News and Notes 2009

Duriel Hardy*

We thought you might like to know something about the current recipient of the Class of l962 Scholarship fund.

James Tilton, Director of Financial Aid, has advised that this year’s recipient is Duriel Hardy, of West Chester, Pa. Tilton wrote:

“Duriel credits Brown’s open curriculum with having the single most important impact on his intellectual growth. He has crafted his own course of study, by means of which he discovered his academic strengths. Now a junior, he has changed his concentration from biomedical engineering to neuroscience and intends to go to medical school after graduation. He is a member of Brown’s varsity cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams. His aim is to become a top runner in the Ivy League division. Last year, he placed 12th in the 5,000-meter run at the IC4A Championships.”

Note: In April, 2009, Duriel won second place in the 5K run and qualified for the NCAA Regionals.

He has sent this thank you to the class:

“I just wanted to thank you so much for helping to fund the scholarship portion of my financial aid package. Without your financial assistance and commitment to Brown University, I would not be able to attend this amazing institution. I am truly grateful for all that you are doing for Brown and for me and I would like to personally thank you. It is through your kindness and altruism that I am able to attend Brown University. I have learned so much at Brown and I am truly thankful for the opportunity to study here. You have really changed my life”

Tilton noted that in the fall of 2008, Brown greatly expanded its financial aid program to reduce the burden on lower and middle-income students and their families. More details can be found at www.boldly.brown.edu/special/finaid.html.

* Photo by Wesley Harris-Ivy League

Jach Rohrback

After graduating, I spent time in the US Air Force and then 11 years with Fieldcrest and Cannon Mills in the textile business rotating through various positions in marketing, sales and general management. In l976, Lenox China convinced me to relocate to Wisconsin and run three small businesses involved in candles, decorative soaps and industrial waxes. My family enjoyed Wisconsin. The quality of life is good and it is a wonderful place to raise children. In order to facilitate staying there, I switched to the paper industry. It is the center of the paper industry in this country and it remains the largest paper-producing state in the US. I spent roughly ten years in various capacities with large paper companies before starting my own business in 1989. Since then, I have owned and operate two companies involved in paper converting and a third that operated a chain of retail party stores. After selling my last business, I retired and failed miserably in this capacity. Three years ago, I joined Kohlberg & Co, a private equity firm that purchases, operates and eventually sells mid-sized manufacturing companies, as an operating principal. I am a link between Kohlberg and the operating companies, sometimes serving as chairman and occasionally as an interim COE. It is a great way to stay involved and take advantage of your experience.

My wife Penny and I have been blessed with five wonderful children and 18 grandchildren. Three families live in the Chicago area, one in NJ and another in CT. We spend considerable time with all of them and at least once a year we all get together – hectic, but fantastic. We built a home in Vermont on ten acres and moved here a year ago. Half of NJ is now up here, which has allowed us to renew many old friendships. We love to garden and the hiking in VT is terrific. I dabble in golf, but cannot find the time to master the game, if that is possible.

Life is full and I look forward to spending time with old friends.