I may have been on vacation for the last month, but the list of achievements for the class of ’99 stops for no man. Special thanks go to Kendra Kosko for filling in while I was gone. On to the news…
As promised, news of two more engagements has made its way to my blitz account. Congratulations to Brian Salazar who, after a memorable proposal during the Aire’s "Sing Out" on the steps of Dartmouth Hall, is scheduled to marry Courtney Nugent (a Holy Cross graduate) next year. Former Dartmouth drama star Marc Bruni, currently working for Jerry Zaks ’67 on his Broadway production of Epic Proportions, is scheduled to be the best man. At press time, long-time friend Kyle Marchesseault had also agreed to fill in as a cage-dancer at the reception should his services be required. Congratulations also go out to Heather Harnett and Chris Ross who became engaged to be married in early September. Both are currently living in New York where Chris is a reinsurance broker and Heather is working as a first grade teacher. Make sure you send them a note to say good luck!
Also in New York are Filip Troicki, Damali Rhett, and Seth Mensah. Filip obtained his US citizenship, got a job at an internet advertising company as an account coordinator, and married a German girl — all in one week in August. A more formal church wedding will take place in Berlin next summer. Can anyone see a trend developing here? Damali writes that she will be taking the big plunge as she moves from Washington DC to NYC to work for Ketchum Public Relations Worldwide in their FirstUSA brand group. Seth is attending the Albany Medical College on a full-tuition scholarship. After school, he plans on going back to Ghana, where he is from, to help ease the health crisis.
One of the more interesting notes I received this month is from Kara Shane ’98, who wrote to update me on the status of co-workers Jessica Kelley and David Sussman in the Marshall Islands. Jess and Dave, who are teaching at the Catholic High School, are now coaching softball, swimming, fishing, and learning Marshallese in the little time they have outside the classroom. Kara writes, "We are all enjoying life here on these tiny atolls. The island we live on is a couple hundred feet wide and about a mile long. The lagoon is crystal blue and beautiful and the temperature here is about 80-85 everyday." Tough life, isn’t it?
Also, trying his hand at frolicking in the wilderness is Todd Griset, who spent the summer living outdoors in New Hamphire’s Sandwich Range. Todd recalls, "I wanted to increase the amount of the ‘granite of New Hampshire’ in my muscles in my brain. One day on the rocky summit of Mt. Chocorua, I ran into Andy Butterworth who was out for a day hike." John Fowler opted for an outdoor job over a relaxing vacation and is currently working for the National Park Service on a crew cleaning trees for a new trail in Katmai National Park on the Alaska Peninsula.
There is a lot more for next month, but they only give me so much space. If any of you are in the DC area, feel free to stop by and say hi. There are a bunch of ‘99s down here and we’re always willing to go out for a mini-reunion on a whim. Keep the updates coming, and note the new address.
Cheers.
Seth Kelly,
seth.kelly.99@alum.dartmouth.org