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CLASS NOTES
Stuart M.
Berkman Writing from Arlington, Va., Larry Nelson confesses, "I'm a major sucker for CCT's namedropping. I freely admit to taking personal pride in reading about prominent Columbia alumni. While still a young 55 myself, I often wonder if I will do something to ever get mentioned. We all have what it takes-I hope. Keep up the good work." Hearty congratulations to classmates Richard Davis, William Greenfield, William Roach and Paul Saenger, whose sons and daughters are members of Columbia's Class of 2004. Eric Single would like to let classmates know that he is alive and well in Canada. Eric writes, "I am currently an adjunct professor of public health sciences at the University of Toronto, research associate for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), and president of my own consulting firm. I went on to obtain my Ph.D. in sociology at Columbia in 1973. Initially I worked in N.Y.C. as a research consultant on empirically based litigation for organizations such as the ACLU, NAACP and Legal Aid Society, then moved to Canada in 1976 to work as a researcher on addictions issues. Over the past 25 years I have authored 18 books and more than l00 journal articles or book chapters, mainly on alcohol and drug epidemiology and policy issues. As the first research director of the CCSA, I developed and managed the CCSA research unit as well as the National Clearinghouse on Substance Abuse, and I was the founding director of the Collaborative Program in Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Psychoactive Substances at the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies. In 1996 I released a major study estimating morbidity, mortality and economic costs attributable to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs in Canada. While based in Toronto, I have also worked for substantial periods of time (three months or more) in Australia, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Finland and New Zealand. I have delivered keynote speeches at drug conferences in five continents and I've been a participant or director of seven World Health Organization projects. In 1997, I conducted an evaluation of Australia's national drug strategy on behalf of the Australian government. I continue to chair a national policy committee in Canada and regularly consult with international agencies on methodological issues and epidemiological monitoring. I am married to Susan Dain, an artist, and we have two children, Matthew, 22, now at University of Toronto and Katherine, 18. I spend much of my spare time birdwatching, playing tennis (former Ontario senior champion) or spoiling good walks on golf courses. I'd like to hear from former friends in the Class of '66. My e-mail is e.single@utoronto.ca." Planning is now fully underway for our 35th reunion, and you should immediately mark your calendars or Palm Pilots or whatever else you might use to compensate for the inevitable onset of deterioration of the little gray cells-the event will take place on June 1-3, 2001. Members of the organizing committee are Michael Garrett, Herb Hochman, Bob Lautin, Rick Reder, Joe Brown, Marc Kusnetz, Rich Forzani, Dan Gardner, Bob Gurland, John Rodman, Richard Beggs, Tom Chorba, Joe Cody, Dean Heitner, Neal Hurwitz and Michael Kamen. They are planning some very interesting and exciting programs for the reunion weekend. Also, please be receptive (and generous, if possible) to a call from one of these committee members, as one component of their efforts will be to ensure that the Class of 1966 makes a respectable gift to the Columbia College Fund. As you may know (and from my comments in the Fall issue of CCT), our class has had something less than a sterling reputation in the giving department. Here's our chance to extricate ourselves form the curse of eternal ignominy!
Kenneth L.
Haydock
Ken Tomecki,
M.D. The dog days of summer (which weren't very dogged in Ohio) yielded barely a yelp from the '68 kennel, but someone always comes through. Woof, and thanks to... John Tait, who (probably) prompted by guilt finally provided an update. "Still happily married to Tina Bjornstad M.D., who I met at a Vassar mixer on February 5, 1965. We have two wonderful daughters - one a senior at Reed College (Portland, Ore.), the other a high school senior." For the past 26 years John's been a real country lawyer, practicing law (in time he'll get it right) in a small firm in north central Idaho, where he's had "a general civil (as opposed to uncivil?) practice," which includes appreciable time in workers' compensation cases involving the timber industry. He and Tina live in Lewiston, "a beautiful community of 50,000, including 60 lawyers and 120 doctors, on the Snake and Clearwater Rivers." He's active "in lots of community things"and the Democratic Party (real tough in Republican Idaho). "I keep in touch with Chris Savage (who should write), Mark Constantian, John Roy (ditto) and John Dibble (double ditto). John...many thanks for the update and the photo (Again...who's the guy?). From another corner of the country, Don Hubert, QB extraordinaire from another era, handwrote a note for the column, which he dedicated to former cronies and AXP jocks, especially those in need of life insurance (kidding, just kidding). Don is a financial and insurance consultant and the general agent for Lion & Panther Financial Services, Inc., in Fair Haven, Vt., an extension of American General Financial Group. His second career has now lasted over 15 years, so he obviously knows what he's doing, so much so that he recruited his son, John Henry, to join the effort and the business, hence the name - Lion & Panther (John Henry's a Middlebury graduate, a panther, and Don's a Columbia grad. Get it? At least Dad got top billing). His other son, Don, is an RPI graduate, and his daughter, Katie, is a Middlebury graduate. Two of them got married this summer ("very exciting"). Wife, Nancy, is fine ("her feisty spirit has sustained her through a very challenging time"). Thanks for the update, Don. Keep in touch, and regards to Nancy. From the grapevine...nada. From the home front, the lovely Eileen is well and radiant as ever, and No. 1 son, Peter, continues to make his mark in the Big Apple.
Michael Oberman Lee Pearcy took up my invitation (hereby re-extended) to e-mail news when you finish reading the current column. For the past 16 years, Lee has been teaching at The Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pa., where he chairs the department of classical languages, coaches eighth grade tennis, and serves as an academic advisor. He is associate editor of Classical World, founder and editor of Ancient Medicine/Medicina Antiqua (www.ea1785.org/medant), and a frequent contributor to Bryn Mawr Classical Review. He paid a quick visit to Morningside Heights last summer and liked what he saw-except, of course, for the absence of Mama Joy's. While it's generally risky to make election predictions writing with a September deadline, I'm going right out on a limb to say that at least one of our classmates is working for the presidential ticket that will have won on November 7. As reported in the media, Judd Gregg, Senator from New Hampshire, played the role of Al Gore in helping George W. Bush to prepare for the presidential debates. On the other side, Bill Bonvillian, who has over the years found his work as Senator Joseph Lieberman's legislative director and chief counsel "incredibly challenging, intellectually stimulating and also fun," told me he was working "horrendous hours" on the campaign and spending a lot of time in Nashville. (CCT guidelines prevent me from making editorial comments about these activities.) Gersh Locker, who continues to serve as chief of hematology and oncology at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, has been named to the Kellog/Scanlon Chair in Oncology. Gersh somehow manages at once to teach, research and maintain a private practice.
Peter N. Stevens The first night football game at Baker Field was a rousing success both on and off the field. On the field, the Lions woke up in the second half to thrash Fordham 43-26 after trailing at halftime. Off the field, the stadium was hopping, led by a large crowd dominated by undergraduates on hand for Baker Blast. There were even efforts to engage in organized cheers! Our class turnout was disappointing-Fred Rapoport was the only classmate I could find. Special thanks once again to Fred for his efforts in helping make our 30th reunion a great success. Calling all class Betas: Terry Sweeney, Dennis Graham, Jack Richmond, Craig Archer, Ken Alexander, Ron Szumilas, Joe Topich, Tony (10 Pin) Ciambrone, Rob Wingate, Jim Peterson, Phil Russotti, Chuck Caniff, Bill Poppe, Bowan Pak and Mike Bradley. The Columbia chapter has had its accreditation stripped by the national organization and that bastion of Lion spirit and scholarly pursuit on 114th Street is in jeopardy. Contact Terry Sweeney if you can help. Congratulations to Joe Dziedzic, Jon Glickstein, Paul Lehner, Dave Kornbluth, Mark Pruzansky and Jonathan Weisgall. All have kids in the Class of 2004. To those class cynics who have wondered how I have managed to live so close to the campus all these years, the answer is simple: V & T's now delivers. Regards to all and let me know what has been happening in your lives.
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