Class Notes, March/April 2000

Monday May 01, 2000 Category: Archives Permanent Link

I’m all out of witty observations about how odd it is to be this old! I had some very lofty ideas about what I would be doing in 2000, but here I am sitting on my couch watching a re-run of ” Wayne ‘s World.” Of course, the genius of Mike Myers’s “Scooby Doo” ending is indisputable.

Some of our more upwardly mobile classmates would make their undergraduate professors very proud. Christina N. Kim, a student at New York Medical College , received a research scholarship to study at the National Institutes of Health. Only 42 students in the US were so honored. Jessica R. Cattelino is working on a PhD in social anthropology, “thanks to a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and NYU fellowships.” Her research is on American Indian sovereignty. She also remains active in local politics and the Telluride Assn.

After completing her MA in Spanish literature at Stanford U. , Nohemy Solorzano is returning to Cornell to enroll in the PhD program in Spanish. She has been awarded a Javits fellowship from the US Dept. of Education to finish her graduate studies. Andrew J. Yakoobian, BS Hotel ‘97, was awarded first place in the 17th Annual New England Magic Contest last year. The magician, who is known as Yaq, has been performing for the past ten years and runs an entertainment business known as Honest Deceptions.

Finally, Lauren M. Gasparo graduated with an MFA in acting from the U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She will tour with Nebraska Theatre Caravan on the East Coast. Another budding actor, David H. Goldbrenner, left his Wall Street job to pursue his love of the theater with the Prudent Procreation Players. He is traveling to Ecuador to perform skits for the indigenous tribes of the rainforest.

As I was perusing the February issue of Spin magazine, I was surprised to see classmate Brian Hiatt lurking behind Foo Fighter Dave Grohl at a publicity event in New York City. Like me, Hiatt has been able to parlay useless knowledge into a journalism career. (Sorry, Brian.) Apparently Cornell’s course offerings helped prepare him for the rigors of hobnobbing with disaffected celebrities for Sonicnet. Perhaps one day, Hiatt will interview musician Trevor de Clercq. He is working on his Master of Music degree at NYU and completing the tonmeister coursework in sound engineering. He also has a new CD out. Anyone who wants a copy can e-mail Trevor at tod200@is9.nyu.edu.

In more wacky news, Erin Linehan reports that Bethany A. Meyer, Britta C. Seppi, and Melissa H. Davis got together in Durango , CO. While exploring a huge mountain, they were chased by a mountain lion. Erin and Niv Rotem graduated from Tulane Law School last May. Nick Goldin, a ‘99 graduate of Cornell Law School , is a first year law associate at Cahill Gordon in NYC.

Kelly Ann Collini says that she and Jeffrey S. Kovel remodeled Lenny Kravitz’s retro night club in Miami Beach. Kelly was involved in construction and Jeff was the project’s general contractor. Ian G. Craig “returned from a two-year tour of duty in Japan , as an intelligence officer with a US Navy fighter squadron.” He remains in the Navy, and has been transferred to Fallon , NV , home of the Navy’s “Top Gun” School. Ian can be contacted at intell54@hotmail.com. Caroline L. Stevens also spent some time in Japan after graduating, followed by seven months in Ecuador and the Amazon jungle. She finished her first year of law school at the U. of Michigan and went to Argentina for the summer to clerk for the Supreme Court.

I’m pleased to announce the first installment of Courtney Rubin’s “Wedding Watch 2000.” But a few words of warning to all brides-to-be: it’s the magazine’s policy not to publish engagement announcements. So, before you take off for your romantic honeymoon in Aruba , make sure you send us news of your nuptials. Lisa Marie Courchaine Derouin was married in August 1998. She received her Master’s in Education and is teaching in San Diego. Erin B. Fitzpatrick married Christopher Beucler last June. In July, Douglas W. DeGroff married Alison Tayntor. Alison Nodvin Barkoff got married last year and graduated from law school. She is clerking for the Southern District of New York in NYC. Christine Julier Kline will be celebrating her second anniversary soon. She just purchased a new home with her husband, Robert ‘95, MC CH ‘96, and is spending a lot of time at Home Depot.

Maureen (McCafferty), MPA ‘97, and Matthew Stanton, ME C ‘97, were married last September in Cleveland. Over 30 Cornellians were in attendance including Patrick S. McCafferty ‘95, ME C ‘96, Lauren E. Twitchell, MPA ‘97, Nathan Henderson, J. P. Chaine, Mark Gelston, and Eric Andersen. The honeymoon was in the Greek Islands. Marie (Laib) married Daniel Slater ‘95 last year in Cincinnati , OH. The couple live in New York.

Cheryl Dollard Smith and husband Robert H. ‘95 welcomed their first baby, Andrea Erin Nicole, in February 1999. Kristin (Joseph) and Slade Cox had their first child, Abigail Bridget, last February as well.

For the debut of “Infant Watch 2000,” be sure to read the class column.

–Allie Cahill, Class Correspondent