Class Correspondent

Randy Becker has retired after 46 years as a Unitarian Universalist minister but continues his spiritual quest as co-founder of Spiritual Seekers of Key West, an intentionally diverse faith community, drawing people of different races, economic levels, faith traditions and ages. Lynn Goldsmith Goldberg revisited St. Matthews, South Carolina, where six members of the Brandeis SCOPE group spent the summer of 1965 helping membersof the black community register to vote. She writes, “It was great to come ‘home.’” Although Stephen “Goliath” Goldman, P’04, has retired, he still works with Home Depot as a kitchen and bath designer. A resident of metropolitan Detroit, he is contemplating a move to Portland, Oregon, to be with son Zach ’04 and his wife. Daughter Shimon is still in Florida with the grandkids, and daughter Chava is in California. Roger Gottlieb, PhD’75, is a professor of philosophy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His three recent books are “Engaging Voices: Tales of Morality and Meaning in an Age of Global Warming,” “Spirituality: What It Is and Why It Matters,” and “Political and Spiritual: Essays on Religion, Environment, Disability and Justice.” Linda (Abrams) and Marty Hoffman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June 2016 with their three sons, their daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren. They all spent a week together at Woodloch Resort, in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Marty is a developmental/behavioral pediatrician at the Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Linda, who has been involved in school-board work since the 1980s, is currently on the board of directors of the New York State School Board Association. Margo Jefferson visited Brandeis for a March 2016 event, invited by the Alumni of Color group with the support of many co-sponsors. She was interviewed by Jasmine Johnson, assistant professor in the African and Afro-American studies department, and the women’s, gender and sexuality studies program. Margo’s memoir, “Negroland,” won the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography. Ron Kronish, P’99, is the proud grandfather of five beautiful grandchildren. He retired as director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council of Israel and now serves as the organization’s senior adviser. He continues to lecture about his life’s work in Israel, North America and other parts of the world. Robert Lamm and his wife, Carol, returned to Boca Raton, Florida, in 2012; they previously lived there from 1991-2002. They celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary in 2016, and have three daughters and four grandchildren. Robert works as a corporate governance and securities attorney, and enjoys opera, tennis and reading. Biology professor Barry Potvin retired after 36 years at Yeshiva University, which included work at Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women and Albert Einstein School of Medicine. His two fondest memories from his time at Yeshiva: Receiving the letter from then President Norman Lamm awarding him tenure, and the lengthy ovation his students gave him after his last lecture. He taught numerous lecture and lab courses in genetics, epidemiology, biochemistry and microbiology. He also designed the public-health minor and taught its classes. Gila (Schwartz) Svirsky will be based in Uganda for the next two years with her spouse, who works for the United Nations. They earlier spent three years in Kenya and Uganda before living in New York for a year. Barbara (Appell) Tenenbaum received the Order of the Aztec Eagle from Miguel Basáñez, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, during a ceremony at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C. The award is the highest honor given to a non-Mexican for achievements that increase international understanding of the Mexican nation. Barbara is first specialist in Mexican culture in the Library of Congress’ Hispanic division. Ric Uslaner is professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland, where he has taught since 1975. His new book, “The Historical Roots of Corruption,” will be published next year. He lectures throughout the world on topics related to trust, corruption, diversity and American politics, and works with co-authors from Sweden, Australia, Japan and Israel. He and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 33 years. Their son, Avery, 26, works as a botanist at Red Butte Garden, in Salt Lake City.

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