Graduate Notes
See page 55.
Frith, the boat referenced in the class note from Nim Marsh ‘57.
1951
Class Correspondent
Galt Grant
781-738-4655
galtgra@gmail.com
1952 & 1953
Class Correspondent
John Childs johnchilds37@gmail.com
Report from John Childs: Starting out with the assumption that the old expression “no news is good news” applies to you who failed to respond to my pleas for personal updates, our classes may be in relatively good shape. The records indicate 16 of us are still kicking, to wit: 1952: Don Atwell, Peter Bennett, Pete Hallett, Dave Horton, Ben Taylor, and Peter Willauer. 1953: Bruce Biddle, John Childs, Jack Farlow, Evan Geilich, Bob Hoffman, Ted Jennings, Stanley Johnson, Harris Poor, Charlie Soule, and Dave Thibodeau. As we all approach or exceed 90 years old, these are undoubtedly 16 grateful and surprised old geezers. So far, so good!
As for who we actually have real-time news from: Charlie Soule acknowledged that he is still rocking along and doing well. Dave Thibodeau is still active at Fox Hill and will be spending time in Florida this winter after enjoying a Mediterranean cruise in September. Stanley Johnson reports that he and Thora are well, looking forward to a knee replacement, paying the price for living life on the beach and sailboat, trying to comprehend soon turning 90, and “thrilled by the Harris-Walz ticket.” Also, “grandchildren continue to
stimulate us and cause us to lose shirt buttons.” Jack Farlow recalls, “My wife, Jean, has still retained a Nobles dance card with our names on it” and reports “the good life continues on here in coastal Maine, with two dogs, two cats, fields, woods, birds, flowers, and each other’s company.” He marvels about how fortunate he was in choosing his wife at age 22 and describes what the rest of us would consider an impossible amount of time and effort maintaining his property. He also bops around town, takes college classes on Zoom, reads everything in sight, and entertains family members in the summer. “All in all, a life of quiet variety. Long may it continue.” Amen!
I heard from Ben Taylor, bemoaning turning 90. “I am feeling fine, but my arthritis just got worse, and the hip pain makes walking difficult. Otherwise, no complaints.” Ben continues to write short stories for his local community on many subjects, including his risky life as a paratrooper and “shooting rapid rivers in Canada with Wakefield and Louis Newell.” He also often reminisces with Horton about successes at Nobles athletics 70plus years ago. And Harris Poor reminds us of the wonderful surprises old age often springs upon us: “Three nights in a row, I woke up with dizziness. Finally went to the ER, and within a half hour a doctor came in and said, ‘Pacemaker, tomorrow at 7:30 a.m.’ Lots of prep. When I asked ‘Is the doctor in yet?’ the nurse replied, ‘Oh, he’s come and gone!’ I feel better now.”
Lu Hallett is now living in Florida full time and hasn’t
shoveled snow in five years!
Pete Bennett “had an easy winter in Northern Virginia. My wife, Nancy, died in December 2023, so it’s been a long winter for me. With sun and warmth and family, I am looking forward to spring and summer.”
Finally, happy to report that Jean and I continue to be active at North Hill (though there are signs of slowing down), still playing bad golf, looking forward to curling season, and definitely having fun. We see Bob Hoffman here from time to time, and he is hanging in there. That’s it. Be well, and do your part to keep the number of our combined functioning classmates at 16.
1955
Class Correspondent
Bob Chellis
781-237-9436 rdchellis@gmail.com
Bob Chellis shares the following updates from his class: Let me start with a remarkable bit of Class News about our late, great classmate Bill Thayer How many of us are eulogized in print by our wonderful wives or sweethearts? Luckily for me, my first wife aimed most of her published vitriol at Teddy Kennedy.
Well, I spotted this week and ordered We’re Going Home: A True Story of Life and Death, by Cynthia Thayer, Bill’s widow. Her first three books were all good reads, but this one is something special, personal, and important.
Some of us were lucky enough to visit Bill and Cynthia’s Darthia Farm on the Schoodic Peninsula, north of Bar Harbor,
over the years. What a microcosm they created. It was all organic, and Bill plowed with draught horses. They raised crops, Highland cattle, turkeys, and pigs. Their huge, cluttered 19th-century kitchen generated great hearty, massive meals in a hurry. There was a small house for hard-working apprentices— future organic farmers known as “WOOFers.” I love the name—it refers to World Organization of Organic Farmers. There was a small gift shop and a Christmas catalog. When their barn burned down years ago, gifts of cash and labor poured in. They also raised sheep, spun and dyed the wool, and created wonderful wearable things. They even had a calendar printed.
In 1955, our last spring at Nobles on the baseball team, Bill pitched more than half of the innings and hit well in all of them. At our school dances, the band let him take a turn at the drums, playing at a near professional level (I thought).
And from the farm, Billy often drove into Bangor on Wednesday nights to play the drums in a swing band. I went to hear him once, and as at Nobles, he was good and having a grand time.
Here’s the book’s dust jacket blurb: “They were an unlikely pair: a ‘fast and frantic’ woman and a steady, ‘pickin at it’ man. And even though both had been raised in cities and knew nothing about farming, Bill and Cynthia Thayer moved to Maine, started an organic farm, and made it work for more than 40 years. Then a mysterious disaster strikes and Bill is found lying in the road. Cynthia relates the aftermath of
the accident, interspersed with recollections of her life with her beloved ‘Farmer Bill,’ from their first meeting to their final goodbye—and her life beyond.”
Charlie Nichols writes that a grandson was married on Mt. Desert Island in June, and a granddaughter will wed at Tanglewood in the Berkshires in October. “In April I became a great-grandfather—a boy named Seth continues an eight-generation tradition. Linda and I are doing fine…just 80-plus-year-old stuff. I look forward to our reunion in May 2025—let’s have a good showing! Staying close to old friends gets harder. Let’s make an effort to come!”
Incidentally, did you see the announcement that my stepson, David Gooding, just sold his company (Gooding and Company) to Christie’s! It’s the most respected car auction company in the world—generates over $200 million annually—and David owns it 100 percent! (Note from Bob Chellis: It was Charlie who supercharged David’s passion for fine cars!)
And another note: My step-granddaughter just graduated from Bucknell—captain of their Division I tennis team both junior and senior years, and after ROTC, the Army! Nice to see the next generations exceeding our accomplishments!
No current note from Dave Fisher, but we’ve had many cheerful notes from San Francisco over the years, even as he suffers aches and pains. And I enjoy his sister Judy Robbins, here at Fox Hill after a career in Winsor’s English department.
I assume Freeman Davison is still in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and I hope well, but no current news.
Tim Horne’s Sanibel Island property suffered such bad storm damage last year that he was back in Naples, Florida, and I’m guessing Rye Beach, New Hampshire, last summer. News is that Tim is on a mission to visit all the national parks! And that report—highlights and low points—will be great fun to hear.
Last spring I had a good chat with Jim Lowell but failed to reach him in time for these notes. He has been a pioneer in social investing—which remains a very big deal—and I think is still active.
An effort to reach Peter Nichols received this note from The New York Times: “Peter M. Nichols is a film critic for The New York Times and has contributed to The Best DVDs You’ve Never Seen, Just Missed or Almost Forgotten.” So I assume Peter is fine, I hope well and active, with his sense of humor intact, and wish he’d be in touch.
Larry Flood and Tyler are thriving in Blue Hill, Maine. After delays during the pandemic, an amazing additional structure—a livable work of art—has emerged. Three levels, a deck on every level, mass timber construction, with gorgeous timber floors, walls, and ceilings, great water views, and a circular stairwell curves protectively around an 18-foot totem pole, carved by a local Micmac artist.
Sam Gray, Gerry, and I had an excellent weekend in September driving to Blue Hill, Maine, to visit Larry Flood and
Tyler, admire their emerging architectural gem, and take a cold plunge. It was a great visit. Then Sam and Gerry were off to Montana, one of multiple trips a year on family business.
I’m reporting for myself, Bob Chellis, that I’m just too darn busy! My moving parts mostly move, but I wonder about my brain. Simple things take longer. Sandy has been in a memory care cottage of 12 residents for five years, a massive sadness— but at least in walking distance, and I love visiting. But, foolishly, I’ve started an active book swap/book exchange at Fox Hill—so now I’m awash with really great books coming in but too few bookcases allowed by management. Our formal library donates monthly, but the quirkier books and happy surprises come from interesting residents.
Bragging on granddaughters: Two years ago, one graduated
with two engineering degrees and high honors from Northwestern and was snapped up by Alten, a French firm with labs for “R&D on demand.” She’s working on heart valves. And this May, her sister graduated with high honors in Los Angeles, from USC’s Law School, and starts on Wall Street this fall to specialize in international music matters.
Meanwhile, I’ve promoted innovations in senior housing since 1963, and finally one will be near our once-favorite dating ground: Smith College! The local CC calls it “Paradise City,” and I always agreed. Now I’m in a partnership with the land and permits for 88 rental apartments for 55-plus “empty nesters”— folks ready for a new stage of life—near the old Northampton Hotel. And who can forget Wiggins Tavern?
The plan is to build a six-story mass timber structure to Passive
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House standards. Apartments will include open floor plan artists’ lofts. With such plans, I wish Sandy and I were still well and 40 years younger and could take advantage!
Our Nobles teachers were pretty great, and I often wish I’d been bold enough, or thoughtful enough, to actually thank some of them. Maybe some of you did—but I failed. Wilber Storer coached me to my first athletic success, Ted Reese and Sidney Eaton liked my writing, Mr. Flood was a sympathetic ear and problem solver, and Eliot Putnam was the energizing leadership figure who handed me the chance to crew on a schooner from Europe after graduation with an amazing older crew of writers and adventurers. I was literally well launched one way or another by all of them.
Anyway, our 70th Reunion is next May! Look ahead—mark your calendars, circles and arrows. Let’s celebrate together.
1956
Class Correspondent
Gren “Rocky” Whitman 443-691-9370 grenwhitman1@gmail.com
Dave Carroll reports: “This has been a rough year. I crushed a vertebra lifting 40-pound boxes of cat litter. After 2½ months in rehab, I’m still vertical but walk with a cane and had to give up the cat. I was awarded my 35-year AA token in August, a real blessing! My sobriety has allowed me to write, averaging a poem a day and sometimes up to seven. I submitted a book of haiku to City Lights Books, publishers founded by
Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg.”
From John Fritts: “I am watching a report on TV about the assassination attempt on ex-President Donald Trump, centered around the failures of the Secret Service in Pennsylvania and Florida. It reminds me of what happened when Mrs. Gorbachev and Mrs. Bush came to Wellesley to attend a graduation ceremony at Wellesley College in 1990.
“A few days before the ceremony, a friend called and told me his son had been with friends who found a car parked behind the Wellesley Square Post Office, next to the railroad tracks. One of the boys found a loaded revolver in its glove compartment, took it home, and hid it in a shed. I contacted the boy’s father, who found the pistol.
“We located the car’s owner, who had rented a room in the Wellesley Hotel overlooking Washington Street. This was the route that Mrs. Gorbachev and Mrs. Bush would take on a motorcade a couple of days later to Wellesley College.
“This obviously was suspicious, so we contacted the Secret Service in Boston. We told them what we had discovered and that we felt this should be investigated further. However, no agent came, nor did anyone from the Secret Service call us back.
“We interviewed the person in the room at the Wellesley Hotel. He was a salesman visiting the area and carried the gun for protection. He had a permit for the gun, but we kept it until we could investigate further.
“On the day of the graduation, we met with a representative from the Secret Service. We went over the plan to protect the visiting dignitaries while traveling through Wellesley and attending the ceremony at Wellesley College. I suggested that we provide the Secret Service with one of our portable radios so that we could have instantaneous communication in case of an incident. He declined the offer, saying that it was not necessary. I then asked where the command post would be located, and he said that none would be set up because it was not needed.
“All of this brings to mind what happened recently in Pennsylvania and Florida, and leads me to believe that the Secret Service, while using local authorities to a degree, does not take their assistance seriously. It seems fair to conclude that the recent criticism of the Secret Service is valid and that changes are necessary to ensure that adequate protection is afforded to high-ranking officials and dignitaries.” (John Fritts is the former Chief of Police in Wellesley.)
Tom Oleson and his wife, Kathleen, have moved from North Carolina to Boston. He reports that he’s reasonably healthy.
Tim Leland writes: “At 11:22 on the morning of Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, my precious wife, Julie, sat down at her computer and typed out a short email to her three adult children living in other parts of the country. The subject was: ‘A Little Bit of Bad News.’
“‘Dear Children of Mine,’ she wrote, ‘I had an endoscopy at
Beth Israel Hospital this morning, and unfortunately they found that I have cancer of the esophagus. They have superb doctors there who are up on the best ways to deal with this, and they will be aggressively treating it, so I have hopes that I will get better, but you never know. Just wanted you to be aware. Love you all. —Mom’
“It was a short note that marked the start of a long journey, one that turned our charmed lives upside down. No more European bike tours or fun-filled golf trips to write about in a class note. Heck, not even a summer stay in our little vacation house on Chappaquiddick. The days and weeks and months that followed were full of X-rays, CAT scans, PET scans, endoscopies, nausea-producing chemo treatments, energy-sapping radiation treatments, and constant trips to Beth Israel and back. Julie gradually lost the color in her face as the treatments continued—but she never lost her easy smile and good cheer. She confronted her challenges with unflagging courage.
“Ten months went by. The chemo and radiation partially shrunk the tumor, but only partially. Then, on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, it was my turn to sit down at my computer and write an email to the kids. Late that afternoon, I typed out the following message:
“‘Dearest Ones: The streets of Boston were dark and empty this morning at 5:45, when I drove Julie from Harbor Towers to Beth Israel, a route we’ve taken countless times over the past 10 months for her cancer
treatments, first chemo, then radiation. This time it was for a different reason—surgery, an operation to rid dear Julie once and for all of the lousy, miserable tumor that has been living rent-free on her esophagus all this time.
‘Shortly before 7 a.m., following extensive prep by two different doctors and several nurses, trailing the plastic tubing (technically called “cannulas,” look it up) in her thin little wrist veins, they rolled her away, heading for the operating room. She gave a brave back-and-forth finger wave to her worried husband, who managed to give her a final little kiss as she went by.
‘Eight hours later, at 3:10 p.m., they rolled her back out of the operating room and transferred her to the Intensive Care Unit, where she’ll spend the night. She’ll be in the hospital for about a week.
‘Oh, yes, and there is one other thing I probably should mention: At 3:15 p.m., her wonderful surgeon, Dr. Michael Kent, called me—waiting anxiously in the reception area—to report that the operation had proceeded without a hitch, that Julie had come through it very well, and that he had cut her tumor entirely out and thrown it in the hospital trash bin.’
“It was a short call, but never one so joyfully welcomed. In the weeks that followed, Julie slowly gained back her strength. More than ever, we are enjoying the sweet familiar pleasures of life again, consciously treating each new day as a precious gift.”
Dave Hoffman writes: “I enjoyed the summer of 2024 on Cape Cod, town of Bourne,
BOB CHELLIS ’55:
“Our Nobles teachers were pretty great, and I often wish I’d been bold enough, or thoughtful enough, to actually thank some of them... I was literally well launched one way or another by all of them.”
village of Cataumet on Scraggy Neck, an island connected to the mainland by a long sand causeway. Our visiting grandson was also working at the local fish market, shucking oysters and cutting fish and giving us a great discount for barbecues. His friends from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) paid a visit as did our granddaughter from New York, with friends. All six grandkids are now graduates or in college. In the past two years, I have attended three graduations, which makes this older man feel a whole lot younger!”
1957
Class Correspondent
Eliot Putnam etputnam@earthlink.net
Bill Gallagher shares, “We had another nice summer in Maine given the extremes of excessive wet weather early, then dry and drought-like later. The house and camp are usually full of our kids, grandkids, friends,
relatives, and dogs…lots and lots of dogs. We are in West Bath on the New Meadows River, and not far from Bath Iron Works, the huge shipbuilding company that turns out many, if not most, of the Navy’s destroyers. This summer celebrated the christening of their latest vessel, yes, the USS Gallagher (DD-127). Well, the Patrick Gallagher (no relation) if you’re putting a fine point on it, but I leave off the Patrick when I’m talking to friends. I like to claim it was named after me as testimony to my exemplary performance as a lowly, but highly significant, ensign aboard the destroyer I served upon in the ’60s, also built at the Iron Works. The actual Patrick Gallagher…a whole different story. He is appropriately memorialized.
“A summer highlight was a visit by Kate Valentine, daughter of our greatly missed Johnny Valentine, and her family. It was so good to see them, and we had such an enjoyable time
exchanging the latest news as well as recalling and trading stories from back in the day.
“Karen and I look forward to a cruise we’re planning to be on in late October—the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, and Tangier. Should be interesting.
“I miss seeing many classmates, but Eliot and I have breakfast a few times each year, so perhaps we can come up with some plans for another class reunion luncheon when we get by the winter. The last one was great fun.”
Nim Marsh muses: “John Ruskin wrote: ‘One object there is still, which I never pass without the renewed wonder of childhood, and that is the bow of a boat, not a racing wherry… or a clipper yacht, but the blunt head of a common bluff undecked sea-boat. The sum of navigation is in that.’ I have a small vessel with such a bow, and the rest of her lines are also to die for. And I just put her away for the winter.
“Her name is Frith. She was built three-quarters of a century ago in England, to the reduced lines of an English commercial beach-fishing boat. She came to America in the early 1960s upside-down on one of the Little Ships of Saint-Malo, and I have been her steward for nearly half a century.
“In mid-September, I brought her home, after yet another sailing season in which she’d spun for me more Masefield magic on a small scale. I washed her sails, stored her spars, and hosed down her gear and lines. Before I covered her completely, I took one last look at her bow and was consumed with Ruskin’s ‘wonder of childhood.’
“‘The boat’s bow is naïvely perfect; complete without an effort,’ Ruskin continues. ‘Beyond this, we may have more work, more men, more money; we cannot have more miracles.’”
Eliot Putnam writes: “If you’re into archival stuff, I recommend calling up the Sept. 22, 2024, edition of the Boston Sunday Globe, specifically its ‘Ideas’ section, which was given over to ‘writers of a certain age on the challenges, delights, surprises, preoccupations, and freedoms of growing older.’ All of the pieces are readable… some funny, some pragmatic, some draining, some emotionally enriching. My favorite reflections are those of Roger Angell, as told in the piece by Mark Singer. All touch directly on how we deal with this time in our lives. My wife, Jan, likes to say, ‘I find this whole thing (i.e., growing old) puzzling.’ I tend to agree, but more than that to groove on what life is
giving us now, staying healthy, and making sure our veteran house is in as good shape as possible for the next 10, 15, (fill in the blank) years.”
Lance Grandone shares, “All is well here in Nokomis, Florida, although I was wondering if I should invest in a Jon boat after all the rain we have had. Don’t let anyone tell you climate change isn’t real. We were lucky and haven’t had any severe flooding or water damage at our location, but not so lucky for some areas very nearby. I’m still vertical, although moving a little slower, but between cortisone and some limited exercise, the legs are holding up well. Karin’s now considered in remission with her blood cancer issues, so we now only have to visit Moffitt once per quarter. I can’t say enough about the quality of care at Moffitt. They are the best!
“My main concern is the heat and humidity here. It is debilitating for me, so I need to be careful with when I go out and how long I stay out. Needless to say, hydration is a must. Everyone down here spends a lot of time watching the weather forecasts. No wonder, with the lightning strikes, mini tornados, and possible hurricanes, some of which can appear without a lot of warning. The individual who doesn’t have a real-time weather app on their cell phone is truly gambling.
“Now that I have given up my seat on the condo board, life has become much more pleasant and less stressful, with my disposition improving drastically, according to Karin and the few close friends I have
here. Unfortunately, most of my friends here have passed, and I just lost my oldest and dearest friend in Chicago. We had remained close for 52 years. I still have plenty to keep me busy with little chores around the house and doing my ‘driving Miss Daisy’ routine for Karin. I’m still spending a huge amount of time on the Internet and spend one to two hours each morning reading the news, and more importantly, the reader comments on various stories and opinion pieces. I won’t get into any political discussion here, because it is not the proper venue. However, please make sure you do vote. This is probably the most important election in my memory. I also found some really interesting websites that offer free daily newsletters that offer some great brain food for those of you who are interested. My current favorites are: Atlas Obscura, Florida Living, History Facts, Nextdoor, Aging Care, Senior Living, Recommended Reads, and last but not least, Motor Trend. This aging gearhead loves to read back issues of Hot Rod and Motor Trend and tune in to the Mecum Auto Auctions on cable TV and see some of the cars I used to own selling for $100,000. Today, you can’t work on your car anymore because of the electronics involved. I picked up an older SUV recently and thought I’d bring it up-todate mechanically. What a joke! I was lucky to be able to change the oil and wiper blades. At least I saved $75 for the dealer oil change.
“I still spend a lot of evenings reading on my Kindle. I try
to read at least six books a month. Mostly police procedurals, British detective novels, and a few thrillers thrown in. Nothing too taxing, although I recently acquired the hardcover nonfiction of The Only Plane in the Sky, by Garrett Graff. With the recent 9/11 anniversary I felt it appropriate to remember those involved and those lost. I will never forget that day as long as I live. I recommend it to everyone who wants to learn more about that awful day. I’m also a great fan of cooking, and an even greater fan of eating, so I will share my experience with two new toys I recently acquired. The first is a GE indoor smoker that sits on the countertop. It’s a great addition and does a fabulous job on ribs, brisket, and chicken. It’s electric and uses a variety of wood pellets. Just set the programmable dial, and the rest is automatic. I no longer have the patience for tinkering with an outdoor smoker for six hours. Great for old, lazy barbecue buffs. It’s smokeless from a mist standpoint, but I recommend a vent fan to catch the slight smells. The other toy is an outdoor propane grill from Blackstone. Just like the old-fashioned RR car diner. Great for veggies, fish, and spatchcocked fowl. We have pretty well given up on restaurant dining because of Karin’s mobility issues. This way the food is better, and no 25 percent tipping for mediocre service. Well, that’s it for this installment of Florida lifestyle. Hope all is well with all surviving classmates, and I’d love to hear from any of you. Or if you’re the techie type, we could
tele-connect using Zoom, text, or FaceTime.”
Loring Conant shares, “At this particular chapter of our pilgrimage on terra firma, there is the leitmotif of ‘Every Day Is a Gift,’ with the realization that so much can change so quickly. As I’m writing this note, we are just a couple of moon cycles away from an election that could tip our universe toward a most precarious angle. I remain bewildered, terrified, and angered by how so many of our fellow mortals do not seem to be bothered by mendacity and unethical, immoral conduct.
“On another note, Louise and I are nourished by family and friends. A recent Bowdoin graduation of our middle grandchild, Sarah, beheld such a wonderful array of students entering into adulthood, bringing their energy and talent into our world, which offered us hope. Our youngest grandchild, Clare, has started her senior year at UVM, eager to pursue her vocation as a veterinarian. There is such a spectrum of interests in our grandkids, with James the oldest, after three years with Robust Intelligence in San Francisco, off to Zurich for a two-year master’s program in computer science at ETH, and Sarah is pre-med, taking a gap year as a medical scribe at a medical oncology unit.
“We are fortunate to be in a setting at Brookhaven in Lexington where we’re in the midst of fascinating colleagues, kept stimulated by lectures and concerts and rich conversations. I’ve found a fellow violinist who joins me every Saturday morning with chatting and
duets. And another resident, an accomplished pianist, who joins me with weekly readings of violin/piano sonatas. We are still fortunate to be able to keep our gardens flourishing in Maine, where I’m still able to wield my chainsaw and operate my tractor to deal with the blowdowns. Yes, we need tangibles, particularly in this era!
“I recently had the enormous treat of a luncheon with Nim Marsh and Bob Macleod. I’m in touch with David Woods in New Hampshire. I hold onto the hope of connecting again with Bill Gallagher in Maine, where he’s a peninsula away. I look forward to another occasion when I can have the treat of being with more of our wonderful Class of ’57. Thank you, Eliot, for nudging us to keep in touch.”
1958
Class Correspondent
Chris Morss knossos@aol.com
Michael Whitman writes: “Fewer and fewer newsy activities: My sand trickleth faster. Buying an EV with the shortest range makes sense now, as I’m sure I won’t be pulling up a chair at another Noblest luncheon. It would be nice to see the smiling faces of ’58 via Zoom, though, so I hope this idea catches on. How many are we now, anyway?”
Peter Norstrand writes: “I had a nice visit with Bob [MacPhail] and Fran MacPhail, who made a day trip from Middletown, Connecticut, to visit his stepson, my nephew. Kathy and I spent two delightful weeks in Scotland in May (we brought perfect weather),
particularly enjoying Edinburgh and the Highlands (Inverness and Skye). I am still playing tennis weekly, doubles mainly, though, not surprisingly, at a much slower pace. On the movie and theater front, I can highly recommend Will and Harper at the Coolidge (soon Netflix) and Leopoldstadt at the Huntington Theatre.”
Larry Daloz writes: “Sharon and I are happily ensconced here at Kendal in Hanover, staying way too busy making trouble around the place, working on climate issues, trying to save our democracy, coediting a couple of publications, knocking on doors…all that. Anyone who’s interested in our climate work, check out our (I gotta admit it) spectacular website: www. seniorstewardsactingfortheenvironment.org. Meanwhile, my son is assistant attorney general in Vermont, and my daughter is a writer in Brooklyn with a major book on the history of women’s reproductive health due out next year.”
So far, so good….
Bill Russell writes: “Jan and I enjoyed marvelous hospitality in August in Mattapoisett provided by Henry [Batchelder] and Béa Batchelder for lunch overlooking the water, ably assisted by their distinguished neighbor Chris Morss. In addition to a wide-ranging fun discussion including dozens of delicious recollections, Béa created an exquisite multicourse meal worthy of Michelin’s highest ratings. Much to be grateful for in the company of these two Nobles classmates, who were also roommates for our four college years.”
George Foss writes: “All is well here.”
Chris Morss enjoyed the gracious hospitality of Henry and Béa Batchelder in Monaco for four nights in May. He then spent two weeks in England visiting old friends and enjoyed hosting many houseguests at Mattapoisett this summer. He continues as Most Venerable of the Friday Evening Club, founded in 1871, and one of the oldest continuously operating supper clubs, which Sidney Eaton invited him to join almost 40 years ago. Charlie Long and Peter Wadsworth also belong. Charlie Long once again spent early July in Chatham, hosting his traditional Lobster Fest party, and spent August on Martha’s Vineyard. He continues in law practice in Needham but will make his usual visit to the Florida Keys during the winter.
Death of a classmate: Our classmate Tom Rutherford died in Florida in July. (Charlie Long can provide more information than this, since he had stayed in touch, albeit not close, with Tom over the years.)
1959
Class Correspondents
Whit Bond whitbond41@gmail.com
Buzz Gagnebin imbuzz@me.com
John Gibson jgib1963@aol.com
Whit Bond shares, “Ten members of the Class of ’59 returned for our Nobles 65th Reunion at the end of May. Those attending included Whit Bond, Renny Damon, John Gibson, Steve Grant, Rob Ladd, Steve Lister,
65th Reunion at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 11, 2024 (See ’59 Class Notes). Seated, from left: Janice Byrd Quigley, Irina Gibson, Faith Wilcox, Dottie Damon. Standing, from left: Ted Mann, Abigail Wiebenson, Steve Grant, Beth Ladd, Rob Ladd, Tom Quigley, Ada and Borden Snow, Beau Perkins, Bill Taylor, Whit Bond, Piper Morris in front of Steve Lister, Jane Deland, Renny Damon, and John Gibson
Ted Mann, Thomas Quigley, Borden Snow, and Bill Taylor Everyone, including spouses and guests, enjoyed seeing Nobles and listening to Cathy Hall address the graduates. We celebrated a very special Saturday evening with our classmates at a dinner held at the Country Club in Brookline. Many conversations and positive memories surfaced during dinner, including a call with Buzz Gagnebin and Connie Gagnebin. We all agreed, if possible, to return for our 70th Reunion in 2029.”
William Taylor reports from Gloucester: “I am well and completely happy in all regards! I have enough of everything and want for little. I speak regularly with Whit Bond and Borden Snow and am trying to find
Henry Schwartz to no avail. Still engaged with non-profit life through our small family foundation and enjoying family who are all living within four miles of my house on the Great Marsh, where I watch the tide come and go.”
Buzz Gagnebin shares, “Having just passed our 65th Nobles Reunion in May 2024, it was easy for my mind to go back to all the great memories I have of Nobles, which was such an important source of developing me into who I became. Some of the events that have stayed in my mind forever in various ways are the junior year history paper I wrote on Thomas Jefferson and the senior year English paper I wrote on Robert Frost. I got a good grade on the Frost paper but not so good a grade on the Jefferson paper. Hmmm, nevertheless I fell in love with both Jefferson and Frost as a result of those papers. I have felt connected to Jefferson in many ways from things I did and accomplished in my life. I also feel connected with Frost having written many poems and rewritten many musical lyrics in the Frost tradition over the past decades. In my life in science as an intellectual property attorney,
mainly patent attorney, I felt connected to Jefferson’s interest in science very much. Later in life, as I got into playing the piano and ultimately the violin, which was a favorite Jefferson instrument, I felt some of him in my heart. All the great things he did in his life politically without being committed to any harsh political direction is the way I feel government should run. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the incredible things that made America the great country it is, or at least used to be. I have supported the environment in many ways during my life, and that certainly coincides with one of Jefferson’s areas of support as well. Thank you, Thomas.
“Frost influenced me to write many poems. One of my favorites is titled ‘Appalachian Memories.’ It reflects on the harm inflicted on owners of small farm houses in the Appalachian mountains—where Shenandoah National Park was created—and the inhabitants of those houses paid little for their property and were driven out of their homes. This poem was written with photographs of the area from which the inhabitants were driven, but I don’t include it here.”
Please reach out to Buzz Gagnebin if you would like to receive a copy of his poem “Appalachian Memories.”
Buzz became a history lover at Nobles and, having played the violin since 2000, reached a point of interest that led to this history project and report on it:
“The Red Violin had become a source of love and interest for me since I was first able to see
the movie of that name via DVD a few weeks ago. That movie was inspired by a violin made by Stradivarius in 1720, when he gave it that name. The real Red Violin has had an interesting history, including a period of over 100 years of its disappearance until found in Germany around 1930, and played by descendants of Mendelssohn, who gave it the name Red Mendelssohn Violin. That real Red Violin was sold at a Christie’s auction in 1990 to the grandfather of a 17-year-old soon-to-be top-level professional violinist, Elizabeth Pitcairn, who continues to use it with superb international performances and great student support. The movie of that name was inspired by the reappearance of the original at the auction and was created in 1998. lt was entirely fictional and based upon a fictional creation of a red violin in 1681. That movie pretended that the name red came from making the violin look like it had been varnished with blood from a beloved one who died just before the manufacturing of it.
“The Red Violin originally made by Stradivarius had red accents in the varnish applied to it at the end of its construction. I was so enamored by the story and history of the Red Violin that I ultimately bought a new reproduction of it, very inexpensive compared to the value of those historic violins today. I have also wondered how that violin got the name Red Violin.
“Upon researching that question online, it seems that Stradivarius had made more than one violin with red accents, and that he was not alone, but another notable
violin luthier at that time, Guarneri, had also made some violins with red accents. To call the accents blood-based seems crazy. After doing a bit more online research, it seems to me more likely that the red accent refers to the beauty of fall colors that would certainly have been present in Cremona, Italy, where both luthiers worked. Somewhat in support of that theory is the fact that the then highly respected Italian classical composer Vivaldi had finished his composition, Seasons, in 1720. One of the four concerti in it is called ‘Autumn,’ when red colors are, of course, dominant in the foliage. Stradivarius certainly knew who Vivaldi was and what he was doing, and probably also knew that he had been ordained as the Red Priest. So, red could come from many good sources. And it creates a very lovely feeling violin to hold as you play it. Go Red!”
Tom Quigley shares, “It was a great pleasure to rejoin our classmates from Nobles ’59 last May for our reunion. Even after 65 years, the memories came rushing back as did all the old stories. After eight decades of all of us gallivanting around, what a pleasure it was to hear of the worldwide excursions and experiences each had completed.
For JByrd and myself, after many years in the business, travel is slowing down save for a trip to Boston to see our grandson and family. New Fairfield, Connecticut, is our winter home, where I still get a chance to ski, snow depending. Spring will find us in Aruba for some early sun, sea, and sand. Summers are on Nantucket
WILLIAM TAYLOR ’59:
“With every passing reunion, it becomes clearer to us how important the Nobles community has been to all classmates and how the tenets instilled in us by the school those decades ago have stood the test of time and enriched our lives. Sparks of who we were then are still alive, and conversational embers burst to life to brighten the room.”
beaching, fishing, and some golfing. Looking forward to the 70th in 2029.”
John Gibson reports criss-crossing the country to Nobles, D.C., and Seattle from his Shreveport, Louisiana, home.
“This too-darn-hot summer started with the wonderful N’59 65th Reunion May 10 and 11.”
Steve Grant and his friend
Abigail Wiebenson and Ted Mann joined John Gibson and wife Irina on a delightful Acela Amtrak trip back from Dedham to D.C. John and Irina visited
their family, as well as Buzz and Connie Gagnebin.
Steve, John, Ted, and all had joined others at the 65th Reunion and dinner at Nobles and the (Brookline) Country Club (TCC), hosted by Whit Bond and his spouse, Faith Wilcox (see photo, p. 56).
At TCC, Jane Deland (Mike’s widow) joined Ted, Steve, John, and their guests and other classmates Renny Damon (and Dottie), Rob Ladd ( and Beth), Tom Quigley (and JByrd), Borden Snow (and Ada), Steve
Lister (and Piper Morris), and Bill Taylor (and Beau Perkins). Friday night at the Nobles dinner on campus, John Gibson was delighted to see his Harvard friend and acting big brother Bill Gallagher ’57 and hear his contagious laugh along with many other Nobles friends, including Eliot Putnam III ’57 and Charlie Long ’58.
It was joyful to share smiles about Zoof, Square, Foxie, the Deke, Blackie, Mr. Bird, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Coggeshall, Mr. Storer, and all and walk
through the old school building to see old school photos and classrooms.
William Taylor shares, “I wish I knew in these times of chaos and uncertainty how to express my gratitude and appreciation to my classmates of ’59 and to the school for our 65th Reunion at the Castle this May.
“With every passing reunion, it becomes clearer to us how important the Nobles community has been to all classmates and how the tenets instilled in us by the school those decades ago have stood the test of time and enriched our lives. Sparks of who we were then are still alive, and conversational embers burst to life to brighten the room.
“It was so heartfelt to see everyone and their respective mates and to say hello to schoolmates from years past. The ties that bound us are still intact! The dinner was in the ‘new’ section of the Castle, which is a marvelous and unparalleled architectural triumph.
“On Saturday, Whit Bond kindly arranged a dinner at the Country Club (TCC) in Brookline for a quietly raucous event where school-day stories and reminiscences filled the time as we called up memories of those simple, youthful, halcyon days.
“We are now all acutely aware that the days behind us outnumber those before us, but we will carry on as best as we can and look forward to another reunion a few years hence.”
1960
Class Correspondent
Albert Vandam arvandam42@gmail.com
1961
Class Correspondent
Peter Ward peward@wyoming.com
Boynton Glidden writes: “My grandson, Findlay Peteet ’30 started his Nobles career in Class VI in September 2024!”
1962
Class Correspondent
Pete McCombs prm9244@gmail.com
1963
Class Correspondent
Jim Lehan
508-320-5250
jlehan.jl@gmail.com
Jim Lehan shares that Dick Harwood’s wife, Tricia, passed away right after Reunion. She was so excited to join the class gathering and will be deeply missed by all.
1964
Class Correspondent
Ned Bigelow
339-203-0086 moe9817@aol.com
Nick King and Art Watson report that they were unable to attend their 60th Reunion because of a happy conflict: They were barging on a canal in southern France. Along with spouses, their group of seven spent a week cruising the Canal du Midi in unimaginable luxury and practicing Bevy’s French. The weather, food, and wine were superb!
Bill Miles shares, “Retired life continues to be anything but
that. A snapshot of daily life here—mentoring Dartmouth football players, coaching youth soccer, chasing golf and tennis balls, traveling and connecting with kids and grands, and working with the refugee/asylum seekers in our region.
“Recently, my wife, Helene’s, organization at Dartmouth, the Rassias Center for World Languages and Culture, was employed by the Immigrants Resource Center in Southern Maine (IRC), based in Lewiston/ Auburn, to run two five-day English as a second language immersion programs primarily for refugees from Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The center is run by Fatuma Hussein, a Somalian who holds an Honorary Degree, 2017, from my alma mater, Bowdoin College! Bowdoin’s McKeen Center provided lodging for staff (me included), and all meals and classrooms were pro bono, and additional funding came from the United Way of Mid-Coast Maine.
“My wife, my younger son, Matthew, her teaching staff (which included our nephews as well), and the folks from the IRC and United Way spent a full, energetic, amazing 10 days working with about 20 students of all ages. Their English varied from complete beginner to almost intermediate speakers. Even though we have all taught ESL many times, it’s always astounding to see how quickly people assimilate the culture in which they are immersed, shed their fears, their worries of making mistakes, and move quickly into the ability to communicate. Plans are now underway to
secure more funding from the state of Maine and run several more classes in the near future. All this constantly breathes a real feeling of optimism in our mutual future. If anyone is interested in learning more about this, track me down!”
Ned Bigelow shares, “It is beyond the scope of all plausibility that this class recently celebrated its 60th Reunion, makes no sense at all. But we did, and it was a wonderful gathering, and, typical of this class, we had a terrific turnout, with a number who wanted to attend, but life just made it impossible—the 65th is coming! Once again, Maurice [Hamilburg] and Dena Hamilburg graciously and deliciously hosted the class at their home. Chef Hamilburg prepared his now famous paella, photos were taken, there were remembrances to Frank Cobb, and plenty of reminiscing and laughter. I wish all my classmates the very best, knowing full well that as we move along, we all face a variety of challenges. Think positively, stay in touch, and be well.”
1965
Class Correspondent
Jim Summers jimsummers@post.harvard.edu
1966
Class Correspondent
Ned Reece ned4047@sbcglobal.net
Pat Grant shares, “Not much has changed in the last five years except that we are growing older. How do I know that? My grandchildren are now 13 and 15. Seems like yesterday when they were toddlers living
with us in Lexington (moved to Topsfield in 2013) while their parents found a new house. How time flies. I closed my company, Splash Shield Inc., at the end of 2020. You might ask why, given that it made full face protective shields during Covid, which were in great demand. Splash Shield Inc. was the only U.S. company making such a product. In order to meet the huge demand spike with Covid, we needed to invest a lot of money to ramp up production. For us to justify that investment, we need guaranteed orders from the federal government, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania (product manufactured there). We approached all three and got zero guaranteed orders. We found this incredible, especially when the federal government was touting the use of U.S.-made products. Still makes no sense. Another nail in our proverbial coffin was the federal government’s decision to temporarily suspend the requirement that any new supplier of full face shields obtain a 510K FDA approval before they could be sold. This allowed anyone, including China, to get into the business quickly. China was the ‘800-pound gorilla in the room’ because their cost of manufacturing was 50 percent of ours. The handwriting was on the wall. We were soon to be DOA. That being said, it was quite a ride for 30-plus years.
“My wife and I are thoroughly enjoying watching our grandchildren grow up. Molly, the oldest, plays hockey and volleyball. Maggie plays soccer and volleyball. What has been especially exciting for us is their love
of skiing (a great family sport). The oldest one snowboards, and the youngest skis, and they are both very proficient. They take after both my two children (Gillian and Brad), who also love to ride the slopes. I managed to get in 63 pain-free days last year at Sunday River. However, after starting the golf season, I developed a severe case of tennis elbow, which sidelined me for 4½ weeks. I have still been battling left ankle arthritis the entire season, which may require a surgical intervention in the future. Cortisone has been my best friend. I am also thankful that Susie loves to ski. We rent a ski house in Bethel for four months during the winter. Our entire family can be there at one time.
“‘Old’ age has the feel of managing medical appointments. Thankfully, Susie and I are in good health. I had another round of radiation (five treatments) for prostate cancer in December after a prostatectomy in 2005 and a 38-week radiation regimen in 2015. This latest intervention has proven to be very successful, as the cancer is basically gone. PSA of .02. Still walking 18 holes three times a week when my ankle allows. Only meds are Lipitor. Life is good but speeding along a lot faster than we would like. Enjoy life and good health while you have it.”
Geoffrey Precourt shares, “I moved full time to Newcastle, Maine, four years ago after 15 years of bouncing to and from the Midcoast region. Retired as a journalist about the same time, but volunteer work at a few local not-for-profits (Carpenter’s
1. From left: Ned Lawson, George Darrell, Clint Smith, Bob Waldinger, Mike Wiggins, Ned Bigelow, Alexander Caskey, David Brooks, Maurice Hamilburg, and Rick Farlow at the Noblest dinner (all ’64) 2. Nick King and Art Watson (both ’64) in Southern France
3. Frank Reece and Bob Waldinger celebrating their 60th Reunion 4. “Another ordinary sunset.” 5. Ned Reece ’66 and spouse Mary Haderlein out for a sail
Boat Shop, Inn Along the Way, and the Frances Perkins Center) keeps me hunting and pecking in front of the keyboard. Enjoy regular Zoom sessions with Jon Canter and Will Walker, but it’s safe to say that nothing of consequence ever pops up in those sessions. But we dudes abide, dazzled by the difference between the school we attended and the institute that publishes this fine magazine.”
Ned Reece shares, “Excitement at the Reece household is all about our new 19th-century home on a stretch of shore in Bass Harbor, Maine. We closed last year and have thoroughly enjoyed it for two summers in a row, inasmuch as new ownership of an 1896 farmhouse plus a 1912 shore cottage equals enjoyment. Project list is a mile long, but ample time to partake in the thrills and chills of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park and the deep blue sea. Come on down and we’ll organize a world-class sunset for you (see photos, p. 59).”
Will Walker shares, “I’m putting out another book of poetry through Blue Light Press called The World Since Yesterday It’ll be available through the usual sources. A biased reader (moi) pronounces it faboo and filled with all sorts of entertaining material. Be the first in your state to own it and be amused. Publication date sometime this fall. Hoping you are registered to vote and will be doing so early and often.”
Stephen Buchbinder shares, “Hard to believe that we graduated 58 years ago! I went to Graduates Day in May and saw
[Steve] ‘Cooch’ Owen at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Cooch remains one of the best—if not the best—threesport athletes in the school’s history. I also went to see the girls varsity basketball team play in the New England prep school tournament, which they won yet again. I believe there were six Division I recruits on the team. I had dinner recently with Craig Barger (along with another friend of ours from Shady Hill), and a few months back, I had dinner with Cooch, Charlie ‘Skip’ Wood, and Pat Grant. I am still practicing land use law in Newton, and I am surprised at how busy I remain. I am currently working on the fourth iteration of a proposed project for the Riverside Station site in Auburndale and recently obtained zoning approval for a multifamily project on Boylston Street (Rt. 9) in Chestnut Hill. I moved to Medfield last November to be closer to my younger daughter and her family. The transition has been an easy one, and in many ways, energizing. Looking ahead to our 60th (may we all be able to make it).”
1967
Class Correspondent
Drew Sullivan
DrewSull49@aol.com
Drew Sullivan and his wife, Ginny, are still living in Dedham. Drew is retired but prepares taxes for Block Advisor. Ginny is a real estate broker at Coldwell Banker in Westwood.
1968
Class Correspondent
Mike Sherman
msherm@att.net
1969
Class Correspondent
Peter Pach
860-575-3954
peterbpach@gmail.com
In May, the Class of ’69 had a wonderful 55th Reunion in Needham at Brad and Mary Wilkinson’s house. We got 12 of the remaining 36 graduating classmates together, which included Toby Burr, John Clark, Wigs Frank, Peter Gates, Mark Haffenreffer, Jim Lack, Peter Pach, Bob Perkins, Toby Talbot, Weston Wellington, Brad Wilkinson, and Stew Young. Many brought along their significant others. The conversation flowed from midafternoon and into the night. Toby Talbot assembled a trivia quiz from our Nobles days, which proved our memories, when put together, remain strong. Wes Wellington reprised his memorized recitation of “Casey at the Bat” from our 50th Reunion, again only second to the rendition by Eliot Putnam. As the evening wore on, we all gathered in the living room to tell a specific memory from our time at Nobles. These ranged from funny to poignant, and it was often thoughtprovoking to see our younger selves with the perspective of a half-century plus.
It was no small effort for all to assemble, starting with Wes from points out west and Wigs from Philadelphia by way of a brand-new grandchild in New York City. The consensus might have been best summed up by
Clarkie, who came down from New Hampshire: “I enjoyed myself ‘bigly.’”
Peter Pach shares, “Members of our class were sorry to learn of John Paine’s death in June. Those of us at our 50th Reunion five years ago were lucky enough to have him join us at dinner in the Castle. He was in his usual buoyant spirits—despite being in mid-recovery from two broken legs.
“He was a teacher and coach to many of us, including me. I sat next to him through many soccer games as a varsity benchwarmer; Bob Perkins, our backup goalie, has more to say about his coaching style in these notes.
“For me, a sometimesreluctant student, John’s classes drew me in. In his class on religion, I remember my introduction to a paper on Taoism reading, ‘If you say you understand Taoism, you don’t. If you do understand Taoism, you can’t explain it.’ John’s margin comment in red was, ‘How disarming.’”
Bob Perkins wrote, “I affectionately remember John sitting on the varsity bench during games . . . reading a book. His theory was that he taught us what we needed to know during practice and now it was our turn to focus on our own.
“I always thought that he represented the difference between a soccer coach or an ever-vocal football or basketball coach . . . then I read that he was actually a rugby player and not a soccer player. So, one of life’s lessons completely misapplied by me! But I hope to attend his service this fall because
he was someone I admired but, mostly, didn’t emulate.”
Tom Taylor wrote, “I was very saddened to hear John Paine has passed away. The one teacher who had the most impact on me was John. I played varsity soccer for my last three years at Nobles, and of all the teachers and coaches and people at Nobles, I remember him the most.
“My fondest memory has to be the Nobles–Milton soccer game at the end of the season where we won 1–0. In the rain and cold damp of the day, he kept our spirits up and our focus directed. I believe we won solely because of him. I will always keep his spirit and memory close to my heart. He was a unique individual for sure.”
Baird Brightman said, “My early (pre-Nobles) history classes consisted of brainless and tiresome memorizing of names, dates, and places, so I avoided history and hence John Paine. Clearly not one of my best academic decisions!
“But I did have the pleasure of traveling and camping through Europe with John during the summer before senior year. He of the sparkling and unflappable personality helped make the overall experience an utter delight. So many great stories and experiences and friendships all served up by John and the other trip leaders with extraordinary planning, diligent execution, and great good spirit.Thanks for the memories, JP. Life well lived.”
Steve Baker sends his regrets that he was not able to join those at Brad’s for our 55th. He continues to be the principal
caretaker for his mother whose 100th birthday is in late September, so he cannot travel. He purchased his mother’s condo in Central Florida late last year. Despite having little spare time, he, with the help of a wonderful crew of contractors and service people, have been rebuilding the condo to be as he wants it. This is the first time in his life that he has owned his own home. He says that when he was presented with the opportunity to buy the condo, he asked his spirit guides whether to buy it or not, to which the answer was an immediate “Everyone needs a home base.” So, he bought it and is now planning “on living happily ever after, as all harried homeowners do.”
Brad Wilkinson reports that in late August he was bringing his sloop up to the dock after a quick motor tour around the local Maine islands with his wife, Mary, daughter, Posie, and her family of little ones. Here the story deepens: “As we were about 100 feet away and ghosting along, my 4-year-old
grandson decided that now would be the perfect time to play with the control panel of my new, very expensive, and finicky electric engine. It promptly had a seizure and died. And since I don’t have a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT, I couldn’t restart the stupid thing. So, there we were in a tight little waterway without power or sail.
“Happily, we drifted just barely close enough to the dock to toss a line (rope) to someone who happened to be there. As she pulled the boat into the dock, I thought it would be manly and heroic to jump off the bow onto the dock (she didn’t really need my help but, dammit, I’m the skipper).
“I took a mighty leap, not noticing that my left foot was lodged under one of the lines lying on the deck. In midair, I went from vertical to horizontal and landed with a resounding crash. My right elbow announced in no uncertain terms how unhappy it was, and my 8-year-old granddaughter told everyone that she heard
Peter Gates, Stew Young, Bob Perkins, and Toby Burr
Gramps say the F-word many times. A trip to the ER that evening confirmed the fractured radius.”
John “Clarkie” Clark has also turned up on the disabled list with this report from New Hampshire: “Well, age seems to be catching up with me more rapidly. . . . I now have a partial torn right rotator cuff likely caused by trying to muscle invasive plants and their roots out of the Lamprey River Forest, and more so failing to listen to my body and forcing my right shoulder to complete a pressure-washing task by using my left arm to hold my right arm up and guide it.
“I will be trying a cortisone shot and then physical therapy
Members of the Class of ’69 gathered for their 55th Reunion at Brad Wilkinson’s house in Needham. From left: Toby Talbot, Peter Pach, Brad Wilkinson, John Clark, Jim Lack, Mark Haffenreffer, Wigs Frank, Wes Wellington,
1. Dick Byrd ’71 took hockey teammate Skip Wood ’70 and current student Sophie Sawatzky ’29 out for a nice sail in the Fox Island Thoroughfare this summer. 2. In attendance at Kevin McCarthy’s 50th Reunion table: Chris Christopher, Seth Tower, Harry Elam, and Harris Thompson (all ’74)
to see if I can get the pain and limits on my range of motion to a tolerable/livable level. If I can’t, then it will be arthroscopic surgery to repair the tear followed by a long rehab. I talked with Bob Perkins yesterday about his experience with both of his rotator cuffs, which was encouraging. I am getting a sling today so I can begin prepping myself for the likely aftermath of the arthroscopic
surgery, which would make me left-armed only for several weeks post-surgery. Plenty of support available from family and friends will also help me.”
“Damn you, Burning Bush!”
Don Watson reported in August on a very full summer:
“Ellen, my wife, and I have been sailing to Maine and are currently in Penobscot Bay where we may see Bob Perkins, but I have not yet called him. Our boat was designed and built by me 36 years ago. I used to mostly race it. It holds the multihull course record for the Marblehead to Halifax Race, set in 1991. These days we are mostly cruising and day sailing. We will be out for a month or so. I am trying to sell this boat, but interest is slim. I am entering the last year of a five-year
refit of a 28-foot powerboat and will launch it next year. Hope the sailboat sells.
“I chaired the 2024 ILCA (Laser) North American championships in June—204 boats from all over North America. Did you know Jamaica and Cayman Islands are part of North America? Our granddaughter arrived May 14, so that makes three grands. Family seems so important nowadays.
“We took a road trip to Baltimore, Gettysburg, Nashville; Natchez, Mississippi; Selma and Montgomery, Alabama; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina, in late March, early April. Very interesting, especially Montgomery, where there is an amazing new slavery museum. It was a very interesting trip and consistent with us trying to do more travel in the U.S.
“I am still chair of a nonprofit to benefit the local sailing school. I might consider local politics but do not have the required gift of persuasion. Starting to feel my age and hope I don’t follow my mother’s path to Alzheimer’s.”
From your correspondent, Peter Pach: “It was a good summer, though dramatically changed from most, as in April I ruptured my left quadricep just as I was about to hit a winning backhand in squash. After the surgeon tied everything back together, I began an estimated yearlong rehab. So, no golf, tennis, or bicycle riding all summer long. We still made our annual trip to Chappaquiddick, where swimming in the buoyant saltwater was great, and I read a number of books. Two older
ones proved good reading: Out of Africa and To Serve Them All My Days. I’m always eager to hear from classmates.”
1970
Class Correspondent
Levy Byrd levsbyrd@gmail.com
1971
Class Correspondents
Harry Blackman
Harry.Blackman@skadden.com
John Dewey jrdewey@usa.net
Nick Mittell phred.j.dog@gmail.com
Win Perkins wperkins@mmuftc.com
1972
Class Correspondent
Art Depoian adepoian@gmail.com
A note from Peter Mansfield and George Colt: On Saturday, April 27, 2024, over 500 worshipers gathered at Boston’s legendary Trinity Church in Copley Square to celebrate the life of Brian Jones, beloved former faculty member and director of music at Nobles from 1964 to 1984, who had passed away peacefully on Nov. 17, 2023. The memorial service at Trinity, where Brian served as music director after leaving Nobles, was a grand and fitting celebration of Brian’s extraordinary life. The music—all selections chosen from among Brian’s favorites—was exquisitely performed by the Trinity Choir that he had built into a nationally renowned ensemble. During several pieces, the signature Aeolian Skinner organ on which Brian had played so many
services and recitals thundered forth. There were evocative, colorful, tender, and humorous eulogies by family, friends, and clergy, recalling Brian as a master musician, inspiring teacher, trusted advisor, world traveler, tireless raconteur, and devoted friend, husband, and father. Brian’s indelible impact on the Nobles community was evident in the dozens of former students and faculty at the service, including our ’72 classmates Chip Goode, Rob Ryder, and Peter Sonnabend, who, like many of the Nobles grads in attendance, had sung under Brian in the Glee Club or took his unforgettable class. George Colt read aloud Brian’s favorite poem, “Green Sestina,” during the service; it was written by Brian’s Nobles colleague and good friend (and George’s mother) Lisa Colt.
The post-service celebration in the downstairs commons of the church was a boisterous and jubilant gathering, with many Nobles “mini-reunions,” in which alums shared memories both funny and fond of their beloved friend and teacher. The whole celebration was reflective of Brian’s deep and far-reaching impact on the lives of so many, not the least of which is the Nobles family he so admirably and beautifully served.
George Colt shares: “In April, my brothers and I held a celebration of life for our mother, Lisa Colt, who taught art (and other subjects) at Nobles for 17 years, beginning in 1973, a year after our class graduated. The celebration (more of a hootenanny, really, in keeping with Lisa’s spirit) was
something of a Nobles reunion. Lisa’s nephew, Henry Singer ’76, a documentary filmmaker, put together a memorable slideshow of Lisa’s life; Whitney Robbins ’86, one of Lisa’s “Art Without Boundaries” students, and Katy Hutchins, Lisa’s art room assistant for several years, were among the speakers. The audience was filled with Nobles grads, including, to name a few: Nell Singer Villeroux ’79 (Lisa’s niece), Louis Hutchins ’77, Joan Popeo ’78, Larry Childs ’77, Nick Grant ’74, Ned Richardson ’77, Scott Leland ’79, Mark Hatch ’76, and Hope Driscoll ’77, as well as former teachers and administrators Joanna Swayze, Pam Herrick, and Kate Coon. I was deeply grateful for the outpouring of Nobles support, and especially touched by the presence of my classmates John Tyler and David Parker, as well as by messages of condolence from others in the Class of ’72. The ceremony ended with a wall-shaking, tambourine-banging, bell-ringing, all-hands-andvoices-on-deck rendition of ‘If I Had a Hammer.’”
Class of 1972 Remembering
John Paine:
Sam Pillsbury shares, “Mr. Paine—he was always Mr. Paine to me—probably meant more to me than any other teacher at Nobles. A short paper I wrote in his senior history class got me into a competitive major at Harvard later (History and Literature). In the paper I compared the Revolutionary loyalties of Dedham and Milton using original sources. Don’t ask me how I got started with that—except I’m sure he had
something to do with it.
“He had such wit, that twinkling of eye and voice, with his mischievous questions and directions. His general delight with life. He coached our rather challenged varsity soccer team, of course. I can remember him urging me (or was this just recounted to me by others?) from the sidelines, ‘Faster, Mr. Pillsbury, faster.’ In truth, speed was not my issue, but coordination. I was still growing into my new longer frame. He turned me onto The Economist, his favorite publication, available in the library in its Bible-tissue pages, mailed from across the Atlantic. And to history, of course. And public policy.
“At Nobles, he always felt like a fresh breeze. Most importantly, he saw me. I recently came across his end-of-year comments referring to my disappointing (first time round) efforts at college admissions in a way I still appreciate. Rest in peace.”
George Colt shares, “To my classmates, thanks so much for sharing these memories of Mr. Paine. Amazing how much we Class of ’72ers have all learned about one another these many years after graduation, and I, for one, am so grateful for it. Thinking of struggling to work your way through the reading for Mr. Paine’s class on Mao… what tough sledding, and how wonderful (but not surprising) that Mr. Paine was supportive, not dismissive. He set a high bar, but he did his best to get us all to meet it. It wasn’t easy, even without dyslexia.
“He was an inspirational teacher whose enjoyment of
history was contagious (I can see him almost vibrating with delight as the lightbulbs in our heads went on), but I knew him best as our soccer coach. On the field, his main goal was for us to learn, to get better, and to enjoy. It wasn’t so much about winning and losing but about appreciating the game. He never overpraised (“Nicely!” he’d say, not so much after someone scored a goal but after they’d made a deft pass); he never ever criticized or played favorites. At halftime, he always went off and had a picnic with Pru and his children, returning to the sideline just in time to give us a few pointers before we headed out on the field for the second half. Although I loved and admired Mr. Paine, at the time I sometimes wished that he’d be a more demanding, in-your-face, fire-breathing, Lee Sargent kind of coach, thinking that it might push us to another win or two. Only in retrospect, as I coached youth soccer for many years, did I fully come to appreciate his approach, and on many occasions, I’d remind myself of the values he exemplified.
“By the way, when my mother started teaching at Nobles, a year after we’d graduated, a year before it went co-ed, she and Mr. Paine became colleagues and friends. She was very interested in introducing some of the new, more progressive educational ideas and techniques to Nobles, and she tried to get a faculty reading/discussion group going around the book Teaching as a Subversive Activity, by Joseph Featherstone. Only one person joined up: Mr. Paine (ever-game, ever-curious, ever
eager to learn). (A few years later, my mother wanted to bring a recently developed—and controversial—new course to Nobles called “Facing History and Ourselves: The Holocaust and Human Behavior.” It was intended to be team-taught; I don’t think my mother would have gone ahead and taught such a challenging course had Mr. Paine not accepted her invitation to teach it with her.)
“Wish it had been me that had taken that class with you. (Ah, for one more class with Mr. Paine…which prompts a question to ponder: If you could take just one more class, a single class, with a Nobles teacher, who would that teacher be? My instinctive answer: either Mr. Paine or Mr. Baker.)”
Dougie Peebles recalls, “Mr. Paine was among my favorites at Nobles (next to Higgie and Crazy Boo). I had plenty of good teachers there, but the positive energy, joyful personalities, and kindness of a few stood out. Mr. Paine, especially, exemplified those traits. He always treated every one of us with respect and dignity, calling us by our last names preceded by ‘Mister.’ He believed that we, someday, could become gentlemen. He believed in our success.”
1974
Class Correspondent
Kevin McCarthy kmac56@gmail.com
Kevin McCarthy shares, “Life is good. . . . I had a great time at my 50th Reunion. So many returned that were unexpected. We had classmates come back who hadn’t returned to campus in 50 years. I am about to
embark on another new chapter in my life. My consulting company is growing. I am buying a house in Western Mass, and I just got licensed to practice in Connecticut. I went to visit Jim Draper in New Hampshire, and I plan on visiting Jim Vogel and Jan Jelleme this fall. I watched BC beat Michigan State with a Nobles grad starting for BC football. It doesn’t get better than that. I am well and look forward to seeing more of my classmates in 2025.”
Ted Wales writes, “For the last 10 years I have been representing UMass Amherst in Washington, D.C. I hope to continue.”
1975
Class Correspondent
Doug Floyd dfloyd44312@yahoo.com
1976
Class Correspondent
Tom Bartlett tom_bartlett58@hotmail.com
Tom Bartlett shares, “The request for classmates’ choices for their top albums in ’75-’76 (Soundtracks of Senior Year) has been extended to the next edition of this publication. How about a top 5?
“To start things off, Eli Ingraham has chosen J. Geils Band, Full House; Traffic, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys; Blondie, Blondie; Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life; Jackson Browne, The Pretender.
“Lisa Webber Wood concurs with Fleetwood Mac and adds Springsteen’s Born to Run and Bonnie Raitt’s Home Plate.
“Those all sound (and sounded) good to me, with a special
thumbs-up to The Boss and his breakout album. Born to Run was released in August ’75, and I was fortunate to be at one of his four-hour master classes in Ottawa that December.
“Another standout for me was Steely Dan’s The Royal Scam, released just before graduation, in May ’76. Fast forward to the ’90s, when I visited northern Spain’s Caves of Altamira, which is the title of one of the album’s tunes. ‘I recall, when I was small . . .’
“Speaking of ‘run,’ I’m lacing up for the Milton Keynes Winter Half Marathon on Dec. 8 over here in England to raise funds for the worthy human services charity Aspire Oxford (aspireoxford.org.uk). If you’d like to support the cause, I’d be grateful for your donation: aspireoxfordshire.org. uk/fundraising/milton-keyneswinter-half-marathon.”
1977
Class Correspondent
Rob Piana robert.piana@vanderbilt.edu
1978
Class Correspondent
Chris Reynolds chreynolds@comcast.net
1979
Class Correspondent
d an r odgers dvonredern61@gmail.com
Kathy Newell writes: “After 41 fun-filled years working at BB&N (with the Nobles/BB&N rivalry a highlight!), I retired in June 2024. I am moving to South Kingston, Rhode Island, and definitely looking forward to this next chapter in my life!”
John Almy writes that he was sorry to miss Reunion but that his daughter graduated from Franklin and Marshall in May 2024 the same weekend.
Dan Rodgers shares, “And a marvelous time was had by all at our 45th Reunion. I still can’t believe it’s been 45 years since we graduated from Nobles, and yet here we are. It was great to see everyone again, and I hope everyone shares the same sentiment, first at the lovely party at Fiona and David Roman’s house on Friday night and then on a rather chilly Saturday at Nobles, where we gathered again.
“And for those of you who didn’t make it, we had a great turnout. I’m going to try to list all who attended, but if I left you out, it is only because I got it wrong and definitely not because I overlooked you. So here we go: Bill Bliss, Kitty Breen, Mark Byers, Holly Charlesworth Casner, Danny Corcoran, Patsy DiGiovanna, Ginny Emerson, Lisa Evans, Amy Goldman, Jeff Hedberg, Nancy Hurley, Scott Leland, Tim Mansfield, Harry Miller, Jim Morse, Kathy Newell, Bill O’Toole, Fiona Roman, Phil Rueppel, Charlie Dow, Brian Guarente, Kerry Kehoe, David Vogel, Joe Selle, Alex Smith, John Strang, Sigrid Usen (on behalf of Peter Usen), and Bruce Weber. At the last second, Dan Kiryelejza had to back out, and that’s too bad because it’s been far too long since we’ve seen Dan.
“But most of all, I hope all of you who attended, and those of you who didn’t, will find the time to catch up with your classmates whenever you can
because you just never know when you might run out of those chances. Sadly, and as you know, we lost Bob Roach in January 2024, and you will likely have also received an email from Nobles in August informing you of the passing of Fansie Connelly. I will see them both in my mind forever as the young people they and we were, and hope you will remember them both fondly as we slip ever further into the future.
“And finally, a shout-out to the 2024 World Champion Boston Celtics! A great moment for Wyc Grousbeck.”
1980
Class Correspondent
Martha Kittredge Rowley martharowley@comcast.net
Beth Cahill Tiedemann still loves living in NYC and has her own home-staging business called HausBee (HausBee.co), in which she prepares apartments and houses for sale. Her kids (Charlie, 27 and Clare, 25) are in the city too, living on their own, which she said is really fun. Each year, Beth gets together in southern Vermont with Gina Travis Camarra, an interior designer in West Falmouth. They often share ideas and resources and continue to get quite excited about beautiful interiors. Beth looks forward to seeing everyone at reunion in May!
Elizabeth Soderstrom writes, “Still living in Nevada City, California, a small mountain town (please come stay if you are in the area), with my husband and daughter, who is a high school senior. We recently bought a little Cape Cod house in Wellfleet and love having
a footing on the East Coast. I have connected recently with Michael Gorham, Hedrick Ellis, and Tom Underwood. Loved giving Hedrick’s daughter, Grace, advice about working in the environmental field (hope some of it is useful). Also, I ran into Becca Cunningham Weiss on a trail in Vermont! Look forward to connecting with more of you on future trips back east.”
Martha Rowley writes, “Last August, in Maine, I reconnected with Pam Bowers Notman, Heidi Gesner McInerney, Kris Koehler Normandin, and Marsha Landau Wolfson. We enjoyed drinks at Marsha’s house, followed by dinner at Pam’s, and had a good catch-up over the course of the evening. Hope to connect with others at reunion on May 10!”
Tim Nash shares, “We hope all are well. Had a great visit with Peter Marcello and Jack Gibbons in Eastie this summer. I also caught up with Matt Fargo and Andrew Osler recently. Very sorry to miss the 45th Reunion, as Jody and I will be traveling to South Africa—a first for us! Our three daughters are doing well, and I am still serving as a financial planner for Aequitas Investment Advisors, based in Hingham. Will miss seeing classmates in May, but we very much look forward to attending the 50th. Yikes.”
Deb Smith shares, “The highlight of 2024 will no doubt be the amazing three-week trip I had in Australia and New Zealand with my son, Nathaniel, following his study-abroad semester in Brisbane. Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef were highlights in Australia,
1. Deb Smith ’80 and her son Nathaniel, on the Tasman Glacier 2. Beth Cahill Tiedemann ’80 and Gina Travis Camarra ’80 3. Holden Corcoran ’18 and Nancy Sarkis Corcoran ’83 4. Chris McCusker ’83 and Kevin Williams ’83 5. Lily (19), Elise (15), Lisa, and Marty McDonough ’83
1. Elise Gustafson ’87, with Sue Udell ’87, Liz von Wagner ’87, and Bernadette Bague ’87 at a tapas restaurant in Brookline this past May. 2. Johanna Minich Wissler ’95 with her husband, Chris, and their three sons
and Milford Sound, Wanaka, Queenstown, skiing in July at Cardrona, and landing on the Tasman Glacier (see photo, p. 65) were the highlights of New Zealand. Nathaniel is back in D.C. for his senior year at American University, and I am beginning my 25th year at Fay.”
1981
Class Correspondent
John Fiske
978-880-4125
johnfiske@comcast.net
Michael Young reports that his daughter, Lauren Young ’20, graduated from Georgetown University in May. He also notes
that his father, Dr. Jeremiah O’Brien Young, passed away in April. He was an ardent Nobles supporter, and he shared a veteran bond with several faculty, including Chris Mabley, Lee Sargent, and Joe Swayze, all of whom had served in Vietnam.
Tara Nolan offers, “Life has been a bit tumultuous of late, but looking forward to getting back to some philanthropic work in Carmen Pampa, Bolivia, as well as satisfying my general wanderlust a little in the coming year. Hope life is treating everyone well and vice versa.”
Connie Moore writes: “Greetings, classmates! Celebrated 25 years with Bank of America last year with a trip to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Such a beautiful part of the world. I highly recommend it! Hope to see you soon and/or at our 45th in 2026.”
Meg Bartlett recently attended a family wedding in
northern Vermont. She says, “The drive reminded me of why they call this God’s country. Breathtaking to be in the mountains as I spend most of my days in Jamestown happily by the seaside.”
John Fiske built a boat in the summer of 2024. It’s a SelwayFisher 15-foot glued lapstrake plywood skiff. It will be powered with a three-horse electric outboard. Launch will be spring of 2025. The name is a secret until then.
1982
Class Correspondent Holly Malkasian Staudinger hollyamalkasian@gmail.com
1983
Class Correspondent
Nancy Sarkis Corcoran nlsc3@me.com
Hello, Class of 1983. Hope everyone had a great summer. Steve and I took a fun road trip to D.C. to pick up Holden Corcoran ’18 and then onto South Carolina for golf and relaxation. We’re just grateful Holden is still willing to hang with us old folks! Haha! Here are classmates’ updates:
From Pamina Gorbach in September 2024: “I am just doing the same—working hard on faculty at UCLA, kids in 10th grade (turned 16 in September!), taking care of my dad, and managing life on the ranch with our three horses, two donkeys, and three dogs. Sweltering heat this week, so holed up in our solar-powered AC that we are grateful to be able to run unaffected by power outages (or guilt!). I have about three weeks until UCLA classes start
up again, so I am catching up on projects and just got a big new NIH grant called ‘Race and Place’—working on health equity for people living with HIV. So, life goes on . . . a bit jealous of everyone with an empty nest and/or retiring, but also appreciating the last few years with my kids (and my dad) as I know it will be all quiet on this western front in a few years. So, I am embracing the chaos!”
From Chris McCusker: “Tina and I had a chance to meet up with Kevin Williams, his son Liam, and Kevin’s brother, Jason, on a visit from Japan this summer. Update from Kevin: Kaya is an interpreter for Toyota now, and she is with a modeling agency in Tokyo. Ian returned from Notre Dame with a club soccer trophy—he is a senior. Liam enjoys the soccer club in his second year of medical school. My university moved me to the Japanese language school to care for the foreigners. I’m like a Dad on steroids. Aya is taking care of me and her pet finches.”
From Marty McDonough (whom I believe should win father of the year!): “I have two sophomore daughters. One is a nursing major at Fairfield University in Connecticut, and one is at Wellesley High School. Lisa and I took them to a Taylor Swift concert this summer . . . in Dublin!”
1984
Class Correspondent
Christine Hegenbart Todd christinetodd@me.com
1986
Class Correspondents
Eliza Kelly Beaulac embeaulac@verizon.net
Heather Markey hsmarkey@icloud.com
Jessica Tyler tylerjessica@me.com
1987
Class Correspondents
Emily Gallagher Byrne egbyrne@verizon.net
Elise Plunkett Gustafson elise_gustafson@yahoo.com
Evan Falchuk shares: “I was elected earlier this year as an officer of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. My priority is reaching out to non-ideological (or, I would say, ‘normal’) voters. They are both the majority and have the least attention paid to them.
“The company I founded, Family First, is closing another round of venture funding. It’s a tough market, but if you’ve got a business that delivers real results (in our case, we solve caregiving challenges as part of employee benefit programs), it’s a great time to make things happen.”
Marco Buchbinder is now an Amazon Bestseller author with his book, Reimagining Work in the Age of AI.
Scott Dwyer recently retired from his technology career to focus on his long-held passion for breeding and training Mexican hairless chihuahua show dogs.
Mark Gerber is the head choreographer for the Boston Bruins Alumni hockey team “B-Nasty” cheerleader squad.
Kyle Hublitz’s younger son, Luke, joined Christian Grosso ’24 as freshmen at UVA, on the
lacrosse team along with Will Fulton’s ’86 son George Fulton, a senior captain on the team. He looks forward to rooting for UVA this coming spring.
1988
Class Correspondent
Sasha Leland sasha@thelelands.com
1989
Class Correspondent
Rachel Spencer rachelwspencer@yahoo.com
JP Plunkett writes: “My family is well, and I often communicate with and see many Nobles classmates. Businesswise, I am now on the leadership board at NAI Global—an international compendium of commercial real estate brokerage shops.”
1990
Class Correspondent
Lisa Donahue Rose lisa_rose@nobles.edu
Lisa Rose shares, “We will be celebrating our 35th Reunion on May 10. Please mark your calendars and send me an email if you would like to join the planning committee (Lisa_Rose@nobles. edu). I look forward to seeing you in May!”
1991
Class Correspondent
Amy Russell Farber amy.farber.143@gmail.com
1992
Class Correspondents
Lynne Dumas Davis lynnemddavis@gmail.com
Rachel Levin rachellevinsf@gmail.com
Rachel Levin shares, Hi old classmates! All’s well out in San
EDIE CAREY ’92
“We hope it brings some peace and calm to whomever might need it. Isn’t that all of us?”
Francisco (even if the media makes it sound otherwise). I’m a writer (pubbed my first kids’ book recently, Who Ate What?) and married to a fellow East Coaster, with two kids (7th and 10th). It’s been fun/surreal to watch my daughter’s high school self unfold. Puts me right back to our Nobles days (except there’s no Castle at a very urban high school). She somehow roped me into coaching her JV lacrosse team last spring. (“My mom can do it. She was MVP of her high school team.” lol.)
Anyway. Clearly, turning 50 is making me nostalgic for 15, because I signed on to write a blurb—about us—every issue. That’s right! 1992’s column in this magazine will be blank no more! So, expect graduate updates of all kinds: milestones and career moves, dinner dates and random run-ins, any Nobles-related thoughts at all! I spammed our class and heard back from a bunch!
Tiffany Swan Markoski is living in sunny Florida with her husband and eighth-grade daughter and loves spending summers on the Cape, bumping into old friends, and rereading many of the books she did at
The
singer-songwriter on her new album, Lantern In the Dark
Nobles (“It certainly brings back memories!”). Kaarina Aufranc is out in Seattle, living with her husband and two sons (one named Hugs, which might be the best name ever) and working in audience development for a company called Homemade, with a popular PBS and YouTube show called Homemade Live.
(And when I heard this, I promptly sent her a copy of Eat Something, a cookbook I cowrote, which I couldn’t help but think the show’s host might like, lol.) Edie Carey is in Colorado Springs with her U.S. Air Force Academy husband and two “tweenage” kids. She is celebrating her 25th year as a working singer-songwriter and the release of her 12th (!) record, Lantern in the Dark (“We hope it brings some peace and calm to whomever might need it. Isn’t that all of us?”). She’ll be touring the country this fall and spring—so go find her! Also out West: Dan Erck. He and his family left Manhattan for Aspen when COVID hit, and they got a puppy (“because if you move
from NYC to Colorado, you have to get a dog, too”). Now they’re in Denver, where his 16-year-old is getting his pilot’s license. (Which makes me grateful, I guess, that my daughter only recently got her driver’s permit. Honestly, living in San Francisco, I’d kind of hoped Waymo would be further along by now!)
I got to see Regan Buckley Fradette this summer, when she and her daughter scooped me and mine at Logan at 10 p.m.— because that’s the kind of friend she is! We had a hilarious drive north for the night and made the most of a too-short visit. All for now! Please send me something, anything, for next time.
1993
Class Correspondent
Sam Jackson sambjackson@hotmail.com
Tyler Barrett writes, “Starting my 20th year on Vanderbilt’s Medical School Faculty. In July, I transitioned from my emergency department role to a new health system position as associate medical officer for compliance. The new role will allow me and Kelly more time to visit our oldest son, who started his freshman year at the University of Michigan and is studying to be a high school history teacher.
“Nicole and I are settling into a life without any kids at home. Our oldest, Brooks, is in his third year at Quinnipiac, studying computer science, and Maeve just began her undeclared freshman year at Marist. A highlight for Maeve and me was her senior-year independent project at Derryfield
School. She chose to do a four-part podcast comparing her senior year to mine at Nobles, touching on school life, music, movies, and television. It may still be up on Spotify under ‘2E9IOR Y34R: The Final Goodbye’ if you want to take a listen. I apologize in advance for misremembering things. We are still in Andover, and I am about to start my 10th year with LCB Senior Living as a senior regional director of operations.”
Finally, the Class of ’93 was shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news of classmate Camie Barrow’s unexpected passing this July. Our thoughts continue to be with her husband, David, and the rest of her family.
1994
Class Correspondent
Marni Fox Payne 617-372-6561
mpayne@berkshirepartners.com
Publishers Weekly reports, “Jennifer Thompson at Scholastic has preempted world rights to Ama Ofosua Lieb’s debut YA novel, Goldenborn, in which 17-year-old Akoma Addo, who investigates supernatural crimes in near-future San Francisco, gets swooped into a magical world of West African gods and goddesses with shocking ties to both her family and her agency’s latest serial killer case. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the two-book deal.”
1995
Class Correspondent
Chad Godfrey godfrey22@gmail.com
Eva Ouellette writes, “My biggest and best update by far is that my son, Avery Ouellette ’28, graduated from Dedham Country Day School this spring and started as a freshman (class IV) at Nobles in the fall. We live in Dedham across the river from the campus . . . never made it very far. And you are right, the campus is really incredible now. My other update is that I made a job change about a year ago. I was practicing law as a partner at Brody Hardoon Perkins Kesten, handling litigation and trial work. I am now in-house counsel at Northeastern University, handling domestic and international employment, labor and litigation matters, at the NU Office of General Counsel. I hope to bump into you again soon.”
Deena Freed shares, “I live in West Newton with my two kids and two pets (dog and cat), and am almost an empty-nester. My oldest is a freshman at the University of Michigan, studying aerospace engineering, and my youngest just got her driver’s license. I work in software sales and also co-own a yoga studio in Belmont. Yoga keeps me sane! My kids are the age we were while at Nobles, and this is not lost on me. I finally have a kitty again—last time I had one was while at Nobles, so all things have come full circle. Peace to all!”
From Jared Fernandes: “My wife, daughter, and I live in Mahwah, New Jersey. We recently got a condo in
Colombia, so we are trying to learn Spanish. No dogs or cats. Just some deer and occasionally some foxes in the backyard. A coyote once.”
Alex (Smith) Ozerkis writes, “I am living in Newton, Massachusetts, raising my three, now big kids—Davis (16), Clara (13), and Cooper (11), along with our beloved Newfoundland dog named Millie. Between constant baseball and ballet practices, we are adjusting to life with teens! After many years at the same PR firm, I joined Evolv Technology, the leading AI-powered security company, as head of communications last year and am loving being part of such a missiondriven and innovative tech company that is helping to make places safer. Hope everyone is well, and love seeing Nobles friends from time to time!”
Sam Bigelow shares, “I’ve been living and working at Middlesex School for the last 11 years with my wife, three kids—Sammy (14), Ellie (12), and Lotte (10)—and two dogs, and serve as the director of college counseling and head of a dorm. Growing up as a faculty brat with Dad on the faculty was the absolute inspiration for our life in boarding schools! I love keeping in touch with a great group of Nobles friends and seeing folks whenever I can.”
Elizabeth (Rafferty)
Loftin writes, “I have lived in Jacksonville, Florida, for 20 years. (It is located on the east coast between Amelia Island/ Fernandina and Ponte Vedra/ St. Augustine for anyone who was not paying attention in Weintraub’s geography class.) My husband, Michael, and I have
two girls, Harriet (17) and Emily (16), and an English cocker spaniel. Would love to hear updates, and hope everyone is well!”
From Chris Page: “I’ve been living in Boston in the South End since I was in dental school (graduated Tufts in 2005). I own a few dental practices on the North Shore and South Shore. My wife, Aliya, and I have two kids, Harlow (10) and Beckett (8), one dog, and a couple cats. I’m super into rap music, and I still get out for snowboarding/skiing or drinks (or both) with a group of friends who have all remained close from Nobles.”
Selma Holden shares, “I’m doing well, living up in Maine being a mom, wife, and integrative physician who is trying to stay grounded in the emergent field of psychedelic medicine. I’m also singing and playing saxophone with a fun little jazz band. The other horn player is from Milton, so practicing some peacemaking in a way as well.”
From Johanna (Minich) Wissler: “My husband, Chris, and I live in Laguna Niguel, California, with our three sons, Bodhi (16), Zen (14), and Ravi (12). Chris was my first friend freshman year at Penn. We dated briefly, then stayed friends for a couple of years before losing touch. I started working as a photographer when I was about 22, when I opened a wedding photography business in Philly after college with my first husband at 3rd & South. After visiting Selma Holden in Berkeley, my adventures then took me to Palo Alto with my second husband, at which time I worked at Stella & Dot (in their startup phase as Luxe Jewels) and
1. Kate Cox ’99 and her family in Paris 2. Maura MacLeod ’98 and family in Egypt
also at Stanford as a research assistant. No, I didn’t knowingly meet Elizabeth Holmes. Yes, I was in audience attendance at Steve Jobs’s Stanford commencement speech because my then-husband was also one of the speakers. And then we lived in Jory Bell’s warehouse in a big indoor tent village in SF after he left Apple to start OQO. Then Chris found me online (remember early social media tribe.net?), and when I was ready to move on again, I moved into Chris’s van, and we lived the van life like true transient hippies for a couple of years. When we got pregnant while working on a certain type of farm unique to Humboldt, California, we settled down in Southern California, where I have been working as the director of photography for a magazine publishing house (stampington.com) for the last 15 years.
“I actually did Emily Liolin’s wedding photos a decade or so ago, and I still talk with Selma. Selma attended our wedding (which happened when I was eight months pregnant with our third, Ravi). Chris did an amazing job as a stay-at-home dad for the first 10 years. Now he works remotely for Catalyze as a solar project manager. Luckily, Chris also still plays music, so one of my favorite things to do is hear him play violin/mandolin out at the bars on Friday nights with our other
musician friends. Our children went (and two of them still are) K-8 at a local Waldorf-inspired charter school, which was such a loving and peaceful grade school experience. I have been a hot yoga fanatic these past few years. It has really helped me regain some of the athleticism from my teens, as well as enabling meditative practice for me. Lately, with my current job, I have been expanding into video and AI, riding the wave of the future. My in-laws live in southern Portugal, and we are considering moving there since it is exactly like Southern California but with more beaches and less people. We’ll see!”
Emily Liolin writes: “I live in Sonoma County, California, with my husband, Mark, and our 11-year-old daughter, Vivian. We live on a farm with 20+ head of sheep, a llama, and chickens, underneath the redwoods and amidst a variety of heirloom organic apple trees. I have a small healing practice in town, where I serve my community as a bodyworker, herbalist, and spiritual counselor.”
Ben Walsh shares, “I live in Colorado, outside of Boulder, with my wife, Ariel, and our three kids, Duckman (10), Malachi (6), Butter (3), and our dog, Redlegs. I recently retired from teaching English at the University of Boulder to open an English Second Language school. While this takes up most of my bandwidth, I still find time to lead hikes in the summer, and in the winter, Ariel and I are heavily in demand as a large resort’s Santa and Mrs. Claus. (I dye my real beard!) I also love to backcountry ski.”
From Alex Clark: “I’m rooted back in my hometown of Norwell with my wife, Caitlin, and three children. I’m running the family business and enjoying that adventure. I run into Chad [Godfrey], Christian Diamandis, and Tyler and Kelly Roberts in Norwell, which is always fun. Best to all!”
John Manley shares, “All is well here in Duxbury with wife Pam and sons Jack and Luke. We spend a lot of time on the fields and in the rinks for both boys and loving all of it. Looking forward to the summer and hope to run into some Nobles friends.”
From Craig Branca: “My wife, Melissa, and I live in Attleboro with our dog, Greta. We usually try to avoid ever writing about ourselves but heard Chad needed money for his new teeth.”
1996
Class Correspondent
Matt Kane mkane.esq@gmail.com
1997
Class Correspondent
Bobbi Oldfield Wegner bobbiwegner@gmail.com
1998
Class Correspondent
Nina Freeman ninahanlon@gmail.com
From Dave Klivans: “We are loving San Diego. All three kids are in a great school and enjoy being back with friends after a boring summer with Mom and Dad. Crystal loves walks on the beach, and Dave is investing in China, Uzbekistan, and commodities, as well as working on
getting some haikus published. The dogs continue to not have fleas, which is nice.”
Maura MacLeod writes, “My husband, Dan, and I recently traveled to Egypt and the U.A.E. with our four young children, my brother, and my nephew. We were overwhelmed with the kindness that was shown to our family while traveling through both countries.”
Justin Cambria shares, “I’m currently leading New Harbor Behavioral Healthcare in Dedham. We serve teens with mental health challenges in intensive therapeutic programs. I’ve been able to reconnect with Nobles in this capacity and sometimes bump into Dick Baker and Tim Carey in town. I live in Milton with my wife, Heydi, and 9-year-old daughter, CeCe. I also had dinner with Jason Burns this week, who remains a dear friend.”
John O’Connor writes, “Recently, a law partner and I have started a corporation that is managing the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) collectives for a few local universities. We collect and manage the money used to compensate college athletes for the use of their Name, Image, and Likeness to promote their respective sports. This is an aspect of college sports that is in its infancy stage, and we are excited to see where it goes.”
From Kate Cox: “Our family just returned from a year abroad in London. Our kids, Charlie (11) and Samantha (8), were great travelers and loved their British school experience. We were able to visit seven countries in this short time and are grateful for this family adventure. Now
back in Newton, Massachusetts, settling into new routines.”
Rachel Eisenhaure writes, “After 13 years in civil litigation, I returned to the District Attorney’s office to the same appellate division I left 13 years ago. It was an unexpected opportunity to work with old friends doing work I love. I am currently living in Cohasset. My husband and my children and I moved in with my mother after my father passed away two years ago so that she would not be alone. The kids are thriving in our multigenerational family.”
Nina Freeman shares, “I’m currently the acting head of school at Brooks through the end of December, covering a sabbatical leave for our head of school. It’s been amazing to return to the ISL and Massachusetts in this capacity.”
1999
Class Correspondent
Gabi Herman gabriela.herman@gmail.com
Nicholas Horbaczewski wrote in to say: “I am still living in NYC and really enjoyed seeing so many old friends at the Nobles reunion this year. After nine years of developing novel drone technology and building competitive drone racing into a global sport, I sold my company, ‘The Drone Racing League’ (or DRL), this spring to ‘Infinite Reality.’ It’s been a wild ride, and I’m excited to help build the next chapter of DRL with iR while continuing to support my other drone company, PDW, that designs and builds drones for the U.S. Military.”
1. Randy Smith ’03 and wife Erin Walsh celebrate daughter Zizi’s first birthday donning Nobles swag. 2. Luca Bartels Corrado, son of E.B. Bartels ’06, is seen here sporting a Nobles onesie that was a present from Nobles Theatre Collective legend Dan Halperin. 3. Sophie Susan Gallagher was born to Erin Bruynell Gallagher ’06 and her husband, Sean, on May 8, 2024. 4. Janna Herman ’06 took her dog, Lefty, to visit former faculty member Joanna Swayze in Rockport this summer. 5. Jamie Weiner ’09, husband Marc, and daughter Renee (3) welcome baby Jack.
2000
Class Correspondent
Lisa Marx Corn lisamarx@gmail.com
2001
Class Correspondent
Lauren Kenney Murphy Lauren.Kenney1@gmail.com
2002
Class Correspondent
William Duffey III williamduffey@gmail.com
2004
Class Correspondent
Carolyn Sheehan Wintner carolyn.wintner@gmail.com
Elizabeth Macleod Horvitz writes that she was sorry to miss reunion this year. She has three children—Judy (7), Meredith (5), and Russell (7 months). She is living in Gates Mills, Ohio, and spending summers on Lake Winnipesaukee. She works as a reading specialist. She recently ran into Chris Poli in Naples, Florida, in February 2024, and Brenna Burke Westinghouse ’99 in Barbados!
n ew a rrivals:
Jamie Weiner ’09 and her husband, Marc Weiner, welcomed their second child, Jack Weiner, in April 2024.
Erin Bruynell Gallagher ’06 and her husband, Sean Gallagher, welcomed Sophie Susan Gallagher on May 8, 2024.
Emma Bigelow ’06 and her husband, Robin Bigelow, welcomed their third child, Robert Bigelow, in December 2023.
Krysten Keches ’06 and her husband Daniel Smilkov, welcomed Mia Alessandra Smilkov on July 1, 2024.
2005
Class Correspondent
Saul Gorman saul.gorman@gmail.com
Anne Benjamin writes: “Thinking of everyone ahead of our 20th Reunion. I recently moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. I am working remotely, enjoying a new city, and sailing around the coast. I also became a yoga teacher.”
2006
Class Correspondent
E.B. Bartels ebandersenbartels@gmail.com
E.B. Bartels shares, “So many ’06 babies!”
Emma Bigelow (née Tall) writes: “My husband, Robin, and I moved our family from Pasadena, California, to Summit, New Jersey, last summer for
Robin to (finally) start a job as an ear/brain surgeon! Just 12 years training in the making! I have my own consultancy working with early-stage medical device and life science companies, which I really enjoy. I help scientist and engineer inventors move from new technology to product by identifying their highest-impact markets and developing a commercialization strategy. Robin and I also welcomed our third little boy, Robert, in December 2023, joining Eddie (5) and Peter (3). It feels like a lot of boys. But they are wonderful and fun. It would be great to connect with anyone in the NYC/NJ area!”
Erin Bruynell Gallagher is excited to share that she and her husband, Sean, welcomed Sophie Susan Gallagher, born on May 8 in Boston.
I also heard from Krysten Keches: “My husband, Daniel, and I welcomed our daughter, Mia Alessandra Smilkov, on July 1, 2024! Big sister Chiara is obsessed with her, and dog sister Ruffles is missing her old life as an only child. I’m performing around Boston, mainly as a freelance harpist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and Boston Ballet (come visit me in the pit if you’re at The Nutcracker this December 8, 22, 24, or 26–29!). I love teaching and am excited to be joining the faculty of Boston Conservatory at Berklee as assistant professor of harp this fall. I’m not sure how we’ll juggle everything, but any organizational skills I have definitely stemmed from those Nobles calendar notebooks we had in middle school. Please tell me I’m not the only one who loved those things?!”
Janna Herman and her (canine) baby, Lefty, visited Joanna Swayze over the summer. Janna reports: “I visited her in Rockport, and we had a lovely day together going to the dog-friendly ‘beach,’ a.k.a. seaweed swamp, and then the human beach. Except I somehow don’t have a picture of me and Joanna? Just of Lefty swimming in the ocean for the first time.” Well, I guess we can just imagine Janna and Joanna having fun at the beach.
My own (human) baby, Luca, is now 8 months old as of the writing of this, and he gets excited about many things—books, trees, dogs, birds, swimming, Ms. Rachel, Chappell Roan—but he especially loves to watch OK Go music videos while I cut his tiny fingernails. Recently I showed him Nelson DeCastro’s 2013 music video for “I’m Not Through,” and Luca cackled with glee while watching it. Good job, Nelson! Even babies love your work. Also, Luca has another fun Nobles connection:
In September he started school (“school”) at the Wellesley Community Children’s Center. He is there three days a week, and he shares a crib with a baby who is there the other two days, and that baby happens to be the youngest child of Kate Parizeau Foran ’05!
2007
Class Correspondent
Kat Sargent katharine.sargent@gmail.com
2008
Class Correspondent
Michael Polebaum Mpolebaum08@nobles.edu
2009
Class Correspondent
Maria Sibilia mcmontes14@gmail.com
Liz Rappaport is working as a professional home organizer, and through her business she has been able to connect with a ton of Nobles graduates! Jamie Weiner shares, “We had our son, Jack, in April of this year! Our daughter, Renee, just turned 3, and we’re enjoying the start of our second year in Boston, living in the South End.”
2010
Class Correspondent
Tori Goyette tgoyette10@gmail.com
2011
Class Correspondent
Katie Puccio-Williams katie.pucciowilliams@gmail.com
2012
Class Correspondent
Colby Woeltz Maritz ccwoeltz2@gmail.com
2013
Class Correspondent
Caroline Thayer carolinejthayer@gmail.com
Ali Grogan ’13 and fiancé Mike Leary rode in the Pan-Mass Challenge in memory of her father, Jeff Grogan ’74.
2014
Class Correspondent
Alexandra Charron alexandra.l.charron@gmail.com
Mats Nelson currently lives in Seattle, Washington, and works as a chef instructor at a food insecurity non-profit called FareStart.
2015
Class Correspondent
Natalie Hession natalie.a.hession@gmail.com
Caley Dickinson shares, “I’m excited to share that in May I’ll graduate from medical school and begin internal medicine residency at the University of Utah. I’ve had a busy start to 2024 with a global health rotation in Kigali, Rwanda, and then a wonderful trip through China, Tibet, and Nepal to celebrate the end of medical school. Kigali is an amazing city, and I enjoyed my time working with the students and faculty at their University Teaching Hospital. I’m feeling fortunate for these wonderful
experiences abroad, and I’ll be hunkering down for the intern year starting in June!”
2016
Class Correspondents
Sabrina Rabins srabins@gmail.com
Mariana Vega vegamariana612@gmail.com
2017
Class Correspondent
Harry Sherman harry74sherman@gmail.com
2018
Class Correspondent
Jillian Radley jillradley22@gmail.com
2019
Class Correspondent
Ally Guerrero guerreroalessandra@gmail.com
2020
Class Correspondents
Drew Barry drewbarry1177@gmail.com
Hailey Brown heb4@williams.edu
Tate Donnelly shares, “I just released a cooking and narrative game on Steam called ‘Bed and BEAKfast.’”
Sam Jankey writes, “Hey, guys. Over the last few years I have been pursuing a chemistry degree while working as an EMT and a firefighter.”
From Matthew Kirkman: “I’ve been down at Georgetown the last few years, where I graduated back in December, and am now working in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for a biotech VC firm called Flagship Pioneering.”
From Liam Nawara: “Graduated from the Naval
Academy and commissioned as a Submarine Warfare Officer. Moving to Charleston, South Carolina, this fall.”
Ethan Skelly shares, “Just graduated and moving to NYC in July.”
From Nick Taylor: “Just finished up last season of lacrosse and will be graduating this fall in Hamilton’s New York City Program.”
Pierce Kenney writes, “I am graduating from UMass Amherst this spring, and I will be working in Boston post-graduation. Did a cross-country road trip at the end of last summer. . . . It was a blast!”
Lauren Young writes, “This May, I graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown University with a B.S. in Business Administration and will be returning to Boston this summer to work at Canaccord Genuity as an investment banking analyst.”
From Lily Stevenson: “I just graduated from the University of Richmond and will be starting at City Year Boston this August for the 2024–2025 school year.”
Bryan Thomas shares, “I just graduated and moved back home. Currently applying and looking for jobs. I did social policy research last summer and loved that, so maybe I will do something similar for a first job!”
2021
Class Correspondent
Hadley Winslow hadleywinslow@gmail.com
2022
Class Correspondent
Alex Janower ali@janower.net
