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News Reporters: Rick Shaddock, Chuck Dickemann
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Michael DeFilippo bicycled 1000 miles from Rapid City, SD to St. Louis MO and posted photos in his Journal. Alec Sirken had a bicycle accident and had surgery for a torn ACL. He reports it’s a long slow recovery especially at his age, which he tells people when asked, is “closer to 60 than to 50”. He says he “couldn’t have picked a better summer to be inactive.” A significant number of ‘78s have gathered on Zoom every other week or so to catch up and swap stories of who is doing what during the pandemic. Thanks to the organizational effort of Dave Johnson, it’s been good to see the faces of John Kenney, John Willis, Brion Carroll, Jeff Kaufman, Bob Schreiber, Steve Bradley, Tom Arcario, Doug Arthur, Greg Carr, Rich Cort, Bill DuBois, Ed Blair, Rick Henninger, Bill Milani, Mark Rachlin, Chris Killingstad, Paul LeBlanc, Nick Lovecchio, Tony Pietrafesa, Dick Taylor, Steve DuPont and Steve Lemkau… among some others. Chuck Dickemann and his wife Leslie report that their elder son, Mark, was married on August 7 to Laura Vanegas in Urbanna, Virginia. Mark is a financial policy analyst at FHFA, and Laura is a Sr. Training Coordination Specialist at Mortgage Bankers Association. Allen "Skip" Merriam looks forward to attending Colgate football games. Matt Schwach has a granddaughter named Frankie. Rick Shaddock is Director of the Digital Currency Association in DC and sponsors the annual 911Debate.org. Garry Dominguez is Managing Partner at York Harbor Inn.
I hope everyone has been healthy through the coronavirus pandemic, and that by the time you are reading this many of the restrictions have been lifted so we can enjoy autumn with family and friends in person, not just virtually.
Please post your news on our Facebook group: Colgate1978 or email to Editor@Colgate1978.com
Rick,
We thank Linda Pattillo for her many years of service as Class Editor. Betsy Sweet is running to be Maine's Senator. Art Skaar, a lawyer, is running triathlons. Jay Hancock has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting. Nancy Baldwin is Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond. Dr. Hans Schardey is an MD near Munich helping Germans with the virus. Matt Schwach has a granddaughter coming soon. Allen "Skip" Merriam is enjoying retirement in FL, and Lake George NY during the summer. He attends many football games, even the USAF game in CO.
Clare Kilpatrick Benz wrote in about her special Colgate circle that includes Nancy Baldwin, Sue Hubbard Johnson, Colette Abissi ’82, Nancy Gorman ’80, Janet Schiff-DiFiore ’80, and Liz Reid Wonka ’80. “Once upon a time, there were 7 strong young women who made one of the most important decisions of their lives: to attend Colgate University during its first decade of co-education. All from the Northeast, their diversity lay in their different socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. Among them, they can count at least 7 advanced degrees, in fields ranging from accounting to career counseling. They were not all friends, or even acquaintances, during their time at Colgate. Through their lynchpin, Nancy Gorman ’80, they would all be connected eventually. As their careers and families developed over the years, there were times when 2 or more of these friends resided in the same city (DC, NYC, London). More often than not, however, they stayed in touch through letters, phone calls, and the occasional visit. They attended each other’s weddings, participated in the 2017 Women’s March, organized excursions for significant birthdays, and supported each other through the trials that life too often brings. When the COVID-19 shutdown began, this group felt the need to share their struggles and laughter, as they navigated this new normal. These women, who had felt grateful for the ability to use an electric typewriter for their college term papers, were suddenly embracing the 21st-century technology that is Zoom. Meetings were scheduled 2–3 weeks apart, with sporadic check-ins via What’s App. My, how the value of a liberal arts education and its emphasis on exploration, adaptation, innovation is demonstrated in these times. The group’s conversations, as anticipated from Colgate alumnae, are at times lighthearted, supportive, and at times intense. Deciding to add an intellectual element to their gatherings, they selected a book to read prior to their late June meeting — but not just any book. Mount Pleasant, by Patrice Nganang, transports its readers to the birth of modern Cameroon. Originally written in French, it was translated into English by yet another Colgate alumna, Amy Baram Reid ’86, sister of Liz Reid Wonka ’80.” Clare also shared a photo of a June Zoom gathering in which the women sported Colgate masks. Sue Hubbard Johnson had found Colgate cloth online and proceeded to make masks for the group. “What other institution of higher education can boast about producing THAT combination of skills and talent!?” Clare writes. “When people dare to ask what makes Colgate so unique, outside of its breathtaking campus and challenging academics, direct them to these and other stories about very special women whose friendships will endure for a lifetime. Go, ’Gate!”
Rick Shaddock
PO Box 1711, Fairfield, Iowa 52556
202-829-4444
Editor@Colgate1978.com
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James B. Colgate / President's Society
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