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CLASS NOTES
Stuart M. Berkman
Our celebrity classmate from Hollywood, Ben Stein, recently wrote, "Herewith some news about wonderful guys from the class of 1966: Arthur Best, who was my apartment mate in 1965-66, is married to a talented dancer/teacher named Hannah Kahn. He is a professor of torts and evidence at the Denver University Law School. He has two children, a daughter who is a wizard student and a son who is a killer tennis player. David Paglin, also an apartment mate, is married to a lovely woman named Julie Hughes, who is a power at a trade association having to do with importing dry goods, which is almost anything. David teaches drama and speaking at various universities in the D.C. area. He also performs beautifully in local theater and often produces and directs as well. Both he and Arthur are enviably thin. Larry Lissitzyn, who was president of our fabulous Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, warm center of the universe in those halcyon days, is a very clever and successful trial lawyer at the most prestigious law firm in Hartford, Conn. He has a lovely, quick-witted wife who is also a lawyer, and some lovely daughters. Larry is an ardent runner and is in super condition. He retains his devilishly caustic wit. Neill Brownstein, also of the Alpha Delta Phi, is a super-successful venture capitalist in Northern California. I rarely see him but I hear of his exploits whenever my path crosses anyone in finance or technology. I never hear of Stuart Reynolds, but I wish I did. If anyone knows of his whereabouts, please let me know. As for me, I do my Hollywood work, do a bit of speaking, cringe at my expenses, have a wife who is a lawyer (we have been married for 31 years, which is scary), and a 13-year old son who will not, repeat NOT be taking away any other alum's child's place at Columbia. His sole interest is computer games. God help him. But he is very sweet and my wife and I would be happy if he just lived with us until we shuffle off this mortal coil. When I think of Columbia, I think of those great times at the ADPhi house, my old economics prof, the brilliant and gentlemanly Lowell Harriss, and the great cheeseburgers and horribly rude service at the Chock Full O'Nuts. ‘Hold fast to the spirit of youth, let years to come do what they may.' That is on a mantle in a dormitory, maybe Livingston, and it's damned good advice." BenStein@aol.com. Harris Turkel has "lived in Doylestown (Bucks County), Pa., since 1973 and recently retired (for now) from a career in mortgage finance. I'm keeping busy taking several courses, writing, tutoring English as a second language (as a native New Yorker, English was always somewhat of a second language) and am also chairman of our municipality's planning commission. In the fall, my wife and I intend to start studying Japanese. I guess I've taken my time following up on my Oriental Studies CC course. I've been married for almost 30 years to Jane (Social Work '69) and have two ‘children,' Matt (Oberlin '97) and Joel (Brown '99). They live in Tokyo and San Francisco, respectively... In April, I ran into classmate Paul Suratt in Nikko, Japan. Coincidentally, we were both staying in the same ryokan (small, Japanese style hotel) and had visited many of the same Buddhist temples the previous day. We spent a day hiking in this area, northwest of Tokyo. My wife and I were visiting our son, who has lived in Japan for four years, while Paul was visiting his brother." turkelfamily@yahoo.com. Richard Senter, who lives in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., is still a professor of sociology at Central Michigan University. He spends summers at the University of Michigan, doing research on the automotive industry. The latest product of this effort is an article on the relationships in the automotive supply chain. As president of the Alliance for the Arts in New York for over a decade, Randall Bourscheidt has "published a series of cultural guides and calendars. Now I'm working with the city's Cultural Affairs Department, with Commissioner Schuyler Chapin, former dean of Columbia's School of the Arts, to build a large database covering every aspect of the business of nonprofit cultural organizations — budgets, attendance, etc. — as well as every public program they offer." He worked with the National Arts Journalism Program at the Journalism School to present a recent conference on cultural funding, called Who Pays for the Arts? Rbourscheidt@aol.com. Ira Katznelson, Ruggles Professor of Political Science and History, conducted a "Seminar on the State: Reflections on the Social Sciences and History at Columbia after the Second World War" during reunion weekend. Classmates in attendance at this multi-event weekend were: Joseph Albeck, Mark Amsterdam, Richard Beggs, Randall Bourscheidt, Neill Brownstein, Joe Cody, Michael Colen, Barry Coller, John Doody, Eugene Fierman, Kenneth Fox, Daniel Gardner, Michael Garrett, Burton Gordon, William Greenfield, Robert Gurland, Thomas Harrold, Tod Hawks, Howard Hirsch, Herbert Hochman, Peter Imrey, Edward Kabak, Michael Kamen, Harvey Kurzweil, Robert Lautin, Martin Lee, Dick Lefkon, Michael Leibowitz, David Lindeman, Eugene Martin-Leff, David Matthew, Franklin Mirer, Dean Mottard and Rick Reder. According to my fellow Atlantan Tom Harrold, Professor Kenneth Jackson's presentation on the history of Columbia and the City of New York was excellent. Congratulations to the members of the Class of 1966 whose sons and daughters are enrolled in the newest first-year class: William Abrashkin, father of John; Charles Feldman, father of Joseph; Anthony Helfet, father of Katherine; and Edward Kabak, father of Elizabeth. Our own daughter, Sacha, is also in the class. Your correspondent Stuart Berkman has recently relinquished the presidency of the Columbia University Club of Atlanta, held since 1996. I have now taken on the role of chair of the Alumni Representative Committee for Georgia, coordinating the recruiting and interviewing activities throughout this state for the admissions office. My wife, Gilda, and I spent a week in Rome in February to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our marriage, which took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1976
Kenneth L. Haydock Notes from classmates have flooded in by the hundreds! (Not buying that? O.K., so here's what a dozen of us have had to report.) Larry Miller's mother, now 82, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three days after Larry renewed acquaintances at Dean's Day with former junior high school, high school and Columbia classmate Marty Oster, who happens to be a physician at P&S. Larry's mom, given six months to live by her doctors in Florida, flew to New York with her test results. Marty reviewed them and referred her to a Columbia surgeon. Surgery was on a Monday; she returned to Florida that Friday. Mom is now home and doing fine. "So," Larry offers, "it pays to go to alumni events." Marty's daughter, Bonnie '99, has stayed on at Columbia as a Ph.D. candidate in art history; his second daughter, Michelle, who, like mom, Karen, went to Cornell, is now following mom's footsteps at Teacher's College; and his youngest daughter, Nancy, confused by all the red and blue in the family, attends Penn. (Good work all around, Dr. Oster!) Tom Hauser just published his 25th book, With This Ring, co-authored with his former dormitory floor counselor, Frank Macchiarola. Bob Costa, his wife and daughter are all en route to London, England, for a year or more in connection with his work for Chase Manhattan. Carleton Carl, always helpful, has asked Marty Nussbaum to report to us on his new house and expanded law firm. (Marty, way busy, has not, as yet.) David Bessman, on the faculty of the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, promises further details on his activities. (He and Bill Brown have each asked us to contact them. Your class correspondent is, temporarily, the entire North America finance team for CNH Capital's law department, however; until we've resumed having a three-or four-lawyer team, if David and Bill (and you) would just e-mail details, that would help immensely!) Don Morris reports from deepest Wyoming that he has now taught in the public schools in Cheyenne for 34 years and lives there "very quietly" with wife, Carol Lee, and offspring, Joanna (an undergraduate at the University of Wyoming), Caroline (a 10th grader) and Michael (in sixth grade). Don offers use of his front lawn to any members of the Cleverest Class who'd like to "drop by, say howdy and graze their livestock". (Perhaps the Costas will, while they're in London. It's considered quite cruel to keep Herefords in an urban flat.) Eric Kagan's deciphered why there are so few messages from the Class of '67. He's considered '67 by the Alumni Office, but actually graduated in '66. "Maybe," he offers, "there actually aren't any real members of the class" other than your correspondent. "That would account for it." Eric: Who, then, were all those guys taking tests with us, and ahead of us on line at Mamma Joy's and the Gold Rail? And why else would Elliot Hefler write, to say he's been married to Gail for 29 years, his daughter, Laurie, is a nursery school teacher and his son, Scott, '01, is a mutual fund manager?
Ken Tomecki, M.D. Steve Gottlieb came "out of hiding to shamelessly flack (split infinitive; tsk, tsk) my new book of photographs, American Icons (Roberts Rinehart)," published in July, 2001—"an effort to capture in photographs (with supporting text) every major symbol of the United States: Statue of Liberty, Grand Canyon, baseball, hamburger, etc." (a formidable task, Steve). His third book, "photos of unusual abandoned objects found across the country," will be published later this year. Obviously, Steve's a photographer (freelance), specializing in corporate annual reports and advertising. His shutter affair began after a 10-year stint as a corporate attorney in Washington, D.C. He now lives in midtown New York, but "wanderlust may take me elsewhere before I officially settle down." Re: family, he has two sons, Brian, a recent graduate of Reed College, and Jason, "an artist/illustrator with Picasso-level talent." Re: tennis, "My body cooperates (two-thirds of the time). I'm still at it, with my share of singles and doubles rankings over the years." That's it, really. Re: the future of this column... a transplant may be necessary. The end is near, unless I receive some news on a regular basis. To those who've supported this column throughout the years... my continued thanks. To those who simply read the news without providing some news... redemption and dispensation are still possible — three Hail Marys plus an e-mail, phone call or post card to me, post haste. OK? If that's not possible, send money. P.S.: Re: the last column, Tom Russo's wife is Lynn.
Michael Oberman Lee Pearcy has been appointed to a newly-created position, director of curriculum, at The Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pa., where he has taught and chaired the classics department since 1986. Lee will oversee the development, implementation and evaluation of pre-kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum. "I'm sure my experience with Columbia's well-designed curriculum will help," he notes. Two of our classmates appear in New York magazine's 2001 list of Best Doctors in New York: Jerry Gliklich, a cardiologist affiliated with Columbia Presbyterian cited for his expertise in heart-valve disease and arrhythmias, and Jerry Nagler, a gastroenterologist affiliated with New York Weill Cornell Medical Center cited for his expertise in inflammatory-bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Not much to report this time; make up for it and e-mail me your news for the next time.
Peter N. Stevens Mike Passow was selected by the American Chemistry Council to receive its Catalyst Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. Putting aside the Council's periodic table humor, this prestigious award recognizes outstanding teachers of science and their demonstrated exceptional ability to inspire students toward careers in chemistry and science-related fields through dedication and innovative teaching methods. Mike has taught for many years at the White Plains Middle School and also at Teachers College. John Angell Grant is busy writing plays in the Palo Alto area. His most recent work, Time Out, met with critical success. On a personal note, after 20 years of wearing the Bristol-Myers uniform, I changed teams and am now playing for GlaxoSmithKline. So far, the new experience has been exhilarating. My new e-mail is Peter.N.Stevens@gsk.com. As usual, I am desperate for news from you guys. Please contact me and let me know what you've been up to. How about a mini-reunion before the Ivy League basketball game with Penn at Levien Gym this January? Please let me know if you are interested. You heard it here first: This is the best team we have had in many years and if we win the home opener against Penn, we'll win our first title since you know when. By the way, the growing resemblance of this correspondent to "Tony the Fan" is coincidental. Finally, in my most recent stroll down Broadway, I counted six outdoor cafe/restaurants between 111th and 112th Streets. The Heights continues to blossom beyond expectations. 'Til next time, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Baby."
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