P.A. 1964
"Semple Twins Alive and Well," read the wonderful note I received from
Nat Semple courtesy of AOL.
You remember Nat's serious liver and
kidney problems, which I reported on several years back. He now writes
"I am now nearly 8 years out
from my multiple transplants (liver), and two years from the day
brother(Bill) donated one of his kidneys to me. It's amazing I am still
here, all things considered." Besides sharing vital organs, the twins, who, as
kids, used to blow up one another's toys with cherry bombs, are now even in
business together. They run a Washington-based association management
consulting firm (clients include the Pharmaceutical and Research
Manufacturerers) along with an information company - the Civix
Corporation - on the internet. Check out their web site at www.ogroup.com.
Bruce Kauffman's on-line news is of his
continued shuffle between the print and broadcast worlds. "I've defected
from CNN (the second time in nine years)," he says, and is now heading up the
Atlanta bureau for Thomsom, the Canadian media company. He's also
thrilled to be a surrogate daddy for two kids, ages one and four. Bruce ran into
Owen MacNutt on Cape Cod,
and reports that Owen's "Box Lunch"
restaurants continue to feed the masses in style. Must be that Bob Leete and
Benner House Nina left their inspirational mark, because John Kidde is also a
food maven, helping both amateur and professional chefs everywhere with the
wide range of salsas, chili and other sauces he sells via his company Sona &
Hollen Foods. John kindly sent this hungry scribe a sample care
package, and I'm here to report that his Lindy's brand salsa can't be beat. It's
become a staple in this newlywed's household, even spicing up my very special
matzoh brei. John and Don Vermeil flew to Texas to help celebrate
George Bush's 50th.
Word back is the "Guv" has not let his now-found influence go to his
head, not that we're surprised. He may be Governor to the world but he'll
always be Governor "Lip" to us.
Bob Marshall is enjoying his new life in Minnesota, and reports
running into Doug Franchot and Adrian Almquist at a local Andover
gathering in honor of Barbara Chase. Pat Cathcart and look-alike brother
Mike recently joined
A.C. Johnston at a legal
conference in Hawaii,
where they all drank too many Mai Tai's. A Christmas photo from Tony Sapienza
showed that "Sap" and family are thriving. He's still making men's clothing
for Polo, Brooks Brothers, and Nordstrom, though with his rakish beard, he
looks more like a musician or philosophy professor. Tory Peterson who I
consult with regularly for financial advice, said he tried calling Tex Parker.
Tex is apparently now a rancher in Uvalde, Texas, and was out feeding the
livestock when Tory phoned.
My own calls successfully netted a number of classmates unheard from
for some time. Dave Knapton is an urban planner in Philadelphia, which
follows stints conducting historical preservation in Boston, and teaching
architectural history in Temple. Dave's romantic partner for the last
15 years is a theology professor named Michael. "We're both completely
forthcoming about our relationship," he told me. "We're lucky to be in a
university and civil service culture, which is more tolerant and
protective than a corporate culture can be." Dave serves as the Warden of an
Episcopal Church and plays the piano. "I live a hectic and busy life," he said.
John Heard's busy life involves working on the trading floor of the
New York Stock Exchange. John's been in touch with Rick Brock and Frank
Hight Though he's never married, he's continuing his search for "the
perfect woman."
Talking about perfect women, Jackie Eby our favorite Abbot classmate,
took me to task for misquoting her in a previous column. She doesn't feel
closer to our class than to Abbot '64. She loves her Abbot classmates. "I just
wish I'd been born a boy," she admitted, "in which case I can't imagine a
better class than yours to call my own." Need I say more. Hope you all had a
superb Spring.
Last updated 7 July 1997
Tom Seligson
February, 1997
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