Notes from the Cornell Class of 1991 - 2010 September/October

Class Notes, 2010 September/October

September/October 2010

When summer turns to fall, my thoughts turn to Cornell. This year I feel special anticipation knowing that our 20th Reunion is coming up next June. Like many of you, I haven't been back to Cornell since our 15th in 2006, and I am really looking forward to returning to campus and seeing how things have changed--and how things have stayed the same. It is not too late to start blocking time in your calendar for June 9-12, 2011. The Class of 1991 has become known for smashing reunion attendance records. Do you think we can do it again?

Our classmates continue to make news winning prestigious awards. The UC Santa Barbara engineering department shared the news that Hyongsok "Tom" Soh, ME '93, won a 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship in engineering. From a field of 3,000 applicants, a total of 180 fellowships were awarded this year in the US and Canada to artists, scientists, and scholars "on the basis of achievement and exceptional promise." Tom was one of only two recipients nationwide to win the fellowship in engineering. Tom's project focuses on personalized medicine, combining two novel technologies--microfluids and high-throughput sequencing--to accelerate and reduce the cost of developing molecular recognition elements (reagents) that specifically bind to their targets. Such reagents are the key component in molecular diagnostics, which is the basis for "personalized medicine." Tom is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and of materials at UC Santa Barbara's College of Engineering.

Thank you to everyone who sent news with their 2010 class dues payments. Steve Beiser, director of institutional equity sales and trading at Robert W. Baird & Co. in Milwaukee, WI, sent news that he and wife Katie have adopted a baby boy. Steve wrote that between their 3-year-old and their new son, their home life "is all about potty training, changing diapers, and trying to remember what a good night's sleep was like." In their limited free time, Steve and Katie enjoy the "exciting" Milwaukee nightlife, visiting friends around the country, and continuing to do mixed martial arts. In his note, Steve mentioned how much he enjoyed watching Cornell basketball and seeing the Cornell wrestlers finish second. He would love to reconnect with his freshman roommate, Art Witebsky.

Amy Hillsberg Herzog works as a public relations director for PSI Bands, acupressure wristbands that relieve nausea, and additional clients. Amy keeps very busy promoting the latest travel memoir by husband Brad '90. Turn Left at the Trojan Horse (Citadel Press, June 2010) depicts Brad's cross-country journey through Greek-named small towns to attend his Cornell reunion in Ithaca. You can find more information about Brad's new book, and his previous travel and children's books, at www.BradHerzog.com. Andrew Puzzio, MPA '92, reported by e-mail that on April 3 he took his family to see the Touchtones perform in Washington Square Park in New York City. "They were fabulous, of course, and we bought their CD on the spot," wrote Andrew. Andrew's daughter Fiona, 4, was particularly enamored of the group, and some of the members of the Touchtones were kind enough to talk with Fiona after the performance. When Andrew returned home, he subscribed to all of the Cornell a cappella groups on YouTube. Speaking of the Touchtones, Wendy Fuhr sent news that she works as a family physician and faculty member at Bryn Mawr Family Practice Residency Program. In addition, Wendy continues her love of music as a singer and violinist with two bands, one pop-rock and one country/western/bluegrass. Wendy and husband Eric Allen are the proud parents of Iris, 4, and Duncan, 1. In her limited free time, Wendy volunteers at Iris's Montessori preschool. Wendy noted that she would love to hear from Keith Simmel '90, BArch '91.

Laurie Ceglowski Fronhofer, a junior high Spanish teacher in Salem, NY, wrote that she and her family visited Cornell in February to see the Cornell-Harvard wrestling match. While watching the match, Laurie was delighted to discover that one Big Red wrestler, Justin Kerber '10, is the nephew of Laurie's Tri Delta sorority sister Jill Kerber Aldous. We received news from several other classmates who also work as teachers. April Henry is an English teacher on Long Island and chairperson of her school's English department. She enjoys running, cycling, and watercolor painting. April enjoyed a week in Mexico during her last spring beak. Susan Halebsky Dimock lives in Falls Church, VA, where she is a visiting professor at the U. of Illinois's Illinois-in-Washington program. Lisa Camacho-Szeto is a teacher in the Orange County public schools in Orlando, FL. Lisa and her husband have opened an Orlando franchise of Froots, where you can find a tasty variety of smoothies, salads, and wraps. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys Zumba, reading, continuing education, visiting with friends, and playing with kids.

Charles Andola III works as a surgical physician assistant at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT. Charles earned his master's degree in May 2009 and married wife Israel in August 2009. Charles's fondest memories of Cornell are the challenging courses, the endless variety of courses, and the wonderful friends and faculty. Also living and working in Connecticut are Elizabeth Mirabile-Levens and husband Doug Levens '92. Elizabeth is a pulmonary and critical care physician at Waterbury Pulmonary Associates. Elizabeth and Doug have children Peter, 8, and Eric, 6. In her spare time, Elizabeth competes in triathlons. Jessica Lifland lives and works in San Francisco, CA, where she is a freelance photographer and a photojournalism instructor at City College of San Francisco. Jessica's fiancé is from Ireland and proposed to her in the Wicklow Mountains in southeast Ireland. Heather Atwood Forrest is senior vice president/financial advisor at MorganStanley SmithBarney in Wellesley, MA. She and husband Richard '89 keep busy raising "two delightful daughters," Hannah and Sylvia.

We continue to receive news from classmates living abroad. Noel Matos lives in Basel, Switzerland, where he is director of strategic export/marketing for Migros. He launched sales and marketing offices in Pennsylvania and in Toronto, Canada. Noel's fondest memories of Cornell are of his friends; he would love to hear from Jeanette Perez-Rossello. Robert Saunders is in his second year of a two-year stint in Singapore, where he is director of information technology at Barclays Capital. In his spare time, Bob enjoys sailing and travel.

The Class of '91 continues to send baby news. Debi Epstein Fried and husband Marc, MBA '04, welcomed daughter Jesse Harper on Sept. 29, 2009. Big sister Sasha turned 5 in August. Debi is a first grade teacher in Briarcliff Manor, NY. On March 22, 2010 Otto Pohl and wife Anne Sherwood welcomed their first child, Everett. Deb Snoonian Glenn and husband Bradley welcomed son Simon on May 28, 2010. Deb is senior editor of the Time Inc. magazine This Old House and appears regularly on the "Today" show and other television programs as the magazine's spokesperson. Also on May 28, 2010, Kimberly Martin-Epstein and wife Peg welcomed their second child, son Walden William. Big sister Beatrix, 2, looks forward to playing with her new brother as soon as he is able.

Thank you to everyone who sent us news. Please keep sending updates. Ariane Schreiber Horn, ams14@cornell.edu; Kathryn Kraus Bolks, klk22@cornell.edu; Sharlyn Carter Heslam, sheslam@berkshirepartners.com.