shifting his want to hear from you! focus into economic modeling. His Core Here in my 50s practical expertise includes valuing Haiku intellectual property and other As I first read the Core texts; 1983 asset classes; assessing damages and I blame the CliffsNotes royalties; evaluating and deploying Roy Pomerantz patents, products, digital copy- — Lou Orfanella ’82 Babyking/Petking rights and technologies; devising 182-20 Liberty Ave. growth strategies; drafting licenses, Jamaica, NY 11412 contracts and patents; determining [email protected] and predicting competitive effects warehouse in Paterson, N.J. Pres- harmonica. Last year, I recorded and market responses; modeling and ent were five of the six inaugural and released my first single, ‘The My boys and I attended several analyzing complex data; assembling residents of Suite 505 East Campus: Mournful Death of Heather Heyer,’ Columbia Lions baseball games this and managing cross-functional Steve Arenson, Adam Bayroff, to coincide with the one-year anni- past season at Robertson Field at teams; facilitating communication Eddy Friedfeld, Len Rosen and versary of the Unite the Right rally Satow Stadium. The games are free among engineering, management Neal (the sixth is Teddy Wein- and counter-protests in Charlot- and the adjoining football field is and legal teams; marketing and cul- berger) –– we all maintain that the tesville. The song is available for open to the public. The Lions are very tivating client relationships; teach- holes in the walls were there when digital download, and proceeds are competitive and lost to Harvard this ing, research and public speaking; we moved in. Also in attendance being donated to the Heather Heyer year in the championship Ivy League and publishing books and articles on were Larry Herman, Aron Kressel Foundation. Heather’s mother, playoffs. Phil Satow ’65 told a memo- technology, business and law. ’81, Mark Segall ’84, Ray Edelman Susan Bro, and I were interviewed rable story at the 2014 Alexander Peter Ripin is a litigation partner ’82, Leslie Pressner Edelman BC’85, in a CBS19 News (the Charlot- Hamilton Award Dinner, the year he with Davidoff Hutcher & Citron Miriam Kushner BC’83 and Monica tesville, Va., affiliate) feature story was the honoree. Phil was a middling and has assisted numerous institu- Marks Aboodi BC’85. Everyone and Newsday also featured an article second baseman when he played for tions and individuals in resolving looked great, and it was fun catching about the song. The video is available Columbia and lamented that the breach of contract, real estate and up. As of this writing, Neal and on my YouTube channel.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 63 Class Notes

Alumni Sons and Daughters Seventy members of the Columbia College Class of 2023 and five members of the Columbia Engineering Class of 2023 are sons or daughters of College alumni. This list is alphabetical by the parent(s)’ last name.

STUDENT PARENT STUDENT PARENT STUDENT PARENT

Alexander Aibel Sarah Aibel ’92 Sylvie Epstein Daniel Futterman ’89 Christian Law Edward Law ’86 Santa Monica, Calif. Brooklyn, N.Y. Mount Sinai, N.Y.

Caroline Alleyne Neville Alleyne ’79 Marcus Fong William Fong ’87 Jackson Law Edward Law ’86 La Jolla, Calif. Hong Kong Island Mount Sinai, N.Y.

Charlotte Atkins Charles Atkins ’86 Alexander Glasberg Scot Glasberg ’86 Olivia Lease * Elizabeth Lease ’02 Naples, Fla. New York City Inverness, Calif.

Nader Babar Nadeem Babar ’87 Mary Grealy Francis Grealy Jr. ’75 Hannah Lederman Ilene Lederman ’87 Houston McLean, Va. San Francisco

Andre Balian John Balian ’85 Andrew Haberman Sinclair Haberman ’78 Samuel Levine Gregory Levine ’83 Skillman, N.J. New York City Great Neck, N.Y.

Sareen Balian Nairi Balian ’88 Leah Hale * Martin Hale ’74 Lucy Blumenfield Jaclyn S. Lieber ’88 Chevy Chase, Md. Weston, Fla. Culver City, Calif.

Pierce Woodall Tracy Bender ’92 Rebecca Hale Martin Hale ’74 Emma Lill Jason Lill ’96 Coppell, Texas Weston, Fla. Loganville, Ga.

Jonathan Berkowitz Philip Berkowitz ’88 James Harrison David Harrison ’83 Emily Lim Chang Lim ’87 Potomac, Md. Bronx, N.Y. Asheville, N.C.

Edward Brodsky Leslie G. Brodsky ’88 Liam Hayes * Andrew Hayes ’85 Alexander Mendelson Victor Mendelson ’89 New York City Greenwich, Conn. Miami, Fla.

Samantha Camacho Michael Camacho ’91 and Samuel Hosmer Basil Hosmer ’85 Ruby Mendelsund Peter Mendelsund ’91 Nyack, N.Y. Patricia Labrada ’91 Belmont, Calif. New York City

Kevin Chaikelson Steven Chaikelson ’89 and Samuel Hyman Barry Hyman ’77 Zoe Meshel Adam Meshel ’92 and New York City Amanda Rosen Chaikelson ’91 Newburgh, N.Y. Roslyn, N.Y. Samara Meshel ’92

Claire Choi John Choi ’91 Zoe Hyman Joshua Hyman ’85 Zoe Metalios Steve Metalios ’89 and Joy Washington, D.C. Englewood, N.J. Riverside, Conn. Metalios (née Kim) SEAS’90

Olivia Choi John Choi ’91 Sameer Joshi Jitendra Joshi ’90 Anthony Ozerov Serge Ozerov ’85 Washington, D.C. Cranbury, N.J. Moscow

Yasmine Dahlberg Jennifer Anglade Elyse Kanner * Michael Kanner ’90 Maximilian Ozerov Serge Ozerov ’85 Stockholm Dahlberg ’93 Armonk, N.Y. Moscow

Sonali Dasari Sriram Dasari ’92 Ethan Kim Arthur Kim ’95 Andrew Riordan Michael Riordan ’80 Brentwood, Tenn. South Orange, N.J. Greenville, S.C.

Elizabeth DeSouza Patrick DeSouza ’80 Alexandra Kirk Edward Kirk ’92 Jackson Roberts Lauren Roberts ’90 Darien, Conn. Rye, N.Y. New York City

Javier Dobles Ricardo Dobles ’89 Margot Kleinman Howard Kleinman ’84 Hattie Rogovin John Rogovin ’83 Holden, Mass. New York City Los Angeles

Luke Dobrovic Nino Dobrovic ’86 Hani Kodmani Omar Kodmani ’89 Juliette Rooney Robert Rooney ’89 Oakton, Va. London, U.K. London, U.K.

Brenna Dugel Pravin Dugel ’84 Lindsay Kornguth David Kornguth ’87 and Miriam Alvarez-Rosenbloom Rachel E. Paradise Valley, Ariz. Orinda, Calif. Linda Kornguth (née Wang) ’87 Cambridge, Mass. Rosenbloom ’90

Stephen Eisner Linda Mischel Eisner ’87 Bertina Kudrin Sergey Kudrin ’81 Darius Rubin James Rubin ’82 New York City Fort Lee, N.J. London, U.K.

64 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

“I’m planning the release of “DASNY is the financier for social another single and title track of infrastructure across New York State, STUDENT PARENT my first EP, Where Do the Homeless and we have done incredible work Dwell? I’m really enjoying the oppor- with colleges and universities across Miles Schachner Seth Schachner ’85 tunity to perform live, write and New York. Our work in life sciences Miami, Fla. record music and share it with others. with CUNY Advanced Science My website is drewveltingmusic.com. Research Center, Columbia’s Jerome Isabel Schmidt Benjamin Schmidt ’86 “On a more personal note, my L. Greene Science Center and NYU’s Seattle wife, Olivia; children, Addie and Tandon School of Engineering has James Schwann Thomas Schwann ’82 Otto; and I recently spent a week- supported an important research Ottawa Hills, Ohio end in Manhattan that included a corridor across Manhattan. DASNY walk around the Columbia campus. helps New York State remain a major Isabelle Seckler Jonathan Seckler ’87 Wonderful to step inside John Jay player in the efforts to attract talent, Boca Raton, Fla. for the first time in almost 40 years. and support inclusion. Brought back many great memories. “I have also followed my dream. Doran Sekaran Rajan Sekaran ’82 Stopped by The Hungarian Pastry For years, I had wanted to teach at Weston, Conn. Shop for dessert to top things off. Columbia and, over the last two Also started rereading the Lit Hum years, have had the pleasure to teach Boaz Shaham Shai Shaham ’89 syllabus earlier this year. My first an undergraduate seminar on cities New York City introduction to Sappho! Writing and development, and one on states, Yena Shin * Duke Shin ’89 poetry again after a long hiatus and finance and economic development. Palisades, N.Y. submitting for publication. Hoped It tickled me to stand in room 711 to get to a football game this fall of the International Affairs Building Raphael Simonson Alexander Simonson ’84 and was looking forward to catching every Wednesday night, where I was Teaneck, N.J. up with classmates.” once an undergraduate and graduate From Steve Arenson LAW’86: student studying with Professor Eleanor Streit James Streit ’88 “We live in Riverdale and have Alan Westin, Professor Charles V. Tarrytown, N.Y. three boys (13, 11 and 8) and a Hamilton SW’82 and Professor girl. Thank G-d, everyone is doing Robert Y. Shapiro (who still teaches Natalie Tak Thomas Tak ’91 well. I practice law in the field of political science). Weston, Mass. employment litigation with my “My daughter, Claire, is a senior Leora Schloss Aviva Taubenfeld ’92 own firm, Arenson, Dittmar & at Dalton and I have asked her, Bronx, N.Y. Karban, in Manhattan. We recently a New York City kid, to look at concluded a seven-year battle for Columbia. She grew up swim- Miriam Weinstein James Weinstein ’84 106 immigrant car wash workers ming in the pool and hanging out Hoboken, N.J. who were exploited, working 12 [on campus] with me when I was hours a day, six to seven days a working on my Ph.D. She is a much Mizia Wessel Carlton Wessel ’84 week, for $40–$50 a day in cash. better student than I ever was, and Washington, D.C. We obtained the largest recovery she is excited by senior year. I do ever in the low-pay car wash hope to keep in better touch over Eva Westphal Christoph Westphal ’90 industry. Here’s a link to the article the next few years. Oh, I also work Chestnut Hill, Mass. in The New York Times about the with Ricardo Salaman ’81, who case: nyti.ms/2oE5oyJ. looked familiar to me.” Leif Wood Timothy Wood ’96 and Gerrard Bushell Geoffrey Mintz: East Hampton, N.Y. Mira Dougherty-Johnson ’96 From From “I moved GSAS’84: “It has been a while to Lake Worth Beach, Fla. –– near since I wrote. I have spent the last Palm Beach –– about four years ago. Six Columbia College transfer students are four and half years working in Gov. Perhaps I will move back to NYC sons or daughters of College alumni. Andrew Cuomo’s administration as eventually. I am still doing the hat president and CEO of DASNY, one business, mostly making hats in Kemal Aziz ’22 Irfan Aziz ’90 and of the nation’s most prolific issuers Madagascar now. I have a little girl, Staten Island, N.Y. Radhi Majmudar ’90 of municipal debt and largest public my first child, who is 2. Sometimes builders. I am proud to work with she helps with endurance testing Nina Halberstadter ’22 Milton H. Beller ’63 Columbia on a number of important and modeling of the hats.” Kevin G. Chapman Scotch Plains, N.J. financings critical to the develop- is thrilled ment of the Manhattanville campus. that the first book in his crime- Adam Burns ’22 Ric Burns ’78 DASNY is proud to partner with thriller series, Righteous Assassin, was New York City Columbia on such a magnificent named one of the top 20 mystery/ project. I have had the great pleasure thriller novels of 2019 by the Kindle Ariel David ’22 Michael David ’89 to tour the Jerome L. Greene Sci- Book Review. The second book in New Rochelle, N.Y. ence Center and the Lenfest Center Kevin’s Mike Stoneman Thriller Jonathan Otto-Bernstein ’22 Katharina for the Arts. It’s a magnificent Series, Deadly Enterprise, is sched- New York City Otto-Bernstein ’86 campus and I get to look at it every uled for release on December 2. It is Tuesday or Wednesday night on my available on Amazon. Thalia von Moltke-Simms ’22 Clifford drive back from Albany, when I cut Hope to see you at some football Princeton, N.J. Simms ’86 across Broadway. and basketball games.

* member of the Columbia Engineering Class of 2023 Winter 2019–20 CCT 65 Class Notes

This fall, Mark Binder released at the Inova Fairfax Medical Cam- you’re coming to reunion or if there’s 1984 his 20th book, The Misadventures pus in Falls Church, Va. anything specific you’d like to see James Lima of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul. was recently in the during that weekend. We’ve already Dennis Klainberg It’s a light romance between two news: As part of a strategic regional begun conference calls to make Berklay Cargo Worldwide wise seniors in Chelm, the village of business initiative, the Long Island sure we have fun and interesting 14 Bond St., Ste 233 fools. Mark’s planning a world book Regional Planning Council recently class-specific program options, have Great Neck, NY 11021 tour, so if you’d like to check out the approved consulting services with regular communications leading up [email protected] book, or invite him to your com- James Lima Planning + Develop- to next June and can meet our class munity, go to markbinder.com. ment to advance development of fundraising goals. Mark Katzoff, senior counsel at Danny Armstrong, founder of a workforce training center, The And, of course, it is the perfect Seyfarth Shaw by day, channeled Find A Tree, checks in. “Since the Long Island Innovation Park at opportunity to provide me with any four years of experience singing Find A Tree program’s inception, it Hauppauge (formerly known as the updates for this column! in the piano bars of New York to has changed lives and has created Hauppauge Industrial Park). Jim’s debut his one-man cabaret show, many success stories. More recently, company has advised major Silicon Two-City Man: A Musical Trifle, at I’ve been fortunate to have worked Valley firms on building out their 1986 the Kraine Theater in New York in with major companies such as Nike, campuses and ecosystems, and will Everett Weinberger July. The show was based around Microsoft and many others,” he writes. undertake economic and demo- Mark’s experience shuttling between graphic research, setting the stage 50 W. 70th St., Apt. 3B Boston and New York, although he for the launch of a high-impact New York, NY 10023 continually claims he’s not moving 1985 regional workforce center. [email protected] from Beantown. Patrick Ward left NYC in 1995, Daniel G. Berick has been REUNION 2020 moving first to the San Francisco Michael Goldfischer reported named Leveraged Buyouts and JUNE 4–6 Bay Area and eventually settling on a great event that took place Private Equity Law Lawyer of the Events and Programs Contact in Denver, “where we have lived on September 13: “Twelve Lions Year for 2020 by U.S. News & World [email protected] for the past 17 years, raising two descended on Washington, D.C., to Report on its list “The Best Lawyers Development Contact daughters, one of whom is hoping to celebrate Scott Smith’s 32 years in in America,” a longstanding and [email protected] be CC’24. I have fond memories (as the Air Force, which culminated in well-respected legal peer-review ironic as it may sound) of Columbia his rise to the rank of major general. publication. In each major legal Jon White football games, which I still enjoy The official ceremony at Bolling AFB market, only a single lawyer in each 16 South Ct. from afar with my father, James highlighted Scott’s many assignments discipline is honored as Lawyer of Port Washington, NY 11050 Ward ’50, LAW’53, brother Liam and achievements, as a pilot and staff the Year. Dan was honored in 2016 [email protected] Ward ’82 and cousin Sam Ward officer, that spanned the globe in both as the Cleveland Corporate Law ’82. I also have fond memories of peace and war. Scott was joined by Lawyer of the Year, and was named Many of our classmates continue my time playing club lacrosse and his wife, Amber, and daughters, twins Cleveland Leveraged Buyouts and to mark milestones and/or receive support the club team as we work to Mazie and Marisha (14) and Melody Private Equity Law Lawyer of the recognition for their professional convert lacrosse to a varsity sport at (9), who were also honored for Year in 2020, 2017, 2015 and 2013, activities. Lucas Collazo celebrated Columbia (#makeit8, makeit8.com). their sacrifices and service. Melody as well as Cleveland Securities/ 20 years at Inova Health System. He I have owned my own PR/strategic started the ceremony with a beautiful Capital Markets Law Lawyer of the is co-director of the Pediatric Heart communications business in Denver, rendition of the National Anthem. Year in 2014 and 2011. Program and medical staff president 104 West Partners, since 2003.” Maj. Gen. Smith was thanked for his Kudos to Tom Vinciguerra for service, given a Distinguished Service his great article in the Fall 2019 CCT Medal and a presidential proclama- about the woman who earned the tion, and gifted an American flag distinction of being the College’s first during the moving ceremony. alumna, in 1975. [Editor’s note: See “In Maj. Gen. Smith’s comments, “Around the Quads” in that issue.] while thanking Amber and their The 2019–20 academic year is daughters, parents, mentors and highlighted by the centenary of the colleagues in the armed services, he Core Curriculum (look for articles took time to highlight the tremen- in this CCT and in the next two dous support and friendship that his issues) and, of course, our 35th fellow Columbians (and Fiji broth- reunion, Thursday, June 4–Saturday, ers) have extended to him through- June 6. Our Reunion Committee, out these decades. In attendance co-chaired by Glee Club alums were Jack Merrick, John Murphy, John Phelan (programming), Patrick McGarrigle, Gary Ireland Leslie Smartt (communications) GS’86, Andrew Upton ’85, Joseph and yours truly (fundraising), is up Titlebaum ’85, Dominick DeCicco and running. In my next column, SEAS’84, Arthur Ajzenman ’83, Columbia alumni met in Washington, D.C., for the September 13 retirement I will give you the complete list of Matthew Barr ’87, Stan Sagner ’88 ceremony of Maj. Gen. Scott Smith ’86, who served 32 years in the Air Force. committee members (currently in and James Hirshfield SEAS’87. We Left to right: Jack Merrick ’86, Smith, Stan Sagner ’88, Patrick McGarrigle formation). Thanks in advance to so were all honored to attend and to ’86, John Murphy ’86, Joseph Titlebaum ’85, Gary Ireland GS’86, Arthur many of you for joining. Commit- thank him for his friendship, service Ajzenman ’83, Andrew Upton ’85, Dominick DeCicco SEAS’84, Smith’s Air tee membership is not capped, so to our country and sacrifice. Force colleague B.J. Shwedo, his high school friend Ramsey Masri and please feel free to let any of us know “As Scott and his family enter the Michael Goldfischer ’86. if you’d like to join our efforts, if next chapter of their lives, we join the

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Segel, Rob Wolf, Bob Pipik and I internal communications and digital expected that after the 25th, the were in the original group, which we and social media. In addition, he is passion and intensity of the 30th began in December 1986,” Suzanne chief communications officer of frog would in some way pale in compari- says. “As I remember, Ginger had (lowercase is correct!), one of the son. That’s what seems to happen graduated early and wanted to keep world’s leading design and innova- in other classes. Not ours. Our 30th reading in a formal setting. She tion firms and an Altran company. reunion was as much fun –– possibly left New York shortly after, but With a workforce of 47,000 and an even better time –– than the last.” Rob and I have continued all these sales of $3.3 billion, Altran partners The summer went by too quickly years. Originally many of us lived with both blue-chip corporations for most of us. At the time of writ- in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and that and startups to help them design, ing this column, many of us are was the book group’s focal point. develop and support complex tech- planning to get to Homecoming Karin Higa, Lydia Tzagoloff, Jon nology products and services. Weekend in October, so we’ll have Klavens, Rebecca Turner and “The company is literally at the an update next time about that. Christina Julia Fitzgerald all participated forefront of today’s hottest tech I touched base with Ying, in the early years. More recent trends –– 5G, edge computing, who loved our 30th reunion: members include Lisa Fieteholtz ’88 virtualization, AI, the Internet of Highlights for her included con- Ana Toledo, Diane On September 7, Columbia friends and Kevin Kelly ’85. It has been a Things –– and I’m loving it,” Dave necting with Daltner, Susan Shin John Kim, held their 33nd annual fantasy big part of Rob’s and my life for so writes. He and his wife, Jennifer and football draft in Montreal. Left many years, and it definitely has its BC’88, who is VP for enrollment among many others. Christina got a to right: Dave Moson ’89, Mike roots in Columbia and Lit Hum.” at Barnard, live in Edgemont, law degree at Georgetown and is a English SEAS’89, Marc McCann ’88, I heard from my Carman 5 Westchester County. They have two partner at Herrick Feinstein in New Ravi Singh ’88 (foreground) and floormate Divya Singh, who Rob Daniel ’88. always has a fascinating story. Divya recently started working part-time in Shiprock, N.M., at the North- Core Spring term, Wallace Gray Headquarters Air Staff and heartily ern Navajo Indian reservation, Haiku wish Maj. Gen. Smith and his family making her a federal employee, as The Odyssey blooms again, good luck, Godspeed and L’Chaim. the Indian Health Service is part Yes yes yes yes YES! An island-themed party followed the of the Department of Health and ceremony, where tall tales were told Human Services. Although still — Paige Sinkler ’88 and laughter filled the air.” based in Seattle, Divya lives on the We’re proud of you, Scott, and reservation when she is working but what you have achieved during your has had time to explore the Four fantastic career in the Air Force. We Corners region on weekends. She daughters. The older, Anna BC’19, is York, focusing on real estate sales, wish you continued success and joy! writes, “Last time, I met up with pursuing a career in entertainment acquisitions, developments and joint Jeanne Costello (also Carman 5!) talent management. The younger, ventures involving office and retail in her hometown of Durango. She Julia, is a junior at Smith. properties. Christina also volunteers Marc McCann 1987 has my dream job –– she’s a book wrote from Mon- with the Columbia College Fund buyer at the independent bookstore treal that some classmates joined and spends her free time traveling Sarah A. Kass Maria’s Bookshop. I hadn’t seen him there for their 33rd annual to cheer on her daughter at fencing PO Box 1006 her in more than 30 years. She is as fantasy football draft. “Our first tournaments around the world. New York, NY 10113 fabulous as ever.” draft was in 1987 in Hartley Hall It was nice for my husband, [email protected] As always, keep your wonderful with all Class of ’88 guys,” Marc Dave Terry ’90, and I to visit with Eugene Ryang updates coming! says. “We’ve mixed things up a bit at our reunion Lots of great news from Garth over the years, but original members barbecue. Eugene says reunion Stein SOA’90, who writes: “Big still involved are Mike Zegers “absolutely exceeded my expecta- events! In May, my eldest, Caleb 1988 SEAS’88, Rob Daniel, Doug Wolf tions.” Eugene got a master’s in (23), graduated from the Berklee and Ravi Singh.” landscape architecture and cultural College of Music. In August, the Eric Fusfield Keep sending me updates! I anthropology from UVA and works movie of my book The Art of Racing 1945 South George Mason Dr. look forward to hearing from all at Water Street Studio, an environ- in the Rain was released, and I took Arlington, VA 22204 of our classmates. mental design firm with offices in my family to Los Angeles for the [email protected] Charlottesville and Richmond. premiere. We hung out with Milo Our class has created a leadership Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried. Dave Fondiller SIPA’92 is putting 1989 project to help us better communi- And Kevin Costner. I also turned the skills he honed at Spectator and cate post-reunion about events and Emily Miles Terry in my new novel, A Couple of Old the Columbian (yearbook) to good get togethers around the country. 45 Clarence St. Matt Engels Birds, with the publication date to use. After more than 11 years at the has volunteered to be Brookline, MA 02446 be determined. I’m also prepping my Boston Consulting Group, most our class president, and I hope we’ll [email protected] graphic novel, The Cloven, for publi- recently as head of North America all hear from him with updates and cation in July 2020. We will launch PR and communications, he recently class announcements. Matt lives in Roger at San Diego Comic-Con!” joined Altran, a digital product To begin this issue’s column, the Chicago area with his family, Suzanne Waltman Rubin writes that engineering company, as VP of com- shares, “Our class continues where he is president of SBCGlobal this year marks the 33rd consecutive munications for its North America to astound me with the way its and enjoys watching the Engels’s year of a book group founded by division. In this role, Dave oversees members are drawn to one another family sports legacy through his son, Ginger several members of CC’87. “ PR, executive communications, and cannot wait to be reunited. I Tommy, who plays football, and his

Winter 2019–20 CCT 67 Class Notes

daughter, Ellie, who plays volleyball. CV, mulling over the awards section, is graduating this year, we might get To reach Matt about any class activ- I got a call that I’m going to receive him home for a couple months before 1992 ities, or to volunteer to be part of the a ‘Contribution to the Profession’ he starts his job in computer science. CC’89 leadership project, email him award from the New York State GIS Leah is studying fashion design, so Olivier Knox at [email protected]. Association. NYSGIS.net is a profes- she will probably end up in New [email protected] Also, Jared Goldstein asked sional organization for geospatial York, which means I will get to visit that I remind everyone to check out information system (GIS) users Columbia more in the near future. I heard from not one but two Car- our CC’89 Facebook group, which working in New York State. GISMO “I can’t believe we are coming man 7 alums this cycle –– keep ’em he runs: “Columbia University Class is the local chapter where I’ve been a up on our 30-year reunion — I coming, erstwhile floormates! of 1989 Undergraduates.” board member for many years.” spent the first half in Chicago and Tom Linton SEAS’92 and Lauri Congratulations, Noreen! now the second half in the Boston Pendray Linton BC’93 moved to Alicia Shems (née Katz) read area. As for keeping in touch with London in July. Tom is the manag- 1990 our last column and identified CC friends, I recently visited Teri ing director of Frontera Consulting herself as someone who skirts the Rice in Miami, Fla., but cannot do (UK). A statement from the company REUNION 2020 college counseling world: “I tutor that again easily since she recently heralds, “Tom has been instrumental JUNE 4–6 students in writing and English, as moved to Dubai with her husband in growing Frontera’s Oracle Cloud Events and Programs Contact well as tutor and advise them with and sons; I also keep in touch with capabilities in both the UK and [email protected] their college essays. Some of my Stephanie Aaronson and Eliza- North America.” (That’s right, every- Development Contact students say they feel like they come beth Phythian.” one, we’ve reached the age at which [email protected] to therapy as we discuss all the top- Meanwhile, in September companies put out statements about ics they could choose to write about. Melissa Steinman found herself us.) Their son, Dylan (14), is in ninth Rachel Cowan Jacobs I have to say, I love working with [email protected] teenagers — their angst, enthusiasm, drama and perception are wonderful Since you last read this column, I have and refreshing — and when they Core Hamilton, Morris, only a small amount of news. Noreen come up with an original idea and Haiku Whysel reports, “With a freshman find their writing voice, it’s really Jay and the luminaries at Sarah Lawrence College and a rewarding for me to see. bring us together sophomore at Loyola University New “Not content to have just one Orleans, my husband, Brett, and I are job, I also am a freelance editor, — Heather Brownlie ’91 officially empty-nesters –– at least senior writer for an edtech startup until they come home, too briefly, for and a mixed media artist. It’s a little the summer. I teach the UX Design crazy, but I’ve never been very good Intensive at General Assembly (a at eliminating options and making in Moscow, where she spoke at the grade at The American School in global code and design school for choices. Nevertheless, my husband, Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance London. “How’s the culture shock?” adult learners; generalassemb.ly) and Nessy, and I celebrated our 25th and connected with Greg Krasovsky I asked Tom. “Not too bad!” he said. web design at New York City Col- wedding anniversary and are now ’91, who attended the seminar. I also heard from Jason Hagberg, lege of Technology (aka City Tech). empty-nesters! It’s a lot quieter here It’d be great to report news from who is heading back to NYC soon Coincidentally, while attempting to without our children, Matthew (23) more people in the future. Please, to work for Google “after 16 years on convert my résumé to an academic and Leah (19), though since Matthew friends, won’t you send me your the West Coast (Los Angeles/San updates? And mark your calendars Francisco) and a few years in Hong for our 30th reunion: Thursday, Kong and Beijing.” Jason writes that June 4–Saturday, June 6. Looking for he has “been working mainly in tech something to do until then? Contact working on building contract manage- the Alumni Office and get on the ment systems and data privacy policy Reunion Committee (contact info is at Google, Facebook and others.” He at the top of the column). The more, started his own consultancy, global the merrier. reachconsulting.us, and is working with Corestream, professional home to Adam Brothers ’94, and is “looking 1991 to get off the hamster wheel. More seriously, I am starting a foundation Columbia College Today (Upstream Color) to help get kids who [email protected] have the ability to go to Columbia” but face costs not covered by financial aid CCT thanks Margie Kim for her 11 –– “laptops, meals when cafeterias are excellent years of service as class cor- closed on holidays, etc.,” Jason says. “I respondent! She has decided to step am not ready for prime time and still down, so while we search for a new waiting for my nonprofit paperwork Friends from CC’91 and BC’91 gathered for 50th birthday celebrations in class correspondent, you can send your to come through, but a decent number Truro, Mass. Left to right, standing: Tanya Weisman ’91, Angela Eaton ’91, news directly to CCT for inclusion in of classmates know about it and are Tom Nishioka ’91, Noah Elkin ’91, Sara Ivry BC’91, Catherine Geanuracos a future issue. And if you would like to willing to help,” Jason writes. ’91, Rachel Porter ’91 and Justin Lundgren ’91; and left to right, kneeling and learn more about volunteering for the Enjoy your winter, classmates, seated: Kif Scheuer ’91, Katie Sellers Rosenblum ’91, Alice Vosmek ’91, Marc class correspondent role, please shoot and please take a moment to send in Rosenblum ’91, David Tepper ’91 and Karl Meyer ’91. an email to [email protected]! a Class Note!

68 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

novelty. My stepson, Tucker, decided criminalistics lab and a center for for grades 6 and up. Kirkus Reviews 1993 to move here to attend college, so media production on the Providence describes it as, “An outstanding case we’ve got a fairly full house. I hope campus,” he writes. “While it is study in how science is actually done: Betsy Gomperz I’ll be free for the next reunion!” strange to think that I’ve been get- funny, nuanced, and perceptive.” [email protected] In other news, Rachel ting ready for the start of the school New York Times reporters Jodi DeWoskin’s latest book, Banshee, year for more than 40 years, I’m Kantor and Megan Twohey also Greetings, classmates. I wanted came out this past summer, and she’s always happy to reflect on my time recently published a book, She Said: to share the great news that Seth been busy doing readings and inter- as an undergraduate as I welcome Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story Pinsky has been appointed chief views about what Publishers Weekly first-year students and think about That Helped Ignite a Movement, executive of the 92nd Street Y and calls her “slow-burning, satisfying the transformative years that are which describes how they broke the will begin his position in January. fifth novel,” about the psychological ahead of them.” Harvey Weinstein story and details 92Y plans to embark on an extensive effects of a life-changing diagnosis. Mike lives in Westwood, Mass., the investigative work that earned update to its buildings to make Imara Jones has been named a with his wife, Marjorie Feld, who them the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for more space for its expansive slate of 2019 Soros Equality Fellow. The pro- is a professor of history at Babson Public Service and helped ignite the programming; it is known for hosting gram supports innovators — from art- College, and their sons, Izzy Fein- #MeToo national movement. [Edi- concerts and lectures with high- ists to advocates, lawyers to organizers feld (14) and Nate Feinfeld (12). tor’s note: See “Columbia Forum.”] profile public figures, language and — whose work tackles systemic racial Thaddeus Tracy and his wife, In other Pulitzer news, as reported music classes, and its nursery school. disparities and discrimination and Michele Haberland BC’94, have in the Summer 2019 issue of CCT, While Seth has been in the pri- advances racial justice and equality twin boys who are 13. They live Harriet Ryan, who wrote for Specta- vate sector the last several years, he across the country. Imara will continue near campus and regularly attend tor while at Columbia, received the previously served in Mayor Michael to develop TransLash, her cross- Columbia basketball games. Thad- 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Investiga- Bloomberg’s administration as the platform storytelling effort centering deus recently launched an investment tive Reporting for “reporting on a president of the New York City on the humanity and perspectives of startup focused on specialty crop and University of Southern California Economic Development Corp., a trans people of color. sustainable agriculture, capitalizing gynecologist accused of violating role he took on just before the 2008 That’s it for this time! Please keep scalable and difficult-to-replicate hundreds of young women for more financial crisis hit. sending updates — we’d love to operations that can be integrated into than a quarter-century.” According to Congratulations, Seth! know what you’re up to! food company supply chains. the Los Angeles Times, “The reporters Please submit updates –– the Jed Weiner is a partner in a worked three months to track down more I hear from you, the longer the boutique NYC law firm. He helps people who had information about columns will be! 1995 companies and entrepreneurs raise [Dr. George] Tyndall, uncovering money and provides advice on troubling allegations of abuse of REUNION 2020 company sales and purchases. Jed young patients. The series roiled the 1994 JUNE 4–6 lives in Potomac, Md., with his wife prestigious private university … and Events and Programs Contact and two daughters and works in his led to dramatic changes, including Leyla Kokmen [email protected] NYC office two weeks a month. His the resignation of the university [email protected] Development Contact oldest daughter is in kindergarten President C.L. Max Nikias.” [email protected] and his youngest daughter is in pre- Congratulations, Harriet! Jennifer Khouri writes that two school. Jed is no longer active in the I had a nice chance encounter years ago she and her family moved Janet Lorin Navy, where he served as an intel- with Nick Kukrika at a farmers back to New York from California. [email protected] ligence officer. He says he would market in the Hamptons this past While a family graduation in Cali- enjoy meeting up with Columbia summer, and he provided me with fornia prevented her from attending Thanks to everyone who shared alumni in NYC or D.C. a good amount of news. Nick and our reunion this past summer, she did updates as we close in on our 25th Congratulations to David Web- his wife, Andrea Lally, have two have a reunion of sorts in the ladies’ reunion. If you are interested in ber on the success of his 2018 book, kids (Theo, 2, and Maria, 6) and room at JFK: “As I was washing my helping with the reunion or have The Rise of the Working-Class Share- live in London. They try to spend hands, Mary Killackey called my questions or suggestions, please holder: Labor’s Last Best Weapon. Ideas much of their summers out on Long name! She was just about to board reach out to me as soon as possible. in it are expected to be introduced Island, near Andrea’s parents. Nick a flight home and I had just landed Michael Fein writes that after in congressional legislation. David works with Generation Investment from LAX. I met her lovely daughter, working for more than 15 years in recently became associate dean for Management, where he is a partner Charlotte, and introduced them to the classroom as a history professor intellectual life at Boston University investing in tech companies. He is my little girl, Sofia (4). Mary’s flight and writing about the politics of School of Law, where he teaches. an avid supporter of the Democratic was getting ready to leave, so the American highways, he’s spent the Party and has been working to encounter probably lasted all of three past several years in higher educa- expand the community of Demo- minutes, but I was grateful for even tion administration at Johnson & 1996 crats in the United Kingdom. that tiny taste of Reunion 2019! Wales University in Providence, On a recent trip to NYC, Nick Jennifer continues, “As for me R.I. This summer, he took on the Ana S. Salper spent time with Mark Levine and and my family, we are back in position of dean of the College of [email protected] Darren Seirer. He writes, “As a Garden City, N.Y., and my husband, Arts & Sciences at JWU, where he sign that bipartisanship remains Andy, and I work for Lockheed supports 85 faculty members and Greetings, classmates! Ian Lendler the remotest of possibilities, we Martin in Uniondale and are grate- more than 1,300 students enrolled has published a new book, The First three have remained close friends. ful for our five-minute commute. in more than 20 undergraduate, Dinosaur: How Science Solved the Mark works at BlackRock; I would Our son Aidan (10) attends the master’s and doctoral programs. Greatest Mystery on Earth. This is his argue that he is attempting to create same school Andy attended as a “Recently, we’ve launched many ninth book, but it is an entirely new another financial crisis, but he would child, and both kids are looking undergraduate programs and opened genre. It is a nonfiction history of how say he is trading mortgage-backed forward to winter –– snow is still a up cutting-edge science labs, a humans discovered dinosaurs and is securities. Darren is with Select

Winter 2019–20 CCT 69 Class Notes

Equity Group, which he joined as Allison Jaffin writes: “My ant to garden in the mornings. My an intern while at Columbia! [Some 1997 husband, Seth Unger, and I are the grandmother Marie’s lovely caladium might] appreciate that he found it in presidents of the ‘Tony Roach Fan plants, which I inherited from her the internship ‘book’ at the Center Kerensa Harrell Club,’ and during the last year we have garden after she passed away several for Career Education. I suspect only [email protected] toured the country to see Tony Roach years ago, are thriving. And I have a Darren was patient enough to get to in his various starring roles. Our most bunch of morning glory vines, with the letter ‘S’ in the book and that’s Dear classmates, I hope you enjoyed recent run started last fall, when we their big blue flowers that bloom why he got the gig.” a lovely fall season. It is my pleasure saw him as Henry Higgins in Lincoln each morning, climbing up the Nick shared that Stephane to present the following updates Center’s production of My Fair Lady balcony rails. Gruffat is also in London, working from our class. and culminated this past summer As I sign off now, let me leave at Credit Suisse. He has two sons, Orli Shaham writes: “I’m a when he starred in the Aspen Theater you with my daughter’s current Alexandre and Jack. concert pianist and a recent member Festival productions of Little Shop of favorite song, “Let It Go.” She likes Moha Desai lives with her sons, of the faculty at The Juilliard School. Horrors (as the dentist) and Guys and to sing it at the top of her lungs as Devraj (11) and Vikram (6), in her I recently released my 11th CD: Dolls (as Sky Masterson). she dances around improvisationally, hometown, 15 minutes outside of piano concertos by Mozart with the “During the day, Seth is the pro- while I follow her around attempt- Boston. Moha writes that she is St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. One ducer of the Food Film Festival, an ing to shield her from crashing into gratified to be managing her own of my favorite parts of the recording event where you literally taste what the furniture. It’s a favorite among healthcare consulting practice, process was a conversation about the you see on the screen. The festival little girls, and is sung by Queen which she began in 2015 after 16 pieces with my husband, conductor was in NYC this fall and will be Elsa in the movie Frozen: years of working in big firms. She David Robertson, and my CC music in Tokyo this spring, among other says she enjoys the flexibility of professor Elaine Sisman! During places. We have twin daughters who “Let it go are 12 and are next in line to chair The cold never bothered me anyway the Tony Roach Fan Club.” Let it go, let it go Edward “Ted” Wladis writes: “I And I’ll rise like the break of dawn Core Music Hum teacher was recently named professor and Let it go, let it go Haiku chair of the Lions Eye Institute, That perfect girl is gone arrives late, glasses broken ophthalmology department, at Here I stand in the light of day “I was mugged!” Class starts Albany Medical College. In addi- Let the storm rage on!” tion to being chair, I oversee the — Elizabeth Yuan ’96, JRN’98 fellowship in oculofacial and orbital Blessings to all, and please do plastic surgery, I perform basic sci- send me your updates. Keep in mind ence research and I am the CEO of that your updates needn’t be just Praxis Biotechnology. I was honored about the usual topics like career/ her own practice while staying on the past two years, I’ve commemo- to recently have been inducted into marriage/birth announcements the forefront of topics that mean rated the 100th birthday of Leonard the American Ophthalmological –– they could also be on your exotic the most to her. Moha invites any Bernstein, playing his Symphony No. Society. My wife, Lianne Pinchuk travels, your exciting adventures, CC’96ers to look her up if you find 2: The Age of Anxiety with orchestras LAW’00, and I have two daughters, your fascinating hobbies, your phil- yourselves in the Boston area. around the world. This fall, for the ages 8 and 11.” anthropic endeavors, your charming Maurice “Mo” Toueg is second year in a row, I am a guest Endre Tvinnereim writes: “In children, your daring projects, your president and CEO of GOBU host of the classical music program April I started a job as associate poetic musings, your flowery remi- Associates, an executive recruiting From the Top, which airs on more professor of political science at the niscences .... Or simply tell us about firm that he founded after having than 200 public radio stations across University of Bergen, Norway.” some delightful local event that you spent 20 years at one place. His firm the country. I live in Manhattan Rebekah Gee writes, “Our just attended or a family vacation focuses on recruiting for corporate with my husband; 12-year-old twins, twins started first grade this year that you went on. If nothing else, strategy, corporate development, Nathan and Alex; and Dachshund, and they love to dress up, just like you can always write us merely to finance (CFOs and heads), invest- Milo, and ran into Julie Foont their mother.” ment banking and treasury for around the corner!” As for me, Kerensa Harrell, as I Fortune 500 companies, startups, Swati Khurana writes: “In addi- sit here wrapping up this column in portfolio companies of private tion to having 21 years of teaching mid-September, I am thinking about equity firms and venture capital history at Advantage Testing, I am how glad I am to be doing yoga again firms. Mo writes, “Still living on chugging away on my first novel (a after not having done it for so many East 79th, a block away from where New York Foundation for the Arts years. It certainly isn’t easy getting I grew up –– still can’t drive, but award in fiction was recent encour- back into it, but I am starting to spend winters in Florida, where agement!). I have also been on a path slowly feel my body reconnecting. Uber makes a fortune off of me.” that started with coming out as a Aside from practicing yoga, I have I would like to hear from more post-Hindu witch in Teen Vogue and been doing some gardening on my of you; please send in more news! I doing Tarot card readings with cus- balcony. My daughter, Amara (3), is leave you with this: tom affirmations for boutique hotels, enjoying doing yoga and garden- “I want you to feel the fear I private equity client groups, literary ing alongside me! We have a lovely feel every day. And then I want festivals, mom groups and nonprofit corner balcony that overlooks a pond you to act. I want you to act as retreats. The highlight of my life has with a big water fountain that is you would in a crisis. I want you been watching my 8-year-old daugh- always flowing. Our balcony doesn’t to act as if our house is on fire.” ter do aerial dance and gymnastics, get any direct sun until the afternoon Tony Roach ’97 (left) autographed — Greta Thunberg, 16-year-old observing how a child can actually do (which in Florida is perfect, as it is Seth Unger ’97’s chest at the Lincoln Swedish environmental activist the things of a superhero.” quite hot here), so we find it pleas- Center’s production of My Fair Lady.

70 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

family life, cool trips and/or interest- and enjoyed spending time with ing hobbies –– this is your space to Annie and Dina in New York. stay connected with classmates! And Dina Epstein and her family had don’t forget, our 20th reunion will an epic trip to Israel to celebrate her be here before we know it, so mark 40th birthday and 10th wedding your calendars now for Thursday, anniversary –– the photos were June 4–Saturday, June 6. incredible. Our family had gone a week or two before and we managed to compare notes, seemingly in real 2001 time, about must-sees with our kids. What a summer! Jonathan Gordin When I returned from Israel, [email protected] I had my own mini-Columbia reunion in my neighborhood. My In late June, Becca Bradley (née former roommate Adam Sokol Siegel), Ali Kidd, Emily Stanton moved into a house down the block SEAS’01 (née Georgitis), Jaime with his wife, Bingyi, and kids, Arro Pannone, Jessica O’Sullivan (née (6) and Leo (3). Jasper Cooper Tubridy), Jennifer O’Connell (née was in town visiting with his wife, Tubridy) and Anne-Marie Ebner Josie, and kids, Vali (6), Zed (3) and gathered in Vail for a relaxing week- Ozzie (1). We met up for pancakes end of good food, beautiful vistas with our kids at the neighborhood In late June, members of CC’01 and SEAS’01 met in Vail for a weekend of fun. and celebrating a certain milestone diner. Adam is an accomplished Left to right: Becca Bradley (née Siegel) ’01, Jaime Pannone ’01, Emily Stanton birthday and 20-plus years of friend- architect with his own practice in (née Georgitis) SEAS’01, Jessica O’Sullivan (née Tubridy) ’01, Anne-Marie ship. Ali and Jaime arrived from downtown Los Angeles. He was Ebner ’01, Ali Kidd ’01 and Jennifer O’Connell (née Tubridy) ’01. California, Emily from Colorado and recently selected by Architectural Becca from Nashville, and the rest of Digest as one of its “100 Most the crew arrived from the NYC area. Influential Architects and Interior say hello! It would be splendid to he and his wife are happily raising Becca writes, “It was truly a gift Designers in China 2019.” Jasper hear from as many of our class- their children, ages 15, 13 and 11. to spend time with these amazing is an insurance industry analyst mates as possible. I look forward to Have a wonderful winter, and ladies and reconnect, especially since at Moody’s and also runs a real hearing from you all. In lumine Tuo please take a moment to send in a we now reside all over the country. estate empire (my words, not his!) videbimus lumen. Class Note!

1998 1999 Core Woolf, Hurston — without Sandie Angulo Chen Adrienne Carter and Haiku them how would I have found rush [email protected] Jenna Johnson [email protected] of human feeling? Greetings, Class of 1998! A few [email protected] — Jonas LaMattery-Brownell ’98 short updates for you this issue: Congratulations are in order No news this time, so please take a for Lori Meeks and her husband, moment to send us a note! You can Jason Webb, who welcomed a share your news by sending it to We enjoyed gondola rides, strolled throughout Brooklyn and Queens. second child, Penelope Ann Webb, either of the email addresses at the through an art fair and craft beer Ethan Perlstein announced in August 2018. Brother Jupiter is top of this column. Your classmates festival, and kept our eyes peeled the birth of his son, Lucian Dana 4. Lori and her family live in Los would love to hear from you! for moose (though we didn’t see a Perlstein (aka Luca) on August 29, Angeles, where she’s an associate moose, we did spot a marmot on weighing in at 6 lbs., 7 oz. Con- professor of religion and East Asian the way up the mountain). We hope gratulations to Ethan and his wife! languages and cultures at USC. 2000 to make these gatherings annual or So many of our classmates are Speaking of East Asian languages, semi-annual events. We even had celebrating milestone birthdays (and Taylor Ortiz shares that his and his REUNION 2020 matching hats.” births!) this year, and I was thrilled wife Veronica Lei’s two sons started JUNE 4–6 Speaking of reunions, seven to attend one such celebration in kindergarten and third grade at Events and Programs Contact members of our class reunited 20 September. Annie Lainer Marquit their Mandarin immersion school [email protected] years after sharing a Ruggles suite invited several friends to an elegant in Indianapolis this past fall. “Future Development Contact sophomore year. Annie Lainer Mar- evening of dinner and games to ring East Asian studies majors,” he says. [email protected] quit, Dina Epstein, Nancy Perla, in her 40th year. It was a gorgeous Dennis Machado writes with Joe Rezek, Billy Kingsland, Eri evening, with every detail attended to. some good news about Elliot Prisca Bae Kaneko and Susan Pereira Wilsey Please let me know how you cel- Han, who won a combined half [email protected] met up in Manhattan in May for ebrated your 40th birthday or share marathon/5K in San Francisco in dinner and drinks and reminisced information about your “reunion” September. Elliot placed first with a It’s almost a new year, so why not while looking through photos of with CC alumni friends. time of 1:53:12 at The Giant Race make a resolution to send in a Class their Columbia life. My wife, Jamie Be in touch! It’s always great to 2019 in San Francisco. As for Dennis, Note? Let us know about new jobs, Rubin BC’01, was a peripheral guest hear from all of you.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 71 Class Notes

Israel, Central Europe and right Susan Nwankpa Gillespie 2002 2003 here in NYC under the label Cice- writes, “My husband and I had rone Travel. When I’m not traveling a beautiful baby girl on June 15: Sonia Dandona Hirdaramani Michael Novielli for work, I spend my time in Brook- Adanna Rosemary Gillespie. We’re [email protected] [email protected] lyn with my partner and baby.” doing well and having a great time, Thomas E. Anderson II shares, despite very little sleep! I’m in the Hope everyone had a great fall! I was recently back on campus for “I am taking a class on global third year of my business, Nwankpa Many exciting updates to share; the Columbia Alumni Association leadership and recommend the book Design, a Los Angeles-based archi- please keep them coming to (CAA) Alumni Leaders Weekend, Cultural Agility: Building a Pipeline tecture and interior design firm. We [email protected]. so I had a chance to enjoy a bit of of Successful Global Professionals, by are doing great and have a roster of Cut+Run’s Robert Ryang has fall weather in New York City. I Paula Caligiuri.” fantastic projects and clients.” been awarded the Sports Emmy in moved to Singapore five years ago Emily Hazlett (née Doyle) writes, the Outstanding Editing category and have become accustomed to “I have been working the academic for the short film Zion. four seasons of summer. On the circuit for a long time now. I teach 2004 Agnia Grigas (née Baranaus- topic of Singapore, I’m fortunate to online classes in human development kaitė) is moving back to Santa have been elected president of CAA for Penn State (World Campus) and Jaydip Mahida Monica/Los Angeles with her Singapore earlier this year, and I I teach in the psychology depart- [email protected] husband, Paulius, and their two kids. enjoy catching up with many of you ments at Carleton College and St. She looks forward to reconnecting as you travel through Singapore. Just Olaf College, both conveniently Congratulations to Elizabeth A. with Columbia alumni. this evening we had a CAA Sin- located in Northfield, Minn., where Sullivan, who was recognized on Sara Goldfarb-Langmead gapore board games night; Shaun I live with my husband and two kids. the Forbes “Next-Gen Best-in-State SEAS’02 reports that a group Ting, Frederick Cheng SEAS’04 I’ve learned to love the Minnesota Wealth Advisors 2019” list. of classmates got together over and Chris Cheng SEAS’06 were winters and even play on a curling That’s all for this issue! Please Memorial Day weekend to catch there. Now, on to some updates from team called Sweeping Beauties.” send in updates, as we want to hear up and meet each other’s fami- other parts of the world! Sheila Dvorak writes, “On from as many folks as possible. lies. Gathered at the Westchester, Raquel Gardner writes, “In August 17, I released my debut Career and family updates are N.Y., home of Jaime Sneider February 2019, Jonathan and I wel- album: Sheila Dee Has To Be Real, always fun, but please reach out LAW’08 were Sara; Ben Langmead comed twin boys, Betzalel and Zev, which is now available everywhere, to share about trips you may be ’03; Rachel Forster Held; Steve into our now rather large family! Big including iTunes, Amazon Music taking, events you have attended Steer SEAS’00, SEAS’02; Carina siblings Azaria, Reva and Margalit and Spotify. If you’re old-fashioned or are looking forward to, or even Schoenberger; John Morris ’03; are quite smitten and already plan- like me, you can buy the CD at interesting books or shows you have Michael Kalnicki SEAS’02; Sheera ning escapades together including sheiladeemusic.com. I love writing come across. You can send updates Hopkins BC’06, BUS’14; and mem- a sibling basketball team and piano music and fronting the band, and either via the email at the top of the bers of the Classes of 2032–41. quintet. I am now proud to say that often bring my two children to column or the CCT Class Notes Jill Santopolo ’03 married Nancy Pelosi and I have three things my concerts in the Hudson Val- webform: college.columbia.edu/cct/ Andrew Claster on June 30 at in common as working (number 1) ley. A feature documentary film I submit_class_note. Guastavino’s in New York City. In San Francisco (number 2) moms of produced and co-edited, Gone Postal, attendance were Namrata Tripathi five (number 3).” premiered at the East NorthEast ’01, Greg Shill, Rebecca Bloom ’03, Jonathan Goldstein writes, “I’m International Film Festival in New- 2005 Eleanor Coufos ’03 and Kimberly back in New York City after a long burgh, N.Y., in October.” Grant ’03. stint in Tel Aviv operating tours in The Atlantic shared: “Yoni REUNION 2020 Appelbaum will oversee a dramatic JUNE 4–6 expansion of the Ideas desk. Nearly Events and Programs Contact a year ago, The Atlantic introduced [email protected] Ideas, which has gone toe-to-toe with Development Contact the country’s top opinion pages by [email protected] offering sharp perspectives, essays, and arguments that drive the national Columbia College Today conversation. Under Appelbaum’s [email protected] leadership, Ideas has quickly become a home for some of the top writing Happy end of the year, CC’05! Don’t talent in the world — led by Atlantic forget that reunion is coming (Thurs- staff writers, with contributions from day, June 4–Saturday, June 6), so make elected officials and leaders shaping plans to come back to campus! every industry — and a must-read for From Jeffrey Schwartz: “I millions of readers. The section has recently opened an addiction delivered such tone-setting arguments treatment center, The Addiction as Adam Serwer’s ‘The Cruelty Is the Recovery Evolution. I specialize in Point,’ Caitlin Flanagan’s ‘They Had It providing state-funded services for Coming,’ Rep. John Dingell’s ‘I Served gambling addiction and treatment Classmates gathered in Westchester, N.Y., during Memorial Day weekend to in Congress Longer Than Anyone. for drug/alcohol-use disorders. I catch up and meet each other’s families. Pictured are Rachel Forster Held Here’s How to Fix It,’ Sen. Marco also recently celebrated my one-year ’02, Sara Goldfarb-Langmead SEAS’02, Ben Langmead ’03, Jaime Sneider Rubio’s ‘America Needs to Restore wedding anniversary.” ’02, Steve Steer SEAS’00, Carina Schoenberger ’02, John Morris ’03, Michael Dignity of Work’ and Deborah Jacob Shell is an associate profes- Kalnicki SEAS’02, Sheera Hopkins BC’06 and members of Classes 2032–41. Copaken’s ‘My Rapist Apologized.’” sor of geography and urban studies at

72 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

Temple University, where he received where Keith and Dunyu have lived Annie Ma-Weaver and Jacob married in August. We’ve visited tenure in 2018. In June 2019 he pub- and worked. The ceremony was held Ma-Weaver welcomed their first Geneva and Zermatt, Switzerland, lished his second book, Giants of the overlooking the Rock of Monemva- child, Minerva, in April. She is so far. Venice and Rome are next. Monsoon Forest: Living and Working sia in the eastern Peloponnese on an named for the Etruscan goddess Traveling to Europe always inspires with Elephants, an ethnographic study Ancient Byzantine estate. and is getting along nicely with her me to dust off some of my Lit Hum of Burmese elephants as sustainable Luke McGowan has had a busy brother-who-is-a-dog, Aristotle. and CC books!” means of transportation. few years –– moving to Vermont, Have a great end of the year and David Zheng-Li Xu PS’15 will Rebecca Weber and her welcoming a son (Augustus Blake) a happy start to 2020, and please complete his residency in June 2020 husband, Ben Carver, welcomed and launching a social impact venture take a moment to send in a note! and matched to an interventional daughter Eden Noa on August 30. fund. He now leads Burlington’s radiology fellowship for 2020–21. He She joins big brother Ezra. Rebecca Community and Economic Develop- is getting married in October 2020. and her family have lived in Denver ment Office, where he works on 2010 Derek Jancisin has an article since 2014, where Rebecca serves as everything from reducing lead haz- to share; read it online: bit.ly/ a federal prosecutor. ards, to building affordable housing, REUNION 2020 2nZcIEK. From Steven Melzer: “ Tracy to developing the social and physical JUNE 4–6 Chris Yim writes, “In fall 2018, Massel BC’06 and I are overjoyed to infrastructure of Vermont’s Queen Events and Programs Contact my wife, Grace, and I split up. It announce the birth of our daughter City. Luke shares, “If you’re ever in [email protected] was both devastating and informa- in August. I’m at The New School, the Green Mountain State, say hello!” Development Contact tive. My life was out of whack, and leading strategic initiatives, and [email protected] I had been living out of alignment Tracy runs network operations at in many ways –– my principles and Oscar Health. And we’ve stuck 2008 Julia Feldberg Klein actions didn’t match. As a result, I around the Upper West Side, so our [email protected] went to great lengths to destruct the daughter will be visiting Low Steps Columbia College Today seemingly stable things in my life. (and 1020) very soon.” [email protected] Asher Grodman writes, “After grad “I did a lot of self-reflection about school in San Francisco and three how I lost my best friend, hurt her Hello, Class of 2008! Wishing you years of working in Los Angeles, and found myself in a place where I 2006 an excellent start to 2020! I moved back to NYC, where I’ve had no idea what to do next. I had Betsy Purves (née Remes) lives been appearing mostly in television never lost someone like this before, Michelle Oh Sing in Washington, D.C., with her (Chicago Med, Law & Order, House and I spent a lot of time angry with [email protected] husband and their 2-year-old son. of Cards, Succession). I have a feature myself. Themes of the next few She recently started a job as director film at film festivals right now, Inez months involved self-compassion, Happy holidays, classmates! Share of development at the DC Youth & Doug & Kira, and I’m teaching acceptance and healing. While the your stories, news or even a favorite Orchestra Program and is delighted acting at Hunter College and to breakup shined light on all this Columbia College memory by to be back in the music world. inmates at Rikers Island. brokenness within, it also paved a emailing me at mo2057@columbia. Also, check out the “Just Mar- “I’ve started a weekly pick-up way for me to heal. I’m still on that edu –– we want to hear from you! ried!” section for a photo of Carman football game in Hell’s Kitchen. path. Some days I’m flowing and 8 floormates at Ben Teitelbaum’s If you want to relive memories of it’s light. Other days, I have no idea California wedding. playing on the greens –– without the what I’m doing, and I wonder how 2007 Please take a moment to send hassle of getting kicked off by Facili- I got myself here. I’m realizing that your news to the email address at ties –– message me on social media that is part of the journey –– you David D. Chait the top of the column. Your class- @ashergrodman. Would be great to find yourself stuck at sea, throw your [email protected] mates would love to hear from you! see familiar faces.” hands up, look at the sky and say, ‘I Sarah Suria and Ahmed Suria guess I’ll just keep on sailing.’ Thank you, everyone, for sharing BUS’15 welcomed Harlan “Hardy” “I learned many lessons this your exciting updates. Here is the 2009 Braidy Suria into their family on year. It was really humbling to have news from classmates! June 7. thought I knew stuff about life, then Alison Mariella Désir shares, Chantee Dempsey Gabriella M. Ripoll shares, “A to be pushed off a mountain and “Kouri Henri Figueroa was born on [email protected] lot has happened in the last couple find myself in a valley realizing my July 23 at 7:09 p.m., weighing 6 lbs., of months! I’ve had a job transi- ego had driven me astray. I had to 3 oz.! He will be Class of 2037!” Stephanie Chou recently premiered tion, from being associate counsel at learn some of these lessons the hard Dan Wulin and Gaby Wulin (née her song cycle/jazz-opera, Com- Delos Living to now being one of a way, and it’s been painful. Avila-Bront) welcomed their third fort Girl, about the young women small team of legal licensing counsel “These days, I’m spending my child in May. Her two big brothers kidnapped and forced into sexual at the licensing agency Earthbound time thinking about community. are smitten and are ecstatic in their slavery by the Japanese army during Brands. It’s an exciting move that After the breakup, I felt like I new roles! WWII. It premiered at Joe’s Pub puts me in the middle of Flatiron, needed to surround myself with Keith Hernandez held a cere- at the Public in NYC to a sold-out so other alums nearby –– let’s get people who were thinking about mony for his marriage to Dunyu Gu audience, which included a group lunch! In even more exciting news, personal growth and wanted to have in Monemvasia, Greece, on October from Columbia College Women my longtime boyfriend, Filipe intention about how they showed up 5. Despite a small gathering, with and several Columbia professors. Fernandes, proposed over Memorial in the world. So, I started a housing a little more than 30 attendees, Comfort Girl was commissioned by Day weekend, and our nuptials are community with people who were Columbia was well represented by the American Composers Forum planned for Leap Day 2020. Miriam drawn to this vision of living to Nick DeRosa, Max Talbot-Minkin and a recorded version is forthcom- Manber BC’10 is, of course, one of support one another. It’s teaching and Jerone Hsu. It was an interna- ing. Stephanie says that she enjoyed my bridesmaids. Exciting times.” me a lot about how to hold space for tional affair, with guests representing performing at the CC’09 10-year Derek Squires says, “I’m enjoy- others. I think about what it means 10 countries, reflecting the places reunion with Michael Hardin ’11. ing my honeymoon after getting to support and invite others to

Winter 2019–20 CCT 73 Class Notes

Just Married! CCT welcomes wedding photos where at least one member of the couple is a College alum. Please submit your high-resolution photo, and caption information, on our photo webform: college.columbia.edu/cct/submit_ 1 class_note_photo. Congratulations!

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INDIGO PHOTOGRAPHY

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LAUREN O’BRIEN (SILVERFOX STUDIOS)

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JONATHAN WILSON

74 CCT Winter 2019–20 7 alumninews

1. John Connell ’76 stands next to his daughter Erin collaborate on a vision. It’s far from Circuit in August. In September, she Connell ’13 at her wedding on September 7 in Mount perfect, but the relationships are joined the Immigration Intervention Desert, Maine. Other alumni in the photo include Erin’s really incredible. Project at Sanctuary for Families. siblings, Brigid Connell ’16 and Will Connell ’19. “I’ve also been thinking about sto- As a staff attorney, she helps people 2. Meredith Kirk ’12 and Matthew Star ’12 were ries and the capacity for stories to heal. who have experienced gender-based married in Marfa, Texas, on September 14. Left to right: I have this belief that we’re all healers, violence secure and maintain lawful Brandon Thompson ’12, William Leonard ’12, Vanessa capable of healing ourselves, relation- immigration status and obtain U.S. Nieto SEAS’12, Jeremy Bleeke ’13, Jill Goodwin BC’12, ships, communities and the world. citizenship. In July, she caught up with Paul Lerner, John Goodwin ’12, the bride, the groom, Khalil Romain So much of how we see ourselves a fellow CUMB alum, ’12, Karla Casariego ’12, Cody Haefner ’12, Brian and the things around us is based on during her first trip to Montreal. LaPerche ’12, Emily Drinker BC’12, Tom Kapusta ’12, stories. I’m focusing on telling healing Alex Ivey joined Global Strategy Donia Abdelaziz ’12 and Alexa Goldson ’12. stories and hope to do this through Group in June as a senior director the medium of film. Writing this, so in its Washington, D.C., office. He’s 3. Kimberly Flores Gaynor ’16 married Eric Gaynor much of my life feels uncertain at the been relishing the return to Demo- GS’16 on August 24 in Walworth, Wis. Left to right: moment; I have no idea about what cratic electoral politics ahead of Damien Chang SEAS’16, Elizabeth Combs ’15, the the future holds for my community, 2020 –– this time as a pollster and bride, the groom, Karissa Austin ’16, Kristin Austin ’16 my work, friends (many have left the strategist. Don’t hesitate to reach out and Eugene Kim ’96. Bay Area), love ... but it’s never felt to him with any and all hot takes more interesting. And I’m curious. (just be sure to vote, as well). 4: Derek Squires ’10 married Renee Squires at the Ola Jacunski Quogue Wildlife Refuge in New York on August 17. “A friend sent me a quotation that was recently I’ll treasure for a while: ‘Gratitude is promoted to project leader at Boston 5. On June 15, Holli Chopra ’14 married Josh Faber not a virtue but a survival skill, and Consulting Group, where she works GS’12 and the two attended Trenton, N.J.,’s Art All our capacity for it grows with our with clients in financial services and Night. suffering. This is why it is the least pharma. When she’s not building privileged, not the most, who excel in models or writing slides, Ola spends 6: On August 25, Neal Smolar ’83 and Betsy Chutter appreciating the smallest of offerings.’” her time either reading stories or Smolar BC’85’s daughter was married in Paterson, N.J., writing them. Her first short story with several CC’83 and BC’83 friends in attendance. was published earlier this year in the Top row, left to right: Smolar, Len Rosen ’83 and Adam 2011 JordanCon Anthology under the Bayroff ’83; and bottom row, left to right: Miriam pen name Alexandra Hill, alongside Kushner BC’83, Steve Arenson ’83, Eddy Friedfeld ’83 Nuriel Moghavem and and Larry Herman ’83. science fiction and fantasy greats Sean Udell like Brandon Sanderson and Seanan [email protected] McGuire. Ola’s always looking for 7. A big CC’08 (and Carman 8!) contingent traveled to [email protected] Simi Valley, Calif., in September for Ben Teitelbaum her next great read –– please reach ’08’s wedding. out to share books you’ve loved! Howdy, 2011. We hope the winter Conductor, composer and loose Teddy Poll 8. Chuck Roberts ’12 and Tyler Badgley were married brings you an opportunity to slow character study spent at the Congressional Club in Washington, D.C., on down, enjoy the holidays with your the summer with the inimitable and September 14. Back row, left to right: Nettra Pan ’12, family, catch up on Netflix shows doubly named Max Rifkind-Barron. Alyson Cohen ’10, Matt Chou ’14, Heather Hwalek ’10, and relive the memories of cold They worked furiously on putative Dennis Martin ’10, Alexander Harstrick ’12, Sudeep walks back from 1020. queer’d history, manifesting in a new Moniz SEAS’10, James Rathmell ’12 and Nuriel On to some updates! Ben Philippe musical set in an underground drag Moghavem ’11; and front row, left to right: Julio Enrique is full-time faculty at Barnard, teach- cabaret in Paris in 1953, tentatively Herrera Estrada SEAS’12, Badgley, Roberts, Aki ing film and TV writing within the titulated Murder at le Coq sur le vol... Terasaki ’12 and Allie Wakefield ’12. TV department. He sold his first He has enjoyed Los Angeles, and nonfiction collection of comedic remarks of the weather, “delicious!” essays, tentatively titled Sure, I’ll Be and of the traffic, “oy!” We con- Your Black Friend. He is teaching three gratulate Teddy on submitting to us a courses: American drama, digital Class Note that we can use unedited. media and screenwriting. Megan McCusker bought her Amin Guevarra-Fernandez first house in Philadelphia and graduated as a Dean’s Scholar from continues to run a successful coffee New York Law School in May and shop, Function Coffee Labs, with sat for the New York bar exam in her husband, Ross Nickerson. They July. He recently celebrated his recently celebrated two years of mar- one-year wedding anniversary with riage and three years in business! On Jenieve Guevarra-Fernandez ’12. nights and weekends, you can find Amin began working with The Megan at weddings and corporate Bronx Defenders as an immigration events working the new branch of attorney in September. her coffee biz –– mobile coffee cater- Elsewhere in people on the right ing. As if running her own business Nicole Catá 8 side of immigration law, weren’t enough, Megan also holds a wrapped up her clerkship at the Staff full-time day job as an accounting Attorney’s Office of the United States associate at her mother’s CPA firm Court of Appeals for the Second in Fort Washington, Pa. She is taking CASSIDY DUHON Winter 2019–20 CCT 75 Class Notes accounting classes to gather enough dance and choreography projects, I am happy to share that I am From Jared Greene ’17, SEAS’17: credits to get her CPA license. I’ve performed as a dancer and actor in my first year at Harvard Law “The past few years have honestly Warren McGee had quite the in multiple music videos (see my School! It has been great thus far been pretty all over the place. Finished eventful summer. He (finally!) favorite at bit.ly/2klFHkL), and and I’m looking forward to what the the 3-2 program in 2017 (so am I finished his Ph.D. in neuroscience this fall I had the opportunity to do next few years will bring. really CC’16?), then built robots in at Northwestern and has returned to choreography for a feature film that Your classmates want to hear Brooklyn for a bit before going to medical school, expecting to finish will be released next year!” from you. Please submit updates Guatemala City for a year to study the his M.D. at Northwestern in 2021. Hope to hear from many more of by writing to me at the address at internet. After that I basically did the He also recently got engaged to his you in 2020! the top of the column or via the most cliché thing I could think of and longtime girlfriend, Kathryn Brill CCT Class Notes webform, college. worked at a cryptocurrency startup in BC’13! They are eagerly looking columbia.edu/cct/submit_class_note. San Francisco for a hot minute until forward to their wedding, as are we! 2013 moving for the fourth time in two Simone Foxman and Benjamin years, this time to Seattle. Now I work Clark recently traded the Big Apple Tala Akhavan 2016 on Starlink at SpaceX to make the for the Middle East, moving half- [email protected] internet globally accessible, and am way around the world for Simone to Lily Liu-Krason waiting for any excuse to get a dog.” become Bloomberg’s correspondent Happy end of the year, CC’13 –– best [email protected] in Doha, Qatar. She’s covering wishes for an awesome start to 2020! Middle East news on Bloomberg Dean Kowalski is one of 20 Hey 2016, I’ve started following up 2017 TV and will also continue to write castaways on Survivor: Island Of the on the nominations you’re sending for Bloomberg’s online and print Idols (season 39), which premiered on and am always so impressed and Carl Yin media. They were able to catch up September 25. inspired by us as a group. Please [email protected] with a few fellow alums –– includ- Good luck, Dean! keep them coming! By the time you ing Jessica McKenzie BC’11, Bren- Please send in a note. Your class- see this, Homecoming will have Simon Schwartz’s startup, Locasaur, dan Hannon, Jeremy Sklaroff, mates want to hear from you! passed, so feel free to also send me launched a platform to message with Linette Lopez ’08, Kamal Yechoor photos from that. Looking at the your favorite local businesses, with SEAS’11, Alyssa Lamontagne last few issues, these moments are to the goal of providing regulars with and Taylor Owens –– ahead of the 2014 be treasured. Without further ado, a direct channel to friendly faces at move. Simone and Benjamin are updates from your classmates: their spots and mom-and-pops with inviting any and all to hang out with Rebecca Fattell From Richard Lee: “I started an unapologetically pro-local ally in them in Doha for the World Cup [email protected] really getting into blockchain and tech. Locasaur is available in your in a few years. Presumably they will cryptocurrency in early 2017. A app store and online, where you can have air conditioning. No news this time, but we wish you couple months later I quit my job search the user-generated database We also have a CC’11 baby a happy start to 2020! Please make and started Global Blockchain of local spots that stretches from update: On May 22 (which was, it a New Year’s resolution to send in Innovative Capital (GBIC), a crypto Morningside to Japan. appropriately, Commencement), some news –– cool trips, new jobs, fund with fellow Columbia alumni. Shreyas Vissapragada is Brian Keith Grimes III was born fun hobbies, big life changes ... any- We invest in cryptocurrencies like in graduate school at Caltech study- to Zila Acosta-Grimes and Brian thing you want! Let’s stay connected! Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as ing planetary science. He’s been Grimes. We saw the baby’s picture early-stage blockchain projects. We working on a way to observe the and can confirm that he has an also started a consulting and advi- atmospheric evolution of planets incurable case of pediatric cuteness. 2015 sory company underneath GBIC to outside the solar system. Ben Cotton was on his honey- diversify our exposure in the indus- Tolu Obikunle launched a moon in Tanzania, blissfully ignor- REUNION 2020 try. It’s been and will continue to non-alcoholic wine company, ing Class Notes emails. JUNE 4–6 be a wild ride through the ups and La Mère Beverage. Products will Events and Programs Contact downs, as Bitcoin has gone as high be on sale broadly through [email protected] as $20K and as low as $3K.” e-commerce in January. 2012 Development Contact From Jackie Dubrovich: “Since Bianca Guerrero shares, “I am [email protected] graduation, I worked full-time at a still working on policy for Mayor Bill Sarah Chai media measurement and analytics de Blasio, focusing on worker protec- [email protected] Kareem Carryl company for three years while simul- tions and climate issues. Our primary [email protected] taneously training and competing on goal is working with the City Council Hey friends, a few folks promised the national and international fenc- to pass a paid personal time bill, which to submit photos for this issue, so Hello, Class of 2015! We are get- ing circuit. I made the USA National would guarantee two weeks of paid check out “Just Married!” ting closer to our five-year reunion Team this season and competed at time off (separate from sick leave) Speaking of weddings, congratula- (Thursday, June 4–Saturday, June 6)! both World Fencing Championships for private sector workers. I also am tions are in order for Brian Barwick, The Reunion Committee is hard at (our team won the bronze medal!) meeting people (including Columbia who married Meaghan Robson work to ensure it’s a great experi- and the Pan American Games in alumni) and learning organizing skills on July 13 in his hometown of ence for everyone. I cannot wait to Lima, Peru (our team won the gold!). as the lead volunteer for Elizabeth Laguna Beach, Calif. Michael Loya, see you all there and to learn more I finished the season ranked number Warren in uptown Manhattan. I Stephanie Foster, Francisco Vega about what you all have been up 2 in the country and am training full also help out on Jamaal Bowman’s SEAS’12, Marisa Vega and Allyson to! In the interim, please feel free time for the 2020 Summer Olympics campaign to represent my old con- Werner were in attendance. to send me any life happenings –– in Tokyo. Columbia has had a rich gressional district, NY-16. I was not Gillian Rhodes shared an update: graduations, engagements, new jobs, history of fencers competing at the into electoral politics at Columbia but “I’ve been settled in Lahore, Pakistan, cool adventures –– anything! Feel Summer Olympics, and I hope to I believe in both candidates, so I am for a year and a half. Among various free to send photos, as well! continue this tradition!” doing what I can to help them win.

76 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

Siena Bergt has a feature film 2018 that was received into the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival. Alexander Birkel and Maleeha Chida [email protected] 2019 [email protected] REUNION 2020 Christopher George ’17 and Jonathan Koptyev ’17 were each awarded a Cristina Frias hopes everyone is JUNE 4–6 Ferdinand C. Valentine Medical Student Research Grant in Urology; they are excited for the season! She could Events and Programs Contact pictured here with the award and other winners. never have imagined what a year and [email protected] a half in the real world could bring. Development Contact Cristina has a full year of work expe- [email protected] “This past summer, I spent two Elena McGahey had a fun rience in software development under weeks on the West Coast with two weekend with Ian Covert, Mayank her belt, which means realizing how Emily Gruber friends from the Harry S. Truman Mahajan SEAS’16, Harsha Vemuri, little she actually knows, she says. Tj Aspen Givens Scholarship Foundation network. Sahir Jaggi SEAS’17, Eunice Emefa She’s continued to swim by joining [email protected] We visited the Bay Area, Yosemite Kokor SEAS’17, Kanika Verma, the Asphalt Green Masters program. [email protected] National Park, Seattle, North Cas- Jake Kwok and Josh Keough. She And she hopes she’ll be volunteering cades National Park and Vancouver also started grad school this fall at at the ASPCA soon to help out with An aspiring surgeon, Hanya — it was incredible. I also visited UCSF and welcomes all Lions in the some of the dogs and cats! Qureshi is a member of the Class of Tiffany Troy Toronto and decided that Canada program to say hi! This past fall, and 2023 at the Yale School of Medicine. Christopher George is an underrated tourist destination. and her father worked together with the She is enjoying exploring New Jonathan Koptyev I snagged last-minute tickets to were awarded help of many in the community on Haven while continuing to collabo- CNN’s climate town hall and, last a Ferdinand C. Valentine Medical the first case in which a man got rate with the United Nations Girls’ but certainly not least, I got to see Student Research Grant in Urology released by ICE on an employment Education Initiative through her my favorite band — the recently for their summer research projects anti-retaliation theory. Their quest role as the founder and co-developer reunited Jonas Brothers — live for between their first and second year of for liberty did not come easy, but of the UN Ivy STEM Connect the first time. I’m excited for what- medical school. Jonathan’s project was they had faith and never turned Program. Thus far, the program ever the next season brings!” titled “Assessing the Risk of Kidney their backs on the dream they has impacted nearly 200 students. Chris von Pohlot Justin and Stone Formation Induced by Weight- carry. On top of that experience, Hanya hopes to use her background Bleuel co-founded a company to Loss Diets” and Chris’s project was which turned into a poem, Tiffany to encourage girls globally to pursue make renting easier. titled “Quantifying the Association celebrated her birthday in style with STEM careers. Ethan Wu shares, “As time Between Nocturia and Cardiovascular a coinciding publication, which she Tre Gabriel is preparing to go to passes, it seems to move more rap- Disease: Results from the Krimp- wrote in Dodge Hall last spring. grad school (a doctorate program in Shawnee idly, day by week by month by quar- ten Study.” Jonathan conducted his Since graduating, psych), while being a content special- Traylor ter. I started architecture school this research at medical school (Rutgers) dove over more Panamanian ist for a mental health company, The past fall, gratified to be starting with and Christopher conducted his at coral reefs (thankfully, no crocodiles Flawless Foundation, and using his a beginner’s mind again, but I find as Erasmus University in Rotterdam, this time), spent a season collecting fifth year of eligibility to play football I age my life’s circumstances become Netherlands. They both presented water samples (and dodging leopard at his hometown school. closer to ones I once abhorred — their respective research findings at seals) in Antarctica, backpacked Gowan Moïse (now going by aging coming not from the passing the New York Academy of Medicine’s the glacier-studded mountains of Will/William) moved to Santa of days but from the heaping of Medical and Dental Student Forum Patagonia and sailed up into Green- Monica to start working at a responsibility and experience.” on September 9. landic fjords –– mostly in the name boutique law firm specializing in of science. She is a Ph.D. student in intellectual property and complex a joint program between MIT and commercial litigation. He spends the Woods Hole Oceanographic his days reading case law, building Institution, where she studies how damages models and chasing his Holler at Us important elements cycle between roommate’s French bulldog. He’s still the ocean and atmosphere in the yet to go to the beach. in Haiku! context of a changing climate. Danny Hong is pursuing an Sharel Liu published an article M.Sc. in innovation, entrepreneur- Core, one hundred years! in the architectural journal Log ship and management at Imperial What’s a fun way to note it? in August, “Community on Tap: College Business School. His mas- The Commodification of Identity,” ter’s program cohort at Imperial sees Poetry from you. which can be found for purchase on candidates representing 70 nationali- anycorp.com/store/log46. ties; he is one of two Americans in Briley Lewis We’re celebrating the Core Centennial this year and would is excited to be in the program. In pursuing a master’s, love to hear your memories of the Core Curriculum! But her second year of graduate school at Danny says he looks forward to there’s a catch — you need to tell us in haiku. Send your UCLA, even if that means she needs applying his Columbia background to start studying for her comprehen- to cultivate innovative ideas with 5-7-5 recollections to [email protected], and sive exam. Other than research, she’s which to seek employment or to cre- we’ll run our favorites in the next two issues’ Class Notes. been doing a lot of teaching and ate his own company, as these are the writing lately. Check out astrobites. requirements to officially achieve the org/author/blewis. master’s from Imperial.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 77 obituaries 1942

Nicholas W. Cicchetti, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., a retired educator who earned a master’s from TC; August 21, 2019.

Abram Loft, Amherst, Mass., a distinguished professor emeritus of chamber music; earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. from GSAS, in 1944 and 1950, respectively; February 1, 2019. 1946

Evarts Cecil Erickson, Wellfleet, Mass., a retired writer; September 28, 2019. 1953 WILL CSAPLAR ’57, BUS’58 POSTCARD COLLECTION, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES COLLECTION, COLUMBIA ’57, BUS’58 POSTCARD WILL CSAPLAR Morton Freilicher, New York City, a retired lawyer who earned a degree from the Law School in 1956; Daniel I. Davidson, Washington, contributions may be made to the 1969 August 7, 2019. D.C., earned a degree from the Law National Multiple Sclerosis Society School in 1959; September 13, 2019. (nationalmssociety.org). Michael S. Oberman, New York Benjamin P. Roosa, Jr., Hopewell City, an attorney; October 15, 2019. Junction, N.Y., an attorney; Memorial contributions may be August 28, 2019. Memorial contribu- 1958 1961 made to Hope & Heroes (hhccf. tions may be made to Cardinal convio.net/goto/michaeloberman). Hayes Home for Children, P.O. Box Alfred R. Stein, New York City; Arnold Chase, Township of CH, 60 St. Joseph Dr., Millbrook, October 15, 2019. Washington, N.J., a retired attorney NY 12545 (cardinalhayeshome.org). who earned a degree from the Law 1982 Jesus A. Suarez, Stuart, Fla., a School in 1964; October 1, 2019. Howard R. Williams, Bloomfield, retired engineer; earned a B.S., Memorial contributions may be John S.W. Dawson, New York N.J., a humanitarian aid executive M.S. and C.E., all from Columbia made to any multiple myeloma or City, a director of marketing; Octo- and adjunct professor at SIPA; Engineering in 1960, 1962 and diabetes organization. ber 13, 2019. September 25, 2019. 1966, respectively; August 13, 2019. 1966 1991 1956 1960 Stuart M Berkman, Rio de Janeiro, Patrick H. Flynn, Wilmette, Ill., Charles W. Bostic Jr., Morrisville, William H. Engler, Princeton Junc- a retired licensing and marketing a co-portfolio manager of a high- N.Y., a retired vocational rehabilita- tion, N.J., a retired professor of Eng- executive who earned a degree yield strategies fund; April 23, 2019. tion counselor; September 28, 2019. lish; earned an M.A. in 1965 from from the Business School in 1968; Memorial contributions may be made GSAS; August 17, 2019. Memorial January 25, 2019. to SitStayRead (sitstayread.org). David M. Nitzberg, Lake Forest, Ill.; February 26, 2019.

1957 OBITUARY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Columbia College Today welcomes obituary information for Columbia College alumni. Richard J. Cohen, San Francisco, Links or mailing addresses for memorial contributions may be included. Please fill out the a retired physician; December 25, “Submit Obituary Information” form at college.columbia.edu/cct/content/contact-us, or 2018. Memorial contributions may mail information to Obituaries Editor, Columbia College Today, Columbia Alumni Center, be made to Congregation Beth Sha- 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530, 4th Fl., New York, NY 10025. lom, 301 14th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94118 (bethsholomsf.org).

78 CCT Winter 2019–20 alumninews

Immanuel M. Wallerstein ’51, GSAS’59, John Giorno ’58, Poet and Poetry Sociologist and Prolific Author Advocate, and Artists’ Muse

Immanuel M. Wallerstein ’51, GSAS’59, a sociologist who transformed John Giorno ’58, who employed the field with his ideas about Western domination of the modern world art and mass media to embed and the very nature of sociological inquiry, died on August 31, 2019, at his poetry more deeply in the home in Branford, Conn. He was 88. fabric of everyday life, died on Wallerstein was born to German parents on September 28, 1930, in October 11, 2019, at his home in Manhattan and grew up in the Bronx. He served in the Army 1951–53, Lower Manhattan. He was 82. and earned a master’s in 1954 from GSAS. In 1955, the Ford Foundation “Possessed of Greco-Roman awarded him a fellowship that allowed him to study in Africa; he good looks and a gregarious, continued to travel the continent after earning a Ph.D. in 1959, also from benevolent spirit,” according to his GSAS, and joining the Columbia faculty. Wallerstein wrote two books New York Times obituary, Giorno on Africa in the 1960s: Africa: The Politics of Independence and Africa: The played an important role early in Politics of Unity. his life as a muse to and lover of During Columbia’s Spring 1968 uprising, he was part of a faculty other artists, among them Robert committee that sought to mediate the situation. Based on those Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. experiences, as well as other events in that tumultuous year, Wallerstein Born on December 4, 1936, wrote University in Turmoil: Giorno grew up in Brooklyn The Politics of Change, published and Roslyn Heights, N.Y. He graduated from James Madison H.S. and in 1969. In 1971 he moved to the end of his life spoke of the importance of the English teachers he to Montreal to teach at encountered there. After the College, during a brief stint as a stockbroker, McGill University, and then Giorno began to befriend artists and poets like Warhol and Ted Berrigan in 1976 became distinguished and filmmaker Jonas Mekas. professor of sociology at SUNY Giorno and Warhol were living together off and on when Warhol came Binghamton. He had been a up with the idea of filming Giorno asleep, naked. Warhol created his seminal senior research fellow at Yale 1963 film Sleep by focusing a mostly static camera on Giorno for more than University since 2000. five hours. Though the couple split in 1964, the movie — among the first foot- Wallerstein’s doctrine of age Warhol shot and now considered an underground classic — linked them the world-system became an indelibly in postwar art history. But Giorno’s lasting contribution to art came influential theory in the field. In through his restless experimentations with the political potential of poetry, 1974 he published The Modern which he felt had been unjustly overshadowed by other genres of expression. World-System I: Capitalist In 1965, Giorno founded the nonprofit Giorno Poetry Systems to promote Agriculture and the Origins of the his work and that of his peers. Four years later, inspired by a call with William European World-Economy in the S. Burroughs, he started Dial-A-Poem, a rudimentary mass-communication Sixteenth Century, the first of four volumes that took a broader sociological system for cutting-edge poets and political oratory. Reachable around the approach than was common at the time, favoring a global view that clock for anyone with a few minutes and a desire to be read to, millions of encompassed history and economic evolution. people called in. At a time when the art world and culture at large were still World-systems analysis, as Wallerstein called his approach, occupied largely conservative, Dial-A-Poem was often unabashedly homoerotic. only a modest part of his scholarship. A 2011 book of essays on the impact Giorno’s own artwork drew heavily from the ideas of the found imagery of Wallerstein’s work, Immanuel Wallerstein and the Problem of the World, that fueled the Pop revolution and also from the tradition of the ready considered Africa’s influence on his thinking. “I had the gut feeling in the made — plain, found objects presented as art. Giorno mined news items 1950s,” he wrote in The Essential Wallerstein (2000), “that the most impor- and presented them virtually untouched as verse, as in his privately circu- tant thing that was happening in the 20th-century world was the struggle lated 1964 collection The American Book of the Dead. to overcome the control by the Western world of the rest of the world.” By 1962 Giorno had moved into a hulking Queen Anne-style building on Wallerstein produced numerous other books, and also wrote on current the Bowery that had been built as the first YMCA and that then had a sec- events; in 2014 he delivered a lecture to more than 1,000 students in Iran, ond life as a warren of studios for artists. He eventually occupied three spaces where his writings have been widely read. there, one of which was nicknamed “the Bunker” by Burroughs. For more A theme of activism ran through Wallerstein’s career and his writings. “I than three decades, Giorno, a longtime practicing Buddhist, hosted annual have argued that world-systems analysis is not a theory but a protest against gatherings in the building for hundreds of Tibetan Buddhist adherents. neglected issues and deceptive epistemologies,” he wrote. He argued that no Over several decades, Giorno Poetry Systems produced dozens of world-system lasts forever and that the current one is slowly disintegrating. albums, videos and events of the work of Giorno and other writers, musi- For years he elaborated on these and other ideas on his website (iwallerstein. cians and artists. In 1984 the foundation started the AIDS Treatment com). On July 1, 2019, he announced that day’s post was the 500th and last. Project, which disbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars. He concluded by pondering the future, and whether the global change he At the time of his death Giorno had been finishing a memoir, Great predicted would come to pass: “I think there is a 50-50 chance that we’ll Demon Kings: A Memoir of Poetry, Sex, Art, Death, and Enlightenment, make it to transformatory change, but only 50-50.” scheduled to be published next June. Wallerstein married Beatrice Friedman in 1964. In addition to her Giorno is survived by his husband, Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, who ♥︎ and his daughter, Katharine, he is survived by two children from his in summer 2017 produced the NYC exhibition Ugo Rondinone: I John wife’s previous marriage, Susan Morgenstern and Robert Morgenstern, Giorno, a sprawling, multi-part exhibition that presented, at 13 venues, and five grandchildren. Giorno’s life and work, as well as work that he inspired.

Winter 2019–20 CCT 79 corecorner

CORE CARTOON CAPTION CONTEST In honor of the Centennial, we asked four artistic alums to take inspiration from the Core and provide a cartoon in need of a caption — one for each of our four issues this academic year. This installment is by editorial cartoonist R.J. Matson ’85. The winning caption will be published in the Spring 2020 issue, and the winner will get a signed print of Matson’s cartoon. Any College student or College alum may enter; no more than three entries per person. Submit your idea, along with your full name, CC class year and daytime phone, to [email protected] by Monday, February 10. And be sure to check out the Fall issue’s winning caption on our Contents page.

80 CCT Winter 2019–20

“Thanks to generous alumni support, Columbia College provided me with funding to take an internship with a nonprofit media company that gives voice to at-risk children. This enabled me to explore my passions and expand my outlook for the future.”

— Deanna Cuadra CC’21, Shine Global

Core to Commencement is proud of the Work Exemption Program, part of Columbia University’s enhanced financial aid program for students. Generous funding from alumni and parents provides qualified financial aid recipients expanded support to pursue meaningful unpaid or low-paid internships, research projects and community outreach work that helps them experience greater possibilities.

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