1984

Our deadline for this column is Sept. 12 and Alisa and I are filled with anxiety for classmates and their families working in the financial district of New York, in the Pentagon. By the time you read this, we will know more about those touched by the terrible events of yesterday. I pray that you and your loved ones were spared. I ask all classmates and their families to send us word of your situations. I know the entire class joins me in sending its support to all who were affected. Please let us know how we can be of assistance.

We do have some early news. Steve DeKrey (sdekrey@ust.hk) wrote, “I am at Kellogg now with our EMBA students from Hong Kong. We were shocked by the news of the tragic events yesterday but are working to keep a normal teaching schedule. Faculty include Jeanne Brett and Lakshman Krisnamurthi, pros in the field, and they have been able to keep our Kellogg executive program on track. Kellogg’s condolences go to all who are touched by these terrible events.”

I was relieve to receive this short e-mail from Pam Hendrickson (pamela.Hendrickson@jpmorgan.com): “My family and I are safe but we have many friends who have been terribly impacted by this. New York is like a ghost town today and we are spending most of our time accounting for all of our personnel and trying to reassure everyone that while the U.S. financial markets are impacted, we are functional — though heartbroken. John Youngblood is OK too. Keep us in your thoughts.”

Then from John Youngblood (john.youngblood@moorecap.com): “Our family and close friends so far don’t appear to have losses, but before this is through I doubt if any of us are more than one degree of separation from someone grieving. I had a perfect view from my Midtown office of the tragedy as it unfolded and it was devastating to witness. I hope that our classmates are safe.”

Joan Bolz Cleary (JoanCleary@aol.com) said, “I hope this letter finds you safe. My sister forwarded news that David Lynn, who normally commuyes into Manhattan, was at home with bronchitis.”

From John Edelman (johnedelman@edelman.com): “I am alive and well. We are grateful and fortunate that all of our 500+ Edelman employees in our three NY locations and our D.C. location are safe. In my role with the company, I oversee the counseling and the employee assistance programs for our U.S. employees. Thanks and my prayers are with all our classmates and their families and friends.”

Peggy Bertelsen Hampton (mmbert@yahoo.com) wrote, “I thank God that it appears that my friends and family have survived this tragedy. The situation is unfortunately less clear for some business colleagues. I just returned from New York this morning. On Sept. 11, I flew into LaGuardia on American Airline’s 6 a.m. flight from Chicago. The pilot used the southern approach to LGA, so we had a beautiful view of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and of course, the World Trade Center — at approximately 8:35 a.m., just minutes before the first plane hit 1WTC. I wonder if my flight was one of the last to pass the towers. By the time we landed, smoke and fire were billowing out of 1WTC.

“The next two days were a maze of trains, no planes or automobiles. Unable to get across the Triboro bridge, I found myself in the Bronx, then in Westchester. I tried to donate blood but Westchester hospitals had reached capacity. On Wednesday afternoon, I rented a car and drove back to Chicago. To their great credit, everyone I encountered was wonderful, regardless of their personal worries. I pray that all our Kellogg classmates have survived this tragedy.”

Dan Petersen (dan.peterson@zsassociates.com) wrote: “I am in Evanston (work) and Glenview (home), and fine. I hope all my classmates are OK.”

Fr. Michael Mandala, S.J. (mandalasj@yahoo.com) sent word from California: “Thanks for your concerned e-mail. It would be good if you could keep us all posted on information you get. Also, let’s pray for our country. The perpetrators will be brought to justice, I have no doubt. However, I fear that as the days go on, shock will turn to anger and a desire for vengeance. All of our prejudices and xenophobia will surface. I pray that rational heads prevail.”

Ben Weiner (Mweiner95@aol.com)reported, “I am OK in the midst of this craziness. Fortunately I was not traveling or in the city for a meeting that day (our offices are in Mahwah, N.J.).” He sends best wishes.

Elizabeth Barrow Brueggeman (brueggeman@houston.rr.com) wrote to learn of the whereabouts of classmates. She added, “On our front, we have recently moved back to Houston from Austin. I am still at home raising three boys, ages 8, 11 and almost 13. I keep very busy with homework and carpool duties to various sports events.”

Betsy Curtis Van Loon e-mailed in her concerns. “My family and I are fine here in Connecticut. We are in the Hartford area and far enough from New York to feel safe. I do find that we are surrounded by a web of stories. We are not directly affected but touched by so many we know. (ECVANLOON@aol.com)

Luc Clarys wrote, “I hope that no one is affected by this tragedy. I am currently travelling in the Middle East and it is interesting to reflect on the reactions of the people here, but I only want to do this later. Now, we should only mourn those that have died in this terrible event.” (clarys@clama.com)

Even now I am beginning to think of time as “before the attack” and “after the attack.” During that time when we were going about our business as usual, we had this news from classmates.

Katherine Ventres Canipelli wrote to update us. “In 1996 I left 12 years of Jacksonville humidity behind and leapt into new challenges in Chicago. (Unfortunately, my husband Joe had to stay behind to run his business.) In 1998, I jumped to Houston. In 1999, Atlanta beckoned. In 2000, after Atlanta came a few months in Jacksonville, looking for the next stage to play. And now, after racking up 500K+ frequent flier miles, I’m settling in New Haven, Conn., where I work as vice president of marketing communications for G-Log, a wild little enterprise software company trying to change how the world manages its freight transportation. And, most remarkably, Joe is moving up here this week! After five-and-a-half years of commuting long-distance, we are reunited!” Their address: Katherine and Joe Canipelli, 17 Hughes Place, New Haven, CT 06512. Their home phone number is 203.624.8096. Katherine’s e-mail address is KCanipelli@glog.com.

Katherine said she spent three months as Catherine Morales’ houseguest in Rowayton, Conn., Catherine returned from her four-year stint in London last summer and is in New York City with American Management Systems. “She is well, a grandmother of three lovely little girls, and a very gracious friend!”

I caught up with Mark Bachmann, with whom I worked at Quaker Oats after Kellogg. Mark, Linda, Matthew (who is in 9th grade) and daughter Jamie (6th grade) are enjoying Southern hospitality. They live in East Cobb, Ga., where Mark serves as president of Enforcer Products, a division of National Services Industry. Mark’s company manufacturers and distributes cleaning and maintenance chemicals to retailers like Home Depot and True Value Hardware stores. “National bought the business four years ago from three entrepreneurs who retired at the end of May. I came in as EVP of operations to help them grow. They ask me to take over as president and I’m drawing on my experiences to build the brands and the business.” Mark’s e-mail address is mark.bachmann@enforcer.com.

Mark saw Kevin McCole, his wife, Jane, and their family on a plane out of O’Hare. Kevin is with HBO healthcare consulting in River Forest.

Howard Friedman wrote to say he and his family are all OK, but shared his questions and concerns for classmates. “I live in Westport, Conn., with my wife, Paula (Litner), and sons Daniel,10, and Jeremy, 7. We’ve been in Connecticut since ’88. Paula and I met at Quaker -- although we did not date until much later. Connecticut is a fine place. The schools are terrific and Westport has some wonderful attributes -- a public beach, golf course, pool, sailing club, etc. Up until July 6, I worked as a vice president for a division of Reed-Elsevier (a $5 billion international media company). I ran a portfolio of tradeshow events. Reed divested my portfolio and eliminated my position. I negotiated a severance arrangement instead of moving to Canada. The departure is a good thing -- I have needed a change for a while. I’m looking to lead a B2B services-based organization as general manager or vice president of marketing. There is really no specific industry classification. Ideally the next job will be in Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. or the NY/CT area. I’m tapping Kellogg resources as well as the Kellogg network ƒ among other things. Paula is director of Ryan Research & Marketing Insights at Ryan Partnership in Westport, Conn. My e-mail address ishowardf@optonline.net.”

Howard keeps in touch with Steve Zales, Manny Kostas, Rick Smilow and Tracey Colter McCurrach. “I’ve recently heard from Tot Kunda, Terrie Stengel and Mike Mondello as well.”

Alisa Levy Klein sends news from Riverwoods, Ill. Scott Goodman’s co-workers have gotten a lot of laughs out of the last issue of Kellogg World. Apparently they think the early ’80s sweater in the published picture was less than chic. I’m glad Scott still has that great sense of humor. He reports that life has been good. After raising their children in Chicago for the past 12 years, Scott and his wife, Nancy, decided to move to the north suburbs and landed in Highland Park. Scott and Nancy have been married for 14 years and have one daughter, 12, and two sons, 10 and 5.

Paulette Williams writes, “We left Tampa, Fla., in 1999 and after two years in Princeton, N.J., I now feel part of the community. We are pleased with the tremendous resources available here for our oldest son who has autism. I am now in my sixth year as a full-time stay-at-home mom, with sons Alex, 9, and Nathan, 6. It was tough at first, not having an impressive title and business cards to pass out, but I have gotten over that. Besides, my marketing training and background came in handy in putting together a flyer, newspaper ad, posters and road signs for a neighborhood garage sale. The sale was a huge success and I will be sure to list it as one of my big accomplishments for 2001!”

Alisa often runs into Donna Drebin Abosch at our elementary school here in Deerfield, Ill. She and Ken ’83 have three sons, ages 12, 10 and 7. Donna is another busy stay-at-home mom. She is active in the PTO as the vice president of fund raising. If you aren’t familiar with school fund raising these days, let me assure you that it’s more than just bake sales. Although Donna won’t take any credit for it, during her tenure, our PTO has raised many thousands of dollars for our children’s school.

Alisa came across a quote in a recent Chicago Tribune business section article about one of our classmates. “Stan Day is a prototypical self-made businessman, having built a big international company based on an idea he and some of his friends had. A lifelong bike fanatic, Day developed an easy-to-use bicycle gearshift called Grip Shift. Distributed over the past 13 years through Day’s Chicago-based company, Sram Corp., the shifting system found buyers in the U.S. and abroad and paved the way for Sram to develop a range of other bicycle components.”

In closing, we are starting a search for a new class representative. Anyone who would enjoy keeping in touch with classmates and writing a column is urged to contact Katie and Alisa. Meanwhile, we hold you all in our hearts and hope that you and your extended family and friends find solace during the weeks ahead.