DA Class of 1983 E-Newsletter
May 2006
Dear 83er,
Ed. Note: This may be our best issue, ever. It includes stories from classmates spanning the globe and careers – while also informing us of the passing this week of a beloved member of the Deerfield Faculty. The single biggest reason this issue is excellent – Doug Schmidt. He called 80% of the class in the last few weeks – and then searched for the other 20%. I guess he is really lonely – after reaching out to all of his class – he got on a plane to China (the most populous place on earth). Thank you Doug for taking the time – it reminds us all that in the next year – our 24th since graduating – a full court press to FIND people and re-engage them with the class could lead to a spectacular time at our 25th reunion (June 6-8, 2008). Put it in the calendar kids…
FIVE MORE REASONS TO BE PROUD of being a member of the Class of 1983:
Kevin Bresnahan is currently Chief of Emergency Medicine at Cape Cod Hospital – for those on the Cape and Islands this summer – that is VERY (sorry, Bryce) useful! We know he is “wicked” busy but hope he’ll chime in to the newsletter when he realizes we found him!
Rob Gulick: “I suppose it *has* been a while since I've been back in that neighborhood. Would be nice to get back for the week of the reunion, but one of my clients is scheduled to open a flour mill the week prior, and I'm predicting a delay -- may keep me here. Will do my best.” (I think Rob thought it was June ’06 – but he was thinking about it!)
After working with UNICEF for a year, I moved to Pristina to help set up the American University in Kosovo, then founded the American Chamber of Commerce here, serving as director until last December. Now, when I'm not selling gum, I write business plans for folks who spent the 90's squirreling away money while Milosevic raised his hell across the Balkans. (If you know anyone who might want to own part of a milling business, by the way, or a ski resort, or an office-and-apartment complex, feel free to give them my number...)
My last contact with DA was when Bill Clinton was over here to help us inaugurate the American University. The head of Clinton's lead team was a Deerfield grad. Strange, I seemed to know it even before I asked. Might as well have had 'DA' stamped on his forehead...
Please pass the above along to the gang. Also, please say 'hi' to Adam. I know he's just up the road from you now. “
The attached picture is of me and a few friends outside a Pristina restaurant. (l-r: Serge Doucette, former Navy officer, keeping the peace; a couple of our boys, also keeping the peace; and Bujar, who makes a decent living selling Wrigley's gum to all of the above.)
LTC Dave “Smitty” Smith 134 EFS/DO Iraq: “Trip is going well. Temperature is starting to creep up there and it’s been fairly wet. We had ¾ inch hail last week. Weather has been wild at times. Picture enclosed is an indicator. Our mission here is rewarding and we are proud to be here. I get home late May. Just in time for the good weather. (Ed. Note: Tail section extols “The Green Mountain Boys”)”
Bill Wester: It is great to hear from you and thanks for sending the newsletter. My wife Carolyn and I and our 3 children, billy-age 12, jimmy-age 10, and madeline--age 6 have lived and worked in Botswana for 5.5 years. Carolyn and I met at med school at Dartmouth and are both physicians (carolyn-ob/gyn/pelvic surgery) and me an internist with specialist training in infectious diseases, and we are now both working for the Botswana-Harvard School of Public Health partnership (public-private partnership between the Botswana Ministry of Health and the Harvard School of Public Health) actively involved with HIV/AIDS patient care and clinical research. Carolyn is mainly focusing on the prevention of mother to child HIV transmission and I am working on adult antiretroviral treatment. We love living and serving here and plan to be here at least for a few more years!! I will attach a recent family photo. We will try our best to be in the US during the reunion time as it would be great to see everyone! Thanks again for sending this and I promise to stay in touch! All the best, bill.
This picture is not our house in the background but a local village in the central botswana (okavanga delta) where we recently went on vacation for a long weekend!
Ed Goodson:” In the last month I quit my job, hung out a shingle, and am back in business for myself. Barbara jumped back into the prep school development business by taking a job at Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland, at which she will start in May. We’re putting our house up for sale today, and will make an offer on a new one tomorrow. And Saturday we leave for our week-long tour of the Northeast. I mention all this because I was starting to feel overwhelmed, but then I remembered: “If I lived through taking care of two infants, I can make it through anything!””
NEW YORK, NEW YORK! On April 11th, ARMSTRONG, CLARK, GOODSON, GOTTSCHO, KNIGHT and SCHMIDT attended the Deerfield Reception in NYC at the Penn Club on 30 West 44th Street. While the 350 other people were a nuisance, they had a great time! If you are in New York, working or visiting, be sure Doug Schmidt has your email so he can invite you to things like:
May 16th NYC Beer and Burger Nite – Open to any Deerfielder, with a predisposition for the 80’s types! PJ Clarkes at 6 PM! Nelse Clark has sent an email to the class of ’83 in NYC and will be coordinating the event – in case Schmidt is somehow “detained” in China! (nelse@attglobal.net).
ON CAMPUS: The sad news of the issue, from a May 2nd email.
Tedman Littwin passed away this morning, surrounded by his family and his books. He will be remembered dearly as a husband, a father, a teacher, and a friend. On the morning of his death, Thoreau was heard to have said, "now comes good sailing" and as Henry David was one of his favorite authors, we have found solace in this quote. We thank you for all you have done to help our family during this difficult time.
Somewhere a good man is whole again, with lines untangled, a steady breeze filling his sail, and a quiet wake left in summer waters.
Much love,The Littwin Family
Replies to this message will be collected and forwarded as appropriate. There will be a gathering on Tuesday, May 9 at 7 PM in the Memorial Building – if you wish I can have something read at that gathering…
FROM THE NEW ALUMNI WEBSITE (www.DeerfieldAlumni.org):
Did u catch the recent Schmidt posting? “J. Douglas Schmidt (1983) writes, "I had a great time at Tim Engelland's art show on the upper east side last tuesday, April 17. While i was there i met up with such notables as our former headmaster, Bob Kaufmann and his wife, Ellen, our former history teacher David Dunbar and of course the man of the hour, Tim Engelland whose current landscapes were some of the best works i've seen. Rumor has it that Whitney Armstrong made it to the exhibit later on in the evening, however, his current tour of duty through southeast asia has made him a stranger on the upper east side of manhattan, and everyone knows about rumors... Tim specifically extended his best to Jim Wareck, Chris Flagg and Brian Steward and David Dunbar welcomed any emails to dunbardavid@hotmail.com.(not sure if this is correct) i think our next gathering in new york city should include Dunbar and maybe a few other surprise guests."
Thirty- Three (33) of us have registered on the new site so far – the more who register and “unhide” a bit of contact information – the more robust the DIRECTORY SEARCH feature will be!
********HOT FLASH******** Leigh Guyer has been found! He has posted his photo on his personal profile page at www.DeerfieldAlumni.org! If u need your ID number to register for the site – contact john at jknight@deerfield.edu. We are definitely picking up steam.
GOING FORWARD it is likely the Class of 1983 page on the site will be the central location of information and announcements – so know how to get there.
Having you been to the CLASS of 1983 PAGE on the new site at www.deerfieldalumni.org lately? (I know it needs work-send suggestions). If you need help registering for the new site contact Doug dschmidt2@nyc.rr.com or John jknight@deerfield.edu… Check out the upgrades on the new site!
Automated registration and password retrieval process.
MyPage feature that can be customized.
Permanent email forwarding.
Ability to create and post class notes and related photos.
The ability to register online for events in addition to Reunion and to display who else is attending.
Use virtually any field in the alumni directory searches.
Personally select which pieces of information are viewable and which are hidden for your own record.
Giving to DA: We’re in the final 60 days. Help us regain our laudable participation level. It doesn’t get much easier than clicking below:
P.S. 25th reunion is June 6-8, 2008
Please let me know if there is a better email address for this missive…Email for newsletter contributions is jknight01038@comcast.net – or you could always use classnotes@deerfield.edu, or POST YOUR OWN to the website at www.deerfieldalumni.org. Hope to hear from you…
