Class Notes | 1940s

CHARLES HILL |HillChas3@aol.com
115 E. 9th St., Apt. 10L, New York, NY 10003

“What are the news?” wired Horace Greely, insisting that ‘news’ is a plural noun. “Nary a new,” came back the clever gotcha response. And so it is with this column: nary. Hence, lacking inspiration from you out there, and unwilling to create fiction, I’m indulging in a bit of unique history. Back in early 1943, 13 Wesleyan men from ’43, ’44, and ’45 procured the requisite three letters of recommendation and were accepted into the Tenth Mountain Division: Stan Mann ’43; Norm Benson, Frank Bowles, Dick Brengle, Don Haight, Chip Lofstedt, Bill Low, all ’44; Donald Dunn, Pete Griskivitch, Bud Lovett, Gene Noble, Bill Thompson, Bill Wannamacher, each ’45. Bowles, Low, Griskivitch, and Wannamacher left the Division before we were deployed to Italy, and Haight was killed in action; the rest of us came home in various states of good health or disrepair, some back to campus, some to other campuses.

I know that seven are no longer living; I’m fairly sure that four are still alive; I truly want to know of Bill Low and Pete Griskivitch. I recall that Bill was in our admissions office for some time, and Pete was a registered Tenth Mountain veteran some years back. Can anyone fill me in? And isn’t Wesleyan’s association with this unique and heralded division of World War II perhaps worth a story in our alumni magazine? Slán go fóill.

FRANCIS W. LOVETT | francis.lovett@comcast.net
925 Hover St., Apt. 1L 106, Longmont, CO 80501

See Newsmaker on Adolf Grünbaum and please send updates to the editors.

I’m glad to say that, as far as I know, we have had no new losses since my last report. I always thought that we were a sturdy bunch—keep up the good work!

Speaking of staying healthy and keeping active, I received a card from Muzz Molina describing his tour on the Crown Princess, visiting many interesting ports including Bermuda. Apparently the weather at Normandie was uncooperative.

I also received a “thank you” note from George Morrill ’42 in which he states, “Comes this pic of three eager old crocks plotting Wesleyan’s future. Ahh, they are canny old dogs. They know their ideas will elevate the college to new heights. Hey, it was great seeing you guys. Thanks for the framed photo. I look forward to linking with you next reunion.”

Gene Loveland sends a sad note: “Sorry about the stationery. Things are upside-down here right now and it’s all I could find. Joan passed away in February. It was a blessing and she went without pain and had a smile on her face. She was getting her wish to be with the Lord. I have such a large and wonderful family that things are going well, and I’m back in my routine of the monthly column in the house organ and running the putting tournaments.” Our thoughts and prayers are with Gene and his family at this time.

I received two messages from Jack Ritchie. One, a Christmas card in which he says: “My disappointment of 2013 was missing our 70th reunion in Middletown because of Lyme disease. Today I feel fine except for arthritis in my knee. My high school class back in Winnetka, Ill., now has just four survivors—three men and one woman.” The other message, in which he states: “Wife, Sue, was once the ‘scribe’ for her class at Mt. Holyoke with deadlines, so I feel sorry for your efforts to drag words out of your aging classmates. I could guess that your deadline was March 15—sorry. My only Wesleyan contact of late has been Jim Dresser ’63, a selectman here in town, and a dedicated community leader. I spend a lot of time reading. Right now I am on page 550 of The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I recommend it. Intriguing I thought was the frontispiece speaking of the condition of the country at that time, early 1900s: ‘The gap between rich and poor has never been wider—legislative stalemate paralyzes the country—corporations resist federal regulation—spectacular mergers produce giant companies—the influence of money in politics deepens’ and on. What goes around comes around. Maybe there is hope for this wayward and confused country. This year I promise I will really see you at the ritual of a Little Three football game, and new life in the prized institution.”

Frederick P. Appleton
100 O’Brien Court, Suffolk, VA 23434

The editors congratulate George Morrill, the most senior alumnus to attend Reunion.

GEORGE P. MORRILL
167 Thayer Road, Higganum, CT 06441 | 860/345-2673

TED NELSON

BrightView Commons,
57 Grandeville Crt., apt. 307, Wakefield, RI 02879

Word has arrived that Edgar Allen “Ted” Jones died on May 10, 2013. Ted was that good-looking guy who distinguished himself in many campus activities. He was editor of the Argus, member of the Mystical Seven, stalwart of the Senate, and manager of varsity basketball. He was known for enthusiastic participation in international relations studies and served as treasurer of the Neuman Club.

His life career burgeoned in remarkable ways. He excelled in law, starred in the TV productions Day in Court, Traffic Court, and Accused. He authored two books, Mr. Arbitrator and Break a Leg, Professor.

The class extends sympathy to Ted’s wife of 68 years, Helen; 11 children; 23 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

GEORGE P. MORRILL
167 Thayer Road, Higganum, CT 06441 860/345-2673

Please send updates to the editors.

TED NELSON
BrightView Commons,
57 Grandeville Crt., apt. 307, Wakefield, RI 02879

Frequently I have a dearth of material to write about unless my “boss” at Wesleyan, Cynthia Rockwell, comes to my aid. She has done so on this occasion. She sent out a plea to classmates on my behalf and I have two responses, one from a teammate and one from a fraternity brother.

First the frat brother, Nat Hathaway: As I recall, (he did not verify this), Nat lives in a retirement community in Phoenix, Ariz., called “La Sienna.” He tells me he is 90 years old, and, I observe, he still has an active and fertile mind. He is currently giving talks to his community neighbors about Thomas Jefferson. The issue presently being discussed is the “Sally Factor.” Many of us will recall that Jefferson was accused of fathering children with a slave, Sally. I thought this issue was resolved and the families identified but Nat describes it as “quite a mystery” that has to do with the “Y” chromosome. Sadly, Nat’s wife, Lu, passed away two-and-a-half years ago.

I told Nat in a response to his e-mail that I recall going to a fair in Middletown, Conn., with him and Lu when she suffered an attack of asthma. I suspect that is why they settled in Arizona.

Bob Wylie, my teammate, came through with a short autobiography. He and Karen have been married for 61 years and have four children and six grandchildren. Bob was marketing V.P. for three companies, Celanese, Hoehst, and World Courier, LTD. During his business career he attended the AMP course at Harvard and, after retirement, got his master’s degree in economics at Western Connecticut State University. Bob lives in Greenwich, Conn., where my brother Hap’s family and my family grew up. Bob has been active in town government, with the Congregational church, and on the board of various business and civic associations. He has been a political consultant and manager of a number of campaigns. Karen was a real estate broker for 30 years in Greenwich and is now a docent at the Bruce Museum. She is also the recipient of the Carnegie Medal for a heroic act many years ago. She saved the life of a boy who fell through the ice on a nearby body of water, risking her own life, as I recall.

As some of you may recall, Bob and I were teammates on the track team. Together we made a happy duo for Coach Fritz Martin as he could usually figure on 12 to 16 points from us toward the final score at each meet.

David Richards, the author of a series of books about a naval captain in the British Navy during our revolution and which I wrote about in the previous issue of Wesleyan, has sent me another of his publications called Pollen in the Wind. It is described as “a collection of short stories of developing Western United States during the 1800s.” Again, I found it fun reading and would recommend it for easy reading, unlike Charles Krauthammer who uses such “big” words one needs a dictionary nearby (see his Things That Matter), but whose politics I admire.

William C. Brooks

9 Willow Pond Rd., Amelia Island, FL 32034

williamcbrooks@comcast.net