Classmates – Shades of Green | Dartmouth Class of 1985

Shades of Green Spring 2022

We are so excited to present to you the first Newsletter of our new Newsletter Editors Dan Studnicky and Shelley Nadel. They have worked tirelessly to pull together this Newsletter – filled with interviews, pictures and updates on all things Class of ’85. We are confident that you will enjoy this Newsletter and want to join us in thanking Dan and Shelley for pulling it together.

Some highlights of the Newsletter include a review of why those in our Class serve in their communities in so many different/inspiring ways, in-depth interviews with 3 classmates: College Trustee Sue Finegan, Annette Hatch-Clein, as well as newly appointed Chaplain and Director of the William Tucker Center for Spiritual and Ethical Life at Dartmouth Reverend Nancy Vogele, and an overview of our newest and exciting Class Project: Bridges to Health Profession Fund (this is a new initiative developed by our Class Project Officers Veronica Jenkins, Linda Blockus and Pamela Ponce Johnson, now being overseen by Veronica and Linda, with a mission to increase graduate school admissions in the health professions for low-income Dartmouth students).

You’ll also find updates about Terri Sergeskettter Heath, Shelley Leavitt Nadel, Brad Pagliaro, Beth Hobbs, Linda Blockus, Jennifer Gabler, and Kim Booker Schmid.

’85s Connect at NY Regional Reunion

While our virtual reunion in June last year was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect, visit with old friends, and do all the reunion things, it was lacking in, um, real-world presence. Dartmouth is trying to make it up to at least some of us by hosting Regional Reunions in San Francisco and New York this year. The New York event drew lots of ’85s and other 80’s classes, including a gaggle of ’86s and ’87s that Valerie Hartman had the good fortune to connect with. Attendees from 1985, 19986, and 1987 included Beth Gilman Hobbs, Kay Romeyn, Amy Durno Harned, Peter Harned, Erin and Teddy Conway, Rise Norman, Valerie Hartman, Anne Schnaeder, Lanie McNulty, David Schnabel, Tracy Salmon-Ellis, Bernadine Wu, and Cheryl Bascomb ’82, our fearless Alumni Relations leader.

1985’s Connect at SF Regional Reunion

While our virtual reunion in June last year was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect, visit with old friends, and do all the reunion things, it was lacking in, um, real-world presence. Dartmouth is trying to make it up to at least some of us by hosting Regional Reunions in San Francisco and New York this year. The San Francisco event drew ’85s from the Bay Area for some good old-fashioned camaraderie. Josh Alwit, Jill Morgan, Joe Niehaus, Lauren Sonstrom Rosen, and David Rosen all enjoyed the evening.

Class Agents at the Mandel Society Awards

President Hanlon, Gail Gentes, and Joe Riley ’85

Several ’85 Class Agents and DCF volunteers met up at the recent gala for the Stephen F. Mandel ’52 Society awards. The Society recognizes alumni volunteers who provide visionary leadership in raising gifts to Dartmouth through the Dartmouth College Fund. This year’s honorees were Peter Pratt ’71 and Brett Perryman ’92. ’85s in attendance included Aaron Hill, Risë Norman, and Joe Riley.

Catching Up With the Class Scholar

Kate and Jon Grussing reconnected with our class scholarship recipient Nacho in Hanover this winter. The Grussing’s hosted Nacho and his club, Dartmouth’s Dog Day Players improvisational group, at an alumni event in London this past December. Gail Gentes, Assistant Director, Dartmouth for Life, joined them and loved hearing about the London trip!

Michelle Duster Speaks at White House Bill Signing

Classmate Michelle Duster was an honored guest and speaker at the recent White House ceremony for the signing of the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act. Michelle, as you hopefully know from blog posts here, is the great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, a groundbreaking journalist and chronicler of the lynchings that were all too prevalent in her time. At the signing, Michelle spoke about Wells and the long history of the legislation.

Michelle Duster ’85 speaking at the White House

“She carefully chronicled names, dates, locations, and excuses used to justify lynchings. She wrote articles and pamphlets and gave speeches about the atrocities. Despite losing everything, she continued to speak out across this country and Britain about the violence and terror of lynching.”

Ms. Duster recounted how Ms. Wells had visited President William S. McKinley in the White House in 1898 to urge him to make lynching a federal crime — to no avail.

“We finally stand here today, generations later, to witness this historic moment of President Biden signing the Emmett Till anti-lynching bill into law,” she said.

You can watch Michelle speak here https://youtu.be/9Fnd_hOa7F8?t=626

Sue Finegan ’85 Named to Presidential Search Committee

The Board of Trustees is launching a search for a successor to President Philip J. Hanlon ’77, who has announced his intention to step down in June 2023. Dartmouth has had only 18 presidents since its founding in 1769, underscoring the importance of this process.

The College has designed its search to ensure that key stakeholders—faculty, students, staff, and alumni—have the opportunity to engage. Our classmate Sue Finegan has been named to the search committee.

The committee has been holding listening sessions, and members of the community are invited to provide input by responding by March 18, 2022 to a survey on the presidential search. Information from these sessions and the survey will be used to inform the search process.

Class of 1985 Scholar

Beth Hobbs with 1985 Class Scholar Nacho Gutierrez

Thanks to the generosity of a classmate and so many of you stepping up and meeting our participation goal for the Dartmouth College Fund, we now have a permanent Class of 1985 scholarship to award to a deserving Dartmouth student. We’d like to introduce you to our first Class of 1985 Scholar, Ignacio (Nacho) Gutierrez, a first year student from Mexico! Here’s a little interview from Homecoming with class president Beth Hobbs. Click here to watch another chat with some ’85s getting known a little about Nacho and his favorite places to study. Nacho grew up learning about Orozco and the famous Mexican muralists, and actually being able to stand in front of Dartmouth’s famous mural was an amazing experience for him. Listen in, and we’ll be keeping tabs on Nacho and getting to know him better over the next four years!

Homecoming 2021

Class Co-President Beth Hobbs reports: “I just got back from a wonderful fall homecoming weekend in Hanover. I gathered with classmates and friends on Friday night to celebrate our Dartmouth traditions—Dartoberfest, the Homecoming parade, Dartmouth Night and the legendary bonfire. The ’24’s and ’25’s circled the spectacular fire together as it crackled and warmed everyone on the Green. We tailgated with old friends and new before catching the Big Green taking on the Yale Bulldogs at Memorial Field. It was great to witness a very exciting win during overtime!

Another highlight was meeting up with our 1985 Endowed Class Scholar—Ignacio (“Nacho”) Gutierrez who hails from Mexico. Since he is already feeling the “cold” weather, we presented him with a Dartmouth hat and scarf. We will keep in touch with him throughout the year and share stories and videos with you.

Valerie Hartman and our Class Officer team have a great year planned–hope to see you at upcoming virtual and in-person events.”

In Memoriam: Brian Goldner

Our classmate Brian Goldner has died. Brian just recently took a leave of absence from his role as CEO of Hasbro, and Rich Stoddart ’85, who is a Hasbro board member, had stepped in as interim CEO. Brian transformed Hasbro, an old-school toy and game company, by retooling many of its brands into films, television series and online games. He died at his home in Barrington, R.I. He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Genick) Goldner and their daughter, Brooke Goldner. His son Brandon predeceased him. More on Brian and his remarkable career can be found in this New York Times obituary.