ALUMNI CONNECTION
photos by Sabin Gratz
Reunion 2006
The long road back
Hey, man, I’ve got an idea...” Old college friends of Todd Humphreys ’86 know the phrase well. One of them, Guy Rooney ’86, smiles and says, “Nothing good can come from it.” But after three days of pedaling bikes from Boston to Burlington, a crossing over the spine of the Green Mountains thrown in for good measure, the circle of former roommates lured in by Humphreys’ grand plan to return to their twentieth college reunion in style might, grudgingly, admit that just this once his idea was a good one.
“I honestly didn’t think anyone would take me seriously,” Humphreys says while sitting around a table with his friends at the Reunion 2006 Catamount Cookout, a day after they rolled up University Place to Billings in their self-designed green-and-gold bike jerseys. But they signed on—Neil Halliday ’86, Guy Babbitt ’86, Jamie Greenwald ’86, and Ken Rockett ’85, in addition to Humphreys and Rooney—for fun and, just maybe, because none of them wanted to be the first to blink. “When we get together, it’s all about the smack talk,” says Babbitt.
Gathered at the Saturday cookout, the mid-80s-era grads share tales from the long road up from Boston and the longer road back to college days, when they lived in a big house on Pearl and Williams. Will they ride into Burlington under their own power for their twenty-fifth reunion? Tentative nods all around. Rooney sums up the appeal: “It’s just been a great chance for a bunch of guys to spend some time together.”
Spending time together with old friends, it’s a universal appeal that draws alumni back to UVM Reunion Weekend every year. While the bike guys joke around and catch up, the same kind of connections are renewed at other tables under the big white tent at the Catamount Cookout and throughout the weekend’s many activities. The Class of 1991 gathered at the Sigma Phi House to celebrate the life of Cesar Murillo ’91 and support the scholarship fund friends have created in his honor. Professors such as Frank Bryan, Robert Nash, and Huck Gutman drew alums back into the classroom for the “Voices of Vermont” series. From the Class of ’01 back for their fifth reunion to the always spirited Green and Gold alums rallying for their annual luncheon in Cook Commons, some 1,500 alumni and families met up in Burlington for Reunion 2006. Here’s a glimpse of the fun.
See the Reunion section for more photos.
photo by Don Beyer
Dirty hands in Seattle
Good work, good friends common links of Catamounts Care
It’s the opening day of boating season in Seattle. But no Catamounts are to be found on the shores of Lake Washington viewing the parade of boats or watching the college crew races. Instead, UVM alumni have grabbed work gloves and shovels and headed to the Marra Community Farm in South Seattle.
From the Class of ’66 to the Class of ’01, Catamounts greet each other and receive their work assignments—installing irrigation tubing to extend throughout the vegetable plantings. Overcast, 50 degrees, and looking like drizzle, the weather doesn’t dampen the spirits of the alumni and their families as they help prepare the land for Seattle’s Lettuce Link program, which provides produce to local food banks. The alumni not only want to help those less fortunate, but also participate for other reasons.
“My fifth reunion is this year and I can’t go,” laments Anne Gately ’01. “I just need to be with UVMers.” She braves her first experience with gardening for the chance. Gately and friend Mykcal Marshall Gilge ’00 share a commitment to service work and both took part in Alternative Spring Break during their undergrad years.
Claudia Mesch Smith ’90 echoes similar thoughts: “It’s a great family opportunity for community service. The kids are now old enough to join in.” The alumna brought along her husband and three children, including the day’s youngest worker, three-year-old Orson.
Alumni and families quickly get down to the task at hand. At one point, Sara Brown Poore ’78 pauses to wipe the water from her glasses (proof the irrigation system worked) and brushes the dirt from her T-shirt. “I like to garden and love getting dirty,” she muses.
Kathy Biscardi ’88 and Rick Davis ’92 organized the event for alumni to come together, share stories of Vermont days, and work the soil.
“I just wanted to meet fellow UVM alumni,” says Louis Webster ’80. This was the first UVM event he’s been to and it won’t be the last.
—Suzanne Seeley Beyer ’66Caring coast to coast
In addition to the Seattle gardening crew, Catamounts got busy in their own communities during the second annual national service project. Here’s a look at some of
the differences a day made.
Boston: One team cooked and served meals at the Pine Street Inn, another participated in a clean-up for the Dorchester neighborhood where one of Boston’s Citizen Schools is located.
Burlington: Took to the streets in the traditional Green Up Day Vermont statewide effort.
Chicago: Sorted food donations at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, an agency dedicated to fighting community hunger.
Denver: Packed supplies for shipment to World Vision programs, an international relief and development organization with a focus on children.
Los Angeles: Cleaned-up Will Rogers Beach in Pacific Palisades with the Heal the Bay organization.
New York City: Worked with the Central Park Conservancy on a clean-up and landscaping effort.
Philadelphia: Cleaned-up debris along a stretch of the Brandywine River with the Young Friends of the Brandywine Conservancy.
Portland, Me.: Helped out with light repairs and deep cleaning at the Preble Street Lighthouse Teen Shelter.
Providence: Organized food donations at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
San Francisco: Volunteered with the San Francisco Food Bank, which provides food to more than 450 non-profit agencies in the Bay Area.
Boulder to Burlington
William Neidt, new vice president for development and alumni relations, comes to UVM with more than two decades of higher education fundraising experience at the University of Kansas, University of California-Davis, and, most recently, the University of Colorado. Neidt and his wife, Kyle, both of whom are former secondary school teachers, have been married for 31 years and have two children, Lindsey, 24, and Chad, 20.
ON FIRST ENTERING THE DEVELOPMENT FIELD
“Fundraising felt like a glove. If anyone had told me before then that I’d do this for a living, I would have said, ‘You’re crazy.’ I had this image that it was akin to selling snake oil, that you twisted people’s arms until they got mad at you and said, ‘Go away.’ To the contrary, I found that people who did give money were driven to make a difference—they were very noble in their intentions. So for me, working with donors became an opportunity to change the world. For example, private funding for university scholarships, educational programs, and research can have an enormous impact on individuals, communities, and nations. Through philanthropy, people can ‘touch the future’ in a profound way.”
ON THE LESSONS OF BEING A TEACHER
“Frankly, everything I learned about management, I learned teaching junior high kids. If you don’t have your act together with them, then you get eaten alive. You must have really good plans, people skills, and flexibility to be effective with that age group. Teaching is a management style. I think good leaders are good teachers.”
ON THE MOVE TO UVM
“I sensed that the values at UVM matched my values—social justice, concern for the environment, inclusiveness, the town meeting spirit, practicality, and independent thinking. Of course, John Dewey’s philosophy of experiential learning was a key part of my educational training. This is a special place. Burlington is a lot like Boulder—a great community in partnership with a wonderful university. I’m delighted and honored to be here.”
Timely gift
Their years at UVM may be past, but the Class of 2006 and friends pitched in for a class gift to the University that will mark the minutes for thousands of students who will follow them. Led by the Senior Class Council, the Class of 2006 raised funds for the purchase of a clock that will be displayed on a wall in the atrium of the Dudley H. Davis Center. The atrium promises to be one of the most striking and well-used spaces in the student center, and the Class of 2006 clock and plaque of donors will be among its key features. Thanks to all the seniors, led by Gift Chair Heidi Treich ’06, and many others who contributed to the effort. For more on the gift or to pledge support, visit the Class of 2006 home page.
photo by Sally McCay
Raise high the roofbeams
Work is speeding along on the Dudley H. Davis Center, which is scheduled for a fall 2007 opening. Browse uvm.edu/~davis for the latest on the center, Web cams, and a very cool time-lapse video of construction.
ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS
photo by Sabin Gratz
Distinguished Service Award
Joy Lipman Fagan ’66 and
William “Bill” Fagan ’45, MD ’48
SERVICE: Current members of the advisory board for Holocaust Studies at UVM, the Fagans have also served on the advisory board for the College of Arts and Sciences in the past. As strong supporters of the library’s Special Collections, the Fagans have helped procure important manuscripts to deepen the library’s holdings, particularly on subjects such as Vermont and the Holocaust. Bill’s long service to the University includes 34 years on the faculty of the College of Medicine, and both of the Fagans have also been actively involved with their class reunions.
UVM DAYS: From his bachelor’s to his medical degree and on through his residency at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, Bill earned his credentials on the hill in Burlington. As an undergrad he also found time for Phi Delta Theta activities and interfraternity athletics. Joy, who earned her bachelor’s in animal sciences, fondly recalls working with great professors, Bruce Gaylord and Albert Smith among them.
IN THEIR WORDS: “It’s really important to carry on the work of the University. People have to participate and contribute. The University is a wonderful resource for Vermont.” (Joy Lipman Fagan)
photo by Sabin Gratz
Distinguished Service Award
Janet Tudhope Austin ’55 and Edward “Ned” Austin ’57
SERVICE: Janet and Ned Austin’s commitment to the University of Vermont has spanned decades. A former member of UVM’s Board of Trustees, Ned currently serves on the advisory board for the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. Both of the Austins have also been very active with reunion committees through the years.
UVM DAYS: The Austins trace the beginnings of their relationship back to the University, where they first met and started dating. Janet earned her bachelor’s in professional nursing and Ned concentrated his studies on commerce and economics for his degree. Ned is a third-generation UVM alumnus and two of the Austins’ sons (Edward ’79 and Craig ’85) carried on this family tradition.
IN THEIR WORDS: “It’s been part of my family for so long that it comes as a very natural thing for me to be involved and to give back to the University.” (Ned Austin)
photo by Sabin Gratz
Alumni Achievement Award
J. Brooks Buxton ’56
ACHIEVMENT: Brooks Buxton retired several years ago as president of Conoco Arabia, Inc., and returned to his native Vermont after a long career overseas. An avid and highly knowledgeable art collector, Buxton has been a strong supporter of and advisor to the Fleming Museum and Library Special Collections for years. His commitment to the University also includes work on the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences board of advisors and reunion gift committees.
UVM DAYS: Buxton earned his bachelor’s in history and was active as a member of ROTC during his undergraduate years.
IN HIS WORDS: “Your roots somehow reassert themselves, and you want to come back to Vermont…I think many Vermonters have had for generations this concern for their neighbor, for public service, and I think that’s unique in the country.” (See the Winter 2006 issue of VQ on-line for a profile of Buxton.)
Alumni Achievement Award
Richard Sands ’74
ACHIEVEMENT: Richard Sands is CEO of Constellation Brands, a national leader in the wine and spirits industry. Sands’ knowledge of wine and the wine business and dynamic leadership of Constellation Brands has earned wide media attention, from Wine Spectator to Forbes Magazine, in recent years. He has been honored with the “Man of the Year” award from the Wine Enthusiast Group and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award from the Bottle & Cork Club of New York, Inc.
UVM DAYS: A psychology major, Sands worked closely with Professor Richard Musty on his research and scholarship. His outstanding academic work led to earning his bachelor’s summa cum laude and induction into Phi Beta Kappa.
IN HIS WORDS: “My father made a strong case for business being no different than the things I liked about academia. He told me that both involve solving a series of problems, and both affect a lot of people.” (Rochester Business Journal)
photo by Sabin Gratz
Alumni Achievement Award
Leslie Venoliel ’79
ACHIEVEMENT: Leslie Benoliel is executive director of Philadelphia Development Partnership, a private non-profit organization that helps facilitate new business ventures for micro-entrepreneurs and provides general revitalization efforts in some of Philadelphia’s poorest neighborhoods. In addition to her professional achievements, Benoliel has been active as a UVM volunteer, serving as co-chair of her class gift committee and also co-chairing the Ira Allen Society.
UVM DAYS: With a double major in biology and Spanish, Benoliel earned her bachelor’s at the University. The latter focus drove her decision to study abroad for a year in Madrid, an experience she counts as one of the best in her college years. After-class pursuits in Vermont included carving the slopes at Mad River Glen, and Benoliel also fondly recalls ice cream from the original Ben and Jerry’s in a former gas station downtown.
IN HER WORDS: “Having traveled all over the world, I was really struck by the neighborhoods and conditions I saw. When I came home, I realized that there was much work to do in my own backyard.”
photo by Sabin Gratz
Young Alumni Award
Anu Yadav ’96
SERVICE: Anu Yadav serves as the Community Service Committee chair for the Boston Regional Board for UVM alumni. She is also a member of the Young Alumni Committee, a 10th-year Reunion Committee member, and works to help plan career networking events for alumni in both Boston and Vermont.
UVM DAYS: Yadav was a double major in history and English, and took advantage of the wide variety of course options in the College of Arts and Sciences. Professor Harry Orth inspired her to focus her studies on English and Professor James Overfield was another key mentor, helping to guide her history honors thesis. Yadav was also active as a student trustee on the UVM Board of Trustees.
IN HER WORDS: “I hope that by supporting UVM and sharing my experiences with fellow alumni, potential friends, parents, and students, I am able to show them what an amazing and unique experience UVM has to offer.”
Young Alumni Award
Sarah Pitlak ’99
SERVICE: Sarah Pitlak has had a major role in building strong participation in young alumni events in Greater Boston. In addition to chairing numerous young alumni events in Boston, Pitlak also helps her classmates keep up on the latest news through her volunteer work as secretary for the Class of 1999’s Vermont Quarterly classnotes.
UVM DAYS: Pitlak was a Human Development and Family Studies major, in which Larry Shelton was her advisor and a favorite professor. She was a founding member of the Student Ambassadors, a group that acted as hosts at official University functions and shared their experiences and views about current issues on campus. And she got her UVM alumni volunteer work started early as a leading member of the Senior Class Council.
IN HER WORDS: “Since graduating I have met alums who have touched my life in such a positive way. Being involved with UVM has given me opportunities to meet these new people and reunite with the old.”
photo by Sabin Gratz
Young Alumni Award
Erin Wilson ’01
SERVICE: Erin Wilson was a member of the Young Alumni Committee before becoming co-chair of her 5th Reunion Committee and works hard to reach out to fellow alums and help develop alumni events. Wilson is also a member of the Boston regional events committee and her work was integral in planning a very successful Boston Career Exploration event.
UVM DAYS: Though her studies were focused on business and marketing, Wilson joins generations of UVM students in putting Frank Bryan, political science, at the top of her list of favorite professors. A Tri Delt sister, Wilson got her start with doing volunteer work in support of UVM as a member of her Senior Class Council.
IN HER WORDS: “Even after I graduated from UVM, my connection to the University has helped me in my post-undergrad endeavors. I believe that UVM has a lot to offer to its students, but the University also needs our help due to limited state funding. UVM has had a positive influence on my life and I hope that more people can experience the same thing.”
(for UVM staff)