Class presidents Valerie Hartman and Beth Hobbes were at a recent On the Road in New York City with College president Sian Beilock, where they were happy to see some fellow ’85s.
On the Road with President Beilock
DC Mini Reunion
Todd Cranford sent along a photo from a recent mini reunion in DC at Busboys & Poets when Marci Dabbs came to town from California. In the photo are Marci, Sophie Folly, Eric Woods, Sonia Myrick (Reece), Denise Hansberry, and Todd. They also had a special guest, Deana Hicks Hudgens), who started with our class, but left Dartmouth.
Lend Us Your Ears!
Come hear your classmates sing!
Well the call went forth for reunion singers, and your classmates answered in force. Forty-five of them and counting!
From the North, South, East and West and overseas
Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses (and some “well I used to sing __________”)
‘85’s, ‘86’s ‘87’s and some singing spouses. The more the merrier! (Singers, not spouses. You know what we meant).
Glee Clubbers, Chamber Singers, Aires and Decibelles, Gospel Choristers and even some rugged individualists.
We will be reconnecting, warming up the pipes, remembering our repertoire and refreshing our sight-singing on Saturday afternoon, so that we can sing for you Saturday evening in the ‘85 tent (at 9:30pm, after our Lobster Bake Dinner).
What will we be singing, you may ask? Will it be Dartmouth faves? gospel tunes? folk songs? 80’s power ballads? Crowd-pleasing singalongs? Pop punk anthems?
We can’t ruin the surprise – you’ll just have to hear for yourself.
Vox Clamantis in de-Tent- oh!
Reason # 347 why you should REGISTER FOR REUNION NOW!
(If you still want to sing its not too late – email Rick Joyce)
What Reunion Means To Me
We asked classmates to tell us why they attend reunion. Here are some of the responses we received…
Dan Frech ‘85 writes:
Dartmouth Reunion Class of 85: What or Why to Go to It?
It took a little while to decide to sign up for the reunion. Why? What did I want to do there or expect to get out of it?
I want to see again the landscape of the Northeast, especially up farther north, in New England. The area around Dartmouth is the CT River Valley with its deciduous trees, rocks, and forests. It is dry and crisp in the fall, and can be just bitterly cold in the winter. We have resided in the upper left corner of the USA for 30 years. That’s the Pacific NW. We often vacation basically near Canada on an island on an inland sea between Vancouver Island and Washington (Pictures below). Everything is different here. We have a maritime-moderated climate (it rarely snows here or maybe 1X per year) and are surrounded by large Douglas Fir trees. We have fog and continual light rain in winter which eventually breaks to a summer. June is colder than September, and we have what is called “Indian Summer” where the fall may be really balmy into October. There aren’t as many old traditions or buildings that are hundreds of years old, like Dartmouth Hall or Baker Tower … our college was founded in 1769 and has tradition.
I hope to uncover a little about how people from our class have lived after college, and what they ended up doing. The time we had as UG’s was really short, in the big picture. We have been “roaming the girdled earth” for 10 times longer than we were actually UG students at this college. When I was at Dartmouth, I met so many people with incipient promise and great aptitude during the years 1981-1985. But it was a challenge knowing my class afterward… it seemed almost cut off at the point of graduation. I will be thrilled to hear about all news and not just the highlights, but the complexity of life. That means, their families, what their children like to do, the ways people changed jobs, moved around, studied at other colleges, took on new challenges, did great outdoor adventures or even got injured and recovered – all of that. I don’t know. for example. what happened with many of the great cast of characters from our French LSA (Blois) in Winter 1983, where I got to know several in our small (~24 people) group. It was
harder to keep in touch once we finished, unless you really lived closer, or vacationed together, or took the time for written correspondence. Social Media applications have helped me find a few classmates, and the way we know each other, through give-and-take by a few messages – that will be greatly improved and made less virtual and more personal by actually meeting several of them at our reunion.
I took tours of colleges (probably as many of you did) during the “Inspection” process when our son at end of HS in 2018 (he’s 25 now and at UT Austin in PhD program) visited many schools, including Dartmouth. We often went on trips during school vacations. There wasn’t much college nostalgia during those trips, even though the campuses still looked spectacular, and the admissions committees did great, inspiring presentations. Yet, walking around the grounds … it seemed hollow because the students weren’t there (during break), or if they were, they were so much younger, it wasn’t like you could just transport yourself back to the good old days. Our reunion won’t be like this. There will be events/mixers/brunches, and even 60 yr old people (myself included) living in the dorms. The students of our class will be back to invigorate the campus with our spirit (there are >300 registered reunion guests – I checked), and that’s going to make our reunion worth it!
Chris Collimore, ‘85 writes: Financially, I had to pick between the June reunion and mini reunion at Homecoming. So I really had to think about what was important to me. I have a lot of school spirit, but also a lot of class spirit. Like most Dartmouth classes, our class had strong comradery. It always felt like a tight-knit group, from day-one. We shared an exciting, important, pivotal time in our lives, and formed a bond that lasts to today and should last all our lives. Homecoming is my favorite time to be on campus (the Fall colors, that “collegey” feel, the energy on campus, the big game,….) and I haven’t been on campus in the Fall since 1990, but when I asked around and found out that very few 85s go to the Homecoming mini-reunion, it became an easy decision to go to the big June reunion. It just seems like we should get together every so often, and the 25 year gap between the 25th reunion and the 50th seemed like to long to go without seeing all you guys.
Here is something else for you: the day I decided to go to the June reunion, I ate dinner at a restaurant and they played a song called “1985” on the sound system. It is by a group called Bowling for Soup. You should check it out on Youtube. It should be our theme song for the reunion!
Nancy Kopans, ‘85 writes:
What Reunion Means to Me
A chance to reconnect, and connect anew. And canoe. And share about life’s chapters. We were so young. How could we fathom what was to come?
Claudia Broekker Egger, ‘85 writes: I live pretty far from New England (El Paso, TX) and until recently, didn’t have a lot of chances to reconnect with classmates. Reunions have been the perfect excuse to revisit campus and to catch up with old friends.
Beth Parish ‘85 writes: Last reunion (our 30th) – Lori Bamburger and I snuck away and had a cocktail at Molly’s and she shared all these wonderful things about her daughter whom she had adopted.
I love walking around campus, at night, caught in memories – and sometimes say, wow, I cannot believe I got to go to school here :)
I am really most looking forward to Thursday night dinner on Baker lawn … if that is all I get to experience, then I am good …
Margo Makes Migration Manageable!
Margo Buckels Miyashiro ’85 writes:
Would you like to teach a group of friendly, respectful, motivated students, with fascinating life stories, who bring you delicious food from all the world’s cultures? Then teaching adult English as a Second Language (ESL) might be the gig for you! For the past 10 years, it has been my joy to teach English to adult immigrants, helping them build their lives in the United States.
Our Sacramento adult school offers classes in ESL, Citizenship, and High School/GED, and I teach Intermediate High ESL. My students are so diverse, currently ranging in age from 18-75. The main immigrant populations at our school come from China, Vietnam, Mexico, Central America, and Afghanistan. What they have in common are courageous stories of making huge life changes to try to create a better future for themselves and their families in the United States. Some students came to America for job opportunities. Some have lived here many years and only now have the time to study English more formally. Many came because of turmoil in their home countries. Unfortunately, such upheaval seems to be a constant in our world. I have Vietnamese students who fled their country in the 1970s and Afghan students who managed to get on the last transport planes out when their government fell in 2021.
In my classes, we practice all the English skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar. We also tackle using technology. Again there is so much diversity – from young students who can do everything digital to other students who are using computers for the first time. So many forgotten Google passwords! American cultural activities are a big part of our class too – to welcome students into American life. Superbowl trivia, winter holiday parties, birthdays, and March Madness brackets.
My students are working so hard to share their ideas and lives in the English language. But they are also fully accomplished adults with amazing life experiences. Starting over can be so daunting. I want our class to be a place where people feel seen and know that they matter. I feel like, for me, it is such an honor to be one mentor helping them along on their journeys.
Shades of Green – 40th Reunion Edition
The latest and greatest edition of our class newsletter, the incomparable Shades of Green, is now in print and here online. This edition tracks the theme of our reunion—community—and is filled with stories from classmates about the communities they found at, and because of, Dartmouth. Download the newsletter and make your plans for Reunion!
231st Meeting of the Alumni Council
December 11, 2025
Fellow Members of the Class of 1985 –
I was excited to attend the Alumni Council meeting in Hanover on November 13-15 and wanted to share my experience with you.
The New Hop
We started with a tour of the renovated Hopkins Center. The updated facility has been thoughtfully conceived, enhancing existing spaces and incorporating exciting new ones. I encourage you to visit the new Hop during our reunion this coming June 18-21.
Dartmouth Dialogues
The first Council session covered Dartmouth Dialogues (“Dialogues”), a flagship program that President Beilock began in January, 2024. Dialogues encourages students, faculty and staff to engage in conversations on difficult topics including Middle East conflicts, the polarization in American politics, socialism vs. capitalism, among other topics. The administration conceded that the May 1, 2024 protests on the Green, resulting in New Hampshire state police arresting protestors, caused significant harm to campus relationships. Dialogues have played an important role in repairing trust and conversation. Dialogues encourage students not to shy away from tough conversations with others that have different points of view to build a stronger Dartmouth community and necessary life skills. The director of Dialogues shared that a recent protest this May was less confrontational, evidence that the program has been effective in improving campus communication and sentiment. Dialogues has also been responsible for bringing a range of speakers to campus including John Fetterman, Anita Hill, Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Rand Paul.
President Beilock’s Address to the Alumni Council
I was very interested to hear from President Beilock. Many on the Council were loaded to challenge her on many topics (see pictures of our own Todd Cranford ’85 and Krista Thomas ’86). Top of mind topics for Council representatives included Dartmouth’s posture with the federal government (i.e. when will we forcibly speak out versus Dartmouth’s position on “institutional restraint”) and what has been the impact to federal funding for Dartmouth (only $3.5M in grant research funding has been lost to date and they actively working to recover that funding). She defines “institutional restraint” as not remaining silent, but a position that compels Dartmouth to speak when our core education mission is threatened.
President Beilock began by reiterating that Dartmouth will be fiercely independent as an institution in terms of its governance, teaching and research, and that government overreach will not be allowed. She contrasted Dartmouth with other peer institutions that were in constant battle with the federal government but said that signing onto the government’s compact was not the right way to achieve academic excellence and develop “good humans to impact the world.”
She then launched into five areas that have been her focus for her first two and half years. First, her administration has worked on improving the mental health of students with a multi-pronged approach. You can read more about this in “Dartmouth’s Commitment to Care”. By training faculty and staff, providing telehealth sessions to supplement in person therapy and focusing on the mental health challenges specific to students of color, she believes they have seen a significant decrease in anxiety and depression across the student body. Second, she has launched large scale housing improvement projects to provide 1,000 new beds on campus. The current projects are at Zimmerman/Brace on East Wheelock, upgrades to the Fayerweathers and multiple buildings at the entrance to campus on West Wheelock. Third, she has focused on affordability where she pointed out that the combination of need blind admissions, free tuition for one third of the current students and an average yearly grant of $71,000 to students has significantly lowered the cost of a Dartmouth education for those coming from lower income brackets. She feels affordability is key to bringing a diverse community of students together on campus to “feel comfortable pushing at each other” in Dartmouth Dialogues and throughout campus life. Fourth, she highlighted the work by Joe Catrino with the Dartmouth Career Design Center (see my recap below). Fifth, she pointed out her achievements in moving Dartmouth to carbon neutral by 2050. One can see all the pipes being torn up in front of New Hamp and Topliff to convert the campus power plant from steam to hot water and move to geothermal and off oil dependency. Sixth, she highlighted how Dartmouth has been focusing on innovation and impact with the following initiatives: 1. the launch of the Davidson Institute for Global Security which will unite the departments of history, government and economics with Tuck to leverage relationships in Washington, 2. “Thera Bot”, the ai chatbot focused in improving anxiety and depression in rural areas and 3. “Evergreen” which is the student curated language model to help students improve with sleep, stress, exercise and 4. additions to the arts curriculum and infusing the arts across campus.
Dr. Beilock then outlined her going-forward focus areas. First, rethinking how Dartmouth accesses federal funding to allow faculty ideas to make an impact in the areas of rural health, economic democracy and security, mental health, biomedical design, cold regions research and the arts. Second, she pointed out that the term “AI” was coined at Dartmouth 70 years ago and they will be working on how to integrate artificial intelligence into curriculum while still fostering critical thinking, and teaching students how to leverage AI in their life’s work.
President Beilock asked for alumni to continue to weigh in on what her focus areas should be. Email me with your ideas and I will pass them on!
Dartmouth Career Design Center
The highlight of the weekend for me was meeting Joe Catrino, the newly hired head of the Dartmouth Career Design Center (“DCDC”). Joe shared his vision for revamping the old “CES which had become ineffective. Students are transactional about finding a job post-Dartmouth, defaulting to career choices in finance or consulting. Joe wants DCDC to engage with students early and often to help them plan a career strategy that best matches their interests and aspirations. Rather than leaf through directories of alumni contacts (i.e. Dartmouth Connect), Joe expects to harness AI to enable a “dating type” approach that better matches students with mentors. I’m on the subcommittee for career design and demo’ed their AI tool, which was impressive. Joe is also developing “career communities” with a DCDC leader specialized in specific career tracks to better coach and make connections. DCDC is also raising money to supplement students’ financial ability to try lower paying or non-paying internships in government, social services or the arts. DCDC also plans to offer life skills coaching including how to pay back a loan, invest for retirement, find roommates, etc. Career coaching will also be available to alums now too!
Other Alumni Committees
Other Alumni Council committees included: lifelong learning, alumni service, new alumni engagement, enrollment and admissions and honorary degrees. If you would like information on the specific work of these subcommittees, let me know.
Full Meeting Minutes
You can review the full meeting minutes on the Alumni Council Website – https://alumni.dartmouth.edu/alumni-council-resources-570?accordion=231st%20Session%20November%2013-15,%202025
What is Important For You?
Is this the content you expected to be covered for alumni? What else would you have liked to hear about? Do you have feedback for the administration or questions?
Let me know by emailing me at jgabler4@gmail.com.
Yours in Big Green Spirit,
Jenny Gabler ‘85
In Memoriam: Herb Philpott
Herbert Francis “Herb” Philpott died suddenly on June 13, 2025, while hiking Mount Greylock in Williamstown MA. Herb had lived in Acton since 2020, and previously lived in Waltham, Medford, and Canton, Massachusetts, as well as in San Jose, California. He was the beloved husband of Sandra (Metcalf) Philpott, whom he married on April 12, 2008. Herb was a proud member of Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) fraternity. His professional life was spent in high-tech industries, beginning in California, where he worked for Steve Jobs at NeXT Computer and later at Apple. A full obituary can be found on Legacy.com
In Memoriam: Ratha Tan
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ratha (Tito) Tan of Malden, Massachusetts. Tito passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 62 from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by loved ones.
Devoted father to his 2 daughters, Alicia and Isabelle Tan, and devoted husband to Davy Tan (née Lek).
Tito was born on January 18, 1963, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to the late Tang Tan and Kim Sean Tan (née Ing). He spent his early childhood in the Battambang province of Cambodia with his siblings, Chhourath (Roth) Tan, Patrick Tan, and Sophie Rueda (née Tan).
In 1975, at the age of 12, Tito and his brother, Roth, fled to Thailand to escape the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge. From Thailand they were taken to the United States where they were adopted by Edward P. O’Donnell of Boston. As Tito grew up under Ed, he learned and inherited many of Ed’s practices and beliefs in kindness and faith. Tito’s journey through faith was guided by St. Padre Pio, whom he unfailingly prayed to until his last days. Through his prayers, 4 years later, Tito reunited with his family in Boston, all of whom had survived the Khmer Rouge regime.
Tito received a bachelor’s in Chemistry from Dartmouth College, where he attributes his affinity for Green Eggs and Ham. He continued on to earn a master’s in International Relations from Lesley University.
While working on his master’s, he simultaneously was a visiting lecturer at Cornell University’s Southeast Asia Summer Studies Institute (SEASSI) program. Some of his most notorious moments stemmed from his work in 1990-1992 with the SEASSI, teaching his students Khmer in eclectic ways, including the use of water guns and flash mobs.
With the courage to restore the beauty of his homeland, Tito served as an electoral officer for the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) from 1992-1993. Not only did he use his time there to find the love of his life, Davy, but he also helped establish a free and fair electoral process.
Upon returning to America, Tito dedicated his career to computer science, becoming a principal support software engineer at Siebel Systems from 1999-2008, a senior production support engineer for Intuit from 2009-2017, and then an IT specialist for Vestmark from 2018 until his Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis in January of 2024.
He was known for his kindness and the empathy it inspired, his devout faith and belief in God, his wicked sense of humor, and his stories that kept the history of our family and culture alive. Not only do we lose a husband, father, uncle, grandpa, friend, but we lose the history and the unique perspective that he carried and shared. Tito enjoyed advocating for the less fortunate through his work with various Cambodian charities that provided supplies for children in poverty, funds for St Padre Pio’s foundation, and so much more. When he was not telling stories or working with charities, he could be found cooking and eating good food inspired by YouTube videos, planting tulips with his favorite (and only) granddaughter Alice, or coaching his youngest daughter on her tennis serve.
Tito is survived by his wife, Davy Kim Tan, his daughters, Alicia and Isabelle Tan, his mother, Kim Sean Tan, his siblings Chhourath Tan, Patrick Tan, and Sophie Rueda, his granddaughter Alice, his many dear nephews and nieces, and a wide circle of devoted friends.
When Elderly Caregiving Upends Your Life, What’s Next?
Recently our classmate Cindy Davis gave a talk on elderly caregiving as part of Women of Dartmouth’s THRIVE series. A recording of that webinar is linked below. Cindy was kind enough to share some more thoughts on this topic, which is becoming more relevant for many of us as our parents and other loved ones age.
Learn more about Cindy, her caregiving journey, and her career at the bottom of the post.
When Elderly Caregiving Upends Your Life, What’s Next?
Whether it begins with a phone call, a holiday visit, or a growing realization, stepping into the role of caregiver for an aging loved one can flip your world upside down. It shifts your priorities, routines, and sometimes, your very identity.
For some, it starts suddenly—a medical emergency demands immediate involvement. For others, it unfolds gradually—missed medications, a forgotten appointment, or concerns about personal hygiene. You may not have planned to become an informal caregiver, but here you are—navigating new responsibilities with little preparation.
This post introduces informal caregiving for anyone new to the role, currently in the thick of it, or reflecting on a journey recently completed. No matter where you are, you are not alone—and support is available.
What Is Informal Caregiving?
Informal caregiving is the unpaid care provided to aging or ill loved ones by family members, friends, or neighbors. This care often includes help with meals, transportation, medical appointments, managing medications, personal hygiene, and providing critical emotional support.
The scale of this work is staggering: an estimated 38 million Americans are caring for approximately 80 million older adults. That’s nearly 1 in 6 people providing care—often in addition to full-time jobs, parenting, or managing households.
The average duration of informal caregiving? 4.5 years—and many people provide care for even longer. Over time, what may start as helping out once a week can evolve into daily, around-the-clock care.
And while 60% of caregivers are women, that means 40% are men—a clear sign that caregiving is no longer defined by traditional gender roles. Men are increasingly stepping up, whether for parents, spouses, or extended family, contributing in diverse and meaningful ways.
Who Are Today’s Caregivers?
Caregiving spans generations. While Gen X (mid-40s to late-50s) is at the peak of juggling work, kids, and elder care, Millennials (mid-20s to early 40s) are stepping into caregiving roles earlier—often for grandparents or older relatives.
Here’s how the caregiving landscape breaks down by generation:
- Silent Generation (1928–1945): Now in their late 70s to 90s, often the recipients of care.
- Baby Boomers (1946–1964): Many are becoming care recipients but may still be caring for older spouses or relatives.
- Millennials (1981–1996): Emerging as the next wave of informal caregivers.
- Generation X (1965–1980): Most likely to be in active caregiving roles today.
And the challenge isn’t limited to age. With 61% of informal caregivers working full- or part-time, many are managing intense responsibilities both at work and at home.
The Real Impact of Caregiving
Caregiving can be deeply rewarding—but also emotionally, physically, and financially draining. Over time, many caregivers experience:
- Physical strain: From helping with mobility and daily tasks.
- Emotional fatigue: Watching a loved one decline and making tough decisions.
- Isolation: Social life and self-care often take a backseat.
- Financial stress: Out-of-pocket costs and reduced income are common.
This invisible role is vital to the healthcare system. In 2021 alone, informal caregiving contributions were valued at $600 billion, almost double what was spent on formal home and institutional care combined.
How Do You Prepare for the Journey?
If you’ve already started caregiving—or think you might soon—here’s what you can do:
- Acknowledge the role. Many people don’t realize they are “caregivers” at all.
- Start early conversations. Ask your loved one what they want for the future.
- Make a plan. Research resources, legal documents, and care needs before a crisis hits.
- Seek support. There are more tools and communities than ever before to help you.
- Watch the webinar, share this post, and bookmark GeriScope
GeriScope: A Resource to Help You Navigate
At GeriScope, we’ve been there. Our team combines personal caregiving experience with expert knowledge to help you plan, adjust, and manage the road ahead. Whether you’re wondering when to step in, how to coordinate care with family, or how to support your own well-being, we’re here.
Explore the GeriScope website. Because when caregiving upends your life, the next step is finding your way forward.
More about Cindy Davis
I am a proud Dartmouth ’85, and my connection to the College has come full circle as the son I raised while caring for my aging father is now a Dartmouth Class of 2025 senior. My passion for elder care advocacy began long before my personal caregiving journey—it started in high school when I wrote my college application essays on maintaining senior independence, socialization, and health as a Pre-Medicine major.
In 2018, I took a rare and precious weekend break from caregiving to attend a Women of Dartmouth Workshop in Chicago. That experience energized me and reignited my passion to be of service to the elderly, their loved ones, and caregivers. Since then, I have put those lessons to work—building GeriScope, writing The Elderly Caregiver Survival Guide, and preparing a THRIVE session to help women navigate the life-changing demands of elder care.
My professional background has further shaped my expertise. As Chief Revenue Officer and Consultant for MyDirectives, I have worked with clinicians, Medicare Advantage plans, and post-acute care providers to implement digital advance care planning solutions. My MBA from UCLA Anderson, my B.A. from Dartmouth, and my finance experience have all given me a unique ability to analyze, structure, and simplify complex caregiving challenges into actionable, real-world solutions. I wrote my book because I wished I had a guide like What to Expect When You’re Expecting—but for the final chapters of life. Now, I’m excited to help Dartmouth women facing these challenges gain clarity, strategies, and the confidence to take control of their caregiving journey—without sacrificing their careers, families, or well-being.
Speaker in two National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) webinars and panel discussion at Florida Association of Accountable Care Organization (FLAACO) Conference on advance care planning in healthcare. Organized and led multiple career training sessions for employees and advisory board meetings for clients and small business owners at major corporate events throughout career.