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CLASS NOTES
Alan N.
Miller [Editor's Note: In the February 2000 issue of Columbia College Today, the name of Ed Botwinick was misspelled. CCT regrets the error.] I can feel spring in the air. Maybe this is why our ski trip to Steve Easton's place in Stratton was rained and sleeted out. But we still had a great time drinking and eating by the fire and helping the local economy by purchasing new ski clothing. Steve agrees he owes me one ski weekend with proper weather. In February, I attended the Dean's Scholarship Reception in Low Library, where I and my date had long interesting talks with our class's scholarship recipients: Jason Glassman '00, Matthew Hughes '01, Joseph Pine '01 and Daniel Ramirez '02. By the time the evening was over, eight additional students joined our large table; it was fascinating talking to these bright young people who, incidentally, are the politest group I can ever recall. We were joined toward the end by classmates John Garnjost and Stan Soren, the latter with his charming wife. (After 29 years traveling the world as an international racing official, John is now emeritus. He still looks pretty fit to me.) After a long talk with Dean Austin Quigley about my favorite topic, utilizing alumni better in an ongoing interaction with students, he was kind enough to come to our table. The dean is really a delightful man who obviously has the interests of Columbia College at heart. I went to my annual Columbia basketball game - an exciting loss to Yale - with Dan Link as well as Lynn and Steve Easton. More are welcome to join this annual basketball outing. Let me know. Al Poussant at Harvard claims to be the oldest new father in the class with the birth of Alison Inez on November 16, 1999 at 7 lb., 14 oz. Does anyone want to beat this? In a previous CCT column, I indicated that Max Eliasson's 10 grandchildren leads our class. But Ernest Neglaw reports that he has 12, with one more on the way. That impresses me, but what do you have to say in response, Max? Incidentally, I finally have grandchild No. 1, Zachary William Miller Griffin, born on January 22, weighing 8 lbs., 11oz. He is some good-looking kid, for which I claim substantial credit. Aaron Satloff's son, Jim '84, has endowed a College scholarship in both their names. What a lovely gesture, and I'm impressed with a child who doesn't need his parents' money. Aaron, who is a psychiatry professor at the University of Rochester Medical School, was deeply moved by this gesture. Lynda and Dan Horowitz have set up the Libby Horowitz Scholarship Fund at the College (named for Dan's mother) for female scholar-athletes. Well done! An update on Judy and Larry Cohn's move to Pebble Beach: Their new address is 39 Spanish Bay Circle, Pebble Beach, CA 93953, phone number (831) 646-1203. Barbara Alhadeff wrote that her husband Albert V. Alhadeff died December 4, 1998. They were married for 41 years. In addition to Barbara, Albert is survived by two children, Victor and Corinne, and two siblings. Having lost Libby, my wife of 37 years, in 1997, I truly sympathize with Bobbie over her loss. Finally, in October, I had the great pleasure of attending three University Lectures on science, religion and ethics given on campus by Professor Robert Pollack '60, former dean and philosopher extraordinaire. It was a pleasure listening to his thought-provoking discussions and the lengthy question-and-answer sessions. I do intend to read his books and have a go at him one day. In addition to his many good activities, Bob is president of the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life at Columbia and Barnard, a marvelous new facility on 115th Street between Broadway and Riverside Drive. So gentlemen, wives, significant others, etc., here's wishing us all health, happiness, a good retirement, excellent children and superb grandchildren. Keep your notes coming and get ready to join the 45th reunion committee to be formed this spring. We will add to the great group we had last time, which was fun for all.
Herman
Levy
Barry
Dickman Congratulations to Ernie Holsendolph, a financial reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, on being chosen by the board of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers for its 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award. Ernie was nominated by Mark Russell, his former boss at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, not only because of his long and outstanding career in business journalism at his current job and with the Plain Dealer, Fortune, The New York Times and the Washington Star, but also because of the number of young and minority writers he has encouraged to take up business as a specialty and mentored. Ernie is scheduled to share the stage with Ted Turner at the keynote banquet. Congratulations also to Marshall Front on being awarded an honorary degree by St. Xavier University in Chicago. Maybe you do have to be a rocket scientist; at least Russ Ellis does. Russ is currently working on satellite launch vehicles for Pratt & Whitney, an assignment that requires three or four visits a year to a subcontractor in Bordeaux. A rough job, but someone's got to do it. (Well, maybe it's not as tough as Joel Levine's perpetual round of gourmet dining for his restaurant newsletter!) Russ's youngest daughter, Karen Ellis-Wentz, will appear at the Metropolitan Opera this year from May 8-July 11. Karen previously danced with the Boston Ballet and with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. Don't forget the class lunch Scott Shukat hosts on the second Tuesday of every month, in the Grill Room of the Columbia Club, 15 W. 43rd Street. ($31 per person.) You can let Scott know if you plan to attend up to the day before, by phone at (212)-582-7614; by fax at (212)-315-3752, or by e-mail at scott@shukat.com.
Ed
Mendrzycki Gene Appel received the 1999 Harry S. Swearingen Award from the American Public Works Association. Gene was cited for his diligent efforts in serving the Oregon chapter of the association and for his generous acts of personal and professional assistance to his peers. George Mann, the Ronald L. Skaggs Endowed Professor at Texas A&M's College of Architecture and the founder and chairman of the RPD Group of Companies, was awarded a Lady Davis Visiting Professorship to the Technion in Haifa, Israel, for the spring of 2000. Bruce Stave has been named Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Connecticut, where he has been on the faculty since 1970. Bruce, who is Director of UConn's Center for Oral History, is the author or editor of 10 books. He currently is involved in an oral history project about South Africa's African National Congress and its struggle against apartheid.
J. David
Farmer The reunion questionnaires are bringing news of classmates, many promising to attend our 40th and all showing a strong interest in the College. Robert Fischbein, a dermatologist in Short Hills, notes, for example, that he has become more involved in Columbia activities in the past five years and thinks the campus looks better than ever. Larry Rubinstein is working with Bob Berne on the College Fund. A lot of our children have graduated from or are attending Columbia (including your correspondent's daughter Rachel, G.S. '99). Larry joins your correspondent in recent grandfatherhood - future Columbians? William Tanenbaum has two Columbia daughters. Stephen Scheiber's daughter is a recent Teachers College grad. Stephen, a psychiatrist in Glenview, Ill., is executive vice president of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and last May received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the SUNY Buffalo Medical School. James Scala, a nutritionist, is a good correspondent despite a very high level of professional activity. He lists 10 successful books and has worked on the Apollo program, three Mt. Everest expeditions, the Voyager flight, and for the U.S. Olympic ski team. William Borden is in Bemidji, Minn., and also writes a lot - a novel, poetry and plays. His daughter graduated from the Columbia School of Public Administration. Josh Pruzansky's election as president of the New York State Bar Association was documented in this column in 1996, and one can also note that he is on the Board of Visitors of the Columbia and Touro Law Schools. Among the organizations for which he serves as a director are HSBC Bank and the Evan Frankel Foundation. Michael Hein lives in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. and reports a hip replacement. More cheerfully, his daughter is one of 10 distinguished science scholars at Bard College (and looking for a good summer internship). As previously noted in the column, some of us are retiring. David Kirk has left the Port Authority after 30 years (and the same period of time in the Navy) but is working as hard as ever as a construction-managing consultant. It sounds like Barry Augenbraun has retired - at least he has moved to St. Petersburg and is enjoying the Florida lifestyle. Ralph Galdo simply says from Great Falls, Va. that retirement is great - "the golf course beckons." Jeff Schiffman of Gloucester, Mass. sold his interest in a Boston TV station 14 years ago and counts as activities writing, traveling, cooking, playing with grandchildren, volunteering and only taking on paying work when it excites him. See you in May on Morningside.
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