Happy New Year, 99s!
2007 has drawn to a close, and it's hard to believe that yet another year has flown by so quickly. Looking back, this past year has been quite eventful. We have seen wildfires in California and continued difficulties in Iraq on the one hand, and the Red Sox winning another World Series on the other. Closer to home, we have seen the addition of 8 new Trustee positions, which has stimulated debate in our alumni community. We have also lost one of our classmates, Mango Wangel, last summer. The year ahead also promises to be full, with many of us focused on the run-up to the 2008 Presidential election and only 6 more months until we return to Hanover to celebrate our 10th year reunion.
Starting the New Year on a good note, I am happy to write that several of us have recently become proud parents. Kristin Lucas Robillard and her husband Jim welcomed their new son, Gregory Leo Robillard (6lbs, 5oz), into the world at 9.46pm on 4 March 2007. Kristin writes that "Leo is very alert and active and loves being out and about in Manhattan". Leo is in good company, with new cousins William Denn (5lbs, 2oz) and Quinn Corcoran (5lbs, 4oz) were born on 4 July in Winnetka, Illinois, making their parents, Tom Reynolds and his wife Emily, very proud indeed. On 16 August, Jennifer (Keller) Pettit and her husband Creed were blessed with the healthy arrival of Addison Annadel Pearl (6lbs, 3oz) and Hayden Elizabeth Grace (5lbs, 9oz). Kristen adds that "Jen and Creed are thrilled with their beautiful California girls". Carolyn Wachsman writes that she has also welcomed a new addition to her family. On 14 August, Carolyn and husband Dan Stone became the proud parents of Adam Nathaniel Stone in Raleigh, North Carolina. Congratulations to you all!
We also have quite a lot of wedding news to share. Lauren Goody writes that Risana Zitha was married to Nobantu Mbeki (Bryn Mawr '99) in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains in the Free State region of South Africa. The event was was well-attended by Dartmouth alums from several classes including: Lauren and her husband Michael Goody '98, Jonah Sonnenborn, Katie (Stone) Sonnenborn '00, Jennifer Fulton, Don Phillibert, Scott Milne, Christian Bateson and his wife Connie, Scotty McConnaughey, Claire Riley, Rob Leathern '97, Adam Forste '00, and Jose Pluto and his wife Rachel ('99). Describing her experience, Lauren writes: "Several of us traveled around South Africa before and after the wedding, visiting the beautiful areas of Cape Town, Durban, George, and Kruger National Park, where during our stay in the 'bush' for our safari, the temperature reached over 40 degrees Celsius!" Congratulations, Risana, and best of luck to you both!
Jason Whaley also has wedding news to report. On June 9, Jason and Meredeth were married at a beautiful ceremony in Sierra Madre, California. A strong Dartmouth contingent joined in the celebration, including: Jarrod Tisdell, Chad Sclove '97, Josh Bandur, Jen Lawinski, Dan Jordan, and Michael Bruno. Jason writes that "Meredith and I are now living in New York, where we love seeing alums that are passing through town".
That's all the news for now. I wish you all the very best in the New Year, and I look forward to sharing news with you again soon!
Tony Perry
tony.perry.99@alum.dartmouth.org