Class Notes, November/December 1998
Friday January 01, 1999 Category: Archives Permanent Link
After more than two years in the “real” world, I’m beginning to miss the days when my biggest responsibilities included getting out of bed, debating the merits of Rogan’s versus Pudgie’s pizza and lounging on the Arts Quad with a stack of novels. My required reading is now limited to an employee handbook, but, unfortunately, I have to race the clock just to get to work on time. (Come back to me, beloved 11 o’clock classes!)
Obviously, a lot has changed since graduation. Many of our classmates are making names for themselves in a variety of fields. No doubt inspired by fond memories of Hoyt’s Cinema, John C. Heffernan and Steven B. Demers have embarked on careers in the film industry. John recently produced an independent feature film, Superfriends, which is now in post-production and should be released in 1999. He was also to have directed two television commercials in June. As for Steven, he is working as a technical director on a movie filming in Australia starring Lawrence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves. Perhaps this is the sequel to Point Break that we have all been yearning for.
Meanwhile, back in Ithaca , Gayle S. Katz works in sales at NetStar, a radio syndication company that produces the “Susan Powter Show.” Gayle explains that the “topical talk show targets young, forward-thinking adults.” She happens to be looking for a contact in the publishing industry. Networking anyone? Jonathan M. Pinto is definitely making an impression in the Ithaca community. He appeared on the cover of Cornell Engineering magazine for his work on the Sage Hall reconstruction project. Isn’t that thing done yet? [Yes. See September/October Cornell Magazine.–Ed.]
Adventurous Felix Lung, ME CS ‘97, moved from New York City to Folsom, CA, to work for Intel’s graphics division. So far, he has helped design the Intel 740 graphics chip which was released in March 1998. Keith Adler left his job at an advertising agency to start Discotheque, a graphic design and film/video production company. “It just started,” Keith remarks, “but it’s getting there!” He notes that Brian L. Bosart is “spreading good Cornell vibes throughout the Los Angeles night-life scene, but spends his days at UCLA on his way to becoming a PhD in atmospheric sciences.” Kevin D. Kline, MMH ‘96, has just left his job, as well. After almost two years at Coopers and Lybrand, he decided to join Trump Plaza in Atlantic City as the executive director of marketing operations.
As usual, many classmates are either wrapping up their graduate degrees or starting new grueling decade-long programs of study. After graduating from the U. of Hawaii , Manoa with a master’s degree in linguistics, Ken N. Lacy is pursuing his PhD at New York U. in the same subject. Tammie L. Cross is learning more about dairy science under the direction of Dr. Joe Herbein at Virginia Tech. After completing her MPH at Boston U. , Alison K. Conlin is moving on to medical school at Syracuse U. Vanessa C. Gubbins has returned to school to study veterinary science at the U. of Georgia . Before that, she worked for Merck and Co. as a project chemist. Finally, Samantha Klein is in her second fun-filled year of law school at Columbia U.
Not only are our classmates getting married, they are having children of their own. Leah Hollister Parkinson tells me that John A. Guzzetta, a preacher in Florida , is now the father of a boy born in March 1998. Janine S. Gillot married Nels C. Nelson in La Jolla , CA , in May 1998. Another happy couple, Elise H. Dorfman and Matthew D. Robinson were married all the way back in October 1997. They live in Boston . Alison R. (Capozzi) and Roman Malko also tied the proverbial knot in 1997. Michael L. Buckler and Amy L. (Carpenter) were married on May 30 in Washington , DC . They would like to thank all the Cornellians who made the trip, especially the gang from Lambda Chi Alpha. The couple honeymooned in France for two weeks. They live in Durham , NC , where Michael is in his second year and Amy is in her first year at Duke law school.
Mary Frances Kearns Raffo and husband Scott celebrated their nuptials in July 1998. Her sister, Elizabeth Kearns ‘99 served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Katherine H. Hilton, and Caroline Lopez-Raffo ‘99. Also in attendance were Alison K. Derow and Kirsten E. Bell. The wedding was held in Rochester . Mary Frances now teaches high school chemistry and biology in Bloomfield , NY .
In yet more wedding news, Aurianne E. Nappi says that William H. Holowatiuk was married on May 30, ‘98 , in Edmonton , Alta. , Canada . He met the bride, Michelle Berget, while working for Xerox in Alberta . Ushers included Andrew K. Doll and Geoffrey N. Lopatka. Dennis A. Sagely married wife Andrea, a graduate of Westminster College , on June 7, ‘98 . Groomsmen from Cornell included Joel A. Torretti and Fred Schumacher ‘97. Dennis has just completed his second year of law school at the U. of Oklahoma . Andrea is employed as a teacher in the Norman Public School System.
Please keep sending in your class notes. Have a great year!
—Allie Cahill, Class Correspondent
