Tag: 1960

Nici and John Dobson experienced 32 wonderful summer days in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.

Jim Meyerhoff is retired from his position as chief of the Department of Neurochemistry and Neuroendocrinology at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He is currently a faculty member in the Psychiatry Department at Uniformed Service University of Health Sciences where he continues to investigate medical neuroscience that is relevant to injuries that are experienced by those in the military. He is grateful for the superb biology courses he received while at Wesleyan.

I have joined an informal group led by K. C. Sulkin, MAT ’65. After walking together, we go to a nearby Whole Foods for coffee and conversation.

I am saddened by the passing of Will White ’61 in January 2023. He began attending Wesleyan with our class in fall 1956 and received his bachelor’s degree with a major in geology in 1961. Our families developed a close relationship that was fostered by those special years when all of us were living in Colorado.

Nici and John Dobson continue to enjoy travel as their favorite form of recreation. They had two-week trips to Key West, Florida, in both March and November of 2022. John views Key West as his favorite town in America.

In May 2022, Peggy and Dave Hale spent 12 memorable days in Iceland where they saw snowcapped volcanoes, glaciers, and geothermal features. They also visited horse and goat farms, museums, and cruised to watch whales and puffins.

Ira Sharkansky reported that he continues to produce a blog that focuses on the mess of Israeli politics. In his view, Prime Minister Netanyahu is letting extremists express what they want, but so far controlling what they accomplish.

Congratulations to Steve Golin whose third book, Women Who Invented the Sixties: Ella Baker, Jane Jacobs, Rachel Carson, and Betty Friedan, has recently been published! These four women serve as role models for those who continue to challenge the status quo in the quest for a better world.

Bob Williams wrote: “Ann and I are still happily living at The Highlands of Topsham, along with Sue and Jim Dover. We are saddened by the loss of our friend and classmate Mickey Levine and try to stay in touch with his widow Marilyn.

“I’m finishing up a book on the Voynich manuscript at Yale, a mysterious book that no historian or cryptographer has been able to read or decipher. Since there is no evidence the text existed before 1912, I think Voynich (a Polish London bookseller) probably produced it himself as a hoax. The Golden Fleece! So, I’ve written a book that few will read about a book that nobody has been able to read. Still singing and living off the investment of our excellent WesTech liberal arts education.”

Congratulations to Paul Tractenberg who will be honored on May 4, 2023, for founding the Education Law Center in April 1973. The 50th anniversary will be celebrated with a panel discussion and a festive reception honoring Paul along with the outgoing and incoming executive directors. In addition, Paul presented the oral argument to the New Jersey Appellate Division in the Lakewood case (which he is cocounsel with a former law school student of his) for 5,200 public school students. Finally, Paul has been mentoring Ben Levin ’23, a Wesleyan senior, on a major education law and policy project entitled “State Education Clauses for Tomorrow.”

Maria and David Martin continue to make valuable civic contributions. The local Jubilee Park and Community Center encompasses a 62-block area in an underserved community in southeast Dallas. They have been serving there with time, talent, and treasure since its inception 25 years ago. Their latest accomplishment was to open a community clinic operated by Parkland Hospital for which they raised over $7 million for the building fund. It opened in September 2022 and was operating at 85% of capacity a month later.

In addition, in early winter they celebrated the birth of their first great-grandchild. They feel fortunate as a family and note that Wesleyan has played a big part in that blessing.

Edward A. Collins III passed away on October 20, 2022. Ed married his high school sweetheart Gretchen in 1960 and had a career as a reinsurance underwriter. In 1996 they built a house on a small, idyllic lake in New Hampshire, and this is where they spent their summers and autumns over the past two decades. He was a loving, supportive father, and shared his passion for sports with his children. He was an avid golfer and fly fisherman. Ed will be remembered for his soft-spoken kindness and his unwavering willingness to help others. Ed is survived by his wife, daughters Wendy and Robin, son Andrew ’91, and three granddaughters. My condolences to his family and friends. His obituary can be read at www.rickerfuneralhome.com/obituary/edward-collins-iii.

Michael R. Rosen passed away on January 6, 2023, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was honored at a conference in October 2022 for his 50 years at Columbia University where he was professor of pharmacology and pediatrics. Michael authored and coauthored over 500 peer-reviewed publications and received multiple national and international awards. He will be remembered for his love of literature, music, travel, kayaking, Cape Cod, and spending time with family and friends. He is survived by his wife Tove, daughters Jennifer and Rachel, and two granddaughters. He was devoted to the memory of his late eldest daughter Dina. My condolences to his family and friends.

In August–September, Nici and John Dobson traveled to Ireland, London, and lastly Malaga, Spain, where John attended a formal meeting of the Duke Hand Society.

Michael Jay Levine died on October 30, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Mickey ran a private medical practice in Holyoke, Massachusetts, for more than 40 years and was adored by his patients for his manner, sympathy, and kindness. He and his wife Marilyn were tireless travelers who made it to every continent. He is survived by his wife, daughters—Naomi, Erica, and Devorah—and six grandchildren. My condolences to his family and friends.

Jim Meyerhoff and co-authors wrote a review article on the brain-unique equivalent to the lymphatic system that was published in Military Medicine. Also, their microdissection of mouse brain into fundamentally and anatomically different regions was filmed by the Journal of Visualized Experiments.

In August, my companion Tish Geehan and I took a ferry to Orcas Island where we climbed the tower on top of Mt. Constitution (elevation 2,407 feet) and had a magnificent view of the other San Juan Islands and the Cascade Mountains to the east.

Nici and John Dobson took trips to Bora Bora, French Polynesia, Kauai, the Grand Canyon, and Sedona, Arizona, and then spent a month in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.

Peggy and Dave Hale spent a memorable 12 days in Iceland in May. More recently, they enjoyed a matinee at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

Congratulations to Jay Levy! For World AIDS Day on December 1, 2021, the University of California–San Francisco honored him for the work conducted over many years by his research group on HIV/AIDS. At the event, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke highly of their achievements. A video of the ceremony is available on YouTube.

Dave Major and son Graham both presented papers at the virtual International Conference on Sustainable Development in September.

Bill Masterson reported that Linda, his wife of 61 years, passed away on February 27, 2022. She visited Wesleyan several times during 1959–60 before they tied the knot on August 6, 1960. She will be remembered for her devotion to family and love of music. My condolences to Bill and his family.

Loren H. Pate Jr. passed away on July 1, 2021. His most cherished memories of Wesleyan were of his fraternity brothers at Delta Tau Delta. He also found satisfaction in helping to resurrect the Wesleyan Film Society. Most of his career was devoted to hotel management. My condolences to his relatives and friends.

Alan S. Roberts passed away on April 18, 2022. As a tennis player at Wesleyan, he had an unsurpassed singles’ meet record of 37–1 over four years. He was inducted into the Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame in November 2022.

In addition, Al won the U.S. Tennis Association’s National Junior Boys’ Championship in 1957. He is survived by two sons (also tennis players), Daniel and Michael, and three grandchildren: Esme, Ryan, and Kensington. My condolences to his family and friends.