Month: February 2025

O’Donnell, Bill

I was born in Cambridge, Mass and grew up in Duxbury, Mass. I went to Phillips Exeter (’75) and then to Colby College (’79) where I majored in Economics and History. My first job after college was fracking oil wells in California (1980). After a year of that (and almost getting killed twice), I started my 43 year career on Wall Street where I held Managing Director roles at Greenwich Capital Markets, UBS, RBS and, for my last 9 years, at Citigroup where I was Head of US Rates Desk Strategy.

I met my wife at the Canadian Grand Prix in 1983 and we were married in 1984. We moved to Darien in 1987 and have no plans/desires to ever leave. We raised 5 daughters here, all of whom went to New Canaan Country School before scattering. I have 5 grandchildren. My interests include fishing, skiing, hunting (upland birds), swimming and cribbage. I’d love to add table tennis and other endeavors to this list…

Book Club: Unfinished Love Story, Doris Kearns Goodwin, May 14, 2025

“Dick and Doris Goodwin were married for forty-two years and married to American history even longer. Dick was one of the young men of John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier, and he both named and helped design Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. Doris was a White House Fellow and worked directly for Lyndon Johnson, later assisting on his memoir. The Goodwins’ last great adventure involved opening the more than three hundred boxes of letters, diaries, documents and memorabilia Dick had saved for more than fifty years. The voyage of remembrance revived the hope that the youth of today will carry forward this love story with America”–

Hike: Saugatuck Falls Natural Area in West Redding, Feb 17, 2025

Hail to the Hale and Hearty Hikers!
The inclement weather predicted for this Thursday makes it prudent to postpone our hike until the following Monday, President’s Day. While a bit of an inconvenience, this postponement fortuitously makes it possible to change our venue to the Saugatuck Falls Natural Area in West Redding and make use of the John Read Middle School vacant parking lot, located directly across from the entrance. These woods are gorgeous, the path is wide, and the elevation nearly flat. So even if there is some residual snow cover, our footing should be secure. Spouses, friends and dogs on leash are welcome. While we can always eat at our reliable stand-by, Oren’s Diner, if you have a more local suggestion, do not hesitate to be in touch with Lee or myself.
Per usual, for those wishing to carpool, we will meet at the back of the DCA parking lot at 9:30 AM and sort rides.  NOTE – if you plan to park your car at the DCA, please make sure you park in the DCA’s back lot, close to the Nature Preserve.

Current Affairs March 27 at 2pm at the DCA and Zoom-David Maloof “The fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is empathy.” Does historical evidence support or reject this premise?

In 2014, Darien resident and DMA member Dave Maloof wrote a book entitled “Christianity Matters.”

Elon Musk recently said, “The fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is empathy.”

Does historical evidence support or reject this premise?” That is largely what David’s book was about. He will give us an overview and then we can discuss the premise.

Hike Devil’s Den Nature Preserve, Feb 13, 2025

For our February hike on Thursday, the 13th, the hale and hearty
hikers will be traversing a clockwise loop of about three miles in
the Devil’s Den Nature Preserve in Weston. The elevations are
modest, but the trail gets rocky in parts, so sturdy footgear is
recommended. Given the likely calorie burn, a hearty breakfast is
also advised. Following the hike, we will retire to share a meal at
Orem’s Diner in South Wilton.

For those who wish to carpool, we will meet at the DCA parking
lot at 9:30am. It is never too late to get on our distribution list; just
signal your interest to Lee Morrison, whose contact information is
below.
Weather Advisory: While snowfall Is not predicted over the next
ten days, should we get an accumulation, we will choose an
alternate locale and get back to this one later in the year.Alec Wiggin
Lee Morrison

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