Alumni in the News: August 15, 2023

Patrick Radden Keefe ’99 continues to make news: The Netflix limited series Painkiller, which premiered August 10, was developed in part from Radden Keefe’s explosive 2017 New Yorker feature, “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain.” He also wrote the July 24 New Yorker profile “How Larry Gagosian Reshaped the Art World.”

Three Columbia fencing alumni represented the United States at the 2023 World Championships in Milan, July 22–30. On August 2 it was reported that Andrew Doddo ’21 took bronze for the U.S.; Jackie Dubrovich ’16 placed 12th in foil and Anne Cebula BC’20 claimed 15th in épée. Their results put them in a good position to earn a spot on the 2024 Paris Olympic squad.

On August 1, it was announced that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh will present the Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award to Hon. José A. Cabranes ’61 of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The award, the highest honor bestowed upon an Article III federal judge, will be presented on September 26.

Sophie Whitehouse ’19 was selected as a training player for the Ireland Women’s National Team. Whitehouse accompanied them to the FIFA Women’s World Cup and was eligible to play if any of her teammates were injured; the team was eliminated from the tournament on July 26.

Nico Muhly ’03 was the subject of the July 22 New York Times article “Nico Muhly Modernizes Monteverdi With ‘Irreverent Veneration.’” He premiered a reorchestrated production of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo at the Santa Fe Opera on July 29.

Lions are up for Emmys! On July 12 it was announced that Ebon Moss-Bachrach ’99 was nominated for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Cousin Richie on The Bear; Beau Willimon ’99 was nominated in the category of Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for the Star Wars prequel Andor (whose cast coincidentally also includes Moss-Bachrach).

News about Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann was reported on in July by Corey Kilgannon ’89 and Robert Kolker ’91. Kolker’s 2013 book, Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery (which was made into a 2020 Netflix film), details the lives of five of the Gilgo Beach victims.

In May, HuffPost announced that Chicago-based artist and independent curator Jenny Lam ’09 has been named one of 2023’s Culture Shifters. In September, Lam’s photography will be on display in two exhibitions, in South Korea and Italy.