Tag: 1954

Jim Yashar writes, “I am celebrating my 90th birthday this August. I am fortunate to be in good health  . . . I have had knee and shoulder replacements and [a] cornea transplant.” Jim said he remarried 14 years ago to a wonderful woman, and they spend summers in Boston and winters in Palm Beach. He “retired from practicing cardiac surgery 20 years ago and [enjoys] retirement traveling, playing nine holes of golf, playing bridge . . .  reading, getting together with friends, discussing books and current events.” One of his  grandchildren was admitted to Brown last December and other grandchildren are applying to college this year.” Jim says that “Wesleyan was the basis for my future and graduate studies.”

David Walden, who lives in London, Ontario, says that he does not travel as he once did. He also adds that “Our family is doing well. John ’81 and Lisa live in London. Karen and Wouter live in Alberta. Carol, my beloved wife of 67 years, graduated from Boston University with an RN and BS.” Though he is now retired from the plant sciences department at Western University (London, Ontario), he spent his entire career there, earning several awards and mentoring 22 graduate students. Dave would be delighted to hear from any classmates. 

We end with some sad news received from John Miller ’53. He reports that Bill Ranscht died on March 7, 2022. John said, “Ranscht and I were number one and two hurdlers for the two years we overlapped, 1952 and 1953. We did not meet again until teams were elected to Wesleyan’s Athletic Hall of Fame.” Bill set the record for high hurdles at Wes, which stood for 49 years. His obit can be read at www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/orleans-ma/william-ranscht-10618070.

Dave Walden sent in this note from Ontario: “I have been retired (since 1997) from my position (faculty, Plant Sciences) at the University of Western Ontario (UWO), London, Ontario, now named Western University. I earned my MSc and PhD in genetics at Cornell University, joining UWO in 1961, after a two-year, postdoctoral fellowship at Indiana University, Department of Genetics. Retirement was required at age 65 in Ontario.” Dave also said that he is enjoying retirement activities and is well.

Bob Carey has retired from being your class scribe. We thank Bob for his many years of dedication and to keeping the Class of ’54 connected to each other and to Wesleyan. If any classmate would like to become the new Class Secretary, please send an email to classnotes@wesleyan.edu.

Please write to your class secretary.

Please write to your class secretary.

Terry Hatter wrote to say: “Trudy and I have had all of our COVID shots, and we are hanging in there. Our four kids, four grands, and entire family are all doing well too. However, our older granddaughter, a lawyer in New Jersey, has had her wedding in Ireland moved to the middle of this year. Her brother, a lawyer in DC, also will be married later this year. Our two younger grands, girl and boy cousins born four hours apart, the same day, are 17 and applying to colleges. I am still judging but because of COVID, doing most from home by phone and Zoom. My very best to you and our classmates.”