“None of our three children or our 11 grandchildren went to Penn. I’m hoping that one of our five great-grandchildren will attend.”
—Bobbi Penneys Susselman Laufer CW’68
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1952
Henry Petersohn W’52 is author of a new parenting guide, A Father’s Handbook for Raising Children.
1957
Michael Eigen C’57, a psychologist and psychoanalyst, has released a new book, Bits of Psyche: Selected Seminars of Michael Eigen.
Paul Gross W’57 writes, “Gayle and I were married in 1956, and when discussing the happiest year of our 67-year marriage, we arrived at the year 1957. The trolleys were gone from Spruce Street. Dietrich Hall was a new building for the Wharton School. There were no women as I can recall in any of my classes. I was president of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. I was on the Houston board and in the Friars Senior Society. Gayle was working full-time at Lit Brothers department store in downtown Philly, and I was working part-time at an Eddie Jacobs men’s store on campus. We had many of our meals at the fraternity house and spent a great deal of time there. As a result, we made a significant donation to the fraternity this past year, which they spent on a new pool table, other furniture, and redoing the kitchen. None of our three children or our 11 grandchildren went to Penn. I’m hoping that one of our five great-grandchildren will attend. Thank you, Penn, for those great years that Gayle and I spent together there.”
1961
Eugene Elander G’61 proudly announces his 10th book, an autobiography titled Never Give In, Never Give Up: A Memoir of Hope. Eugene writes that he formerly chaired fledgling business and economics departments at two new schools: Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and Atlantic Community College in Cape May, New Jersey. He also headed numerous community agencies, owned and operated a community care home in Vermont, and served as a hazard mitigation consultant to the State of New Hampshire. He shares that he and his wife Birgit divide their time between Southern California and Gotland, Sweden, as they have children and grandchildren in both locations and are citizens of both the United States and Sweden.
Myra “Marci” Chernoff Weisgold CW’61 was featured on the front page of Florida’s Sarasota Observer in a March 6 article titled “Art Comes to Life.” Marci is an internationally recognized figurative sculptor who is an elected fellow of the National Sculpture Society. She has created numerous public and private commissions and has won many national awards for her work.
1962
James E. Jones GFA’62, a painter and printmaker, was chosen as Artist of the Month for February by the Charlestown Fireside Artists Group at the Charlestown retirement village in Baltimore. The show honors Black History Month and was extended through the end of March.
1963
Mark H. Shapiro G’63 Gr’66 writes, “For the last few years in retirement I have been creating short-duration YouTube videos, most of which are related to climate change and other scientific topics. These can be found on my YouTube Channel. Comments on my videos always are welcome.” Mark’s videos can be viewed at youtube.com/@DrMarkHShapiro.
1966
Bob Morton WG’66 writes, “I retired from my controllership position in 2002. My wife Georgia was still working, so I dabbled in a few activities to keep myself occupied. I worked part-time for seven years preparing tax returns for H&R Block during tax season, had a few dozen travel articles published in small-town newspapers and ‘worked’ as an extra on 14 movies filmed in and around my St. Louis-area home. (It’s unlikely you’ve seen any of the movies, and even if you have, you probably didn’t see me if you blinked.) My wife retired in 2008 and we stepped up our traveling habit, eventually qualifying for membership in the Travelers’ Century Club (an organization for people who have visited at least 100 countries and territories). Sadly, Georgia passed away in 2021 after 52 years of marriage. In 2022, I moved back to Arizona, where we had lived for 13 years in the 1980s and 1990s. In the early part of 2023, I met a wonderful woman here in Arizona and we were married later that year. In September, the ABC-TV affiliate station aired our story during the evening news program as part of their hyping of the ABC show The Golden Bachelor. The clip is available for viewing at youtu.be/-n5n8Stp1GU. Sally and I are still on an extended honeymoon and thoroughly enjoying life in our 80s.”
Eugene Stelzig C’66 has published his fourth collection of poetry, Remarkable It Is: Late Life Poems. He says the title refers to his “calling to notice things that most of us take for granted (such as our breathing and our hearts beating) but that actually constitute the miracle of our being alive. These poems range from the playfully wistful, to the probingly thoughtful (about old age and the specter of mortality as well as our place in the universe), and the satirical (especially about contemporary politics and world events). The poems in this new collection reflect a ‘late life’ outlook, but they also speak to perennial topics and experiences that readers of all ages should be able to relate to.”
1967
Sidney Perkowitz Gr’67, professor emeritus of physics at Emory University, is the recipient of the American Institute of Physics 2023 Andrew Gemant Award, given for “significant contributions to the cultural, artistic, or humanistic dimension of physics.” He was chosen for his “enduring commitment to bridge the physics community with the arts and humanities by using a variety of media—including books, essays, public lectures, and theatrical productions.” He receives a $5,000 cash award and another $3,000 for Emory University, where he spent his academic career, to further the public communication of physics. He writes, “I’m honored to receive this recognition. I also appreciate that deep into retirement, I can still enjoy writing about science for non-scientists. Among 11 books, recent ones are Physics: A Very Short Introduction and Science Sketches: The Universe From Different Angles.”
1968
James Carnahan C’68 writes, “I’ve just published Midlife Vagabond: Rendering Hilltowns, the fourth and final volume of my travel photo/memoir series. Over the course of several extended sojourns in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s I fell in love with Hilltowns, those small, compact, dense urban organisms found throughout the Mediterranean tier of Europe. In 1998, I spent several weeks studying Italian Hilltowns, identifying aspects of their form I thought could be utilized in 21st century urban design. This work led me into 15 years of land use advocacy in my Piedmont, North Carolina, community—all of which is the subject of Rendering Hilltowns. Available from Amazon (along with the other three volumes in the Midlife Vagabond series), or from me directly at [email protected].”
W. Dennis Keating L’68, professor emeritus of urban studies at Cleveland State University, is the recipient of the Urban Affairs Association’s 2024 Contribution to the Field of Urban Affairs Award. According to the press release, “This distinguished accolade recognizes an exceptional individual whose substantial contributions have helped to shape and advance the field, while also inspiring the next generation of scholars.”
1969
Dr. Patricia Acquaviva Gabow M’69 GM’70 GM’73, recently published a book, The Catholic Church and Its Hospitals: A Marriage Made in Heaven?, which traces the evolution of Catholic healthcare from its biblical roots through today. She writes, “It details the vast reach of Catholic healthcare, its prohibitions, and the implications for patients and physicians. It ends with recommendations to preserve the positive and make some changes.”
1970
Michaela Hamilton CW’70, an executive editor at Kensington Books Publishing and editor in chief of Citadel Press, is the recipient of the Ellery Queen Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America, at the annual Edgar Awards ceremony in New York on May 1. The award honors “outstanding people in the mystery-publishing industry.” The group shares that Michaela’s “importance in the discovery of new writers and emphasis on publishing traditional mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels cannot be underestimated.” Michaela says, “When I think about previous recipients, I feel quite humble. I’m just a bookworm who was lucky enough to spend the last 50-plus years working with authors I adore on books I love. Long live suspense fiction!”
Tom Madden ASC’70 is a former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who earned his master’s degree at the Annenberg School of Communications, “ironically while still reporting [for the Inquirer] when Walter Annenberg owned the newspaper.” Tom went on to a career in network television, rising to the number two executive position at NBC before starting his own public relations firm, TransMedia Group. He shares that he is “currently trying to save the world from the havoc caused by climate change,” and has created a company called Planetary Lifeguard to “blow the whistle on climate change and reward companies with environmentally friendly products before our planet suffers ‘heat stroke.’” More information about Planetary Lifeguard can be found at planetarylifeguard.org.
Bencie Woll CW’70, a fellow of the British Academy, chair of Sign Language and Deaf Studies at University College London, and founder of the Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre, has been made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition for her services to higher education and Deaf studies. She received the honor from the Prince of Wales at the investiture in Windsor Castle on February 21.
1971
Jeffrey Ormont C’71 is the author of a new book of poetry, Word Carvings: Poems. From the book’s description: “Ormont’s poetry guides readers on a contemplative journey celebrating stages of life from birth to death. A medley of poetic styles and structures offers fresh insights into meaning, nature, love, and hope. His verses explore the perplexities of life, and seek to open portals for making peace with mortality and the challenging human condition.”
Jay Rosner C’71 writes, “Since my work is a calling, retirement simply means slowing down a bit. For 29 years I have engaged full-time in activism and advocacy as a critic of admission tests and have provided test-prep resources to underrepresented minority students through a small nonprofit, the Princeton Review Foundation. Living just north of San Francisco with my longtime partner Kate, I was very involved in the University of California system moving to test-free admissions in 2020, no longer considering the SAT or ACT at all. My friends in the Penn admissions office hear from me regularly, and I applaud Penn’s recent decision to continue being test-optional. A highlight of my career was testifying as an expert witness critical of the LSAT at the trial Grutter v. Bollinger, the landmark 2003 University of Michigan Law School affirmative action case. I am blessed with two wonderful daughters, Marney and Lindsay, from a prior marriage to Andra Jurist GFA’74 (sadly deceased), and a four-year-old granddaughter, Annie.”
1972
John Delaney C’72 writes, “I’ve published two more books of poems (with color photographs): Galápagos and Nile.”
Dr. Harold Alan Pincus C’72 is the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Alum Humanitarian/Service Award from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The award will be presented at the Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremonies at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Harold is a professor of psychiatry and public health at Columbia University and codirector of Colombia’s Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. He is also the national program director of the Health and Aging Policy Fellowship (healthandagingpolicy.org) and an adjunct senior scientist at the RAND Corporation.
1973
Helaine Hartman Cohen CW’73 of Wayland, Massachusetts, recently published her first book, My Father’s War: Finding Meaning in My Father’s World War II Military Service. She writes, “After retiring as a CPA, I spent years researching and writing about my father’s World War II experiences, which included crossing the flooded Sauer river into Germany’s Siegfried Line (where many soldiers died) in 1945 and his POW experience in Germany’s Stalag IX-B prisoner-of-war camp. I also addressed the broader issues of war, including the context of the action, its contribution to the Allied front, the logistics of waging war, General George Patton’s legacy, and the resilience and hardships endured by POWs. Along the way, I obtained a master’s degree in world war studies.”
Nicholas “Nick” Peters C’73 shares that he retired in 2018 from CommCore Incorporated, a communications and crisis response firm where he was senior vice president. Previously he was an executive at Medialink Worldwide, a video production and distribution firm serving the global public and corporate communications industry. After graduating from Penn a semester early in December 1972, he began a career as a daily newspaper reporter in Indianapolis, Raleigh, and Philadelphia, before switching to broadcast news, first serving as news director at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, and later as news writer and producer at the CBS News Broadcast Center in New York. He and his wife are currently retired in Asheville, North Carolina, where he served as a board member of the nonprofit Helping at Risk Kids of Buncombe County.
David D. Schein C’73 writes, “After writing two nonfiction books, I have turned my attention to a fun project. I am writing a fiction-based-on-fact book about the arts and entertainment scene in Philly from ‘69 to ‘73, including events on or around the Penn campus. I would welcome input on events, including photos, from that time period, especially from alumni involved with WXPN, Punchbowl, the Free University, ICA, the South Street Revival, Geno’s Empty Foxhole, local theaters, etc. I was named to Marquis Who’s Who in America in 2023.” David may be contacted at [email protected].
1974
John Quelch WG’74 has been appointed executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, Duke University’s joint venture in China. He was previously the Leonard M. Miller University Professor, dean, and vice provost at the University of Miami.
1976
Debbie Hines CW’76 has written a new book, Get Off My Neck: Black Lives, White Justice, and a Former Prosecutor’s Quest for Reform. From the publisher: “In Get Off My Neck, Debbie Hines draws on her unique perspective as a trial lawyer, former Baltimore prosecutor, and assistant attorney general for the State of Maryland to argue that US prosecutors, as the most powerful players in the criminal justice system, systematically target and criminalize Black people. … Hines offers a proactive approach to fixing our broken prosecutorial system through a broad-based alliance of reform-minded prosecutors, activists, allies, communities, and racial justice organizations—all working together to end the racist treatment of Black people.” More information can be found on her website, iamdebbiehines.com.
Eli Rosenbaum W’76 WG’77 has been awarded the Order of Merit from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, conferring the title Chevalier of the Order of Merit, for his work leading the US Department of Justice’s efforts to pursue justice on behalf of the Ukrainian victims of Russian aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. US Attorney General Merrick Garland subsequently selected Rosenbaum as the sole individual recipient of the Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service, which is the Justice Department’s highest award for employee performance. Rosenbaum was profiled in our Mar|Apr 2017 and Nov|Dec 2022 issues for his work tracking down Nazis and war criminals in Ukraine, respectively.
1977
Pamela A. Fowler OT’77 initiated a 12-year independent and extensive study of the obscure Dutch artist, Carel de Moor (1655–1738), which has resulted in a comprehensive book devoted to his life and works. The book is coauthored by Piet Bakker, who is an expert on the 17th- and 18th-century Dutch art market and the Leiden painting community. As a result of their collaboration, Carel de Moor (1655–1738) His Life and Work (Primavera, 2024) is the first scholarly study of one of the most important Dutch portrait painters of his time. Pamela writes, “The book begins with a comprehensive monograph which explores Carel de Moor’s life and multifaceted career, his clients and patrons, his artistic development, as well as his critical fortunes. The catalogue raisonné that follows provides the unique opportunity to view Carel de Moor’s extant oeuvre in totality. This endeavor also serves to add significantly to the corpus of studies of Netherlandish art produced between 1680 and 1750—a period that until recently, has been largely ignored by art historians.”
1980
Phyllis Zimbler Miller WG’80 and daughter Yael K. Miller C’05 are producing a documentary, Jews of Czechia: Yesterday and Today, that was one of four finalists in the Future of Religious Heritage 2023 Europe innovator competition. From the press release, the film “aspires to become the first documentary to deal with a still largely unexplored event of the Nazi occupation of the Czech Republic during the Second World War: the extensive rescue of Jewish artefacts.”
1981
Michael Arsham SW’81 writes, “I retired as executive director of the Office of Advocacy (OOA) at the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in January. My 10 years with the public agency capped off a nearly 50-year career in child welfare. My first post-MSW position was with Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families, where I staffed, developed, and directed family preservation and youth service programs in Central Harlem, Manhattan Valley, and Hell’s Kitchen that became the prototypes for the Beacon Schools and the Harlem Children’s Zone. In the mid- to late 1990s, I represented nonprofit family preservation service providers with the New York State Council of Family and Child-Caring Agencies, organizing workers and families to successfully resist the deep budget cuts proposed by the City and State at that time. From 1998 to 2013 I directed the Child Welfare Organizing Project, organizing parents impacted by the public child welfare system to serve their communities as peer advocates and to assert a collective voice influencing public child welfare policy. I joined the ACS OOA in 2013. I credit Penn with preparing me for a very fulfilling and rewarding career. I am particularly grateful to my faculty advisor and mentor, the late professor Louis H. Carter SW’62, for his lasting influence and inspiration. My daughter Rebecca is assistant principal of a Bronx middle school special education program, and my son Joshua is a successful entrepreneur who owns two sportswear and footwear stores in Manhattan’s Soho shopping district. I look forward to spending more time with my two grandsons, Jaelyn, age seven, and August, age three.”
John D. Woodward Jr. W’81, a Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University, has been named the director of Boston University’s (BU) Division of Military Education. In this role, he oversees BU’s Air Force, Army, and Navy/Marine Corps ROTC activities. BU ROTC educates and prepares more than 200 students from BU and its 14 partner institutions of higher learning to become commissioned officers in the US Armed Services. John participated in Army ROTC at Penn and earned a commission in the Army’s Corps of Engineers. Prior to joining the BU faculty in 2015, he served at the CIA in overseas and domestic assignments, the US Department of Defense, and the RAND Corporation.
1982
Felice L. Bedford C’82 G’83 Gr’88, a professor and scientist, has written a novel, If You Like Animals Better Than People. She writes, “Available in a comfortable size font for aging eyes or dyslexic minds and an illustrated edition that may be of interest to younger readers. Also check out my picture book for young children, Who’s Lucky Here Anyway? and the bilingual English–Korean version, Who is Lucky? Look for the pseudonym Forest Bae—or is Felice Bedford the pseudonym?”
Rhonda D. Hibbler C’82, production director at WPEN 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia, has been inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame. Founded in 1962, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia recognizes persons who have made significant contributions to the field of broadcasting and communications in the Delaware Valley. On November 17, Rhonda became the first non-air personality to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
1983
Dan Moore Gr’83 has published Whatever Cause We Have: Memoir of a Marine Forward Observer in the Vietnam War, his second book on the conflict. He writes that he “joined the Marines to serve in Vietnam and contribute to the anticipated victory over communism.” After officer training and artillery school, he deployed as a forward observer with an infantry company. His letters home described day-to-day events and revealed a growing skepticism about the war. The memoir unpacks his letters, his recollection of the war, and 50 years of introspection.
1984
Wendy M. Weinstein C’84 has been appointed to the board of directors of the Chefs’ Warehouse, a specialty wholesale food distributor that services restaurants, hotels, country clubs, and fine food stores throughout North America and the Middle East. She also serves on the board of the Newport Restaurant Group, a 15-concept/22-location hospitality group in New England, which also includes the Relais & Chateaux Castle Hill Inn. Wendy says that “these appointments cap a 40-year career of food and beverage and restaurant marketing, and she is often called “the chairman of the Bordeaux.” She credits her studies of economics and French at Penn for her global career.
1985
Dean Cantalupo C’85 and Jiraporn “Aor” Sriviphat married at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Rockville, Maryland, on January 22. At Penn, Dean was a member of Mask & Wig, Beta Theta Pi, and the Penn Band. He currently lives and works in Washington, DC, as an attorney.
1986
Lawrence J. Kotler C’86, a partner at the law firm Duane Morris, is the recipient of the David T. Sykes Award from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference and the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project. The award is “presented to a member of the bankruptcy bar who embodies the qualities that Sykes exemplified, including excellence and integrity as a bankruptcy attorney, unsurpassed professionalism, mentoring younger professionals, courtesy to and respect for all, upholding the reputation of the local bankruptcy bar and unwavering dedication to the bankruptcy community and the less fortunate in Philadelphia.”
1988
NiaLena Caravasos W’88 focuses her law practice on federal criminal defense and white-collar crime and is the only Philadelphia criminal defense attorney ever featured twice on the cover of Super Lawyers, first in 2013 and then in 2023 for the 20th anniversary edition. NiaLena was also the subject of a Super Lawyers feature story, entitled “Fierce,” in 2013 and was the subject of a 2023 cover story, “The Essence of Being a Good Lawyer.”
1991
Valerie D. Johnson GEd’91, an educator, speaker, and author, has published her debut children’s book, 1 2 3 Count with Me on Granddad’s Farm, about her childhood experiences on her grandfather’s farm, which celebrates family, grandparents, farm life, and farm animals. She writes, “Young readers will count their way through Granddad’s farm with animals, a vegetable garden, smells of manure, tractors, grassy fields, and two of the best people: Granddad and Grandma. In the back of the book, there are visual supports for counting and discussion questions. The book’s dedication reads, in part, ‘To my aunt Katherine Johnson, a Hidden Figure, STEAM legend, Human Computer, and mathematician who loved to count everything.’” Valerie shares that she started her publishing imprint, West Oak Lane Kids, to leave a legacy and something tangible for generations of young readers to cherish math-themed books. Her mission is “to ignite a love of math in all children, one book at a time!” To learn more about Valerie, please visit westoaklanekids.com and follow her on social media at @wolkidsllc.
Rob Murdocca W’91 writes, “What originally was a ‘one-off’ turned into a bit of a fairy tale for me over 14 months. And now my little fairy tale is complete. What started out during June 2022 as ‘I’ll try to do one Ironman 70.3 in October 2022 and I hope I do OK,’ culminated on Sunday, August 27, 2023, with my third one … at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, in Lahti, Finland! I am grateful for how those 14 months unexpectedly unfolded. I am glad for all the people I met, for the fitness improvements incurred, and for the stories and memories.”
Lara Swimmer C’91, an architectural photographer, has released a new book, titled Reading Room: New and Reimagined Libraries of the American West. From the press materials: “The book documents a new generation of regional libraries that are redefining public space in the 21st century. … It makes a case for the urgent need for these buildings, which serve as part of a vital community in the post-pandemic digital age.”
1992
Matthew Cohn C’92 W’92, Lea Morrison Cohn WG’97, and their family were presented with the Living and Giving Award at the 2024 JDRF One Dream Gala in April. JDRF funds research into type 1 diabetes. The family’s involvement with JDRF dates back to the 1970s. Matthew has served two terms on the Eastern Pennsylvania Board of Directors, assuming the role of board president from 2018 to 2021. He currently holds the position of vice chair for the JDRF Global Mission board. Over the past 16 years, the Cohn family, as a whole, has raised $3 million for type 1 diabetes research.
1997
Lea Morrison Cohn WG’97 see Matthew Cohn C’92 W’92.
1998
Nicholas Kinloch C’98, the Robert McNeil Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania from 1997 to 1998, is the author of From the Soviet Gulag to Arnhem: A Polish Paratrooper’s Epic Wartime Journey (Pen and Sword, 2023). He writes, “This year is the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem, one of the major battles of the Second World War. The book tells the remarkable story of Stanislaw Kulik, a Polish paratrooper who had travelled halfway around the world: from the Soviet Gulag, through central Asia and the Middle East, to the United Kingdom, and was then dropped at Arnhem, where he was trapped behind enemy lines and hidden by the Dutch underground until he could escape.”
2000
Moshe Tzvi (Matt) Wieder EAS’00 writes, “I recently published an important work on the history of the Jewish prayer book in Hebrew.” More information can be found on the website thesiddur.wiederpress.com.
2002
Ejim Achi C’02 L’06 has been promoted to cochair of the Global Corporate Practice of Greenberg Traurig, LLP. He also continues in his existing roles as cochair of the firm’s private equity practice and cohead of the firm’s New York office.
2004
Dr. Arie Dosoretz C’04 M’09 WG’10 is the recipient of the Phoenix Award from the Lee Health Foundation. The Phoenix Award “recognizes a community member who, through education or development of new resources, has contributed to reshaping cancer care in Southwest Florida.” Arie is a physician and founding partner of Advocate Radiation Oncology and Southwest Florida Proton, opening in 2025.
Peter L. Laurence GFA’04 Gr’09 is editor of Histories of Architecture Education in the United States (Routledge, 2023), a collection of 20 essays. He shares that the book “began as a symposium at Penn Design in 2013 organized by professors Joan Ockman, David Leatherbarrow, and Daniel Barber.” Peter and a number of contributors spoke during a book launch in March. Peter writes, “The lecture, which highlighted themes in the book and speculations about the future of architecture education, was organized in conjunction with a course on architecture history and theory taught by professors Ockman and Fernando Lara.”
Shana Palmieri SW’04 is chief clinical officer of XFERALL, a fully digital patient transfer network that connects healthcare facilities with one another to expedite the patient transfer process. From the company’s press release: “Currently patients seeking mental or behavioral health care find themselves waiting an average of over eight hours in Hospital Emergency Departments. Healthcare facilities using XFERALL are able to place patients on average in 60 minutes or less!”
Shahnaz Radjy C’04 published her debut young-adult fantasy novel, Flight of an Orphan Thief, which is the backstory of one of her favorite Dungeons & Dragons characters set in a world of her own creation. She writes, “It’s about coming of age and discovering things about yourself that you maybe should have known but never saw coming.” More information can be found at sradjy.com or on Instagram at @smradjyauthor.
2005
Lesley Horton Campbell C’05 WAM’22, general counsel and senior vice president of talent at retail real estate trade association ICSC, was honored by Crain’s New York Business as one of its 2024 Notable General Counsels. This list showcases the lawyers who are vital to New York City’s business community. In addition, Lesley shares that she and her husband, Ali, are thrilled to announce the birth of their youngest daughter, Savannah, on October 17. She writes, “Big sister Delilah is eager to show Savannah the ropes!”
Paul Farber C’05, curator, historian, and director of Monument Lab, has joined the board of trustees at the Mellon Foundation. Paul is also a senior research scholar at Penn’s Center for Public Art & Space in the Weitzman School of Design and recently released a podcast about Philadelphia’s Rocky statue [“Arts,” Jul|Aug 2023].
Matt Kedziora GGS’05 is currently a civilian biologist working for the US Navy, based in Yokosuka, Japan. He supports conservation planning for a variety of projects throughout the Far East region. Matt shares that he’s “sad that both Ohtani and Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers instead of the Phillies.”
Yael K. Miller C’05 see Phyllis Zimbler Miller WG’80.
2006
Breton Bonnette C’06 is the portfolio manager of Stifel Bonnette Wealth Management Group based in Haddonfield, New Jersey. This family business was recently named to Forbes’ 2024 Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list.
Marcel S. Pratt C’06, managing partner of Ballard Spahr’s Philadelphia office, has been named a 2024 Black Trailblazer by City & State Pennsylvania. The honor recognizes “the most influential African Americans making a difference for their companies, organizations and fellow Pennsylvanians at all levels.” Marcel will be featured in a special edition of City & State Pennsylvania.
2008
Jon Mark EAS’08 see Dan Kodner W’09.
2009
Michael S. Kettler C’09 has been promoted to counsel in the Environmental Law Group of Riker Danzig.
Dan Kodner W’09 founded the healthcare amenities company Health Hospitality Partners (HHP) seven years ago. Its goal is to modernize amenities to help reduce clinician burnout, improve visitor satisfaction, and elevate healthcare experiences. Dan has recruited several fellow alums to join him on the leadership team. Cory Sullivan W’09 is chief operating officer, working directly with celebrity chef Tom Colicchio. Jon Mark EAS’08 is vice president of account management. And Lisa Perlmutter WG’15 is senior vice president of healthcare. More information can be found at hhpgp.com.
2011
Leah Mintz C’11, an associate at Duane Morris, has been reappointed cochair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Appellate Courts Committee. She served as cochair in 2022 and 2023 as well. Leah focuses her practice on appellate litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and complex commercial litigation.
2014
John McCabe LPS’14 LPS’15 was featured in an article in DAV Magazine, a publication of the nonprofit Disabled American Veterans. In the story “The Lasting Horror of Nuclear Testing” (Mar|Apr 2024), John describes his difficulty applying for and receiving benefits from the VA as an atomic veteran. Atomic veterans are defined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs as anyone who “participated in aboveground nuclear testing from 1945 to 1962” or served in Hiroshima or Nagasaki, Japan, following World War II. John served in the US Army from 1960 to 1962, when he was exposed to atomic bombs. The article can be read at tinyurl.com/McCabeDAV.
Laura Resnick Samotin C’14 is the author of The Sins on Their Bones, described by the publisher as “a queer, dark Jewish romantasy novel perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, C. S. Pacat, and Katherine Arden.”
Darcella Patterson Sessomes GrS’14, the chief of programming and reintegration services at the New Jersey Department of Corrections, received the 2023 Whitney M. Young Award from the Urban League of Union County (NJ). The award is given in memory of the great civil rights leader and former head of the National Urban League. Darcella was also the recipient of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Community Service Award, presented in February at the 2024 Circle of Achievement Awards Gala. She also made history by being the first person of color to be elected as councilwoman for Ward 2 in Plainfield, New Jersey.
2015
Dr. Patrick Byrne WG’15, an ENT specialist and facial plastic surgeon, is the founder of Hale Incorporated. Hale has developed a groundbreaking nasal dilator, a nonsurgical answer to common breathing difficulties. Nick Curcio WG’23 is the company’s CEO and Sing Ling WG’22 is the company’s chief marketing officer.
River Coello GEd’15 is author of a new book, HAMPI. From the publisher’s description: “HAMPI chronicles a fantastical journey of recovering one’s buried parts to embrace the blessings of ancestral medicine. Concocted between the States, Ecuador, and Peru, its photography captures the beauty of these heart homes. Its writing in English, Spanish, and Quechua features lessons from sacred guides, gone ancestors, and other loved ones on the journey to a fuller kind of bravery.”
Lauren Mendoza C’15 and Joseph Licata EAS’16 GEng’17 are engaged to be married. Lauren writes, “We met through the Penn Band and started dating in 2014.”
Lisa Perlmutter WG’15 see Dan Kodner W’09.
Alex Travis C’15 is the author of a new novel, The Only Black Girl in the Room. From the publisher’s description: “An ambitious reporter stuck doing diversity checks for her white colleagues gets her big break in this compelling debut novel perfect for fans of Jayne Allen, Jasmine Guillory, and Zakiya Dalila Harris.”
2016
Joseph Licata EAS’16 GEng’17 see Lauren Mendoza C’15.
Jordi Rivera Prince C’16 and Daniel B. Turner were married at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center and celebrated at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia on March 16. The wedding party included Juan Ramos C’15, Viktorya Stebenkova C’15, and Jacob Williams C’16. Guests included Christopher Annunziato LPS’17 Gr’27, David Drennan GFA’24, Danica Fine C’16 GEng’18, Aedhan Loomis EAS’16 GEng’17, Alexandria Mitchem C’16, Sarah Murray C’18, Sarah Simon C’17, Anup Singh C’16 G’16, Morgan Thompson C’16 Nu’23 GNu’25, Elena Varela C’18 GEd’20, and Charlotte Williams Gr’28. Jordi is a visiting assistant professor of anthropology at Brown University and Daniel is the assistant director of Community-Engaged Data and Evaluation Collaborative at Brown University. The couple lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
Raymond J. Wilson C’16 has joined law firm Blank Rome’s Philadelphia office as an associate in the Corporate, M&A, and Securities practice group.
2022
Sing Ling WG’22 see Dr. Patrick Byrne WG’15.
2023
Nick Curcio WG’23 see Dr. Patrick Byrne WG’15.
