CLASS NOTESJanuary-February 2006

   Dick Birnie, Chairman of Dartmouth Earth Science Department and one of the schools most popular teachers, is retiring after 31 years, phasing out over the next three years. Among many other honors, last spring Dick was recognized with the Undergraduate Council's Profiles in Excellence Teaching Award.

In what may a first, one of our classmates is replacing another as U.S. Ambassador to the same country. The specifics – Jim Cason, former head of the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba, became Ambassador to Paraguay in November, following in the footsteps of John Keane. No word yet on John's next posting.

Gary Jefferson is well into his last year as chair of the Economics Department at Brandeis University. The National Science Foundation has also agreed to continue supporting Gary's work in industrial research and development in China, the country that has captured his interest since Dartmouth sent him to teach at the Chinese University of Hong Kong now nearly 40 years ago! Gary's wife Leslie is coordinator of the alumni career counseling program at Tufts. Daughters Sarah and Annie are at Lehigh and Washington University, and Sam, is, according to Gary, "a quintessential little jock, both physically and tempermentally."

Chris Sanger lives two lives. In Washington D.C. he is Executive VP and General Counsel for Transwestern Commercial Services, a national real estate brokerage, mortgage banking, property/asset management and investment firm headquartered in Houston. But every other week he commutes to Tucson, Arizona where Chris "pretends I'm rerired." Daughter Amy '94 will be married next Spring. And last April Chris and Carolyn ran into Mr. and Mrs. Rich Daly, also Tucson residents, while on an expedition cruise in Baja Mexico.

Dr. Bill Ramos has a flourishing medical practice, mostly performing abortions. "It's a wonderful feeling to be able to help women at such a vulnerable time in their lives," Bill says. Bill also serves as Associate Professor at the University Nevada School of Medicine. Bill's wife, Judi, is over 3 years out from her breast cancer diagnosis and is disease free. And he's happy to report that "all 7 children (3 natural & 4 step) and 5 grandchildren doing well. Even the ex-wife is well. I'm fine too. Life is good."

Bob Baldwin has a small CPA practice in picturesque Camden, Maine. That endeavor enables him to ski in the winter, sail the Maine coast in the summer and maintain a passion for all things Italian that traces back to his experience as an American Field Service exchange student. He and Jan also host young people from around the world as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

Share your latest news with friends, and watch for more info on our 40th Reunion over Memorial Day Weekend.

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