JOHN W. MAYNARD ’45

JOHN W. MAYNARD, an editor and journalist who specialized in educational journalism, died Dec. 10, 2014, at age 91. He was a member of Eclectic and received his degree with honors. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he received a master’s degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism. He was the great-grandson of Elliott J. Peck of the class of 1851, the grandson of John W. Maynard of the class of 1883 and of Susan M. Peck of the class of 1884, and the son of John P. Maynard of the class of 1913. After working as a reporter for The Providence Journal, he moved to Middletown to join the staff of Current Events and Weekly Reader, and became senior editor of the former. He received prizes for excellence in educational journalism. One of three founders of the Mattabeseck Audubon Society, he was an active volunteer in the Middletown community. His wife, Jean Finley Maynard MALS’80, CAS’96, survives, as do three sons, including John P. Maynard ’72, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his sister.

The Honorable STEWART F. HANCOCK JR. ’45

The Honorable STEWART F. HANCOCK JR., 91, an attorney in Syracuse, N.Y., who served for eight years on the New York State Court of Appeals, died Feb. 11, 2015. He was the grandson of Theodore E. Hancock of the class of 1871, the son of Stewart F. Hancock of the class of 1905, the brother of Theodore M. Hancock of the class of 1934, and the cousin of John S. Hancock of the class of 1936. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received his bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy and his law degree from Cornell University. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He began his legal career at the firm founded by his grandfather, and he later served for 15 years on the state Supreme Court and its Appellate Division before he was appointed to the Court of Appeals. He later returned to private practice and taught as a Distinguished Visiting Professor and Jurist in Residence at the Syracuse University College of Law. One son predeceased him. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Pass Hancock; five children, including Marion Hancock Fish ’76; 13 grandchildren; his nephew, Stewart H. McConaughy ’65; and his cousins, James L. McConaughy ’68 and Charles E. Hancock ’72. And Elizabeth Hancock Sillin ’77.

CLASS OF 1945 | 2015 | ISSUE 1

The year 2014 ended on a sad note when I learned that John Maynard, David Williams, and Stewart Hancock died during the year. Each was a man of distinguished and humane contributions to our world. You can read more of their lives elsewhere in this magazine and online.

Early in this new 2015 I was thinking as I walked (carefully) about our 70th Reunion, wondering who may be blessed with the health and mobility to attend. I sneezed and immediately heard, “God bless you,” from a passing stranger. That old sentiment sent my memory back beyond Wesleyan to my childhood, and to Ireland. “Rushing the growler” is an adventure for a boy: there’s the law to get around. Literally; there’s the rush down the alley to the back door of the friendly pub; there’s the rush to deliver the growler (two liters of stout); then there’s the reward, rarely money, most often a blessing. I recall my first such reward from a retired policeman whose Sunday thirst I’d slaked. He looked at me straight in the eye, searched his mind’s store for a minute, then said: “That your shadow might never grow less, and that every hair of your head might become a candle to light your way to Heaven.” Reward enough.

Another blessing I recall with pleasure came from a Kerry woman to whom I gave a lift, squeezing her impressive girth into my little rented Opel. I took her a mile or so to the cottage where she maneuvered herself out of the car, put her hands on mine, and said, “That Holy Saint Christopher might always be a passenger with you, and that the Divine Infant might light your way both day and night.” As I shifted the gear back into drive gear, she smiled and added, “and that ye might have a bigger machine the next time we meet.”

The two-pronged blessing is just that, but it’s better than no blessing at all. An example: “That your enemies might be drinking bog-water while you’ll be drinking tea.” When Tomasin O’Scannlain died, I was honored to be a pall bearer at his burial. A lovely blessing came from a mourner who wished “that he might have a silver bowl in Heaven” and “that Moses and his men might be at the gate to meet him,” echoed by another. The old Irish were great at bestowing blessings, but the art has not died. Just take a stroll through any Kerry or Mayo or Clare byway and drop no more than a simple comment on the weather to any countryman or woman you meet, and I guarantee you’ll get a blessing in return if no more than “God spare you the health.” Still, that’s better than going through the world without a good word for anyone.

Looking ahead to our 70th Reunion, but not knowing at this January writing whether you’ll read this before or after, I’ll end with my own blessing to all of you ’45s out there. That a doctor might never earn a dollar from you, that the heart of you might never give out, and that the 10 toes of you might always steer you clear of all misfortune. And, too, that at Reunion’s fine meeting you might receive a blessing better than this one. Slán go fóill.

FRANCIS W. LOVETT | francis.lovett1@comcast.net
805 Compassion Drive, Apt. 208, Windsor, CO 80550
907/460-9338

CLASS OF 1945 | 2014 | ISSUE 3

This summer, Francis Lovett was preparing lectures for this fall, as part of the continuing education series at Longmont Senior Services Center. The first is to be “Snippets of Inside Ireland,” dealing with sights and sites one never experiences during a conventional tour. Next are two sessions on the poetry and other vicissitudes of Frost, Snow, Coffin, and Neihardt. The final talk will be on the history of, accomplishments of, and influence on the ski industry of the Tenth Mountain Division.

FRANCIS W. LOVETT | francis.lovett@comcast.net
805 Compassion Drive, Apt. 208, Windsor, CO 80550
907/460-9338

CLASS OF 1945 | 2014 | ISSUE 2

“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 ’43Norm BensonFrank BowlesDick BrengleDon HaightChip Lofstedt, Bill Lowall ’44Donald DunnPete GriskivitchBud 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

JAMES E. MALONE ’45

JAMES E. MALONE, 90, a restaurateur, died May 6, 2013. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho and received his degree in 1947 after serving in the U.S. Army Marine Corps during World War II. Predeceased by one son, survivors include his wife, Kathryn Ahearn Malone, a son, and one grandson.

H. BOYD EDWARDS JR. ’45

H. BOYD EDWARDS JR., a retired investment banker, died June 7, 2011. He was 88. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and returned to Wesleyan, where he received his degree in 1947. His four children and five grandchildren survive.

Class of 1945 | 2014 | Issue 1

Since my previous column was written, my Longmont was flooded beyond imagination in September. Scientists designated the catastrophe “a 500-year phenomenon.” Whatever the label, the city was split in half as, after three days of downpours, the St. Vrain River and filler-creeks changed courses and flooded vast areas of Colorado’s northern plains. As I write on this early November day, the news is that the road to Lyons and Estes Park (not many miles west of Longmont) has opened. Hundreds of homes are ruined, millions of dollars worth of possessions destroyed, and several lives lost by drowning. Recovery began immediately and is inspiring. I am seeing human and humane behavior at their best.

In early October, the Latin School of Chicago celebrated its 125th anniversary and I was invited to participate as a Grand Marshal in the parade around Lincoln Park. Reunion dinners were held, cocktail parties were enjoyed, seminars were presented, and I was greeted and feted by many of my former students (now retired!) from my 1948–1957 tenure. Among them was Jack Dearinger ’57, who, with Bill Wallace ’57, Norm Wissing ’57, and Dave Noble ’56, had entered Wesleyan from the Latin School. The weekend was great fun, and I was honored to be remembered as a fine teacher who made a difference to some of his students.

Now winter is nigh: several ski resorts in the high country where the Rockies are already resplendent opened in late October. I have nothing more of note to include in this brief report, and so wish you all a heartfelt slán go fóill.

FRANCIS W. LOVETT
925 Hover St., Apt. 1L 106,
Longmont, CO 80501.

francis.lovett@comcast.net

WILLIAM C. WARREN III ’45

WILLIAM C. WARREN III, 84, a businessman and community leader in Rochester, N.Y., died Dec. 22, 2006. A member of Psi Upsilon, he served in the US Navy during World War II and returned to Wesleyan, where he received his degree in 1947. He again served in the US Navy during the Korean War. Active in Republican politics, he also served on numerous boards. Predeceased by his wife, Jessica Weis Warren, survivors include three children, five grandchildren, and a sister.

WILLIAM R. WANNEMACHER ’45

WILLIAM R. WANNEMACHER, a music educator, died Mar. 9, 2006, at age 83. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he received a bachelor’s degree from St. Michael’s College and a master’s degree from the State University of New York. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division and was also a member of General Patton’s Third Army in the final drive across Germany. He was the brother of the late Joseph Wannemacher ’41. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Blondin Wannemacher, four children, seven grandchildren, and 15 nieces and nephews, including Joseph A. Wannemacher ’69.