Team Hershberg

When I read the articles in your publication and others pertaining to David Hershberg and the 2003 Vermont City Marathon, I feel wonderful that so many people were there to assist him. Still, I would like to point out that most of the stories forget that there were many unsung and unidentified people who also assisted in that situation.

I was actually one of the first people on the scene, determined Mr. Hershberg had no pulse, and started compressions with Mr. Maher doing the breathing. Once Ms. Chekos and Dr. Busse arrived on the scene, I gave up my position and spoke to the dispatcher from 911 to give them the specifics of the situation. During that time many, many, many others joined in the scene by directing runners away from the area and clearing the way so the rescue persons could come to Mr. Hershberg’s aid.

This is not to take anything away from those mentioned in your article; I am proud that we worked as a team to help a person in need. We will probably never see each other again, nor will we probably ever speak to Mr. Hershberg. I am thankful that he survived and that he wants to run again. I wish him well.

April (Leach) Pettengill, RN ’87
Fairfax, Vermont

Reality Check

I absolutely loved the Fall issue’s essay by Caleb Daniloff, “Notes From the Back Row.” He wrote so vividly of his awkwardness and slow metamorphosis to become a person comfortable within his own skin with the quiet guidance of a professor. It was a change from alumni magazine stories of people who are inspiring in school and forever after. What a nice dose of reality and reminder of what I think many people feel like whether it is in high school, in college, or continuing into their adult lives — simply “not feeling comfortable with who they are.”

Susan (Carter) O’Brien ’74
Winooski, Vermont

Big Jon Revisited

In response to the “Look Back” photo on page 47 of the Fall issue, it’s kind of hard to say for sure, given that he’s holding a phone receiver in front of his face, but I think that guy in the flannel shirt and baseball cap is Jon Sanders, known to me and my friends as “Big Jon.” Back in 1992-93, he was a neighbor of mine on Loomis Street. I remember well his (loud!) knocks on our front door early in the morning when he came to get my housemate, Rachel Axelrod ’95, to head to class. As I recall he wrote for the Cynic, which makes me more sure that this is indeed Jon.

Naomi Shulman ’93
Northampton, Massachusetts

Remembering
Professor Grinnell

I was surprised to find out in the recent Vermont Quarterly that Jacque Grinnell had passed away over the summer. I was even more surprised that after 25 years of service there was only a small paragraph devoted to him.

Although he was in some ways reserved, Professor Grinnell was an outstanding teacher. He could be best characterized by the comic strip that was yellow with age but continued to be the first thing you saw when walking into his office. It depicted an older man, a professor, driving his beat up VW Bug. Next to it was a stretch limo with a younger gentleman leaning out the window. The caption read something like, “Hi Professor! Remember me? You gave me a D!” Professor Grinnell took this to heart when dealing with all students, including myself .... he never gave up.

When I was a young, struggling student he would always welcome me into his office to help me along the way and gave me encouragement to succeed. I even changed my major to Accounting after taking one of his classes (at least until I got to pensions and realized it wasn’t for me). I did, however, take a Cost Accounting class from him even after I had changed my major to MIS. This was one of the best classes I had in my stay at UVM. He pulled in the real world and made us think and analyze. I have yet to see a teacher get as excited about a subject as Professor Grinnell did in that class. It is a great loss to UVM and to all future business school students to lose such an outstanding teacher, counselor, and friend.

Brad Wallace ’99
Richmond, Vermont

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Editor, Vermont Quarterly
86 South Williams Street
Burlington, VT 05401.

You can also reach us by fax (802) 656-3203, by phone (802)656-2005, or by e-mail at Thomas.Weaver@uvm.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity or space.