Quentin A. Lawson – 50th Reunion Essay

Quentin A. Lawson

Washington, DC

qlawson04@gmail.com

Spouse(s): Ellen L Quinn (2000)

Career: Attorney, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for 35 years

College: Morse

After Yale and then law school at the University of Michigan, I landed as an attorney in Washington, DC, where I worked at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) until my retirement three years ago. No regrets over my tenure there. Working at an agency that is largely unknown to the public had its advantages at times. My brother-in-law, who was an attorney at the EPA until a few years ago, has far more interesting stories about agency life than I have. I do not yet have a major postretirement pastime.

Since Yale I have maintained contact with a dozen or so of my classmates, longer than any other group of friends. Two have passed away. Will Bogaty and Ralph Sando. They are deeply missed. The remaining members meet each year for the Harvard football game at the Yale Club of NYC, a gathering held together by classmates Jim Schweitzer of DC and Don Galligan of Connecticut.

In 2000, I married for the first time at 53 to a wonderful woman, Ellen Quinn, who now at 65 still runs half marathons. I am, after replacing both knees and back surgery, a lot less mobile than she is. I started playing rugby at Yale in my senior year and continued playing after college until my early 40s, about 15 years longer than I should have, according to my surgeons. My body paid the price. I had a lot of fun, though.

Thanks to Ellen, who was in the Peace Corps in the ’70s, I have traveled far more than I ever would have without her. Places like Jordan and Turkey (before Erdogan). Saudi Arabia (Ellen’s choice—it usually is) may be our next destination. I don’t mind her taking the lead in all of this. Ellen has long had an interest in the Middle East. She remains resistant to Viking Cruise Line trips down the Danube. We hope to see a lot more of the world before our critical parts wear out.

Looking forward to the 50th reunion. I expect to see a fair of amount of incipient decrepitude, but that shouldn’t diminish the fun of meeting old acquaintances. I don’t drink much anymore, though. This is going to be interesting.