2120 Kalorama Road, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Jon Donald, who filmed a 1970’s television special in Viet Nam recently returned to produce a documentary on “Operation Smile”, the surgical mission whose doctors correct cleft lips and palates. The effect of the operations, although constantly interrupted by monsoons and power outages “was almost miraculous. The small child who had gone into surgery with a mangled upper lip emerged whole and beautiful with no more that a tiny scar.” Jon visited one family who were “people with nothing except a frail shelter to live in, the clothes on their back and a lifetime of work to look forward to….Their son had been restored from a terrible accident of nature to what God had intended.” Jon’s reflections on Viet Nam today: “The redemptive smile seems rightly symbolic of present day Viet Nam. It is a forgiving place. I never saw an angry person.…In the last century Viet Nam has fought wars with the Chinese, Japanese, French, and the U.S., but it is friends with its old enemies.…The country is a place of resilience, patience, and those family values that we wishfully invoke so often here at home.”
Bill Rees has provided me with three fascinating documents. I can only synthesize one and will hold the others for later columns, while reporting now on his essay on our arrival in New Haven. “On Wednesday, September 17 1952, we came from the alfalfa fields of Iowa, the Palisades of Big Sur, the Shenandoah valley, but mostly from the New York-New Haven-Harford corridor. …Eight Smiths and Johnsons came, along with seven Andersons and Millers…John was the most popular first name: there were seventy-five, followed by sixty Bills, fifty-two Bobs and forty-nine Jims…sixteen foreigners and six sets of twins…One hundred ten sported butch haircuts but no one with sideburns, a beard or long hair; fifteen percent had alumni fathers, and ten percent had either no mother or no father.
In this delicious essay, Bill mentions the cost of a few items: A LeRoy Anderson LP for $1.89; a pair of white bucks on sale for 50 cents; a telephone for rent at $2.80/month. We were able to see such flicks as “Caribbean” at the Paramount, “Affair in Trinidad” at the Poli, and “Man in the White Suit” at the beloved Lincoln. We learned that we could not have a woman in our room except in the afternoon, if properly chaperoned. We also found out that Smith and Vassar were about eighty miles away and Wellesley somewhat further-but we couldn’t have a car.
President Griswold welcomed us, and August Heckscher, Class of 1936, of the New York Herald Tribune (Remember that?) told us: “The best preparation for citizenship is the discipline of the mind and of the spirit that comes from finding facts impartially. It is the carefully inculcated habit of criticism, appraisal, judgment and interpretation.” He went on: “At the same time the ideal of the liberal education is under attack from those who want the university to teach a positive or dogmatic code. But where values are authoritatively declared, facts are very soon authoritatively suppressed.”
Bill comments that after that first week we were no longer strangers and that we knew “we belonged to something grand.” He concludes the report by reminding us that we began classes on September 23rd, “when the Brooklyn Bums became top bananas of the National League; when Rocky Marciano Ko’d jersey Joe…when Richard Nixon, the consummate poker player, gambled with Checkers…and when we, the Class of 1956, began our first day college classes, the first of nearly 900.”
How’s this for a transition? We have a new class baby! Winston Bradford Cutler Moore was born on November 4th. He is the son of Julie and Reid Moore. Bill Clark, my informant, reports that Reid’s grandmother lived to be 110 years old, so Reid expects to be present for Winston’s graduation from Yale. As for Bill, his far-flung family — six children and 13 grandchildren — gathered for Christmas. The clan includes a Yale grandson and an all-American swimmer granddaughter being recruited by Dartmouth and Navy. She would be the fifth generation family member at the Naval Academy.
Our roving correspondent, Tersh Boasberg, reported in from Martha’s Vineyard that prize-winning author David Lloyd of “Mary Tyler Moore” and “Cheers” fame has maintained his sense of humor, as proven by his story of the turtle who was mugged by the snail and admitted to the police when they came that he couldn’t remember what transpired because it all happened too fast.
Jim Hinkley died on November 24th. An NROTC graduate, Jim served in the Navy Air Corps in the Pacific, then spent forty years in the book publishing world with Western, Golden, and Grolier, as well as with his own consulting firm. An avid fly fisherman, Jim was described at the funeral by Mike Marron as a “strong, silent, and gentle person who could inspire trust and confidence in those around him…as irreverent, whimsical and even daring. When asked in a Naval Science class to describe a ship propulsion system, clueless, Jim drew three interlocking rings labeled Purity, Body, and Flavor,” describing one of our favorite beers. Jim’s spouse, Deborah, can be reached at Box 334,Goshen, CT 06756.
Ed Selig reported on the death of Joe Ross on December 27th after a valiant battle with cancer. Joe was a psychiatrist in Boston with a pediatric specialty. His relief from his practice was to dance the tango. Ed advises that Joe remained fully engaged with family, friends, and life’s pleasures until his last days, when he went “gentle into that good night.” Ann Ross may be reached at 10 Union Street, Natick, MA 01760
A treat next issue: Dick Eckart will report while Gay and I roam in the Roman catacombs.
Ciao
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Announcing the first (and last) annual Class of 1956 John Eaton at the Supreme Court Name That Tune Contest! While being inducted as the University Club Washingtonian of the Year, seated next to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John accepted his award with a concert. The result? John was invited to return to the Supreme Court to play for its May gala. The contest? You are invited to e-mail John (pkarrje@ aol.com) with one suggestion for a song to be played at that concert. John will tabulate the votes, and I will announce the winning song and the names of those who voted for it in a future column. The Prize? The joy of seeing your name in bold face print!!
Nick Steiner was married in New York on September 20th to Jennifer Stern, who has played a strongly supportive role in Nick’s life for over eighteen years. As Nick wrote: "I wouldn’t have survived, nor would the intervening years have been so rewarding, without her." The wedding took place just before Jennifer entered a master’s program in Global Public Health (with a focus on gender issues) at a university in Berlin. Needless to say, Nick accompanied Jennifer to Berlin and divides his time on both sides of the Atlantic.
Steve Scher was named Chair of the LXVII AYA Assembly this fall. The exciting program was "Yale in a Green World: Meeting the challenge of Sustainability."
Our Treasurer, Ted Robb, reports that the Class Memorial Scholarship stands at just over $92 000. By the time you read this, I expect that we will have reached the magic $100 000 mark. Thank you for your support.
I received a very thoughtful note from Lee Daly, the late Jerry Boerner’s daughter, thanking me for my words about Jerry and reporting that she had found his old Yale baseball cap and banner tucked away in the garage.
Nikki Barranger checked in to say that he has played his last stage role, Henry Albertson in "The Fantastics". "Best to stop while the reviews are good" comments Nikki, who also reported the death of Camille Lavandero, wife of Leo Lavandero, mentor of the Dramat during the fifties. Nikki describes them as people who are "like Godparents" and wants those who knew them to have the sad news.
John Bacon wrote that he and Jonathan Donald attended the October 12th U.S. Marine Corps burial ceremony for Lawrence Brody, Y’42. Larry interviewed Fairfield County admissions candidates for scholarships, leading to the enrollment of Jason, Jon, and Phil Tarasovic. As Jason observed: "But for Captain Brody, the Yale football team might never have defeated Army."
Unfortunately, I must continue in this vein and report the deaths of the following classmates.
Lorrie Rea died at his Vermont home on October sixth. After navy service, Lorrie brought his engineering skills to GE, Sylvania, and Raytheon, specializing in defense contracts quality control. The Reas also lived in Concord MA where Lorrie was very involved in church social and healing ministries. In Massachusetts and Vermont his activity also focused on environmental issues, interrupted by extensive traveling, musical interludes, and photography. I recommend that you read Lorrie’s bio submission in our 50th reunion book to encounter a truly moving profile in courage. Cornelia Rea may be reached at 6 Concord Greene, Unit 1, Concord, MA 01742. Lorrie also is survived by their three children.
Leo Curran died on September 29th in Buffalo, NY. Described by one reporter as "as Irish as Mrs. Murphy’s chowder", Leo graduated with exceptional distinction and won a fellowship to Oxford, after which he received his PhD from Yale. He originally wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer, "make a lot of money and drive a big Cadillac." However, a sophomore year Classical Civilization course stimulated Leo’s interest in Greek and Latin. As a result, he pursued an academic career, where Cadillacs are rare, and retired as Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Buffalo, where he went after five years of teaching at Yale. In addition to various college leadership and national committees’ responsibilities, Leo conducted research in the use of computers and advanced technology to enhance the study and teaching of Latin and Ancient Literature. He was a passionate traveler and photographer; his widely visited web site, Maeconas, features his pictures of ancient Greece and Rome. Leo’s wife, Margaret Tarajos, is a Latin teacher at a Buffalo high school and can be reached at 29 Henning Drive, Orchard Park, NY 14127.
Henry Cooper and Nikki Barranger alerted me to the death of Aubrey Goodman on September 28th in Waco Texas, his home town. As you will recall, Aubrey wrote our senior class musical, "The Great Gatsby", and was the first in the class to publish a novel, "The Golden Youth of Lee Prince". Modestly listing himself as a "published author" in the reunion yearbook, Aubrey actually wrote extensively for movies and television and composed a striking poem for our 50th reunion. As Henry Cooper wrote me: "Though Aubrey was an invalid for many years, he kept up with his class and carried on a lively correspondence with many of his classmates, lighting their lives now as he had done as an undergraduate." Aubrey appointed our entire class as honorary pallbearers.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007
I received an "eat your heart out" postcard from Sabin Robbins, pictured in Beijing in front of a giant picture of Chairman Mao. You may recall that in a previous column I suggested the publication of the Class of 1956 travel guide, with chapters written by our peripatetic classmates. Robbie responded with an offer to be editor of the guide, for he has "tramped across 63 countries in the last ten years as a cruise ship lecturer…not a bad retirement racket." All Robbie’s trips are free for him and a guest as he beguiles blue hairs and honeymooners about pirates, marine monsters, history, and culture.
Others of us pay our own way. Francis Compton went on tour for two weeks with his church choir to England, singing full Sunday services and evensong, traveling in Devon and Cornwall and singing for a full week at Christ Church College, Oxford. Frank’s transatlantic flight was the last one into Heathrow on the August 2006 day that the terrorists were apprehended.
John Noonan has retired after forty years in the Brooklyn, New York real estate business. What do he and Mary do to celebrate that milestone? You guessed it. They have voyaged to Nepal and throughout South America, returning either to Brooklyn or to their New Jersey beach house.
The photographer for our travel guide could be Nick Steiner. His photography book, "Through My Lens-European Images in Black and White" has been published, and on the way is "Michelangelo Comes to New Jersey". Intrigued by that title, I called Nick for an explanation. The book is a collection of color photographs of sights in the U.S., including a Sistine Chapel image on a New Jersey cemetery wall.
Hugh Magee, retired from his ministry responsibilities, is now living in one of my favorite towns in the world, St. Andrews, Scotland, very close to where Gay and I lived while on sabbatical many years ago. Golfers en route to the Old Course will find the Magees at 17 North Street, not far from the first tee.
Bob Wheeler forwarded an article from the New Haven Register entitled "A Dreamer Succeeds with the Right Help". Of course, this refers to the "I Have a Dream" program which our class has funded for many years. The article focuses on Shantara Reaves, a 22 year old, one of 56 students who entered the program in 1994. Last May Shantara, who survived a very difficult childhood, was the second of our "dreamers" to graduate from a four year college. Of the original 56, 44 graduated from High School, 37 entered post-secondary school programs, with tuition support promised for them until 2010. I was particularly touched by Shantara’s comment that "little things mattered so much, like each birthday the students were taken out to lunch and to Barnes and Noble to get a book."
The urge to help others not as fortunate as we seems to pervade our class. Ted Robb formed a non-profit in the "colorful Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia to rehabilitate the abandoned 100 year old St. Mary’s Hospital building into 69 units of low income, elderly housing." This impressive project was selected by Preservation Pennsylvania and by the Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission for a Historic Preservation Award. Ted advises that another class preservation guru, Tersh Boasberg, had a hand in the selection process.
Classmate recognition news from all over: John Eaton has received the Washington University Club’s Distinguished Washingtonian Award. Only one of these is awarded in the arts each year.
Ted Robb, Class Treasurer, reports that we are still solvent, despite all the reunion-related expenses, thanks to a 57% participation in our class dues solicitation last year, so we are not following the sub-prime mortgage industry down the tubes. In order to keep it that way, we are depending on you to pay your dues.
In many instances, term limits is a blessing; in others not so. Charlie Cook’s tenure as class representative to the AYA is a victim of term limits. We are very grateful for his service. I am also thankful that Bill Rees has agreed to serve as Charlie’s replacement.
Help. I am very low on news and need to hear from you pronto so I can avoid a void in the YAM. Thanks.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007
CATCH UP TIME: Herewith a couple of post-reunion commentaries. Werner Gossels wrote: "Elaine and I enjoyed our 50th reunion weekend very much. Thanks to all classmates who did such a wonderful planning job-and all who helped make it happen." The Gossels will be returning to New Haven with some regularity, as their grandson, Benjamin, enters as a freshman this month. Benjamin’s parents both graduated from Yale in 1982.
Gil Leppelmeier finds life after the 50th to be rather quiet, even though his Dutch-Finnish Ozone Monitoring Instrument is currently on board the NASA Aura spacecraft. Gil’s wife, Merja, and friends gave him a rousing 70th birthday party in Finland- a "night" that was light all night long- a great way to celebrate (And, oh, to be 70 again). In the context of growing concern about global climate change, here are Gil’s comments: "Like everywhere else, the weather has been very strange. Summer was a five month drought that lasted nearly to the end of October. Then the first two weeks of November were full winter: -5 t0 -15 centigrade and 20cm of snow. Then came a thaw and eight weeks of rainy, stormy, dark weather. Just warm enough to prevent snow…Winter finally arrived late in January with lots of snow and clear blue skies." Gil expresses the wish that "folks realize that it really pays off to replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. (To say nothing of LED’s)" That’s a start, at least.
It was wonderful to hear from Jim Don after 30 years of silence. Despite total ankle and knee replacements in 2006, timed to get Jim ready for our reunion, Jim and Margaret celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the company of many classmates and spouses: Ralph Smith (best man), Hank Blundin, Nelson Crowther, Bruce Ensley, Jim Jeffords, and Peter Shattuck, who flew in from California. Jim comments: "Yale friendships do last." The Dons finished off 2006-the year of the dual 50’s- with three and a half weeks in South Africa and a Caribbean Cruise with children and grandchildren. Jim, what are you doing for an encore in 2007?
Albert Francke and Katharine Bailey were married on February 18th. Katharine, a descendent of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, was an Assistant Professor of psychiatric nursing at the Yale School of Nursing until 2004. Albert has retired from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Provost, Colt, and Mosle, where he was Chairman from 1987 until 1991.
More exciting news…Clare and Bob Mason’s illuminating DVD, "Good News…How Hospitals Heal Themselves" is now available at CC-M Inc, 7755 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20012. Don Velsey’s book, "Classic American Popular Song, The Second Half Century", won the ASCAP Deems Taylor award, announced at a Jazz at Lincoln Center program last December.
While on the subject of music, I was touched to receive a tribute to John Eaton from Gib Durfee. Gib reports that one of the joys experienced by moving to Washington is the opportunity to attend John’s classes at the Smithsonian, classes that "provide an intimacy between professor/performer and students that can’t be created in a concert…John’s humor is not constrained, and the professor has the freedom to get into technical details, for example the chord progressions in a classic that lend themselves to jazz improvisation…What a treat."
For Jane and Stephen Waters 2006 was a transition year, as they relinquished their positions on the school board (Stephen), historical society, and community chorus (both Jane). Steve continues on the N.H. Department of Education Standards Board. Steve and roommates Charlie Dorchester and Bob Harrington, plus wives, continue to hold an annual August reunion, and Steve continues to ski and celebrate New Years with Russ Broad.
Andrew Torchia’s two sons, who found their way to Yale from their Cyprus home, are media mavens: Andrew (1986) is Reuters Bureau Chief in Shanghai, while Christopher (1989) is the AP Bureau Chief in Turkey.
Finally, George Berman, our web master, provided the news from Jack Flobeck, who is a water use consultant and has published widely. He recently addressed a Colorado water resources workshop, where he commented that "we have plenty of water. The people are in the wrong place". Currently, Jack is working to develop strategic water maps across the world to" show where dry spots are located as well as where infra red and other wireless techniques can be applied to conserve water."
JULY-AUGUST 2007
"The Class of 1956 is amazingly generous, gracious, and, quite honestly, fun! I so enjoyed meeting alumni who had gone on to do such amazing and different things, and everyone was so positive and encouraging. I really left feeling: A) Appreciative; B) Lucky; and C) a part of a great Yale tradition that promises a future of success, if I work as hard as you all have done. I hope that my class remains in close contact as your class has." Whose wise and perceptive words are these? Miranda Jones, one of the Davenport Fellowship winners, after performing at last year’s fall class dinner. Be sure and come back in November to meet more of our fans.
Random notes from all over: Peter Hollenbeck invites us all to stop in (presumably not all at once) for a visit at his house on Stuart Island, WA. To wet your appetite, see the pictures and directions at www.hbeck.net.
A number of classmates who returned for the 50th continue to express their enthusiasm for that celebration. Among them is Dick Wilde, who plans to join the Alumni Chorus trip to South Africa. Although Dick recently retired and is keeping busy with house and church projects, he reports that he would be open to another assignment in the human space exploration program.
Speaking of our reunion, those who were there will remember the brilliant comedy performance of Wendy Liebman. The April 1st New York Times reported on Wendy’s performances on the condominium circuit. "Younger comedians whose material resounds with aging residents are hard to find" reported the Times, a gap Wendy successfully fills.
Jane and Stephen Waters have been chosen the Hillsborough, NH, citizens of the Year, in recognition of their joint and separate contributions to the Historic Society, Heritance Museum, school board, and community chorus. Both performed with the Berkshire Festival Chorus in Salzburg. Steve has retired from teaching and "headmastering."
We should write the Class of ’56 travel guide. Herewith a partial list of contributing editors: Marge and Howard Parker could report on their trips to Athens, the Greek Isles, Istanbul, and New Mexico, including commentary on balloon fiestas in the latter. Our guide’s coverage of Turkey would be very complete, as Bob Kleiger would add his observations on the bird life and cultural attractions of that country. Bob also has recently visited Antarctica, the Falklands, and South Georgia. Somehow Bob also continues to read ECG’s and electrocardiograms. The chapter on Turkey would also have input from Jim Downey, Bill Tatlock and spouses, who visited Western Turkey on a Vassar trip, serenading the populace with "Istanbul, not Constantanople". Jim comments that "Vassar women do seem to bring Yale men together." As I prepare to attend Gay’s 50th reunion in Poughkeepsie, I agree. Ivan Phillips’ report on a recent trip to Italy reflected his special interest in Italian art, as the Phillips visited twenty-one museums, galleries, and churches. Ivan observes that his interest in art was nurtured at Yale in History of Art 101; "One might forget individual works of art but not the way we were taught to look at them."
The Eastern European chapter would include the input of Ken Mills who cruised the Danube (on a Yale trip) from Prague to Budapest. Gay and I could contribute our observations on South Africa and Botswana (my first return after ten years), including our experiences in the townships around Johannesburg and Capetown.
Speaking of our travels, we love to join Sally and Tersh Boasberg on visits to sophisticated spots, benefiting from their expertise in various fields, including Tersh’s extensive knowledge of wines. However, even he sometimes meets his match, as illustrated by the following quote from a red wine label in Puglia: "With the characteristic system to sapling, they engage an austere gait that is a show of the nature to observe the phase of maturation…the contribution of the ancient wine yards, precious haredity (sic) of our ancestry vine-growers to the production of this haughty wine." Who could resist?
We all also enjoy life at home. Susan and Robert Fisher celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last August in Connecticut. Also in the Nutmeg state, Jack McGregor and his wife, Mary-Jane Foster, organized an investor group to buy back the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic Baseball League, a team they originally founded in 1996 and sold in 1999. The McGregors are now investigating the possibility of establishing another league team, in Westchester County. Jack has been a real leader in the re-birth of Bridgeport.
I regret to report the death of two classmates. Gene Rewerts died in March and is survived by his wife, Joan, who can be contacted at 2251 Windmill View Road, El Cajon, CA 92020-1355. Unfortunately, I have no further information. Ken Butler alerted me to the death of Rodger Wilkin on April 8th, Easter Sunday. A 1960 graduate of Yale Architecture School, Rodger practiced in Kansas City, where he was honored with an AIA award. Rodger was very active in the Yale Club of Kansas City as President and as an influential member of the Alumni Schools Council. An avid sailor, Rodger and Betty could be found on the water in the Great Lakes and the Virgin Islands. In addition to Betty, who lives at 4409 West 112th Terrace, Shawnee Mission, KS, 66211-1718, Rodger is survived by two children and four grandchildren.
Have a wonderful summer, at home or away, and stay tuned for more news (There is a backlog.) in September.
As you will recall from my last column, Essy Esselstyn provided us with a wonderful report on the victory of our Olympic crew. [click here to re-read that report] Fifty years later it is a pleasure to salute all the crewmen who made up that eight. I am pleased to continue with a summary of Essy’s full report; unfortunately space limitations preclude full coverage, but I would be pleased to send on the entire document if you so request.
Essy viewed the Olympic victory as a "springboard", rather than as a "pinnacle", providing confidence, proving the rewards of total effort, courage, and persistence. These attributes have supported Essy through a distinguished career as a leading heart specialist based at Cleveland Clinic. His research led to disillusionment with the focus of the medical profession on treating cardiovascular disease with drugs, stents and bypass surgery- "temporary patch jobs." Epidemiological studies of non-western cultures, whose citizens subsisted on plant nutrition, revealed an absence of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. In 1985 Essy began treating 24 patients severely ill with coronary artery disease, a number of whom were not expected to live a year. Twenty years later all the compliant patients are still alive, with numerous examples of disease reversal. Essy’s studies indicate that coronary heart disease is caused by the animal based western diet. He advocates a plant-based, oil-free diet to not only prevent the progression of heart disease, but also reverse its effects. (Don’t eat anything with a mother) Essy provides over 150 recipes for us and describes his work in this field as his "second Olympics", recalling the motto of the 1956 crew: "Press on, regardless." To find out more, read Essy’s new book, "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" with this accolade from Dr. Mehmet Oz: "A hard nosed scientist shows us his secrets for successfully cleansing rusting arteries of so many patients-and it doesn’t even hurt."
While on the subject of inspirational medical books, check out "Unforeseen Consequences", a "physician’s personal triumph over advanced melanoma." Over twenty years ago, Nick Steiner was diagnosed with advanced, and normally fatal, melanoma. Fortunately, Nick is still with us. In his book Nick reports on "an expert in Chinese herbs and a highly unusual younger woman" and the critical roles these two people played in his survival. I won’t spoil this inspiring story with any more details. Suffice to say that after having to give up a very successful New York medical practice, Nick has enjoyed a successful photography career, remains in remission, and states that the cancer that almost killed him was "the best thing that could have happened to me."
What is it about the Class of ’56? We are a determined lot. Another one of my heroes is Irwin Miller. As you know, Irv has been battling terrible cancers, melanoma and colon, and has undergone a series of major operations. While now cancer-free, in order to receive the support he needs and to relieve wife Judith of that burden, Irv has moved into an assisted living home: Barton Senior Residences of Zion IL, 3500 Sheridan Road, Apt. 238, Zion IL 60099. Tel: 847-872-1500. Quite frankly, although room, board, and medical expenses are covered, Irv is left with little else. If his friends are willing to discuss his situation, they may contact Irv or me.
I recall that at our 50th so many of us were pleased to see Jim Jeffords and also sad at the thought of his retirement after 32 years in the House and Senate. Harte Crow send me a copy of the Hanover, NH Valley News which contained wonderful quotes about Jim. Herewith a sampling in tribute to a remarkable classmate: "Jim’s not a heck of a lot different in private than he is in public. He’s just always had a great sense of humor and never got caught up in the pomp and circumstance of Washington…. Jeffords is a product of his native state: Frugal, plain-spoken, loathe to talk about himself." While highlighting Jim’s contributions in education and the environment, Senator Harry Reid said: "He has made a difference. I’ve always been impressed by his knowledge of issues and dedication to public service." What does Jim say? "I just do what I think is right."
We were well represented at the AYA Assembly in November by Michael Cary, Stephen Scher, Bob Wheeler, and our Class Representative, Charlie Cook, who filed this report: "This year’s Assembly focused on the importance of service at Yale and beyond…drawing on the experiences of several student-driven initiatives for service to New Haven and to projects in third world countries." President Levin reiterated his three priorities: "Strengthening the science programs, enhancing and enriching the arts, and internationalization of the University." Charlie Cook’s report contained some illustrations of those commitments: Yale has spent over $500 million on the arts, more than any university has ever committed. Last summer some 900 students traveled abroad, supported by grants in many cases, with about 200 taking courses taught by Yale professors in other countries. The Yale curriculum now offers 51 foreign languages. Clearly we are preparing our students for the 21st century world.
Thomas Hunter died on January 4th in Stamford CT. Tom started in our class, then graduated from the University of Bridgeport as an electrical engineer. His innovative power supply design earned him two patents and was used in the Apollo space probe. Subsequently, Tom became a management consultant, advising clients on telecommunications in emerging countries. As a member of the International Executive Service Corporation, Tom served in Romania and Paraguay. Tom’s contributions to the city of Stamford resulted in the pronouncement of Tom Hunter day. He was an antique boats aficionado to the extent that his second wife, Mary, named one of his boats "The Other Woman." In addition to Mary, who lives at Apartment 8C, 50 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, CT 06902-9391, Tom is survived by three sons and a granddaughter.
MARCH-APRIL 2007
Fifty years ago the Yale crew won the 1956 Olympic Championship in
“As we celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Yale 1956 Gold Medal Olympic crew, I am pleased to share
my reflections on the event and its significance. The experience was
enriched when five of us returned as guests of
The crew was comprised of four sophomores, coxswain Bill Becklean, # 7 Rusty Wailes, #8 Bob Morey, # 3 John Cooke; two juniors, #4 Don Beer, #5 Charlie Grimes, and three seniors, #2 Dave Wight, Bow Captain Tom Charlton and # 6 yours truly.
As the
years have passed so, seemingly, has the heroic stature of the four races we
rowed in
The next day we won the repechage and prepared to meet the Australians again in the semifinal. We went all out and squeaked out a win by about 12 feet. Several of us threw up from the effort. By now we had regained much of our confidence heading to the final, which was to be our fourth race in four days.
Coach
Rathschmidt did some clandestine counseling with
Bob Morey, our stroke, and Bill Becklean, our
coxswain, which I did not learn about until fifty years later.
Jim was not at all confident that we could row our usual race at 33
strokes per minute and win the final against our main competition,
Just prior to the start of the final we performed our last minute ritual “passing the shake.” The cox shakes the hand of # 8, 8 shakes # 7, etc., for the length of the boat. Halfway through this custom, Garth Manton, #5 of the Australian crew bellowed out, “I say Charlie haven’t you met Don yet?” Well, just who did he think he was to mock our pre-race bonding? It was the absolutely perfect last jibe to stir our adrenalin. Then it came, “Messieurs, etes vous pret –partez!” - The universal international rowing start command.
As we were to learn at our 50th
reunion with the Aussies, they had planned to jump us at the start and hold
a 20-30 foot lead for the body of the race and extend it with their closing
sprint. However, our higher stroking foiled that plan
because we did not fade early. We were slightly ahead at
the halfway point, but our crafty coxswain was telling us, “You’re pulling
even!” In my 1956 diary I wrote, “At the halfway point
my legs felt like they did at the finish. The higher stroke was taking its
toll physically. Immediately after the start Bill
Becklean began calling for power tens (all out
effort for 10 strokes). He certainly did not want them
to gain too much on us. By 500 meters we had just about
moved up even with
With the Australian loss the crowd was hushed and one familiar voice rang out, “Es!” It was Bob Kiphuth, Yale’s legendary swimming coach and a long time family friend.
After tears and some vomiting off the victory platform, we returned to the boat house and Captain Tom Charlton declared, “We are the toughest crew ever put together, and we beat the finest!”
It was my last race.
Following our victory, we have met every five years at the Yale-Harvard race. I’ve never felt so bonded to a group of friends. Sadly the years are taking their toll and three of us have died: Don Beer, Rusty Wailes, and John Cooke. Those were painful funerals.
Those of
us who have survived had a glorious time at the 50th
reunion in
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2007
Some of us are retired; some of us are still working; some of us are enjoying grandchildren; some of us are traveling; and… one of us is about to get married. Congratulations to Albert Francke, whose soon to be wife (in February), Katharine, many of us met at reunion. She was an Assistant Professor at the Yale School of nursing while also in private practice, with a specialty in psychiatric care, dispensing psychotropic drugs. Albert e-mailed me: ”When I ultimately lose my marbles (which seem to be trickling away bit by bit), I will have in-house help”
Among the worker bees is Douglas Smith, who finished Yale in three years and graduated from NYU Medical School. Doug, a pathologist, completed his residency at Rochester and taught at Rutgers. His freshman bursary job was to teach the rest of us touch typing. As I pick away with one finger for these columns, I wish I had studied with Doug.
Some worker bees have changed hives. Jim Kingsbury has been recruited by Morgan Stanley to become First Vice President and Financial Advisor, based in Riverhead, NY. Truman Bidwell recently signed on with a Boston law firm, Sullivan and Worcester, “a wonderfully old fashioned firm…the partners like each other, trust each other, and help each other.” David O’Brasky has retired from retirement and joined Farmers’ Almanac TV as VP of Ad Sales. The third episode of this PBS series will profile Henry Cooper, “the squire of Cooperstown…talking about the Coopers of Cooperstown.” If you control an ad budget, call David in Savannah!
As recently reported in this column, Irv Miller continues his courageous battle with cancer. Due to his health challenges, Irv must work from home. Utilizing his extensive financial and business experience, Irv is available for telephone and web/e-mail business development and support operations. If you have any leads or suggestions, please contact Irv at irwinmiller56blu@aol.com or 847-234-1726.
Ted Robb, our expert in elderly affordable housing development, has partnered with Ken Liebman, a Board member, in a marvelous new venture, Grand Street Settlement, at 711 East 6th Street in New York. In addition to the usual amenities for the elderly, the 74 unit apartment building contains a computer lab and library.
In transition to retirement, Charley West, who for many years taught in one of the most challenging high schools in Bridgeport, has decided that Bridgeport will not be his retirement nirvana. Charley moved to Santa Fe in December.
Now…for the travelers. Marge and Howard Parker have seen the USA, including 2005 trips for a 70th birthday to Disney World (the still youthful Howard), where he was given a reception by Mickey Mouse and loads of balloons and other gifts. The Parkers then voyaged to seven western National Parks and several museums. There followed a trip to visit old friends in Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The final step was the Blue Angel air show in Pensacola, FL.
At the other end of the world Barbara and Alain Wood-Prince took 13 family members to view the wildlife in Kenya, highlighted by the sudden appearance of a cheetah on the hood of their car. Alain commented that” it was a double barreled treat-seeing the teeming landscape of Kenya and watching our family enjoying the experience.”
Peter Sullivan and Judith Ann were in Eastern Europe, including Rumania and Bulgaria, where the people are friendly and “actually like Americans.” Peter commented on the wide-spread unemployment. Now that these countries are competing globally, the emphasis on quality, not just quantity, is proving to be a challenge. Peter’s PhD is on the back burner, pending his dissertation. The Sullivans, tired of Maine winters, have acquired a house in Key West. Peter also e-mailed Tersh Boasberg with his recollections of playing basketball in the Boasberg’s driveway with Tersh and Warren Zimmermann.
Speaking of Tersh…Friendship lasts all the way to the Cantinella restaurant in Naples, Italy, where the Boasbergs and the Lords joined Carol and Jordie Cohen, who were on a trip celebrating Jordie’s retirement as President of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Jordie served in this position with great distinction for many years. The Boasbergs and Lords continued the trip to Puglia, in the heel of Italy, and to a successful navigation of the beautiful and frightening Amalfi Drive. Among his many attributes, Tersh is a wine expert. However, even he can be influenced by compelling English language descriptions found on Italian wine bottles, such as this one we encountered on a local red: ”With the characteristic system to sapling, they engage an austere gait that is a show of the nature to observe in the phase of maturation…the contribution of the ancient wineyards, precious haredity (sic) of our ancestry vine-growers to the production of this haughty wine.” Who could resist?
I end on a sad note. James N. Douglas died on August 20th. Jim was a Professor of Astronomy Emeritus at the University of Texas. A Ford Foundation scholar, Jim also earned his PhD at Yale and taught there before moving to Texas in 1965 to establish the Radio Astronomy program. A world expert on radio telescopes, Jim loved to teach and play the piano and banjo. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, who can be reached at 1300 Lorrain Street, Austin, Texas 78703, and by six children and six grandchildren.
Stay tuned for next month’s first hand report on the 50th reunion of the Yale and Australian crews who competed in the Olympic Finals in November 1956. Remember who won?
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2006
Post-reunion random notes from all over. My thanks to the following, and to others waiting in the wings, for contacting me and for their patience.
Roger Daniels continues his internal medicine practice in center city Philadelphia, happily married, with two sons, three stepchildren, and two grandchildren.
David Shayne also is still practicing- estate planning with Holland and Knight- while dedicating significant time to his pro bono work for the elderly and unaccompanied child refugees in the Chicago area. (Don’t you love the dual meanings of “practicing”?)
Supposedly retired, Gordon Turnbull helped to finish the statue of Torosaurus, erected near the Peabody in New Haven and is completing the 1/3 size model. He and Marlene completed a seven concert tour of Northern Italy with Con Brio, and Gordon continues to play (string) bass in the New Haven Civic Orchestra.
A brief note from Werner Gossels reports that he is “working-playing tennis and softball, bicycling, enjoying family activities, and traveling, most recently on an AYA Great Lakes cruise.” Some years ago Werner established the Werner F. Gossels Scholarship Fund at Yale. The two most recent beneficiaries of Werner’s generosity reflect Yale’s exciting global outreach: One was born in Russia and now lives in Amherst, MA, and the other was born in Kingston, Jamaica and now resides in the Bronx.
Sheldon Jaffe writes: ” I think it is appropriate to check in once every 15 years or so. Anything more smacks of ostentation.” If you heed Sheldon’s advice, I’m out of business. Sheldon is still practicing (that word again) securities law in Los Angeles, representing individuals in the dot.com bust and “miscellaneous scandals arising therefrom.” Rebecca Jaffe, Yale ’02, spent two years with the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan- a fascinating country which I visited with our daughter a few years ago. Son Seth and Sheldon enjoyed fishing for Arctic Char in Northern Quebec but could have done without the bugs and cold.
Terry Molloy is Professor of urology and Vice-Chair of the urology section at Penn. Terry has been very helpful to a number of classmates facing prostate issues.
Sumner Katz finally retired in 2005 and moved into a Maryland retirement community, one offering plenty of activities and populated with nice people. He does inquire:” Can anyone tell me how to get a wife to retire?”
Nick Steiner e-mailed me many months ago with a wonderful story: Jennifer Steiner used to tell Nick about her good friend, Corinne, whom Nick finally met in the company of Corinne’s new husband, whom Nick did not know, even though they were classmates in Saybrook 50 years ago and both roomed with Whiffs. The classmate? John McCrosky. Nick trained with one of those Whiffs-Ernie Richards- at St.Lukes Hospital in New York.
Bill Hinkes retired in 2000 after 30 years as Finance Officer of the Catholic Diocese of Paterson, N.J. For the past ten years, Bill was President and CEO of a church liability insurance company, established in the 80’s, “anticipating some potential problem with sexual abuse-little did we know!” Bill and family moved to their farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where they raise beef cattle, sheep, and hogs. They fatten the animals over the summer, sell them in November, and travel in the winter.
I am sure that those of you who had the pleasure of spending time with Ted Bilkey at the reunion were as shocked and saddened as I was to learn of his sudden death on July 14th. Ted’s unusual and fascinating career included over 30 years in the shipping and terminal business, culminating with his position as Executive Director of the Dubai Ports Authority and Jebel Ali Free Zone from 1989 to 2003, then COO of DP World in Dubai until June 2006. Ted’s compelling and courageous defense of the U.S.-Dubai Port deal was overwhelmed by Washington politics. A resident of Sun Valley, Idaho, when not working in the Persian Gulf, Ted was an accomplished ocean navigator who raced sail boats to Bermuda and England, as well as off both U.S. coasts. Ted is survived by four children, eight grandchildren, and his wife, Susan, who can be reached at P.O. Box 2760, Sun Valley, ID 83353.
David O’Brasky and Sanford Stark, Yale ’88, kindly advised me of Steve Stark’s death on June 14th. Steve spent 40 years as a financial advisor with various firms, including L.F. Rothschild and Dain Rauscher. Sanford reports that Steve was “a frequent visitor to the Yale Bowl…and, in fact, a CD of Yale songs provided fitting background music at his funeral, courtesy of his freshman roommate, David O’Brasky” who spoke at the funeral with a reference to Bright College Years. Steve and Joan, who lives at 196 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021, were married for 48 years. The family includes three children and nine grandchildren.
Fred Frese died on July 25th after a long battle with cancer. A resident of Akron, Fred retired from Bridgestone/Firestone in 1985, after 25 years service, then started his own CPA firm, later joining another firm in 1992.He retired for good in 2005. Fred’s wife, Pat, may be reached at 3092 Morewood Road, Fairlawn, OH 44333. Fred also is survived by two children, three step-daughters, and six grandchildren.
In my last column, I reported on the death of John Oates. His wife, Rosemary, wrote me a very thoughtful letter which contained news of John’s extensive Yale connections, including Rosemary herself, MA ’56, a son, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, and two brothers! Rosemary reported that Charlie Cook and Bill Reeves attended John’s memorial service.
I am out of space…Stay tuned for news of Douglas Smith, Howard Parker, Peter Sullivan…and you? Please let me hear from you.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2006
Additional news about the 50th: Total attendance was 337 classmates (significantly higher than the 50th reunion average) plus 283 spouses, widows and significant guests, for a total of 620. The class gift total at this moment-and still counting- is close to $45 million from 76% of the class. The 1956 Memorial Scholarship, celebrating the lives of our deceased classmates, is fully funded at $100 000, and 48 classmates have contributed and pledged toward the Warren and Lilly Zimmermann Memorial Scholarship. Combined with the gifts from others, including Lilly Zimmermann Metcalf’s Yale cohorts, that total is $175 000.
Our roving reporter, Tersh Boasberg, was saluted by John Eaton during the latter’s concert as one of the three most famous sons of Buffalo, New York, along with Harold Arlen and Millard Fillmore. Tersh reported on his conversations with three classmates who returned for their first class reunion- Park Teter, John Stephenson, and Bill Lovejoy. They, like those first-timers with whom I spoke, said they had a wonderful time. As Tersh commented, there were various acts of thoughtful kindness for this celebration. John and Jane Fitzgibbon were determined to return for the reunion, even though John is confined to a wheel chair, suffering from Parkinson’s. Kim Chace, our ever so generous benefactor, sent a plane to pick up the courageous and determined Fitz and others, bringing them to New Haven, where Jane and John stayed with Joanne and Bill Rees. Roger Hollander and Phyllis and Milt Gaines joined the Rees’s in escorting John.
Jim Downey’s daughter, Kim, flew through the storms from Milwaukee with her four small children so that they could hear their grandfather and the other Whiffs sing for the first time.
On a sadder note, a number of us have been receiving reports on Irwin Miller’s valiant battle with cancer. Irv recently started a second round of experimental treatments, which made a trip to New Haven impossible, a result which saddened him and his equally strong spouse, Judy. They sent their best wishes and expect to join us for the 55th.
Others who were able to come took the long, overland route. Gib and Camilla Durfee hosted Ruth and Don Gordon, who drove from Denver, stopping en route to New Haven at the Kennedy Center in Washington to sing with the National Festival Chorus and Orchestra.
Among the many events over the weekend was the dedication of the McNay Family Sailing Center, a “ state of the art sailing facility and home to the Yale varsity sailing teams” which was the gift of Joe McNay and his family. Joe’s son Stuart, Yale ’05, led his team to the 2003 NCAA Championship Regatta. Andrew McNay is a member of the class of 2007. An appropriate way to wrap up the reunion coverage, one which falls into the “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” category: Bud Prince, who has been our outstanding reunion guru for 25 years, has a daughter, Julie, who is not only Chair of Alumni Fund agents for the class of 1994 and recently elected to the Alumni Fund Board, but also is actively involved in planning 1994’s…reunions!
Reflecting on the intellectual programs at the reunion and the stimulating participation of so many classmates is a good lead in to a report on the achievements of some of our numerous authors and scholars. A major article in The Washington Post confirmed the retirement of Lew Lapham as the Editor of Harpers. In a subsequent phone conversation, Lew confirmed that he is not going away quietly; he is raising money to start the Lapham Newsletter. Two class authors recently received rave reviews in The New York Times Sunday Book Review: Fred Brown’s best seller, Flaubert: A Biography, also was acclaimed in the daily Times and in The Wall Street Journal. Don Velsey and his co-author of Classic American Popular Song are described in the Times as “critics of estimable clarity and candor, wit and heart.” Bill Rees has supplied me with news of two other class authors. Louis Rukeyser calls Fred Buggie “a talented guru” in his review of Fred’s New Product Development Strategies. Jerry Linderman received the Forrest Pogue Prize in 1996 for The World Within War: American Soldiers’ Experience in World War II- a timely subject.
It is my sad responsibility, however, to report the death of another of our many outstanding scholars, John Oates, who died on June 24th. Charlie Cook e-mailed me the news about his roommate, providing an obituary which reported on John’s impressive career. He was Professor Emeritus of Ancient History and Classics at Duke, where he joined the faculty in 1967, after teaching at Yale. A Fulbright Scholar, John was honorary Research Assistant at University College, London, and is recognized as an outstanding papyrologist and an expert on Egypt in the Ptolemaic period, serving four years as President of the American Society of Papyrologists. John was recognized for making papyrological information available to both specialists and beginners and for being a master teacher for four decades. John is survived by his wife of 49 years, Rosemary, four children and six grandchildren. Rosemary’s address is 2701 Pickett Road, Apt. 4045, Durham NC 27705-5653.
I have received word of Donald Vogler’s death on December 4th 2004. Neither my records nor our new yearbook provide any data on his life. If any of you have any information, please let me know.
My recent report on Doug White’s death contains misinformation provided to me. With my apologies I want to correct it and report that at his death Doug was accompanied by his long-time companion, Marcia Brynwood, as well as previously reported his daughter, Heather. I am grateful to Bob Hirsh for the correction.
Another correction, this time of the entry in the Yearbook introducing Nikki Barranger’s poetry piece: Nikki was a good friend and sometimes legal counsel to Walker Percy but NOT the executor of his estate.
JULY-AUGUST 2006
“This is my first class reunion. I am so glad I came; it is such a rewarding experience”, said one of several first timers. Another classmate commented: “This is a very special class. Under this tent there is such camaraderie. Everyone is so interested in, and supportive of everyone else. There is a unique feeling here.” A spouse observed: “We sat down at dinner Friday night. We didn’t know any of the people. We had a terrific dinner, and, by the end, we agreed that they were the nicest people we had met in a long time.” These comments summarize the feelings shared by 620 guests, including 337 classmates, representing 50% of our class at our glorious 50th.
The up side of the downpour was that we spent many hours in our Branford tent, sharing feelings, experiences, and hopes for the future. About 100 of us organized and were active participants in the events. At our class dinner, so ably mc’d by Ed Barlow, I thanked many of them. However, as the acoustics in Commons are horrendous, I want to again recognize: Kim Chace for his generosity in underwriting the cost of the yearbook and for providing the funds that enabled twelve classmates to return; Ted Robb, our class Treasurer, who skillfully raised $138 000 to help underwrite reunion costs; Jack Silliman, Angus Wurtele, and Joe McNay led the class gift effort which yielded an astonishing $ 44 million plus, raised from the smallest Yale class since World War II; Ben Scotch and Henry Cooper for producing the most interesting and entertaining yearbook imaginable, described by one classmate as “a monument to be treasured for the rest of my life”; Bill Rees, who in six short months organized a comprehensive and stunning class authors’ exhibit in Sterling Library, “Comment and Commitment”, which is accompanied by a beautiful catalogue.
Our reunion planning committee, headed by Bud Prince, pulled off another miracle. To illustrate Bud’s ingenuity: After the Friday night ’56 Whiff concert in the over-flowing Branford living room, the Fire Marshall threatened to close down our reunion if we repeated that violation. By the Saturday night festivities, Bud, with the help of the marvelously helpful AYA staff, had re-located us into the University Theater.
On the subject of concerts, we were not only blessed with our Whiffs but also a wonderful class chorus, organized by Roger Englander and directed by Fenno Heath. Of course, John Eaton soared on the biggest Steinway I have ever seen, the only one, reports John, that has a special smoking section. John, introduced by Acting Dean of the Music School Thomas Duffy, performed in Sprague Hall and never was better
Our children were represented by the daughter of Toni and Ken Liebman, Wendy, an outrageously funny professional comedienne, who reported: “My parents still have sex; they want more grandchildren.”
The seminars and tours organized by Yale were excellent. Those organized by our classmates- Tersh Boasberg, Jordie Cohen, and Bill Poorvu, were outstanding, thanks to a great extent to the informative presentations of our classmates on the panels and in the audiences.
We also celebrated the gifts and memories of the 188 classmates who have died since graduation at a beautiful, touching memorial service, organized by Dick Eckart, with the participation of seven other classmates and of Mary Lee Jamieson, who headed up our widows’ committee. We were joined at the reunion by a significant number of surviving spouses, and we are grateful for Mary Lee’s leadership. At the memorial service, she read: “As long as we live, they too shall live; for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.”
I could go on forever and apologize to all whom I should have mentioned and didn’t. A final request: If you have photographs from the reunion, please send them, labeled to identify the subjects, to George Berman, 22066 Las Brisas Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33433. george56@aya.yale.edu.
To those who couldn’t attend the reunion: We missed you. To those who came: Thank you. FRIENDSHIP DOES…last, that is.
MAY/JUNE 2006
Classmates in the news: I woke up to "Morning Edition" in February to the voice of
Ted Bilkey, the COO of the Dubai port company, DPWorld, as he began his round of congressional testimony on the takeover of the British firm managing a group of east coast ports. In a subsequent phone conversation, Ted demonstrated that his sense of humor is intact, while making some interesting observations on the executive and legislative branches of our government and on the joys of the retirement in Sun Valley that he had abandoned. He also expressed his concern for the future of our relations with our moderate allies in the Middle East. If not still appearing before Congress on June 1st, Ted will be in New Haven.
The word from the north woods of Vermont is the report that Ben Scotch has received the Secretary of State's Enduring Democracy Award, recognizing "a strong commitment to promoting the tenets of democracy." From the west coast comes the news that Mike Marron has been recognized by the Bar Association of San Francisco for outstanding service as Chair of the Fee Dispute Executive Committee. In addition to practicing civil and appellate law, Mike was a state deputy attorney general and has been active in alternative dispute resolution. He was elected by his peers as a "Super Lawyer" and one of "the best lawyers in America." His pop and jazz singing group, "Ross Commons" is still going strong. Ted Robb received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Lincoln University, where Ted has been a trustee for many years .The award citation included a reference to the "I Have a Dream" class which our class supports. Ted arranged for that group to visit Lincoln as part of its college orientation process. Congratulations also to Don Velsey, co-author of "American Popular Song-the Second Half Century", which discusses over 1100 songs, describing what makes a popular song- "a critical and socio-historical study."
Herewith some excerpts from Charlie Cook's excellent report on the fall AYA assembly, which "focused on what Yale does to help prepare its students for life after Yale." Also attending, representing their regions, were Michael Carey, Andy Euston, and Bob Kiesel. Stephen Scher was there as an AYA board member. Although our grads have little difficulty finding jobs and Yale offers a lot of support, many must make unfortunate career decisions in order to pay off their large student loans. On the second day of the assembly, Jeff Brenzel, the new Admissions Dean, discussed the difficulty in selecting 1800 students from a pool of 20 000 applicants. The rate of admission for legacies is 2 1/2 times better than for other applicants, but 75% of them are turned away. In his concluding remarks, President Levin said: "Endowment ratifies what we are. New gifts allow us to grow and innovate so that we will be a university of tomorrow, not a university of today."
Quiz: What do Ted Wilkinson, Carl Morse, and Tim Shera have in common? They were the winners of the class fellowship competition, selected by a group of young Davenport fellowship winners. At the reunion you will hear them discuss: Trust between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officers; being gay at Yale in the '50's; learning and practicing non-violent communication. YOU will have a chance to participate in that discussion, reflecting on your past as a prologue to your future.
Another quiz: What do Jordy Cohen, Tersh Boasberg, Rocky Suddarth, and Charlie Lord ,with spouses, do on a dreary Saturday night in February? Go listen to John Eaton, segueing from Harold Arlen, to George Gershwin, Bessie Smith, and Fats Waller.
Gay and I recently returned from a wonderful Yale trip to see the gardens of the Caribbean. We were very pleased to be on board with Alice and Tom Kugelman.
As the new school year began, Bill Reeves, still active at Collegiate School in Richmond, saw his retired wife, Jane off to France to visit son William in Paris. As she walked out the door, Jane whispered to Bill: "As you make it, so you have it...old man." Bill adds: "You'd think I'd learn."
In response to my plea for information on the late Jerry Boerner, I received an e-mail from Jerry's daughter, Lee Daly, who reported that Jerry had retired from Prudential Securities and had moved from Connecticut to Camarillo, California. In retirement Jerry worked as an arbitrator and volunteered with various city organizations. Lee describes her father as a "foodie" and baseball fan, with an extensive library collection. Battling the after-effects of a stroke and cancer, Jerry spent the last month of his life living with Lee and her family- "an amazing experience...filled with incredible lessons and memories." The night before he died, Jerry shared his last martini. He was fascinated by his grandson's interest in fencing. Lee hopes that one day her son will fence for Yale, with "grandpa (rooting) from above."
Jason Bacon advised me of the death of Charles Connolly on February 11th. Jason, Charlie and Jon Donald were together last summer in Vermont for Jason's 71st birthday, riding fast motor boats on Lake Champlain. Charlie had a government career, primarily in the Caribbean. Joanne may be reached at 315 Amherst Drive, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
Noel Ames's death last summer was reported to me by Bill Hoskins. I hope to provide more information for you in a future column.
Alan Buchmann died on September 28th. Alan was a Fulbright Scholar, a lawyer, Chairman of the ABA section on public utility law and member of the ABA House of Delegates. He was active in Ohio Republican politics and was President of the Cleveland Archeological Society. Alan's wife, Lizabeth Moody, may be reached at 3910 Belle Vista Drive, East, St. Petersburg, Fl 33706.
Thanks to your wonderful efforts to keep me informed, I have a backlog of information to report. Please be patient. See you June 1st.
MARCH-APRIL 2006
Reunion Update: If you haven't sent in your registration, please do so NOW. We look forward to an exciting combination of stimulating programs and discussions, pleasing musical presentations, good food and cheer, and plenty of time to catch up with our friends. W e also will be able to visit Sterling Library and see the publications created by classmates over the past 50 years. As I write this on January 9th, 75 of you and your spouses have responded to the appeal and submitted more than 120 publications for a two month exhibit at Sterling, and there are still more to come. Our thanks to Bill Rees who so has effectively taken on this project.
Sadly, I have seven deaths to report this month. In order to recognize valued members of the class, there is not the space available for much happier news, including Charlie Cook's report on the AYA Assembly.
I am grateful to Larry Hewes for passing on some interesting snippets gathered from calls encouraging classmates to submit their yearbook questionnaires. Douglas Smith finished Yale in three years and entered medical school in his fourth year. Doug spent many years at the Robert Wood Johnson hospital at Rutgers. Bill Price practiced law in Brattleboro, VT until 1986, when he moved to Washington to work for Jim Jeffords. Subsequent jobs included stints at Preservation Maryland and the Library of Congress. After re-marrying, Bill moved to Centerville, on Maryland's eastern shore, where he currently lives in retirement. Ted Jump received his MA in literature and Philosophy at Emery and taught at Severn School in Maryland for many years. An interesting sidebar: One of Janet's and Ted's daughters, Leslie, is married to Edward Walker, who succeeded Rocky Suddarth as the President of the Middle East Institute.
During my yearbook calls, I reached Peter Gram. Peter was a physicist at Las Alamos and taught at Colorado College. Now retired, Peter is raising palm trees and hibiscus in Hawaii. On another call, I learned that Kenneth Butler, an estate lawyer in Kansas City, will trek from the plains to New Haven for the reunion, when he'll also visit his daughter and three grandchildren in Connecticut. Charles Hilbert has retired and stays active in the Pottsboro, Texas Lions Club and in his church, also enjoying his five grandchildren.
Keith Haight's widow, Maureen, contacted Ben Scotch that Keith died in France last spring. Maureen has written an essay for the yearbook in celebration of her life with Keith. Maureen can be reached at Prades, 34360, Chinian, France.
Dr. Stanley Levine and his family celebrated Thanksgiving together just before Stanley died on November 27th. He was an outstanding leader in the pediatric field, devoting his life to children with learning and developmental problems. A Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics, Stanley was Director of the Marcus Institute of Development and Learning in Columbus, GA and taught at the Medical College of Georgia and the Iowa College of Medicine. He is survived by his wife, Louise, two children and three grandchildren. I can not find an address for them, not even via 411.
Doug White's death was reported to me by Bob Hirsch. Doug, who worked in insurance, died on Christmas day, with his life companion, Heather, by his side. She resides at 2086 East Calle De Dulcinea, Tuscon, AZ 85718. Doug also is survived by two sons.
As reported in the New York Times, Harry Joe Brown died on November 23rd. The son of a Hollywood producer father and an actress mother who starred with Buster Keaton and Spencer Tracy, Harry was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford. He produced off Broadway plays by Edward Albee and Samuel Beckett, and a Tennessee Williams production in London. Harry then moved into real estate, and, as reported in the Times, generated "pizazz" by "enlisting 34 leading architects to design one house each for a Hamptons residential development," with restrictions on the size of the houses. "I want to show that every new house does not have to be a McMansion," Harry stated. Harry is survived by two daughters and a grandson.
Barclay Robinson, the last of eight Robinsons to work at the family law firm in Hartford, died on November 14th. Barclay was a diverse and engaging person- a community activist and volunteer, a nature lover, kayaker, and accomplished amateur photographer. Barclay always was fascinated by trains. He spent time on his honeymoon in London, snapping black and white shots of trains, leading to his photography passion and to various gallery exhibits. Katherine Robinson lives at 229 Wamphassuc Point Road, Stonington, CT 06378. Barclay also is survived by twin daughters and three grandchildren.
Last month I reported on the death of Bill Bourne. Bob Wheeler and Helen and Peter Randolph recently joined over 200 guests at a celebration of Bill's life at the Park School, where Bill taught for 44 years.
Rufus Goodwin died on July 10th. This fine novelist and poet will be represented with his works at reunion. Although he actually graduated with the class of 1957 and received a beautiful tribute in the '57 notes in the last YAM, we also claim him, as he spent much of his Yale career as a '56er. Irmgard Goodwin lives at 55Brackett Place, Apt A, Marblehead, MA 01945-4664.
Dr. Peter Eimas, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences at Brown, died on October 28th. Peter also taught at Queens University, Ontario, and Rutgers. In a seminal 1971 article in Science, Peter and his research team reported that infants possess abilities to perceive speech far earlier than thought, leading to a new field of research and a cognitive revolution. Peter published over 100 articles and co-edited three research volumes. Peter is survived by a daughter, three grandchildren, and his wife, Joanne Miller, who has kindly agreed to provide publications for the reunion. She lives at 20 Diman Place, Providence, RI 02906
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2006
Calling all 1956 authors!
For the 50th reunion celebration we are hoping to arrange a display of books published by our living and deceased class authors and their spouses. In order to insure a manageable display, we must adopt the following ground rules: We can not accept articles, nor books in which the class author had only limited participation, for example one chapter in an anthology. We ask for no more than three books per author for the display. Please e-mail or write me before January 15, 2006 with the titles of the books you or your spouse will be submitting, and you will be contacted by a member of the reunion committee with further information on how to proceed. All books will be returned to you at class expense. PLEASE do not be shy or feel that your book is too technical for the class masses. Your submission will help us display our remarkable range of interests and knowledge over the past 50 years.
While on the subject of the reunion, John Eaton is warming up for his reunion concert by making five appearances at the Smithsonian. He also recently played a gig for Justice O'Connor and friends at the Supreme Court. You may recall that John played the White House for the Reagans. He reports that the Supreme Court Steinway B is superior to the one at the White House but asks that we don't tell the Bushes.
I recently received a phone message from Jim McCarthy that he is safely back in New Orleans. On that subject, be sure and click on our web page to read Nikki Barranger's "Katrina Journal."
Now...the dinosaur department...no, not us, but the Torosaurus dedicated on October 22nd on the Peabody Museum lawn. The full-sized bronze statue, two stories high, was made possible through the generosity of Stan Phelps, his wife, Elizabeth, and their three grandchildren. I have seen an impressive picture and look forward to visiting it when in New Haven.
Notes from all over: Clark Row is working as a part-time environmental consultant for governmental bodies and associations, currently including the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Clark is focusing on green house gas emissions. Clark's son, Jess (Y '96) has a new book out; "The Train to LoWu" (Dial Press), a series of stories on the human side of cultural change in China and Hong Kong.
John Barnes reported on his cruise with Judy to Bermuda, the first time back since Yale. He was pleased that "Ray Foote was not there to bird dog" Judy. Tom Okin heard Jerry Post lecture on terrorism at his 45th Medical School reunion. Jerry's lectures are fascinating and very timely. I presume we will have the pleasure of seeing Jerry's books on display at our 50th.
Another reunion: Roy Herndon e-mailed me about his get-together with two of his JE roommates, Don Pruett, and Jan Dyke, both of whom were ushers at Bill's wedding. Don and his son are still practicing surgery; Jan has retired from his surgical practice, and Roy is still in his internal medicine practice. The other roommate, Bill Peniston, died of cancer several years ago after a career with Anheuser-Busch. Don is still playing tennis on two total knee replacements and fly-fishing, a passion shared with Roy.
CC-M Productions, aka Clare and Bob Mason, has just completed a fascinating documentary, "Good News...How Hospitals Heal Themselves", which will air on Public Television in January. The program describes how two hospitals have adapted the Toyota Production System and Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award principles to re-organize the everyday work of healthcare and to dramatically reduce unnecessary deaths, suffering, waste, errors, infections, and cost. Note to 1956 MD's: More information is available at www.managementwisdom.com
David Slavitt reported that Charlie Paolillo died on September 22nd in Rome, surrounded by his family, including his wife, Nan, and his two children. Charlie battled cancer for five years but kept his spirits up. He and David shared what turned out to be a warm and friendly farewell dinner in New York a short time ago. David's tribute to Charlie: "We will happily remember his joy, his commitment to important causes in the developing world and in the West, his sense of humor and his messy desk. Join with us in wishing him well, in remembering who he was and what he stood for, his ideals and vision and his love for a hearty laugh-and of course a good ear of corn." Nan may be reached at Via Ugo Bassi, 15-B, 00152, Rome, Italy. Incidentally, David summed up my feelings in his e-mail: "The end of (your) column is the part I have learned years ago to dread, from the time I was reading my father's class notes."
K.H.Jerry Boerner died on June 16th. Jerry lived in Los Angeles, and that is all I know. All efforts to reach someone who knew him at home or work were unsuccessful. Can any of you help me out?
The Boston Globe published a beautiful obituary on Bill
Bourne, describing him as a "mountain-climbing middle school teacher who taught a generation of youngsters how to be themselves... Mr. Bourne often had a string of students following him like goslings as he huffed his way up the rocky slope. He'd say "no sweat" in Latin to encourage those who weren't enchanted with the rigors of the climb." Bill, who died on July 14th, taught at the Park School in Brookline MA from 1961 until his retirement in 1995. Truly a Renaissance man, Bill enjoyed woodworking, making model ships, playing "Jeopardy", and acting in student Gilbert and Sullivan productions. A "Boston Brahmin with a hippie streak" Bill liked to wear a bandana across his forehead like Willie Nelson. Bill was cremated with his bandana. He is survived by his wife, Kay, who lives at 52 High Street, Brookline, MA 02445, and his two children.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2005
Branford College is where we will be on June 1-4 to celebrate enduring friendships and renew friendships which may have lapsed. We will enjoy libations, meals, and "hanging out". We will hear distinguished professors and accomplished classmates. John Eaton will perform his magic; the 1956 Whiffs will lead us back to "the tables down at Mory’s"; the class chorus will sing; three classmates will report on their Davenport Fellowship experiences. While celebrating the past 50 years of accomplishments and contributions to the greater good, we will confirm that we are not yet finished, as we contemplate the future we envision. I remind you that we are celebrating our reunion and our university with a significant class gift, and we need your support. We want to see YOU in New Haven. If personal circumstances make it difficult for you to return, I urge you to contact me with a confidential description of what you require to make your return feasible, and I will confidentially seek assistance.
It is now barely two weeks after Katrina struck the gulf coast, and several of us have been trying to e-mail classmates to ascertain their status. Communications still are a mess, but we finally heard from Nikki Barranger, who reports: "The devastation at Red Bluff would break your heart, but we are safe and sound…the break in the levy in New Orleans is a new thing in our lives, one long expected but nonetheless devastating…It has now been two weeks of 98% humidity and 90+ degrees of heat. It is what Ms. Dickenson would call ‘all we need of hell’" Although Nikki admits that they all are depressed by the destruction around them, his sense of humor has survived, as evidenced by his comments about Trent Lott’s front porch.
As we prepare to look to the future at our reunion, how about these examples?
Bob Soley is retiring after 35 years in plastic and reconstructive surgery but will continue his push for HSA’s and tort reform. Sam Hunter has co-founded SmartHedge (dot com), a firm offering a non-recourse loan on public traded stock.
Paul Buckwalter has retired as state-wide organizer for the Arizona Interfaith Network and as teacher at Seabury Western Theological Seminary.
Our efforts to find lost classmates continues with some success. Wearing his yearbook co-editor cap, Ben Scotch has been bird-dogging all known sources of information and has found the not completely lost Phil Stull, who reports that while he has not been in touch with New Haven since graduation, he has been a long-standing member of the Vero Beach Yale Club and has been in touch with Spence Letts and John Tunney.
Unfortunately, three "lost" classmates have been found through death notices I have received. John Meeth died on July 20, 2002. I was able to contact his widow, Antionette (255 Ovington Avenue, Apt. 27, Brooklyn NY, 11209-1355) who reported on the beautiful life she shared with John, who lived with MS and who died from that disease and a stroke. John worked for the Echo Wire Company in Manhattan. Denis Deegan died on December 6, 1995. I have not found any further information. Bill Allen died on May 16, 2005. Bill interrupted his Yale career for four years of Navy service, graduated with our class and from Harvard Law School, and practiced law in Providence for forty-five years, serving as Assistant Attorney General in the Chafee administration. He was very active in civic organizations. Bill is survived by his widow, Helen, two children and two grandsons.
Alden Lofquist was not a "lost" classmate. He died on July 9, 2005. His delightful widow, Frederica, filled me in on Alden’s life. He started out in the class of 1952, left during the Korean War to join the Air Force (8th AFDS-SAC in England) and graduated with us. Alden and Frederica received special permission to marry in December of our senior year only after Frederica’s father guaranteed to Dean Robley that Alden would, indeed, graduate. While Alden was completing his courses at Yale, Frederica worked in the Law School library. Alden retired from Bechtel-Savannah River site. The Lofquists have a son, daughter, and three grandchildren. Frederica can be reached at 103 Sand River Court, Aiken, SC 29801. She promises to try to come to our reunion.
Bob Harrington and Charlie Dorchester wrote me of the death of Jim Ingerson, who died of heart failure on August 23, 2005. These three plus Steve Waters and spouses (Jim was single) had gathered in early July in Lebanon New Hampshire for their annual Saybrook roommates dinner. All seemed in reasonably good health, although Charlie reports that Jim had a cough and complained of general weakness. I was stunned by the news, for I had received an e-mail from Jim on July 8th reporting on the dinner and commenting that "We are all in good health…We all are aging gracefully." After our graduation, Jim received a MusB and MusM from the Yale School of Music in organ performance. In addition to teaching English and music at Kimball Union Academy, Jim was organist/choirmaster and cantor at various New Hampshire churches and a consultant to the Episcopal Diocese in music and liturgy. He also was active in MENSA.
I am preparing these notes on 9/11/2005, with the vivid memories of four years ago and the vision of the faces of the underprivileged and underserved victims in New Orleans etched in my mind. As I despair over the status of the world, I turn my thoughts to John Englander, Yale classmate of our son Charlie and, in turn, son of our classmate, Roger Englander. John sponsors an annual 10K race, being held as I write this, to honor our two dead grandchildren, Hayden and Cameron. John’s generosity and compassion offer an example of the best in human nature, of hope for the future that we envision and will discuss at reunion. See you there.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2005
We may be in our seventies, but grass doesn’t grow under our feet
department:
Jim Kern has been a backpacker, wildlife photographer, and expedition leader. He has lived on the edge of Biscayne Bay for 35 years and had never spent a night on a boat. In fact, his boating experience since 1956 had been three one day sails. So, Jim took sailing lessons and decided an overnight in the inter-coastal waterway would not suffice. Instead, Jim bought a 31’ sailboat and set off alone across the Atlantic, 13 days and 1000 miles to Bermuda, where he re-united with his young bride, Jackie. (They were married on April 3rd.) Included in Jim’s planned travels is an overland trip to New Haven in June for our 50th.
No grass under John McCrosky’s feet either. He and Corinne Samios were married on June 10th. Mark Thoman was the best man. Also present at the reception were Nancy Thoman, Judy and Gil Chapman, Peg and Ted Robb, Bobby and Jim Bishop and yours truly. When the artistic and talented Corinne visited us in our Washington house, she observed that she had designed the fabric on our couch, one of hundreds of Corinne’s designs for major companies. Unlike Jim Kern, Jim Bishop is a very experienced international sailor and racing skipper. Shortly after the wedding, Jim was off as a watch captain on a transatlantic race. Peg Robb was getting ready to return to Bahrain for a reunion with the students she taught while based with Ted in the Persian Gulf.
“What is needed now is not less, but more of an effort to promote the concept of a global commons, which is ours by the gift of God’s grace, and which we are called to protect out of reverence as well as out of concern for the human generations to come. A new spiritual vision is needed, one which would raise the image of the beauty of God’s universe once more to human consciousness. This is a spiritual, not an environmental task. Yet no environmental achievements in the future may be strong enough to overcome the human drive to consumption.”
My request in the May-June YAM for information about the late Joe Poremba elicited responses which led me down new paths. Dick Wilde was an associate of Joe’s at Hamilton Standard in the 1960’s but then lost track of him. Dick, who recently had the pleasure of nominating Dick Kline, ‘55BE, for one of the Yale Science and Engineering Association’s annual awards, referred me to Joe’s roommates in Silliman for more information. I then got in touch with Forbes Dewey, currently Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering at MIT. Forbes’s broad research interests include high temperature gas dynamics, fully-ionized plasmas, lasers and laser applications…and many more. He has lectured at scores of universities around the world; consulted at Harvard Medical School and all the leading hospitals around Boston; prepared over 150 peer-reviewed papers and patents; and consulted with such organizations as RAND, 3M, IBM, and General Motors. Describing himself as an “active and belligerent” professor, Forbes reports that he has moved into Boston’s North End. He, too, lost track of Joe Poremba and, also, his other roommate Alden Nelson. After law school, Al worked in supertanker shipping, based in London. Forbes has been unable to find Al for the past 30 years. Does anyone out there have any information?
I regret to report the death of three classmates. In the first two cases the reports were received very late, and I have no additional information. If you can help me pay them a proper tribute, please contact me about Joe Estill, who died on January 3rd 2004 in Stuart Florida, and John Almquist, who died in Evanston, Illinois on June 25th 2004. I played on the same high school basketball team as John but had lost touch with him.
JULY/AUGUST 2005
Nostalgia time. Nick Spofford and Jim Rutledge, with the assistance of the Historic Sound Recording Department of Sterling Library, have produced Voices of the 50’s, a collection of highlights from these 1950’s singing groups: Alley Cats, Augmented Seven, Bachelors, Bakers Dozen, Duke’s Men, O’s and B’s, and the Spizzwinks(?). It is great fun to head down memory lane, listening to this delightful CD. Orders may be placed at Voices of the 50’s, PO Box 867, Ridgefield, CT 06877 Cost is $20 plus $2 for shipping and handling. For more information write to spoffo@att.net
While on the nostalgia track, two recent communications brought back memories of my childhood. John Tunney wrote that he has retired from his money making business and now is involved in personal investments and overseeing the UCLA/Armand Hammer Museum, where he is Board Chair. John splits his time between Los Angeles and New York. His 98 year old mother still lives in the same house in Stamford, CT, where the Tunney and Lord families used to celebrate Christmas Eve together. Then I heard from Larry Strauss. As youths, Larry and I also exchanged visits in Stamford. Larry and Fran moved from New York to Lenox, MA last December, where they are enjoying a laid back but active cultural and sports life, while taking advantage of their proximity to Boston and New York. Fran works at home as a language arts specialist, writing and editing school and college English textbooks. Larry "dabbles" in business writing/editing while evaluating some not-for-profit activities.
"Joel Daly to Exchange One Career for Several More". Thus read the headline in a Chicago newspaper sent to me by David Shayne. David is practicing estate law and is doing pro-bono work for the elderly and unaccompanied child refugees. As for Joel, he stepped down on May 6th after 38 years as a television news anchor. His work was described in the article as a "style of news…that would turn the market upside down and become a standard across the country." Among Joel’s many award were five Chicago Emmys. In so-called retirement Joel will be a mediator, teacher, actor, singer, producer of public TV documentaries, and Director of External Affairs at the John Marshall School of Law. Joel’s work as a pro-bono lawyer also has won wide recognition. He will produce Chicago Justice, a series of programs about famous trials and will continue his acting career (Joel has had leads in To Kill a Mockingbird and Darrow). An accomplished yodeler, Joel is the lead in a country-western band. And…oh, yes…Joel is of counsel to a Chicago law firm and plans to concentrate on mediation. That’s retirement?
Tom O’Flaherty retired from Proctor and Gamble in 1993; Ellen retired from the University of Cincinnati Medical School in 1997, at which point the O’Flahertys moved to Lyon, France for six years before moving back to Boston. Tom and brother Bob O’Flaherty have sent five offspring to Yale, all of whom live in the Boston area. Both families maintain houses on Cape Cod. Tom advises that Bob lives in Hilton Head in the winter. Now that I have heard from Tom, it’s your turn, Bob.
Yale ’56 is still active in space. Gil Leppelmeier reports from
Finland that the instrumentation he helped to develop, including his Pressure
Profile Instrument, worked perfectly on the Huyens Lander, which separated
from NASA’s space craft on Christmas day. The Huyens "made a successful
25 hour transit through the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan",
relaying data back to earth for 30 minutes. Gil comments that "after
eight years of development and seven years of flight, it was a marvelous
feeling to have all 27 channels of the PPI work perfectly." As the
information continues to come back from Cassini in orbit around Saturn, a new
generation of scientists will be working with the data. Gil observes:
" Sometimes the seeds one plants go on to successive generations."
AREIDEDERCI was the headline on an invitation for a wonderful event , a retirement party honoring Reid Williamson for his 31 years heading the Historic Landmark Foundation of Indiana. Fortunately, Ted Robb and Tersh Boasberg were able to join over 300 others to pay tribute to Reid. Our roving reporter, Tersh, reminds us that Reid started as Executive Director of the Historic Savannah Foundation in 1964. Ten years later, Reid was recruited by Indiana Landmarks. Reid turned an organization of 200 members, one small house museum, a $3 million endowment, and a staff of three into the most respected preservation state organization in the country, with 11,000 members, ten local offices, three museums, a $38 million endowment, and a staff of 53. Reid saved nearly 1000 historic buildings, neighborhoods, and architectural treasures and was very active nationally, primarily with Preservation Action and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Reid can be found happily learning how to surf the internet in Hilton Head, near his two sons and their families.
50th REUNION NEWS: Jack Silliman reports that plans for the reunion gift campaign are well underway, with Jack, Joe McNay, and Angus Wurtele spearheading the effort and currently forming the gift committee. This is the big one, and we hope all of you will make a contribution to mark this milestone…100% participation is the goal.
A plea from our 50th reunion yearbook editors, Ben Scotch and Henry Cooper: Please complete the personal information questionnaire when you receive it from the AYA. If you log on to the class website, yale56.org after you receive your questionnaire, you will see a link to the questionnaire, which you can complete on line by using the unique identity code on the form. Or you can return the paper form, using the Reunion Press envelope. Please also complete our fun-filled anonymous opinion survey online, or mail in the form, noting that there are TWO envelopes. The survey should be sealed in the envelope with no return address or ID, marked anonymous survey.
MAY/JUNE 2005
JUNE 1-4, 2006. Save those dates for our 50th reunion. Please plan to be there. Barclay Robinson reports that he already has exchanged " mutual written, and thus legally binding, promises with Mike McCone to be there" Barclay thought that Mike got the short end of the deal, having to travel over "3000 miles of mountain, desert, and fruited plain" to get to New Haven. Then Barclay realized that he would have to drive the "road from hell", I 95, so Barclay now thinks that he got the short end. Presumably Ivan Phillips can find New Haven without a trip on I 95; he and Winnie will be there for the reunion. Ivan and Cush May, Yale roommates, meet for lunch every six weeks.
Jack McGinnis has lived since 1977 in Montpelier, VT. He reports that he, Kristina and a "good sized family party" were present to welcome the arrival of his latest grandchild, Morgan. Jack reflects: "How things have changed since we had our children." Kristina has survived an orthopedic nightmare: Since 2002 she has had both knees and a hip replaced plus three major back operations. Jack and Kristina have moved into a retirement community and have four of six children, three of four grandchildren living locally-surely a significant percentage of the Montpelier population, which also includes Ben Scotch. As reported in The New York Times and in an interview on NPR, Ben drafted the resolution recently passed at almost all the Vermont town meetings "asking the State Legislature to investigate the impact of National Guard employment on Vermont’s readiness for a natural disaster or other emergency". The measure also calls on Congress and the President to "take steps to withdraw American troops from Iraq." It is my understanding that Vermont has the highest per capita casualty rate in Iraq of all the states. We are counting on Ben to temporarily lay down his lances as he organizes and publishes a glorious 50th reunion yearbook.
Interesting bits and pieces from all over: Jason Bacon recently trekked in Bhutan; he suggests a reality check with him before undertaking the challenge. David Slavitt’s 80th (!) book has been published by LSU press: Change of Address: Poems New and Selected. Bruce Ensley has gone back to school, training to be a docent at the Air and Space Museum in Washington. Apparently Bruce forgot one of his Yale lessons; he has Saturday classes. Joel Spector’s son, Gary, might be the guy sinking birdie putts in the foursome in front of you. Gary has qualified for the U.S. mid-amateur. Francis Compton checked in, reporting on his exciting trip from Seattle, east to Glacier National Park and then through the Canadian Rockies from Banff to Vancouver and Victoria. Having taken part of that trip myself, I can second Francis’s recommendation. Mike Altschuler wonders whether he is now the oldest ‘56er to become a first time grandfather. Emma Olivia was born on December 8th. Let me know if you can beat Mike.
Steve Scher has sold his business and is devoting his time to art history and museum studies, writing and serving on committees at the Met and the Frick in New York. Steve is working on an exhibition of medieval art for the Met.
Jim Downey reports on the small world department. While Jim and Sally were on a Vassar trip, "Shakespeare in the Mediterranean", traveling from Venice to Croatia, Albania, and Greece, they made two new friends: Mike Carey, a neurosurgeon in New Orleans, and Betty, Mike’s spouse, also a Vassar graduate. Although both Jim and Mike were English majors and pre-med classmates at Yale, they did not know each other. Jim concludes: "Friendship lasts. On to the 50th."
Another M.D., Bill Lovejoy, joins the rest of us in mourning the death of our "Mutt and Jeff" pair, Ed Wall and Jim McCaffrey. "They were good people, good friends, and made life joyful" writes Bill. Amen to that. Bill assures all those who have laughed at his "long talk of retirement" that it is about to happen, expressing the hope that retirement will make him a "more visible classmate, alumnus, and friend." One of Bill’s nine grandchildren from six children carries Bill’s name.
I have been informed of the death of two classmates about whom I have no information, only addresses. If any of you can fill me in on their lives and activities, I would like to provide a proper recognition in a future column. Bill Peniston from St Peters, MO, died in October 1998; Joseph Poremba , from Orange CA, died in September, 2004.
On a happier note: The Boston, New York, and Washington Davenport Fellowship Committees have selected the three juniors who will be funded by us ($2500 each) for their summer projects. At our class dinner after the Harvard game in November we will hear about "A Glimpse into the World of Guatemalan Midwifery", "Gotham, the Great Jazz Teacher", and "Summer Program for Cambodian Youth in Bridgeport."
MARCH/APRIL 2005
In my last column my "trailer" promised Tersh Boasberg’s report on the second annual Cody, WY, reunion, organized by the host, Roger Hollander, and by John Fitzgibbon. The list of attendees was expanded and included Tersh, John, Roger, Kim Chace, Jim Downey, Worth David, John Eaton, Bill Rees, Jack Silliman, John Wallace, Angus Wurtele, Dan Banks, Peter Brier, Bill Bourke, Peter Bull, and Milt Gaines. In addition to consuming beautiful wines and brook trout caught by Angus, Milt, and Bill, the gang enjoyed Bourke’s rendition of Irish poetry, Downey’s intrepid basso, a John Eaton concert, and a discussion of the program possibilities for the 50th reunion. That conversation continued at the Reunion Planning Committee meeting the Friday before the Princeton game and at the Executive Committee meeting the next morning. We agreed that we want to plan talks by outstanding Yale professors, followed by discussion panels of classmates with themes that build upon past experience and look to the future. We of the "silent generation" will continue to speak out. We also agreed that we will NOT be discussing prostates, and other body parts, or the admitted advantages of tofu and bean sprouts. We agreed that the intellectual program will be part of a broadly-appealing, over-all schedule of fun, including excursions, the ’56 Whiffs, and a John Eaton performance. We will continue to inform you of our progress, solicit your ideas, and advise you as soon as Yale has set the date for the reunion.
At the same Executive Committee meeting mentioned above, Rocky Suddarth, in his swan song as our class representative to the AYA, reported on the fall convocation, "The New Yale: A Decade of Extraordinary Progress". Some interesting comparative statistics, 1994 to 2004: Tuition from $26 000 to $39 000; SAT range from 610-710 to 690-790; Foreign Undergraduates from 4% to 9%; Endowment from $4 billion to $12 billion; Applications from 13 000 to 20 000 for 1500 places. The most popular majors are History, Economics and Political Science. In addition Yale spent $1 billion on deferred maintenance and another $2 billion on new buildings, chiefly in the areas of medicine, science, and engineering. We also provided Presidents for Cambridge, MIT, and Duke. The ambitious agenda for the next ten years includes further strengthening science and technology and internationalization- making Yale a truly global university. The Yale college experience will be improved by implementing the new curriculum review and tripling the number of undergraduates studying abroad. We thank Rocky for his great work attending and reporting on the assemblies and welcome his replacement, Charlie Cook. A final note on the Princeton weekend festivities: The Saturday night dinner, organized by Bud Prince, featuring the reports of our three Davenport fellowship winners and the singing group obtained by Roger Englander, was a wonderful event.
Richard Kamps,’53, writes that while sailing off the coast of Maine he sailed into a bay and "there, about 100 feet up a cliff and about 50-75 feet below the top… was ‘Yale ‘56' chiseled into the granite cliff face." Richard and I want to know how that tribute to a great class got there. Please contact me if you have any information, remembering that the statute of limitations has probably expired. If you are up for a government position and fearful of facing the Senate, I promise anonymity.
While on the subject of government service, Jack McGregor has been appointed by President Bush to be one of five members of the Advisory Board of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
Gil Leppelmeier reports from the Finnish space program that the rocket Aura was launched on July 15th, carrying his OMI and John Gille’s HIRDLS instrumentation on board. To learn more, go to www.aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/science. Isn’t it great to have a couple of 70 year old space scientists in our class?
Don Velsey, although officially retired, continues consulting on overseas architecture projects in Lesotho, Madagascar, the UK and elsewhere. Don’s new book, "Classic American Popular Song: The Second-Half Century", "investigates all the good stuff still being written in the style of Gershwin, Porter, Arlen, Rodgers, etc." Don: Meet John Eaton.
Classmates continue to publish. Howard Broek writes that his last scientific paper was accepted by the Journal of Physical Oceanography for publication this year. Having had that success, Howard now is writing a "p