Brandeis Magazine

It is ever more important for us octogenarians to submit items to Brandeis Magazine’s Class Notes section, not only for the obvious reasons, but also because — privileged with longevity — we might not be able to travel as much as we used to and thus might lose contact with some of our classmates. Also, and perhaps this is the most important reason, should any of the younger alums take a look at what we are doing, they will be inspired by the vigorous lives we lead and the work we continue to do. As for me, in the words of Barbara (Koral) Raisner, I’m still “doing [my] thing at the alumni desk” and living the life on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and “all around the town.”

Sandy Lakoff, Dickson Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego, continues to teach and lecture. He recently wrote two articles: “Inequality as a Danger to Democracy: Reflections on Piketty’s Warning” and “A New Initiative to Resolve the Israeli-Arab Conflict?” Barbara (Koral) Raisner writes, “I’m the great-grandma of two little tykes, Etta (2-1/2 years) and Arnie (3 months), who live not far away in Great Neck, New York, and call me ‘GG.’ Their daddy is Rob Fisher ’06. I even get to babysit occasionally.” For Lois Robblee, 2015 included a fantastic trip to Peru, the 15th anniversary of her move to Brooksby Village and the 20th anniversary of her retirement from EIC Labs. She still has her trailer in an Epsom, New Hampshire, campground, where she spends the months of May to October. She continues to enjoy making pottery and stained-glass art. Marshall Sterman, P’80, P’83, writes, “Anyone who wants a copy of a book I recently paid to have published (soft cover and large print), which discusses entrepreneurship, venture investing, and stuff that gets me upset and/or turned on, email me at marshallsterman@comcast.net — I cannot get rid of the extra copies.” After a mild heart attack, Al Zadig realized retirement was probably a bit overdue, so, after eight years as pastor at his current parish, 30 years as director of a mental-health center for clergy and 55 years as a priest, he made plans to retire this June and move to Briarwood, a retirement community in Worcester, Massachusetts.