drug trip songs

• Environment
• Immigration
• Openings & Closings
• Restaurant Guide
• Restaurant Reviews
• Top 100 Bars
• Top 100 Restaurants
• Film, TV & Streaming
• History & Nostalgia
• Concert Calendar

Just Announced

Local music.

• Touring Artists
• Food & Drink
• Fun & Games
• Goods & Services
• Megalopolitan Life
• Readers' Choice
• Newsletters
• Advertise with Us
• Flipbook Archive
• Promotions & Free Stuff
• Where To Find Phoenix New Times In Print
• Sign Up/Sign In

10 Tripped-Out Songs About Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Newsletter Sign Up

Enter your name, zip code, and email, sign up for our newsletters.

Live Nation's $25 ticket sale includes more than 100 Phoenix concerts

By Jennifer Goldberg

Slipknot's 25th anniversary tour will come to Phoenix in September

• Things to Do

Here are Phoenix’s best Cinco de Mayo parties and events in 2024

By Benjamin Leatherman

Emotions ran high at Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl tribute at Carly’s Bistro

• View This Week's Print Issue
• Arts & Culture
• Advertise With Us
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Voice Media Group
• Dallas Observer
• Denver Westword
• Miami New Times
• New Times Broward-Palm Beach
• V Audience Labs
• V Digital Services

The Best Psychedelic Songs of All Time

From medicine music to trippy rock classics, these are the best tracks to tune into when you’re on a journey.

Article by console.log(""); console.log("author name"); console.log(""); Shylah Ray Sunshine .author-bio * {display: unset !important;} Fact Checked by: Shelby Hartman Published on November 02, 2022

Greetings my psychedelic friends, plant lovers, and music fans. I’m Shylah Ray Sunshine, a singer-songwriter, musician, mother, and professional vocal coach. Originally from Canada, I stand proudly as a First Nations woman living in California and have been blessed to share my music all over the world. My songs are rooted in radical emotional transparency, spiritual healing, empowerment, Indigenous representation, equality, cultural and political change, community connection, and environmental respect. I am a student on this path and, in all honesty, I don’t know shit—but I do speak the language of sound and music. I spend a lot of time simply listening : It’s the first layer to understanding, it builds the foundation for our lives. I’ve spent years studying music of all kinds. I’ve also had my fair share of experiences on cannabis, mushrooms, ayahuasca , and peyote, and the best part about it for me has been the music I’ve discovered, learned and experienced in my journeys. The oneness. The great awakening. Music is a journey in and of itself. I hope you enjoy learning and listening through what’s here the way I have.

Best Psychedelic Songs of All Time

There’s many different kinds of “psychedelic” music and “psychedelic songs.” Of course, Indigenous communities have been creating music, textiles, and other forms of art, inspired by their entheogenic experiences, for thousands of years. We’ll get into that more below, but, first, here are some classics from the first psychedelic renaissance. These picks supported self realization, mind expansion and, ultimately, created a revolution for an entire generation.

1. Breathe (In the Air) by Pink Floyd

This song is LEGENDARY. If you don’t know this entire album, you’ve been living under a rock. It’s from “ The Dark Side of the Moon ,” the most recognizable Pink Floyd album, firstly for its artwork and, secondly, because of how vastly different each song is, ranging from song tempo, layered vocal ranges, and almost distracting samples of clocks, cash registers and, most importantly, a sexy use of saxophone, synths, and mind-altering guitar slides. This one hits deep—literally asking us to pause—and take a breath. It’s like the feeling of floating on a late night cruise through space and timelessness. Even if you’ve heard it many times before, I recommend listening to it again with the help of plant allies and your full attention.

2. White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane

I love this song because of the distinct description of what it’s like to trip. I feel high just listening to it. No pill needed. This one brings me pleasant, animated yet surreal visuals—just like a hallucination. This classic was somewhat hard to follow as a young one, but as an adult it just hits differently. Grace Slick’s voice is haunting and strong. Her delivery is enough to bring on the chills. 

3. Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles

Cue the classical Indian tanpura, hypnotic drum rhythms, and weird, bird-like sounds. Embedded within the soundscape is the message “TURN OFF YOUR MIND. RELAX. AND FLOAT DOWNSTREAM.” The Beatles just fucking KNEW and they proved to the world that music and psychedelics can create magic and masterpieces. This song feels like being on a musical river raft of inner knowing. A surrender to the void. Seeing that the meaning of within is being. That LOVE is everything. And, most importantly, that the end is only the beginning. This song reminds us of the simple truth that tomorrow is never promised. Ain’t that the Truth.

Read: Shrooming at the Symphony: How Does Music Affect the Psychedelic Experience?

Best Ayahuasca Songs 

I never heard, or could conceive of, music channeled through the life of a plant until I was introduced to Ayahuasca. This one plant has channeled through countless human beings to give us the gift of song. Indigenous communities in the Amazon say that the ayahuasca plant teaches each person their own unique songs, called icaros, when they do a “dieta,” where they go into isolation and just consume plants, often as training for holding ceremonies. 

How to Grow Shrooms Bundle

Take both of our courses and save $90.

There are too many incredible ayahuasca songs to name and I cannot possibly claim to know the best ones.There is no such thing and there is no other plant which has brought this kind of music to the world. Ayahuasca is a living being with an enormous spirit. She makes that very clear through these medicine songs. The ones listed here are composed by unknown or different sources, some of which provide their own versions. I hope you find the ones you love and sing them with great honor.

1. Ayahuasca Sunarai

This is one of the most beautiful medicine songs I’ve ever heard. A song for the plant spirits. The way this song is used as an opening prayer for ceremony is like a soft caress from La Madre. This song is an invitation—a welcoming song to all of the plants, the allies, the teachers. Naming all of the Indigenous medicines and even animals, this song gives us an introduction to what is being firstly honored before commencing ceremony. Sunarai can be learned easily and is very memorable. It felt familiar the first time I heard it and it created a powerful opening. The original version is gorgeous and remains a popular invocation to share with deep reverence to Aya herself. 

2. Oso Blanco (White Bear) 

A well-loved medicine song in Spanish, this popular prayer tells a beautiful story of animals and their spirits. It carries a message of hope and intention. It plants seeds of beauty and magic along the way, acknowledging the way of the traditional South American four directions and its many beloved animal totems. Sang in many different ways and with multiple versions, it’s generally played with acoustic guitar, featuring rattles, percussion, and sometimes a flute or whistles. Oso Blanco has plenty of lyrics (at first difficult to follow until repeated enough), it paints an image of peace in the jungle, in the sky and beyond.  

3. Agua de Estrellas (Water of Stars)

When I first heard this song, I knew it was special. The way it begins slowly, softly, speaking to the waters and the stars. It feels like a sacred lullaby. This prayer song illuminates the beauty of the Mother, the Earth, the Heart. The lyrics encourage us to calm, cleanse, and heal. It is devotional to the feminine. The verses repeat as the song builds, gently praising the healing waters of the planet and our purpose to love all that is. Traditionally sung in Spanish, acapella or on guitar, it is difficult not to sing along with this one when in ceremony. It welcomes participation, percussion, and heavenly harmonies—and soothes the soul into Mother Ayahuasca’s warm embrace.

Read: Watch the Vibrations of Ayahuasca Songs Projected on Water

Best Shroom Music

Mushroom music is divine. It ebbs and flows, gives us food for thought; that mushy mellow mood or those energizing bursts of bubbly joy. I was unfamiliar with mushroom-inspired music until I started attending festivals. I heard heaps of EDM, watching projector screens with trippy fractals—and it started to grow on me. I was so used to tripping on shrooms alone or with close friends and then, all of a sudden, it felt like the entire world knew about psilocybin and its healing abilities. The genres grew and so did the spores. 

1. Mark Farina

Known as the guy who invented the “mushroom jazz” genre, I am relatively new to some of Mark Farina’s discography but have enjoyed discovering what inspired his style. I love his old school sounds. His 2008 “ Mush Jazz ” album is DOPE. His early albums include high energy dance tracks, a blend of repetitive EDM/house/hip hop beats, lots of space for all the feelings, trippy samples, and a multitude of guest artists. Mellow to high frequency BPMs with just enough to get you into the body, out of the mind, and into a higher state of elevation, I can listen on shuffle while working, walking, dancing, tripping or straight chillin. I recommend going back for a deep dive here. Enjoy.

Yaima’s Pepper Proud has one of the most soothing, angelic voices ever. This duo’s albums are like ethereal sounds from the heavens, landing on Earth to bless our hearts and minds with a message of love. This music, with or without entheogens, is medicine. Even better with mushrooms, it penetrates deeply into the consciousness. You can feel their devotion to the music and to Mother Earth. A spiritual reset to the nervous system, it’s easy to resonate and relate to their collaborative production and performance. Using multiple world instruments such as didgeridoo, flutes, harp, mandolin, handpans, kalimbas, and unique percussion sounds and drum patterns, these heart songs will allow you to drop IN.

3. East Forest

Three words: RAM DASS ALBUM . This album contains the words of love and mind-blowing wisdom. I would describe this as monumental music for the soul. East Forest’s tracks are incredibly soothing and thought provoking, in the most gentle way possible. It’s as if God is playing the piano and the Earth on backups with harps, harmonium, strings, and nature sounds such as frogs and crickets. I find myself enjoying each song differently, including the instrumentals and Indian-inspired drone ambiance. This genre is suited perfectly for a psilocybin love cruise with musical landscapes. 

Read: Trip Tunes: A Conversation with Producer Jon Hopkins About Making Music for Ketamine

Best Acid Music

LSD is a new thing for me. I had never tried acid up until this year. 2022. (yes, I know.)

After countless stories, I think I felt scared to try it, fearing the deep psyche or being too high for longer than I could stand. That said, I did grow up listening to the far out sounds of the 60s and 70s and got to know these decades by the evolution of some of these artists. Sometimes I think I did need the drugs. This music is straight up intense, weird, chaotic, comical, fun, dark, and beautiful.

1. The Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead is the most legendary psychedelic-era, jam band known to man. I was introduced to the Dead when I was a teen wearing tie dye, having zero clue that this music pioneered a movement in drugs and days when all people wanted was peace and love. This band has left an imprint on a whole generation of devoted fans and followers. “ Eyes of the World ” is my personal favorite while “ Friend of the Devil ” and “ Althea & Ripple ” are a couple of their most streamed tracks. “ Truckin ,” “ Sugar Magnolia ,” and “ Dark Star ” are all gems, too, but if you’re a true Deadhead, you’ll love it all. 

2. The Doors

Let’s just take a moment to appreciate the titles of some of The Doors’ tracks: “ Hello, I love you .” “ People are Strange .” “ Waiting for the Sun .” “ The Crystal Ship .” “ Love Street .” “ Touch me .” “ Light my Fire .” “ Love her Madly .” “ Break on Through .” “ My Wild Love .” “ Indian Summer .” “ Peace Frog .” “ The Unknown Soldier .” “ Riders on the Storm .” “ When the Music’s Over .” “ The End .”

The Doors’ lead singer Jim Morrison was a poetic genius. He represented the dark, even dangerous, side of when madness meets music. His words and stage presence combined with a stellar Rhodes keyboardist created a sound no one else could replicate. Once these Doors have opened…they are hard to close.

3. Pink Floyd

It really depends which albums we’re talking about here, but I think we can all agree that Pink Floyd’s classic “ The Dark Side of the Moon ” is by far the most recognizable of them all. All of the albums contain strange sounds and voices with periodic, dark and trippy, chord progressions. You can tell they were deep into it. Some favorites like “ Money ” and “ Time & Breathe ” have a recurring theme and more generic verse/chorus structure than the late 60s stuff. Many full instrumental segments and experimental albums without words, lets me know they took A LOT of drugs. You can feel it. “ Wish You Were Here ,” a beautiful piece I once thought was a love song, and “ Comfortably Numb ,” the softest song on their album “ The Wall ,” tells us the truth of what it is to want to escape pain, but to be in acceptance of it as well. Songs like this can be important and healing, especially in the midst of a psychedelic trip.

 Best Psychedelic Rock Songs

These were hard to select because there are SO MANY popular classics we all love. Dominated by multiple electrifying guitars, stellar solos, crashing cymbals, heavy basslines, and intense screams, these send us to rock heaven and back.

1. Purple Haze/ Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix

Just look at the album covers. You almost know what to expect. And then you hear that electric guitar slaying on Every. Fucking. Song. It was hard to pick just one by Jimi because he channels God through that instrument and it’s undeniable to any listener. The way he plays transports me to another level of understanding music. Straight up fire. Powerful and even sexy. Like TAKE ME. Wherever you’re going with that, I’m going with you. 

2. White Room by Cream

This song hit the airwaves in 1968, a time that was all about drugs. A lot of these songs were most likely induced by acid and heroin, with some weed, booze, and cocaine on the side. This song is about just that. It talks about our relationship with substances, the metaphor of a white room is used to describe the on/off switch between the self and your lover (aka drug of choice). The intro is wildly exciting and almost haunting, with many words making it somewhat hard to follow. A distinct guitar solo brings it to a close. Heavy on the rock, light on the cream.

3. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

I had to include this one. Even if it’s not technically categorized as “psychedelic,” it just is. It’s a fucking masterpiece and will live on as one of the most legendary songs of all time, period. The opening guitar and flute gently prepare us, the verses tell an almost celtic, folklore fantasy tale of a woman who is searching for something she may never attain. Guitars overlapping and slowly building up to a climax, Jimmy and Robert set the stage for a peak performance. I find it highly emotional and incredibly beautiful, from start to finish. The God-like guitar solo, pounding drum rolls, and falsetto screams of “when we are all One and One is all” are enough to bring us to our knees. I wonder now if the woman they sing of ever made it there—wherever “there” is.

Best Psychedelic Pop Songs

Sometimes musicophiles dismiss “pop” as an uninspired genre, because we live in an era where many of the top pop songs come out of a song mill of sorts. That said, “pop” really just stands for “popular music”—which, of course, has changed with each decade. The reason why it’s often popular is because it’s easy on the ears, inspires dancing and joy, and contains messages that are universal to the human experience. Here are some of my psychedelic favorites.

1. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles

A classic, memorable, and popular psy-pop song known to almost everyone, this track takes us on a visually colorful and vivid journey. Picture yourself on that boat, with The Beatles, cruising, accompanied by trance-like ambient sounds and weird synths. A girl like Lucy is not for everyone but she’s got that shine in her eyes whether you drop the L or not.

2. Time of the Season by the Zombies

This song always reminds me of something you’d hear in a dingy bar or the garage of a middle-aged “who’s your daddy” working on his motorcycle, drinking beers, on a Friday night with his buddies. I remember hearing it as a kid and always loving those claps, breathy ahhs, and 3-part chorus harmonies, which impress me, even to this day. Long, bluesy keyboard solos in between each verse remind us it’s always the season for loving.

3. Runaway Houses City Clouds by Tame Impala

Now this is a trippy song…Most of Tame Impala’s tracks are. This track takes us on a journey, from rock to pop rock into a long, drawn out midsection of synthy kaleidoscopic laidback buildups and breakdowns until it finally releases twinkly starry sky sounds on repeat. I love the lyric “it’s true that some things have to change,” speaking to the inevitable shifts on our paths or, simply, our evolution as humans. The spacey and cosmic instrumental part with that beautiful repeat guitar line is golden and I could bask in it endlessly. It’s a longer track for that reason, and feels like an ascension into psyche pop wonderland.

Best Trippy Rap Songs

“Trippy” isn’t necessarily the first descriptor that comes to mind when I think of psychedelics. I had to listen to a bunch of rap songs to determine what makes a rap song feel like a good translational trip or something I would enjoy listening to while high. Considering I generally do not gravitate to rap music while under the influence of any psychedelics (but every other time, I do), these tracks were selected based on not just the popularity of each artist but their quality and lyrical content. 

1. L$D by A$AP ROCKY

This song is not something I expected from A$AP ROCKY when I first heard it. But I adored it then—and I still do. It’s raw, seriously sexy, unusually cosmic sounding and something you want to listen to with your lover when you’re both high. At least I always fantasized about that. Dramatic and super hot with statements like “girl, I really f*ck you on love, sex, dreams.” I warn you before listening to this: it makes you want LSD. Or sex. Or both. Choose wisely.

2. Highest in the Room by Travis Scott

What starts like an old creepy movie soundtrack flips quickly into a hard and hypnotic beat. This is a Travis-original rap style; it’s hard to make out what he’s saying but it doesn’t matter because it sounds so fucking good. I see a smoke-filled room with him floating at the top, colored lights and occasionally glancing in a mirror, eyes changing, ego shifting, dark images surfacing. Somehow amidst the eeriness, it also gives me a feeling of safety because I know I’m just high and that the fear is not real. 

3. Self Care by Mac Miller

Brilliant piece of work. Mac did an incredible thing with the album “ Swimming .” This song stands out as the most psychedelic track. It’s about checking in with yourself, time travel, seeing with your eyes closed, and being ok even when shit gets trippy, ungrounded, and uncomfortable—talk about a description of psychedelic journeying. When this song switches its beat and tempo entirely, it’s like a breath of fresh air, representative of when we realize the oblivion we call life will not last forever. RIP MAC.

Related posts:

• Urban Outfitters Is “Mainstreaming Psychedelics” Because They’re Selling Psychedelic Water That’s Not Actually Psychedelic
• Top 12 Psychedelic Artists on Instagram Right Now
• Why Humans Have Always Been Fascinated by Snakes—From Ayahuasceros to Egyptians
• Inside Detroit’s Notorious “Psychedelic Healing Shack”

How to Take Shrooms

How much shrooms should a beginner take, preparing for your first mushroom trip we've got you..

There’s Now a Shroom Dispensary in the US

With gummies, powders, and capsules on sale, this florida shop says they’ve found a legal loophole.

Art + Culture

Top 12 trippiest music videos ever, wtf am i even looking at.

• Indonesia (Bahasa)
• Latin America
• MENA - Arabic
• MENA - English
• Netherlands

The 20 best songs about LSD

Taking you on a trip through the greatest tracks inspired by acid

• Mixmag crew
• 10 August 2022

Since the good ol' days of Woodstock and the Summer of Love , Lysergic acid diethylamide ( LSD ) has provided inspiration for many curious artists wanting to explore the hidden depths of their own minds.

Despite only having been synthesised in 1943 , the substance swiftly became a symbol of world counter-culture, from The Beatles' psychedelia through to acid house and the heyday of the 90s rave to Harry Styles' blissed-out mainstream pop. Whole subgenres—psychedelic rock, psytrance, acid house— are inspired by drugs that alter consciousness and LSD can improve music perception and trigger synaesthetic reactions — which cause people to see sounds as colours, patterns, or objects. LSD has infiltrated our culture's musical awareness and brought with it a great wealth of trippy bangers to serve as the soundtrack to your exploration into uncharted terrain.

So whether you're just out to trip balls, or you've come here for “The Message,” — let us take you on a bewildering journey through some of the best music about LSD.

Read this next: 30 best songs about cocaine

Ecstasy Club ‘Jesus Loves The Acid’

A classic of its time, this belter released in 1988 is quite simply not one to listen to while tripping on acid, despite what the title suggests. With screeching synths, wobbly 303s, and a sample of Pope John Paul II’s 1979 speech in Ireland kicking things off, this acid house number could send anyone into overdrive on the dancefloor, and the "ACID!" chants toward the end really help to top it off. Jesus most definitely loves the acid.

Aphex Twin 'Lisbon Acid’

From his 2005-released record ‘ Analord 07 ’, Aphex Twin ’s glitchy acid techno-inspired track ‘ Lisbon Acid ’ might not make direct remarks about the drug, but the producer certainly has a history with his hallucinogens. Starting out on the free party scene as acid house first emerged in the UK, Aphex Twin signed his first track while tripping on the drug: “[Mighty Force Records] made me sign the contract when I was off my face. I was tripping and they're waving this money and a pen at me,” he recounted. “I think if he had not done that trip that night there may have never been any Aphex Twin,” his friend said.

2 Boasters, A Digestive & A Jammy Dodger 'We Are About To Take LSD’

“WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE LSD!” announces the opening vocals of this chaotic and slightly alarming track by 2 Boasters, A Digestive & A Jammy Dodger . Released in 1991 as part of a three-track EP alongside the comically named ‘Oh Crumbs’, this hardcore breakbeat number certainly doesn’t leave any hints on its backstory. The vocal sample runs on repeat throughout the entire five-minute tune, only pausing to drop into even heavier breaks.

Jockstrap ‘Acid’

UK experimental outfit Jockstrap have a more contemporary take on their hallucinogen preferences, this time documenting an unusual acid trip-turned-breakup. “Smash a pretty vase of acid” starts lead singer Georgia Ellery before crashing into unusual synths and orchestral moments lined with more hard-hitting lyrics. The distorted production throws this track askew, fitting for such a drug, but never quite feels too surreal.

Luke Vibert 'I Love Acid’

Complete with Daft Punk -esque robot voices, plainly titled ‘ I Love Acid ’, is likely to stick in your head for a couple of days after first listen. Released by Warp Records in 2003, British producer Luke Vibert declares his undying love for LSD alongside a trippy animation: “I love acid for the way it makes me move - I love acid it’s the sound you can’t improve - I love acid it insights a nasty groove,” repeat the robotic vocals piecing together this curiously French house style track. Vibert’s love for the hallucinogen was no secret, later releasing his 12-track album ‘ Lover’s Acid ’ in 2005 and creating more tunes in the same vein with titles such as ‘ Acid 2000 ’ and ‘ Funky Acid Stuff ’.

Read this next: 10 of the Best Songs Celebrating Ecstasy

1200 micrograms ‘LSD’

A real interdimensional journey, this psytrance track from 1200 micrograms will have you contemplating your steady trip through life. With the line “mind-altering psychedelic trip” playing throughout, this seven-minute song is fast-tempo, high energy and has a mechanical, robotic and space-like quality synonymous with the extra-terrestrial experience of an acid trip. “LSD, possibly the most powerful and important psychedelic drug on the planet” is whispered as the track ends.

D-Mob ‘We call it acieed’

“Acid, the musical phenomenon. Only for the headstrong” — a sample declares over the acid house beat. This is the debut single by British musician D-Mob and in 1989 it reached No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart and No. 25 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. Listeners are blessed with blaring synths, funky keys, a groovy bassline and the word “acid” ringing through their ears.

Time Tripping ‘Time Tripping’

With double drops of a deep bassline and a rolling drum pattern — this track will go down in drum 'n' bass history. But the repeated lines of “are we time tripping” is highly resemblant to that all-consuming feeling of not knowing where you are or what era you’re in when five hours into your trip. It’s a simple track but it is versatile and has been a favourite for drum 'n' bass club mixes for almost a decade... a great option for when you're two tabs in.

The Beatles ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’

Potentially the most famous track about acid there is. Despite the capitals in the track spelling out "LSD" John Lennon insisted that the titling choice was a mere coincidence . However, The Beatles did admit two weeks after the release of the seminal album in which this song is featured, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ that the quartet did take acid when writing the album - implying that many of the songs and the colourful imagery which is described in them would have also been inspired under psychedelic influence.

Read this next: We spoke to an ecstasy dealer from the acid house era

A$AP Rocky ‘LSD’

We mean, it’s in the title. 'LSD' is a shaky, slightly ghoulish track about the drug and the love you can — or can't — make while using it. This track depicts Rocky rapping about being high on LSD and the experiences that he has had on it. When asked about the "Baby I'm just rappin' to this LSD" lyric by Billboard magazine, A$AP Rocky replied : "It helps me cope with life. I've been doing this stuff since I got into the industry. People are scared to talk about it."

The song is wistful and has smooth cadence, rhythm and flow, which allows listeners to join Rocky on a trip. It is a soft ballad that allows listeners to see a different side to the famed New York rapper, and gives us a chance to understand how the drug brings out a different side to him. Rocky refers to LSD as “love, sex, dreams” multiple times in the song, reminding listeners of the romantic and pleasurable effects of the lucid drug.

Rejjie Snow ‘ACID TRIP’

Even without the literal references to acid used on this track by applying effects to the piano and Rejjie’s vocals a floating feeling is undeniable. When listening to ‘ACID TRIP’ it’s airy echoing sounds and electronic synths transport you to a utopia. Lyrics include, "Took a little bit of acid, mum, I'm sorry", and the chorus "I feel like we on acid when we kiss" repeats so much it could be hypnotising you into a world of LSD.

Brockhampton ‘TRIP’

All seems well when you first start listening to ‘ TRIP ’ however as soon as the lyric, “this is our fantasy,” is rapped it’s as if the tab has finally hit your tongue. The lyric “flying on my rocket ship, I’m on an acid trip” isn’t as subtle of a hint.

Jefferson Airplane ‘White Rabbit’

This is a pretty self-explanatory choice if you’ve heard this classic but if you haven’t here you go. You’d think that the use of the ‘white’ in the title is referring to cocaine however, instead the name is referencing the white rabbit character within Lewis Carrol’s psychedelic tale of Alice in Wonderland . It’s release in 1967 at the height of LSD saw Jefferson Airplane become a pioneering psychedelic rock band. It’s said that Paul Kantner, singer, guitarist from Jefferson Airplane wrote the song after taking LSD and listening to Miles Davis’ album ‘ Sketches Of Spain ’ for 24 hours. The song is now commonly associated with mind-altering film The Matrix as well as its feature in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas .

Read this next: "Tripping revived me": Students are using LSD and magic mushrooms to get through lockdown

David Bowie ‘Space Oddity’

An obvious one but also a classic, ‘Space Oddity’ is the ultimate LSD-themed track. Released in 1969 this was Bowie’s first introduction to the astronaut persona Major Tom who later features on other tracks including ‘Ashes to Ashes’ where he is referred to as a “junkie”. A gentle track of Bowie’s soft vocals and acoustic vocals, the layering of instruments adds a bewitching atmosphere. Lyrics follow Major Tom’s departure and trip into space getting higher and higher until he spins around stuck in space. "Here am I floating 'round my tin can, far above the moon. Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do."

The Prodigy ‘Out Of Space’

A banger to say the least, this song really does take “your brain to another dimension”. Built for tripping, 'Out Of Space' features acid house breaks and a sample of the 1976 song ‘ Chase the Devil ’. Not only is the track hallucinatory but the music video is extremely vibrant and colourful and features them raving in industrial wear — oh, and lots of ostriches.

The Beatles ‘I am the Walrus’

This song is notoriously known for being heavily inspired by tripping, with Lennon penning the majority of the song while under the influence of LSD. During one trip, he heard the two-note pattern of a passing police siren. The sound became the first few notes of 'I Am The Walrus'. They're even echoed in the verse's two-note pattern. The line “See how they run like pigs from a gun”, emerged during another narcotics-fuelled music session.

Lyra Pramuk & Eris Drew 'Everything is Beautiful & Alive'

As part of the 'Delta' remix compilation of Pramuk's 2020 album ' Fountain ', 'Everything is Beautiful & Alive' isn't your traditional rework. Eris Drew instead of choosing "a track" to remix instead took vocal samples from the entire album and weaved them into a singular narrative — a deeply personal collaboration that referenced the two artists' friendship across time and space during the pandemic, with Lyra living in Berlin and Eris in New Hampshire. Eris is never shy to share her love of hallucinogenics within her music — regularly using acid and magic mushrooms in her creative process, and the track's reference to psychedelics comes via a vocal sample . "Everything is beautiful and alive" a soft female voice declares over the trippy beat, taken from an old news report of a young woman on acid, explaining how wonderful she feels to a suited-up male square.

Jhené Aiko 'LSD'

Jhené Aiko's ' LSD ' is the first track from her 2017 concept album ' Trip '. The whole record is in reference to the US R&B starlet's journey into psychedelics and healing following the death of her brother to cancer in 2012 — telling the story of journeys into the self through a dreamy, trippy lens. 'LSD' tells the story of her first acid trip during a car drive to the rugged Big Sur coastal stretch in California. Perhaps the most prolific description of her experience in the track comes from the last three lines: "Took a tiny piece of paper and put it under my tongue. This white guy said it'd be fun, and it was, but. What I saw, Oh my God, Oh my God."

Hallucinogen 'L.S.D' (Paul Oakenfold remix)

It doesn't get much more psychedelic and transcendental than Hallucinogen's 1995 track 'L.S.D'. Grinding drums, squelching chimes and trippy acid basslines make up this classic Goa trance banger. The track contains a vocal sample taken from the 1986 BBC documentary The Rise and Fall of LSD , which controversially showed British viewers footage of participants in an LSD study describing their experiences. Wanna kick the trip up a notch? The master of trance himself Paul Oakenfold remixed the track back in 2011 adding in even more big bass and synth siren calls.

Read this next: Why acid house is the last thing I want to listen to when I'm on acid

Chance the Rapper 'Acid Rain'

Though much of Chance's 2013 mixtape ' Acid Rap ' references his use of LSD, telling MTV MTV around the time of release: "[There] was a lot of acid involved in 'Acid Rap'. I mean, it wasn't too much — I'd say it was about 30 to 40% acid... more so 30% acid." The only track which gives a narrative of an acid trip is 'Acid Rain', which tells the story of Chance, real name Chancellor Bennet, going outside in New York while on a particularly intense dose of the drug. Throughout the song he comes to realisations about his life: whether it's about getting picked for sports in high school, his relationship with fellow rappers or his belief in god. His central point can be seen in the line "damn that acid burn when it clean ya" — alluding to an acid trip needed to be painful and challenging to reward him with the clarity he was looking for.

LCD Soundsystem 'American Dream'

Perhaps one of the more morose descriptions of an acid trip on this list. The title track from LCD Soundsystem's 2017 record ' American Dream ' describes the story of the morning after a regrettable bender. Remembering not a moment of clarity or self-discovery, instead, the lyrics pertain to feelings of fear and discomfort: "You took acid and looked in the mirror. Watched the beard crawl around on your face." The track itself maintains a dream-like psychedelic quality while remaining eerie and unsettling. Sometimes you have a bad trip, you know?

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

Sign up for the Mixmag newsletter

A weekly rundown of everything you need to know in music and culture

Mixmag will use the information you provide to send you the Mixmag newsletter using Mailchimp as our marketing platform. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us. By clicking sign me up you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy . Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here .

21 Best Songs About Drugs Of All Time

There are a few themes that come up over and over again in popular music. We have all heard the many songs about things like heartbreak and the transient nature of youth that all seem to mirror each other. Another popular musical trope, usually hidden behind code words and innuendo, is drug use. Here are some of the very best songs about drugs.

1. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – The Beatles

Few bands in the history of music have ever been as popular as The Beatles and, as many people know, they became more than a little familiar with drugs in the late 1960s. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, which is a thinly veiled reference to an LSD trip , appeared on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967 when the band was at the height of their psychedelic rock phase. John Lennon famously claimed it was innocently inspired by a picture drawn by his young son, but most people don’t believe that story.

Next: The best Beatles songs of all time (our list of picks)

2. Purple Pills – D12

Almost everybody knows the rapper Eminem, but the work he did as the leader of the hip-hop ensemble D12 is often forgotten. He formed the band in the late 1990s with friends and fellow rappers from his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. The song “Purple Pills”, which came out in 2001 as the band was surging to popularity, is a fully unvarnished depiction of the highs and lows that accompany drug use. Each member of D12 takes turns delivering their own individual verse on the topic.

Next: The best songs with hidden or deeper meaning

3. Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers

The band Red Hot Chili Peppers has always been known for their chill surfer rock, but each member of the band struggled with very real drug addiction as they toiled in the Los Angeles music scene of the late 1980s. “Under the Bridge” was written by front man Anthony Kiedis after he got clean and the rest of the band didn’t. The song is about Kiedis feeling distant and detached from his band mates and friends as he leaves drug use behind. Released in 1991, it was a huge hit and is arguably Red Hot Chili Peppers’ most popular song.

Next: The best songs from the 90s (1990s hits)

4. C*caine – Eric Clapton

A lot of songs about drugs hide the reference behind subtle poetry, but that is not the case for the song “C*caine” by Eric Clapton. In this track, the legendary guitar god attempts to convince the listener to try the drug in no uncertain terms. “C*caine” was released in 1977 and helped lead to a surge in the drug’s popularity that would last through the entire 1980s.

Next: The best rock songs of all time (classic rock hit tracks)

5. Breaking the Habit – Linkin Park

Linkin Park has always been known to have a brooding musical style that explores the darker themes in life. “Breaking the Habit” fits this mold perfectly, as it tells the story of drug use from its most bleak and paralyzing aspects without romanticizing it in any way. Coming from the band’s highly popular record Meteora in 2003, lead singer Chester Bennington was famously unable to perform the song in concert for many years due to the emotional reaction he had to it.

Next: The best songs about depression of all time (our list of picks)

6. Time to Pretend – MGMT

MGMT rose to popularity during the late 2000s while indie rock was experiencing something of a revival. Their musical style is assertively groovy and drug-friendly, as embodied by their single “Time to Pretend” from Oracular Spectacular released in 2007. While the song sometimes sounds like it is merely telling the story of a kid on an adventure, references to choking on vomit make it clear that the singer is describing a drug trip.

Next: The top songs about addiction ever made

7. White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane

The timeless rock band Jefferson Airplane was one of the pioneering acts in the psychedelic rock genre. Lead singer Grace Slick personally wrote their biggest hit “White Rabbit”, which came out in 1967 at the height of the hippie culture. The song both narrates and sets the stage for an LSD hallucination styled after Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland . The song has become legendary for it’s crescendo where Slick repeatedly declares “Feed your head!”.

8. Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind

“Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind has a noteworthy status as one of the most popular songs that is about drugs but doesn’t sound like it. While it sounds like the type of upbeat pop song about youthful aspiration that was trendy in 1997 when it came out, lead singer Stephan Jenkins has admitted that the song is actually about his own past addiction to crystal meth. The happy-go-lucky beat is supposed to mimic the uplifting effects of the drug.

Next: The best songs about being happy (our feel good tracks list)

9. Hurt – Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash became world famous for his blend of gospel, rock and roll, and country in the 1950s and 1960s, but one of his biggest commercial and critical successes came just prior to his death in 2003. Released the prior year, “Hurt” is actually Cash’s rendition of a song originally performed by the rock band Nine Inch Nails . The song about struggling with drug addiction sounds perfect coming from Cash. “Hurt” was a huge popular success and won him a posthumous Grammy award.

Next: The best songs about death of all time (our list of passing tracks)

10. Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix

The Jimi Hendrix Experience were still relatively unknown in the United States when they recorded “Purple Haze” in early 1967. Both the song and Jimi Hendrix would go on to achieve legendary status in the history of American music. “Purple Haze” is known for describing an equally legendary strain of marijuana and its psychoactive effects, but Hendrix himself actually said that it was intended as a love song.

Next: The greatest love songs of all time (best romance tracks)

11. We Found Love – Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris

Both Rihanna and EDM artist Calvin Harris were at the height of their popularity when “We Found Love” came out in 2011. While it originally sounds like a club anthem, the “yellow diamonds” that Rihanna refers to are actually crystals of the drug MDMA, or ecstasy. She goes on to sing about the feelings of love that accompany the drug’s high, which is also enhanced by the type of bold breakdowns that Harris is known for.

12. We Are All on Drugs – Weezer

The alternative rock band Weezer has touched on every theme imaginable in the 30 years they have been active, so they have a song about drugs, too. “We Are All on Drugs”, released in 2005, catalogs the motivations that lead some people to addiction and the fallout that can result. According to Weezer’s lead singer Rivers Cuomo, the song refers not only to actual drugs, but technology, media, relationships, and the many addictive distractions that exist in the modern world.

Next: The best suicide songs of all time (our list of picks)

13. Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd

The Weeknd burst onto the popular music scene in 2015 with a series of hit singles from his album Beauty Behind the Madness . One of these was “Can’t Feel My Face”, which comes off as a song about passionate love affair that may not always be the good kind. In reality, The Weeknd is singing about his struggles with drugs by personifying them as a lover who he knows is bad for him, but he still can’t stay away from.

Next: The best songs with great figurative language & metaphors

14. One Toke Over the Line – Brewer and Shipley

It’s odd to think about now, but the folk genre was on the cutting edge of popular music in the 1960s and early 1970s. Brewer and Shipley were a folk duo act at this time, making it big in 1970 with their hit single “One Toke Over the Line”. As member Mike Brewer later recalled, he wrote the song after he spent an entire day getting stoned smoking marijuana with friends and one of them said he was one toke over the line, giving the song its name.

Next: The best 70s songs from the decade (1970s hits)

15. Negro y Azul – Los Cuates de Sinaloa

The Spanish song “Negro y Azul”, performed by the Mexican mariachi band Los Cuates de Sinaloa, has a unique origin. It was written specifically for the hit television show Breaking Bad in 2009. It tells the story of Heisenberg, the criminal alias used by the show’s main character, and how his success in the crystal meth cooking business has made him a target for violence by the Mexican drug cartel.

Next: The best Spanish love songs of all time

16. Ayo for Yayo – Andre Nickatina feat. Sam Quinn

The song “Ayo for Yayo” by Andre Nickatina and Sam Quinn makes its drug references obvious by the use of repeated drug street slang (‘yayo’ itself is covert term for c*caine). The track is a very gritty portrayal of c*caine use and the downward spiral that can result from the initial well meaning desire to have a good time. Nickatina and Quinn were something of a one-hit wonder, as they went relatively unheard from following the song’s release in 2003.

Next: The best sad rap songs ever made

17. Swimming Pools – Kendrick Lamar

Rapper Kendrick Lamar made global headlines when he won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018, but “Swimming Pools” came out in 2012 when he was still honing his craft. The sound and lyrics initially convey a party-friendly vibe where alcohol is all part of the fun. However, beneath the surface, Lamar’s poetry describes the peer pressure and futile self-destructive cycles that often lead people to drink to an unhealthy excess.

Next: Greatest drinking songs for a booze-filled playlist

18. Antidote – Travis Scott

Before he was setting headlines of all kinds with his intense live performances, Travis Scott made his fame on the back of singles like “Antidote”, which was released in 2015 on the album Rodeo . The song outlines various types of drug use, including Scott using marijuana as the cure to whatever negative feelings he may be having and taking pills as a way of life in the hills of Los Angeles.

Next: Marijuana songs playlist for weed smokers

19. Mary Jane – Rick James

Rick James was still an up and coming young funk artist when he released “Mary Jane” as one of his very first singles in 1978. On its surface, the song is a groovy tune about a woman that James is infatuated with. However, ‘Mary Jane’ is a common slang term for marijuana and the song is truly about James’ love for the drug.

20. Molly – Tyga feat. Wiz Khalifa

Use of the drug MDMA surged in popularity in the early 2010s and the trend culminated with this club anthem about the drug, which is frequently nicknamed Molly. Rappers Tyga and Wiz Khalifa were at the height of their popularity in 2013 when the track came out. It utilizes a heavy EDM-style beat as it chants the drug’s name over and over again, making it clear that it is the subject of the rappers’ affections.

21. Mother’s Little Helper – The Rolling Stones

Drug use is often thought of as either the glamorous subject of adventurous youth or the clearly destructive habit of someone determined to undermine themselves, but sometimes it is neither. In “Mother’s Little Helper” by the legendary British rock band The Rolling Stones, the lyrics describe the phenomenon of housewives being prescribed tranquilizers to deal with their own emotional turmoil, which was an epidemic in the 1950s and 1960s.

As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers.

Liam’s lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto.

Recommended:

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

This is a professional review website. Any purchase that a visitor makes for a product mentioned or directed to by Music Grotto, may result in us receiving a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Contact Information:

4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd. #236

Portland, Oregon 97214-5246

Phone: +1 (971) 240-7126

[email protected]

© 2024 Music Grotto

35 Best Songs About Struggling with Addiction & Substance Abuse

There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.

Drug addiction and substance abuse not only destroy addicts’ lives, but also those of the people they love.

According to 2020 statistics , in America alone, there are more than 37 million individuals, aged 12 and older, who use illicit substances. This is an issue that has a far-reaching negative impact in almost all sectors of society.

Drug addiction is not uncommon in the music industry, so it is understandable why a number of musicians have written songs about it.

In today’s article, we’re sharing a list of songs about addiction that describe the destructive power of drugs and other addictive substances. Many of these songs were written by artists who had first-hand experiences with substance abuse.

These songs shed light on the realities of drug addiction. Several are written from the point of view of someone on the road to recovery.

Hopefully, this compilation will be a powerful source of inspiration and hope for those who are on this difficult road.

Table of Contents

1. Rehab , Amy Winehouse

“ They tried to make me go to rehab but I said, ‘No, no, no.’ Yes, I've been black, but when I come back, you'll know, know, know. ”

Amy Winehouse was an extremely talented music artist who received numerous awards, including two Guinness World Records.

The people who knew her were often blown away by her talent. But Amy was also known for her heavy use of drugs and alcohol.

This song is about an addict who doesn’t think she needs to get clean.

Tragically for Amy, her addiction eventually led to her demise.

2. How Could You Leave Us , NF

“ I don't get it, mom. Don't you want to watch your babies grow? I guess pills are more important, all you have to say is ‘no’. But you won't do it, will you? You gon' keep popping 'til those pills kill you. I know you gone but I can still feel you. ”

Drugs have the power to destroy people’s lives and break up families. This is a raw and heartbreaking song about a son’s pain at the death of his mother from overdose.

3. Cold Turkey , John Lennon

“ Thirty-six hours. Rolling in pain. Praying to someone. Free me again. Oh, I'll be a good boy. Please, make me well. I promise you anything. Get me out of this hell. ”

This song is about the withdrawal symptoms addicts feel when they’re off their drug/substance of choice for an extended period of time.

Their bodies are so accustomed to the drugs that quitting cold turkey brings on powerful and painful physical symptoms, making it tempting to get back on the drugs just to stop the pain.

4. Not an Addict , K’s Choice

“ It's not a habit. It's cool. I feel alive. If you don't have it, you're on the other side. I'm not an addict. Maybe that's a lie. ”

Addicts often lack the necessary self-awareness that prevents them from engaging in dangerous behavior and action. They might even adamantly deny that they are addicted to substances.

This song is about that type of denial.

An addict will often argue that the drugs help them—whether making them feel more creative or “attuned” to what’s going on around them.

Some might even say that people who don’t use drugs are uncool.

5. It’s Been a While , Staind

“ And it's been a while since I can say that I wasn't addicted. And it's been a while since I can say I love myself as well. ”

As mentioned earlier, drug addicts not only hurt themselves, but also those they love.

This song is about the struggles an addict faces on the road to recovery.

In their intoxicated or drugged-out state, they may have hurt the ones they love the most. In this song, a former addict apologizes to a loved one.

Along with realizing that they’ve hurt people they love and who love them, addicts also need to learn to love themselves . This is one of the ways to prevent themselves from going back to toxic habits.

6. Sober , Kelly Clarkson

“ Three months and I'm still sober. Picked all my weeds but kept the flowers. But I know, it's never really over. ”

This song is about the awareness that being sober requires a lot of mindfulness.

It is about learning to adjust in an environment where you will always be tempted by what causes your addiction — whether it’s alcohol, drugs, a toxic relationship, porn, etc.

7. Sober , P!nk

“ I'm safe up high. Nothing can touch me. Why do I feel this party's over? Whoaaah. No pain inside. You're like perfection. But how do I feel this good sober? ”

P!nk is known to have used illicit substances in her younger days. However, she has since decided to get help and stay sober.

In this song, P!nk sings about the benefits of being sober and clean.

8. The More I Drink , Blake Shelton

“ Well, if I have one, I'll have thirteen. Naw, there ain't no in-between. ‘Cause the more I drink, the more I drink. ”

Recovering addicts are aware of the effects drugs and substances have on them. In this song, listeners are introduced to a man who is on his way to recovery from alcohol abuse.

His friends at the bar ridicule him for ordering a Coke instead of his usual alcoholic beverage. However, the man explains that he will be unable to stop drinking if he starts again.

Let’s hope, for his sake, that his determination to stay sober remains strong.

9. Sister Morphine , Marianne Faithfull

“ Oh, can't you see that I'm fading fast? And that this shot will be the last. ”

This is a heartbreaking song about a morphine addict who may have overdosed.

He wakes up at the hospital, confused about what’s going on around him. He then goes through withdrawal symptoms while he’s getting treatment.

10. Gravity , A Perfect Circle

“ I fell again, like a baby unable to stand on my own. Tail in hand, dizzy and clearly unable to just let this go. ”

In this song, the narrator has almost reached rock bottom in his addiction. He’s clearly gone through multiple cycles of getting high and then trying to get clean and sober.

Nevertheless, this person is determined to live. He surrenders his fate to whatever force can help him achieve the sobriety he needs.

11. Bottom of a Bottle , Smile Empty Soul

“ I do it for the drugs. I do it just to feel alive. I do it for the love that I get from the bottom of a bottle. ”

The words of this song’s chorus might be something an addict would say.

However, according to the band that wrote this song, it is actually about doing whatever sustains you and makes you passionate about living.

12. The Needle and the Damage Done , Neil Young

“ I've seen the needle and the damage done. A little part of it in everyone. But every junkie's like a settin' sun. ”

Neil Young knew several people, some of them his friends, who died of heroin overdose. He wrote this song that describes the fatal effects of the drug.

13. Needle of Death , Bert Jansch

“ One grain of pure white snow, dissolved in blood spread quickly to your brain. In peace your mind withdraws. Your death so near, your soul can't feel no pain. ”

Here’s another song that describes the fatal consequences of drug addiction. Bert Jansch wrote this song as a tribute to a friend and fellow musician who overdosed on heroin.

14. Master of Puppets , Metallica

“ Taste me, you will see, more is all you need. Dedicated to how I'm killing you. ”

This song from Metallica has recently regained popularity after being used in the series Stranger Things .

It is sung from the point of view of drugs, and describes how it takes over the life of an addict. It then urges the user to take more of it, with lethal consequences.

15. Chandelier , Sia

“ One, two, three, one, two, three, drink. Throw 'em back 'til I lose count. ”

In this tragic song, a woman struggles with depression and alcoholism. She is tired of her party-girl days.

The inspiration for this song is Sia’s personal experience with the highs and lows of being a musician searching for her place in the industry. She was addicted to drugs and was also an alcoholic.

Fortunately for her, she found the strength to sober up. Her big break came because of this song.

16. The A Team , Ed Sheeran

“ White lips, pale face. Breathin' in the snowflakes. Burnt lungs, sour taste. Light's gone, days end. Struggling to pay rent. Long nights, strange men. ”

The inspiration for this song is a woman named Angel, whom Ed Sheeran met when he volunteered at a homeless shelter.

As we listen to the song, we get to know Angel and how she struggles through life. Her drug of choice is cocaine, which is in the same drug class (Class A) as heroin.

17. Using Again , Benjamin Tod

“ I'm living low down and I am using again. ”

In this song, listeners get introduced to someone who can’t seem to get away from the cycle of addiction. This man is aware of the negative consequences of his drug habit, but is unable to stop.

He despises what he’s become. His drug-addicted state isn’t a true reflection of who he is inside.

18. Dust in a Baggie , Billy Strings

“ This life of sin has got me in. Well, it's got me back in prison once again. I used my only phone call to contact my daddy. I got twenty long years for some dust in a baggie. ”

Billy Strings has a deep understanding of a drug addict’s life. His father passed away from a heroin overdose when Billy was two years old, and many of Billy’s family members used and were addicted to drugs.

This song is about the life of a meth addict. The addict gets arrested and is sentenced to 20 years for possession of the illegal drugs.

As for Billy, he and his family were able to overcome their drug addictions. They are now clean and sober.

19. Sober Haha Jk Unless , Hospital Bracelet

“ And I don't really know if I wanna overdose. Maybe I'm just constantly scared of being on my own. ”

This song describes the internal struggles of an addict, including their isolation and longing for sobriety.

The narrator is hounded by dark thoughts, possibly made worse by his drug use. He pleads for help and reflects on his fears.

He longs for healing and accepts that his recovery will most likely be a painful journey.

20. Badfish , Sublime

“ Ain't got no money to spend. I hope the night will never end. Lord knows I'm weak. Won't somebody get me off of this reef? ”

The summer-party vibe of this song belies its darker message. “Badfish” can mean someone who does hard drugs like heroin. It can also refer to someone who introduces another person to hard drugs.

This song most likely refers to one of Sublime's member’s drug addiction. He might want out of his predicament, and this song is a cry for help.

21. Under the Bridge , Red Hot Chili Peppers

“ (Under the bridge downtown) Is where I drew some blood. (Under the bridge downtown) I could not get enough. (Under the bridge downtown) Forgot about my love. (Under the bridge downtown) I gave my life away, yeah… ”

This song describes the loneliness and isolation a drug addict feels. No one actually understands how this person feels or what he’s going through.

However, this song offers hope. Although still struggling with his addiction, the addict has taken the first steps towards recovery.

22. Salvation , The Cranberries

“ To all those people doing lines, don't do it, don't do it. Inject your soul with liberty. It's free, it's free. ”

This song is The Cranberries’ take on drug abuse. It speaks to those who are using drugs and encourages them not to do so anymore.

23. Walk a Little Straighter , Billy Currington

“ And I'd say, ‘Walk a little straighter daddy. You're swaying side to side. Your footsteps make me dizzy. And no matter how I try, I keep tripping and stumbling. If you'd look down here, you'd see. Walk a little straighter daddy. You're leading me. ’”

This song is sung from the point of view of an alcoholic’s son. The son pleads for his father to become a better example for him.

24. Life Is Beautiful , Sixx:A.M.

“ I was waiting for my hearse. What came next was so much worse. It took a funeral to make me feel alive. ”

In 1987, Nikki Sixx overdosed on heroin. He was clinically dead for a couple of minutes before he was revived.

The experience was a major wakeup call for Sixx. This song was inspired by that particular event.

Today, Sixx advocates for people to stay off drugs. Through his band Sixx:A.M., he shares his personal experience of being a drug addict and someone who is committed to recovery.

25. Don’t Leave Home , Dido

“ I arrived when you were weak. I'll make you weaker like a child. Now, all your love you give to me when your heart is all I'll need. Oh, don't leave home. ”

In an interview, Dido said that this song is about drug addiction.

The point of view is that of the substance or drug that the user is addicted to.

The song is about how drug addiction takes over a person’s entire life, isolating them from everything that used to matter before they became addicted.

26. Drinkin’ Problem , Midland

“ People say I got a drinkin' problem, but I got no problem drinkin' at all. ”

Drug addicts and alcoholics will often deny that they have a problem with substance abuse. This song describes that vehement denial.

In it, the alcoholic even resorts to wordplay to deny his drinking problem.

27. Drug Dealer , Macklemore ft. Ariana DeBoo

“ My drug dealer was a doctor, doctor. Had the plug from Big Pharma, Pharma. He said that he would heal me, heal me. But he only gave me problems, problems. ”

In this song, Macklemore discusses the issue of prescription medicines are addictive. He also calls out the doctors who willingly prescribe these medications, despite knowing their dangerous side effects.

This song is a call for those who have a hand in creating the prescription drug problem to be held accountable.

28. Otherside , Macklemore x Ryan Lewis, ft. Fences

“ I've seen cocaine bring out the demons inside. Cheating and lying. Friendships cease. No peace in the mind. Stealing and taking anything to fix the pieces inside. Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere. Only motivation for what the dealer's supplying. ”

Here is another song from Macklemore tackling the issue of drug addiction and its heartbreaking and often fatal consequences.

This song describes how drugs rob you of happiness, destroy relationships, and leave you with broken dreams.

29. Life in the Fast Lane , Eagles

“ Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind. ”

This song is about a couple who lived life in the fast lane. They tried everything that kind of life has to offer.

Sadly, it ended tragically for both of them.

30. Addiction , Counterfeit

“ I hit rock bottom, but that was last autumn. Now I'm keeping myself in line. I hit rock bottom, but now I'm back at 'em. Taking each day at a time. ”

The cycle of addiction is difficult to escape. For an addict, their situation can often feel hopeless.

Many addicts long to be clean and sober. However, their addictions are often overwhelming. An addict who longs for recovery needs a ton of support. Without it, chances for a total recovery are slim.

31. Weak , AJR

“ One sip, bad for me. One hit, bad for me. One kiss, bad for me. But I give in so easily and ‘No, thank you’ is how it should've gone. I should stay strong. ”

This song is about the constant temptations facing any addict. The person has to be constantly on the lookout to make sure they don’t fall off the wagon.

32. Chemical Prisoner , Falling In Reverse

“ It's so hard to be together. And I try, and I try. But it won't get better. Forever. Days go, days go by. I won't die, I won't die ’cause I must, I must try forever. ”

This song has the same message as the previous one. It is about the never-ending struggle of staying sober despite all of the temptations surrounding an addict.

It also speaks about the fatal consequences of a drug overdose and the pain of losing a friend or loved one due to substance abuse.

33. Medicine , Daughter

“ You've got a warm heart. You've got a beautiful brain. But it's disintegrating from all the medicine. ”

This is a heartbreaking song about how a person changes drastically due to drug abuse. In the song, a wonderful person deteriorates physically and mentally once they become addicted.

34. Sober , Demi Lovato

“ I'm sorry that I'm here again. I promise I'll get help. It wasn't my intention. I'm sorry to myself. ”

Demi Lovato went through a detox program to help overcome her addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. However, six years after going sober, she got introduced to hard drugs and found that she was addicted to those, as well.

She wrote this song, which seems to be her apology to family and fans for not being able to stay sober.

Her situation demonstrates the difficulties faced by people who have addictions but also want to recover.

35. The Needle Lies , Queensrÿche

“ Don't ever trust the needle. It lies. ”

This song tells of the terrible things that can happen in the life of a person who becomes addicted to drugs or other substances.

It is a reminder of the deceptive nature of addictive substances, and how they can ruin your life.

Final Thoughts on Songs About Addiction

It’s difficult to break free from an addiction. A person who wants to become clean often needs a strong support system in order to succeed.

Hopefully, these songs about addiction can serve as inspiration to people trying to overcome drug or substance abuse, and let them know that they are not alone in their struggles.

We also hope these songs remind those who have already successfully recovered how far they’ve come.

If you enjoyed this song collection, you can also check out this article featuring movies about addiction to gain more perspective about this issue .

And if you’re looking for more song collections about specific topics, you can check out the following posts:

• 43 Best Songs About Forgiveness & Letting Go of Anger
• 45 Best Songs about Moving On & Letting Go of the Past
• 41 Best Songs About Life & the Lessons Along the Way

• Entertainment
• Relationships
• Oral History
• Digital Culture
• Policy & Politics
• Physical Health
• Mental Health
• Sexual Health
• Personal Finance
• Style & Beauty
• Tasha Reign

Researchers Crafted These Playlists for Your Next Psychedelic Trip and They Absolutely Slap

It’s not just a myth — experts say music really does change how psychedelics affect the mind, and they’ve designed some stunning playlists to prove the point

It’s hard to imagine something that has more potential power than a psychedelic drug: It can make you relive memories, hallucinate visions of parallel universes and feel sensations that don’t exist in the physical world around you.

Everyone’s experience during a trip is different. Sometimes, the journey is just about submerging yourself in a serene sense of joy. Other times, it goes further, allowing you to dissociate and observe the world as an omniscient soul. No matter the psychedelic, with the right guidance, you can peer through the veil of existence, and grasp something that feels like real insight.

The profundity of the experience is why there’s a tidal wave of attention on the therapeutic uses of drugs like MDMA , ketamine , psilocybin mushrooms and LSD , all of which are being studied as treatments for depression, anxiety and addiction. Long demonized since their rise in the 1960s as brain-melting hippy chemicals, psychedelics are now in the spotlight as a revolution in mental-health treatment. Case in point: In the last few years, experimental clinics have opened across the country, offering legal IV drips in a comfortable space.

It’s easy enough for me to imagine the experience: I’ve taken my fair share of psychedelics recreationally, both in the chaos of a music festival and in the quiet of my own apartment. But what I can’t imagine is showing up to a clinic as a total newbie, nervous and unprepared for the trip. What the hell are you going to do while tripping in an overstuffed chair for five hours?

The answer: Turn on the curated Spotify playlist, obviously!

Yes, you can boot up your own jams during a psychedelic drug clinic visit, if you already have your favorite records lined up on your phone (I’m fond of kicking trips off with Air’s Moon Safari ). I was surprised, however, to learn that researchers have been using their knowledge of the “phases” of a psychedelic trip to make soundtracks aimed at a therapeutic experience.

There are playlists from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research , Imperial College London , the Usona Institute in Wisconsin, the pioneering nonprofit MAPS and Chacruna , among others. The common thread among all of them is that they’re built on beautiful, sweeping songs that have a spiritual energy and flow gently between genres.

Experts already know that pairing music to drugs can be transformative, guiding the mind as it seeks stimulation. As psychologist Bill Richards , who curated the Johns Hopkins playlist, said last year: “We’re exploring the human psyche, which might take you through some painful things in childhood. It may take you into some archetypal or visionary realms that you never knew were possible. It might take you beyond usual consciousness into a realm that feels eternal.”

As you might imagine, the most common kinds of music in these playlists are classical and New Age, featuring artists such as Bach, Arvo Pärt, Paul Horn and German New Age pioneer Deuter. Each soundtrack, however, has a different flavor because of the way they’re sequenced, and listening to them over the course of the week has led me to a series of musical discoveries.

I love the sounds of the Texas experimental duo Stars of the Lid , which feature prominently in the Imperial College playlist. MAPS highlights Han Zimmer’s haunting work in the Vietnam drama The Thin Red Line . I haven’t listened to Brian Eno in years, yet his inclusion in the Usona Institute’s playlist makes perfect tonal sense. My favorite of all might be researcher Kelan Thomas’ handcrafted playlist for Chacruna, which takes a more modern bent with songs from Sigur Rós, Mogwai and Aphex Twin.

Regardless of the genres at hand, there is a long history of people using music to guide their ceremonial drug use, especially within the indigenous communities that pioneered the use of plants like peyote and psilocybin. Although it’s a short listen, this 1956 recording of mushroom ceremony songs by the Mazatec Indians is one of the most intimate and inspiring forms of “trip music” I’ve ever heard. The same goes for this varied YouTube playlist of ayahuasca songs, which has hours of hypnotic chanting and singing by shamans.

The key point here isn’t merely that good music makes a trip better — it’s that music of any kind provides a canvas for your brain to paint. “Normally when I hear a piece of sad music or happy music, I respond through choice… but under psilocybin I felt almost that I had no choice but to go with the music. … I did feel I was being held. And it did feel like the music opened [me] up to grief, and I just was very happy for that to happen. It wasn’t particularly pleasant in any way, but extraordinarily powerful,” one study participant reported in 2018.

I wouldn’t normally think to put this array of artists on in the background as I work, but the length and coherency of these psychedelic clinic playlists seems to trigger a mellow flow state. Maybe it’s my body remembering the sensation of trips in the past — or, perhaps more likely, Enya and Bill Evans just make for a great vibe.

That we’re now seeing Spotify playlists paired to legal psychedelic experiences is a turning point for American drug culture, and a harbinger of a psychedelic renaissance on the horizon. It’s a small thing that makes me hopeful for how these miracle substances can help reshape our lives, and the fight is on to make access to treatment equitable, rather than a plaything for the investor class.

No matter the outcome, though, we’re going to need more trip music. I even feel inspired to make my own playlist, after hours of listening to the pros and imagining myself in a clinic, drifting toward peace.

Eddie Kim is a features writer based in Los Angeles, covering social and cultural issues for MEL.

Recommended Reading

• Drugs: How to Store LSD So You Can Trip for Eternity
• Drugs: Sorry, but ‘Requiem for a Dream’ Is a Terrible Movie
• Drugs: How to Clean Your Coke Before It Goes up Your Nose
• Drugs: How to (Possibly) Sneak Drugs Past a Detection Dog

Are you old enough to be here?

Press ESC to close

LSD Songs – The Beatles Psychedelia and Other Songs Inspired by Acid Trips

LSD is a popular hallucinogenic drug that had a major influence on the music and pop culture of the 1960s. Here are some of the best LSD songs – not only by Fab Four. Read on!

LSD and Acid Trips

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) used to be the drug of the counterculture, the psychedelic substance that set the stage for the revolution in music, art, and lifestyle of the 1960s. Taking LSD became a spiritual quest or inner journey that enabled people to explore their deepest thoughts and feelings.

The first acid trip was the result of the accidental ingestion of the drug by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffmann in 1943. He tested the effects on himself, and the world was never the same again.

Psychedelic Trippy Wooden Wall Clock

Lucy in the sky with diamonds – inspired by lsd.

The Beatles were well known for their experimentation with the drug, beginning with the single “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and the album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Both of these works are considered psychedelic masterpieces and are some of the most iconic LSD songs ever created. Other Beatles songs like “A Day in the Life,” “I am the Walrus,” and the entire 1967 album Magical Mystery Tour are also thought to be influenced by the drug.

While “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” is considered to be heavily influenced by the acid trip, it’s without a literal reference to the drug. The first letters of the title spell out the acronym LSD, however, Lennon never confirmed the connection between the song and the drug. Either way, it’s still considered as one of the best and most influential LSD songs ever recorded.

Beatles Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds / When I’m 64 Juke BOX 45 Red Vinyl

The band’s influence on the world of music is universally acknowledged, and the band’s experimentation with the drug LSD was a major part of their legacy. The lyrics of the band’s songs changed drastically when they began dabbling in the psychedelic realm – the whimsical, dreamy imagery of the LSD songs seemed to come from another world. 

Other LSD Songs Inspired by Acid Trips

The Beatles were not the only ones to explore the psychedelic sound of the 1960s. Many other LSD songs from the era are connected with the drug, including the Grateful Dead’s “Black Peter” and Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 classic “White Rabbit.” The white rabbit in the song was inspired by the fantasy imagery in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” written by Lewis Carroll. The song, written by Grace Slick, is about following one’s own curiosity, just like Alice did, on her own. Now it’s considered one of the best LSD songs ever written.

Pink Floyd’s iconic “Comfortably Numb” and the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” are also believed to be LSD songs inspired by this hallucinogen. Other “trippy” songs include:

• Montreal – “Lysergic Bliss”;
• The Flaming Lips – “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots”;
• Jenny Lewis – “Acid Tongue”;
• David Bowie – “Space Oddity”;
• The Moody Blues – “Legend of a Mind”;
• Jimi Hendrix – “Purple Haze”;
• The Doors – “Strange Days”;
• Steppenwolf – “Magic Carpet Ride”;
• CCR – “Lookin’ Out My Backdoor”.

The Very Best of the Doors

These are just a few of the many LSD songs that were inspired by the drug, and the influence of the ’60s psychedelic movement is still felt today. From the Beatles to the Grateful Dead, from Pink Floyd to David Bowie – the acid trip has left an indelible mark on music history. The dreamy soundscapes created by these musicians paved the way for generations of psychedelic explorers.

Did You Know… In the 1970s, research into the effects of LSD was very popular. Studies found that when people listened to music while under the influence of LSD, their experience of the drug was different than it was without the music. In particular, certain types of music seemed to amplify the effects of the drug, leading to a more intense experience. This could mean a more intense feeling of euphoria or a more profound sense of introspection. ☮️

Musical Genres: Acid Rock, Acid Rap and Psychedelic Rock

The music created in the wake of LSD’s influence spawned many sub-genres, including acid rock, acid rap and psychedelic rock. Each style is unique in its own way – some LSD songs focus on instrumental explorations, while others feature intricate lyrical imagery. 

Too Much Sun Will Burn: The British Psychedelic Sounds Of 1967 Vol 2 / Various

Psychedelic rock emerged as a blend of traditional ’60s rock with elements of jazz and Indian music. This genre featured unconventional time signatures, abstract sounds and lyrical themes that often centered around the exploration of inner consciousness. Acid rock, on the other hand, was a heavier form of psychedelic rock, with more focus on driving rhythms and distorted guitar solos. Some of the best LSD songs of that genre include “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream or “Light My Fire” by the Doors.

Acid rap is a newer style of hip-hop music that draws heavily from the psychedelic influences of the 1960s. This type of rap often features surreal lyrics and samples from classic acid rock songs, and has been popularized by artists such as A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar.

The 1960s was an era of LSD songs, experimentation, and exploration – both musically and chemically. The influence of LSD can be heard in many of the songs from this period, and its impact is still felt today in the many musical genres it has spawned. From classic rock to modern hip-hop – the acid trip continues to inspire artists of all kinds. Looking for more LSD inspirations? Check LSD quotes .

Looking Through A Glass Onion: Beatles Psychedelic Songbook 1966-1972 / Various

Editor’s Note I know that research has found that music can be used as a tool to help you explore your inner selves, and that it can help you process difficult emotions… and yes, I know that LSD, in combination with music, can be used as a tool for healing and self-exploration. But guys, remember, it is important to note that if you’re unacquainted with the subject, this should only be done under the supervision of a qualified professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

What bands took acid.

Apparently A$AP Rocky, Ray Charles, Kacey Musgrave, The Beatles, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, Eruc Clapton, Jim Morrison did acid in their lives.

What’s the Best Music for Tripping?

perhaps the 60s and 70s? But in general, everything that tickles your fancy. Some strong suggestions include: “Wings of Love” (Nirvana); “The Rain Song” (Led Zeppelin), Bach’s classical music, “Regulate” (Warren G), all tracks of Ólafur Arnalds and Hania Rani… or our favorite “Good Vibrations” Beach Boys.

What Drugs Do Rock Stars Use?

Marijuana, cocaine, benzodiazepines, alcohol… snorting and smoking, all of it… It just gives them the excitement and makes their concerts superb…but destroys their lives at the same time. Take a look at Drinking, Drugs and Rock’n’Roll.

Is Led Zeppelin Acid Rock?

Hmm, tricky one! We cannot classify Led Zeppelin as a psychedelic rock band, however there are hints of psychedelia in some of their songs.

Can Songs Get You High?

Listening to music can have the same effect on your brain’s serotonin and dopamine levels as taking certain drugs. We recommend you do an acid simulation with such music (LSD frequency):

Why Is Music Good When High?

Music can be rewarding when experienced while high as it can heighten certain sensory experiences and elevate emotions, making the experience more intense. Furthermore, the sonic changes and rhythms present in music can have a calming effect on the listener, aiding in relaxation and providing distraction from everyday life. Music has also been found to boost dopamine levels, which is associated with pleasure and euphoria.

Thanks for reading Trippie Hippies! ✌️

• Facts About LSD: Everything You Need to Know About LSD
• Slang for LSD | Examples of Street Names for LSD
• Best Things to Do on LSD Trips: The Best Ideas
• Best Music for Shrooms: The Effect Magic Mushrooms and Music Have
• Movies to Watch on Shrooms | Boost Your Magic Mushroom Trip
• LSD Flashbacks: What Are They & How Are They Different From Acid Visuals?
• The Best Movies to Watch on LSD | Trippy Movies for Your Next Trip

Share Article:

Tom johnson.

Web administrator of mushroom.cat.and part-time therapist. He’s a biology enthusiast with a penchant for mushrooms. Tom has tried some mushrooms in his life, and is now sharing his knowledge and experiences through our blog. When he’s not expanding his mushroom collection, he spends his free time woodcrafting and painting.

1P-LSD – a Legal Version of LSD? | The Unregulated Nuances of 1P-LSD

Lsd eyes: exploring the physical and spiritual eyes of the user, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The 10 best songs about drugs

In the second of a three-part series, these are the ten best songs about getting fucked up

In part two of our three part feature on sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll we delve into the murky world of all things drug-related. It goes without saying that this a contentious subject and that we are in no way advocating the use of any of these substances. Drugs are bad, m’kay. That said, it is also the easiest of the three subjects to find songs about, and, like it or not, some of the greatest music ever made was written by who may have indulged in something rather stronger than Earl Grey.

Queens Of The Stone Age – Feel Good Hit Of The Summer

While many artists allude to drug use in some roundabout fashion, often denying all knowledge after the fact, there is no disguising the intent of the opening track from Queens Of The Stone Age’s classic album, Rated R . Upon seeing the lyrics – “Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy and alcohol” with a chorus of “cocaine” – Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford (who provided backing vocals) was noted to have said, “Ah, a rock ‘n’ roll cocktail. I know that one!”

Black Sabbath – Snowblind

If not for the whispered “cocaine” at the end of the first verse then it might appear to the casual listener that Snowblind , from Sabbath’s Vol 4 album, paints a picturesque tale of winter at it’s most beautiful. In fact, it was nothing of the sort: the band were completely obliterated on drugs, spending half the budget for the record on coke, which, according to guitarist Tony Iommi, they’d have delivered to the studio in speaker boxes. Pure as the driven snow, indeed.

Hawkwind – Motorhead

Come on, you didn’t seriously think we’d do a feature on drug induced rock ‘n’ roll without including some Hawkwind, did you? Ironically, however, this classic – written by Lemmy at four o’clock in the morning, on the balcony of LA’s Hyatt hotel – is all about speed, and when Lemmy got busted for possession of the substance by Canadian customs, he was promptly kicked out of the band for “doing the wrong drugs”. “Being fired from Hawkwind for drugs,” he said later, “is a bit like being thrown off the Empire State Building for liking heights!”

Metal Hammer Newsletter

Sign up below to get the latest from Metal Hammer, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!

The Dwarves – Free Cocaine

Never backwards in coming forwards, punk rock mentalists The Dwarves make it known in no uncertain terms that they would quite like to partake in some Colombian marching power, and they’d be a lot happier if you paid for it. “The best things in life are free/And if they’re free why don’t you give them to me?” insists frontman Blag Dahlia. Whatever happened to “please” and “thank you”?

Zeke – Let’s Get Drugs

“Hey, he’s acting weird, it must be drugs,” begins this blisteringly fast ode to amphetamines from Seattle lunatics Zeke. Or at least that’s what we’re guessing the song’s about, but most of the lyrics are completely indecipherable with the exception of the title and the words “let’s get high”. Given that it clocks in at just 52 seconds long there was obviously some urgency in the matter. A more fitting title might be Let’s Get More Drugs.

King Prawn – Smoke Some Shit

London punk/ska ‘bois’ King Prawn big up the biftah and sing salutations to skunk in this 420 friendly anthem from their massively underrated 2003 album Got The Thirst . Of course, there remains some considerable debate about whether marijuana use should be a criminal offence, to which the Prawn quite rightly respond: “Realise, illegal or legit/The whole world’s still gonna take a hit.” Puff, puff, pass, bois.

Clutch – Spacegrass

Speaking of wacky tobaccy, it would be an act of almost criminal negligence not to include a little stoner rock in our countdown, and while Clutch have long surpassed the ‘stoner’ tag there can be no question that Spacegrass is the king of them all. Black Sabbath’s leaf may be sweet, but it doesn’t come any better than watching the universe expand in a Galaxy 500 with Jesus on the dashboard. Perfect.

Ramones – Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue

The much missed ‘brudders’ Ramone may not want to walk around with you or go down to the basement, but they do seem rather keen on solvent abuse, glue being the drug of choice for penniless punk rockers back in the day. With Evo-Stik being considerably cheaper than cocaine or even speed, it was a no-brainer, which, incidentally, is what you’d have if you tried it. “I hope no one really thinks we sniff glue,” remarked bassist Dee Dee Ramone. “I stopped when I was eight.”

Alice In Chains – Sickman

In case it were ever needed, this is stark reminder of the damage done when drug use spirals out of control. We may have made light of the subject, but Sickman (and several other songs from the Dirt album from whence it came) shows the grim reality of drug addiction, particularly heroin. “What’s the difference, I’ll die/In the sick world of mine,” sings vocalist Layne Staley, his lyrics proving horribly prophetic. At the time of his death, in 2002, he was reported to have weighed just 86 pounds.

The Wildhearts – Sick Of Drugs

This seems like a fitting end to our brief foray into all things illicit. While there have been many great songs written on or about drugs, the fact is that they often come at a heavy price (and not just financially), the Wildhearts being a prime example – former bassist Danny McCormack in particular struggling with heroin addiction. If memory serves, he also spent a month in a psychiatric hospital after an acid trip went badly wrong. Be careful out there, kids.

A veteran of rock, punk and metal journalism for almost three decades, across his career Mörat has interviewed countless music legends for the likes of Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, Kerrang! and more. He's also an accomplished photographer and author whose first novel, The Road To Ferocity , was published in 2014. Famously, it was none other than Motörhead icon and dear friend Lemmy who christened Mörat with his moniker. 

Indonesian metal sensation Voice Of Baceprot announce first-ever UK show

Watch Sleep Token play Take Me Back To Eden finale Euclid for the first time ever

Rock'n'roll pioneer and 'Titan of Twang' Duane Eddy dead at 86

Most Popular

• The Best Songs About Substances
• Rock Songs About Drinking
• The Best Songs About Being Nutty
• Throwback Songs That Make You Thrown Down
• The Hardest Songs to Sing at Karaoke
• Pop Songs by One-Hit Wonders
• Dance Songs by One-Hit Wonders
• The Best Party Bangers of the 1990s
• Rap Songs About Drinking
• Metal Songs About Drinking
• Country Songs About Drinking
• Country Songs About Beer
• Easiest Songs to Sing at Karaoke
• '80s Songs You Should Be Playing

The 65+ Best Rock Songs About Drugs

The landscape of rock music is rich with songs about drugs that have captured the attention of audiences, offering thought-provoking narratives and raw, powerful emotions. These songs about drugs provide a unique window into the human experience by delving deep into the struggles, temptations, and consequences related to substance use. Songs about drugs and alcohol have captivated audiences for decades, leaving an indelible mark on our cultural landscape. 

This collection of the best rock songs about drugs showcases a diverse range of artists, styles, and sounds, each song offering a distinct take on the topic. With their remarkable popularity and enduring resonance, these drug songs hold a special place in the hearts of many fans. From the psychedelic vibes of classic hits to the raw intensity of contemporary masterpieces, these iconic tunes celebrate the creativity and talent that make them timeless symbols of the power of music to address complex emotions and experiences. 

Within the realm of rock songs about drugs, several outstanding examples stand out as prime illustrations of the genre's powerful ability to address complex themes and emotions. Notable examples of famous songs about drugs include "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix, which paints a vivid picture of the hazy, dreamlike state induced by the titular substance. Then there's "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd, a sublime anthem that captures the surreal detachment often associated with mind-altering substances. And who could forget "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles, a fascinating exploration of an otherworldly realm punctuated by imaginative lyrics? Each of these captivating rock songs about drugs demonstrates the remarkable ability of music to explore and transcend the boundaries of ordinary experience while engaging listeners on a deeply emotional level. 

The significance of these exceptional songs about drugs extends far beyond their catchy tunes and memorable lyrics, as they offer a powerful reflection of our society's complex relationship with substance use. These remarkable compositions have shaped and informed our collective understanding of the impact of drugs on individuals and society at large. As such, they continue to stand as a testament to the power of music as an expressive medium, providing both solace and understanding to those grappling with the complexities of life. The best songs about drugs offer an unforgettable journey, capturing the human spirit in all its vulnerability and resilience.

Purple Haze

Comfortably Numb

White Rabbit

The Needle and the Damage Done

Mr. Brownstone

Cocaine Blues

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

Mary Jane's Last Dance

Dr. Feelgood

The Needle and the Spoon

Under the Bridge

Sister Morphine

Gold Dust Woman

Where Is My Mind

And She Was

Life in the Fast Lane

Golden Brown

Brass Monkey

Not An Addict

Horse Pills

Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth

Lists of bangers to add to your perfect party playlist.

Glorious Noise

The 100 greatest drug songs ever.

After the jump, you’ll find the complete list as well as the tracklist of the CD. The question for you is: What are the best drug songs released since 2002 ? I nominate MGMT ‘s “Time to Pretend.”

MOJO’s 100 Greatest Drug Songs Ever

Thanks to ilxor for typing out the list back in 2002.

• Afroman: “Because I Got High” (Universal, 2001)

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore: “The L.S. Bumble Bee” (Decca, 1967)

Brewer & Shipley: “One Toke Over the Line” (Kama Sutra, 1971)

Wink: “Higher State of Consciousness” (Strictly Rhythm, 1995)

Syd Barrett: “If It’s in You” (Harvest, 1970)

Cab Calloway: “Reefer Man” (Brunswick, 1932)

King Hannibal: “The Truth Shall Make You Free” (Aware, 1972)

Fred Neil: “Sweet Cocaine” (Capitol, 1967)

The Doors: “The Crystal Ship” (ELektra, 1967)

James Brown: “King Heroin” (Polydor, 1972)

Husker Du: “Pink Turns to Blue” (SST, 1984)

Townes Van Zandt: “Waitin’ Around to Die” (Poppy, 1968)

Fingers Inc.: “Mystery of Love” (Alleviated, 1985)

The Creation: “How Does It Feel to Feel” (Polydor, 1968)

Donovan: “Hurdy Gurdy Man” (Pye, 1968)

The Chemical Brothers: “The Private Psychedelic Reel” (Virgin, 1997)

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: “Ah Feel Like Ahcid” (Blue Thumb, 1968)

Steppenwolf: “The Pusher” (Stateside, 1968)

Bob Dylan: “Desolation Row (Live)” (Sheffield, May 1966) [from Genuine 1966 Live bootleg]

The Count Five: “Psychotic Reaction” (Double Shot, 1966)

Queens of the Stone Age: “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” (Interscope, 2000)

The Beach Boys: “Good Vibrations” (Capitol, 1966)

The Other Half: “Mr. Pharmacist” (GNP Crescendo, 1968)

The Stranglers: “Golden Brown” (Liberty, 1981)

Underworld: “Born Slippy” (Junior Boys Own, 1995)

Billy Boy Arnold: “Whiskey, Beer & Reefer” and “Sunday Morning Blues” (Alligator, 1993 and 1995)

The Temptations: “Psychedelic Shack” (Tamla, 1970)

The Dramatics: “The Devil is Dope” (Stax, 1973)

Spacemen 3: “Walkin’ with Jesus” (Glass, 1986)

Pulp: “Sorted for E’s & Wizz” (Island, 1995)

The Rolling Stones: “Mother’s Little Helper” (Decca, 1966)

The Flamin’ Groovies: “Slow Death” (United Artists, 1972)

Pink Floyd: “Astronomy Domine” (Columbia, 1967)

Eric Burdon & the Animals: “A Girl Named Sandoz” (MGM, 1967)

Etta James: “I’d Rather Go Blind” (Chess, 1967)

The Orb: “Little Fluffy Clouds” (Big Life, 1990)

Traffic: “Hole in My Shoe” (Island, 1967)

Empirion: “Narcotic Influence” (Wanted/XL, 1994)

The Holy Modal Rounders: “If You Want to Be a Bird a.k.a. Bird Song” (Elektra, 1968)

Primal Scream: “Loaded” (Creation, 1991)

Bomb the Bass: “Bug Powder Dust” (Stoned Heights/Island, 1995)

KRS-One: “I Can’t Wake Up” (Jive, 1993)

Bert Jansch: “Needle of Death” (Transatlantic, 1965)

The Fall: “Totally Wired” (Rough Trade, 1980)

Roland Stone: “Junco Partner/Preachers Daughter” (Ace, 1961)

The Allman Brothers Band: “Whipping Post” (Capricorn, 1969)

The Only Ones: “Another Girl, Another Planet” (CBS, 1978)

Rick James: “Mary Jane” (Motown, 1978)

Louis Armstrong: “Muggles” (OKeh, 1929)

Kenny Rogers & the First Edition: “Just Stopped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In)” (Reprise, 1967)

Flowered Up: “Weekender” (Heavenly, 1991)

The Third Bardo: “Lose Your Mind” (Sundazed, 1967) [EP]

Ella Fitzgerald w/Chick Webb & His Orchestra: “Wacky Dust” (Decca, 1938)

MC5: “Rocket Reducer no. 62” (Elektra, 1969)

Phil Phillips “Sea of Love” and “The Evil Dope” (Khoury’s/Mercury, 1959 and Lanor, 1972)

Country Joe & the Fish: “Bass Strings” (Vanguard, 1967)

Funkadelic: “Maggot Brain” (Westbound, 1971)

My Bloody Valentine: Glider EP (Creation, 1990)

13th Floor Elevators: “Roller Coaster” (International Artists, 1966)

Black Sabbath: “Sweet Leaf” (Vertigo, 1971)

Happy Mondays: “Do It Better” (Factory, 1988)

Tim Hardin: “Red Balloon” (Verve-Forecast, 1967)

David Essex: “Rock on” (CBS, 1973)

Arlo Guthrie: “Coming into Los Angeles” (Reprise, 1969)

Oasis: “Morning Glory” (Creation, 1995)

The Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Purple Haze” (Track, 1967)

Rodriguez: “Sugarman” (Sussex, 1970)

David Peel & the Lower East Side: “I Like Marijuana” (Elektra, 1968)

The Heartbreakers: “Chinese Rocks” (Track, 1977)

The Beatles: “Rain” (Parlophone, 1966)

Lemonheads: “My Drug Buddy” (Atlantic, 1992)

The Temptations: “Cloud Nine” (Motown, 1968)

The Byrds: “Artificial Energy” (CBS, 1968)

The Velvet Underground: “I’m Waiting for the Man” (Verve, 1967)

John Prine: “Sam Stone” (Atlantic, 1971)

The Grateful Dead: “Dark Star” (Warner Bros., 1969) [Live/Dead version]

The Beatles: “Got to Get You Into My Life” (Parlophone, 1966)

Country Joe & the Fish: “Section 43” (Rag Baby, 1966) [EP]

The Charlatans: “Codine Blues” (Big Beat, rec. 1966/rel. 1996)

Electric Prunes: “I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)” (Reprise, 1966)

The Smoke: “My Friend Jack” (Columbia, 1967)

Curtis Mayfield: “Pusherman” (Curtom, 1972)

The Amboy Dukes: “Journey to the Center of the Mind” (Mainstream, 1968)

Ramones: “Carbona Not Glue” (Sire, 1977)

Ry Cooder/Buffy Sainte-Marie: “The Hashishin” (Warner Bros., 1970)

Bob Dylan: “Rainy Day Women no. 12 & 35” (CBS, 1966)

Fats Waller: “The Reefer Song” (V-Disc, 1943)

The Byrds: “Eight Miles High” (CBS, 1966)

Harry “the Hipster” Gibson: “Who Put the Benzedrine in Mrs. Murphy’s Ovaltine?” (Musicraft, 1944)

Neil Young: “The Needle and the Damage Done” (Reprise, 1972)

Plastic Ono Band: “Cold Turkey” (Apple, 1969)

Primal Scream: “Higher Than the Sun” (Creation, 1991)

Love: “Signed D.C.” (Elektra, 1966)

Dillinger: “Cokane in My Brain” (Channel One, 1976)

Grandmaster & Melle Mel: “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)” (Sugarhill, 1983)

The Small Faces: “Here Comes the Nice” (Immediate, 1967)

Rolling Stones: “Sister Morphine” (Rolling Stones, 1971)

The Velvet Underground: “Heroin” (Verve, 1967)

The Beatles: “Tomorrow Never Knows” (Parlophone, 1966)

Jefferson Airplane: “White Rabbit” (RCA, 1967)

Spotify: Mojo Magazine’s 100 Greatest Drug Songs Ever

Feed Your Head: 16 Mind-Blowing Classics

• The Dramatics: “The Devil is Dope”

The Sonics: “Strychnine”

Nat Adderley: “Quit It”

The Small Faces: “Here Comes the Nice”

Dillinger: “Cocaine in My Brain”

Donovan: “Sunny Goodge Street”

Country Joe & the Fish: “Bass Strings”

The Pretty Things: “Defecting Grey”

The Flaming Groovies: “Slow Death”

Chris Bell: “I am the Cosmos”

Grandmaster Flash: “White Lines”

Sebadoh: “Too Pure”

The Mighty Hannibal: “The Truth Shall Make You Free”

James Booker: “Junco Partner”

Funkadelic: “Maggot Brain”

Harry the Hipster Gibson: “Who Put the Benzadrine”

Spotify: Mojo Magazine’s Feed Your Head: 16 Mind-Blowing Classics

Apple Music: Mojo Magazine’s Feed Your Head: 16 Mind-Blowing Classics

MP3: Spacemen 3 – “Walking With Jesus” (single version) (courtesy of the Finest Kiss )

85 thoughts on “The 100 Greatest Drug Songs Ever”

The Velvet’s “Heroin” pretty much set the bar for drugs songs (i.e., songs that offer a “virtual” high). Too many songs on the list seem like anti-drug songs (“Needle and the Damage Done”)–when there are plenty of other Neil songs that offer a glimpse of the high (from “Sugar Mountain” to “C’mon Baby Let’s Go Downtown”). And “Desolation Row” is a bad trip compared to “Mr Tambourine Man.” I’d glad to see Chris Bell but what about Big Star? A number of songs from the first three albums can go drug-for-drug with “I am the Cosmos.” And Syd Barrett’s “Octopus” or one of the early Pink Floyd songs like “Astronomy Domine” or even “The Gnome” get at the psychedelic dissociation better than anything the all too obvious Doors or Jefferson Airplane had to offer. As for Beatles: “Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields” is the epitome of drug consciousness in song. I’d also place “Dead Flowers” above “Sister Morphine”–not to mention pretty much every other song on Exile on Main St. “Mother’s Little Helper” is a wimpish choice at best. Who made these selections? Nancy Reagan? And is my brain addled, but does David Peel make the list and not Bob Marley? You better hope a Duppy Conqueror won’t be coming after you. What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?

What’s the first song on Kid A ? That one always makes me feel freaky…

Post ’02:

L’il Wayne -“Me And My Drank”

Clipse -“Keys Open Doors”

Deerhunter -“Wash Off”

Black Lips -“I Saw A Ghost (Lean)”

This list is a joke, RIGHT!?!?! Only ONE Syd Barrett song when he was w/ Floyd!?! One solo song. Why isn’t “See Emily Play” on here?!?! Anyone ever hear of the MOVE??? I’ll send you all a quarter so you can buy a freaking clue…DEPLORABLE!!!

You are wrong in one GIANT omission.

The Beatles may claim otherwise but HEY JUDE( ah-jud) is ARABIC for heroin!!

So please ‘let it in and begin to make it better.”

Now will you get the list right by adding hey Jude?

Metallica’s Master of Puppets?

Clapton’s Cocaine?

THis list sucks

def leppard, from the inside?

yes master of puppets

mr tambourine man?

weak sauce people

You forgot MAGIC CARPET RIDE

People, I want to share with you songs from the best band here in Argentina. “Patricio rey y sus redonditos de ricota”, that’s the complete name, also known as “Los redondos”.

I’ll put some of the songs I like most, specially about cocaine, to follow the subject, but some are not:

-Vencedores vencidos

-Yo canibal

-Mi genio amor

-Tarea fina

-Juguetes perdidos

-Salando las heridas

-Ñam fri fruli fali fru

-Mariposa pontiac

-Nadie es perfecto

-Yo no me cai del cielo

-Todo un palo

You won’t regret downoading this songs. The ideas in the lyrics are very filosofical and also very very difficult to understand, even to spanish speakers.

A few glaring omissions: Guns ‘n Roses – Mr Brownstone; Bowie’s Space Oddity and China Girl. China Girl was written by Iggy Pop about his favourite brand of heroin – China White.

two massive ones missed for me here;

lou reed- perfect day

beatles – lucy in the sky with diamonds

and my favourite, but not in the same style,

the shamen – ebeneezer goode

Justin timberlake

(although horridly overplayed by todays musically challenged teenagers)

has a song called ‘losing my way’ which i like – and believe me, i hate to say i like a justin timberlake song

i once heard a song like 10 years ago i think it was by tom petty about that went over all the girls he knew and thedrugs they did and why it ddnt work out …

such as i once knew a girl she did cocain but she was ….. for me…

the first gilr drank too much Jack

the second smoked POT

the next did cocain…

want o get the song but i dont know who sang it or what the name is… can some one help me????

Comfortably numb. Where is it? I may have overlooked it because I just did a quick scan but surely that has to be on there somewhere.

Glen Fry – Smugglers Blues

CSN – Treetop Pilot

at least they got Grandmaster!

I miss “used to get high” from the John Butler Trio, great song ’bout getting high.

Especially the first line is epic: “Used to get high for a living, believing everything that is saw on my tv”

you all got it wrong alic in chains junkhead … hello greatsest

Honorable Mentions: Rehab – Amy Winehouse, White Lines – Grandmaster Flash, Smuggler’s Blues – Glen Frey

10) Hits from the Bong – Cypress Hill 9) Mary Jane – Rick James 8) Cocaine – Eric Clapton 7) She Talks to Angels – Black Crowes 6) Mr. Brownstone – Guns N’ Roses 5) Brick – Ben Folds Five 4) Lucy in the Sky – The Beatles 3) Holy Diver – Dio 2) Master of Puppets – Master of Puppets 1) Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix

Brick’s about abortion, not drugs.

Master of Puppets is by ~Metallica~. oops LOL

No Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd or Passage to Bangkok by Rush makes this list a big pile of fail.

The Best from ’02 & on: 1. rehab – amy winehouse 2. im on everything – bad meets evil 3. space ship – benny benassi 4. purple pills – D12 5. Kush – dr dre, eminem, akon 6. these drugs – eminem 7. get em high – kanye west 8. everyones at it – lily allen 9. I get high – lloyd banks 10. blueberry yum yum – ludacris 11. how high – method man & redman 12. bomb intro/pass the dutch – missy elliot 13. 4 my people – missy elliot 14. high as a kite – nicki minaj 15. army’s on ecstacy – oysterhead 16. how to roll a blunt – redman 17. sensimillia – slightly stoopid 18. above the clouds – slightly stoopid 19. fat spliffs – slightly stoopid 20. this joint – slightly stoopid 21. everything you need – slightly stoopid 22. officer – slightly stoopid 23. stay fly – three 6 mafia 24. fire – twista 25. hash pipe – weezer

and i could name about 3 dozen more songs that would’ve been better suited for your list than some listed above! you guys should’ve done your homework better!!!

Where is Tom Petty’s Last Dance with Mary Jane? Or Clapton’s Cocaine? Steppenwolfs “The Pusherman”?

What about Down in a Hole- Alice in Chains??

K’s Choice– Iam not a addict

Where are The Doors songs?

1. The End 2. The Crystal Ship 3. Light My Fire 4. Tell All The People 5. Five to One 6. Waiting For The Sun

just to name a few………..

Don’t forget Mad Season ~ Wake Up.

where are the “Brown sugar” by The Rolling stones i think its lyrics tell so many things about drugs

You missed out MOTLEY CRUE – Dr Feelgood and RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS – Under the bridge

also missed out MOTLEY CRUE – White Punks on Dope

Oh Yeah and NIRVANA – Lithium

This list definitely sucks. Clapton’s Cocaine should be number one not even on the list?!?!!? WTF Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, yes, this list SUX.

I agree with the others, where’s Comfortably Numb? And I’m still having a hard time understanding why Afroman’s “Because I Got High” is on any kind of great song list.

This list is a joke. Hello ?

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds – The Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles Revolution 9 – The Beatles A Day in the Life – The Beatles Strange People – The Doors Glass Onion – The Beatles

Just to name a few

Strawberry fields isnt about drugs – never was – it was about a childrens home in Liverpool – check your facts

A day in the life wasnt about drugs either

some people should keep things to themselves until they have all the facts in hand

ganjababe – michael franti

so beautiful. tops it all!

Kickstart my heart- motley crue. he says he gets high on speed in the first verse. oviously shoulda been on there. and to think cocaine eric clapton wasnt on that list is a disgrace.

Not one song from RHCP or Janes Addiction!?

Wow noone said anything bout sugar ray i just wanna fly

this list is shit, no elliott smith, the biggest lie, needle in the hay, ridiculous

Of course, you’re free to make your own lists. And even post them here!

JUNKHEAD-ALICE IN CHAINS

What about the Rolling Stones’ “Sweet Virginia” could be about drugs too..

LMAO!!! The editor is obviously a moron wasting everyones time. So many important songs missed, including Rolling Stones- Angie. And WTF is up with the list?!?!? #66 Etta James- I’d Rather Go Blind? LOL If he spent less time making up fake list and more time expanding his/her mind and heart, maybe he/she would have a better researched list.

OZZY – Snowblind! …seriously!

Alice In Chains – Nutshell ? Duh! The Vere – The Drugs Dont Work Necro – I Need Drugs

tho these songs all have merrit ,there is one factor we should all consider ,anyones list will be different do to age group. my list in part would have some classic songs .i did grow up in the time of experimenting with drugs.all the songs mentioned by all of you may have a place on the list and some omitted because they are not considerd drug related. once again listen to the songs lyrics. and for claptons cocaine,is not his song. look up the real artist. JJ Cale wrote the song. while on the subject no one mentioned Commander Cody’s seeds and stems. wether it be alchol or some mind bending chemical ,drugs do not enhance ones ability to see clear a plath of self awareness.

Wtf? Clapton’s “Cocaine” isn’t even on this list? You’re a fucking moron dude. Lol

Geek Stink breath should be on this list

Red Hot Chili peppers — under the bridge!!!!!!!! come on ppl

How about Soundgardens Burden in My Hand durrrrrrr

nice list IGNORE the the bad comments,They’re probably in withdrawals

In my opinion, Heroin should’ve come first, it really feels like a trip and has just some of the greatest lyrics ever, the end of the song feels like you’re really on drugs with the shrieking viola and the drums’ random tempo. The song is not condamning drugs use but it’s not encouraging it neither, it’s just describing it. The slow crescendo during all the song that becomes so chaotic at the end is the perfect example of whet you’d expect from taking drugs. I think it really should be first, but third place is good too afer all.

WTF?Drinking is very bad for you and you shouldn’t be drinking…if you drink you are very BAD!…SO DON’T DRINK!Drinking makes me very depressed.

It’s their list, not yours! Relax/

too much metal…. capital letters smoking my ganja peter tosh legalise it the wailers kaya

and there’s one song I can’t recall from the 90’s about some guy on a bad trip who met himself coming down an up escalator…any ideas?

Aerosmith: “Draw the Line.”

Missing: Comfortably Numb-Floyd Sweet Virginia-Stones Tales of Brave Ulysses-Cream Entire STICKY FINGERS album-Stones

That’s just the first couple that popped into my head. This list sucks.

I love the fact that Rodriguez made this list with “Sugar Man.” His induction to music is well overdue and the lyrics he wrote were tales few artists could even promote.

Where is Alice in chains?? What’s my drug of choice, well what have you got, I don’t go broke, and I do it a lot!

I love the cocaine- buck cherry

There are plenty of omissions, including…

Along Comes Mary – Association

Something Happened To Me Yesterday – Stones

Legend Of A Mind – Moody Blues

Kid Charlemagne – Steely Dan

Time Out Of Mind – Steely Dan

I Can See For Miles -Who

Itchycoo Park -Small Faces

I See The Rain – Marmalade

Winchester Cathedral -CSN

I’m Five Years Ahead Of My Time – Fifth Bardo

Let’s Go Trippin’ – Dick Dale

Snowblind Friend – Steppenwolf

Stranger In Blue Suede Shoes – Kevin Ayers

…saved the best for last!!

I forgot one!

Time Has Come Today – Chambers Brothers

No sublime and no kottonmouth kings.

I dare somebody to by a friend and fix me, and everybody, a on screen lyrics on youtube for the songs that are missing on screen lyrics on youtube!

Nirvana – gallons of rubbing alcohol flow through the strip

Umm… So no Tom Petty? Mary Jane’s Last Dance isn’t on here? Fail

There’s a lot of dispute about loads of the Beatles songs – the Beatles themselves contradicted themselves over and over re: song ‘meanings.’ I don’t think anyone mentioned Day Tripper either…

No Johnny Thunders? I can’t believe it. “In Cold Blood”, “Too much junkie business”, “Chinese Rocks”…

what about “LOW” by Cracker, “LOSER” by 3 doors down, “I WANA BE SEDATED” by the ramones, “HURT” by NIN, “HATE ME” by blue october, “POPPIES and SEX N CANDY” by marcy`s playground, “CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA” by oasis and i dont think i saw “THAT SMELL” by lynard skynard.

Also “COMFORTABLY NUMB” is not a heroin song!!!

Champagne Supernova is not about heroin. WTF is wrong with you? Read Noel Gallagher’s own words about the song he wrote for information on it. And you are criticizing others about what they say when you have no clue what you are even talking about? Jesus.

i dont think “MARY JANE`S LAST DANCE” is a drug song….hey, Indiana Girl was its original title before rick ruben changed it at its release. being that the producer not the song writer made the change makes me think tom petty didnt have intentions for it to be about drugs.

You were already wrong so just stop talking.

“BEETLEBUM” by blur, “THE HEROIN DIARIES,whole album” by sixx a.m., “POOL SHARK” by sublime

Stop talking you haven’t the slightest idea what you are even talking about.

Just a small list of tunes from my 490 gigabytes of music . I hope someone here checks these out. There is over an hour of enjoyable listening, especially under the influence of your favourite substance.

Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz: Weedman The Beatles: Another Girl Tim Buckley: Hallucinations Kaleidoscope: Keep Your Mind Open The Troggs: Night of The Long Grass The Electric Prunes: Get Me to The World on Time The Attack: Colours of My Mind The Beau Brummels: Magic Hollow The Pretty Things: Loneliest Person The Hollies: King Midas in Reverse Steppenwolf: Magic Carpet Ride The Jimi Hendrix Experience: The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice Amorphous Androgynous: A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble Exploding in Your Mind. Volume’s 1,2,3 Amon Dull: Sandoz in The Rain Dr. Dre: Let’s Get High Timothy Leary: Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out Little Feat: Spanish Moon Hawkwind: Hashish The Move: I Can Hear The Grass Grow The Purple Gang: Granny Takes a Trip Donovan: The Trip The Small Faces: Green Circles Led Zeppelin: Going To California Traffic: Dealer Ultimate Spinach: Mind Flowers The Beatles: Get Back Billy Joel: Captain Jack

Where is janes addiction? EVERY junkies anthem is quitting TOMMORROW and under the bridge “i drew blood but i couldnt draw enough” hey anthony i got that problem too morphine (which is what h turns into upon entering the bloodstream) causes collapsed veins And if we r gonna include alcohol and weed there are a long list of country to b included

Muddy Waters Champagne and Reffer Candyman Grateful Dead JJ Cale Cocaine Stevie Ray Vaughn Tightrope

ooops Champagne and Reefer…..

The Needle And The Spoon , Lynyrd Skynyrd. kind of obvious

I am a drug head Alice in chains since gsd several songs. Sludge factory. Junk heads down in a hole. No exuses, grind. Get with it.

Little Feat Willin’

I was recently lent the magazine this list recently appeared in and discussing the list with the muso friend who originally bought it we were both shocked by the omission of Steely Dan’s Time Out of Mind: one of the most blatant and enthusiastic songs about heroin ever. I’d also have included something by Gil Scott-Heron, a man who knew about addiction from the inside, probably Esther Phillips’ chilling cover of his Home is Where the Hatred Is. And maybe Etta James and Harvey Fuqua’s smirking double entendres about injecting heroin in their take on Spoonful. And as a huge Only Ones fan the one song Peter Perrett wrote solely about drugs (as opposed to many references/imagery in the others), the Beast is very impressive.

Don’t forget The Dandy Warhols, Not if you were the last junkie on Earth?

Dead Flowers is barely mentioned here. If there ever was a heroin promotional song, there it is

I feel like the guy who made this is about 40 years older than me and bias. I’m 38. I can’t believe there is not 1 red hot chili pepper song up here. Also grunge music put out some of the best drugs songs.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Rock and roll can change your life.

• pop Culture
• Facebook Navigation Icon
• Twitter Navigation Icon
• WhatsApp icon
• Instagram Navigation Icon
• Youtube Navigation Icon
• Snapchat Navigation Icon
• TikTok Navigation Icon
• pigeons & planes
• newsletters
• Youtube logo nav bar 0 youtube
• Instagram Navigation Icon instagram
• Twitter Navigation Icon x
• Facebook logo facebook
• TikTok Navigation Icon tiktok
• Snapchat Navigation Icon snapchat
• Apple logo apple news
• Flipboard logo nav bar 1 flipboard
• Instagram Navigation Icon google news
• WhatsApp icon whatsapp
• RSS feed icon rss feed

Complex Global

• united states
• united kingdom
• netherlands
• philippines
• complex chinese

Work with us

terms of use

privacy policy

cookie settings

california privacy

public notice

accessibility statement

COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive.

© Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Complex.com is a part of

The 25 Best Songs About Selling Drugs

It's all in the game.

Image via Complex Original

It's almost like the drug game is a trade school for aspiring rappers. The majority of popular hip-hop artists purport to have sold narcotics at some point in their lives, and most of them still rap about their past dealings, even long after they've closed up shop.

Hustling is a mentality that's been present in the genre since its inception, and the attitude it inspires has further permeated the culture thanks in part to the tendency for MCs to blur the lines between reality and fiction. It's savvy business, and rap's obsession with drug distribution has likely resulted in more excellent music than grams moved. Case in point: The 25 Best Songs About Selling Drugs .

They're all gripping, engaging manifestos that offer a brief glimpse into the life of a disenfranchised young man navigating the underworld. Some of these records border on fantasy, some are alarmingly real, but they all sound great. Pull out the triple-beam scale, for old time's sake, and listen up.

RELATED: 25 Notable Extremes Musicians Were Driven To By Drugs RELATED: The 50 Best Weed Songs RELATED: White Lines: Rap's 25 Most Flagrant Lyrics References To Using Cocaine

25. Gucci Mane "Bricks"

24. Immortal Technique "Peruvian Cocaine"

23. The Last Mr. Bigg "Trial Time"

22. project pat "i keep that", 21. t.i. "dope boyz", 20. ghostface killah f/ raekwon "kilo", 19. nas "street dreams", 18. 50 cent "corner bodega".

In the space of 94 seconds, 50 takes us inside the life of an interstate narcotics trafficker and reveals the inner workings of his business with vivid clarity that any documentary film maker would envy. The action starts in the car, as 50 gives his crew instructions on protecting the money during a transaction-and on what to do if he doesn't come out of the coke spot within ten minutes. As soon as he hits the door 50 starts negotiating the price of a brick, demanding that his connect treat him like "fam" even as he eyes the room for threats. "Papi-what the fuck is the matter with your man? Standing against the wall with a gun in his hand."

It's truly amazing how much information can be conveyed by this mixtape cut's single verse. The Giuliani era crackdown, the narcotics task force patrolling on mountain bikes, the use of out-of-state license plates to throw the cops off the trail, the fact that the DA already has a file open on 50 and his crew. But in the mind of the narrator, the hustle is so seductive he can't leave it alone. Just cop from the corner bodega like you were buying beers and snacks for a Super Bowl party, "then hit the highway and take it to a town near you-and get that money man."

As with all things Curtis Jackson, the bottom line is, well, the bottom line. Long before Get Rich or Die Tryin' 50's mission was clear. As he puts it on this track: "I'm not on no funny shit i'm on some get this money shit." And his music spoke for thousands of other street entrepreneurs.

17. Dru Down f/ Yukmouth "Ice Cream Man"

16. cam'ron f/ prodigy "losin' weight", 15. young jeezy "white girl", 14. outkast "west savannah", 13. bone thugs-n-harmony "1st of tha month", 12. rick ross "hustlin", 11. hot boys "tuesdays & thursdays".

Most gangsta rap is heavy on clichéd Scarface fantasies and light on specific street-level details. So it’s refreshing to hear the Cash Money supergroup endorsing a less glamorous D-boy strategy: hiding from the police. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you better watch for the sweep,” warns Juvenile, referring to the two days of the week that the N.O.P.D. task force hits the streets in search of illegal drug activity. On the two hottest days of the week, B.G. recommends you keep a low profile and “cool out on the couch.” It’s pragmatic advice for hustlers, but the song makes a bigger point about racial profiling—everyone in the hood is vulnerable, whether you’re a dope boy or a rap star who just happens to look like a dope boy.

10. Freeway "What We Do"

9. clipse "grindin", 8. gza "gold", 7. master p "ghetto d", 6. 50 cent "ghetto qu'ran".

"Ghetto Qu'ran" transcends the mere "song about selling drugs." This record is hip-hop mythology at this point—literally, an urban legend. The fascination surrounding this track stems from the fact that 50 Cent mentions notorious Queens drug dealers  Kenneth " Supreme " McGriff and his nephew, Gerald " Prince " Miller. He even plainly states their roles in the Supreme Team operation, the former being "the businessman" and the latter being "the killer." During their beef with him, Ja Rule and Murder Inc. used this to allege that 50 was a snitch, but 50 refuted that, telling AllHipHop  that "everyone who heard the record appreciated it."

The  rumor is that this record provoked the shootings of both Jam Master Jay and 50 Cent himself. The fact that "Ghetto Qu'ran" made such an impact in the real, non-rap drug game alone makes it one of the greatest songs about selling drugs, handily so. The slick Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye sample—as worked over by Trackmasters, which resulted in the beat for this gritty, post-Biggie contemporary drug rap classic—doesn't hurt either.

5. UGK "Pocket Full of Stones"

4. jay-z "friend or foe", 3. n.w.a "dope man".

Life is no walk in the park for the local dope man. N.W.A's seminal classic was one of the first records to explore all the angles and intricacies of the trade, and was unfairly lambasted by scared music critics and the moral majority for glorifying the business when, in fact, it was simply another account of what actually happened in Compton in the late 80s (and, for what it's worth, what happens in Compton to this very day). From the demands of fiends to trouble from competitors, they've got all the complications covered. Ironically, the verses were delivered by Ice Cube, who wasn't particularly known for his experience in the trade, unlike group member Eazy-E, who was still bagging weed even after he was famous.

2. Boogie Down Productions "Love's Gonna Get'cha"

At each step of the way, KRS punctuates key decisions with the rhetorical question " Now tell me what the fuck am I supposed to do? " We meet the young man's hardworking mom, his sister and his brother, with whom he shares three pairs of pants. We also learn early on the code in his neighborhood: "Where I'm at if you're soft you're lost/To stay on course means to roll with force." The force ends up coming from "a boy named Rob" who drives a Benz and wears gold. Rob hires the song's narrator to make deliveries at $200 a pop. "I do it once/I do it twice/Now there's steak with the beans and rice." His mother's initially uneasy with the whole arrangement, but she goes along with it, because she wants the best for her family. Soon the song's narrator has stepped up his game: "Got myself an Uzi and my brother a nine."

But of course, the Faustian bargain doesn't end well. Rob and his crew shoot up their car, hitting his brother and setting up the final shoot-out with cops that ends the song: " They shot down one, they shot down two/Now tell me what the fuck am I supposed to do? " There's no easy answer at the end, only the ladies chanting the song's title, the same ominous warning that the song started with.

1. The Notorious B.I.G. "Ten Crack Commandments"

SHARE THIS STORY

Complex Music Newsletter

Stay ready. The playlists, good reads and video interviews you need—delivered every week.

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our

Latest in Music

| BY JOE PRICE

Kendrick Lamar Mentioning Random Toronto Restaurant in His Drake Diss Has Fans Leaving Five-Star Reviews

| BY MARK ELIBERT

Lil Yachty Says He Accidentally Liked Tweet Calling Out Kendrick Lamar's Alleged Cheating

| BY TRACE WILLIAM COWEN

Exclusive: 4batz on Being Evicted Several Times During Childhood, Turning Pain Into Music

Cam'ron and Mase Say Drake Is Currently 'Winning' Rap War After Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Diss

Britney Spears Calls Sister Jamie Lynn a ‘Little B*tch’ After Mocking Appearance on ‘I’m a Celebrity’

| BY JAELANI TURNER-WILLIAMS

Ice Spice's Former Friend Alleges That She’s Dating RIOTUSA and Cheated on Him With Lil Tjay

| BY JAMES KEITH

K.Dot Reconnects With Palize For Bassline Stomper “Talk To Me Nice”

DC Returns With Style On New Drop “The Curb” Featuring Blanco

Rushy Delivers Some Home Truths On Breezy Rap Gem “Koko Krazy”

| BY BRAD CALLAS

New York State's Twitter Account Trolls Joel Embiid's Play Against Knicks by Posting Kendrick Lamar's Drake Diss

• Heart Jealous of Fleetwood Mac
• Wetton's Widow on New Asia
• Longest Active Touring Streaks
• Ron Wood's New High
• Roth Wrote About VH's Breakup
• Crue Album Vince Neil Hates

Top 10 Drug Songs

Before songs like the Beatles ’ ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’, Jefferson Airplane 's’ ‘White Rabbit’ and the Velvet Underground 's ‘Heroin’ became commonplace, drug references in popular music were quite rare. When the aforementioned songs were sent out into the mid-'60s' bubbling counterculture, they served as a secret handshake among like-minded people. Since then, the subject has become familiar on the rock 'n' roll landscape. Our list of the Top 10 Drug Songs looks at all sides -- the good, the bad and the ugly.

'Mr. Brownstone'

From 'Appetite for Destruction' (1987)

During that dour period in the '80s when hair metal and sugary pop ruled popular music, Guns N’ Roses broke through to remind fans that rock 'n' roll was supposed to straddle the fence between grit and glamour. No song in their catalog exemplifies this more than ‘Mr. Brownstone,’ which simultaneously celebrates and laments heroin addiction.

'For Your Life'

From: 'Presence' (1976)

Nobody in Led Zeppelin had any right to wag his fingers at outsiders when it came to debauchery. But a newly reflective Robert Plant felt the need to address the massive use of cocaine going around the rock scene at the time with this slow-mo groove of a tune.

'Sister Morphine'

From 'Sticky Fingers' (1971)

Originally a B-side to a Marianne Faithfull single, 'Sister Morphine’ is one of the most disturbing songs Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ever wrote. Jagger serves up one of his most desperate vocal deliveries as he wails on about faceless doctors, cocaine, morphine and crawling on the floor. The menacing slide guitar by Ry Cooder only adds to the cut's jarring essence.

'Cold Turkey'

From: 1969 Single

John Lennon was never afraid to expose himself through his songs. On 'Cold Turkey' he unfolds his withdrawal from heroin addiction with unflinching honesty. When he finally starts to lose it in the last minute or so with a series of wails and moans, things get downright terrifying.

'Gold Dust Woman'

From: 'Rumours' (1977)

Looking back at it, it’s somewhat shocking that Fleewtood Mac's ‘Rumours’ has such a soft-rock reputation. It was recorded by five people who were spiraling out of control in crumbling relationships, personal conflicts and drug abuse. In the album’s closing ‘Gold Dust Woman’, Stevie Nicks tries to make sense of all the emotional chaos and drug use going on around her, emerging with the album's darkest cut.

'White Rabbit'

From: 'Surrealistic Pillow' (1967)

Even though Jefferson Airplane aren't officially advocating drug use in their counterculture classic 'White Rabbit,' the song is undoubtedly an anthem for the era's burgeoning drug scene. A mix of hallucinogenics and Lewis Carroll will do that. Feed your head, indeed.

'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds'

From: 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967)

There’s always been speculation on whether or not 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds' is about LSD. John Lennon claimed he wrote it about a drawing his son Julian drew, but with all those lyrics about looking-glass ties and kaleidoscope eyes, we're a bit skeptical, to say the least.

'The Needle and the Damage Done'

From: 'Harvest' (1972)

‘The Needle and the Damage Done’ may be one of the first precautionary songs about drug use to appear on a hit album in the early part of the '70s. Neil Young wrote it about his Crazy Horse bandmate Danny Whitten, whose heroin addiction was out of control at that point. He'd die within a year of 'Harvest''s release.

'Sweet Leaf'

From 'Masters of Reality' (1971)

The opening song on 1971's ‘Masters of Reality’ is the ultimate stoner jam, beginning with Tony Iommi ’s looped cough (presumably after ingesting too much of the devil’s lettuce) before launching one of the heaviest riffs known to mankind. Meanwhile, Ozzy Osbourne sings about the positive effects of a puff from time to time.

From: 'The Velvet Underground and Nico' (1967)

By 1967, it wasn't all that rare to find references to marijuana and LSD in songs. But no one was ready for a seven-minute roller-coaster ride about heroin use in such a manner. After hearing Lou Reed 's Velvet Underground classic -- which encompasses the rush of euphoria and the pang of despair -- no one ever needs to take a ride on the white horse.

More From Ultimate Classic Rock

• Manage Account

25 Weed Songs: Highest Hits in Hot 100 History

Stoner songs that blazed their way up the chart.

By Joe Lynch

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Pinit
• + additional share options added
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Email
• Print this article
• Share this article on Comment

For part-time potheads, 4/20 is a holiday that comes but once a year. But for the steadfast stoner, you can celebrate 4:20 every day (twice a day is possible, but inadvisable).

Regardless of how deep your love for the leaf runs, everyone knows that marijuana and music are peas in a pod. We’ve previously rounded up 25 toking tunes , an editorial playlist that encompasses Cypress Hill, Afroman, Miley Cyrus, Bob Dylan, Peter Tosh, Wiz Khalifa and, of course, Snoop Dogg.

This list ain’t that. Looking at biggest Billboard Hot 100 hits of all time, we decided to round up the highest hits in the chart’s history. For purposes of this list, we’re casting a bloodshot eye toward songs with a title that includes “smoke,” “puff,” “high,” “stoned,” “burn,” “drug,” “toke,” “weed” or some variation. If the song’s title doesn’t tip to something along those lines, it’s out. (That means songs such as Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & #35” aren’t eligible; we’re sure he’ll get over it.)

We are also discounting songs where weed-adjacent words are in the song title but are clearly not referring to drugs or intoxication. For example: We include Sean Paul’s “We Be Burnin’” but not Usher’s “Burn.” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” isn’t here because The Platters weren’t singing about hotboxing the dance floor, but “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” is eligible. Sure, most folks assume cigarettes are what Brownville Station and/or the Crüe were puffing at school, but we don’t know for sure, so we’re giving that one the benefit of the dank doubt.

Anyone who’s a fan of mind-altering substances should know that truth is subjective, man, and this list is no exception. While the selections – and the order in which they appear – are culled from the biggest hits in Hot 100 history (more on that below), editorial decisions were made on what to include on this list. Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” isn’t here because it’s about a love that is above (i.e., better than) others; “I Want to Take You Higher” is eligible, however, because you can (and probably should) interpret “higher” as substance adjacent.

Also included: The many songs that refer to love as a drug, as well as songs that use “stoned” for a general sense of intoxication. If it’s about a mind-altering state brought about by romance, booze or whatever, it’s in.

Don’t like the criteria? Sounds like you need to chill out, catch a cool buzz and hit play on one (or all) of these songs and just follow the vibe where it takes you. Responsibly, of course.

This ranking is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. To ensure equitable representation of the biggest hits from each era, certain time frames were weighted to account for the difference between turnover rates from those years.

Afroman, "Because I Got High" (2000)

Hot 100 peak: No. 13

Peak date: Sept. 8, 2001

Ray Charles, "Let's Go Get Stoned" (1966)

Hot 100 peak: No. 31

Peak date: July 16, 1966

Kodak Black feat. XXXTENTACION, "Roll in Peace" (2017)

Peak date: Feb. 3, 2018

Future, "Puffin on Zootiez" (2022)

Hot 100 peak: No. 4

Peak date: May 14, 2022

Sly & the Family Stone, "I Want to Take You Higher" (1969)

Hot 100 peak: No. 38

Peak date: June 27, 1970

Redman & Method Man, "How High" (1995)

Peak date: Sept. 2, 1995

Ike & Tina Turner & the Ikettes, "I Want to Take You Higher" (1970)

Peak date: No. 34

Peak date: Aug. 29, 1970

The Chi-Lites, "Stoned Out of My Mind" (1973)

Hot 100 peak: No. 30

Peak date: Sept. 22, 1973

Roxy Music, "Love Is the Drug" (1975)

Peak date: March 20, 1976

The Byrds, "Eight Miles High" (1966)

Hot 100 peak: No. 14

Peak date: May 21, 1966

Justin Timberlake, "LoveStoned" (2007)

Hot 100 peak: No. 17

Peak date: Oct. 6, 2007

Roddy Ricch feat. Mustard, "High Fashion" (2019)

Hot 100 peak: No. 19

Peak date: Feb. 1, 2020

Silk Sonic, "Smokin Out the Window" (2021)

Hot 100 peak: No. 5

Peak date: Nov. 27, 2021

Mötley Crüe, "Smokin' In the Boys Room" (1985)

Hot 100 peak: No. 16

Peak date: Sept. 7, 1985

Brewer & Shipley, "One Toke Over the Line" (1970)

Hot 100 peak: No. 10

Peak date: April 10, 1971

Musical Youth, "Pass the Dutchie" (1982)

Peak position: No. 10

Peak date: Feb. 26, 1983

Travis Scott, "Highest In the Room" (2019)

Hot 100 peak: No. 1

Peak date: Oct. 19, 2019

Survivor, "High on You" (1984)

Hot 100 peak: No. 8

Peak date: March 23, 1985

Sean Paul, "We Be Burnin'" (2005)

Hot 100 peak: No. 6

Peak date: Nov. 12, 2005

Jim Stafford, "Wildwood Weed" (1974)

Hot 100 peak: No. 7

Peak date: Aug. 24, 1974

Huey Lewis & The News, "I Want a New Drug" (1984)

Peak date: March 24, 1984

Tove Lo, "Habits (Stay High)" (2013)

Hot 100 peak: No. 3

Peak date: Nov. 8, 2014

Kesha, "Your Love Is My Drug" (2010)

Peak date: June 12, 2010

Brownsville Station, "Smokin' In the Boys Room" (1973)

Peak date: Jan. 19, 1974

The 5th Dimension, "Stoned Soul Picnic" (1968)

Peak date: July 27, 1968

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about?

Get in the know on.

Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Billboard Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

optional screen reader

Charts expand charts menu.

• Billboard Hot 100™
• Billboard 200™
• Hits Of The World™
• TikTok Billboard Top 50
• Song Breaker
• Year-End Charts
• Decade-End Charts

Music Expand music menu

• R&B/Hip-Hop

Culture Expand culture menu

Media expand media menu, business expand business menu.

• Business News
• Record Labels
• View All Pro

Pro Tools Expand pro-tools menu

• Songwriters & Producers
• Artist Index
• Royalty Calculator
• Market Watch
• Industry Events Calendar

Billboard Español Expand billboard-espanol menu

• Cultura y Entretenimiento

Honda Music Expand honda-music menu

• Car Rentals
• Airport Transfers
• Attractions & Tours
• Bundle & Save
• Destinations
• Trip.com Rewards

D.R.U.G.S. 2024 (Houston) | White Oak Music Hall - Downstairs

Get ready to immerse yourself in a night of rock music at D.R.U.G.S., set to rock the stage at White Oak Music Hall - Downstairs on June 25, 2024. Located at 2915 N Main St, Houston, TX, 77009, this concert promises an unforgettable experience for music enthusiasts. The lineup will include a mix of electrifying songs that will keep the audience on their feet all night long. With tickets available for purchase from April 19, 2024, at 15:00, until June 26, 2024, at 03:00, make sure you secure your spot to witness this incredible event. D.R.U.G.S. is not just a concert; it's a journey through the power of music that will leave you wanting more. So mark your calendars, gather your friends, and get ready to rock out to the tunes of D.R.U.G.S.

Provided by Hedy | Published May 2, 2024

Are you interested in D.R.U.G.S. 2024 (Houston)?

Recommended products for d.r.u.g.s. 2024 (houston) | white oak music hall - downstairs, the post oak hotel, four seasons hotel houston, moscow  houston, the st. regis houston, la colombe d'or hotel, hotel granduca houston, more contents about houston.

• Customer Support
• Service Guarantee
• More Service Info
• Website Feedback
• About Trip.com
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Statement
• About Trip.com Group

Other Services

• Investor Relations
• Affiliate Program
• List My Property
• Become a Supplier

Here's what's new to streaming in May 2024

by RYAN PAINTER | KUTV

Behind the Music Season 2 (Paramount+) Behind the Music returns with new, remastered episodes updated for today’s audiences featuring new artist interviews and a reimagined visual style.

The Breaking Ice (The Criterion Channel)

Synopsis: Three young lost souls find tentative connection in a frozen world in this delicate, lyrical tone poem of alienation and longing. In cold, wintry Yanji, a city on China’s northeastern border, young urbanite Haofeng (Liu Haoran), visiting from Shanghai, feels lost and adrift. By chance, he goes on a tour led by Nana (Zhou Dongyu), a charming guide who instantly fascinates him and who introduces him to Xiao (Qu Chuxiao), a personable but frustrated restaurant worker. Over the course of a drunken weekend, the three quickly bond as they confront their individual traumas and their desires slowly thaw.

Nobuhiko Obayashi’s Antiwar Trilogy (The Criterion Collection)

Synopsis: Confronting both the specter of World War II and the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, these stunning late-career triumphs from Japanese iconoclast Nobuhiko Obayashi offer a subversive, typically idiosyncratic reflection on national history and tragedy. Replete with the boldly stylized, avant-pop flourishes that define his work (most famously the delirious cult freak-out House), these narratively distinct but thematically connected films—which culminated in his deeply personal penultimate feature, the forty-years-in-the-making passion project Hanagatami—look to the past to issue an urgent warning about the perilous present. FEATURING: Casting Blossoms to the Sky (2012), Seven Weeks (2014), Hanagatami (2017)

Shardlake (Hulu)

Synopsis: Set in 16th-century England during the dissolution of the monasteries, Shardlake is a four-part drama based on the first novel in C.J. Sansom’s internationally popular Tudor murder mystery series. The eerie whodunnit adventure follows lawyer Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) and Jack Barack (Anthony Boyle) as they work to uncover the truth behind a horrific murder. The two men are sent out on a mission by the dangerous and all-powerful right-hand man to Henry VIII: Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean) — and failure is not an option.

Tótem (The Criterion Channel)

Synopsis: In a bustling Mexican household, seven-year-old Sol is swept up in a whirlwind of preparations for her terminally ill father’s birthday party, led by her mother, aunts, and other relatives. As the day goes on, building to an event both anticipated and dreaded, Sol and her family begin to understand the gravity of this year’s celebration. Director Lila Avilés (The Chambermaid) orchestrates a dynamic ensemble cast in this stunning sophomore effort—a warmly observed, poignantly funny, and emotionally expansive study of the ways we cope with grief.

The Contestant (Hulu)

Synopsis: In 1998, Nasubi thought he was attending an audition when a successful Japanese TV producer, Toshio Tsuchiya, enlisted him to take part in a challenge. Tsuchiya led Nasubi into a room, ordered him to strip naked and left him with a stack of magazines. Nasubi’s task was to fill out contest coupons in order to win what he needed to survive — food, clothing, appliances, etc. — until he reached the prize goal of one million yen.

Hacks: Season 3 (Max)

Synopsis: A year after parting, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is riding high off the success of her standup special while Ava (Hannah Einbinder) pursues new opportunities back in Los Angeles. Two new episodes every Thursday, concluding with the season finale on May 30.

The Idea of You (Prime)

Synopsis: Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.

Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (Kino Film Collection)

Synopsis: Winner of the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the prestigious André Bazin Prize from Cahiers du Cinema, both celebrating outstanding feature debuts, this enthralling work from Vietnamese filmmaker Pham Thien An is a reverie on faith, loss, and nature expressed with uncommon invention and depth. The sudden death of his sister-in-law brings unexpected responsibilities to Thien (Le Phong Vu), who is reluctantly tasked with bringing his five-year-old nephew Dao to their countryside hometown. On the road, Thien is drawn into a search for his long-missing older brother, haunted and spurred forward by a series of sublime dreams that reignite suppressed memories, forbidden desires, and specters of his own youth. What began as a journey home becomes a pilgrimage marked by visual splendor and mystical overtones, a quest for understanding and certainty in a Vietnam that seems unable to provide any clear answers. As Thien battles with the existential question of what is worth living for, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell interrogates the persistence and complexity of faith, not only in the spiritual but in the delicate beauty of earthly existence.

A Man in Full (Netflix)

Synopsis: When Atlanta real estate mogul Charlie Croker faces sudden bankruptcy, political and business interests collide as Charlie defends his empire from those attempting to capitalize on his fall from grace.

T-P Bon! (Netflix)

Synopsis: Ordinary junior high school student Bon Namihira encounters Time Patrol member Ream Stream, a girl from the future, along with a strange creature called Buyoyon. The Time Patrol agents save those who died unfortunate deaths that don't significantly alter the course of history. During these missions, anyone who sees Ream and the other agents has their memories erased. However, Bon's memory remains mysteriously intact, so he is brought in as a Time Patrol agent-in-training. Teaming up with Ream to carry out missions, Bon is excited about using tools of the future, including the "time boat" that can sail through time and space. Bon gets carried away at times, but through the missions, he touches the lives of people who lived wisely in each era. Go on an epic journey throughout Earth and the history of humanity along with T・P BON!

The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Peacock)

Synopsis: The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an event series inspired by the real-life story of Jewish Holocaust survivors Lali and Gita Sokolov. Lali (Jonah Hauer-King) arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942, and shortly after arrival, he was made one of the tätowierer (tattooists), charged to ink identification numbers onto fellow prisoners’ arms. One day, he meets Gita (Anna Próchniak) when tattooing her prisoner number on her arm. They experience love at first sight, and so begins a courageous, unforgettable, and human story. Under constant guard from a volatile Nazi SS officer Baretzki (Jonas Nay), Lali and Gita became determined to keep each other alive.

Turtles All the Way Down (Max)

Synopsis: TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN tackles anxiety through its 17-year-old protagonist, Aza Holmes (Isabela Merced). It’s not easy being Aza, but she’s trying... trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, and a good student, all while navigating an endless barrage of invasive, obsessive thoughts that she cannot control. When she reconnects with Davis, her childhood crush, Aza is confronted with fundamental questions about her potential for love, happiness, friendship, and hope.

The American Society of Magical Negroes (Peacock)

Synopsis: The American Society of Magical Negroes is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people's lives easier.

La Civil (Kino Film Collection)

Synopsis: La Civil unfolds with documentary-like precision as it details the human impact of drug cartels in Northern Mexico. Cielo (Arcelia Ramírez, in a galvanizing performance) learns her daughter Laura has been kidnapped when a baby-faced teenager orders her to pay 150,000 pesos if she wants to see Laura again. With no police support, Cielo embarks on her own investigation, peeling back layers of Mexico’s societal corruption in an increasingly desperate effort to save her child. Inspired by true events, Belgian-Romanian director Teodora Ana Mihai delivers a bold and suspenseful debut feature, collaborating with Mexican co-screenwriter Habacuc Antonio De Rosario and world-renowned co-producers Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, Cristian Mungiu, and Michel Franco.

Clarkson's Farm 3 (Prime) Synopsis: The third series of Clarkson’s Farm finds Diddly Squat facing some seriously daunting challenges. The crops are failing in the severe hot weather, inflation has driven prices of supplies sky high, dreams for the beloved restaurant are dashed and now the farm shop also faces closure.

Prom Dates (Hulu)

Synopsis: At 13 years old, best friends Jess and Hannah made a pact to have the perfect senior prom. Years later, the two are still committed to honoring their pact. But everything falls apart when they break up with their dates just 24 hours before the prom. Can they find new dates in one night and still live out their middle school dreams?

Stop Making Sense (Max)

Synopsis: Newly restored in 4K to coincide with its 40th anniversary, the 1984 film was directed by renowned filmmaker Jonathan Demme and is considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time. Stop Making Sense stars core band members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison along with Bernie Worrell, Alex Weir, Steve Scales, Lynn Mabry and Edna Holt. The live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads' most memorable songs.

Unfrosted (Netflix)

Synopsis: Michigan, 1963. Kellogg's and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever. A tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar, and menacing milkmen, Unfrosted stars writer/director Jerry Seinfeld.

Welcome to Wrexham: Season 3 (Hulu)

Synopsis: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star, Rob McElhenney, and movie star/business mogul, Ryan Reynolds, bought a struggling football (aka soccer) team with one goal in mind: turn this underdog team into the team to beat.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (Disney+)

Synopsis: “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire” is a six-episode journey into the fearsome Galactic Empire through the eyes of two warriors on divergent paths, set during different eras. After losing everything, young Morgan Elsbeth navigates the expanding Imperial world toward a path of vengeance, while former Jedi Barriss Offee does what she must to survive a rapidly changing galaxy. The choices they make will define their destinies.

Monsters at Work: Season 2 (Disney+)

Synopsis: In Season 2 of “Monsters at Work,” Tylor Tuskmon’s journey as a Jokester and his friendship with Val face the ultimate test. When new doors of opportunity unexpectedly open at rival energy company FearCo, Tylor’s co-workers at Monsters Inc. begin to question where his loyalties truly lie. As his Laugh Floor partnership with Val is pushed to the brink, Tylor must discover where he really belongs.

Eurovision Song Contest 2024 (Peacock) Synopsis: The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is set to be the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It is scheduled to take place in Malmö, Sweden, following the country's victory at the 2023 contest with the song "Tattoo" by Loreen.

Kiss The Future (Paramount+)

Synopsis: An American aid worker asks U2 to help raise awareness about the siege of Sarajevo, Bosnia. The band immediately begins a series of live satellite interviews with local Sarajaevans during their 1993 ZOO TV Tour to highlight the dire situation.

Dark Matter (Apple TV+)

Synopsis: “Dark Matter” is a nine-episode, sci-fi thriller based on the blockbuster book by acclaimed, bestselling author Blake Crouch, and starring Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi and Oakes Fegley. Hailed as one of the best sci-fi novels of the decade, “Dark Matter” is a story about the road not taken. The series will follow Jason Dessen (played by Joel Edgerton), a physicist, professor, and family man who — one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago — is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.

New episodes are every Wednesday through June 26.

Hollywood Con Queen (Apple TV+)

Synopsis: “Hollywood Con Queen” is an explosive, new three-part documentary series that explores the shocking story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest scams.

A mysterious figure dubbed the ‘Con Queen’ impersonates the industry’s most powerful women, luring unsuspecting victims to Indonesia with the promise of a life-changing career opportunity. The ‘Con Queen’s marks exhaust their personal finances in pursuit of a big break, while being exploited in a perverse psychological game spanning the globe. The scam eventually draws the attention of veteran investigative journalist Scott Johnson of The Hollywood Reporter, and dedicated private investigator Nicole Kotsianas, who set out to find the truth, only to discover a story more strange than they could have imagined.

Let it Be (Disney+)

Synopsis: Available for the first time in over 50 years is Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s original 1970 film about The Beatles. First released in May 1970 amidst the swirl of The Beatles’ breakup, “Let It Be” now takes its rightful place in the band’s history.

Vanderpump Rules, Season 11 Finale (Peacock) Synopsis : Restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump oversees a group of staff members who lead drama-filled lives.

August Winds (Kino Film Collection) Synopsis: Shirley (Dandara de Morais) has left the big city to live in a small seaside town and look after her elderly grandmother. She drives a tractor on a local coconut plantation, loves rock music and wants to be a tattoo artist. She feels trapped in the tiny coastal village. She is involved with Jeison (Geova? Manoel dos Santos), who also works on the coconut farm and who free dives for lobster and octopus in his spare time. During the month of August, when tropical storms pound the coastline, a researcher registering the sound of the trade winds emanating from the Intertropical Convergence Zone arrives in their village. The high tides and the growing winds mark the following days of the village and a surprise discovery takes Shirley and Jeison on a journey that confronts them with the duel between life and death, loss and memory, the wind and the sea.

Bodkin (Netflix)

Synopsis: A darkly comedic thriller about a motley crew of podcasters who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in an idyllic, coastal Irish town. But once they start pulling at threads, they discover a story much bigger and weirder than they could have ever imagined. As our heroes try to discern fact from fiction — about the case, about their colleagues, and, most painfully, themselves — the series challenges our perception of truth and exposes the stories we tell ourselves to justify our beliefs or validate our fears.

The Chi: Season 6 (Paramount+) Synopsis: This coming-of-age drama series centers on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

The GOAT (Prime) Synopsis: 14 reality superstars move into GOAT Manor to face off in a brand new, hilarious competition show, hosted by Daniel Tosh. They will compete in over 20 challenges, earning and breaking one another's trust as they battle it out for $200kand the title of Greatest Of All Time.

Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (Max)

Synopsis: Following the harrowing events of "Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin,” our Pretty Little Liars face a fate worse than death - summer school. However, Millwood High isn’t the only thing getting in the way of their fun summer jobs and new, dreamy love interests. A new villain, who may or may not have a connection to A, has come to town and is going to put them all to the test. New episodes every Thursday through June 20

Love Undercover: Season 1 (Peacock) Synopsis: Five global soccer stars go undercover in LA to find love for who they are and not what they have.

Red Psalm (Kino Film Collection) Synopsis: Red Psalm (1971) follows a group of farm workers who go on strike in 1890s Hungary, for which Jancsó wont he best director prize at Cannes.

Synopsis: The Doctor and his companion Ruby Sunday travel across time and space, with adventures all the way from the Regency era in England, to war-torn future worlds. Throughout their adventures in the TARDIS – a time-traveling ship shaped like a police box – they encounter incredible friends and dangerous foes, including a terrifying bogeyman, and the Doctor’s most powerful enemy yet. New episodes every Friday

The Iron Claw (Max)

Synopsis: The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.

Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die (Max) Synopsis: Taped late last year in front of a sold-out, lively audience at the Moore Theater in Seattle, Washington, Glaser dives into a wide range of topics that have further evolved her comedic prowess including why she doesn’t want kids, the harsh realities of aging, her sexual fantasies, and plans for her own death – all in her hilarious, unapologetic, and brutally honest style. NIKKI GLASER: SOMEDAY YOU’LL DIE showcases why Glaser is one of the funniest, and most fearless, comedians today.

American Fiction (Prime)

Synopsis: A frustrated novelist, fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes, uses a pen name to write his own outlandish "Black" book and is suddenly swept up in the madness he claims to disdain.

Pillowcase Murders (Paramount+)

Synopsis: This three-part documentary series exposes one of the deadliest serial killers you’ve never heard of who preyed upon one of our most vulnerable populations: the elderly.

Brigerton: Season 3 (Netflix)

Synopsis: From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly. Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.

Caillou: Season 1 New Episodes (Peacock)

Synopsis: The home and social life of a sensitive and imaginative 4-year-old boy, and the supportive family and friends that help him navigate his big feelings.

I... for Icarus (Kino Film Collection) Synopsis: From Henri Verneuil, the acclaimed director of The Sicilian Clan, The Body of My Enemy and Mille Milliards de Dollars, comes one of the most unique and compelling conspiracy thrillers of the ’70s. Following the assassination of President Marc Jarry, an investigation commission comes up with questionable conclusions about a lone gunman. The commission’s findings are not good enough for dogged State Attorney Henri Volney, played by screen great Yves Montand (The Wages of Fear, Z, Le Cercle Rouge). Volney reopens the case and unspools a tightly wound conspiracy plot in I for Icarus, Verneuil’s icy-cool and intelligent investigative thriller that will grip you like Oliver Stone’s JFK. Boasting a terrific performance by Montand and a riveting score by the maestro Ennio Morricone (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Le Professionnel).

Outer Range (Prime)

Synopsis: Outer Range centers on Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin), a rancher fighting for his land and family, who discovers an unfathomable phenomenon at the edge of Wyoming's wilderness, in the form of a dark void. The mystery surrounding the enigmatic void on the west pasture of the Abbott family ranch deepens in Season Two, as Royal and his wife Cecelia (Lili Taylor) struggle to keep their family together in the aftermath of their granddaughter’s sudden disappearance. The stakes have never been higher for the Abbotts, who now face threats on multiple fronts. Outer Range’s second season propels its characters deeper into the void with profound and unforeseen circumstances that could shake the very foundations of time itself.

The Big Cigar (Apple TV+)

Synopsis: Starring André Holland, and based on the monumental, eponymous magazine article of the same name by Joshuah Bearman (“Argo”), “The Big Cigar” is the incredible true story of Hollywood revolution meeting social revolution: it’s a wild caper of Black Panther founder Huey Newton escaping from the FBI to Cuba with the assistance of famed producer Bert Schneider in an impossibly elaborate plan – involving a fake movie production -- that goes wrong every way it possibly can. And somehow, it’s all true. Mostly. New episodes every Friday through June 14

Mourning in Lod Synopsis: This film follows the fates of three Israeli and Palestinian families intertwined by an intense cycle of violence in the city of Lod, Israel while imagining a brighter dawn for the region.

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 9 Synopsis: RuPaul's royalty sashay back onto the runway for a chance at snatching the All Stars crown and nabbing a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked Season 6 Synopsis: From the catfights to the backstage battles, find out what happens behind the scenes of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. (Max) Synopsis: STAX: SOULSVILLE U.S.A tells the story of an underdog record label comprised of Black and white collaborators who ushered in the groundbreaking, industry-altering soul music of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, The Staple Singers, Sam & Dave and many others that defined a generation. Driven by instinct and defying the notion that Black artists needed to be “made marketable,” the Memphis-based label went from ultimate outsider to one of the most influential producers of Black music – finding its place inside the broader mainstream record industry. Stax became more than a record label; it transformed into a beacon of Black freedom. It is a quintessentially American story of an audacious group of individuals who dared to make their own music on their own terms creating an institution that has continued to help define our culture long after the label itself has gone. Followed by two episodes on May 21

LOLLA: The Story of Lollapalooza (Paramount+) Synopsis: In the summer of '91, the Lollapalooza music festival was born. What started as a farewell tour for the band Jane's Addiction rose from the underground to launch a cultural movement and change music forever.

Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life: Season 2 (Disney+)

Synopsis: Two tiny troublemakers have huge adventures while trying to live the good life in a big city park. Nervous worrier Chip and laid-back dreamer Dale make the perfect odd couple: they’re best buddies and they drive each other nuts. In their perpetual pursuit of acorns, these ultimate underdogs are joined by Donald Duck, Pluto, Butch and other iconic Disney characters as they face down bullies great and small.

Marvel Studios' Assembled: The Making of X-Men '97 (Disney+) Synopsis: In the early 1990s, few beyond those who journeyed into the pages of Marvel comics had ever heard of “Rogue,” “Beast,” “Gambit,” or even “Wolverine.” But that sad state of affairs changed forever when “X-Men: The Animated Series" debuted on television and touched millions hungry for something different. The series was unlike any cartoon that had come before it, exploring themes of prejudice and social justice. The characters were super, but they were also outsiders, underdogs. Kids everywhere could relate – as well as adults. “Assembled” recalls the birth of “X-Men: The Animated Series” and its revival thirty years later as “X-Men ’97.” Spend time with the original cast members, along with new voices, as they reveal the stories behind the classic show and its uncompromising continuation.

Trying: Season Four (Applet TV+)

Synopsis: “Trying” is Apple’s heartwarming critically acclaimed comedy starring BAFTA Award-nominee Esther Smith and SAG Award-nominee Rafe Spall. In this exciting new season, we fast-forward six years, discovering that Nikki (Smith) and Jason (Spall) are experienced adopters having built a lovely little nuclear family, enriched by an extraordinary support network. However, as their teenage daughter, Princess (Rayner), starts to yearn for a connection with her birth mother, Nikki and Jason find themselves confronted with the ultimate test of their parenting skills. In addition to Smith and Spall, the cast includes Sian Brooke as Karen, BAFTA Award winner Darren Boyd as Scott and welcomes Scarlett Rayner as Princess and Cooper Turner as Tyler. New episodes every Wednesday through July 3.

Evil: Final Season

Synopsis: Evil is a psychological mystery that examines the origins of evil along the dividing line between science and religion. A skeptical female psychologist joins a priest-in-training and a contractor as they investigate the Church’s backlog of unexplained mysteries, including supposed miracles, demonic possessions and hauntings. Is there a logical explanation, or is something truly supernatural at work? New episodes every Thursday through August 22

The French (Kino Film Collection) Synopsis: William Klein, the legendary American photographer and filmmaker, has put together a body of work as thrillingly eclectic as any living artist. In his 1969 film Muhammad Ali, the Greatest, Klein found a subject that combined his interest in sport and social criticism, and much the same combination can be seen at work, in a very different cultural context, in The French. Klein was the first person to be granted full, exclusive access to the tournament in its 90-year history, and using that doorway into locker rooms, TV studios, and players’ boxes, he shot the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at the 1981 French Open—a crucial moment in a crucial year in the history of a game, and its iconic players Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Yannick Noah, and Ivan Lendl. With Klein’s customary eagle eye and whirlwind energy, The French captures the noisy bedlam that accompanies any major sporting event, while also revealing a level of candor from his subjects that is impossible to imagine in today’s secretive media-trained world.

Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf (Netflix)

Synopsis: At the heart of the action is Juzo Fujimaki, a rival of Bunshichi Tanba, the main protagonist of the original novels. On the run from his troubled past, Juzo is forced into competing in a deadly underground fighting tournament. Skilled in the respected martial art Takemiya-ryu, Juzo must navigate a path filled with formidable foes and his personal demons — all while dealing with a bounty of three million yen on his head and a determined detective on his trail.

The Kardashians: Season 5 (Hulu)

Synopsis: If you feel like Season 4 of The Kardashians just ended — you’re not imagining things. You didn’t think Kris’ Krew would be away from your screens for long, did you? Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kylie, Kendall, and Kris are back for Season 5 of The Kardashians.

Thirst with Shay Mitchell (Max) Synopsis: Shay Mitchell explores the world one drink at a time as she visits exotic locations, samples unique ingredients, and meets expert hosts. On her journey, she encounters the latest drink trends, the best bars, and 8,000 years of sipping history.

Walking on Water (Kino Film Collection) Synopsis: Ten years after the passing of his wife and creative partner, Jeanne-Claude, Christo sets out to realize The Floating Piers, a project they conceived together many years before. Boasting uncensored access to the artist and his team, Walking on Water is an unprecedented look at Christo’s process, from the inception through to the completion of his latest large-scale art installation, a dahlia-yellow walkway atop Italy’s Lake Iseo that was eventually experienced by over 1.2 million people. The film takes the viewer on an intimate journey into Christo’s world amid mounting madness – from complex dealings between art and state politics to engineering challenges, logistical nightmares, and the sheer force of mother nature. Captured through breathtaking aerial views and fly on the wall camerawork, we watch the artist’s vision unfold, and get to know the man chasing it.

Atlas (Neetflix)

Synopsis: Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her only hope of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it.

The Beach Boys (Disney+)

Synopsis: A celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music, and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come. The documentary traces the band from humble family beginnings and features never-before-seen footage and all-new interviews with band members and other luminaries in the music business.

Mulligan: Part 2 (Netflix) Synopsis: Allegiances are tested when the grim realities of life on an empty, alien-ravaged planet start to sink in for President Mulligan and his rag-tag band of survivors. (No plumbing! No food! Movies are just plays now!) In order to rebuild society they'll have to overcome feral cub scouts, a cruise ship with a deadly secret, and each other.

My Oni Girl (Netflix)

Synopsis: Yearning to get along with others and not be disliked, first-year high school student Hiiragi lives in Japan's Yamagata prefecture and finds himself unable to say no whenever someone requests something of him. Even though he tries his best to do things for others, it never goes well, leaving him with no one he can call a friend. One summer day, while unsuccessfully carrying out yet another request, he encounters an oni girl named Tsumugi, who has come to the human world to search for her mother. She does whatever she pleases and is the complete opposite of Hiiragi.

The Boys in the Boat (Prime)

Synopsis: This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight, taking on elite rivals from around the world as part of the 1936 Berlin summer games.

Moviepass, Moviecrash (Max) Synopsis: In a span of eight years, MoviePass went from being the fastest growing subscription service since Spotify to total bankruptcy, losing over $150 million in 2017 alone. MOVIEPASS, MOVIECRASH chronicles the company’s beginnings as an innovative movie ticketing model, exploring the visionary mission of its co-founders, its jaw-dropping early successes and its precipitous downfall caused by mismanagement and corporate greed.

Eric (Netflix) Synopsis: Set in 1980s New York, Eric is a new emotional thriller from Abi Morgan following the desperate search of a father when his nine year old son disappears one morning on the way to school. Vincent, one of New York’s leading puppeteers and creator of the hugely popular children’s television show, ‘Good Day Sunshine,’ struggles to cope with the loss of his son, Edgar, becoming increasingly distressed and volatile. Full of self-loathing and guilt around Edgar’s disappearance, he clings to his son’s drawings of a blue monster puppet, ERIC, convinced that if he can get ERIC on TV then Edgar will come home. As Vincent’s progressively destructive behaviour alienates his family, his work colleagues, and the detectives trying to help him, it’s Eric, a delusion of necessity, who becomes his only ally in the pursuit to bring his son home.

Fear and Desire: Uncut Premiere Version (Kino Film Collection)

Synopsis: Fear and Desire is the ambitious first feature film by legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick (Paths of Glory, Full Metal Jacket). In this existential drama—which has the feeling of a waking dream rather than a conventional war film—four soldiers return to their senses after crash-landing in a forest behind enemy lines. Blindly navigating their way back to their unit, they attack an isolated cabin occupied by enemy soldiers, then apprehend a peasant woman who is tormented by the deranged young soldier assigned to guard her. On the verge of freedom, they discover an outpost of enemy officers, and must decide whether to slip silently past or stage a violent confrontation with their doppelgängers. Upon its initial release, Kubrick was stung by negative audience reactions and immediately decided to tone down the philosophical aspects of the film. These edits made the film less of a metaphysical experience and more of a conventional war film. For decades, this 62-minute version was all that existed of Fear and Desire, until the Library of Congress came into possession of a 35mm element of the original 70-minute premiere cut, which has not been seen since its interrupted theatrical run in 1953. Now, we can finally see Fear and Desire as it was first released, and witness the blossoming of a 23-year-old cinematic genius.

Pyramid Game (Paramount+) Synopsis: After being voted the least popular student and becoming the target of school violence, Su-ji sets out to secure a spot at the top of the rank.

We Are Lady Parts: Season 2 (Peacock) Synopsis: When an all-women Muslim band recruits a geeky student to be their lead guitarist, worlds collide as she’s swept up in their joyful, anarchic energy.

Jim Hensen Idea Man (Disney+)

Synopsis: Jim Henson Idea Man takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond. Featuring unprecedented access to Jim’s personal archives, filmmaker Ron Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.

• Class Notes

The Latest News from Your Classmates

May / June 2024

CHECK OUT OUR NEW SECTION: GROUP NOTES!

Scroll down for the debut of Group Notes, which comprises alumni news about members of Cornell groups—including campus activities, alumni organizations, and more—across generations. Want to see your group represented in future sections? Email us for information!

Welcome back, classmates! Read on for another excerpt from the essay I wrote about my time at Cornell, originally written for and published by my fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, and featured in the last two Class Notes sections:

We had regular parties in the basement at Alpha Delta Phi, but there was little or no hard liquor. We drank beer from a keg, the tapping of which was a skill we all learned. I think it was mostly the local Stegmaier’s, which was not a particularly good beer, but it was cheaper. Singing was a big pastime, and knowing the words to all the songs was important to your standing with your brothers and your date.

One event I will never forget occurred during the spring of 1946, when we were sharing the house with Kappa Alpha. At a Saturday night party downstairs, the president of KA was sitting on a stool at the bar, surrounded by co-eds who were listening, I suppose, to his war stories. Suddenly, he grabbed an ice pick from behind the bar and drove it into his lower leg! There were shrieks and shocked looks from the co-eds. Then he pulled out the ice pick, pulled up his pant leg, and showed a wooden leg that he had acquired as a result of war injuries!

Thomas Wells ’43 , BArch ’50, proposed to the fraternity that he decorate the walls of the two rooms in the basement, which were our bar and party area. We said OK, and he arrived with two co-eds from architecture or fine arts. Over weeks, they covered the walls with the “figures” of Abner Dean, a very popular cartoonist/artist at that time. For a time, it became the talk of the campus, and we got a big kick out of it. You can even see pictures of it in the background of a 1948 Cornellian yearbook: a picture of a group singing at the usual table in the Alpha Delt bar (on page 364) and then one of me between two women (at right on page 385), both with the paintings in the background.

Late one night, [ Peg Wilharm Tuttle ’48 and I] drove out the east bank of Cayuga Lake to watch the sunrise—and when it came up behind us, I proposed, and she accepted. Ray Tuttle ’48

I married a Cornellian, Margaret (Wilharm) , Class of 1948. She was an Alpha Phi, and I never dated her at Cornell. That we ended up married was a real series of incidents. One day in my fifth and final year, I got on the bus outside Olin Hall to go downtown. I recognized and sat down beside a girl I remembered from a course I was taking in industrial and labor relations (ChemEs were required to take a liberal arts course in year five, and my choice was career-oriented, not culture-oriented, as the ChemE school might have intended). Peg always sat near the front of the classroom next to the same boy, whom I assumed was her boyfriend but later learned was a Chi Psi brother of her boyfriend keeping an eye on her. We talked on the way downtown on the bus and learned an odd coincidence: my family and I lived in Cleveland, and I had just taken a job in Pittsburgh after graduation, while she had lived all her life in Pittsburgh, but her dad’s company had just moved to Cleveland, where she would go after graduation. So we parted with no plans to ever meet again.

Working in Pittsburgh, I used to go back to see my folks in Cleveland occasionally. On one trip, I joined my parents in grocery shopping, because next door was a sporting-goods shop and I wanted to buy a new squash racquet. After shopping, I joined my parents in the grocery store, and there was a somewhat familiar face at the cheese counter: Peg Wilharm! She later told me she was with her parents only because they were going to shop for a new car, and she went along hoping to persuade them not to buy another black Buick.

I asked her out for a beer and supper and soon learned that the boyfriend was no longer—and we dated in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, where she visited an uncle there to see me. I asked her back to an Alpha Delt house-party weekend and, late one night, drove out the east bank of Cayuga Lake to watch the sunrise—and when it came up behind us, I proposed, and she accepted. So Cornell and Alpha Delt had important roles to play. ❖ Ray Tuttle ( email Ray ) | Alumni Directory .

I hope you all took the time to fill out and return the Share Your News form that was recently mailed to you. If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late! Please do send us your news—via the hard-copy form or the online news form —so our future class columns can be full of news from all of you. Whether your news is ordinary or extraordinary, we want to hear it! ❖ Class of 1949 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

In my previous two columns, I highlighted short bios of some of the accomplished women of our Class of the Century. In this issue I highlight classmate Marion Steinmann , author of the book Women at Work: Demolishing a Myth of the 1950s (2005, Xlibris). Marion modestly included as co-authors “The Women of the Cornell Class of 1950.” Also, her book’s dedication, “To the men we married who encouraged us to follow our dream,” is gracious because, unlike those about whom she wrote, Marion didn’t marry until age 50, had no children, and did not earn an advanced degree.

The women that Marion interviewed demolished the myth that, in the 1950s, women had little choice but to be housewives and not be employed outside the home. These courageous women earned a total of 134 advanced degrees including 22 PhDs and five MDs. Among the 134 were 13 college professors, 11 attorneys, one judge, and five engineers, as well as others.

An education in the Cornell College of Home Economics, while including studies in science and the liberal arts, was not designed for advanced degrees. It’s therefore remarkable that our intelligent, energetic, and forward-looking colleagues were able, with good humor and perseverance, to overcome family responsibilities, academic obstacles, and gender prejudices to move into advanced degree programs in law, medicine, education, business, and other professional fields.

Marion attended West High in Rochester, NY, where she excelled academically and was editor of the school newspaper. She came to Cornell with national and state scholarships to major in microbiology in the College of Agriculture. On campus she was a member of Octagon and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, was vice president of the Women’s Self-Governing Association, and with her intense interest in journalism served as news editor of the Cornell Daily Sun .

Remarkably, upon graduation, she (an Aggie, not a journalism major) was hired by the prestigious Life magazine. That speaks highly of a Cornell BS in agriculture and Marion’s high intellect and writing competence. At Life she was a reporter in the science department, writing on an amazing variety of subjects such as archeology, astronomy, genetics, moon exploration, lasers, holography, the first open-heart surgery, and bone transplants. Over her 22 years with Life , she was promoted from writer to assistant editor, and when the weekly Life ceased publication in 1972, she was the associate editor.

Henry Erle ’50 , MD ’54, lives in a high rise with views of the Robert F. Kennedy and George Washington bridges and the Weill Cornell college campus.

Thereafter she was a freelance author of books primarily in the field of medicine and healthcare, as well as articles for the New York Times Magazine , the Saturday Evening Post , Smithsonian Magazine , Cornell Alumni Magazine , and others. Her books included Island Life , Life and Health , The American Medical Association Book of Back Care , The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Parent’s Guide to Allergies and Asthma , and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Guide to Childhood Infections . In 1971 Marion received the American Medical Association’s award for an article, “Fighting the Genetic Odds.”

In 2000, accessing surplus class funds, our class approved publication of the history of our class with the title Curfews, Chaos and Champions , co-edited by Marion and classmate John Marcham . Because it was also a history of the tumultuous post-WWII times , it was subsequently republished under the title Postwar Cornell: How the Greatest Generation Transformed a University, 1944–1952 . The original book was also converted into an engaging film. At the 1965 class Reunion, copies of the film and original book were given to all attendees and later to those unable to attend.

For 10 years, Marion served with me as class co-correspondent, responsible for writing news of class members for the Class Notes section of each issue of the former Cornell Alumni Magazine . Our relationship was cordial and professional, but I learned little about her personal, non-work life. Her obituary was the lead in the obituary section of the April 20, 2020 issue of the Philadelphia Inquirer , which mentioned that she had climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. And after a late-in-life marriage to Charles Joiner, Temple University Chair of Political Science, they lived in Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia, where she enjoyed cooking, gardening, and entertaining.

I received a nice note from Henry Erle , MD ’54 (New York, NY), Weill Cornell Medicine Roberts Family Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine. With his parents and younger brother, he escaped from Nuremberg, Germany, in 1939, where in 1938 his grandfather had been murdered during Kristallnacht. He attended Stuyvesant High School and came to Cornell on a Regents Scholarship. The highlight of his campus life was meeting Joan (Greenblatt) at Hillel House, whom he married in 1952 and, as he says, “made up for my lost childhood.” After Cornell med school, until retirement in 2007 at age 78, he practiced internal medicine at Cornell/New York Medical Center, now Weill Cornell Medicine.

Wife Joan earned an MD at New York University in 1954, did post-doc studies in psychiatry, and taught and did research at New York Psychoanalytic Institute. Joan died 10 years ago after a struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Henry has two physician sons, David and Steven , MD ’86 , and five grandkids. At the time of this writing, Henry was living on the 46th floor of a high rise with views of the Robert F. Kennedy (formerly Triborough) and George Washington bridges and the Weill Cornell college campus, studying a variety of contemporary topics, and planning a visit to his younger brother in Florida. ❖ Paul Joslin ( email Paul ) | 13731 Hickman Rd., #4207, Urbandale, IA 50323 | tel., (515) 278-0960 | Alumni Directory .

Frances Goldberg Myers writes, “The big event of the year was my 94th birthday. Living in an over-50 community, I am acknowledged mostly as a ‘role model’ by the newer, younger residents, since I speak up at meetings, participate in many community activities, and make new, younger friends as they buy into the community. With the death of Shelley Epstein Akabas in 2023, I have only one friend left who knew me when I was 17.

“My children, Ken ’77 (Yale PhD), Pam ’78 , and Nathaniel III ’82 , DVM ’87, are all active in their chosen careers and contributing to making the world a better place. Ken is the Gerson Curator of American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Pam is executive director of the prize-winning, nationally recognized Asheville Art Museum (NC); and Nathaniel, known as ‘Chip,’ is a doctor of internal medicine in his own veterinary practice. The following generation of Cornellians is Sarah ’13 , daughter of Ken, a silviculturist for the National Forest Service in Nebraska with a Penn State MA (yes there is a forest in Nebraska, the only planted forest in the U.S.; planted by the CCC in the 1930s). We are waiting to see if Benjamin, son of Chip, will join the Cornellian family.

Living in an over-50 community, I am acknowledged mostly as a ‘role model’ by the newer, younger residents. Frances Goldberg Myers ’51

“I’ve been a widow since 2004 but keep busy making new friends and participating in a variety of activities and wondering what has happened to America. Social media has certainly changed society. I was in Home Ec but took advantage of all the wonderful Cornell professors in government, labor relations, Asian policy, architecture, and literature to get an introduction to the wide world. But Home Ec provided me with entry into various jobs, from publishing to mental health rehabilitation, community organizing for people with disabilities at the county level and volunteer work in several areas.

“I now find new areas to learn about, so life is exciting. I am happy participating in the community around me. My neighbors feel that I provide historical context to people who think of the ’50s as ancient times. I never felt that we were the Silent Generation—we were active in our communities, active politically and socially, raising solid families, and trying to build a better society. Looking back, those years were hopeful and optimistic, in which we believed the world would be a better place for all after surviving the Depression, a world war, the Holocaust, and an atom bomb.

“I am grateful for my Cornell education—I learned much, but mostly I learned to love learning. But clearly my favorite memory is meeting Nat Myers ’49 , BA ’51, on the first day of classes in September 1949 at the Ivy Room in the Straight. Thank heavens my 10 o’clock class in the History of Labor Unions was dismissed because the professor had been delayed in returning to campus. I had never been to the Straight at 10 o’clock before, but when I went in, I saw a table with people I knew. As I sat down, I was introduced to Nat, who had returned from his Navy enlistment. At 11, he joined me on my walk across campus to Balch. We talked for more than an hour and listened to the noon Chimes. And that was the beginning of the rest of my life. We celebrated 55 years of being together until his death in 2004.”

Thank you for writing, Frances! We hope any classmates reading this will send us a letter. ❖ Class of 1951 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Joanne Holloway McPherson writes from Findlay, OH: “I recently moved to a new apartment, the second one since I sold the house I lived in for 29 years in 2019. With each move I downsized, but I still have too many possessions. I try to adjust to the new technology, which is supposed to make our lives easier but, at least in my case, makes it more difficult. The devices constantly need recharging. My solution is to take a nap and recharge myself.”

James Strub writes from Colorado Springs: “I gradually became a mountain hiking machine, and I reached all 54 of the Colorado 14ers and Mount Whitney in California by 1961, all by the grace of God—sometimes with more grace required than other times (e.g., little things like lightning). I’m regularly using a USFS-provided ponderosa pine pole for balance, everywhere I go.” James enjoys teaching the Bible to the Judeo-Christian residents at MacKenzie Place, a nearby retirement community—something he’s been doing for 12 years now.

I gradually became a mountain hiking machine, and I reached all 54 of the Colorado 14ers and Mount Whitney in California by 1961. James Strub ’52

James adds, “I’m also keeping in regular touch by phone or email with daughter Heidi and her husband, Charley, in St. Augustine, FL. They are planning to come out here in April for my 95th birthday. And I’m keeping in close touch with son Jordan ’81 and his very gifted and delightful wife, Michele, who made a very successful career as a principal manager for Progressive Insurance.” Some of his favorite memories of Cornell were “playing the carillon and playing the four-manual pipe organ we used to have on the Bailey Hall stage. I also enjoyed the architecture professors, especially John Tilton 1913 , MArch 1914, whose favorite teaching was: ‘Remember—there is a difference between a Venetian blind and a blind Venetian.’”

Bernard Patten writes: “I am a systems ecologist, long retired from University of Georgia but not retiring. I’m continuing my research on an environmental system theory, ‘Network Environ Analysis,’ and the proverbial magnum opus, ‘Holoecology.’” ❖ Thomas Cashel, LLB ’56 ( email Tom ) | Alumni Directory .

Alan Perlmutter writes from California that his son, Ben ’12 , is taking over the family business: Big Sur River Inn. “After many years as a consultant in organizational development and 36 years as the general partner of the Big Sur River Inn, I am happy to pass the reins to our son Ben, who is taking over as managing partner of the family business. Ben will continue to welcome Cornell alumni from all over the world as they visit the inn, which is Big Sur’s first restaurant and resort,” says Alan. He adds that Ben is still singing with the Hangovers and is well prepared for being the host of the popular and historic inn.

Have you ever had a broken leg? Bob Neff , JD ’56, can sympathize. He spent much of the first half of last year hopping around on one leg while healing broken bones in the other one. He then made up for that confinement—while escaping the chilly weather in North Carolina—as he enjoyed sailing in the South Pacific.

Hospitalization and healing similarly took up half of last year for Caroline Mulford Owens , former Class of ’53 president. She reports that she’s now back to normal with a daily visit to the gym and participation in several community organizations. “I’m fortunate to be living on a beautiful lake with a view of the sunset across the water,” she reports.

I’m fortunate to be living on a beautiful lake with a view of the sunset across the water. Caroline Mulford Owens ’53

Jack Brophy has documented his time in the U.S. Navy with photos and lots of stories. He found his Cornell experience useful when assigned to develop recreational activities for the crew of the USS White Marsh . “The captain authorized the crew to empty a large storage room in the bow and create a lounge and recreation room for the sailors off-duty. They were motivated to make something nice, and they did, with fresh paint and new furniture. For the opening, I decided to organize a talent show. We had a pedal pump organ used for religious services, and I found a fiddler from the South who was fantastic. As the ship rolled, he wrapped his bow arm around a Lally column and played on undaunted. The other acts were entertaining but not as memorable. I guess this qualified me as ‘Recreation Officer.’”

John Nixon sends special thanks to the 148 members of the Class of ’53 who donated nearly $5 million last year, setting a new donor record for any 70th Reunion in Cornell history. Our class also recently donated $10,000 to the Class of 1953 Tradition Fellowship, which provides an annual scholarship for an incoming student. Your generous donations serve many worthwhile causes.

Please share your current news. We’d love to hear from you! ❖ Caroline Mulford Owens ( email Caroline ) | Jack Brophy ( email Jack ) | John Nixon ( email John ) | Bob Neff , JD ’56 ( email Bob ) | Alumni Directory .

As you read this column, Dave , PhD ’60, and Mary Gentry Call report that more than 20 classmates have signed on to celebrate our 70th Reunion on campus. Hopefully a few latecomers will join them with a month to go and put us over 26 attendees. This would be a record for a 70th Reunion. Dave and Mary have planned a fun and informative program with easy transportation to and from all the events from our class headquarters at the Statler Hotel.

This has been a slow month for classmate news, but we did hear from two of you and we thank you. Barbara Jones Jenkins of Northfield, MN, writes that she spends much of her time reading and keeping her email inbox below the 300s. She also served as the financial director of the Cannon Valley Elder Collegium and took several of their courses. On a negative note, Barbara says that she has been trying to improve her tennis serve after 50 years but recently ruptured her right bicep reaching for a volley. Let’s hope Barbara will soon make a complete recovery and get back to working on her serve.

Allan Griff ’54 , who was in the Sage Chapel Choir and the a cappella Chorus, has written a song about Cornell.

Allan Griff of El Cerrito, CA, who did a lot of formal singing in his undergraduate days, including in the Sage Chapel Choir and the a cappella Chorus, has written a song about Cornell, the melody of which is an Irish traditional folk song, “Roddy McCorley.” It brings back memories of our days on the Hill. Called “Leaders of Us All,” here are the lyrics:

“All around the world Cornellians go to do what we do best. / We teach, we build, we serve, we fix, we earn our keep and rest. / We’ve caught the pass of knowledge, and we’re running with the ball. / And it can’t be denied, we’re our people’s pride, the leaders of us all. / Wherever we Cornellians meet, it brings a smile and tear. / We’ve got a bond of friendship that cannot disappear. / We tell of days and nights we shared when we were growing still, / And we feel a little warmer when we think of our days on the Hill. / We remember the Straight, the statues on the Quad, the gorges, and the lake. / Teagle, the Taylors, Sage and the Libe, all these our memories wake. / Engineers, Hotelies, Aggies, and Arts, HumEcs, ILRs, stand tall / ’cause it can’t be denied, we’re our people’s pride, / the leaders of us all.” ❖ Bill Waters , MBA ’55 ( email Bill ) | Ruth Carpenter Bailey ( email Ruth ) | Class website | Alumni Directory .

Frank Baldwin (Ithaca, NY) is planting trees and doing trail management in Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve on East Hill. He also attends a local folk song club on Sunday evenings. He recalls that “our group in Ithaca and Cornell induced the National Episcopal Church to support the treaty to abolish nuclear weapons.” ❖ Class of 1955 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

I hope you all took the time to fill out and return the Share Your News form that was recently mailed to you. If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late! Please do send us your news—via the hard-copy form or the online news form —so our future class columns can be full of news from all of you. Whether your news is ordinary or extraordinary, we want to hear it! ❖ Class of 1956 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

With our undergrad status of in loco parentis , one restriction denied freshmen the right to have an automobile on campus. Do you recall how one classmate protested that rule? In spring 1954, Edward Jay Epstein brought a horse and buggy to campus. Whether it was because of that infraction or something else, Ed was asked to leave Cornell. He later returned to earn his BA in 1965 and MA in 1966, both in government. His master’s thesis on the official government investigation into the Kennedy assassination became his first book, Inquest: The Warren Commission and the Establishment of Truth (1966).

Ed continued his graduate studies at Harvard, earning a PhD in 1973. His doctoral dissertation became the book News from Nowhere: Television and the News (1973). Ed taught at Harvard, MIT, and UCLA, and then decided to return to New York City and to focus on researching and writing books. Known for his keen, independent mind, Ed later investigated U.S. intelligence and counterintelligence, the international diamond trade, the business of Hollywood, and the data leak by NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Ed himself was the subject of the 2017 documentary Hall of Mirrors , which premiered at the 55th New York Film Festival. Of his many books and articles, his last book, Assume Nothing: Encounters with Assassins, Spies, Presidents, and Would-Be Masters of the Universe (2023), is considered this investigative journalist’s memoir. His recent passing in January 2024 was attributed to COVID. While he had no immediate survivors, he will be missed by all those friends who attended his many storied social gatherings at his Manhattan penthouse.

On the distaff side, we also note the passing of Ruby Tomberg Senie in September 2023. After earning her Cornell BS in 1957 and becoming mother to two sons, Ruby added a Cornell BSN in nursing (1975), an MA in teaching from Columbia University (1978), and a PhD from the Yale University Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (1984). She was an epidemiologist with the women’s health and fertility branch of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta when she was asked by then-Cornell President Frank H.T. Rhodes to be a panelist on the 1992 Reunion forum in Bailey Hall. The topic was “Ethical Issues in Healthcare: The Lessons of Tuskegee.” This coincided with our 35th Reunion, so likely some of us attended this discussion. (Special thank you to Cornell Archivist Evan Earle ’02 , MS ’14, for finding this information in an old Reunion booklet.)

In spring 1954, Edward Jay Epstein ’57 , BA ’65, MA ’66, brought a horse and buggy to campus.

Ruby also was on a 1996 panel at the Cornell Club in NYC. This forum, sponsored by the women of the Class of 1958, focused on lifelines submitted by hundreds of Cornell alumnae. Ruby was then a leading breast cancer researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. Ruby’s career continued and culminated as an associate professor at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

On a personal note, Ruby and I met about a decade ago. Her dear friend, classmate Beth Ames Swartz , had come to NYC for the opening of her new art series at a gallery in Manhattan. At a restaurant meal that followed for our classmates, Ruby and I sat next to one another. Our paths had never crossed on campus, but we soon were deep in conversation. She told me of her book Epidemiology of Women’s Health (2013), a more-than-500-page tome that explored the major health challenges and conditions specifically affecting women. Ruby included contributions from leading authorities in the field.

She and I saw each other only a few times over the years when she rented a summer cottage in the Berkshires in Massachusetts, where she enjoyed the Tanglewood musical venue offerings. Through emails, we became fast friends. We last saw each other at our 65th Reunion. Ironically, it wasn’t breast cancer, but an undiagnosed tumor that, once discovered, gave her only a few more weeks of life. Ruby, a perpetual student, teacher, and author, had thoroughly enjoyed the rich culture of opera, museums, theater, and classical music so present in NYC. Earlier this month, Beth told me her new art series, Quantum Light, was inspired by Ruby. You can view her artwork here . Both Beth and I agree that it was our privilege to be close friends of such a remarkable woman.

On a lighter note, we saw Ron Dunbar and his spouse, Pru Dalrymple, at our 65th Reunion. Both having been widowed in the early 2000s, they found each other through Match.com and have been happily living together in Philadelphia for nearly six years. They are taking advantage of their good health to travel. Over a year ago, a Road Scholar trip had them island-hopping to see many ancient ruins in Greece. Last March they enjoyed a week in the Galápagos and then spent several days in a remote lodge in the upper Amazon watershed rain forest.

A more recent road trip included a visit with Bob and JoAnne Eastburn Cyprus , who have owned and lived for 30 years on a 60-acre farm near Nashville, TN. Ron and JoAnne had been high school classmates in Wellesley, MA. Ron and Pru fly to Seattle and Portland, OR, several times a year to visit Pru’s two sons and families. Ron’s Korean-born daughter and family live only 12 miles from Ron. After a long academic career, mostly in library science, Pru occasionally teaches online for Kent State University. Ron’s Cornell BEE degree remains in the background to the spreadsheet work he now does to help small nonprofits. ❖ Connie Santagato Hosterman ( email Connie ) | Alumni Directory .

Warren Wildes is living in St. Paul, MN, with his wife, Mary, spending three months of the year in California. He finds great satisfaction in working in the woodlands next door, raising wood ducks, and developing oak “nurseries” at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, where they have lived since 1977. This passion continues as he and Mary fund Northwestern’s environmental science program, which places emphasis on the woods and the two lakes with campus shorelines. He is also a dedicated supporter of the Cornell Sapsucker Woods Ornithology Lab and participates in the FeederWatch programs while in California each winter. Warren has continued to express his interest in music by leading the Centennial Stompers Dixieland Band with Mary as vocalist, which plays at senior homes, churches, and centers in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The band is in its 10th year with 18 performances in 2023, and excerpts can be found on YouTube .

Stefan Belman , DVM ’61, shares his favorite Cornell memory: “In Mann Library in 1959 I was seated in the informal reading room, and seated across from me was a most attractive blonde woman smoking. I walked over and bummed a smoke. A few minutes later I walked over to her again and invited her to walk with me to the pomology department and let me buy her an apple. Anita (Lesgold) ’60 , MS ’61, later returned to Sigma Delta Tau and told her roommate, Carrie Warnow Makover ’60 , about meeting this ‘interesting guy.’ Sixty-four years later, we have two children and four grandchildren.” Anita received her BS at Cornell, earned an MD from New York University’s medical school, then taught pediatric neurology there. Their son, Matt , DVM ’89 , practices in Salt Lake City and enjoys back country adventures. Grandchildren Ben ’19 , BA ’18, and Elisabeth ’18 graduated from Cornell with Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude recognition. Ben currently works for Amazon and attends Georgetown Law School. Elisabeth just graduated from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and is training for surgery at Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard. Stefan and Anita move between Columbia Falls, MT, Huntington, NY, and New York City.

Arthur Shostak and his wife, Lynn Seng, moved nine years ago from Philadelphia to Alameda, CA, to escape winter and be closer to their grandchildren. Before retiring, Arthur was a sociology professor at Drexel University. Arthur published 34 books; his latest, published in 2017, is titled Stealth Altruism: Forbidden Care as Jewish Resistance in the Holocaust. After researching survivors’ memoirs and interviewing those living, he developed a strong “help” narrative, to be learned in the future alongside the “horror” narrative that now dominates. The book’s cover photograph illustrates his thesis: men in striped pajamas stand in rows, with two men in the front row surreptitiously supporting a collapsing man between them. Arthur indicates that altruism arises out of innate impulses in people, is supported by the tenets of Judaism, and was encouraged by rabbis who took on leadership roles. He is preparing two more books: a study of ways societies have of memorializing and a lengthy memoir. His favorite Cornell memory: earning the highest GPA in the ILR school, which leveraged a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship for a PhD at Princeton.

Philip Getter ’58 is still producing shows, most recently Hadestown, winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Philip Getter is still producing shows, most recently Hadestown, winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Musical, which has been on Broadway since April 2019. A touring company first presented Hadestown at the John F. Kennedy theater in Washington in October 2021 and is still touring the U.S. and Canada . A new company held a successful opening of Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End in February 2024. The CD of the original cast production won a Grammy. Philip also produced Once Upon A One More Time , featuring Britney Spears’s music, and was co-producer of A Christmas Carol starring Jefferson Mays, and Terrence McNally’s Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune starring Audra McDonald. Philip sits on several boards of corporations and foundations.

Philip’s wife, Elaine Sheinmel, passed two years ago. Elaine was his partner in Getter Entertainment, involved in producing Broadway shows. He is now a partner in Archer Entertainment Group with his stepdaughter, Courtney Sheinmel, who was a practicing attorney and wrote and published many young adult and children’s books. The partners are working on several future productions.

In February, Philip flew to London to see Hadestown, which was sold out and with such good prospects that the run was already extended. Courtney and her 4-year-old son, Archer, who loves musicals, accompanied him. Archer enjoyed his first airplane ride, double-decker bus rides, and packed performances of Hadestown . While in England, Philip spent a great deal of time with his oldest son, Douglas Getter, a London attorney, and his two granddaughters, Tesa, 17, and Sara, 20, both “brilliant, beautiful, and with great personalities.” He has two other children: Laura, who has three children, and Michael. ❖ Barbara Avery, MA ’59 ( email Barbara ) | Dick Haggard ( email Dick ) | Alumni Directory .

Linda Rogers Cohen sold her house in Great Neck—home for 56 years—and moved to the Upper West Side of NYC. “It’s an exciting change that eliminates worry about the roof when it rains and brings me practically next door to my daughter Carrie Cohen ’89 , her husband, Rick Lipsey ’89 , and their four children; brings me closer to the museums I love; and finds me surrounded by too many, too-tempting restaurants.”

Mary Gail Drake Korsmeyer also sold her house of 50+ years. She moved last November to Sherwood Oaks, a continuing care community in Cranberry Township, PA. “This community of some 300 residents is about 35 miles north of my old house and a short drive from my daughter’s residence. It has many active groups and services, including delicious meals, and is providing me with interesting new friends.” Mary Gail is retired from her partnership in the law firm of Peacock Keller in Washington, PA. Daughter Carol is a founding partner of Dupee Strengths-Based Consulting; son David is deputy director of the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA; and son Keith is a professor of marine science at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu. In addition to grandchildren, she has three great-granddaughters and one great-grandson. About once a month, Mary Gail participates in a Zoom gathering with a baker’s dozen of ’59, ’60, and ’61 grads, all friends since Cornell and members of Delta Delta Delta, including Susan Kunkle Bogar , Sallie Whitesell Phillips , Linda Johnson Kacser , and Erna Fritsch Johnson ’61 .

Linda Rogers Cohen ’59 moved to the Upper West Side, where she is ‘surrounded by too many, too-tempting restaurants.’

Another move after 50+ years: Hardy Eshbaugh and his wife, Barb. They have moved to the Knolls, a retirement community in Oxford, OH. “Our children helped us with the move, which was accomplished with a minimum of difficulty,” writes Hardy. “We had an advantage in that our old house did not have an attic, basement, or garage, which meant we had not accumulated a lifetime of stuff. But there was still lots to part with, especially boxes of books! We have more or less settled in and have made many new friends. Even Roxy, our dog, is adjusting. Now it’s on to the next phase of our lives.” Hardy is professor emeritus of botany at Miami University in Oxford, known primarily for his research on chili peppers and on the flora and biogeography of the Bahamas.

About five years ago, Kate Sickles Connolly moved to River Woods, a continuing care retirement community in Exeter, NH. Prior to that, the retired clinical electron microscopist “lived a wonderful familial, professional, and municipal inclusion life associated with Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, NH. I am enjoying an active life in both mind and body and hope to continue my Cornell connection virtually for years to come.”

A nominations committee is working on a slate of officers to serve our class for the five years following our Reunion on June 6–9. The final slate is expected to be completed in early May. Any classmate interested in serving as an officer is encouraged to contact our Reunion chair, Jerry Schultz ( email Jerry ). The list of nominees will be displayed at our Reunion headquarters in the Statler Hotel and presented at the class gathering on the morning of June 9.

Closing factoid: At the beginning of February, living ’59ers included 1,108 degreed and 460 non-degreed members—a total of 1,568 alumni. ❖ Jenny Tesar ( email Jenny ) | Alumni Directory .

Still living in North Falmouth on Cape Cod with his spouse, Patty, Leonard Johnson writes, “I was sorry to hear that Neil MacDougal had died. I first met Neil in seventh grade in Boynton Junior High in Ithaca. He was one of the good guys. Last fall I went back to Ithaca for the first time in 10 years. We had a great reunion with Carol Treman des Cognets and several of my other childhood pals. A highlight was lunch at the Inn at Aurora, a must-visit. My favorite memory is walking down through the Baker dorms and watching the sun set over West Hill. What brings him the most satisfaction? Says Leonard, “Patty and I are still cycling a lot—2,000 miles last year! I am still involved in the effort to preserve open spaces here on Cape Cod. I also really like negotiating complicated land deals.”

Edith Rogovin Frankel , who lives in Freehold, NJ, sadly shares, “I lost my husband over 15 years ago and my partner some three years ago, so life has taken a change. However, I’m fortunate to be in good health, I also have two daughters and seven delightful grandchildren ranging in age from 14 to 27. I’m also still doing research and teaching and will leave my New Jersey home to spend a month in Florida, where I’ll be giving courses at Florida Atlantic University and in both Boca Raton and Jupiter in February. This is an annual practice and preparing the lecture series (two different ones this year) is great fun.”

David Ahl , who lives with his wife, Betsy, in Morristown, NJ, reports, “With the pandemic behind us, my wife and I are spending more and more time on mission trips to Guatemala, Haiti, and Peru, helping to build small schools and homes. We have also been on cruises to the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iceland, Greenland, and Hammerfest, Norway, the northernmost town on the planet. We like the smaller ships of Regent, and Betsy especially enjoys Silversea’s expeditions, which we’ve recently taken to Antarctica, Zanzibar, South Africa, the Seychelles, and some smaller ports in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, excursions and construction work don’t agree with my advanced arthritis, so I’m looking at new hips and knees in 2024. My grandson Wyatt just started in the ECE College, so I’ll be visiting Ithaca more than in the past.”

Send your news to: ❖ Judy Bryant Wittenberg ( email Judy ) | Alumni Directory .

Guess what? Some of our classmates are going back to Cornell. It’s true. Read on to find out more!

First, we hear from classmate Gerold Yonas , who was interviewed for the Write on Four Corners podcast last August. A physicist and engineer, Gerold served as chief scientist for Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, or “Star Wars,” project, and worked as a vice president at the Los Alamos National Laboratory counterpart, Sandia Labs. You can listen to the episode here .

Ruth Schimel in Washington, DC, is writing her eighth book, Small Steps to Your Continuous Thriving, the Best is Yet to Be . “I have published monthly on YourTango about personal and professional development. Dipping into the arts, I’m showing collages at a neighborhood exhibit, and creating ways to include them in my career and life management consulting practice. I’m active and presenting for TTNWomen on finding meaning and purpose with one’s storytelling, for example. Happy to share my newsletter, launched last year, curated for recipients. I’d love to hear from you.”

From Cindy Johnson Pratt about going back to Cornell: “It was a great thrill to attend the Cornell graduation of my eldest granddaughter, Susie Foster ’23 (whose grandfather is the late Bert Foster ’60 ), in environmental engineering. I had graduated in February 1961 (in three and a half years), so I never had graduation pomp and circumstance. I borrowed my granddaughter’s cap and gown and had my picture taken in front of DG on Triphammer Rd. Now I’ve graduated properly! We just downsized and moved to a retirement community in independent living only a few miles from where I’ve lived for the last 50 years on Lake Minnetonka.”

Steven Stein sent a photo of his Cornell family, nine of whom are Cornell graduates. The impetus of the family gathering was to attend the graduation of his granddaughter, Mimi Stein ’23 , and to celebrate the family’s gift of a bench in memory of his late wife, Susan (Volpert) ’62 , and himself. “Three Generations of Stein Cornellians, 1961 to 2023.” Wow!

From Pat Laux Richards : “ Jack ’60 and I were thrilled to attend our granddaughter’s Cornell graduation last May. Anderson ‘Annie’ Rogers ’23 graduated from Bowers CIS.”

And, lastly, Marco Minasso writes, “I have great memories of Cornell. So it’s with great pleasure that my granddaughter, Sofia ’27 , is now attending Cornell. That makes five of us alumni in our Cornell extended family: my daughter, her husband, me, and two grandchildren! I’m still in Yonkers and after 60 years in the wine business I still drink wine!” Good for you and Sofia! ❖ Susan Williams Stevens ( email Susan ) | Doug Fuss ( email Doug ) | Alumni Directory .

The College of Veterinary Medicine has established the Stephen J. Ettinger 1962 , DVM 1964, Scholarship in honor of this outstanding veterinarian whose broad-reaching influence has impacted the college and the veterinary profession.

Stephen is considered a founder of specialization in veterinary medicine, having helped establish the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and serving as president of cardiology in that group—from which he received the inaugural lifetime specialty achievement award . He has authored hundreds of journal papers and key foundational textbooks, including Canine Cardiology (1970) and the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine , the ninth edition of which published in January 2024. He has served on the Cornell University Board of Trustees, the Dean’s Leadership Council, and the Advisory Council and received a Daniel Elmer Salmon Award for Distinguished Alumni Service in 2010.

From San Antonio, TX, John Graybill , MD ’66, sends word that he has retired as emeritus professor of medicine. “I was chief of my division of infectious diseases for six years at University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and had about 250 peer-reviewed publications, mostly in medical mycology and with AIDS patients, and a lot of non-reviewed publications. I left all of that in 2008. My wife, Sue, and I continue to enjoy retirement. For 30 years we have done medical volunteer work in Mexico, Bogotá, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. We have aged out of the volunteer work but have bought a home in Guatemala and spend 3–5 months a year there. With the hot summers here in Texas, it is great to be in Guatemala at 5,300 feet in the mountains, with a climate like Denver. We love Latino culture. My addictive hobby in Guatemala is growing orchid species, and Guatemala is a great place for it. I tie them to tree branches and have a few on tables, a thousand in all. Up in Texas (not healthy for orchids), I have gotten into HO and N gauge model railroading. My N gauge is coffee-table sized and can go with us when we move sometime, if ever, to a retirement home. I am finally reaching the point of knowing how outdated I am in my profession of clinical academic medicine and am stopping medical journals, medical societies, and ultimately my medical license. Age will claim us all, but orchids and model railroading are good hobbies to have.”

John Abel retired from the Cornell civil engineering faculty in 2004 but continues to live in Ithaca on the west shore of Cayuga Lake. His wife, Lynne (Snyder) , died in 2006, and since 2010 his son Bill has lived with him. “Together we enjoy movies, TV series, travel, and Cornell sports events, as well as lakeside living. We spend holiday seasons with daughter Britt Abel ’91 and her family in the Twin Cities. After 12 years on the board of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network (mission: to advocate for the health of Cayuga Lake and its watershed in a changing world), I have decided to step aside this coming August. I served as treasurer during eight years of growth, but my proudest accomplishment was through working with three talented interns from Cornell, one each in three of the last four summers. I guided their creation, revision, and updating of two handbooks advising watershed residents how to help alleviate climate change while preserving the quality of the lake.

I am excited to have completed the conversion of our home to fully electric. John Abel ’62

“While writing about the effects of extreme weather on our lake and watershed, I decided to ‘walk the talk’ on climate change. I am excited to have completed the conversion of our home to fully electric using community-subscription solar power from a photovoltaic farm in nearby Newfield, NY. I installed deep geothermal heat pumps, discarded our gas furnace and water heater, upgraded our heating and electric infrastructure, and replaced our gas dryer with a ventless hybrid electric version and our stove with an induction stovetop. We were able to turn off our natural gas connection! I also drive a plug-in hybrid car since 2017.

“I remain active as former president and advisor for the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS), my professional association involving engineers, architects, and researchers. This coming year, after a pandemic hiatus of four years, I will resume international travel to annual IASS symposia, this year in Zurich and next year in Mexico City.

“Daughter Britt, on the faculty of Macalester College, will be teaching in Vienna again this spring semester (fourth time since 2009), and her husband, Scott Burglechner ’91 , is able to join her thanks to his remote work possibility for U.S. Bank. Grandson Will graduated from Colorado College in May and is starting his second social-service job in the Twin Cities while deciding about long-term plans. Granddaughter Natasha Burglechner ’25 will spend her junior spring semester at Cornell’s program in Seville, Spain.”

I’d be in denial if I didn’t admit that we are all beginning to wind down. Still, it is lovely to read the bits and pieces you send along detailing your lives and activities. Please keep them coming—until we can’t.

There’s a snowstorm raging outside my NYC window as I write this late spring column. To bridge this gap, I urge you to check out our class website , where you will find entries posted in a timely fashion in their entirety in our “Classmate News” section. We love to post your photos, so send them along too. ❖ Judy Prenske Rich ( email Judy ) | Alumni Directory .

I think my first sentence for the Class Notes column should be: Please send me news via email at this link ! I am running low on news. The news in this column comes from Christmas cards that I received from Cornell classmates.

Barbara Hartung Wade , MEd ’64, writes, “I was called out of retirement again, to teach two seventh-grade Spanish classes until the end of June 2023.” Even though she was employed, she and her daughter, Kimberly, went to Cancún in February, followed by a trip to Florida with Kimberly and her husband, Bernard. In September, Barbara and a friend had a good trip to Falcon’s Resort in Punta Cana for a week of sun, fun, and golf. In November the family went to their timeshare at the Westin Lagunamar in Cancún for a two-week getaway. “On the third evening there, it was dark and I tripped on an elevated round light in the cement that wasn’t lit and fell. With second-degree friction burns on arms, knees, and shoulder, I was hospitalized for 12 hours with painful surgery to close and clean the wounds.” Barbara had more to say about paying the hospital bill and then the scam involved when she had to change her flight home on Delta. “I’m recovering slowly but grateful it wasn’t worse. These bad experiences are what can happen at our age! We all learn lessons from them.”

Bill and Frankie Campbell Tutt live in Colorado Springs. Frankie writes: “We celebrated our 60th anniversary at our Ohio farm with the entire Campbell clan. We sold our home of 48 years and downsized to a gated community that we love. Going from 5,000 square feet to 3,400 square feet took some dumpsters, but we are in and can accommodate six guests.”

George Ehemann , ME ’66, and Diane Siegenthaler live in Lancaster, PA. “We enjoy visits from grandchildren including our engineering student enrolled at Cornell. We are active in church activities and German Club chorus. Our 60th wedding anniversary is coming up in the fall of 2024. My favorite memory of Cornell was the climb up the frozen gorge at Buttermilk.”

On the Parisian front, I’m teaching at Sorbonne University in the master’s program in orchestra management. Mary Falvey ’63

Mary Falvey splits her time between San Francisco and Paris, France. “On the Parisian front, I’m teaching at Sorbonne University in the master’s program in orchestra management. I gave a seminar there in 2019 and this year the professor asked if I would teach part of the course while he is on sabbatical. I’m giving six seminars together with colleagues of the San Francisco Symphony. I’m continuing as an entrepreneur-in-residence at INSEAD, a global business school in Fontainebleau. I also helped a French startup in the quantum dot space raise Series A financing. This fall I plan to rent a house in Brittany as a successor to my country home in Calistoga, which I sold in 2022, and to add to my three months a year in France. My oldest grandson, Colin, who holds a master’s in environmental engineering from Stanford, was married last year.”

We had dinner before Christmas with Jim , MD ’69, and Christine Newton Dauber . They are now living in a nice senior living facility. Jim writes: “After a 20-year hiatus, Chris and I returned in April to see Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Zion, and Bryce Canyon along with my older sister and her husband. We still spend part of the summer in our condo in Hillsboro, OR. Our Thanksgiving celebration was quiet but appreciated since Nancy Deeds Meister produced a traditional feast for us and her husband. We spent Christmas here in Tucson but traveled to Hillsboro for New Year’s Eve.”

Thanks to finding our home phone number through Mr. Google, we had a wonderful phone conversation with Tom Stirling , JD ’69, a week ago. Tom lives in Honolulu with his wife, Anita. Two recent milestones for Tom: “Upon my February 28 retirement as a Honolulu lawyer, Anita and I were off on a tour of Vietnam and Cambodia at considerably greater expense than my first tour (all paid for by the Army 57 years ago). Also, I just made my 200th blood donation (first time was at Cornell when I was told donors could get out of ROTC drill that day). Since each donation can be used for up to three recipients, I may have more than 500 blood relatives out there somewhere.” ❖ Nancy Bierds Icke ( email Nancy ) | 12350 E. Roger Rd., Tucson, AZ 85749 | Alumni Directory .

Welcome to my last column before our 60th Reunion—so I’m hoping if you have news for your classmates that you will see them at Reunion and regale them in person. Meantime, here’s the news I do have.

Wayne Mezitt , MBA ’66, who lives with wife Elizabeth (Pickering) ’65 in Hopkinton, MA, catches us up on a lot! He writes, “In July 2023, Beth and I published a book, For the Love of Gardening , which describes our family experiences as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of our family business, Weston Nurseries. I retired from full-time management of the nursery in 2007, and since then, our son Peter and his wife, Karen, have managed all operations of the business started by my grandfather and grandmother in 1923, where I still serve as board chairman. I also enjoy ‘playing’ at Hort-Sense, the tiny business I started in 2010 as a personalized horticultural production and advisory service.

“We’re justifiably proud that we’ve been successful in shepherding Weston Nurseries into our fourth generation of family ownership. Passing the business along to our fourth generation enables Beth and me to continue exploring our passions for horticulture, travel, and family/friend relationships.

“I am editor-in-chief for the Leaflet , Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s monthly member electronic newsletter. I also serve as chair of the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group, a voluntary collaborative representing organizations and professionals concerned with the conservation of the Massachusetts landscape. Beth manages all our family and social relationships and serves as chair of our Hopkinton Public Library friends organization.

“Our youngest son’s family lives near our ski house in Vermont, and our other three children live near us, enabling us to spend time with our nine grandchildren. In November Beth and I visited New Zealand, where Beth’s dad was born, reconnecting with relatives and enjoying their springtime, just as our Hopkinton winter was setting in. We’re now discussing the possibility for traveling to Latvia, the Mezitt family’s origin, in July, avoiding Hopkinton’s oppressive humidity and heat.

I’ve begun composing a new book about Rhododendron ‘PJM,’ a now well-known plant that my dad, Edmund Mezitt ’37 , BLA ’39, developed decades ago. Wayne Mezitt ’64, MBA ’66

“I’ve also begun composing a new book about Rhododendron ‘PJM,’ a now well-known plant that my dad, Edmund Mezitt ’37 , BLA ’39, developed decades ago at Weston Nurseries. Peter and Karen have just added another garden center operation to our Weston Nurseries ‘family,’ all in Massachusetts, to now include Lincoln, along with Chelmsford, Hingham, and Middleborough, complementing our main base in Hopkinton. We applaud their commitment and enthusiasm!

“We still maintain contact with a number of Wayne’s Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers and Beth’s Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters, although several have recently passed away. With all that keeping us busy, we’ve not paid much attention to most aspects of our Cornell experience, but we’ll welcome updates with any of our friends who have been out of touch.”

Next is David Evans , who with wife Sherry lives on St. Simons Island, GA. He writes, “I retired in 2019 after a career in project management services for large corporations providing governmental services to the U.S. government, while also spending 31 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard as a fighter pilot. Currently, Sherry and I are enjoying our retirement in the wonderful beach community, which is 80 miles south of Savannah, where my Welsh ancestors arrived in the 1650s. A shout-out to my freshman roommate Bill Lacy .”

In other news, Phyllis Rivkin Goldman , MS ’67, and Michael Troner are enjoying their retirements in Boston and Miami, respectively. They are co-chairs of the Class of ’64 Annual Fund and are busy planning to reach out to all of our classmates to support the Annual Fund and in particular our Class Legacy: the Class of 1964 JFK Award for Cornell seniors entering public service. They hope for a big turnout for our 60th Reunion and an even bigger response to their requests for support. Each of them has grandchildren at Cornell and the Troners especially look forward to the graduation in May of granddaughter Rachael Ricisak ’24 before our Reunion.

Lastly, a message from our class president, Ken Kupchak , JD ’71: “Sixty years ago this June we shed our obligatory bonds to Cornell. Celebrate we shall at Reunion. Our ‘modest’ footprint, however, continues and remains indelibly printed in Cornell’s story. This is especially true with respect to the then- and now-timely JFK Award. We have just transitioned this charge to a self-perpetuating board composed of our great awardees. This ensures that the Cornell Class of 1964’s influence will survive our playing time on Cornell’s fields. Hope to see you this June. If you ask nicely, I may save some healthy milk punch for you!”

That’s it for now. On behalf of our class officers, we hope to see you at our 60th Reunion on Cornell’s campus on June 6–9, 2024. As for your news, please keep it coming! Update me by email, regular mail, our class website , or our class Facebook page . ❖ Bev Johns Lamont ( email Bev ) | 720 Chestnut St., Deerfield, IL 60015 | Alumni Directory .

From Joan Hens Johnson : “There were 21 people attending the Cornell annual Florida luncheon arranged by Judy Kellner Rushmore in January. We all enjoyed sharing stories and congratulating the class gift committee on the success of the fall 2023 pilot project of our well-being coaching at the Skorton Health Center. This initiative, funded by the Class of 1965 student mental health fund, will continue because the program is so impactful. Jeff Kass , the leader of our gift committee, provided me with an excellent summary that I shared at the luncheon. He wrote, ‘All results thus far indicate our class gift is funding a program with real and positive impact on the lives of current and next-generation Cornellians.’ Students overwhelmingly supported these statements: ‘I am making progress toward my well-being goals’; ‘I am noticing positive changes in myself that are keeping me encouraged’; ‘I am substituting more healthy/helpful thoughts and behaviors for less healthy/helpful thoughts and behaviors.’ The news of the successful pilot program created a positive buzz among all those at the luncheon.”

Commenting on the highlights of the past year, Myron Jacobson spoke of the river cruise he and Michele took from Amsterdam to Budapest “even though the Danube dried up as we finished with a bus!”

Jim Bennett writes, “Failing any meaningful hobby, I’m looking for my fifth consecutive full-time role to give back to Northeast Ohio. It looks like it will be a major initiative funded by the City of Cleveland and private monies to assemble and remediate 1,000 acres of abandoned inner city properties, market individual sites to companies, and provide jobs for a number of economically disadvantaged residents along a five-mile inner city corridor.”

George , MD ’69, and Judy Arangio spent last October in the Italian regions of Piemonte and Tuscano, especially appreciating the Lucca symphony playing Mozart and Puccini operettas and the international truffle festival in Alba, as well as Barolo, Barbaresco, Moscato wine tasting, and visiting sites on Lake Como.

Dave Bridgeman relates, “Karen and I just celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary. The last six years have been the best of our entire lives! The cruises and vacations are nice, but the best part is getting to be with each other in perfect love, peace, and harmony.”

After four years’ absence, Stephen Appell ’65 traveled to Ithaca via the Campus-to-Campus bus for a weekend of Cornell basketball.

Judy Rushmore and Dave Koval and Linda and Walt Gadkowski are moving to Vi at Bentley Village in Naples, FL, where Ashok , ME ’65 , and Fay Thomas Bakhru , MAT ’66 , are already in residence. Before moving, Judy and her family are touring South Africa.

After four years’ absence, Stephen Appell traveled to Ithaca via the Campus-to-Campus bus for a weekend of Cornell basketball—and this time, to root only for the women’s team. Having apprised the Statler staff of the purpose of his visit, they welcomed him with a goodie bag of Cornell souvenirs, including a basketball cap, and made him feel like a VIP. Steve watched the women players defeat Dartmouth the first night and give a good battle to a formidable Harvard team the next. He was gratified that the coaches and players expressed appreciation for his show of support. Steve also saw the women’s team play at Columbia earlier in the season, and on February 10 he traveled to New Haven to see the outstanding men’s team give Yale all it could handle before succumbing in the last four seconds, 80–78, in an epic battle of undefeated Ivy teams.

Steve Hand is another avid Cornell sports fan. He notes that he is a fixture in Ithaca at all Cornell women’s and men’s hockey games. “Steve Appell joined me last weekend for women’s basketball, hockey, Glenwood Pines, and Purity ice cream.” In January, Steve Hand went on a trip to Disney World with his wife, son, and two grandchildren and everyone had a fun time. Thanks to Steve for managing the Cornell Class of ’65 webpage, which has information about classmates and past Reunions and photos, and also the link to find the Cornell Class of 1965 Freshman Register.

The subject of health is important all through our lives, and Bud Suiter , MBA ’67, has just finished reading two books of interest: Young Forever by Dr. Mark Hyman ’82 and Drop Acid by Dr. David Perlmutter. He states: “The books summarize amazing research results, particularly recent stuff over the last five years.”

Applause to Alan Lockwood , MD ’69, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Physicians for Social Responsibility in 2023. Alan is a CAAAN volunteer and frequent contributor to the Lifelong Learning series at Kendal at Oberlin.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the column and please continue to forward your news to: ❖ Joan Hens Johnson ( email Joan ) | Stephen Appell ( email Stephen ) | Alumni Directory .

As we near two years to our 60th Reunion, our classmates continue to report on the various jobs, activities, and travels that make up their lives. Susan Porter Bass never imagined working in farming but reports working in a vineyard and winery. Dick Lockwood , MNS ’68, spent 20 years as a part-time faculty member at Brandeis University’s Heller School. He was a union organizer with classmate Larry Bailis at Brandeis for adjunct and non-tenured faculty.

Currently Dick is a member of the board of directors of the Bullough’s Pond Association, a neighborhood environmental defense organization to keep the pond from becoming a swamp. His current hobbies are ice skating and swimming. Dick visited Vietnam last year with his oldest son, Dan ’94 , to show him the village in the Mekong Delta on the Cambodian border where he lived from 1968–70 with the International Volunteer Organization. He reports that 58 years have changed the country for the better. The family travels to Brazil every year to visit his wife’s family in Salvador, Bahia.

John Cobey has been practicing law for 55 years. He is also chairperson of Neighborhood Health, a charity that provides medical services for the homeless. He also chairs the Hamilton County (OH) Law Library, is on the Art Academy board, is an officer of the Literary Club (the oldest one in America), and is on the Rockdale Temple board. In ’66 he never imagined that he would someday have a lawsuit about an outer space problem—the world has certainly changed. John and his wife have two successful and happy sons.

Ira Sadoff retired as Arthur Jeremiah Roberts Professor of Literature at Colby College in 2015. He remains an active and publishing poet. In 2020, his ninth collection of poems, Country, Living , was published by Alice James Books. This past December the Academy of American Poets published a new poem, “ Thank You .” Ira is passionate about classical music and jazz. He lives near Woodstock, NY, where there’s “good music galore.” He never imagined he would be spending his life as a professor teaching literature and poetry, and writing poetry and criticism, for 50 years. At Cornell, he describes himself as a “poor student” taking all the wrong courses with the wrong professors. At the end of his junior year, he finally had the courage to try writing poetry. He feels blessed to have this lifetime passion.

Dick Lockwood ’66 , MNS ’68, visited Vietnam last year with his oldest son, Dan ’94 , to show him the village where he lived from 1968–70.

After 36 years, Marty Skelly Remis retired from the CDC as a Public Health Advisor, Quarantine Division. She spent 33 years at the Chicago Quarantine Station and three years as Deputy Bureau Chief, Quarantine Branch, Atlanta, GA, retiring in 2008. Although she never imagined living in Florida, she is active in many activities in Sarasota. They include NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Meals on Wheels, All Faiths Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and Key Chorale. She now enjoys playing tennis and mahjong. She and her husband have time to travel. Trips included an Alaska cruise, a vegan Caribbean cruise, and driving 192,000 miles in their Class B RV after she retired. In the summer, they spend time on Tuscarora Lake in Erieville, NY, with the whole family. The family visits them in Florida in winter.

Nancy Decker Stephenson is a retired registered dietician and office manager for a veterinary practice. Her activities include volunteering with meals for the homeless and the DAR. Hobbies now include gardening, reading, classical piano, and travel. She never imagined going to Japan and China. Other countries visited include family visits in the Netherlands, plus trips to Norway, Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Scotland, Israel, and Colombia. Family activities include annual reunions, vacations, and holiday/birthday get-togethers.

Donna Swarts Piver is a retired educator. She volunteers at a nursing home and critical care facility. She continues to recover from a massive stroke and is making great progress with bi-weekly physical therapy sessions. In mid-December, she traveled to New Jersey to visit Anne Evans Estabrook ’65 , MBA ’66, and other friends. Donna recently moved to the Glenridge, a continuing care complex in Sarasota, FL. She reports that she loves it and the people.

Debby Kirschner Wolf sadly informed us of the passing of her husband, Marty ’63 , DVM ’66. They met at Cornell and were married for 57 years. They were blessed with two children and six grandchildren. Leith Mullings passed away in December 2020. She was an authority on the foundations of racial and class oppression and the intersectionality of race, class, and gender.

Paul Mlotok passed away in March 2021. He was an oil industry analyst who worked for various companies and was an advisor to the Department of State, the CIA, and various OPEC oil ministers. Anthony Rerecich passed away in June 2023. He was a computer programming professional who worked for various banks and computer companies. He was a veteran and accomplished runner, and he enjoyed sailing and genealogy. ❖ Susan Rockford Bittker ( email Susan ) | Pete Salinger , MBA ’68 ( email Pete ) | Alumni Directory .

Larry Dominessy , ME ’68 (Louisville, TN) reports: “I have been retired since my early 50s. I have remained active but have removed working for money from the equation. I have happened on some broad experiences in the military, Peace Corps, and Foreign Service, which built my confidence beyond the impression of a business teacher at Cornell.

“When I studied engineering at Cornell, as a fluke I took an elective in the business school. The teacher was a retired business executive. He had us write a paper and gave personal interviews to critique what we had written. I was in my fifth year at Cornell but basically, he called me an ignoramus with no ability to express myself. It shocked me but it was hard to argue with.

“I enjoy my informal study of recent history and wish I would have known what I am learning now earlier in life. All of the people whom I would like to ask questions of are dead. I guess I can’t blame myself because most of us are too busy with life to appreciate what is going on (good and bad) until it is too late.

“At Cornell, I got the distinct feeling I was in over my head, at least the first couple of years. Struggling with money certainly did not help. I took ROTC, which seemed to be a refuge from tough engineering courses. I did well the first year until I realized I just did not have the time to put in it, and ROTC did not count toward graduation anyhow. I finished second from the bottom of my ROTC class (the other person had a problem keeping in step!), but I still got a commission and a ticket to Vietnam. However, in the end I would not trade my experience of four years in the Army for anything.”

Peter Buchsbaum (Stockton, NJ) writes: “My wife, Elaine, and I, now married 56 years, are joining Dick and Eileen Barkas Hoffman ’69 for a cross-country rail trip in mid-May. Meanwhile, I’ve continued work with Jewish organizations, having been elected to the executive board of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and I also joined the Commission on Social Action of the Union for Reform Judaism in the U.S.

We spend summers and parts of autumn at our island home near Acadia National Park in Maine. Peter Buchsbaum ’67

“We spend summers and parts of autumn at our island home near Acadia National Park in Maine and are completing 50 years of living in still semirural Hunterdon County, NJ. Our first grandchild is now a 1-year-old living in Rockville, MD. I’m somewhat creakier but still okay, which means I had to do some snow shoveling recently.”

Roger Abrams (University Park, FL), who was professor and dean emeritus of Northeastern University School of Law, previously dean at Rutgers University and Nova University law schools, and on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, passed away last November 12. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Roger was an expert on sports and labor law and legal education. He served as a salary arbitrator for Major League Baseball and was a permanent arbitrator for the television, communications, electronics, and coal industries.

Roger practiced labor law, was a civil rights litigation attorney with Boston firm Foley, Hoag & Eliot, and wrote books on alternative dispute resolution, labor arbitration practice, and the business and history of sports, among other subjects. His Sports and the Law has been cited as the leading sports law casebook. A colleague, Libby Navarrete, recalled that Roger was the epitome of a great lawyer, dean, and arbitrator. “He was a very good listener, and always extremely careful and sound with his decisions. He handed out justice with precision.”

Lawrence McGuinn (Westfield, NY) died last November 20. “After graduation,” the Jamestown, NY, Post-Journal reported, “he took over the management of the Wilson Hill Farm and later expanded to establish Lin-Ary Vineyards. Larry enjoyed his lifetime career as a viticulturist. He served for a number of years as secretary and as president of the Westfield Maid Cooperative. Larry was a life member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. He was also a member of the Chautauqua County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Larry enjoyed his family, grape farming, sunsets over Lake Erie, photography, wildlife, the Buffalo Bills, and dogs.” ❖ Richard Hoffman ( email Richard ) | 2925 28th St. NW, Washington, DC 20008 | Alumni Directory .

With spring upon us and summer close by, I have more news from our classmates to share—but we’d like even more news, so please let us know where you are and what you are doing!

Corinne Dopslaff Smith has brought us up to date. She writes, “So very many decades have flown by since graduation that I don’t think I have submitted an update since serving as class correspondent way back in the ’70s.” Corinne remains active in our class and currently serves as our website community manager, a job that did not exist in the ’70s! She will be using this position to help connect classmates who want to reconnect with those they have lost contact with. Expect to hear from Corinne soon as she prepares to embark on this new initiative.

Corrine writes, “The first three decades of my working career—starting immediately after graduation—were spent at IBM, working both with clients internationally (favorite activity) and in internal marketing (not so favorite). About a month after full retirement in 1998, I was bored and initiated a new career, winding up at Milliman, an international actuarial firm. On the personal side, in 1971, I married Bob Smith, the most interesting private pilot/sailor/raconteur/fierce friend you would ever want to meet. No kids, but many, many wonderful doggies. Bob and I attended every Reunion but one, and he grew to love Cornell and all our dear Cornell friends and their spouses as much as I did. We loved living both down the shore in New Jersey and in our apartment near Lincoln Center in NYC. Bob sadly died last April. He is missed by all who knew him—most of all me. I continue to live down the shore (in Spring Lake) and in Manhattan.” Seven DG sisters from our class connect each month with Bernice “Neecy” Bradin as Zoom leader. The group includes Corinne, Neecy, Mary Sander Alden , Mary Jo Bastion Ashley , Beth Deabler Corwin , Susan Clark Norwood , and Janie Wallace Vanneman .

Jay Waks ’68 , JD ’71, his wife, Harriet, and classmate Joan Gottesman Wexler ’68 took to the sidewalks, logging nearly 2,300 miles through year-end 2023.

Susan Norwood writes that after a few years at Tulane University, where she received an MEd in counseling (1972) and served as the program director in the University Center, in 1973 she became the director of guidance and college counseling at an independent school in New Orleans. She was also active as a traveling ERB test consultant, a role she continued in for several years after leaving the independent school in 1995. “Even as I developed a practice as a family mediator, restorative practitioner, and trainer, working in juvenile and family courts, eventually I circled back into schools to apply mediation skills to practice restorative discipline—an alternative to suspension and expulsion. Now pretty much retired since 2016, my time is taken up volunteering for the New Orleans affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, serving on that board as well as conducting family education and support groups and Mental Health First Aid trainings.” Susan also serves on the board of the Center for Restorative Approaches, which provides training and tools for restorative approaches in schools, workplaces, and the criminal justice system. With all that she continues to do, Susan writes that she has the most fun on any given day playing pickleball!

Jay Waks , JD ’71, his wife, Harriet, and classmate Joan Gottesman Wexler turned pandemic isolation into outdoor social occasions by taking to the sidewalks and paths on a wide variety of routes in and around their Larchmont-Mamaroneck, NY, communities, logging, so they say, nearly 2,300 miles through year-end 2023. And Jay reports they are still at it!

Happy to report that Sharon Lawner Weinberg , PhD ’71, and I, Steve , MBA ’70, JD ’71, attended our fourth annual South Florida TEP reunion this past winter, with two other members of our class present, Jane Frommer Gertler (and husband David ’67 , ME ’68) and Gordon Silver . The event was hosted by Richard Marks ’67 , MBA ’68, and wife Carol. Also attending were Rick Bailyn ’67 , MD ’71, and his significant other, Margo Printz-Brandt, Ted Feldmeier ’67 , BS ’71, and wife Joan, Norm Stern ’66 and wife Jo, Norm Stokes ’66 , Lloyd Richard Dropkin ’66 , MD ’70, and wife Joan, Ralph Janis ’66 and wife Rhoda, Norm Meyer ’66 , Mike Caplan ’66 , and Myron Jacobson ’65 . A great time was had by all.

I look forward to receiving more news and updates from all of you! Please email me with news about you and your family that you want to share with our classmates. ❖ Steve Weinberg, MBA ’70, JD ’71 ( email Steve ) | Alumni Directory .

Our 55th Reunion: June 6–9, 2024! Our Reunion chairs, Cindy Nixon Dubose and Sally Knowlton , have been hard at work planning a great Reunion. Cindy writes: “We’ll celebrate our 55th Reunion on June 6–9, and we hope you’ll join us! It will be a great opportunity to enjoy our class events and gatherings, attend University lectures and forums, explore the beautiful campus, and, of course, reconnect with friends and make new ones! We hope you’ll stay in touch, encourage other classmates to attend, and plan to celebrate with us! The registration materials and schedule of events will be sent in April and will have all the details of our weekend. (By the time you read this, you may have already received the materials.) There is early-bird pricing for registration until May 15, so we hope you’ll register early.

“Our class headquarters will be in the brand new, fully air-conditioned Toni Morrison Hall. It has spacious common rooms for socializing and gathering, an incredible dining hall, and a very convenient location in the new North Campus area. For on-campus housing, the single and double rooms are arranged in suites, also with plenty of space and amenities. Our wonderful registration chairs, Larry and Nancy Jenkins Krablin , will be handling the room reservations and the accommodations.

“For those arriving Thursday, we’ll have a casual welcome dinner buffet in the HQ and a traditional ice cream social in the evening. We’ll join together for breakfast in the Morrison Dining Hall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. Everyone can attend and participate in our Friday morning class forum with Cornell historian Corey Earle ’07 . We’ll enjoy dinners (catered by the Heights Restaurant) on Friday and Saturday evenings, and a barbeque lunch with entertainment by the Sherwoods. In between our planned events during the weekend, there will be lots of time to explore campus, revisit familiar places, see new sights, and attend other engaging University events and programs. We hope to see you in June to celebrate our 55th together.”

Doug Mock ’69 is very talented with the guitar, harmonica, and kazoo, and if we’re lucky, we’ll get to see and hear him at our Reunion this June.

What a wonderful schedule that’s been planned by Cindy and Sally. If you’ve never been to a Class of 1969 Reunion, it’s never too late! We’re a welcoming group. It’s also worth coming to see all the new buildings and other changes on the Cornell campus.

Our presidents, Greg Baum and Robert Tallo , are asking everyone to consider being an officer for our next Reunion cycle—leading up to our 60th! We are looking for most positions, so feel free to nominate a classmate; we also accept self-nominations! We are definitely looking for a class correspondent.

We heard from our classmate Richard Hagelberg . He has been the CEO of Kidstuff Playsystems for the past 41 years. His wife thinks he should retire! Richard and his wife love to travel, especially on river cruises. His favorite Cornell memory: the camaraderie of the Big Red Band!

At our Zoom meeting this past January, we were entertained by classmate Doug Mock , who played folk songs from the ’60s and ’70s. He’s very talented with the guitar, harmonica, and kazoo, and if we’re lucky, we’ll get to see and hear him at our Reunion this June.

Lastly, fill in those forms and come to Reunion 2024! ❖ Ingrid Dieterle Tyler ( email Ingrid ) | Class website | Alumni Directory .

As I sit at my computer and assemble this column, the most amazing thing currently is that it is the beginning of February and the outdoor temperature here north of Chicago is above 50 °F, with absolutely no piles of dirty snow. It’s more like early spring than mid-winter here.

February is always time for the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference (CALC), a gathering of class officers and other alumni, this year in Baltimore. Although I won’t be attending, CALC also indicates some milestones for class events. It will be preceded this year by an online meeting of our class officers with one of the most significant items on the agenda being preparations for our 55th Reunion, June 5–8, 2025. Even though, as I write this, Reunion is more than a year away, preliminary planning has already begun. If you have any thoughts or ideas, and wish to be involved or to volunteer, contact Sally Anne Levine , our class president. Find her contact info (and others) through the Alumni Directory .

Ellen Celli Eichleay (Pittsburgh, PA) writes, “I still live in Pittsburgh, where I have always lived, and have a large contingent of friends and family. Since the age of 37, I have walked two miles a day so I am in a lot better shape than many of them—so I spend a lot of time cooking, driving, and helping where I can. With the sudden realization that my twin grandsons were now the age of my father and his brother when they came to the U.S. in 1913, last year I wrote a book for them about the brave journey my grandparents took to come to the U.S. At the age of 30, with two little boys and speaking no English, they started by oxcart, then train, and then to the sister ship of the Titanic , the Olympic . They left the beautiful Casentino valley in Tuscany behind and came to the dirty, gritty town of Monessen, PA, where the steel mills provided work and there was real education for their sons. My uncle and father both went to Carnegie Mellon and graduated first and second in their respective classes and lived the American Dream. So my twin grandsons now have the place, names, and dates correct for future reference.

“I volunteer as a narrator of books with some Western Pennsylvania connection for the Library of Accessible Media, a division of the Carnegie Library. My husband, John ’68 , and I like to travel and we have done a lot in 2023. I only have one child in Pittsburgh, so I also travel to see these twins in North Carolina and my much younger granddaughter in New Mexico. I am very grateful for the charmed life I have led, and I think it all goes back to that decision my grandparents made to leave Italy in 1913.”

I celebrated happily with Bridget Murphy ’70 our 75th birthdays in New York City last summer. Ellen Celli Eichleay ’70

Ellen adds, “I celebrated happily with Bridget Murphy our 75th birthdays in New York City last summer. Bill , ME ’71, and Gail Post Wallis we see with some regularity, and it is always a great time when it happens. We met them for a weekend in Montreal in late September. We were wandering through the museum there and at the end of a corridor was a very modern painting. I asked them if it looked like a hockey mask and when we got up close, its title was ‘Dryden’!”

Continuing the creative energy that seems to envelop our classmates, Larry Kraft (North Springfield, VT) has had his first stage play, a tragicomedy titled Waiting for a Eulogy , both published and performed. This full-length play, which includes references to campus life at Alpha Sigma Phi, is inspired by Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Larry’s play was scheduled to have its “world premiere” by the Springfield (VT) Community Players in April. It has also been accepted for publication by OPEN: Journal of Arts and Letters , which “offers a range of contemporary aesthetic experiences made available through its several media platforms.”

More creative energy is evidenced by Ellen Saltonstall (New York, NY) in the publishing of her fifth book, Empowered Aging: Everyday Yoga Practices for Bone Health, Strength, and Balance. From the press release: “Embrace the journey of remaining active while aging. This comprehensive guide by seasoned yoga therapist Ellen Saltonstall offers a fresh perspective on living with courage, vitality, and grace. Drawing from the wisdom of yoga, this book provides professional guidance, gentle adaptations, and compassionate support to improve your bone health, strength, and balance while enhancing your overall well-being so you can enjoy the fullness of life at any age.”

Yet another creative classmate many of us know is artist Andrea Strongwater (New York, NY). You may remember her as the creator of the Cornell puzzle that was a Reunion memento. Her creativity is now a part of an exhibit at Cornell’s Mann Library called “From Nabokov’s Net.” A noted writer and professor of Russian literature at Cornell from 1948–59, Vladimir Nabokov was also impassioned by butterflies. While in Ithaca, he collected hundreds of specimens from across the U.S., which he donated to the Cornell University Insect Collection. The exhibit, part of which is a selection from his collection, also includes artwork by Andrea, including a butterfly describing in Latin the classification of the butterfly named after Nabokov. This butterfly is also being made into a sticker to be given away and used as a part of the publicity. The exhibit runs through August, so attendees to this year’s Reunion will have the opportunity to see it.

As always, you may contact me directly (see below) or you may use the University’s online news form . ❖ John Cecilia, MBA ’79 ( email John ) | Alumni Directory .

For those of you not on Facebook, you missed splendid images taken by Gilda Klein Linden and her husband, Jeff Krawitz, from their long winter trip to Southeast Asia. I’m glad I don’t have to select a favorite among those from Hong Kong (Victoria Peak, variously shaped double-decker buses, and more neon lights than discos in the ’60s), Cát Bà Island (seafood and cruising), Ha Long Bay, Hue, Mekong River sites, and a Vespa tour of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon, per localspeak), and still more pix from Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and Singapore. Actually, I would choose a favorite from Angkor Wat, the newly restored Hindu Buddhist temple near Siem Reap—if my top picks weren’t all of Gilda herself, a smile beaming in every shot she’s in.

During the pandemic, they traversed the U.S. and along the East Coast in their tow-behind camper trailer. They have now been to all 50 states. As soon as possible after COVID, the two were in the air to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia. That’s not all. In toto, they’ve cruised the Caribbean, a thousand miles up the Amazon, and from Seville to Lisbon. Some jaunts include family (Tanzania/Zanzibar and London/Cotswolds). More is scheduled this year. She’s been to all seven continents and swum in all seven seas. Considering all the time away, it’s notable that Gilda’s been an EMT with the local ambulance corps near home in Fair Lawn, NJ, for 32 years and also volunteered to give COVID vaccinations in the first 18 months that these were available to the Bergen County Medical Reserve Corps. She can easily see two of her boys: her middle son lives six miles away with his wife and family while the older one and partner have moved to eastern Pennsylvania. Seeing her youngest son and his husband requires flying to London … and we can imagine what a joy that is for this traveling classmate!

Robert Bloch tells us that over last November’s 20–22 weekend, 23 Psi U fraternity brothers, with some of their wives and girlfriends and “wannabe Psi Us from SAE” enjoyed an informal reunion. The death, earlier in 2023, of Barry Cermak prompted them to get together. Attendees from the Class of ’70 were Steve Hirst and Art Walsh . From our class, attendees were Tom and Amy Brereton , Warren and Donna Baker , Leo , ME ’72, and Laurie Bettan Reinsmith ’72 , Eddie Kosteva , MBA ’73, Gary Cokins , and Robert and Nancy Bloch. From the Class of ’72 were Ed and Tracy Marinaro , Mike Jones , Chris Hart , PhD ’83, Chuck Parr , Mike Kozel , David Commito , John Gollon (and his girlfriend, Jen), and Fred Hoefer . Brothers from ’73 were Ed Mace , Kellen Smith , Stu Millheiser , Pete Durkalski , Dick Bell , and Mike Dempster . Joining from SAE were John Morehouse ’72 and Steve Kramer ’72 . Happy stragglers streamed through the State Diner Sunday morning.

Gilda Klein Linden ’71 has been to all seven continents and swum in all seven seas.

A highlight of cocktails and dinner along Cayuga Inlet at the Boatyard Grill included a sampling of fine wine from brother Mike “Vittler” Jones ’72’s Lagunita Vineyard (Amador County, CA). They tailgated the next afternoon and had barbecue at the Antlers after a tour of the old Psi Upsilon house (now repurposed as a grad student residence and activity center). Brothers took side trips to Taughannock and other parks and wandered the campus. They saw much that had changed, yet a demonstration in front of the Straight suggested much had not!

Howard Rodman is still screenwriting (an adaptation of a novel for Amazon Studios), television writing (staffed on “The Idol” from HBO-MAX), novel writing (latest, The Great Eastern, “a sprawling, lavish, literary, 19-century, anti-colonial adventure novel from Melville House”), teaching (professor at USC), and cultural “bureaucrating” (VP of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences). He had been named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Republic of France and this year was promoted from Chevalier (Knight) to Officier.

Some have asked me to report on a Cornell’s Adult University’s January expedition to Antarctica. Ordinarily your correspondent has easy access to words … and words and words. But, in the case of the planet’s southernmost, least-populated, fifth-largest, and most arid continent, I still struggle to articulate the awe of what our merry band experienced aboard the SH Vega . The quiet. A wider range of blues and grays than you can imagine. Vast emptiness. More kinds of ice than you’ve heard of. Nearly no falling snow. Proximity to creatures of land, sea, and air—who were unconcerned as we walked nearby on ice or snow and cruised close on small Zodiacs or our 150-passenger ship. Superb Cornell teaching, exquisitely appointed ship, fine food and drink, and as companionable a group of Cornell alumni and friends as one might like. Because of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, ships operate within the Antarctic treaty system and aim to have minimal impact on the fragile environment. Thus, once we’d left Ushuaia, Argentina, we saw only one other boat as we plied the Beagle Channel and Drake Passage and meandered meaningfully among the icebergs, sea ice, and islands of the Antarctica Peninsula that’s closest to South America. Put this wondrous place on your list and until you get there, explore online. Ask me for the short film of our excursion if you wish. ❖ Elisabeth Kaplan Boas ( email Elisabeth ) | Cara Nash Iason ( email Cara ) | Alumni Directory .

I just returned from the Cornell Alumni Leadership Council (CALC) meeting in Baltimore—something new for me, but, as it turns out, an event that hundreds of alumni from all graduations have been attending repeatedly for years. It was great meeting up with classmates and meeting new friends. Cornellians came from all over the country and even abroad. Among the events I attended was an impressive lecture on leadership during challenging times by four-star general, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, and distinguished senior lecturer of leadership at the Johnson School, George W. Casey Jr., and an informative discussion of antisemitism and racism on the Cornell campus. A dinner in a nearby restaurant organized by our enthusiastic and energetic class president, Nancy Roistacher , was delicious, but more importantly lots of fun. For those of you in the Class of ’72 who may be interested in attending a future meeting, there is no need to be a class officer or in a leadership position to attend CALC—all Class of ’72 alumni are welcome.

News from our classmates continues to come in. Richard Joslyn , PhD ’77, writes in from Jenkintown, PA, that he retired in 2020 after a 44-year career at Temple University as a professor of political science, associate dean, vice provost, and dean of Temple’s campus in Japan. He recently published a book with Temple Press, called The History of Temple University Japan . Currently he and his wife, Kathleen, get the most satisfaction from taking care of their granddaughter, Anabel, age 13. His summers are spent at a cottage on Keuka Lake, one hour west of Ithaca, where he and Kathleen kayak, drink wine, and have a boat that goes 8 mph! Among his memories of Cornell are singing with the Glee Club and going to hockey games at Lynah Rink, becoming politically active, and standing outside Willard Straight when the students who had occupied it in protest of racism on campus came out bearing guns, thus witnessing, in real life and real time, the famous Newsweek magazine cover photo.

Richard Joslyn ’72 , PhD ’77, spends summers at a cottage on Keuka Lake, one hour west of Ithaca, where he and Kathleen kayak, drink wine, and have a boat that goes 8 mph!

Nancy Kollisch (Rancho Santa Fe, CA) is grateful that everyone in her family is doing well, and that she continues to walk and travel in her retirement. She fondly remembers having a great time at Cornell, despite, she claims, being a “nerd!”—which actually may have been a good thing, she says, for it kept her out of trouble. Clearly, she worked hard and accomplished great things.

Mark Schimelman writes that he retired 12 years ago and is enjoying the freedom and time with his family. He sadly recalls the passing 12 years ago of Joel Shapiro ’73 , his best friend in college (besides his wife, Shelley (Grumet) ’73 ).

Elias Savada , another attendee of CALC, writes in from Bethesda, MD, that after graduation he moved to the Washington, DC, area and settled into a career in film history and archiving, starting with the American Film Institute (then based at the Kennedy Center) and ultimately founding and (still) running the Motion Picture Information Service, which provides about 400 customized copyright research reports annually. He and his wife, Andrea, are still waiting for grandkids as his son, Daniel, and daughter, Shira, have other ideas. Back in 1995 Elias co-wrote Dark Carnival , a biography of film director Tod Browning ( Dracula , Freaks ) that was recently revised into a larger, limited-edition volume (with a paperback due later this year). He writes film reviews and also writes about craft beer.

Keep the news coming. We’re all interested! ❖ Susan Farber Straus ( email Susan ) | Frank Dawson ( email Frank ) | Alex Barna ( email Alex ) | Wes Schulz , ME ’73 ( email Wes ) | Alumni Directory .

By the time you read this, the election will have ended, but I’m hoping our long-serving class president, Paul Cashman , has been elected to the Board of Trustees. He is dedicated to Cornell and would serve everyone well. Go Paul!

Rich Saltz , MBA ’74, our current class co-president, and his spouse, Lynn (Rosenbluth) ’75 , attended the wedding of their daughter Marcy ’06 on Rich’s birthday in a restaurant in Greenwich Village. Marcy married Andrew Ogulnik. Adding to Rich and Lynn’s joy, their son Ted ’12 became engaged to Alyson Stein ’13 .

Vicki Simons writes that COVID helped her feel more attached to Cornell, following the wonderful online offerings. She especially enjoyed Corey Earle ’07 ’s class on “all things Cornell.” Attending the 50th Reunion was the icing on the cake. As an architect, she marveled at the new and exciting buildings on campus, “a literal Who’s Who in architecture.” Vicki has also been traveling since retirement. Her favorite trip was to South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe for a safari. She’s also enjoyed a Cornell trip with alumni to Northern Italy.

Steven Fruchtman , too, has recently returned from a trip to Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda. “Wonderful people and fabulous sights.” His three children still bring the most satisfaction these days, as he still works running a biotech company focused on drug discovery. His best memory of Cornell remains meeting his buddy Chuck Keibler .

Mary Gilliland , MAT ’80, has just published a new book of poetry, Ember Days . She is a senior lecturer emeritus at the Knight Institute for Writing. An award-winning poet, she has previously published The Devil’s Fools and The Ruined Walled Castle Garden . She has also received a Council of the Arts Faculty Grant from Cornell, where she created and taught seminars, such as “Ecosystems & Ego Systems” and “America Dreaming.”

It was great to hear Jody Gandolfi ’73 and Bill Cowdery ’73 play piano again after 50 years!

Bill Chamberlain echoed the fun had at the 50th Reunion. He was delighted to connect with friends from his time at Cornell. He heard the cool story of how Greg Kishel and his wife, Karin, met in the Peace Corps. He also caught up with Nancy Roistacher ’72 and Wayne Merkelson , JD ’75, Dave and Patty Miller Ross ’72 , Ed Cobb , Pam Meyers , Bill Welker , MBA ’75, Bill Cowdery , PhD ’89, and Bill Cagney . A special thanks to Nancy and Wayne for putting together a wonderful Risley reunion. It was great to hear Jody Gandolfi and Bill Cowdery play piano again after 50 years! Bill is currently acting in Tracy Letts’s The Minutes . Otherwise, he’s mostly retired and working remotely very part time as a pre-law advisor at Reed College in Oregon.

Laura Davis had the pleasure of screening her latest documentary, Virulent: The Vaccine War , at a recent Cornell Intercampus Vaccine Symposium. It was co-presented by Weill Cornell and the Veterinary College’s Department of Immunology. Virulent examines the consequences of vaccine hesitancy and denial. After it was first screened, the COVID pandemic hit and it “became a very different film, one about the national conversation about vaccine safety and mandates.” We hope to be able to see it soon.

Denise Meridith has been reappointed to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Advisory Council. She’s also continuing her participation with the Cornell Technology Business Network and her long tenure with CAAAN in Arizona. Since retiring from the Bureau of Land Management, she has started two consulting companies.

Ann Prezyna and her spouse, Gordon Lewis, have been adapting their ranch in southeast Arizona as the climate becomes hotter and drier. They purchased a heat pump to replace their propane heat and AC unit and now have an electric bill below $25 a month. They power their EVs with solar panels. Their other home is a houseboat in Seattle. Ann is actively engaged in preserving our natural world. Her law firm, Animal and Earth Advocates, continues to pursue lawsuits to protect the land she loves. She misses the Vietnam War protests, when the community was actively engaged. Ann sees such activism as much needed now.

So be sure to keep us up to date on your life. ❖ Phyllis Haight Grummon ( email Phyllis ) | Dave Ross ( email Dave ) | Pam Meyers ( email Pam ) | Alumni Directory .

In case you’ve missed the emails, our 50th Reunion is this June. (What!) If you haven’t signed up yet and want to go, please do so now. I still remember when my mother, Ethel Potteiger Myers ’35 (who, BTW, knew Martha Van Rensselaer and was there when that hall opened), attended her own 50th in 1985. She was still talking about that when I accompanied her to her 75th in 2010, just a couple of months before our eldest daughter, Annalise ’14 , began her freshman year. So it’s a big deal, and if you haven’t attended Reunion in a while, or ever, please consider joining us. Hey, you don’t want to miss Larry Kleinman and me reliving our DJ days at WVBR when we go back on the air live from our class headquarters at RBG Hall Friday night! Make sure “your” song is included in the 50th Reunion playlist—send your favorite to John Foote ( email John here ).

If you are going, don’t forget to check out what your “Affinity Groups” (sports teams, Greek houses, residential halls, choral/instrumental groups, clubs, etc.) will be doing there. Go to this website and scroll down to “50th Reunion Affinity Outreach” for the complete list. (There are email links in the heading to Mary “Mi” O’Connell and Diane “Kope” Kopelman VerSchure .)

And, whether or not you can attend, don’t forget that this is a wonderful time to consider giving back. Our 50th Reunion campaign co-chairs, Jim Irish and Andrea Glanz , and participation chair David Miller are leading the effort to once again make our class truly notable.

Speaking of getting back together, a number of us “represented” at the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference (CALC) at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront the last weekend in February, including Beth Allen , former class president Dale Lazar , JD ’77, Ellen Perlmutter , Bill Quain , and me. Dale said afterward, “I enjoyed visiting with our classmates and all of my Cornell friends. It was a great turnout.” Steve Piekarec came up from Northern Virginia Friday night to host the Cornell classes of the ’70s reception at the Pratt Street Ale House (as he did previously), so ’74s were prominent there as well. Although I had attended parts of CALC in the past, when it was in D.C. or Baltimore, this was the first time that I had signed up for the full event (including staying at the Marriott Friday night). As an officer of the Cornell Club of Washington (DC) as well as our class itself, I found it very valuable. The schedule was pretty tight (15 minutes between sessions—like classes!) beginning Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and all day Saturday, ending with a gathering with Alumni Affairs regional representatives at the hotel bar after CALC officially ended at 5:30 p.m. I recommend it and would go again.

You don’t want to miss Larry Kleinman ’74 and me reliving our DJ days at WVBR when we go back on the air live Friday night [of Reunion]! Jim Schoonmaker ’74

From the mailbox: David Hirschland writes, “I laughed when I saw that Nancy Dworkin Miller ’73 ’s favorite Cornell memory was hearing James Taylor. One of my favorites was Nancy, a percussionist, leading the way to the Big Red Pep Band in ‘Sweet Georgia Brown.’”

Esteban Rosas writes from Mexico, “I remember and miss the infamous ‘Baja Chemical Company’— Blaine Rhodes (‘Cisco’), Robert Hoff (‘the Fat One’), and me (‘Speedy’). We wrote a project for a course in chemical engineering 50 years ago, along with slides and cassettes (no iPhone then). We got a D, but we had so much fun—even the profs wanted a copy to show the new students. Hope we can meet again this coming summer.” Esteban adds, “Cornell has been part of my life, and when I have visited (last in 2017) it feels like taking a refreshing boost for the times to follow. I still work, and I think I will do it till the end. I had some years in recess but got bored and started again. I have a little consulting regional office, and I also participate as an advisor to the company in Washington, DC, of my former roommate from North Campus, Don Gross .”

As for his family, Esteban has one son, two daughters, and three fantastic grandsons; “my pride and joy—they play with me in a jazz band, the Stray Cats. My wife, Rosa, and I will complete 49 years of happy marriage just before our class’s 50th Reunion. Rosa and I are excited to attend Reunion. I will play my sax and acoustic guitar as part of a band on Saturday, June 8, in Klarman Hall. We will play ’70s music for your entertainment. All the class is invited.”

Perry Jacobs has forwarded several links he thought we might like to know about. “To receive the ‘Big Red Thread,’ the recently created newsletter from the Athletics Department covering all of Cornell’s teams, email scl-add@cornell.edu . The intro by Nicki Moore, the new Director of Athletics (and Cornell’s first female AD), is always a fun read.” (Editor’s note: She did a terrific job hosting a panel of Cornell alumni athletes at CALC.) Perry also recommends “Cornell Hockey 401: The History, Art, and Science of Ice Hockey at Cornell” (which you can livestream here ) and the recent Cornellians story about Mike Schafer ’86 , the longest tenured coach in Cornell men’s hockey history.

We thank all for their contributions and invite you to continue to send in your news. ❖ Jim Schoonmaker ( email Jim ) | Molly Miller Ettenger ( email Molly ) | Alumni Directory .

It is mid-February as I write, and I can’t wait until the clocks change so it will be light in the morning and early evening! I am also looking forward to June to go up to Ithaca for Reunion to scout out places and activities that we can use/copy for our 50th Reunion, June 5–8, 2025! Put the dates on your calendar, and get ready to see old friends and definitely new buildings on campus. If you want to get involved with the planning, have an idea for an event, or would like to volunteer for the next five years, please contact me ( Deb Gellman , email me here ) or our Reunion chair, Susan Fulton ( email Susan ).

Last fall, I went to a conference honoring former Cornell history professor Walter LaFeber at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island. A group of former students discussed many of his works and gave personal anecdotes about his impact on their lives, personally and professionally. One of the presenters was Andrew Rotter . Andy retired from the Colgate University Department of History, where, he says, for nearly 35 years he taught courses in U.S. foreign relations, in the spirit (but without the skill) of his Cornell mentor. He and his wife, Padma Kaimal (Swarthmore ’79), live in Hamilton, NY, where he spends his time writing, jogging, cross-country skiing, sitting on the village planning committee, and teaching in a medium-security prison. He has two adult daughters, a son-in-law and one daughter’s significant other, and two grandsons, ages 6 and 2, all living two hours away in Albany.

In the fall, I also traveled to Washington, DC, for a girls’ weekend with Steffi Feit Gould , Karen Lauterbach , and Ting Magill Kamon . Steffi and husband Perry ’74 had a busy 2023. Son Keith and his wife, Sophie, added daughter Violet to join big brother Miles in April; son Jason married Maddie in May; and they all (including son Andrew ’05 and wife SiChang) went to Portugal in September to help celebrate Steffi’s 70th! Karen and Mark Powers spent his 70th tucked away on a Nat Geo ship off the coast of Iceland. They saw a live volcano spewing lava, breaching whales, and puffins. Mark just published a short story, “Rabbits,” in the literary journal Does It Have Pockets . Ting and Mark Kamon spend lots of time visiting their sons Jake (and spouse Megan) and Mike (and spouse Lindsay), daughter Emily (and spouse Jason), all of their grandchildren, and Kappa and DU friends. Ting is an active member of the Chester River Chorale, which has numerous concerts during the year.

Mark Powers ’75 spent his 70th tucked away on a Nat Geo ship off the coast of Iceland.

I spent Christmas and New Year’s with Lynn Arrison Harrison , which coincided with her birthday. Her son Willie, daughter Katie, and grandson Dean came from Burlington, VT, and Naples, FL, respectively to help us celebrate her 71st! Her son Ridgley was at Disney World with his family but was with Lynn for her 70th. Lynn spends time gardening, kayaking, hiking, and doing various other outdoor activities in Saranac Lake, NY. Pam Hanna writes from Ithaca, NY: “I turned 70 last July. Surprisingly, it was a bit of an existential moment for me. Knowing that (for real!) most of my life is now in the past gave me great pause, more than I ever expected! Certainly more than turning all the other ‘milestones’—i.e., 21, 30, 40, 50, 60. BUT, I got celebrated in style, with a large family gathering including two of our three sons, their partners, and two of our grandkids. We enjoyed Stewart Park, Myers Park in Lansing, a lake cruise, dinner at the Boatyard, and so much more, with a whole crew. I loved every minute! Ithaca cooperated with fine summer weather. Here’s to more birthdays!” Elyse Byron had a party at her favorite bar in Illinois with a great dance band and about 50 friends and family for her 70th. In addition, she spoiled herself with a trip to Antarctica!

Bob Brennan , ME ’76, and wife Claire took the whole family on a vacation to Costa Rica. They took their four kids, the kids’ spouses, and their three grandchildren. They rented a villa for everyone in Tamarindo, on the west coast. They then all went to a resort in Monteverde in the Central Valley area. Sun and sand, then mountains and nature.

Rich Marin , MBA ’76, lives in San Diego, CA, with wife Kim. Even though the kids are in the East, and Kim and he get back east regularly and see lots of Cornell pals, they consider themselves Californians now. Rich spends his time doing lots of investment expert witness work, especially since ending his teaching career (Cornell for 10 years and University of San Diego for three years). “I’ve written several books and write a 1,500-word story for my blog every day.” He does heavy-duty hillside gardening, something he learned working at the Cornell Plantations, when it was called that. His other pastime is riding the hills and deserts on one of his BMW motorcycles. Kim is still singing cabaret both in California and in New York. Last year they traveled to Egypt and Jordan.

I know that many of you celebrated your 70th in grand style and we all would love to live vicariously through those adventures (I know I love to hear the stories). Please share them with your classmates and plan on joining us in Ithaca next year! If your email contact information is “dated,” please send me a note and I will have you updated in the University records, or send updates here . Most of our Reunion updates will be via email so we would love for your contact info to be up to date! ❖ Deb Gellman , MBA ’82 ( email Deb ) | Karen DeMarco Boroff ( email Karen ) | Mitch Frank ( email Mitch ) | Joan Pease ( email Joan ) | Alumni Directory .

Rich Gallagher was one of my first friends on campus, thanks to a pre-freshman-year Wilderness Reflections bike trip on Cape Cod, so it was a treat to hear from him recently. Rich wrote, “It’s been a good while since I sent any class news, so here’s what’s new with me. I discovered that retirement was overrated and am now back in practice part time as a psychotherapist, serving all of New York State via telehealth. Since going back into practice I’ve published a new self-help book ( The Anxiety Journal , Rockridge Press) and presented a new treatment protocol for obsessive-compulsive disorder at a major clinical conference.”

Rich has written many great books of practical psychology, on topics from customer service to improving your small talk to dealing with fears and phobias. You can learn more about him on his website !

Bruce Behounek and his spouse, Diane, live in Yardley, PA. Bruce continues to keep up with medicine, but his greatest satisfaction comes from family time, including with two grandchildren, Mason and Harper. His best memories of Cornell include football, hockey, and lacrosse games. In more news from Pennsylvania, Nancy Arnosti writes that she enjoys “spending time outdoors with people whom I love. I am preparing to retire from my executive compensation consulting practice serving life sciences companies in mid-2024. My children are thriving—both in the Bay Area. I only have to take one trip to visit both. My partner and I are enjoying our 12th year together while living 135 miles apart.” Nancy’s favorite Cornell memories are “ Uri Bronfenbrenner ’38 , Walter LaFeber, David Levitsky, and other inspiring professors—and having friends from all over the U.S.” Happy retirement to you, Nancy!

Martha Frucht Rives and husband Darden are enjoying small-town living in Exeter, NH. Martha writes, “I am making art in my studio, serving on the New Hampshire Art Educators’ Association board, and serving on the Scholastic Art Awards of New Hampshire board. I recently had a show of my artwork at the Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH. I am working on promoting my art and having more exhibitions.” (Editor’s note: You can view some of Martha’s stunning artwork here .) Other things that bring Martha satisfaction include her son, Greg, who “is happily living and working in New York City, and bowling, ice skating (yes, I still ice skate at almost 70—great exercise!), playing bridge, and traveling.” Her fond memories of Cornell include “working on the yearbook, taking photos of campus life, being outside on a beautiful day, and having breakfast with friends at the Green Dragon (glazed chocolate donuts—yummy!).” Can confirm—those donuts were great.

Jim Sollecito ’76 procured and donated 280 unique varieties of hydrangea to Cornell, totaling more than 810 plants on the campus.

Amy Lubow reports, “I’m a landlady in Brooklyn, NY. One of my sons also attended Cornell and is now an endocrinologist married to an emergency room doctor.” From Northport, MI, Philip Loud writes that he’s enjoying “projects and building things, from furniture to fences to outbuildings to Adirondack chairs. In retirement, I’m volunteering with our local schooner school-ship organization.” (Must break in again: see schoolship.org for more on this amazing Great Lakes program.) Philip adds, “I had a new titanium knee installed last February and probably will do the second next winter.” His favorite Cornell memories are “my time as a member of Phi Gamma Delta, walking around our beautiful campus … oh, and some classes. Ha.”

Barbara Saunders-Adams is taking satisfaction from writing, reading, tennis, hiking, and friends. She reports that she’s “writing a monthly magazine for the Pelham (NY) Jewish Center and editing, plus leading a monthly Jewish book discussion for the PJC. My son Aaron recently signed a recording contract and is going on tour around the country. My daughter Shira opened a gardening business in the Hudson Valley called Honeybee Horticulture. My husband, Sam, hikes daily on the New Paltz trails with our puppy, Finley.” Barbara’s best memory of Cornell is “hanging out with friends in the Straight, discussing everything.”

Congratulations to John Banner , who writes, “In March 2023, I ran the Tokyo Marathon, thus completing the ‘World Marathon Majors,’ starting with Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, and, lastly, Tokyo.” John is “project-developing a state-of-the-art energy plaza in Palm Springs, CA, offering green hydrogen for FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles) and H2ICEs (hydrogen internal combustion engines), DC fast charging for BEVs (battery electric vehicles), CNG (compressed natural gas), and conventional fuels, for commissioning in late 2025.” And, John adds, “Two movies written by my screenwriter daughter, Rebecca Banner, released in 2023: True Spirit (Netflix) and Space Oddity (Hulu).” Congrats to her, too!

And thank you to Jim Sollecito , who was an ornamental horticulture major at Cornell. He procured and donated 280 unique varieties of hydrangea to Cornell, totaling more than 810 plants on the campus. This is the largest singular planting of a species in the history of Cornell. Professor emerita Nina Bassuk ’74 and members of the Cornell wrestling team also helped to plant the campus hydrangea collection over the last eight years. (If you’d like to view the hydrangeas on campus, you can find maps and walks here .)

Learning a lot of science and living vicariously through your news this time, friends! Please let us know what you have been up to. ❖ Pat Relf Hanavan ( email Pat ) | Lisa Diamant ( email Lisa ) | Alumni Directory .

A few more of our classmates have joined the ranks of retirees and, as expected, continue to engage in a wide range of fun, purpose-filled, and exciting activities. Here’s what’s happening in their lives.

Bill Grant lives in Ponte Vedra, FL, with Cindy, his wife of 37 years. After a successful and varied professional career, Bill retired and in 2022 founded a company called Homes for Hometown Heroes , a real estate firm that “gives back to those who serve.” Bill and Cindy also created Grant Realty, a real estate investment and management company, to manage the goal of passing on their legacy to their four children and 11 grandchildren.

In addition to his real estate work, Bill is very active in Cornell and community volunteer activities. He enjoys meeting prospective Hotelies through his work with CAAAN and he serves on the board of the Cornell Club of Northern Florida. He also spends a lot of time coaching his granddaughters’ YMCA basketball team and enjoys mentoring teenagers to achieve their goals.

With all of that, Bill and Cindy somehow found time last year to take an “epic” 51-day cruise to the South Pacific and French Polynesia. Next up for them is a tour to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Bill’s favorite memories of Cornell include his graduation day, running into Statler Hall with his fellow graduates and trading his graduation cap for a chef’s hat. Thirty-three years later he proudly watched his son Daniel ’10 graduate from Cornell and receive his commission as the lone Marine Corps Second Lieutenant. Bill is most grateful for his Cornell education and all the amazing Hotelies and Cornellians he’s met along his journey.

Amy Birnbaum writes, “I retired from a long career at CBS News in February 2022. I am reconnecting with old friends and volunteering for political and academic projects. Life is sweet! My husband, Bernard Furnival, and I are traveling more. My daughter is on the West Coast and my son and his fiancée are on Manhattan’s West Side.”

After retiring from a career in biotechnology as a molecular biologist turned medical writer, Linda Gritz started writing Yiddish songs. (You can listen to her songs on YouTube !) This was doubly surprising since she is not fluent in Yiddish and has just a basic knowledge of music. So Linda was extra surprised when she won the People’s Choice Award for Best New Jewish Song at the international Bubbe Awards! This annual award is based on the Grammy awards, and “Grammy” was playfully translated into Yiddish as “Bubbe” (grandma). Linda also came in third in the juried award for Best New Jewish Song. Congratulations, Linda!

Linda Gritz ’77 won the People’s Choice Award for Best New Jewish Song at the international Bubbe Awards!

John Molinda has a lot going on in retirement. He primarily does volunteer work for the energy policy committees for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and American Nuclear Society. Otherwise, John stays involved in activities for Cornell and Carnegie Mellon. He is also active in sports including tennis, golf, skiing, mountain and road biking, and windsurfing and still likes to check out local rock bands.

Catching up with old friends and classmates brings John the most satisfaction these days, and he’s enjoyed a lot of it lately. He writes, “This year has been a 50th high school reunion year for most of us in the Cornell Class of ’77. Four of us from Mount Lebanon High School (Pittsburgh area) Class of ’73 went on to Cornell and three of us made it back for the 50th reunion—including Patty Cox Yeates , MBA ’78, who I had not seen since Cornell days, and Mark Halper , who traveled from his home in England, where he is a freelance journalist and a part-time leader of a band called Ghostweed.”

John also attended the 50th reunion for South Hills Catholic High School Class of ’73, where he spent two years, and caught up with Cornell ’77 classmate Don Lee , BS ’83. John adds, “I consider this 50th high school reunion year a kickoff for the countdown to our own 50th Reunion at Cornell.” I agree, John, and encourage all our classmates to start planning to come back to Ithaca, June 10–13, 2027, for our 50th Reunion!

Jone Sampson writes that she and her husband, Sam Weirich, finally retired in 2021 and built a small home in Bedford, WY. They are enjoying hiking and fishing in the summer and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Jone and Sam also love visiting their three daughters, who are scattered across the country in San Francisco, CA, Boulder, CO, and Portland, OR.

In February, Cara Lebowitz Kagan , Karen Wellin , and I attended this year’s Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference, held in Baltimore, MD. It’s always great to connect with some of my fellow class officers, meet fellow alums, learn about what’s happening on campus, and explore a variety of leadership topics. Add to all that a large dose of Big Red spirit and it was a fun, educational, and inspirational weekend.

We enjoy hearing from you and having the opportunity to share your stories with our fellow classmates. Please keep all of your news and views coming in! ❖ Mary Flynn ( email Mary ) | Howie Eisen ( email Howie ) | Alumni Directory .

Greetings, classmates! Thanks to my partner-in-posting, Ilene Shub Lefland , for handling the last two columns. The ’78 inbox wasn’t very full for this column. I tried turning over the laptop and shaking vigorously—no luck. I don’t recommend trying this strategy to find specific emails.

Mike Bernard (Albuquerque, NM) writes: “I took a U.S. Tennis Association seniors class over the summer and started playing tennis for the first time since college. I now walk two rounds of golf a week and play tennis for two hours twice a week and am still gaining weight!” Bruce Clements is also a tennis and golf buff. He’s lived in Saratoga Springs all but nine years of his life. He is inching closer to selling his independent insurance agency. His daughter and son both attended graduate school after Cornell. He has served in the Lions Club for over 40 years, and he continues to compete in golf and tennis.

On the legal front, Mark Green is the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the statewide intermediate appellate court in Massachusetts. Mark writes: “On December 5, 2023 (and again on December 12), I was joined on panel by two of my colleagues who are also Cornell alumni: Justice Eric Neyman ’90 and Justice John Englander ’80 . Though the three of us have served together on the Court since Justice Englander’s appointment in December 2017, this was the first occasion on which the three of us sat together on panel, for an ‘all Big Red’ sitting.”

I took a U.S. Tennis Association seniors class over the summer and started playing tennis for the first time since college. Mike Bernard ’78

On the travel front, Scott ’77 and Elaine Zajac Jackson started off 2024 with a Cornell Alumni Travel trip to Antarctica. They started in Buenos Aires and then embarked on the Antarctica cruise with two Cornell professors. They hoped for smooth sailing and lots of penguins and adventures. This is their second Cornell Alumni Travel trip. Their first was “Untamed Alaska” about five years ago. In August 2023, Julian Vrieslander , PhD ’81, and I went to the Netherlands for a reunion with some of his cousins, then went to Italy—and promptly caught COVID. This put a damper on the last leg of the trip in Venice. Fortunately, both of us recovered without any long-term issues.

On March 12, the classes of ’77 and ’78 cosponsored a webinar titled “Seasons of Perfection: Big Red Championship Lacrosse and Richie Moran.” The panel was moderated by our own David Bilmes , who was sports editor of the Cornell Daily Sun . Panelists were Dan Mackesey ’77 and fellow ’78ers Chris Kane and Tom Marino . The fourth panelist was Christian Swezey, author of We Showed Baltimore: The Lacrosse Revolution of the 1970s and Richie Moran’s Big Red (Cornell University Press). Many thanks to Kent Sheng , BA ’82, for helping pull this together.

Not only is Joe Holland , MA ’79, a best-selling author (his latest book is Make Your Own History ) and attorney, but he co-founded Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center . It is still going strong after nearly 40 years and provides free mental health services, a soup kitchen, and a food pantry. February 23 marked the premiere of Harlem Grace , a short docudrama of his early years serving the neighborhood.

All for now. Stay well and see you in June! ❖ Cindy Fuller , PhD ’92 ( email Cindy ) | Ilene Shub Lefland ( email Ilene ) | Alumni Directory .

Brad Spencer writes, “I am living in D.C. Although I retired from law firm practice a few years back, I have recently become chairman of the board of Melwood Inc.—one of the nation’s largest AbilityOne Contractors with the federal government. Melwood secures employment of disabled individuals through federal contracts, as well as through employment in the private sector. In addition, I have been pleased to work with many dedicated individuals who seek to make affordable housing/independent living for disabled individuals a reality in the nation’s capital and beyond. In all, it is the culmination of this ILRie’s dream of working to create a more fully integrated and inclusive workforce.”

Brad adds, “As my primary hobby, I have been singing with other Washington Cornellians and former CU Glee Club director Scott Tucker in the Washington Men’s Camerata. My new grandson, Easton Yip, was born in Honolulu.” Of his time on the Hill, Brad fondly recalls singing with Jon Wardner , Steve Whitney , Steve Bronfenbrenner , MBA ’81, and Barry Jacobson ’70 , BA ’74, in the Glee Club!

Sharon Flank shares, “Though it’s not where I thought linguistics would take me, I am happily leading research efforts for two projects in personalized medicine using 3D printing—and just notched my 11th patent, this one joint with my younger daughter, Becky Maksimovic ’19 , ME ’20.”

Bill Gallagher writes, “I’m in my fifth year teaching, now at CEVRO Institute in Prague. The weather is very much like Ithaca. I have students from five different countries, so the school has a real international flavor. My American metaphors don’t have quite the same impact as they did back in the U.S., so we’re ‘growing into appreciating each other’ as the semester progresses. Very much a ‘beef and beer’ kind of town—like a big medieval village with a Chapter House every few blocks. I got to visit my first Prague Christmas markets. After the school year, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at Reunion!”

D. Dina “Debbie” Friedman , BA ’78’s new short-story collection, Immigrants , was published by Creators Press in November 2023. She also has a new poetry collection, Here in Sanctuary—Whirling , out in February 2024. (More info can be found at her website ). Happily retired after many years of teaching business communication at UMass, Amherst, Dina divides her time between writing, social activism, gardening, and caring for her toddler grandchild, Manu. Dina recently completed a memoir, Imperfect Pitch , about her complicated relationship with her musical family legacy, though her years as a Cornell chimesmaster remain a highlight of her time at the Big Red and in her musical life. (See her recent “Chime In” essay !). She also continues to explore how to live a creative life in a creatively challenged universe in her blog, “ Music and Musings .”

As always, everywhere I go I run into Cornell alums! This summer, I met a few on my travels! Leslie Lewit ’79

Leslie Lewit writes, “As always, everywhere I go I run into Cornell alums! This summer (a very busy one), I met a few on my travels! In October, my older sister and I took the Uniworld ‘Enchanted Danube’ River Cruise and the first new friends we met were Roland ’76 and Dona Young . We enjoyed their company and Roland had a lot of fun Cornell stories to share. My husband and I were away for two weeks in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Helsinki, and of course the small group we traveled with from our Temple Sinai of Roslyn (NY) had connections to Cornell too.

“During the year, I enjoy connecting with all the opportunities afforded to us alums via Zoom and in person, including lectures in politics, art, and travel. However, I especially enjoy Big Red Reads —the books and discussions online offer a lot of amazing info and stimulation. I also manage the Temple Sinai Reads program, and I’m a member of a Roslyn/Lloyd’s Neck Harbor women’s book group. I really enjoy walking miles for exercise while listening to books!

“This year, in a period of six months, we had three weddings! My stepdaughter Lindsay Milner (University of Michigan ’14), married Jesse Katz of Tenafly, NJ, on April 8 in Cancun. On July 22, my son, Jacob Lewit (University of Pittsburgh ’15), married Jenna Strauss of Westfield, NJ, at the Park Loft in Oceanport, NJ. Jenna and Jesse went to University of Maryland together and graduated in 2014! And on October 14, my middle stepdaughter, Mariel Milner (Wisconsin ’13), married Joe Spina of Levittown, PA (Penn State ’12) in Livingston Manor, NY. Guess what good and welfare news I may be sharing next year?!

“I am still dabbling in my interior design and space planning business, currently working with a client who’s building in the Hamptons, as well as a few clients in NYC and Roslyn. I have a consulting business reviewing architectural plans for clients who are in the process of renovating or building. My DEA and space planning experience ensure that the new spaces will have adequate traffic flow and space for the clients’ needs and furniture placement, as well as better aesthetics. I am also a LMSW (Adelphi ’02) and have renamed my business Absolute Heads & Homes—because if your head isn’t in the right place, how can you enjoy your home? If you ever want to connect or say hi, I’d love to hear from you. See you all soon!” ❖ Cynthia Ahlgren Shea ( email Cynthia ) | Danna Levy ( email Danna ) | Linda Moses ( email Linda ) | Alumni Directory .

Hail to thee, classmates. Paul Bechly ’s fondest memory of his years at Cornell is “graduating with a BS in chemical engineering. It was a lot of hard work that led to a lot of good outcomes.” One of those outcomes is that he was just elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Chemists. Congratulations!

Paul just completed 30 years working at Morgan Stanley and has no plans on retiring. When his nose is not on the grindstone, he and his wife, Beth Wells, “have been making an effort to travel the world. We have experienced 130 countries and visited all seven continents.” Unlike your indolent correspondent, he “wakes up every morning with a goal to make the day count for something good.”

Beth Rubin reports that it has been a big year for her family: “In May, our younger daughter married her beloved in the redwoods of California. Then I retired from my position as dean of adult and online education at Campbell University, after developing an associate’s and bachelor’s degree program for incarcerated men and women at two prisons in North Carolina. Our success rate was amazing (approximately 60% of those who started completed an associate’s degree, and 80% of those completed a bachelor’s degree); we had graduation for 17 people in the fall. And the State of North Carolina voted to provide $1,000,000 every year to help the program grow in new prisons, ensuring long-term viability and necessary student support.

“My hoped-for relaxing retirement was interrupted by family needs—a sister needing care after major surgery, a father-in-law who passed away suddenly from a heart attack, and a mother who was diagnosed with stage four cancer and died two months later, on Christmas Eve. So, a long year of joy and sadness ended for us. My mother’s funeral gave me the opportunity to reconnect with cousins who we’d long been out of touch with. My husband, Dane McGregor, is, thank heavens, healthy, and our two kids are working their way through graduate programs. I went on Medicare (like so many others) and hope to travel the world for the next 10 years!”

Paul Bechly ’80 was just elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Chemists.

Beth’s favorite memory from her time at Cornell was “being on the women’s ice hockey and rugby teams. Walking home after games, with my hair freezing (in winter); it was so still and beautiful.” Nowadays, she enjoys her body combat lessons at the local Y.

Steve Benjamin , ME ’81, MBA ’82, reports, “In May 2023, our daughter Megan ’10 had her fourth child. Sheri and I love being grandparents to all four of our grandkids. I’ve got the three older ones skiing. And every February for the past seven years, quite a few Fijis from my era meet up at Alta, UT, for some excellent skiing and camaraderie. The group typically includes Dave Ayers , Tom Croskey , Doug Henderson , MBA ’88, and Dave Phelps ’81 . Others have joined us over the years, and we plan to continue this annual tradition until we can’t. We hope the group will continue to grow.”

Brian Fristensky relates, “Love can be found any time in life. In December 2022, I was so happy to marry Teresa Mayer, also a U.S. expat living in Winnipeg. In attendance were both her and my grown children, and her mother in person, and friends and relatives from all over North America by teleconference. 2023 has been a year-long honeymoon of sorts, in France, Monaco, Hawaii, and elsewhere in the continental U.S.” Brian is a professor of genetics at the University of Manitoba, specializing in bioinformatics. His favorite memory from Cornell was “singing with the Glee Club in Sage Chapel … and at Johnny’s Big Red!” These days, he is making memories singing tenor with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir.

Please write to any of us with any news you’d like to share with the Class of ’80. ❖ David Durfee ( email David ) | Leona Barsky, MS ’81 ( email Leona ) | Dik Saalfeld ( email Dik ) | Chas Horvath, ME ’81 ( email Chas ) | Alumni Directory .

I just had my six-year work anniversary with Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. I’m very proud of the work that I do! Construction of the new Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah Hospital was rapidly accelerated in the wake of October 7. Originally it was going to be finished in the second or third quarter of 2024, but when the war broke out, it had to be finished yesterday. The first patients began receiving care in January, with plans to double capacity in the coming weeks. Since October 7, Hadassah has raised more than $16 million, with $5.5 million going specifically to expedite the work on the Gandel Center.

Near me in Fort Lauderdale is Steve Greenapple , JD ’84, an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) attorney at SES ESOP Strategies, Stevens & Lee. Steve loved the Chimes concerts on the Hill, the waterfalls (all of them, but most especially Taughannock), and mud-sliding down Libe Slope. He has four great kids, a beautiful marriage, and a career more satisfying than he ever imagined possible. He’s been traveling again—both personal and for business. If you find yourself here in paradise, he hopes you will give him a ring!

This year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Lecture on campus focused on the importance of understanding and addressing systems of oppression and their impact on multiple identities, including race and gender. Kimberlé Crenshaw , professor of law at the UCLA School of Law and at Columbia Law School, spoke at the event, “The Urgency of Intersectional Justice,” on February 19 in Sage Chapel. Kimberlé is a pioneering scholar and writer on civil rights, critical race theory, Black feminist legal theory, race, racism, and the law. Her work has been foundational in critical race theory and in intersectionality, both terms she coined. She is also known for raising awareness about police violence against Black women through her work with the #SayHerName campaign.

Theresa Kronik Wrobel started an e-bike store with all proceeds going to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer and Warren counties in New Jersey. She found her passion for biking among the steep hills of her hometown, Ithaca, NY, during her teenage years. She continues now with rides in hilly northwest Mercer and western Hunterdon counties with the Princeton FreeWheelers, and she does mountain bike riding in Utah. In recent years she combined her love of biking with community involvement by volunteering with the Bike Exchange and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County. She is excited to continue these efforts at Princeton eBikes.

Bob Zeidman (Las Vegas, NV) recently published his firsthand account of the story of his debunking the 2020 election fraud “proof” presented by Mike Lindell and the subsequent arbitration that awarded Bob $5 million. The book is titled Election Hacks . Bob writes, “Lindell, the founder and CEO of MyPillow, publicly declared he had proof of voting machine tampering that threw the 2020 election. Having invented the field of software forensics, I was invited by Lindell in 2021 to examine and verify the alleged proof. What I found was bogus data, manipulated results, and dangerous conspiracy theories.”

Terry Steinberg recently earned her purple sash in kung fu and her green sash in kung fu sword. Kung fu is a great exercise, she says. Terry started out as a beginner, and the practice has improved her strength, flexibility, and balance. She lives in Silver Spring, MD.

Theresa Kronik Wrobel ’81 found her passion for biking among the steep hills of her hometown, Ithaca, NY, during her teenage years.

Peter Zenneck is happy in retirement, spending time in London and on the island of Mustique. Elise Kuebelbeck Johnson and her husband, Roderick, also live in London. Elise’s areas of expertise are healthcare, acupuncture, and shiatsu. To their delight, their five children are also in London.

Lisa Dietrich Zimmerman , DVM ’85, is still working as a part-time veterinarian in Nassau, NY, where she grew up. She does mostly ultrasound and surgery. She and her husband, Bill , DVM ’85 , ski all over the U.S. and participate in masters ski racing for fun. They live on a 300-acre farm and walk on it every day. President Rhodes was an inspiration to her, and she loved his speeches. Her favorite memories are of polo houses and roommates Celeste Starr Frohm ’80 , Julie Hansen ’80 , PhD ’89, Hal Schott ’80 , and Sue Seaman Knight . She also has many fond memories of OTS parties, dancing, partying, and surviving the rigors of vet school.

In New England, Sarah Garlan Johansen is an emergency physician at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, and faculty at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Living in Etna, NH, she shares that she’s blessed to have had three healthy children, an amazing husband, and a fulfilling emergency medicine career. She adds that she’s grateful for many things, including that she was able to perform for nine years in professional theater, live in a beautiful vacationland, spend a year in NYC with her son while on Broadway, have wonderful adventures like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, cook many yummy things, and care for many medical students and residents.

Arjun Yodh (Merion Station, PA) tells us that after Cornell, he did his PhD at Harvard and a post-doc at AT&T Bell Labs. Then he joined the physics faculty at University of Pennsylvania, where he has been since 1988. He married Lai Yee Hom in 1986. They are still married and have three kids (grown-up now), Elliott, Jeremy, and Zach. Collectively, they like sports (especially baseball), music (piano), and traveling.

Clay Pittman (Bellbrook, OH) tells us he had two great roommates, Glenn Russo and Carlos Guevara , and really enjoyed their company. His ROTC classmates were great as well, and he really appreciated their friendship and support. After graduation he had a long career in the Air Force as an engineer and pilot. He met his wife at a squadron Christmas party, and he says they have been blessed with six children and a wonderful life together. He retired in 2015 and started a second career in academia. He is still working hard and enjoying the college faculty experience.

Lana Carlsson-Irwin (Wayland, MA) is the co-business owner at Irwin Engineers Inc. Of her time at Cornell, she says she loved summertime going to the reservoir; endless games of mau-mau in those Collegetown digs; the party she threw herself at 106 South Quarry— Mike Pliss ’80 brought his friend, Andy Irwin , ME ’82, who became her husband; playing frisbee on campus with Ellen Wolaner , Mark Amos , and others; and going to the waterfalls with the same gang. Andy and Lana got married graduation weekend. They moved to the Boston area, had three kids, and started their own business, which is now 25 years old. They recently had their first grandchild. They love to travel and continue to explore new places. Lana went to law school too, but she didn’t really like the practice at the major Boston firm and quit to have those kids.

Let us know what’s doing with you—we want to know what’s going on with you, your life, and your daily thoughts! ❖ Betsy Silverfine ( email Betsy ) | Alumni Directory .

Our online memory book has now closed to new entries. If you haven’t yet, or want to again, give it a look to read about old friends and learn more about the fascinating and diverse lives and memories of your classmates.

Manuel Choy of Saratoga Springs, NY, checks in to tell us that he owns a financial planning and investment firm and that his two adult children are now married and engaged, respectively. He enjoys his family, traveling, helping his clients, gardening, and playing basketball. As to his favorite memory from Cornell, his only comment was a big smiley face drawing. That tells it all for a lot of us!

From Corte Madera, CA, Nir Margalit writes to tell us that he is the chief legal officer of a family office investment business. He is one of our classmates who is in the “I still have young children” club, and his biggest satisfaction is his family of wife Jennifer and daughters aged 5 and 8. He enjoyed a “wonderful month in summer 2023 in Israel before the horrible attack.” His favorite memory of Cornell times is “my friendships”; again, heck yeah!

Jennifer Gardiner reports, “On a Christmas trip to visit my three grandchildren (ages 2, 1, and newborn), two of whom live in Virginia, I met up with Steve and Lisa Mummery Crump . They were visiting their daughter and grandson in D.C. We caught up on my life in Charlotte, NC, where I am in my 13th year as the full-time director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at Legal Aid of Arkansas, and the Crumps’ exciting life in Switzerland. I also still play tennis or platform tennis daily, and Lisa still rides horses regularly. I would love to connect with Cornellians closer to home, like in Charlotte!”

The Memphis-based Blues Foundation has named Mark Stenzler ’82 as a recipient of the 2024 Keeping the Blues Alive Award.

Continuing the thread of classmates as authors from Doug Skalka ’s last column, we heard from Mary Ellen Plubell Miller , who lives in Johnson City, TN, with spouse Dan: “I wrote, published, and launched a book in 2023. Fill the Dam Thing Up! Building Connections: Communicating Throughout the Lifecycle of Infrastructure Projects is the story of my seven-year journey as lead communicator on a major ($400 million) infrastructure (dam) project in northeast Tennessee. It’s a communications playbook for project managers and communicators. Cornell gets several mentions! It is available on Amazon in paperback, e-book, and Audible formats.”

The Crumps are not the only classmates living in Switzerland. Mark Stenzler has been recognized for the 35+ years that he has dedicated to putting the blues out there on the airwaves from his base in Bern, Switzerland. The Memphis-based Blues Foundation has named him as a recipient of the 2024 Keeping the Blues Alive Award. This lifetime achievement award was presented to him in January during the 2024 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

I can’t improve on the foundation’s announcement: “Mark Stenzler, a native New Yorker and former radio pirate with Radio Free Ithaca, has been a passionate radio broadcaster on both sides of the Atlantic since 1978. In the 1980s, he relocated to Switzerland, where he continued his career in radio. A true blues enthusiast and a staunch supporter of public radio, Stenzler is widely recognized as the host of ‘Blues Zeppelin,’ a program he initiated in 1989. Guided by the motto ‘Working hard to make reality a lot less painful,’ he has dedicated his time and talent to create a blues program that offers a blend of the finest blues music, news, and engaging interviews. The show can be heard on several radio stations, including Radio Bern (RaBe) in Berne, Switzerland; Radio LoRa in Zurich, Switzerland; Diis Radio in Canton Valais, Switzerland; WRFI Community Radio in Ithaca; and CJRO Community Radio in Carlsbad Springs, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Stenzler’s contributions extend beyond the airwaves, as he actively collaborates with numerous festival organizers, music promoters, venues, and blues artists at various stages of their careers. From providing first-time airplay to working with award recipients, including Blues Foundation BMA and KBA winners, Stenzler has played a pivotal role in supporting and nurturing the growth of blues musicians and bringing them to the attention of the global blues community.” ❖ Mark Fernau ( email Mark ) | Nina Kondo ( email Nina ) | Doug Skalka ( email Doug ) | Alumni Directory .

Sylvia Han , CFA, CFP, and CSRIC, our classmate and class council member, led a timely Zoom discussion for our class, “Top 10 Retirement Considerations,” on March 19. Sylvia, who works as a wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, notes that “a shift has occurred in retirement planning compared to previous generations.” She discussed important issues like defining a vision, financial planning, investment risks, income source planning, sustainable spending rates, Social Security maximization, healthcare costs, and more. For more information feel free to email your class correspondents below.

Anna Esaki-Smith writes, “I’m a very proud Class of ’83 graduate of the College of Arts & Sciences. I went to the 40th Reunion this past summer and had a great time, reconnecting with both the campus and old friends.” Kudos to Anna, who has written a terrific young adult nonfiction book, Make College Your Superpower: It’s Not Where You Go, It’s What You Know, that was published by Rowman & Littlefield in April 2024. Anna adds, “Most books for teenagers about college are full of tips on writing killer college essays or nailing those SATs. Mine gives students a bird’s-eye view on how a university education connects to a tech-disrupted workplace that values skills and creativity.” A wonderful addition to students’ college prep toolkits! Anna also recently penned a “Chime In” essay for Cornellians , which you can read here .

Congratulations to  Helen Schulman ’83 , whose latest book,  Lucky Dogs , was selected as one of Oprah’s ten Best Novels of 2023!

Congratulations to Helen Schulman , whose latest book, Lucky Dogs , was selected as one of Oprah’s ten Best Novels of 2023 ! Helen is presently the fiction chair of the Creative Writing Program at the New School in New York City, where she is a tenured professor. Helen is a New York Times best-selling author of seven novels, including Come with Me and This Beautiful Life . She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the New York Foundation for the Arts, Sundance, Aspen Words, and Columbia University.

Neal Moran writes from New Brunswick, NJ. “I retired earlier this year after 36+ years in banking regulation. I’m keeping busy, including starting a blog called ‘ Upon Further Analysis .’ The blog focuses largely on banking, financial markets, and regulation, but also covers sports, culture, and current events.”

Dan Carlucci and wife Ellen write that they are keeping quite busy in medicine and more. Dan is chair of medical specialties at Reliant Medical Group, a division of OptumCare, and a clinical cardiologist. Reliant serves over 300,000 patients in eastern and central Massachusetts; Dan leads more than 100 specialty clinicians. Ellen is vice president, development, marketing, and communications at UMass Memorial Health–Marlborough Hospital. Dan and Ellen love their time in Northborough and Marion, where they can’t wait to re-start summer sailing adventures with their three adult children on the aptly named boat, No Agenda . Speaking of which, Dan is planning a September 2024 sequel to the original No Agenda weekend—look out for invites! ❖ Stewart Glickman ( email Stewart ) | Nancy Korn Freeman ( email Nancy ) | Alyssa Bickler ( email Alyssa ) | Jon Felice ( email Jon ) | Alumni Directory .

We have some great news to share! Deborah Dawson was recently surprised by Nancy Pistole , who flew from California to New York to join her along with Maurya Kilroy and Karen Kwik Kernan for a reunion. They all met freshman year in High Rise 5 and have been dear friends ever since.

Brad Will sends greetings from New York’s beautiful Mid-Hudson Valley! Over the past four years, his spouse, Sari, and he have been “transitioning” to the Finger Lakes region, his “home away from home” for five years in the early 1980s. They love spending time there, so much so that they have purchased land on which to one day build a “deep green” house and a small commercial property in the Village of Dryden, right up the street from Cornell. More recently, they bought a property that will eventually have several homes constructed. “My transition from architect to developer has begun!” he writes. It’s been an exciting phase, says Brad, and they have a two-bedroom apartment available for travelers to their old school at their “Little House on the Lot” in Dryden. At the time of this writing, Brad was looking forward to their annual BArch dinner in NYC and their trek to RPI to watch the amazing Cornell men’s hockey team take on the Engineers in early February 2024. Big Red almost always prevails! This year has been active and interesting, with projects advancing in both regions—houses, hotels, restaurants, and subdivisions. Seeing good friends is always a great treat, as they did in New Hampshire last summer and in Texas last fall. They look forward to an even more exciting year ahead, with many milestones pending. Is Brad retiring? “No, not yet—much to do!”

Timothy Brown ’84 , MBA ’92, set his first-ever novel at Cornell.

Timothy Brown , MBA ’92, has a very Big Red family! He is a dual-degree Cornellian himself (Arts ’84, MBA ’92), married to another, Nancy (Grambow) ’85 , PhD ’94. In fact, between his wife’s parents and sisters, his brothers, and their daughter, his family has a combined total of 13 degrees from Cornell! Further, his father-in-law, Richard Grambow ’55 , DVM ’57, received the Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award and the Salmon Award for Distinguished Alumni Service. Thus, it was only fitting that Timothy set his first-ever novel at Cornell. He initially self-published it as A Bolt from the Blue , but recently had it professionally edited and republished under a more distinct title, Cloning the King . It is a scientific/history thriller that explores the nexus of breakthrough cloning technology and medieval history.

Hope to see you at Reunion 2024 next month, June 6–9! And, don’t hesitate to write to your class correspondent: ❖ José Nieves ( email José ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello, fellow 1985ers! Hope all are doing well. I do have a bunch of news from fellow alums, so here you go!

Amy Smith Linton wrote in that she has been busy promoting her first book , She Taught Me Everything . The most enjoyable part for her has been showing up as a guest at book clubs, either via phone or in person, to talk about her novel.

Richard Tuchman reports that he and his wife, Cynthia, retired last year in celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary. They are currently raising puppies in Connecticut. Rick retired from a career in philanthropy, which he describes as “doing well while doing good.”

Susan Stevens Gebo has recently married. She has written, under the pen name S.M. Stevens, a novelette called The Wallace House of Pain , which received a 2023 American Fiction Award. The same story was adapted into a stage script, published by Choeofpleirn Press in their autumn 2023 issue. The characters in the novelette are also featured in her forthcoming novel, Beautiful and Terrible Things (Black Rose Writing, July 2024).

Maria Gallo Ashbrook writes, “The Class of 2023 Commencement weekend was sublime … a string of rare sunny days when Cornell truly is the most beautiful campus on earth. My son, John ’23 , graduated as a government and China and Asia-Pacific studies major (yes, that Mandarin in seventh grade paid off!) and joins big brother Keenan ’20 in D.C. to begin his career. This, of course, warms my little Cornell-in-Washington (’84) heart. I’ve attended nine Cornell Commencements of family and friends, beginning in 1974. This graduation weekend was extra special because we returned to my hometown of Auburn, with festivities across Cayuga, Owasco, and Skaneateles lakes. I guess you can take the girl out of the Finger Lakes, but you can’t take the Finger Lakes out of the girl!”

Virginia Scarola , Maryellen Magee , and Joyce Zelkowitz Cornett had an impromptu reunion in Atlanta when the Cornell Big Red baseball team took on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Apparently, back in 1991, Cornell defeated second-ranked Georgia Tech, shocking the collegiate baseball world at the time. It took Tech 33 years to overcome the pain and invite the Big Red to Atlanta. Unfortunately, the Big Red lost the first game, though they had been dominating Tech for most of the game. They lost the second game, which we saw after a great pre-game tailgate catered by SmoQ’n Hot Grill owned by Hotelie David Smith ’81 . Nick Salpekar ’96 of Highland Fine Wine and Alan LeBlanc ’84 , who owns Bold Monk Brewing Company, provided wine and beer. Robert Mandelbam ’81 and Mike Fleury ’78 were great hosts for the event! Cornell did take the third game!

The Class of 2023 Commencement weekend was sublime … a string of rare sunny days when Cornell truly is the most beautiful campus on earth. Maria Gallo Ashbrook ’85

Erin O’Connor writes, “ Gail Fink is the CEMS Program Director at Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and she travels every December to participate in the graduation ceremonies of her students. CEMS is a global alliance of leading business schools, multinational companies, and NGOs that together offer the CEMS Master’s in International Management. Gail’s friends look forward to attaching their adventures to her travels. This year graduation was in London, so several of us made a trip to enjoy the Cotswolds together. Linda Kao , Susan Herlands Holland and husband Ron Preville, Jim , DVM ’90, and Cheryl Senecal Smith , and me and my partner, Brian Garrett , rented a fabulous Airbnb called the Scotland End Barn in the town of Banbury-Hook Norton for a few days of fun, togetherness, and exploration. Driving was a challenge: thanks to Jim and Ron especially for avoiding oncoming traffic in the wrong lane and near misses with wildlife.

“We visited several towns (and yes, tried to find where the Beckhams lived) with lovely names like Cheltenham, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh, and Chipping Norton. When in England, one must have Sunday roast, and we booked at the Horse and Groom in Bourton-on-the-Hill. Even though we first landed at two different places in the Cotswolds with the same name, we eventually all made it to the same pub and delighted in a very tasty, traditional meal.

“We took full advantage of leaving the car at the BnB and walking to the local venues in our base hometown, but the best had to be our trivia night at the Pear Tree Inn. Naming our team ‘The Yanks,’ we competed with four local teams. When we arrived, the very young bartender texted his mom to hurry and get there because ‘a lot of Americans just showed up.’ A wild time was spent trying to outguess our competitors and the game was tight. We were victorious and became the ‘Damn Yankees’!

“It was such a fabulous time—so wonderful to continue to connect with friends we made when we were so young and have continued to connect with over the years. We mean something to each other, all beginning with our landing in each other’s spheres at our beloved university. Turning 60 in 2023 turned out to be a fantastic celebration that lasted the whole year as we crossed this milestone together.”

Please be sure to send me your news and make a plan to come to Reunion next year! ❖ Joyce Zelkowitz Cornett ( email Joyce ) | Alumni Directory .

My mailbox brings but a few notes from classmates, but lucky for you I have had many Cornell interactions since the start of the New Year.

Our two classmates who wrote in likely had time because they both joined the ranks of the retirees! Elsa Waymer Dempsey retired from technology sales last year and continues to enjoy the good life in Florida. She has been in her husband’s hometown of Venice, FL, for the last 30 years. She and her husband enjoy tennis, gardening, and traveling with their twin daughters, Laura and Erica. Elsa has fond memories of her many friends from field hockey, lacrosse, Pi Phi, and even engineering classes.

Chris Arbogast wanted us to know that, since retiring from software engineering last summer, he has been spending his time sprucing up his home in Nevada.

For many of us, 2024 will bring the opportunity to celebrate an important birthday (if we have not celebrated it already). I wrote this column on February 29, having turned the big SIX-O yesterday. The celebration of Toby-Fest began last month when my husband, Robert Mandelbaum ’81 , and I celebrated our quasiquicentennial (125th) birthday together by hosting a dinner for our friends. We were joined by Steve Kirson from our class, as well as Lynn Mandelbaum ’77 , David Smith ’81 , Jack Chen ’84 , MD ’88, Kathryn Whitbourne ’85 , Frank Goldman ’87 , JD ’94, and Tim , MPS ’88 , and Karen Burkhart Dick , MBA ’13 . Two weeks later, we joined Lori Goldwasser Leiman and her husband, Jose, and Barry Greenblatt ’85 and his bride, Karen, on a brief but celebratory voyage to the Bahamas. Lori, Karen, and I have known each other for over 50 years and have birthdays within six weeks of one another. The winner of the year’s best Facebook birthday greeting was Mark Katz , who likes to remind me of the great fire in Low Rise 9 in December 1982. Mark wrote: “Happy milestone birthday, Toby! Whatever you do, don’t put the appropriate number of candles on a cake and leave the room unattended.” Don’t worry, Mark—there was but one candle on my ice cream scoop last night.

I was thrilled to meet former Big Red pitcher Rob Nelson ’71 , the creator of Big League Chew. Toby Goldsmith ’86

This past weekend, the Cornell Alumni Association of Atlanta hosted the Cornell baseball team when they played a three-game series against Georgia Tech. Families and alumni were treated to tasty tailgating events hosted by David Smith ’81 and Nick Salpekar ’96 . Our team ended on a high note, likely buoyed by the wonderful dinner hosted by Alan LeBlanc ’84 on Saturday night at his restaurant, Bold Monk Brewing Company. The dinner was attended by several members of the 1991 ball team who were the last to play against Georgia Tech. I was thrilled to meet former Big Red pitcher Rob Nelson ’71 , the creator of Big League Chew.

I am very lucky to live in a community with a very active Cornell Club with a variety of events being held throughout the year that offer the opportunity to build friendships with Cornellians from a variety of classes. I hope this column inspires you to write your class correspondents with tales of your 60th birthday bashes and Cornell events. ❖ Toby Goldsmith ( email Toby ) | Lori Spydell Wagner ( email Lori ) | Michael Wagner ( email Michael ) | Alumni Directory .

Welcome to another edition of “What are my classmates up to and why haven’t I sent an update to Whitney and Liz?” Just a reminder that our classmates want to know what you are doing—and a reminder that it doesn’t need to be a major life event! Here’s the latest from my inbox.

Jill Feasley wrote that she and Diane Hirschhorn recently completed RAGBRAI, a 500-plus-mile bike ride across the entire State of Iowa. “After graduation, we promised to visit each other in person at least once a year. For a long time, she would visit me in D.C., or I would visit her on the West Coast. When we turned 40, she suggested we could ‘go somewhere else.’ So, I came up with a 50-year plan to visit all 50 states alphabetically and this year we are up to Iowa. We hope to visit Wyoming when we are 90!”

Jeff Cohen just returned from his annual skip trip out west (Park City this year) with a whole bunch of Kappa Sigs. Those joining Jeff this year included Barry Silverman , Brian Kraff , Dave Alexander , Dave Price , David Andrade , Gabe Boyar , Greg Kennedy , Gregg Rockower , Joe Gottlieb , Randy Wolpert ’86 , Jay Goldstein ’86 , and Rick Bullotta ’84 , BS ’85. In Jeff’s own words, “It’s good to know that even while all of us have grown up, and life has steered us in different directions, we can all interact with each other as if we were all sophomores living in the house together. We just go to bed much earlier.”

Lisa Rathmann Stewart and husband Mike enjoyed catching up in person with several Tri Delta classmates during their 52-day national parks road trip in June/July 2023 from San Diego, CA, to Minneapolis, MN, in their Toyota Sienna “converted” minivan. Unbeknownst to them, Taylor Swift was in concert in Minneapolis the same weekend as Lisa’s Kiwanis Convention, which made walking the streets of Minneapolis a bit more colorful seeing the “Swifties” in costume. While in Minneapolis they enjoyed visiting with Kate St. Vincent Vogl and Debbie Brown ’88 and their spouses. Heading west, they stopped in Moscow, ID, for a visit with Lisa’s parents, Dan ’56 , BChemE ’57, and Pat Lasky Rathmann ’59 . Lisa and Mike ended their road trip with a visit with Tri Delta classmates Chris Neimeth Heijenga and Heidi Heasley Ford and their spouses in Mt. Hood, OR. In July 2024, the Stewarts are looking forward to their next road trip destination in Denver, CO, where they plan to connect with Karen McBride Cleary and Dianne DeMallie in Colorado Springs while exploring the national parks in Colorado. Lisa says, “It’s been so much fun to connect with Tri Deltas while on the road. I highly recommend this as a retirement activity!”

Jill Feasley ’87 and Diane Hirschhorn ’87 recently completed a 500-plus-mile bike ride across the entire State of Iowa.

Alexa Coin Florence shared that she continues to enjoy her staging and design work, including overseeing the design of their new brewery (Great River Brewery) in downtown Davenport, IA. This is a reboot after flooding forced them to close in 2019. “I did manage to perform in one show last February, Barefoot in the Park ; it was a blast and I hope to find (and get cast in) some other production this year. We spend a lot of time with and caring for our elderly parents. While difficult, we cherish this remaining time we have with them. We took two great family trips last year: spring break in New Orleans and in August, Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna. Scott ’88 and I also have tried to go on quarterly long-weekend getaways that have really helped us take a break from our daily responsibilities/concerns.” Their oldest child, Ben, lives in NYC and works for Broadbeam Media. He’s also founded a startup and his own marketing group. Alexa’s youngest, Gabe, is a sophomore at Iowa State University, studying culinary food science. Scott continues to work on growing their business—pizza and specialty baking lines—while they work on reopening their brewery.

Joanne Cappucci Penne , MBA ’93, has been enjoying her work as an independent strategy and innovation consultant for the last 10 years for the Innovation Umbrella . Her oldest, Matt, is a sophomore (engineer) at Vanderbilt, and her youngest, Grace, is a sophomore in high school (with a driver’s license, so out the door every day …). Their 2023 highlight is that they are now a TWO-dog family. Luna is a beautiful 3-year-old Lab, and Toaster is a scrappy, cute rescue. They are inseparable and adorable and provide ongoing entertainment!

Our class council continues to sponsor online webinars to keep us informed, connected, and involved. I hope you will join one in the future and spread the word to your classmates. Keep in touch and continue to share your news by emailing either of us: ❖ Whitney Weinstein Goodman ( email Whitney ) | Liz Brown, JD ’90 ( email Liz ) | Alumni Directory .

Greetings, Class of ’88! I want to start out this column by inviting you to join our Class of ’88 Facebook group . It is a great way to stay in touch with our class, reconnect with old friends, and be the first to hear about upcoming events.

Now, onto the latest news from both near and far. Cindy Bishop Christian and her husband, Joe, moved to Tucson, AZ, in November 2020 from Minneapolis, MN. They recently finished a kitchen renovation and are working on landscaping their surroundings, filled with beautiful cactus plants. They love biking, the Sonoran Desert, and beautiful sunsets. Cindy still works at her family business, Brick Meets Click. Her son, Sean, is an avid competitive cyclist, and he attends Arizona State University online so he can race in Europe with Aevolo and USA Cycling U23 teams. Her daughter, Anna, attends Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, GA, and also races on her university cycling team. Cindy joined the Cornell Club of Southern Arizona and invites any classmates living in the area to join.

Back on Cornell’s Ithaca campus, Beth Milles , associate professor of Performing and Media Arts, directed the production of Desdemona in the fall to celebrate the 30th anniversary of famed Cornellian Toni Morrison , MA ’55 ’s Nobel Prize. Beth is the founder of Banter Company, which adapts classical theater shows for the modern audience. She joined the Cornell faculty in 2001. During the span of her theatrical career, Beth has guest lectured at Harvard University, Brown University, the University of Texas, Austin, Southern Connecticut State University, and Loyola Marymount University. We look forward to hearing about more upcoming theatrical productions.

Harlan Protass writes in from New York City, where he is a criminal defense lawyer and runs his own firm. He is also an adjunct professor at Cardozo School of Law, where he teaches a seminar on federal sentencing guidelines. He has two kids, a daughter, 8, and a son, 10, with his wife who is a literature professor at the CUNY Graduate Center. Every January for the past dozen years, Harlan returns to Ithaca to attend a hockey game with his Alpha Sigma Phi (Rockledge) brothers. “We spend the weekend laughing.” Harlan also noted that “the level of development in Collegetown is a bit shocking. It’s virtually unrecognizable from the 1980s. And, sadly, none of our watering holes still exist.”

Andrew Turner ’88 , MPS ’93, has been appointed the director of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Speaking of Cornell’s hockey team: Save the date for the next Frozen Apple hockey game on November 30, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It’s a wonderful event to get together with fellow Cornellians and cheer on our men’s hockey team. This year’s game was well attended by ’88s and Cornellians from other graduating years.

News flash from Ithaca: Andrew Turner , MPS ’93, has been appointed the director of Cornell Cooperative Extension and associate dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Human Ecology. He began his five-year term on December 1, 2023. In his new role, Andrew will oversee the development and setup of several programs including food systems, nutrition, and sustainable energy for Cornell Cooperative Extension, which has a presence in every county in the State of New York. For the past few years, he has worked with and led the New York State 4-H youth development programs. Good luck, Andrew, in your new position on Cornell’s Ithaca campus.

Traci Nagle earned her PhD in linguistics at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. After teaching for a couple of years, she realized “teaching was not my passion,” so she shifted to administration and now works in the research development office at Indiana University, where she works with faculty to get funding for their research. Recently, Traci was at a conference in Denver and she hung out with Larry Goldman at the beautiful botanical gardens. During Reunion weekend, she was thrilled to reconnect with her freshman roommate Sue Henry Muldoon . They laughed and danced the night away with Jake White and his wife, Sharon Rose. Last fall, Traci spent a weekend in New York City with Lori May and Gail Frieden Le Coz . Lori lives in Columbus, OH, and works as a business analyst for a corporate credit union. Meanwhile, Gail was visiting from her home in London. Together they enjoyed two Broadway shows and dined on New York style-bagels.

That’s all for now from Toronto, Canada, where the spring flowers are blooming. Please keep sending your news to me. I love hearing from our classmates both near and far. ❖ Pamela Darer Anderson ( email Pam ) | Alumni Directory .

As this issue of Cornellians is released, we are about one month away from Reunion 2024! Our indefatigable Reunion chairs— Shannon Gallivan Bol , Carol Borack Copenhaver , Debbie Schaffel , and Dave Scher —have been working for months already. Menus are planned, entertainment is scheduled, housing is being finalized. And the dust is about to be blown gently off the ancient tome containing the magic sunshine spell that is always cast immediately before the planes land and the cars pull into Ithaca. So check your calendar now. There’s just enough time. Come back and visit the Straight—the true home of facetime. “Test” the Suspension Bridge. Listen to the Chimes. (“Groovy Kind of Love” anyone? Maybe not …) Join the rest of us for what is sure to be an all-too-brief weekend of fun, relaxation, great memories, and old friends (plus plenty of new ones too because everyone has at least one very Big Red thing in common).

Now for a wee bit of news from our classmates. (At Reunion you get and share lots and lots of news, by the way.)

One of our illustrious Reunion chairs, Shannon Gallivan Bol (a woman with the heart of an explorer), writes, “I love when road trips take you to places where you have friends! I saw Carol Borack Copenhaver last fall and I also got to visit with Denise Host , who lives in Suwannee, GA. I recently relocated to New Jersey as the result of a new job. I’m excited to be living near many Cornell friends, including Karen Leshowitz Colonna and Michele Dowling Johnson . I started working for Prime Healthcare as regional vice president, managed care. I’m responsible for region two, which is basically the Northeast with hospitals in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.”

Another faithful attendee of Reunions past, Doug Merrill , ME ’90, MBA ’91, recently joined the University of Vermont as its regional innovation officer. In this role, Doug leads the GaN Semiconductor Tech Hub that was designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce in October 2023. Doug is looking forward to helping UVM integrate more fully with the technology and manufacturing firms in the region. Doug and Lisa (Peskin) ’90 have lived in Shelburne, VT, for 18 years. Older son Alex ’21 , ME ’21, just moved to Seattle to start a new job with SpaceX. Younger son Jack ’24 is in his senior year at Cornell, studying computer science. Doug and Lisa are fortunate to have Chris Ford and Emily and Bill Kallock ’90 living nearby and see them often in the Green Mountains or on Lake Champlain.

Lisa Spellman Porter ’89 has received numerous awards, including the National Science Foundation Career Award.

Lisa Spellman Porter has also shared that she has a new professional position—associate dean for faculty and graduate affairs for the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, where she has been on faculty since 1997. In this new role, Lisa provides strategic direction and manages matters related to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty in the college. Upon hearing this news, I let my fingers wander around the old Internet a bit and learned some things that the ever-modest and unassuming Lisa did not go out of her way to share. For instance, she has received numerous awards during her career, including the National Science Foundation Career Award, Visiting Professor for Women in the Engineering Sciences awarded by the Swedish Research Council, and the Carnegie Mellon Order of the May. According to Dean Bill Sanders, “Lisa is an exceptionally thoughtful and effective leader who has built strong working relationships across campus and has demonstrated exceptional commitment to Carnegie Mellon and the broader academic community.”

And lastly, Melinda Fellner took advantage of the online news form to share the following: “I am thrilled to announce my youngest son Simon’s acceptance to the College of Arts and Sciences for the Class of 2028! Simon follows his brother Miles ’25 and his brother Harry ’22 ! I am the chair of the tax department at Carter Ledyard and Milburn in New York City. Best to all in 2024!”

Thanks for the good wishes and for using the online news form , Melinda! We hope you all will spend a minute or two filling out the form to let us know what you’ve been up to (work, hobbies, day-to-day life, etc.), what’s giving you the most satisfaction lately, what some of your favorite Cornell memories are, and any other bits and pieces that fill us in on you. We’re eager to hear! ❖ Kris Borovicka Gerig ( email Kris ) | Anne Czaplinski Treadwell ( email Anne ) | Lauren Kidder McGarry ( email Lauren ) | Stephanie Bloom Avidon ( email Stephanie ) | Alumni Directory .

We start this column with a message from class president Caroline Misciagna Sussman : “Calling all classmates! Dust off your devices—it is time to start planning for our 35th Reunion—and we need you! Reunion 2025 will be a doubly significant one since we were unable to hold an in-person gathering in 2020. We are anticipating a huge turnout, and we want the event to be like no other!

“It will be 10 years since we have had the opportunity to come together as a class. With all that has changed in the world since 2015, we feel a heightened sense of urgency to make this Reunion truly exceptional from every angle, and we would greatly appreciate your help in doing so. The spectacular plan we had in place for 2020 will serve as a launching point for Reunion 2025. Mark your calendars, save the date: June 5–8, 2025, and help us create an unforgettable weekend of memory making!”

Our class council and Reunion chairs are gearing up for the Reunion planning kickoff meeting on October 5. We’ve got a lot to do before then, namely fundraising and building social media connections. If you would like to help with Reunion planning, please contact one of our Reunion chairs, Dave Coyne or Elinor Langfelder Schwind . If you have stayed well-connected and can help build our affinity group and class connections on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms, contact class correspondent Rose Tanasugarn or web community manager Kristyn Benzinger Whitney . If you can serve on the fundraising committee and contact classmates to encourage contributions to our class, please contact Cornell Annual Fund co-chair Karen Mitchell . They can all be reached at cornellclass90@gmail.com .

Last fall, Karen became chief human resources officer at Newmark, a NYC commercial real estate advisory firm. She and husband Rob Chodock ’89 plan to celebrate both their 25th anniversary and son Hudson’s bar mitzvah in southern Spain, where Rob spent a semester abroad. Karen regularly catches up with our Chi Omega sisters Maria Scaltro , MBA ’02, Kristen Alloway Sokol , Alisa “Gil” Gilhooley Brown , Marla Spindel , Jennifer Radner Elgin , and Tracy Dillmann Kulikowski at her house in Rhode Island or during their annual trip to Mexico.

In February, I caught up with Cornell Asian Alumni Association secretary Ivan Sim ’95 and vice president of community engagement Charles Wu ’91 at a rain-postponed Cornell Cares beach clean-up. About 20 Cornellians, family, and friends from the Cornell Club of Los Angeles gathered at Cabrillo Beach to help Heal the Bay, an environmental nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds in Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy, and clean since 1985.

Representing the U.S. at the 2013 and 2017 World Maccabiah Games in Israel, Monte Frank ’90 , JD ’93, won four silver medals and two bronze medals.

Angel Orengo and I belatedly celebrated our February birthdays over breakfast at Plateia on the UCLA campus. I met Angel’s lovely wife, Rocio Aquino, and although it was the first time I had met them, I felt an instant connection. It turns out that Angel and his family lived in Hong Kong for six years during his time with Sony Pictures. They occasionally visited Osaka and Kyoto, as Angel supervised a distribution sales team in Japan. They are the proud parents of incoming freshman Mia Orengo. Angel and Rocio co-authored a book called The Orchid: The Secret Code of Modern Goddesses , a unique work about emotional resilience, female solidarity, and the power of self-reflection, in that it also allows readers to become active participants in their own personal journeys in growth, home, and self-love. They look forward to meeting Cornellians across the country as they start their book tour to spread their message of positivity—“this or something better, for the highest good of all concerned,” she says, which closely echoes Ezra’s words and the theme of Cornell’s current fundraising campaign, “to do the greatest good.”

Jane Hyun has been on TV, on podcasts, and in print media, addressing the impact of anti-Asian violence and hate crimes affecting Asian Americans in the workplace and in their communities. In April, she launched Leadership Toolkit for Asians , a follow-up to her book Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling . In-person events will be taking place at the Cornell Club of New York and other Cornell clubs, so keep your eyes and ears open. Jane looks forward to helping Asian leaders build their capability to lead and influence by embracing their cultural strengths and mapping achievable career paths. Last year, she launched the “Culturally Fluent Leader Academy,” a virtual and in-person learning experience. Jane has also been an advisor to the diversity council for the American Heart Association.

Monte Frank , JD ’93, received the John Eldred Shields Professional Service Award from the Connecticut Bar Association in recognition of his many years of outstanding service for the benefit of the legal community and the community at large. Monte serves on the American Bar Association’s Advisory Commission to the Task Force for American Democracy and serves as a special advisor to the ABA’s committee on gun violence. An avid cyclist, Monte competes on the road and in mountain bike and cyclocross races throughout the Northeast and Canada. Representing the U.S. at the 2013 and 2017 World Maccabiah Games in Israel, he won four silver medals and two bronze medals. He founded and led Team 26 on the Sandy Hook Ride on Washington (2013–19).

In closing this column, a heartfelt congratulations to David Cohen for his successful re-election to District 4 of the San Jose City Council! You can learn about all the great things David is doing for his community here .

Please let us know how you’re doing the greatest good in your neighborhood! ❖ Rose Tanasugarn ( email Rose ) | Nancy Solomon Weiss ( email Nancy ) | Allan Rousselle ( email Allan ) | Class Facebook page | Alumni Directory .

Family and friends, turkey and football, and … Cornell Big Red hockey at NYC’s Madison Square Garden have become an annual tradition for many during Thanksgiving break. About 100 classmates, friends, and family members joined our class block of seats to re-live the Lynah Faithful traditions and see Cornell play the latest “Safe-ty school! Safe-ty school!”: Boston University.

I ( Joe Marraccino ) found myself there among the spirited sea of red, including friends Michael Clifford ’90 , BS ’91, Chris and Joyce Martir Dugan ’90 , Thomas Greenberg , Sanjeev Dhawan , Jeff Weintraub , MD ’95, Alix Mellis-Brown , John Martin , Andrew Stein ’90 , and Glenn Haber ’92 . I caught up with some of our other hockey enthusiast classmates too.

Eapen Chandy , MBA ’97, graduated with an electrical engineering degree followed by an MBA in ’97, and lives in South Glastonbury, CT, with his wife and four children, ages 20, 18, and 15-year-old twins. Eapen shared a picture taken more than 10 years ago of his uniformly smiling family in the stands. “I am passionate about sports, including Cornell hockey, and it has been an annual family tradition to see a game either in New Haven, CT, or at MSG!” Eapen also loves his music, mostly classic rock, and his career “has been spent largely in financial services. Currently I serve as the treasurer of Coalition Inc., a cyber insurance startup, which is exciting at this stage of my life.” Glad to see Eapen doing well; his life is anything but “Bor-ing! Bor-ing!”

Kulravee Puttharuksa Keegan is a self-proclaimed “suburban hockey mom.” She graduated from the College of Human Ecology with a major in human development and family studies, and currently lives in Eastchester, NY, where she is a practicing physician. Kulravee has been to a number of games throughout the years. “My son and his friends play youth hockey, so they enjoy going, and get a kick out of the cheers, taunts, and Big Red traditions!” The family’s favorite taunt? “It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault!” Of course it is.

I am passionate about sports, including Cornell hockey, and it has been an annual family tradition to see a game either in New Haven, CT, or at MSG! Eapen Chandy ’91 , MBA ’97

Loretta Dougherty Gallo just attended her first Cornell hockey game at MSG, perhaps the start of an annual tradition! Loretta, an animal science major back on the Hill, shared, “I am originally from the Bronx and now live in Pelham, NY, with my husband, Fred ’90 , and our 10-year-old twins, Josh and Hannah. I am a veterinarian and in my (ha ha) free time I enjoy reading and attending my son’s hockey games and my daughter’s horseback riding lessons.” Loretta and family followed the game intently. “It was especially great to be able to share it with our kids, since our son is a goalie playing for Pelham Youth Hockey and Ian Shane ’25 played an amazing game in goal for the Big Red!”

I agree, Ian is no “Sieve! Sieve!” We may see him more regularly at MSG and other professional hockey arenas soon. Loretta and Fred are hoping to continue other Cornell traditions. “The joke in our house is that we won’t force Josh and Hannah to choose Cornell, but with seven undergraduate schools to choose from, why wouldn’t they!?”

The good news is that we all went home happy. “Warm up the bus! Warm up the bus!” Cornell won a thriller against BU. Whether you have attended this annual game in the past or are looking to start a new Thanksgiving tradition, hope to see you with the “Rocket’s ‘RED!’ Glare” next time around!

Got news to share? Use the online news form or feel free to contact one of us directly: ❖ Joe Marraccino ( email Joe ) | Evelyn Achuck Yue ( email Evelyn ) | Susie Curtis Schneider ( email Susie ) | Ruby Wang Pizzini ( email Ruby ) | Wendy Milks Coburn ( email Wendy ) | Alumni Directory .

Paul Sung Bang Yang , ME ’95, enjoys spending time with his family and close friends, as well as visiting and reconnecting with places where he has spent time over his lifetime. He is working in virtual reality, augmented reality, metaverse, and education. He started a global leadership program and is working with real estate developers and making films. His favorite memories of Cornell are spending time with friends, enjoying a good meal, collaborating on projects, watching movies, enjoying the campus, and getting to know some of the professors.

Melissa Ditmore ’90 , BA ’92, writes that the paperback edition of her book, Unbroken Chains: The Hidden Role of Human Trafficking in the American Economy , was released April 30.

Matt Hutcheson , MS ’95, invites you to join him, Jason Markel ’93 , and Doug McGhee online to play the multiplayer game Galactic Trader for free. Enjoy early ’90s Cornell nostalgia flying around the galactic universe, trading luxuries, and battling Thargoids!

John and Janine Blanchard Huber have relocated to Indianapolis, IN. John serves as head of school at Sycamore School, a PS-8 independent coed day school, serving the needs of academically gifted students. The family is planning a visit to Ithaca as the youngest considers college choices!

Brad Minnich has enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood. He specializes in visual effects (CGI), which has allowed him to work on recent films like Batman , Aquaman , Justice League , and many others. His career has taken him around the world to shoot many movies through Europe, Africa, and India. He and his wife, Kiesha, have celebrated 24 years together. They have two inspirational daughters, Laila, 17, and MiaSol, 15, who are leaders in their school and captains of the high school volleyball teams. He enjoys staying in contact with many Cornell alumni and remembers his days on the Hill often—especially being introduced to filmmaking, which help shaped his entire life!

Finally, Amy Frome Saperstein shares that the Cornell Class of ’92 officers organized a cocktail hour in NYC at Effy’s Café on the Upper East Side. About 30 alums gathered and reminisced about their days at Cornell. Most of the group lives in Manhattan but some came from Westchester, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Everyone agreed that more cocktail hours should be planned in the future! ❖ Sarah Ballow Clauss ( email Sarah ) | Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson ( email Wilma Ann ) | Jean Kintisch ( email Jean ) | Alumni Directory .

Classmates, how are you? No, really. I am writing this in February, hoping with every ounce of my being that when you are reading this in May, there is genuine peace in the world and on our campus, with open, constructive communication and support for outlets and oases of healthy socialization.

Our ’93 magician extraordinaire Steve Cohen is still bringing it in NYC at the Lotte New York Palace: you never know who you might sit next to at his show, “Chamber Magic”! Recent guests include actors Cate Blanchett and New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Steve’s new book, Confronting Magic , is now available. It has a sensational foreword by Academy Award-winning film director Guillermo del Toro, and according to the website, “If you’ve been to the show there’s a good chance your photo is included!” Explore his website for info on the book, tickets, and more.

Our class president, Mike McMahon , just returned from an epic trip to New Zealand: “Great trip, highly recommended!” He and our former ’93 president Earl Pinto organized social events for our class officers who reunited in Baltimore, MD, in February for the annual Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference. Please consider joining our class council; we would love to welcome more of you to the party and the planning!

Thank you to our council member Pamela Fabrizio Barry , who shared that she recently reunited with Yvette Politis to celebrate the anniversary of fellow Cornellian Amy Zura Neary ’95 . Tamar Dolgen connects with classmates Jackie Finkel Kauff and Tracy Newman Porosoff as they serve together on Cornell Hillel’s board.

Grateful to Tamar for sharing her recent life update: “After decades of working with startups, global brands, and nonprofits, I transitioned my marketing and communication expertise into college and career advising. I run my own firm, Go Future Advising, and work with the nonprofit Step Ahead Idaho.” Congratulations, Tamar!

Classmates, please connect to share your updates, reunions, or milestones, or for any reason at all (Big Red or not). Take care, and please share. ❖ Melissa Hart Moss, JD ’97 ( email Melissa ) | Mia Blackler ( email Mia ) | Theresa Flores ( email Theresa ) | Alumni Directory .

Happy spring/summer, everyone! I hope all of you plan on going to our Reunion, June 6–9! Thirty years is no joke!

One of our fellow classmates was planning on working in one of the tents on the Arts Quad for Reunion. Derek Edinger , ME ’95, writes, “My wife, Stacey (Girard) ’95 , and I quit our regular day jobs (aerospace and hotel, respectively) back in 2020 and opened Brewery Ardennes in Geneva, NY, in 2021. It’s never too late to make a crazy career change and pursue your passion.”

Paul Bamundo also has a new job update; he recently became CEO of the National Pickleball League (NPL). In this role, Paul will lead this premier league of Champions Division (age 50+) professional pickleball players in its second year in 2024. Paul notes: “It is nice to be the young person in the organization now that I am 50 years old myself! I look forward to seeing many of you as the NPL tours the country this year.” I am sure that many 1994 alums have tried pickleball already at some point!

Lastly, Jarrid Whitney shared some career news of his own. “This past fall, I started a new job at Dartmouth College as the inaugural assistant vice president of enrollment for access strategy. This is a ‘full-circle’ moment for me and my family as I started my admissions career there nearly 29 years ago being on the frontlines of diversity recruitment, met my future wife in that same office, and now have the privilege to be a thought-partner with the college’s leadership on issues of which I’m most passionate. But don’t worry, CU peeps—although I may now have more Green in my wardrobe, it’s all Red whenever CU competes against Dartmouth!”

Keep sending in those updates!  You can send news to me or the other correspondents via email, Facebook, or the online news form . Best wishes for a great summer! ❖ Jennifer Rabin Marchant ( email Jennifer ) | Dika Lam ( email Dika ) | Dineen Pashoukos Wasylik ( email Dineen ) | Alumni Directory .

More 50th birthday stories kick off this month’s column! Elizabeth Leff writes that in March 2023, she and Lauren Blick Rotko , Stephanie Cosner , Jennifer Damashek Strassler , Alyse Kramarow , Stacy Lalin Poritzky , MBA ’00, and Jennifer Stevens Dickson carried on their once-every-five-years girls’ weekend tradition, celebrating the big 50th birthdays in Palm Springs together, including amazing hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. She also had a big birthday bash in Brooklyn, NY, co-hosted by Holly White , with help from her sister, Bonnie Leff ’91 .

The year also saw some work-related changes for Elizabeth—including a new role in the U.N., where she has worked since 2005 (first at UNDP and then at the U.N. Secretariat), leading the team in the Under Secretary General’s office that helps improve how operational support is provided across the organization. In the fall, she also saw off her husband, whom she met at the U.N., on an assignment to Kyiv, Ukraine. Though his assignment in a country at war causes stress, at least it also provides opportunities to meet up in Europe during his R&R, which they already took advantage of—visiting 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe in a whirlwind trip over the holidays, bringing the number of countries she has visited to 109.

Stephanie Cosner sent in some exciting news of her own as well—she was recently appointed provost at Simmons University, following her role as dean for six years and, prior to that, her work as a tenured professor at Boston College.

Anne Catlin Johnson reports some big-time 50th birthday celebrations, starting in July of last year (her actual birthday was in December!). Writes Anne, “In thinking about how I wanted to celebrate, I realized that the people were more important than the activities or venues, and then went big on plans with great friends! I planned and executed a European adventure with five of my friends from grade school, starting with a glorious cava-soaked spin through Barcelona before proceeding to Geneva and finally Paris. Everyone had a blast, and the trip went off with nary a hitch, so now I am thinking about becoming a boutique travel guide as my next act—message me if you’re looking for an excellent tour leader! In August, we moved daughter Natalie to Colby College (Maine) via a Springsteen concert in Boston—after 40 years of fandom, I finally got to see the Boss! Somehow, I had never seen Billy Joel either, so I went to his show in Baltimore with Matt , ME ’96, and Alison Torrillo French in October, right after taking my dad out to the ballpark for the first game of the ALDS (O’s lost; still a good game).

“Just before Thanksgiving, we headed south to Margaritaville at Sea with another grade-school friend and her family—a short but very fun cruise! The almost-finale week started on December 6 with the musical SIX in Denver, a cooking class on December 7, and Las Vegas on December 8–9 to see U2 at the Sphere with Edie Marshall ’96 . On Sunday, I hiked the 50 Year Trail in Oro Valley, AZ, with my best friend from seventh grade, who is one day older than I am, before we headed to Miraval on my actual birthday for some spa/healing time. A crazy day trip to NYC to see Some Like it Hot before it closed happened on the 20th before we headed to Steamboat for skiing. The last hurrah was a Disney World weekend in mid-January with two more friends from way back. I’m still teaching engineering at the Air Force Academy as a reservist but am planning my winter home in Tucson since retirement and the empty nest are right around the corner!”

In August, we moved daughter Natalie to Colby College (Maine) via a Springsteen concert in Boston—after 40 years of fandom, I finally got to see the Boss! Anne Catlin Johnson ’95

Also stretching out the big 5-0 was Mindy Goodman Sickle , whose celebration started 50 days before her birthday in June. Writes Mindy, “My husband and kids gave me a small gift every day leading up to my birthday. My friends and family, including Sara Ende Masri ’96 , pitched in on certain days. I then had a few small celebrations with family and friends. The celebrations culminated in a trip to Curaçao with my husband and no kids. It was exactly what I wanted.” Mindy and her husband currently live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and have three kids: Preston, 19, a first-year student at Syracuse; Jordyn, 18, a senior in high school heading to Tufts next year; and Spencer, 15, a sophomore. “Raising kids here is challenging and rewarding,” she says. “My kids went to three different high schools in three different boroughs; they’ve been traveling around the city via public transportation since they were in sixth grade, and my two oldest got their driver’s licenses at 17 so they can be our ‘Uber’ driver home after a night out!”

Now for some non-birthday related arts and culture news! Brett Schwartz shared that on November 11, he was awarded an Emmy at the 65th Annual Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards presented by the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He won the award for his film, Raised Up West Side, in the category of Outstanding Achievement for Documentary–Cultural.

Best-selling children’s author Michelle Knudsen released her new picture book, Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten , on March 5, 2024. It’s illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, who illustrated her book Library Lion , and she is very excited to share it with readers.

And, of course, we cannot let a column go by without a shout-out to another Cornell legacy! Melissa Biren Singer shared that she and husband Scott ’94 ’s younger daughter, Jordana, was accepted to the Cornell Class of ’28 (human development major in CHE). She will be joining her older sister, Kayla ’25 , who has been loving her Cornell experience. Writes Melissa, “We are looking forward to the girls having a year together on campus and will be visiting as much as they will let us!”

Stay connected and safe, classmates. ❖ Alison Torrillo French ( email Alison ) | Class website | Class Facebook page | Class Instagram page | Alumni Directory .

Registered dietitian nutritionist Frances Largeman-Roth has recently published a cookbook called Everyday Snack Tray , which, in the words of the subtitle, offers Easy Ideas and Recipes for Boards That Nourish for Moments Big and Small . There are tips for snack trays to suit a wide variety of occasions—including playdates, tailgates, romantic get-togethers, and various holidays—as well as guidelines on how to make them more nutritionally sound.

Frances is a contributor to several publications, including Today.com , Parents, Parade , and Shape , and has appeared on the “Today” show, the “Dr. Oz Show,” the “Rachael Ray Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Access Hollywood Live,” QVC, CNN, and more. She is a member of the James Beard Foundation and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Frances, her husband, and their three kids live north of Manhattan, in Dobbs Ferry, NY. To learn more, visit her website or follow her on Instagram . ❖ Janine Abrams Rethy ( email Janine ) | Marjorie Polycarpe Jean-Paul ( email Marjorie ) | Catherine Oh Bonita ( email Catherine ) | Alumni Directory .

Couples’ therapist Alison Bulman recently offered sage advice to Big Red alums in a Cornellians story about mindful communication. “The key is getting to a place of compassion toward your partner. And you do that by getting curious about what it’s like to be them, putting yourself in their shoes—in other words, empathy,” she says. “The idea is to approach each other with acceptance and talk about what it’s like between us right now . In our society, we talk way too much about things—work, the weather, surface stuff. We talk very little about our feelings. If we talk about what’s happening between us right now, we’re going to feel much closer to the other person, much more intimate.” Based in the New York metro area, Alison holds a master’s in social work from NYU and practices online therapy. She also hosts couples’ workshops and offers an online course designed to promote intimacy, among other offerings.

I hope you all took the time to fill out and return the Share Your News form that was recently mailed to you. If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late! Please do send us your news—via the hard-copy form or the online news form —so our future class columns can be full of news from all of you. Whether your news is ordinary or extraordinary, we want to hear it! ❖ Sarah Deardorff Carter ( email Sarah ) | Erica Broennle Nelson ( email Erica ) | Alumni Directory .

Having celebrated our 25th Reunion on campus last June, many of us are celebrating our 30th high school reunion this year! Reunions, official or not, are always great opportunities to reconnect with friends, reflect on the lessons we have learned, and recommit to continued growth. The Class of 1998 has much to celebrate with family and friends, and this column is the place to share all the great and fun things we have accomplished.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brett Walker recently wrote an article featuring our classmate Jamie Critelli and his work as a U.S. Army Major of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command (CACOM). Here is a snippet: “Food supply chains and the associated effects on future military operations is one of the many nuanced civil-military fields in which the soldiers of the 353rd CACOM provide expertise to the U.S. military. Maj. Gustavo Ferreira and Maj. Jamie Critelli of the 353rd CACOM have published nine scholarly papers on the agriculture-related limits to proposed military actions across the globe. Critelli worked his way through the ranks, having joined the Army in 1998 through Cornell University’s ROTC program.”

Jamie learned of the Army’s 38G Civil Affairs program—which provides military leadership with subject-matter experts in 18 specific fields—from a civil affairs officer while they were deployed together in Iraq. “I was the first person in the unit to put together a 38G packet,” he said. “A few months later I came across Maj. Ferreira and helped him submit a packet. Since then, I’ve put together about 40 packets for 38G. I do about two per month.” Articles that these two co-authors have published include “Does China Have Enough Food to Go to War?” and “Taiwan’s Food Resiliency—or Not—in a Conflict with China.”

Starting a new adventure? Connected with an old friend? Share your latest news with us by filling out the online news form or you can always email me. ❖ Uthica Jinvit Utano ( email Uthica ) | Alumni Directory .

Adam Ross joined law firm Keane & Beane PC on January 1, in their Long Island office in Melville, NY. Adam represents public employers in a broad range of employment-related matters. For school districts and BOCES, he provides guidance on probationary periods, tenure, recall, and performance reviews. He previously served as general counsel to the United Federation of Teachers. Congrats, Adam!

Reunion 2024 in June will feature our very own Andrew Ross Sorkin as the esteemed Olin Lecturer! Andrew is an award-winning journalist and author, CNBC “Squawk Box” co-anchor, DealBook founder/editor, and co-creator of the Showtime series “Billions.”

What is something you’re doing now that you never thought you’d be doing? What is your fondest memory of your time at Cornell? What brings you the most satisfaction these days? No matter if your news is big or small, please take a moment to write to us and stay connected with our class. ❖ Class of 1999 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello out there! I hope this little note finds you in good health and spirits. I am enjoying the warmth of the season in a new home, and, as you can imagine, it’s a busy time. It was nice to receive news from fellow alumna Katie Dealy .

In her own words: “Since June 2022, I have served as the director of engagement in the Office of U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Despite lots of travel, it has been a profound honor to serve in this role, with these colleagues and during this time, particularly as we have raised awareness around the youth mental health crisis and the epidemic of loneliness. For the last 12 years, my husband, Alan Polansky, and I have lived in Evanston, IL, with our three boys (ages 15, 12, and 8). When I am not at work, and not on the sidelines of a youth sporting event or theatrical production, I’m chairing the Cornell Class of ’64 JFK Award alumni board, and playing phone tag with dear friends from Cornell days.”

That sounds incredible; thanks for sharing, Katie. What are you up to in this great, big, wide world? I’d like to read about it, and I’m sure I’m not alone. So share your story with us through the Share Your News link below, or drop me a note! ❖ Denise Williams ( email Denise ) | Alumni Directory .

As I write this update, the Cornell Daily Sun (hope you all still read this from time to time!) just published a story about the Faculty Senate voting to discontinue median grade visibility on transcripts, a practice started 15 years ago. We can add this to the list of “glad we didn’t have to deal with that back in our day” (see also: Snapchat, doxxing), which feels like a good way to appreciate entering our midlife phase.

Speaking of now-defunct initiatives that started after our time on the Hill: would you like Cornell to bring back the New Student Summer Reading Project ? (I am still meaning to read Guns, Germs, and Steel , which had kicked things off after our graduation in Summer 2001 … maybe this time?) If so, here’s a contender: Hidden Hate: The Resilience of Xenophobia by Mathew Creighton . Once merely one of our classmates, Mathew is now an associate professor in the School of Sociology at University College Dublin, a national coordinator of the European Social Survey in Ireland, and the principal investigator of a Horizon Europe project, EqualStrength , which assesses prejudice in work, childcare, and housing throughout Europe.

Fun fact: Our class has 3,593 living alumni, plus 65 “non-degreed” classmates. If you’re one of them and you’ve read this far, go to our class Facebook group or Instagram page (or find me on Linkedin: I’m the only Nicole Neroulias Gupte ) and send a message that says “tower pumpkin.”

Spotted in person: my husband, Salil Gupte , and I ran into Erin Colling Cleofe at Seattle’s University Village Apple Store over winter break, and we also met up with neighbors Chisaki Muraki and Schaun Valdovinos . Everyone’s doing a pretty good job keeping up with their outdoorsy kids, PNW style. I hope to see them again—and any other classmates around?—next month when we’re back in town again from Delhi. (P.S., for more on me and Salil, check out the Cornell Daily Sun ’s column in the new Group Notes below!)

My husband, Salil Gupte ’01 , and I ran into Erin Colling Cleofe ’01 at Seattle’s University Village Apple Store over winter break. Nicole Neroulias Gupte ’01

Spotted on social media: Eddie Perez-Cortes caught up with Michael and Susan Mueller Hanson while in D.C. over New Year’s. “The kids had a great time visiting the monuments,” he writes. Nageeb and Fatema Gunja Sumar took their kids to the Harvard-Cornell game at “Lynah East” soon afterwards. Mike Kalogiannis started a new position as “field medical, vaccines” at Pfizer. Ali Solomon Mainhart was part of an exhibit, “From Lines to Laughs: Women+ on Men” at the Society of Illustrators, in New York City—then got to celebrate her wedding anniversary with a mid-February snow day. (The best gift for a coupla teachers, amirite?)

Speaking of gifts for teachers, did you ever take a class with Prof. Juris Hartmanis? He passed away in 2022, but I’ve just come across the tribute to him penned by Ryan Williams , ME ’02, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT. An excerpt: “I don’t know why Professor Hartmanis believed in me. During that period in my life, I felt like nobody else did, and it felt odd that the Turing Award winner was the one who believed the most.” I only took one engineering school class—CS 99, convinced by Jackie Sobota that we should try to get some entry-level knowledge while working the CIT Help Desk and supervising the Mann Library computer labs!—but I’m reminded of a few of my busy teachers in Ag and Arts who also found ways to encourage students at pivotal moments. We salute you, good teachers everywhere.

And lastly, Marisa Laks , one of our class officers and a Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow, will be speaking at the group’s annual conference in Las Vegas in July. Check out the article she wrote for the CSTA Voice on “ Creating a Sense of Belonging in the CS Classroom .”

Don’t forget to get in touch with your local Cornell alumni group to see if they’re planning a student send-off this summer! Those are great opportunities to answer questions from anxious parents (if not the kids themselves) and network with fellow alums.

Want to share an update or a memory, or get back in touch with classmates? Interested in proposing an event or helping out with our 25th Reunion planning? Please let us know by posting to our Cornell Class of 2001 Classmates Facebook group or sending an email to your friendly class correspondents. And, as always, visit our class website for more information and volunteer opportunities. ❖ Nicole Neroulias Gupte ( email Nicole ) | James Gutow ( email James ) | Alumni Directory .

What is something you’re doing now that you never thought you’d be doing? What is your fondest memory of your time at Cornell? What brings you the most satisfaction these days? No matter if your news is big or small, please take a moment to write to us and stay connected with our class. ❖ Class of 2002 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Adam Crouch recently became CEO of Redbubble, the largest marketplace for independent artists, whose designs get printed on graphic tees, stickers, and other items. Redbubble is based in San Francisco and Melbourne, and in the past year had 5 million customers buying 4.8 million different designs. Congratulations, Adam! ❖ Jon Schoenberg , ME ’03 , PhD ’11 ( email Jon ) | Candace Lee Chow , PhD ’14 ( email Candace ) | Alumni Directory .

There’s still time for you to make plans to join us on the Hill for our 20th Reunion, June 6–9! Reunion can be as short or as long as you want it to be—you can make it an all-inclusive weekend or a quick overnight trip, attend all the sponsored events or choose your own adventure. Come alone, bring a guest, or bring the whole family! There is something on the schedule for everyone, with dozens of events planned for the weekend, including performances, athletic events, Greek receptions, tent parties, lectures, tours, and meals.

Our class headquarters is Mary Donlon Hall on North Campus. Refreshments and activities will be available all weekend. Most of the meals are taken care of, but there is plenty of opportunity to hit your favorite spot. There will also be plenty of family-friendly activities available at HQ and throughout campus.

Class-specific events include: a wine tour, a tour of the Cornell Veterinary Biobank (where you can explore the world of scientific preservation), a cocktail hour and dinner at the Nevin Center welcome tent, and breakfast in the new Toni Morrison Hall on North Campus. And, of course, the Olin Lecture (featuring Andrew Ross Sorkin ’99 , award-winning journalist and author), a Chorus and Glee Club concert, the Reunion 5K through the Botanic Gardens, Redstock (where Cornell musicians and bands unite for an epic alumni concert), Cornelliana Night, tent parties, and more can be enjoyed throughout the weekend.

It’s hard to believe 20 years have come and gone. Don’t miss this chance to come back to the Hill for a fun-filled and memorable weekend! ❖ Jessi Petrosino ( email Jessi ) | Alumni Directory .

Believe it or not, our 20th Reunion is only one year away—June 5–8, 2025—so be sure to mark your calendars! We have extra celebrating to do this time around, after our 15th Reunion was made virtual, so let’s make this one a weekend to remember. And if you don’t yet pay dues, now’s a great time to start! Help us support our class and our next reunion by signing up here —and submit an online news form so our future class columns can be full of news from all of you! ❖ Hilary Johnson King ( email Hilary ) | Jessica Rosenthal Chod ( email Jessica ) | Alumni Directory .

We don’t have any news to share from these classes this round. We hope you took the time to fill out and return the Share Your News form that was recently mailed to you! If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late! Please do send us your news—via the hard-copy form or the online news form —so our future class columns can be full of news from all of you. Whether your news is ordinary or extraordinary, we want to hear it! ❖ Classes of 2006–2008 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

There’s still time for you to make plans to join us on the Hill for our 15th Reunion, June 6–9! Can you believe it’s been 15 years since we graduated from Cornell? So much has changed for us and for Cornell, but the sense of belonging to the Cornell family remains constant. Whether you’ve frequented campus since graduation or haven’t made the trip back yet, now is the perfect opportunity to explore all the changes, revisit your favorite spots, reconnect with old friends, and rediscover your love for Cornell. Start making plans to join your friends and classmates for an amazing weekend filled with class festivities and university events.

You can indulge in athletic activities, attend lectures, take tours, join Greek receptions, participate in college events, enjoy musical performances, attend tent parties, and more! Reunion can be as brief or as extended as you desire—an all-inclusive weekend vacation or a quick overnight trip. Our class has organized several special events for families and individual travelers alike. Attend an ice cream social on Saturday afternoon or choose to visit some beloved wineries along Cayuga Lake. Socialize with old friends at our class receptions and savor dinners by Cornell Catering. Family-friendly events, such as “Fun in the Sun,” are abundant, ensuring there’s something for everyone, whether you’re bringing the kids or attending solo.

Desiree Nattell writes, “I was named first on the 2023 Social Intelligence Insider 50 list. It’s an international who’s who in social media listening/insights/analytics and I was thrilled to be included!” Desiree is a senior analyst, strategy and insights, for Universal Parks & Resorts. “I studied sociocultural anthropology as an undergrad: how people and cultures grow and develop. Anyone in social intelligence can tell you that’s what we’re watching every day; social media just allows growth and development faster than we would have thought possible 20 years ago. My studies didn’t teach me what to think, but how .”

Matthew Gizzo shares, “I was just promoted to shareholder at Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC, a labor and employment law firm with more than 55 offices internationally and nearly 1,000 attorneys. I work out of the New York City and Dallas, TX, offices. In September 2023, my wife, Alycia, and I welcomed our first child, Brayden Paul.”

I was named first on the 2023 Social Intelligence Insider 50 list. Desiree Nattell ’09

Political consultant Iris Delgado writes, “I was just appointed to serve as a trustee to Middlesex College by the County Board of County Commissioners.” Iris fondly recalls the “Valentine’s Snowmageddon in 2007” on the Hill.

In 2024, Eva Kestner ’s original music was used by Cambridge International Curriculum in over 160 countries and 10,000 schools—and she was in the cover image of Harper Collins Publisher’s music textbook. From the blurb on her website : “Born in Tokyo, Japan, Eva was raised by a family of scholars and artists with mixed German and Japanese heritage. From a young age she learned how to play piano after her father introduced her to classical music, while she simultaneously learned Taiko (a broad range of Japanese percussion instruments) after her mother introduced her to the Japanese arts. After graduating from the International School of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo, Japan, she attended Cornell, where she earned a BA in philosophy. While there, she joined the Cornell Percussion Ensemble. The following year, she co-founded the Taiko drumming student organization called Yamatai Taiko and she was the lead drummer and musical director. After graduating, she returned to Japan and started performing professionally. She started her solo career a year later.

“Today, she brings Japanese Taiko drumming and song to a brand new context of pop music and also performs with many distinguished artists, musicians, dancers, and Taiko drummers across multiple genres. Eva does not only perform using Taiko—she also uses a number of other instruments that have a distinct flavor of the Japanese environment including koto (Japanese harp), voice, and piano. Eva also works in the field of education and teaches Taiko drumming workshops to both children and adults, and is also involved in humanitarian efforts such as raising awareness for the disabled.” ❖ Jason Georges ( email Jason ) | Alumni Directory .

Hi, Class of 2010! We have a couple of updates to share.

Ingrid Su has started a new multi-language greeting card business, YS Notes . She shares that the idea was first spawned 13 years ago when she sent herself an email to her Cornell inbox with website links on how to enter the greeting industry. Though it’s coming up on our 15th Reunion, it’s never too late to make a dream a reality!

James Hunsberger has been promoted to partner of Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider, effective the first of this year. He is based in Washington, DC, and focuses on antitrust matters. He has had extensive experience representing U.S. and foreign companies across various industries in high-stakes antitrust matters.

Congratulations to both of our classmates! Share your news at the link below. ❖ Michelle Sun ( email Michelle ) | Alumni Directory .

“I just won a Primetime Emmy for my work on FX/Hulu’s ‘Welcome to Wrexham,’” writes Miloš Balać ! “Having spent three years of my life working on the project in Wrexham, Wales, as the co-executive producer, it has been incredibly fun and satisfying to be recognized with the award for Best Unstructured Reality Program.”

“I first went to Wrexham in October 2020 as the supervising producer on season one, and officially wrapped on the project after three years in July 2023—I was promoted to co-executive producer for season two. As the main point of contact with the world of Wrexham, I cast and fostered relationships with the series’ primary subjects, including members of the Wrexham soccer team, the wider Wrexham community, and team owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. I developed season-long story arcs on the ground, produced and directed the majority of field shoots, wrote and conducted interviews, operated B cam, and set the series look in collaboration with the showrunner and director of photography. In post-production, I produced and oversaw story edits across multiple episodes and reviewed cuts for both seasons of the series.

“Living in Wrexham for the majority of the past three years was truly an incredible and fulfilling experience—Wrexham will be part of my life forever. However, after so long away from home, I decided to amicably step away from the project and return to New York in summer 2023. I’m currently working on a new project that has not yet been announced, so I unfortunately can’t say more!” ❖ Class of 2011 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Colleen Brill and Jake Rosen welcomed their son, Leo Michael, on December 16 at 5:22 a.m. Congratulations to you both, and welcome, baby Leo! ❖ Peggy Ramin ( email Peggy ) | Alumni Directory .

Andrew Boryga has released his debut novel, Victim , which, according to the publisher, is “about a hustler from the Bronx who sees through the veneer of diversity initiatives and decides to cash in on the odd currency of identity. This propulsive satire asks what real diversity looks like—and how far one man is willing to go to make his story exceptional.”

Erica Barnell writes, “I hold an MD/PhD from Washington University, and during my medical training I founded a healthcare company called Geneoscopy. Our company has recently successfully concluded an extensive prospective clinical trial involving 8,920 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of our leading diagnostic tool, ColoSense, in detecting colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas in average-risk individuals over the age of 45. In January 2023, we submitted these crucial findings to the FDA as part of our pre-market approval process. I am delighted to share that we have since completed all our FDA audits, including our 100-day meeting with the FDA. Furthermore, we’re thrilled to announce that our research and the associated data have been accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association .”

JC Tretter was recently inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame! Though his time as an athlete on the Hill was spent mostly as a backup tight end on the football team, JC went on to have a 9-year career as an NFL offensive lineman, playing for the Green Bay Packers and the Cleveland Browns. You can read more about him in this recent story . ❖ Rachael Schuman ( email Rachael ) | Alumni Directory .

Hello, Class of 2014! Two of our classmates, Dana Lerner and Katia Lin , were recently honored with the Robert S. Harrison ’76 Recent Alumni Volunteer Award. Dana has served as a Class of 2014 Annual Fund representative and Reunion campaign co-chair since graduation and has also volunteered as part of the Cornell Alumni Advisory Board and the Cornell University Council. Katia has volunteered as part of the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network since graduation and served as the VP of social programming for the Cornell Club UK since 2019. Congratulations, Dana and Katia!

With our 10th Reunion coming up in a few short weeks, I would love to hear about your Reunion experiences or any exciting life updates from the last five years to include in a future column. Please send me your stories! ❖ Samantha Lapehn Young ( email Samantha ) | Alumni Directory .

We have a lot of people starting new jobs—even careers—in this issue of Class Notes! We are so proud of our classmates for all their accomplishments.

Kwabena Nimo started Intelligenia, which he describes as a company that “focuses on creating sustainable, synergistic management solutions aimed at leveraging state-of-the-art business methodologies that interface AI and machine learning with consumer-driven data. At Intelligenia, we provide robust industrial and manufacturing techniques to keep pace with the ever-changing economic landscape, while focusing on delivering clinically proven products and results derived from Six Sigma best practices.”

Alana Harris left the world of law to become a teacher. You can learn more about her experience in this 2020 profile posted by the College of Human Ecology.

Carolyn Creneti got a new job as the neuromuscular lab lead at Children’s Wisconsin, and Elisa Raffa has started at CNN as a weather anchor and as a correspondent on all domestic and international platforms. Congratulations, everyone!

Do you have a new job, too? Some other milestone hit? Any other news you’d like to share? Email your class correspondents. ❖ Caroline Flax ( email Caroline ) | Mateo Acebedo ( email Mateo ) | Alumni Directory .

Misha Inniss-Thompson and her mom, Michelle Brown-Grant ’88 , were recently featured in a Cornellians story about their shared vocation: helping kids succeed, with a focus on the needs of Black girls and their communities.

Both mother and daughter majored in human development and minored in Africana studies on the Hill, and both pursued careers that have delved into education, childhood and adolescent development, and the building and sustaining of Black community. “Our work feeds off each other,” Misha observed. “In so many ways, the educator that I am today is largely informed by the ways that my mom interacts with her students, the ways that she prominently displays positive representations of Black people and folks of color more broadly.”

Siddhant Gokhale recently co-wrote a book, Scaling Up Development Impact . “While solutions to tackle some big development challenges (e.g., access to electricity, health, and literacy) already exist, few attain a scale that matches the magnitude of the problem, even though this is critical in meeting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This book offers concepts, questions, and tools to accompany the scaling process. Weaving together real organizational experiences, the book offers a unique perspective on development—one that puts people experiencing the problem at the center of co-creating solutions, one that emphasizes adaption and frequent iterative experimentation, and one that looks at scaling from the purview of navigating complex systems.” ❖ Class of 2016 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

We don’t have any news to share from these classes this round. We hope you took the time to fill out and return the Share Your News form that was recently mailed to you! If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late! Please do send us your news—via the hard-copy form or the online news form —so our future class columns can be full of news from all of you. Whether your news is ordinary or extraordinary, we want to hear it! ❖ Classes of 2017 & 2018 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

There’s still time for you to make plans to join us on the Hill for our 5th Reunion, June 6–9! We can’t wait to celebrate with you! The entire university opens its doors and rolls out the Big Red carpet with dozens of activities, lectures, tours, and meals. If you sign up by May 15, you can lock in the early bird rate.

Registration includes continental breakfast every day, our class dinner on Saturday night, late-night and daytime food, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a souvenir, and numerous 2019-exclusive and university-wide events.

Clara Dickson Hall will be our home base for the weekend. Breakfasts, late-night gatherings, and other activities will take place in and around Dickson. Saturday’s class dinner will be held under a tent on the new Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall plaza on North Campus. Housing is available to everyone who would like to stay on campus, as the dorms are transformed into hotels for the weekend. We’ll have rooms in Dickson (mostly singles) and Jameson Hall (mostly suite-style). You may request housing in quieter dorms, share a room with a friend or significant other, or reserve blocks of rooms near friends.

Class-specific events include: a Dairy Bar ice cream social, a wine tour, a lawn game tournament, and a tour of what’s new on campus. And, of course, the Olin Lecture (featuring Andrew Ross Sorkin ’99 , award-winning journalist and author), a Chorus and Glee Club concert, the Reunion 5K through the Botanic Gardens, Redstock (where Cornell musicians and bands unite for an epic alumni concert), Cornelliana Night, tent parties, and more can be enjoyed throughout the weekend.

To keep up to date with class-specific details, follow us on Instagram ( @cornell2019reunion ). We’re so excited to CU in June! ❖ Class of 2019 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

“I recently joined a cohort of hundreds of other artists whose artwork landed on the moon as part of the first official art collection there,” writes Sam Price . “This payload, aboard a nickel disk designed to last for a billion years, was part of the first landing from the U.S. in over half a century and the first landing ever by a private company. My artwork is part of a digital series raising money for wildlife conservation in Africa. You can read more here !”

Elisabeth Crotty was recently selected as a 2024 Design and Technology Fellow of Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE). “Now in its 14th year of operation, FASPE annually grants 80–90 fellowships to graduate students and early-career professionals in the fields of business, design and technology, journalism, law, medicine, and seminary. Fellows participate in a two-week program in Germany and Poland, which uses the conduct of professionals in Nazi-occupied Europe as an initial framework for approaching ethical responsibility in the professions today. The FASPE curriculum takes advantage of the power of place with daily seminars and dialogue at sites of historic importance, often specific to their profession. By educating students about the causes of the Holocaust and the power of their chosen professions, FASPE seeks to instill a sense of professional responsibility for the ethical and moral choices that the fellows will make in their careers and in their professional relationships.”

I recently joined a cohort of hundreds of other artists whose artwork landed on the moon. Sam Price ’20

Elisabeth is a security technical program manager at Microsoft, working to protect the world with rapid and thorough response to security vulnerabilities. She studied information science, systems, and technology at Cornell, where she developed a passion for building technology in a way that is not only responsible but creates positive social impact. She says, “I was drawn to the FASPE program because I would love to be surrounded by others in design and technology who share a passion for understanding how the products we’re creating, and the way in which we create them, may impact our users and non-users alike. I want to be a part of this program to have a dedicated space to focus on ethical issues and develop strategies to initiate and approach these conversations across disciplines. I think this program will better prepare me to be a leader in this industry that is constantly changing and doesn’t always create space to reflect.” ❖ Class of 2020 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Brian Forness is a global banking and markets analyst at Goldman Sachs, where he recently teamed up with a group of fellow analysts, including Valentina Xu ’22 , to take part in the global Goldman Sachs Gives 2023 Analyst Impact Fund Award competition. Teams who enter must identify, study, and ultimately pitch the work of a chosen nonprofit organization to Goldman Sachs leadership; the grand prize is $250,000 donated to that organization.

Though more than 300 teams entered this year, Brian’s team made it to the final round and earned both second place and the “Fan Favorite” prize, which in total secured a grant of $125,000 for their chosen nonprofit, Trickle Up—which seeks to partner with women in extreme poverty and provide them with financial support, training, and mentoring to ensure they build sustainable livelihoods for themselves.

Brian’s volunteerism included co-founding and serving as president of Cayuga Capital, a Cornell student-run educational nonprofit focused on personal finance, taxes, and investing, and serving on the e-board for Cayuga’s Watchers, among many other activities related to his passion for finance and entrepreneurship.

Amanda Hernandez is the volunteer coach for the Cornell University Dance Team. The team placed eighth in the Universal Dance Association’s National College Dance Team National Championship in Orlando, FL—the most competitive collegiate dance competition in the U.S. Amanda writes, “We were one of 11 teams who advanced to the finals, and this was an astonishing achievement, given that our team has only attended the championship twice before and we were founded in 2017.” ❖ Class of 2021 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Andrew Lorenzen is among the 51 new Marshall Scholars announced today by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission. Andrew majored in government and performing and media arts and minored in English. A published author, he is currently completing a master’s degree in creative writing at NYU. With the scholarship, Andrew will pursue a master’s in politics and communication at the London School of Economics, followed by a master’s in narrative futures at the University of Edinburgh.

In December 2023, our very own Emma Cameron , BS ’21, fulfilled a lifelong dream by winning the title of Miss Rodeo America! She’ll be spending 2024 representing the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, logging some 50,000 miles as she travels to a variety of events and appearances around the country—including performing at nearly 100 rodeos. You can read more about her in this recent Cornellians story .

Emma Cameron ’22 , BS ’21, fulfilled a lifelong dream by winning the title of Miss Rodeo America!

As Emma explains in the story, rodeo pageants resemble conventional ones, like Miss America, in a number of ways. For example, contestants have to demonstrate poise and stage presence, excel in interviews, perform in group numbers, and model stylish outfits. (Hers included a striking copper-colored metallic dress—which she helped design—for the competition’s “Western trendy” fashion show.)

“The big difference for us is that instead of singing or dancing, our talent is horsemanship,” she says. “We have a whole day dedicated to evaluating how well we can ride a horse, and we have interviews and a written test on equine science, veterinary knowledge, and the overall industry, to make sure we can represent it well.”

At the Miss Rodeo America competition—which has been held since 1956—Emma beat out 30 other young women for the crown and won several awards, including the one for horsemanship. Her prizes include scholarships as well as a large wardrobe of Western-style clothing, jewelry, and accessories, which she sports at her many appearances. The highlight, of course, is the elegant Miss Rodeo America crown. No ordinary tiara, it’s specially designed to slip onto the variously colored cowboy hats that coordinate with her outfits. ❖ Class of 2022 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Lorlei Boyd develops AI tools for Gray Decision Intelligence , a software company that provides platform evaluation software to colleges and universities. She first started at Gray DI as an analyst but quickly transitioned into a developer (she led the integration of generative AI into Gray’s interface). While grounded in critical thinking, she draws from her humanities background at Cornell to approach her work in shaping technology with a human element. ❖ Class of 2023 ( email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12 ) | Alumni Directory .

Agriculture and Life Sciences

Samson Hagos , MS ’04 , PhD ’07 , is an earth scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in southeast Washington State, where he models the lifecycles and variability of precipitation and extreme weather events across various regional and global scales. During his time on the Hill, Samson studied the causes of the decade of catastrophic droughts across the Sahel region in Africa. He co-authored a breakthrough paper about these causes and Sahel’s rebound to normal precipitation levels with his advisor and mentor at Cornell, climate scientist Kerry Cook. Samson grew up in drought-stricken East Africa in the 1980s. Despite this and the often-scarce availability of water throughout the world, Samson is optimistic: “We need to work together, wherever we happen to be geographically. We need to look out for the less fortunate. Collectively, we have the tools to solve our water problems. Humankind is a very resourceful and cooperative species.”

Architecture, Art, and Planning

Christine Song , MArch ’09 , is a senior associate at the architecture firm Elkus Manfredi in Boston. Christine currently has a leading role in major projects in Boston and Cambridge, including the redevelopment of the National Transportation Center facility in Kendall Square. In 2023 she was named to NEREJ ’s Rising Star List for her complex designs on high-rise buildings and her influence on the cityscapes of Boston and Cambridge.

Arts and Sciences

Photographer Julia Cumes , MFA ’98 , has been named the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s 2024 Artist of the Year. The award recognizes a Cape-based artist whose work shapes thought, inspires change, and creates a deeper sense of connection in the community. Her photography has taken her to India, Rwanda, Thailand, Lebanon, Tanzania, Cuba, Kenya, and more. She has photographed the aftermath of several of the world’s recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and the floods in Eastern Kentucky in 2022. Last year she launched Photo Artfolio , an online organization that serves as a resource center and gallery to support emerging and established photographers. “As a young photographer, I experienced firsthand the profound impact of having mentors in my photographic journey,” Julia says. “Their guidance, support, and insights were instrumental in shaping my skills and artistic vision. It is with this understanding of the value of mentorship and a strong photography community that the idea of Photo Artfolio was born.”

Nick Roth , MA ’11 , PhD ’14 , has a new project—a movie titled Hanky Panky that is written, co-directed, and co-starred in by Nick himself. The movie is about a man and his talking napkin best friend who must save the world from a killer, evil top hat in a cabin deep in the Utah mountains—all while also learning to love. It came out on April 19 and is available on Amazon, Apple, Google, and more.

Amarildo Gjondrekaj , MBA ’19 , is founder and CEO of Adro, a financial technology company that provides financial services for people who are moving to the U.S. from another country for school or work. Adro is launching this summer. Several classmates have joined his team, including Sara Schmitt , MBA ’19 , as COO, and Lalo Gonzalez , MBA ’19 , as a user experience/user interface designer.

Engineering

Eric Betzig , MS ’85 , PhD ’88 , has been announced as a 2024 inductee into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his co-invention of a super-resolution imaging technology called photoactivated localization microscopy. This allows scientists to distinguish individual molecules and study biological structures and processes with unprecedented resolution. Eric will be inducted on May 9, 2024 in Washington, DC, at the annual ceremony. This honor is also being awarded posthumously to another Cornellian, Alice Stoll , MS ’48 , for her invention of fire-resistant fibers and fabrics.

Alexander Boys , MS ’16 , PhD ’19 , recently started a position as an assistant professor in the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. He is researching the development of bioelectronic implants for applications in regenerative medicine and rehabilitation engineering. Alexander previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cambridge for five years.

Industrial and Labor Relations

Cindy Vogel Ryan , MILR ’99 , was recently appointed as MassMutual’s head of human resources, where she’ll oversee the company’s HR organization and advance its people strategy. At MassMutual, a life insurance and financial services company, she will manage a range of areas including talent acquisition, employee relations, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cindy has over two decades of HR leadership experience, including 25 years at Cigna, where she most recently served as chief human resources officer.

Veterinary Medicine

Charles Hjerpe , DVM ’58 , lives in Davis, CA, with his wife, Sue Davis Hjerpe ’58 , and enjoys following the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of their three children and six grandchildren who live throughout the country. Their grandson Cooper Austin Hjerpe was drafted with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and is now with the Peoria Chiefs on injured reserve following elbow surgery. Charles fondly remembers his days at Lambda Chi Alpha and “all the camaraderie that went with fraternity living. Studying with my wife-to-be in the evenings at Tri Delt on Beebe Lake during 1957–58 was also memorable.”

Welcome to our newest offering: Group Notes! Like Class Notes, these columns are written by alumni, but they comprise news about members of Cornell groups—including campus activities, alumni organizations, and more—across generations. If you would like to see your group represented here, email us for more information!

Cornell Daily Sun

Hello fellow Sunnies, and welcome to Group Notes! I’m excited to introduce this new column, which will highlight the achievements and celebrate the lives of Sun alumni. As one of Cornell’s oldest, most storied student organizations, the Cornell Daily Sun boasts a vast and accomplished alumni network. Sunnies make a significant impact in journalism, philanthropy, business, medicine, and many other fields. We create thought and inspire change. I’m proud to introduce you all and share your stories, both personal and professional.

If we haven’t met, I’m Vee Cipperman ’23 . Like many of you, the Sun formed the backbone of my college experience. I served consecutively as news editor, editor-in-chief, and senior editor (the paper’s best position!). Since my graduation in December, I’ve worked as a graduate fellow in Sun operations and alumni outreach. I enjoy cooking, running, and exploring Ithaca’s many natural gems, and I hope to pursue a long career in journalism and communications.

But enough about me. I’ve gathered plenty of exciting news about you and your fellow alumni. In the past few months, you’ve launched exciting projects, embarked on new careers, and expanded your families. 2024 is shaping up to be a busy year for Sun alums!

Following five years at the Wall Street Journal , Haley Velasco ’15 ( Sun editor-in-chief) started working at McClatchy in 2022. As an editor, she leads growth strategies for 30 papers including the Kansas City Star , the Miami Herald , and the Sacramento Bee . Haley writes, “This is also my second semester teaching a ‘Social Media in Journalism and PR’ undergraduate class at Seton Hall University, where I teach audience strategy, social media platforms, and work through brand analysis.”

Sun alumni continue to make waves as professional reporters. Jessica DiNapoli ’08 , BA ’07, (senior editor) writes that she recently returned to work at Reuters, “covering consumer products companies.” Justin Peters ’03 (columnist) will cover the 2024 Summer Olympics for Slate . He also co-owns Tampa-based comedy club the Commodore, “thus bringing me closer to achieving my lifelong dream of becoming ‘Florida Man.’” Carl Leubsdorf ’59 (associate editor) celebrated 44 years as a reporter at the Dallas Morning News and Tribune Content Agency last March. He writes, “My wife, fellow journalist Susan Page, will be releasing a biography on Barbara Walters in the spring.”

Sun alums have also launched exciting projects outside the journalism world. Phil Mazo ’03 (cartoonist) released a short comedy film called “I’m Phil,” which won the 2022 Coney Island Film Festival for Best Comedy Short. Ed Zuckerman ’70 (editor-in-chief) published Wealth Management , a thriller novel, in 2022. He writes, “One character in the book is a Cornell graduate, but she didn’t work on the Sun . Her loss.” This book is yet another twinkle in Ed’s star-studded career as a journalist, nonfiction author, and writer-producer on TV shows including “Law & Order.”

Many Sun alums have found their calling outside the media industry. Zachary Silver ’19 (sports editor) covered Major League Baseball for four years before pivoting to communications. He writes, “I have learned that even if I’m out of the field, it’s easy to stay connected.” He keeps up with the friends that he made in the press box, and he reports that he’s still cheering from the sidelines.

Phil Mazo ’03 won the 2022 Coney Island Film Festival for Best Comedy Short.

Chloe Gatta ’12 (business manager) lives in Manhattan and works in strategic communications at Hiltzik Strategies. Maryam Zafar ’21 (editor-in-chief) pursues research in environmental health epidemiology and writes for the Harvard Public Health Magazine . She reports that she will begin medical school in fall ’24.

Andy Guess ’05 (editor-in-chief) lives in New York City and works as an assistant professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University. He writes, “Remember, New Jersey and you, perfect together.” Rochelle Li ’21 (HR manager) works in healthcare management for global consulting firm ZS. She writes, “I currently live in New York City and spend my free time engaging in various cozy hobbies, including baking, embroidery, and houseplant growing.”

Several Sun alums stick close to home, pursuing careers here in Ithaca. Amanda Soule Shaw ’00 , MBA ’05 (business manager) serves as the associate dean for administration and finance for the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. She writes, “I live in Ithaca with my husband and two teenage sons, who regularly fight over wearing my Cornell Daily Sun sweatshirt to school and around town.” Kirkpatrick Sale ’58 (editor-in-chief) lives in the Ithaca area with his wife. He reads the Sun online each morning.

Other alumni, including Salil Gupte ’01 (managing editor) and Nicole Neroulias Gupte ’01 (features editor) make a big impact abroad. Salil serves as president of Boeing India, “opening a new 43-acre campus with India’s Prime Minister and launching a new training program for women pilots.” Nicole serves on the board of governors of Delhi’s American Embassy School. She is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science from San Jose State University.

They write, “Our two kids, R.J. and Katia, are also busy with school, Scouting, taekwondo, music programs, and being dragged around the world.” Nicole and Salil invite any Sunnies visiting Delhi (during the school year) or Seattle (over summer breaks) to reach out on LinkedIn.

To close our first Group Notes column, I’ll share some exciting news about Sun families. In 2023, Carl Leubsdorf celebrated the wedding of his son, Will. Jessica DiNapoli and her husband, Sachin Shah, welcomed their son, Michael, in August 2023.

That same month, Haley Velasco got engaged—she reports that she’s currently planning her wedding. Chloe Gatta got engaged in November 2023; she and her fiancé, Aayush Srivastava, plan to get married in Philadelphia.

It’s been great to hear all your fun stories. To my contributors, thank you for your time! If you’re interested in submitting an update for a future Cornellians column or the Sun alumni blog, please reach out to me . It’s always exciting to see where Sunnies end up in the world, and how you’re all working to change it for the better. Shine bright! ❖ Vee Cipperman ’23 ( email Vee ) | Alumni Directory .

University Chorus & Glee Club

Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome! To the brand spankin’ new Cornell Chorus and Glee Club (a.k.a. “Glorus,” according to the current students) Group Notes column! I am excited to be your correspondent and to share all of your updates.

A little bit about myself: I, Alison Torrillo French ’95 , graduated from Cornell in 1995, sang Alto 2 (woot!) in the Chorus all four years, and was a part of After Eight. Outside of singing, I majored in communications in CALS, wrote for the arts and entertainment section of the Daily Sun , and was president of Women in Communications. I now am a solopreneur, running my own consulting company, aptly named Alto Solutions ! I live outside Washington, DC—where I recently got to see many of you when the Glorus came down for winter break tour—with my husband (and classmate, but he was a Big Red Band geek), Matt French ’95 , ME ’96, and our two kids, Ray, 13, and Ben, 11 (who both adore visiting Cornell—in particular, the Dairy Bar!). I have sung with several a cappella groups and bands in the area and can often be found belting it out at karaoke night with friends.

Now let’s dive right into your updates, shall we? Also in the Washington, DC, area, where the spirit of Cornell music-making lives on, is Brad Spencer ’79 , who sings in the Washington Men’s Camerata along with fellow Glee Clubbers Robert Harris ’80 , Kenyon Erickson , MPS ’81 , Jason Rylander ’93 , Eugene Stromecki ’82 , Michael Schrier ’90 , and Shea Murphy ’20 —all under the direction of former CUGC director Scott Tucker and the first woman to serve as the Camerata’s associate director, Chorus alum Julie Huang Tucker ’05 . Writes Brad, “We have sung more than a half dozen times with the National Symphony Orchestra and recently made NFL history by singing on a state-of-the-art recording of the Washington Commanders’ new fight song.”

Yet another D.C.-area Glee Clubber who is continuing to sing is Bill Welker ’73 , MBA ’75. He has been a member of the Choral Arts Society, whose season started with the singing of Rachmaninov’s “Symphony of the Bells” (prepared by Scott Tucker) and then William Walton’s “Belshazzar’s Feast,” conducted by Marin Alsop, both performances at the Kennedy Center. Bill is looking forward to singing Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana in the spring.

We recently made NFL history by singing on a state-of-the-art recording of the Washington Commanders’ new fight song. Brad Spencer ’79

Living in Cincinnati, OH, Jessica Graus Woo ’93 —my co-president of the After Eight Alumni Council—writes that she recently got to catch up with Steve Merz ’91 at a grad school event. Steve lives in Maine and is running a behavioral healthcare organization. “It had probably been 25 years since we’d seen each other, but it was like no time had passed,” says Jess. As I write this in February, I am excited myself to catch up with Jess and others at the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference in Baltimore—I’m sure I’ll have some news to report afterward.

Jeanne Arnold ’78 is also keeping the music alive and is busy doing local theater on the East End of Long Island. She has done The Producers (ensemble), Cry-Baby (stage manager), Taming of The Shrew (Tranio), and Macbeth (Seyton and First Murderer). She is active in Corchaug Repertory Theatre, North Fork Community Theatre, and Northeast Stage. She also recently got together with friends to perform a Broadway tap dance number and has sung lead with some bands. Her favorite Chorus memories are Carnegie Hall with Michael Tilson Thomas in 1977 and our centennial Reunion in 2022.

Finally, TP Enders ’90 , ME ’96, shared an update from Robert Pierce ’61 , who, after having been widowed, reported re-finding joy through singing by joining the Encore East Side NYC Chorale. The group is run by Encore Creativity, a national choral organization for age 55+ adults. He invites NYC-area singing alumni to join him. The group does not hold auditions, rehearses weekly at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church (E. 73 rd Street), and is in particular need of male voices. There’s more information on Encore’s website and Facebook page .

That’s it for the inaugural column. All of your updates are certainly music to my ears. Please keep them coming. Until we meet again … ❖ Alison Torrillo French ’95 ( email Alison ) | Alumni Directory .

Top image: Photo by Ryan Young / Cornell University

Published May 1, 2024