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I received this report from Marc Bloustein:

“This past autumn, I retired after 50 years’ employment with the New York State court system. During my time there—as its legislative counsel and an advisor to the state’s court administrators—I worked for and with seven chief judges of our highest court and 12 chief administrative judges overseeing trial court operations. It was always stimulating work, and I was privileged to serve during a period in which court administration experienced a massive overhaul, one that gave me a real opportunity to influence the shape of court institutions and operations going forward. But, having reached my mid-70s, and with other things I wished to do, I decided that it was time to hang them up.

“In retirement, I haven’t abandoned all connection with the courts. I now work with New York’s chief court historian on a variety of projects exploring court system history. And so, I spend much of my time buried in dusty old treatises and court records and in writing monographs on obscure and not-so-obscure events in the life of our courts over the past four centuries. May not be the most exciting of retirement projects for some, but it gives me great satisfaction and enjoyment. I also spend a lot of time these days with my two grandchildren. Fortunately, they live close by, and I can see them almost every day. She’s 12 and he’s seven, and I can’t help bragging about them. She’s a dancer with eight years of classical ballet training and will soon be dancing—for the second consecutive year—with the New York City Ballet when they perform this summer at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. She’s also become very proficient at modern dance and will soon dance with the Ellen Sinopoli professional dance company here in Albany. As for him, he’s a fine baseball player, remarkably intelligent, and ‘Dennis the Menace’ come alive.  Handsome as can be, with a twinkle in his eye, but too clever for his own good.  Keeps me on my toes.

“Meanwhile, my wife and children are doing well. Diane (Skidmore, ’75) continues to work as a computer analyst and programmer for our court system. She seems very content to head off to work each morning (I like to think it’s because she relishes the work and her status as being the sole Bloustein family breadwinner, but it’s just as likely because she may not be too keen to be together with me all day as she would be were she to retire too).  My daughter, Jessica (Wellesley, 2003), continues as a digital content editor for the local paper, the Albany Times Union, and as the producer of major podcasts about area events. My son, Andrew (Northwestern, ’06) has a job we sports fans could die for: living in Chicago and Detroit, he directs TV broadcasts of Detroit Tigers games (used to be Chicago White Sox games, but he switched to the Tigers this year) and football and men’s basketball games for the Big Ten Network.

“Now that I’m retired and on a fixed income, I’m hoping they continue to like me and support me in my old age.”

Recently, the American Chemical Societyrecognized Bob White! for his 50th year of membership in the society. Bob says he owes this longevity achievement to his fellow chemistry major, Frank Benson, and Wesleyan chemistry professors Paul Haake and Max Tishler; Tishler followed up post-Wesleyan and was integral in the direction of Bob’s career in science and medicine. Chemistry was what Bob came to Wesleyan to do, and chemistry was what he did. I should point out that I hear Professor Tishler mentioned as a lasting career influence by a great number of alums, all with successful careers in chemistry and medicine. How fortunate for Wesleyan that after a stellar career in pharmaceutical research, he came to teach and inspire.

For my part, I was honored by American Express for being a cardmember for 50 years. They sent me a lovely blanket, I suppose for keeping me warm in my rocking chair.

Bruce Throne writes: 

“Though I retired after 45 years from practicing law in Santa Fe in 2021, on May 15, I was honored to receive the Neighborhood and Community Advocacy Award 2025 from the 99-year-old Old Santa Fe Association for my three-and-one-half years of pro bono efforts using my legal background trying to save the city’s designated Old Pecos Trail Scenic Corridor, the last relatively unspoiled entry into downtown, from an Albuquerque developer’s 2021 rezoning and subdivision project that threatens the character of that scenic corridor. This community controversy has become a legal case (Bruce Throne, et  al. v. Governing Body of the City of Santa Fe) that is now before the New Mexico Court of Appeals.  The award was presented in Santa Fe’s historic San Miguel chapel, built in the 1800s on the Old Santa Fe Trail (photo attached).  Proof positive, I suppose, that in addition to what I gleaned  from my parents, Wesleyan gets some credit for teaching me that, like preserving democracy, preserving community and community assets is a never-ending struggle…even (apparently) in ‘retirement.’”

Mike Kaloyanides and I were privileged to be invited to Andy Feinstein’s annual “Passover Seder Extravaganza.” Andy has traditionally prepared his own version of the seder to adapt the traditional message of freedom and liberation [in] current times. This year, in the age of Trump and Netanyahu, the challenge was high, and Andy met it with a journey through the protest music of the last century. We all sang such Passover traditionals as “We Shall Overcome” and “Draft Dodger Rag,” and I must note that very few of the assigned readers for Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, myself included, could get through their parts without bursting into tears.

Paul Vidich has published another marvelous spy novel, The Poet’s Game (his seventh). Several classmates attended a session at the Wesleyan bookstore during Reunion weekend when Paul was interviewed by the aforementioned Andy Feinstein.

Rico Birinyi organized a mini-Delta Tau reunion for classes of 1969–1973. Mark (not my son) Davis of the Advancement Office was marvelously helpful in making this event happen, and other special affinity groups should well consider setting up something similar during future Reunion weekends. I won’t attempt to name everyone who was there, but present from our class were Steve Blum, Jim Hoxie, Mike Boyajian, Larry Mendelowitz, Mike Carlson, Tom Wu, and Mike Kaloyanides.

We lost Leon Vinci this past spring. Leon was a constant presence at reunions and other Wesleyan gatherings. He was a constantly outgoing, hardworking supporter of our group ethos, contributing class regalia and other goodies over the course of many years, a proud son of Middletown, and eternal member of the Chi Psi Lodge. Here are just a few of classmates’ comments in response to the news of his passing:

            “A good public servant and a strong advocate for public health in Middletown and beyond.”

            “A spirited member of our rugby club and a good man.”

            “We first met on the soccer field freshman year. Wonderful guy.”

            “Didn’t know him much at Wes but enjoyed spending time with him at reunions.”

It will be hard planning our 55th without Leon, but you can bet we will do it.