Notes from the Cornell Class of 1991 - 2021 March/April

Class Notes, 2021 March/April

March/April 2021

Last time I wrote, COVID-19 had just hit. This time I write as the virus is spiking again. Time is at a standstill. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though, as a vaccine is here. It’s a Big Red light, and these classmates are in motion toward it—one step, one cycle, one stroke at a time.

Alix Mellis-Brown recently leaped from Edgemont, NY, to Madison, CT. “It was always my plan to move when my youngest graduated high school. I thought I would couch-surf around the world for a year while my kids were doing their thing. Then COVID hit and, well, it’s had its impact on everyone and everything.” A Fine Arts major on the Hill, Alix never stepped too far from the art world and focused on Jewish education for many years as an instructor and administrator. “I loved working with teens and using photography, history and art as a way to engage them in social justice and help them feel empowered to impact positive change.” These days, Alix runs her own photography and art business, “which is front-and-center after often taking a back seat to other things.”

To stay mentally and physically ft, Alix joined a hiking and running club in her new hometown. “I have a goal to hike many if not all of the trails that run from the Connecticut shoreline to Massachusetts.” Though she is in Yale country, Alix, often seen with her two rescue dogs and Big Red “C” hat, has “met friendly Cornellians on the trails and about town.” Alix’s children are following closely in her footsteps. “Jack, 23, graduated from U. of Maine Honors College, thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, and is headed into the Peace Corps (if they don’t delay again); Max, 21, lives in Denver, CO, and is working toward ascending all the 14ers (mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet) and getting involved in helping at-risk youth through hiking and wilderness; and Charlotte, 19, is a sophomore at Lehigh, which always reminds me of a mini-Cornell when I visit!”

Judith Germano, from Montclair, NJ, skillfully cycles among roles as a distinguished fellow and professor at NYU’s Center for Cybersecurity, an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law, leader of NYU’s Women Leaders in Cybersecurity programming, and founder and operator of a boutique law firm specializing in all things cybersecurity. A Communications and Business Marketing major back in the day, Judi is in the thick of things in a post-COVID-19 world. “Cybersecurity, a top priority for industry and government, has become an even more pressing concern during the global pandemic, with a tremendous shift to a remote workforce; hospitals and other organizations victimized by ransomware attacks; threats of intellectual property theft, data manipulation, and supply chain disruptions; and the prolific spread of misinformation.” Judi has proudly completed five Ironman triathlons (140.6 miles = 2.4-mile swim + 112-mile bike + 26.2-mile run), including a top-ten age-group finish, and has earned Ironman All World Athlete status for 2020. Rather than making her absent, Judi’s training helps her be more present in her job. “Strangely, being an iron-distance triathlete has some analogies to good cybersecurity: it requires an interdisciplinary approach; you must train and prepare in advance, all year; good equipment helps but the human factor is key; there are issues and surprises that you cannot control so you must adapt quickly; and good communication (internally and externally) is critical.” Judi and her family can’t wait to get back on the Big Red wagon: “My husband, Michael Bonarti ’87, and I were married at Sage Chapel in 1998, with our reception at the Statler. We still make trips to Cornell with our two children at least twice a year to see Cornell hockey at Lynah Rink, and we have traveled to see Cornell hockey at Princeton (men’s and women’s teams), the ECACs, MSG, and elsewhere.”

“Where in the world is Greg Meier?” some classmates and I often ask. Greg, who studied History in Ithaca, reports, “I’ve been working in the Foreign Service for the State Dept. for the last 11 years, mostly focusing on economic diplomacy. In this time, I have lived and worked in Karachi, Budapest, Washington, DC, and Lima.” As of this writing, Greg is preparing himself for a new administration, and, as a music lover, he is excited that the nominee for Secretary of State “is a Lou Reed fan and has played with Grant Hart and Alex Chilton (influential alt-rockers)!” Greg and his family are currently in Brasilia, “which is an easy place to live with consistently great weather and tons of opportunities for outdoor fun.” He is soaking in that flawless weather while continuing to perfect his swim stroke. “I’ve joined a ten-person open water swim team and we compete in races in some truly stunning locations. ”When not working or swimming, Greg enjoys his family. “My wife, Scarlet, is a children’s book illustrator and recently completed two projects for a Spanish-language publisher, and our son, Matias, is currently a senior in high school and busy applying to colleges (fingers crossed for Cornell!).” Greg keeps in touch with a good group of Cornell friends, some of whom live near his permanent home base in the D.C. area.

The Big Red light dimmed but never turned off during the COVID pandemic for these classmates and is beginning to shine more brightly. Though they have traveled different paths, each of them, and all of us, share one momentous path in 2021. Alix said it best: “One of my favorite things about Cornell is the friendships that have lasted all these years. We continue to be a part of each other’s lives, and I can’t believe that our 30th Reunion is almost here!” And what a Reunion it will be.

News to share? Send an online news form at alumni.cornell.edu/class-notes. Or contact any of us directly at: Joe Marraccino, Joe.Marraccino@wfafinet.com; Wendy Milks Coburn, wmilkscoburn@me.com; Tim Vanini, lavanooche@icloud.com; Lori Woodring, lori.woodring@yahoo.com.