Notes from the Cornell Class of 1991 - 2000 January/February

Class Notes, 2000 January/February

Greetings from the Hill. My plea for news has paid off. We've received tons of news and e-mails this time around, so let's jump right in.

We have many new marriages to report. Jonathan Goodman and Deborah Kroll were married on May 30. Attending the bash were Greg Bournia, Jason Belice, Rehan Mirza '92, Jason Spector, Beth Chartoff Spector, John C. Small '90, Kathy Hanrahan '94, Andy Isikoff, Merwyn Kroll '57, and Ed Berry. Anna Chan and Jason Rekate were married in beautiful Vermont. Amy Wang '90 was a bridesmaid. Also in attendance at Anna and Jason's wedding were Andrew Galligan, Josh Albert, Andy Genser, Jason Wexler, Joelle S. Tessler '93, Darcy Pietropaolo-Strauss, MA IN T '92, Joe Genier '92, Kate Rudy, John Gauch '90, and Greg Manning '90. Fern (Yocum), BS '92, married Arthur Kanitz in October 1998. Fern is working as a biological laboratory technician at the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, WI. Rachael Przybyla recently finished her ob/gyn residency at the U. of Michigan, and in July 1999, she married Richard Mayoshi. Rachel has started in a private ob/gyn practice in Austin, TX, and Richard is starting a practice in general dentistry. Julie A. Lewis married John Rickert in April 1999 in Jamaica with the company of a small group of family and friends. It was a wonderful and romantic experience! Julie is currently employed as a psychologist in Minot, ND. Congratulations to all our newlyweds!

I received an e-mail from Helena K. "Kate" Lange, who wrote to tell us that she just moved to Atlanta, GA, from New York. Kate is currently continuing a strategy job with IBM. In her spare time she enjoys hanging out with Rachel M. Cassidy (Hotel) and her husband Tracy. Rachel just had eye surgery and can see without glasses/contacts for the first time in years! Kate also recently heard from Michelle "Shelsea" Schorr '92 (Arts) who just celebrated the first birthday of her little boy, Alexeii.

Isabelle A. Kagan wrote to tell us that she completed her PhD at Michigan State back in December of 1998. Isabelle's dissertation was on camalexin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis, during her advanced studies in botany and plant pathology. She is presently completing a post-doctorate at the Institut de Botanique in Strasbourg, in the molecular and cellular enzymology department. Roberta Matern finished a family medicine residency at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ, this summer. She is currently working in the family medicine department at the U. of Tennessee, in an obstetrical fellowship. While Isabelle and Roberta have finished their studies, Stephen K. Lo is just beginning. Stephen sends us news that he has recently begun his MBA studies at the U. of Michigan. Melanie A. Bloom is currently working as a television producer in South Beach, FL. Melanie traveled for six weeks in July and August to ten different Caribbean islands, shooting a variety of commercial spots, and proving that she has one of the greatest jobs in the world. The islands she visited were Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Antigua, San Juan, Nassau, and St. Thomas. She says, "Living in South Florida feels like living in the Caribbean. I just love it down here! Just last week, I returned from a trip to Alaska, also for commercial productions. It sure is beautiful, but a huge change in climate (as I sit here blowing my nose and sucking on throat lozenges! )."

Melanie also has been kind enough to pass along news of other classmates. "Judi (Germano) married Michael Bonarti '87 on Sept. 5, '98. The beautiful ceremony was in Sage Chapel, and the reception at the Statler was a most elegant, yet incredibly fun celebration! I was Judi's maid of honor and Mark Mandarano '87 was Michael's best man." Melanie also had brunch with Jennie Tenser Cammeyer when she was in Florida in May. Baby Emily, Mom, and Dad are doing just fine.

Since returning to Los Angeles after graduation, Michael Aushenker has been residing in west Los Angeles, where he spent most of the 1990s working as an entertainment industry writer, doing script and movie poster coverage. His work includes I Know What You Did Last Summer ("If you want to bury the truth, make sure the truth stays buried") and Eve's Bayou ("Love can lead you to a dangerous place"). Michael has also worked steadily as a cartoonist, writing and drawing his own books (Chipmunks & Squirrels, El Gato, Crime Mangler) and contributing to magazines such as Heavy Metal and Duplex Planet. His latest book, Holy Ghost El Gato, was to be shipped nationwide in November. Michael has also written to tell us that for the last two years he has worked as the community editor and staff writer at The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, the West Coast's most prominent Jewish weekly. As staff writer, Michael writes singles columns and covers local entertainment and community events.

Andrew Puzzio, MPA '92, sent an e-mail giving us the highlights of his very eventful summer. For starters, Andrew graduated in June from the honors MBA program at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College in New York City, with a major in finance and investments. He delivered a speech at graduation (not the valedictory speech, but a speech nonetheless). Andrew also remarried (he tells us that "the second time's a charm") on June 19 in NYC. His wife, Dawn La Clair, is a self-employed speech-language pathologist (speech therapist, for short). Jeff Marks and Karen Rosenberg attended their wedding. Andrew and Dawn honeymooned in Spain and the countryside of southern France. They currently reside in Brooklyn, NY.

Sally A. Mason was promoted to vice-president/chief financial officer of Massachusetts General Hospital. Congratulations! We heard from Olga Tsoudis, who tells us she is suffering through the tenure process: "Don't ever put yourself through that." AAGH! The tenure clock has one more year to tick for me. Hang in there, Olga, you'll make it! Olga also brings us wonderful news about the birth of a daughter to John Beccari, DVM '95, in January. John and his wife, Justie Reimann, DVM '94, are both veterinarians in San Diego.

Jeffrey Weintraub, MD '95, and wife Robyn (Lipsky) gave birth to their first child, Bryan Andrew Weintraub, on June 30 (7 pounds, 12 ounces, 21 inches). Jeff tells us that parenting is sure fun ("We wouldn't trade it for anything."), but boy, is it a whole lot of work. Life does change with a newborn around! Never one to renege on his duties, Jeff would like to remind us all that it is never too soon to plan your trip to Cornell for our 10th Reunion. The dates are June 7-10, 2001 (Thursday-Sunday). Within the next two months, Jeff and the other officers are going to begin preliminary planning, including getting the class website up and running (with the help of Dan Kim), and re-establishing the class e-mail list. We'll keep you posted on those details as we know more.

Finally, my apologies to all who sent me correspondence by e-mail in the last few months, but did not find their updates in this column. I included your notes in the first draft of this column and deleted your messages from my e-mails before sending the column for printing. I had a complete hard drive failure and lost, among most of my personal files, the first draft of the column. Please send me your correspondence again, and I promise to include your events in the next column. Apologies once again.

I would like to wish you all a happy holiday season. I hope that the New Year brings health and prosperity to all classmates and their families. Thank you to everyone who mailed in updates and alumni sightings! Keep smiling, stay happy, and keep the news flowing! --Linda Moerck-Cisz, 264 Carpenter Ave., Sea Cliff, NY 11579; e-mail, cisz_mark@jpmorgan.com.