Notes from the Cornell Class of 1991 - 2002 September/October

Class Notes, 2002 September/October

September/October 2002

We have gotten hitched, some jobs have switched, and many have been enriched. HITCHED: Harneet Sethi married Rebecca Bradley in May 2001. Harneet graduated from MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine and is working as an emergency medicine physician. Steven Goodweather married Gaby Nitsun of Houston, TX, in November 2001. They honeymooned in Bali and are currently living in Houston. Vicki June married Ken Whelihan on July 28, '01. They honeymooned in Ireland and are currently living in Westport, CT. Lynn Schechter reports that she married her "soulmate and true love" lssam El-Zahr. In attendance at the wedding were some fellow Cornellians, including Sheri Appel '90, Debbie Lu '90, and Beth Morchower '92. Lynn finished her PhD at Columbia U. and is working as a psychologist at a hospital in the Bronx, where she was recently appointed director of a groundbreaking tutoring/mentoring program for children living with HIV, Karen Finkston married Giora Payes in December 2001 in Great Neck, NY. Cornellians at the wedding included Jennifer Lee, Heather Delson Bromfield, Carla Heiss and husband Olen Honeyman, and Jennifer Kaminsky Brock '92.

SWITCHED: The Fleet Home Town News Center reports that Marine Corps Maj. Benjamin Watson recently departed on a six month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based in Camp Lejeune, NC. Maj. Watson is one of more than 10,000 Atlantic Fleet sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the USS John F. Kennedy Carrier Battle Group and USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group. Maj. Watson's unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. Wow! Elaine Chiu will be starting a new job in July 2002 as an assistant professor of law at St. John's U. School of law in New York. Elaine will be teaching criminal law and family law. But before you call the family lawyer, you can call Scott A. Edwards. Scott recently completed his PhD in marriage and family therapy from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, and has moved to Seattle, where he is working as a professor in the marriage and family therapy department in the master's program at Seattle Pacific U.

Jeremy Sarachan is working as a Web design instructor at St. John Fisher College. Karen Paul Zimmer, MD '98, currently has a fellowship in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins U, Karen and husband Gary, MD '97, live in Pikesville, MD. David Casey reports that he is director of international logistics at Newell Rubbermaid and is a candidate for an MBA at Emory U. James Hawk reported that after a Peace Corps assignment in Zambia and a year at home in New York, he is going back to Africa as a country coordinator in Tanzania and Kenya for an NGO-Global Education Partnership. Mark Adams, JD '95, reports that he has just returned after living in Paris for three years to work for the New York office of Cleary, Goulieb, Steen & Hamilton. Erika Ackermann began a new job in September as an elementary school teacher and guidance counselor.

After almost nine years of recruiting, Cynthia Santisi changed careers. Cynthia received her real estate license and joined Marquis Financial Real Estate. Edward Ginty, ME C '92, reported that he is a plant manager at Riverwood Int'I in Clinton, MS. Georg Gerstenfeld wrote that he and wife Jeanine are living in San Carlos, CA, where he was recently promoted to director of channel marketing at Intuit. Laurel Botsford Marshall is living in Encinitas, CA, with her husband Darrin. Laurel is global director of pharmaceutical research and development at Johnson & Johnson. At the beginning of April 2001, Howard Stein left his job as a software engineer; after some much needed vacation he'll begin a master's program in Jewish Communal Service at Brandeis, and then on to the rabbinic program at Hebrew Union College. Howard writes, "Now that's a career change!"

ENRICHED; Baby, oh, baby! Welcome to Cornell's Class of 2023 and 2024. Let's start with the new women of the world: Cavarly Berwick Garrett and husband Michael announced the birth of daughter Avery Bloom on June 16, '01. Cavarly is working as a real estate asset manager in New York City and her husband is a full-time dad. Stacey Neren Lender and husband David had daughter Avery Bess on August 25, '01. Sue Bennett Gonzalez and husband Yovany announced the birth of daughter Alicia Daniella, born Sept. 11, 'O1. Glen Hamer, executive director of the Solar Energy Industries Assn., is living in Rockville, MD, and is the proud new father of Shira, born on Mar. 8, '02. Jason Bernbach, JD '94, and wife Allison had a baby girl, Ryan Melody, on Feb. 6, '02.

Jana Pompadur Kierstead and husband Tim welcomed Olivia Jade into the world on Oct. 18, '01. Jana writes that Lauren Gallagher and her husband John Heil '90 welcomed their second child, Grace Gallagher, in November 2001. Rachael Przybyla and husband Richard welcomed Sloane Elizabeth in April 2001. Sandra Matthews Haas and husband David announced the birth of daughter Juliette Simon on Sept. 8, '01. Sandy writes that she spent her 33rd birthday with many other Cornellians, including Doug and Kirsten Blau Krohn, Gail Fishier Sirota, Bonnie Leff, Jenna Goldstein Bloomgarden, and Jennifer Green Seltzer. Thatcher Brown writes that he is enjoying his job as director of business development for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Thatcher and wife Jenny welcomed daughter Hollis in December 2001. We have a Tax Day baby: Lisa Epstein Jay and husband Russell had a baby girl, Hannah Toby, on Apr. 18, '02. And a New Year's Eve baby: Scott Peppet and wife Kellie Zell are living in Boulder, CO, and also had a baby girl, Anna Rose, on Dec. 31, '01. And of course, the twins: Alarik Myrin and wife Staci had Ayla and Hanna on Aug. 29, '01.

The boys ... Mark Weigel and wife Dyllan announced the birth of their son Maxwell on May 18, '02. Mitch Tacy '92 and wife Dorian welcomed Connor Ryan in September 2001. Kim Oliver Brothers and husband Russell had baby boy George Ellis on November 9. Melissa Schop Hiemerman and husband Darin announced the birth of their son Max Hunter on May 3, '01. Missy is living in Reno, NV. Dorothy Patton and husband Jason Carter are living in Arlington, VA, and recently welcomed son Adam. David Luzadis Jr. and wife Melissa welcomed Charles David, born Oct. 19, '01. Amy Gellert Lebovitz announced the birth of her son Zachary lmre on Oct. 11, '01. Tom Catalano and wife Carrie announced the birth of their son Jock Thomas on July 19, '01. Steve Rosenblum reports that he and wife Tracy welcomed Eric William on Oct. 18, '01. Steve is working for Corning Inc. in Wilmingston, NC, where he develops new types of high data rate optical fibers. Steve is one of the co-inventors of Metrocor optical fiber, winner of a 2001 R&D 100 Award.

A toast to all the new and future parents, to the recently wed and those with nuptials in their future, to present and future career prospects, and to a peaceful fall. *Nina Rosen Peek, 171 E. 89th St., Apt. 6F, NYC 10128; e-mail, nsr5@ cornell.cdu; Dave Smith, 210 W. Summerchase Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28311; e-mail, docds30@yahoo.com; and Corinne Kuchling, 1740 NE 86th St., #209, Seattle, WA 98118; e-mail, ckuchlin@Slarbucks.com.