The Class of 1976 celebrated their 40th Reunion on June 10–11, 2016. Front row (L–R): Gail Brundage, Ron Bottacari, Ellen Sherk Walsh, Rob Kenna, Mark Arons, Tim Scherr, Bott Bottachiari, Lou Guercia; middle row (L–R): Vince Volpe, Irwin Gelman, Jim Goldenring, Marlene Schmidt, Jenny McKinstry Abel, Paul Ockert , Nory Babbitt, Gene Torrenti; back row (L–R): Steve Herzenberg, Clay Larsen, Ian Freeman, Tom Howard, Ken Wright, Tony Astmann
Cape Town, so what better excuse than to combine a holiday with work. Best wishes to all.” From Nancy Turnier Rusatsky: “Greetings all! My daughter, Julia, got married in May and lives in New York City with her husband, Daniel. You may have seen her on the last Super Bowl Snickers commercial as Marilyn Monroe, other network TV shows or, most recently, in the movie Café Society. My husband, John, and I are well, swimming, going to the gym, dancing at outdoor concerts, loving Branford and both still working. I paint and was in the Summer Stony Creek Art show with acrylics ‘Sanctum’ and ‘Inlet.’ If you haven’t visited Stony Creek or the Thimble Islands, they are worthwhile local excursions. Many gems in our backyard—enjoy!” Julie Shemitz emailed to say hello; much appreciated! From Marcie Yakerson Storch: “I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1981. Married to husband Artie for nearly 29 years, we are the proud parents of two adult college-graduate children: Eliot and Barbara. I have been the director of development for the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County since 1997. Artie is a freelance musician who subs regularly with the SF Symphony and enjoyed the late Bill Bennett’s musicianship
FALL 2016
and wit. Marcie and Artie enjoyed having dinner with Anne Sommer and her husband, David Rabinowitz, in San Francisco a few years ago. My dear friend Ruthy Kohorn Rosenberg is sister of Bruce Kohorn ’75.” I saw Tamara “Tammy” Plakins Thornton in New Haven last summer, when she was in town for a professional meeting. It was wonderful to reconnect with a good friend after so many years. She writes: “So… you can mention my book, since it might interest those with memories of Anna Bowditch [our DPH headmistress], who was married to a direct descendant of my man Nathaniel. The book is Nathaniel Bowditch and the Power of Numbers: How a Nineteenth-Century Man of Business, Science, and the Sea Changed American Life. It’s written for a general as well as an academic audience (uncpress. unc.edu/books/13387.html; it’s available on amazon.com).” And from Sandy Vlock: “Last year I launched a new venture as an artist. I have been practicing architecture for my entire professional life, with an office for over 28 years. Studio Vlock is an opportunity to refocus my creative energy as an artist, designing what I call functional fine art. As I see it, this is not a departure from what I value most as an architect: creating
Dave Stevens ’76 sent in these two photos: “The tall poppy in the planting bed pictured at left is made of ceramic and was actually part of a display of hundreds of thousands at the Tower of London commemorating the death of soldiers in WWI. It was a gift from our in-laws (retired Royal Air Force) from England last Christmas.”
an authentic sense of place and inspiring opportunities for social gathering. Taking the leap has been exhilarating and not nearly as dramatic as I’d imagined. studiovlock.com.” Best to all in the coming year!
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David Stevens daverenton@msn.com
From Dave Stevens: “My granddaughter, Aria, is now one and a half and running around on her little sticks like she was born walking. The Northwest continues to delight, especially in the garden behind the house.” Jane Hammond writes, “I am sorry I was not able to join the class for its 40th Reunion this year. I continue to run a 220-acre farm in Barboursville, Virginia, just 30 minutes north of Charlottesville. It is a working farm with two high tunnels that produce fresh greens for the Charlottesville restaurant and speciality grocery store trade. I am an active board member of the Local Food Hub of Charlottesville, I am working tirelessly to keep small family farms and to bring locally grown food to our schools and hospitals. The farm is also home to the largest winning herd of Cashmere goats in the East. Our 37