This episode features a recent conversation between Gordon Earle '75 and his classmate and close friend, Kurt Van Steemburg, when Kurt was in hospice with only a few weeks to live.

Gordon recorded the episode because he was struck, in the weeks and months leading up to their conversation, by how willing Kurt was to talk openly and honestly about his life and what lay ahead. It was a conversation that was serious but also filled with smiles, joy and laughter.

In talking with Kurt, Gordon was reminded of The Last Lecture: Lessons in Living, a powerful and deeply moving memoir written by Carnegie Mellow professor Randy Pausch after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; the same disease that took Kurt’s life. Whether you knew Kurt or not, those who listen to this episode will be moved by Kurt’s observations on living a good life, as well as preparing for its end with wisdom, courage, humor and grace. Gordon also felt his conversation with Kurt provided valuable lessons on how to cope with his own mortality.

Gordon first met Kurt in the fall of 1971 in Morgan West, their freshman entry. Little did he know that those in the entry would remain close friends over the next half century.

During that time, Gordon and other members of the Class of ’75 also became close to the spouses of their classmates, especially Jinx, Kurt’s wife of 50 years, who joined the conversation.

Click here to view pictures and hear more episodes of A Williams Life.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle ('09)

Shoshana Clark Stewart ’02, President of Turquoise Mountain, reflects on her journey from Williams—where she majored in astrophysics and led her rowing team to three national championships—to Afghanistan, and the lessons she's learned from leading an international NGO in some of the world’s most turbulent places.

Shoshana began as an intern at Turquoise Mountain, which supports artisans and communities to protect and revitalize their heritage. Working directly with communities in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and the Levant, the organization has trained thousands of artisans, restored more than 170 historic buildings, and provided primary healthcare to over 250,000 patients.

Shoshana discusses the realities of operating in conflict zones, including the decision to remain in Kabul after the Taliban recaptured the city in 2021, and how craft traditions provide income, dignity, and continuity in times of upheaval. The conversation also explores leadership, resilience, and her advice to young graduates searching for meaningful work.

Williams College awarded Shoshana a Bicentennial Medal in 2018.

Click here to view photos from Shoshana's life.

00:00 From New York to Williams
06:10 The Zambia Eclipse That Changed Her Life
11:30 Rowing, Discipline & “I Choose”
14:15 Teaching Before Turquoise Mountain
16:45 Arriving in Afghanistan as an Intern
22:45 Reviving Vanishing Afghan Crafts
29:20 Why Cultural Heritage Matters in Crisis
37:10 The Fall of Kabul & Choosing to Stay
43:30 Expanding to Jordan, Palestine & Myanmar
1:01:00 From Intern to President — Leadership & Advice

Click here to view pictures and hear more episodes of A Williams Life.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle ('09)

Dr. Toby Cosgrove ’62 reflects on a remarkable life that took him from upstate New York to Williams, through medical school at UVA, into the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, and ultimately to the helm of the Cleveland Clinic. A renowned cardiovascular surgeon who performed more than 22,000 operations and later served as CEO of one of the world’s leading medical centers, Cosgrove shares stories from his military service, his decades in medicine and leadership, and his lifelong experience managing dyslexia. This episode offers an intimate look at the journey behind his extraordinary career.

Click here to view pictures and hear more episodes of A Williams Life.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle ('09)