Pss 2013

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Classnotes Mikey. John Callahan happily shares that he is not going to be having any kids any time soon with anyone and that he’s enjoying the confinements of residing in his parent’s basement. On a professional note, Tripp has had the pleasure of working with Jon Nook since 2006 and has enjoyed watching him grow both within the company and as a family man. As a follow up to our last class notes, Josh Borthwick is happy to report that he has ceased his long-time search for his lost cellphone and decided to finally pony up and purchase a new phone. He’s spending much of his free time, when not teaching, coaching or playing lacrosse, supporting the Mitt Romney campaign in an effort to help win Florida for the GOP in 2012. Tim “OB” O’Brien says: “Ain’t life grand! Let’s get down to business. I’ve been traveling light this summer and frequented a few bar stools but all in all I’ve been able to climb to safety… which is better than an all-time low. I’ve spent a majority of the summer with my wife Nicole, and our kiddos on Long Beach Island. The sand was warm and so was the coconut rum, but chilly waters prevailed. Saw Tim Field ’98 a few times at the Hatfield Diner, where they make a mean thought sausage, and you leave as full as a big wooly mammoth. On a sad note, Henry Parsons died… from the cradle to the grave, and heaven awaits. Other than that, looking forward to fall, doing some pigeon hunting and anticipating the pilgrims of Thanksgiving.” Constance Roskin Baker shared that she’s enjoying life in Music City USA with her husband, Dudley Baker, and two-year-old son, McLean. Ericka Wilhelms Haas ’02 shared the following: “Living in the Dirty Jerz still. Can’t take the girl out of Jersey or the Jersey out of the girl, I’m afraid. I married my husband Rob Haas in Sept. 2011, and my nearest and dearest HWS folks were in attendance, including Steve Allen ’00, Geoff Harrison ’00 and wife Kathleen Cummiskey Harrison ’01, Nicki Silverman ’01, and my beautiful bridesmaids Liz Brown Royston ’00, Kathleen Procario Hall ’00, and Brooke Fitzpatrick LeBoeuf ’01. Rob and I have a beautiful two-year-old daughter, Caroline Rose. I work in pharmaceutical advertising, for an agency named Vogel Farina, a subsidiary of Grey Healthcare Group. I’m fortunate to be in close touch with a lot of HWS friends. I went to Steve Allen’s wedding this summer. He married Amy Scardilli, and there were a bunch of HWS people there, too: Matt Totero ’00, Piruz Partow ’98–his jazz quartet performed at the cocktail hour– hour–Josh Schlitzer ’00, Chip Gates ’02, Henry Henderson ’02, Sharon Wilhelm ’00...I think that’s everybody. Life is good.” Michael “Miki” Alroy has recently moved to San Antonio, Texas, from the Boston area with his fiancée Kristyn and just took a new job running the San Antonio Office of Environmental and Emergency Response. In his spare time Miki works at a local fire department. To wrap things up Erik Adamsen spent a long weekend in late May back near campus on Seneca Lake renting a beautiful lake house along with some wonderful HWS friends that gathered for a little ’party like we used to’ getaway. Enjoyed the company of newly elected North Tonawanda School District Board Member Jim Martineck, Kevin Miller ’00, Matt Lorenzo ’00, Chris Hovey ’02 and wife Laura Apostolou Hovey ’02, Charlie Barnard ’00, Justine Hammond ’01, Leslie Welch ’00, and Kristen Magnanti Lamson ’01. The weekend was full of great food and drink as they shared stories from old and new until the sun came up over the lake. Good times had by all. Erik spent much of the summer enjoying his weekends out on the boat with his wife Stephanie Benton Adamsen ’01, chasing the sun’s rays as their dog Max chased after the Frisbee. Lastly, a heart-felt congratulations goes out to Jason Chiusolo and Jessica Smith Chiusolo ’00 on celebrating their 10-year anniversary! May the New York Yankee fan and Boston Red Sox fan

continue to live a long and happy life together! God bless you.

WS ’99

Rebecca (Becky) E. Scheer, 400 E. 17th Street, Apt. 309, Brooklyn, NY 11226; rebeccascheer@gmail.com Ms. Reeseemah J. Brightley, Apt. 4J, 52 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10026; reeshemah@sabreespecialevents.com Drea Lynn Adair was born April 25, 2012, to Deawell Adair ’00 and Cynthia Ajello Adair.

H ’00

Eric J. Isban, 33 Scotch Mist Way, Armonk, NY 10504; eisban@yahoo.com I hear that Rev. Nathaniel “Nate” Smith continues to challenge the NYPD. Nate was recently protesting NYPD’s stop and frisk practices in Albany. As a member of the Bronx Clergy Criminal Justice Roundtable, Nate continues to help fight for youths in the Bronx. On a personal note, my wife and I welcomed our second child, Alexis Blake Isban, this past July. As always, I’m looking for more news so please drop me a line. Eric

WS ’00

Sharon B. Murray, 2119 48th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601; (510) 295-8671; sharonb78@ gmail.com Anna Elmes Spalding; 70 Winnicut Road, North Hampton, NH 03862-2014; aespalding@ comcast.net I skipped a beat as classnotes correspondent since I was busy having a baby. Charles Alexander Murray was born on April 12, 2012, in the middle of a thunderstorm. He’s amazing. Jennifer Leshnower got to meet him when she visited us in Oakland during her work trip to San Francisco. She is living in Washington, D.C. and working at KaBoom!, helping make sure every neighborhood has a playground. Sarah Seccombe Pettitt made a stop off to HWS this summer to introduce their daughter, Reese, to the campus. Reese loved running through the Quad. Sarah is hoping to have a second generation William Smith student in the future. Roy and Erin O’Brien Ingraffia got to do some catching up over the various holidays last year. Roy got to join Rob and Anna Elmes Spalding at Thanksgiving for their son’s birthday at their new house in New Hampshire. They had a quick lunch catch-up with Thacher Tiffany after Christmas, who is living in Somerville with his wife Lilly. Anna Kilkenny Sissling ’99 and her husband Daniel stopped by on their U.S. visit. Anna currently works for the Irish Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique. They also saw Devon Grandi Powell ’99 and Jessica Thibeau ’99 in Boston over Christmas and then again for a mountain break at Rene DeGironemo Wilson’s ’99 house in the Adirondacks a few weekends later. Devon just had her second little boy, Elliott Lawrence, in April, and Rene is super mom to three future HWS grads. Jess is doing well, living in Arlington and makes a mean snow dragon. Youlanda D. Barber has successfully completed her first year of teaching in the Preparatory Year Program at King Saud University at Ar’ Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Among her accomplishments are being named Poet in Residence and being awarded three certificates: one for her volunteer work in the SelfLearning Department and English Society, the second for her participation and contributions to the Professional Development Department, and third a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Adbulaziz A. Abanomey, the chair of the English Language Skill Department, the high-

Inspired to Take Action by Joshua Brown FIRST JOB: Environmental Geologist for BEM Systems, Inc., an environmental consulting firm in New Jersey

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hen Evan Brown ’08 first saw the movie “Erin Brockovich,” he was inspired. The story of a legal assistant’s fight against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, resulting in what was then the largest toxic tort injury settlement in U.S. history, opened his eyes to the human cost of contaminated environments. Dedicating himself to cleaning up the world, Brown began his collegiate career contemplating a chemistry major, but soon followed his newfound passion into a dual degree in geoscience and environmental studies. This change opened up a world of opportunities for Brown, who was actively involved in many clubs and organizations, including Club Hotspot, Hillel, Project Eyeto-Eye and Campus Greens, and was house manager for the Abbe Center for Jewish Life. He says all of his extracurricular activities helped shape his interests in environmental management. The effects of global warming became evident to Evan while studying abroad in Australia during his junior year, particularly while snorkeling and scuba diving along the Great Barrier Reef. “I realized that we needed to get a handle on what we’re doing to our world,” Brown says, adding he knew action needed to be taken soon. After graduating from HWS, Brown earned his master’s degree in sustainability management from Columbia University, followed by his first job as an environmental geologist for BEM Systems, Inc., an environmental

est honor any foreign teacher in the Middle East can receive. Robin Hoffman L’Etoile and family have moved into their new house on the farm. Christine Giordano Van Cott is settling into her new home in Trumbull, Conn., with her husband David and two sons John and David. She recently completed surgical fellowship training in New Zealand and is now practicing as a hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgeon in Connecticut. Sara Jones, having

Evan Brown ’08 consulting firm located in New Jersey. In that role, he has managed the environmental side of large capital improvement projects for NJ TRANSIT and monitored air quality at the World Trade Center redevelopment site and Lincoln Center renovation site, reporting to the EPA. Brown challenges the notion that “going green” is too expensive, saying that these efforts can be inexpensive and even lead to profit. “Just because a company or a person decides to go green does not mean that it will necessarily become more expensive,” he explains. “In fact, in many cases going green can help businesses become more efficient and less wasteful, leading to actual profit.” He stays connected with his alma mater by serving as a Class Agent for HWS and is a Reunion Volunteer for the Classes of 2008’s fifth Reunion. “I would not be where I am today without the incredible opportunities I had as a research assistant with multiple professors, internship opportunities at the Finger Lakes Institute, and leadership opportunities with the Abbe Center for Jewish Life, Hillel and Hot Spot. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to attend the Colleges.”

put her dissertation research on hold recently, moved from Athens, Ohio, to New Orleans, La., to begin an AmeriCorps service year with St. Bernard Project (http://www.stbernardproject.org/). Sara will be a client services coordinator with their rebuilding program and working with residents of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes affected by Hurricane Katrina who have been unable to return

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

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