Ccttoday Anita After Annisa

Summer 2017

Columbia College CCTToday Anita After Annisa

On the eve of her famed restaurant’s closing, chef Anita Lo ’88 contemplates the transition ahead

Compass CEO Robert Reffkin ’00 | Graduation 2017 | The Revival of Pearl River Mart

“Every day, I learned something that forced me to reevaluate — my opinions, my actions, my intentions. The potential for personal growth is far greater, it would seem to me, the less comfortable you are.”

— Elise Gout CC’19, 2016 Presidential Global Fellow, Jordan Program

Our education is rooted in the real world — in internships, global experiences, laboratory work and explorations right here in our own great city. Help us provide students with opportunities to transform academic pursuits into life experiences. Support Extraordinary Students college.columbia.edu/campaign Contents features

14 After Annisa On the eve of her famed restaurant’s closing, chef Anita Lo ’88 contemplates the transition ahead. By Klancy Miller ’96

20 “The Journey Was the Exciting Part” Compass CEO Robert Reffkin ’00, BUS’03 on creating his own path to success. By Jacqueline Raposo

24 Graduation 2017 The Class of 2017’s big day in words and photos; plus Real Life 101 from humor writer Susanna Wolff ’10.

Cover: Photograph by Jörg Meyer Contents departments alumninews

3 Within the Family 38 Lions Telling new CCT stories online. Joanne Kwong ’97, Ron Padgett ’64 By Alexis Boncy SOA’11 41 Alumni in the News 4 Letters to the Editor 42 Bookshelf 6 Message from Dean James J. Valentini High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist The Class of 2017 is a “Perfect 10.” and the Making of an American Classic by Glenn Frankel ’71 7 Around the Quads New Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition at MOMA 44 Reunion 2017 organized by Barry Bergdoll ’77, GSAS’86. Alumni reunite on campus.

12 Roar, Lion, Roar 46 Class Notes Men’s Tennis wins fourth Ivy League title; Archery wins national championship; 85 Obituaries 96th annual Varsity C awards presented. 88 Alumni Corner 30 Columbia Forum: Signs of Your Identity Inspired by his 50th reunion, a writer looks back Photographer Daniella Zalcman ’09 sheds on “The Sixties.” By Thomas Hauser ’67 light on a dark time in Canadian history with her award-winning project.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? | JUNE 12 Now on CCT Online CCT “We had a reputation — fans, followers and customers — so there’s a mix of PRINT EXTRAS THE LATEST people who understand the legacy of • Graduation 2017 photos and speeches 5001 FLAVORS.” LION’S DEN | JUNE 1 • Academic Awards and Prizes winners — Sharene Wood ’94 • Reunion 2017 photos “ … The question of who • Dean’s Pin recipients has the information, or who has access to the • Poems from Ron Padgett ’64 TAKE FIVE | JUNE 23 information, is as important as the information itself.” “King Lear remains, for me, — Ben Ratliff ’90 the greatest achievement Like Columbia College Alumni of the human mind. I would facebook.com/alumnicc not trade it for all of Mozart, View Columbia College alumni photos Michelangelo or Chekhov.” instagram.com/alumniofcolumbiacollege — Terrence McNally ’60

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Join the Columbia College alumni network college.columbia.edu/alumni/linkedin college.columbia.edu/cct JÖRG MEYER

Within the Family A New Destination for Columbia College Today

lick, click, tap. Click, click, tap. This is the soundtrack to our days — the click of the mouse, the tap of fingers, the rat-a-tat rhythm that C accompanies our online wanderings. Everyone has their go-to destinations for news or a social fix, but why not make room for one more? Come, click over in our direction: CCT online is doing something new. There, for the first time, we’re publishing original, web-only content between issues. It’s easy to find — just look on our home page under “The Latest.” We cheered when our inaugural post went live in May, and the glow still hasn’t worn off. Original digital marks the start of a new era for CCT. Yes, we’ve put our issues online for many years, and will continue to do so. But we are now a publication that truly bridges print and web, with a richness of offerings in both spaces that befits the way most of us read today. Want to curl up with a longer feature? Pour a cup of coffee and page through the print magazine. Want a quick alumni hit while you’re on the go? Click on the website; we post our most frequent feature, “Take Five,” every Friday. Other stories go up biweekly, monthly and quarterly. When we were mapping out plans for “The Latest,” we talked a lot about what its aim would be and how to differentiate the new online The monthly section “Where Are They Now?” is what it sounds content from the print while remaining true to the spirit of CCT ’s like — a catch-up with the subject of an earlier CCT profile. (Fun mission. Time and again, we returned to the idea of creating a place fact from the most recent installment: that glitzy Cher-inspired outfit for your alumni voices. We wanted to find more ways to put you in Vanessa Hudgens wore to host May’s Billboard Music Awards was conversation with one another, to invite reflections on your time at by 5001 FLAVORS; Sharene Wood ’94 is the company’s CEO.) And the College, to share your professional expertise and to express your because our alumni so frequently make headlines, we’ll be posting opinions. Ultimately, we wanted to capture the diversity of viewpoints regular updates in a biweekly version of “Alumni in the News.” and experiences that characterize the Columbia College community. Developing this roster of recurring web features, and working on In the end, our desire to hear more from you — along with a the stories, has been an invigorating — and just plain fun — addi- commitment to diversifying the types of stories we produce — tion to our days. Special thanks go to deputy editor Jill C. Shomer served as our guiding principles. “Take Five” and “Lion’s Den” are and associate editor Anne-Ryan Heatwole JRN’09 for being the cre- two expressions of this. The first features reminiscences from alumni ative forces behind most of the content. We hope you’ll visit often about their College experiences, prompted by five questions, a fasci- (college.columbia.edu/cct). Go ahead and bookmark our page. Or if nating exercise in revisiting our younger selves, the things we most you haven’t already followed Columbia College Alumni on Facebook remember and what we’d choose to do over (or not). The second is (facebook.com/alumnicc) or Twitter (@Columbia_CCAA), I encour- a monthly column by a guest writer sharing their perspectives on age you to do so; we’ll be sharing there whenever a new “Latest” post culture and current events (former New York Times music critic Ben goes live. And please let us know what you think. Jill can be reached Ratliff ’90 penned the excellent debut). at [email protected] and you’re always welcome to write me at Alumni expertise and experience also figure prominently in the [email protected]. sections we call “Think Tank” and “Like Minds.” In “Think Tank,” Thanks, and happy clicking! we pose a topical question to a small group of alumni experts. (When President Trump pulled out of the Paris Accords, we knew that climate change would be the first topic.) In “Like Minds,” we ask two alumni to interview each other about a subject that’s important to them both. The tone here is more personal — like a coffee- Alexis Boncy SOA’11 house chat that we all get to listen in on. Editor-in-Chief

Summer 2017 CCT 3 Columbia College Letters to the Editor CCT Today

VOLUME 44 NUMBER 4 SUMMER 2017

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexis Boncy SOA’11

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lisa Palladino

DEPUTY EDITOR Jill C. Shomer

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anne-Ryan Heatwole JRN’09

FORUM EDITOR Rose Kernochan BC’82

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Shira Boss ’93, JRN’97, SIPA’98 Supporting Gorsuch ART DIRECTOR Eson Chan I write to dispel some of the persnickety comments attributed, unfortunately, to Published quarterly by the fellow Columbians about Neil Gorsuch ’88. Columbia College Office of Neil has been lambasted for the newspaper he founded, violating postering rules, Alumni Affairs and Development for alumni, students, faculty, parents supporting unpopular causes, his quotation in the yearbook and his fraternity, among and friends of Columbia College. many other things. The students who actually knew Neil can attest to his character.

ASSOCIATE DEAN, In fact, more than 150 of his classmates, both Democrats and Republicans, submit- COLUMBIA COLLEGE ted a comprehensive and thoughtful letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee in ALUMNI RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS support of his nomination. Bernice Tsai ’96 I was friends with Neil. He created “The Fed” [Federalist Paper] to encourage respectful and open dialogue among students from a voice not often heard at Columbia. I was ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: the dummy who violated the sign posting rules in his run for school senate, and I can Columbia College Today verify that he knew nothing about it. I lived at the Fiji house for three years, and I can Columbia Alumni Center attest that the wild allegations in the press were unfounded and outrageous. 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530, 4th Fl. New York, NY 10025 During the Senate hearings, many of Neil’s colleagues praised his good nature, 212-851-7852 respect for others and sharp intellect. These were the same qualities we saw at Colum-

EDITORIAL bia and why so many of his friends came out in strong support of his nomination. We [email protected] know that politics will not play a part in his decisions, but instead he will be guided by ADVERTISING his strong character, humility and integrity, which should make all Columbians proud. [email protected] Rob LaPlaca ’89 WEB college.columbia.edu/cct Weston, Conn.

ISSN 0572-7820 Columbians on the Court Opinions expressed are those of As for the broader group of Columbians on the authors and do not reflect the Supreme Court, it also includes Ruth official positions of Columbia College Regarding “Gorsuch Nominated to U.S. Bader Ginsburg LAW’59, first in her class or Columbia University. Supreme Court” (“Around the Quads,” and the school’s first female tenured professor. Spring 2017): The article concludes with, Kenneth A. Iczkowski ’86 © 2017 Columbia College Today “If confirmed, Gorsuch would be the second Brookfield, Wis. All rights reserved. Columbian to serve on the country’s highest court [after John Jay (Class of 1764)].” Editor’s note: CCT thanks Iczkowski, and There were actually three others from the also Peter Law ’08 and Thomas Vinciguerra College — Jay, Samuel Blatchford (Class of ’85, JRN’86, GSAS’90, for pointing out the 1837) and Benjamin Cardozo (Class of 1889). oversight. We regret the error.

4 CCT Summer 2017 Van Am

On page 33 of the Spring 2017 issue (“Alumni News”), you report that the sculpture in the Van Am Quad [at right] “is actually the third bust produced from the mold.” Hello? Where are the first and second busts? Inquiring Lions want to know! Congratulations on a great issue, as always, of a most welcome publication. Alex Auerbach ’66 Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Editor’s note: We found reports of the two other busts’ origins, but not their present locations. Commissioned in 1912 and 1913, respectively, the first was installed in Ham- ilton Hall and the second was given to the Columbia University Club. The Right Woman?

Professor Martha Howell GSAS’79’s comments on gender equality (“Hear Us Roar,” Spring 2017) were of considerable interest, DAVID DINI SIPA’14 DAVID but I found her reply to the question of whether we are ready for a female Presi- The Experts dent somewhat convoluted. Howell noted Michael was responsible for the board’s that, in the election, “there was an element review and approval of the University’s annual of, ‘Is this the right job for a woman?’” budget, capital budget, capital structure and A terribly late response to “The Experts” I would suggest rather that there was financings. He led the Student Life and feature [Winter 2016–17]: Thanks all an element of “Is this the right woman for Learning Committee for nine years and the around for some pretty good tips. But I such a job?” Finance Committee throughout his tenure. would add one biggie to those offered by Philip Lille ’62, SIPA’64 As chair of finance, Michael reviewed quar- Michael Gerrard ’72 to combat climate Paradise Valley, Ariz. terly, for a number of years, the University’s change: Don’t fly if you can avoid it. financing of the new science, performing arts In Moby-Dick (Chapter 45), after relat- Extraordinary Service and Business School buildings in Manhat- ing a few stories about the many sailors tanville — specifically the Jerome L. Greene killed hunting whales, Melville implores I write to recognize Michael Rothfeld ’69, Science Center, which houses the Zuckerman us: “For God’s sake, be economical with your BUS’71, SIPA’71, JRN’71 for his 12 years of Mind Brain Behavior Institute, opened in lamps and candles! not a gallon you burn, but extraordinary service to the Columbia Uni- October 2016, and the Lenfest Center for the at least one drop of man’s blood was spilled versity Board of Trustees, a service that has Arts, opened in April 2017. for it.” benefitted the University and the College. In addition, Michael worked tirelessly Melville was unhappy with the killing of last fall reviewing closely the financing for the whales, too, but he recognized that the the Business School’s new building; the true cost was not just the money paid for groundbreaking took place in December the whale oil. Contact Us 2016 and the building is scheduled to be By the way, best wishes to Alex Sachare CCT welcomes letters from readers about completed in 2022. ’71 on his retirement, and thanks for all his articles in the magazine but cannot print or Columbia has greatly benefitted from good work through the years. personally respond to all letters received. Michael’s work as a trustee and he has Allen Schill ’73 Letters express the views of the writers honored the Class of 1969 throughout his Torino, Italy and not CCT, the College or the University. distinguished tenure. Please keep letters to 250 words or fewer. Thank you, Michael! Just wanted to say, the issue of CCT with All letters are subject to editing for space, Jonathan D. Schiller ’69, LAW’73 all the alums providing tips and tricks clarity and CCT style. Please direct letters for New York City [Winter 2016–17] was great reading. Keep publication “to the editor” via mail or online: up the good work! college.columbia.edu/cct/contactus. Editor’s note: The writer chairs the Columbia Ryan McChristian ’07 University Board of Trustees. Washington, D.C.

Summer 2017 CCT 5 EILEEN BARROSO

Message from the Dean A Perfect “10”

At Class Day on May 16, I spoke about the synergies that are created by ergy that would enhance your individual success and satisfaction. It is bringing together individuals within our community. What follows is an what has brought you to this place today. You each have contributed abridged version of my speech. To our most recent graduates, who are now to the undergraduate experience of one another to create a collective receiving Columbia College Today, congratulations again and welcome to value that goes well beyond a sum of your individual contributions. the community of more than 50,000 Columbia College alumni. I hope you all [Class Day speaker] Sheena Wright [’90, LAW’94] has told us continue to benefit from the synergies that you developed along College Walk. how she contributed to and profited from her experience here. In an interview with Columbia College Today, she said of her under- t the Senior Dinner two weeks ago, I told you, the Class graduate years: “It was a great way to learn about organization and of 2017, that you were a “10,” as in the highest rank on a leadership — how do you organize a collective around an issue and scale of one to 10, and said that you were one of only four achieve results?” She not only majored in history and sociology, but A classes in the 263-year history of Columbia College to also was active in many groups and activities on campus, and these be a “10.” I presented this as a puzzle for you to solve because I always communities, these experiences, helped her land where she is today. have a puzzle at the Senior Dinner. And the answer, which many of you In fact, when she received a John Jay Award for distinguished figured out right away, was that only four Columbia College class years professional achievement from the College last spring, Sheena have digits that add up to 10: 1801, 1900, 2008 and 2017. spoke of the “scaffold of love and support and nurturance that came To be ranked a “10” means to be complete, to lack nothing. The from every strata of this place.” She said others saw in her what she academic regalia you are each wearing signifies that, as a graduate, didn’t and instilled in her the confidence that helped her grow. you have become complete and lack nothing according to the require- Today, Sheena’s work continues to depend on synergy. The United ments of Columbia College. I ranked you as a class as a “10” to focus Way [of New York City], the organization that she leads, uses what your attention on you as a group, who together are complete, lacking they call a “Collective Impact Approach” to bring families out of for nothing, when all 1,172 of you are considered together, joined poverty. They bring together different entities to achieve a result, a together, added up, just as the digits in 2017 add up to “10.” whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. There is an enormous pressure for each of us, individually, to I urge you to seek out endeavors that offer that synergy, that give aspire to be complete, to lack for nothing, right now, and always. you the opportunity to achieve more working with others than you And it is something we are not likely to achieve, despite our best could yourself — even if you think you individually can get a rating of efforts. Each of us will make mistakes, be confused, misjudge situ- “10.” Because the act of working with others might lead to something ations, fall short, perform inadequately. Completeness, lacking for better for everyone working together, even you. You might be an “11” nothing individually, will elude most of us. or a “12,” because that synergy scale goes above and beyond “10.” Should we stop trying? No. Rather, we should adjust our sights from That synergy is what multiplies the value of Columbia College — the individual outcome to the individual effort. And we should also the 4,500 students, 1,000 faculty members, 300 staff members and adjust our sights from an exclusive emphasis on ourselves individually to 50,000 alumni — whose interactions make something of far greater what we can do together, because what each of us can achieve together value than the sum of our individual contri- can exceed even what the most nearly complete of us can achieve alone. butions. It is the reason I can say Columbia To say you, the Class of 2017, is a “10” by adding you up the way College is the greatest college in the greatest CCT Print Extras the digits 2-0-1-7 add to 10, is a flawed metaphor. It implies that university in the greatest city in the world. To view Valentini’s Class the whole of you is simply the sum of you individually. But, that isn’t So, I will close by saying, thank you for Day speech in full, go to true, because of synergy. coming to Columbia College. Thank you for college.columbia.edu/cct. Synergy is created when individual parts interact such that their value all that you have taught me. Thank you for goes beyond that contributed by each individual part. Our Colum- what you have taught one another. Thank you for what you have bia campus is majestic because of the relationship among its buildings given to Columbia. Congratulations to all of you, to your families, that transcends their individual architecture. It is even more apparent in to your professors, to your coaches, to your advisers, to your mentors. human endeavors. Our Columbia a cappella group Notes and Keys is Class of 2017, you are not only a “10,” you are the best class ever. more than the voices of its individual singers. And, the true value of the Columbia College Core Curriculum is the relationship of the works you read, a value that far exceeds the value of reading any of them individually. This kind of synergy was our goal when we brought you all to campus four years ago. We admitted you to Columbia College because we believed you were the applicants best able to profit from and contrib- James J. Valentini ute to the experience of Columbia College, best able to create a syn- Dean

6 CCT Summer 2017 Around Quadsthe

Frank Lloyd Wright design for the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo. 1913–23.

New Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit Opens at MOMA

By Jill C. Shomer

fresh perspective on the work and the Meyer Schapiro Professor of Art One of the conditions of the partnership of one of America’s most History and Archaeology. among the three organizations was com- renowned architects has come “Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking mitting to develop two Wright exhibitions A to the Museum of Modern Art the Archive” was developed in celebration in a five-year period. Bergdoll says he thinks in an exhibition organized by Barry Berg- of the anniversary of the architect’s birth — the foundation imagined the museum doll ’77, GSAS’86, curator of MOMA’s June 8, 1867 — and the acquisition of the would simply display masterpieces from the Department of Architecture and Design Wright archives by MOMA and Columbia’s archives, but he had other ideas. Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library. “Frank Lloyd Wright is probably the “Unpacking” refers both to the Herculean best known American architect in history task of moving thousands of photographs, and there have been any number of com- drawings, letters, models and more from the prehensive exhibitions,” he says. “A block- The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation’s stor- buster show would never announce that age facilities in Wisconsin and Arizona, as this collaboration brings something new well as the figurative opening up of Wright’s to the archive, so we wanted to make the work for examination and debate. The exhi- exhibitions into research platforms.” bition will run through October 1. The first exhibition, “Frank Lloyd Wright The archives were acquired jointly by the and the City: Density vs. Dispersal,” dis- museum and Columbia in 2012 from the played at MOMA in 2014, examined the foundation. Bergdoll told CCT that hav- contradictions in Wright’s thinking about ing the archive housed on campus in Avery the growth of American cities in the 1920s makes it uniquely available to scholars for and 1930s, when he was simultaneously teaching and for dissertations, and even for creating radical designs for skyscrapers and viewing by Columbia humanities students. making models for a suburban utopia he Contents from the archive are also part of called Broadacre City. the regular programming of architectural For “Unpacking the Archive,” Berg- ROBIN HOLLAND / COURTESY THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, ROBIN HOLLAND / COURTESY display at MOMA and shown to the pub- doll wanted to try an approach that takes MUSEUM IMAGES COURTESY THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT FOUNDATION ARCHIVES (THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | AVERY ARCHITECTURAL & FINE ARTS LIBRARY, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK) COLUMBIA LIBRARY, ARCHITECTURAL & FINE ARTS | AVERY ARCHIVES (THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART WRIGHT FOUNDATION THE FRANK LLOYD COURTESY MUSEUM IMAGES Barry Bergdoll ’77, GSAS’86 lic in that way. advantage of MOMA’s and Columbia’s

Summer 2017 CCT 7 Around Quadsthe

Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater (Kaufmann House), Mill Run, Pa. 1934–37. ability to address “hard questions and con- Wright rather than seasoned specialists. ing is not directed or overdetermined — tradictions.” “The new exhibition is not a Visitors watch films of the scholars in the “it’s about connections and serendipities,” comprehensive monograph or form of hero actual archive in Avery Library; they can Bergdoll says. worship,” says Bergdoll. “It’s an experiment see what an archive looks like and learn In September, Columbia’s Lenfest Center in research.” how architecture historians do their work. for the Arts, on the Manhattanville campus, The exhibition — comprising approxi- The scholars are not giving lectures; rather, will present the exhibition “Living in Amer- mately 450 works made from the 1890s each discusses how they solved a particu- ica: Frank Lloyd Wright, Harlem and Mod- through the 1950s — is divided into 12 lar research puzzle. The audio for the films ern Housing,” which examines Wright’s sections, with each segment investigating (each around five minutes) is not played in housing design in relationship to the rise of a key object (or cluster of objects) from headphones, so visitors will hear voices all modern housing design in Harlem. It will the archives, unpacked by scholars and one around them, including Wright’s. While overlap the MOMA exhibit through Octo- conservator, most of them fresh voices to the segments are chronological, the pac- ber and run until December 17.

Celebratory Senior Dinner The Columbia Club’s New Home More than 860 members of the Class of 2017 celebrated their transition from seniors to alumni at the annual After two decades in residence at the Prince Columbia College Senior Dinner on ton Club of New York, as of this past March May 1. The festivities, which coin- the Columbia University Club of New York cided with the last day of classes, were has a new home only one block away, at the held under a tent on South Lawn. Penn Club of New York, 30 W. 44th St. The Dean James J. Valentini and senior move was made to offer lower membership class president Jordana Narin ’17 rates to Columbia University Club members delivered remarks, and Senior Dinner and to take advantage of the Penn Club’s co-chairs Vivian Chen ’17 and Kunal extensive amenities, such as guest rooms, mul- Kamath ’17 led a toast. At presstime, tiple dining options, a fitness center and pri- 417 donors had contributed to the vate event and banquet facilities. Learn more RICH ORMANOWSKI Columbia College Senior Fund. at columbiaclub.org.

8 CCT Summer 2017 DidYouKnow?

University Announces Fundraising Campaign

Connecting the role that Columbia’s laboratories, libraries and classrooms play in addressing the world’s most urgent issues, the University has launched an ambitious capital campaign — The Columbia Com- mitment — which aims to raise $5 billion in five years. “The Columbia Commitment is more than a commitment to the University,” President Lee C. Bollinger said in a May 11 letter to the Columbia community announcing the campaign. “It is a renewal of our bonds with the world and our shared future.” In addition to underscoring Columbia’s dedication to its faculty and students, the campaign emphasizes the University’s resolve to engaging the most serious and challenging issues of our time. It includes com- EILEEN BARROSO mitments to arts and ideas; climate response; data and society; the future of neuroscience; global solutions; St. Paul’s Acoustics Made just societies; and precision medicine. The campaign follows the lead of Core to Com- American Music History mencement, the Columbia College campaign that so far has raised $280 million for College students and Did you know that the sounds of St. Paul’s Chapel are permanently faculty. The money raised through Core to Commence- preserved? Each year, 25 songs are added to the Library of Congress ment will count toward The Columbia Commitment. National Recording Registry in Washington, D.C.; the songs are cho- “The University’s effort amplifies our own historic sen to showcase the range and diversity of American recorded sounds campaign, mobilizing volunteers and presenting oppor- and to increase awareness about preservation. Among the most recent tunities for us to attract new donors to support Colum- batch added to the registry in March 2017 was Judy Collins’ a capella bia College — through gifts to the Core Curriculum, arrangement of Amazing Grace, recorded in 1970 in St. Paul’s. The to summer research internships and global experiences, chapel is a landmark in and of itself; it was officially designated by the and to departmental research and collaborations, as well New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966. as to key student issues like wellness and financial aid,” said Dean James J. Valentini.

Alumni and Students Presented Awards

Nine College alumni received 2017–18 Fulbright U.S. Student Viviana Prado-Núñez ’20 won the 2017 Burt Award for Carib- grants, which fund international teaching positions and research for bean Literature for her book, The Art of White Roses. students and young professionals. Miranda Arakelian ’17 will teach in Germany; Daniel Bergerson ’17 will teach in Mexico; Brooke Anneliese Mesa-Jonassen ’17 received a Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Robbins ’17 will teach in Taiwan; Eliana Kanefield ’17 will teach in Traveling Fellowship, which provides $19,000 to support students Argentina; Vivian Chen ’17 will study public health in China; Molly in the visual and fine arts for travel and living expenses outside Engel ’17 will study economic development in China; Rebecca Pawel the United States. Mesa-Jonassen plans to use the fellowship to ’99, TC’00, GSAS’16 will conduct research in Spain; Catalina Pic- travel to Colombia, where she will first work with anthropologists cato ’17 will do an business internship in economics in Mexico; and to study the ontology of the indigenous Muisca society and will Martin Ridge ’17 received a UK Partnership Award, which enables then apprentice with ceramicists in Ráquira and La Chamba. him to study toward a degree at Queen Mary University of London. George Liu ’17 and Alan Gou SEAS’17 won first place in the Two College students were awarded 2017 U.S. Department of State Columbia Venture Competition’s Undergraduate Challenge for Critical Language Scholarships. Kaatje Greenberg ’18 will study their startup, Palette, “a platform used by teams to plan, record Russian in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and Benjamin Regas ’19 will and learn from growth and marketing experiments.” They received study Chinese in Suzhou, China. $25,000 in funding as part of the prize.

Summer 2017 CCT 9 the Essentials John McWhorter

Linguist John McWhorter’s career combines academics and media, a feat he says requires “two different brains.” He is an associate professor in the Department of English and Comparative Language, teaching classes such as “History of the English Language,” while also writing regularly for outlets including The New York Times, giving TED Talks about texting, and authoring 19 books on language and race (his most recent was the subject of a lengthy review in the May 15 issue of The New Yorker). McWhorter is also a regular contributor to a biweekly podcast on language and linguistics, “Lexicon Valley,” for Slate. He recently spoke to CCT about his love of lists, teaching the Core and the accelerated state of American media. GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ

McWHORTER WAS RAISED in Philadel- “Introduction to Linguistics.” “I’m glad that or Russian.” As a linguist, he enjoys the phia; both of his parents earned advanced happened,” McWhorter says, “and now I’m scatterings: “I love to guess what people degrees while he was growing up. “I grew up definitely here for the long haul.” His stu- are speaking. Queens is one of the most in a house full of books,” he says. “I was one dents were glad, too — in September 2011 linguistically diverse places on earth.” of those kids, a little professor. I loved mak- Columbia’s student blog, BWOG, named HIS LATEST BOOK, ing lists — I can still do useless things like McWhorter’s linguistics intro a “Class To Talking Back, Talking rattle off the names of all of the Presidents’ Take Before You Die (Graduate).” Black: Truths About America’s Lingua Franca, wives.” From a young age he knew he wanted a defense and celebration of Black English, McWHORTER CONTINUED to teach and write and he was clear about to teach generated some controversial reviews. “This his direction: “I loved writing little ‘books’ the Core, but he switched to Music is a book that says ‘Yes, racism has some- explaining things like what the parts of the Hum. As a musician who plays piano, he thing to do with why people don’t like Black body were — I didn’t know the terminology, thought there would be less of a learning English,’ but telling people ‘If you don’t like but what I wanted to write was non-fiction.” curve; still, he found it challenging: “Clas- Black English you’re a racist’ doesn’t change sical music has no significant place in anybody’s mind. It hasn’t for the past 50 HE JOINED the College faculty in fall 2008 modern American culture today. Nobody years,” McWhorter says. “The book takes as an adjunct professor teaching Contempo- is going to come out and play a cello solo linguistic arguments to say ‘Here’s why rary Civilization. He had been an associate on Jimmy Fallon, so students don’t know black speech isn’t incoherent’ and I tried to professor of linguistics at UC Berkeley what the joy of classical can be,” he says. write it in an accessible way. But for many from 1995 until 2003, then left academia to “But I think once they’re exposed to it people the fact that I don’t stress the racism become a senior fellow at the Manhattan they get something they can benefit from.” is noxious.” McWhorter was pleased and Institute for Policy Research in New York surprised to get such an extensive — and McWHORTER STILL WRITES City, writing essays and commentary for the regularly positive — review in The New Yorker (writer conservative-leaning think tank. for the popular press, which he calls “plea- Vinson Cunningham says “[The author’s] surable but also ephemeral.” He says, “You intelligent breeziness is the source of the TEACHING CC was “something I never write something, it gets lot of attention and book’s considerable charm.”). thought I would be doing,” McWhorter then it’s gone. That’s the way the media is. McWHORTER HAS A SABBATICAL says. He was reading a lot of material for Books are around forever but we’re moving the first time himself, and because the stu- away from a book age.” Podcasting has coming up, but he doesn’t have another dent body was so politicized in 2008 as a become a more satisfying outlet for him. book in the works. Instead, he plans to result of the Obama phenomenon, it made “I’m finding that talking into people’s ears is concentrate on teaching himself Manda- teaching the course especially interesting. the new medium that reaches smart people,” rin. “If you’re a language guy in 2017, it’s “We learned a lot together,” he says. he says. “It’s faster and more immediate.” not good enough anymore to talk about Spanish, German and Russian. I need to be HE LIVES WITH HIS FAMILY IN SPRING 2010 he took a semester off in Jackson able to handle Mandarin,” he says. He also and wondered if he would return to the Heights, where he says “English speakers wants to listen to more music and watch a College; Professor of Slavic Languages Alan are the minority — it’s mostly Span- lot of movies. Naturally, he has a list. Timberlake asked him to stay and teach ish or Chinese, or an Indian language — Jill C. Shomer

10 CCT Summer 2017 Around Quadsthe

Faculty Honored

In April, President Lee C. Bollinger named Gordana Vunjak- Novakovic as a University Professor, the highest rank Columbia bestows on faculty. Vunjak-Novakovic, a 12-year veteran of the University community, is the Mikati Foundation Professor of Bio- medical Engineering, professor of medical sciences and director of Columbia’s Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering. “She has been a pioneer in the engineering of functional human tissue for use in regenerative medicine,” Bollinger said of Vunjak- Novakovic, adding: “The discoveries emerging from her laboratory have led to new approaches for treating injuries and complex diseases and also have supported the development and evaluation of therapeutic drugs.”

Eight faculty members won Distinguished Columbia Faculty Awards, known as the Lenfest Awards. Established in 2005 with a $12 million gift from then-Trustee Gerry Lenfest LAW’58,

Lenfest Awards honor exceptional instruction and scholarship; MICHAEL EDMONSON ’20 winners each receive a $25,000 stipend for three years. The 2017 Elizabeth A. Povinelli (seated, at left) and Caterina Luigia Pizzigoni (seated, at right), recipients are Elisheva Carlebach GSAS’86, the Salo Wittmayer with Dean James J. Valentini and members of the Academic Awards Committee. Baron Professor of Jewish History, Culture and Society; James Curley, assistant professor of psychology; Valentina Izmirlieva, Requiem to Late Liberalism, and Caterina Luigia Pizzigoni, asso- professor of Slavic languages and chair of the Department of ciate professor of history, was honored with the 56th annual Mark Slavic Languages; Matthew McKelway GSAS’99, the Takeo and Van Doren Award for Teaching in recognition of her “Humanity, Itsuko Atsumi Professor of Japanese Art History and chair of Art Devotion to Truth and Inspiring Leadership.” Humanities; Samuel Roberts, associate professor of history and The Van Doren Award also was celebrated earlier this year with director of the Institute for Research in African American Studies; a gathering of past recipients, students and administrators at the Rachel Rosen, assistant professor of theoretical physics; Dustin West Midtown studio of Mark Van Doren GSAS 1921’s grand- Rubenstein, associate professor of ecology, evolution and environ- son, Adam Van Doren ’84, GSAPP’89, a painter and filmmaker mental biology; and Oliver Simons, associate professor of Ger- who teaches at Yale. Among the 13 professors in attendance were manic languages. Edward “Ted” Tayler, the Lionel Trilling Professor Emeritus in the Humanities; Carol Gluck GSAS’77, the George Sansom Professor The Academic Awards Committee of Columbia College honored of History; and Holger Klein, professor of art history and archaeol- the student-nominated recipients of the 2017 Lionel Trilling Book ogy. “They all share a common bond — from the first to the last — Award and Mark Van Doren Award for Teaching at a ceremony that they most emulate Mark Van Doren’s intellectual integrity and on May 3 in Low Library. Elizabeth A. Povinelli, the Franz Boas leadership,” Van Doren said. “And they all share that special some- Professor of Anthropology, was honored with the 42nd annual thing that students have responded to for over 50 years. I thought, Lionel Trilling Book Award for her recent book, Geontologies: A wouldn’t it be nice to have them all meet and to celebrate that?”

Columbia College Women’s Symposium a Success DAVID DINI SIPA’14 DAVID

Columbia College Women celebrated the 30th anniversary of the graduation of the College’s first fully coeducational class with a daylong symposium on April 22. The event, held at Faculty House and attended by 300 alumnae and students, kicked off with greetings from President Lee C. Bol- linger and Dean James J. Valentini and featured engaging panel discussions on topics such as the media’s portrayal of women, creating a successful feminist movement and helping young girls today become the leaders of tomorrow.

Summer 2017 CCT 11 ROAR, LION, ROAR

Men’s Tennis Wins 14th Ivy League Title

en’s tennis won its fourth consecutive Ivy League title after sweeping Brown and MYale at the Dick Savitt Ten- nis Center April 22–23. The Lions finished with a 6–1 Ivy League record, sharing the championship with Cornell and Harvard. It was Columbia’s 14th Ivy title and its 12th during the 35-year tenure of head ATHLETICS / COLUMBIA LAUGHLIN coach Bid Goswami. “It’s a good feeling for me, but I can’t imagine how they must MIKE M c be feeling,” Goswami said of his players. “They worked hard from the beginning. But the next day, Harvard bowed to Cor- ing match on May 12 before bowing to host They earned this with their hard work.” nell 4–2, and since the Big Red had lost to Virginia 4–0 the following day. Columbia fin- “I never expected to win four titles,” said Columbia 4–1 on April 1, all three teams ished the spring season with an 18–5 record. Shawn Hadavi ’17 about his career with went into the final weekend of the season The Lions were especially strong in Columbia tennis. Hadavi compiled a 14–5 with one league loss. Harvard closed out doubles play, compiling a 50–17 record. In record in singles play as a senior and teamed its season by beating Princeton and Penn addition to the Hadavi-Tang pairing, Chris- with Jackie Tang ’20 for a 13–6 mark in while both Columbia and Cornell defeated topher Grant ’17 and Michal Rolski ’18 doubles. “Every year we developed a win- Brown and Yale on the final weekend, so all posted a 13–1 record and Richard Pham ’17 ning culture, where we expected to win no three tied for the league crown. and Victor Pham ’19 compiled a 14–7 mark. matter which guys we lost [to graduation].” Columbia, ranked 23rd nationally, received In singles play, four Lions surpassed dou- Columbia defeated 11 of 14 non-confer- an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA ble figures in victories: Timothy Wang ’19 ence opponents, and its only loss in Ivy com- Championships in Charlottesville, Va., where (18–4), Hadavi, Victor Pham (13–7) and petition was to Harvard 4–2 on April 15. the Lions defeated Purdue 4–2 in their open- Tang (12–4).

Archery Wins National Crowns Fencing Finishes Third at NCAAs

Columbia’s archery team won national championships in the After winning the NCAA Championship the last two seasons, recurve and compound divisions at the 2017 U.S. National Out- Columbia fencing fell short in 2017–18, finishing third behind door Collegiate Championships in Chula Vista, Calif., on May Notre Dame and Ohio State at the NCAA Fencing Champion- 20. It was the second time in three years that Columbia won ships in Indianapolis March 23–26. both divisions at the Nationals. Coach Michael Aufrichtig took the result in stride, saying, Christine Kim ’20, Bianca Gotuaco SEAS’19 and Aileen Yu “Third place is a good way to remind us that [winning the cham- ’19 led Columbia past Texas A&M in the finals of the recurve pionship] isn’t easy and you do have to work very hard. I am sure division to record the archery program’s sixth national champi- we will come back next season with that thought.” onship in the division. Gotuaco won the individual gold medal Margaret Lu ’17 was the top individual finisher in women’s foil by defeating Kim in the final match, and Yu completed an with a 21–2 overall record but lost to Ohio State’s Alanna Goldie, individual sweep for Columbia by beating Cassandra Pelton of 15–13, in the semifinals and came away with a bronze medal. In Georgia Southern University in the third-place match. her first NCAA Championships, In the compound division, Sophia Strachan ’20, Judy Zhou ’17 Iman Blow ’20 went 19–4 in wom- and Katherine Alfaro BC’18 led Columbia over Michigan State in en’s foil, good for sixth place. ROAR! the finals. It was the Lions’ second national title in the compound. On the men’s side, foil also was For the latest news on Gotuaco, Kim, Strachan and Yu earned All-America honors Columbia’s strongest weapon as Columbia athletics, visit and Kim and Strachan qualified to compete in Taipei this sum- Nolen Scruggs ’19 compiled a 17–6 gocolumbialions.com. mer for the World University Games team. record and won a silver medal.

12 CCT Summer 2017 Leone, Flax Kaplan Honored HEADLINERS

Peter Leone ’83 and Rachel Flax Kaplan ’03 each received KHALIFA: Osama Khalifa ’18 won the College an Athletics Alumni Award at the 96th edition of the Var- Squash Association individual championship, sity C Celebration, held in Roone Arledge Auditorium on hosted by Dartmouth on March 5, defeating May 3. The awards are presented to alumni who have been Rochester’s Mario Yanez in three sets (11–1, long-term, outstanding contributors to Columbia Athletics. 11–6, 11–5) to become Columbia’s first squash Leone was a football player at Columbia and has been national champion. an ardent supporter of the program for more than a quar- The championship capped an impressive sea- ter-century. As president of the Columbia Football Players son for Khalifa, who won 15 of his 16 matches Club, he helps the program build alumni support, focusing on and avenged his only loss by beating Harvard’s Saadeldin Abou- fundraising and mentoring. A financial services representa- daish in the team nationals. He was a First Team All-American for tive for Northwestern Mutual, he also has been president of the third consecutive year. the Columbia University Club of Pittsburgh and chair of the Khalifa is the second member of his family to win the CSA indi- Western Pennsylvania Alumni vidual national title. His older brother Amr Khalifa, who competed Representative Committee. for St. Lawrence University, won the crown in 2013. Flax Kaplan was a diver at Columbia’s men’s squash team finished fourth in the nation after Columbia and has supported having climbed as high as second in the rankings earlier in the sea- the program since graduation, ATHLETICS COLUMBIA COURTESY PHOTO son, while the women’s team finished the season ranked eighth. serving as chair of the Div- ing Advisory Committee and ZIMMERMAN: Camille Zimmerman ’18, who led helping to establish The Gor- the Ivy League in scoring and rebounding and was a don Spencer Fund for Diving. unanimous choice for the All-Ivy League First Team, She is the head teacher at the has been named Women’s Player of the Year by the Barnard Center for Toddler Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. She is

LAUGHLIN / COLUMBIA ATHLETICS / COLUMBIA LAUGHLIN Development and continues the first Columbia woman to receive the honor and to visit Uris Pool, where she joins three Columbia men: three-time recipient Jim MIKE M c coaches club diving. McMillian ’70, John Azary ’51 and Chet Forte ’57. “It’s an honor to be selected for this award,” Zimmerman said at the awards presentation on April 26. “There are a lot of really good schools and really good players here, so to be selected amongst them Lions Win Seven Ivy Track Titles is really awesome.” Her coach, Megan Griffith ’07, says: “I’ve never second-guessed Columbia men and women took home seven individual Camille’s commitment to wanting to be great. We talk a lot about titles at the 2017 Ivy League Heptagonal Outdoor Track & chasing greatness, and I really believe that this young woman does Field Championships, hosted by Yale May 6–7. that every day.” Robert Napolitano ’17 became an eight-time Ivy League Zimmerman ranked 10th in the nation in scoring with 22.5 champion by capturing the 1,500m run and anchoring ppg and was among the top 50 in the country in eight statistical Columbia’s winning 4x800m relay team, which also included categories. She set a Columbia single-season scoring record with Sam Ritz ’19, Willie Hall ’20 and Alek Sauer ’19. In addi- 608 points, surpassing the mark of 598 set by Ellen Bossert ’86 in tion, Ryan Thomas ’18 won the 5,000m. 1985–86. Her career total of 1,408 points is just 39 shy of the school On the women’s side, Akua Obeng-Akrofi ’18, who rep- record of 1,447, held by Ula Lysniak BC’87, TC’94. resented Ghana at the 2016 Rio Olympics, won the 400m, The highlight of Zimmerman’s season came on January 27 in Sarah Hardie ’18 captured the 800m, Henna Rustami ’17 Hanover, N.H., when the 6-foot-1 guard/forward posted career took the 5,000m and Natalie Tanner ’17 won the 10,000m. highs of 37 points, 19 rebounds and 4 steals in a 91–88 quadruple- In the team competitions, Columbia’s women finished overtime victory over Dartmouth, which matched the longest game fourth and the men came in seventh. WRITERS ASSOCIATION BASKETBALL METROPOLITAN COURTESY PHOTO in Ivy League women’s basketball history.

SCOREBOARD

4 .395 6 15–1 10 Consecutive Batting average National champion- Match record for Home runs by Ivy League for third baseman ships won by national champion softball’s Madison championships Randell Kanemaru ’18, Columbia’s archery and three-time Gott ’18 and Sommer won by Columbia’s the Ivy League Player team in the squash All-American Grzybek ’20, tops in men’s tennis team of the Year recurve division Osama Khalifa ’18 the Ivy League

Summer 2017 CCT 13

Lo returned to New York in 1991 and worked each station at Chanterelle. In 1996, as the executive chef at Mirezi, she earned a two-star review from Ruth Reichl in The New York Times for inter- preting Korean cuisine to appeal to Americans. Lo opened Annisa (“women” in Arabic) in 2000 as a showcase for her global cooking style and a year later was named one of the “Best New Chefs After in America” by Food & Wine magazine. Annisa was destroyed by a fire in 2009; it reopened in 2010. Now that the restaurant would be closing forever I needed to have the experience of eating there; while the clock was ticking (the restaurant closed Annisa May 27), I made a dinner reservation. On a crisp spring night, I met my friend Davis at Annisa’s elegant bar, next to the entryway. The host On the eve of her hen I learned that chef Anita guided us to our table, and we sat side by side. The Lo ’88 would be closing her room was intimate — 13 tables — and simple, with famed restaurant’s acclaimed West Village restau- warm tones and muted colors: earthy pink ban- closing, chef rant, Annisa, it came as a surprise quettes, cream-colored walls and golden light. The W— Lo has been a fixture atop the notoriously fickle lighting had to be some of the best in any restaurant Anita Lo ’88 New York City dining scene for more than 17 years. in New York City; it was soft and flattered everyone. contemplates the In 2014 The New York Times lavished three stars We ordered Lo’s famous foie gras soup dump- upon Annisa, with critic Pete Wells declaring, lings for our appetizer and agreed they were sub- transition ahead “[T]he city is a more exciting place for it.” lime — silky in texture, umami flavors with notes Where would she go from here? of star anise and cinnamon. They were astound- I’d heard Lo speak a few years ago at Cherry ingly delicious. For my main course I had sea bass By Klancy Miller ’96 Bombe Jubilee, a conference celebrating women and Davis had striped bass. Both were gorgeously and food, but much of what I knew about Lo I’d presented. We promptly posted photos to Insta- learned from seeing her on TV. She competed on gram, then savored every perfectly cooked bite. Top Chef Masters in 2010 (her braised daikon with Dessert was butterscotch beignets and a hazelnut steak tartar, egg yolk and chili sauce looked amaz- torte — both winners. Afterward we received an ing!). Five years earlier, she was the first woman extra treat of a chocolate drop with a small mint to face off in Iron Chef’s Kitchen Stadium, beating leaf alongside it and a piece of crystallized ginger Mario Batali in “Battle Mushroom,” where her use next to a tiny blood orange popsicle. The post- of subtle flavors bested the bolder Batali in dishes dessert served as a miniature, less sweet, more scored for taste, plating and originality. modern version of petit fours. Genius! >> Digging further, I also learned that Lo has one of the most impressive culinary bios of anyone in the United States. She was raised in Birmingham, Photographs by Jörg Meyer Mich., and grew up in a Chinese-American family that valued food and travel. Lo became an inveterate world traveler and is known for finding inspiration in the foods she’s tasted in various exotic locales. She landed her first restaurant job in 1988, at the upscale French restaurant Bouley, and in 1990 enrolled in the prestigious Ecole Ritz Escoffier culinary school in Paris. While in that city, she also had stages (apprenticeships) at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Guy Savoy and Michel Rostang (now Maison Rostang). hen Lo and I sat down to talk I hap- certainly branched out from there. On some level Wpily learned we have a number of things it’s not necessarily as fancy, but there’s still room in common: We both studied French, went to for all of that. We still have that at Daniel. We Reid Hall, attended culinary school in Paris and still have that at Bouley. Molecular gastronomy authored cookbooks for solo diners. We spoke happened. That wasn’t around back then. It’s just about how the NYC dining scene has changed, become less Franco-focused. the reasons she’s moving on and what she wants — and doesn’t want — to do now. How would you describe the restaurant climate now versus then in terms of the Klancy Miller: Why did you choose economics of running a restaurant? the College? It’s a completely different business model now, Anita Lo: It was important to me that I go to a especially if you go into the “no-tipping” model. good school; I came from an environment that Our cooks have different focuses. Back in the day we all wanted to hone our craft. We were willing to put in six-day workweeks, 12–15-hour days — and everyone wanted to go to France. Nowadays I think people are more worried about money, and I guess rightly so. It’s impossible to live on a cook’s salary here unless you have help from your family. It’s just a lot of sacrifice.

I read your piece in Eater [February 11, 2016] about how a service-included model can be devastating as a business owner. In New York, the minimum wage will increase to $15 in 2018. This will affect restaurant owners and how they will pay their staff, especially non-tipped employees in the back of the house like cooks and chefs. Whereas servers can earn three times as much because of tips, the wages for cooks have been stagnant and much lower. Many restaurants have switched to service-included systems in order to pay staff more equitably, to recruit and retain a high-quality kitchen staff and to avoid the

valued Ivy League schools. My brother, James ’83, went to Columbia, too. He graduated the same year as Obama.

You studied at Reid Hall. Do you think majoring in French led to your culinary path? It’s not quite as direct. I think being in France and their focus on food was just a perfect segue for me on some level.

How has NYC dining changed in your view as both a New Yorker and as a chef during the past 30 years? I think it continues to get more diverse. Chefs were focused on French cuisine when I was coming up. And it was also fine dining — really formal both in service and in cuisine. Fine dining has

16 CCT Summer 2017 After Annisa

massive discrepancy between wages. Restaurants scale that I want to do it. At this point I don’t want “I’m not that make the change to service-included menus to have an empire. That being said, I might open must increase the cost for items on the menu in my partner Mary Attea’s — who’s also my chef de opening order to cover the cost of increased wages. This cuisine — restaurant down the line. But I’m not Annisa 3.0. is tricky because a customer might experience opening Annisa 3.0. It’s not happening. sticker shock due to the higher costs on the menu. It’s not Annisa experienced a decline in customers after What’s next? What do you most look switching to a no-tipping system. forward to? happening.” I’m really looking forward to taking some time Is that part of why you decided to close? off. My partner and I take a 10-day break every There were a million other reasons to close. The year and I go on trips all the time but they’re little cuts were making me do something I wanted usually work trips. Some of them are very plea- to do anyway. The financial situation just helped surable but it’s not like sitting on a beach for me to get to that point. We were having increases 10 days. I’m gonna take a year off. I’ve got some across the board: minimum wage, the price cap of great travel coming up. And then I’m going to what to charge — we had to raise our prices for no- figure it out. I know that I’m going to continue tipping, real estate taxes were going up, infrastruc- to write — I had a column for about a year. I ture was crumbling — there were $30,000 worth of would look into that again. But I don’t know. I repairs and also labor issues. It could keep going but don’t feel any pressure to figure it out. I would have had to cut people’s hours back. It’s not sustainable for them either. You can’t live anywhere Is it a relief not to feel any pressure? in New York on $15 or $20 an hour. It doesn’t feel To not have things laid out? good to run a business like this anymore. I think I will feel that pressure in another year but I don’t feel it now. I’ve been successful. I don’t really Will you open another restaurant? feel like I have to prove anything more right now I definitely don’t want to open another restaurant. [as far as cooking professionally]. I am very worried I’ve been doing this almost 30 years; that’s enough! about being bored. I would love to find something And it’s a young person’s job. Not that older people that’s engaging and exciting that makes me feel that can’t continue to do restaurant work, but not on the I’m giving back to the community at large.

Summer 2017 CCT 17 After Annisa

Where are you planning to go? key, actually. Cooks really make nothing. It’s all In September I’m going to Sicily. I have never about passion and love and the fact that they been. I’ve actually never been to southern Italy. I’ve even work for you … as long as they haven’t left never been to Rome, which, as a food person at you in a bad way and they didn’t do terribly, I my age, I think that there’s something wrong with think you owe it to them to be there for the rest that, and I’m going to fix that right now. I’m going of their career. with a culinary diplomacy program and I’m going to talk with refugees, and there’s a couscous festi- With Annisa closing, have you seen val that I’m going to be part of. I’m so excited! people from your past? Tonight we have three former employees from Portland, Ore. — they had all moved to Portland but when they heard [that we’d be closing] they booked a trip just to come. Oh my God! So amazing. A lot of former employees have come by, and a lot of old regulars have come by, so it’s good.

Are you working on any writing projects? My cooking-for-one book is in editing right now. I don’t want to start another one until this is done.

How did the book come about? What’s the title? It’s called SoLo: Easy, Sophisticated Recipes for a Party of One. It came about because a friend and I were trying to name something and then he started riffing on my last name and said, ‘You could do something on “Lo-country cooking.” You could do “SoLo… ”’ and it kept on going. We came up with 50 titles. And I thought, ‘Oh my God, I should do the cooking for one!’ because I’m so neurotic about waste and I thought it would be easy because the recipes have to be easy. My editor is Haruki Muraka- “Cooking After that, I hope, Mexico. I guess I’m not mi’s English editor. It should be out in 2018, really taking a year off! I’m hosting a culinary probably in the fall. was an trip to the Yucatan. And then I’m going to Ethi- opia for the sesame harvest. I’m really excited for Will there be a book tour? obsession for that. I’ve always wanted to go to Ethiopia. I’m I’d like to do one. I love the city but I don’t think me ... I hope going with Soom [a purveyor of premium qual- I can do the city all the time. I need different ity tahini]; I’ll probably go to Asia in the winter. scenery sometimes. I will find My sister lives there so we’ll stay with her for a something little bit. I really want to go to Cambodia; I’ve Are there any other wishes you never been. A friend wants to go to Thailand. I’ve have for yourself as you’re making else like that.” been there a lot but my partner hasn’t been. We’ll this transition? probably do all of that. I have two aging dogs and I hope that I will still get invited to do charity a cat, so I’m not quite sure — I don’t know how I events and travel events. Cooking was an obses- feel about leaving my old dogs for so long. sion for me … I hope I will find something else like that as well. You mentioned that you might help your partner open a restaurant. How What about reading? Reading and important is mentoring for you? Is it travel go well together. built into the role of chef? I used to be an avid fiction reader and that’s I don’t think it’s necessarily built into the role another thing I’d like to get back to. I just read of chef, but I think it should be. I think it’s The Vegetarian, by Han Kang; it was amazing. >>

18 CCT Summer 2017 fter speaking with Lo, I wanted to experi- Aence Annisa again, and this time I chose to dine alone. I’m glad I did. I took in all the details: the simplicity of the white tablecloths, the candles casting golden light across the tables; Ella Fitzgerald singing “Midnight Sun” in the background. Annisa was elegant and intimate, yes, but even more than that, it felt soothing — the ideal place to relax and savor great food. To start, the waiter brought the tiniest piquillo pepper tart. I ordered the fresh field greens salad as an appetizer and then the barbecue squid with pea- nut and edamame, followed by the same delicious sea bass that I had the first time — I had been crav- ing it. Lo came into the dining room to say hello; that was a happy surprise. While I finished my meal I spied another party of one. I found myself grateful to be at Annisa in its last days, alone, feel- GET THE LATEST ing the spirit of Lo’s upcoming book. Indeed, SoLo. Anita Lo ’88’s recipe for bread pudding college.columbia.edu/cct/latest Klancy Miller ’96 is the author of Cooking Solo: The Fun of Cooking for Yourself. She is a writer and pastry chef deeply fascinated by all things French. After graduating from the College and working in international development in French Polynesia, she earned a diplôme de pâtisserie from Le Cordon Bleu Paris. Miller was a commentator on the Cooking Channel show Unique Sweets and has contributed to Food Republic, Bon Appétit, Cherry Bombe, The Washington Post and Food52.

Summer 2017 CCT 19 JÖRG MEYER JOURNEY EXCITING Compass CEO Robert Reffkin ’00, BUS’03 on creating his own path to success, from Rude Boy to real estate WAS THE WAS PART By Jacqueline Raposo “ THE ”

obert Reffkin ’00, BUS’03 started his first business him. But there was only so much time in the day she could devote when he was just 15 — a DJ company funded with his to “do everything.” They needed guidance, and more opportunities bar mitzvah and babysitting savings. This was in 1994, long before not yet financially available to them. Rthe era of music streaming and easily shuffled playlists. Reffkin Before he started high school, Reffkin and his mother found invested in high-tech equipment that mixed CDs and guaranteed A Better Chance, a nonprofit that connects talented students of he’d play any 50 songs clients requested — then frantically stocked color from underserved communities with top boarding, private day up on Now That’s What I Call Music! mixes and compilations. and public schools. Mother and son filled out a common applica- By the time he graduated from high school, Reffkin’s Rude Boy tion that ABC then distributed to a selection of schools, sidestep- Productions had earned him more than $100,000. The experience ping the repetition that often dissuades potential candidates who was largely guided by his teenage involvement with the Network cannot afford a pile-up of costly fees. Reffkin matched with San for Teaching Entrepreneurship. “NFTE taught me that if you set a Francisco University H.S., and eagerly enrolled. dream, you can realize it,” Reffkin says. “And if someone were to tell He filled the two-hour commute dreaming of what his future me no — which my mom did initially — it’s more a reflection of held — a practice he admits calms him in adulthood, too. The stu- their fear than my ability.” Twenty-three years later, that lesson has paid off several times over. Reffkin has navigated the world of finance, worked for the White House and launched a nonprofit that went national. Return- ing to for-profit entrepreneurship in 2012, he co-founded and became CEO of Compass, a real estate company that’s revolution- izing the industry by developing software that both speeds up and simplifies the home-purchasing process. With the mindset of a local, friendly shop, Compass quickly became competition for mom-and-pop offices and real estate heavy-hitters alike; in 2015 it was named Mid-Sized Business of the Year by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. Reffkin has been named to both Crain’s and Fortune’s “40 Under 40” lists, included in Business Insider’s most “exciting startups in New York City” and was recently honored with the Business School’s Distinguished Early Achievement Award. In less than five years, Compass has grown from a single New York City office into a billion-dollar enterprise with 30-plus offices nationwide. But for Reffkin, the definition of success is not a financial bottom line but a rewarding work environment and a mission to transform lives. In his mind, people are motivated by meaning: “I believe Compass will help more people realize their dreams than any other company on Earth,” he says. COURTESY COMPASS COURTESY Reffkin doesn’t think that’s idealistic; you only have to talk with him Robert Reffkin ’00, BUS’03 ran a marathon in every state to raise for a few minutes to recognize his sincerity. His big dreaming, along money for his nonprofit, New York Needs You. with his drive and belief in the power of community, are the hallmarks of his personality. And they have been with him since childhood. Reffkin grew up in Berkeley, Calif., as an only child. His mother, dent body lacked diversity to such a point that Reffkin was the Ruth, emigrated from Israel with her family when she was 7, but only black student in every class, which instilled in him a profound became estranged from her parents in adulthood. Reffkin’s father was understanding of how certain environments can be horribly isolat- absent from his life, too, having passed away when Reffkin was 11. “I ing. “Being alone is a very hard thing when you want to feel con- didn’t have a dad, grandparents or anyone other than my mom. But I nected to something more,” he says. had everything,” Reffkin says. “Although I had little, all was positivity. ABC required regular meetings with fellow students in the pro- My mom, collectively or reactively, only accepted that around her.” gram, and there Reffkin found friends who felt similarly and were Ruth worked hard to seek out a better future for herself and her energized to seek opportunity and adventure. In the summers, pro- son. When Robert was an infant, she started a daycare program in grams like Summer Search and Outward Bound took him further their home, attending to 25 children on the first floor and in the and further from home, expanding his view of the world and idea of backyard. At night, she put Robert to sleep by telling him to imag- community involvement. “I realized there were more organizations ine all the wonderful things he could be and the impact he could that wanted to help me than there was time in the day; they had have on the world. staff and board members who wanted to see me be successful,” Ref- Reffkin was a bright and ambitious student, and by his early ado- fkin says of the surrogate siblings and family members who guided lescence, Ruth had closed the daycare center and would soon start him during this time. “I quickly started to believe that opportunity over as a real estate agent. “Seeing her choose her own life, again is everywhere. I felt exhilarated. I felt excited.” and again, bouncing back after failure, made me believe that the At 14, Reffkin began to hone his business acumen through NFTE, journey was the exciting part,” he says of the drive she instilled in which teaches skills vital in entrepreneurial and leadership positions

22 CCT Summer 2017 to those in high-need communities. With NFTE’s guidance, he laid and Florida. For a time he ran a marathon every month, with his out his plan to build Rude Boy Productions — a name chosen in a mother there to cheer him on. He kept working at Goldman. By nod to Bob Marley’s first band. “There’s something about Bob Marley 2009, he had enough funds to start NYNY. He began dating the that resonated with me,” he says. “He was mixed — half white and woman who would become his wife, and later the mother of their half black, from Jamaica. That’s why he grew dreadlocks and loved the two daughters. As the years passed, more time passed between idea of Rastafarianism and started playing the music he played. In a remaining marathons. way, he was searching for his place in the world. I’ve been on a search “No matter how good you are — no matter how good — your my entire life.” mind is telling you to quit,” he says of the incessant routine. “It’s a Although NFTE and the other organizations he joined — seven constant environment of give up, quit, give up, quit. All the trainings total — introduced Reffkin to a diverse group of similarly ambitious — give up, quit. Every morning — give up, quit. Every marathon — teenagers, he never felt he found his community. “That’s why I came give up, quit. You’re working against that part of your mind to say: ‘I to New York, the city of diversity,” he says of crossing the country know you can do it, just keep going.’” to study economics-philosophy and history. “If there was any place Six years after he began, Reffkin did his final fundraising run, that would accept me, it’s this city.” the New York City Marathon. With 12 friends and colleagues At the College, Reffkin met students from around the world. now involved with NYNY joining him, the team raised more than Working alongside them, he learned that “the probability of suc- $150,000, topping his $1 million goal. cess is enhanced when you collaborate with people who have differ- During this time, Reffkin became acutely aware of the emotional ent perspectives and different ideas. I became addicted to diversity. muscle that pushed him past moments of self-doubt, and how it gave That’s what led me to pursue many kinds of careers.” him confidence at other points of possible self-defeat. He remem- After graduation, Reffkin was an analyst at McKinsey & Co. for bered both the loneliness of isolation and the energy of found com- two years, then returned to Columbia for an M.B.A. He worked for munity. He thought back to how being a real estate agent had offered two years in finance at Lazard, one his mother flexibility and high income. And he started to become as a White House Fellow in the increasingly inspired by colleagues who were starting their own “No matter how U.S. Department of the Treasury companies and putting community and meaning first in their work. good you are — and then moved back to New York In 2012, it all came together when Reffkin took the plunge and City to work at Goldman Sachs. founded Compass. no matter how But in the finance world he As a high-tech real estate company, Compass develops software good — your once again “felt alone — like there for both buyers and sellers. Its programs provide details about which mind is telling wasn’t a community that I felt a houses are moving on the market and what industry trends might part of,” he says. “What motivates affect price, interest rate fluctuations and other factors. Forbes hailed you to quit ... me is community and impact. I Compass’ most recent “high-tech and high-touch” software, Col- You’re working wanted to be a part of building a lections, as the “Pinterest of real estate”; the user-friendly program better community.” allows potential homeowners to create photo galleries of intriguing against that part In 2007, Reffkin began to lay properties, share and talk about them with friends and families, and of your mind to the groundwork for the nonprofit connect with agents to supply details. New York Needs You (NYNY; Reffkin now celebrates collaboration and diversity of ideas by say: ‘I know you now America Needs You). For having designers, programmers and agents work together under can do it, just inspiration, he thought back to one roof. He builds inclusive workspaces through social events the childhood programs where he and networks like Women of Compass that have philanthropic keep going.’” felt most empowered and engaged. programs. Reffkin wants agents to help clients not only find their Across the board, they’d left him dream homes, but also ideally, community: “A place where they can with lessons about the rippling feel valued and safe, and have a sense of belonging,” he says. “What influence of mentorship: “I literally didn’t know what the word inspires me the most about Compass and our mission is that we’re ‘Columbia’ was when I was a junior in high school,” he says with helping people find their place in the world.” a laugh. “If no one had told me, we wouldn’t be talking right now!” Last year, Reffkin’s mother joined Compass as an agent. At a He decided to create an organization, focused around the idea of recent Shabbat dinner, she shared her pride that the company she’ll mentorship, that would offer career development, college support retire from will be one that her son built, that treats its employees and summer internships — one that would focus on ambitious low- well and that offers them a quality of life they deserve. income students who were the first in their families to go to college “I feel very fortunate,” Reffkin says, “after getting so much from and so needed the same kind of advice he had. my mom in terms of inspiration and support, that I’m able to pro- “But then I had to finance it,” he says. vide the same things.” In a grand visual gesture, Reffkin set out on a mission: He’d run And in turn Reffkin hopes his success will inspire others to start a marathon in every state and set an overall fundraising goal of $1 their own companies, create communities and have lasting, positive million. Some funds would go back to the organizations that helped impact, too. “The more people pursuing their dreams, the better the him in his youth, and the rest toward NYNY. He registered under world will be.” the name Running to Support Young Dreams. Reffkin started at California’s Death Valley Marathon in Jacqueline Raposo is a writer and radio host. Her work can be found December that same year. In January, he ran in both Mississippi at wordsfoodart.com.

Summer 2017 CCT 23 GR ADUATION2017

CLASS OF 2017, “KNOW YOUR POWER”

By Alexis Boncy SOA’11 // Photographs by Eileen Barroso

The sun shone on Class Day 2017, with 1,172 seniors joining You will walk into situations where you are the most junior person in the ranks of College alumni. Keynote speaker Sheena Wright ’90, the room, but your lack of experience does not denote a lack of power.” LAW’94, president and CEO of the United Way of New York City, Citing statistics on poverty, climate change and income inequal- delivered a speech that doubled as a call to action and rallied the ity, she said, “There are unbelievable challenges facing our city and graduates to the challenges ahead. world. We need you, Columbia graduates, to not only think of your “The first thing you should expect is that the world will change personal success but to take on the responsibility of solving the dramatically and unexpectedly,” said Wright. “I think you — Class problems that are waiting for us. … of 2017 — probably know that more than most … “You have a duty to drive change in the world with commitment “The question will be: As Columbia graduates, will you be drivers and passion.” of that change, or will you merely be impacted by it?” The University-wide Commencement took place the following The ceremony, held on May 16, also included remarks from day. There, Eric H. Holder Jr. ’73, LAW’76 and Dr. Allen I. Hyman Dean James J. Valentini (see page 6), senior class president Jordana ’55 were among the eight people receiving honorary degrees, and Narin ’17 and valedictorian Michael Abolafia ’17, among others. It two other College alumni were among the 10 recipients of Alumni began with the 14th annual Alumni Parade of Medals for distinguished service of 10 or more years to Columbia: Classes, sponsored by the Columbia College Stephen M. Kane ’80, LAW’83 and Sherri Pancer Wolf ’90. Presi- Alumni Association, which featured alumni dent Lee C. Bollinger also gave his annual address. marchers from almost every class from the Echoing themes of Wright’s speech, Bollinger underscored “the Class of 1951 through the Class of 2016. pervasive sense that society is at an historic juncture,” adding “the Wright took the stage early in the program. way you think, and speak, and engage those who will be your part- Born and raised in the South Bronx, she dis- ners in charting the future will count for everything.” tinguished herself at the College in athletics Elsewhere during graduation week, on May 15, Kai-Fu Lee ’83, as well as in social justice and cultural affairs. president of Google China, delivered the keynote address for Columbia Wright was president of Delta Sigma Theta, Engineering. He focused his speech on artificial intelligence, predicting headed the Cultural Affairs Committee of the its influence will be “on the scale Black Students Organization and co-founded of the Industrial Revolution.” the Pan-African House, a special interest On a hopeful note, he said, CCT Print Extras housing community devoted to raising awareness of diversity. She “Despite what we’ve seen in To view videos of speeches from took the helm at the United Way of New York City, a nonprofit some science fiction movies, no graduation week; photos from Class committed to helping low-income New Yorkers, in 2012. She is the AI program — today or that Day, the Alumni Parade of Classes first woman to lead the organization in its nearly 80-year history. we will see in our lifetime — and Commencement; and a list of In her speech, Wright encouraged the graduates to be open- will love” and that’s “what makes Academic Awards and Prizes winners, minded and curious, and advised: “Know your power and use it well. us human.” go to college.columbia.edu/cct.

24 CCT Summer 2017 “You have a CLASS OF 2017, “KNOW YOUR POWER” duty to drive change in the world with commitment and passion.” — Class Day speaker Sheena Wright ’90, LAW’94

Summer 2017 CCT 25 GR ADUATION2017

DAYALAN RAJARATNAM MAJOR: Financial Economics, KAYLA MALONEY with a Concentration in Mathematics MAJOR: Neuroscience and Behavior WHAT’S NEXT: “I’m working in private equity at Blackstone.” WHAT’S NEXT: “I’m going to the Yale School of Nursing to THE CC TAKEAWAY: study to become a pediatric “I’ve learned how to think nurse practitioner.” effectively and with clarity, and how to argue different points or THE CC TAKEAWAY: “Columbia defend different positions.” taught me about inclusivity. The biggest thing for me is that healthcare is — in my opinion, and this has been shaped by Columbia — a right versus a privilege. I think healthcare Kayla should be given to all people, and I’m looking forward to working in clinics and low- income communities.”

CONTINUING Dayalan EDUCATION BIANCA GUERRERO WE ASKED 10 (VERY!) RECENT GRADUATES about their MAJOR: Political Science plans and what from the College will stick with them WHAT’S NEXT: “I’ll be in D.C. this summer doing an internship with the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, and then in September I’m starting as an urban fellow at New York City’s City Hall.” BRIAN SARFO THE CC TAKEAWAY: “I’m going to use my education to ask MAJOR: Urban Studies, better questions and challenge with a Concentration in institutions to be better places.” African-American Studies WHAT’S NEXT: “I’m signed on to be an educator in Brooklyn, so I’ll be working at a charter school. I hope to go to law school after two years.” THE CC TAKEAWAY: “The biggest thing at a school as diverse as Columbia is the Brian relationships that you make. I do a lot of work with the Alumni Office, so I understand the benefits of connecting with College alumni, realizing that it’s an extended family.”

Bianca

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ESON CHAN 26 CCT Summer 2017 Maria Darius MARIA D’IORIO MAJOR: Neuroscience and DARIUS ANSARI Behavior MAJOR: History, with a Special WHAT’S NEXT: “I’m going to the Concentration in Business NYU School of Medicine and Management at the Mendelson then to ob/gyn residency.” Center for Undergraduate Business Initiatives THE CC TAKEAWAY: “I’ve learned how to listen to and get WHAT’S NEXT: “I’ll be doing along with different people from a fellowship with Venture for different places with different Chimsom America. I’ll be working at backgrounds. And the Core an early-stage start-up in an exposes you to a lot of different emerging city somewhere in the ideas. I’m going to be working at U.S. I’m finding out where I’ll be Bellevue, a public hospital, and CHIMSOM ORAKWUE very soon. I hope it’s someplace meeting a lot of different kinds MAJOR: Psychology I’ll feel at home and can become part of the community and have of people — Columbia taught me WHAT’S NEXT: “I’ll be taking an impact. I’m looking forward to how to deal with that really well.” a couple of gap years before the next adventure!” medical school. I’ll work here this summer as a supervisor at THE CC TAKEAWAY: “It’s taught the Double Discovery Center, me how important it is to be helping minority high school flexible and open-minded, and students get materials for how to be a hard worker no college. I hope to travel; I want matter what. Those three things to get into nutrition and wellness have embodied my experience to help communities of color.” here and have allowed me to be successful in my internships, THE CC TAKEAWAY: “I’ve my club and my academic learned to be independent. commitments. At the end of the I’ve learned that I am unique day, just work as hard as you and that I can have an impact can for what you believe in.” on the world. I can make a real difference!”

Neil CLAIRE SEO NEIL KHOSLA MAJOR: Biology MAJOR: Mathematics, with a WHAT’S NEXT: “I’ll be doing Concentration in Physics clinical research at a hospital in Virginia.” WHAT’S NEXT: “I’m going to grad school at Cambridge.” THE CC TAKEAWAY: “The experience has taught me how THE CC TAKEAWAY: “I learned to think broadly and also deeply, a lot of life lessons. In terms of and taught me how to consider math, I’m sure I’ll be using that in other perspectives.” my math degree. But you grow up at Columbia, so I think I’ll use the things I learned here every day.” Claire

Summer 2017 CCT 27 WELCOME TO

Welcome to MONDAY WEDNESDAY Real Life, Move-Out Day Email That Person You Met at an Class of 2017! Pack up the sentimental mélange Internship Two Years Ago Who A confusing, of papers, tchotchkes and outright Now Has a Cool Job and Might Be garbage you’ve collected during the Able To Help You anxiety-filled and last four years (but leave the bed lifts Spend four hours delicately crafting the kind of boring and one enormous, permanently sticky perfect email subject line to convey both stain on the rug). It’s time to head to a casual friendship between equals and week of activities your new home: your old home! the professional respect of someone who really, really wants a paying job. awaits to orient Welcome Dinner with Parents you to your Get reacquainted with your new/old roommates over a home-cooked meal. THURSDAY post-College Wow! Look at all those vegetables! existence. Oh Jeez, It’s Thursday Already? Wake up in a cold sweat with the Get excited! TUESDAY realization that time is passing at what seems to be an exponentially increasing By Susanna Wolff ’10 Résumé Refresh rate. Remember that it was just a few Update your résumé with your new status weeks ago that you were capable of as a Columbia College graduate. Should reading four books and writing five papers you list “Microsoft Word” as one of your in a week. Try to muster that same energy Illustrations by skills despite the fact that it’s 2017 and and work ethic. Watch 10 episodes in a Dr. Ben Schwartz ’03, PS’08 even infants are expert typists now? Sure! row of The Good Fight on your parents’ Gotta fill up that page somehow! CBS All Access account instead. Hit Up Everyone You’ve Ever Midnight Snack with Mom! Met on LinkedIn She’s a little worried about you, so And then never log in again. she bought those Babybel cheeses you like. Do you want to go to Kohl’s with her tomorrow?

28 CCT Summer 2017 GR ADUATION2017

LIFE! FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY There’s No Place Like Read a Book for Pleasure! Buy an LSAT Prep Book (Another) Home Realize you finally have time to read Maybe it’s time to go back to school. Look for apartments on Craigslist all the books you wanted to read when while you still have dorm-level housing you were busy reading other books for standards. It’s time to spread your wings school. …What were those books again? and really enter adulthood. Oh look, this Uh. Hmm. Ask Dad to drive you to the potential roommate has ferrets! Plural! bookstore tomorrow to find the perfect leisure-reading book. Till then, back to Get Back to the Job Hunt The Good Fight. Discover that all the entry-level positions that are even remotely relevant to your Pizza Party with Peers interests require at least three years of Prepare to get WILD! Text, “What experience. Each volume that you’ve are you up to tonight?” to everyone read of Dante’s Divine Comedy counts as you still know in your hometown until a year of applicable experience, right? you get enough people together to seem like this counts as going out. Tell your old friends about Koronet by making a triangle with your arms, then feel a sad, cold sense of loss when you see that no one cares. Was Koronet even good? Or is it your old friends who aren’t good? Is anything good? When attempting to split the bill, discover that you’ve already forgotten all math. Susanna Wolff ’10 is a comedy writer living in Los Angeles. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker and Politico Magazine, and on CollegeHumor, where she was formerly editor-in-chief.

Summer 2017 CCT 29 Columbia Forum

Exposing a Buried Past

Photographer Daniella Zalcman ’09 sheds light on a dark time in Canadian history with her award-winning project, Signs of Your Identity

n 2014, Daniella Zalcman ’09 began reporting on a part of North American history she felt had been erased from the continent’s narrative — part of the lesser-known “cultural genocide” that followed the decimation of Native American societies. Between 1870 and 1996, thousands of indigenous Ichildren in Canada were removed from their homes and sent away — sometimes hundreds of miles — and forced to learn to assimilate in Indian residential schools. Zalcman wanted to document some of the more than 80,000 survivors of this trauma. “Children were made to believe … that they needed to be more white, that they needed to be more Western,” Zalcman told CCT. They were made to give up Native language and practices and in many instances were victims of physical and sexual abuse. The lessons they remember, as adults, are those of cruelty. Though she had created conventionally “good” images of her subjects in Canada, Zalcman felt they didn’t have the appropriate gravitas. “For me, a straight series of portraits wasn’t going to be enough to tell that story,” she says. So she added another

ANGELA RADULESCU ’11 dimension: Each portrait would include an overlaid image of “something that had to Daniella Zalcman ’09 do with their memory, their experience in residential schools.” The double exposure, an “extra layer of storytelling” as Zalcman calls it, resulted in a project that has won her multiple honors, including the Magnum Foundation’s Inge Morath Award in 2016, the 2016 FotoEvidence Book Award, and, most recently, a 2017 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. Zalcman got her professional start freelancing for the New York Daily News in between undergraduate classes as an architecture major. After graduation, she became a daily assignment photographer at the News, then at The Wall Street Journal. She now travels between bases in London and New York and is a contributor to outlets as diverse as Vanity Fair and Mashable. Her work is also featured in the permanent collection at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. Zalcman says she’d like to continue working on long-term projects that “explore the legacies of Western colonization.” In an 2016 interview with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting — which funded her research — she muses about students of history and how much she wants them to learn the narratives that might be missing from their textbooks. And if her work can help expose rich layers of a buried past, so much the better, she says. “The act of acknowledging ... is really important, psychologically.”

— Rose Kernochan BC’82

30 CCT Summer 2017 SERAPHINE KAY QU’APPELLE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL 1974–75 “I was raped at school. He was an old man, the janitor. I didn’t tell anyone for decades, because I thought people would judge me. The only person I ever told was my mother [who went to Muskowekan Residential School]. All she said was ‘that was how I was brought up, too.’”

Summer 2017 CCT 31 Columbia Forum

INDIAN ACT OF 1876 – Section 119 (6)

“A truant officer may take into custody a child whom he believes on reasonable grounds to be absent from school contrary to this Act and may convey the child to school, using as much force as the circumstances require.”

For 120 years, the Canadian government operated a network of Indian Residential Schools that were meant to assimilate young indigenous students into western Canadian culture. Indian agents would take children from their homes as young as two or three and send them to church-run boarding schools where they were punished for speaking their native languages or observing any indigenous traditions, routinely sexually and physically assaulted, and in some extreme instances subjected to medical experimentation and sterilization.

The last residential school closed in 1996. The Canadian government issued its first formal apology in 2008.

32 CCT Summer 2017 MIKE PINAY QU’APPELLE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL 1953–63 “It was the worst ten years of my life. I was away from my family from the age of six to 16. How do you learn about family? I didn’t know what love was. We weren’t even known by names back then. I was a number.” “Do you remember your number?” “73.”

Summer 2017 CCT 33 Columbia Forum

VALERIE EWENIN MUSKOWEKAN INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL 1965–71 “I was brought up believing in the nature ways, burning sweetgrass, speaking Cree. And then I went to residential school and all that was taken away from me. And then later on, I forgot it, too, and that was even worse.”

FARRELL RUNNS MONTMARTE CONVENT SCHOOL 1975–85 “It was unbelievably hard, staying in that school all year round. I was strapped, I was abused. I just wanted to go home and be with my family.”

34 CCT Summer 2017 RICK PELLETIER QU’APPELLE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL 1965–66

“My parents came to visit and I told them I was being beaten. The teachers said that I had an active imagination, so they didn’t believe me at first. But after summer break they tried to take me back and I cried and cried and cried. I ran away the first night, and when my grandparents went to take me back, I told them I’d keep running away, that I’d walk back to Regina if I had to. They believed me then.”

Summer 2017 CCT 35 Columbia Forum

GRANT SEVERIGHT ST. PHILLIPS INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL 1955–64

“We as a people have normalized every conceivable dysfunction that we experienced in residential school. Negativity is transmitted — and, if we don’t deal with it, we pass it on. Even in school, kids who themselves were terrorized grew up to be abusers. We need to figure out how to heal from that.”

36 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

Contents 38 Lions THE URBAN OASIS Joanne Kwong ’97, Ron Padgett ’64 Wintercreeper. Crimson pygmy barberry. Variegated 41 Alumni in the News Solomon’s seal. Purpleleaf sand cherry. The names of some of the plants growing on Columbia’s campus could 42 Bookshelf High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist be dropped into Shakespeare’s witches’ brew, but for and the Making of an American Classic students and returning alumni they create an oasis from by Glenn Frankel ’71 the hustle and bustle of the city outside The Gates. 44 Reunion 2017 Visit facilities.columbia.edu/garden-tours to download a walking tour of the gardens; you can also find a list of 46 Class Notes some of the signature plants on the Morningside campus (and learn exactly where to find them!). 85 Obituaries

PHOTO BY LEON WU ’18 88 Alumni Corner

Summer 2017 CCT 37 lions

KIEN QUAN Joanne Kwong ’97 Revives Iconic Pearl River Mart

By Anne-Ryan Heatwole JRN’09

earl River Mart is that rare New York City institution New York City native and now president of the resurrected Pearl that blends commerce and culture with community — a River stepped in to save the store and grow it for a new generation. store whose combination of chock-a-block tchotchkes Kwong’s in-laws, Ming Yi Chen and Ching Yeh Chen (Kwong’s P and fine Chinese goods endeared it to shoppers as diverse husband is their son, Gene Hu SEAS’97), founded Pearl River in as its wares. Pearl River had everything. And when it closed last 1971. Their original goals were twofold: to share Chinese culture spring after 46 years — the rent on its sprawling SoHo space with Americans during a time when the two countries did not have had quintupled — the public lament was immediate. Media from a diplomatic relationship, and to provide a bit of home for Asian Vogue (“this wonderful emporium, a beloved New York City land- immigrants in NYC. Kwong describes it as “an interesting amalga- mark”), to Crain’s New York (“the Chinese department store that mation of retail business and mission-related work,” because of the has become a New York City shopping institution”), to The New store’s unique focus on building cross-cultural connections. Across York Times (“more than the sum of its dry goods”) bemoaned the the decades, the store moved three times in lower Manhattan, loss. For Joanne Kwong ’97, the closure was a call to action. The retaining its loyal customers while gaining new ones.

38 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

The idea to bring back Pearl River floated up during a family dinner in the early fall; after a lengthy discussion, Kwong was tapped to lead the effort. No stranger to change, the dual poli sci and psychology major had already taken turns as an attorney, a judicial clerk, a professor and a communications VP at Barnard. “I’ve had a bit of a non-traditional career path, but all of the skills I’ve gathered along the way have helped with this next step,” she says. She credits the College for encouraging curiosity about the world and stressing the importance of exploring new viewpoints. Once the decision to reopen was made, Kwong found a space in TriBeCa; she wanted to attract holiday shoppers, and so aimed for a November/Black Friday opening. With only a few weeks to plan, she decided to go with a pop-up on the ground floor. The tempo- KIEN QUAN rary shop would sell classic Pearl River items (from ceramic dish- Joanne Kwong ’97 and her in-laws cut the ribbon at Pearl River Mart's reopening. ware and cooking supplies to slippers, tea sets and parasols) and close in February, after the end of Lunar New Year, for renovations. fighting for attention and doesn’t always get it.” Wu says, “Pearl The plan was to then reopen as a fully realized store in the spring. River was such a New York City institution, especially to me when I But with the buzz around the pop-up better than expected, Kwong was at school. When I got married, I got a lot of things from there. It decided to keep it open and renovate around it, and the store has is such an iconic place, so I am really excited to be part of it.” been humming along ever since. Pearl River’s new space also has a mezzanine gallery, where Kwong Kwong, who describes her role as “like a homecoming,” says, “[It] has been exhibiting an array of works that depict the Asian-American makes me happy because I’m doing something for my community experience. She says a special moment for her occurred during an — both the Asian-American community and New York City — exhibition of famed Chinese-American photographer Corky Lee’s providing some joy to people in their everyday life ... I feel that small works, “Chinese America on My Mind” — she recognized that some joys create community, create understanding between neighbors.” of the photos came from protests she attended at Columbia to push In addition to offering traditional wares, the store now show- the College to include ethnic studies. The store is also using the gal- cases works from Asian-American artists. Pearl River’s first col- lery space to create neighborhood relationships; from May 20 to June laboration was with Kwong’s Carman Hall friend Jenny Wu ’97, an 25, the artist-in-residence program highlighted works by primar- architect and jewelry designer. A limited edition collection of Wu’s ily Asian-American students from P.S. 184/Shuang Wen School, a 3D-printed jewelry line, LACE, debuted at the pop-up; Kwong bilingual public elementary and middle school in Chinatown; the plans to continually feature new artists “to come together and really show was called “East Meets West: A Look into Our Worlds.” cheer on and celebrate one another. There’s so much innovation Kwong sums it up: “Where Asian heritage meets New York City and creativity within the [Asian-American] community that is — that’s kind of what Pearl River has always been about.”

The Poet Laureate of Paterson

By Eugene L. Meyer ’64

ery few poets find fame as well as fortune during their obscure volumes of poetry have lately appeared in German, Portu- lifetimes; most reside in eternal obscurity. Not so Ron guese, Italian and French editions. “Pretty far out,” he says, revert- Padgett ’64. He is enjoying what he calls his “16 mining to 1960s counter-culture-speak, “this sort of sudden onslaught Vutes of fame” as the author of poems spoken on screen of interest from other countries.” by actor Adam Driver (Girls) as a bus driver named Paterson in the Paterson is an homage to the working-class town that was home film of the same name set in, where else? Paterson, N.J. to famed poet-physician William Carlos Williams and Beat poet The quirky, sad, funny little indie film reflects what The New Yorker Allen Ginsberg ’48, whom Padgett came to know. Padgett has been in 2007 hailed as Padgett’s “plainspoken, wry” voice and has made identified as a member of the second generation of the New York him a rock star of poetry in his 70s. “Yeah, I’m still writing,” he says. School of Poets, a brand name that he says was created by an art “Just because I’m 75 doesn’t mean shit to me. Not in terms of my gallery director for the first generation that included Frank O’Hara, writing. It’s like somebody asking, ‘Ron, you’re 75, you still eat?’” Barbara Guest and Kenneth Koch, who taught Padgett Literature Paterson — written and directed by Jim Jarmusch ’75 — features Humanities (then called CC Humanities). “There’s a third genera- seven of Padgett’s poems, three written specifically for the film. The tion, too.” Padgett says. “It’s like children having children, and they movie received critical acclaim when it opened in December. For have children. It’s kind of a tedious label.” Padgett, the response has been nothing short of astonishing: He’s While Padgett has a son who lives in Vermont, he refers to his been invited to give readings in Rome and Berlin, and his formerly poems as his children. “I like them. I’ve written too many, actually.”

Summer 2017 CCT 39 Lions

“It must have been hard/for the Romans to multiply—I don’t mean reproduce,/but to do that computation … ,” he wrote when he was 67. “I have a 6 and 7 that,/when put side by side, form my age./Come to think of it,/I’d rather be LXVII.” Padgett’s poetry is often whimsical, sometimes serious, sometimes both. Mostly, it’s not political — at least not overtly. “The Absolutely Huge and Incredible Injustice in the World” begins: “What makes us so mean?/We are meaner than gorillas,/the ones we like to blame our genetic aggression on.” But not until much later are mean places — Rwanda, Sudan, Guantanamo, Rikers, Babi Yar — even mentioned. An only child, Padgett grew up in Tulsa, Okla., the son of a bootlegger father, and a mother who took the orders and kept the books. His was a strictly blue-collar family on “a very middle- class looking street.” Inspired by a junior high school teacher, he began to read pretty much everything, which led him to the Lewis Meyer Bookstore, a local institution whose owner hosted a book review television show that ran for 42 years. Meyer hired Padgett to work afternoons and weekends and introduced him to poetry. At the store Padgett also browsed literary magazines, and later, he and some high school chums published their own, The White Dove. Audaciously, they invited people like Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac ’44 to contribute, and they did, for free. “We just sat down and wrote

them letters,” Padgett recalls, still surprised. PADGETT PATRICIA Rejected by Stanford, Padgett came east in fall 1960 to Colum- Ron Padgett ’64 (left) and Jim Jarmusch ’75 in Padgett’s NYC apartment on bia. It was still the era of the Beat Generation, when Kerouac and January 4, 2017. The two were clowning around after having been interviewed Ginsberg were the freeform sirens of the avant-garde. Padgett by Jeffrey Brown of PBS’ NewsHour. had already begun a correspondence with Ginsberg, who invited him to meet. They became fast friends and later both took part in Padgett directed the project for two and a half years starting in programs of The Poetry Project, a nonprofit founded in 1966 to January 1978. Then he was publicity director for the Teachers & encourage reading, writing and enjoyment of poetry. Writers Collaborative, a New York City-based nonprofit, and edited its books, designed its catalogue and oversaw its sales and rights. For 10 years and 100 issues, he edited Teachers & Writers Magazine. Love Poem While at the College, Padgett met now-longtime friend Phil- We have plenty of matches in our house. lip Lopate ’64. They worked together on The Columbia Review, We keep them on hand always. a student literary publication the administration notoriously Currently our favorite brand is Ohio Blue Tip, censored in 1963 for its seminal use of the f-word. In protest, though we used to prefer Diamond brand. the Review editors quit en masse and That was before we discovered Ohio Blue Tip matches. published a mimeographed The Cen- They are excellently packaged, sturdy sored Review, which quickly sold out, at CCT Print Extras 25 cents a copy. The following year, the little boxes with dark and light blue and white labels To read more of Padgett’s Review was revived, with Lopate as the with words lettered in the shape of a megaphone, poems, go to college. editor and Padgett a contributor. as if to say even louder to the world, columbia.edu/cct. “Here is the most beautiful match in the world, “He’s kept the faith. And now he’s its one-and-a-half-inch soft pine stem capped become sort of a grand old man of poetry,” by a grainy dark purple head, so sober and furious Lopate says. “Ron is essentially a very kind, courtly man, and a lot and stubbornly ready to burst into flame, of writers are essentially cruel bastards. Ron is really gentlemanly; lighting, perhaps, the cigarette of the woman you love, there’s a sweetness to him.” for the first time, and it was never really the same Does Padgett have a life lesson to share? after that. All this will we give you.” His poem “How to be perfect,” which takes the form of a 99-page That is what you gave me, I illustrated guide, offers some. It begins: “Get some sleep ... Don’t become the cigarette and you the match, or I give advice … Take care of your teeth and gums.” It concludes with: the match and you the cigarette, blazing “Take out the trash … Love life … Use exact change,” and, “When with kisses that smoulder toward heaven. there’s shooting in the street, don’t go near the window.” — Ron Radgett ’64; from Collected Poems Eugene L. Meyer ’64 is a former Washington Post reporter and (Coffee House Press, 2013). This poem editor and an author. He contributes to The New York Times, edits opens the film Paterson. B’nai B’rith Magazine and is writing a book about the five African- Americans with John Brown at Harpers Ferry.

40 CCT Summer 2017 Alumni in the News alumninews

Vanck Alicia Yoon ’04, founder and chief cura- distinction as he continues to faithfully wives of New York this season; and Zhu ’11 tor of Korean beauty source Peach & and vigorously defend our Constitution,” competed on the current season of Lily, was featured in People on March 30 President Trump said. The Amazing Race. for the launch of her collaboration with Bill Condon ’76 CVS, for which she curated four K-beauty In other political news, the United States On the big screen, ’s David Friedman ’78 brands to be sold exclusively through the Senate confirmed Beauty and the Beast opened with $170 drugstore chain. Items were available at as the United States Ambassador to Israel; million in North America, setting a record Beto more than 2,100 retail stores by the end he was sworn in on March 29. Rep. for top domestic opening for a PG-rated O’Rourke ’95 Vanessa Gould ’96 of April. (D-Texas) announced his film, and ’s documen- candidacy to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz tary film, Obit, was tapped as a Critic’s Jonah Reider ’16, who made his name as (R-Texas) in the 2018 Senate race. On Pick by The New York Times. On the Great Terrence McNally ’60 a chef by opening a restaurant, Pith, in his May 22, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) White Way, wrote Rolando Acosta ’79, room in Hogan Hall, now has new digs. appointed the Hon. the book for the new musical Anastasia, LAW’82 In April he reopened Pith as a supper as presiding justice of New York’s which debuted on April 24. Underground club in a townhouse near the Brooklyn Appellate Division for the First Judicial Railroad Game, created by and starring Ben Jealous ’94, Jennifer Kidwell ’00 Navy Yard; a May 22 New Yorker profile Department. former and Scott Shep- described the tasting menu as featuring “a head of the NAACP, announced on May pard, received an Obie, which honors pillowy yet rich spring-onion soubise with 31 his candidacy for governor of Maryland; Off-Broadway works. The New York Times caviar; bruléed squash with lemon balm … he will challenge incumbent Republican describes the play as “an audacious explora- buttery homemade pasta with morels and Gov. Larry Hogan. tion of slavery in the guise of a misguided pea shoots; and a flawlessly seared Seattle middle school history lesson.” wagyu sirloin.” College alumni are all over TV screens Brian Yorkey ’93 this year: ’s Netflix orig- In other media happenings, Robert Siegel ’68 Neil Gorsuch ’88 was confirmed to the inal, 13 Reasons Why, debuted on March announced that he will leave NPR’s Supreme Court on April 7, making him 31 to huge numbers and set a record as All Things Considered in January 2018; he the fourth College graduate to serve on Netflix’s most-tweeted-about show (it has has hosted NPR’s flagship news broadcast Jen Chung ’98 Jake Dob- the United States’ highest court. He was already been renewed for a second sea- since 1987. and Amanda Peet ’94 kin ’98, sworn into office on April 10. “As a deep son); stars in the new founders of New York City blog Tinsley Mortimer believer in the rule of law, Judge Gorsuch IFC series Brockmire; Gothamist (and several of its sister sites), ’99 will serve the American people with joined the cast of Bravo’s Real House- were in the news after media company DNAinfo purchased the Gothamist brand.

In the arts, Crystal Hana Kim ’09, SOA’14 won the 2017 PEN America Literary Awards’ Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers; Wah Chen ’92 received the Lee & Low New Visions Award for her book Operation Yellowbird (written with her sister); cellist Alisa Weilerstein ’04 was featured in The New York Times for tackling the feat of performing all six of Bach’s solo cello suites in a single concert; and Stepha- nie Stebich ’88 was named The Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithson- ian American Art Museum in early 2017. She began work on April 3.

Matthew L. Schwartz ’00, LAW’02 was listed in Crain’s New York Business “40 Under 40” for 2017. A partner with Boies Schiller Flexner, Schwartz “led the investigation into Bernie Madoff ’s Ponzi scheme and the trial of associates dubbed the Madoff Five, winning guilty verdicts and the forfeiture of nearly $9 billion.” FRANZ JANTZEN, COLLECTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES COLLECTION OF THE SUPREME COURT FRANZ JANTZEN, — Anne-Ryan Heatwole JRN’09

Summer 2017 CCT 41 bookshelf

High Noon and Hollywood History

By Rebecca Prime ’96

fter a successful career as a foreign correspondent, what do I saw The Searchers for the first time you do for a second act? For Glenn Frankel ’71, a lifelong as an adult. Sarris was so good and cinephile, the decision was easy. Wearing his new hat as showed so many wonderful movies,” Aa film historian, Frankel first explored the history — and Frankel recalls. Frankel continued his film education at the nearby mythology — of the American West in his 2014 book The Search- Thalia and New Yorker theaters, by his own calculation spending more ers: The Making of an American Legend. For his latest, High Noon: The time there than he did in class. Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic (Blooms- Upon graduation, Frankel landed a job as a clerk in the Museum bury USA, $28), he uses another iconic Western as a lens through of Modern Art’s film department, where he fed his cinephilia and which to examine a tumultuous moment in American politics. says he might have pursued a career but for a girlfriend who wanted Frankel’s reinvention was driven by his desire to avoid cliché. After to hitchhike to San Francisco. So he quit that job, married the girl retiring from The Washington Post in 2006, Frankel knew he “didn’t and by 1979 had arrived at The Washington Post. Frankel spent want to be one of those foreign news experts living in Washington or much of the next two decades overseas, covering South Africa at California,” he says. “You get stale very quickly.” Instead, he accepted the height of apartheid and the Middle East during the first Pal- a position teaching journalism at Stanford and began research on the estinian Intifada. In 1989, his “sensitive and balanced reporting 1956 film The Searchers. “I thought it was just going to be a ‘making from Israel and the Middle East” was recognized with the Pulitzer of the movie book:’ John Wayne and John Ford go to Monument Prize for International Reporting. Held in Low Library, the awards Valley.” Instead, Frankel quickly became fascinated by the true story ceremony marked Frankel’s Columbia homecoming, the library’s on which the film was based and plunged steps transformed from the scene of student protests to the path of into its history — that of 1830s Texas and professional achievement. the Comanche wars. “Half the book is about Frankel’s new book draws upon his years as a journalist in both its the wars and half the book is about the movie exemplary research and ethical orientation. “I’m interested in people and the evolution from one to another.” and what happens to them when they face moral and political crises,” Frankel’s attraction to the confluence of Frankel says by way of explaining his attraction to High Noon’s tale of history, politics and popular culture has its conscience versus compromise. “In the places I went to as a foreign roots in his College years. Despite a passing correspondent — Israel, South Africa, Northern Ireland — people familiarity with New York City (thanks to were confronted by history and had to make tough and personal deci- relatives in the outer boroughs) and liberal sions. I could tell that the Blacklist fit this criteria.” Frankel describes politics (thanks to his working-class Jew- how the corrosive Cold War politics of the 1950s pervaded every

BETSYELLEN YEAGER BETSYELLEN ish family), the 17-year-old from Roches- aspect of High Noon’s production, which coincided with the peak of ter “felt like an alien” when he arrived on Blacklist-induced hysteria in Hollywood. With a conservative leading campus in fall 1967. “My politics were left but not coherent,” he actor (Gary Cooper), a liberal producer (Stanley Kramer) and an erst- says. When the protests began in spring 1968, Frankel remained while Communist screenwriter (Carl Foreman, who was called to tes- primarily a bystander. “I didn’t sleep in any of the buildings, but I tify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities during stood outside and chanted a little of this and that.” But what Frankel the film’s shoot), High Noon had as much drama off set as on screen. witnessed on campus that spring shaped his choice of career. “As a While writing the book, Frankel was alert to the then-and-now journalist, I could be an insider and an outsider at the same time … parallels between the Red Scare and the Tea Party, both of which he I had embraced neither the institution nor the radicals who sought characterizes as backlash movements driven by a dispossessed Right to destroy it.” and directed toward left-wing “subversives” (whether communists or After this turbulent start, Frankel’s subsequent years at Colum- coastal elites). However, Frankel could not have predicted the book’s bia were marked by discoveries of a more purely intellectual nature. resonance in the Trump era. “The similarities are, unfortunately, the A history major, he delighted in Eric Foner ’63, GSAS’69’s African- gift that keeps on giving.” American history seminar and David Rothman ’58’s American social history course. Andrew Sarris ’51, GSAS’98 had recently begun teach- Rebecca Prime ’96 is a film historian and author of Hollywood Exiles ing his introductory film course in Butler’s basement. “That’s when in Europe: The Blacklist and Cold War Film Culture.

42 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

Obesity Prevention in Children A Mother’s Tale by Phillip America, We Need to Talk: Ours to Lose: When Squatters Before It’s Too Late: A Program Lopate ’64. The author transcribes A Self-Help Book for the Nation Become Homeowners in for Toddlers & Preschoolers interviews he conducted three by Joel Berg ’86. “How did we New York City by Amy Starecheski by Dr. Alvin N. Eden ’48 and Sari decades ago with his now-deceased get here, America? How did our ’99. The history of a radical move- Greaves R.D.N. Eden, a well- mother and comments on both sides relationship get so broken? And ment that began on the Lower known pediatrician and authority of the conversation with the clarity where do we go now?” These are East Side in the 1980s in which on childhood nutrition and obesity, of the present (The Ohio State the questions Berg suggests we ask illegal building occupants fought for presents a definitive guide for University Press, $24.95). ourselves in order to begin doing the decades to become legal cooperative parents and caregivers, with meal work of solving our nation’s problems property owners (The University of Rumi’s Secret: The Life of the plans and recipes by Greaves (Seven Stories Press, $29.95). Chicago Press, $30). (Hatherleigh Press, $15.95). Sufi Poet of Love by Brad Gooch ’73. Literary biographer Gooch Six Minutes in Berlin: Broadcast The Fact of a Body: A Murder and Making It Spectacle and Rowing Gold at by Norman Podhoretz delivers a detailed portrait of the a Memoir by Alexandria Marzano- the Nazi Olympics ’50. A reprint of Podhoretz’s popular 13th-century poet and by Michael Lesnevich ’01. The author’s debut is controversial 1967 autobiography mystic, including translations of Socolow ’91. Socolow, a professor of part true crime story, part memoir and that frankly depicted New York’s Rumi’s original Persian works communications and journalism at details how secrets from her own past intellectual elite of the time, (Harper, $28.99). the University of Maine, describes colored her understanding of a murder with a new introduction by how a single crew race between case she worked on as a law student Powerplay: The Origins of the New York Times Book Review Americans and Germans at the (Flatiron Books, $26.99). columnist Benjamin Moser American Alliance System in 1936 Olympics became the origin (NYRB Classics, $17.95). Asia by Victor Cha ’83. Cha, a of global sports broadcasting (Uni- Chimeras of a Form: Modernist senior adviser at the Center for versity of Illinois Press, $24.95). Internationalism Beyond Europe, Complexity: The Evolution of Strategic and International Studies 1914–2016 by Aarthi Vadde ’03. Earth’s Biodiversity and the Leadership Step by Step: in Washington, D.C., examines Vadde considers how six authors Future of Humanity Become the Person Others by William the evolution of the U.S. alliance — Rabinath Tagore, James Joyce, Follow C. Burger ’53. Telling the history systems and the reasons for its by Joshua Spodek ’93. Leader- Claude McKay, George Lamming, of our planet and life on Earth, continued importance in Asia and ship coach Spodek, who earned Michael Ondaatje and Zadie Smith acclaimed botanist Burger shows the world (Princeton University five Ivy League degrees, provides a — have developed ideas about that cooperation and symbiosis Press, $35). progression of exercises (analogous international belonging in a period have played a critical role, from the to wannabe piano players learning defined by globalization (Columbia Buying Time: Environmental cellular level to complex animal scales) derived from real-life leader- University Press, $60). and human societies (Prometheus Collapse and the Future of ship practices (Amacom, $24). Books, $26). Energy by Kaz Makabe ’85. Bed-Stuy Is Burning: A Novel The Production of American The author, a financial systems by Brian Platzer ’04. In Platzer’s Jerzy: A Novel Religious Freedom by Jerome Charyn expert who lived through the by Finbarr first novel, longtime residents and ’59. The life and death of enigmatic Fukushima Daiichi nuclear Curtis ’95. This book examines shifts newly arrived gentrifiers of the author Jerzy Kosinski becomes a disaster, presents an overview of in the notion of religious freedom in titular Brookyn neighborhood come story told through multiple narrators, the state of the environment and the United States from The Second together to protest the fatal police including a homicidal actor and the impending choices over energy Great Awakening of the early 19th shooting of a 12-year-old boy Joseph Stalin’s daughter (Bellevue resources for a growing population century to contemporary Tea Party (Atria Books, $26). Literary Press, $16.99). (ForeEdge, $27.95). conservatism (NYU Press, $28). — Jill C. Shomer

Summer 2017 CCT 43 REUNION 2017

2 Alumni Reunite on Campus

SUNNY SKIES AND PERFECT TEMPERATURES greeted alumni and their guests on Morningside Heights for Reunion 2017, June 1–4, and All-Class Reunion, June 3. The 2,500 reunion-goers enjoyed all-class favorites like the Tri-College Reunion Luncheon on South Lawn, the Wine Tasting and the Starlight Reception, as well as class-specific lunches, receptions, dinners and panels. Attendees relived their student days at Mini-Core Classes and lectures given by distinguished faculty (including the keynote address, given by University Professor Dr. Richard Axel ’67 on “Scents and Sensibility: The Fascinating Relationship Between the Brain and Smell”) and also enjoyed campus and neighborhood tours. 1 8 Photographs by Scott Rudd 3 LEON WU ’

CCT Print Extras To view more Reunion 2017 photos (including class photos), go to college.columbia.edu/cct.

44 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

6 7

1. An illuminated class dinner on South Lawn.

2. Enjoying the Starlight Reception.

3. Alumni are welcomed back to campus through The Gates.

4. Friends gather at the Wine Tasting on Low Plaza.

5. The Dean’s Breakfast brings together classmates.

6. Dancing the night away at the Young Alumni Party.

7. Catching up with friends.

8. Good times at the Tri-College Reunion Luncheon. 8 9 9. Dr. Richard Axel ’67 delivers the keynote lecture.

10. Reliving the College experience with Mini-Core Classes and lectures.

11. Sunny skies over Low.

Summer 2017 CCT 45 classnotes

NOAH ZINSMEISTER ’16

visions of Allied propaganda posters they might be upperclassmen. grateful to her caregiver, who will 1941 showing German soldiers murdering “But life wasn’t entirely worri- remain with him. babies. But it turned out that the some. One night I was told that I was The New York Times featured an Columbia College Today song had different words and was expected at some sort of reception obituary, written by Ray and Phyllis’ Columbia Alumni Center much honored at Columbia. for freshmen. It turned out to be in daughter, Nancy Miringoff SW’76: 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 “It also struck me as odd that a magnificent mansion on Morn- “Robinson, Phyllis, C., age 92, died at New York, NY 10025 many of the freshmen I was singing ingside Drive. A lovely woman, the home in New York City on Monday, along with seemed to know the wife of a professor, organized it. She March 13, 2017, after a determined Albert Sanders SEAS’41 was song. Where had they learned it? It was so sweet to these freshmen, all and graceful battle with Alzheimer’s pleased to hear from CCT: “At 97, began to dawn on me that many of of them apparently unknown to disease. She was the wife for almost 68 80 years after starting at Columbia the freshmen had not come from her. And I have never forgotten the years of her devoted husband and part- College, it’s nice to be remembered. a public high school as I did. They exotic drinks she served these kids. ner, Ray Robinson. Phyllis Ann was So thanks for this opportunity! had gone to something called a ‘prep’ Hot grape juice! So that was what the only child of Fred G. and Sophie “My first memory of Columbia school — a place that prepared them people drank in sophisticated circles! Friedenthal Cumins. Phyllis Robinson is of an assembly of some sort at a for going to Columbia and singing Already my life was changing, thanks vaguely religious-looking build- its songs, and who knew what else. to Columbia College. ing with a domed roof. It was just What had I missed? “And I haven’t even got to the Class Notes are submitted by east of Low Library, the one with “I saw some freshmen wearing actual learning, and how it forever alumni and edited by volunteer class correspondents and the Alma Mater out front, but no vis- a silly little hat called a beanie. No changed my life for the better. staff of CCT prior to publication. ible books. However, nothing of a particular reason; only to make them “Thank you, Columbia.” Opinions expressed are those religious nature took place. What look foolish just because they were The Spring 2017 issue had a note of individual alumni and do not most impressed me was singing the freshmen. I decided to revolt. I wore from Ray Robinson. Just as that reflect the opinions of CCT, old German war song Germany Over no beanie and no harm came to me. issue went to press, Ray’s wife, Phyl- its class correspondents, the College or the University. Everyone. After all, it was only 17 I just had to skulk around whenever lis, passed away at their Upper East years after the end of WWI, with I spotted big guys who looked like Side home. Ray says he is extremely

46 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews led a full and productive life. She was Darien, Conn., resident for about a book author, an avid reader, a public 70 years. He was born in Brooklyn, COLUMBIA SCHOOL DESIGNATIONS school teacher, and a lifelong Progres- N.Y., on July 10, 1920, and grew Barnard College sive Democrat. She was a Senior up in Katonah, N.Y. John earned BC Columbia Business School Editor at Book of the Month Club, a a B.A. from the College in 1941, a BUS Pharmaceutical Sciences Yorkville neighborhood community B.S. and an M.S. from Columbia CP DM College of Dental Medicine activist, a Board member at Lenox Hill Engineering in 1942 and 1949, GS School of General Studies Neighborhood Association, an advo- respectively, then served in the GSAPP Graduate School of Architecture, cate for parks and open spaces, and Eighth Air Force, assigned to Gen. Planning and Preservation served as the Deputy Commissioner of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s staff in GSAS Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Cultural Affairs under Mayor John V. England and France. He left the JRN Graduate School of Journalism Lindsay. She was an active Vassar Col- military as a major with a Bronze JTS Jewish Theological Seminary lege alumna (Class of 1945-46) who Star in 1946. After the war, John LAW Columbia Law School proudly made Phi Beta Kappa in her returned to Columbia, becoming an LS Library Service Junior Year. A graduate of and Presi- assistant professor at Engineering NRS School of Nursing dent of her Senior Class at Julia Rich- in 1948; he taught there until 1959. PH Mailman School of Public Health man High School, she aspired to be an John moved to Darien in 1947 and PS College of Physicians and Surgeons actress, and for a brief period of time, began consulting in management and SEAS The Fu Foundation School of Engineering she acted on radio. During WWII, she engineering. Later, he earned a Ph.D. and Applied Science worked at the Office of War Informa- in accounting from NYU’s School SIPA School of International and Public Affairs tion (OWI) and for Brooklyn Union of Business. After NYU, he helped SOA School of the Arts Gas. She was a literary person who develop the School of Business at SPS School of Professional Studies grew up in the Bronx and delighted in the University of Connecticut Storrs SW School of Social Work saying that she lived on Shakespeare and the M.B.A. program at UConn TC Teachers College Avenue and Featherbed Lane! She Stamford. While John was teaching UTS Union Theological Seminary enjoyed the company of her friends in Connecticut, UConn loaned him and children over long lunches, and to the City of Stamford, Conn., to her beautiful and engaging smile lit be commissioner of finance. He also up a room when she entered it. The continued consulting. has daily reports on all Columbia occasionally see each other. Ray has Robinson beach house at Fire Island John was predeceased by his first sports, with a lot of information on been my lifelong friend since we met gave her much enjoyment over 55 wife, Jean Montgomery. He is sur- teams and individuals in all sports — at the Columbia Jester office in 1939, summers. Phyllis Robinson (and vived by his wife, Ruth; his daughter, including some of the lesser-known where Ray was a cartoonist before here’s to you … ) was an exemplary Cynthia Kowalski, her husband, ones such as squash and women’s he became famous as a magazine citizen. She believed that the role of Ronald Kowalski and their five archery (in which Columbia has editor and the author of numerous government was to take care of the children and four grandchildren; and been preeminent). Women’s archery books. He has published biographies most needy of its citizens. She gave three stepchildren, Charles Skeele, has won several national champion- of Lou Gehrig ’23 and Will Rogers, much of her life towards the vision Harrison Skeele and Sarah Post. ships in recent years, and this year as well as several additional books of a just and moral society. She cared Memorial contributions may be made Osama Khalifa ’18 won the National on baseball, including the wonderful about all people and ideas and worked to Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org). Individual Squash Championship. Greats of the Game: The Players, Games, towards making a better life for all Share your story or news — He will, I hope, repeat this great Teams, and Managers That Made Base- New Yorkers. She has been and will be even a favorite Columbia College accomplishment next year. There ball History, which features marvelous missed by friends and family. In addi- memory — with CCT and your is a feeling of optimism about our photographs of well-known players tion to her husband, she is survived by classmates by sending it to either the football prospects for 2017, with a and managers. Nancy and Lee Miringoff, Steve and email address or postal address at lot of experienced players back from Two more of my lifelong friend- Elizabeth Robinson, Tad and Amy the top of the column. Wishing you last year, including nationally-ranked ships that began at Columbia Robinson, and four grandchildren. a restful summer. field goal kicker Oren Milstein were with Dr. Herbert Mark, my For the past six and a half years, she ’20, and several promising fresh- sophomore year roommate in Liv- has been cared for with compassion man prospects. We have a greatly ingston Hall, and Gerald Green, the and dignity by Lorna Cambridge, 1942 improved quarterback in Anders world-famous novelist and television Edmund and Hadassah Mitchell, and Hill ’18, who — at 6-3 and 215 lbs. executive. Gerald wrote more than 20 visited regularly at her home by her Melvin Hershkowitz — looks like an All-Ivy candidate. books, including his novel The Last childhood friend, Marilyn Lukashok. 22 Northern Ave. Stay tuned. [Editor’s note: See “Roar, Angry Man, made into a movie with … Donations in Phyllis’ memory can Northampton, MA 01060-2310 Lion, Roar” for more on these and Paul Muni in the leading role as a be sent to: Greater New York Chapter, [email protected] other sports topics.] doctor in Brooklyn (based on the life ALS, at 42 Broadway, Suite 1724, New As our Class of 1942 alumni con- of Gerald’s father), and Holocaust, a York, NY 10004; or the Alzheimer’s This correspondent was a financial tinue to succumb to illness and old novel and television production that Association, New York City Chapter, donor for the big, new, enclosed, all- age, I am happy to report that I con- aroused worldwide interest. 60 E. 42 St., #2240, New York, NY weather dome at the Baker Athletics tinue my contacts with Dr. Gerald Herb and Gerald both died in 10165; or Bideawee, 410 E. 38th St., Complex, adjacent to Wien Stadium. Klingon (96), a retired neurologist in 2006. Since that date, I have more fre- New York, NY 10016.” It is up and functional and has Manhattan. He remains cognitively quently thought about the emotional Ruth Richardson Montgomery, already improved the spring training intact and well-informed on Colum- attachment I have with Columbia, widow of Sigmund John Mont- workouts for our football team, bia affairs. Another old Columbia which has remained intense since I gomery Ph.D. SEAS’42, SEAS’49, confirmed by Coach Al Bagnoli pal, Ray Robinson ’41 (96), is in full left the campus in 1942 to enter the sent a note that he passed away on in a video on the athletics website, possession of all faculties. Ray lives NYU School of Medicine. Having February 27, 2017. John (96) was a gocolumbialions.com. The website in Manhattan near Gerald, and they begun my medical school classes at

Summer 2017 CCT 47 Class Notes

East 26th and East 28th Streets and the FBI and then began a long career ing at the University of Chicago. a talit (“untouchable”) in India Bellevue Hospital on First Avenue, as an executive in a national trucking None of my children attended the (1891–1956), attended Columbia my longing for the Columbia campus industry firm, from which he retired. College, but I have mentioned 1913–15 and graduated with an became intense, so one day I took His modesty and good humor, along in earlier letters that I have a M.A. in economics. He became a the subway up to West 116th Street with his intellect and athletic skills, grandson-in-law, Jeremy Bob ’00, prominent politician who fought and walked to the Sundial, where I made him a wonderful friend, admired currently the legal correspondent for tenaciously for a change in the caste stood and looked across South Field by many classmates. the Jerusalem Post, who did. system. Calling on his thousands of to Hartley, Livingston, John Jay, Kind regards and best wishes to “Of personal news, there’s very supporters, he asked them why they Hamilton and Van Am Quad, finally all surviving members of the Class little. I’ve done no published writing stayed with a religion that denied returning to the subway and my of 1942. Please contact me with lately though I occasionally post a them equality of status. Ambedkar new life in another part of the city. your memories, news reports and thought or two on the website main- became a Buddhist in 1956. WWII was on during that time, philosophic comments: 413-586- tained by another much-admired Sad note: Felix E. De Martini eventually resulting in the deaths of 1517 or [email protected]. friend of years, Bill Moyers. I made PS’46 died in Vero Beach, Fla., 14 classmates (accuracy not certain), two excursions of escape from Chi- on November 7, 2016. He was an including two of my good friends, cago’s winter climate in February. The outstanding physician and prominent Phil Bayer and Roger Dounce. Phil 1943 first was a week with my wife, Rita, in senior officer at the Columbia was a star halfback on our football Cancun, devoted to eating, sunning University Medical Center/NewYork team, a Marine officer decorated for G.J. D’Angio ourselves and scrupulously avoiding Presbyterian Hospital for many years. heroism, killed in the invasion of 201 S. 18th St., #1818 newspapers and newscasts to provide Peleliu in the war against Japan. Philadelphia, PA 19103 us a Trump-free week. Shortly after Roger was a gifted writer, a quiet [email protected] returning, I flew to New Bern, N.C., 1944 pipe-smoker (rare on our campus), to visit some other old friends and shot down in combat in the Pacific. Eye problems again in February. The enjoy daytime temperatures in the Columbia College Today My memories of such classmates and diagnosis — IOIS (Idiopathic Orbital 70s. It’s an interesting place; for Columbia Alumni Center friends remain alive and intensify my Inflammatory Syndrome) — reflects a time it was the capital of North 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 emotional connection to Columbia. the unknown underlying dysfunction. Carolina (when it was still a colony), New York, NY 10025 On April 8 I received a note from I am now doing well on low doses of with a restored colonial governor’s [email protected] Marie McIlvennan in Lakewood, steroids; they are both prophylactic capital preserved as a museum — a Colo., thanking me for my comments and therapeutic. Pretty smooth sailing historian’s pleasure to browse. No updates this time! CCT, and in the Spring issue about her husband, since they were instituted. “Even if I wanted to forget that your classmates, would be happy to our distinguished classmate Stewart Many members of the family I will be 95 in August (and grateful hear from you. Share your story or McIlvennan LAW’48 (96). Stew is spent time with me and my wife, for it), time rolls on with frequent news — even a favorite Columbia in a nursing and assisted living facility Audrey, in early 2017, including my reminders. My two daughters and College memory — with CCT and near his home in Colorado. Though granddaughter and her two children. my son are all over 60 and sneaking your classmates by sending it to he is impaired, Marie tells me he can Otherwise, we had a quiet winter. up on Social Security eligibility. My either the email address or postal still read and express his feelings about May 2 was my 95th birthday. A oldest granddaughter turned 30, an address at the top of the column. “the good old days” at Columbia, small dinner with friends for that land- age which, in the wild 1960s, was Wishing you a relaxing summer. where Stew was a member of our mark date was my preference rather supposed to render her unworthy basketball team and a star halfback than a gala with dozens of guests. of trust. Glad to be past that foolish- on our football team. His intellectual My son Peter came to visit in ness. I have a commencement to 1945 powers equaled his physical skills. early May and Audrey’s nephew and attend in a couple of weeks, as the After his WWII service in the Navy, his wife from England followed later youngest of my four granddaughters Columbia College Today Stew returned to Columbia, graduated that month. They overlapped with will receive her master’s in social Columbia Alumni Center from the Law School, served briefly in my granddaughter and her family work here in Chicago. And in 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 over Memorial Day weekend; she general, as Rita describes it, ‘we’re in New York, NY 10025 was attending her 10th Bryn Mawr good shape for the shape we’re in.’ [email protected] class reunion. Then a trip to Edmon- “As my thoughts stray back to ton, Canada, in June beckoned. Columbia, I will save for the next John Khoury responded to CCT’s Somewhere in there were a few days letter my personal recollections of call for news: “I have read Class with an old colleague and friend two of the great teachers of my era — Notes for decades and I have been from France. Our B&B doesn’t want Gilbert Highet and Jacques Barzun impressed by the successes of my for customers! CC’43 classmates ’27, GSAS’32. I wonder if others of classmates. It has made me reluctant would be welcome anytime. the Class of ’43 would be interested to write about myself. Like Lou Contact CCT Bernard Weisberger Update your contact reports: in doing the same. I’d be delighted Gehrig and James Cagney, I did not “Many things remind me of my to read them. Likewise any other graduate. Instead, I joined the family information; submit a Columbia connection. I first made recollections of campus buddies, business in 1946. For the next 70 Class Note, Class Notes Professor Eric Foner ’63, GSAS’69’s particularly significant classes, or years I was in the wholesale business or wedding photo, obituary acquaintance back when he and I other Columbia moments that had of importing and manufacturing or Letter to the Editor; became historical advisers on a proj- special meaning for us in those years fancy, hand-embroidered household ect launched by the Reader’s Digest of transition to adulthood. If this linens. There were some good years or send us an email. book department. I have admired sounds like a hint to encourage more and some fair years. Working in Click “Contact Us” at him and his work ever since. Profes- contributions from us ’43-ers, it is. So, Manhattan and competing for busi- college.columbia.edu/cct. sor Kenneth Jackson was one of my au revoir until 90 days hence.” ness every day was exciting and often students in an introductory class on A Columbia nugget — R.R. nerve-racking. I managed because historical method that I was teach- Ambedkar (GSAS 1927), was born I graduated from Manual Training

48 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

H.S. (now John Jay H.S.) in Brook- he wrote: “Suicide rates among mili- my bones [bracketed with bare dignity] email address or postal address at lyn, N.Y. It is the only high school tary personnel had a significant drop be boxed down without rite or eulogy. the top of the column. Wishing you named for a college dormitory. in 2013, but there is no evidence of a without music, apostrophe of a warm and sunny summer. “My Columbia College educa- drop among veterans. The problem of facile praise; tion was priceless. Except for three suicide among combat veterans with rather, let it be with silence, unsaid, years in the Army I never worked for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) an ellipsis … 1949 anybody but for a few part-time jobs. remains a source of concern.” In the Army, I rose from private to Let me hear from you about your Share your story or news — even John Weaver private first class and was awarded a work, travel, interests and so on, so a favorite Columbia College memory 2639 E. 11th St. combat infantry badge and a bunch of I can report it and we can all “catch — with CCT and your classmates by Brooklyn, NY 11235 medals. Education is important to my up” with you. Recommended reading sending it to either the email address [email protected] four children, who have earned many is also good to include here. Please or postal address at the top of the degrees, including a bachelor’s, a mas- do reach out to the addresses at the column. Have a lovely summer. Thank you, one and all. It has been ter’s and a doctorate from Columbia.” top of this column. heartwarming to hear from heretofore Share your story or news — even unrepresented classmates, as well as a favorite Columbia College memory 1948 to receive a brief but important note — with CCT and your classmates by 1947 from Charlie Peters, whose voice has sending it to either the email address Columbia College Today been silent in these parts for too long. or postal address at the top of the Columbia College Today Columbia Alumni Center Charlie has been “our man in column. Enjoy the summer. Columbia Alumni Center 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 Washington” for lo these many years 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 New York, NY 10025 and his incisive commentary and New York, NY 10025 [email protected] analysis are a valued asset for us all 1946 [email protected] in these times: “My new book is We Dr. Alvin N. Eden writes, “In Do Our Part (see article about it by Bernard Sunshine Herewith, a poem written by Dr. addition to continuing to practice Jonathan Martin in The New York 165 W. 66th St., Apt. 12G Nicholas Giosa, with “my best to pediatrics, I have been working with Times on March 8). I figured if you New York, NY 10023 those few of us that yet remain:” the American University of Antigua, could still do your column, I could [email protected] an international medical school. As write another book.” Epilogue clinical chairman of the pediatrics Just an aside; with pride I note Currently our class numbers 65 men department, I have been helping that Charlie equates my continued (we started with 425). Our early Once, I was vivid as an exclamation ! to level the uneven playing field of presence as your correspondent chronological listing in this publica- familiar as a quote from Bartlett; stood the U.S. students studying abroad with his extraordinary work — a tion is another indication of our solid - a gnarled and rooted oak; to obtain U.S. residencies, especially more than welcome reward for my longevity. The collection of class dues valid like an ancient proverb; was the practice in our early alumni an asterisk, not willing to be ignored. years, but our relatively unsuccessful I am now but an addendum - a dash - efforts were probably mirrored by an afterthought in process of Malvin Ruderman ’46 continues other classes, and the Alumni Office transformation; to research and teach physics at and Dean’s Office had the good sense more a question mark or unwritten to discontinue dues. word. Columbia and NYU. Thinking back, it brings to mind the visit of the King and Queen of Once, I held sway as a duke, a grandee; England to the College while we were had true command of myself attending. I photographed the event; and reigned in primary care — family medicine, persistence. I do hope to hear from etched in memory are the security a master of my discipline, in full season; internal medicine, ob/gyn and pedi- you all, before the next Class Notes men positioned on the roofs of build- I soared: atrics — the areas in medicine with deadline, that you have purchased ings that surrounded Low Library as a teacher unloading reason, in solemn the greatest shortage of physicians. I and read Charlie’s book. the guests walked up its front steps. charge of devotees; royal as send my best wishes to classmates.” In keeping with our “theme,” two It is interesting to note that many Charlemagne - On April 3, Dick Hyman was new voices from our class echo their classmates continue to work and drawn sword, named a 2017 Jazz Master by the sense of how profoundly our under- practice in their fields of interest and astride honor, National Endowment for the Arts. graduate experience influenced our expertise. Herbert Gold GSAS’49 leading my column. He writes, “The Kennedy Center lives. Both of the following letters is a screenwriter and author living in event, including my speech, is on the are from classmates who struggled California. We telephone from time But time was relentless; haunted NEA website: arts.gov/honors/jazz/ with the daily commute from distant to time and I find remarkable the me everywhere dick-hyman. In May I was scheduled parts of our city. It is a privilege for people of note he casually mentions through the unraveling years: each day to receive an honorary doctorate me to get to know them through as friends in our conversation. eyeing me as I shaved and combed from Juilliard. I continue to play this medium. I hope all who might Malvin Ruderman continues my hair, concerts and to compose — among have missed their acquaintance to research and teach physics at a quotidian staring, circling me other things, a clarinet concerto for in our undergraduate years enjoy Columbia and NYU. assuredly Ken Peplowski — and am planning getting to know them, as I have, Herbert Hendin PS’59 has stalking me as some animal at bay - for next season.” through their correspondence. devoted much of his practice as a a jackal, its designated prey. Share your story or news — First, an all-too-brief note from psychiatrist to military veterans at even a favorite Columbia College Dr. Calvin Kunin; he understates risk for suicide. In a piece for the In the end, as I taste my ashes, recite memory — with CCT and your the value and importance of his life’s American Association of Suicidology it not with an accent grave; might classmates by sending it to either the work, to be admired by us all: “Few

Summer 2017 CCT 49 Class Notes will remember me. I was one of the teaching assistant of English at scheduled meet (we lost 3–2) we travel between Manhattan, upstate subway students from East Flatbush, Indiana University (includes Ful- went on to greater things. New York and Scotland. We see art Brooklyn (90 minutes each way). bright teaching grant in Hamburg, “Please pardon this form of letter. exhibitions — and family and friends “I was a pre-med with a major in Germany, and marriage in Hamburg Had I continued teaching after 1992 — regularly in all three places, as my zoology, apart from the intellectual to an IU grad student); 1956: Ph.D. I would’ve taken to the computer wife still writes. At 87 I am still keen scene on campus. Nevertheless, I share on ‘Moral Sentiments and Intellect, because the freshman classes were to explore new events and new places. the Columbia tradition of lifelong Emerson’s Ethical Terminology’; reaching 50 percent computer literacy.” I love Scotland, with its beautiful learning. My field of infectious dis- 1956–59: instructor in English at the Al’s letter came to me as six unspoiled landscape and friendly eases has allowed me to travel widely University of Rochester; 1954–60: pages, handwritten, on lined yellow folk. Six grandchildren are a joy.” in the United States and abroad to assistant professor of English at pad — my personal “stationery” We heard from Joe Ambrose, study the social and environmental Loyola University in Chicago. of choice. To you all who have yet who shares: “From reading the Class factors that contribute to the spread of “The next move, in retrospect, was to join the chorus, your stories are Notes in the Spring 2017 issue, Elliott antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. the game changer. In Chicago, our welcome here. ‘Bud’ Sherwood and I learned that “Serendipity has always played an third child was due, the real estate Enjoy the summer and stay we both live at Willow Valley Com- important role in my career. I offer was out of reach and it was John well. Our 70th reunion is only two munities, a retirement community in the following quotation from Louis Daley’s first term as mayor: No place years hence. Lancaster, Pa. As neither of us is able Pasteur. ‘In the field of observation, that we wanted to raise children. any longer to travel to Columbia for chance favors only the prepared Graduate teaching was very promis- activities there, we had a very enjoyable mind.’ This concept has also been ing but we decided to move right 1950 two-man class reunion here at Willow true in my current avocation as pho- away. I had summered in western Valley, at which we brought each other tographer of nature and people. Massachusetts since 1935. Providen- Columbia College Today up to date as to what we have been “I recently made my 22nd annual tially, Norwich University in North- Columbia Alumni Center doing with our lives during the past 66 visit to Taiwan, where I mentor field, Vt., had an opening in the 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 years. As Bud said, ‘It’s a small world.’” young investigators in infectious English department; the interview New York, NY 10025 “This has been a difficult year for diseases. I will always be grateful to visit to Vermont was a geographical [email protected] the CC’51 NROTC contingent,” my undergraduate mentor, Professor homecoming. Therefore, 1960–92, I writes Leonard A. Stoehr. “Having Francis Ryan, who introduced me to was professor of English at Norwich. From Durand Harootunian: “Hail started out on June 7, 1951, with the birth of molecular genetics. “Circa 1970, when the Shake- Columbia, alma mater. Hail Mario more than 40 new Navy ensigns and “By the way, did you have a major speare courses needed a teacher, my Palmieri, who shepherded our Class USMC second lieutenants, we have role in Murder in the Cathedral while theater history work with Hamlet Notes for decades. I called him just lost several more alumni officers, at Columbia, or am I thinking of a on the German stage qualified me. before his passing. [Editor’s note: leaving only seven survivors from a different person?” Until I retired, I taught Shake- See “Obituaries.”] Upon seeing great group of young men.” I responded to Calvin that I speare’s plays as stage theater and vintage photos of Lou Gehrig ’23 Paul J. “Spin” Miller says: “I was a knight in the first College crusaded — especially with high and the running track on the dusty think I am getting married, but she production of Murder in the Cathe- school teachers — for teachers to see dirt South Field we knew, I recalled does not know it yet. Thanks for the dral, which also featured departed themselves as stage directors to their a spring and fall ritual. It was that invitation to be in touch and give all classmates Sorrel Booke, Joe students. I held one class, for each blunt-nosed, unkempt used oil truck my congratulations for living this McDermott and Dolph Sweet. play studied, in the college chapel that crisscrossed ‘the Field’ with its long. Well, I am close to the same Al Kloeckner GSAS’50 provided to block and rehearse a key scene. patter of pollution. It worked: The age as most of us are, but I was 16 the following; I hope you all find his In the 1980s I acted in local semi- swirls of dust that headed toward when we graduated. personal story — so firmly founded professional companies. It probably Van Am Quad ceased. Got to be a “Since retirement my life has on the experience of his College years all started with Andrew Chiappe ’33, story here for a Spectator reporter. been traveling. I should have been — as warm and intimate as I did. It GSAS’39, my Shakespeare professor Little do those undergrads know a traveling salesman and the travel is never too late to get to know a new at Columbia. He read from plays today what lies beneath the green would have been for free. friend who is an “old classmate.” dramatically and beautifully. bower that is South Lawn.” “My educational days in class- Al writes, “Oh my, what a very “My meager professional doings CCT would love to hear from rooms are over. It has surprised me short column from the Class of ’49; are overshadowed by my marriage members of the Class of 1950. in my travels how much of the liberal as short as a politician’s fingers. I am (was 63 years in April) to Frieda Please send notes to either of the arts classes I found to be helpful. torn out of 60 years spectatorship to Hartfiel of Milwaukee: wife, mother, addresses at the top of this column. Things I thought were useless became offer CCT a few quick glimpses of gourmet health cook, colleague We wish you a pleasant summer! familiar. I was not a great admirer of my journey from 116th Street. Since and brilliant teacher. The children my Humanities and Contemporary every detail is so long a story, let me are reaching their 60s and are real Civilization classes. I wanted to dig try a little synopsis. human beings. We now live in 1951 right in on business subjects. But I “I commuted from Hollis, Queens. Middlebury, Vt., in independent must admit I was wrong. I’d be in 1944: two accelerated semesters, living in a retirement community. Columbia College Today Athens and look around and see Humanities A (Burdette Kenny, “There is so much to cherish from Columbia Alumni Center what I thought I would never use. bright yellow tie, challenged every- my Columbia education; it was the 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 Now I have a large collection of thing the class held dear); 1944–46: founder and developer of my way of New York, NY 10025 Greek pewter as reminders of time Navy hospital corps; 1946–49: thinking. The English department [email protected] I spent in those classes and on my English major (adviser Dwight led me to my profession; swimming visits to Greece. Then, as I passed dif- Miner);1949–50: master’s from and water polo were my alternate Phillip A. Bruno checked in: “After ferent areas of bulldozed landscape, I Columbia, studying German Hamlet life. Coach Kennedy taught us water 57 years in the art world in New would see the geological formations translations of the 18th and 19th polo in a week so that we could York, and 10 years in retirement, that we studied. It also helped in my centuries; 1950–51: teaching reform restart collegiate competition with I am as busy as ever. My wife, art current investments in gold, silver school in Westchester; 1951–56: a game at West Point. After the critic Clare Henry, and I constantly and other minerals.

50 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

“Never would I use Spanish, I old slim lady who likes wealthy old in Atlantic City, and from Admiral dinner with the 17th Chairman of thought, until I spent many vaca- men. At 69, or younger, I’ll buy my Farragut Academy, I was offered the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael tions in Spain and Spanish-speaking way out. many scholarships from colleges, Mullen, at his home in Washington, countries. I have since traveled most “Marriage and two children and I selected Columbia. While in D.C. Frank has a bridge named in of the world, going around the matured me. No classes for that. high school I was selected captain his honor at the Navy facility in world twice. “Paul, my 18-year-old son, was of the football team and broke many Newport, R.I., and plaques at his “[I took law classes,] but not killed. He and Linda, my daughter, records in football, basketball and high school and college. because I was going to be an were the prizes from my marriage.” track. I received city, country and “I meet with other members of attorney. So many times I have been From Richard Wiener: “Heading state awards for breaking records in Columbia’s football and basketball in situations where the basic/101 for the big 9-0, I have the good those sports. teams on a regular basis.” law classes alerted me to [the need fortune to be in continuing vibrant “At Columbia I was halfback on Please send your news to the to] investigate something further. health. I am active in The ManKind the football team and captain of the addresses at the top of this column. Thankfully, my English classes Project, a men’s organization that track team. Your classmates would like to hear with Mark Van Doren GSAS 1921 presents transformational train- “I was recruited by General from you! taught me to put a comma for a ings for men on four continents. Electric Co., along with 12 other pause and a period to stop. That is I have a close relationship with people, for the first corporate-wide what he told me when I told him Berea College, a no-tuition school employee relations training program 1953 I was not good with punctuation. in Kentucky attended mostly by and, for three years, worked in It has stood me well over the years Appalachian students, to which manufacturing, engineering and Lew Robins as I wrote training manuals, several I will return this fall to present a accounting assignments throughout 3200 Park Ave., Apt. 9C2 travel articles and my autobiography. convocation lecture and to view the company. I was then hired at the Bridgeport, CT 06604 He told me it was the content he my legacy gift of a peace garden, jet engine plant in Everdale, Ohio, [email protected] graded on, not punctuation. I apolo- a contemplation space on campus. in labor relations. I was later hired gize if you get an ‘F’ in English for Also this fall, my children and as the corporate head of the first On April 15, I received the fol- what you write and you can’t read grandchildren will accompany me equal opportunity/minority relations lowing email from John H. Plate: what I am writing. on a celebratory birthday trip to the meeting with the group executives, “A week or so ago my wife, Carol, “Spent three years as a life- Caribbean. As a child survivor of the chairmen and the CEO on strategy, and I visited with Nancy Edwards guard while in college; the Army Holocaust, I am forever grateful not goals and plans. I also led corporate (David Edwards’ widow) and her in Germany; and Columbia for daughter, Cynthia Cowdery, at the three years to get a B.A. Have since Publik House in Sturbridge, Conn., earned a Ph.D. Spent four years and had a chance to catch up on at Curtiss-Wright Corp. buying at Frank Toner ’52 meets with other members the many activities of the Edwards/ first parts for jets just coming into of Columbia’s football and basketball teams Cowdery clan. After Dave’s passing their own. Switched to New Jersey last year, Nancy and Glynis went Telephone Co. selling business on a regular basis. through Dave’s substantial accu- systems and then on to Florida as mulation of memorabilia and came district commercial manager with across a program for the Columbia General Telephone & Electric Corp. Glee Club’s performance at Town I saw little advancement, because only for my survival, but also for the responsibility for union relations, Hall on West 43rd Street in Man- those ahead of me on the ladder did many opportunities to pass on the consulting, personnel practices and hattan. The Vassar Glee Club shared not go into the service. But it put gifts I have received.” recruiting. I accepted the position the program with Columbia.” me in touch with a VP at Shearson, Share your story or news — as VP of human resources at Boise John sent along a copy of the Hammill & Co., a brokerage firm. even a favorite Columbia College Cascade and was SVP of Ameri- program, which indicated that the We became good friends and he memory — with CCT and your can Can. After senior corporate concert was in honor of Benjamin offered me a position with his firm classmates by sending it to either positions, I went into the human Hubbard, who was retiring as the selling securities. It was the right the email address or postal address resource consulting business and director of King’s Crown Activities. move to make. Many mergers later it at the top of the column. Do enjoy also met with the senior corpo- The program lists Baily Harvey is Morgan Stanley and I have retired the summer. rate VPs of companies like IBM, as the director of Columbia’s Glee from the remains of that firm. Hard DuPont, General Motors, Interna- Club, and the following classmates work and luck have made my retire- tional Paper and General Electric on as officers: Herb Mark as the man- ment very, very comfortable. I live 1952 a quarterly basis on policy, strategy ager, Ronald Klinzing as business in a nice lakeside home in Florida. and practices in employee relations. manager, Albert Belskie as public- I have no wishes that have not been Columbia College Today “I was married to Peggy Reeves ity manager and David Edwards as satisfied. I am, however, single again, Columbia Alumni Center of Atlantic City for 25 years; Peggy secretary. According to the program, as my wife, Pat, died and I’m back 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 Foley from Ireland for 20 years the Blue Notes Quartet sang during on the market. I am now enamored New York, NY 10025 before her death from cancer; and the intermission and dedicated the with one who can kiss and hug like [email protected] have Barbara Pfeiffer as my partner Columbia Reunion Song by Joseph in high school. Oh Lord, help me for 15 years, living in Port St. Lucie, Burns ’29, LAW’32. out. It appears no 34-year-old lady CCT was happy to receive a let- Fla., and Atlantic City, N.J. I have John also mentioned that he and wants a 55-year-old man. But, I ter from Frank Toner: “Born in three children, Frank, Karen and Carol spent three weeks in Japan keep trying. In fact most people tell Atlantic City, N.J.; my father bailed Linda, and seven grandchildren. last fall, including stops in South me, ‘I am trying.’ when I was 9 days old and my single My oldest grandson, Frank IV, a Korea and Sakhalin Island. They are “You know I’m lying about my mother was a waitress her entire life, lieutenant in the Navy, was killed in also planning to visit Germany, the age. I appeal to all for advice on how putting me through school. After Afghanistan. His wife, Brooke, and United Kingdom and Norway later to de-age, or how to find a 34-year- graduating from Holy Spirt H.S. my family were honored at a private this year and in 2018. They are look-

Summer 2017 CCT 51 Class Notes

ing forward to attending our 65th Molinas Almost Destroyed the Game of Serge Gavronsky, recently was taken on September 6, 1960, in Norm reunion, also in 2018. Basketball. I miss frat brothers retired from half a century as a Victory Square, Seattle, adjacent to Stan Maratos Marcus Julie Ross. was recently and ” French professor at Barnard, wants downtown’s Olympic Hotel. Sen. Larry Harte elected to a founders membership writes that he us all to qvell (that’s not French) John Kennedy was in the first week in the Order of Daedalians, a group works in orthodontics three days with him about his family: “Wife of his campaign for the presidency: of American WWI fighter pilots. a week and recently received the is a retired ceramist, daughter is a His itinerary was nation-spanning Active membership in the Order prestigious Lifetime Achievement disability lawyer in New York, older — Maine to Alaska. of Daedalians is limited to Air Award in Orthodontics. granddaughter is a magna cum “Seated by the podium from Corps pilots commissioned prior to Wow, keep up the good work! laude graduate of Kenyon, hired in which he would deliver his first November 12, 1918, or to combat Larry also indicates that in their senior year as paralegal by Sullivan speech in Seattle, he was looking up pilots named in honor and memory spare time, he and his wife have Cromwell,” but “as for me, check me at office building windows crammed of the founding pilot. Col. Maratos visited 105 countries — although he out on Wikipedia.” with cheering supporters. It was a was named in honor of founder Maj. confesses that they are getting tired! OK, Serge, but the book is out on highly energetic moment and one Edwin T. MacBride. loan at my library. could sense Kennedy subsuming the Congratulations, Stan! Memoirs appear to be THE task place and people surrounding him. I received the following from 1954 of the 21st century for members “Soon he would address thousands Gordon Henderson: “Columbia of our Class of Destiny. When I at Seattle’s Civic Auditorium. His Bernd Brecher made the right decision. It admitted mentioned recently about embark- remarks closed with these words: 35 Parkview Ave., Apt. 4G my grandson and now both of us are ing on mine, the floodgates opened ‘I have called the challenge of the Bronxville, NY 10708 very happy.” to inform me that I may be the last future the new frontier … my call [email protected] Congratulations, Gordon. In on line. LISTEN UP, ALL — if you is to those who believe in the future this highly competitive year, admis- have a memoir in your thoughts, in … I want you to join me … give me sion to Columbia College is quite Gentlemen of ’54, welcome once a first draft, being submitted to self- your help, your heart, your voice … an achievement. again to your home away from publishers, in the midst of a million- and this country will move again.’ Allan “Ajax” Jackman, who home, our Class Notes section dollar auction battle by Knopf and “For me, this photograph cap-

lives in California, sent the follow- — where anything goes. Are you three others, or just like the idea of tured Kennedy sensing his responsi- ing: “The only classmate I know of marking on your calendars the (still- exposing yourself to the world, let bility to the public’s response.” Bob who lives in the Bay Area is Dr. tentative) weekend of Thursday, May me know. CCT will be glad to men- More kickbacks from my “85 is Blau, with whom I get together 31–Sunday, June 3, 2019, for the tion them in Bookshelf. the new 65” column last quarter. Allan Wikman once a month. Imagine my amaze- celebration of our 65th anniversary The latest and perhaps among mailed “20 years ment a few years ago when Bob of our graduation? (Remember, time the most finished memoirist to have my junior, huh, Bernd? I am always confessed to me that he used to play flies!) It’s always a pleasure to hear gotten in touch is Manfred White- the outlier, for example, defend- schoolyard basketball with our most from any of you — some of you are horn, “after 63 years, to be precise! ing Joe McCarthy on campus by Jack famous/infamous classmate, regular correspondents — and it is What bestirred me to write to you streetlight. I add 100 years each time Molinas. Jack was also a fraternity particularly rewarding to frequently is your remark about writing your a pharmacy or other bureaucracy brother of mine (TEP) and rarely welcome back classmates who have memoir. I beat you to the punch, as asks my birthday. ‘January 31, 1832,’ came to our weekly Monday night been in a quiet mode since 1954. I self-published, for grandchildren, I respond — 75 percent in one ear meetings, but the gals he brought Under “intergenerational relatives and friends, my memoir and out the other. To any astute lis- to occasional Saturday night parties news,” we draw your attention to a last year. And the outline of your tener I confess, ‘It was only a listen- were each more beautiful than the thought-provoking New York Times proposed tale eerily resembles mine, ing test, and you passed!’ Alternatively, last. He is probably the only College op-ed column this spring by James at least the early years. I’ll send you a ‘That was my first birth.’” grad to ever be assassinated by the P. Rubin ’82, SIPA’84, a former copy so that we can compare notes.” (Saul, do we or don’t we have the Mafia. It is all detailed in the great assistant secretary of state for public Thanks, Manny. FedEx delivered makings of a Saturday Night Live book The Wizard of Odds: How Jack affairs under President Clinton, your book as these Class Notes were crew? We work cheap.) Stanley Fine titled “59 Missiles Don’t Equal a being processed. Quick peek showed PS’57 writes that Foreign Policy.” He is the son of a terrifically designed, hard-bound, “while reading your column in Harvey Rubin, a very proud dad. nearly–500-page full-self-disclosure CCT that mentioned our diploma Peter Maris (né Marinakos) volume that reveals everything I ever in Latin, I was reminded about my shares with us this update: “I am wanted to know about you. (Title is first voting experience. My elec- a retired ophthalmologist. Last By Luck Possessed; it was published tion board was in Riverdale (I had November my wife, Kay, and I took by Lulu Press, Morrisville, N.C.) recently started at P&S) and I had a 25-day around-the-world trip by With all the post-election to bring a diploma to prove I was private jet with National Geographic politicking continuing into the competent in English. Well, I wasn’t Stay in Expeditions to many of our bucket second “100 days,” I was alerted to going to bring our diploma from Touch list destinations, for example, Machu the accomplishment of our class’ Bronx Science when I had one from Picchu; the Taj Majal; the Serengeti photographer extraordinaire, Ted Columbia! However, the personnel Let us know if you have a Plain; Australia’s Great Barrier Reef; Spiegel, who interacted with a at the table couldn’t read Latin and new postal or email address, Angkor Wat, Cambodia; Easter previous White House resident were going to turn me down until I a new phone number or Island; Petra, Jordan; Lhasa, Tibet; nearly 60 years ago. Ted’s photo- showed them the translation I had and others. It was the trip of a graph of John F. Kennedy now taped to the back.” even a new name: lifetime and I highly recommend it graces the United States Postal Quick thinking, Stan; our Bronx college.columbia.edu/ to all. We have two children who are Service’s Forever stamps; the new Science and Columbia educations CC graduates — Kathryn ’93 and stamp was unveiled this year in a paid off once again. alumni/connect. Saul Peter Jr. ’95, who is assistant professor ceremony on President’s Day. In “The Heart Attack” is how Turteltaub of ophthalmology at Columbia.” Ted’s own words: “The photograph LAW’57 headlined his

52 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews most recent adventure to share with University and writes, “I mostly Among the news items concern- National Endowment for the Arts, us. It follows: “Until last week, at the taught in the Commonwealth and ing classmates that we publish, the charitable gift deduction, STEM age of 84, I thought ‘heart attack’ was France after that, including 10 years many of which are filled with the education and other good things the answer to the question, ‘What in Nigeria, five in Canada, four in joy of sharing, are those about that help make our country great. did he die of?’ Last week I learned it New Zealand and so forth. I began illness, tragedy or death. While we My meetings included one with the is the answer to, ‘What were you in as a specialist in British 17th–18th- remember classmates who died 63 New York delegation and our sena- the hospital two nights for?’ century literature with a book on or more years ago, while we were tor — and Senate minority leader “Saturday night I had chest pain John Dryden’s plays, one on Andrew still on Morningside Heights, we — Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and and my wife, Shirley, called the Marvell and a history of 17th- are now concentrated on keeping a one-on-one in the Hill cafeteria paramedics. She barely beat them century English literature. up. As we have done in this column, with my congressman, Rep. Eliot to the front door. I was examined in “For a few decades I tried to keep and CCT does in the Obituaries Engel (D-N.Y.). Life goes on! St. Luke’s Hospital by a doctor and my hands in both traditional British section of this magazine, we will Be well, do good stuff, write friendly nurses, who quickly decided literature and the new literatures of share with you when we hear about often, and all my best, Bernd. I should be helicoptered to St Luke’s the Commonwealth (Nigerian, West the deaths of members of the class. EXCELSIOR! Twin Falls. In less than a half-hour I Indian, etc.) … In 1987, my Modern Our sources are family members, was there on the operating table, still Indian Poetry in English was the first classmates, newspaper obituaries and wondering what to tip the pilot. serious book on the topic; it has the proverbial information received 1955 “Two hours later, after being often been republished and was fol- over the transom. This quarter we Gerald Sherwin surgicaled, I was wheeled — with lowed by two more books on Indian report on several. 181 E. 73rd St., Apt. 6A my two new stents, placed into two English literature.” Linda Onsruth Toborg emailed Alfred New York, NY 10021 of my old arteries — to my room Bruce authored two books about me about her husband, Toborg [email protected] in the intensive care unit where, for the St. Lucian Nobel Laureate GSAS’65, who died on the next 36 hours, I was intensively Derek Walcott, who died in March. March 20, 2017. “Al had both his cared for by the wonderful, smart “My Internationalization of English B.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia,” she There is a lot of activity going on, and friendly nursing staff. Shirley Literature in 2004 was volume 13 of wrote. “He taught history and Ger- especially just outside the school. and I were there for a total of The Oxford Literary History. My man at Lyndon State College for John Jay Awards were given to five three meals chosen by us from a autobiography, An Interesting Life So 39 years. He served as an ordained well-deserving alumni on March 1 restaurant-quality menu and then Far/Memoirs of Literary and Musical deacon in the Catholic Church for at Cipriani 42nd Street. 26 years and was active in local civic You should know Columbia is now affairs. I am not sure if this fits your part of the Penn Club of New York, 30 request for class notes but I did want W. 44th St., after a “falling out” with Bruce King ’54 retired 17 years ago, but has to notify you of his recent death. Ivy League brethren Princeton. For “become known as a pioneer in the shift from We were able to attend the 50th details, ask your class correspondent. reunion, which was great fun.” Class Day (for the Class of British to postcolonial literatures.” Thank you, Linda, again, for keep- 2017!) and the Senior Dinner were ing in touch and for continuing to be both on South Field, where approxi- part of Al’s class. You have our deepest mately 1,000 attendees enjoyed one sympathy and my personal condo- another’s company. The Society of discharged for having too good of Peregrinations, might be followed lences on your — and our — loss. Columbia Graduates Great Teacher a time. Can’t wait to go back for by a final book that might take me Reports on the passing this Awards were given to worthy faculty Richard Hobart something serious.” another five years … .” spring of of Bing- members during Reunion 2017 in Dick Wagner More of us in our class are keep- He adds, “I had a stroke two hamton, N.Y., and of Low Library. Commencement was ing cardiac surgeons in business, it years ago, from which I recovered Seattle have come from Ted Spiegel, its usual spectacular event, with seems. When I told Saul mine was but took as a warning. We no longer who said Dick “was a fraternity thousands of parents, graduates and not an “attack” in 2006 but a triple travel to New Orleans in April for brother, roommate and my best man faculty attending. President Lee C. bypass performed by Dr. Mehmet a month of jazz and dancing, nor at my wedding.” CCT published a Bollinger gave his usual thoughtful Oz at Columbia University Medi- Croatia during the summer for profile of Dick and his Center for and stirring speech. cal Center/NewYork Presbyterian swimming. We ‘retired’ to Paris 17 Wooden Boats about two years Where are our classmates and Hospital, he responded, “Yours was years ago and I seem to have become ago [Editor’s note: See our Winter what are they doing now? Alfred Gollomp bigger than mine.” (Oh? But more known as a pioneer in the shift from 2015–16 issue]. In its obituary is taking time in on that some other time.) British to postcolonial literatures.” notice, the center called him “one of Florida, where he had dinner with Bob Sparrow Bob Crossman. Bruce King wants to bring us Bruce says he has had limited a kind … he believed profoundly in and Jim Appel Bill up to date on his various lives (not contact with Columbia since 1954, the power of people. Dick has left is in South Carolina. Joel Gerstl Langston wives, being married to Adele, but that and his wife, Seattle and the world a better place.” is in Northern Califor- Roland Plottel whom he met the year we graduated Judy, visited last year and that he has As for me, I continue to keep my nia. (our patent David Bardin and married two years later). Both been emailing with . He hand in nefarious causes. In Febru- attorney) called to catch up about Jack are retired university professors, she adds that in Paris “we sometimes run ary I was a delegate of the American Columbia and the industry. Stuppin being an expert on Albert Camus into Columbia College graduates, but Alliance of Museums to Capitol was in the midst of putting (about whom she wrote or edited otherwise our life is here, especially Hill on AAM’s Museums Advocacy together a showing on the West Beryl Nusbaum Dick several books), and wrote several among musicians and writers, and Day. We spent several days at meet- Coast. and Kuhn others about African literature with dancing and restaurant-going.” ings and receptions on the Hill and wanted updates on Columbia and female French novelists, and Do I hear a “take me back/return at the Library of Congress with our Athletics (a little different than Jerry Plasse translated a French cookbook into to the fold” message here between senators, representatives and lobby- patent law). moved to English. Bruce earned a doctor- the lines? Our class welcomes back ists on such vital maters as funding Montana from Maryland a couple of ate in English literature at Leeds all sinners. for museum projects, and saving the years ago. If he’s happy, I’m happy.

Summer 2017 CCT 53 Class Notes

Back on campus, Allen Hyman forget to exercise. Remember: A Keep in touch, and please send Malcolm “Mac” Gimse has writ- continued as Hood Marshal at healthy class is a resilient class. me info for Class Notes. I can be ten a poem, “Every Life Matters,” hon- Commencement. Ted Baker Love to all! Everywhere! reached at either of the addresses at oring the 204 members [at presstime] (Maine inhabitant and Ford the top of this column. of our class who have passed away as Scholar) shared his contact informa- of June 3, 2017. The title came from tion: [email protected]. Is Ralph 1956 a lecture he gave a decade ago on the Wagner a candidate? Ed Francell 1957 Holocaust. Mac planned to recite it at Robert Siroty will be at the 65th after surviving a our reunion class dinner that night. 707 Thistle Hill Ln. Herman Levy huge fire in Atlanta. Bob Bernot Somerset, NJ 08873 7322 Rockford Dr. escaped the confines of Manhattan “Every Life Matters” [email protected] Falls Church, VA 22043 for Long Island — he still comes [email protected] to basketball games, however. Did …every life matters Bill Mink and Bob Brown ever Floridians and snowbirds got Come to this tender celebration of Sal Franchino: consider a Hastings-on-Hudson together on February 16 in Boynton “Anticipating a lives stilled to remind us Marty Mayer, H.S. reunion? Maybe we could get Beach, Fla. Susan and visit to Scranton, Pa., I thought I’d of the dreams we had when we left Jon Garnjost, Ralph Brunori Paul Frank, Jules Rosenberg and Janet and Elinor and check in with friend each other sixty years ago Dan Link, Anthony Viscusi from Forest Hills and Margo and I enjoyed SEAS’58 and googled him for to embark on our vast experiments H.S. Elliot Gross was espied march- the weather and the company. contact information. I was stunned of living away from the familiar. Alan Broad- ing with our class at Class Day. Back in New York, to find that he had passed on in “Tomorrow’s the future still…” win, Peter Klein, Maurice Klein, Harvey Greenberg was in September 2016. In the event that …every life matters. Gordon Silverman, Ralph Kaslick, Europe during reunion. The burning this is your first notice of Ralph’s Gerald Fine, Robert Paaswell, question is: Are they bringing back death, here is an excerpt from his We are drawn to the sound of Jesse Blumenthal the world-famous Haji?. Still living and I gathered obituary, which ran in the Scranton our laughter in Manhattan, Dick Ravitch makes for lunch at Faculty House in March Times-Tribune: “Ralph T. Brunori, that rang with determination speeches and is a strong figure in with our guest, Claire Gumus, associ- 81, of Clarks Summit, died Friday to remember New York City politics. Harris ate director of alumni relations in the morning in Geisinger Wyoming those never-to-be-forgotten moments Epstein is part of the Columbia Alumni Office (she works with the Valley Medical Center in Plains that moved us toward our community in Long Island. Norm Alumni Representative Committee). Township. His wife is the former uncertain futures. Goldstein loves living in and In addition to the usual reminisc- Joanne Marchese. The couple had Now we think on our working in Manhattan after many ing about the good old days, we been married for 57 years. separated histories months in Hawaii. Stan Blumberg gave Claire some ideas of why many “Born in Jessup, he was the son of spirit-friends, while winds lives in Manhattan and has been a alumni no longer interview, and gave of the late Carlo P. and Josephine of urgency fixture there since he graduated from her a chance to recruit among us. Agostini Brunori. He was a graduate carry through our thanks for the joys the College. Bill Epstein resides on On a more somber note, I report of Jessup High School, and attended we shared, Lou Hemmerdinger the West Side, close to the theater the passing of the Hun Preparatory School of to ease the echo from our many losses. SEAS’56, district. We can’t forget Minnesotan SEAS’58. Lou had been Princeton, N.J. “Out on life’s stormy sea” Walter Croll, former track and very active in class events in New “Ralph went on to receive …every life matters. basketball standout. Jim Berick York and in Florida. He will be his degree in engineering from Bill Schaffer practices law in Cleveland. sorely missed. (also Columbia University in 1958. While Remember our burning passions in The 65th will soon be upon us, now deceased) described his frater- at Columbia, he was a three-year the forever now, with plenty of new and different nity brother as “larger than life” and letterman in football. Ralph served to feel again the youthful exuberance activities. Watch your diets and don’t a “dear friend.” his country in the Army Corps of held close Engineers. During his career as an by our Columbia ’57 Classmates. industrial/manufacturing engineer As young men, we were ready to dash and engineering manager, he worked through the marathons of life. for several corporations. He retired Now we pause to feel the harmony from Lockheed Martin in 1996. of souls “Ralph was an active member that hover delicately between us and of several organizations to include the greatest of mysteries, when we, the Young Democrats of Lackawa- as mere mortals, must someday meet, nna County, the Scranton Junior where so many of our classmates Chamber of Commerce, the Society already have, of Manufacturing Engineers and in our realm of final destiny beyond the Abington Sportsmen’s Club. He this life. was an enthusiastic member of the “…all of us soon will be, far, far away.” Scranton Canoe Club and served on …every life matters. its Board of Directors. Maintaining his ties with Columbia University, he Those who have vanished from was a member of the Varsity C and our midst, Football Clubs. He also was an active will always be cherished, because we In March, several members of the Class of ’56 met on campus for lunch alumni representative in NEPA.” are holding fast at Faculty House. Seated, left to right: Gerry Fine; Ralph Kaslick; Gordon See more online: bit.ly/2q4bfNt. to our waking past. Then we release Silverman ’55, SEAS’56; and Jesse Blumenthal; and standing, left to right: Ralph was a good and decent them to fly again Buz Paaswell, Alan Broadwin, Peter Klein, Bob Siroty, Associate Director of man and one of the first friends I into our consciousness of what it is Alumni Relations Claire Gumus and Maurice Klein. made as a freshman at Columbia. we need to know

54 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews about the fragments of life that remain. which ranks scientists by the num- and the entire 1954 championship “What if ’t be winter’s chill, rain, storm 1958 ber of lives that were saved by their fencing team, which included Barry or summer’s thrill…” inventions and discoveries (Fritz Pariser ’55, Ted Reuter ’54 (my …every life matters. Barry Dickman Haber and Carl Bosch, the inven- freshman coach) and Steve Sobel 25 Main St. tors of synthetic fertilizer, are first ’54, who were present. Steve Buch- We carry a gentle chorus of Court Plaza North, Ste 104 with 2.7 billion lives; Louis Pasteur man ’59 and Ben Janowski ’59 were memories from Hackensack, NJ 07601 doesn’t even crack the top 10). So in attendance as well. Morningside Heights: “What if [email protected] your reporter investigated further “Several years ago I attended tomorrow bring, and quickly came across Bert the induction of our late coach, Irv sorrow or anything, other than joy?” Howard Winell forwarded this Hirschhorn PS’62 at number 28 DeKoff, into the Hall of Fame. I that keeps us anchored to our note: “David Paul [’04] here, your (54 million lives). As this column’s guess you could conclude that fenc- common heartbeat friend Steve Paul’s son. I’m very readers may remember, many years ing was and still is an important part of chance, of risk, of caring. sorry to be writing with sad news, ago we reported on the discovery of my Columbia experience! Look- “…this is today!” but unfortunately my father passed by Bert and his team of an oral ing forward to seeing classmates at …every life matters. away on December 24, 2016. He rehydration therapy that revolution- our 60th in 2018.” had sustained a head injury in a ized the treatment of cholera and Rick Brous’ family threw him “Long may Columbia stand, fall last July from which he never other dehydrating diseases. In 1987, a surprise 80th birthday party at honored throughout the land, recovered, and after six months of UNICEF proclaimed this discovery Costco. Rick’s reaction: “Yes, I was our Alma Mater grand, now and for ay… struggle and decreasing quality of as the greatest medical breakthrough shocked, completely surprised! My our Alma Mater grand, now and for ay.” life in the hospital, I think he was of the 20th century. wife, Marcia, did an incredible, ready to go. While I’m very sad it Chuck Golden writes: “It’s been amazing job; [it was a] difficult Mac also wrote a poem, “Tribute had to end this way for him, I’m some time since I last wrote about undertaking, especially because to Martin Luther King Jr.,” for the relieved that he was able to enjoy what’s happening in my life, espe- Costco does not allow private events event Arts for Martin; the poem his life right up until the accident cially now as I approach my 80th inside its stores.” was performed at Arcadia Charter and even in the hospital was able to birthday. I am in reasonably good Given Costco’s business model, health, but with the usual aches and the party undoubtedly concluded pains that are common at this age. with the world’s largest birthday cake. But, I can still move around pretty The Class Lunch is held on the Rick Brous ’58’s family threw him a surprise 80th birthday well on a tennis court and partici- second Tuesday of every month, in party at Costco — particularly impressive because pate and hold my own in two very the Grill at the Princeton Club of strong doubles games twice weekly New York, 15 W. 43rd St. ($31 per Costco does not allow private events inside its stores. with younger guys. Professionally, person). E-mail Art Radin if you I am officially ‘semi-retired,’ but do plan to attend, up to the day before: work out of my house for some for- [email protected]. mer clients. It’s nowhere near having School in Northfield, Minn., in listen to lots of music and enjoy the an office with a very busy practice, January 2017. That poem will run in company of loved ones. but it keeps me busy enough. 1959 the Fall issue of CCT. “My dad never tired of speaking “I am fortunate that both of Bernard Gittleman’s daughter, about his Blue Notes days, and I my children and their families live Norman Gelfand Bonnie Brensilber BUS’91, submit- was happy to find a cassette tape of here on Long Island, so my wife, c/o CCT ted the following on behalf of her you guys singing amidst his many Sheila, and I get to see them and our Columbia Alumni Center father, about her daughter: “My recordings. I know he very much five grandkids regularly for school 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 daughter, Jamie Brensilber LAW’20, appreciated your friendship and events, family get-togethers on holi- New York, NY 10025 will be the third generation of loyalty through all the many years days, and so on … And have I ever [email protected] Columbia graduates for our family.” since then.” mentioned that I am an avid model Lawrence Merrion writes: “John Howard added, “Steve was also in railroader? It keeps me busy as well. I hope this finds you well, that you Webster SEAS’58 passed away in the Glee Club and Notes and Keys, “As for fencing, I follow the had a relaxing spring and that you March at 82 in Mystic, Conn., where as well as an integral part of the present team and have celebrated its are enjoying summer. Please share he was employed at Electric Boat for Blue Notes. He lived these many last recent successes as NCAA champi- your adventures and experiences 35 years as an engineer. At Columbia years in Hamburg in retirement. ons for the past two years. (Maybe with your classmates. he received his degree in indus- “Steve’s involvement in music a three-peat this year? It’s looking Bob Ratner fills us in on his life trial engineering. He was an active was lifelong. As an undergraduate, good so far.)” north of the border: “Not that anyone member of Sigma Chi fraternity and he played the flute in the band and Chuck’s wish was granted. The Lion was wondering, but I’m still alive, a an NROTC … midshipman [and was involved with the Varsity Show, fencers finished in a three-way tie for retired sociology prof, still pumping became] a commissioned naval officer the Columbia Orchestra and the the Ivy championship, sharing the title out some sociological quiddities, serving on destroyers in the Atlantic. Columbia Chamber Music Society, with Penn and Princeton. Meanwhile, still living in Vancouver, Canada He was a member of the Westerly among other activities. He obtained the women’s team came in second and (feeling lucky about that these days) Chorus, Habitat for Humanity and a master’s at Yale and was awarded six Lions made All-Ivy. [Editor’s note: in the same house with the same the Mystic Seaport Shipyard. John a Fulbright scholarship to study in See “Roar, Lion, Roar.”] wife, though there’s a new dog in the always accepted a challenge, looking London. He then had a long career Chuck continued: “I see some family. These self-regarding details for a simple solution. as a record producer for Deutsche former teammates on a regular basis. aside, my main reason for writing was “So, Herman, we lose another Grammaphon.” In fact, I attended the Columbia to compliment Ken Scheffel for his classmate … I remain as … one of A recent New Yorker article on University Athletics Hall of Fame remarks about Cuba in the Winter the few members of Sigma Chi who genetic engineering contained a black tie dinner in October in Low 2016–17 Class Notes (I await Part II are still around.” reference to scienceheros.com, Library to induct Jim Margolis, of his reflections) and to throw in my

Summer 2017 CCT 55 Class Notes two cents on this important subject. “Our tour ended with an evening before Donald either closes the occupied with three pro bono boards I have been upset by the vitriolic, dialogue with one of the many door or opens it to the same old — Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, unbalanced criticism of Fidel Castro Neighborhood Committees for reprobates. Cheers.” which I helped found 31 years ago; by some commentators in the wake the Defense of the Revolution. A David Horowitz LAW’62 shares The Nature Conservancy in Con- of his death. His detractors seem to party militant (or ‘professional’) his opinions with us: “Thirty years ago necticut, for which I am chairman; forget the murderous dictatorship, conducted the group meeting, but my co-author (Peter Collier) and I and most recently, Lyme Academy bolstered by United States mafia all of our questions were answered wrote a cover story for The Washington College of Fine Arts, [where I am bosses, which Castro’s revolution- by the assembled villagers with Post’s Sunday Magazine explaining on the Board of Trustees]. I also did ary movement supplanted. How, gusto and apparent candor. If it why we had voted for Ronald Reagan some branding work for Columbia really, could Castro have led Cuba was staged, they were wonderful in 1984. Until that moment, we were College Dean James J. Valentini to for 50 years, staved off U.S. military actors. On our last day, my Canadian best-selling authors featured on page try to help position and distinguish aggression and endured periods colleague and I visited a family at one of the Sunday New York Times Columbia College from its primary of economic peril, had the people their home in Havana. The husband Book Review. Our latest book on competitors — Harvard, Yale, Princ- not been for him? How did a poor had once taught at my university, the Kennedys was a number 1 New eton, Brown, Chicago and Stanford country, made poorer by the senseless moved to Cuba, married and had York Times bestseller at the time. But — putting the focus on our Core U.S. embargo, survive to achieve three children, one of whom had once our article appeared we became Curriculum and location in NYC as the heights of national literacy, free just returned from Kiev University pariahs in the literary culture, which is unique and potentially a source of education and expert medical care? to help celebrate his parents’ 25th dominated by a hate-filled progres- exceptional life opportunities. My Why is Fidel lionized by so many anniversary. Soon after we arrived, sive left, and soon vanished altogether wife and I divide our time between world leaders if he was the villain a party member, described by our from the pages of the Times, The New Lyme, Conn.; Park City, Utah; and depicted by his opponents, who chose host as a friend, knocked on the York Review of Books, The Washington NYC, and thankfully have little time exile rather than accept the necessary door and joined us for the full three Post and other left-wing venues. These to kvetch about the tarnish on the changes wrought by the revolution? hours. This seemed a little ominous “My first impressions of Castro at first, but we proceeded to have an came in 1959 when he and his animated discussion where no ques- cigar-chomping confederates arrived tion went unanswered. Of course, Eric Jakobsson ’59 has published three in Jeeps and battle fatigues on the I wondered about the presence of peer-reviewed scientific journals so far this year Columbia campus. One of my profes- a party official at each of the two sors at the time was C. Wright Mills, supposedly informal occasions, more and hopes to “crank out a few more.” a renowned iconoclast who was soon than suggesting that the situations to write a book defending the Cuban were being monitored to assure Revolution (Listen, Yankee, 1960). I that the ‘wrong’ messages were not had already taken Mills’ third-year conveyed to outsiders. Even so, the venerable institutions rebranded golden years. Hope to see classmates social stratification course in which exchanges were frank and robust, themselves as ‘safe places,’ protecting at our 60th in a couple of years. (a few of you may remember) I portraying a Cuban society that was themselves and the public from our From Eric Jakobsson we hear: replied, to Mills’ query about the still in struggle but thankfully liber- politically incorrect ideas. It’s pretty “I have published three peer- significance of Thanksgiving, that ‘it ated from an ugly past. difficult to have a bestseller when you reviewed scientific papers so far in was the one day of the year when all “The academic conference that are boycotted by the literary world. 2017, and I hope I can crank out a classes, low, middle and high, could I attended in 2000 came not long Imagine my surprise then when my few more, as the ideas are there and eat the same bird.’ It doesn’t seem after the ‘special period,’ during new book (brace yourselves), Big my students have provided the raw quite so funny now, but it drew gales which Cuba suffered new priva- Agenda: President Trump’s Plan to material. I am planning a couple of of laughter and applause back then. In tions after the loss of its bulwark Save America — published three days grant proposals in collaboration with the senior year seminar, Mills’ teaching Soviet Union trade partner. Now before the inauguration — hit the younger colleagues, as I am too old favorably inclined me toward the buses and taxis had returned to the Times’ best-seller list a couple of weeks to guarantee an incoming graduate changes taking place in Cuba. streets and Cuba was no longer later, and remains there at this writing. student that I will be there in sup- “Over the course of my career at reeling economically, although the “At 78 I consider this serendip- port for another decade (the degree, the University of British Colum- U.S. embargo continued. But there ity, particularly since progressive and reference letters for postdoc and bia (still Columbia, just a different was ample evidence of blight; even America’s bilious hatred for Trump beginning faculty position) without country), I made two visits to Cuba, at the convention center flustered even exceeds that of its antipathy a younger co-mentor. one as a member of a group of 20 delegates emerged from bathroom towards Reagan. I have waited 30 “I will go to Memorial Sloan North American criminologists on stalls that were without toilet paper, years for actual liberals to reappear Kettering in a couple of months for a study tour of the Cuban criminal still an unaffordable luxury in many on the other side of the political the next visit in watchful surveil- justice system (1985) and the other public places. Yet most of the people divide — people who value two or lance for diagnosed prostate cancer, as a participant in an international I spoke with told me that they loved more sides to a political debate, and which seems to be retreating under academic conference (2000). On the Fidel and would fight to preserve the who regard character assassination my self-administration of lithium. I first visit our group was introduced values enshrined by the revolution. (such as that conducted by Sen. will probably have cataract surgery to diverse examples, in action, Clearly, however, they wanted more Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and and surgery to relieve intraocular of the courts, prisons, civil and in the way of material comforts and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in pressure to prevent further advance political systems, including lengthy hoped for some relaxation of political the recent confirmation hearings of glaucoma. interviews with key officials. I asked constraints. Developments since against my friend Jeff Sessions) with “I will soon become a grandfather hard questions, sometimes upsetting then have made both achievable if the disgust they deserve. I don’t to my 13th grandchild. The rest of my U.S. colleagues, but our hosts Fidel’s critics would relent and enable think I’ll be waiting any longer.” the family is well and does well, answered with alacrity, insisting change to take a salutary course. From Allen Rosenshine we albeit with all the normal stresses cleverly that, ‘There are no indiscreet “I hope to visit Cuba again and learn, “Having celebrated my 10th and strains of life. I agreed to stand questions, only indiscreet answers.’ I urge all of you to do the same … year of retirement, I am keeping for election for another four years

56 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews on the Urbana City Council. I also just celebrated my 78th birthday, all put our pants on one leg at a time.’ decided that my major activity in I didn’t want to spend the next 12 On that trip, our young daughter 1961 the ‘Resistance’ will be fighting to hours rebooking and traveling, so we often fell asleep on his lap while he support climate science. I planned to decided to cancel the whole thing. slept. Alan proved that men who Michael Hausig march in the People’s Climate March And I must say it was a bit of a relief: walked on the moon are regular guys. 19418 Encino Summit in Washington, D.C., on April 29 London, Milan, Lucca, Venice all “I was United States Olympic Ski San Antonio, TX 78259 and am figuring out how else to at once? This is for the young. From Team nutritionist for two Olympic [email protected] help, within the umbrella of the now on, only one city at a time. Next Games. I worked with outstanding Union of Concerned Scientists. My will be Vienna in October.” coaches, trainers and athletes. Serving Martin Wenglinsky GSAS’72 retired rationale for this choice is that the As Allen mentioned, we will have as nutritionist for the Voyager flight, I as emeritus professor of sociology most imminent existential threat to our 60th reunion in less than two shook hands with President Reagan at Quinnipiac. He keeps active, in civilization is climate change-induced years. I hope that we can all attend when he awarded the pilots and part, by writing a blog about culture food shortages, as neither agriculture and that the College will let us have a designer the U.S. Medal of Freedom. and politics, “Wenglinsky Review” nor fisheries will be able to adapt. class-specific reunion rather than cob- “I followed my star and wrote 14 (wenglinskyreview.com), which might Demagogues come and go, but the bling us together with other classes. books. Hofstra awarded me a Doctor interest classmates. effects of drastic climate change will of Humane Letters for my book Carl Klotz is going to Madrid be very hard to recover from.” Eating Right for a Bad Gut, which in October for the New Jersey Bar J. Peter Rosenfeld GSAS’61 1960 helps Crohn’s Disease sufferers lead a midyear meeting and plans to visit has had an unfortunate experience more normal life. I did speaking tours Montego Bay, Jamaica, in January. with a major airline. In order to pro- Robert A. Machleder in many countries, which helped me Recently, Drew Greenblatt, son tect the guilty, I will delete the name 69-37 Fleet St. appreciate this incredible world and of Mickey Greenblatt, president of the airline and summarize his Forest Hills, NY 11375 its diverse people and their marvelous of Marlin Steel Wire Products and experience. His story begins with an [email protected] ways of life. member, former board member and invitation to speak at the conference “As one of the last Korean War GI president of the Wire Fabricators “Reading the Deceptive Brain and Jim Scala, author, lecturer and Bill students, married with children Association, visited the White House Mind,” which took place in Lucca, teacher, had a résumé of unique and older than most of my classmates, and met with President Trump. In Italy, March 16–18. experiences already under his belt you’d think I was outside the Colum- Drew’s words, “It was an honor.” It was not to be. Peter made when he joined our class. After bia College student group. Not so — I He reports that they spent about reservations for himself and his wife, graduation he pursued his passions enjoyed many good friendships and half an hour in the Roosevelt Room Carmen, which included flights to with a relentless enterprise and was invited to frat houses for dinner and then went into the Oval Office. London, then to Milan and via train to vigor that continues to this day. He when I took night classes at the School Drew says that what you see on Lucca, but that was not all. “I needed writes to recap some highlights and of General Studies. I enjoyed much TV is what we are really getting; to arrange for a cat-sitter for our to give us an update on his life: “At warm fellowship. I express my thanks President Trump has a real focus on Siamese and to get euros and British 82, Nancy and I will celebrate our to all my classmates for being so warm, manufacturing — he is supportive pounds. We had to get up at 5 a.m. to 60th anniversary in June. We live in friendly and supportive. We shared of the industry and is enthusiastic to leave house at 7 a.m. for airport arrival Lafayette, Calif., where I conduct great fellowship and a unique learning help. Vice President Mike Pence and at 8 a.m. for a 10 a.m. flight.” a senior’s walking (2.75 miles) and experience in an outstanding school.” adviser Stephen Miller were also a After doing all that they “boarded yoga program three times weekly. In the Spring 2017 issue this part of the meeting. Additionally, the plane to London, got seated and, I write two monthly newspaper column acknowledged, with pride Drew met White House Chief of two hours later, the plane hadn’t columns, ‘Walking the Reservoir’ and gratitude, the contribution Staff Reince Priebus and Steve Ban- moved and they canceled the flight. and ‘What’s Up.’ In the latter, I that Larry Mendelson and the non, assistant to the President and This was the new Boeing 787 dream tell what’s visible in the night sky, Mendelson family made in support White House chief strategist. liner, a beautiful, modern plane. which goes to my original scientific of the College. It is now worthy Drew told the President about There were many empty seats so we interest in astronomy. However, my of note that the highly regarded the U.S.’ manufacturing renaissance each could stretch out. And I think adviser, Professor Larkin Farinholt, magazine Institutional Investor and how we are at an inflection that was the secret problem — too guided me into biochemistry and I named Larry as the Best CEO in point that will create a lot of jobs. many empty seats, so they canceled. was awarded a fellowship to study at Aerospace and Defense Electronics, Drew says that Trump’s policy They claimed no, it was ‘mechanical,’ Cornell. He was right on. and named his company, HEICO prescriptions will match goals to be but I don’t believe ‘the airline.’ “Armed with a Cornell doctorate, Corp., to its All-America Executive more effective. Drew described the “After we got off the plane, we had I followed a career in biochemical Team. Institutional Investor conducts conversation as “very uplifting.” You a one-hour line to speak to a ticket nutrition. I taught at several med a survey of the top 3,100 portfolio can hear Drew’s public comments agent to reimburse Carmen’s trip (I schools and UC Berkeley and worked managers and analysts to assemble to Trump in front of the press at 17 had to reimburse mine separately with Apollo astronauts. Later, [astro- its list of the country’s best compa- minutes and 40 seconds online at by phone, as it was booked with naut] Gordon Cooper asked me to nies and management teams. The bit.ly/2pdzc0I. frequent flyer miles). Then there was work with him on Walt Disney’s survey looks at various factors that Bob Salman LAW’64 will be on another one-hour line to get our EPCOT Center. I became a hero investors, analysts and the magazine the Democratic Party primary ballot bags back. They had rebooked us on with our children when I introduced consider to be important character- on June 6, seeking his fifth consecu- a red-eye through Madrid, which them to Donald Duck, Mickey istics of a strong management team. tive term as an elected member of would have gotten us into Milan Mouse and Goofy. Walt Disney folks Ultimately, Institutional Investor the New Jersey Democratic State without sleep. But then we would awarded me a gold Mickey Mouse selected 171 U.S. companies out of Committee. As he is on the official have needed to get to Lucca, making watch at EPCOT’s completion. the roughly 20,000 U.S. publicly party line with gubernatorial candi- new train reservations. I might have “An exciting life experience was held companies for inclusion in the date Phil Murphy, he is expected to arrived just in time for my presenta- a speaking tour [astronaut] Alan All-America Executive Team. The win reelection. tion — but without sleep. No way. Shepard and I did in Japan. Alan awards were presented at a ceremony In April, Eugene Bardach was It was just too much and, having taught me an important lesson: ‘We in New York on March 7. elected a fellow of the American

Summer 2017 CCT 57 Class Notes

Academy of Arts and Sciences. of Richard III, The Merchant of Venice organizations, encompassing theatre, in writing and passing Massachusetts’ Gene is professor emeritus at the and many others. Some of the casts dance and music, took part. It went on special education legislation. In 2014 Goldman School of Public Policy at were headed by major stars of the for about half a year. ‘We started out Larry retired from the law firm of the University of California. screen, including Patrick Stewart, thinking in terms not quite that large Kotin, Crabtree & Strong. Joe Rosenstein has a new hip Stacy Keach and Kelly McGillis. or for that long a time, but it had a Harvey Silverberg and his wife (left), a new grandson (number 11), “McGillis — at the height of momentum of its own,’ Kahn said. of 51 years, Ellen, recently traveled is retiring in June after 48 years as her movie star fame (Witness and “Under Kahn, the Shakespeare to Montreal to celebrate the 50th a math professor at Rutgers and Top Gun) — became a mainstay of Theatre Company — which went anniversary of Harvey’s graduation continues to publish math books (see Kahn’s company, with turns in The from the Folger to the Lansburgh from medical school at McGill. “It new-math-text.com, which is appro- Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night and added its Sidney Harman Hall was enjoyable to catch up with Alan priate for the mathematically curious and Much Ado About Nothing, among centerpiece in 2007 — won a Tony for Barnes, who also went to McGill,” of all ages) and non-conventional others. ‘It wasn’t about stars,’ Kahn outstanding regional theater company Harvey writes, “but after living in traditional Jewish prayer books (see said. ‘It was, then, about finding the in 2012. Productions he directed, southern California for nearly 50 newsiddur.org, for the religiously best actors for the roles, and they including The Oedipus Trilogy, have years, I didn’t relish the weather. I’ve curious of all ages). “I am certain that were the best actors.’ toured nationally and internationally. had a few speed bumps healthwise, if every bored Jew held this prayer “Kahn moved the company “‘We’ve done a lot of Shakespeare not surprising in our golden years, book, they would never be bored downtown to the Lansburgh Theatre plays that people had not seen but will spare you an ‘organ recital.’” again,” writes Abigail Pogrebin about on 7th Street NW when the effort before,’ he said. ‘I can’t say that I’ve Harvey keeps busy in Santa Joe’s Machzor Eit Ratzon in her made him a pioneer, along with res- done all the plays — The Comedy Barbara with golf two days a week, a recently published My Jewish Year: 18 taurateur Jose Andres, who opened of Errors, for instance, I didn’t see class at Santa Barbara Community Holidays, One Wondering Jew. his Jaleo around the same time. the need, and The Tempest.’ But, to College and a weekly ophthal- Michael Kahn, artistic director of “‘You would not recognize be clear: ‘I don’t have a bucket list. mological clinic at Santa Barbara the Shakespeare Theatre Company the area then. It was not that far I think I’ve done most of what I County Hospital. Harvey and Ellen’s in Washington, D.C., for the past 30 removed from the riots. There was wanted to do, and I thought it was older son, a pediatric ophthalmolo- years announced on February 13 his a bar across the street and some sex just the right time for me to retire.’” gist, lives nearby with his wife and plans to retire. shops, I believe. It was a rundown My wife, JB, and I completed our three children. Harvey and Ellen From the press release: “Kahn area,’ he said. ‘We are looking at 30 fourth season as ski ambassadors have six grandchildren on the East accomplished much here, in this city years,’ Kahn said. ‘If anybody had at Copper Mountain, Colo. Alex Coast, so their travels now center on and with this company, has pretty told me I would be here for 30 years, Liebowitz joined us for a great going to bar/bat mitzvahs. much fulfilled his ambitions, dreams well, I had no idea and no inten- week of skiing. Bob Rennick and Last year was monumental for and expectations. ‘I don’t really have tion to do that. It wasn’t my style. his wife, Lisa, who live in Colorado Jerry Doppelt and his wife, Sharon any thoughts about doing plays that I thought, well, maybe a few years, Springs, visited twice for lunch and Weremiuk. On July 1, Jerry formally I haven’t done. There’s no big task, no maybe two or three or more, and dinner, and we watched the Super retired from UC San Diego, where, regrets or unfulfilled plan or anything things didn’t turn out that way.’ Bowl on the 5x9-ft. screen with since 1974, he had taught required like that,’ he said. ‘I think by the time “What did turn out was a John Drake and family at their lecture courses on current ethical a new person is hired, I like to think Washington institution, complete home in Silverthorne, Colo. This has issues related to global warming, they’ll be in a position to fulfill and with powerful adjunct parts and the been a tradition since 2016. genetic testing/engineering, the dis- bring their own ideas and visions to innovative spirit of Kahn himself. In tribution of healthcare, biomedical the task, and that they’ll be about the his retirement statement, Kahn said: ethics, abortion, medical paternal- future of the theater moving forward.’ ‘From the day I arrived in Washington, 1962 ism/patients’ rights, social justice and “Kahn, whose impact has been I have been determined to make this minority rights. His publications enormous and far-reaching, isn’t city a destination for lovers of theater John Freidin focus on issues in the philosophy retiring just yet. The summer of 2019, and performing arts. I wanted to make 654 E. Munger St. of science, such as the possibility of when he plans to depart, is more than STC accessible to all and introduce Middlebury, VT 05753 truth and knowledge of scientific two years away. On March 9, he was new audiences to classic theater.’ [email protected] theories, the role of observation the featured guest at Georgetown “Among his innovations have and experiment in science, scientific Media Group’s next Cultural Leader- been the annual Shakespeare Free Allen Young recently had enjoy- revolutions, self-respect, work and ship Breakfast at the George Town For All, originally at Carter Barron able telephone conversations with labor, gender justice and minority Club. Kahn, who married interior- Amphitheatre, from which nearly Lawrence Kotin. Larry (a longtime rights in the contemporary nation- design architect Charles Mitchem 700,000 theatergoers have ben- resident of the Boston area) and state. When added to his seven in May of 2015 ( Justice Ruth Bader efited, and the popular Text Alive! Allen were high school friends and years at Penn, Jerry has completed Ginsburg [LAW’59] officiating), had program, which saw the company classmates at Fallsburg Central 50 years as a professor. He received been mulling over his professional going into classrooms and bringing School in the Borscht Belt (Sullivan six teaching awards. At UCSD he transition for a couple of years. ‘You’re students to the stage. He formed County, N.Y.), but at Columbia they held many administrative positions, looking for the right time. It takes at the Academy for Classical Acting at hardly interacted. Larry was shy and including director of an NSF- least a year before a new person comes George Washington University, and put off by the more verbally aggres- funded Ph.D. program in science in to put together their own season.’ its graduates have filled the ranks sive Columbians — the so-called “big studies and chair of the commit- “Kahn arrived in Washington in of regional theater communities men on campus” — and Allen admits tee that decides all academic hires 1986 as a confirmed New Yorker, — including Washington’s — with he was one of those, largely because and promotions for the university. mainly to help stabilize — or more gifted and experienced actors. of his involvement with Spectator, Jerry was fêted at a big party at the accurately rescue — what was then “Kahn and then Kennedy Center where he became editor-in-chief. UCSD Faculty Club. During the called the Shakespeare Theatre at President Michael Kaiser were the Allen wants his classmates to know next three years this “retiree” will the Folger Shakespeare Library. guiding forces behind a citywide that as an attorney Larry became a teach one class a year. By the time He did so with aplomb, energy and Shakespeare in Washington Festival hero to the parents of many special you read this, he will have already style, with memorable productions in 2007, in which some 40 cultural needs children for the part he played taught one of those courses!

58 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

But that’s not all. Jerry and Sharon latest classmates to have knee trans- David Orme-Johnson writes: great summer fishing from my new — a biologist, oceanographer and plants — a partial in Peter’s case. His “My wife, Rhoda (Vassar ’62), recently power boat, Amazing Grace. Caught caseworker for pregnant and parent- surgeon at Columbia, Ron Drusin published her book, Inside Maharishi’s fish every time we went out — blue- ing teens — have been worldwide PS’66, retired from seeing patients Ashram: A Personal Story, about our fish, striped bass, fluke, sea bass and travelers for years. Last year was no this year although he continues to 47 years with Maharishi. It is getting bonito. This year we are going to target exception. During Jerry’s sabbatical in teach at P&S. Peter’s new cardiolo- good reviews on Amazon.” blue fin tuna, typically 25–50 lbs., and winter 2016, he and Sharon returned gist, Stefano Ravalli, is age-appropri- David adds, “Nick Zill and his run a five-pole spread. I’ll guarantee to India for five and a half weeks. ate and has also seen Peter Lushing wife, Karen, came for a visit recently we won’t come home with fish every They visited Kolkata, where Jerry and George Frangos. “When I and we had a good time walking time if we pursue tuna.” presented a paper, and then took a saw him recently,” Peter wrote, “I on the beach, talking and eating at Frank, glad you decided to keep four-week odyssey through southern told him that he was the Class of ’62 good restaurants.” your Chappaquiddick house a while India, partly with Overseas Adven- cardiologist extraordinaire!” Speaking of Nick, I got the fol- longer. May you have a great sum- ture Travel. They visited Untouch- Volume II of Anthony Valerio’s lowing update from him: “Ivanka, mer of fishing! David Saxe able villages, Brahmin towns, tea Immigrants recently appeared in Eric and Don Jr. are arguing over has retired from plantation worker camps and one of digital form. One critic wrote: “This who gets to develop our national the bench and joined the law firm the largest slums in Mumbai. They collection of portraits of immigrants parks and monuments. But the Morrison Cohen. The firm issued concluded their trip with a luxurious includes migrations past and present President and the Chinese have a press release stating: “The Hon. stay at the Taj Mahal Palace, where that are loomed together in a great other plans. You can see and hear David B. Saxe joined the firm as a in November 2008 a small group of tapestry of stories. Like all great all about it in our new City In A partner in the business litigation heavily armed Pakistanis besieged the tapestries, not all the figures featured Swamp video on YouTube, Under department. Justice Saxe served on hotel and approximately 30 people, are human. That is why some of the Development: Trump Family Plans the bench for 35 years, the last 19 including the attackers, were killed. immigrants are animals that have for Our National Parks: youtu.be/ of which have been as an Associate Jerry and Sharon plan at least one come to North America by many 2OLoOkVzYUw. Sketch written by Justice, New York State Supreme more trip to India to visit the north- routes, some as refugees of war. The yours truly, with some brilliant ad lib Court Appellate Division, First west province of Rajasthan. lives brought together in Immigrants II additions by the actors. Please enjoy Department. Justice Saxe will be In July, Jerry and Sharon flew have much to teach us of ‘humanity’ in (if that’s the right word) and share joining Morrison Cohen’s highly east for a niece’s wedding and then its many forms.” with friends, family, colleagues and regarded appellate practice group. headed to Philadelphia. All their Anthony wishes “all my mates fellow conservationists.” His many years as a respected old haunts were gone! They even lots of good health and happiness.” Among classmates who have been judge and a successful attorney struggled to find the Leidy biological Phil Lebovitz writes: “I joined moved to write about our national will provide clients with a unique labs, where Sharon had worked, and Facebook because that seemed to be scene, Michael Lubell has spoken out perspective on navigating the litiga- the philosophy building where Jerry the only route I had to reach Ron for The Hill on cutting science fund- tion and appeals process. He also taught. They concluded the trip by Chernow, the author of the definitive ing, and on the futility of restoring will lead Morrison Cohen’s strategic visiting Greenport on the North Fork biography of Alexander Hamilton coal-mining jobs for the San Francisco case review practice, where he will of Long Island and Sagamore Hill. that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda Chronicle. You should ‘friend’ Michael provide an impartial review of case Inspired by their visit to Roosevelt to create the rave musical Hamilton. I at facebook.com/mslubell to see links strategy and recommendations from land, Jerry and Sharon bought two am working on a psychoanalytic per- to these and other articles. the perspective of an experienced Russian Siberian kittens and named spective of Hamilton and Chernow And, in case you missed it, Allen member of the bench. Justice Saxe is them Teddy and Eleanor. has access to all kinds of source mate- Frances PS’78 wrote a notable letter a gifted and prolific writer and is the Late in August, Jerry and Sharon rial that would be helpful. I had no to the editor of The New York Times, author of more than 900 decisions, took their daughter Sasha to Maui — luck with Facebook Messenger. So clarifying our President’s condition. As many of which have appeared in “beautiful as always,” they say. Finally, if you know any way I might contact chairman of the task force that wrote the New York Law Journal and the they flew to Florida in December to Ron, I would be very grateful.” the latest D.S.M. (the Diagnostic and Official State Reporter. His decisions visit their 89-year-old aunt Marie and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), are regularly cited by colleagues cousin Georgette for two weeks. From Allen feels that President Trump is and often have been the subject of there they joined an Oceania cruise to 1963 not mentally ill, suffering from narcis- scholarly critiques.” David Alpern the West Indies with Sharon’s sister, sistic personality disorder, but rather “a reports: “We made Kathy, and her husband, Tal. They Paul Neshamkin world-class narcissist” who has caused a delightful four-day visit to London ventured as far south as Colón on the 1015 Washington St., Apt. 50 distress rather than experiencing it. in March for the revival of the 1997 east side of Panama, where Sharon Hoboken, NJ 07030 Well worth doing a Google search to Broadway musical The Life by the lived for a month in 1972. [email protected] read the entire letter. late, great Cy Coleman (Sweet Jerry keeps fit, especially by swim- For the second consecutive Charity, City of Angels, Witchcraft, The ming. Sharon teaches tai chi, is co- I write to you on a beautiful spring summer, Lee Lowenfish taught a Best Is Yet to Come) and my lyricist president of the La Jolla Playhouse day, having just returned from baseball and American culture class friend Ira Gasman. I had helped Partners, volunteers at the San Diego meetings on campus. The place looks at the Chautauqua Institution, the arrange a letter from Ira to the Lon- Natural History Museum in botany great, actually far prettier than when renowned adult education mecca in don company on how The Life came and is an occasional guide on the we were there. Commencement and western New York State. Earlier in to life, which was printed in the full UCSD campus. These responsibili- finals are about a month away and the spring he talked about Cuba’s color ‘programme.’ And the produc- ties have led her to take a temporary the students, as always, are enjoying abiding love for baseball at the ers asked me to write a sidebar on break from the study of Russian. the Low Steps. A perfect scene; annual Cooperstown Symposium. the show’s setting — sexy, smarmy, Paul Gitman To see ’s extraordi- brings back many memories. For Frank Partel writes that he doesn’t scary, pre-Disney Times Square. That, nary travel and wildlife photographs, those who never write, please think really have any news to share but as it happens, was the subject of my go to gitman.shutterfly.com. back to your College years and share added, “We reversed a decision and first major reporting assignment at Peter Krulewitch Paul joined your memories here. It would be took the Chappy house off the market Newsweek when Mayor John Lindsay Cooper Burt Lehman and as our good to hear from you. for at least a couple of years. I had a launched what the writer to whom

Summer 2017 CCT 59 Class Notes

I filed my report described, with Our 55th reunion is only 11 mandy visiting the beaches of the Ken DeWoskin (kjdewosk@ appropriate Guys and Dolls panache, months away. Please mark your 1944 invasion. He found it “moving” umich.edu) and his wife, Judith, as ‘The oldest established permanent calendar and hold the (estimated) and “dramatic,” and said, “I couldn’t spent the weekend of March 17–19 floating clean-up in New York.’ The dates, Thursday, May 31–Sunday, imagine being one of those guys.” with my wife, Adele, and me in opening night audience was wildly June 3, 2018. As I mentioned in a Beril adds that the inspiration for NYC. They were in town for the enthusiastic, reviews have been strong recent issue, we have already formed the trip was stories told by Professor opening night performance of their and fingers are crossed that the a Reunion Committee and had our James Shenton ’49, GSAS’54 in his son-in-law Zayd Dohrn GSAS’04, show can move from the 250-seat first meeting. Please contact me if you 20th-century history class. GSAS’06’s new play, The Profane, Southwark Playhouse to a main stage want to help organize and gather your I am saddened to report the death which recently received a rave Larry Kessler on the West End. We enjoyed mixing classmates. Let’s make it a great party. in March of LAW’67. review from The New York Times. Allan Sperling at the after-party and brought home Remember, our regular class Larry and lived across Zayd is married to Ken and Judith’s Jack for Ira a program signed by producer lunches at the Columbia University from the room I shared with daughter, Rachel DeWoskin ’94, an Lipson Alan Willen Amy Anzel ’95, and Tony-winning Club of New York are always a great and in Hartley accomplished poet and novelist. Her director Michael Blakemore OBE, as place to reconnect. If you’re back in Hall. Larry remained a good friend appreciation of the late poet Derek well as Coleman’s widow and every NYC, try to make one of the lunches. after graduation. At the time of his Walcott appeared in The New Yorker member of the cast. Felt great to play The next is on July 13. We will skip death, Larry was the Richard Cardali on March 25. a small part in it all.” August and then meet again on Sep- Distinguished Professor of Trial The Times and West Side Spirit Zev bar-Lev (ne Robert Lefko- tember 14 — it’s always the second Advocacy at Hofstra Law School, have reported on Robert Gangi’s witz) writes, “My Global Alphabet Thursday. Check cc63ers.com for where he had taught torts, criminal candidacy for mayor of New York. website (languagebazaar.com) has details (I promise to update it soon). procedure, evidence and criminal law Robert was executive director of the recently been rebuilt. It features my since 1974. For 35 years he was the Correctional Association of New new poem, If letters could speak, I’d director of the National Institute of York for more than 29 years and learn (in a week) Latin, Hebrew, and 1964 Trial Advocacy Northeast Basic Trial founded the police reform organiz- Greek, in a song by my daughter, Skills course, and he also taught trial ing project at the Urban Justice Norman Olch Nomi bar-Lev. My new website advocacy in Russia, France and Mol- Center in April 2011. He has been 233 Broadway answers the question ‘How many dova. After graduating from the Law an activist, community organizer New York, NY 10279 words do you need to begin reading School, Larry clerked for a judge in and public policy advocate in New [email protected] in any foreign language?’ The usual the United States District Court for York City through the years and answer is about 2,000 word-families the Southern District of New York, is a recognized expert on criminal (root-words). My answer is different: The Museum of the American Rev- and then was defense counsel for justice and law enforcement issues 23 words — the same ones for many olution has opened in Philadelphia the court’s Federal Defenders before with a focus on police and prison or all languages. But they’re actually in a red-brick building designed entering the academic world. Our concerns. According to the Times Key-letters, much easier to learn by Robert A.M. Stern ’60. Many condolences to Larry’s wife, Barbara, article, Robert’s candidacy presents Steve Case than words. Of course, cognates are a thanks are owed to and to the rest of his family. an unusual challenge to current bigger help in cognate languages like LAW’68, vice-chair of the museum’s Requiescat in pacem. mayor Bill de Blasio: A campaign Spanish and French, but my compre- board. Steve writes: “This new focused on policing as well as “social, hensive but tiny theory of the world’s institution (on 3rd and Chestnut, racial and economic justice” issues languages is also interesting as a just down the street from Indepen- 1965 that might resonate with the mayor’s theory of the human mind, as I see dence Hall) is the first such museum base among Black and Latino voters. Leonard B. Pack in workshops that I give for senior anywhere in the United States; just The Times reported Robert’s vow 924 West End Ave. citizens on my Global Alphabet.” short of $160 million was raised. The that on his first day in City Hall he Ed Coller New York, NY 10025 writes, “If you have beautifully designed new building would end the police department’s [email protected] nothing to fill the Class Notes, was completed in September. Exhib- low-level enforcement practices, maybe you can note my participa- its were installed, and opening day often known as “broken windows” tion in the Orgo Night letter to was April 19, the 242nd anniversary Sharp-eyed readers of the “Letters policing, which he has called the CCT [Editor’s Note: See “Letters to of the Battles of Lexington and to the Editor” section in the Spring “new stop-and-frisk.” the Editor,” Spring 2017]. We are Concord. Among a large number of 2017 CCT might have noticed that Good luck, Robert! Dan Carlinsky J. Don- still trying to find someone to talk to never-before-on-public-display arti- JRN’66 and Barry Herman (hermanb@ ald Smith (either the alums or the band lead- facts is the only surviving campaign were among the signers of newschool.edu) sent a wonderful ers) — it’s like finding Judge Crater tent used on a daily basis by George a letter protesting the recent banning note: “I applaud your collecting — and any notice that the game is Washington all through the Revolu- from Butler Library, on the basis of correspondence from classmates for still on can’t hurt.” tion. That is only one of a large “Library rules,” of Orgo Night, a decades (for half a century?) as our For those not following the lat- number of unique, exciting items on 45-year-old cherished tradition in class correspondent.” est at dear old Columbia (and you display that will thrill visitors. I hope which, the night before the organic Barry gives me too much credit should): The banning of the Colum- that everyone will put a trip to this chemistry final, the Columbia Uni- — Bob Reza, now deceased, was bia University Marching Band from exciting new facility on the list for versity Marching Band, in the words my predecessor. Butler Library Room 209 during their next trip to Philadelphia.” of a student quoted in a College Barry continues: “I read Noah Fred Kantor finals, on the night before the In January, made his admissions brochure, “storms into Robbins’ contribution in the Winter organic chemistry final, has touched first trip to Israel, to visit an aunt. He the room playing songs and reading 2016–17 issue. As he noted, I was a nerve — the end of an almost traveled with his brother and sister- jokes while the rest of us [students part of that Erasmus Hall H.S. con- 45-year old tradition. Read about in-law, and while there put a note in studying] are standing on the tables tingent that came to Columbia and, Allen it and follow other happenings on the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. and chairs dancing and laughing.” If like Noah, I was happy to reconnect Tobias Morningside Heights by subscribing visited Israel during Passover. you’re interested, more information with Bob Kronley a few years ago. online to Spectator. It’s always a good I previously reported that in 2016 can be found at columbiaorgonight. What prompts me to write is read- Beril Lapson read (although often perplexing). spent a week in Nor- blogspot.com. ing that Richard Steingesser ’66 has

60 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews died. I mainly read good news and obituary, written by Sam Roberts, in in all things Jewish since the fall the bankruptcy case, the government super achievements in the Alumni The New York Times on March 27. I of Communism. Because YIVO lawyers were able to extract $26 mil- News section of CCT and this was last mentioned Paul in this column and its director, Jonathan Brent ’71, lion for the pension fund. decidedly not good news. regarding his closing Claremont Rid- have strong ties to the cultural and “I had not seen Steingesser since ing Academy in 2007. This, according research institutions in Poland and Columbia. I still have close friends to the Times obituary, “turned Lithuania, our group was greeted and 1966 from Erasmus and at a recent ‘boys Manhattan into a no-horse town.” treated throughout as special guests. night out’ my friend Eric Shtob Also according to the obituary, Paul, If the subject matter interests you, Rich Forzani remembered something Steingesser who had learned to ride at Claremont contact YIVO for information about 413 Banta Ave. did that is worth sharing with my as a child, went to work there in 1972. this summer’s repeat trip. Garfield, NJ 07026 class, even if Steingesser was Class of As a student of East Asia at the time, “The last event to report on is [email protected] ’66. One day in spring 1961 (we were he had recently returned from Japan, my wife and I celebrating our 50th seniors), military recruiters came to where he had been studying Zen anniversary with our daughters, William “Hank” Abrashkin Chapel (what the auditorium was gardens under a Fulbright scholarship sons-in-law and four grandchildren. GSAS’68 writes, “How does one Ken DeWoskin called in our once-private public (in fact, Judith and Our anniversary was in June, but summarize the past 50 years in a school) to sell us on joining the mili- took over the Japanese house that we celebrated in January, not being paragraph or two? Especially when tary. Erasmus was huge (2,000 people Paul vacated to return to New York). confident we could find a weekend the interesting parts of a life are in our graduating class) and the Cha- Paul was a graduate of Horace Mann in June that everyone could make. found as much or more in the evolv- pel must have been full. Richard stood School and worked on his doctorate One show (Beautiful: the Carole ing spheres of learning, relationships up and said in a loud voice something in East Asian studies at Columbia. He King Story, which proved to be an and emotional development than in to the effect of ‘Why are you up there spoke eight languages. Paul is survived excellent consensus choice for all the events within which they take when any war would be a disaster?’ To by his wife, Nancy; daughters, Sasha three generations), three meals, a place. But, to start with the events, Miss Grace Corey, the white-haired and Maggie; and son, Daniel. The lovely hotel and some time watch- like many of us I’ve had various jobs assistant principal who kept her hair Times reports that there was a sign ing the historic and heartwarming and careers since college: attorney, in a bun (maybe) and someone who over Paul’s desk at the stable reading Women’s March on New York City judge and now director of a large made Nurse Ratched seem kindly “Culpa equestribus non equis,” which go up Fifth Avenue, just half a block housing agency in Springfield, Mass. (definitely), this could not stand. She can be loosely translated as “It’s always away — all combined to create a I’ve been married, divorced, single sent Richard to ‘the office’ and he was the rider’s fault, never the horse’s.” most memorable weekend. I’m not and am soon to be married once Steve Steinig never seen again (the last part is false). (sns4@optonline. the first in our class to reach the again, with two grown kids — one Walter Of course, Richard was right, as the net) responded to a note from 50-year milestone, and over the next a physician in Queens, the other, a Reich United States was just beginning to that appeared in the Winter several years many will. I assume Columbia College and Columbia gear up for what would become the 2016–17 issue, in which Walter that the others are as disbelieving as Engineering grad, the business disaster of Vietnam. I was sorry to wrote that he’d seen Steve and his I am that this many years could have manager for a company in the read of his passing.” wife, Renee Stern BC’67, at the bat passed since we said ‘I do.’” Brooklyn Navy Yard. Two grandkids I asked Barry about his activities mitzvah of a mutual family member. Daly Temchine was featured and another on the way; the younger at The New School. He replied, Steve wrote, “After the publication of prominently in a February 3 New generations provide the best reasons “Since you ask, I actually have Walter’s note in CCT, Walter sent me York Times article about Andrew to get back down to the city from stopped teaching at The New an email, reminding me that, a few Puzder, President Trump’s Secretary time to time. School, but keep some faculty months after that wonderful event, of Labor. The article referred to Puz- “Much travel, significantly in privileges. I am more involved at we saw each other again, this time at der’s defense in the 1980s of Morris Latin America. Recipient (so far) the United Nations, where I am the bat mitzvah of my granddaughter, Shenker, who was hit with a $34 of the greatest gifts life can offer — informally advising the Financ- Talia. What an opportunity to kvell million judgment for squandering health and vigor into our venerable ing for Development Office in the (a uniquely Yiddish word meaning to funds from his union workers’ pen- age (but what time is it now?). Best Secretariat. After three decades experience and express great pleasure sion funds. Daly was the lead lawyer friend and all-but-biological brother there, I should have some useful and pride in another’s accomplish- in the case for the Department of since college is Barry J. Nigrosh. observations. I am also writing and ment, especially a child or grandchild)! Labor. He is quoted as saying “I “Well, there’s a peek, and if there advocating on financing what the “Her bat mitzvah celebration was personally find there is some irony is anyone reading this who might International Labor Organization one of three special events in the in Mr. Puzder’s being nominated to remember me from college, and calls social protection floors, the last eight months. The first was an be the Secretary of Labor. Back then vice-versa, and who is so moved, idea being to provide minimum cash extraordinary Jewish heritage trip to he represented the guy who thought email away (william.abrashkin@ transfers and health services across Lithuania and Poland, sponsored by it was okay to screw his employees.” gmail.com) and we’ll take it from the life cycle (from child benefits to YIVO and the Jewish newspaper, The Daly described his litigation strategy there. Last but not least, thanks old age pensions). It’s about taxation Forward. YIVO is the Institute for against Puzder: “In my opening to Rich for taking on the daunt- and assuring funds during economic Jewish Research, founded in Vilna in statement to the jury I said, you may ing project of dragging classmates crises and natural catastrophes in 1925 and transplanted to New York hear a lot from the defense about from obscurity into some level of developing countries. as WWII got under way. Its initial how complicated this is, but it’s rudimentary communication.” “Final update: My Barnard girl- six-person honorary Board of Direc- simple. He borrowed $1,000 from From Bob Meyerson: “We went friend, Martha Feldman BC’66, and tors in 1925 included both Einstein each member and promised to give skiing in Utah — Deer Valley to be I are celebrating our 50th wedding and Freud. The purpose of the trip it back, with interest. He didn’t.” precise (they don’t allow snow- anniversary this year. I am not old was to expose us to the glories of the The jurors sided against Puzder. boards) and booked a trip to NYC enough for this. In my head I am still Jewish past in Eastern Europe; the After a five-month trial, Puzder was for May 6–13 when my son ( Jin, not 18, although chasing after grandchil- depth of human depravity, evidenced required to pay all the money he had Jim, Meyerson; you can google him) dren reminds me I am not.” in killing fields and concentration borrowed plus interest for a total of is exhibiting his artwork. We will be Paul Novograd died on March camps during the Holocaust; and $34 million, but he declared bank- attending a performance of Sweat 24, 2017. Paul received a full half-page the contemporary revival of interest ruptcy. According to Daly, during by Columbia writing professor

Summer 2017 CCT 61 Class Notes

Lynn Nottage. I’m also waiting to endipity with facts and irresponsibil- and hundreds shook his hand or with mayo. Anyone interested in arrange a tour at Columbia (for me ity with communications astounds. offered high fives on our way back to coming to the next one please email and whoever else) so that I’m better I am confident and terrified that our seats. He made us all proud.” me at [email protected]. able to speak intelligently when my the occurrence of one or more in a As background, Dean was a com- Pete Wernick continues to travel Columbia interviewees ask me what long menu of possible domestic and bat helicopter pilot in Vietnam and the country playing bluegrass. His Columbia is like (I get just about foreign catastrophes is highly prob- was seriously burned when he was band Hot Rize will soon celebrate everyone west of the Mississippi in able. Also, Schiff ’s erudition and shot down, undergoing a long course the 40th anniversary of its first gig, Minnesota, which in some years is careful characterization of complex of recovery upon his return. and will perform in locations as far- only one). I was last at Columbia as issues stands in stark contrast to the Bob Klingensmith also wrote flung as the Winnipeg Folk Festival, a student only 50 years ago. Noth- current administration.” a moving tribute in this regard. Dollywood, the Telluride Bluegrass ing’s changed, right?” After an unusual hiatus, we hear “Deano — when we ran into each Festival and the IBMA Wide Open Your correspondent had an inter- from peripatetic classmate Rich other at the San Antonio Airport as Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh, N.C. esting spring, taking an old-fash- Postupak: “I unfortunately missed I was heading home after finishing Most of his time is spent at “Dr. ioned road trip with my wife, Kathy, Fran Furey in San Francisco, where my active duty and you were coming Banjo’s Rural Rancho” near Boulder, from North Jersey to Florida for I had hoped to spend some quality back for treatments for burns that piloting his national/international two weeks. I must be getting either time with him reliving our halcyon you had suffered when your copter network of bluegrass music teachers mellow or medicated, as we didn’t days of the ’60s. Happily, I was able went down, I postponed my flight, teaching The Wernick Method. have one argument the entire time to link up with Neill Brownstein, we went to the bar, had several drinks Two years ago, Pete performed despite spending up to eight hours a who as usual got me to pay our tab and reminisced about our wonderful with his other band, Long Road day in our car. In Naples we caught at the restaurant he chose, after days at Columbia, playing ball and Home, at the 70th birthday party up with Rich Beggs and his wife, picking my brain for investment partying at Alpha Chi Rho. I was of Bob Meyerson, held near Bob’s Geri, for a waterside lunch. Rich insights. I had, years ago, pointed concerned for you and how bleak home in Minnesota. spends winters there and summers him to high-tech and bio as areas your life might be if you let your From Anthony Starace: “Our in the Poconos. Earlier, I also did a of potential. I then worked my way wounds and pain get to you. As we reunion was not the only one for me “Bar Rescue” road trip to Cleveland (figuratively) down to Los Angeles. said goodbye, you reached out to in 2016. In May 2016, I was invited with my son, visiting a number of A friend had requested advice for shake my hand proudly and, with to be a FAST (Femto-Atto-Science establishments featured in the TV setting up a pastry catering service. conviction in your mind and love in and Technology) Fellow at the series of the same name. We hit I have extensive experience in that your heart and soul, you formed a ETH-Zürich in Switzerland. This Pittsburgh and Youngstown along arena. However, his interest is more steady, strong hand (as purple as it involved giving five hours of tutorial the way. It was a genuine laugh riot Italianate, whereas I have a love of was) and said, ‘You see, I can make talks and a research seminar related and brought me back many years. French. Although our mutual efforts a handshake again; that’s just the to FAST, i.e., the science of ultrafast And I finally saw Book of Mormon were short-lived, I was inadvertently beginning.’ And I knew you weren’t physical processes studied by means on Broadway, which was amazingly exposed to social interaction with going to have a wasted and self- of ultrashort pulses of laser light. performed, although I think for members of the Trump campaign, pitying life. You were going to be a Over a long weekend, my wife, concentrated and wicked wit, the as they were regular clients. Through true warrior and come back stronger Katherine, and I visited old friends South Park animated episode from a curious series of events, I became than ever. And, yes, what a great life in Freiburg, Germany, where I spent which this show is drawn is peerless. a peripheral (yet salaried) member you’ve had! Better yet, you were just my first sabbatical, 1979–80. In Finally, the season was continually of the national cadre, which to me properly acknowledged in front of Zürich, we also became reacquainted warmed by customary get-togethers was ironic, as I have been a staunch thousands of Red Sox fans — and with the family of one of my former with Tom Chorba and his wife, liberal and intellectual my entire life. many, many more watching on TV physics Ph.D. students, now a Swiss Celeste, and with Harvey Kurzweil At any rate, I have many new and — for all that you did for all of us. banker. Then, in late June 2016, I and his wife, Barbara. interesting tales to tell if and when We’re all so proud and happy for you. attended a reunion of relatives on Michael Garrett, organizer of we all reconvene. Well deserved: Very. Well. Deserved! my mother’s side of the family in our irregular but fun NYC class “Additionally, I spent some We all salute your courage and ser- Wilkes-Barre, Pa. My mother had luncheons, sent us this. “I recently quality time with Barry Nazar- vice. And we all love you, brother.” six siblings (resulting in my having attended a talk at the Law School ian. Many of you might recall him Bob also visited NYC in May. 20 or so cousins), all of whom lived by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), as a gruff football type, but he has He says he visited “for the annual in Wilkes-Barre before a majority minority ranking member of the become not only an accomplished Columbia Football Golf Outing moved to New York City. In talking House Investigation Committee, on competitive bicyclist, but also has (May 1) and the Old Blue Rugby with my cousins (as well as with the weaponization of hacked cyber been an avid painter for many years. Club’s annual Hall of Fame dinner National Park Rangers about condi- information in the context of the His works can be seen in some of (May 6), where we honored Bill tions in Wilkes-Barre in the 1930s), 2016 election. Schiff was so well- the finer residences here in SoCal. Campbell ’62, TC’64’s legacy, espe- I learned things about my parents informed, so grounded in history, On my trip back east I hope to visit cially as one of the founders of both that I never knew. It was similar to politics, strategy and law, so focused with Tod Hawks.” the Columbia University Rugby my experience at our reunion, where on practical technological and Dean Mottard was honored in Football Club in 1961 and the Old I learned things about Columbia, legislative solutions, that it made me April at Fenway Park for his many Blue RFC in 1963.” its neighborhood and our fellow realize how rare such competence years of support for disabled veter- During his stay, Bob joined one students about which I was oblivi- and perspective are in our current ans at Hanscom AFB in Massachu- of our irregular ’66 lunch gatherings, ous when I was there. Such is the political condition. While the setts. Eugene Thompson reports: organized by Michael Garrett — great value of reconnecting with old considerable problems that would “Dean was honored at a Red Sox this time at Ben’s Deli on West 38th friends and relatives. have been inevitable in a Hillary game. Two of his sons (Lee and Street. In addition, we had Bob “The 50th anniversary reunion administration have been averted, Troy) and I accompanied him to the Gurland and his wife, Gabriella of our class was very special for me, the proud ignorance of history, game. It was a great tribute. Here Jordan; Dan Gardner; Harvey as I had not been back to campus process and policy, childish egotism is a short video I took: youtube/ Kurzweil; and me. I was stopped in decades. It was great to not only and temper, unashamed casual ser- O5AJdhDqy5Q. Thousands cheered from ordering a pastrami on white become reacquainted with old

62 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews friends, but also to make new ones. willing to take a chance on me given Richard Glaser (doctor). I wish with Spanish and comparative I especially appreciated getting to the Columbia degree (must not have good health to all my fellow gradu- literature, at Southern Connecticut Bob Gurland, know and I thank checked my transcript) and a lucky ates as we enter our Golden Years.” State University in New Haven. I him for hosting our class reception spectacular grade on the LSAT. I Bill Martin: “It’s about time that had been head of my department on Thursday evening at his wonder- did OK in law school and got some I gave an accounting of the nearly for two terms and been appointed ful rooftop home in TriBeCa. I also fellowship money to help create a half century since I graduated. I’ve to a named chair before retiring. I became acquainted with Bob’s wife, housing assistance plan in Chicago. lived in New York the entire time, continue to teach advanced Latin Gabriella Jordan, who is the princi- I became the first staff director of with the exception of three years in courses at Yale. I’ve published four pal of the Handel Group Education the Uptown People’s Law Center Vermont. I had a career as a lawyer books about the Latin language and Division. This led to an invitation — we made national news when — three and a half years of it in Ver- literature. A widower now, I live to Gabriella to deliver the keynote we uncovered an arson-for-profit mont as a poverty lawyer — and the just outside New Haven in a setting address at our physics depart- ring — which has continued to fight rest in New York City government somewhere between suburban and ment’s annual WoPhyS (Women displacement and to obtain benefits as a legislative and budget official, rural — me, a kid from Brooklyn! A in Physical Science) Conference for disabled miners, among other and as the general counsel of several contented kid, despite everything.” Joel Klaperman in Lincoln, Neb., in late October. things, for almost 40 years. city agencies. I started my NYC GSAS’69: WoPhyS attracts about 100 female “Upon returning to New York, career under Ed Koch and finished “After a fantastic four years at the undergraduates from around the I was director of the New York under Michael Bloomberg. I’m College, I ultimately graduated from United States majoring in STEM Loft Tenants and as counsel for the married to Dianne Mitchell, a native Harvard Law School and practiced fields. Gaby’s talk, ‘Designing an Lower Manhattan Loft Tenants. Bronxite. A step-family, we have two law at the White House Office of Extraordinary Life as a Woman in Then I went into private practice; children between us (both the same Telecommunications Policy; then at Science,’ was well received.” my firm fought for tenants and age), and I have one grandchild with Debevoise & Plimpton; and then, Bill Finally, I have this from workers. We were responsible for another expected in August. for the last 38 years, at Shearman & Corcoran: “As Winston Churchill numerous precedent-setting cases “After a number of years in Sterling. At Shearman & Sterling I said: ‘You have all the characteristics in the field of Loft Law, especially Brooklyn, Dianne and I bought an specialized in corporate transactions which I dislike and none of the char- while representing the Brooklyn old Arts and Crafts bungalow on and developing financial products; I acteristics I like.’” It did not have the Live-Work Coalition in Williams- Staten Island at the end of a dead- led the corporate finance group for impact intended, however, as Bill’s burg and Bushwick. For a while, end road with a large lot. We are many years. I now am ‘mostly retired’ beautiful wife, Kathy, had revealed I was the darling of The New York happily tending our fruit trees and (as Renee, my wonderful wife of 25 to me, years ago, that those were the Times, whose journalists interviewed flowers. (When we were struck by years, would say). We split our time same words with which she greeted me on numerous occasions, but I fell lightning soon after moving there, between an apartment in New York Bill upon their first meeting. Kidding out of favor when I opposed one of the local newspaper, the Staten Island City, a house in a rural area in the aside, Bill invites any of the class their urban development schemes. Advance, described the setting of the northern tip of Bucks County, Pa., traveling to the Boston area to join Working with local tenants, my house as ‘secluded.’) Since retiring, and visits to our two sons. Our oldest him for lunch or dinner, his treat. associates and I were able to stop I’ve concentrated on my classical son is a portfolio manager in London several of these urban displacement piano skills, practicing several hours and our youngest son is a mathemati- scams, harkening back to lessons I a day. I also had a long career as a cian at Facebook in Palo Alto.” Jim Bourgart: 1967 first learned when, as a member of singer in amateur choruses, most “Inspired by the the Columbia swimming team, I notably performing in Carnegie wealth of 1967 Class Notes in the Albert Zonana joined the opposition to the building and Avery Fisher Halls. We have a Winter 2016–17 issue, I’ll share 425 Arundel Rd. of a gymnasium on land that better summer house in Amish country; with classmates a synopsis of my Goleta, CA 93117 served the residents of Morningside it’s a post-Civil War log cabin with career for the past 50 years. I went [email protected] Heights. There are many artists and axe marks on the beams inside. I’m on to Stanford and earned a master’s working people who still have their in touch with several classmates. We in political science, focusing on Arthur Rhine: “In late 1966 or early homes in TriBeCa or Williamsburg spend time in London every winter Soviet and Eastern European poli- 1967, we held a silent vigil on the because of the efforts of the organiz- and are beginning to explore out- tics. While I did spend time and had steps of Low Library to protest the ers and tenants’ groups with whom I of-the-way places there as we did in my share of adventures in Eastern release of grades to the Defense worked during the past 30 years. We New York City.” Europe in the 1970s, my subsequent Department, which was threatening weren’t able to stop all displacement, Les Schwartz: “I work full-time as career had almost no relationship to draft the bottom 25 percent of all of course, but we often forced the a psychiatrist, for the past 15 years at with my academic specialization — college students. Columbia students developers to redistribute some of the West Palm Beach, Fla., VA Medi- except for the ability to learn fast, did not take kindly to being lumped their wealth, as it were, to the artists cal Center. I’ve been happily married which Columbia inculcated in me. I in with other colleges. Almost 700 who were being displaced. With an to Peggy for nearly 45 years; we have returned to the San Francisco area, students showed up for that silent extensive bartered art collection, I lived in Syracuse, Chicago, New Jersey where I’m retired as of a year ago. vigil. It is to thank them that I now retired in 2012. and South Florida. We have three “My career has been split between write to Columbia College Today. I “I am married to a retired public children and seven grandchildren in public and private sector. I stumbled had the lowest grade point average school teacher. We have two sons; New Jersey, Israel and Washington, my way into the field of transporta- in our class. Perhaps my subsequent one is a lawyer, the other is a musi- D.C., and I hope to spend more tion, including time at a regional history will be of interest to those cian. My experience raising my sons time with them in the near future. public policy think tank, the United students who opposed the govern- with my wife changed me from My fondest Columbia memories: States Environmental Protection ment that day a half century ago. an angry young man to a joyful co-hosting a WKCR opera show and Agency and in California state “I didn’t get my diploma until grown-up. Now I spend my time attending operas at the old Metro- government. I was on the staff of May 1969. After graduation, I was reading voraciously, gardening and politan Opera House, both of which the California State Legislature and a teacher and held odd jobs until bowling (I had a 207 average and a spawned a lifelong love of opera.” eventually was the deputy secretary entering law school six years later. perfect game). I remain friends with Joseph Solodow: “In 2013, I of transportation and infrastructure Mel Brender Yes, some third-tier law schools were (mathematician) and retired from teaching Latin, along for Gov. Schwarzenegger. My wife,

Summer 2017 CCT 63 Class Notes

Arielle, and I enjoy living our very ‘Roar, Lion, Roar.’ But I, too, am a working ER at Schuyler Hospital in urban lifestyle in San Francisco, and son of Columbia. In the wake of the 1969 Montour Falls, N.Y., and simultane- we plan much more travel.” cultural revolution of 1968 I take ously started private practice on my Stephen Rice: “It’s been 20 refuge in Andre Gide’s observation: Michael Oberman farm. I resumed residency in 1976 years since I moved from Seattle to ‘It’s better to be hated for what you Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel (while continuing my private prac- Manalapan, N.J., started a sports are, than loved for what you are not.’ 1177 Avenue of the Americas tice) as my wife, our three daughters, medicine clinic and became program In my retirement I aspire to reflect New York, NY 10036 son and I operated a commercial director of the pediatric sports med- on my journey in an article ‘From [email protected] sheep farm. I had the unique experi- icine fellowship at Jersey Shore Uni- Walter Rauschenbusch (Father of ence of being in active rural family versity Medical Center in Neptune, the Social Gospel and friend of my Let me first direct you to this issue’s practice while also being a family N.J., where one or two physicians grandfather) to the Falwells.’” “Letters to the Editor,” where medicine resident. per year learn sports medicine after Paul Raso: “I received a master’s Jonathan Schiller LAW’73, chair “After residency completion, I completing their residency. I have in education from Teachers College of the University Board of Trustees, moved the practice to neighbor- been privileged to teach and mentor and started a long and fulfilling thanks Michael Rothfeld BUS’71, ing Lafayette, N.Y. In 1987, I sold more than 25 fellows and hundreds career as a high school science SIPA’71, JRN’71 for his 12 years of the practice to a local HMO and of residents and medical students. teacher and coach for track and service as a trustee. It is quite rare assumed the role of Lafayette’s My plans include moving to part- cross country. I retired in 2011 for one College class to have two center chief, as well as PHP family time this fall. I have become active after 43 years of teaching, mostly in classmates serving together as trust- medicine department chair. In the in medical advocacy on a statewide Brooklyn. I reconnected with Art ees, and probably few would have 1990s, I led a joint venture with and national basis, and provided Sprenkle after 45 years when I was predicted in the late ’60s that our PHP, Crouse Hospital (Syracuse) medical coverage for sporting events traveling in Seattle. I split my time class would achieve this distinction. and SUNY Upstate Medical Center including women’s professional between Brooklyn and Long Island.” Thanks for answering my emails. to transform the Lafayette practice soccer, Division II collegiate sports, Joel Greenberger is a professor Here is another block of responses: into a rural, non-hospital-based high school sports, youth soccer and and chair of radiation oncology at From Peter Rugg: “I visited family medicine residency, which local running events. Pitt Medical School. campus in April with my grand- maximized residents’ outpatient “In April 2015, I underwent Finally, a sad note. Harold daughter, Catlin, who is interested in experience while stressing electron- triple coronary artery bypass surgery Wechsler passed away unexpectedly Columbia. Class of ’69 to Class of ’22 ics in medicine. Unfortunately, the but am happy to report that I have in February, shortly after he submit- is quite a wonderful span. Catlin lives residency closed after a few years fully recovered and lost enough ted his news for the Spring issue. in Aiken, S.C. I have five grandsons due to Crouse and PHP’s financial weight to be close to what I weighed He was a beloved professor, author, behind her: Peter and Benjamin (11 difficulties. In 1998, after two years as an undergraduate. On June 2, colleague and, most recently, co- and 9) in Aiken and Tench (5) and of ER work, I renewed my fam- I received a lifetime achievement director of NYU’s Graduate Program Bridger (3) in Denver.” ily practice in the Liverpool and ‘Citation Award’ from the American in Education and Jewish Studies. From Fred Fastow: “I retired Fayetteville offices of North Medical College of Sports Medicine at its Harold published two widely-read recently from the law department at Family Physicians, a large, Syracuse- annual meeting in Denver.” books in Jewish Studies: Jewish the Port Authority of New York and area multispecialty group. While Mark Steinhoff: “What age are Learning in American Universities: The New Jersey. I’m working on starting engaged in clinical practice, I was you in your good dreams? Under- First Century (with Paul Ritterband) up my next career, though I don’t yet director of medical informatics and graduate days at Columbia were a and The Qualified Student: A History of know what it will be. I still go run- project manager for Allscripts EHR Camelot moment for me. Professor Selective College Admission in America, ning and biking, and do guitar-ing. deployment. After St. Joseph’s Hos- Orest Ranum, with whom I still cor- 1870–1970, which opened the door to My wife, Judith, works part-time pital purchased the practice, I was a respond, encouraged me to pursue subsequent studies focusing on quotas as a teacher. My oldest daughter, ‘super-user’ and physician trainer for an academic career and Professor against Jewish students. Jonathan D. Ramona, with our two grandsons, EPIC EHR deployment. Norman Cantor inspired me to Sarna, chair of H-Judaic, wrote, “He has been staying with us while her “After retiring from family become a medievalist. As a scholar- was among the field’s most respected husband, Chad, serves in South medicine in May 2016, I published ship student I was agape for grades scholars, and was also known for his Korea in the Army. Last summer a book, Sail Through Office: Practice but failed miserably to contribute to dedication to students and for his our middle daughter, Hélène, mar- by Adopting Efficient, Effective Work- community and political debate. human qualities. He will be missed by ried Seth Alexander; she has been flows: A Tutorial for Primary Care “In my bad dreams I’m 25: all who knew him.” In 1969, Harold running an Etsy website for her Providers, and developed ‘Ask Dr. On my 25th birthday I deployed was selected by the New York Mets as made-to-order ink drawings of wed- Jim MD,’ a PCP efficiency training to Vietnam and returned on my the World’s Greatest Fan. He leaves ding gowns and other garments and and consulting business, while con- 26th; Professor Ted de Bary ’41, behind a daughter, Abigail, a son, she teaches fashion design at the tinuing to provide per diem urgent GSAS’53’s ‘Oriental Civilizations’ Samuel, and a granddaughter. Stella K. Abraham High School for care services. lectures came in handy. But overall Girls in Hewlett, N.Y. Our youngest “Outside the office, my wife, that experience was as transforma- daughter, Sara, was dancing as a Donna, and I enjoy time with our tive as college itself. 1968 showgirl in the Las Vegas produc- grandchildren, sailing Lake Ontario “The trajectory of my life started tion of Jubilee when, after 34 years, on our 40-ft. Freedom sailboat and in Brooklyn (I just discovered in Arthur Spector the show closed. Sara’s new gig is at being avid golfers.” perusing the freshmen directory One Lincoln Plaza, Apt. 25K the SandCastle on Guam.” From Howard Lemberg: that Dean Ringel lived around the New York, NY 10023 From James Lo Dolce: “After “Thinking back to Columbia, the corner from me) but led to the Blue [email protected] graduating from SUNY Downstate incredible mix of interesting people Ridge Mountains and took me from Medical Center, I purchased a farm I met in our class, on the faculty, Columbia to Liberty University. In Sorry gents, no column this issue. in Otisco, N.Y., and attended the at Columbia Engineering and the the shower I sometimes intend to Have a wonderful summer, and family medicine residency program graduate schools, and in the neigh- sing ‘Champions Arise’ (Liberty’s share your news by emailing me at at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. borhood were, without question, big fight song) but what comes out is [email protected]. I took a two-year residency leave, factors in my education. From the

64 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews political junkies in our class (like acquaintances, boundless opportuni- of Hartley Hall. Ron shared an end Barry Hamilton passed away on Jerry Nadler, Mark Leeds and ties and enduring joy.” suite in Hartley with his high school May 24, 2017.] Rich Rosenstein) — I learned the From Alan Yorker: “I am enjoy- classmate from Scarsdale, Bob Please email your news or views. value of informed political activity. I ing semi-retirement, working only 20 Kahan. The same week that Ron was able to apply the lessons learned hours a week at the Talbott Recovery visited, I received a happy birthday from them years later to agitate Campus in Atlanta with addicted phone call from another Hartley 1970 successfully (against great odds) for physicians and other professionals fourth-floor neighbor, Fred Bartek. a new library in my corner of New in their journey to sobriety. In my Fred and I have stayed in contact Leo G. Kailas Jersey, leading to a library that’s con- free time I have elected to join some since we graduated. Fred is retired Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt sistently rated in the top 10 in the groups, including the Decatur (Geor- and lives in the Poconos with his 885 Third Ave., 20th Fl. country for towns of our size. When gia) Rotary Club, the Robert Burns wife, Susanne. We often reminisce New York, NY 10022 I interview high school seniors in Society of Atlanta and the Georgia about classmates from our first year [email protected] northern New Jersey for the College, Post Card Club. I also am president in Hartley: Bob Biondi, who was which I’ve done for close to 30 years, of my condominium association and my roommate and one of the most Since I wrote my last column we I sometimes mention that political sing in my temple’s choir. interesting and gifted people we met have experienced the most surprising involvement at Columbia was like a “My wife, Janie, and I enjoy trav- at Columbia; Emery Cox III (Fred’s presidential election outcome in my ‘lab section’ for CC, with long-term eling and sailed around Cape Horn roommate), Tony Mastroianni ’73 lifetime. As I have gotten older I can practical value in all the places I’ve of South America in early March. In (now deceased), Chet Stewart, only observe that we are a very resil- since lived and in all of my profes- September we will cross the Atlantic roommates Jack Schachtner and ient people. On that note, I can report sional accomplishments since then. aboard the Queen Mary 2 (which David Borenstein, Henry Jack- the following news from our class. “Other memories of Columbia was built in France), in official son and Rod Smith (deceased). John D’Emilio GSAS’72, a pro- — demonstrations and occasional celebration of the city of Le Havre’s “Traveling to South Florida, fessor of history and gender studies at draft card burnings — come to mind, 500th anniversary. I am active with Bonnie and I stopped to see the the University of Illinois at Chicago, along with some relief that I hadn’t my Scottish Clan, the McLeans, and Lions baseball team play against writes: “Columbia is known as one of actually burned my own draft card. have attended a number of High- the Florida Gators and also visited the great pioneers in the field of oral At one point I had to prove to a land Game gatherings in the past with Mary Ellen and Bob Straskulic history; its oral history collection is girlfriend that I was younger than she year. We spent last July in Oban, ’68. Bob and I went to the same a treasure trove for researchers. The was, and the draft card was all I had. Scotland, and toured the Orkney high school in Dunmore, Pa., and it library has recently begun a project Maybe that draft card, which I still Islands as well. We raise two dogs, a was through him that I discovered to collect oral histories of its LGBT possess, is why we’re still together. Scottie and a West Highland, along Columbia. What is most noteworthy alums. And, I’m proud to say, I am in “Breaking traditional boundaries with a cat and three birds. I gained a for us is that Mary Ellen and Bob the group of five that it is begin- was part of the academic excitement third granddaughter last August and introduced Bonnie and me back in ning with. I completed a two-part for the chemistry and physics majors feel gratitude that my three grown the day (45 years married this June).” interview, as well as participated in I hung with — people like Ira children are all happily married and From John Castellucci: “As a guy a public event on campus in early Cohen, Jerry Gliklich, Fred Scha- living under their own roofs.” who studied Russian at Columbia, March in which I was interviewed chat and Tom Rescigno — and the From John Herbert PS’73: “As I I would appreciate it if you would before an audience, followed by a experience propelled me to redefine wind down my career in anesthe- include this item — Sergei Dovlatov couple of commentators and ques- boundaries in the work I did for a siology, I am pleased to have been had to leave the Soviet Union to get tions from attendees.” long time at Bell Labs, its corporate instrumental in improving the safety his work published. The stories and Congratulations, John! offspring, and in the technology of our patients, as outlined in a few novels he wrote while living in the John is the author of Lost Prophet: consulting work that still excites me. of my publications. But I am really United States placed him at the fore- The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin; Yes, I’m still working, because I’ve proud of my daughter, Amy Kristina front of the last generation of Soviet and, with Estelle Freedman, of Inti- somehow been able to morph work ’98, SOA’01, DM’12, who, in addi- writers, beloved in the country he mate Matters: A History of Sexuality into fun for close to 50 years. If I tion to her professional theater was forced to leave. You can read my in America. had to choose one word to describe career, now is assistant professor of story about Dovlatov in the March/ Another professor, Michael my career, it would be ‘thrilling,’ in pediatric dentistry for the University April issue of Russian Life online at Aeschliman GSAS’91, wrote an the rollercoaster, gravity-defying of Texas in Houston. Our family, bit.ly/2qJJKFf. article that can be found online at sense of that word. including my late father, Benne From Barry Hamilton, some bit.ly/2qKJDwH. Michael thanked “On the home front, I guess my ’32, DM’36; brother, Mike ’77; and terribly sad news sent in late March: me for my note on his accomplish- daughters absorbed the kind of values wife, Sandra TC’71, always credited “This is not the message I wanted to ments [Winter 2016–17] and I learned at Columbia without being Columbia with the opportunity for send, but I thought my classmates writings and noted that, however hectored by me — that’s my version, continued success. We look forward should know. I have stage four liberal Columbia is, “I am ever more at least. Since one went into medicine to my 50th!” pancreatic cancer that was diagnosed convinced that its unique core- and the other’s a professor in Hong From Jim Alloy: ”I am happy to last summer. As you might recall, knowledge curriculum inoculates Kong, maybe the apple doesn’t fall report from Fernandina Beach on I was part of a group of four guys large numbers of bright young far from the tree. Another notable Amelia Island, Fla., where my wife, from the band — Mike Schnipper, people against silly radicalism (and experience was the most amazing Bonnie, and I have been spending Dick Heyman (now deceased), Mike of course stupid capitalism, too).” Art Hum class focused on Bernini’s our winters for the past nine years. Teitel and me. None of us lived close David Lehman GSAS’78, sculpture, Saint Theresa of Avila. The We spend time enjoying tennis, golf together, but we managed to stick who edits The Best American Poetry scintillating lecture that day stayed and the beach. Recently, we had a together. Unfortunately, Dick died (which I highly recommend), wrote with me for more than 30 years, until visit from Ron Rosenblatt and his about three years ago (August 2014) a touching and informative piece on I made a point of going to see that wife, Robyn, who were traveling of lung cancer. He was a beautiful the death of poet Harry Mathews. dazzling work at the Cornaro Chapel from their home in Des Moines. person and I miss him every day. For I excerpt: “In January 1979 Harry in Rome. Lots of good memories, Ron and I met our freshman year all Columbia bandsmen, all I can say came, at my invitation, to teach a invaluable experiences, unforgettable when we lived on the fourth floor is (GTB)2. Go Lions!” [Editor’s note: one-month course at Hamilton

Summer 2017 CCT 65 Class Notes

College, where I was then on the Children’s Zone, the New York from August 1933 until the end of course, the Caribbean. I continue faculty. It was Harry’s first teaching City Police Foundation, the Social of WWII — a spy ring that foiled to focus on my charitable work, gig in the United States — Ben- Science Research Council and New repeated Nazi and fascist efforts to my golf game and updating my nington would follow — and he York City Center. He is co-chair kill Jews and sabotage American Facebook page.” made the most of it. He introduced of Columbia’s Global Leadership defenses. It’s a story that seems too Another classmate who’s plan- the students to OuLiPo procedures Council, chairman of the Board of bizarre to be true, but it is.” ning to be at reunion is Bruce such as the ‘n + 1’ construction (and Directors of Columbia’s Investment In May, Greg Wyatt’s Bill of Jacobs SEAS’73, whose firm, variants thereof ), the equivoque and Management Corporation and heads Rights eagle sculpture was dedicated Jacobs Levy Equity Management, the technique of generating a plot the investment committee for HCZ. at George Mason University’s Anto- celebrated its 30th anniversary in by starting with a phrase that has or “In 2006, along with several nin Scalia Law School. 2016. In 2017, Bruce’s book, Equity can have a double meaning.” other alumni, Mark sponsored the Remember back 50 (fifty!) Management: The Art and Science Every time I read one of David’s Institute for Israeli Studies and the Septembers ago, and the feelings we of Modern Quantitative Investing pieces I learn things about poets and Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi Chair in had, including of adventure, as we (coauthored with business partner musicians, such as Bob Dylan. Israel and Jewish Studies. He is entered Columbia College. We are Ken Levy), which presents their Thank you, David. Trustee Emeritus of the University still connected. insights into quantitative equity Share your news in the Fall issue and is a recipient of its John Jay and investing across the past 30 years, by writing to me this summer at the Alexander Hamilton Awards.” was published. This fall, the Jacobs addresses at the top of this column. From Ron Bass: “I’m working 1972 Levy Equity Management Center We would be happy to hear from you. on the ukulele arrangement for ‘Bag for Quantitative Financial Research Man with a Man Bag,’ my most Paul S. Appelbaum at Penn’s Wharton School will host recent sonnet, written one Sunday 39 Claremont Ave., #24 its fifth annual forum. At that time, 1971 evening in December 2016: New York, NY 10027 the third biennial Wharton-Jacobs [email protected] Levy Prize for Quantitative Finan- Jim Shaw “A bag man with a man bag in cial Innovation will be presented 139 North 22nd St. the rain In anticipation of our 45th reunion in honor of the late Stephen Ross, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Suborning all who dare to cross (which will be history by the time who developed the multifactor asset [email protected] his path, you read this), Wayne Cypen pricing model known as Arbitrage As Cupid’s doubled image in a bath offered a reaction I’m sure many Pricing Theory. The first two recipi- Mark Kingdon was honored as this Can raise tornadoes on a of us share: “It’s hard to believe 45 ents of the award were both Nobel year’s Gershom Mendes Seixas Award distant plain. years have gone by so quickly.” laureates in Economic Sciences. recipient at the Columbia/Barnard Betrayal is a gift the gods can turn Wayne adds, “Apart from my mar- Bruce and his wife, Ilene, cele- Hillel annual Seixas Gala Dinner. Aside when claims of blood are riage and the birth of my children, brated their 41st anniversary last year. Seixas was the first American- meant to stay Columbia has been the most central They live in Morristown, N.J., and born rabbi, a Revolutionary War Precisely as they are, in lieu of pay. ‘event’ of my life. The education have four children (two of whom are patriot and the first Jewish trustee Place emphasis on tools that seem — curriculum, faculty and fellow married) and two grandchildren. The of Columbia College. The Seixas to learn students — and the New York City children’s careers span social work, Award is bestowed by Columbia/ New uses, as the moons will fructify experience are a permanent part of finance, start-ups and advertising. Barnard Hillel on those who have Your chance to ride forever in a blip, my psyche. Columbia instilled in me Gene Cornell sends the good made outstanding contributions to As long as you look forward not a lifelong love of learning.” news that he became a grandfather. Jewish life at the University. to strip Lots of family news from Wayne: He writes, “Our granddaughter, Hillel notes that Mark is founder Acceptances of dates made on “My older son, Jeremy, a Harvard Chloe, was born on April 14 to our and CEO of Kingdon Capital the sly. College graduate, spent a year in daughter Rebecca and her husband, Management and that he “serves Pacing back and forth in the cancer research at Oxford, gradu- Mike. She’s very cute, but are there on the boards of the Harlem scriptorium, ated from the University of Miami any grandchildren who aren’t?” The act of slaking informs Medical School and is now a resident Gene sold his software company an encomium.” in internal medicine at Duke. In in 2012, stayed on for a few years, October, he will wed his fiancée, a and then retired. “I am glad to see From Steve Ross: “I’m in my resident in ophthalmology, also at the last of business. I loved develop- 38th year teaching history at the Duke. My younger son, Scott, gradu- ing software, but running a business University of Southern California. ated from the University of Maryland, was rarely fun,” he says. After co-founding and co-directing got a master’s in sports administration Not very optimistic about the the Los Angeles Institute for the from the University of Miami and current political and economic Humanities for 18 years, I’ve taken joined Miami’s sports compliance environment, Gene says nonethe- Send in a new position as the director of the department. As of June 1, he relocated less that he and his wife, Susan, are Your News USC Casden Institute for the Study to Boston with his girlfriend, who “still going strong.” He continues, of the Jewish Role in American Life. will begin a four-year residency in ob/ “Like many of you, we have had our Share what’s happening in “I have a book coming out this gyn at one of the Harvard hospitals. share of tragedies and difficulties. your life with classmates. October about a time when hate Fortunately, both Jeremy and Scott Our younger daughter Debbie died Click “Contact Us” at groups moved from the margins to plan to come back and live in Miami. in 2007, and that is not something the mainstream of American society. For the first time in decades, we are, that ever goes away entirely. Susan college.columbia.edu/cct, or Hitler in Los Angeles: How Jews thankfully, tuition-free. had stage-4 colon cancer, but has send news to the address at Foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood “My wife, Nicole, and I have made a complete recovery. I am lucky the top of your column. and America is the true story of a continued to travel extensively, with that my health has been good, with spy ring run by Jews in Los Angeles cruises in Europe, South America, only minor issues to deal with. Since (and funded by movie studio heads) the Middle East, the Far East and, retirement, we’re having a pretty

66 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews good time. Provence in October, Italy companies local and fund more at you are going back to your den to I caught up with Abbe Lowell in February. I’m working on a book, higher levels. The forum has funded slip into your beanbag chair, pop a LAW’77, our busy white collar which I was doing on and off while 15–20 percent of its finalists, run- Mamas & the Papas cassette into defense lawyer who hangs his hat I had the business — mostly off ning twice a year. your Walkman and sip a Harvey at Chadbourne & Parke in D.C., given the demands of the work. I’m Send in your news for the Fall Wallbanger. (If they ask what any of but seems to be all over the globe trying to improve my French and am column; our 45th reunion is only a this is, just tell them to “google it”!) these days. He confirmed that he is going to the gym regularly. I hope my year away! Even as we reach what has been “caught up in the latest intelligence health will remain good, and I’ll have known as retirement age (65), stuff in D.C.” but says it is with more to report for the big 50th.” classmates seem to be repositioning “clients I cannot name.” Lastly, Jonathan Freedman 1974 themselves. This doesn’t sound like Abbe is also globe-hopping for (whom I think is our only Pulitzer they are stopping work soon! Take international clients in Switzerland, winner) was featured in a panel dis- Fred Bremer Marc Reston and his changes during Israel and the United Kingdom. cussion hosted by the Department 532 W. 111th St. the past decade. The 2006 alumni Then he adds, “Now for the good of Journalism at the City College New York, NY 10025 directory said that Marc was execu- stuff — trying to keep up with of San Francisco on “Freedom of [email protected] tive director for Animal Defense the 15-year-old daughter, who is the Press in the Age of Trump.” International in San Francisco. The becoming an activist and is as pas- Unfortunate that it’s a timely topic, Are you a MOCA? That is, a Man 2009 directory said he was at the sionate about causes as you and I but undoubtedly worth hearing. of a Certain Age? This is when you AG Edwards brokerage firm (still were 100 years ago, and I’m enjoying Hoping to have lots of news from are stuck in a modern version of in San Francisco). By 2014 we see my older two kids’ first baby boys our 45th reunion in the next issue. Twilight Zone when Rod Serling that Marc has become an associate at (one each — six weeks apart).” Send your notes to me at pappel1@ asks, “Imagine, if you will, an ordi- Chadbourne & Parke in Washington, Abbe is one busy dad and grandpa! aol.com. nary man that finds himself stuck D.C. Sounds like there is more to Sounds like Vince Marchewka’s in a place where he is certainly not this story — stay tuned! I also saw financial career has taken him young, but also not old.” You are too a Facebook post where Marc wrote, around the world, but he has stayed 1973 old to follow news on Buzzfeed but “Daughter Caroline is on a roll. After put in Manhattan (and lives in too young to enjoy “Laughter Is the stints working on Grey’s Anatomy and White Plains, N.Y.). He was at Barry Etra Best Medicine” in Reader’s Digest. the TV Land cable channel, she’s an Mizuho (the second largest Japanese 1256 Edmund Park Dr. NE Where you still enjoy a vigorous assistant writer for Comedy Central.” financial securities group) in its Atlanta, GA 30306 game of singles tennis, but increas- Another classmate that has had midtown NYC offices. He left that [email protected] ingly find people offering to pick a varied career in the past decade position in 2013 to become head of up something you have dropped. is Steve Simon. In 2009 he was U.S. credit sales at BBVA (the Span- Michael Thompson is enjoying Where young mothers at the airport a senior fellow at the Council on ish bank), but he says after three and life as senior orthopedic surgeon tell their offspring to get out of the Foreign Relations in NYC. In 2011 a half years, BBVA grew weary of at Lahey Health in Burlington, way of “the gentleman.” he became the senior director for the battling the big banks and down- Mass. His wife, Monique, is CEO But how do you know where Middle East and North Africa for sized Vince. This led him to move of Teach Plus, a national educa- you are on the Gen-X/Geezer con- the White House National Security to Mesirow Financial (a 70-year-old tion company; his oldest daughter, tinuum? I’ve developed some telltale Council, the high-powered group Chicago investment bank) in its Mikaela, is at Harvard (“couldn’t signs to give you a hint. Remember, that is the principal forum that New York office. twist her arm to go to CC”), and his this is not black or white. Like your advises the President on national Vince’s wife, Susan, is a nonprofit second child, Izzy, is “10 going on hair, it is “50 shades of grey!” security and foreign policy matters. consultant specializing in fundrais- 18, and a full-time job.” Technology gives us some fairly By 2014 he was also the executive ing. Eldest daughter, Victoria, lives Welcome to parenthood! obvious signs. When you need to director of the International Institute in NYC and teaches pre-K at the Ravi Venkateswaran lives in know the time, do you look at your for Strategic Studies in D.C. We now Episcopal School. Son, James, lives Mill Creek, Wash., north of Seattle. watch or your smartphone? Do you learn that he has left the Washington, in Charlotte, N.C., and is a CLO Ravi is semi-retired after a long stint tend to read paper newspapers and D.C., “swamp” for the bucolic life (bond) analyst for Barings (the in Nigeria with an oil company, and books, or are you mostly digital? as a visiting professor at Amherst. former Babson Capital). Daughter he came away with an admiration for When you give someone your home Along this journey, Steve has written Katie lives in Chicago and works for the “spirit of optimism and persever- phone number, is it your landline or at least nine books, mostly on Middle Edelman & Co. (a major advertising ance” there. He says he enjoyed the your cell phone? When you are relax- East politics. The latest one we heard firm) as a media team leader. travel he did in Africa — to Kenya, ing at night, do you watch broad- of came out in 2016: The Pragmatic We hear from Gerry Krovatin that South Africa and Tanzania — “a cast content on your TV or digital Superpower: Winning the Cold War in he continues to work at the Krovatin beautiful and mysterious continent.” content on your laptop or iPad? the Middle East. Klingeman law firm in Newark, N.J., Ravi has become a trustee of his How you dress on weekends also Joel Almquist (at the K&L and sees “no end in sight.” His kids, former boarding school, in Colo- tells a lot. When out in jeans and Gates law firm in Boston) writes however, seem to offer great diver- rado; is in reasonable health; and sneakers, are your white athletics socks that he now has a second grandson, sions. His eldest son, Quin, and Quin’s sends his regards. above or below your ankle? Is your Henry, born last September. His wife, Lynn Shi Feng, gave Gerry and And Barry Etra, in a rare TV golf shirt tucked in or hanging loose? first grandson, Charlie, is 3. Joel says, his wife, Anna Quindlen BC’74, their appearance, is alive and well (or this Are you wearing traditional boxers “Grandparenting is wholly joyful; less first grandchild (Arthur Krovatin). would truly be ghost-written). Barry or boxer briefs? Do you have a cloth fraught than parenting. I recommend Faithful readers of this column will runs the RAISE Forum at Emory handkerchief in your back pocket it without qualification.” He also notes recall that Quin and Lynn met while University’s Goizueta Business (even though you never use it)? that he is continuing his painting avo- both were in Beijing a few years ago. School twice a year, matching post- There are hundreds of similar cation: “It has changed the way I look Gerry adds, “To keep up with our revenue, early-stage SE (Societas signals of where you are. If you need at paintings when I visit museums. If grandson, Anna and I are taking Europaea) companies with top local more, just ask your kids! If they give only I had possessed this perspective Mandarin lessons. I don’t recall that investors, helping to keep more you too much grief, just tell them back when I took Art Hum.” Mandarin was an option to satisfy the

Summer 2017 CCT 67 Class Notes language requirement for the Class of issues of congestion and mitigation had planned to retire from teaching who will be both an Austrian and ’74. Bu hao.” (Translation: Not good.) efforts to fight pollution in the Los at the end of this past semester. As American citizen. Gerry goes on to say his son Angeles region. He returns to private of this writing he had not decided Robert Sclafani GSAS’81 has Christopher is back in New York architecture practice and will pursue between using his free time to mull been a director of the cell biology (from Denver) and working for a his love for engaging the Latino over the CC reading material he program for the University of Colo- British publisher. Daughter Maria community in theater and creative gave admittedly insufficient time to rado Cancer Center for more than is in Los Angeles “writing and writing. In April, Fernando’s grupo de 46 years ago or to go back to school 20 years. Every year the directors peddling her movie.” Anna is — teatro tayer completed a three-week and study the pure sciences, a deci- meet with a group of external advis- what else? — writing yet another run of workshops and a mini-festival sion that — had he made it back in ers about progress and plans for the presumed bestseller. of short plays called the language of the day — would have spared him program. After successfully renew- From the Bay area comes an the mask about the tradition of the years of correcting college composi- ing their grant from the National update from Nick De Lancie. He mask in Latin America. The pictures tion papers. For her recent birthday, Cancer Institute, they needed a new has spent the last 16 years at the on Facebook are rich and vibrant, David and his wife, Martha Hayes, set of advisers. When they met, Bob Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitch- and show how much the participants flew to Antwerp, where they picked learned that the new adviser for ell law firm. Nick specializes in were enjoying their performances. out the engagement ring “she truly cancer prevention and control was commercial loan restructuring and Bruce J. Einhorn, a retired fed- deserved” and then went on to Marc Goodman ’76. Marc is director bankruptcies. He says his main eral judge, has moved to California’s Bruges and Ghent. of cancer prevention and control in achievement has been shepherding central coast, from which he writes While other classmates are the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive his three daughters through college: op-eds on public law and policy learning to be empty-nesters, Bob Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Two graduated from the University for the Los Angeles Times and other Katz is not one of them. Younger Los Angeles. “We both enjoyed tell- of Oregon and one from Villanova. publications. He also is a commen- son Harry recently celebrated his bar ing everyone silly stories about each “Three for three!” he crows. For tator on immigration issues for local mitzvah. Harry is named after Bob’s other,” Bob says. years Nick says he commuted to media and consults on immigra- late father, Harry Katz DM’37, and Marc and Bob took several biol- work by bike. This ended a few years tion issues with the Democratic is in the seventh grade at Ramaz ogy classes together at Columbia, ago, when he broke his elbow in a minority in Congress. Bruce is also School. Bob reminds us that oldest including the famous cell biology bike accident. He claims to still do the founding chair of the nonprofit son Adam ’08 was bar mitzvahed 18 class taught by Dr. Eric Holtzman. 50-mile bike rides, but commuting Coalition for the Advocacy of the to work by bike has slipped away. Persecuted and Enslaved, which Nick adds, “As my grandfather used helps provide free legal and thera- to quip, ‘I’m in pretty good shape for peutic services to indigent asylum Robert Sclafani ’75 has been a director of the the shape I’m in!’” seekers and victims of torture and cell biology program for the University of Colorado There you have it, all you human trafficking. Lastly, and most MOCAs! We may be slipping down importantly, Bruce is crushing Cancer Center for more than 20 years. that slippery slope, but we are still (NOT!) in a Central Coast bocce enjoying new careers, new grand- ball league. Bruce posts to Facebook children and the exploits of our almost every day. children. If you have news to pass Another Facebook friend is years ago. The rabbi at Bob’s syna- Holtzman’s class was the only class on, or new ideas for MOCA tests, Doug Emde. Doug says that he gogue, and former principal of the where the professor wrote the text- please take a moment to pass them “has considered sending something” Ramaz School, is Haskel Lookstein book. Although detailed, it still was on. We’re all passing through the “65 for CCT, but hasn’t yet been suf- ’53. The rabbi recently celebrated his merely a summary of his lectures. speed limit” more or less together ficiently motivated or whatever. 85th birthday and close to 60 years Bob says he looks forward to seeing and need the support of our buddies Doug, is this enough to motivate in the rabbinate. Bob’s youngest son, Marc next year. from the past 47 years! you? Classmates want to hear Joseph, is 10. Bob says that he can’t Bob and his wife, Christine, from you! even consider retirement yet, know- enjoy traveling. Last year, they went A little more than a year ago, ing that a year at the College will to Tuscany, Liguria and Piemonte 1975 Peter Garza-Zavaleta moved to be in the six figures by the time his in Italy. They enjoyed outstanding Europe, where he spends time in sons finish college. food and wine (Tuscany-Brunello, Randy Nichols both Spain and Germany. During Several issues ago, Moses Luski Piemonte-Barolo, etc.) and their 734 S. Linwood Ave. the summer, he is in Spain near shared the story of his family’s visit to the Cinque Terre in Liguria Baltimore, MD 21224 the Mediterranean. Currently, he is journey to the United States, includ- was great despite the rain and [email protected] teaching business English and Span- ing many years in pre-Castro Cuba. stormy weather. ish at Siemens, mainly in Erlangen, More recently, he wrote an analysis Bob’s consulting work for craft I hope you all enjoyed the notes in Bavaria. He goes to work by bike of the Cuban Embargo for Insights, a breweries continues and includes the Spring issue provided by Char- and otherwise tries to be respectful newsletter from Shumaker, Loop & new and interesting beers and peo- lie Lindsay. of the environment. Peter continues Kendrick, where Moses is a partner. ple. His background in yeast genet- Thanks again, Charlie! to paint and take art lessons at the “Shining Light into the Heart of ics prepared him for it — as said in Now I’m back to using what I see university. In addition, he sings in a Darkness: An Update on the Cuban the business, “A yeast cell takes a on Facebook, what I receive after beg- local choir, the Neustädter Kantorei, Embargo” is a great read! I especially bath in champagne every day.” The ging emails and (once in a great while) performing great works like Bach’s enjoyed the background history that craft beer business continues to grow what I get from emails out of the blue. “Christmas Oratorio” in a beautiful Moses provided. Read the analysis in Colorado and is slower only than Fernando D. Castro has retired 400-year-old church. You can also online at bit.ly/2pXqN4y. Daugh- the legal marijuana business. “No, I from the California Department follow Peter on Facebook. ter Emily Luski Terenyi BC’08 is am not in that one!” says Bob. of Transportation after 22 years of David Gawarecki writes that married and living permanently in Leaving Milwaukee after 25 years, state service. He was an air quality after maybe minutes of intense and Vienna, Austria. Last year she gave Jason Turner and family moved to specialist dealing with the complex consternated internal debate, he birth to Bob’s grandson Theodore, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., to

68 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews take advantage of the Republican you want to read about others than photography and both of her pieces David and his wife, Wendy, live administration. Jason’s business, the the “new” regulars, write me! were sold before the show was over. on Long Island, with a place on Secretaries’ Innovation Group, is an In between stints at the show, we West 89th, “definitely within walk- association of state and city human enjoyed all that London has to offer ing distance of Tom’s.” services secretaries (such as I was 1976 — museums, shows and fine dining. The other note was from the ever- under Mayor Rudy Giuliani) whose It was lovely! quotable Vietnhi Phuvan, whom members hail from about half the Ken Howitt “This was our second trip abroad we find in a reflective mood at this country and report to Republican 1114 Hudson St., Apt. 8 this year; in January, we flew to watershed moment: “I think all of us governors. With three boys (twins Hoboken, N.J. 07030 Nairobi. There we met up with our who are still working are considering from Jason’s first marriage and [email protected] younger daughter, Becky (who was retirement. I made my decision long his wife’s son, who is in school in on vacation from her job as the ago and I am sticking to it: Screw Ukraine) in college simultaneously, CC’76ers! First, my update: In Feb- student affairs manager for a study retirement, I am putting the pedal to Jason and his wife are feeling the ruary I took my first trip overseas abroad program), on the slopes on the metal, and I am working until I pain. “Thank God for cost-effective and spent 10 days in Israel; it was Ngorongoro Crater, and went on a drop if I have my way.” Big Ten schools,” Jason says. a great trip with a group of friends two-week safari around Kenya and Yes. Yes! I love this guy. The recent move brought back from my Jersey Shore hometown. Tanzania. This was our third trip “I don’t know about you all,” he Columbia nostalgia because of Jason’s In other news, my youngest son to East Africa since Becky began continues, “but I’ve changed careers books — the Capitol Hill townhouse recently received a bachelor’s from working there.” about three times. I am currently a doesn’t hold as many as their previous the University of Oregon, and May I got a note from Bob McDon- solutions architect specializing in home and so he had to decide what brought the award of a CUNY mas- ald SEAS’76, who is United the AWS (Amazon Web Services) to keep. Remember the Barnes and ter’s to my daughter Katherine ’13. Supermarkets Professor of Market- cloud, I have four stents in my heart Noble on lower Fifth Avenue (before I got a great email from Federal ing in the Rawls College of Business and, as a New Yorker, I hope that I the chain), where you could find District Court Judge Vinnie Bric- at Texas Tech University. Bob does am living by burning the candle at half-priced books? Jason discovered it cetti: “When I was selecting a not get to NYC much anymore, but both ends. I was young and stupid; sophomore year and, with his budget jury recently, I asked the prospec- might come in this summer. I hope now I am just stupid. But you know and earnings, had enough to buy and tive jurors, as I always do, what to catch up with him then. what, thinking and doing stupid keep a whole bunch of books, espe- TV shows or radio stations they Finally, from my 10 Carman days, stuff is how I forge ahead when all I cially philosophy and history, which regularly listen to. Not one, but two an email from Derrick Tseng, who have in front of me is the unknown he read in various classes. Since then, of the jurors said, ‘WKCR.’ I said was making a film in upstate New — I correct myself as I push on he’s accumulated many more, but has the last time I was in the same room York. We will get together after he and the feedback comes in. When always kept these old volumes on with so many KCR fans was 1976.” wraps up. His update will be in the you start getting scared of looking the shelf, sometimes leafing through From Dennis Goodrich, in Syra- next issue. stupid, then you have started to die them for the wonderful memories of cuse: “My wife, Linda, and I headed Looking forward to getting — your brain, your mind, your heart. our undergraduate years. to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris updates from a lot more ’76ers. But you all already knew that, right?” Yours truly (Randy Nichols) in April. We met our daughter Katy, Thanks for staying in touch! Whether or not we share Vietnhi’s began a new gig at Penn in April. who works in London for Adobe, views, I daresay that, since 1977, I’ve told Bob Schneider (and sev- the two days we were in Amsterdam. we’ve all experienced the ups and eral other Schneider family mem- Son Kris and his husband, Ben — 1977 downs he mentions. “I have laughed bers) and Mike Liccione ’80 that, professors at the University of New and I have cried over the years, most when they request a Penn transcript Mexico — and Katy will be taking David Gorman recently over the result of the 2016 four years from now, it will be pro- Linda and me to Poland in July as a 111 Regal Dr. election. I get grim satisfaction that duced by the system I’ll help imple- gift for our 40th wedding anniver- DeKalb, IL 60115 neither my home state of New York ment and, if the data is correct, it sary, which was last year.” [email protected] nor my current state of Virginia gave will be because my conversion team Linda’s 1976 college graduation gift 45 the votes he craved,” he says. hit the mark. With Penn included, I to Dennis was agreeing to marry him. By the time this column appears, our With any luck, we’ll live to see a will have done IT-related work for Linda, it finally paid off. Great kids! reunion will be history. I had hoped few more elections. Anyway, watch all of the Ivies except Cornell. (Cor- Dennis also reported that John to catch up with as many classmates this space. nell could be in my future, because Connell was in London this year vis- as possible and to report out (as they I am not planning to retire for a iting his daughter, Maura; son-in-law, say) in coming issues. while!) The week before starting at Eric; and his new grandson, Oliver. Meanwhile, I received two notes: 1978 Penn, I flew to Boston for a day to Congratulations, all! One was from David Friend visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Dan Gottlieb was another JRN’78, who was involved in campus Matthew Nemerson Museum with a dear friend. The first traveler to Europe at the begin- broadcasting back in the day. “In 35 Huntington St. week on the job at Penn, my hotel ning of the year: “As I write this, June,” he says, “we celebrated our New Haven, CT 06511 was right across the street from the I am just back from a busy week 40th year since graduation and I [email protected] “new” Barnes Foundation — a place in England. My wife, Marilynn celebrated my 11th year at CBS, I plan to visit often. Gottlieb, was invited to show two where I am the SVP for news at 13 Steven Bargonetti updates us with Finally, who sent me the postcard of her photo-transfer-on-metal of our television stations around the his latest adventures: “I’m contribut- from Burma? No signature, and I pieces in the London Art Biennale nation.” He adds, “More significantly, ing to a book on music and sound don’t recognize the handwriting, but 2017, held at the end of March. The I am the grandfather to five, father for Sesame Street. As the show’s I’m pretty sure from the message that show, which featured 400 works of and father-in-law to three and hus- multi-instrument fretted string it came from a classmate. ’Fess up! art by 120 artists from 40 nations, band to one. I still listen to WKCR player and sometimes composer, you Best wishes to all. Keep post- was well conceived and Marilynn’s and long for the days when radio was can hear me on much of the show’s ing to Facebook, emailing me or pieces were well received. She was king and no one had even dreamed of music, as well as being the banjo of responding to my begging emails. If awarded the second-place prize for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.” Elmo and the guitar of Rosita. Also,

Summer 2017 CCT 69 Class Notes the production of August Wilson’s And, like your humble scribe, the curricular review process for 188 social justice education. My son is Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, for which Bob’s favorite place on campus was graduate majors, the graduate faculty a musician at LaGuardia H.S. And I am original music composer/music the bowels of the WKCR studios. (more than 2,800 faculty members) there is a younger son of just 2 at director, received the Los Angeles Kevin Vitting, of the Suburban and a number of special projects. home, which doesn’t exactly make Drama Critics Circle Awards for Nephrology Group in Jersey, didn’t “Phyllis and I are proud parents me feel younger, but he’s a glad and Best Revival and Best Ensemble. have news but reminds us that, “As a of three: Rebecca (Penn State grad glorious presence nonetheless. Columbia College training has come gregarious commuter, I would have to and newly minted occupational “There’s so much going on in in handy, helping prepare me for a say the McIntosh Center at Barnard therapist, with the job she wanted); America that is tremendously excit- bit of ‘project juggling.’” was my favorite place. It’s gone now Chris (doing drafting and design for ing, a great dynamism and social fer- I asked people this month where — replaced by the Diana Center, a precision metal stamping company ment. So it’s honestly just a drag for their favorite place on campus was which serves the same function.” while working toward his engi- such good things to be happening (outside of the dorms), and Steven James Burner Crew, of Nirvana neering degree at Penn State); and under the Mordorian shadow of a mentioned the Furnald Folk Festival. Analytics in Cleveland, says, “I will Thomas (recently graduated from Trump presidency.” Another regular, Chuck Callan, always remember the touch football high school).” John Sharp says, “I don’t have tells us of a family connection: “My games on the central lawn, or just Daniel M. Simon GSAS’82 much to report from NYC, but your uncle, Nick Cicchetti ’42, is celebrat- throwing a Frisbee with friends. runs an “independent New York memory of Mama Joy’s roast beef ing his 75th reunion this year. We For this reason my favorite place is City-based book publisher, Seven sandwiches made me think of other love to discuss the Core — no better nearby, the Sundial.” Stories Press. In 1984, not long after eateries of our era. Did you ever way to dismiss all the chazerai that’s More updates from our Middle graduate school, I started a company have the Chicken Mornay at The going on in the news. And, I’m East connection, Gary Pickholz: “I called Four Walls Eight Windows, Balcony (with the asparagus and the looking forward to seeing everyone recently completed one of the most initially in order to reissue the novels cheese sauce)? You must have had at our 40th reunion next year!” difficult challenges since moving and stories of Nelson Algren, all of the burgers and steak fries at Happy Chuck’s favorite places on to Israel — having Israeli scholars which were out of print at the time. Burger’s? Chili at The Gold Rail in campus were the inside of St. Paul’s admitted as candidates for the In 1995, I began Seven Stories. We the booth with the bullethole from Chapel and the bridge over Amster- Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford. It do politics, literature and kids’ books. 1968? My first off-campus meal dam Avenue to the Law School. I was a brutal battle that took more It’s been an interesting journey. during Freshman Orientation was at remember the theatrics when than a decade. “A book publisher practices The West End at 11:30 a.m. I went Bellerophon Taming Pegasus by “[As I write, I was] looking medicine of a certain kind, and it’s in alone and got a too-rare cheese- Jacques Lipchitz was installed and forward to hosting the Columbia been interesting across the decades burger and some maimed, stunted, dedicated in November 1977. champagne yacht in the annual Ivy to see what you can learn and what overcooked fries. I had too much Jeffrey Moerdler, of Mintz League/Oxbridge yacht regatta in you can do over the long reach of trepidation to ask for a little more Levin, writes, “Life has changed June at the Herzliya Yacht Club, and time. Writers are a known quantity fire on the burger from the fellow since our three kids got married and enjoying dining and dancing under in our society, and the best ones — holding a cleaver next to the grill. So we had two grandchildren. Zacky the stars thereafter. If anyone is in I think — fight against society’s I culled out ‘This Magic Moment’ by (15 months) is walking and starting Israel traveling, look up our local definition of their role as writers, Jay Black and the Americans on the to talk, and Celia (10 months) is Columbia alumni chapter. David and make it their own remarkable jukebox, recalling yet another missed crawling. Our third son’s wife is Friedman recently arrived in town creation. Publishers, on the other opportunity with a Barnard woman expecting, so the Moerdler clan as the new U.S. ambassador; we will hand, have kind of the converse at a freshman mixer. Best, John is growing. I now think about my have him speak in the autumn.” problem. No one really knows what Sharp (one of the ‘Roy Boys,’ as grandchildren all the time and it has Let me thank the almost 120 a publisher actually does, though Vinnie Butkiewicz would say).” changed my focus on life. class members who have contributed there is recognition certainly of the Robert S. Ross: “This is a first “My favorite place was hanging more than $130,000 to the Colum- results. At Seven Stories Press we’ve writing to Class Notes — glad I got out on the quad. It was just a beautiful bia College Fund; also, thank you to had the honor to work closely as prodded by Klapper. Seeing that so place to sit and read, study or socialize. Chuck Callan and Bryon Moger friends and collaborators over the many others are celebrating the big Now I’m getting ready for the next for their hard work raising money long term with some of the smartest 60 along with me, I guess it’s time to milestone — turning 60 this summer.” from all of us. minds and greatest talents America update the group. I’ve been married Jeff, welcome to the club; I think has known: Noam Chomsky, Angela to Linda (an internist) for almost 31 many of us are old hands by now. Davis, Kurt Vonnegut, Howard years at the time of this writing. We Rafik Beekun GSAS’79 writes 1979 Zinn, Octavia Butler and Barry have three wonderful kids — Rachel (for the first time and from the far Gifford, and so many up-and- (27), an analyst at the Rand Corp. in west) that he’s been, “promoted to Robert Klapper coming younger writers who will fill Santa Monica, where she probably co-chair of the managerial sciences 8737 Beverly Blvd., Ste 303 those shoes as voices of conscience has a better view than available from department in the College of Busi- Los Angeles, CA 90048 and imagination in the decades to Klapper’s office in Beverly Hills; ness at the University of Nevada, [email protected] come. It’s been a real privilege to do Danielle (25), who is in marketing starting this July.” what we do. One of the things I’m in Palo Alto, heading for an M.B.A. Rafik’s favorite place on campus Michael F. Verderame GSAS’84 proudest of is all the people that soon; and Ryan (16), who toured was Butler Library. writes, “After 26 years on the have passed through and gotten Columbia last summer. We’ll see if Another western alum is Robert F. faculty at the Penn State College of something of a second education he becomes a legacy! Crochelt, although he’s about 1,000 Medicine — the last 11 as associate with us, sometimes starting right out “I’m a professor of medicine/ miles away from Rafik. He writes, dean for graduate studies — I took a of college as interns, and gone on to cardiology at UC San Diego, work- “I practice general surgery in rural position as senior associate dean with start their own companies or to have ing on multiple fronts studying the Northeast Montana in the town of the Graduate School at University an impact in other ways. molecular basis of heart failure in Glasgow. I am married to Donna, and Park. Still at Penn State, but now “My oldest child recently started the lab, seeing patients and dabbling look forward to taking a bit more time roughly 100 miles to the northwest at Pitzer College in Claremont, in teaching along with the spare off over the next few years.” of Hershey. In this role I oversee Calif., where she’s immersed in 50 percent of my effort as assistant

70 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews vice chancellor for Health Science The very fact that you can all a member of the University-wide of St. Anthony’s fraternity and an Academic Affairs. I attended the follow along with me on the crazy CAA Board since 2011.” incredibly bright student. Several Columbia-Yale game this past year (a connection between art and science Drop me a line at mcbcu80@ members of the class informed me, first since graduation), but unfortu- is a tribute to the Core Curriculum yahoo.com. especially those who knew him from nately watched a terrible defeat. Last that we all share — not to mention Stuyvesant H.S. (Steven Gee and time I saw Klapper was when we the cat-like reflexes required to cross Lenny Cassuto). met at the faux subway station pizza Broadway in the middle of the night 1981 Our thoughts and prayers go out place LaMonica’s in Los Angeles to get to Barnard. to the Klatsky and Murphy families. — not exactly V&T, but pretty good Roar, lion, roar! Kevin Fay by West Coast standards. If you’re 8300 Private Ln. in San Diego, drop by or send me a Annandale, VA 22003 1982 note ([email protected])! Great to see 1980 [email protected] everyone’s successes.” Andrew Weisman Robert C. Klapper: Of the many Michael C. Brown Having stepped back into the role of 81 S. Garfield St. experiences I had during my four London Terrace Towers class correspondent, I think it’s safe Denver, CO 80209 years at the College, one of the most 410 W. 24th St., Apt. 18F to say — based upon first respon- [email protected] creative was serving as the cartoonist New York, NY 10011 dents — we are at the age where for Spectator. Getting into the elevator [email protected] “good news” and “bad news” share Gentlemen, when you receive this and hearing the conversation about center stage. missive we will have recently returned the latest cartoon discussed among We are having another warm sum- First, the good news: Jonathan from attending our 35th reunion my classmates, with none of them mer here in New York City; the dog Aviv PS’85 is the clinical director of (this assumes, of course, that Kim realizing that I was the artist, are some days are upon us. But, we are look- the Voice and Swallowing Center Jong-un and Donald Trump don’t get of my most precious memories. ing forward to the football season. for ENT and Allergy Associates into a “bum fight” between now and One of the cartoons had me Coach Al Bagnoli has put together of NYC. In addition to his duties then). Thirty-five! How is that pos- lowering on top of Low Library’s another fine recruiting class — we operating the clinic, he recently sible? I’m still in my late 20s! dome — a giant yarmulke by heli- are bigger, faster and stronger than published his second health and Writing in this month, our copter with the name “Howie” on it, we have ever been, so expect good wellness book, The Acid Watcher entrepreneurial classmate Phil with one observer saying to another, things this fall. Diet: A 28-Day Reflux Prevention Smith. He says, “A little over a year ‘but I thought your donation had I received a nice note from Joe and Healing Program, which was ago, I decided to leave ‘big law’ after no strings attached?’ — just as an Daly regarding his retirement from also featured in The New York Times. 26 years and form my own firm example. This endeavor lasted my Appalachian State, where he taught Also, he is working with Atlantic and start a business (judgmentac- whole freshman year and, because management for 27 years. Joe had a Records, which recently released a quisitionpartners.com), funded by a of our mascot, I can’t tell you how distinguished career and was recog- series of “TED meets MTV” videos private equity firm. The idea was to many times I had to draw a lion. nized for his outstanding research on vocal health, “Project Wellness,” work less and make more but all I I am currently doing a project at and teaching excellence. He was also which can be found on YouTube. have done is the same crazy amount the La Brea Tar Pits here in L.A., a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Stephen Wermert found my of litigation and spend way too which made me think about the Best of luck, Joe! Gmail all the way from Singapore, much time at my former firm. We Columbia lion. I have been asked to Bill Hortz stopped by on a recent where he has resided since 2012. have been so busy over the last year examine the skeleton of one of the trip to NYC from his home in Tampa. Stephen spent six years in Kazakh- with some big cases and the business saber tooth tigers, which clearly suf- He runs the Institute for Innovation stan as the Asian Development that we haven’t even had time to fered from a congenital abnormality Development, which helps the finan- Bank country director and head of form the law firm! We are doing to one of his hips. This project has led cial industry and its advisers in the private sector operation/business that soon, so more news to follow.” to a better understanding [of the ani- areas of practice management, client development for the eight-country Despite working so hard, Phil mals] — this lame cat clearly was able acquisition and fintech opportunities Central Asia and South Caucasus and his wife, Jody, managed to guide to survive into adulthood with this (innovationdevelopment.org). region. He is now an independent a couple of really great children severe deformity because the other Steve Kane was presented the consultant working on private into adulthood and off the family members of the pack hunted for him. Columbia University Alumni Medal infrastructure projects for the World payroll. Daughter Katy (a classmate This big cat project led to my at Commencement in May. A press Bank and Asian Development Bank. and good friend of my daughter discovery of the true story behind release from Steve’s law firm, Rich Sounds like an incredibly Izzy) recently completed a master’s the MGM lion logo that roars before May, states: “The Alumni Medal, interesting job, especially if you like in geoscience at the University of every movie. The evolution of this big first awarded in 1933, is the highest exotic locales. South Florida and then headed to cat in the zeitgeist in America is for honor bestowed by the Colum- We heard from James Klatsky Jackson Hole to teach skiing for the another column, but what I recently bia Alumni Association (CAA) LAW’84, who wanted us to know winter to decompress after a number learned is the reason why MGM for distinguished service to the that his wife of nearly 33 years of years of rigorous academic focus. begins every movie with a lion University ... Steve started doing passed away last November. James Son Henry recently completed flight roaring is because Sam Goldwyn, alumni interviews for Columbia met Davina Farber Klatsky during training in the Navy, and will shortly the “G” in MGM, hired a PR guy, College applicants in 1984. He has our sophomore year at Columbia find out where he will do advanced Howard Dietz ( JRN 1917). When been annually elected to the Board (she was studying at NYU), and dat- training specializing in helicopters. Howard started working with Sam of Directors of Columbia Alumni ing led to marriage in 1984, while he For those not in the know, these at the film studio in 1917, he wanted Association of Boston since 2004, was attending the Law School. programs are super selective! Con- to use Columbia’s mascot. So the and was president of CAA of Finally, it is with great sadness to grats on both fronts! very cartoons I labored so intently Boston from 2008 to 2016, during inform the class of the sudden and Phil also shared a great Columbia over during our freshman year are in which time the Boston Club won tragic death of Charles Murphy. story: “This morning I showed up in some way now related to my current the CAA Club Award of Excellence Chuck was the captain of the the Second Circuit Court of Appeals project at the La Brea Tar Pits. in 2014. Steve also has also been heavyweight crew team, a member to argue an appeal and ran into my

Summer 2017 CCT 71 Class Notes good friend Eddie Hernstadt, who builds training systems and lives in fact, we enjoyed the Caribbean Run- Allen Shelton: “Since gradu- Bob Gamiel was arguing a case directly after Manhattan. has two ning Cruise so much that we will do ation I moved from being an mine! One has to be a commercial children, one of whom is in college. it again in February. Running cruises economist for the City of New York litigator in New York to realize what He works in computers and splits are a wonderful way to visit some Department of Finance (1983–86) a coincidence that was. What made his time between White Plains and fabulous places while staying fit!” to Princeton and McCormick Doug Novins it more odd was that I had just been Florida. John Albin ’84 lives in Port My email to PS’87 Seminary (1988–97). I was ordained thinking about Ed and how we were Washington and works for NYC; bounced back due to his being out a Presbyterian minister in 2001 and overdue for beers. Ed is an employ- he has a child in elementary school. of the office. But I was blown away served a congregation in Northern ment lawyer and did a terrific job on Greg Poe ’84 lives in Washington, by his job titles: “Douglas K. Novins, New Jersey until 2014. In 2014, I a hard case. I had a difficult argument D.C.; he has two daughters in high M.D. | Cannon Y. & Lyndia Harvey became the executive director of a for a pro bono client who had been school. Greg started his own white Chair in Child and Adolescent not-for-profit I launched while I unconstitutionally denied parole. It collar defense law firm. Bob Montay Psychiatry | Chair, Pediatric Mental was a pastor, Good Success Acad- was a treat to see each other in court SEAS’83 lives in Larchmont; his Health Institute, Children’s Hospital emies. I reside in Montclair, N.J.” after all these years.” daughter attends St. Andrews. Bob Colorado | Professor, Vice Chair, & Bill Spiegelberger: “I’ve been a Paul Thanks for checking in, Phil! works for the Ford Foundation. Director, Division of Child & Ado- lawyer in Moscow since 2003, after Saputo One and all, keep those notes lives in Manhattan and lescent Psychiatry, Department of stints in New York and Paris. In coming in to [email protected]! runs the River Club tennis program. Psychiatry, University of Colorado March I celebrated my 10th year as Marty Avallone has four children School of Medicine | Professor of director of the international practice and lives in Connecticut; he is in Community & Behavioral Health, department at RUSAL Global 1983 media sales. Centers for American Indian & Management, one of the world’s I had the pleasure of spending an Alaska Native Health, Colorado largest producers of aluminum. I Steven Roy Pomerantz unplanned afternoon with School of Public Health.” commute between Moscow, where Arenson, Babyking/Petking his wife and their four Doug, please send an update my main job is, and Vienna, where 182-20 Liberty Ave. children. Steven’s son Jake was when you are back in the office! I serve on the Board of Directors of Taylor Smith: Jamaica, NY 11412 competing against my son Ricky’s “As my dad (Yale Strabag SE, the Austrian construc- [email protected] baseball team in Ardsley, N.Y. Steve ’55) left for what he’s been told tion company, and where my wife is an employment lawyer; his family will be the last of his official class and daughter have been living for Once again, my sons, Ricky (9) and lives in Riverdale. reunions (since there are so few left five years. My daughter, Sophie Michael Fatale: David (12), and I attended every “I was appointed to organize them), it made me reflect Helen (18), spent her first five home Columbia basketball game. We the deputy general counsel at the on my own great college experience. years in New York, the next nine in also saw Columbia lose at Brown with Massachusetts Department of With thanks to Roy for the prompt, Russia, and the last four in Austria, Steven Spieth (golfer Jordan Spieth’s Revenue in July 2015. I am [just at] I can share the following: I am in where she studies political science at brother) providing much of Brown’s 25 years with MA DOR. In 2015, touch with fewer and fewer class Vienna University. Trilingual, she is scoring. Richard Gordon, Ed Joyce, I began as an adjunct law professor members now, but think fondly of my proudest achievement. Kevin Chapman, Andy Gershon, at Boston College Law School. This my wonderful New York City experi- “In my spare time I read a lot of Michael Schmidtberger ’82, Joseph is my third year teaching for the ence and particularly those from my Russian literature and history, and Cabrera ’82, Jim Weinstein ’84 and school (I teach a state and local tax Carman 8 freshman year. reread the syllabus of Literature Dennis Klainberg ’84 attended many class); see my school bio online at “I run a small consulting com- Humanities, Contemporary Civili- of the games. I also spent time with bit.ly/2pPaGCm. I am particularly pany and have had the rewarding zation and the Colloquium, which Jon White ’85 and Leon Friedfeld ’88. proud of the fact that my various law experience of working side-by-side was then taught by Karl-Ludwig Jon signed a deal for Disney’s Frozen review articles have been cited in big with Susan, my wife of 26 years, Selig. I have the fondest memories license, one of the hottest properties in state tax cases. That happened again who also runs her own business. We of taking a break in the middle of licensing. Leon is a huge Mets fan and last October, when one of my articles work with overlapping clients from the colloquium to let some of the shares season tickets with Jon. was cited in an important state tax time to time. Our son, Austin, is tobacco smoke clear out of the I was thrilled to run into Robert case decided by the Ohio Supreme enjoying a highly successful role as a classroom (Hamilton, second floor). Kahn and his wife, Linda Kahn Court: bit.ly/2qnGzE5. product manager for a tech company I have kept in touch with the lads of Nick Paone, GSAS’91, PH’17, at a Hunter H.S. “I am in touch with here in Chicago; our daughter second floor Carman Hall, mostly Ted Weinberger, Mark Momjian auction. Linda graduated from Yale Lauren finished her junior year in through Facebook in light of the Bruce Momjian. and has a Ph.D. in epidemiology from and I attend the materials science at the University distances involved: Bruce Propert, the School of Public Health. She is a Columbia-Harvard football games of Illinois and will enjoy a summer Yu Jin Ko, Paul Canning, Steve post-doctoral fellow in the depart- when they take place in Cambridge; interning at Los Alamos; our young- Rubenstein and Nang Van Tran ment of pediatrics at NYU. Rob, who this year at that event I talked with est daughter, Caroline, completed SEAS’83. Two years in Carman Dave Rubel was a drummer with the Marching and his wife; their a great freshman year at Western stood me in good stead to endure Band, creates music for TV and docu- daughter attends CC.” Michigan, to which I ascribe entirely stoically life’s vicissitudes and vari- mentaries. Their son, Elliot, graduated From Sharon Chapman BC’83: the Broncos’ success in 2016! ous hardships. Perhaps it was the Kevin Chapman, from Hunter H.S. and is a freshman “My husband, “As the children take their jour- spell in Carman that also made me

at the University of Chicago. Elliot is and I had a great time on John neys, we are downsizing from our fond of reading gulag memoirs.” a talented actor. Their daughter Eva Bingham and Jenny Hadfield’s emptier house to something smaller Wayne Allyn Root shares: “USA is in the 11th grade at Hunter H.S. Great Alaskan Running Cruise last and hope to put a boat in the water Radio Network announces today and is an accomplished ballerina and summer, so in February we went on this summer. Ultimately it’s my hope they have entered into a national violinist. Younger daughter Leda is in their Caribbean Running Cruise. to boat ‘The Great Loop,’ adding radio syndication deal with Wayne the 8th grade at Hunter and pursues The cruise was in and out of San that to my passion for motorcycle Allyn Root, the fiery, dynamic, piano and singing. Juan and included runs in St. Croix, riding. If any of you are passing high-energy conservative warrior, Rob is in touch with many St. Maarten, Barbados and Grenada through Southeast Wisconsin later capitalist evangelist and nonstop Columbians: Mike Melkonian ’84 (and an off day in Dominica). In this summer, reach out and say ‘hi!’” champion and defender of Donald

72 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

Trump. Root is a national media won a richly deserved Pulitzer Prize personality, best-selling conservative for criticism. I do the Twitter thing author and columnist, TV host and at @michaelazerrad.” producer, and former 2008 Libertar- Hillel Bryk: “Roy, I always tell ian Vice Presidential nominee. USA people that you taught me how to Radio Network will debut Root’s juggle on the 14th floor of John Jay. daily radio show ‘WAR Now: The Of course, I only use three balls and Wayne Allyn Root Show’ starting you used six on a unicycle, but who’s on Monday, April 10. It will air from counting? I am basically an NYU 6–9 p.m. EST/3–6 p.m. PST around School of Medicine lifer: medical the country.” school, radiology residency and From Michael Azerrad: “Since a interventional radiology fellow- couple of years after graduation, I’ve ship. I specialize in interventional made my living writing about rock radiology. I’m an associate profes- music. I’ve published a couple of sor at NYU and am director of well-known books, Come As You Are: interventional radiology at Bellevue The Story of Nirvana and Our Band Hospital, which NYU runs. I’ve Could Be Your Life: The American been married for 30-plus years to Langham Gleason ’84 (left) caught up with Neel Lane ’84 in Corpus Christi, Indie Underground 1981–1991, and Tammy, a graduate of the NYU Texas, during Lane’s recent trip. have written for most of the major College of Dentistry, now a retired music magazines, as well as the New orthodontist. We have four kids Yorker, The New York Times and The (three boys, 29, 26 and 24, and one including Steve Greenfield ’82 and Yours truly will be stepping up his Wall Street Journal. I’ve also been girl, 21) — all of whom went to Jim Reinish SEAS’82. Gil’s brother, visitations to Ol’ Blue, even if for the editor of a couple of acclaimed NYU undergrad. Our oldest son Richard Avery Aronow ’75, died in just a bite. Tom’s, Koronet, UFM, music websites and have enjoyed went to NYU medical school, too; the World Trade Center on 9-11. V&T, Symposium, Amir’s, The working with some incredible musi- he is married and [as of this writing] He was deputy chief of the Port Hungarian Pastry Shop — they’re cians on their own books. Right we are becoming grandparents (G-d Authority’s law department. all still there, so where do we begin? now, I’m consulting on the startup willing) in about seven weeks. That’s Margo and Adam Bayroff got a Congratulations to Richard Lin’s of a new national print (!) magazine my basics. So glad you reached out new puppy (yellow Lab). I’m send- son, Winston ’17, now an alumnus! about food, the fine arts and music. to me. It’s been a long time!” ing him some Animal Planet and Richard is a physician and professor I’m also working on an illustrated I had a great call with Mark War- Humane Society toys. of physiology and biophysics and humor book, Rock Critic Law, a ner BUS’87, the managing director Joe Cabrera ’82 was presented medicine at Stony Brook University. compendium of 101 rock critic cli- of Risk & Quantitative Analysis a John Jay Award in March. Mike Evan Kingsley and his wife, chés, to be published later this year. for Black Rock. Mark started with Schmidtberger ’82’s daughters, Calee Dara Meyers-Kingsley BC’83, were And I’m busily writing liner notes Black Rock in 1993 when it only and Mollie, published a photo of back on campus on May 17 to cheer for reissues, speaking at conferences had 130 employees. Son Ben gradu- him and Joe dressed in tuxes with the graduation of their daughter, and appearing on television and in ated from Occidental College; son the backdrop of Columbia’s campus. Ava BC’17, who earned a B.A. in documentaries, and seeing a whole Adam is attending Vassar College. They wrote, “Our Mom says, ‘Dad economics with honors. She begins lot of music every week. Mark’s wife is Julia Segal BC’84, had no personality before he roomed a career with Audi USA, making the “I’m in touch with Marc Capelle BUS’90. Mark is in touch with Tai with you.’ Probably fair to say we car-loving father of this car-loving ’86, Rennie Childress, Kim Conner Park (lawyer), Brad Gluck (radiolo- wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you young woman exceedingly proud. BC’85, Jamie Kitman ’79 and Bill gist), Richard Pressman (lawyer), — so thanks.” Kudos to Philip Segal, who is Spiegelberger. It’s been a kick to Daniel Dean (in private equity), Hoping to see you this fall at once again on the lam. “I’m traveling get to know musicians who have Joseph Sullivan (retired) and Tony Homecoming on Saturday, October all over the country talking about graduated from Columbia, including Solomons (entrepreneur). 14. Looking forward to back-to- my book The Art of Fact Investiga- members of Vampire Weekend, Gil Aronow was the Marching back Homecoming wins! tion: Creative Thinking in the Age Hospitality, and Fleet Foxes, among Band manager. He took over from of Information Overload. Made my many others. I often have the Harlan Simon ’81 and handed the first trip to Nashville recently to talk pleasure of crossing paths with old baton to Dennis Klainberg ’84. Gil 1984 to the Tennessee State Bar, and in friends Mark Satlof ’86 and Michael is EVP, business and legal affairs October I’ll give the opening plenary Krumper ’85, both of whom have at Sony Music where, in addition Dennis Klainberg talk to the family law section of the found great success in the music to negotiating deals with artists Berklay Cargo Worldwide America Bar Association in Beaver biz, no mean feat. I hope, one day, and labels, he oversees the Sony 14 Bond St., Ste 233 Creek Mountain, Colo. The book is to play a reunion show with my Music archive (which includes a Great Neck, NY 11021 ruminating on a number of current bandmates in TMB. recording of the Marching Band [email protected] themes, including the need for law “I’ll take this opportunity to sin- from 1932!). He has been there 14 firms to be more innovative and the gle out one of my favorite Latin pro- years; before that he was at MTV Mazel Tov to my daughter, Emma challenges of managing artificial fessors, the late Steele Commager, Networks in international business Klainberg, a proud graduate of intelligence in the years ahead.” who was the personification of the affairs, including a five-year stint Binghamton University — or, in In the spring column, Neel Lane witty and urbane gentleman, and in London in the mid-’90s. Gil’s our household, SUNY Binghamton, was in Africa; this column … where is a role model for me to this day. older son attends Hampshire Col- also alma mater to my wife, Dana. in the world is he now? According And I’m so incredibly thrilled that lege and his second son is in high A leader in her a cappella group, the to Langham Gleason: “Had a great Columbia writing professor Hilton school at Saint Ann’s in Brooklyn Treblemakers, and destined for a time recently catching up with Neel Als, an acquaintance from my days Heights. He is in touch with many career in higher education, Emma is and meeting his wonderful fiancée, working at Burgess-Carpenter, has former Marching Band members, now a student at Teachers College. Jennifer, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Summer 2017 CCT 73 Class Notes

Neel was in town for his daughter’s advise. Also please let the Alumni desia’s top secret use of chemical and against a largely unprepared and competitive soccer game.” Office know if you have a new email biological weapons (CBW) during unwitting enemy. Another long-distance traveler, address: college.columbia.edu/cct/ their long counterinsurgency against “Looking at the use of CBW David Cole, is on his second full update_contact_info. native African nationalists. in the context of the Rhodesian year as a financial analyst at Takeda P.S.A. P.S: You don’t have to “Having declared its indepen- conflict, Dirty War provides unique Pharmaceuticals in Deerfield, Ill. “I await my request. Happy to hear dence from Great Britain in 1965, insights into the motivation behind commute from the city via Metra, from you anytime. How about … the government — made up of CBW development and use by the commuter train system, but the the moment after you read this European settlers and their descen- states, especially by states combating job makes the three-hour commute column? Send notes to dennis@ dants — almost immediately faced a internal insurgencies. As the norms worthwhile. Great company with berklay.com! growing threat from native African against CBW use have seemingly a great patient focus. I’ve been in Roar, Lion, Roar! nationalists. In the midst of this eroded with CW use evident in Chicago for 17 years and still love long and terrible conflict, Rhodesia Iraq and most recently in Syria, the it. I renewed my C.P.A. licensure in resorted to chemical and biological lessons of the Rhodesian experience 2007. I enjoy accounting … HA!” 1985 weapons against an elusive guerrilla are all the more valid and timely.” Says Louis Vlahos: “We must be adversary. A small team made up of Let us know what Columbia getting old. My daughter Christina Jon White a few scientists and their students things you are doing — alumni ’14 is engaged to James Profestas 16 South Ct. [met] at a remote Rhodesian fort interviewing? Participating with one SIPA’14. My daughter Maryann ’12 Port Washington, NY 11050 to produce lethal agents for use. of your club/team alumni groups? is beginning a residency in orthodon- [email protected] Cloaked in the strictest secrecy, Attending an on-campus or regional tics after graduating from Harvard’s these efforts were overseen by a event? Visit our class Facebook School of Dental Medicine. And Things have changed a wee bit since battle-hardened and ruthless officer group and “Like” what you see. my daughter Demetra is a freshman, we applied to the College and since of Rhodesia’s Special Branch and his If you travel around the world, rowing for the University of Miami.” we first walked on the Morningside select team of policemen. Answer- let us know about your sojourns Thanks to an email bounceback, campus 36 years ago. In case you able only to the head of Rhodesian and any advice you can offer, or if I learned that in 2015 Joshua didn’t catch the statistics, the Col- intelligence and the Prime Minister, you’re available to catch up with a Wayser LAW’88, managing partner lege accepted 2,185 out of 37,389 these men, working alongside Rho- classmate. Please reach out to me at Katten Muchin Rosenman’s Los applicants, according to Business desia’s elite counterguerrilla military with your update. But in case you’re Angeles office and member of the Insider quoting a school representa- unit, the Selous Scouts, developed counting, it’s just three years until litigation and dispute resolution prac- tive. The admissions rate for the the ingenious means to deploy their our 35th reunion — so start think- tice, was appointed a judge for the Class of 2021 was 5.8 percent, poisons against the insurgents. ing about what you’d like to see! Los Angeles County Superior Court making Columbia the second-most “The effect of the poisons and dis- by Gov. Jerry Brown (D–Calif). selective Ivy (after Harvard). Last ease agents devastated the insurgent Adam Belanoff, a TV writer and year, Columbia accepted 2,193 groups both inside Rhodesia and 1986 producer of such shows as Murphy students out of 36,292 applications, at their base camps in neighboring Brown, Wings, Cosby, The Closer and a 6.04 percent acceptance rate. countries. At times in the conflict, Everett Weinberger Major Crimes (and, most impor- The neighborhood has changed the Rhodesians thought that their 50 W. 70th St., Apt. 3B tantly, husband of super-wife Alison quite a bit too. Saw a picture of poisons’ effort would bring the deci- New York, NY 10023 and proud papa of super-sweet Morningside Park (thanks, John sive blow against the guerrillas. For [email protected] Stella), was back on campus for the Phelan) that bore no resemblance months at a time, the Rhodesian use 2017 Varsity Show reunion. whatsoever to the Morningside Park of CBW accounted for higher casu- Congrats to Eric Pomert on his P.S.A.: If you are not getting my of our days. And the northern cam- alty rates than conventional weapons. recent marriage! In his words: “I frantic, last-minute e-blasts begging pus expansion is rapidly proceeding In the end, however, neither CBW married my sweetheart of seven for dirt, that means I don’t have the on West 125th Street and Broadway. use nor conventional battlefield suc- years, Kristin Burke (a UC Berkeley right email address for you, so please Unfortunately, we have just one cesses could turn the tide. Lacking grad from Sacramento and a update this time: Glenn Cross says, “I international political or economic Montessori public school teacher) thought I’d emerge from the shadows support, Rhodesia’s fate from the on April 29. We share a love of at least once every 32 years or so.” outset was doomed. Eventually the poetry, good food, storytelling and I hope he becomes a trendsetter conflict was settled by the ballot box childhood development. We’ll be for many of you who would like to and Rhodesia became independent honeymooning in Brittany and join him to let us know what you’ve Zimbabwe in April 1980. Wales this summer to soak up the been up to these past 32 years! “Dirty War is the culmination of Merlin-esque Celtic vibe. Glenn’s book on the Rhodesian nearly two decades of painstaking “The switch to becoming an inde- Submit use of chemical and biological research and interviews with dozens pendent creative film editor was hairy weapons during the late 1970s was of former Rhodesian officers who for a few years after leaving New Your published in March. The book is either participated [in] or were York in 2009, but things are hop- the first comprehensive, behind- knowledgeable about the top secret ping for me in the Bay Area. I have Photo the-scenes look at what was a development and use of CBW. The several short-term projects and three CCT welcomes photos top-secret program to defeat African book also draws on the handful feature-length storytelling films: A that feature at least insurgents. Check out Dirty War: of remaining classified Rhodesian documentary about female hunters two College alumni. Rhodesia and Chemical and Biological documents that tell the story of the in Michigan; a musical animated Warfare 1975–1980 at amazon.com/ CBW program. Dirty War combines presentation of a former Beatle’s Click “Contact Us” at dp/1911512129. all of the available evidence to life (confidential); and a fascinating college.columbia.edu/cct. Here’s a little background from provide a compelling account of story of two London performing the jacket blurb: “Dirty War is the how a small group of men prepared arts masters at the National Theater first comprehensive look at the Rho- and used CBW to devastating effect who are in their 80s, busy passing

74 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews on the essence of commedia dell’arte psychiatry and to scuba dive. I recently and movement-based storytelling. completed a great white shark cage Most of these projects will ripen next dive off Guadeloupe Island, and I’m off year, so I hope to be at some festivals to Indonesia for several weeks of diving then. Given the rocky terrain of life on the forbidden islands and then Bali.” in corporate America, I’m glad to Congrats to Peter Dilorio on his be working for myself and sharing daughter Sophia ’21’s acceptance to the some skills and insights with the next College. His wife, Maria, and other generation of creative film editors.” daughters, Sarah and Sabrina, are Meryl Rosofsky has a lot on excited for Sophia. “I even found my her plate: “I was pleased to attend dusty copies of The Iliad and The Odys- the recent celebration, ‘30 Years of sey in case she wants to get a jump start Columbia College Women,’ together on her Core reading,” Peter says. with my senior-year roommate Peter has been general counsel Meghan Cronin, though for us of for Allen & Co., a New York-based course it’s been not 30 but 31 years! investment bank, for the last 10 years, It was inspiring to hear great talks by after moving from private practice. A group of CC’88 friends met in Phoenix and enjoyed a day hike. Left to pioneering alumnae such as Claire From Kevin Quinn: “Since right: Geoff Hoffman, Scott Marantz, Shep Long, Don King, Brad Mitchell Shipman SIPA’94 and Linda Mischel retiring after 21 years at Goldman and Steve Silverstein. Eisner ’87, and to meet so many Sachs in 2012, I have been an active vibrant, impressive young women investor in early-stage startups — from the current crop of students. fascinating but unclear if profitable. Margaret McCarthy LAW’89 as functions for the Television Acad- “I teach graduate courses in food I am the chair of The Brady Center is the executive director of the Col- emy, producer of the Emmys. studies at NYU, wrapped up last to Prevent Gun Violence and would laboration for Research Transpar- “I live in Los Angeles and have semester’s course on food and social welcome any support or ideas in ency and Integrity at Yale. CRIT spent the last 25 years installing, oper- justice in New Orleans and was hon- how to make this a safer country is a joint project of the law school, ating and selling specialty projection ored to receive the NYU Steinhardt ([email protected]).” medical school and public health systems for movie studios, theme park Mark Goldstein Teaching Excellence Award in 2015. had two trips in school focused on improving the attractions, film festivals and private I’m pursuing a research project on the May: “First heading to D.C. to the evidence base for medical products screening rooms. Highlights include social and cultural history of ballerina Anti-Defamation League conference, regulated by the FDA. Margaret multiple years at Sundance and Dubai Tanaquil Le Clercq’s 1966 The Ballet seeking tools to handle increased said, “I am excited to return to issues Film Festivals; showing all the dailies Cook Book and a culinary biography anti-Jewish and anti-immigrant that I worked on while a Columbia for Ratatouille, WALL-E and Up at of choreographer George Balanchine, sentiments in our local community. student and AIDS activist.” Pixar Animation Studios; installing which I initiated as a fellow at the Then to Barcelona for an interna- She added that her daughter 70mm projectors for 3D rides at Uni- Center for Ballet and the Arts last tional trademark conference and to Rebecca recently finished high versal Islands of Adventure and Tokyo fall. And I’m honored to serve on celebrate 20 years of marriage.” school, and her daughter Hannah Disney Seas; running the 70mm several rewarding nonprofit boards graduated from SUNY Albany. Roadshow release of Tarantino’s Hate- and advisory committees, among Margaret said she is enjoying life in ful 8; and putting projection systems them The Joyce Theater Foundation, 1987 New Haven and eager to connect in home theaters of Washington the Jerome Robbins Dance Division with Columbia friends in the area. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and Sarah A. Kass at the New York Public Library Cathy Webster sent a note that film director David Lynch. PO Box 300808 for the Performing Arts and the her husband, Bill Dycus, recently ran “My free time is spent surfing and Brooklyn, NY 11230 Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute at the Boston Marathon, and that Kate playing drums in a grunge rock band. [email protected] Mount Sinai (where a special interest Dawson (née Tkatch) and her hus- “A busy Emmy nomination season of mine is how to harness the power band, Dick Dawson, hosted them at the TV Academy sadly prevented of food to comfort and connect I know all of you are waiting for stories at their home in Westwood, Mass. me from attending the Class of 1987 people, as part of the palliative care about our 30th reunion. Your patience Cathy wrote, “Dick has trained as a 30th reunion. But I would love to experience for both patients and will be rewarded in the Fall issue! professional chef, so he fed us right, hear from any alumni! My email is caregivers). My husband, Stuart, and In the meantime, there are a few and Kate sherpa-ed us all over the [email protected].” I recently celebrated our second wed- bits of news to tide us all over until greater Boston area on race day. We Watch this space! All the ding anniversary and are very much then. First, a hearty congratula- had plenty of time to reminisce, cheer reunion news that is fit to print Jonathan Wald, enjoying married life!” tions to who was on our favorite professional teams will be here soon! Steven Klotz: From “I was excited recently hired as SVP of program- (OKC Thunder and Boston Bruins), to attend the graduation of my daugh- ming and development at MSNBC, and make some wonderful memories. ter Alyxandra from NYU (Columbia’s where he will be responsible for A weekend to treasure!” 1988 loss) as she charges into the world of developing some long-form content From Tim Kennelly: “I’m the Eric Fusfield international policy and law. She was and special events, as well as have new chief projectionist at the 1945 South George Mason Dr. given the prestigious NYU Founders some oversight over the network’s Television Academy’s Wolf Theater Arlington, VA 22204 Award. I am equally thrilled by my son primetime programming. This is a in North Hollywood, Calif. The [email protected] Daniel’s continued success in collegiate return to NBC Universal for Jona- theater is a newly built, state-of- lacrosse. After being named academic than, who had previously worked for the-art cinema featuring Dolby athlete of the year for 2016, he stunned Today and NBC Nightly News. Most Vision laser projectors and Dolby The Class of ’88 figured promi- the region by starting this year with recently, he had been an executive ATMOS sound, making it one of nently at the “Celebrating 30 Years several goals (unusual for a long pole producer of CNN Tonight. the best cinemas in the world. The of Columbia College Women” defender). I continue to practice Jonathan, we promise to watch! theater does studio premieres as well symposium, held on Morningside

Summer 2017 CCT 75 Class Notes

Heights on April 22. Leslie Gittess Columbia provides us all, while the medical information. OATS is in 100 at Hot Springs National Park, Brodsky, who heads the media tremendous talents — alumnae and locations across New York City and Ark., with great officiating by advisory firm Blue Sky Media NYC, students alike — give me hope for in nine other states outside New York Robert Giannasca. moderated a “Women in the News” the future.” and has received multiple local, state In October, Jill Mazza Olson panel that featured, among other Wanda M. Holland Greene and national awards. Tom lives on a SIPA’95 left her position as VP of media representatives, Yahoo!’s TC’91 traveled with her family from 55-ft. sailboat in the Hudson River policy and legislative affairs at the Alexandra Wallace Creed and the Bay Area, where she is in her ninth and is the co-founder of the Afro- Vermont Association of Hospitals PBS NewsHour’s Sara Just. year as head of The Hamlin School. Latin Jazz Alliance, which supports and Health Systems to become Eve Jordan Combemale writes, Wanda led, along with Claire Ship- Afro-Latin jazz performance, educa- executive director of the VNAs of “I live in Sag Harbor, N.Y., and sell man ’86, SIPA’94, a lively and personal tion and musical preservation and Vermont, the 10-member associa- real estate with Sotheby’s Interna- discussion, “Girls Who Thrive.” development. The alliance is the insti- tion of nonprofit home health and tional Realty in the Hamptons. I Lisa Landau Carnoy, Northeast tutional home of Arturo O’Farrill’s hospice agencies serving Vermonters; have three children (19, 21 and 23, all Division executive for U.S. Trust, Grammy-winning Afro-Latin Jazz see vermontbiz.com. of whom currently attend or gradu- the private bank within Bank of Orchestra, and supports jazz educa- Please enjoy this exciting news ated from NYU … eek!). Looking America, was, as ever, generous tion in New York City public schools. from Columbia’s Department of forward to our 30th next year!” with her knowledge; she shared her Tom also gets back to campus regu- Sociology website about Jennifer Steve Silverstein gets together thoughts, challenges, successes and larly as an adjunct professor of urban Lee GSAS’98: “The Department regularly with classmates. “A group of vision for women in leadership. studies at Barnard, where he teaches of Sociology and the Center for us met for a biannual trip,” he writes. During the conference, as we tra- a course on social entrepreneurship the Study of Ethnicity and Race “This year it was Phoenix; we hiked versed from Low Library to Faculty and philanthropy to undergraduates (CSER) are delighted to welcome up Squaw Peak. A couple of the guys House, I ran into Mojdeh Khaghan at Barnard and Columbia in the same Professor Jennifer Lee, who will were not sure if I was going to make ’88, LAW’91, who entered with our classroom he took classes in. join the faculty in the fall of 2017. it, but I did. The trip was a blast, with class. Mojdeh has three boys and has If you haven’t yet connected to A renowned scholar of immigration, plenty of great college stories.” lived in Miami for 22 years, working our Class of 1989 Facebook group, race/ethnicity, and inequality, Pro- Steve’s hiking buddies were most recently in the areas of public please be sure to look it up. And if fessor Lee returns to her alma mater Geoff Hoffman, Scott Marantz, health and public housing. Also in you are doing something special for as Professor of Sociology and as a Shep Long, Don King and attendance were Kim Neuhaus, our uncomfortably large number Core Faculty Member of CSER. Brad Mitchell. Julie Trelstad, Samantha Jacobs birthday, please send an update. “Professor Lee has been uniquely Keep the updates coming! I look Jouin and Jennifer Ryan. successful in placing the study forward to hearing from you at I recently connected with Debra of Asian Americans as a central [email protected]. Laefer SEAS’91, who not long ago 1990 research problematic in the disci- moved from Dublin back to New pline of sociology,” says Department York City to take up a professorship Rachel Cowan Jacobs Chair Gil Eyal, “she is considered to 1989 at NYU’s new Center for Urban 313 Lexington Dr. be the most prominent sociologist Science and Progress. The center Silver Spring, MD 20901 researching and writing about Asian Emily Miles Terry specializes in big urban data sets, [email protected] Americans today. She has made 45 Clarence St. which is perfect for Debra, as her seminal contributions to multiple Brookline, MA 02446 research focuses on harnessing aerial Congratulations to Blondel Pin- literatures, including the study of [email protected] remote sensing for city-scale model- nock, SVP, chief lending officer of race relations in the US and the ing, in part to protect historic struc- Carver Federal Savings Bank, on study of immigration. … As usual our class has been quite tures. Her passion for protecting being honored in March at the 19th “A prolific writer, Professor Lee busy in our many respective realms older buildings is a direct result of Annual 25 Influential Black Women is the author or co-author of four this year. At the end of April, I her efforts to help protect St. Paul’s in Business Awards, hosted by The award-winning books: Civility in attended the Columbia College Chapel from utility line excavation Network Journal at the New York the City (2002); Asian American Women celebration and daylong in 1987. For a sneak preview of her Marriott Marquis. Youth: Culture, Identity and Ethnicity symposium held at Faculty House. demonstration project for NYC, see Noreen Whysel reports that her (2004); The Diversity Paradox: Immi- A number of classmates were her previous efforts in Dublin online financial wellness app, Decision Fish, gration and the Color Line in Twenty- featured panelists and attendees, at bit.ly/2r27EiM. Debra is in has been accepted into NYU Stein- First Century America (2010); and including Andrea Miller, founder of touch with Nancy Dallal and spent hardt’s StartEd incubator. Noreen The Asian American Achievement the Center for Reproductive Rights Passover in Washington, D.C., with has been Decision Fish COO since Paradox (2015). Her most recent and president of the National Insti- Elisabeth Moss and Elisabeth’s May 2016. She is also working on an book, co-authored with Min Zhou, tute of Reproductive Health and its husband, Aron Newman SEAS’90. archive of 9-11 geographic artifacts garnered an astonishing four book action fund. Andrea works on the I also connected Tom Kamber — for the NYC Center for Geospatial awards. Three awards come from the state and local level to change public if you knew him at Columbia, you Innovation, where she leads the American Sociological Association: policy on abortion and contracep- won’t be surprised to hear that he is Coalition of Geospatial Information the Pierre Bourdieu Book Award tion, and she spoke passionately the founder and executive director of and Technology Organizations. from the Sociology of Education about women’s rights and her hopes Older Adults Technology Services, Vera Scanlon reports: “Eric Section; the Best Book Award from for further advances in equality. the nation’s largest technology Haxthausen and I had a great the Asia and Asian America Sec- Andrea says of the conference, program for older adults. I’m sure my catch-up dinner in Washington, tion of the American Sociological “The symposium was truly inspir- own teenagers think I could personally D.C., a few weeks ago — we talked Association; and the Thomas and ing. The opportunity to reconnect benefit from OATS, though I believe about Paul Barnes and Sally Znaniecki Distinguished Book with old friends and meet so many many of us have parents and older Graham’s great romance. Congratu- Award from the International women from across the three decades relatives who could benefit from a lations on CC love!” Migration Section. The fourth book reminded me of what a wonderful free class with OATS to learn basics Speaking of that, Paul and award is bestowed by the Associa- community and strong foundation like email or how to manage online Sally tied the knot on March 25 tion for Asian American Studies,

76 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews which hailed it as the Best Book and across the University to help from CC’91. Aside from the alums at Columbia for basketball.” in the Social Sciences. Her articles bring pressing and timely conversa- already mentioned, Elise Scheck Mike Socolow and his wife, have appeared in the discipline’s tions about immigration, race and Bonwitt, Julie Levy, Annie Giar- Connie McVey, live in Bangor, top journals, including American ethnicity, and inequality to the ratano Della Pietra, Melanie Maine, where Connie is a psycho- Sociological Review, Social Forces, Columbia community. To do so in Seidner, Jodi Williams Bienen- therapist at Acadia Hospital and Annual Review of Sociology, and the the vibrancy of New York makes this feld and Laurel Abbruzzese were Mike teaches at the University of Proceedings of the National Academy an ideal homecoming.’” also in attendance (apologies to Maine. Mike’s book, Six Minutes of Sciences. those I missed). As an aside, Julie in Berlin: Broadcast Spectacle and “Professor Lee has recently begun brought her daughter, Katie ’21 — Rowing Gold at the Nazi Olympics, a collaboration on a new project 1991 congrats to Katie on her acceptance was published last winter [see involving a national survey of Asian to the College! “Bookshelf ”], and Connie recently Americans on political and civic Margie Kim One last fun thing I did at attended a conference in Washing- engagement, identity, inter-group 1923 White Oak Clearing Columbia with Elise and Julie was ton, D.C., where she visited with attitudes, and perceptions of discrim- Southlake, TX 76092 stop by the Kappa Alpha Theta Evan Schultz, his wife, Jen, and ination. For this project, she, together [email protected] house. Theta and other sororities their adorable son, Jay. with her co-PIs won a $507,000 like Alpha Chi Omega and Delta Hope you have a great summer! grant from the National Science In April, as I write these notes, I Gamma have townhouses on West Until next time, cheers! Foundation to conduct the 2016 have just returned from a Columbia- 113th and 114th now. We’ve come National Asian American Survey. filled weekend in NYC. First on the a long way from the suite we had in “Strongly committed to public agenda was the inaugural gathering East Campus! 1992 engagement, Professor Lee has writ- of the Columbia College Alum- Now, for a few updates on our ten opinion pieces for The New York nae Legacy Circle. Dean James CC’91 guys! John Evans lives in Olivier Knox Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The J. Valentini hosted a reception Pennsylvania and is in his 15th 9602 Montauk Ave. Seattle Times, CNN, The Guardian, celebrating the collective power of year at a commercial insurer as an Bethesda, MD 20817 TIME, and Los Angeles Magazine, female-driven philanthropy and its underwriter specializing in workers [email protected] and has done radio and television impact on the College. Founding compensation captives. His twin interviews for NPR, CBS News, members from CC’91 include Beth children, John and Emma (15), will Hello, fellow CC’92ers! At this Fusion TV and Tavis Smiley. In Shubin Stein, Elana Drell Szyfer start high school next year. John gets writing I was looking forward to together with Michael Gitman and seeing many of you at Reunion 2017 his family on Long Island and stays — and maybe even at my panel on in touch with Sam Trotzky and the news media in the age of Presi- Erin Hussein ’92 is running for NYC City Council, Bruce Mayhew. dent Trump, “The Future of News in Chris Kotes District 2, “basically the East Side from sent in this update: the Trump Administration.” I led it “My wife, Lori, and I started our with Michael Ricci ’02. Grand Street up to East 35th.” own business to kick off 2017: Rich Rosivach — who has prob- carbuyingstressfree.com. We assist ably forgotten that he generously buyers much like a real estate agent gave me half a pack of NoDoz to pull would assist in buying a house by an all-nighter in spring ’89 — paid addition, her research has been and Michelle Jacobson Goldberg. researching options on different a state visit to Washington, D.C., featured in The New York Times, The Beth is an associate professor of brands and models and then, most during which he, Josh Levy ’94 and Washington Post, NBC News, The orthopedic surgery at Weill Medical importantly, with the price negotia- I grabbed a drink. Rich came to Chronicle of Higher Education, The College and is in her 15th year with tion. Our boys (6 and 8) keep us town to receive the NEA Award Economist, Slate, Buzzfeed and a the Hospital for Special Surgery, in busy with baseball and hockey, both for Teaching Excellence. The award number of other national and inter- NYC, where she resides with her floor and ice. We recently completed recognizes teachers for contributions national media outlets. She is one of husband, Chris Ahmad SEAS’90, the Philadelphia sports trifecta, to teaching, leadership, promoting few sociologists who very success- and their three children. Elana is the attending a Phillies, Flyers and Six- equity and public advocacy. Rich fully engages the public through CEO of Laura Geller Cosmet- ers game in a two-day period! My was selected to represent Minne- multiple types of media. ics and lives in New Jersey with oldest son was lucky enough to get a sota’s more than 65,000 teachers “In accepting the position at her husband and three children. stick from one of the Flyers — one this year and will participate in the Columbia, Professor Lee says, ‘I Michelle is a partner at Ignition of those life moments he will never NEA Foundation’s Global Learning am enormously humbled, honored, Partners, a venture capital firm in forget. Ken Cavazzoni opened a Fellowship as part of the award. Rich and excited to join Columbia’s Seattle, where she lives with her sports facility in Farmingdale, N.J. was planning to be at reunion. Department of Sociology and the husband and two children. I know it keeps him busy, but Erin Hussein LAW’95 is running Center for the Study of Ethnicity The next day was spent on it beats the day-to-day grind of for NYC City Council, District 2, and Race. To have the opportunity campus at the Columbia College corporate life. I also talk with Jim “basically the East Side on Manhattan to return to one’s alma mater as a Women symposium, which com- Coppola, as his kids are also active from Grand Street up to East 35th.” faculty member, and to give back memorated the 30th anniversary in sports. He gives me hitting tips She also planned to be at reunion. to an institution from which I have of the graduation of the first fully for my sons and I try to pass back Steven Greenberg ’93 also gained so much is a unique privilege. coeducational class. We enjoyed sev- some pitching tips for his. We both planned to be at reunion, “at least to Moreover, to join at a time when eral dynamic speakers, who shared might have future Columbia stars! see the elusive Dae Levine BC’92 Columbia is at the vanguard of their journeys and experiences, and My family and John Vomvolakis’s after 25 years.” He also reported a social science research is especially participated in breakout sessions family — my two boys and his three major life event: he got married in fortuitous. I look forward to work- throughout the day. More than 300 boys — try to attend a sports event January in Islamorada, Fla., to Isa- ing with my brilliant new colleagues women from all classes attended, annually. We’ve made it to Princeton belle Jung, “a woman in my French and students in Sociology, CSER, and we had great representation for a football game and back home practice group.” Steven noted that

Summer 2017 CCT 77 Class Notes

his wife’s “claim to fame is litigating Yumi Koh (who lives in Brooklyn The university is just southwest of high school to give me the news, he Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town to and works for a hedge fund), Patti London, but we’ll live in Golders mentioned my essay,” she writes. the Supreme Court and wresting Lee, Jenny Hoffman and Robyn Green in the northwestern part of He asked about the recovery the rights from EMI back to the Tuerk. I also caught up with Kathryn the city. I’d love to be in touch with and if her family was still sleeping descendants of the original author.” Hudacek Harlow ’94, who lives in any CC people in London who could in the living room, the only part of The happy event drew Joe Del New Hampshire with her husband, show me the ropes once we alight.” their house with a roof. “When I Toro ’93, as well as Adam Ginsburg John; is restoring an old farmhouse; We are now less than a year answered ‘yes,’ he said ‘Well, when SEAS’90 and Stephanie Ginsburg and is an organic farmer! Kathryn away from our 25th reunion and you get here you can have your own BC’90, who have been married and I went to high school together in planning is beginning in earnest! room,’” she writes. “That was how he more than 20 years. It also drew 40 New Jersey and were missing fellow Contact Director of College Alumni told me I was accepted.” of Isabelle’s Parisian relatives to the Kent Place/Columbia alumnae Emily Relations Eric Shea at eric.shea@ La Vaughn, who is back in St. Florida Keys for the first time. Fischbein and Kemba Dunham columbia.edu if you want to be Croix, has a lot going on in 2017, Steven writes, “We now have a ’94. Kathryn and Jenny organized a involved in the planning. which marks 100 years since the crazy-ass family life in Palm Beach women’s crew reunion that got us to island’s transfer from Denmark to the County, Fla., (and part time in the Dodge Physical Fitness Center, United States. “For several years my Maine) with my sons, Michael and where a great group gathered in the 1994 work as a visual artist has responded Jimmy, our retired racing greyhound, Lou Gehrig Lounge to catch up on to the questions surrounding the Leyla Kokmen Zapp, and his trusty muttish side- old times and to see how strong the colonialism of the Virgin Islands, c/o CCT kick, Meatball.” team is now. both in its present relationship to Columbia Alumni Center One note: Your class correspon- During the weekend, there was the United States and its past one to 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 dent goofed in his spring column. also a women’s soccer alumnae Denmark,” she writes. Brian Farran New York, NY 10025 and his wife were game, which was attended by Julie This year, La Vaughn is busy with [email protected] married in 2000, not 2005. Your Davidson Hassan, Ali Towle, Joan exhibitions and projects, includ- class correspondent regrets the error. Campion ’92 and Deirdre Flynn ’92. ing a solo exhibition in March in (Brian planned to be at reunion.) We all spent time together the night No news, CC’94? Send us tales of Copenhagen and group shows before in midtown, where I also saw your summer travels and adventures, throughout the year. During her time Lisa Rutkoske. Lisa had been a CFO or anything else that’s going on in in Denmark, she participated in sev- 1993 in the private sector, but five-plus your lives, and we will share it here eral public events, artist talks, panel years ago decided to relocate to Long in the fall. Be well, and please do discussions and a seminar at the Betsy Gomperz Island, where she was the assistant take a few minutes to send a note University of Copenhagen, “Decolo- 41 Day St. superintendent for business in the to me through CCT’s Class Notes nizing Design.” This summer, she is Newton, MA 02466 Valley Stream public schools and now webform, college.columbia.edu/cct/ working on a commission project at [email protected] is the assistant superintendent for submit_class_note, or email me at the Flensburg Maritime Museum in business for Herricks Public Schools. [email protected]. Happy summer! Germany, as that part of Germany Greetings, classmates. I hope you are Celebrating coeducation wasn’t belonged to Denmark during the enjoying the summer! I was in New just for women, and on Friday night colonial time and was an integral part York City in April to participate we were joined by Kevin Connolly 1995 of the trans-Atlantic trade. in the celebration of 30 years of and Neil Turitz. Kevin has a pool Congratulations, La Vaughn! Janet Lorin Allyson Baker Columbia College Women. It was services business in Hampton Bays, Thanks to and 730 Columbus Ave., Apt. 14C Juliet Bellow, great to be in the city for a long N.Y., and lives in his hometown of both in Washing- New York, NY 10025 weekend hanging out with old Garden City with his wife, Laura, ton, D.C., for answering my call [email protected] friends, without kids or significant and children, Clarabel and Beckett. for updates. Allyson lives in the others — just like the old days! I Neil has some projects in the works, Cleveland Park neighborhood with was fortunate to spend time with but was rather cagey (his word, It’s not often we get to include Alex- her husband, David Kligerman, and not mine). He told me a lot off the ander Hamilton (Class of 1778) in a their son, Benjamin (4). “Life is record that he won’t let me share … Class Notes column! An update from really busy and also really fun these La Vaughn Belle yet … but I can tell you it is really describes their sim- days,” Allyson writes. cool and exciting; we’ll just all have ilar circumstances in St. Croix, where Allyson works in the financial to stay tuned. they were both raised, that helped services and litigation practices at Columbia It was wonderful to spend so bring them to Columbia. “Writing Venable and her husband is general College much time with old friends in about a devastating hurricane played a counsel at the Broadcasting Board between reunions. As Robyn said part in both our studying at Columbia of Governors, which oversees Voice Alumni when we toasted one another one University,” she writes. of America and Radio Free Europe, evening, “To seasoned friends, and In 1772, Hamilton wrote about among other entities. “When I am on Facebook long may we reign!” the hurricane that garnered him the not working and parenting, which Ken Ehrenberg facebook.com/alumnicc GSAS’05 sent attention of supporters to send him seems to take up about 110 percent of a note: “For the past five years, I’ve to boarding school in the British my time, I find time to work on local Like the page to get lived in Birmingham, Ala., with my Colonies in North America. After political campaigns and with some alumni news, learn wife, Hanako, and, more recently, a year, he entered King’s College, local nonprofits and pro bono causes,” about alumni events our children, Sara (3) and Shira (10 which became Columbia. Allyson writes. “All in all, things are months). We recently made the deci- La Vaughn wrote her admis- really good and I feel blessed to have and College happenings, sion to move to London — which we sion essay about the devastation of kept in touch with so many amazing view photos and more. will do in June — for me to take up a Hurricane Hugo on the Carib- fellow Columbians over the years.” job as reader in law and philosophy at bean island in 1989. “When the Juliet, my suitemate on Carman the University of Surrey Law School. admissions officer called me at my 10, is a professor of art history at

78 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

American University. She earned ten- I have no doubt it was an inspi- tried to keep herself busy by joining a GSAS’57, the Queens Paideia ure a year ago; in 2013 she published rational day for current students to few social clubs, such as the Sarasota School, where I have also offered her first book, Modernism on Stage: see how much Columbia helped Columbia Alumni Club, the Sarasota my occasional ‘Philosophy for The Ballets Russes and the Parisian to shape the successful and varied Phi Beta Kappa Club and the Cen- Kids’ course.” Avant-Garde, which analyzes set and professions of so many alumnae, and tral Florida Chapter of Mensa. And Author Adam Mansbach costume designs by Pablo Picasso, it was a wonderful opportunity for then, once her baby arrived last Octo- SOA’00 (Go the F—k to Sleep) is Henri Matisse, Sonia Delaunay and all of us to meet and reconnect with ber, her focus shifted entirely to being back with a new book, co-writing Giorgio de Chirico for Serge Diaghi- alumnae from different years. a mother. She is happy to report that the middle-grade, middle-school– lev’s Ballets Russes troupe. And speaking of alumnae doing Amara has reached her half birthday themed book Jake the Fake Keeps Juliet and her husband have been interesting things around the globe, and is doing great. It Real with actor-comedian Craig Mirella Cheeseman, John Dean Alfone married for 15 years and have a who lives and recently Robinson (from The Office and daughter, Nora (9). works in Rome, works on television interviewed up-and-coming New Hot Tub Time Machine) and with Upon the 30th anniversary of the and film development for the Ital- Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest illustrations by Keith Knight. The graduation of the first fully coedu- ian production company Wildside, (“JazzFest”) performer Boyfriend: book, which is the first in a pro- cational class at Columbia College, producers of Paolo’s Sorrentino’s whereyat.com/a-conversation- posed series, is based on Robinson’s I’m happy to include these updates acclaimed HBO series The Young Pope with-rapper-songwriter. John also experiences going to Chicago’s first of three women who have thrived. and the upcoming serial adaptation of directed his first music video, for arts-based magnet school. If you Please keep the news coming to Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels. Richard Bates’ single “After Mardi have middle-grade readers in the [email protected]. That’s all for now — please Gras” from the Urban Legends EP, house, check out Jake the Fake — my send notes! featuring George Porter Jr. of the third-grader and I loved it. “You never really understand a Meters: vimeo.com/213765716. 1996 person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb 1999 Ana S. Salper into his skin and walk around in it.” 1998 24 Monroe Pl., Apt. MA —Atticus Finch Adrienne Carter and Brooklyn, NY 11201 (To Kill a Mockingbird) Sandie Angulo Chen Jenna Johnson [email protected] 10209 Day Ave. c/o CCT Silver Spring, MD 20910 Columbia Alumni Center Greetings, classmates! The big 1997 [email protected] 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530 news I have this time around is a New York, NY 10025 report from the Columbia College Sarah Katz Happy summer, Class of ’98. Just one [email protected] Women symposium that was held 1935 Parrish St. more year until our 20th reunion! [email protected] on April 22 and celebrated 30 years Philadelphia, PA 19130 One of our class’ many success- [email protected] Amol Sarva, since the graduation of the first fully ful entrepreneurs, Spring has brought marvelous news coeducational class from the College. writes: “This year is my second year from Ingrid Matias, whose feature Zaharah Markoe It was a fantastic event, attended by is now with the teaching at the College. ‘Ventur- film H.O.M.E. (homeacronymfilm. more than 300 alumnae and current firm of Meland Russin & Budwick ing to Change the World’ is the com) will bring Columbians back students. The day was filled with in Miami. first class about entrepreneurship to alma mater by way of the streets, Vivian Elwell interesting panels and speeches given and her husband, at CC, covering the mindset, intel- internationalism and even the NYC by women not only from the historic Nigel, are pleased to announce the lectual origins and problem-solving subways. H.O.M.E. has been making Class of 1987, but also from alumnae birth of their daughter, Charlotte, frameworks of commercial or social its mark on the festival circuit, from from other classes and from a variety on March 4. The family lives in founders who seek to build organi- San Diego, to Chicago, to Cuba, to of professions. They spoke on topics London, where the couple practices zations; for example, to make history many other places. The film won the such as why coeducation matters, neurosurgery. versus to write history. Best Narrative Feature Award at the Sabra Gandhi women’s rights, the entrepreneurial is the managing “I started Halo Neuroscience a Queens World Film Festival, the spirit of women and women in the broker of Nest Seekers International few years ago. The company makes Audience Award for Best Narra- news, among many others. in Beverly Hills, a luxury real estate a gadget that boosts brain function; tive Feature at Cine Las Americas Jodi Kantor , author and New York brokerage. She lives in Santa Monica our first product focuses on elite International Film Festival and the Klancy Miller Times journalist, and , with her husband, Parker Sellers, and military and athletes — NBA, MLB, New York Showcase Award at the author and pastry chef, were among their two kids, and was about to start Olympic and others — who are Harlem Film Festival. the impressive roster of panelists who construction on a new home. using it to shoot better, run faster Ingrid, who produced the film, Marisa Goldstein spoke. In addition, I had the pleasure SIPA’99 is still and jump higher. tells us: “Through the lens of a Whitney Chi- of sharing the day with at the World Trade Organization “Also, I run Knotel, which now city in constant motion, H.O.M.E. ate Erica Bens (née Berkholtz), (née in Geneva after 10 years. She is a operates 15 buildings around the explores communication and mean- Britta Jacobson Sulkowski), (who counselor in the legal affairs division, city and soon dozens more. We ingful encounters despite cultural, came all the way from London, where helping to settle disputes between run headquarters for companies as language and emotional barriers. she lives with her husband and two members. She writes that anyone a service, with the scalability of an As Danny ( Jeremy Ray Valdez), a Moha Desai, Mila Tuttle daughters), wishing to ski the Swiss Alps should Internet service in the fully branded runaway with Asperger’s Syndrome, (who was on the planning committee get in touch! physical space you thought could wanders the subway’s labyrinth Rose Kob Kerensa Harrell for the symposium), and is adjusting only happen by signing a lease. unnoticed by three million riders, Rhonda Moore. It was also great to to living year-round in Florida “My older daughter is now only a Chinese mother (Angela Lin) — Bernice Tsai, see the College’s associ- since moving there in 2015 to be a seven years away from her college desperate to arrive home — con- ate dean of alumni relations and com- homemaker. After having lived in applications. The two sisters go to vinces Gabriel, an Ecuadorian taxi munications, who was instrumental in NYC for 22 years, it’s a big change in school here in Queens at a school driver ( Jesus Ochoa), to help her pulling off such a successful event. the pace of life, she says, but she has founded by Francis Mechner ’52, navigate the streets of New York.”

Summer 2017 CCT 79 Class Notes

That’s all the news this time, but the nature of the universe and our do write to us at the addresses at the place within it.” top of this column with any and all Congratulations to Amy on this updates. We’re eager to hear from you! achievement! I know many of you are planning amazing summer trips, which might 2000 include visits with alumni. Please share details from your travels with Prisca Bae me at [email protected] — every- Brian House ’02 married Lucia Monge on January 17 in Lucia’s hometown [email protected] one would love to hear from you. of Lima, Peru. Left to right: Ben Howell ’02, Abby Walthausen BC’06, Alex Enjoy the summer! Farrill ’03, Veronica Liu BC’04, the bride, the groom and Jesse Shapins ’02. No news this time, but CCT wants to hear from you so that we can have a full Fall issue column! Email me at 2002 [email protected] to share news Sam Winchester on November 27. started dating in April 1997, when I about travel, jobs, hobbies, family or Sonia Dandona Hirdaramani He was 7 lbs., 8 oz. and 20 inches was a high school freshman! We live favorite Columbia memories. This is [email protected] long. His father is Patricia’s husband, in the suburbs, about a five-minute your space to share what’s happen- Stuart Winchester JRN’08. drive from his parents and mine. ing with you. Have a great summer! Hi classmates! We had our 15-year Genevieve “Vivi” Ko Takizawa Our son is 6 and our daughter is 2. reunion in June. I hope many of you writes: “My husband, Bayan, and I “One update I am most excited to were able to make it! welcomed Ken Anthony Takizawa, share is that this summer we will host 2001 Lots of lovely updates from all our first baby, on December 4. It a child through the Fresh Air Fund, a over the globe this time around. is such a joy seeing him grow! I’m 140-year-old organization that places Jonathan Gordin Please keep them coming to hoping he will become the third NYC children aged 7–12 living in [email protected] [email protected]. Thanks! generation of proud Columbia poverty with suburban, small-town Rick Hip-Flores was the music College graduates! My father is or rural families for a week or two in Hi all! I hope everyone’s summer is supervisor and conductor for In Tran- Chun-Min ‘Tony’ Kao ’68.” the summer to allow those children off to a great start! sit, Broadway’s first a cappella musical. Brian House got married on to experience life outside the city Jill Cohen BC’01 (née Markow- Goutom Basu SEAS’02, based January 17 to artist Lucia Monge in and to allow your family a valuable itz) shared a lovely photo from a in Hong Kong, has been with Citi her hometown of Lima. cultural exchange. We are looking Martin Luther King Day weekend Hong Kong for 13 years. Last year, Have a wonderful summer! forward to sharing some summer trip to Rhinebeck, N.Y. It was an he did short stints in Tokyo and activities (swimming, bike riding, alum-filled trip, including the next Jakarta, which were amazing experi- BBQ) with our FAF child! This is a generation of matriculating Colum- ences for him, he says. He has a son, 2003 wonderful organization and I encour- bia and Barnard students! Aditya Keigo (5), and a daughter, age everyone to take a look at what it Amy Weiss released her debut Kareena Arisa (2). Michael Novielli does and to consider participating. It novel, Crescendo, on May 2. Here’s a Richard Mammana is parish [email protected] doesn’t cost much to welcome a child brief description: “How do we find clerk at Trinity Church on the into your home for a few weeks each meaning in life after loss? Can a Green in New Haven, Conn. His Attorney Maxim Mayer-Cesiano summer but it can be a life-changing soul ever really die? In this spiritual daughters, Emilia and Elisabeth, are was recently promoted to partner at experience for them and for your parable, the debut novel of Amy losing teeth and tying shoelaces. Skadden. Max also passed along that children/family as well!” Weiss, a tragedy propels Aria on a Patricia Winchester (née Mari- he and his wife, Kate, recently wel- Jesse Stowell wrote from Aus- metaphysical adventure that explores noff ) announces the birth of Logan comed son Theodore “Teddy” Emmett tin, Texas, with a host of updates: Mayer-Cesiano, born on February 14 “Pam Pradachith-Demler and her and weighing 7 lbs., 8 oz. husband, Brett Demler, will move Congrats, Maxim! from the San Francisco Bay area CC’03, let’s get more news in to the lower Hudson Bay area in this space! Shoot me an email at July with their son, Westin, born on [email protected] or use CCT’s October 28, 2015. Class Notes webform, college. “Britney Williams and Dan columbia.edu/cct/submit_class_note, Jacobs welcomed son Theo on to share all your exciting adventures March 30, 2016. and updates. “Jaclyn Duran relocated to Los Angeles, where she works in human resources for Aecom and 2004 enjoys the weather. “I moved to Austin in November Jaydip Mahida 2015 and started my own entertain-

VERONICA SILVA VERONICA [email protected] ment and lifestyle PR agency, Parker Several College and Barnard alumni (and their kids!) met up for a trip to Phoenix PR, and was recently hon- Rhinebeck, N.Y., during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. Front Marina Severinovsky BUS’09 ored with a 40 Under 40 nomina- row, left to right: Madeline Eule, Lucy Cohen, Henry Cohen, Chloe Hensel writes: “I recently celebrated seven tion. I regularly see Andrew Smith and Matthew Hensel; and back row, left to right: Sylvie Eule, Alex Eule ’01, years with my firm, Schroders, where SEAS’05, who works for Rogers- Michelle Eule BC’01 (née Kann), Jill Cohen BC’01 (née Markowitz), Maxine I am an investment strategist, and O’Brien, a leading developer and Hensel, Raphael Cohen ’01 and Jeff Hensel ’01. 20 years with my husband, whom I construction company in town.”

80 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews

Finally, Sam Rosenthal ’09, From Dan Binder: “My wife, 10-year reunion! Very exciting. Here the exceptional education I have GSAS’21 reached out because he is Alyssa Farmer (Texas A&M), and I are some updates from classmates: received and to my family and loved interested in speaking with CC’04 welcomed our daughter Livia Claire While at the Business School ones for their support.” Kat Vorotova Eric grads as part of his work as a sociol- Binder into the world on March 19. in 2013, BUS’14 Ahead of Reunion 2017, Bondarsky ogy graduate student at Colum- My two-week leave from work was a launched her own company (Try reminisces, “Was it the bia. He is working on a project good start, but I really look forward The World, covered in CCT’s Spring reunion before the reunion? Or was regarding life paths of liberal arts to spending the summer having 2015 issue) to bring the best foods it simply Jeffrey Feder SEAS’07, graduates and how those paths were daddy-daughter adventures! (I work from around the globe to people’s SEAS’08 imparting investment influenced by the Great Recession. at Episcopal H.S. in Houston, so doorsteps with a click of a mouse. knowledge onto his two former East Matt Kondub This project aims to contribute to a summer vacations are still a thing By 2016 the company had imported Campus suitemates, Eric Bondarsky larger longitudinal study that will for me.)” more than five million products from and ? Of course, unfold over the next decade or so. From John Zaro: My wife, Natalie 30 countries and had grown to 25 both of their wives were along for the Please reach out to Sam if you are Zaro (née Leggio) BC’04, and I wel- employees; Try The World recently ride as the knowledge was imparted interested in participating: sar2131@ comed our second son into the world completed an acquisition of Hamp- over delicious central Asian delicacies columbia.edu. on April 13. Gabriel Blake Zaro was tons Lane, a competitor. Kat says she in an obscure Forest Hills restaurant, Please continue to send in 7 lbs., 10 oz., and is happy and healthy. feels that she is living her dream as Ganey Orly, on a wintry March updates, as we want to hear from as Big brother Adrian was excited for an entrepreneur and foodie traveler. evening. Yes, while gestating into Julia Kite many folks as possible. Career and his Easter basket and, after much writes, “In late Decem- weeks 35 and 36, their wives enjoyed family updates are always fun, but discussion, was looking forward to his ber I appeared on Jeopardy, where samsa, manty and bakhsh along with you also can share about trips you brother’s arrival home for Easter!” I become the second person in the delicious skewers of beef and chicken might take, events you have attended history of the show to go into Final with a side of garlic fries. To many or are looking forward to, or even Jeopardy with more than $23,500, more good times together!” interesting books or shows you have 2006 to get every Daily Double … and Mary Rutledge and Craig come across. Send updates either via still lose. I was up against Cindy Rodwogin celebrated their mar- the email address at the top of the Michelle Oh Sing Stowell, who sadly passed away from riage in Wilmington, N.C., on June column or via the CCT Class Notes [email protected] cancer before the show could air. 18, 2016. In their wedding party webform, college.columbia.edu/cct/ Her loved ones generously donated were Sarah Fisher; Amy Cass; Marty Moore; submit_class_note. Let’s see more news here! Send her winnings — which totaled more Max Grossman ’05, Adam Brickman; me your updates right away, big than $100,000 after six episodes — GSAS’07; and Chris Simi. Kristina George and small, and they’ll be in the Fall to cancer research, and I’m happy I did a 2005 issue. Can’t wait to hear from you at could play a role in her epic run. reading at the ceremony. Mary and [email protected]! “In March, I signed a book deal Craig were joined by many more Columbia College Today for my debut novel, The Hope and Columbia alumni and concluded the [email protected] Anchor. It will be published by reception with a rousing rendition of 2007 Unbound, a U.K. imprint launched Roar, Lion, Roar. Thanks to those who wrote in! If in 2011. Unbound is unique in that you’d like to share your news in this David D. Chait it crowdfunds through pre-orders space (or if you would like to be the [email protected] before formally launching a book, 2008 Class of 2005 correspondent), please which addresses one of the main Neda Navab email [email protected]. Your class- By the time these Class Notes issues debut authors of literary fic- [email protected] mates want to hear from you! publish, we’ll have celebrated our tion face in traditional publishing: Proving that you, as a total unknown, will be able to sell enough copies to I hope everyone is off having excit- make it worth a publisher’s effort ing summer adventures! Please share in an increasingly difficult business your news in CCT by emailing me at landscape. I turned down representa- the address above. tion by a traditional literary agent We do have one great update! because I like Unbound’s track record Lauren Bell (née Arnold) PS’17, with attention to new authors. I’m PH’17 earned an M.D./M.P.H. and looking forward to having The Hope will start her residency in pediatrics and Anchor on shelves in early 2018.” at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh David Greenhouse and his wife, this summer. She says, “I would love Emily Jordan ’09, have some terrific to reconnect with CC alums in the news: “We are excited to introduce our Pittsburgh area!” little boy Wilbur, born on March 15.” Maria Chavez Santos writes, “I [was scheduled to] graduate from 2009

KMI PHOTOGRAPHY residency at Hunterdon Medical Alidad Damooei Mary Rutledge ’07 married Craig Rodwogin ’07 in Wilmington, N.C., on Center in June. After three chal- June 18, 2016. Left to right: Craig Hormann SEAS’08, Adam Brickman ’07, lenging years, including a year as [email protected] Elizabeth Reeve ’08, Kristina George ’07, David Koetz SEAS’07, Chris Simi chief resident, I am excited to enter ’07, Marisa Weldon ’08 (née Doyle), Ramie Merrill ’07, Marty Moore ’07, the next phase of my professional Sarah Ishman (now Sarah Hope), Cody Steele ’09, Andrea Steele ’07 (née Derricks), Mary McCue ’07, Kelly life as a family physician. I am married King’s College Lon- McConnell ’07, Amy Cass ’07, Sarah Fisher ’07, Miriam Datskovsky BC’07 grateful to Columbia and the Albert don alumnus Matthew Hope on and Kate Bennett BC’07 (née Rector). Einstein College of Medicine for April 11 in New York City. They

Summer 2017 CCT 81 Class Notes celebrated with close friends and Internet Freedom Festival in Valencia, And last but not least, our ment with what I am doing in that family and plan to honeymoon in Spain, Pierce began his fellowship regular installment from Chris Yim: very moment, in spite of the pain or Mallorca (where there is excellent working with Demand Progress, a “Kon’nichiwa from Japan! I’m here challenge. This same sort of thing cycling!) in January. national grassroots organization with with none other than the guy I can’t has happened with ceramics. I was Sarah and Matt met in New two million affiliated activists fighting seem to get rid of, Varun Gulati so humbled by how bad I was that I York in 2015 while Matt was on for digital rights. As part of his fellow- SEAS’10. We have been on the road had no choice but to keep at it, and secondment to the New York office ship, Pierce will focus on technology for the last 18 days, visiting Northern bear the desert until I could get the of Latham & Watkins. The couple and policy matters related to open Vietnam and a few areas in Japan. basics right. I listened to political bonded over a love of cycling, skiing internet, privacy and net neutrality. We got to hang out with Eunice podcasts and tried to be OK with and, after some coaxing by Sarah, Deysy Ordonez-Arreola Kang ’13 in Hanoi for a day and had the fact that I was going to suck for triathlon. Sarah and Matt have since GSAS’14 writes, “Inspired by our some really wicked bubble tea. a while. Had I not found any enjoy- relocated back to Matt’s home in personal health struggles, Marlaina “I’m ready to get back to the ment in this process, it would have London, where they look forward to Headley ’09 and I decided to tackle States and buckle down with some been torture, but I recognized that many more adventures together. the lack of resources underserved new endeavors that I want to take when you start something — any- Share your news in this space communities have to live healthy on. The last four months have been a thing — new, you’re going to stink — your classmates want to hear lives. Together, we combined our love foray into new interests. My pursuits at it for a while. However, inching from you! Shoot me an email at of all things healthy and engaging the in ceramics, yoga and improv, the forward each day is progress and, if [email protected] to be featured community and, in 2015, founded last of which I have been studying you can celebrate the inches, greater in the Fall issue. Clothing Hope, Inc., to empower for nearly a year, have taught me a measures will come. underserved communities to be lot about how I like to learn and the “My life updates don’t include health-conscious, to enhance the lives importance of stepping back once much. My wife, Grace, and I moved 2010 of those living with diabetes in such in a while to be critical of how you to a new home in March that communities and be active supporters build knowledge. I have to admit we really like. We went from one Julia Feldberg of health and medical research. This that I wish I had been more aware roommate to two roommates, as a [email protected] year we are striving to open our first of this earlier during my time at married couple. I’ve started seeing Clothing Hope, Inc., community Columbia, but better late than never. a therapist to chat through my Hi 2010, and thank you for sharing center in New York City!” “Someone recently asked me neuroses and this trip to Asia was your updates. We have a great lineup Irena Ossola shares: “I continued if I’m prone to nostalgia. While I super rad. More and more, I am this issue! running competitively in Italy but am enjoying my life at the present cognizant of my privilege and am Buck Ellison lives in Los Angeles. then, in 2012, I transitioned to cycling. moment, I do think quite often figuring out how to do something He earned an M.F.A. from the Acad- I have been a professional cyclist since about the formative years that I constructive with it. I urge you to emy of Fine Arts, Frankfurt (Städel- and am on the Canada-based team spent at Columbia. I reminisce keep me accountable to this. I can schule) in 2014. In 2016, he exhibited SAS-MACOGEP. This year I will about good times with old friends, report that I am coming up on two his work at Galerie Balice Hertling, race all over the world and be based wonder about the person that I used years of marriage and I am very Paris; Index – The Swedish Contem- mostly out of France. I am work- to be before I had ‘real-life experi- happy with this life choice. While porary Art Foundation; Weiss Berlin; ing hard toward my dream to be an ence’ and the feelings that come I recognize it is not for everyone, and the Columbus Museum of Art. Olympic athlete and top female cyclist with being carefree. I wish that I and it’s not always peachy, I have He’s looking forward to explor- in the world. My goal is Tokyo 2020.” had studied abroad. I wish that I had learned more about myself (and my ing Laos this summer with James Lauren Ko recently got engaged taken a year off before college so I own humanity) through it than any DeWille and Holly Stanton ’11. to her med-school sweetheart, Mike could have had better management other life experience so far. It’s been James DeWille also lives in Los Milligan. The two met during their of my time and resources. I wish that humbling. This is another thing Angeles. He earned an M.F.A. from first year at Harvard Medical School I embraced my anxieties better and that’s also about the process. USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and and they’ll be tying the knot in June had been more aware of the learning “In February, I went to Tahoe writes for the CW’s Riverdale, which 2018 on Lake Sebago in Maine. opportunities that I had while I was with Grace, Nidhi Hebbar ’12 and was renewed for a second season. He Adam Valen Levinson says, “Glad there. It’s not too late now, and I Geoff Charles SEAS’12. We got recently went on a ski trip to Lake to say that my first book, The Abu feel quite lucky to have been in that caught in a terrible snowstorm and Tahoe with Buck Ellison, Kate Dhabi Bar Mitzvah: Fear and Love environment. To this day, many of had to abandon our car to get help. Abrams and Holly Stanton ’11. in the Middle East, is coming out in my closest friends and the people I Nidhi and Grace bravely walked Derek Jancisin writes: “I’m proud November. Best part: The first chapter love most are from those four years three miles through snow up to their to announce I’ve been named to On is set in the lineup for our graduation in Morningside Heights. knees while I stayed back supervis- Wall Street’s ‘Top 40 Advisors Under in ’10. So, like, you’re all in it! “Another theme that has risen in ing Geoff on how to correctly put 40’ in 2017. On Wall Street is a national “I am a fellow at Yale research- the past four months while I’ve been snow chains on. He got so cold publication serving the wealth man- ing cultural sociology, with a TV tackling these hobbies has been this and tired that I had to provide him agement industry and retail brokers show in development building on notion of engaging in the process. warmth and share my many layers working in the employee channel for my book’s main argument: Less fear. As an Asian-American, I grew up of clothing and extra pair of gloves. wirehouses and regional broker- More falafel. being conditioned to care so much After nearly three hours since our dealers. In January, On Wall Street pub- “But seriously, I always imagined about outcome and results. It’s no significant others had left us, Geoff lished online ‘The Top 40 Under’ list, I was writing these stories for the wonder why I am an impatient started to fear the worst. I told him compiled using data solicited from the people I went to school with, and person and feel like I lack resilience that their phones had likely died advisers’ employers. Individual trailing learned about the world with, and when things get boring or difficult. and that if we directed our focus 12-month production for each adviser would love more than anything to Through my yoga practice, I’ve been to getting the car going again, we was the primary ranking criterion.” hear what you think.” taught to be present and to breathe would be reunited with them sooner. Pierce Stanley won a yearlong Daniel D’Addario married (which is something that I often Inside, I was hoping that they had Ford Foundation/Media Democracy Jacob Schneider on October 9 in forget to do), and it has been in found a warm fireplace somewhere. Fund fellowship. After attending the Tarrytown, N.Y. these lessons that I find content- With the chains now on the tires

82 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews of my Toyota Prius, all we had to his gambling tendencies, he could a residency program in neurology at 109th Street and 5th Avenue. They do was get the engine started (the only give it to them if they engaged at Stanford. He will begin that go to Community and Le Monde battery had died). in a card game. Grace pulled out program in June 2018 after a year occasionally for weekend brunch. “We tried and tried, but to no Monopoly Deal from her bag and of internal medicine at Santa Clara Anthony “Ace” Patterson has avail. At this point, I saw a nervous- they proceeded to play. The winner Valley Medical Center in San Jose, been balancing work as a consultant ness in Geoff ’s eyes. I was worried would get to use the pickup truck the safety-net hospital for one of during the day with making music for him. I had generously given him out front. Lo and behold, Grace won America’s largest immigrant com- after hours. He released his debut our last bag of chips and we were and they got to save our butts from munities. He’s also excited for a pre- hip-hop project, Misinterpreta- now wearing every single article of the snow. I could hardly believe the residency trip on the Trans-Siberian tions, at the end of 2016 under the clothing from our suitcases. This was tale after I heard it. Railroad with Jan Hendrik Van moniker “Call Me Ace,” and he’s getting bad. I suggested that we sit “This submission must come to Zoelen Cortés. continuing to develop his music inside my car and share stories of our an end, but I have more thoughts And he’s not the only one graduat- catalog this year. In other news, his time on campus, swapping memories and have been continuing to ing: Ola Jacunski GSAS’16 gradu- one-year marriage anniversary was like we would on the Low Steps. pontificate on religion and faith. I ated from Columbia with a Ph.D. in at the end of May. He and his wife, I was falling asleep and thought will share this soon. If you’re in San computational biology and will start Roza Essaw Patterson, couldn’t be that this could be it … until I saw a Francisco and can say hi, please do!” a job with Boston Consulting Group more excited. faint light in the distance. The light in August! Kerry Morrison PS’17 We’re incredibly excited for was traveling toward us and getting graduated from P&S as a member them, too. brighter. I didn’t come to until I 2011 of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor After spending several years in the heard honking. I woke Geoff up, who Medical Society. She matched to her art market — holding positions in had curled into a ball like a baby. I Nuriel Moghavem and first choice for residency in March business development at Sotheby’s said, ‘Geoff, look!’ And we stepped Sean Udell and will start at NYU in plastic and and Phillips — Lauren Zanedis is out of the car. When we got outside, [email protected] reconstructive surgery this summer. pursuing an M.B.A. at Wharton this we saw none other than Nidhi and [email protected] Daniel Gentile graduated from fall. That’s where Dhruv Vasishtha Grace at the helm of a pickup truck. the American Film Institute Conser- is now, and they’ll need people like They had procured a vehicle to drag A classmate reminded your class vatory in Los Angeles and optioned Lauren to rebuild their image. us out of the deep rut we were in, correspondents that we have now his M.F.A. thesis script, DTF. One Congrats to both you and Whar- and they jumpstarted my car. Nearly known one another for 10 years. of your correspondents is from L.A., ton’s PR department! seven hours since they had left us to That’s cray. But another classmate, and therefore knows that optioning Prentis Robinson recently find help, they returned. who wishes to stay anonymous, a script means to sell it to a producer, moved to Chicago to further his “They had apparently found a wanted us to know that he “was a who will most likely make it into education. He is a first-year in the fireplace in a hotel cabin, where they transfer student, so only nine years something that you can actually J.D.–M.B.A. program at the Kellogg warmed up and devised a game plan. for him (BOO HOO!).” show your loved ones. Daniel looks School of Management. There were truckers lurking who A sincere “boo hoo” to you, too. forward to showing off DTF to his After spending a couple of years had gotten stuck in Tahoe for the Looking forward to celebrating 10 parents and grandparents. teaching English in Istanbul, visiting evening. They got to talking, and years with you next year. We look forward to finding out friends and couch-surfing in Europe, the girls shared their situation and Looking on the bright side of what DTF stands for! Jessica L. Johnson has settled how their significant others were things, one of your correspon- Speaking of family-building, in Philadelphia. She is the visitor stuck three miles away. A burly man dents has a nice announcement: during the holidays, Mary Martha services coordinator at the Institute offered his truck, but because of Nuriel Moghavem matched into Douglas GSAS’12 got engaged of Contemporary Art at Penn and to George Stasinopoulos, her Yale works a stone’s throw away from Alex Bulldog boyfriend of three years. Klein ’01, the Dorothy and Stephen They will tie the knot in June 2018 R. Weber Curator. As visitor services not once, but twice! They will say “I coordinator, Jessica collaborates with do” on Centre Island in New York colleagues in the Department of before flying the party to George’s Public Engagement to devise ways hometown of Athens, Greece, to of welcoming visitors of all kinds to continue the celebrations on the the space and helping them to build beach with some ouzo. They live on connections to the work. the Upper East Side with their dog Jessica has also had the privilege (and flower-girl-in-training), Aggie. of further exploring the intersections Julian Seek married Fan Fan of art and social justice in connecting SEAS’13 on March 11 at St. Paul’s with artists, activists and educators Chapel in front of family and friends. through Philadelphia Theatre of the The two met at Columbia when Oppressed. She continues to write Fan was a freshman and Julian was a poetry, delights in Turkish soap junior. They were friends initially and operas and is working on a memoir didn’t start dating until Julian’s senior about her experiences living abroad year; their first date was on Valentine’s — feeling into whether that will Day 2011 and they have been together manifest best through prose, poetry, Julian Seek ’11 married Fan Fan SEAS’13 on March 11 at St. Paul’s Chapel. since. They’ve been working in New performance or some combination of Back row, left to right: Daniel Gutsche ’12, Nic Villalobos SEAS’13, Dwayne York City at various places since their all three. She encourages you to “drop Wang SEAS’12, Stephanie Yang SEAS’16, Kevin Cho ’15 and Long Phan respective graduations and have lived a line if the spirit moves you!” SEAS’11; front row, left to right: Nicole Estevez ’13, Rachel Bodzy ’13, Jin Fan, together since 2013. They live not too Since moving to Milano in 2016, the bride, the groom, Justin Seek ’14 and Jeff Chou SEAS’10. far from Columbia, near Central Park Kurt Kanazawa has become fluent in

Summer 2017 CCT 83 Class Notes two languages: Italian, and SWIFT, Cornelia Brandfield-Harvey share our adventures in the Fall issue! was equally enthusiastic to travel, to after a graduate university experience is in Houston. She writes: “I [was Shoot me an email at talaakhavan@ learn and to share what she learned programming iPhone applications scheduled to] graduate from the gmail.com or send a note to me with others. Catherine is survived by with the University of Salento in University of Houston Law Center through CCT’s Class Notes webform, her sister, Laura Medalia Johannet; Lecce in the far south of Italy. Kurt in May, attend the Class of 2012 college.columbia.edu/cct/submit_ brother, Paul Medalia Johannet; has also been an actor in Milano and reunion in June, sit for the Texas class_note. Have a great summer, and father, Christopher Johannet PS’86; Rome on TV and in commercials. Bar Exam in July (on my birth- get excited that our five-year reunion and mother, Alice Medalia (a profes- His website, kurtkanazawa.com, was day!) and then join Kane Russell is only a year away! sor at CUMC). designed by his sister Madeleine Coleman & Logan in Houston in “We will forever miss our Cat Sanchez Kanazawa (Skidmore Col- its litigation group. Excited for this and your Columbia lion.” lege, 2013). Kurt is moving back to next chapter in my life as a lawyer! 2014 Los Angeles to begin working for the I hope to transfer the competitive- Rebecca Fattell Nobu Ryokan in Malibu. He will miss ness and determination I executed 2016 [email protected] Italian food, he says, so please contact on the fencing strip as a varsity épée Lily Liu-Krason him if you are in town to explore the fencer into the courtroom as a trial Patrick Salazar [email protected] Italian cuisine of L.A., or to just stop attorney. GO LIONS AND GO Congratulations to , by his home to share some wine. COOGS! ROAR!” a Success Academy Charter Schools Kurt informs the community that Caitlin Burk was excited to Excellence Award winner! Patrick Hi 2016! To celebrate the 30th anni- Jan Hendrik Van Zoelen Cortés graduate from the University of graduated with a degree in English versary of the graduation of the Col- recently inherited a 95-ft. yacht from North Carolina School of Medicine and Italian literature and teaches lege’s first fully coeducational class, Sarah an anonymous foreign businessman in May and to begin her residency fifth-grade English at Success many CC women, including Yee, Eyvana Bengochea, Sharon or woman and has invited everyone in pediatrics at the Children’s Academy Bed-Stuy Middle School. Liao, Amy Li, to join him on his 145-days-around- Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC in Success Academy is the largest and Stephanie Lee ’17, Alexys Leija, Kelly Echavarria the-world jaunt porting in Honolulu, June. She is a little afraid of all the highest achieving charter network in and skippered by Diana Greenwald snow and the big hills, but is ready New York City. me, attended the Columbia College and her co-skippers, Kyle Boots to become an avid Steelers/Pirates/ Let’s fill this column with all the Women symposium on April 22. It and Shane Ferro, as well as head Penguins fan! exciting life adventures the Class of was a very inspirational day! coach Timothy Nesmith, who Jenn Leyva “is teaching ’14 is experiencing — a quick email As always, please send your has virtually designed the team’s high school chemistry in Brooklyn to me at [email protected] gets updates to [email protected]. I rigorous daily dietary and physical and is working to overthrow your news here! would love to hear from you! :) regimens. The 360-camera work and racial capitalism.” interactive video journalism will be Gillian Rhodes sent an update shot by Lucas Shaw for The New from Seoul: “In March, I spoke on 2015 2017 York Times, under the photographic the panel ‘Art Without Boundaries’ at Kareem Carryl Carl Yin direction of Nico McCormick, with the School of Tomorrow conference [email protected] [email protected] the assistance of you, the public of in Islamabad, Pakistan. The confer- Columbia University. Kurt hopes ence was a two-day event with more Carl Yin. you will join them during their Face- than 140 speakers focusing on the Sad news to report: Paul Johannet, Hi everyone! My name is Catherine Johannet, book Live streams, and keep track of future of Pakistan and the world.” brother of You might remember me as the guy their positions and mental health Sam Rosenthal ’09, GSAS’21 sent in the following: “With tremen- inviting you to countless alumni- on Uber Yachts. #gothedistance is a Columbia graduate student dous sadness, we write to inform the related events or giving out free #roar #fakenews in sociology working on a project Columbia University community Southern Tide swag and massive Lastly, three years ago, Evan regarding life paths of liberal arts that Catherine Medalia Johannet amounts of 5-Hour Energy. I’m Biederstedt let your class cor- graduates and how those paths were passed away on February 2, 2017. traveling and spending time at respondents know that he didn’t influenced by the Great Recession. She was 23. home this summer, but will be back want to hear from us “at least for This project aims to contribute to a “Catherine was born on Decem- in the city this fall, where I will work the next, oh, eight decades or so.” larger longitudinal study that will ber 16, 1993, in New York City and for Strategy&. Somehow, we keep screwing this up unfold over the next decade or so. grew up in the suburb Edgemont, I am your CCT class correspon- and have developed a ritual where Sam is interested in speaking with N.Y. She … majored in compara- dent, so every few months, I will he finds new, entertaining ways to members of our class. If you’d like tive literature and society, specifi- reach out to our entire class via ask to be removed from the mailing to take part, contact Sam: sar2131@ cally focusing on the narratives email asking for updates on your list. He asked politely this time, so columbia.edu. of individuals with disabilities as lives. These can be anything: a new we obliged. Hope to hear from more of you, conveyed through English, French job, an engagement, a child, travel Bye, Evan. as I know there are exciting things and Portuguese literatures. Fluent plans, hobbies and crazy stories going on. Please drop me a note at in both French and Portuguese, she (or even mundane ones)! Send me [email protected]! studied abroad in France, Portugal anything and everything you think 2012 and Brazil. She graduated with would be worth sharing with class- honors from the College … . mates in these pages. Sarah Chai 2013 “After graduation, she moved to Please send updates to carl.yin@ [email protected] Hanoi, Vietnam, where she taught columbia.edu, no matter how seem- Tala Akhavan English literature to aspiring college ingly small, because our classmates Friends, as I write, I’m looking for- [email protected] students for 18 months. At her and I want to hear them! Until then, ward to seeing you all on the Steps young age, she was deeply commit- I hope everyone has a great summer. in June for reunion! Here’s the latest No news, CC’13? Let’s all make the ted to teaching, disability studies and I look forward to hearing from you, and greatest from classmates: most out of summer so that we can environmental protection efforts. She and will be in touch soon.

84 CCT Summer 2017 obituaries

Queens and, following service in the Margaret Vorosmarty, and her 1947 Navy near the end of WWII, gradu- husband, Charles; two grandchildren; 1950 ated from the College. He earned an and two great-grandchildren. Memo- Byron Dobell, artist, New York City, M.D. at New York Medical College rial contributions may be made to Mario A. Palmieri, retired editor, on January 21, 2017. Dobell entered and trained on Long Island and in Meals on Wheels of Lexington. Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., on Septem- Columbia in 1944 from the High Brooklyn. After a surgical fellowship ber 23, 2016. Palmieri was born on School of Music & Art and became at Johns Hopkins, Calame returned Theodore Melnechuk, polymath, February 21, 1925, in Eastchester, to New York and practiced at several writer and organizer, Amherst, Mass., N.Y. Two days after graduating from hospitals in Brooklyn and on Long on March 1, 2017. Born on January 7, Eastchester H.S., in 1943, he joined Island. He retired in 1996, having 1928, in New York City, Melnechuk the Navy to fight in WWII; he saw most recently chaired the Depart- and his wife, Anna Krilovitch, moved combat in the Philippines and else- ment of Obstetrics/Gynecology at to Brookline, Mass., in 1963 and to where in South Asia. Palmieri was Brookdale University Hospital Medi- San Diego in 1972, then retired to honorably discharged in 1945. He cal Center. Calame enjoyed opera, Amherst in 1991. Melnechuk worked matriculated at the College, earning art, reading, golf, bridge, travel and in science communications at MIT, a B.A., and was active within the a good joke. He was predeceased Boston University and UC San Diego. alumni community until his death. by his wife of 58 years, Joan; broth- His lifelong avocation was writing Palmieri was CCT’s class correspon- ers Sonny and Robert; and sisters poetry. At the College, he was art and dent for the CC’50 Class Notes for Jeanne and Mary. He is survived poetry editor of both Jester and The several decades. He worked most by his children, David, Sally and Columbia Review, which published of his adult life for Irving Trust Richard; daughter-in-law, Mara; five both his light and serious poetry. The Byron Dobell ’47 (right) with grandchildren; and one great-grand- latter included poems that won him Professor Henry Graff GSAS’49. son. Memorial contributions may be prizes shared with Allen Ginsberg ’48 made to John’s Island Foundation, and John Hollander ’50, GSAS’52, a devoted student of Jacques Barzun 6001 Hwy A1A, PMB#8323, Indian in contests judged by W.H. Auden, ’27, GSAS’32; Lionel Trilling ’25, River Shores, FL 32963. Stephen Spender and Mark Van GSAS’38; Mark Van Doren GSAS Doren GSAS 1921. Melnechuk’s later 1921; and Raymond Weaver. Dobell Joseph E. Egyed, retired teacher, poems were published mostly in sci- was an editor at Esquire and American Lexington, Va., on March 24, 2017. entific journals and books, except for Heritage and held senior editorial Born on November 8, 1923, the son his translations of Lithuanian poems posts at Life and New York magazines. of Hungarian immigrants, Egyed’s in The Green Oak (1962) and The He played a crucial role in the careers College years were interrupted by Green Linden (1964). Melnechuk was of many writers, including Tom Army service during WWII. He predeceased by his wife in November Wolfe and Mario Puzo. Dobell led served in Europe in 1943 in the 2006 and is survived by his children, American Heritage to three National Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion as Eve, Andy, Dan and Vera; and a Magazine Awards and in 1998 was a rifleman with the Infantry before grandson. See melnechuk.com for a Mario A. Palmieri ’50 inducted into the American Society transferring to the combat engineers, more extensive obituary. Memorial of Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame. participating in the battles of the contributions may be made to Bowery bank, where he was the editor of its He also wrote essays and poems Rhur Pocket and in Central Europe. Arts and Science at melnechuk.com/ magazine. After retirement, Palm- that were published in The American Egyed met the woman who would in-memory-of. ieri became an avid skier and was Scholar, The Nation and The Southamp- become his wife of nearly 70 years, a proud member of the Over-80 ton Review. Dobell became a full- Suzanne, in France. After the war, Ski Club. He also had a great love time painter in 1990. Several of his Egyed studied at Shrivenham Amer- 1949 for astronomy and was a longtime portraits are in the collection of the ican University and did postgradu- member and one-time president of National Portrait Gallery in Wash- ate study of French language and Richard C. Kandel, retired busi- Westchester Amateur Astronomers. ington, D.C. He also had numerous civilization at the Sorbonne. After a ness executive, New York City, on Palmieri is survived by his wife of solo shows in New York City galleries stint as a purchase agent for Sperry November 23, 2016. Kandel served 60 years, Gertrude; sons, Steven, of his landscapes, life studies and still Gyroscope, he became a teacher in with the Navy during WWII. He and Charles and his wife, Kim; two lifes. In 2011, he painted the portrait the White Plains, N.Y., school dis- produced fundraising telethons, grandchildren; many nieces; and a of Professor Henry Graff GSAS’49 trict, teaching geography, history and and after his father’s death became nephew. He was predeceased by his that hangs in Fayerweather Hall. civics, and was a high school guid- president of Craftsweld Equipment brothers August “Dr. D.” Deagusti- Dobell is survived by his daughter, ance counselor. After retirement in Corp. Kandel retired in 1999. He nis and Aldo Palmieri ’49. Elizabeth, and a grandson. 1986, Egyed and his wife moved to was an active board member for Lexington, where Egyed started vol- Opera Index and the usher chair unteering with Meals on Wheels. He for Central Synagogue. He was a 1951 1948 played the violin for the Rockbridge world traveler and loved theater, Symphony and the Washington and even chauffeuring friends who were Stanley I. Schachter, attorney, Richard J. Calame, retired ob/gyn, Lee University Orchestra, and also Broadway grande dames. Kandel Boynton Beach, Fla., on January 25, Vero Beach, Fla., on January 31, 2017. enjoyed bridge. Egyed is survived by is survived by his brother, Robert; 2017. Schachter was from Brook- Calame was born in Manhattan on his wife; son, Mark Joseph Elting; sister-in-law, Evelyn; a niece; two lyn, N.Y., and a graduate of James August 18, 1926. He grew up in daughter, Lorraine Fayet; sister, nephews; and four grand-nephews. Madison H.S. At the College, he

Summer 2017 CCT 85 Obituaries was a leader of TEP fraternity. He Memorial contributions may be years to Gesine Grunzig Schaffer, and 12, 2016. Dobrin was born in and earned a degree from Brooklyn Law. made to the Living Care Fund, Good they had two sons — Paul, married to grew up in New York City, for which Schachter is survived by his wife, Shepherd-Fairview Home, 80 Fair- Amy Gardner, and Harry. He is also he retained a great love. After earning Ann; son, John, and his wife, Lori view Ave., Binghamton, NY 13904; survived by twin grandsons. a Ph.D. in physics, he had an exciting Klein; sister, Charlotte; son-in-law, or Binghamton Lions Club, PO Box and satisfying career, first in college John Lentine; two grandchildren; 776, Binghamton NY 13902. teaching and later as founder and and dozens of cousins, nephews, 1959 director of International Healthcare nieces and friends. A daughter, Alfred Toborg, retired college pro- Group, a groundbreaking radiological Debra, predeceased him in 2015. fessor, deacon, Lyndonville, Vt., on Richard Dobrin, retired professor, services company operating through- March 20, 2017. Born on November founder and director of healthcare out Europe. Dobrin leaves his wife, 9, 1932, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Toborg group, Santa Fe, N.M., on January Patricia; daughter, Alessandra Khalsa, 1952 earned an M.A. from Xavier and in 1965 a Ph.D. from GSAS. He taught Melvin Tresser, retired physician, history and German at Lyndon Winter Park, Fla., on January 17, State College from 1960 until his OTHER DEATHS REPORTED 2017. Tresser was born on October retirement in 1999. In 1990, he was Columbia College Today also has learned of the following 31, 1931, and grew up in Brooklyn, ordained as a permanent deacon in deaths. Complete obituaries will be published in an upcoming N.Y. He earned an M.D. at NYU the Diocese of Burlington and served issue, pending receipt of information. Due to the volume of and completed an internship in for the remainder of his life. Toborg is obituaries that CCT receives, it may take several issues for the New York, then spent two years in survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda; complete obituary to appear. Selma, Ala., as an Air Force doctor. daughters, Katie Franko, Louise Tresser returned to New York for his Merrigan and Mary Beth Boe; son, residency. He moved to Orlando in William ’90; and eight grandchildren. 1944 Albert L. Seligmann, retired Foreign Service officer, 1961 to begin a practice in internal Memorial contributions may be made Alexandria, Va., on April 5, 2017. medicine and gastroenterology. Fol- to either the “Dr. Alfred Toborg 1945 Anthony Vasilas, physician, Manhasset, N.Y., lowing retirement, he traveled the Scholarship Fund,” Attn.: Jenny on April 7, 2017. world with his wife, Bella, visiting Harris, Institutional Advancement, more than 100 countries. They were Lyndon State College, PO Box 919, 1948 Raymond G. Auwarter, retired business executive, married for 60 years; she passed away Lyndonville, VT 05851; or to Good Chapel Hill, N.C., on April 9, 2017. in 2015. Tresser is survived by three Shepherd Catholic School, 121 Maple 1949 Chester A. “Chet” Nedwidek Jr., retired engineer, children and eight grandchildren. St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. Pollocksville, N.C., on May 18, 2017. 1950 Edwin W. Peters, retired insurance broker, Sarasota, Fla., 1954 1956 on October 12, 2016. 1951 Harvey M. Krueger, attorney, financial executive, Richard G. Hobart, William A. Schaffer, optometrist, retired attorney, New York City, on April 23, 2017. Binghamton, N.Y., on March 5, consultant and author, San Jose, Calif., 1953 Frank McCauley Jr., retired financial executive, 2017. Hobart was a 1957 graduate on February 5, 2017. At Columbia, Vero Beach, Fla., and Surry, Maine, on March 20, 2017. of the Pacific University’s College of Schaffer had access to the Russian 1954 Richard E. Wagner, wooden boat expert and educator, Optometry. He practiced optometry Institute and spent his junior year at Seattle, on April 20, 2017. for 52 years in the Binghamton area Sciences Po in Paris, where he earned and owned Hobart Stone Dealers, a his diploma. Schaffer graduated from 1956 Louis H. Hemmerdinger, Melville, N.Y., on March 27, 2017. company he started when he was 14, Harvard Law in 1959, and that led 1957 Sam R. Brice, retired construction business owner, and Finger Lakes Stone Co. Hobart to his working for Sen. Tom Dodd Fairbanks, Alaska, on May 27, 2017. also enjoyed offshore power boat (D-Conn.). Schaffer’s perfect French William R. Schwartzman, retired physician, San Francisco, racing and wooden boats, and social served him well. He was in the trans- on April 25, 2017. activities at the Binghamton Club. lating pool at the State Department, He sat on the Binghamton plan- where he translated for President 1959 Patrick Mullins, Bumpass, Va., on May 28, 2017. ning board and was past president Kennedy and where he helped set up 1960 Justin M. Spring, editor and CEO, Sarasota, Fla., of AVRE, the New York Sail & the Peace Corps in French-speaking on March 17, 2017. Power Squadron, the South Central Africa. Schaffer’s career included work Optometric Society, the American with International Rescue Committee 1962 Charles C. Rohrs, New York City, on June 14, 2016. Optometric Society (which awarded in Hong Kong, jobs in Indonesia and 1965 Paul J. Novograd, horseback riding academy owner, him Optometrist of the Year) and the Buenos Aires, and a year at Harvard as New York City, on March 24, 2017. Binghamton Lions Club. Hobart is a visiting scholar. He was an interna- 1969 Barry A. Hamilton, retired judge, Rockville, Md. survived by his wife of 57 years, Mar- tional consultant, living near Boston, on May 24, 2017. garet (Margy) O’Loughlin Hobart; and then consulted for DEC before children, Meg, Bridgette Hobart moving to Los Gatos, Calif., for a Alan L. Mintz, Hebrew literature scholar, New York City, on Janeczko and her husband, Bob, and job in international sales with Sun May 20, 2017. James and his wife, Kimberly Collins; Microsystems, from which he retired. 1981 Charles W. Murphy, hedge fund executive, New York City, two grandchildren; brother and sister- He wrote four books: a novel; two on March 27, 2017. in-law, John and Joanne O’Loughlin; versions of Hi-Tech Careers for Lo-Tech 1993 Christine Staco, professor, Flushing, N.Y., and niece and nephews Mary Eileen, People; and ErgoSense: A Personal Guide on March 28, 2017. Kevin and Joseph O’Loughlin. He to Making Your Workspace Comfortable was predeceased by a brother, James. and Safe. Schaffer was married for 52

86 CCT Summer 2017 alumninews and her husband, Ditta; son, Jeremy, Shira and her husband, Juan, and Erik endeavors and volunteered with the and his wife, Ivona; sisters Lynne Diamond and his wife, Fernanda; IRC in Charlottesville, Va. Obituary Submission Sindelar and Marilyn Broman; and brother, Peter ’70, SOA’72 and his Guidelines two granddaughters. wife, Pauline; four grandchildren; and Columbia College Today welcomes obituaries for College alumni. Deaths many nieces, nephews and cousins. 1971 are noted in the next available issue in the “Other Deaths Reported” box. Mark A. Allen, 1960 scientist, Glendale, Complete obituaries will be published 1967 Calif., on October 22, 2016. Allen in an upcoming issue, pending receipt Richard E. “Dick” Kerber, cardiolo- was born in New York City and was of information. Due to the volume of obituaries that CCT receives, it may gist, Iowa City, Iowa, on November Harold S. Wechsler, professor and an Eagle Scout. At the College, he take several issues for the complete 8, 2016. Kerber was born on May 10, author, Rochester, N.Y., on Febru- spent four years on the Ferris Booth obituary to appear. Word limit is 200; 1939, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He graduated ary 17, 2017. Wechsler earned an Hall Board of Managers, for which text may be edited for length, clarity from Forest Hills H.S., Queens, N.Y., M.A. and a Ph.D., both in history he was president in his senior year; and style at the editors’ discretion. in 1956. He married Linda Kaufman, and both from GSAS, in 1969 and and was a member of the Senior Click “Contact Us” at college. now an emerita professor of history, 1974, respectively. He was a beloved Society of Sachems and Sigma Xi. columbia.edu/cct, or mail materials to Obituaries Editor, Columbia College in 1960, and graduated from NYU professor, author and colleague, most He graduated summa cum laude and Today, Columbia Alumni Center, School of Medicine in 1964. After an recently at the NYU Steinhardt Phi Beta Kappa and in 1976 earned 622 W. 113th St., MC 4530, 4th Fl., internship at Bellevue, he served as a School of Culture, Education, and a Ph.D. from the California Institute New York, NY 10025. captain in the Army Medical Corps, Human Development. In 1969, of Technology (“Caltech”). Allen then earning the Bronze Star in 1968. Wechsler was selected by the New returned to New York for a two-year After completing medical training at York Mets organization as the World’s fellowship at NASA’s Goddard Insti- Stanford University hospital, Kerber Greatest Fan. He was the husband tute for Space Studies. Afterward, 2015 joined the University of Iowa’s medi- of the late Lynn D. Gordon; father Allen returned to Caltech, where cal faculty in 1971, becoming director of Abigail Bock and Samuel; grand- he remained for 37 years, and was a Catherine M. Johannet, teacher, of echocardiography, heading a fel- father of one granddaughter; brother principal scientist at the Jet Propul- Scarsdale, N.Y., on February 2, 2017. lowship program and being interim of Robert; uncle of Adam and Diana sion Laboratory and visiting research Johannet was born on December 16, chief of cardiology. Kerber pursued Wechsler; and brother-in-law of Carol faculty on the Caltech campus in 1993, in New York City and grew up research on cardiac defibrillation and Gordon and the late Margaret Gor- Pasadena, Calif. An astrochemist, he in Edgemont, N.Y. At the College, she resuscitation to treat cardiac arrest, or don. Wechsler is also survived by his developed a chemical model to study majored in comparative literature and heart attacks. He authored more than devoted companion, Homer, a Cava- the atmospheres of the earth, planets, society, focusing on the narratives of 250 articles, two books and more than lier King Charles Spaniel. Memorial comets, interstellar space and exoplan- individuals with disabilities as conveyed 330 abstracts. Kerber was a devoted contributions may be made to Friends ets. He is survived by his wife of 34 through English, French and Portu- clarinetist and cyclist, and a member of Karen (friendsofkaren.org). years, Emily Bergman; children, Boh guese literature. Fluent in both French of Agudas Achim Congregation in and Philip; daughter-in-law, Andrea; and Portuguese, she studied abroad in Iowa City. He is survived by his wife, mother, Lucille; and sister, Barbara France, Portugal and Brazil. Johannet Linda; sons, Ross and his wife, Nancy, 1969 Peterson. Memorial contributions and Justin ’91 and his wife, Hope; four may be made to Columbia College grandchildren; and brother, Melvyn, Pál Maléter, retired hospital archi- (college.columbia.edu/alumni/give) and his wife, Cheryl. tect, Louisa, Va., and Washington, or Caltech. D.C., on January 4, 2017. Maléter was born in Szeged, Hungary, in 1964 1946 and raised in Budapest. He left 2007 Hungary at 10 in the aftermath of Steven J. Grossman, businessman, the Hungarian Revolution and the Analisa R. Smith-Perez, attorney, Selma, Ala., on April 3, 2017. Gross- arrest of his father, the minister of Jamaica Plain, Mass., on November 27, man was born in Waterbury, Conn., defense, who was later executed for 2016. Smith-Perez was an alumna on December 17, 1942. He earned his role in the revolution. After liv- of Boston Latin School and Suffolk an M.I.A. in 1967 from SIPA and ing briefly in Austria, Germany and University Law School. She was an an M.B.A. in 1968 from the Busi- Canada, Maléter immigrated to the attorney for Northeast Legal Aid ness School, as well as a certificate United States thanks to the Interna- in Lynn, Mass., representing unac- of African studies. Grossman was tional Rescue Committee (IRC) and companied minors in immigration Catherine M. Johannet ’15 a management consultant and an attended The Harvey School, The proceedings, and most recently as investment banker in Rome, Madrid, Hotchkiss School and Columbia, an immigration lawyer at Araujo & graduated with honors and moved to London and New York City. In the where he earned a B.A. in fine arts Fisher. Her passion was giving voice Hanoi, Vietnam, where she taught 1990s, he became the co-owner of the and, in 1976, an M.A. in architecture to the voiceless, and she was active in English literature to aspiring college American Candy Co., in Selma. After and an M.S. in health services plan- the American Immigration Lawyers students for 18 months. She was deeply he split with partners over company ning and design, both from GSAPP. Association and the Hispanic Bar committed to teaching, disability strategy, he formed a snack food Maléter served in the Marine Corps Association. Smith-Perez is survived studies and environmental protection company, Microwave Roasters, also in Reserves 1965–71 and retired after by her parents, Vivian Perez and Dana efforts, and was equally enthusiastic Selma. Grossman was prominent in a career designing, planning and Smith; siblings, Alex and Adam; and about traveling, learning and sharing the Selma community for his work in building hospitals for the Depart- her extended family. Memorial con- what she learned with others. Johannet the arts and as a leader in Selma’s Jew- ment of Veterans Affairs and The tributions may be made to the Mas- is survived by her sister, Laura; brother, ish community. He is survived by his Johns Hopkins medical institutions. sachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Paul; father, Christopher PS’86; and wife, Laura (née Wallace); children, In retirement, Maléter and his wife, Advocacy Coalition, 105 Chauncy St., mother, Alice Medalia. Jeremiah and his wife, Jennifer, Xena- Andrea, pursued a variety of artistic #901, Boston, MA 02111. — Lisa Palladino

Summer 2017 CCT 87 alumnicorner

Reflections Upon a 50th Reunion

By Thomas Hauser ’67

y first impression on arriving at Columbia was that the But through the years, I’ve reflected A ticket to Class Day 1967 campus was magnificent. often on something that Professor and the cover of the Butler Library and Low Library gave it an aura of Warner Schilling said to us on the final Class of 1967 Freshman historical elegance. Fourteen massive columns rose day of his course in American foreign Week booklet. M COURTESY THOMAS HAUSER ’67 to the Butler facade where eight names were chiseled in stone: policy: “The past was far more con- “Homer. Herodotus. Sophocles. Plato. Aristotle. Demosthenes. fused, the present is far more complex Cicero. Virgil.” Low was just as inspiring with a facade that told of and the future is far more contingent than we care to realize.” Columbia’s founding as King’s College in 1754. We’re now closer to the end than the beginning of Jaques’ Shake- Freshman Orientation began in Wollman Auditorium and spearean soliloquy: “The sixth age shifts into the lean and slipper’d lasted for 11 days. The orientation booklet advised, “Freshmen are pantaloon with spectacles on nose and pounch on side.” reminded that coat and tie is required dress for every event listed in And we’re uncomfortably near the seventh age: “Last scene of all this program except athletic field day.” that ends this strange eventful history is second childishness and John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, two mere oblivion, sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.” months after the Class of 1967 arrived on campus. The first bul- Those of us who made our way to Morningside Heights in June letin of shots being fired in Dallas came while I was listening to the for our 50th reunion stepped into a world where memory and real- radio in my dorm room. I went to the TV room in the basement ity intermingle. of what was later named Carman Hall and watched until Walter V&T and Tom’s Restaurant (made famous in later years by Seinfeld) Cronkite told us that the President had died. still exist. The West End, The Gold Rail and New Moon are long gone. Two and a half months later, the Beatles invaded America and Fifty-one percent of today’s 4,600 College students are women (there the TV room was jammed with students seeing John Lennon, Paul were 2,800 College students in our day, all of them men). McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr for the first time on Butler and Low have retained their exterior grandeur. Butler’s The Ed Sullivan Show. Sixteen days after that, Cassius Clay upset polished floors, interior artwork and first-floor library are remark- Sonny Liston to claim the heavyweight championship of the world. ably similar to the way they were 50 years ago. Regardless of what the calendar says, those three months were Ferris Booth Hall was torn down at the close of the last millen- when “The Sixties” began. nium and replaced by Alfred Lerner Hall. Wollman Auditorium Some of what I was taught in Columbia classrooms seemed use- is no more. There’s a carpeted lounge in the basement of Carman less to me then, and remains useless to this day. But Contemporary where the TV room used to be, but no television. The communica- Civilization and Humanities started me on a journey of analytical tions revolution has rendered that need obsolete. thinking that has served me well through the years. The students look very young. They’re the same age that we were I fell in love for the first time when I was in college, in keep- a half-century ago. In their eyes, we’re old. ing with the third of Shakespeare’s seven ages of man: “And then Some campus landmarks look as they did decades ago. One can the lover, sighing like furnace with a woeful ballad made to his stand at the bottom of the steps in front of Hamilton Hall, gaze mistress’s eyebrow.” (As You Like It, Act II, Scene 7) upward at the statue of Alexander Hamilton (Class of 1778) and Given the existence of the Vietnam War, I hoped to avoid Shake- see what we saw during our college years. Hamilton was a son of speare’s fourth age: “A soldier, full of strange oaths and bearded like Columbia centuries before Lin-Manuel Miranda discovered him. the pard.” Low Plaza also looks the same. I remember throwing a Frisbee I did some things that I’m proud of during my college years and there with an agile, very pretty, young woman. She died from ALS others that I wish I hadn’t done because I can see now that they 10 years ago. When the disease was in its final stages, I sent her a were foolish and hurtful. card quoting Shakespeare’s 104th sonnet: The Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement and Lyndon Johnson’s effort to build a “Great Society” were hallmarks of our “To me, fair friend, you never can be old, college years. It would have been considered ludicrous then to sug- For as you were, when first your eye I ey’d, gest that, 50 years later, we’d be enmeshed in a national debate Such seems your beauty still.” over whether children should be taught evolution or creationism in school. But it was equally improbable that the United States would As Columbia alumni, we moved on with our lives long ago. But elect a black President or that gay marriage would become law. as classmates, we’re held together by a common bond: We shared One day before we graduated, the Six-Day War broke out in the same world when we were young. the Middle East. None of us could have known then the extent to which religious hatred would endanger the world in our lifetime. Thomas Hauser ’67 can be reached at [email protected].

88 CCT Summer 2017 Jacky Cheung CC’18

“Summer funding made it possible to accept an unpaid internship that will help determine my career goals and test my resolve to pursue a combined MD/PhD program. I will contribute to a clinical research project, shadow physicians and gain a better understanding of what it means to be a physician-scientist.”

Gifts to the Columbia College Fund are supporting Jacky’s pursuit of this summer internship, which will give him the opportunity to work alongside a gastroenterologist at Columbia University Medical Center and a professor in the Systems Biology department. In addition to internship stipends for students like Jacky, the Columbia College Fund supports financial aid, student services and the Core Curriculum.

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