Notes from the Cornell Class of 1991 - 2011 March/April

Class Notes, 2011 March/April

March/April 2011

Spring has always been a favorite time of year for me in Ithaca and I am just thrilled that I will get to return for our 20th Reunion in just a few short months! Reunion fever is clearly setting in. So many of you have made plans to catch up with old friends June 9-12 on the Arts Quad. Bob Baca spent time in Ithaca last June with Jeff Weintraub, MD '95, and Dorine Colabella Scher, planning out events for the upcoming reunion. But it wasn't all work and no play, as the group tried out the zip line over Beebe Lake, tasted great wines, climbed the Lindseth Climbing Wall, tackled the high ropes challenges in Barton, and looked at Jupiter through the Fuertes telescope. Jeff informs us that the whole reunion weekend will be jampacked with events, including: a private Class of '91 wine-tasting, many family-friendly activities for those planning to return with their "future Cornellians," athletic events, and dinner at Beebe Lake catered by Dinosaur BBQ--known for having the best ribs in the USA! Official registration will begin within the next few weeks. Go to the class website or the '91 Facebook page to find out all the latest details.

Dustin Moskowitz writes that he's looking forward to reunion. "I'm still working in Princeton, NJ, traveling to China a few times a year on business, and trying to minimize how much time my son, 8, plays video games (unless it's The Beatles: Rock Band, then I'm in!). Still enjoying life in the 'burbs and trying to find time to take advantage of my three grills, turkey fryer, and hammock." Last fall, Dustin was in Ithaca attending a symposium for WVBR, Cornell's student-run radio station. During his visit, he spent some time walking around campus and was amazed at all the new buildings and continuing construction. Dave DeCecco married Meredith Turetz '93, MD '98, in the Ithaca area in July 2010. The wedding took place at Heron Hill Winery in Hammondsport, NY, and the rehearsal dinner was held at Willard Straight Hall on the Ivy Terrace. (Of course, everyone hit Rulloff's afterwards.) Tons of Cornellians were in attendance, including Craig Tomsik, Wilbur Holden, and Larry Ireland. The couple became engaged in July 2009--also in Ithaca; they were on a hike in the rain in Six Mile Creek when Dave popped the question. Meredith works as a pulmonologist at NYU School of Medicine and Dave runs corporate global media relations for PepsiCo in Purchase, NY; they live in Manhattan, NY.

Sean '90 and Kathy Kraus Bolks welcomed Robert Sean on Oct. 21, 2010 in Houston, TX. He looks forward to his first reunion in June. Robert shares a birthday with his cousin Emma Caroline Jackson, who arrived in New Jersey to new parents Kevin and Karen Kraus Jackson '88 on the same day. Keeping up with Kara Niles has gotten easier of late. After 18 years living abroad in Europe, Asia, and Africa, Kara is finally back in the US, also living in Houston. Kara is having a good time getting acquainted with Americans again and has quickly learned that Houstonians are very friendly. The transition has been made a little easier since her neighborhood is very international (44 nationalities at the local elementary school); she has found that it feels oddly like home after only five months.

Cynthia Lee Dow, husband Jim, and their three children (ages 9, 7, and 4) live in Old Greenwich, CT. Shar Carter Heslam, husband Bill, and their three children descended upon the Dows with some Narragansett Oktoberfest from Bill's beer venture in tow for a fun long weekend. Cynthia has made a career move into executive search with Russell Reynolds. Although it means less time for triathlon training, Cynthia loves her new position, having left the in-house counsel world to go looking for general counsel. Yuri Castillo, an investment banker with BMO Capital Markets, is married with children ages 2-1/2 years and 11 months. As an alum of the celebrated Cornell soccer team, Yuri is lucky enough to return to campus annually for Homecoming reunions.

After almost ten years with a large legal search firm, Andy Burrows started Burrows Legal Search, his own attorney placement firm, about a year ago. He has lived in San Francisco, CA, since 1994 and remains in touch with many Cornell friends out there. Andy currently serves as cochair of the Bay Area alumni group for the ILR school. He has been married since '97, with one young son, 6, and one old dog, 13. Andy and his Bay Area friends are hoping to attend reunion as well! Speaking of Bay Area alumni, Kimberly Uberti splits her time between San Francisco, CA, and Lake Tahoe, CA, remotely running corporate communications for a Los Angeles, CA-based software company and spending as much time as possible on the lake and/or in the mountains. Kimberly keeps connected to West Coast alumni Renee DiIulio and Pauline Dominh in L.A. and Melissa Schop Heimerman, Karen Hovorka '92, and Kevin Lyons '92, who are regularly out and about in Lake Tahoe. Kim Brown Bixler and husband Tim, JD '93, have also settled in California. The Bixlers live in Manhattan Beach, CA, with their children Kendall, 12, and Robert, 11. After adventures in Ithaca, NY, Atlanta, GA, Pittsfield, MA, and Pleasanton, CA, Kim hopes to stay put for a while. Kim is involved in the Cornell Club of Los Angeles and hosted a scholarship dinner for the club with guest speakers from the entertainment industry (including the folks who did the visual effects on Tron, Benjamin Button, and Zodiac).

Michael Gimbel is an assistant professor of surgery at the U. of Pittsburgh Medical Center, practicing academic plastic surgery. Through his practice, Michael gets to work with a number of surgical residents who started their higher education at Cornell. Michael admits that he gets a kick out of training the young residents and they have a great work ethic. Michael hopes to make it to the 20th Reunion in June along with his wife and children, 5 and 2. Jeff Loiter reports that although he hasn't seen many classmates in person recently, he does keep in touch with several via e-mail and phone, and hopes to see many at reunion in June. After four years in Vermont, he has participated in a few local Cornell Club events and met several alumni from other classes. Peter Sloane (ILR) is a partner at Leason Ellis LLP, an intellectual property law firm in White Plains, NY. Peter and wife Michele live in Mamaroneck, NY, with daughters Hannah, 11, and Molly, 9. Peter is in touch with fellow ZBT fraternity brother Dan Fried '90, who owns H&H Photography in Irvington, NY. Peter attended a celebration at the Abbott House in honor of Dan's wife, DeLaune Michel, who won the Theodore A. Wilson Award for Outstanding Community Service.

Elaine Chiu and Robert Leung shared the happy news that they welcomed their third son, Benjamin Jack, in June. He joins big brothers Ryan, 9, and Billy, 7. The family lives in Westchester County, NY, and, as you might imagine, their house is quite loud and chaotic with lots of soccer balls, toy cars, video games, Legos, and action figures flying about! They hope to introduce the whole gang to fellow classmates at reunion in June.

Please continue to share news with us via email, through the link on our class website http://classof91.alumni.cornell.edu, or on the News Form in our most recent class mailing. We love to hear from you! *Kathryn Kraus Bolks, klk22@cornell.edu; Sharlyn Carter Heslam, sheslam@berkshirepartners.com; Ariane Schreiber Horn, ams14@cornell.edu.