Alumni News
Class Notes
CORE STRENGTH — ALUMNI LEADERSHIP
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arden’s recent success illustrated by The Economist rankings of No. 4 in the world and No. 3 in North America underlines the notion that our great alma mater is doing well. We couldn’t help but notice that Alumni Effectiveness at Darden was ranked No. 5, reinforcing what the data suggests: Darden alumni are connected and will propel the School to No. 1. Your attendance at admissions events, contributions to the Darden Annual Fund, recruitment of top students, teaching in the classroom and participation in student club activities are unprecedented. Our chapter event support remains strong, and the enhanced effort to elevate our brand via the dean’s recent trips to India and Japan reinforces the strength and connectedness of our international alumni population. Remaining top of mind is the joint initiative with our Alumni Board of Directors to build the most robust engagement index in the world. We are striving to understand all the ways that you are engaged at the School and within the network that we may not yet measure and to determine how in the future we may capture and leverage all the work you are doing to move Darden forward. Our goal is always to connect alumni back to the School in ways that are meaningful and impactful to help deliver on Dean Bruner’s vision and the School’s strategy.
Jennifer McEnery Finn (MBA
We welcome Jennifer McEnery Finn (MBA ’00) and Karen Edwards (MBA ’84) as the incoming Alumni Board of Directors chair and president, respectively. They have just executed one of the most energizing and actionoriented board meetings in the School’s history — a clear indicator that their tenure is going to be synergistic and transformational. Lastly, we extend our Karen Edwards heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Mark Riser (MBA ’94), immediate past (MBA ’84) chair of the Alumni Board of Directors, for his dedication and unrelenting commitment to enhancing the Darden volunteer experience. His leadership has empowered and motivated volunteers to engage with the School in new and influential ways. Until we see you in Charlottesville or around the globe, my best. Michael J. Woodfolk (TEP ’05) Vice President, Alumni Relations
Professor Emeritus of International Business Leslie Grayson (second row from top, far right) visited with Darden alumni in Tokyo in September.
IN MEMORIAM Class of 1957: Pliny A. Porter Class of 1959: Johnson Crawford Jr. Class of 1962: Wilbur A. Rapp
Class of 1966: Beverley W. Armstrong Class of 1977: Steven F. Sell George Stradtner Jr.
1957 • Reunion 2012 HARRY LEWIS RECEIVED A 2011 HIGHPERFORMANCE AWARD FOR CLASS AGENTS. STUART QUARNGESSER +1-410-366-1137 WOODS@DARDEN.VIRGINIA.EDU
“My mother was killed by a stray bullet on a farm near Rose Hill. I was twelve years old.” These are the early words in the first of two books of Tipton Snavely’s autobiography. The area to which he refers is the most southwest part of Virginia, where the boundaries of Tennessee and Kentucky squeeze Virginia to a point. More about Snavely later… I keep in touch with Pliny Porter most every month. When he talks his voice has been gravelly and forced. His throat has been radiated unmercifully, and when he is given chemotherapy for his pancreas, his throat has swollen to the diameter of a dime. When I called him two days ago, his voice on his answering machine was loud and crystal clear. That let me know he is winning the war. Finally, his wife, Kathrin, answered the phone and explained he is being fed by a tube. Editor’s Note: Pliny A. Porter passed away on 16 November 2011. Dick Wilson, some moons ago, suffered a very serious stroke and his best nurse — his wife, Ann — got him to the hospital in time to save his life, and I am sure her time with him during his recovery was critical. I am happy to report that I recently saw Dick, and he looks younger, with that great smile of his, and his hearing seemed better than before. He was cool, calm and collected. Maybe all of us need a good stroke. Tyson Janney and Harry Lewis have the idea that this coming Spring will be our 55th year after graduation and that it would be good if we could get as many classmates as will attend — hopefully all — and find a way to celebrate the occasion momentously. Shaele Wood Culbreath, our new director of Alumni Relations, has already started paving the way. She is a wonderful person and cares very much about our class. She recently held a meeting in the Abbott Dining Room with Tyson Janney, Harry Lewis, Dick Wilson, and me. Speaking of this bunch of gentlemen, Harry Lewis reports that Tyson, Dick, Lee
DARDEN.VIRGINIA.EDU/DARDENREPORT • Fall/Winter 2011
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