Reunion 2002

Focus on women's health

Two honored for service

Reunion faces

Reunion reports

Public Health

Spotlight on Surgery

Alumni Notes

Reunion Reports

The names of class members appear in bold.

At the dean’s reception I was heartily greeted by Ludmil Chotkowski. Since retiring from practice Chot has been living on the 100-acre family farm in Kensington, Conn., established by his father, an immigrant from Poland. Each summer Chot invites classes from local schools, as he did us, to share his harvest of blueberries, apples, pears and peaches. One child wrote, “Thank you for the apples. I’ll be sorry when you are dead!” Chot has written and privately published a book debunking chiropractic (See Books). His book was a resource for a current PBS documentary on the subject. Carter Stilson was the only other classmate at the reception. He was saddened by the disbanding of The Compleat Pediatrician, a group of pediatricians who have been meeting monthly with Al Solnit and John Schowalter at the Child Study Center for more than 40 years, focusing on developmental, psychodynamic and family relations issues as they occur in pediatric practice. The work of this dedicated group has contributed greatly to the quality of pediatric care in the New Haven area. Carter seemed to be consoling himself with a feast in which the main course was, would you believe, zucchini! Zucchini is also one of my favorites so we traded recipes. He also told me of a resource for natural foods in New Haven. After the reception came the fabulous New England clambake, which we enjoyed heartily, but no other classmates showed up so we joined my daughter Rachel and her classmates of ’77.

Leo and Elizabeth Kellerman were at the Graduate Club dinner Saturday. They had attended the behind-the-scenes tour of the Woolsey Hall organ. I learned that Leo had been an alternate on the American Olympic fencing team. Along with the Kellermans, the only other representatives of our class, we dined with the Class of ’47. Leo had brought news of Irv Wolfson’s recent bypass surgery, his second. Moe and Miriam Tulin had retired to Lexington, Mass., near their son. Having married senior year Lucille and I celebrated our 60th anniversary last September with seven grandchildren to show for it. I am still seeing patients. For the second year I have received the Yale Child Study Center Group Teaching Award for Outstanding Training of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residents.
—Samuel Ritvo

The Class of 1947 experienced another successful reunion at Yale, with more classmates returning than most of the groups of our vintage, and we seemed to be the liveliest and possibly the most vocal. The programs, diurnally, were informative and exciting, especially the dean’s explanation as to the building programs. If one has not recently visited Cedar Street, the expanse of buildings can be a shock almost leading to disbelief. The magnitude of the change is immense.

Friday evening’s clambake had everything, including a Dixieland band called The Clam Diggers. They played toe-tappers, including requests from the audience, and seemed to enjoy the music as much as the alums. Jack Cannon and Marie Ziegra couldn’t sit still, got up and danced, looked great. Bill McClelland was there with his brother Harry, a YSM grad now practicing in California. Bill’s wife, Betty, was at home in Greenfield, Mass., sidelined by a cervical vertebral fracture. She’s recovering nicely. The class had special reserved tables and Bob Chase was having a field day with his camera. We seemed to be the last to leave the courtyard. The following day there was a delightful luncheon in the same spot attended by the same seemingly tireless gang, supplemented by Betsy Due Sullivan of the YSN Class ’46W, a pleasant surprise.

Saturday night the older classes joined the 50th to welcome the most recent five-year group at dinner at the Graduate Club. The affair was well-planned, moved along just right, and again, our ’47 tables were reserved. The food was exceptional and the wine perfect. Of course, we were not the most important group in attendance (some would argue that point). The 50th group was the primary honoree and managed the action well, but we did miss Vic Machcinski’s music and Brock Lynch’s dancing. The Class of ’47 was not invited to offer words, probably a stroke of genius on the part of the organizers.

Among those attending our 55th were the Barnes, George and Ellie, from Tucson. He’s retired but still teaches a few classes a week. Roy and Margaret Breg were there. Roy, who is still working actively, notes that retirement doesn’t seem around the bend. Retiree Jack Cannon and his wife Doris came down from West Simsbury, enjoying the break from the GP load. Bob and Anne Chase are enjoying his retirement, splitting their time between Keene, N.H., and Stanford, Calif. Present also were Bob and Sue Darrow, living the good life after his adios to a busy practice. Frank and Sherrie Epstein—he is still working and recently journeyed to Eastern Europe to consult and advise at renal disease and therapy centers. Bob and Claire Kerin—now retired, Bob is an AYA representative. Brock Lynch has retired and loves it. He gave a dance exhibition in Europe recently. Vic and Barbara Machcinski are well into retirement life on Cape Cod. Bob and Martha Newton—he puts in fewer hours, but has no thoughts of quitting. Phil and Jo Philbin spend the winter in Vero Beach, Fla., and the summer in Maryland. He is retired but busy with reading, golf, computer and family. Ellis and Annalea Van Slyck were in from Michigan. Van’s the same, smooth as ever and no big problems. Root Ziegra and Marie are loving retirement in Essex, Conn., and Nova Scotia, but he’s been experiencing rather severe low-back troubles, which have restricted some of their activities. You couldn’t tell it from looking at them.

Jo Philbin, Margaret Breg, Jane Frame and Martha Newton, all YSN alums, attended their alumnae dinner on Friday as well as the YSM ’47 activities on Saturday.

We hope all ’47 grads will plan to be in New Haven for our 60th. Many are not too far away and their presence would add so much to this pleasant event.
—Phil Philbin

Fifty years as docs have past
And we’ve returned to Yale at last
To celebrate with mirth and levity
Our lives, our work and our longevity

Of our 42 known survivors, 13 of us and our significant others gathered from the four corners of the country. From Washington state Phil Deane, from California Bob Nolan and Janiece, from Florida John Wolff and from Vermont Bob Gerety and Maggie. Also with us were Mo Bogdonoff and Diana, Frank and Barbara Coughlin, Dick Floyd and Mary, Jim Luce and Candace Myers, Bob Owen and Edith, Jack Roberts and Louise Regan, Mary Wheatland Schley, Doris Wethers and our long-lost classmate Bob Winters and Nete. Bob came all the way from New York City.

I bring greetings to the class from Karel Absolon, John Arnold, Max and Frances Bloom, Bill Centerwall, Art Hustead, Bill Johnson, Tom Kelly, Charlie Lester, Bill Letsch, Mo Morrison, Virgilio Peralta and Bob Schultz.

Over the course of the reunion we had a great chance to revisit, reflect and talk about the past 50 years of our lives and renew those friendships formed at Yale.

We thank the alumni office for its wonderful work at hosting us. The weather was perfect and the luncheons, breakfasts and Friday evening clambake, as well as the final dinner at the Graduate Club, were all enjoyable gatherings.

The discussions for the reunion centered on the very important topics of women in medicine and women’s health, particularly in regard to heart disease. Dean Kessler’s discussion of the direction the medical school is taking was very informative. The building program adding 700,000 new square feet to the medical school campus illustrated to us the vitality generated and supported by the university.

As a surgeon I was also pleased to hear the plans for the rejuvenation of the surgical department under the leadership of Dr. Robert Udelsman. This should create a world-class department.

As medicine evolves so do medical curricula, and the faculty and student body have participated in discussions about the direction that change should take at Yale. There is, I think, a consensus that the Yale System, which makes a Yale medical education unique, will survive and flourish in the future.

Since our graduation in 1952 the class demographics have changed considerably. Women last year made up more than 50 percent of the entering class (we had 15 percent), with a much higher percentage of minority students.

To those graduates of 2002 in this rapidly changing environment both medically and economically, we pass the torch. Keep it burning! Best wishes for as enjoyable and as rewarding a time in medicine as we have had.

Finally, as fund-raiser for the class (thanks to Frank Coughlin, now head of the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine), I wish to thank all of my classmates who participated and made it a great year.
—Jack Roberts

The Class of 1957 enjoyed the now customary Friday evening clambake, which was held in the courtyard of the renovated Harkness Hall, and an excellent luncheon on Saturday also in the courtyard. An important event occurred on Saturday morning, when Gil Hogan, until recently the president of the AYAM, received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award. We had our traditional class meeting on Saturday afternoon in the Boyer Center on Congress Avenue. We opened the meeting by remembering the 16 members of our class who have passed away. Then, sharing their professional experiences with us, Vince Andriole spoke on the characteristics of Yale medical students, Hal Fallon on life as a dean and Gil Hogan on the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine.

The following classmates were present: Vince and Daria Andriole, Jane Battaglia, Jack and Barbara Blechner, Harry and JoAnn Briggs, Jack and Anne Carey, Louis and Mady Cooper, Tom and Nancy Danaher, Jim and Coleen Dorr, Hal and Jo Ann Fallon, Bob and Joan Fishbein, Tony and Mary Fons, Liz and Ben Forsyth, Al and Vivian Fried, Gil and Carol Hogan, Stan and Carol Kilty, Bill and Priscilla Kissick, Ed and Naomi Levin, Jack Levin, Herb Newman, Howie and Gretchen Minners, Ray Phillips, Stan Simbonis and Ann Faulk, Gil and Marlene Solitare, Don Stahl, Arthur Taub, Bill and Barbara Waskowitz and Herb Winston. The 27 members of ’57 appeared to make up the largest class contingent present on this reunion weekend. Approximately 30 percent are in practice and half of those in attendance indicated that they were fully retired. (At the time of our 40th reunion, one-third of the attendees had retired.)

Dinner was held at the home of Priscilla and Bill Kissick on Johnson’s Point in Branford. As usual, the food was superior, and had been planned by Carol and Gil Hogan. The wonderful atmosphere that pervaded the entire evening reflected the genuine warmth of the relationships between the members of our class.

Gil Hogan compiled a wonderful classbook that included responses to questionnaires that he had mailed out earlier this year as well as pictures that many members of the class had provided. This was given to all who attended and also will be distributed to those who could not attend.
—Jack Levin <

The most frequently asked question this reunion was “Are you still practicing or have you retired?” The responses were “yes,” “no” and “halfway”! The assembled group laughed, remembered, observed the present and looked forward. Gathering in New Haven were Nancy and Arnold Eisenfeld, Bruce Elfenbein (Bruce was with us for Friday; he was involved in a bike race Saturday in Philadelphia), Carol and John German (who retired to New Harbor, Maine), Kate and Steve Fricker, Jane and Fred Cantor, Joyce and Jim Spencer (heading toward a move to Cape Cod), David Seil (looking toward retirement next year in Sarasota), Maureen and Stan Matyszewksi, Rhonda and Al Lieberson, Ann and Joe Ross, Trudy and John Harrington, Pat and Joe Ferrone, Flo and Walt Karney (now in Rockville, Md., after 32 years in the Navy), Peggy and Dick Pschirrer, Anita and Fred Anderson, Darlene and John Foreman, Norma Davenport and Carter Marshall (who came the farthest—from Tucson, Ariz.), Ann and Bill Miller (now dedicated to roses and fishing, not necessarily in that order!), Dianne and Charlie Carl (also celebrating a Yale College reunion), Carol and David Nicholas (still working in quality assurance for international health care), and Marcia and Manuel J. Lipson (who recently received a lifetime achievement award from the Massachusetts Medical Society for his work in rehabilitative medicine).

Dick Collins was called into emergency service for the month of June at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. He sent his greetings to all. Mickey Alderman also sent his best regards; Mickey is involved in research projects lasting at least four or five more years. Glenn Kelly is retired and spends time in Colorado and Florida. Spencer Brody is still in Laconia, N.H., Jon Aase still consults in Albuquerque and Rod Haft is in San Antonio. Woody Waldron practices in Manhattan and Bill Porter (who dropped back a year) has retired to Laguna Miguel, Calif.

The New Haven skies were bright, the medical complex is growing, your classmates are getting grayer and we missed seeing the rest of you. Let us hear from you and plan to come join us in five years.
—Richard Pschirrer

We reconvened as we have six times before, slipping at once into the old familiar comfort and confidence of friendships that have now lasted more than half a lifetime. Those attending were Dan and Elissa Arons, Mary Williams Clark and Jerry King, Alex and Trina Dora, John Drews and daughter Kate, Peter and Marian Egbert, Dick and Carol Heppner, Peter and Maureen Herbert, Bob Kirkwood, Tony Lovell, Steve and Chris Miller, John and Marilyn Pastore, Bill Perkins, Brian Rigney and Jessica Coviello, Dick and Caroline Swett, Martin and Karen Wand, Redford and Virginia Williams, Ihor Zachary and Peter Zeman.

The mood was relaxed and a mixture of the playful and serious. Most of the group are around 60 now, and since our last meeting there have been some prostate and heart surgeries and the placement of a few stents. But in general these are men and women at their peak, and most are still working full blast. One level below day-to-day, however, everyone is now thinking about retirement and how to approach it. Dora, Drews, Heppner and Dowaliby have already left active practice—Dora and Drews were forced by physical problems, Heppner and Dowaliby made the choice. Trina Dora recently retired from her job as a pilot for United Airlines. Drews went to law school, as you probably know. Heppner is teaching at the medical school at Pittsburgh. Dowaliby is doing a lot of photography again, after a lapse of 30 years or so, and is teaching black and white darkroom photography at Paier College of Art, a small institution in Hamden, Conn. He remains on the clinical faculty at Yale and usually takes part in the clinical diagnosis course each year.

On Saturday morning at the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine meeting, Dan Arons was honored for his long and outstanding service to the school. He received a standing ovation, vigorously supported of course by enthusiastic classmates.

For me, the second highest point of the weekend was watching Redford Williams and Dick Swett at the Saturday lunch. Very intently, they were comparing their HDLs and LDLs and discussing the implications while eating strawberry shortcake that was just barely visible under mountains of whipped cream.

As always, we clustered together where we could, talking. We had hours at the clambake, hours at Saturday lunch and hours at our Saturday night dinner at Adriana’s, which started at about 6 and broke up spontaneously about 11. Somehow I had the feeling that this time we were less pressed, less urgent, about having so little time together. People seemed relaxed, at ease with themselves and as always very much at ease with each other. Zachary and others mentioned that we must all put out some effort next time to get more of us to come. That should be easier now, with the new online Yale alumni directory. Aside from the numbers, everyone felt that it was an excellent meeting. I thought that we pretty much had time to say what we wanted to say and hear what we wanted to hear—that is, we are mostly OK.
—James Dowaliby

Reunion this year provided a wonderful opportunity to visit with friends that we hadn’t seen since the 25th and, in some cases, since graduating three decades ago. Everyone attending looked hale, hearty and, if anything, improved by benefit of years and experience.

Two class members arrived on Thursday, Felix Freshwater to attend the Plastic Surgery’s grand rounds and Bob DeBlasi to visit with his son, Greg ’03. Our crowd began to gain force of numbers by Friday evening’s dean’s reception and clambake. Those in attendance included Bob and Louise Glassman, Bob and Chay DeBlasi, Gary and Meda Strauss, Phil Cohen, Ed and Barbara Olinger, Dick and Helen Robbins, Jesse and Beryl Jupiter, as well as Phil and Susan Lebowitz. Although everyone at the clambake gave good effort, it was clearly Bob DeBlasi’s vendetta against crustaceans that led to the lobster shortage now facing the Northeast.

Saturday evening the Class of ’72 gathered at the Graduate Club on the Green for cocktails and dinner. An influx of classmates who had not made it to the clambake rekindled our excitement. Those making the scene included Bruce and Valerie Haak, Tom Horn and Sue Sciaraffa, Tony and Marci Jackson, Felix Freshwater and Melodye Stokes, Mike and Sally Buckley, Charlie and Susan Scholhamer, Frank Kahr, Steve and Roberta Zeldis, as well as Phil and Barbara Rothfeld. Joining them were the Lebowitzes, the Glassmans, the DeBlasis, the Strausses, the Olingers, the Robbinses and Phil Cohen.

Phil Lebowitz, the 30th reunion class gift chair, in thanking everyone for their pledges and contributions, described the Society of Distinguished Teachers, which our class and the Class of ’67 have combined their efforts to help fund. Dr. Herb Chase, the school’s deputy dean for education, hopes to inaugurate a program to support the salaries of outstanding clinician-teachers, who in turn would dedicate a substantial portion of their work effort to teach Yale medical students. Alumni with a special interest in underwriting this society should contact Eric Schonewald in the Medical Development office at (203) 737-2691 for more information.

Harry Malech, our class’s social chair, who had planned the reunion dinner, had an acute herniated disk in his lower back and was not able to travel to the reunion. Phil told those gathered at the dinner that Harry had phoned him to express his regrets, and that Harry had asked him to let everyone know that he was with them in spirit, encouraging all to e-mail him at hmalech@nih.gov. Showing the stuff of which our class is made, Tom Horn immediately produced his cell phone, found Harry recovering at home in Bethesda, and passed Harry (at least his voice) around the room for all to share. On to the 35th in 2007!
—Phil Lebowitz

Observing their first quarter-century in medicine, members of the Class of 1977 met for their own celebration on Saturday evening at the Union League Café in New Haven. Over a quarter of the class was in town for a very busy and wonderfully sunny weekend.

During cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, Dean Kessler stopped in to extend his congratulations to the class. Attilio Granata and Ricky Schneider, co-chairs of the class’s reunion planning activity, welcomed the class, first remembering during a moment of silence our two departed classmates, David Kreis Jr. and Lawrence Biris. Ricky then introduced Howard Koh, Massachusetts Commissioner of Health. Through Howie’s initiative and leadership over the past several months, the class undertook a special effort to honor Dr. Morris Dillard, whom we were fortunate to have as our special guest at this reunion dinner.

Dr. Dillard was a favorite mentor to a number of classmates and was instrumental in setting up and continuing to support the Wednesday Evening Clinic over the past 25 years. Several members of the class have made special contributions to a fund honoring the Morris Dillard Lectureship. (Others wishing to contribute should contact the medical school’s development office.) The class heard from Dr. Dillard, as well as from several students reminiscing about the friendship, clinical acumen and support that he consistently bestowed upon this and many other classes. After a strong round of applause for our honoree, “the Commish” sang a wonderful a cappella tribute, “Wind Beneath My Wings.”

During dinner, various stars from our 1974 Second-Year Show, MephistoFollies, reenacted their most memorable roles, thanks to the script that was lovingly kept and provided by Julia Frank and the director’s score supplied by Gail Sullivan. Remember: “We’re in the brotherhood of docs / The medicinal brotherhood of docs / The group that cures your ills / And sends you monstrous bills / That great, big brotherhood of docs!”

Led by Alan Penziner, members of the class recalled what they last heard from other classmates who could not attend these reunion activities. Current YSM political issues were roundly debated over dessert. As a special memento, those attending were given a bound copy of 41 recent biographies and e-mails, some with family photos, assembled by the alumni affairs staff. After the last cup of coffee, many stayed on to continue remembering and reliving a time of profound and sentimental impact upon each of us.

Attending for all or part of the weekend were: Larry and Marcia Clark Arem, Harvey Berger, George Bolen, Jerry Brody, Artie and Sybil Duchin, Jim Fox, Julia Frank, Attilio Granata and Claudia Dinan ’80, Karen Kelly and Bill Levy ’76, Howie Koh and Claudia Arrigg, Wilma Korevaar and Bob Pearson, Pat and Rex Mahnensmith, Margie McKenna, Bob Mitchell, Carolyn and Mike Owens, Alan Penziner, Lenny Rappaport and Betsy Weaver, Rachel Ritvo, Steve Scheinman, Ricky Schneider, Simeon Schwartz and Ellen Greenebaum, Gail Sullivan and Mark Demers, Polly Thomas, Amy and Ron Vender, Steve Warsof, Didi Wasserman and Sharon Weinstein. John Whitcomb, whose family plans were altered by the threat of war in India, sent last-minute, heartfelt regrets.
—Attilio V. Granata and Ricky M. Schneider

Greetings to the Class of 1982! Fourteen of us gathered in New Haven to celebrate our 20 years since graduation, catch up on what has happened in our families and careers and share memories of medical school days. We ate lobster and steak on Friday night at the clambake and lots of eclectic hors d’oeuvres at dinner on Saturday, but the food paled in comparison to the truly terrific time we had with each other. Bob Rohrbaugh and his wife, Ellen Quinn, in a stroke of sentimental genius, brought our class face sheet (the mug shots from the first day of school, remember?), and we all had a hilarious time looking at our old selves and wondering where everyone is. Bob is an associate professor of psychiatry at Yale and co-director of the psychiatry residency program. Bob brought news of Augusta Simpson Roth, a psychiatrist in Arizona, and also of Steve Resnick, who is practicing dermatology in Cooperstown, N.Y. Paula Braverman came from Philadelphia, where she is chief of the section of adolescent medicine at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. David Goldstein attended reunion all the way from New Mexico, accompanied by his children, Amanda, 13, and Isaac, 19 months. We send regards to his wife, Marsha, who was unable to attend. David tells us that Joyce O’Shaughnessy is an oncologist in Dallas and that Bob Pierattini is practicing psychiatry in Burlington, Vt. David shared the “who traveled the farthest to reunion” award with Bert Ungricht, who came from Salt Lake City with his wife, Yvette, and their four children, Andrew, 15, Mary, 13, Emilie, 9, and Amy, 7. Bert does general ophthalmology with a retina specialty, enthusiastically enjoyed the winter Olympics and tells us that Don Stromquist is also in Salt Lake City practicing rheumatology. Henry Stern also traveled a distance with his wife, Cheryl, and their sons, Everett, 18, and Gavin, 16. Henry is head of MRI and nuclear medicine at the West Palm Beach VA Hospital. Michael Katz flew in from Virginia just for the clambake; he didn’t want to miss reunion but needed to go back to attend the Stanley Cup finals in North Carolina on Saturday night! He is about to move to Florida to a new practice in pediatric and adult radiology. Michael and his wife, Cheryl, have three daughters, Elizabeth, 17, and twins Alexis and Shoshana, 14. He has visited Fred Drennan (gastroenterology) and Terry Massagli (rehab medicine), who live in Seattle, and also brought word of Paula Chandler, who is living in Houston. Patty Kellner arrived with her husband, Jim Heflich, from Ohio, where she is a family practitioner and avid birdwatcher and participates in the Case Western Medical School ambulatory teaching program. Katalin Roth traveled to reunion from Washington, D.C., where she is program director in primary care internal medicine at George Washington University. She and her husband, Phillip Singerman, have two sons, David, 18, and Adam, 15. Katalin brings news of Sylvia Beck, who is an ophthalmologist in Philadelphia and has two children, Sarah and Eric. Jessica Herzstein came down from the Boston area to attend reunion with her husband, John Ryan. Jessica has a busy occupational and environmental consulting practice, juggling that with raising two daughters, Diana, 13, and Julia, 12. Daphne Hsu is head of clinical research in the division of pediatric cardiology at Columbia, where she did her residency in pediatrics. She and her husband, Jeff Rosen, have two sons, Bobby, 14, and Michael, 11. Daphne tells us that Muriel Cyrus is in Dallas with her three sons, and Jeff Tepler is practicing hematology/oncology at the New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center. Patrick Toth is also living in Manhattan. He practices interventional radiology at Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey. His wife, Hildegard, is also a radiologist and they have two sons, ages 8 and 10. Pat tells us that Ron Voit is practicing ob/gyn in Hilo, Hawaii, and that Victor Perez is a psychiatrist in Guam. There are several of us besides Bob Rohrbaugh who have stayed in or come back to New Haven and didn’t have to travel at all to get to reunion. Sandy Wolin is associate professor of cell biology and molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale. She and her husband, Carl Hashimoto, have a 6-year-old child. Carrie Redlich is associate professor in the section of occupational and environmental medicine here. She has two children, Mara, 15, and Josh, 11. Carrie has been the pillar of the New Haven youth soccer league, having recruited and trained many Yale faculty to participate as coaches. Stephanie Wolf-Rosenblum sends greetings via Carrie. Stephanie is in New Hampshire, practicing pulmonary medicine. Lynn Tanoue is an associate professor of medicine at Yale (pulmonary/critical care). Lynn attended reunion with her husband, Larry Young ’80; they have three children, Robert, 10, Marissa, 7, and Grant, 4, and wonder like everyone else who has children what we used to do on the weekends before there were soccer, baseball, ballet and music lessons. Lynn brought news of Stuart Gardner, who is also in New Haven practicing pediatrics, and Colin Lee, who when last sighted was practicing interventional cardiology in Idaho.

So, where have 20 years gone? From what we hear, careers have been productive, children are growing and life gets busier and more complicated. Fortunately, e-mail, Palm Pilots and memories keep us all organized and connected. I have e-mail addresses for all of those who attended reunion and would be happy to share the list with any of you who did not. You can find me at lynn.tanoue @yale.edu. Those of us who attended the reunion had a great time and agreed that we should put some effort into getting more of the class to come to the 25th!
—Lynn Tanoue

The Class of 1987 arrived back at Yale and met up at the clambake in front of Harkness Hall—barely recognizable compared to its ’87 incarnation. Interestingly, there was almost no overlap in who attended the 15th and who attended the 10th reunion. Many of us arrived with children in tow and spent the slightly wet day Friday touring the campus, including museums, libraries, classrooms and, of course, some favorite spots like Sally’s for pizza or Louis’ Lunch for a burger sandwich. At the clambake, I ran into John Keaney with his wife, Donna. Alas, their kids, Christopher, 10, and Jake, 8, didn’t make the trip. John is associate chief of cardiology at Boston Medical Center and is doing extensive basic science research while maintaining a busy interventional cardiology practice as well. He has time for golf but, as yet, no Harley Davidson (so he can’t ride with me!). John relates that Mike Gaziano continues to do well at the Brigham and is now leading the well-known Physician’s Health Study. Word is that Matt Miller is also floating around Beantown, last seen in the public health field. Jonathan Friedes attended the reunion with his wife, Ippolita, and their 10-month-old daughter, Emilia. Jon is practicing obstetrics and gynecology and Baroque violin (check out www.sohip.org) in Boston. According to Jon, Subba Gollamudi is in Memphis reshaping corneas and enjoying life with his wife and two sons. Thea Kapphahn is practicing adolescent medicine at Stanford, is married and has a son, Jasper (aka “Bob the Builder”). Two M.D./Ph.D.s who started off with our class are no doubt remembered: both Susanna Lee (radiology) and Lee Goldstein are at MGH—Lee just became a father in the last couple of weeks! I bumped into Bob Malison and Gene Vining, who remain in the New Haven area, but they vanished before I had much of a chance to chat. Donna Klimowicz also joined us at Scoozzi; she continues to work with difficult patients with mental illness as well as substance abuse problems. Her husband, Rick, is the director of occupational therapy at Ancora Hospital. They are planning on moving back to Connecticut next summer with their children, David, 8, working on his karate black belt!, and Abby, 2 1/2, working on dealing with her brother. Several classmates couldn’t make the reunion but updated me by e-mail. Doug Nelson and Roxanne Bartel are happily living with their two children, Rose, 8, and Isaac, 5, in Salt Lake City. Doug is in pediatric emergency medicine and Roxanne is practicing inpatient psychiatry. They all love to ski and spend time in their mountain yurt. (Yes, their yurt.) Charlie Brackett is married to Joanne Hayes and working as a general internist in the Boston area—they’re expecting their first child in December. (Get ready for a major lifestyle change, Charlie!) Leslie Vogel and her husband, Luciano Rossetti, are living in Westchester, where Leslie is director of geriatric psychiatry at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College. Leslie is writing articles for the lay press when not being kept too busy with their children, Paola, 11, and Gabriele, 4. Leslie reports that Lisa Cairns is working in Atlanta at the CDC—same for Kristen Mertz. Amy Justice reports that she and hubby Joe King have been working at the Pittsburgh VA and at the University of Pittsburgh, concentrating on outcomes research—Joe in neurosurgery and Amy in HIV. Their two children, Daniel, 5, and Erin, 2 1/2, are doing beautifully. Eric Jankelovits is director of obstetric anesthesia and living happily in Stamford with his wife, Monica, and three daughters, Lauren, 9, Amanda, 6, and Carly, 3 3/4. Bob Urban is director of the glaucoma service at St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute, not too far from me, in Tarpon Springs, Fla. Bob and his wife, Jeannie, have two daughters, Victoria, 4, and Olivia, 2. Jay Horowitz was last sighted practicing ENT in East Brunswick, N.J., while Mark Widmann has relocated to the Morristown, N.J., area, where he is practicing thoracic surgery. Elliott Levy is living in Princeton with wife Nina and sons Tom, 5, and Cyrus, 2. He is working in the pharmaceutical industry doing cardiovascular clinical research and development; “No time for hobbies!” he reports. As for me, I’m practicing interventional cardiology and living with my wife, Jodi, in St. Petersburg, Fla. I spend what little time there is away from work riding my Harley, relaxing with Zachary, 10, and Andrew, 6, in the pool and occasionally chasing a little white ball through green grass fields. To better stay in touch, drop me an e-mail at barryw@tampabay.rr.com. See you in New Haven in 2007!
—Barry Weinstock

Our 10th reunion was a fantastic event! Twenty-five classmates returned to Yale from locations around the country—some from as close as New Haven and others from as far as California. Friday evening we met at Harkness to begin reminiscing over a bountiful feast. The tree we planted as a memorial to classmate Lauren Weinstein (who died in our second year) flourishes next to Harkness, and provides a lovely place for contemplation. On Saturday, thanks to Karen Antell and Robin Perlmutter Goldenson’s efforts, a group of us, many with children, enjoyed time together at the Trolley Museum. Others toured the newly renovated Harkness dorm. Saturday night we reunited at Zinc for our class photo and dinner.

We have many personal and professional accomplishments, which I cannot describe adequately in the space provided. As such, here are brief updates of classmates attending the reunion. Ahmed Abou-Zamzam (vascular surgery in Calif.) and wife Sharon Lum (surgery) have three young children. Rick Alaimo (neurology) and wife Sarah have two sons. Karen Antell (family practice) and Mitch Saltzberg (cardiology) have two sons; together they are ready for any medical emergency! Jim Chang (hand surgery) and Harriet Roeder (psychiatry) from California have two daughters. Tom Davenport (plastic surgery) is moving from Boston to join a practice in New York. Reunion gift chairs (thanks!) Michael Girardi (dermatology at Yale) and Nancy Dingott Girardi (pediatrics) have four young sons. Robin Perlmutter Goldenson (radiology) and husband Richard from Boston attended with almost-one-year-old daughter Samantha. Stephanie Goodman (anesthesia in NYC) and husband Beau brought their two sons. Nancy Harthun (vascular surgery at UVA) attended with friend Sue Lubn. Chai Kulsakdinun (orthopaedics in NYC) is married to Julie Wang. Laura Drabkin Marks (pediatrics) and husband David live in Connecticut and have three children. Julie Lund Sharpless (endocrinology) and husband Ned, presently in Boston, have two children. Matt Massicotte (urology) and wife Emma, ophthalmology resident, live in Andover, Mass. Tobenna Okezie (orthopaedics) and new bride Christine are building a home in New Jersey. Sean Roddy (vascular surgery in New York) and wife Veronica brought their son and seven-week-old daughter. Ken Rosenzweig (therapeutic radiology) and Stacey (Berg) Rosenzweig (pediatrics) came with their three lovely girls. Nate Schmiechen (ER) and wife Malinda, now in law school, attended. Nate built a fabulous elephant slide for his two daughters! Margaret Wallen-Friedman (neurosurgery) and husband Leny brought Silas and Asher, both born during medical school, back to Yale! Ping Wang (internist) and husband Tom Sullivan settled in NYC. Anne Wolf (pediatric GI) and husband Richard Wehby continue renovation of their home in Boston. Ross Zbar (plastic surgery in New Jersey) frequently interacts with Evan Fischer (recently married!) and Tobenna in the OR! Thank you all for making our reunion a great success! Please update the alumni website (info.med.yale.edu/ayam/) as you make life and career changes.

It is with great sadness that I report the death of our classmate Yuly Kipervarg. As some of you may know, Yuly had a long and heroic battle with colon cancer and passed away March 14, 2001. After leaving Yale, Yuly trained at UCSF in dermatology, and then had a successful practice in Marin County, Calif. He was a charming individual, a gentle and kind friend and a compassionate physician. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed.
—Anne Wolf

Our fifth-year reunion brought people back from a distance—from as far as California, Washington and Montana! The clambake on Friday night was a cozy group. Dana Meinke Nehring has completed her internal medicine residency in Seattle, and she married Jon Nehring last August. They have moved to Helena, Mont., where Dana is working as a hospitalist at the VA Hospital. Jason Gold is starting his fourth year of general surgery residency at Yale, and has also gotten married to Ann Rich. They are expecting their first child this winter. Jaimie Nathan is in the midst of his general surgery residency at Duke after spending the last two years in a research lab. Amy Taylor Nathan has just finished a year as pediatric chief resident at UNC, and will stay on as a neonatology fellow. They have an adorable 18-month-old (I’m a little biased) named Christopher. Peter Siekmeier has completed his psychiatry residency in Boston, and continues at McLean Hospital doing a research fellowship in neural networking (similar to his Yale thesis work!). Maryam Asgari has finished her dermatology residency and is in Seattle doing an M.P.H., funded by an NIH grant. She was there with her husband, Marc, and their charming little boy, Arman, 10 months old. Helena Nolesco (who began with the class ahead of ours but graduated with us in ’97) is a rheumatology fellow at Yale after completing her medicine residency there.

The Saturday night dinner honoring the Class of ’52 was a great success. Michele Baker was there with her husband, Jim Morgan, and their very cute, redheaded son, Samson, who is 11 months old. Michele is now a psychiatrist attending at Beth Israel Deaconess. Dan Wolf was there with his wife, Leslie. They are in the process of moving from Philadelphia to Boston, where Dan will do his psychiatry residency at McLean/Mass General. Pieter Pil has finished his general surgery residency at the Brigham in Boston, and has taken a sweet job as one of two surgeons on Martha’s Vineyard. Joining him will be his wife, Karen, and their 13-month-old son, Gideon. Chrys Delling Schmults and Rob came from NYC, where Chrys is completing a dermatology residency at NYU and then will go on to do a Mohs Surgery fellowship. Pieter Cohen is on faculty at Cambridge Hospital after finishing his primary care medicine residency there. He is the director of the ambulatory education program for the residents, and he and Lauren are expecting their second child (their first, Austin, is 11 months old). Kristina Crothers and Mark Skirgaudas traveled all the way from San Francisco. Kristina finished her medicine residency at Stanford, and is now doing a pulmonary/ critical care fellowship at UCSF. Mark is in a radiology residency and will do a musculoskeletal fellowship, also at UCSF. Tony Aizer made an appearance (although he was also busy with his 10th-year Yale College reunion). He is in the midst of a cardiology fellowship in NYC, and then has signed on for more punishment as an EP fellow.

Whew! That’s a lot of news. For all of you who couldn’t make it, we hope to see you at the 10th reunion!
—Amy Taylor Nathan