1994

Hello everyone! I hope that you are all doing well and looking forward to spring. First let me apologize for the lack of news in the last issue. I was writing the column on Sept. 10 and after the events of the next day, my heart and mind just were not into finishing it in time.

After the tragedy, I heard from many of you, checking in and inquiring about fellow classmates. I had a number of requests for people’s contact information and would encourage everyone to provide updated information to Kellogg so that we can remain or get back in touch with each other. A number of people asked about an email contact list. While there is no formal email directory for our class, I’d be happy to keep a simple spreadsheet for distribution. If interested, please send me your current e-mail address.

Now for our news. Thanks to several members of Section 64 for writing with some updates! How about the rest of you? Chris Barnes wrote, in his words, “the acquisition of Tucker Anthony Sutro by Royal Bank of Canada was completed on Oct.31. The Denver office and most of the capital markets operations were casualties of the integration process and a less than robust investment banking climate. As a result, I am beginning a new leg of my career. I have left investment banking and joined the ranks in the leveraged buyout world. For a variety of reasons, I believe now is a good time to be an equity investor. My new home is with Gallagher Enterprises, a Denver-based LBO firm.” Chris lives with his wife Melissa (Edison ’93) and son Rowan in Denver.

Thank you to Matt Milner for writing with an update. Matt is living in New York and recently went to Jamie Freundlich’s 35th birthday party. It was a James Bond theme and in addition to Matt, Tim Foufas, Carlos Anguila, Gonzalo Santos helped Jamie celebrate. Matt has started an entertainment company called Critical Mercury and in his words “we’re doing everything from TV and radio shows to book, movies, everything. Our first project is an e-mail service called GuyCritical.com, ‘Where Women Can Ask Guys ANYTHING...’ Women’s questions are answered, via e-mail, by regular guys who sign up from around the world to have fun and mingle with the opposite sex. We launched in late November and we’re growing like crazy. Next we’re doing the TV show. Beyond that, my first book, a novel called Guy Critical is coming out in 2002. It’s a romantic comedy.” Sounds like a fun way to spend the day.

Kate (Dello Stritto) and Mike Schoenle just returned to the states after a three-year stint in London. They returned to the Detroit area in December and are settling back into their home in Plymouth, Mich., with their three children, Joseph, Grace and David.

Speaking of London, Scott Peterson has taken an ex-pat assignment with General Mills and relocated from Minneapolis to London. He is living in Knightsbridge in the western part of central London. Since arriving, Scott has seen classmates Yves Hanania, Levin van Marke, Chris Ballows, and Linda Addeson ’93. Scott’s new role involves a mix of marketing, business development and general management. His biggest task to date was launching Bugles snacks into the U.K. market. His efforts paid off and Bugles were named “Bagged Snack of the Year” by the leading trade magazine! If you are in London or have any friends/contacts for Scott, he would much appreciate hearing from you! His e-mail address is scott.peterson@genmills.com.

Thanks to Brad Blevins for writing with an update (it would be great to hear from the rest of my outdoor adventure, Michigan bike trip group)! After staying in Chicago for two years with Baxter, Brad moved to Nashville, where he says that he does not miss the Midwestern winters (I hear you!). Brad and his wife Kim are keeping busy with their three boys — the youngest, Briggs, was born in September. On the work front, Brad recently became president of Blevins, Inc., a family-owned wholesale supply business headquartered in Nashville. He is also running a related manufacturing business in Virginia which is engaged primarily in steel fabrication.

Joao Silva wrote with news. In September he met several classmates for dinner near Sinatra, on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal. At dinner were Joao, Pierluigi Antonelli, Gian Maria Restelli della Fratta and Jose Campos ’93. Joao is working in the Internet banking department in a Portuguese bank and his daughter Carolina (3) started nursery school in September. Joao also provided some updates on his dinner companions: Pierluigi is a commercial head for Bristol Myers Squib in Portugal. His wife and twins relocated to Portugal in January. Gian Maria has two kids and is working for Cap Gemini – Ernst & Young in Milan, Italy.

It was a busy year for our classmates with respect to weddings and babies! Doug Gillespie was married in September. He and his wife Serena live in San Francisco. Art Kessler was married in October in Miami, Fla., and from what I hear was surrounded by Kellogg classmates. Amy and Mark Lucas welcomed their second daughter, Martha, in May. They live in Minneapolis and Mark is now working for his family’s real estate development firm and enjoying a life without much travel. Susan (Osborn) Baskin is a very busy woman! She had her fourth and final baby (her words), Virginia Frances Baskin, last May. She joins twin brothers Wiley and Liam and big sister Terrill. While not busy with their four kids, Susan and Steve’s camp is thriving. They enjoy living on a lake and water-ski most evenings after work. I wish I could say the same. They welcome all visitors to their home/camp outside of Austin. Lisa and Mike Axelrod were joined by daughter Emily Barbara in July. They live with their son Ben in Evanston, just a stone’s throw from Kellogg. Mike is working in strategy and business development for Kraft and Lisa is taking some time to be home with Ben and Emily. Lisa sees Catherine (Craighead) Briggs around town. Catherine lives with husband Gary and her twin boys in Wilmette, but will be relocating to San Francisco.

Something must have been in the water last spring because the first week of December was a productive one for our class! Five babies (that I know of) were born that very week!

Starting first thing in the morning on Dec. 2, Connie (Gute) and Jeff Walsh ’93 welcomed their second daughter, Abigail Gute Walsh to the family. They live with daughter Katie in Winchester, Mass. Connie has introduced the Language Stars childhood foreign language program to Boston (expanding from Chicago). Also on Dec. 2, Bruce and Alycia (Krentz) Angus had their second daughter. Bridget Sara Angus joins big sister Sophie at home in Connecticut.

A few days later, it was my turn. On Dec. 4, Steve and I were thrilled with the arrival of Hattie Matilda Kahl. Hattie followed in big brother Henry’s footsteps by arriving seven weeks early. At least this time we expected it, as I had been sentenced to nine weeks of complete bed rest. Hattie was little but healthy and came home after a short hospital stay. Steve and I also live in Winchester, Mass., just a stone’s throw from Connie and Jeff. I am home with both kids for now and enjoying just being able to be up and around!

Later that same week, I got exciting news from my Kellogg roommate, Amy Rose. Amy and her husband Allen Weinberg had their first baby, Jack Owen Weinberg, on Dec. 7. The trio lives in New York City where they recently bought an apartment on the upper west side. After taking maternity leave, Amy is returning to Avon on a part-time basis.

The week ended Dec. 8 with the birth of daughter Mae to Missy (Magnussen) and Paul Wallace. Paul and Missy live in Nashville with Charlotte, William and Mae. They moved to Nashville from New York last year.

That is it for the news this time. Please continue to keep us all updated with anything you’d like to share. And if you want to join an e-mail list, please let me know!