Dec 2002

Hello, all of you classmates. I hope you can tear yourselves away from the early-bird specials (assuming we’re all 55 now) long enough to read these reports from our colleagues. I seem to sense a trend of increased communication accompanied by apologies for remaining silent for so long. Are we longing for the good old days? Whatever, here’s a note from the irrepressible Michael Harrington. “On average, I report in to YAM once a decade. Having been silent since the 1980s, I’m overdue, I suppose. A recent visit with my TD roommate from sophomore year, William W. ‘Rusty’ Park, is the occasion of this report.

”When he was in Houston a few weeks ago to address an arbitration seminar, Rusty stopped by my office for coffee. We visited for about an hour. Having seen each other only once since graduation, we had a good deal to catch up on. Rusty is professor of law at Boston University and a specialist in arbitration law with a world-class reputation. I’m in my 30th year as a corporate finance and securities lawyer with Vinson & Elkins. Still single, Rusty seems to be enjoying life immensely. Maybe there’s a connection there.

“After an absence from New Haven of 29 years, I’ve visited the Yale campus a half dozen times now since 1998, either to attend AYA functions as a representative of the Yale Club of Houston or to see my daughter Averill, who’s in the Class of ’03. I’m much impressed with the efforts of the Levin administration to renovate and restore the residential colleges, most recently my old college, Timothy Dwight.”

Here’s one from Dick Senechal (BK ’69, ’74MArch). “Mary Margaret and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary this summer. We’re thoroughly enjoying our empty nest, which has been in Dallas for the last two years. This year we have daughters on both coasts and both in school again, somewhat to our surprise. Sarah, our confirmed California girl, is a junior at USC. Ann (BK ’98), after four years in California, where she was part of the Tokyo Disney Seas development team, has returned to Yale this fall to begin work on her MBA. She’s thrilled to be back and we’re delighted to have an excuse to visit New Haven once again. Best wishes to all.”

And this note arrived some time ago from Frank Aronson, whose handwriting would seem more appropriate for the medical profession — so I apologize in advance, Frank, for any mistaken translations. “As of June 1, 2001, I joined the law firm of Posternak, Blankstein and Lund LLP as a partner, after 29 years at my present firm. Also, daughter #1 (of three), Elyssa (TD ’95), will be married this coming May to Dr. Randall Pellish. She received her MD degree from UMass Medical School in June ’01.”

Finally, on a personal note, by son Aaron is a freshman at Indiana University, according to the Princeton Review the top party school in the country. (Of course, one should discount any judgment of that sort attached to the Princeton name.) For those of you who may wonder if he was involved in the porn movie filmed in one of the IU dorms, I must, alas, answer in the negative.

Happy Holidays and New Year to all.