COLUMBIA COLLEGE TODAY COLUMBIA COLLEGE TODAY CLASS NOTES That So Many Have Gotten Benefit

CLASS NOTES COLUMBIA COLLEGE TODAY COLUMBIA COLLEGE TODAY CLASS NOTES that so many have gotten benefit. I Lee is an executive at Makovsky co-sponsored by the Ford Founda- and other bigwigs. Depending on received a message just this morn- Health, a New York-based consult- tion and the China Association for how the election goes, Steve may ing from a PALS [People with ALS] ing group, and among other things the Study of American Literature; return to the Council on Foreign in Japan, who told me he reads it is coordinating a program for cancer Joel will be teaching American Relations, remain connected to The Jazz Education of Armen Donelian ’72 often and that it has given him and patient advocacy groups at this literature to Chinese college and the White House or pursue some many others life. Thanks so much year’s American Society of Clinical university professors. other opportunity. Stay tuned for B y J a m i e K at z ’72, ’80 B u s i n e s s for all your help in disseminating it Oncology meeting in Chicago. Remember, next year is the an update! to another audience. I am working Finally, there’s some sad news to big 4-0. Get involved in Alumni When Dr. David Mandelbaum t stands to reason that began weekly lessons at the music world, so that was kind Donelian to fill the piano chair on another.” share. Henry Rosenberg ’73 was so Reunion Weekend by contacting read our recent update from an artist as self-aware as Music Conservatory of West- of ironic,” Donelian says. once occupied by such world- Remember back 45 Septembers kind as to let me know that Rich- the appropriate staff member at Dr. Joel Halio (who cited Peter pianist and composer Ar- chester, studying classical Jazz education was not class players as Herbie Hancock ago, and the feelings we had, includ- ard B. Kaplan ’76 Dental died in the top of the column, and also let Pouncey as a Columbia professor men Donelian ’72 would piano with Austrian émigré something Columbia offered for and Chick Corea. Though he did ing of adventure, as we entered Co- New Jersey on November 30, 2011. us know what’s up in your life. As who had a great influence on him), Ibe generous in acknowledging Michael Pollon for 12 years. credit back then. Still, he could not have experience playing lumbia College. We are still connected. Richard was a periodontist who Short Circuit’s Number 5 would David decided he had to break his was president of the New Jersey say, “Need more input.” Thanks in nearly four decades of silence. He the mentors who pointed him Donelian’s older brother played learn plenty by transcribing John Afro-Cuban jazz, Donelian got Society of Periodontists. A more advance. started his treatise with, “Sorry if toward a place of excellence. clarinet in a Dixieland-swing Coltrane solos or listening to the gig and was on his way. Paul S. Appelbaum complete obituary will appear in a this is a little wordy, but it does And indeed, he is: “Because band led by Arthur Ryerson, Bill Evans from the steps of the Donelian has distilled much 72 39 Claremont Ave., #24 subsequent issue of CCT. cover 37 years.” I’ll save you some I’ve been fortunate to have who had worked with Louis Village Vanguard. Donelian also of the wisdom gleaned from New York, NY 10027 Fred Bremer of the details, but the story is a good teachers in my life, I feel Armstrong. When Donelian was played in a talented lab band in four decades of professional ex- 72 532 W. 111th St. good one. Seems that David was a [email protected] REUNION WEEKEND a responsibility,” Donelian 12, he heard the Ryerson band the basement of Dodge Hall, led perience into his latest instruc- 74 New York, NY 10025 psychology major for his first two MAY 30–JUNE 2, 2013 says, seated in a tiny practice at a Methodist church bazaar, by the brilliant alto saxophonist tional book: Whole Notes: A Our 40th reunion is now behind us 74 years at the College, then switched ALUMNI OFFICE CONTACTS [email protected] room at New Jersey’s William and was smitten. “That’s it!” he and pianist Marc Copland ’70. Piano Masterclass, which takes with, I hope, a lot of great memo- to pre-med in his junior year. (Re- ALUMNI AFFAIRS Jennifer Freely Paterson University, where thought. “I’ve got to play this Sam Morrison ’73 also played in up such basic matters as pos- ries for all who were able to attend. Earlier this year there was a news minds me of Dr. Tom Long, who [email protected] Keep an eye out for complete item that caught my ear. It said followed the same timetable as he he has taught for many years. music.” Before long he was in the group; a few years later he ture, practice routines, mental 212-851-7438 coverage in our next Class Notes that NBC’s Today had just turned shifted from majoring in English He also teaches at The New the band himself. His first gig, was with Miles Davis. Mean- health, body awareness and the DEVELOPMENT Heather Hunte column. 60. That means that for all but to pre-med, which led him to be a School in Manhattan and is for $5 and all the ice cream while, Donelian worked evenings physics of playing piano. “The [email protected] What our time at Columbia a handful of us who were born dermatologist in Rhode Island.) frequently called upon to give he could eat, was at the 1964 at The King’s Table, a restaurant book is about how to practice 212-851-7957 meant to each of us is strongly linked before January 1952, this iconic David continues: “Pre-med master classes in conservato- World’s Fair in Queens. nestled within John Jay Hall, as well as what to practice,” to those aspects of College life with Barry Etra stalwart has been part of our lives adviser Patricia Geisler and ries overseas. In 1968, Donelian came to playing solo piano while the Donelian says. The holistic which we became involved. That 73 1256 Edmund Park Dr. NE from the time we were eating baby chemistry professor George Flynn Donelian has performed with Columbia, where he majored young gentlemen of the College approach extends to personal was underscored for me by a note Atlanta, GA 30306 food, to when we served our kids were extremely supportive and such jazz luminaries as Sonny in music and studied with dined in style. Unlike the student revelation; he discusses such from Gary Pepper, who said he 73 baby food, to now, when many of encouraging during this rather [email protected] Rollins, Mongo Santamaria, Chet composers Charles Wuorinen cafeteria just steps away, The painful episodes as the loss of “wanted to drop a line in praise of us are serving our grandkids baby intense and tumultuous transi- the new head coach of the Columbia Who says you can’t teach an old food. In contrast, I was surprised tion.” Psychology professor Baker, Lionel Hampton, Paquito ’61, ’63 GSAS and Harvey Soll- King’s Table even had tablecloths. his parents, a bitter divorce and men’s and women’s fencing teams, dog new tricks? James Minter and to learn that Saturday Night Live Stanley Schachter’s encourage- D’Rivera and Billy Harper. He has berger ’64 GSAS, among other “Armen is a great player and a nearly career-ending hand Michael N. Aufrichtig. I credit the David Schnabel were married last didn’t debut until October 1975. ment, meanwhile, led him to the recorded 12 albums as a leader, leading lights. “I took 16th-cen- he’s a sweetheart — absolute- injury he suffered when he lost fencing team for my not turning to September on their 21st anniver- (Does anyone share my delusion of M.D.-Ph.D. program at P&S. There most recently Leapfrog, on tury counterpoint with Vladimir ly one of the good guys in the his temper during an argument the dark side during four turbulent sary, with University Chaplain having memories of watching this he met up with Nobel Laureate Sunnyside Records. He has been Ussachevsky, who was one of business,” Copland says today. in 1991. “Ultimately, it’s all years on the Heights. Ever since, I Jewelnel Davis officiating. The show in the dorm lounge?) Eric Kandel’s neuroscience group, awarded numerous grants from the higher-ups in the electronic As students, he remembers, about expressing what’s inside have supported the team in what- happy couple honeymooned, tradi- A press release arrived recently which led him to an interest in the National Endow- they would improvise through the instrument, so that ever way I am able. tionally, at Niagara Falls. Guests at from Oppenheimer & Co., an- neurology, which he eventually ment for the Arts, and sophisticated duets in there’s a kind of a conduit, an “A few months ago I was sur- the ceremony included John Chan; nouncing that John Rodstrom narrowed to child neurology. For is a Fulbright Senior a two-piano practice effortless conduit for these prised and gratified when Michael Richard Lorber ’67; James’ niece, has joined its firm with the title of nearly a decade David has been called me at home to thank me and Elise Minter ’07; and a gaggle of managing director, national public the director of child neurology Scholar in Switzerland, room in Dodge. “Once ideas and feelings to proceed shoot the breeze about the team admissions colleagues. finance. The release goes on to say and professor of neurology and Scandinavia and his we monkeyed around from conception to realization.” and its complex history. I could tell Bob Dillinger has practiced law John will have the responsibility pediatrics at the Alpert Medical ancestral Armenia. He and played a mock Asked for the advice he he enjoyed the call as much as I in St. Petersburg, Fla., for 36 years, for “expanding Oppenheimer’s School of Brown. His research has leads the Hudson Jazz classical duet in the might give a talented student did. I also received a holiday card the last 15 in the elected role of public finance bond capabilities focused on “cognitive aspects of Workshop, a summer style of Beethoven. who worries about pursu- signed by the whole team and a public defender. Bob earned a law nationwide.” Sounds like a step epilepsy, antiepileptic medications, program in upstate We went on for five ing jazz as a career, Donelian letter from a member of the squad degree from Stetson in 1976, was up from his previous position at the genetics of epilepsy and the New York, where he or 10 minutes and says, “I remember when I was sharing some of her background assistant public defender for several Sterne, Agee & Leach, a regional neurological aspects of autism.” lives with his wife, Rose then fell off the piano studying with Richie Beirach, and goals. I’m sure there are many years and then went into private financial firm; there, John was only David added that he remarried Caldwell, a travel con- benches, laughing.” he said, ‘Do what you love and other team alumni who feel as practice until winning the race for in charge of the firm’s southeast in 2004 to Alison, a photographer I do: that it’s a pleasure to have the defender’s office in 1996. Bob public finance effort. While he will — “third time’s the charm,” he sultant and part-time After graduation, you’ll make a living from it.’ coach Aufrichtig and the team put has received numerous awards for work out of Oppenheimer’s Fort says — and his favorite role is that chef. Yet for all his indi- Donelian played with There are a lot of people out so much time and thought into service to the St. Petersburg com- Lauderdale, Fla., office, something of “Pop Pop” to two grandsons, vidual accomplishment a country rock band there making lots of money, including us in alma mater in a munity. After their daughter died, tells me he is going to book a lot of ages 6 and 2, who live in Manhat- and the years of solitary and, on Copland’s rec- but they don’t love what they meaningful way. I’m now hoping he and his wife created the Beth frequent flyer miles! tan. On his frequent visits to NYC, dedication it required, ommendation, began do. And ultimately in life, if to make it back to Columbia in the Dillinger Foundation to aid children From out of the shadows he likes to bicycle to the Columbia Donelian always speaks studying privately with you want to be happy, if that’s coming year to take in the changes in need, and his wife still devotes emerges Steven Simon, who has campus and visit The Thinker (who, of those who showed renowned pianist something of value to you, (and the unchanging) on campus.” her time there; find out more at tremendous influence on our na- his elder grandson speculates, “is him the way. Richie Beirach. “He then you should give that your Gary was twice All-Ivy in foil bethdillinger.org. tion’s Middle East policies. After thinking about where his socks The story begins in opened the door to me, first priority.” for Columbia during our years on Joel Pfistermourns the loss of his serving a spell at the State Depart- are”). Morningside Heights. brother, Jordan ’80, to complications ment, Steve served a five-year stint The above led me to email David, the 1950s in Armonk, combining the harmo- Lee Davies notes, “I have spent from cancer. Jordan was captain of in the Clinton White House and to ask if knew that Dr. Mark Mehler N.Y., where his parents ny of contemporary Go to armenjazz.com for my professional career in health- the squash team and was in a rock three years at the International is the chairman of the Department surrounded the four music — Schoenberg, Donelian’s performance dates, care communications consulting: band during his college years. Joel is Institute for Strategic Studies in of Neurology at the Albert Einstein Donelian children with Bartók, Stravinsky and sound clips and more. Pfizer, Schering-Plough and Merck. a humanities professor at Wesleyan. London. He now is the senior College of Medicine in the Bronx Armenian, Turkish and Berg — with jazz,” For 38 years, I’ve been married to Last year he spent the summer term director for the Middle East and (and also director of its Institute for Greek music as well as Donelian says. In 1975, Former CCT editor Jamie Katz Jody Messler ’73 Barnard, a noted as visiting professor at the Freie North Africa at the National Secu- Brain Disorders). In a continuation classical and jazz. By 5, legendary Latin jazz ’72, ’80 Business, previously Armen Donelian ’72 at sunset, facing west, in his psychoanalyst in New York, and Universitat in Berlin, and this July rity Council. The NSC is chaired by of what we used to refer to, in our Donelian was playing percussionist and jazz director of WKCR radio, raised two wonderful young wom- he will be one of two American the President of the United States politically incorrect world, as “Jew- music studio in Hudson, N.Y., where he also hosts a beat-up upright in bandleader Mongo writes for Smithsonian Maga- en, one of whom is an editor for faculty members teaching in Xi’an, and its meetings are frequented by ish geography,” he replied that he the annual Hudson Jazz Workshop. Penguin (and a published novelist) China, as part of the West-China the likes of the Secretary of State, was still in contact with Dr. Steven the basement. At 7, he PHOTO: DAVID LEE Santamaria auditioned zine and other publications. and the other a first-year student at Faculty Enhancement Program in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Schonfeld (a neuroradiologist in NYU School of Medicine.” American Studies. The program is Staff, the Secretary of the Treasury East Brunswick, N.J.) and Dr. Mi-

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