Notes from the Cornell Class of 1991 - 1993 May/June

Class Notes, 1993 May/June

May 1993

Congratulations to classmate Jason Feinsmith on his marriage to Elana Adleman '89. The couple was married Dec. 20, '92 on Cornell campus in Anabel Taylor Hall, and the reception was in the Statler. Attendees included Sue Cohen, Melissa Levitt, Adam Fiterstein, Mike Gimbel, Todd Feinsmith, JD '91, Kristen Paltz, Andy Kimmel, Sue Reeves, and Joe Barbagello. Celebrating with a frozen yogurt wedding cake and hours of fun and dancing, Jason reported everyone was amazed that the weather in Ithaca was "actually pretty good for a change." Following a honeymoon skiing in Banff, Alta., Canada, Jason and Elana have settled in northern California, where Jason works in technical sales for Intell Corp. and Elana is the director of United Synagogue. Thanks for sending us the details, Jason.

Meanwhile, Julia Varga is working as an assistant restaurant manager at the Intercontinental Hotel in New York. Julie, let us know if you bumped into President Clinton and the Democratic Party, all guests at your hotel during the Democratic Convention last summer? Classmate David Lenhardt works in banking at The Big Apple's Merrill Lynch office, while David Koch is a commodities trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In Virginia, Lane Patterson is a telecommunications consultant at Booz-Allen & Hamilton; and, while Krista Heskestad coordinates Baxter Healthcare Corp.'s marketing in Irvine, CA, Matt Jacobson exports for Mountain Exports Inc. in Ketchum, Idaho, and Pamela Eaton serves as manager of Rose Hill Farm in Maryland.

News just came in about three classmates who have completed either studies, or service at different Navy posts throughout the country. Back in October, Jeffrey Tessier completed the Officer Indoctrination School. During the course at the Naval Education and Training Center in Newport, RI, Jeffrey was prepared for duty in the naval staff field corresponding to his desired profession. During the first five weeks, he studied naval history and traditions, personnel administration, military law, close-order drill, and other general military subjects. This school provides a basic naval indoctrination course for newly-commissioned medical, dental, nurses, medical service, judge advocate general, and nuclear power instructors. Also in October, Marine Second Lt. Benjamin Watson returned with the Third Battalion, Eighth Marines, Camp Lejeune, NC from Twentynine Palms, CA. Benjamin participated in CAX 9-92, a combined arms exercise. The deployment gave Marine Air/Ground Task Force-6 the opportunity to coordinate the use of Marine Infantry, armor, artillery, and air power in different training scenarios, involving around 2,500 Marines and sailors. In November 1992, Navy Ens. Eric Schneider deployed aboard the submarine USS Aspro, homeported in Pearl Harbor, HI for six months. Eric participated in numerous exercises designed to challenge the mission-readiness of the ship and crew. The 292-foot Sturgeon-class attack submarine was armed with missiles and torpedoes and is designed to destroy enemy ships and submarines in order to prohibit the use of such forces against US or allied ships. Hats off to you, Jeffrey, Benjamin, and Eric!

On the academic front, Chuck Lerch is a graduate student at Iowa State U.'s statistics department; Matthew Sherman is working toward his master's at the U. of Texas, Austin; Michele Fox is earning a master's in physical therapy at the U. of Massachusetts, Lowell; and Christopher Casieri is a grad student at the U. of Chicago. As Connie Anderson pursues her graduate studies in French literature at the U. of California, Berkeley, Stephanie Palmer studies English literature at the U. of Michigan.

Just a note to all about something that I never had room to write but this month I finally do. The lead time for these class columns is at least two months. When we receive something, we try to include it in the column closest to the time we receive it. So please, be patient, and if your news doesn't appear this month, it will, in the next possible issue. Thanks for your understanding and, of course, for your news. As for myself, I am working at NHK Japan Broadcasting Corp. at NYC's Rockefeller Center in television production. I am also attending New York U. part time, working toward my master's in film and television and Japanese.

Sayonara for now. Don't forget to send your news. *Melanie Bloom, 128 E. 85th St., #4B, NYC 10028.

June 1993

By the time you read this, I hope it will have stopped snowing here in Ithaca. But I am not betting on it. The weather was pleasant this past weekend (the last one in March) for Cornell"s New York/Ontario Region Volunteer Leadership Conference. This was an interesting and fun-filled weekend aimed at helping alumni get involved with Cornell-related activities, such as the Alumni Admissions Ambassadors Network (CAAAN), Cornell Clubs, and class activities. I encourage you to participate--it's a lot of fun and provides valuable service to the university. If you are interested in helping out, here are some people you can call: for information about CAAAN activities, call the undergraduate admissions office, (607) 255-6208; for information about Cornell Clubs, call Kathy Nelsen, alumni affairs office, (607) 255-3516; and for information about class programs, call Sharon Detzer '88, alumni affairs office, (607) 255-4850.

The weekend provided a great opportunity to meet alumni of all ages, and included in that group were several classmates. Paul Joseph '90 lives in Ithaca and teaches bartending classes as the co-founder and owner of PM Bartending. Anuj Bhagwati is also in Ithaca, completing his master's degree in applied physics. Anuj plans to return to his native Bombay after finishing his degree this summer. Jean Signorelli also attended the conference.

Shortly after I finished my last column, I received another letter from W. Martin McCall with an update from Germany. In addition to teaching English in Leipzig, Martin is "now the Eastern Germany radio correspondent for National Public Radio's 'Germany Today', " which airs twice each month. Martin also writes that he regularly sees Tim W ells, who lives in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and Louis Gimbel '90, who lives in Munich. They have been to Oktoberfest together the past two years, along with Jason Jacobs (who lives in Bologna, Italy). Thanks for the update, Martin!

Military careers have sent several of our classmates abroad. Keith Marburger is an ensign in the Navy, and at last report was stationed in Somalia to support the humanitarian efforts there. Christopher Martin is another Navy ensign, who recently graduated from the submarine officer's basic course. The Marines lay claim to 2nd Lts. Philip Mahoney and John Toronto, both serving with the same unit in the Mediterranean Sea, and 2nd Lt. Jacob Freivald, who recently completed training at the basic school in Quantico, VA.

Back in the civilian world, Amy Seegal is working as the art director for DJS Marketing Group in Miami, FL, and lives in Key Biscayne. Amy writes that while she got through Hurricane Andrew okay, her car, unfortunately, did not. Joel Birnbaum was recently named to the management development program at Chubb Life America in Concord, NH, where he works as a sales analyst. Danny Shamash is in his second year at Albany Law School, as reported by his sister Rina '89. And Julie Voveris writes that she and Amy Lawrence work for the same division of Westinghouse, but in different locations. Amy is now in Horseheads, NY; Julie works in Greenwood, SC.

Our last item this month concerns the wedding of Barbara (Gordon) and Jonathan Cohen (U. of Pennsylvania) in Richmond, VA, last November. Cornellians in attendance were David Burrows, Shari Greenfield, Karen Mitchell '90, Monica Durand '90, Michele Wagreich '92, Frances Cook '93, and Michelle Giuffrida '90. Barbara is a profitability analyst at Crestar Bank in Richmond, while Jonathan works as a production engineer at ICI Americas in Hopewell, VA. Congratulations, and best wishes for the future!

Just a reminder to all--our lead time for these columns is two months. So I am writing this column, for the June issue, at the end of March. Please keep in mind that items you send to us may not appear for several months because of this lead time. But please keep writing to let us know what is going on in your lives; we will include the items in a column as soon as possible. *Howard Stein, 600 Warren Rd., #3-2D, Ithaca, NY 14850; (607) 257-3922.