P.A. 1964
Tom Seligson
September, 1996

Lots of news this column, some from classmates so long gone they didn't even graduate. Peter Haviland, who left us after Upper Year, was discovered living in New York City, where he works as a salesman for Pagenet, the world's largest beeper company. Pete got into sales some years back, as a sideline to the music career that started back at Andover. Inspired by Joe Freeman and Craig Bonda, Pete started a band in college called T Rocket and the Barking Guitars. They were on their way to fame and fortune, when disco put an end to their style of music. Pete, who's remained single, still writes songs, some of which he sends to his mentor Freeman. Quick, who was the original guitarist for the Torques before Craig Bonda? Time's up. It was Toby Spurge, who you'll remember was a swimming star as well as music maven. Toby also elected not to join us senior year, maybe because the long separation from his high school sweetheart was too much to bear. Toby married that sweetheart - they've been married for 27 years - and now runs an engineering company specialized in civil and environmental work. He lives in North Palm Beach, and has three grown kids, one of whom just made him a grandfather. But lest you think "gramps" looks the part, the former varsity swimmer reports that he now competes in triathlons, usually finishing in the top 3 in his age bracket. Talk about inspiration.

Though Peter Pfeifle did graduate, he has also been missing in action for many years. I last saw Pete at one of Bob Marshall's parties, shortly after college. Pete was working for Sears in ladies apparel and commuting into New York from southern New Jersey. After 7 years, Pete was transferred to Texas, where he much preferred his 15 minute commute, and decided to stay. He's now CFO and President of Blue Eagle Productions, which makes customized caps, t-shirts, and other clothing. He's on his second marriage, and has a son and daughter in their twenties. "I came down here a 'Maine-i-ac,'" said the former New England native, "but in my soul I'm now a Texas boy." Naturally, he sees a lot of our boy George W, who, as you know, made an impressive speech at the Republican Convention, and is already being touted as a hopeful for Bill Clinton's job. According to Pete, who partied at George's inauguration, our former head cheerleader is very well liked in Texas, and "we expect to go all the way in 2000." In that case, Federal Judgeships and Ambassador posts will be chosen by our friend Clay Johnson, who is now the Governor's appointments secretary. Clay had been President of the Horchow Collection, a high end mail order catalogue. When it was sold to Nieman Marcus, Clay evidently did well enough that he now works for George and Texas for $1 a year.

Alan Rubenstein might keep his eyes open for one of those judgeships. He's practicing law in Boston, specializing in business litigation. He's been married for 27 years, has 2 kids, and recently celerated his 50th birthday by completing the Boston Marathon. Matthew Roehrig lives in Amherst, where he's been teaching elementary school for the last 25 years. Matt got into teaching during his Peace Corps stint in Micronesia. He returned home, planning to get his Ph.D. in International Education. "But the classroom sucked me in," he explained. "I prefer being with kids, rather than doing the dry academic research I was involved with." Matt, who was in all the Shakespeare plays at school, still performs in local productions and also puts on his own singing recitals. He's married to a fiction writer, and has two kids. He got a card from Jon Guss a few years back, and reports that his father, who was so popular with our class, is alive and well in New Hampshire.

Tory Peterson is alive and well, dispensing good financial advice for his firm Hilliard Lyons in Charlotte, N.C. Savvy classmates should give him a call. Bart Loomis reports getting married again, and Peter Schandorff has just completed his 28th year of teaching. Toby Thacher whose mob-busting tactics for New York State were featured on 60 Minutes, is now heading his own consulting firm.

Bill Matassoni now lives in New Canaan, and wife Pamela is as delightful and leggy as ever. And Randy Hobler is now Group Supervisor of Grey's Direct Marketing Group. Randy and girl friend Alexa, Bill and Pam, and my (new) wife Susan and I celebrated all our 50th's at Paul and Pam Gallagher 's club. The inevitable is easier to bear in groups. Happy 50th to all of you, and check out our class web site, where this and all future columns will soon be found.