Timothy Briney – 50th Reunion Essay

Timothy Briney

PO Box 129

Old Chatham, New York 12136

brineybriney@yahoo.com

Spouse(s): Dallas Briney (1984)

Child(ren): Stepdaughter Alexandra Heidinger (1971)

Grandchild(ren): Stepgrandchildren Kerr (2001) and Houston (2003)

Education: University of Massachusetts MEd (1975)

Career: High school teacher and coach, camp counselor (9 years); free-lance writer (3 years); VP NY thoroughbred farm (11 years); financial planner (17 years).

Avocations: Our Labrador retriever and her canine “Rally”; croquet; Town government; ballroom dancing; cycling very slowly; being constantly defeated by our 250-year-old house, Winter Harbor Maine; bridge (sometimes with classmates David Howorth and Ned Culver); CrowdJustice (ground floor contributor for Stormy Daniels).

College: Davenport

My achievements since Yale can be summarized most succinctly by a comprehensive list of honors and awards: First Place, 2017 Winter Harbor Christmas Cook-off (spring rolls); Finalist, Old Chatham Hunt Club 4th of July Mixed Doubles, 1988; 2003 Worst Golf by a Guest at Pine Valley; 71.09 bridge masterpoints; 2015 Town Certificate of Merit, for suggesting that discussion of health issues in social situations be limited to one minute.

And despite these, I cannot help but note that my optimism since graduation has waned, and this in spite of Trump’s decision to reverse Obama’s policy and allow elephant tusks and other parts back into the US as trophies.

There are still way too many environmental safeguards and way too many otherwise productive acres set aside for state and national parks; elected officials are not beholden enough to their benefactors; the very, very rich are just not getting richer fast enough; and (most importantly) the ability to receive up-to-the-second status updates on everyone and everything is woefully inadequate.

I did not take as much advantage as I should have of the more serious opportunities available at Yale, but as for critical life lessons, nothing surpasses 29-29 as preparation for surprises and disappointments. Thank you, Frank Champi.