Class Notes, September/October 2000

Monday November 01, 1999 Category: Archives Permanent Link

I’m a little apprehensive about attending Reunion 2001. It’s September and I have yet to launch my own successful Web venture or appear on MTV’s “The Real World” in a hot tub. Fortunately, I made a few observations during my brother’s 5th Reunion bash last June. To prevent awkward silences and blank stares, wear an unusual piece of jewelry or clothing. (A Milli Vanilli concert T-shirt is appropriately ambiguous. Was “Blame It On the Rain” really your favorite song, or are you expressing your delicious sense of irony?) Do not make overt attempts to read name tags; refer to unfamiliar classmates as “Josh,” “Mike,” or “Brian” until they correct you. (This technique worked surprisingly well for my brother.) Burdened by an embarrassing freshman year moniker? Become an eccentric billionaire and your peers will instantly forget about the “lemon pudding incident” of 1992. Most importantly, summarize your personal triumphs and disappointments in 60 seconds or less. You’ll thank me later. For Reunion 2001 news-you-can-use, check out the Class of 1996 website at www.classof96.cornell.edu.

While you’re preparing for Reunion 2001, tell Courtney Rubin, Sheryl Magzamen, or me, Allie Cahill, about your promotions, wedding receptions, graduate degrees, and mewling infants. Without frequent updates we would be forced to kick our columns off with outlandish anecdotes.

Class of 1996 vice president Stephanie M. Cockerl reports that www.iVillage.com named her an iVillage Technodiva last May. Another Internet veteran, Kathryn S. Rubenstein, was recently promoted to manager of business development at TV Guide Online. In her new role, she will become the primary contact for all licensing and distribution agreements for the site and continue to help develop strategic partnerships to further the reach of Online’s content and brand. After I pestered Kathryn for more news, she told me that Lewis M. Pine is starting a new job as director of human resources for Ralph Lauren Media.

Josh Holbreich e-mailed me about his transition from broadcast to print media: “Josh Holbreich, who until very recently was just another cog in the Big Machine known as ABC News, where he worked on such projects as the 24-hour ABC2000 Live Millennium Coverage and obscure women’s health programming, has left the alphabet network to become the news editor of the CMJ New Music Report. According to the Los Angeles Times, CMJ (College Music Journal) is ‘the bible of new music,’ and is known to both radio programmers and record industry executives as a ‘primary source for up-to-the-minute radio airplay data, and cutting-edge new music editorial.’ In pursuing that ‘cutting-edge’ content, Josh may be trying to recapture his glory days as the Daily Sun’s Arts & Entertainment editor. Josh also wants to point out that he is not expecting children, has not gotten married, and is not engaged to any other ‘96ers.” To counteract Josh’s woefully cynical remarks, here are a few wedding announcements:

Robert L. Price attended the wedding of Charlie Skipsey ‘94 and Katie Dubaa. Charlie’s entire pledge class from the fraternity formerly known as Phi Delta Theta celebrated the nuptials in Cabo San Lucas. Medical student Laura A. Nicoll (née Welch) lives in beautiful Brooklyn Heights with her husband Jason Nicoll ‘95. Architect Monica Rodriguez Quirch invited several classmates to her Oct. 3, ‘99 wedding. Jeffrey S. Kovel is working on a house for rocker Lenny Kravitz in Miami . Kelly A. Collini currently lives in Portland , and Maria J. Castro and Lourdes Herrero ‘93, BArch ‘96, reside in New York City . Los Angeles-based artist Olivia Booth ‘95 received coverage in the New York Times for public art work entitled “King Museum Mile.” Kerry A. Duffy ‘95 was the maid of honor at her sister’s June 2000 wedding in Somerville , NJ . Bride Lois Duffy ‘92 and Rutgers U. alum Christopher Castellano celebrated their wedding with Diana G. Fox, Dominique M. Lazanski, V. Marie Rodriguez, Stacy Morrison Sefcik ‘95, Mary Alice Lee ‘95, and Loren Sparling ‘95. I attended this wedding but I can’t remember anything that happened after Kerry pushed me aside to catch the bouquet! Congratulations to all the happy couples. May your marital bliss inspire your single friends to drown their sorrows in a pint of Chubby Hubby.

Entrepreneur Heather L. Rothke took over the family clothing business (Guess What’s New?) in Westwood , NJ . Thomas J. Walters reports that he was able to use his knowledge of nutrition in the Peace Corps. He will put his Cornell education to use again as a U. of Rochester medical student. Jodi A. Erlandsen is a legal assistant at ING Baring, Furman Selz LLC. She passed her notary public exam and is planning to take the Series 7 in the near future. Chanda E. Bennett has been accepted to a graduate program in environmental biology at Columbia U. “Both of us are in love with New York City ,” Jodi proclaims. Rachel S. Ravitz lives in NYC’s Upper East Side with her fiancé. She toils for Oppenheimer Funds in their marketing department.

Keep the notes coming. We’d love to hear from anyone who’s never written in before.

— Allie M. Cahill, Class Correspondent