Apr 1999

A letter from Thomas Guterbock raises an important issue. Guterbock, writing from his Charlottesville, Virginia, home, reported that he became a father again on September 16, 1998, when his wife Bernice gave birth to daughter Alexandra. He continued: “And just three weeks later I became a grandfather when my eldest daughter, Sara, brought Maia Guterbock into the world.” Now, aside from the fact that this was just too much good news and too many names for one letter, here’s the issue: In accordance with Yale’s research mission, I think every birth announcement from the class should be accompanied by a notation as to whether it was Viagra-assisted. No doubt Pfizer would be willing to make a sizable donation to the class fund for such information.

In other news, Roy Niedermayer wrote from Bethesda, Maryland, to report that his son Aaron was recognized as a Maryland Distinguished Scholar and accepted early at Duke. While congratulations surely are in order, should we surmise that this is a form of subtle pressure on Yale’s admission office? Otherwise, should we care?

It seems that David Johnson, a Chevy Chase, Maryland, physician, also is feeling a bit “in our face” these days. He wrote to report that his daughter Emily is a freshman at Princeton, where she is rowing for the women’s lightweight crew. He added this parenthetical comment: “Yale doesn’t have one (a lightweight women’s crew) for fear of promoting eating disorders in the women, even though Yale has a lightweight team for men. This sexist message, unfortunately, was heard loud and clear. Princeton’s gain, Yale’s loss.” Ouch! On the other hand, Princeton is in greater need of help.

The Maryland contingent was especially communicative this month, as David Tufaromade his first contribution since graduation. His letter, written last October, reported that he had attended the inauguration of Russell Osgood as the new president of Grinnell College. Osgood, who for the prior ten years was Cornell Law School’s dean, has four children, including Josiah, a graduate of Yale College and now a graduate student in classics at Yale.

Tufaro on himself: “My wife Sharon and I have three daughters: Theresa, a senior in high school; Jennifer (15); and Christina, (11). If I can make it through 13 continuous teenage years with girls, I know I can handle any kind of adversity in the world. My wife Sharon, trained as a social worker, opened a toy store in our neighborhood in Baltimore six years ago. My contribution to the cause is the store’s name (Shananigan’s), derived from Sharon and her partner Nancy’s names.

“Having left my legal training far in the background, I am one of the founders of Summit Properties, an apartment development company operating on the east coast, which we took public in 1994. I am active on a volunteer basis in affordable housing and community planning issues in Baltimore.”

Arriving via email was this interesting dispatch from the other coast: “Kevin McKeownreports electoral victory from Santa Monica, California, where he has been seated as the newest city council member. He successfully outpolled the incumbent mayor, ‘despite heavy opposition that included redbaiting,’ opined The Nation (November 23, 1998). Those who know him from WYBC days may speculate he ran to get back on the radio — Santa Monica city council meetings are broadcast regionally on Los Angeles NPR powerhouse KCRW. More at his Web site, (www.mckeown.net).”

Here in Louisville we are involved in an interesting project called “Bulldogs in the Bluegrass.” The Yale Club of Kentucky has raised money to support 24 Yale students in summer jobs in the area, in the hope that they might eventually consider Louisville as a place to live. Most of the jobs are in nonprofit agencies, but there are a few private-sector positions as well. The response has been wonderful. If you are interested in learning more about the program, check out the Web site at (bulldogsinthebluegrass.com).

Finally, by the time you read this, plans will be finalized for our 30th Reunion, May 27-31. If you haven’t planned on making it yet, please do. And if you haven’t made a reunion gift, please consider that as well. Until next month, y’all take it easy.