Notes from the Cornell Class of 1991 - 2003 July/August

Class Notes, 2003 July/August

July/August 2003

The beginning of year 2003 rang in much success and recognition for several alumni from the Class of '91. Shortly after the New Year, Noel "Dean" Blackwood learned that his moonlighting business venture, music label Revenant Records, had received national recognition with three Grammy nominations associated with Revenant's latest release, "Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton." A month later Revenant Records was awarded the coveted gold gramophone for the categories of Best Historical Album, Best Album Notes, and Best Boxed Set. GQ magazine also named Revenant as America's best record Label in 2002. Despite Revenant's recent success, Dean is not ready to quit his day job as a corporate attorney for Dell Computer. "The label is a spiritual outlet for me. If I did it full-time and had to worry about mouths to feed, I don't know if it would feel the same." Dean currently lives in a South Austin apartment with wife Laurie (Revenant Records' sole employee) and daughters Emma, 8, and Iris, 4, as they await the completion of their West Austin dream home.

Also in January, Brian Cannon, JD '94, was named partner at the Palo Alto, CA, office of Fish & Neave. After completing his undergraduate degree, Brian continued at Cornell Law School, where he was editor of the Law Review. Brian is a litigation specialist focusing on patent, trade secret, and unfair competition matters, including issues related to medical devices, biotechnology, semiconductor processing, electronics, and scientific instruments. Erica Calderas has been named partner at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP in Cleveland. Erica joined the firm in 1994 and concentrates her practice in litigation. She is also the editor and frequent author of several American Bar Assn. publications and currently resides in Willoughby Hills, OH.

In February, Philip Pilla was named president of Creative Partners, a brand development and marketing communications firm based in Stamford, CT. Philip comes to the firm with more than 13 years of experience in integrated communications, having worked in several New York advertising agencies and most recently having served as the VP of marketing for Sirius Satellite Radio. He lives in Weston, CT, with wife Leah and daughter Sophia.

Chuck Taylor, ME I '92, and wife Jennifer welcomed their son Alexander Charles last October. Only two days before Alexander's birth, Chuck began work as a product manager at Progressive Insurance in Cleveland, where he manages the watercraft insurance program, a $100 million nationwide insurance line. Another October arrival was Zachary, son of Mark, JD '95, and Melissa Arnold Adams. Mark reported that the week in which Zachary was born was chock full of activity. Melissa and Mark had signed papers for the closing on a new home on Monday, and Zachary was born the following day. Mark managed the move to the new home on Friday--just in time for Melissa and Zachary's homecoming on Saturday. Whew!

Greg Dickhens reported that he and wife Kaela and toddler Leana moved to a new home in Manhattan Beach, CA, last fall, just in time to welcome a new baby in November. Greg continues to work as VP of development for Hilton Hotels Corp. Michelle May Koellermeier recently took a break from her ob/gyn duties at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital to deliver her own new arrival, son Adam. Adam joined Michelle, husband Jacob, and big sister Mackenzie at their home in Twentynine Palms, CA, last December. Rose Tanasugarn '90, BA '95, wrote to announce that Charlotte Bischel and husband Robert became the proud parents of Elizabeth "Ellie" Stone in January. Charlotte and Robert were married in 1996 and currently live in Fullerton, CA.

News from the East Coast includes an announcement from Robert Weiner and wife Inessa, who welcomed their first child, Sonia Idelle, last November. In addition to a new baby, Robert has a new job that corresponds nicely with his newfound fatherhood. He has a position in the New York City government working for Mayor Bloomberg as deputy director in the Office of School Safety and Planning. Ariane Schreiber Horn, JD '96, and husband Jeffrey also had occasion to celebrate, as their first child, Elena Michelle, arrived in February. Ariane writes, "Elena has been a very cooperative child from the start--I went into labor less than 12 hours after starting maternity leave!" Ariane plans to return to her job as associate general counsel at Celanese lnt'l Corp. in Summit, NJ, after maternity leave. Debbie Etelson-Mayblum and husband Adam Mayblum are delighted to report that their family is a bit larger with the addition of their second son, Kyle Max, who joins older brother Ethan, 2. Debbie works as an assistant professor of pediatrics at New York Medical College.

From the Mid-Atlantic, Nicole Luecke and husband Chris Selley are also expanding their family, They welcomed Thomas Jerome in February. Thomas joins sister Kate, 5, and brother Alex, 2. Nicole continues her work at a private ob/gyn practice in Annapolis, MD, while Chris has started Precision Microfab, a laser micromachining business. Nicole also reported new additions for several other Cornellians in the area. Mark McClintock and Jane Davenport '90. MA '92, who reside in Bethesda, MD, welcomed son Evan Bishop last August. Mark works as a transportation engineer for Parsons, and Jane recently left her job as an attorney for the Ocean Conservancy to stay at home with Evan. Also living in the Greater Washington, DC, area, Brian Sachar and wife Jeannie had their first child, Angelina, in December. Finally, Nicole reports that Susanna Suh and husband Jim Larish had their first baby, Aidan Yoon Ho, in March. Susanna is a partner at the Cahill, Gordon & Reindel law firm in New York City.

The last birth announcement comes to us from Julie Voveris Furtado, Middleboro, MA. Julie and husband John welcomed not one, but two additions to their family. In March, healthy twins Madison Alexandria and Dylan John joined Julie and John and are certain to keep their hands (and arms) full! Congratulations to all the new parents, as well as to the classmates who wrote in with other accomplishments! *Corinne Kuchling, kuccori@hotmail.com; Dave Smith, docds30@yahoo.com; and Nina Rosen Peek, nsr5@cornell.edu.