family of four is making plans to travel for a year starting August 2017, heading to New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Open to ideas, recommendations or connections if anyone has them! I get together with Lee Corkhill, Jill Pralle, Jen Stevens Spatz, and Jennifer Boucher Jameson.”…Dennis Gromelski is the executive director of FUSION, New Mexico’s professional theater company. Since co-founding the nonprofit in 2001, it has averaged 200 nights of performance (theater, music, dance, comedy, etc.) annually. FUSION recently purchased its Albuquerque facility, The Cell Theatre, and a neighboring property, and has been a leader in downtown redevelopment. The facility will soon house co-op office spaces, a cafe, coffee shop, two indoor performance spaces, and an outdoor music venue. Dennis also serves as the chair of the Downtown Albuquerque Arts & Cultural District....Tripp Hughes writes, “We are loving life in Wisconsin, enjoying playing hockey with friends and family. Still working for Organic Valley and its 1,800 family farms in 36 states which allows me to travel a bit and catch up with Bates friends including a fun night in NYC with the long-lost Dave Lawton.”…Jim Huleatt and Anne Millham ’89 are excited to have son Ethan ’20 at Bates. “It’s been fun seeing what’s changed and stayed the same on campus.”…The Rev. Mark Koyama is the new settled pastor of The United Church of Jaffrey in Jaffrey, N.H....Steve Lewis writes that after four years at Helena College, he earned promotion to the highest earning tier. “It is extremely rewarding to not only receive the recognition from my peers and administration, but it is also gratifying to receive a meaningful, tangible ‘bump’ as a thank you! Much of what I have accomplished has either been centered on expanding the literature course offerings or serving as president of faculty senate for two and half years along with making sure my composition courses continue to be challenging and thought-provoking.”…Greg Mayer moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 1991 to pursue a career in fishing. “Now I get the opportunity to show the world how I make a living on the National Geographic series ‘Wicked Tuna Outer Banks.’ We are in our third season now; hopefully, we get the opportunity to film another couple of seasons.”…Leslie Morison is a principal at ZGF Architects, a national architecture firm recently named the No. 1 firm by Architect Magazine for its commitment to sustainability
and responsible business practices. A full-time job, mother to Sophia (15) and Elijah (13), and wife to Andy, and life in Seattle doesn’t leave a lot of time for socializing, but she enjoys being connected to Batesies on Facebook and reconnecting during her annual summer trip east....Susan Otto Goodell lives in Vermont and works as a fee-only financial planner. “My daughter is a junior in high school, and my son had a wonderful first year at Bates! I have enjoyed reconnecting with Julie Sutherland-Platt and Halsey as our sons (both Class of 2019) have become good friends through the Bates Sailing Club.”…Peter Pierce reports his Hamptons Salt Co.’s Finishing Salt was featured in the May 2016 issue of Food & Wine. “It is a delightful blend of UK, French, and Mediterranean salts that I created. It elevates any dish and is worth a try.”…Steven Robins and his family, spending their annual week in Ogunquit, “shot up to Kennebunk as always to see Steve Kingston and sample the Clam Shack wares (I go straight butter on the lobster roll btw). Chris Del Col was also there picking up some fresh packed lobster meat for his son so it became a bit of a mini-reunion.”…Mitchell Rosen became a partner in Pacific Dental Services and bought into a practice, Arbors Modern Dentistry in Dallas, as an owner. “Finally going to Israel and the Greek islands on a vacation. Had an incredible experience doing a we serve in Fiji where my team treated over 200 patients.”… Darius Shahinfar has been Albany, N.Y., city treasurer since his election in 2013. He and his wife, Noelle Kinsch, Jackson (9), and Ava (7) are living in youth: soccer, baseball, gymnastics, swimming, Boy Scouts, Brownies, flag football and/or basketball, heaven or hell depending on the day....Marla Sterling LeBlanc and Chip, who celebrated their 25th anniversary, are empty nesters living in Cape Elizabeth and playing lots of golf at Purpoodock. “In 2015 we celebrated our last tuition payment as both boys have completed college.” She joined Morgan Stanley in 2015 as a wealth manager....Julie Sutherland-Platt reports things at home have been busy as Platt Builders celebrated 25 years in business. “It has been such a focus of our lives together as well as our two sons: Gordon ’19 at Bates, and Alexander in his senior year of high school.” Julie continues to work part time at The Discovery Museums in Acton, Mass., during the school year with field trips, and also works on marketing for Platt Builders. She and Halsey volunteer in various capacities for the Town of Groton and for
PHYLLIS GRABER JENSEN
darsie alexander ’hh
bat e s no t e s
Bold and Beautiful In September, Darsie Alexander ’88, executive director of the Katonah (N.Y.) Museum of Art, visited campus to give a talk as part of the Bates Museum of Art’s exhibition Robert Indiana: Then and Now. The exhibit featured a rendering of the seminal Pop artist’s image “LOVE” as well as the debut of Indiana’s “Like a Rolling Stone,” 12 prints that render lyrics from Bob Dylan’s groundbreaking hit in Indiana’s unmistakable style. Indiana’s “LOVE” became “one of the most iconic images of his generation,” Alexander says. “Starkly simple and boldly colorful, the work was one of many by an artist of vast talents and creative ingenuity.” In her talk, “Beyond Love, ” Alexander tried to get at Indiana’s “complexity, and the challenges of overcoming fame attached to such a potent, memorable image.” That complexity, she adds, was on full display at Bates. “The exhibition exposed his many stages and nuances, and was great to see in the college galleries.”
Spring 2017
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