Tag: 1951

George DeGenaro died late last summer in Sarasota, Fla. He was 93. After graduation from Wesleyan and Yale Law School, he praticed law at two different firms, retiring in 1989. After that he studied painting with Arthur Getz, a well-known cover artist for the New Yorker. George’s paintings hang in homes, galleries, and restaurants across America. He and wife Mary Jane Lloyd lived in Manhattan; Greenwich, Conn.; Roxbury, Conn.; and eventually Boca Raton, Fla. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, two sons, three stepdaughters, and 12 grandchildren.

Bob Switzgable wrote from an assisted-living facility in Stratford, Conn., where he has been living the past two years. “I don’t get out very often, but my health is good,” he wrote. He was spending his time reading and watching TV. Bob still owned two houses, one in Hartford and one on Cape Cod, but was thinking he might sell both of them. He wrote, “What does one do with 13 rooms of furniture and a lifetime collection of junk?” Bob plans to leave it all to his sons to sort out.

Bob Willett wrote from an assisted-living facility in Manhattan Beach, Calif., with a view of the Pacific Ocean. Bob’s wife, Martha, visits him every day and his daughter visits and takes care of his estate.

Bob wanted to know how many of us attended the 65th Reunion. The answer was 12, but not all at one time. One of them was Les Aroh, who wrote that he and his wife, Janet, were still enjoying life, but at a slower pace with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Another correspondent was Frank McCathran who checked in from Georgetown, Md.

Ken Barratt and wife Sab are living in Green Valley, about 25 miles south of Tucson. Ken has been playing in a three-man band. He visited Mount Rushmore and will have visited Death Valley by the time this sees print.

Frank Hassell moved from Florida to Alabama. His new address is 903 West Union Street, Apt. 15, Eufaula, AL 36027 or 128/249-6880 if anyone wants to contact him.

Sandy Malcomson’s daughter, Kate, wrote that her dad was struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, but was still living in his apartment and enjoying visits from his four daughters and seven grandchildren. “His eyesight doesn’t allow him to read,” Kate wrote, “but he still follows the news.”

Chuck Exley wrote from Florida but his son, Yates Exley ’83, was living with his wife, Gina, in South Kingstown only a few miles from me.

In Indianapolis, Howard Goodrich and his wife, Darlene, are leading a full life. Howard is exercising his talent for poetry and sent me two thought-provoking samples. A classmate, Dave Welsh, appeared “out of the blue.” Dave played football during the glory years of the late 1940s for the Goodriches.

Sadly, I report the loss of David McMillan. His son wrote that Dave and his wife, Margaret, had long, happy lives and fond memories of Wesleyan.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
57 Grandville Court, Wakefield, RI 02879

Frank McCathran is living in a small subdivision in Germantown, Md., and he writes that one of his neighbors was originally from Uzbekistan.

Herb Lessow is doing well in retirement living in New York City.

Charlie Selig is enjoying a “wonderful lifestyle in Boca Raton, Fla. Truly one of the most beautiful spots in the country.”

Frank Hassell moved to his retirement home in Sarasota, Fla. He has become unable to travel, but his children and their families come to visit. At Wesleyan, he and his wife, Marjorie, and two sons had lived off-campus, sponsored by family and the G.I. Bill.

I have to report the death of Bill Steele in St. Louis. Until his final illness, he’d been very active, enjoying hiking, biking, and playing ping pong. He enjoyed kayaking, too. He never lost his sense of humor and ready smile. Following a memorial service, his ashes were scattered in the river he used to kayak.

David McMillan passed away late this spring, four days after the death of his wife, Margaret. He’d had a long and influential career in Delaware banking, serving as president and chief operating officer at the Bank of Delaware before his retirement. He was also the president of the YMCA of Delaware and held several high offices in the Episcopal church.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
43 Cannon Street, Cranston, RI 02920-7620

Charlie Selig marked his 89th birthday in February still enjoying life to the fullest with winters in Boca Raton, Fla., and summers in Westchester. His wife, Madalyn, whom he married seven years ago, has given him “the greatest life to enjoy,” enhanced by visits from his son and grandchildren. Charlie follows Wesleyan football and hopes to get to a game next fall.

Jim McKeon’s wife, Betty, wrote that he had died a year ago, but his granddaughter was doing well at Wesleyan in the sophomore class.

Bert Roberts said he was sending his first message to a classmate since 1951. He had spent most of his years since then working as an executive with a wholesale electrical distributor, mostly with an industrial clientele. Prior to that, he had an Air Force tour. He and his wife, Joyce, spent their 67 years raising two daughters and seven grandchildren. They’d been fortunate enough to travel to Europe four times and even had time to enjoy Alaska. Bert said he’d slowed down greatly during the past year but hopes to try golf again this summer.

Harry Webb’s wife, Sylvia, gave a lengthy report on Harry’s death in New Britain, Conn., where he had enjoyed a long and distinguished law career, serving with two law firms and then founding his own as he approached retirement. He served on local, county, and state bar associations. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed running, hiking, tennis, and skiing into his 80s, and was an avid traveler, visiting Alaska, Turkey, Normandy, the Baltics, and South Africa. He leaves his wife, a son, three daughters, and 10 grandchildren. Harry entered Wesleyan with our class, but transferred to UConn, where he graduated in 1953, earning a law degree from UConn Law, and a master’s degree in tax law from New York University.

Howard Goodrich from Indianapolis wrote that he and his wife, Darlene, were still enjoying a full life—he will be 90 in September—for which they’re very fortunate and grateful. He wrote, “May peace and grace attend your lives.” Thank you, Howard. He also sent 24 lines of verse entitled, “In Times Like These,” ending with: “Our culture in Division / Longing for that fresh breeze / To articulate and change it / In the times to come.”

Bill Mitchell is “still alive and kicking here in the mountains of North Carolina.” He took one trip to New Jersey and several to the Atlantic area to visit family and attend his granddaughter’s graduation in St. Louis.

Biff Shaw and wife Jean take advantage of their close proximity to Wesleyan. They attended the dedication of Wesleyan’s refurbished tennis course paid in part by a gift from our own Dave Jones.

Dave and his wife couldn’t attend the dedication, so Dave asked Biff and Jean to stand in for them. Last summer, Bill and Jean attended the dedication for a wonderful gift of art to the Mattatuck Museum, also made possible by Dave Jones, which and he Ann were able to attend, along with Barney Kathan.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
43 Cannon Street, Cranston, RI 02920-7620

Barney Kathan sent me copies of two extraordinary books he had authored over the past year-and-a-half. The first one, My Prospects: Growing Up and Growing Old in a Small Connecticut Town, detailed his journey through life from a small farm to his career in the ministry and beyond. He was involved in some of the major changes in his town, church, library, and school district, and was a leader in the town’s successful celebrations. Barney’s second book, American Holy Days: The Heart and Soul of Our National Holidays, provided an invaluable primer of the history and significance of America’s special days. Again, Barney goes into extraordinary detail about these special days and how they came about.

Chris DeGraff wrote from West Hartford that he and his wife, Sandy, had a family get-together for the Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays. Chris was looking forward to hitting the slopes and had already bought his season pass. They thought about taking a trip to Europe this past summer, but decided against it because of the turmoil abroad.

Frank Hassell moved into a retirement residence at Bay Village in Sarasota, Fla. He wrote that he is no longer up for traveling, but fortunately family members are able to visit him. He reminded me that during our undergraduate years, he, his wife, and subsequent two sons, lived on campus, sponsored by his family and the G.I. Bill, which helped many of us. Frank is much older than the rest of us and at 95, still holds that distinction. Frank wrote, “Wesleyan was a very meaningful experience for me and I am grateful for the advantages I received. A gift to Wesleyan will be forthcoming after I pass on.”

Along with Frank’s note, I received word that Dean Egly, a fraternity brother of mine, had passed away on March 26, 2017. I’d appreciate hearing from any class members who received this magazine.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
43 Cannon Street, Cranston, RI 02920-7620