Williams Alumni Stories

Angelica Rodriguez ’05 explores who she is and Williams’ part in her purpose and her place.

Thomas Vitale ’86 found the medical help his daughter needed in another Williams grad.

Michael Robbins ’49, anticipating his 95th birthday in November, is planning a big party, complete with printed copies of some of his stories. And he has stories to tell.

Betsy Harper ’79 has watched as Williams’ commitment to sustainable buildings has mirrored her own path.

Anton Bestebreurtje ’75 remembers the moment he felt a humble appreciation for his alma mater.

Douglas MacBain ’75 recalls a simple, albeit magical, moment hiking with his classmate and friend up Pine Cobble.

Skip Kotkins ’70 finds himself continually amid good company — his Williams classmates.

Leslie Jeffs Senke ’89 gives thanks to the camp counselor who introduced her to the Purple Valley.

Jackie Laughlin ’75 reflects on the ongoing work of building the Black legacy at Williams.

Drew Newman ’04 benefited from the Eph network and continues to pay it forward whenever he can.

Ned Donoghue II ’66 found a home at Williams.

Kate Stone Lombardi ’78 reflects on 47 years of friendship thanks to the serendipity of first year roommate assignments at Williams.

Rabbi Eric Woodward ’03 shares the first sermon he ever gave as a junior at Williams, the week after September 11, 2001, on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, 2001.

After a decade Jonaya Kemper ’07 returned to art begun — and abandoned — at Williams.

Bill Troyer ’56 feels gratitude for the life he has led and all that Williams did to help along the way.

When she felt disconnected at Williams, Pei-Ru Ko ’09 created a space that embraced belonging for all.

Mijon Zulu ‘09 reflects on how his intersectional history and identity intersects with the history of Black America and the celebrating of freedom.

Two essays by John Hubbell ’71, submitted for his 25th and 50th books, depict how his views on reunions—and the college—changed over time.

Why one alum doesn’t attend Williams reunions and suggestions to those who notice.

Sean Saifa Wall ’01 encourages the graduating class of 2021 to lead with love and conviction, and a few other adages to help them on their way into the world post-Williams.

William Finn ’74 shares reflections of his own winding path after Williams to the graduating class of 2021.

Esu Anahata ’88 found his passion after exploring different career paths, and stayed connected to Williams along the way.

Bob Parker’s ’59 winding path brought him all over the world, and his writing brings him right back to Williamstown.

The Williams family legacy of Pete Sterling ’53.

Arthur Wheelock ’65 remembers what he learned about the joy of discovery from Professor Lane Faison ’29.

Maxine Lyle ’00 is unlocking the story of step with “Step Show: The Musical,” being developed as part of a residency with the ’62 Center.

A year later, Matthew Fogg ’94 provides a sobering reflection on confronting the pandemic and asks us to ‘be our best selves.’

Sandra Egues-Ponce CDE’88 reflects on a moment when fellow Ephs helped her through a hard time.

Monsie Muñoz ’09 became who she was meant to be during her time at Williams.

A brief update in the class notes section of the alumni magazine led to an outpouring of support well beyond classmates and a profound gratitude for the power of the Williams network.

Jonathan Landsman ’05 writes about his heartwarming and heartbreaking experience volunteering at a vaccination center in his hometown of Queens.

Dick Peinert ’69 cherishes his Williams experience and the connections to its people and campus.

John K. Notz Jr. ’53 recounts the ongoing influence of Williams on his life.

Chris Alberti ’75 finds Ephs in Montana thanks to a special vanity license plate.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer Jody Abzug’s ’88 P’21 Williams friends came together to get her through treatment and celebrate her recovery.

Experiential education changed Michael Rosenblum’s ’76 education—at Williams and beyond

A year later, Dennis Kuo ’93 reflects on personal loss, Covid-19’s impact on all of us, and the fallout from the contradictions and collateral damage for years to come.

Bob Sillcox ’53 chose Williams on the advice of his older sisters.

Jeffrey Etemad ’89 helped a new grad in her career exploration.

C David Petersen ’53 recounts a full life and his cherished Williams friendships.

Celeste Berg ’13 is grateful for Williams connections through lifelong friends, career opportunities and family members.

A year later, Ann Marie Swann ’91 reflects on the challenge encountered with Covid-19 as a hospitalist and how she kept ‘moving forward.’

Karen Bowen ’86 celebrates powerful Williams connections beyond the campus.

Frank Richards ’75 discovers his connection to Williams goes back to his great-grandmother.

Craig Biddle III ’53 began his time at Williams idealistic and dreamy and went on to live a life full of ministry, nature, art and gratitude.

Andy Bader ’72 shares his lifelong commitment to running and the inspiring Eph who carries him through.

Eleven women across decades and generations are coming together to uplift women’s philanthropy at Williams.

Tim Hildreth ’91 shares gratitude for three of the ways Williams shaped him.

Etienne Aduya ’15 shares his story as a gay, Black student athlete in the hopes that they will have a better experience than he did.

One of the last students to join a fraternity, Norman Spack ’65 shares the transition to residence houses and how he brought some of the fraternity connections and traditions to the college’s new model.

Hiroko Imamura ’82, P’22, P’22 shares a path influenced by Williams experiences and connections throughout her career.

Bob Whitton ’69 found what he was looking for on a college visit in the ’60s.

Alex Deaderick ’15 raised $25,000 to support the racial justice movement, thanks in large part to fellow Ephs.

Daphne Lurie ’87 remembers the magic of her time at Williams.

Steve Harty ’73 shares his beliefs in the next generation of Williams College students.

Brooks Goddard ’63 pays tribute to a favorite Williams friend.

Peter D. Kiernan ’75 became a best-selling author, just as his Williams professor predicted he would.

Sisters Danielle Bahr Eason ’98 and Talia Bahr Goldfarb ’94 expanded their Williams family through kinship with Abubaker Ali Ba Abbad CDE ‘17, a Yemeni student they met through Claiming Williams Day

Jim Blume ’63 had a friend at Williams before he set foot on campus.

Herbert Ogden ’69 measures his life in the varied circumstances of several Williams connections.

Andy Hess’ ’62 journey to college began with an overheard conversation.

A 1986 class meeting over Zoom leads to a new professional collaboration between William Leininger and Robin Flagg.

Clive Connor ’75 remembers how reaching out to the alumni network resulted in helpful advice and a delicious shared meal.

Amanda Gallagher ’90 remembers how a beloved professor insisted she take his class.

Bill Wadt ’70 credits a chemistry professor with launching him on a successful research career

Ryan Farley ’16 joined a company who valued the liberal arts education and the perks included yearly recuiting trips to Williamstown.

Alan Dittrich ’69 remembers the campus jobs he held during his time at Williams.

Gerry Kelly ’79 recounts how his Morgan East JA and basketball teammate helped make his hometown a better place for physically disabled citizens.

A child of Cuba, Bill Jaume ’77 now supports other students from his home country with his gift to financial aid.

Karen Bowen ’86 fondly recalls her time at Williams and one lasting friendship that took hold.

Teaching a Winter Study course was Peter McKelvey ’86’s chance to “pay it forward.” It was the chance of a lifetime.

In her own classroom, Mace Foehl ’85 shares lessons she learned from a favorite Williams professor.

Hugh Germanetti ’54 recounts saying goodbye to Baxter Hall as part of his class’s 50th reunion celebration.

Greg Williams ’73 made connections in Professor Steve Lewis’ Econ 101 class far beyond the curriculum.

Kennedy Richardson ’71 turned the study of physics into a career managing an equity fund, always connecting his work back to lessons learned at Williams.

Kate Leonard Hood ’03 learned an important life lesson thanks to Williams coach, Alix Barrale ’93.

Teaching a Winter Study course in January 2009 set Amy Whitaker ’96 on her path as a middle-of-career college professor.

Laura Moberg Lavoie’s fellow 1999 classmate taught her doctor HOW to be a doctor. And then this doctor went on to deliver her child and save both of their lives.

A letter from Melinda Kan-Dapaah ’20 to her classmates.

This fall, Laurie Bennett ’99 posed the question, “Is there anyone else in the ‘I’m a loser’ Eph club?” in the “You Know You Went to Williams If…” Facebook group. The response was overwhelming.

Pat Bassett ’70 reminds us to “Keep Calm and Carry On.”

A reaction to the Williams Marching Band as one of endearment, and other Eph musings by Rob Farnham ’71.

A fellow Eph completely changed the course of Kate Stone Lombardi ’78’s career, but she didn’t find out about it until 40 years later.

In 1983, Carol Buck Whitehead ’78 sent off her first small check to the Alumni Fund, and it marked the start of a lifelong friendship.

Robert Kent ’84 fondly remembers the impact Clara and David Park had on his time at Williams.

Pinsi Lei ’12 recounts the moment she learned she was accepted into Williams.

Adam Grogg ’04 has become “that alum.”