We had the largest turnout in recent memory for a social (outside of the Easthampton area) with 62 people. I selected the Cambridge Brewing Company based on the recommendation of alum Jared Brewer. Although we were mixed in with other patrons, and I forgot nametags, our waitress, Betsy, was very accommodating and did an outstanding job. One of the nice things they offered were beer towers (tall glasses with a spout at the bottom that held 7 beers each). Betsy put them out on the bar and alumni were able to go pour their own beers whenever they wanted instead of having to go to the bar to order. Jared Brewer also introduced us to Hal A Peno beer (yes, beer flavored with jalapeno peppers). Definitely a bit on the spicy side. I think it would be good with chili or nachos.
We had a good mix of people representing a wide range of classes:
Michael Alogna ’57 seemed to have a great time, even posing for pictures with the young alums. At the end of the night, he was hanging out with Glenn Herosian ’68.
Betsy Assoumou ’05 was interested about how to become a Reunion Volunteer and talked to Jessica Kansas about it.
Sidney Baptista ’05 came to Williston for four years from Epiphany School. He went back to teach for one year at Epiphany and also serves on the board for an orphanage in Kenya with fellow Williston alum Carey Issenberg.
The Bolte clan (Bryan ’04, Jennifer ’03, Kelly ’08, Bryan’s wife Katrina) were there as were Kyra Brown ’11, Matt Bzdel ’11, Lydia Stinson ’11, Lydia Moss ’11, Walter McLaughlin ’12, Julia Midland ’10, who are mostly in their senior years of college. Kyra cracked me up by producing her Williston ID.
The Classes of 2009 and 2008 were well represented: Andrew Hurd ’09, Josh Parad ’09, Rob Jeffway ’08, Scott Kessler ’08, Ali Canty ’08, Megan Green ’08, and Casey Lowth ’08 were all there. Ali was on her way to Western Mass this past weekend to do some leaf peeping. And Brittany Mayer ’10 was there to reconnect with friend Scott Kessler.
David Haggerty-Rahn ’09 is now a behavioral therapist, working with autistic children. He chatted with Amy Ziter ’08, who is getting her masters in mechanical engineering and previously worked as a geophysicist. Amy is from Westfield, MA and was a day student at Williston.
Chelsey ’07 and Joe ‘06 Wold said they are planning on attending the alumni ice hockey game in December. They just celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary.
A group of 80s classmates came for drinks and some dinner: Andrew Ivey ’80, Curt McLeod ’80, Owen Mael ’79, Stuart Matthews ’80, Jennifer McLeod Sleeper ’78, Heather Pooley ’88, Elizabeth Bienfang ’88.
Andrea Levy ’81 is from Portland, OR but saw this event online and she happened to be in the Boston area at the same time. I showed Andrea the EverTrue app and she was excited to get connected with our classmates and with people in the Portland area.
I found out that Matt Kearns ’89 now works for an alternative energy company. He grew up in Amherst and went to Colby College after Williston.
Tom “TK” Kelley ’65 is heading the 50th Reunion Committee and is very eager to get as many people back as possible. Tom was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at St. Michael’s College for both soccer and skiing.
Ned Lynch ’65 was there looking as dapper as ever in a blue blazer with his Williston pin on the lapel.
Nick Litano ’99 did a PG year at Williston for soccer and baseball. He just moved to the Boston area this year and got married six months ago. He works in industrial packaging and one of his clients is Chris Burt ’99.
Jennifer Patton ’86 was in tech support for a long time but has migrated over to writing manuals on technology.
Greg ’91 and Laura Skibiksi ’98 are working for a tech start up company that specializes in financial analysis. Greg is the CEO of the company and Laura worked in Barcelona for a year and for two years in Milan before that while getting her advanced degree.
Deborah Jerome ’73, Dan Carpenter’s daughter, and her daughter Claire Jerome also came. It was nice to see them there!
Tim Wheaton ’79 was a PG at Williston and was inducted into the Williston Hall of Fame this past year as a member of the 1979 Boys’ Soccer Team. Tim holds the school record for goals in a season. He left early to go play in a soccer game.
Coming up: The NSFG Celebration and then we’re on the road to Asia!