Class Notes

These Class Notes reflect information we received by December 15. The Class Notes deadline for the next issue is March 15.

Class Notes are the lifeblood of Reed Magazine. While a Reed education confers many special powers, omniscience is unfortunately not among them; your classmates rely on you to tell us what’s going on. So share your news! Tell us about births, deaths, weddings, voyages, adventures, transformations, astonishment, woe, delight, fellowship, discovery, and mischief.

Email us at reed.magazine@reed.edu. Post a note online at iris.reed.edu. Find us on Facebook via “ReediEnews.” Scribble something in the enclosed return envelope. Or mail us at Reed magazine, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland OR 97202. Photos are welcome, as are digital images at 300 dpi. And don’t forget the pertinent details: name, class year, and your current address!

EDITED BY JOANNE HOSSACK ’82

Grandpa John Cushing ’67 chugs along in the Portland Marathon.

1952 70th reunion

1960

Bob Erickson has a new book out on mouse genetics. (See Reediana.)

1961

World welcomes Barack Obama, George Clooney, and Fritos corn chips.

1962 60th reunion “If you are in or near Kansas City, a city with great beauty, arts, BBQ, and lovely people, do reach out by email or phone,” writes Irene (Heller) Bettinger.

Don Engelman’s new book on cell boundaries will help you understand what’s holding you together. (See Reediana.)

1963

World welcomes Brad Pitt, Whitney Houston, and audiocassettes.

1964

We were pleased to hear from Renee Burns Lonner: “I have always hesitated to write because I was at Reed for only two years, having transferred in my junior year to UCLA, to be home with an ill mother. Reed is absolutely my identification point when I think about the education and skill set development that is and has been central to a varied and totally satisfying professional career. And I’m not done yet!” Renee had two works published within three months last [season]: an article, “In Defense of (Very) Long-Term Therapy,” in the July/August 2021 issue of Family Therapy Magazine, and a short book, If You Give a Man a Tesla, “mostly goodnatured gender humor with the Tesla just being the vehicle (sorry, couldn’t resist).” Renee continues about Reed, “To say that I learned ‘critical thinking skills’ at Reed is an understatement— every class and every subject focused on that. I learned to love problem-solving in all its forms. Reed has a very special place in my heart and I know, in the hearts of countless other alums.” (See Reediana.)

1965

What’ll it be this evening? Swanson TV dinner or SpaghettiOs?

1966

Galen Cranz was interviewed on live New Zealand public radio on October 5 for the program Nine to Noon. (Galen’s Kiwi friend says, “It’s a top-notch radio programme.”) The topic was body conscious design, with special emphasis on good versus bad chairs. You can find the interview at rnz.co.nz/.

1967 55th reunion John Cushing started the Portland Marathon with a lingering cold. While crossing the Reed campus after passing mile 17, he collapsed from dehydration, face-planted into Botsford Drive, and was not able to finish. “I fell on an isolated slope of Botsford Drive; nobody saw me. One truck passed me going uphill as I was lying there, but did not stop. I am OK.” Whew! Glad you’re OK, John!

1968–69

One ringy-dingy . . . two ringy-dingies . . .

“I give to Reed financial aid in gratitude for the aid I received to support an exceptional education.”

—MOLLY KING ’09

Galen Cranz ’66 heartily approves of these chairs. Left to right: the HAG Capisco, designed by Peter Opsvik; the Salli, by Veli-Jussi Jalkanen (known as Vessi) from Finland; and the Stokke Flysit, designed by Peter Opsvik. Photo by Chelsea Rushton.

All hail to the griffin and rose! Photo by Eric Ladner ’72.

Seth Grosshandler ’79 and a bird in San Diego before the pandemic.

Steve Fowkes ’75 with his updated epicylindrical periodic table.

Richard Stern ’73 and grandbaby enjoy his retirement.

1970

Randall Kay writes, “My niece-in-law (actually, grandniece-in-law) Kiana Fields [’25] is a freshman this year. You’re both lucky!”

1971

Brian Clarke Jones has moved back to Portland and is enjoying retirement. Welcome back, Brian!

1972 50th reunion “All hail, Alma Mater, new born of the West / Where the mighty Columbia flows, / Thou fortunate heir of the pioneers’ quest, / All hail to the griffin and rose.” Ten years after graduation, Eric Ladner lugged his 4" × 5" view camera up from the Bay Area; 40 years later, he unearthed a negative from that trip depicting the aforementioned griffin and rose on campus, and kindly sent us the photo. Check it out!

1973

David Perry’s classmates Sheldon Hochheiser and Laura Leviton visited the weekend before Thanksgiving. “Great to see them!”

After over 40 years practicing tax law and the arrival of his third grandchild, Richard Stern decided to retire. “What a pleasure!”

1974

James Madden writes, “Getting old. Still teaching—maybe even figuring out how to do it . . . or maybe illusions of old age.”

1975

Steve Fowkes just finished a Patreon book-writing project, Natural Anti-Viral Self Defense, which was immediately published in PDF format and made available on Patreon (in serial, multicolor format) and at projectwellbeing.com/ steve/ (in black and white). It represents 18 months of effort, manifesting in six serial releases on Patreon, and is freely downloadable at no cost (one page asks for donations). “My personal motivation for writing it was the COVID pandemic, for which ‘official’ misinformation upset my sense of justice.” Its 368 pages, 638 footnotes (references and annotations), and 75 graphics cover “nutrition, innate and humoral immunity, the spectrum of ‘preexisting conditions,’ antioxidant defense, redox buffering, hypometabolism, repurposed generic pharmaceuticals, ACE-2 and CD147 receptors, coagulopathy, clotting, crony science, VAERS, censorship, public-health policy, and manifest idiocy.”

Last October, in a hotly contested three-way election, David Olson was elected mayor of the bustling metropolis of Cathlamet, Washington, for a fouryear term that began this January. Good job, David!

1976

Paul Shaw delivered an online talk in November on “The Lettering and Type of Push Pin” for Poster House in New York (https://posterhouse.org), which accompanied their exhibition about the Push Pin studio. He was to have led an in-person tour of the exhibition on July 16, but as of this writing it’s been postponed due to COVID. Sigh. Paul also edited CAST-IT #5, a type specimen from CAST (a digital type foundry in Italy) devoted to part of a text from The Practice of Typography by Theodore Low De Vinne.

1977 45th reunion Dean Frost recently published a book with Business Expert Press. (See Reediana.)

1978

Uncontrollable urge? You want to tell us all about it?

1979

Since graduating from Reed with a thesis consisting of a composition of a quintet for piano and winds, Seth Grosshandler has had two careers, and maybe a third one is in the offing. During the “lawyer years” Seth continued playing and performing piano, but didn’t compose—though he’s been making up for it since his retirement from law in 2018. During the pandemic, he composed a sonata for violin and piano that will be played at two upcoming festivals. A livestream of a performance of that piece by Suite Française led to a commission from the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (to premiere and be livestreamed in June), which in turn led to a commission from the Symphony of the Mountains in eastern Tennessee. He’s also been taking printmaking classes at the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League in NYC, and recently won a competition to have some of his works shown at the Affordable Art Fair in NYC in March. Seth has a Soundcloud page and a YouTube channel, and a personal website is on the way. When not working, Seth continues to play the piano, cycles whenever possible, and lives in Hillsdale, New York, with his husband and cat.

Orrin Wang’s new book was published in January. (See Reediana.)

1980

World welcomes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Christina Ricci, and Huy Fong’s sriracha sauce.

1981

John Selker has been a bit busy. He oversees a network of 620 climate observation stations across 23 African countries (TAHMO.org), runs an NSF facility (CTEMPs.org), and has a large undergraduate-led environmental sensing lab (OPEnS.org). But to round things out, he decided to run for Congress, seeking the seat being left by Peter DeFazio (selker4congress.org). He would love to have Reedies support his latest congressional project!

Karen Toyooka has been at PCC for 22 years now. She looks forward to chatting with the students during the Phonathon every year. “Oh—and we’ll be grandparents for the first time by the end of the year,” she wrote in November. Congrats, Karen, and we’re looking forward to baby pics!

1982 40th reunion Matthew Benacquista is semiretired in Red Lodge, Montana, working part time for the National Science Foundation for a few more months, and playing music in a band at the local bars.

Philip Minehan teaches in liberal studies and honors at Cal State Fullerton, and recently published a book with Bloomsbury Press. (See Reediana.)

1983

Thomas McNalley joined the faculty at UC San Francisco in August of 2020 and is practicing pediatric rehabilitation and palliative care at both the Mission Bay and Oakland campuses.

1984

Congratulations to Alex Adams on her election to the National Academy of Medicine in October! Alex is a researcher at Montana State University and the director of MSU’s Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity. The academy cited her work “partnering with Indigenous communities in the Midwest and Montana and pioneering communityengaged research methods.” Alex writes, “I had some great teachers at Reed and I met my husband, Erik Adams, MD, PhD, there and made many lifelong friends. Kim Garcia ’85 and I are collaborating on several short films for children (see turtleislandtales.org) as part of my team’s research dissemination and wellness promotion work for families with young children. My thesis work was done under Dr. Kent Thornburg at OHSU. I am forever grateful to him and to Reed for letting me work in his lab and getting me started out on my medical research journey.”

William Neuman’s book on the collapse of Venezuela is coming out this month. (See Reediana.)

1985

Last September, the Library Foundation of Los Angeles appointed Julie Tugend as interim president. In this role, Julie will guide the operational functions of the LFLA and act as the liaison to the LFLA Board. Julie is a management consultant and executive coach with over 30 years of executive-level experience in philanthropy, government, and the nonprofit sector, and with civic involvement dating back to the beginning of her career, when she served as an aide in Mayor Tom Bradley’s administration.

“I treasure my years at Reed and want to ensure future students have the opportunity to experience Reed’s many gifts.”

—RACHEL REED ’07 Wayne Turner ’86 and Mister enjoy social distancing on hiking trails.

Good times in the great outdoors with Lauren (Asher) Rosenthal ’95 and family.

Wayne Turner ’86 got a tattoo!

The LFLA supports the LA Public Library in its effort to provide all 3.8 million Angelenos with equitable access to thousands of free programs, resources, and services.

1986

Stephanie Guyer-Stevens has coauthored a book on Bhutan’s female shamans. (See Reediana.)

Wayne Turner marks his 10th year as a senior attorney with the National Health Law Program, where he works on Medicaid, prescription drug coverage, HIV/AIDS, and protections against discrimination in health programs. He also is in his fourth year teaching LGBTQ Health Law and Policy at Georgetown University Law Center. Wayne and his dog Mister enjoy social distancing on hiking trails in West Virginia and Shenandoah National Park. Wayne also recently acquired his first tattoo!

1987 35th reunion We were delighted to see that Mark Galassi was hailed by the Santa Fe New Mexican for its “10 Who Made a Difference” for 2021. The paper singled out Mark for inspiring young people to pursue careers in computing. He founded the Santa Fe Chess Club, developed a coding workshop for sixth graders, and offers a paid internship for high schoolers through the Institute for Computing Research. His day job? Astrophysicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, exploring black holes and gamma rays. Good on you, Mark.

1988

World welcomes Rihanna, Adele, and Lunchables.

1989

After five years in London, Peter Goodman has moved back to the US, settling in the Lower Hudson Valley. He’s still covering the global economy for the New York Times, and he had a new book published in January. (See Reediana.)

1990

Did you break your left foot on the fourth of July while driving Miss Daisy through the field of dreams to the dead poets society meeting?

1991

Tracy “Tess” Lavezzi Light has been awarded the distinguished 2021 Los Alamos Global Security Medal, which recognizes the exceptional achievements of active or recently retired employees who have made significant contributions to the laboratory’s global security mission. Tess is a lead scientist in Los Alamos National Laboratory’s EMP sensing project.

Shula (Jill) Neuman spent the summer researching and writing a book about the female zeitgeist and how to understand female sexuality in a heteronormative world. She decided not to publish it because she doesn’t think the world can handle the solution.

1992 30th reunion Write a class note; it’s not dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us!

1993–94

World welcomes Beavis, Butt-Head, and Justin Bieber.

1995

Lauren (Asher) Rosenthal is living in NYC, raising two kids, and finding silver linings daily.

1996

World welcomes Hurricane Dolly, Dolly the cloned sheep, and Dolly Parton’s 34th studio album. 1997 25th reunion After a 10-year career as a research scientist in molecular biology, Pax Fox went back to school to become a nurse practitioner. He was recently promoted to the role of director of clinical quality at Ideal Option. The practice is focused on the treatment of substance use disorders.

1998–2001

World welcomes Amanda Gorman, Billie Eilish, and Furby.

2002 20th reunion Kater Murch, Becky Bart ’03, and their 11-year-old West (2032) are headed to Grenoble, France, for a sabbatical—a well-deserved break from midwestern winter and busy academic jobs at Washington University and the Danforth Plant Science Center.

Matt Sorg is happily immersed in the writings of Fanon, Levinas, and MerleauPonty while working on a master’s in existential-phenomenological psychology at Seattle University and volunteering for the local crisis line/National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

John Selker ’81 loves to play in his machine shop, with fond memories of the Physics Shop where he got his start.

C.R. Foster ’06 in Las Vegas for Recover Out Loud, with their new book Unsettled.

Congratulations to newlyweds Brian Searle ’01 and Julia Haskin ’03!

Sarah Harvey ’07 in front of her Seattle gallery during its five-year anniversary exhibition.

2003

On August 7, Julia Haskin and Brian Searle ’01 got married! Like so much else these past couple of years, COVID meant a change in plans: instead of holding a larger in-person shindig, they got married in his parents’ backyard in Vermont, with only immediate family there. However, they were joined online by everyone who couldn’t be there in person, including Reedies Paul Burdick ’01, Olya Chironda ’05, David Clark ’01, Amber Kingery ’05, De’Mel Mojica ’02, and Dustin Moore ’02. Hopefully everyone will get to celebrate with a belated in-person reception sometime in 2022!

2004–05

Starbucks achieves world domination.

2006

C.R. Foster’s new book, Unsettled: How the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Failed the Victims of the American Overdose Crisis, cowritten with recovery advocate Ryan Hampton, was published October 5 by St. Martin’s Press. (Maybe you read about it in the New Yorker.) Unsettled is nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and will be adapted for the small screen in a limited series. Foster recently scripted the Recover Out Loud concert, hosted in Las Vegas by iHeartRadio and Variety and featuring stars like Macklemore, KT Tunstall, and Gary Owen. Meanwhile, Foster is still writing, teaching, publishing, and traveling to their heart’s content. This year, their work was featured in O: The Oprah Magazine, the Mic, Catapult, and many other places.

2007 15th reunion This fall Sarah Harvey celebrated her five-year anniversary as owner and director of Harris Harvey Gallery in Seattle. Harris Harvey Gallery is a member of the Seattle Art Dealers Association and specializes in contemporary art by Pacific Northwest and West Coast artists. While earning her master’s degree in art history at the University of Washington, Sarah began an internship at the Lisa Harris Gallery (est. 1984). In the autumn of 2016, Lisa Harris passed the torch to then assistant director Sarah, and the gallery reopened with its new name in a new street-level space near Seattle’s Pike Place Market. To mark this five-year anniversary, Harris Harvey Gallery hosted an anniversary show featuring a curated selection of old and new favorites from gallery artists. The exhibition highlights a long-standing commitment to local and regional artists, as well as reflecting the diversity of technique and creative vision that has been vital to the gallery’s history. See harrisharveygallery.com.

Caitlin O’Brien-Carelli has started as a senior strategic information officer at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, where she supports HIV treatment programs in West Africa. She encourages Reedies interested in pursuing epidemiology to reach out.

2008

I can see Russia from my house!

2009

Sally Passmore and Jamie Nemiroff ’07 got married on July 25, 2021, in beautiful Edmonds, Washington. Rabbi Jim Mirel ’69 officiated the ceremony, and

“Going to Reed was such a transformative experience for me, one I wouldn’t have been able to partake in if it weren’t for financial aid and the support of the Reed community!”

—MERCY BHAKTA ’20 giving.reed.edu

clockwise from top-left

Jamie Nemiroff ’07 and Sally Passmore Nemiroff ’09 are married! From left to right: Rabbi Jim Mirel ’69, happy newlyweds Jamie and Sally, Tina Le ’08, Lauren Bedson ’11, Terra Herrmann ’13, and Nate Herrmann ’12.

Lucy Bellwood ’12 produced many illustrations for her latest collaborative project; here are a few.

Prolific artist Lucy Bellwood ’12.

Jessica Wong Camhi ’14 has joined the New England Foundation for the Arts in Boston.

David Wills-Ehlers ’13 and first child Anastasia Day Wills share a quiet moment.

Cool baby Lumu Shrestha-Bach is the daughter of Swati Shrestha ’10.

Reedies Tina Le ’08, Lauren (Brackenbury) Bedson ’11, Nate Herrmann ’12, and Terra (Vleeshouwer-Neumann) Herrmann ’13 were all in attendance.

2010

On November 6, Swati Shrestha and her partner welcomed daughter Lumu Shrestha-Bach into the world. “Giving birth to her is the hardest thing I have ever done,” writes Swati. “My partner and I met in Portland during my freshman year at Reed. We now live in Bangkok, and look forward to one day showing Lumu around our stomping grounds.”

2011

Could you please stop planking long enough to send a class note?

2012 10th reunion Lucy Bellwood produced some 40-odd ink wash illustrations to accompany her friend Tara Shepersky’s poems in a new book, Tell the Turning. (See Reediana.)

2013

David Wills-Ehlers and wife Ashley welcomed their first child, Anastasia Day Wills, through adoption on November 29, one day after her birth. The family lives on their farm in Gales Creek with other friends. This coming season you can find their produce through their CSA or at the local farmers market.

2014

Jaye Whitney Debber and Garnett Puett ’13 tied the knot in August 2021! Jessica Wong Camhi has joined the New England Foundation for the Arts in Boston in the role of Program Coordinator, Public Art. Prior to joining NEFA, Jess served as the art collections data coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture for the City of Boston, where, among other activities, she compiled a digital database of public art in the city. “Jess brings both her knowledge of the public art field and complementary skills to the role; she will be an important part of NEFA’s work to inspire more vibrant public life and spaces,” said program director Kim Szeto. “We are excited to have her as part of the team.”

2015

Amelia Wolf and Elise Ringo got married on August 15, nearly 10 years after they first met at orientation. Amelia fell in love during their shared Hum 110 conference with Wally Englert [classics 1981–2018], but Elise took until their shared Hum 210 conference a year later. It worked out.

Audrey Spaeth married Nick Mandel on October 9 outside of Seattle. Other Reedies present included Kat Schelonka ’14, maid of honor Robin Byron, and Audrey’s aunt and uncle Jerri Brown ’70 and Tracy Steelhammer ’70. Despite some drizzle, a fun time was had by many.

2016

Avocado toast

2017 5th reunion Maple bacon brussels sprouts

2018–21

So hungry . . . for news!

It was a summer (and Reedie-filled) wedding for Elise Ringo ’15 and Amelia Wolf ’15. Left to right: Prof. Jacqueline Dirks ’82 [history] with daughter Kay Lowe, James Shelstad ’14, brides Elise and Amelia, Emily Goldman ’14, Gracie Rittenberg ’15, Makenzie Curtis-Johnson ’12, Amelia’s mom Lisa Rackner ’81, and Prof. Steve Wasserstrom [Judaic studies].

October drizzle was braved at the wedding of Audrey Spaeth ’15 and Nick Mandel. Left to right: Kat Schelonka ’14, maid of honor Robin Byron ’15, bride Audrey, groom Nick, and Audrey’s aunt and uncle, Jerri Brown ’70 and Tracy Steelhammer ’70.