Class Notes updated September 29, 2011 by class agent Richard Loew
Life moves fast, doesn’t it? One day you’re swallowing your gum on the first day of Imwinkleried’s class, the next your seeing your kids off to college. I got a late start on the kids, so my two are only 10 and 8, but they manage to keep me off balance. Emilio, my youngest, has the least varied diet on the planet: white rice, plain pasta, fruit, and all the candy and ice cream he can get his hands on. Diego, my oldest, already knows more about the computer and iPhone than I ever will. It’s all I can do to keep up. I’m still an immigration attorney, although if you’ve heard the news, it’s not the easiest profession to make a living at right now. I’ve been happily married for 14 years, living in the same neighborhood in Los Angeles where my wife grew up.
I am happy to hear about the amazing lives you all are leading. It is fun to take a peek inside. With very little time to respond, quite a few of you took the time to jot down a few lines. You might be happy to note that the following people are not in the office this week, according to their autoreply: Ted Cohen, Frank Rapprich, Marty Kilmer, and Courtney Lin. We are left to wonder what marvelous adventures they are on.
Gregg Ficks was the first human to reply to my email. Gregg states, and I quote, “Gregg Ficks was a generous donor towards the endowment of the John D. Ayer Bankruptcy Chair at the law school, which became fully funded in 2011. After years of practicing bankruptcy law and real estate and commercial litigation at Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass in San Francisco, Gregg gets a three month sabbatical in 2012 (old school benefit for partners at his firm), which he plans on spending in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Africa, and New York.” Thanks Gregg for your generous donation, and good luck traveling about the world. No doubt next year we’ll get an autoreply from you.
Linda Monden cheerfully reports that she will have a new job as Right of Way Agent for the County of Maui in the Engineering Division starting in late September. I think two things jumped out at me hearing this news. First was why I am not living in Hawaii? And the second is, she went from being a lawyer to an engineer? That’s a left brain to right brain shift, though I’m sure it was a no brainer in the end. Linda writes that although she does have a civil engineering degree, she won’t be a lawyer or an engineer. “(Yeah!)” she shouts parenthetically. She’ll be phasing out her family law practice over the next two years. One nice thing about working for the government is she’ll actually get paid vacations, sick days, and holidays. Linda says she hasn’t had a vacation in quite some time. Look out the window, Linda. Linda lives with her husband, Scott, and their daughter, Sarah, in Maui. Sarah is now in the 4 th grade and is the only girl on her baseball team, which she loves in addition to martial arts and gymnastics. I think very few 9 year old boys are going to mess with Sarah. Linda writes, “She is a happy child who reminds us what is great and funny about life whenever we forget.” I can see Linda smiling as she writes.
David Leonard also seems to be in Hawaii as his email begins with “Aloha”. David founded a renewable energy consulting firm called Aluvion Energies based in Honolulu. He currently spends most of his time with a San Francisco based renewable oil company “that uses microalgae to produce fuel, chemical, nutritional, and health science products.” I’ll take your word for it David, since my science skills are pretty rusty these days (does putting Mentos in Pepsi count as science?). David recently had lunch with Linda in Maui. My heart began to ache writing that. Lunch. Maui. Did I mention I live in Eagle Rock? David also had the pleasure of hooking up with Dean Johnson and other King Hall alumni at the UCD/UH football game. The score was a competitive 56-14 in favor of the Rainbows. But they played in Hawaii so it’s all good. If anyone is going to Hawaii, look up David. He’ll buy the first round.
Lily Corzo has some wonderful news. In a wonderful plug for Facebook, Lily got reacquainted with an old friend from her University of Chicago days, Jon Benson. After not hearing from him or seeing him in 25 years, they rekindled their friendship through the graces of Mark Zuckerberg. Now they are happily married. And despite having gotten married last July 2010, they are finally taking their honeymoon in a few days of this writing. Nothing like a 25 year love story to stoke the heart, and he’s a trained chef to boot. Did I mention I go home for lunch every day? I make a pretty mean PB&J.
Sallie Blake is retired but works part time as a judge pro-tem. Sallie says she loves to travel and has been to Morocco, Spain, Turkey, and Greece in the past year. And she leaves for Europe again in October for a 5 week trip after visiting with Colonel Dawn (McLaughlin) Eflein, USAF. She says she still lives in Tucson, which may account for all the traveling.
I like it when people make my job easy by writing their own snippets: “ Mary Madison Campbell is still with UC Davis, but living in Apple Valley, CA. She is doing primarily facilitation and mediation, along with project management, at the UC Davis Information Center for the Environment. She is also teaching at UC Davis Extension in their Conflict Resolution Certificate Program. She recently married and she and her husband have just started gigging locally under the group name of Dharmony. She would like to network with alumni in Southern California, since the high desert is a long way from being in Davis. She can still be reached at memadison@ucdavis.edu”. For those wondering, as I was, where Apply Valley is, it’s near Victorville. I imagine not too many apples grow there. It’s kind of like Greenland being mostly ice. Love the band name, though.
Richard Link writes that he is “practicing business immigration law in Santa Cruz, where he represents surfboard manufacturers, vegan chefs, and scientists devoted to the study of Ariolimax californicus.” At first I thought that might be a strain of marijuana, but it turns out to be the banana slug. I guess that fits with vegan chefs.
And finally, Steve Knott says that absolutely nothing new or exciting is happening in his life, which I think would be good news for most of us. I, for one, could use a little less excitement in my life.
As always, it was great to hear from you all. Rather than writing about what you have written to me, I’ve decided to let your words drive these notes. In other words, I’m too lazy to make up my own stuff. Here goes.
A day in the life with Chris O’Shea Heydinger, “6:30 a.m. wake the kids, make breakfasts, make lunches, bug, bug, bug them to get ready for school ...Tim and kids out the door at 7:20 for the school bus and work ...change the baby's diaper and feed him breakfast, give him a bath, get him dressed, 8:00 a.m. off to daycare ...8:30 a.m. at my desk, writing grant proposals to fund good and valiant legal work on behalf of Native Americans with disabilities ...3:15 p.m. out the door to pick up the kids at the bus and the baby at daycare ...kids do chores ...shuttle kids to and from Science Club or Choir or Destination Imagination or Cub Scouts or Brownies or Basketball or Baseball or Soccer ...prepare dinner ...feed baby and change diaper ...throw a load of laundry in the washer/dryer ...eat dinner and clean up ...read baby stories and get him to bed ...homework, dessert, pajamas, bed time ...glass of wine! This is all shared with my wonderful Super Dad of a husband, Tim Heydinger, who is still Public Defender for the Southern Ute Tribe in our corner of Southwest Colorado.
Jan Carmikle writes: “I am still here at the ol' alma mater and figure at this point they might as well keep me. My copyright position has morphed into somewhat of an entertainment law one, to the amusement of all the science PhDs in the Tech Transfer Services office that I call home. I publish books and CDs and DVDs and software and websites and am negotiating a TV show for cable at the moment. I advise the athletics folks that they cannot just put clips of Disney movies up on the video board at gymnastics-and-wrestling combinations themed "Beauty and the Beast." I get the make-em-stop illegal file-sharing DMCA notices from the music, movie and software industries and well, make 'em stop. I explain to people that just because they can do something in our exploding world of technology doesn't mean they can do it legally. I am very busy but it's a lot of fun. My Perfect Tender baby Lauren is a freshman at UCSB this fall, majoring in Classics which I translate to grad school and unemployment but which she calls pre-law. Please, no .....”
Sonya Grant poses a question for us all, “How can you tell you are no longer in your twenties? When you go to a Bruce Springsteen show (with fellow 90'ers John Malone and Kerry Zachariasen Malone), dance all night, and then are limping for the next three days. It was worth it, though - Bruce was great.” It’s a lot easier for me, Sonya. It’s the 50 spf I have to put on the top of my head that let’s me know I’m not twenty … everyday.
Gary Schwebach writes the following: “Life continues at its usual pace. I have two daughters graduating this year, Rachel with her B.S. from Wittenberg University in Springfield Ohio and Leah with her M.A. from the Courthold Institute of Art, London UK. Stephanie and I will attend both ceremonies. I am running two businesses right now, my research firm and an internet content provider (life science grant information); it keeps things hectic between client and investor meetings, managing the staff, keeping the financials up to where they should be and keeping abreast of new things in both markets. I travel a bit less (only 2-3 times a month) so I have more time to spend enjoying the wet, cold, miserable Midwest winter and spring. Our company was honored as one of the best places to work in Indiana for the 3rd year in a row as well as the most ethical company of our size in Indiana, which brings me considerable satisfaction. On the personal front, I try to spend as much time on a motorcycle as I can to relieve some of the tension (I make regular trips to Southern California/Arizona for rides during the cold season).”
Irene Shin has the following to say, “I recently changed jobs, and am now working at UCSF (back to UC) negotiating research agreements with biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Interesting work. Not much new on the home front. Guy Stilson (‘89) & I recently celebrated 20 years together (ouch). Last year we took a big trip to Crete and Turkey. This year... Arizona. We still have dogs; no kids. Once a year we get together with Imran Razi. I see Mark Warnke more frequently.” Congratulations on 20 years together. That can only mean it’s been 20 years since we’ve been in law school. Yikes!
Richard Link provided this little blurb about himself: “Richard Link is working in Washington, DC as a legal editor for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He is distressed that his daily commute to work, previously 200 feet, has been extended to a ten-minute walk with AILA's purchase of a new headquarters building near the White House. In September Richard attended the retirement party for Prof. Jim Smith at King Hall, where it was good to see Kerry Zachariasen & John Malone, John Gianola, Lili Corzo, and Larry Haveson, among other familiar faces.” I’ll have the pleasure of seeing Richard at the AILA National Conference in Vancouver this summer.
Scott Zeidman’s life has taken an interesting twist. Let’s listen in on what he has to say. “Life is good here in beautiful Culver City, California. My wife Aileen and I have two sons. The eldest, Jason, is eight years old and just earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is enrolled in public school in a Japanese immersion program. Best part about it is that I can’t possibly help with homework, as I don’t speak enough Japanese to order lunch. The younger child, Brandon, is a four year old ball of energy, following big brother around and looking forward to starting school. I retired from the full-time practice of law almost a decade ago, but still dabble with about 10 files at any given time. I am one of the two major shareholders of a corporation that supplies slot machines to International casinos and to the motion picture and television industry (www.laslots.com). It’s a whole lot easier working with about thirty technicians than it is with thirty attorneys. You can see our products in dozens of productions from Ocean’s Eleven to the recently cancelled NBC Las Vegas television show. Despite having no time between trying to balance family, a small law practice, and the Slot Machine Corporation, I was recently elected as a member of the Board of Education for the Culver City Unified School District. I wasn’t pleased with our district’s direction so instead of complaining, I figured I’d do something about it. After a hotly contested election in November, I woke up not with just two kids, but instead responsible for just over 6,800 kids. Otherwise, things are quiet.” I’m just shocked. I can’t believe they cancelled Las Vegas. I loved that show.
David Leonard writes about his excruciating time on exile island. “After working for several oil companies, I am now focused on biodiesel and biojet with Imperium Renewables, a start-up renewable energy company funded with venture capital, and doing the project and business development for our Hawaii project. My legal and engineering background is a great help with all of the public hearings and regulatory issues. I’m also happy to report that my daughter graduates from UC Hastings next month and then starts a two year public sector fellowship in Oakland with the support of Bingham McCutchen. Please give me a call if [any of you] get to Hawaii.”
Andrea Ingram seems to have gotten off the beaten path. “After practicing as a business litigator in S.F. for ten years, my husband John and I jumped off the professional cliff, quit our jobs, sold our house in Marin and moved with our daughter Anna to the northern suburbs of Chicago. Since then I have worked for a public policy advocacy organization around issues impacting low income working families; helped run our state Department of Children & Family Services, and now am the Vice President of Education & Guest Experiences for the Museum of Science and Industry. It’s like legitimately hosting a party everyday while building broad based access and opportunity to science. John received his Ed.d and is now a principal at a middle school. We sound old and stodgy now but Anna--our nearly 10 year old tornado of fun-- keeps us rolling. She has already declared her intent to go to UCDavis. Seems premature but the call of Northern California is in her blood. Stop by to see me at MSI if you're ever in town.”
Elizabeth McIntyre sends the following update: “I have been living in Olympia, Washington for the past 10 years and working with a small (8 attorney) law firm. (Actually, 8 attorneys makes us the second largest firm in Thurston County!) We primarily represent cities, counties and other governmental entities in matters ranging from employment disputes, police liability, personal injury, etc. As I am writing this, my husband Ed is home for his 2-week R&R from his 15-month tour in Iraq. He is a Black Hawk pilot with the National Guard and has been gone since April 2007. He is scheduled to return in August and will then resume his "day job" of flying the local medivac/EMS helicopter. We have three wonderful children--a girl (15) and two boys (13 and 8) who are all active in various musical and athletic endeavors. Right now I have flute, piano, and baseball lessons or practice almost every evening. I keep in semi-regular contact with Anne Larsen who is living with her husband and two daughters in Ventura, California. I also touch base now and then with Craig Lundgren and Kerry Zachariasen.”
Steve Knott has this to say about his life, “My little law firm is in its seventh year, and it’s still fun. I just finished a six week jury trial in federal court in Riverside, and the good guys (that would be my clients) won! John Vineyard (UCD law Class of 1989) helped out a lot as local counsel. I’m having fun coaching little league baseball for the final year (my son is twelve), and I’m the long distance running coach for the track team this season at San Marino High School (where my daughter is a freshman). Hence, I have a ready supply of “reasons” to leave the office by 2pm every day until the end of track season. Connie and I celebrate year number 24 of marriage this summer! All the best to you and our fellow UCD law class of 1990 friends. It really does not seem like 18 years ago.”
Liliane Corzo has made life interesting for herself, “My day-in-the-life stories started changing a little over a year ago. I adopted a baby boy from Siberia. My son, Nicolas Michel Maunier Corzo, is now 2 years old and he is extremely active! I met him in Vladivostok (north of North Korea, East of China) in early February (yes it was freezing!) and went back from late March to late April to do the last of the paperwork, the court hearing and of course to get him. When we flew to LA, he was awesome and actually slept seven hours straight! He still sleeps about 11 hours each night. He is now starting to speak French and Spanish and some English. He eats everything from kiwi to tortillas! Did I mention that he is extremely blond and has blue/gray eyes? Just like me -- hahaha!” What an incredible journey. From Siberia to tortillas. Wow!
Melissa Thorme writes, “I am taking a few minutes out of continued preparation during my first federal bench trial where I am holed up in a hotel in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. I am arguing that my client, a small water district in Southern California, should get water they were entitled to under a 1990 contract. So a little contracts, a little water law, and a good deal of water quality issues, which is my forte. I'm having fun. And it is especially good to be on the same side of the fight with the US Marine Corps.
My kids continue to grow like weeds, my 11 year old daughter is 5' 7 1/2" and wears bigger shoes than I do! Amazing how time flies. Besides these things, I am on the Executive Committee of my firm (Downey Brand) and we are planning a big move to a new office building in October. I am also continuing my writing and hope to have another novel completed this year. I'll keep you posted on that.”
With Leslie Karen Harrison’s input, I penned the following, “Leslie Karen Harrison finds that it's easier to feed her baby goats, when her 11 month boy, Owen, is feeding on alfalfa. Occupied with the daily tasks of taking care of a farm and raising three children, she for some reason, still hears the call of the legal profession. If you remember Karen's tenacity and keen insight from law school, this will give you a pretty clear picture of her fourteen-year-old daughter. Nothing like a teenager to give you perspective. Karen is enjoying farm life, but the heart of the city still beats true inside of her. At the sight of the remains of not too wily fox, Karen says, "ick, ick, ick". Ah, life on the farm."
For some years I have been trying to track down Desiree Leclair, among other “lost” classmates. Recently, my sister-in-law went to a small dinner in at a friend’s home in Orinda, California. She spoke with a young woman who had recently moved from New York, back to California. It was none other than our own Desiree. I have no more details to report than she is alive and well.
Finally, do you remember “Bewitched”? The family doctor was Dr. Bombay, and whenever she would call him he’d be in the middle of doing something exotic, like climbing Mt. Everest or traipsing through the jungle. Anyway, this is exactly what it’s like to try and get a hold of Phil Sokol. This is his email response to me when I first contacted him, “I am in the happenin´ town of Tena in the upper Amazon part of Ecuador. Isn’t the internet awesome! Here for another week and will catch up with you when I get back.”
As for me, Richard Loew , I continue to plug away at immigration law. Our firm recently moved from Covina to South Pasadena which has made my commute incredibly easy. My two boys continue their assault on my heart and sanity. Without my wife, I’m sure us boys wouldn’t have lasted long. I passed the exam portion of the legal specialization exam for immigration law and am now working on the continuing legal education units required. I should be done by the fall. I will get to argue before the 9 th Circuit in a couple of weeks and my stomach is in knots over it. All I keep thinking is, “what do they want to talk to me for?” It was great hearing from you all.