Chicago Law Class of '95

Brian Murphy Update

Brian Murphy writes: "I am back working for the city of Cambridge after a two year stint as the Deputy Secretary for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.  I am now the Assistant City Manager for Community Development, in charge of community planning, economic development, affordable housing development and environmental and transportation planning. I am enjoying administrative work more than legislative work and am particularly glad not to have to campaign! Kate and I are still living in Harvard Square with Molly (15) and Joseph (10)."

Quick update...

...from Steve Newman: "All is good in Los Angeles.  I ran into Aparna Sule; our kids attend the same school!"

Davies/Laser update

Mark Davies writes: "So, for the first (maybe second) time in sixteen years, here is a short update from me – Biggest news at our end includes Nicole’s bat mitzvah, adoption of a puppy (goldendoodle), Rachel’s start of a new job (Senior VP at Hattaway Communications), Emily surviving the entry to private high school, and Xander (age 10) starting a C++ course.  Not necessarily in that order, but not necessarily not in that order either.  All the best to everyone."

Eastman Update

John Eastman writes (in the third person): "John Eastman was named Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Marriage in September.  He continues to direct the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, which has been active in a number of high profile cases this year.  Their briefing on the issue of legal standing of initiative proponents to defend their initiatives when elected officials refuse to do so was dispositive in the California Supreme Court’s Proposition 8 ruling, and appears headed to a similar successful fate in the Ninth Circuit.  Their request (in support of 26 states) that the Supreme Court take up the Spending Clause issue in the health care litigation was accepted in November.  Their request (in support of Arizona, and on behalf of several members of Congress) that the Supreme Court take up the Arizona immigration law was accepted in December.  And their petition for cert in a major Second Amendment case is currently pending, with the high Court already having shown strong signs of interest by calling for a reply from the California governmental respondents."

Pre-holiday Updates

The updates are starting to come in...don't forget to send yours!

Susan Epstein writes: "I was elected school board president (again).  In July Rob Mahnke (and his family), and I visited Tiffanie DeLiberty in Santa Rosa.  We all had a great time. I also enjoyed catching up with Aparna Sule at the Chicago Law alumi lecture in downtown L.A. in November."

Kathleen McCarthy sent an update: "Aloha and greetings from Hawaii, where I am relaxing after leaving my job at Citigroup Global Markets after almost 11 years. I am headed to RBS later this month where I will be head of litigation for RBS Americas. Other than that, things are good. I was able to visit Paco (Cestero) and his family in Italy before he relocated to Brazil   Also saw Chris Burt and family in LA in the spring and spend a fair bit of time with Meg Keeley."

And it's been a while since I've heard from Jon Savar, so it's lovely to get this update, even with the sad parts...:

Plus side:  three healthy kids
Minus side:  twelve-year-old dog died of a stroke a couple of weeks ago
Plus side:  still have another healthy ten-year-old dog
Minus side:  she's as sad about the other dog's death as I am
Plus side:  both of us have been taking long walks as a way to cope; I've lost over 20 lbs.
Minus side:  don't have much time for long walks anymore now that I have a new job
Plus side:  I have a great new job at a fantastic firm
Minus side:  I have a job

(Photos of the dog and the kids below)

Two '95ers Appointed to Impressive Government Positions

Two big pieces of Class of 1995 news in my Google Alerts today...

"Cyrus Amir-Mokri was confirmed by the Senate last night as the U.S. Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for financial institutions." Read more here.

"The Securities and Exchange Commission has named Brian Bussey as the new Associate Director for Derivatives Policy and Trading Practices in the Division of Trading and Markets." Read more here.

Congratulations to you both!!

Doug Martin Checks In

Doug Martin recently realized we hadn't heard from him in a while and wrote this: "Mireya, Mikayla (10, soon to be 11), Nicholas (6) and I are enjoying life in a small town.  The children are both enjoying school and the additional lessons that their father enjoys teaching them at home.  I must admit that I sometimes go overboard. I am pleased to report that both children are well on their way to becoming accomplished marksmen. Mikayla and I also take horseback riding lessons together (Nicholas so far is thoroughly uninterested in equestrian pursuits and Mireya, who grew up riding horses, "doesn't need anyone telling her how to ride").  I am still serving in the National Guard and was recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel."

Jesse Ruiz Earns National Honor

Jesse Ruiz, Former Illinois State Board President, Receives National Honor

 Arlington, Va. — Jesse Ruiz, the former president of the Illinois State Board of Education, is being awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). The national award is given annually to a state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education.

 “Serving on a state board is about leadership in the name of our children, and Jesse has certainly provided that,” said NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn. “He has been at the forefront of many issues, including equity in education for underserved students in his state, work he will certainly continue in the city of Chicago. For his many accomplishments in Illinois, we are proud to honor him with this award.”

 

Ruiz served on the Illinois State Board of Education from 2004 until 2011, when he left to serve as vice chairman of the Chicago Board of Education. During his tenure as state board chairman, he worked extensively on reducing the dropout rate and increasing the graduation rate, with the board raising the legal dropout age from 16 to 17. Under Ruiz’s leadership, the board clarified rules for enrolling students, making it easier for homeless, migrant, and other students in at-risk situations to gain access to public education.

 He also raised awareness of technical and trade programs available for students who are not considering a traditional college program. Ruiz was appointed in 2011 to the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity and Excellence Commission. El Valor honored him for his work in 2007 with its Education Excellence Award, and in 2005 he was given the Education Award by the state secretary of education. In addition, Mr. Ruiz was named one of the nation’s most influential Hispanics in the October 2010 issue of Hispanic Business magazine.

 “I am very proud to have served with Jesse Ruiz. When it came time to make a tough decision, Jesse always focused on what was best for students, no matter how difficult that may have been,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “When you have a leader that cares that much for kids, it helps put your job into focus and makes it that much easier to make tough choices and challenge adults to put students first.”

 The award is being presented at NASBE’s national conference in Atlanta, Georgia on October 14.

Dan's Band on Tour Again

Dan Fernandez wrote in with more updates on his band, Kings Go Forth. "I'm in a van...I've been kidnapped.  Just kidding, I'm a little sleep-deprived at the moment.  My band KINGS GO FORTH is back on tour. We play then Wed.-Sat. [9/28 to 10/1]  @ The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, crazy!  Please feel free to post/pass on the info, thanks!  All tour date links are on our website www.kingsgoforth.com.
We'll be working on a new album of material this Fall, and in our expansive free time (;-) will do a European tour starting in Dublin on 10/26, with dates in France, Belgium, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Luxembourg (?!?), & maybe London too!  Very exciting. Hope you and the whole Class of '95 are doing well!"

One more update....

Michael Frankel reports: "All is great with me.  I left LexisNexis in May and am enjoying a summer at least partially off.  When I’m not doing board meetings, I’m enjoying time with my adorable daughter Sophie."