Class Notes

1946

Robert Schaffer (Mech E) was a V-12 student who matriculated at Teachers College, where he earned his EdD. He founded a management consulting firm in 1960, which is still going strong, even though Robert has retired.

1948

Allen S. Brower (Elec E) writes: “When in 1953 I left the campus after nine years, including four as an instructor of electrical engineering, I took with me three academic degrees and a wife who had graduated from Barnard in 1949. I joined the General Electric Company in Schenectady, New York, where I worked as an engineer and engineering manager for 36 years. I had begun in a program that rotated me through 12 departments, or operations, in the first three years, accompanied by a course of study in advanced engineering subjects. I subsequently taught and then managed that program. Then, I spent ten years working in the computer control of steel rolling mills in the US and Europe. After two years as a manager of advanced system development, my role was terminated due to company reorganization. I then worked on electric utility system studies of new energy sources and delivery methods, e.g., wind turbines, coal gasification, solar power satellites, and solar power towers. I have never regretted the extra year of liberal arts study I spent at Columbia. I retired in 1989 and have spent the years since enjoying my family: my wife, three children, and seven grandchildren. One final thought: My engineering classmates were mostly veterans and therefore several years older. At age 95, am I the last man standing?”

1956

Gordon Silverman (Elec E) writes: “It's incredibly difficult to believe that it has been 65 years since I left Columbia. (The engineering world has changed dramatically.) I try to keep my hippocampus working particularly with regard to artificial intelligence. My last book was Cognitive Science (4th Edition), published fall 2021. I am now working on the next edition, as well as a possible book on AI for engineers. I have kept up with the Lions through the Alumni Representative Committee as well as following the new institutes on campus.”

1958

Robert Drucker (Chem E) writes: “My grandson Maxwell Reid Drucker is now a member of the Class of 2027.”

1959

James Bast (Mech E) writes: “Life is going along well here in paradise on Cape Cod. I had mild COVID just once and am blessed with 64 years of very happy marriage to the St. Luke's Nurse graduate whom I wedded right after graduating and commissioning in the Navy. We have three children and eight grandchildren, with six college graduates already. So grateful for the launch pad from Columbia, which helped me run three companies and give back a little by leading the Better Business Bureau.”

Robert Paaswell (Civil E) writes: “At the suggestion of New York Congressman C. Rangel, a few colleagues and I here at the City College of New York designed and developed a program to train young women and men without college degrees for new infrastructure jobs—high tech and digitally based. Funded by both the new infrastructure bill and New York State, we ran a successful pilot program in July and August and are now developing the full-scale program. We are working with several of the major infrastructure designers, engineers, and contractors, as well as with local community organizations.”

Lou Shrier (Chem E) writes: “The arrival of the pandemic was a game-changer for me. In the spring of 2020, I put my foreign travel on hold and taught my last classes as an adjunct for the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs and the Maryland School of Public Policy. I decided to set about learning some earth sciences, and I became picky about accepting invitations to speak about my professional experiences. Now, I am happy to advise my offspring as they make their own choices about careers, family, and education. Next spring, Diane and I plan to explore Nova Scotia to see the reconstructed viking settlements there.”

1960

Matthew Sobel (IEOR) writes: “Elaborating on my 2020 note, 2022 and 2023 have been fine: three research publications, a basketball-playing grandson who was the national Division III male player of the year, and other grandchildren (and their parents) progressing well. The winter of 2021 brought the best cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the 24 years we've lived in northeast Ohio. The winter of 2022 was the worst! My wife and I remain avid road bicyclists, but we're slowing down, and there are barely enough daylight hours to complete our centuries.”

1963

Allen Plotkin (Civil E) writes: “I finally retired in 2022 after 54 years of teaching—17 at the University of Maryland and 37 at San Diego State University. My wife Selena and I are also enjoying our first grandchildren—our daughter Jeni gave birth to twin girls Lily and Kinley in December 2021.”

1964

Robert Ford (Elec E) is living in Newport Beach California with his wife Huili Tao, having retired from MIT Lincoln Laboratory several years ago.

Carl Gurtman (APAM) writes: “When I was at Columbia, I was in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and later worked as a health physics assistant, which in many ways was a foretaste for my career. Upon graduating, I worked as a nuclear engineer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, eventually heading, in turn, many divisions. One interesting assignment was as head of the radiological emergency planning division. I retired after 37 years as the assistant nuclear engineering and planning manager. After retiring, I was a so-called consultant in Tennessee and New Mexico. No actual consulting: These are at will, no benefit, highly paid positions. I still ride my bike, but engage in fewer and fewer activities as I get older. My wife Linda and I enjoy our three adult children and our four grandsons.”

Neil Marmor (Elec E) writes: “Next June will be 60 years since I earned my bachelor’s degree. OMG. Years ago, I realized that all of the faculty who taught me were likely dead. Now, I suspect many of my classmates are too. But all things considered, I am doing well. I can still balance my checkbook and recall where I parked. I also read aloud to kids and I am on the board of a nonprofit that helps situationally homeless people get back on their feet. That helps justify my existence. It's been a great ride, and it ain't over yet. But, I no longer buy green bananas. L'chaim to all."

1964

Lawrence Kuznetz (BME) holds advanced degrees from Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley. His first project at NASA was on a filtration system for the Apollo command module to prevent the return of hypothetical pathogens from the moon. He was on the console at mission control using the 41-node man, a computer model of the human body and spacesuit that he wrote to predict metabolic rates and consumable usage on extravehicular activity still in use today. Following Apollo, Lawrence was assigned to the build team at the Kennedy Space Center responsible for the tile installation and final construction of Space Shuttle Columbia prior to its first flight. Following a decade of consulting and teaching, during which he earned eight US patents in the field of extreme environment protection, he completed a postdoc at NASA-Ames and taught at Berkeley and MIT, then returned to the NASA Johnson Space Center in 2001 as Experiments Manager for the human research program on the shuttle and international space station. During this time, he wrote a notable white paper used by the United States Congress to improve the human resource planning process and created the bio-advisory Algorithm Violet. This voice-interrogated operator for life support and exploration tracking is a smart space suit buddy system designed to augment mission control or replace it at distances beyond the reach of real time guidance. In 2012, Kuznetz left NASA to create the Hypernet Paradigm, a project-based STEM learning tool, and used it to form the MarsSuit Project, a space suit and life support system for the exploration of Mars, now under construction. Kuznetz has written a climate change novel, a spacesuit user manual for kids nine to 90, and Save the Shuttle, a space shuttle “autobiography.” He is the author of numerous peer reviewed journal articles, including the first to show that liquid water can be stable in the Martian environment and that earth based extremophiles can survive in it. In the wake of COVID-19, he has come full circle, using everything he learned in his NASA career to form Planetary Pro-Tech (planetaryprotek.com) and create the Qsuit for future pandemic protection by preventing forward and backward contamination. On a lighter note, he was the only non-celebrity guest to appear on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show on consecutive nights, and he enjoys playing the keyboard at dark and dingy piano bars in his spare time.

1965

Seymour Goodman (Civil E) was reappointed Regents Professor at Georgia Tech.

1966

Peter Buitenkant (Elec E) writes: “After graduating, I was employed as an analog design engineer for five years. The 1971 introduction of the microprocessor, along with the growth of software and digital circuitry, led me to a new passion that has lasted to this day. After working for 18 years, in 1989, I headed out on my own as an independent consultant, now armed with an MSEE. One of my earlier designs was a pocket radiation (non-ionizing) detector, monitor, and recorder powered by a single AA battery. I am still actively consulting. Currently, I am designing the control for UV LED-based airflow sterilizers to combat COVID and other pathogens. I am also assisting in the design of an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging tool for the eye. A third current project is collaborating with my client for the design of new, sophisticated 12V and 24V battery chargers for both lead acid and lithium ion chemistries. In 1992, I joined the Long Island Consultants’ Network (LICN) and have served in various positions, including four terms as chair. In 1999, I began serving on the Curriculum Advisory Committee for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Department at SUNY Farmingdale, where I still actively participate. Along the way, my life has been blessed by a wonderful wife, two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandsons.”

1967

Bill Quirk (APAM) writes: “I have finally retired. I worked as a computational physicist from 1970 until 2005. I was a member of the Hayward City Council from 2004 to 2012 and was an assembly member of the California Legislature from 2012 to 2022. I now live in a retirement community, Acacia Creek, in Union City, California. I have been married to Laurel Burkinshaw Quirk for 52 years. Laurel is a Barnard and Columbia Library School graduate. I have two married children and three grandchildren, aged one, two, and five.”

1968

Emilio Bruna (IEOR) continues teaching economics online at Saint Leo University and Southern New Hampshire University. He lives with his wife in Gainesville, Florida.

Eduardo Chibas (IEOR) writes: “Recently, I published a series of talks titled ‘Beethoven and the Symphony,’ where I explore the deep meanings in these works, their vision of humankind, and how Beethoven changed the symphony to express his ideas (classicalmusictalks.com). Additionally, my recordings of the Beethoven symphonies and piano concertos have been published in Japan.”

Ralph Haines (Elec E) writes: “Those were tumultuous years with all the student unrest. However, I made it okay. My lucky star timing was instrumental in landing the perfect profession: It was the dawn of microelectronics, and I landed right in the beginning of it. Though I loved New York City life, my heart led me to pursue California opportunities. I arrived with no money and didn't even have a car! I scrambled by, living in the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Southern California. As days, then years, quickly passed, I ended up in Silicon Valley (even before it was so-named) with challenging jobs that spanned great design teams, multinational companies, and start-ups. This exposed me to many wonderful, smart people all across the globe. I was a hands-on semiconductor design engineer, mostly in microprocessors for automotive and consumer goods, which led to many patents. My career was wildly successful, financially and intellectually. Retirement has been a joy as well. My current love includes astrophotography (astrobin.com/users/ralphhaines). We live in Colorado, and the sky is my playpen. As my interest grows, I want to warn you: This can be an expensive hobby!”

1970

Paul Becker (Chem E) writes: “I graduated—holy cow—53 years ago. I was employed by various organizations, now part of ExxonMobil Corporation, for 39 years, and retired from full-time work in 2009. I did pretty well during that time and enjoyed most of the many positions I held. I received an MS in chemical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1974. My first wife and I—she passed away—had 3 children. I remarried, and our blended family now consists of six children, 14 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. I've been a marathoner, triathlete, and competitive swimmer. As an engineering student, we didn't have a lot of ‘free’ time. But I have fond memories of the Gold Rail Tavern (now Mel's Burger Bar?). I had been the editor-in-chief of Columbia Engineering Quarterly and an officer of Tau Beta Pi, and I belonged to an American Institute of Chemical Engineers student chapter and was a Wendall Medal recipient. As others have told me, much of my success can be attributed to what I experienced at Columbia Engineering.”

1973

George So (IEOR) writes: “After graduating from Columbia Engineering, I received my MBA from Columbia Business School in 1978. I retired in January 2022 after working for 44 years in banking: from 1978 to 1989 in corporate banking in Hong Kong, then in private banking (wealth management) in Singapore from 1989 to 2022. I am now a resident musician at Tanglin Club (Singapore) and play live guitar entertainment four to six times a week. I also perform regularly at Ritz Carlton Hong Kong whenever I am around and where I also maintain a home. I started playing the guitar as a child in Hong Kong when my next door neighbor (a sailor) brought me a Spanish guitar as my ten year-old birthday gift. I have been playing in public—primarily at hotel lounges, bars, and various jazz clubs in Singapore and Hong Kong—for the past 12 years.”

1975

Pradeep Banerji (CS) writes: “After graduating, I returned to India during the formative years of Indian IT to join Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1975. I was quickly able to use my grounding at Columbia to contribute to TCS’s early software initiatives. During the 12 years spent at TCS, I worked on the formative inter-bank systems used by Indian banks; contributed to the optimization and rebuilding of hospital applications systems in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; optimized banking systems and software support in France; supported software in the Netherlands; and developing retail banking systems for major United Kingdom banks. Finally, I was head-hunted out of TCS to move to the UK in 1987. I then went on to co-found a software services company with its own offshore subsidiary in India. I have been involved in the management of bespoke software services and solutions, including the development, support, and R&D of software products, and in the implementation of unique and innovative solutions to clients and partners mainly in financial institutions. More recently, I was responsible for introducing, setting up, and promoting nearshore and offshore outsourcing services using advanced techniques and processes. I led work on robust solutions based on a model of onshore-offshore services for large insurance groups, financial institutions, media companies, and technology partners worldwide. I have streamlined and optimized outsourcing center operations in the UK, US, and India to ISO 9001 and later SEI CMM Level 5-quality standards. Currently, I am an independent consultant advising clients in quality management of their development processes and the set-up and operation of offshore development centers for international clients using optimized methodologies for global productivity.”

Jane Tsai (Chem E) writes: “I celebrated my 47th wedding anniversary with Norman Yang ’74SEAS (Chem E) this May on the New Jersey shore with our dog Charlie, a Bichon-Shih-Tzu mix. After graduate school, Norm and I worked in the corporate world in various capacities. I retired in 2014 after 33.5 years with ExxonMobil Chemical. I remember not liking Columbia for a long time because it was way too much work, but I now appreciate the education we received as undergraduates. The core curriculum made me a better thinker and gave me the confidence to always evaluate risks before agreeing to the course of action at the workplace, as well as around our household. Norm and I have two daughters: Christina and Kelly. Christina is a pediatric ENT surgeon at the Montefiore hospital system and an associate professor at the Albert Einstein medical school. Kelly, also a Columbia engineering graduate, is a program manager director at Prudential Financial.”

1977

Perry Green (Civil E) writes: “My career has taken many turns which have gotten me to this place in life and working for Bechtel Corporation.

This is my second nuclear career and in between the two I have held a faculty position at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL and served as the Technical Director of the Steel Joist Institute, Myrtle Beach, SC.

Since being at Bechtel I’ve had the opportunity to work on and contribute to three very significant projects: 1) the design and analysis of a new, small modular reactor development project, Generation mPower; 2) on site at Vogtle (Nuclear Plants) 3&4, Waynesboro, GA where I was loaned to Southern Nuclear reviewing the design authorities work. This finally led to me being loaned to the design authority, Westinghouse, to work within their processes and procedures; and 3) at Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, TN where our company is building the Uranium Processing Facility for the DOE. I’ve gotten to live all over the U.S. and I keep a map showing all the places with arrows pointing to the next location and to date. I’ve moved 16 times and don’t plan to move again; I like my retirement location here in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Conferences, organization participation and committee meetings will hopefully keep me busy and engaged long after I fully retire, as they will keep me traveling domestically and internationally. It’s great when I land in a city where I have friends so I can add on some personal time to visit and sightsee after the ‘work’ is done. It would be great to hear from my classmates, send me an email or find me on LinkedIn. My last full-time working day at Bechtel was September 30, 2022 where I’ve been employed since 2011. Since “retiring,” I’ve moved to part-time status, still working on the same project, but now remotely and only 20 hours or less per week. My decision to retire was simple: Taking care of my parents is a blessing and responsibility that I don’t take lightly, they moved to Myrtle Beach to be near me; Life is short (I’ve lost too many family members, friends and colleagues already); I am going to enjoy the rest of my personal life while I still have my health; and I still have much to do in my professional, volunteer life with AISC, AISI, ASCE, SIA, and SSRC. On a sad note my mother passed away in October 2022 a week shy of her 94th birthday while, on a much happier note, my father celebrated his 98th birthday in April.

Here is a great memory with my Columbia friends - we still keep in touch.”

Gary Elzweig (Civil E) writes: “I am happy to report that my new enterprise, Universal Engineering Sciences, has won the Zweig Report Hot Firm of the Year Award for the third consecutive year, and that the firm is approaching $600 million in sales, with 3,500 people and 80 offices operating out of 20 states, four years since its inception. My oldest daughter, Brooke Lynn, has graduated from engineering school and worked in Saudi Arabia on Project Neom, and she is now starting graduate school at Duke University. My youngest is starting her junior year at Columbia College. Best wishes to all my friends at Columbia Engineering.”
 

1979

Thomas J. Re (Elec E) writes: “I’m back in New York City after many years in Italy studying medicine and radiology. I now work in neuroradiology research (drTJRE.com).”
 

Joseph Schachner (Elec E) writes: “Well, this may be my last class note while I am employed. I plan to retire about the end of March next year. Columbia's education has served me very well.   I put my department as electrical engineering because when I was there, there was not a separate computer science department or computer science degree. This changed shortly after I graduated.”

Gerard Vasilatos (Elec E) writes: “I’m a retired staff engineer of Intel Corporation in Chandler, Arizona. I’ve been working on long-postponed home improvements, visiting with friends, developing new skills, and co-experiencing the next quarter-century of married life. Would love to hear from former Columbia schoolmates, especially if visiting the Greater Phoenix area.”

1980

Siu-Wai Chan (APAM) writes: “In the number of years that I have spent teaching materials science and engineering at Columbia Engineering, I have belonged to different departments, including the Department of Mining, Minerals and Metallurgy (now Earth and Environmental Science), where I have a joint appointment, the Department of Chemical Engineering, and finally the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics. Last summer, I met up with five former students and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology classmate in Sunnyvale, California.”

1981

Paxton Louis (Elec E) writes: “I am three years cancer-free. Two more years to go before doctors give me the all-clear (for the second time). My wife and I plan on retiring in two years. Since my graduation in 1981, I have had a huge number of great adventures in my life, both personal and professional. I have taken to heart something the late James Parker, Dean of Students in my day, once said: ‘Life is a series of epochs.’ Dean Parker was telling me to cherish each moment in life, which I have. My wife and I have two sons, both adults now. Both have turned out to be far better men than I am, which is a goal every parent should strive for. One son is in healthcare, and the other son works for a nonprofit helping families in need. Both work to help people. Neither wanted to be in technology, which has always been fine by me. My wife has been the rock of our family from day one. Between her first career in medicine and now a second career in education, and taking care of parents and a husband in ill health, she has been the family's source of strength. I have always been amazed at how she is able to keep it all together. I have been so fortunate. I hope all of my fellow alumni have had a great life. I am looking forward to the future.”
 

Vasos Panagiotopoulos (Chem E) writes: "After 62 years in Queens County, New York—58 of them in Whitestone—I now reside in Tioga County, still at BioStrategist.com."

1982

Mike Farmer (APAM) writes: “I am now at Kettering University as Department Head of Computer Science. It’s a unique co-op school where the students alternate work and academic terms. My wife and I are entering our 20th year of marriage, and I am so happy. I’m still finding time on the boat in the summer and time for my winter passions of skiing and snowboarding. I am also playing bass in a learning band with some other adults and having a blast performing at some local bars.”

Santiago del Puerto (Mech E) writes: “1982 and 1983 felt like the most grueling years of my whole professional life. The workload was overwhelming, and the grading in some of the courses was incredibly tough. Although at that time I wasn't too happy about it, after many years and having fully processed this experience, I am most thankful to the Columbia faculty for having put me through this test. 40 years into my career as a mechanical engineer, I admire every one of my old professors and remember each one very fondly and thankfully. A most wholehearted ‘thank You’ to each and every one who taught me the fundamentals of engineering reasoning. In the last 25 years, I've been privileged to work for ASML in Wilton, Connecticut, in a job that can be described as a precision engineer's dream. ASML is the market leader in deep ultraviolet photolithography equipment and the only company supplying deep ultraviolet equipment to the semiconductor industry. I'm one of the few senior architects in the mechanical development group at Wilton. Our teams design major modules of the lithography machine, such as incredibly fast and accurate reticle scanning stages, complex reticle handlers, and super-high resolution optical sensors for our wafer alignment systems. All of the above, and more, in atmospheric and vacuum-compatible versions. I've been lucky to have done a bit of everything engineering-wise at ASML. I can also confidently tell you that the dynamic and luminous spirit of our Twinscan scanners resides in everything you own that has a chip in it. We continue to enable Moore's law to the incredible miniaturization possible today and beyond, with no end in sight.”

1983

William Pinzon (IEOR) writes: “I have been working for the last 33 years as a tech ops and metallurgical engineer for BAE Systems. Wishing you the best in all your future endeavors.”

Matthew Samarel (Mech E) writes: “Hello from Charlotte, North Carolina! I recently attended our 40th Reunion (cannot believe how quickly time has gone by!) and felt so fortunate to have spent four wonderful years at Columbia. I have been practicing pediatrics in the Charlotte area for the past 22 years, having lived in the Boston area previously. My wife Fran and I have three grown sons and three beautiful granddaughters. My best to my classmates—I hope you are all doing well!”

Elena Wolff-Holz (BME) writes: “I am delighted to have taken on a new position as Vice President of Global Head Clinical Development at Biocon Biologics (BBL) in May of this year. After its acquisition of Viatris, BBL has transformed into a global, fully integrated biosimilars company with eight commercialized products and a pipeline of 20 candidates. I am looking forward to continuing to deliver affordable access to innovative and inclusive healthcare solutions in the future and am very grateful for the warm welcome and excellent introductions by my new colleagues in Bengaluru, India. After I graduated from Columbia Engineering, I received an MD from Heidelberg University and was a postdoctoral research fellow in oncology at Harvard Medical School. I am now looking back at more than 30 years of professional experience, including 15+ years in the biotech industry, in which I held various senior positions in clinical R&D and medical affairs functions at Centocor Inc (now J&J) and Amgen in the US and in Germany. My work has resulted in several co-authorships in scientific journals and several presentations at international conferences, and I am a lecturer at two major German Universities. My husband Chris is a chemical engineer and my two sons are Paul, studying graduate-level electrical engineering, and Frederick, studying information technology as an undergraduate at ETH Zürich in Switzerland. With my recent attendance of our 40th reunion this past June and the recent addition of a New York apartment, I am also looking forward to spending more time again in the United States and becoming more involved in Columbia University alumni activities. I would be delighted to offer a dialogue and friendship to any interested Columbia students or fellow alumni. Please feel free to find me on Linkedin.”

1984

Homayoon Beigi (Mech E) writes: “After graduating, I continued toward my MS and PhD in the mechanical engineering department at Columbia Engineering. I met my wife Pargol, a fellow Columbia alumna, while in the PhD program. Then I worked at the IBM TJ Watson Research Center for ten years on online handwriting recognition and speaker/speech recognition. I started my own company, Recognition Technologies, Inc., after leaving IBM, and have been busy for the past 20 years making software engines for speech, speaker, face, emotion, and object recognition. I have also been teaching as an adjunct professor in the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science since 1995 (28 years now!). I have additionally been advising PhD students in the civil engineering department. My connection to Columbia over the past 42 years has become stronger every year. Our son, Ara, is beginning at Columbia this fall, where he will study electrical engineering. Even after all these years, it is so pleasant to walk through College Walk before my classes every Thursday. I try to walk around the whole campus at least once every week!”

Matthew Bilder (IEOR) writes: “Last year’s commencement was my first time back on campus in a long time to celebrate the graduations of the Classes of 2020 and 2021. My career has taken twists and turns, but the continuity comes from the skills I learned at Columbia Engineering. My analytical work has been used in consumer finance, investment banking, and marketing, among other things. Recently, I pivoted back to finance, supporting companies that provide advisory services to their clientele. I look forward to seeing you at the next alumni event in New York.”

William King (Mech E) writes: “We’re a second-generation Columbia family now. My wife Gay ’85SW and I are delighted that our son Andrew graduated from Columbia Engineering this past spring in the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics with the Class of 2022.   It’s been very rewarding to share stories, experiences, and even strategies about Columbia. Plus, living nearby in Connecticut enabled periodic visits to Morningside Heights, with campus walks and opportunities to meet and engage with current students. I even have Sunday brunch at times in the much-improved John Jay Dining Hall. So from a short distance, this has been a total memory trip for me. Like me, my son was lured by Wall Street and the finance world, though for this generation, he cleverly joined a startup fintech firm in New York City offering lots of opportunities instead of jumping on the bandwagon as I did decades ago. We’re wishing him and all of us well. Roar, Lions, Roar!”

Robert O'Connor (Elec E) writes: “I retired from full-time engineering a few years ago and moved from New York to Mystic, Connecticut. I now teach electrical engineering at Connecticut State Community College in New Haven and give guitar and highland bagpipe lessons in Westerly, Rhode Island.”

Kelsey Nix (Mech E) writes: “After thirty years as a partner at three international law firms in New York City, I recently relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, where I joined the Smith Anderson law firm as a partner and co-chair of the intellectual property litigation practice.”

Nikos Theodosopoulos (Elec E) writes: “I continue to work as an independent board member and joined the board of Adtran Holdings in the summer of 2022. I also continue to be an active angel investor and recently enjoyed being hosted by Ivy Schultz, Director of Entrepreneurship at Columbia Engineering, and Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering Ioannis Kymissis at the Columbia Startup Lab for a discussion on fundraising for startups.”

1985

Avishay Mazor (Civil E) writes: “My wife Barbara nee Simon (November will mark 37 years) and I have moved south from the Midwood section of Brooklyn down to the Homecrest neighborhood. The 1.5-mile move was hectic, but we are enjoying our new home tremendously.  I run a small structural engineering firm out of my house. My wife is the office manager. I've achieved the rank of third-degree black belt in the Tora Dojo martial arts association. I still practice regularly and give weekly lessons in the neighborhood. My older boy, Abba-Natan Chen (now going by Chen in Israel), 32, lives in Haifa. He finished a degree in computer animation and is looking for work in his field. My younger son Jacob, 27, is expected to finish his PhD program in math at SUNY Stony Brook next May.”
 

1986

Alex Gorelik (CS) writes: “Since selling my last start-up, Waterline Data, to Hitachi Vantara in 2020, I have worked at Meta on data privacy and recently joined LinkedIn as a distinguished engineer to work on its broader data management vision.”

Jawad Habib (IEOR) writes: “After graduating, I went on to get my master’s and then got to work at Pitney Bowes in Connecticut as an industrial engineer. I quickly moved on to Enterprise Resource Planning Program Lead and successfully completed this and many productivity improvement projects. I returned to Pakistan to run a part of the family business until I was called back to lead another ERP project, transitioning PB over to SAP. After this, I started my own water treatment company in Dubai, UAE, where we designed and built many new and retrofit systems for recovering sewage for cooling tower and irrigation reuse using biological and sustainable treatment systems that require no chemicals and generate almost no waste. Except for a couple of people who couldn't be here, this is a picture of my team who was instrumental in getting this work done. I have since sold my share in the company to my investor partner and have returned to Pakistan, where there are lots of interesting opportunities in sustainable development, working as a consultant.”

1987

Teresa Chan (IEOR) writes: “A few years after graduating and earning my JD from Fordham University, I worked as a lawyer and business leader for 27 years in the insurance industry. Three years ago, I returned to Columbia as an educator and launched the new master's in insurance management program at the School of Professional Studies. Some of my insurance colleagues referred to my new role as my ‘insurance nirvana.’ And they were right. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed developing new businesses and creating opportunities for professional development. Being the director of this new master's program embraces my passion for innovation and my desire to help individuals advance their careers. During the 21 years I worked at American International Group, Inc., I actively engaged in supporting my staff and colleagues in their pursuits of advancement. Through this program, I can do the same many times over for all the students in the cohort. For me, there is no greater reward than being told that our program has opened doors and created opportunities for our students and alumni. As an alumnae of Columbia, there is no better way to give back to both the Columbia and insurance communities.”

1988

Steven Carollo (Mech E) writes: “I am happy to report that my daughter is studying climate science in the Class of 2025.”

Lee-En Chung (Civil E) writes: “Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie S. Griffin visited Sarasota on September 16, 2022, and honored Lee-En Chung with a proclamation—for her 30 years of service in construction as the first female in Florida to have earned both the Certified General Contractor license and Professional Engineer license, as well as for serving on Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board over 15 years ago.”

Tom Cocotos (Elec E) is a fine artist specializing in large-scale, figurative collage. His works explore the ambiguity of power structures in human nature through reworking and combining classical imagery from Caravaggio, to Velazquez, to Bellini. He is always happy to host fellow Columbia graduates for visits to his studio in New York City (Chelsea) and can be contacted through his website (cocotos.com). He will also be taking part in the High Line Open Studios, (October 22 and 23), as well as monthly studio nights.

Caryn Frick (Chem E) writes: “Just visited Iceland and experienced the land of ice and fire with my two daughters Lindsey, 17, and Jacqueline, 15. The timing was perfect as we got to see the volcano erupting at Fagradalsfjall. This year, we will be planning our 35th class reunion (June 1, 2023). Please make an effort to book your tickets and join us on campus for all the fun. Feel free to contact me for any questions.”

1989

Darrell Farlough (Mech E) writes: “On September 1, 2023, I gave my 29th consecutive annual financial gift (31 years of financial gifts in total) to Columbia Engineering. I am proud to support the school's efforts in teaching and developing the next generation of leaders in science and technology. My 35th Columbia reunion is in 2024. I returned to campus for my 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 20th, 25th, and 30th reunions, so I hope I am able to attend again next year.”

1990

Lynne Chui (IEOR) writes: “After Columbia, I went on to complete a master’s degree at Stanford University in 1091, returned to Kong Kong, and started working at a software company. Before too long, I switched to finance, working at Lehman Brothers and Peregrine Fixed Income as securities traders. When I got pregnant with our first child, my husband and I decided to move back (for him) to the US. I became a full-time mother to three children for 20 years. I now live in Florida, and my youngest has just started as a freshman at Columbia College. Helping her move in earlier this fall was an amazing experience. I can't say it's as exciting as moving in myself years ago, but it's pretty close. I started a company with my partners a couple years ago and to be honest, it's not always easy. We have big dreams. But when I was on campus a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but feel reinvigorated. This time, it's twice as satisfying because I know my children will have the same opportunities. I am grateful.”

1991

Chuck Agins (Civil E) writes: “In May 2023, after more than 21 years at AECOM in Denver, Colorado, where I was a project manager, I accepted an offer from David Evans and Associates to take over the position of Bridge Group Leader in their downtown Denver office.”

Alvin Ng (Elec E) writes: “On Christmas Day, 2021, with some help from my church, two or three tutorial students and I did community service, hosting a booth (called "The Telephonist" in Chinese) that played Morse code using LEDS and buzzers on breadboards with some South Asian children in the west of the New Territories, in Hong Kong. I am glad that the children liked it! We had a meaningful and rewarding time on that special day.”

Carlos Reyes (CS) writes: “I just launched my new software startup, Giopler. Giopler is a fresh approach for writing great computer programs. Use our header-only C++20 library to easily add annotations to your code. Then run our beautiful reports against your fully-indexed data. The API supports profiling, debugging, and tracing. We even support performance monitoring counters without ever requiring administrative access to your computer. Compile your program, switching build modes depending on your current goal. The annotations go away with zero or near zero runtime overhead when not needed. Our website has charts, tables, histograms, and flame/icicle performance graphs. We support C++ and Linux today—others in the future.”

1992

Kulmeet Singh (CS) writes: “I have spent the last 20 years building healthcare technology startups. All three companies leveraged artificial intelligence, including speech recognition and natural language processing, to automate clinical documentation and communication. I've been fortunate to work with incredibly competent and brilliant people, and our ventures were able to impact the lives of physicians and patients. We were also able to deliver a decent return to our shareholders. My next ambition is to impact education, the only sector that probably needs transformation more than healthcare.”

1994

Sophie Boroditsky (formerly Evans) (Civil E) writes: “Since graduation I have transitioned to a career in software engineering and IT consulting and have my own consulting practice. I still enjoy renovation projects and other civil engineering-related topics, but it is not my primary focus. I am also engaged in philanthropic efforts specifically focused on high school students and financial topics for education. I live in the Bay Area of California.”

Alexis Harley (Chem E) has been hired as Chief Risk and Resilience Officer by the New York Power Authority (NYPA). She will set the NYPA’s strategic risk management and resilience vision and implement, oversee, and monitor all risk management and resilience activities at NYPA. She also will be responsible for determining NYPA’s risk tolerance and instituting associated strategic plans, including oversight of the Power Authority’s sustainability team, which is responsible for the development and implementation of NYPA’s environmental, social, and governance strategy. Harley has spent her entire career in the energy industry and comes to NYPA from National Grid. She has extensive experience designing, implementing, and leading enterprise risk management programs to protect people, assets, and communities, while preserving value and adapting to new opportunities.

Aaron Wininger (APAM) writes: “I have recently been appointed chair of the American Intellectual Property Law Association's Committee for IP Practice in China. As chair of the Committee, I keep our members updated about new Chinese intellectual property laws, guidelines, guiding cases, and government-issued opinions. I also coordinate the Association's response to the Chinese government's request for comments on draft amendments to intellectual property laws and guidelines.”

1995

Joshua Chern (BME) writes: “Proud to be the father of Benjamin Chern '26SEAS!”

Xiao Yang (IEOR) writes: “Watching the vegetables in our backyard dry up from the drought this summer. Hoping it's not too late to halt the climate change.”

1996

Brian Trotter (Elec E) writes: “After almost 25 years in semiconductor design, I decided I wanted to be my own boss, so I passed the patent bar and started Bishop Rock, LLC as an IP consultancy. I'm now enjoying splitting my time between Austin and Park City, Utah, and working with tech companies and individual inventors to protect their valuable IP. Always happy to connect with fellow alums and hear what you're up to on Linkedin.”

1997

Edward Chen (IEOR) transitioned to dual roles as Medical Director, Clinical Informatics and Practicing Family Physician at Mercy Health System in St. Louis, Missouri. He has been re-learning his undergraduate coursework as he delves into integrating artificial intelligence into healthcare. He celebrated his 17th wedding anniversary this year and enjoys time with his two children. He looks forward to hearing from his classmates and can be reached on Linkedin.

Adam Wall (Civil E) writes: “I've been working at Urban Foundation/Engineering, LLC, a construction firm in New York City, since after my junior year at Columbia. We recently completed the 30-foot lift of the Palace Theater on 47th Street and Broadway in Manhattan this past April. Urban was responsible for the lift from start to finish, including concept, design, installation of lifting components and new foundations, and execution of the lift. Look it up on Youtube!”

1999

Gregory Chew (IEOR) writes: “I have been working in the financial services industry as an IT professional since graduating from Columbia, with a strong focus on Windows automation for end user experiences. I have been happily married to my beautiful wife since 2008 and have two children, aged 10 and 13. During the past few years, I have also ventured into commercial real estate investing, primarily in multifamily apartments. I have partnered and invested in about 2,000 doors to date, and am just getting started. My wife and kids have grown to love our annual trips to Hawaii. I am looking forward to continuing our tradition for years to come.”

Michael Moussourakis (BME) is enjoying work as Vice President, Technical Marketing and Strategy at Alconox Inc., supporting and working with critical cleaning applications in biotech, pharma, healthcare, laboratory, and medical device industries.

2000

Darlyn Delos Reyes (IEOR) writes: “Hello, Class of 2000. I hope you and yours are thriving. Jennifer CC'00, Jaylen (10), Jara (7), and I traveled to Southeast Asia at the beginning of the year and had so much fun in Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. Jennifer and I were able to escape to Argentina for some alone time. The kids started school in mid-August after a summer filled with swim meets, summer baseball, and a trip to the Boston area. Say hello if you are in the ‘Lamorinda’ neighborhoods of the San Francisco East Bay.”

Daniel Greenstein (Civil E) writes: “I recently started a new role at Wells Fargo as a lead construction consultant.”

Christos Kaklamanis (Civil E) writes: “I worked 20+ years as a structural engineer in our companies Palimpsest|Architects + Engineers and ERISMA, and currently I am working in construction management in our newly found company KIOOB. I am living in Athens, Greece, with my family (four kids), and my main hobby is organizing live music events.”

2002

Rick Thompson (Elec E) writes: “I live in Orange, California, with my wife Khanhvy and our daughter Lyra (6). I run the K-12 engineering and computer science program at Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School in Irvine, California, and I coach the robotics team. I'm very interested in touching base with other K-12 engineering educators!”

2003

Wei Ke (Elec E) writes: “Jia, big brother Theo, and I are beyond happy and grateful to report the birth of Ethan Ke, born in New York City on July 24 and measuring 3.13 kg in weight and 49 cm in length!”

Johnie Lee (CS) writes: “After almost five years at Uber, leading the financial products organization, I've left for the fintech startup world. Previously, I spent 5.5 years working on various features on Google Wallet at Google. Then, between Google and Uber, I completed my MBA at the Wharton School's executive MBA program in San Francisco. My wife and I currently live in the Bay Area with our two young kids, Kate (7) and Michael (5). In what was supposed to be only a two-year stint away from New York City for my wife's minimally invasive surgery fellowship at Stanford, we are now counting our 12th year in California.”

Megan Magliozzi (IEOR) writes: “Since 2021, I have been working at Marei New York as Director of Operations. We are a female-founded fine jewelry company based in Brooklyn, New York. It has been an incredibly fun and rewarding challenge working for a brand that creates fearless and seductive fine jewelry for everyday and special occasions.”

Rasheq Zarif (Mech E) recently co-founded and launched ReWyre, a property technology platform and marketplace designed to make it easy to find the right tech for the right property. The idea came about after learning that buildings are a major contributor of GHG and barely have the right tech to optimize use and become more climate efficient. There is currently no seamless way to figure out what solution would be the right match for property owners. His hope and vision is that his work will help transform the built environment for a smarter and more sustainable future.

2006

Sheryar Bawany (IEOR) writes: “I am the chief executive officer and co-founder of Trukkr, a fintech startup focused on digitizing the logistics sector in Pakistan. Trukkr has over 30,000 truckers on its platform and its SaaS product has been deployed at over 100 large corporations in Pakistan. The company provides micro financial services to the underserved trucking sector in Pakistan, where it has helped thousands of truckers obtain working capital loans to grow their businesses. Trukkr is now expanding its operations to the Middle East after having procured seed funding by venture capital funds last year, led by Accion Venture Lab. After I graduated from Columbia Engineering, I returned in 2010 to complete a Master’s in Science.”

2008

Benjamin Harbuck (Chem E) writes: “Despite majoring in engineering, I knew by graduation that I didn’t want to be an engineer and moved to St. Louis, where my wife is from, and where I attended law school at Washington University. I also obtained a Master’s of Law from Washington University, specializing in intellectual property law and graduating first in my class. After that, we moved back to New York, where I worked for a year as an attorney before moving again to St. Louis for the multinational law firm Dentons. I’ve continued to work for Dentons since, now as a senior managing associate focusing on trademark law, as well as copyrights and related IP, in all their aspects. I also engage in pro-bono legal work with immigrants and have served on the board for the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project. My wife and I are both active in our church and have three boys and a girl, aged six to 13.”

2009

Bilun Boyner (IEOR) writes: “I got married to Julien Dumoulin-Smith ’07SEAS in February in Austin, Texas. During the early days of COVID, Julien and I left our New York City apartment for Reno, Nevada, which was the only state that welcomed New Yorkers at the time. This started our two-year, 50-state, 40,000-mile road trip. As weeks passed, we worked remotely from over 100 cities (with four computers, six monitors, and multiple wifi extenders with us at all times). At the end of our travels, we got engaged and moved to Austin. In February, we were delighted to have 40+ fellow Columbia alumni come down to Texas to celebrate our marriage with us!”

Lauren Fong (EEE) is a project manager with Walt Disney Imagineering, currently living in Germany and working on the three new cruise ships for Disney Cruise Line. The first of the three ships, the Disney Wish, launched last summer and sails from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas. In addition to the AquaMouse, the first attraction at sea starring Mickey Mouse, Lauren worked on various areas inside the ship including the Marvel Super Hero Academy, where training of the next generation of super heroes takes place.

Patric Prado (BME) writes: “The world has gone through some seismic shifts recently. But I'm sure every generation feels and says the same things to the generations after it. What's important is to harness that energy towards greater humanity and care. We are engineers after all. Attached is a photo of me visiting the Amazon rainforest for the first time in my family's native country of Peru. It's important to me to always remember where I come from.”

2010

Austin Brauser (Mech E) writes: “I've continued my role as Mechanical Engineering Team Leader at Continental Engineering Services UK, where we specialize in the development of high performance hybrid and electric powertrain components such as electric motors, inverters, and DC DC converters. On a personal note, I've purchased a BMW race car, and I have started competing in a race series, fulfilling my childhood dream of becoming a race car driver!”

Diana Jiang (IEOR) and Jack Tsai celebrated their wedding in September 2021 at Bel Air Bay Club in Los Angeles. They were joined by many classmates, including Susanna Wu '13BC, Jacqueline Yang née Ahn '10SEAS, Weiyi Mu '10CC, Michael Lo '10SEAS, '15SEAS, and Matthew Lee '10SEAS.”

2011

Edward Mosley (Elec E) writes: “I co-founded a computer science high school in the Bronx five years ago. Last year, we had our first graduating class. This year, we are hoping to improve our game with Comp Sci High 2.0, learning from our mistakes and making the school even better than it was before.”

Nicole Wee (IEOR) writes: “I co-founded Honeycomb, a private social app to help new parents save their baby's story. With my husband Norases Vesdapunt ’11SEAS (CS), we welcomed our daughter Blaze into the world. I'm proud to be a parent in two ways—to a growing human, and to a growing startup!”

2013

Kate Hubert (CS) writes: “After graduating, I moved to Dallas, Texas, with my boyfriend at the time (who also graduated from SEAS as an electrical engineering major). I started my career at Texas Instruments as a sales engineer, and he started his at AT&T in their technical development program. Five years later, we got engaged in France and are now happily married, still residing outside of Dallas. After working in various sales, marketing, and e-commerce roles at Texas Instruments for nearly 10 years, I made the decision to leave and join Supplyframe, a software/media startup based out of Los Angeles that was acquired by Siemens. I am now the director of e-commerce business development and am helping electronic component manufacturers and distributors build their e-commerce strategy and grow their businesses. Attending Columbia was the best decision of my life! Not only did I meet the love of my life, I also learned so many valuable life lessons that I still carry with me in my career and personal life. Columbia is a part of my DNA and helped mold me into the person I am.”

Kimberly Lynch (BME) and her husband Scott Layne are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter Zoe (April 2022).

Anthony Ruda (APAM) edited the monograph Destructive Emotions: Jain Perspectives (forthcoming via Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House).

2014

Peter Xu (CS) writes: “I became a software engineer after graduating. Currently, I work as a full stack developer for Amazon Advertising, one of the company's fastest growing and most exciting businesses. Despite the challenges of 2020, I managed to accomplish several major milestones: I bought a house, got married, got promoted, and got a corgi named Bernie. I had an exciting year of travel in 2022, which included destinations like Zion, Yosemite, and Shenandoah National Parks, Muir Woods, Paris, and Barcelona, and I most recently attended my first Burning Man.”

2015

Eric Leung (CS) writes: “This year marks the 10th anniversary of me meeting my wife Peiyao '15BC on the Columbia campus! Since graduating, we have worked in New York City and Beijing and are now settled in Hong Kong. No matter where we travel, we will always be grateful to our alma mater and carry our Columbia and Barnard pride!”

2016

Uzo Amuzie (CS) writes: “It’s been an eventful few years for me. I wrapped up a five-year career at Goldman Sachs, working in software engineering, product, and sales. I recently founded Small World, a pre-seed social tech startup that rewards you for using your social capital to help people. I am also the founder and managing partner of Cliffwood Ventures, a full-service startup consultancy.”

2017

Adelaide Young (Mech E) and Unyimeabasi Udoh (CC 2017) are delighted to have announced their wedding on April 15th, 2023.

2019

Christopher DeFalco (Civil E) writes: “In June 2022, I moved to Southern California and joined HDR as a highway engineer in training. I am currently working on reconfigurations to I-405 to accommodate new transit corridors while maintaining highway design and safety standards.”

Aaron Thompson (Mech E) writes: “I just crossed over my three-year work anniversary at Microsoft, currently based in Seattle. About a year and a half ago, I transitioned from the data center organization over to Xbox. Currently, I'm working as a mechanical engineer on Xbox controller development and special/limited editions. It's been very exciting work, especially since we've been pushing hard in sustainability and environmental responsibility.”

2020

Samantha MacIlwaine (CS) writes: “Two years ago, I graduated and moved to Colorado. Since then, I have been pursuing my outdoor adventure dreams while working remotely as a software engineer for a Denver-based transportation startup. I have climbed the third highest mountain in North America, skied Quandary Peak, sent the Dragon's Lair in Utah, put up a first ascent in Arizona, led a one-day summit of Mount Whitney, and survived a full-day epic on a fourteen-pitch trad route in Italy. I have also run with the bulls in Spain, helped film two rock climbing documentaries in Wyoming, and published a feature-length article for Gripped Magazine. In 2022, I won the BuiltIn Moxie Award for Women in Tech. I currently live in my car. (Photo by Mary Eden.)”

2021

Mark Torres (IEOR) writes: “A world-class Columbia engineering education not only prepared me for the workforce, but it also greatly affected other areas in my life. Upon graduating, I decided to test my physical limits. I started to train for a powerlifting competition. I knew that if I could study long hours for IEOR midterms and finals, I could train for long hours. I recently competed in my first powerlifting competition and received second place in the 82.5kg juniors division. I wouldn’t have done this without the work ethic I picked up from the IEOR department and Columbia University’s powerlifting team, CU Barbell.”

2022

Audrey Bischoff (BME) writes: “After Columbia, I worked for a year at a boutique consulting firm for biopharma companies. I've now done a bit of a 180—I just started law school at New York University and could not be more excited for this new path! I'm interested in applying my engineering background to find a career in patent law. Inventing, and creating a device in the senior design challenge at Columbia made me excited to learn about new inventions in the biotechnology sphere!”

Charmane Gabriel (EEE) returned to her hometown in Florida to continue working full-time for the environmental engineering consulting firm Brown and Caldwell.

Kallee Gallant (APAM) writes: “After graduation in May, I drove a moving truck from New York City to the Bay Area and have been living here since the beginning of July! I love my job and feel very fortunate for my brilliant coworkers and that I was able to start part-time during senior spring. I’m planning on applying to graduate programs for entrance in Fall 2023 and will be taking a machine learning class at Stanford in the meantime. Very excited for my first year out of college!”

Katharina Gallmeier (APAM) writes: “I joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as a data science fellow in the information, technology, and systems division of IDA’s systems and analyses center. IDA is a nonprofit corporation that operates three federally funded research and development centers in the public interest. IDA answers the most challenging US security and science policy questions with objective analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise.”

Hu Liang (CS) writes: “This summer at Barclays Whippany campus was both enlightening and rewarding. The lessons from Columbia came alive as I applied them in real-world scenarios. Moreover, clinching a spot in the summer winning team for Barclays GTIS was a highlight I cherish.”

Luiz Fernando Lemos do Valle (CS) writes: “After graduation, I moved to Redmond, Washington, for the summer of 2022, to complete an internship at Microsoft. That September, I moved back to New York to start my full-time job at Google, where I work in one of the ads teams that maintains machine-learning bidding algorithms. This coming fall, I will go back to Columbia to complete a master’s degree in computer science, part-time.”