Archive - June 12, 2012

Today’s edition of The Journal News, a Gannett paper in Lower Westchester, top story is about Larry Leamer’s (Nepal 1965-67)  bombshell yesterday in Newsweek. The Richardson family said the Newsweek/Daily Beast report was based on “vindictive lies.” Leamer, who is a noted Kennedy authority, and author of three books on the family, based his account, he says, on documents filed during the divorce proceedings. Leamer also says his research showed the Mary Kennedy was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and that she was in his words, “a desperately sick women.” Leamer said he contacted a Harvard professor and authority on the disorder who confirmed that he had met with Mary and Robert Kennedy and that she exhibited, in fact, clear symptoms of the mental illness. Meanwhile, Mary Kennedy’s attorney, said he and the family are shocked by the accusations. Family court document are “sealed”–only available to those who are a party . . .

Liz Fanning (Morocco 1993-94) served as a PCV in the High Atlas Mountains, where she lived in a small Berber village and worked on environmental sustainability projects. Since she has come home, Liz has worked in a wide range of non-profit organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Schoolhouse Supplies and the Near East Foundation, and she was a founding Board member and Vice President for six years of the High Atlas Foundation, a nonprofit organized by former Peace Corps volunteers from Morocco. Then in 2011 she started CorpsAfrica to provide young adults in Africa the opportunity to serve as volunteers in their own countries. CorpsAfrica is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. She is inviting everyone in New York City to a cocktail reception to pay tribute to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. It is on Wednesday, June 20th from 6 pm-8 pm. Holbrooke served as Morocco Country Director for the Peace Corps . . .