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Bird-bander Oak Thorne '53 handles a yellow-headed blackbird.

Personal and professional news and updates from YSE's more than 5,500 alumni around the world.

Classes of 1953-1983 | Classes of 1984-2003 | Classes of 2004-2022

  1. Class of ’82

    Class Volunteers

    Paula Daukas, Gro Flatebo, Barbara Hansen, Kenneth Osborn, Ross M. Povenmire

    Gregory Baker writes: “Tom Walicki and I left Yale with $30+ to our name, literally, and enjoyed the summer of 1982 at Great Mountain Forest with Ned Childs ’83 and Starr Childs ’80. Tom and I still stay in touch regularly. We try to play golf a few times a year (both of us equally handicapped). Tom was a successful forest consultant for many years with Mike Ferrucci ’81. My years since Yale are too varied to describe here. To all students from the Class of 1981, 1982, and 1983, know we are most grateful for the friends and fellowship 40 years ago. With sincerity, Gregory Baker (Fork Harbor, Maine) and Tom Walicki (Madison, Connecticut).”

    Three people ready to ski
    Paula Daukas ’82, Joth Davis ’82, and Louise Richardson Davis ’81 enjoy the snow in Montana.

    Joth Davis writes: “Greetings from the Big Sky Country of Montana. Skiing the deep and steep with Paula Daukas and Louise Richardson Davis ’81. We have had fun times reminiscing about everything!”

  2. Class of ’83

    Class Volunteers

    Stephen Broker, Elizabeth W. Swain

    Loeks and his dog, Walker, in the Yukon.
    David Loeks ’83 and his dog, Walker, stop for a short rest during a hike in the Yukon.

    Stephen Broker writes: “The fieldwork for the five-year Connecticut Bird Atlas is completed as of spring 2022. I serve as regional coordinator for greater New Haven, which has 77 atlas blocks, two of which are my adopted blocks and encompass West Rock Ridge. Connecticut DEEP and the University of Connecticut are leading this effort, which will provide the latest information on breeding, wintering, and migratory birds in the state. Results will be online and will be invaluable for land managers and conservation efforts.”

    David Loeks writes: “Greetings from 50% of the Yukon YSE alumni! I just completed the sale of my timber-frame home manufacturing business. This was an innovative design and it used salvage timber from the infamous British Columbia mountain pine beetle infestation, but it was time to let go. I continue to consult in conservation, protected areas, and wildfire risk management. And I am as active as ever in wilderness travel, hunting, sailing, and skiing in the Yukon, accompanied by my faithful mutt, Walker.”

    Denise Schlener writes: “Just as I was about to take the ‘semi’ out of retirement, I am now serving as interim executive director for the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League until the board selects a new executive director. Terrific advocacy organization. Almost forgot: The other news is I’m getting married in May to George Bren, my longtime partner.”

  3. Class of ’84

    Class Volunteers

    Therese Feng, Timothy Williams

    Harvesting olives in Italy
    Eva Mueller ’84 harvests olives in Italy.

    Shere Abbott writes: “In December, I retired as a professor at Syracuse University. In July 2022, I join the faculty at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, where I’ll build sustainability science and policy programs. JHU is renovating the former Newseum building on Pennsylvania Avenue for its D.C. campus. Ever since leaving the Obama White House a decade ago, I’ve missed the D.C. policy environment. With our New York nest emptying this spring, it’s time to return for a few seasons!”

    Dusti Becker writes: “Ironic that the request featured a giraffe, as that is what I have been trying to save: giraffe nurseries on the Siria Plateau in Kenya. Privatization of land destroyed both communal grazing and wildlife habitat, and now we are making the best of a bad situation: flagging fences, speaking to landowners, and trying to make a giraffe conservancy. Otherwise, still trying to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone National Park wolves, protecting birds in Ecuador, and getting older. Wishing everyone all the best and that we finally get over the COVID craziness.”

    Mark Kern writes: “After many years in the environment field, mostly with the wetlands group of the EPA (33 years) in Boston, I have retired and left New England. My wife and I are building a house in Sarasota, Florida, and closing by spring 2022. We have family and friends in the area. Visitors are most welcome.”

    Class of 1984 grads Chris Stecko and April Grimm with their dog, Mica, in Half Moon Bay, California.
    Class of 1984 grads Chris Stecko and April Grimm enjoy some downtime with their dog, Mica, in Half Moon Bay, California.

    Eva Mueller writes: “After working for the German government in Berlin as director general of forests, sustainability, and renewable resources of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the past three years, I have recently retired and have just moved back to Italy. I am looking forward to spending more time with my partner and enjoying my country house at the foot of the Sabina mountains, but I will also spend time in Rome working as a consultant for the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.”

    Chris Stecko and April Grimm write: “We are living the Sierra foothills of Northern California and are both celebrating our retirements (Chris from telecom; April from the solar industry). We have two adventurous sons in their 30s who work in tech. We still miss our Jessie, born when we were at Yale, to this day. With travel becoming more possible, we plan to visit parts of the U.S. and Canada with our 16-foot trailer in tow. Maybe we’ll see some of you on the road. Thanks, Therese Feng, for all you have done all of these years to keep us connected!”

  4. Class of ’85

    Class Volunteers

    Alexander Brash, Jonathan Nute, Stephen Young

    Alex Brash writes: “JJ Earhart relates that he is traveling — as always — and leaning into retirement as he winds down his Global Environmental Fund and soon heads back to California. Analía is building a wonderful home for them in a small oak woodlot in North Valley Napa, and his kids are great and his grandson the best.

    Larry King is living in and loving Detroit, trying to keep track of the kids, hanging with family in Minnesota but really spending most of his time in Motown at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. Everyone else has been quiet (or introverted), though I saw Brent Bailey on a Zoom at an old friend’s retirement party, where he piped in — and looked good — from West Virginia. We bought a house in Vero Beach, Florida, just before COVID, and I am loving it: birding, fishing, golf, and the warmth! Learning all the palms. Have an agent on one book, working on another, and my two kids are now out of the nest and doing well. Hallelujah! JJ also noted, and I am sure we all concur that the recent passing of Frank Wadsworth (our TRI host), Tom Lovejoy, E.O. Wilson, and Jeff Burley ’65 PhD is a considerable loss this year. Good to hear though that he sees our ex-dean and honorable classmate, John Gordon ’83, and reports he is still stentoriously awesome in Portland.”

    Chris Donnelly writes: “So, I retired. Good thing — I wouldn’t have been able to properly enjoy the pandemic otherwise. No, I am kidding. Since I retired from Connecticut DEEP, where I helped to build the urban forestry program for some 20-plus years, I have been enjoying doing many of the same things I did before I retired, only this time not getting paid. Also kidding. I am still doing many of the same things that I liked before I retired but this time as a free agent, able to pick and choose those volunteer projects I like most but never seemed to have enough time for before. And I am getting rewarded enormously by being able to remain connected to many of the same great people as before and expanding my horizons toward some new directions and new friends to be made. Since retiring, I have been teaching some at UConn (urban forestry, what else?) while chasing the elusive bluefish in Long Island Sound in one of the kayaks from my very small fleet. Last, I bumped into Jon Nute, who informed me that I’m the only one of our class who is still at the same address as when I attended YSE — some things don’t change. It was good to see Jon at the New England Arborists Association meeting, just as it will be good to see other classmates. Let’s hope a favorable wind blows this virus out of our lives and that seeing each other in person becomes more possible very soon. All the best to the rest of the Class of ’85.”

    Mark Judelson writes: “We launched my book, ‘Michael’s Legacy: Transcending Life and Death,’ the true story of Michael Bovill who died at the age of 23. His heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys were donated to five strangers. On October 21, 2021, the recipients of Michael’s heart and lungs; members of their families; Michael’s mother, father, and sisters; the heart surgeon who transplanted his heart; the physician who cared for the recipient of one of his kidneys; the transplant coordinator; and others met at LiveOnNY, the organ transplant agency that oversaw this miracle, to celebrate the book, Michael, and the 11th re-birthday party for the recipients. To learn more and to purchase a copy, visit michaels-legacy.com.”

    Whitney Tilt writes: “Working on fisheries and climate issues as executive director of the AFFTA Fisheries Fund and enjoying the (relative) calm of Montana.”

    ALUMNIFIRE

    Connect with more than 2,000 YSE alumni and students around the globe and across the decades jobs , events and mentoring - all on one site!

    Visit yse.alumnifire.com

    Let us know how you are doing.

    Email us at alumni.yse@yale.edu

  5. Class of ’86

    Class Volunteers

    Stewarded by the office of development and alumni services

    Ken Andrasko writes: “Sitting in Bethesda, Maryland, advising the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank and a major private company on their tropical forest investments and Fiji’s minister of economy on how to cost out its climate adaptation portfolio. I wonder if we will ever rise to the governance challenges of climate change. Left World Bank in 2014; consulting since in the tropics. California girl spouse Julie has shared the fun since 1991 of seeing our two daughters evolve to work on global health and international conflict. I’ve enjoyed seeing classmates Mark Dillenbeck, Jim Chamberlain, Eric Carlson, Nels Johnson, Rob Ramey, and Laura Brown regularly. And so the wheel spins. Best wishes to all!” kandrasko3@gmail.com.

    Eric Carlson writes: “Ken Andrasko and I toured Native American sites in Arizona and New Mexico this fall ’21. I’ve included a painting of Canyon de Chelly I completed to celebrate that trip.”

    A painting of Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, by Eric Carlson
    A painting of Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, by Eric Carlson ’86.

    Daniel Hellerstein writes: “Semiretired in 2019, now three-fourths retired. Not doing much of anything due to COVID. Spend too much time coding web apps for fun (latest project: a photo-viewing program). Health is ... a bit troubled. Prostate/urological issues. But as they say, getting old sucks, but the alternative is worse.”

    Nan Jenks-Jay writes: “During the 2021 reunion, I was fortunate to engage in a stimulating conversation with classmates Elliot Gimble and Jim Pissot ranging from climate change education to wildlife corridors. I was also honored with a Distinguished Alumna Award, which is more humbling than you can imagine. I’m grateful to the YSE Alumni Association Board; author Bill McKibben for his recommendation; and YSE Professor Dorceta Taylor ’91 PhD, preeminent scholar in environmental justice, for her kind introduction.”

  6. Class of ’87

    Class Volunteers

    Christie Coon, Julie Dunlap, Annette S. Naegel, Melissa Paly, Joshua L. Royte

    Christie Coon writes: “At almost age 80, I have retired as a wetland scientist — but every spring I still wade through a pond nearby to count wood frog egg masses for a group that keeps tabs on them. Also keep active hiking with daughter at Bear Mountain, New York, once a year and walk dog (Beau) at least a mile a day. And every week I play tennis, paddle, and volunteer at a nearby botanical garden center. I loved my classes at the Yale School of Forestry (where my grandfather also went); I miss the intellectual and fun friendly conversations there with classmates!”

    Seton and his family with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background
    Yoel Seton ’87 and his family are all smiles during a trip to San Francisco.

    Yoel (“Joel”) Seton writes: “I am happy to have left my job as director of a ministry doing biblical study tours before COVID decimated the tourism industry here in Israel. These days I am a very involved father of our wonderful special needs sons. My wife and I are Messianic Jews, and God is faithful to carry us through every trial. I love being out in nature and am doing longer and harder mountain bike rides with the goal of competing in my first cross-country race this spring. (Any other YSE folks on Strava?) Jerusalem is my favorite city on Earth, but like most places, the government often wants to encourage the construction of new housing at the expense of wise planning. Sadly, development is now threatening some of my favorite close-to-home mountain biking areas, so I am mulling what to do about that. During our occasional trips to America, we focus on visiting elderly family, so we can’t visit friends and do wilderness trips as much as we’d like. But if any of you happen to be in Israel, we’d love to see you.”

  7. Class of ’88

    Class Volunteers

    Jennifer H. Allen, Anne Buckelew, Diane Stark, Holly Welles

    Eric Jay Dolin writes: “My 15th book, ‘Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution,’ will be published by Liveright (W.W. Norton) on May 31. Missing from most maritime histories of America’s first war is the ragtag fleet of private vessels, from 20-foot whaleboats to 40-cannon men-of-war, that truly revealed the new nation’s character — above all, its ambition and entrepreneurial ethos. ‘Rebels at Sea’ corrects that significant omission and contends that privateers, though often seen as profiteers at best and pirates at worst, were in fact critical to the Revolution’s outcome. Abounding with tales of daring maneuvers and deadly encounters, ‘Rebels at Sea’ presents the American Revolution as we have rarely seen it before. To learn more about the book and to see where I will be speaking, please visit my website: ericjaydolin.com.”

    Tom Strumolo writes: “Love to my ’88 classmates and all my friends from ’87 and ’89 and even to those of you who might have managed not to be my friend. Greetings to you youngsters, too, whom I met at GMF and whom I had the honor to meet and mentor at the School when I was doing some energy engineering at the new School of Management all-glass building. That beautiful building simply doesn’t work because the architect forgot to enforce the laws of thermodynamics, which should be a prosecutable offense. Digression! I’m OK; thanks for asking — fought like hell to avoid COVID for two years but did catch it in January 2022 from my resident, otherwise adorable grandson. No symptoms. I kind of wish I understood this business of praying because the list of things we have to hold in our thoughts and our hearts is growing long. Every morning I think about the Earth, first, then all the species of plants and animals except humans, then the Indigenous people, then the people persecuted in continuous tribal warfare, then the victims of this vicious virus, then my family, then my friends, then, well, the rest. Then I go to work, making buildings more efficient and getting them off fossil fuels, focusing on the buildings that most need technological and infrastructural makeovers in the most disadvantaged communities, and lobbying all involved from DOE to urban mechanical contractors to work faster. Time is a-wasting; forget retirement; get back in the streets. Contact me anytime for a Zoom invitation. We should meet. Karen, email me!”

  8. Class of ’89

    Class Volunteers

    Elizabeth Carlson, CJ May, Dave Tobias

    Stephen Kelleher writes: “Greetings from Accra, Ghana! I am in my seventh year here in West Africa now managing the West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development program, the successor to the successful (if I do say so myself!) West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change program. Work focuses on combating wildlife trafficking, decreasing forest and biodiversity loss and degradation, and all things GHG and land use — across West Africa so really easy (place ‘LOL’ here) but made easier by my fantastic team! You can check out some of our work at wabicc.org.”

    Cyril (“CJ”) May writes: “I have pushed beyond doing my own enviromagic shows and begun writing to help others do so as well. My Green Magic column in The Linking Ring magazine helps magicians include environmental magic in their shows. An article I wrote for Green Teacher magazine (Fall 2021) helps educators think more ‘magically’ about teaching sustainability. If you or others have interest, please contact me.” cyril.may@aya.yale.edu

    Judith Moore writes: “This year I jumped ship from the London-based asset manager I helped found straight into the deep waters of another startup: ImpactARC. We’re advising asset owners and managers on impact investing, what they signed onto when they glibly made their net-zero commitments, and what climate accountability is. It’s a cold upstream swim. I miss the neotropics, leaf architecture, and keying out genera/species!”

    ALUMNIFIRE

    Connect with more than 2,000 YSE alumni and students around the globe and across the decades jobs , events and mentoring - all on one site!

    Visit yse.alumnifire.com

    Let us know how you are doing.

    Email us at alumni.yse@yale.edu

  9. Class of ’90

    Class Volunteers

    Mary Ann Boyer, Judy Hicks

    Blair Leisure writes: “Blair is still married and still living in Golden, Colorado. My stats: three kids, one dog, one cat, one fish, one wetland company, endless fun! See you soon!”

    Marco Lowenstein writes: “Living in lovely New Mexico. Staying safe. Charla and I had our two adult kids here for COVID. Such a blessing. A time to remember. Spent a lot of time this year tending to my 95-year-old mother in Massachusetts, who passed away recently. So a lot of family engagement. Buying and selling wood in the thick of the supply chain calamity is absolutely crazy-making, but somehow getting by. Onward.”

  10. Class of ’91

    Class Volunteers

    Peyton Griffin

    Helmut Gieben writes: “My wife, Christine, and I moved to Bend, Oregon, in June 2021 and are enjoying the sunnier but colder winter weather (compared to Portland, where we moved from). Lots of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter and bike riding and floats on the Deschutes River the rest of the year. I am still actively managing a number of properties in Portland, so I visit quite often. I miss you all and am really looking forward to catching up in person!”