Tag: 1970

Aloha, all. Bill Kordas was inspired by the Boston Marathon to write and send links to articles about classmate Bill Rodgers and a photo of Bill with our late classmate George von der Lippe (Kordas says, “AKA ‘Vondo’ “) with Wes runners Silas Ward and Amby Burfoot: rw.runnersworld.com/selects/images/boston-billy-most-likely.jpg for the photo and rw.runnersworld.com/selects/boston-billy.html for a good article about Bill—with a great photo and interesting things about him.

O’ahu resident Elbridge Smith is still active in his legal practice which “has grown a bit, including a son. We continue to represent only federal employees, focusing in wrongful termination, discrimination, and whistle-blower cases.” Elbridge enjoys daily time with an 18-month-old grandson. Wife Diane helps out with law office business. Elbridge enjoys attending annual national legal conventions, allowing him to take in a couple of MLB games each year. He was planning to make his annual trip to N.Y. state to see his mom—still living in the family home at age 100—and to visit Cooperstown.

I ran into Steve Ching, MD, at the end of a local music event. It was late and he had a long drive to the southwest side ahead of him, so we didn’t get to chat long, but it was good seeing him.

Jeremy Serwer wrote from the farm near East Woodstock, Conn. He wanted to remind all of you to visit at the JJ Farm. “It’s been four-plus years now, and country life has more than agreed with us: the path to a relaxed and balanced life has indeed been discovered.” He reports that Carol and Maurice Hakim have visited and hopes David Geller will come this year. Jeremy and Nancy are recovering from injuries (shoulder and ankle respectively) and commend the local physical therapists. “Our major go-forward: we’re adding a second equine to the family, so balancing work and play towards retirement has become the paramount goal. Still loving both, however, so we consider ourselves most fortunate.” Jeremy invites e-mail at jeremy@theserwercompany.com.

A note from Ed Castorina says he’s “now a resident of Durham, N.C., home of Duke University and Burt’s Bees.” Ed is “the general counsel for Reichhold, a very old and responsible chemical company.” Says, too, that he “attended a Wes alumni function at UNC-Chapel Hill last summer and was stunned at not being the oldest alumnus.”

Meanwhile from the other coast, Dave Davis wrote, “My youngest daughter, Eva, graduates from Whitman College next month, and then hopes to go on to medical school, following in the footsteps of my physician wife, Cindy Talbot (sister of Steve Talbot). I still work at Oregon Public Broadcasting, the PBS affiliate here in Oregon (nearly 20 years), and am still enjoying the good life in Oregon.”

Occasional Kaua’i visitor Rob Baker wrote, “Sandy and I are happy to have finished our (last) building project and to be settling into another house. After going to my 50th high school reunion in Baltimore, we’ll go back to Kauai for a while. Our daughter, Emily, is getting married in San Diego this January, so there’s a lot to look forward to.” (Rob has an interest in a home that’s probably less than three miles as the crow flies from our lot. He’s up on the ridge; we’re in the valley. It’s amazing to me that three of us Wes folks—the third being class notes correspondent Neil Clendennin ’71—have roots so close together here.)

Gerald Jones writes from California about the “latest on my efforts to reinvent myself!” prleap.com/pr/244943/getpublished-radio-listeners-will-finally-get

Al Zimmermann is trying for a record. He says he’s retired for the third time. “I think this time it’s going to take. But, although retired, I’m still plying my trade—just not remuneratively. I’m doing pro bono work for the Lucille Lortel Foundation in NYC, rebuilding the Internet Off-Broadway Database (iobdb.com).” Just in case you didn’t think he was busy enough, Al also reports he’s “taking acting classes, writing a play and running Internet-based computer programming contests (azspcs.com). My wife, Leslie, and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last summer. Life is good.”

Blackburne “Blackie” Costin retired, as a partner, from Deloitte Consulting a couple of years ago. He opened up his own LLC and says “business has been quite good.” He’s really enjoying coaching youth hockey. Both his sons played hockey for Loyola Marymount University. Oldest son, Hunter, works for Tesla. Second son, Parker, is at LMU and working a paid internship between junior and senior years. Blackie says, “I’m doing fine. Creaking around a bit more than I would like but that’s just the way it is.” Roger that.

Bob Stone reports he’s enjoying retirement from his law practice and spending time with grandchildren. “Also some volunteer nonprofit board participation, overseas and domestic travel, more pleasure reading than I’ve ever done, seemingly futile efforts to improve my golf game, and reconnecting with friends and extended family. My wife, Nancy, and I have been married over 42 years, and now we’re heavily into checking off items on the bucket list. Some of those items have included spending time with close friends from my Wesleyan days. We’ve taken trips to France, Italy, and the Baltic nations with David Klatell and his wife, Nancy, and will be going to Vietnam and Cambodia with them in January. (I guess there’s some irony in the fact that after working so hard to avoid going to Southeast Asia 46 years ago, we’re paying lots of money to go there now.)” Stoney also reports being hosted by Jeannie and Marc Pickard at their Vancouver condo last summer. He says, “David continues his work as a professor and dean at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Marc is happily retired from a long and successful career as a television reporter and anchor, most of it in the Atlanta area.”

From Beaufort, S.C., Charlie Holbrook: “Just finishing my 12th year teaching history at Beaufort High School. Leslie and I are enjoying the mild winters in Beaufort and stay in Old Lyme for seven weeks in June and July.” He’s looking forward to taking another course from Professor Greene.

I’ve just finished my fifth year at a local middle school, where I get assigned to teach classes both within and without my “highly-qualified” fields. This year, it was eighth grade U.S. history and science. The highlight for me was teaching students how to analyze scenarios for constitutional issues and how to make arguments for both sides of the issue. Who knows what the highlight was for them? Meanwhile, I edited the second edition of a second book for a local author. Taylor Camp is about a little social experiment on Kaua’i in the 1970s, a small community of treehouses on Elizabeth Taylor’s brother’s property, and the clash with local authorities. After many months of rain, it looks like construction of our house will begin in earnest. We have lots of materials on-site and the beginning of a driveway, so the heavy equipment doesn’t sink. I’m going to need more lucrative work to pay the mortgage!

Russ Josephson | russ_josephson@yahoo.com

P.O. Box 1151, Kilauea, HI 96754

Aloha, all. I haven’t had a lot of response to the call for news for this column, but here we go, anyway.

Had this from Colin Kitchens: “Somehow I find myself still alive after all this time. Yet I am still almost as devoid of sense about why as I was when we were roommates. I did see Peter Pfeiffer ’69 on his farm in Maine. He is living off the grid, pretty much like Thoreau, and he has done this since we graduated. I have seen Jamie Kirkpatrick at Landon School, from which he is now retired. He’s traveling. He and his wife have posted incredible pictures of their trips, especially to Scotland. Stephen Talbot is working in San Francisco and making documentaries, and always has a word about something extremely worth seeing. I am working on my house and writing some.”

And this shortie from Gordon Fain: “Had a nice phone ’mini reunion’ with Mark Lerner ’71, who is now a ranking attorney in OSHA federal appeals in D.C.”

And then there was a rather odd e-mail discussion about columns. I don’t recall how it began, but it involved Stephen Voorhies ’71, John Yurechko, Jeffrey Nye, Jeffrey Sarles, Mark Mintz, George Ward, Michael Robinson ’73, and Ted Reed. The subject was “Kidnapped by the Ancients In the Desert?”, I think. I believe John Y. is to blame for this. Something to do with some photos that I think he posted on WesConnect involving Roman columns. In any case, it will get all their names into print. It’s all pretty dated now, as there was a reference by Ted to going to the basement to watch the resurging Mets on a small television, pre-playoffs. A pretty good series, especially the first game (14 innings, if you missed it) and that double in the last game that scored all three runners on base at the time. I was very impressed with a score all the way from first base on a double. Wish I still could run without my back acting up, much less that fast!

Well, that has to be about the weirdest paragraph I’ve written in this column in the 30 years (total) I’ve written it. So I have to follow it up with something even weirder: After six years of trying to get construction on our little house in the valley started, we finally signed the construction loan. The first supplies are on order (the solar energy system, including a stand-alone rack) and we anticipate breaking ground within the month, depending on shipping times and the condition of the valley road. Cannot believe we’ll be taking out a huge mortgage at this time in life. If interested, check out my FB photos or e-mail me.

Last thing I have for you is that Rob Baker was sighted on Kaua’i recently, visiting with friends and doing a little construction on a property not far, as the crow flies, from our lot in Kalihiwai Valley or from Neil Clendeninn’s ’71 place. Hope to visit with him when he next comes and hope to see many of you here in the coming years.

Meanwhile, all of you take care of yourselves and each other.

Russ Josephson | russ_josephson@yahoo.com

P.O. Box 1151, Kilauea, HI 96754

Aloha, all. The alumni office just informed me that William Steinhurst died last July. He worked for the State of Vermont for more than 30 years, most notably as director of regulated utility planning from 1986–2003, then worked in the private sector. He was active in the arts and as a volunteer. See more here.

Right after Reunion, Mark Fuller sent in a note that John Haury had died on May 16. And Nathan Heilweil reported Pete Panciera ’71 also died. Condolences to the families.

This issue is primarily Reunion news. There were, as always, a lot of activities. In my opinion, there are too many to allow enough time for classmates to schmooze. (Also, it’s hard to visit when we’re all sitting at tables. Whine, whine). ’65 did their Reunion right, with high attendance and lots of class activities, beginning on Thursday, a good model for our 2020 reunion. (I’m suggesting “I Can See Clearly Now” as our theme.)

I apologize if I missed anyone, but some don’t register and some don’t show up at class events. I know I didn’t see everyone. For example, I now know that Gordon Fain was there at least on Friday night, as he sent me a report about Phil Dundas.

On Friday, first I ran into Maurice Hakim and later David Geller and Miles Siegel, who continued the tradition of political discussion. In the evening, I attended a president’s reception for recipients of service awards, but unfortunately, there was no president and there were no announcements. I learned, however, that Alan Dachs, who I saw there, received the Baldwin Medal, the highest honor the Alumni Association awards.

ongratulations! As is the case with several classmates, Alan appeared briefly here and there during the Reunion. (It’s this tendency, too, that makes it particularly hard to keep track of all the classmates and to chat will them all.)

Jim Elston provided wine (and cheese!) again for the Friday night reception. Thanks! Note for next time: More activities of this type, or more hours of this one, please. This is a great opportunity to talk with no other agenda.

Saturday was mostly seminars and picnics, which is to say folks scattered all over the place. Diana Diamond, who attended with hubby John Alschuler, coordinated a WeSeminar about co-education, with a panel that included Elliot Daum, who, along with four-year roommate Harvey Yazijian, were the first men at Conn. College, in the spring of 1969. Among those there was Alan Wallace, still the champion of retained hair.

The big class activity on Saturday was the dinner. John Alschuler was M.C. Seth Kaufman presented the financial report with his usual droll humor, having also provided three choices of t-shirts for us, and having continued, as always, to ask us to give money to Wes. He made a pitch for need-blind scholarships (the policy has changed) and tying our contributions to the old policy. A discussion ensued. Contact Seth for more on this.
I saw Josh Barrett and Brian Silvestro briefly, but didn’t get to chat. John Griffin, Darryl Hazel, Bob Murphy and Chip Conley were on the registration list but I didn’t see them. I saw Steve Ingraham, and Davey Jones just briefly. Both are still busy helping others. Lawrence Madlock shared a story of dealing with his draft board, who insisted he couldn’t be Quaker. The stories never end on this topic. Jeremy Serwer seems to be enjoying a scaled-down lifestyle. Marshall Webb continues in the dairy business in Vermont, which seems to suit him very well.

David White, still busy in the arts world, showed his continued political commitment in a discussion of need-blind scholarships at the class dinner on Saturday night, as did Chuck Bosk. Randy Miller is still busy as mayor of Beverly City, N.J. Chatted with Eddie Walker (aka Sachin Hazen), pyscho- and hypnotherapist, just relocating from several years on Maui. Also at the class dinner was Tony Balis, still operating The Humanity Initiative.
Jacob Scherr, now a “Senior Adviser” with the NRDC International Program, predictably seen at a WESeminar on climate change, is still quite busy. Phil Dundas has been oil and gas lawyering in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) for most of the time since graduation. He’s now consulting.

In non-Reunion news, Rob Baker recently visited Kaua’i, where he has a second home. He lives in Park City, Utah, with Sandra, his spouse of 38 years. He’s had an interesting career, combining law practice with IT issues, eventually as CLO of a healthcare IT company. Judging from our discussions while we were Jeeping, Rob’s keeping up with issues that concern lots of us. Meanwhile, he’s dedicated to staying in shape while keeping his hand in his healthcare IT investing and consulting.

Heard from Robby Laitos in March. He, Guy Prevost, and Mark Fuller skied Snowmass (Colo.), reporting, “Had a great time and the three of us actually made it safely down Upper Snowmass’ ‘Cirque Headwall,’ a rather heart-in-your-throat ski run. (Mark and Guy actually skied the Headwall; I kind of slid down it.) The three of us reminisced about Wesleyan West in Aspen in the early ’70s, when many of us (Guy, Mark, Miles Siegel, Arden Reed, Katy Butler ’71, etc.) headed out there after graduation.” Robby reports that Guy is still script writing in L.A., and that Mark will retire soon after 19 years as “executive director of the Independence Pass Foundation (one of the Western U.S.’s most innovative and respected environmental organizations).”

Jerry Cerasale reports, “I’m living on Cape Cod doing the best job I’ve ever had, retirement. I even loved this past winter. When you don’t have to get out to go to the office, the snow is beautiful. In fact, the frozen Cape Cod Bay was amazing, particularly at sunset. At 66, I was dumb enough to run for office. The nice thing is that I was unopposed. So I now have a certificate of election as a member of the Eastham, Mass., Housing Authority.”

Had a newsy report from Bart Wendell. He, too, lives in Mass., but somewhat near Amherst. Says he’s expecting Eric Strobel to visit and had been hoping for a reunion of roommates George Glassanos and Lew McCreary ’71, as well. Bart advises CEOs, founders, boards, and high schools. He’s replaced running with road cycling. More online.
I reported a few issues back that John Yurechko enjoys Civil War reenactments. He’s now taken his interest in military history to another level. Seems he was traveling in Europe when he came across the filming of a documentary and reports that “I was captured by both the Romans (Legio II) and the Carthaginians.” Hope he posted the photos.

Aloha, all. We approach our 45th Reunion (May 21-24). See WesConnect for more. Meanwhile, here’s some news from some of your classmates.

We begin by offering our sympathies to Bruce Williams, who lost his mother just before Christmas. The surviving parents of our classmates are getting up there. I know some of us cringe a bit whenever the phone rings at late hours. Let’s wish the parents well.

Thanks to Jerry Schwartz, who, I believe, was last in New Britain. He continued to say he’s officially retired but still managing websites “here and there.” Also says, “I’ve been editing other people’s fiction, and have an item or two of my own almost ready to publish. I do audio and video editing, too. All of that is just for fun. In other words, it doesn’t bring in any money.” Jerry also wrote, “I’m in touch with Al Zimmermann, who lives in NYC. We get together a few times a year for dinner and theater. I also get to see Jerry Barton once a year, when he comes back from Austria for a visit. Jerry Barton is a wonderful photographer, and just had a 2015 photo calendar published.” There’s much more, but space limits prevail, so look on WesConnect.

And then, as if by magic, I also heard from Al Zimmermann: “Having failed Retirement 101 twice, I’m trying yet again. Mostly I’m now spending my time managing software development projects on a pro bono basis for theater-related nonprofit entities. It’s still work but, because I’m not getting paid, I can claim to have finally gotten at least part of this retirement thing right. My current project is the re-development of the Internet Off-Broadway Database (iobdb.org) for the Lucille Lortel Foundation.” Well, on behalf of those for whom retirement isn’t in sight, enjoy it for us!

Had an “out of office” e-mail from David Ouimette, who is practicing law. He’s in Phoenix. Still trying to get more details.

Prince Chambliss writes, “Although Lawrence Madlock (long time medical doctor), Thurman Northcross ’71 (continuing his work with business trends), and I all live here in Memphis and share many of the same circles of friends and activities, we don’t get together and share news about WesU nearly as much as we should. I just saw both of them within the past week.” Prince also wrote, “I spent some quality time with Harvey Yazijian in Boston a few months ago when I had occasion to be there for a law school class reunion. I know he and a few others plan to be present in Middletown for our 45th. I look forward to seeing you there.” I’m sure he means the plural “you,” so be there or be square. See more on WesConnect.

It’s been ages since we heard from Brian Silvestro, who practices law, coaches high school basketball, and resides in Southport, Conn. He has four sons “living in four different time zones. John is a captain in the USMC and stationed in San Diego as a C-130 pilot. Tyler is in Brooklyn and is a landscape architect. Jamie is in Chicago and is an architect, and Mike is in Colorado Springs where he works in the hotel business. Jane and I are first-time grandparents to Brooke and Ben born 7/4/14 in Colorado. Life goes on. No complaints. Very blessed.” Brian also mentioned that he “could not get any of my boys to go to Wes.” He’s actually a bit amused by it, except for the costs of college. Congratulations on the grandchild and all else.

Meanwhile, in France, Ward Rinehart is busy with his editing company (“WHO is our chief client, but we are also working for a number of other organizations that work in international health.”) but not too busy to take time out for eye surgery (which, in typical Ward style, led to some interesting versions of the Snellen eye chart) and not too serious to overlook a new story of Boris, the snow-loving cat, entitled Boris Takes a Hike. (Obviously aimed at a generation which doesn’t think of Natasha, Rocky, and Bullwinkle at the mention of Boris.) See jura-eds.com/boristakesahike.html. If you’re interested in the Snellen chart “riffs,” as Ward calls them, you could “Google” the phrase “Jura Snellen,” but that gets you an image of coffee makers or something. (Weird.) Try this link instead: every10miles.com/eye-chart-riffs/.

Not too far away, in Norway, Brad Matthews continues “consulting internationally on productive collaborative innovation and change readiness.” He plans to “spend more time in 2015 and beyond sculpting for fun and profit.” Brad says he’s “staying in close touch with Bill Davis ’71 and Eric Buergers.” He wishes everyone “good living ahead.” Well said. I asked Brad if learning Norwegian wasn’t quite challenging and he replied, “Norwegian is not simply challenging to learn. Add in hearing that’s not as good as it used to be, and memory challenged to remember the English vocabulary that was second nature to me previously, and you have a largely disabling mix.” As they don’t say in Norwegian, I assume, oy.

And speaking of Yiddish, fun-loving Mark Goodman is preparing to travel in Europe after converting a camper. He’s consulted Elliot Daum, who reportedly goes to Burning Man festivals in a motor home, and plans to enlist the help of Andy Leonard, who Mark describes as “pretty knowledgeable in vehicular matters.” Mark also has consulted with David Cantor in Brussels and others. As he puts it, “More meshuggene escapades!”

Sheila and Steve Ingraham visited Kaua’i in October, and Steve wrote this account: “My bride Sheila and I are still glowing from a fall trip to Kaua’i. After surviving the obligatory helicopter ride (doorless!), we met up with a colorful local: an Alaskan transplant, our very own agent Russ Josephson. Not content with merely being the hub in our Wesleyan wheel, he led us through bumpy back country, past flowery vines, singing birds, and waterfalls to his personal paradise: a verdant plot of red earth and palm trees where, one day, he and Vera will put on stilts the most ecofriendly place imaginable. It may even make Ben Stiller, his neighbor on a nearby hill, blush. Just don’t expect Russ to throw out a date for completion. As with Jefferson’s Monticello, projects of this magnitude take time. And anyway, as was drilled into us at Wes, it’s really about the journey, the process, and not the product. Right, Russ? He was a fine guide.” All I did was drive them the .8 mile up the iffy road to our housesite, I promise you.

Embarrassed by undue attention, I prodded and Steve added: “I could also write about the King Kong mountain emerging from the mists. Or about the sea turtles that bounced around in the Poi’pu surf just below our condo. Or about hiking along those spectacular bluffs and walking those gorgeous beaches . . . all of it so therapeutic. But maybe what I miss most are those ocean breezes that were always with us. They never disappoint.” A career in travel writing may await, Steve.

And finally, this from Maurice Hakim: “I am still very active professionally. In fact, I have two companies, Teacrest and Mr. Mo’s Beverages. The former manufactures ready-to-drink organic teas (T42), the latter, organic lemonades (Mr. Mo’s). Most of our business centers on private label. Customers are high-end grocery chains such as Earth Fare, Heinen’s, and Kings Supermarkets.

“My wife and I moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, 11 years ago from Bedford, N.Y. We are now in Jupiter, alongside the beach. Those who attended may remember the birth of our daughter Alexandra just before our 20th Reunion. Wow, she is now 24 (!), lives in Manhattan and works at Bloomberg in the marketing department. She loves it.

“Since our 40th, I have kept close contact with Jim Elston and his lovely wife, Meckle. They now reside full time in S. Bristol, Maine. For the past two summers we have rented a cottage there and have enjoyed spending time with them. Dinner at their house is an extravaganza. Jim, as you know, has a very successful wine importing business. His house has fabulous cellar stocked with some of the best French wines, which he is never reluctant to share with his guests. Always professorial, Jim will guide you through his cellar and provide insight into every bottle.

“I miss being up North, especially during the spring and fall. We’re looking for a cottage along the Connecticut shore, specifically, Clinton or Stonington.”

Listening to music from our college years as I write. I propose “My Back Pages” (Byrds’ version, 1967) as a theme for our 45th Reunion.

Russ Josephson | russ_josephson@yahoo.com
P.O. Box 1151, Kilauea, HI 96754

Aloha, all. We don’t have a lot of news this time, unfortunately, but here’s what we have:

Stephen Policoff (“The Poet is In”—Hewitt Hall, 1966) wrote what sounds like a heart-wrenching tale of problems with our health care system. Here’s Stephen’s news: “My memoir about my late wife’s journey through New York Hospital Hell, Sixteen Scenes From a Film I Never Wanted to See, was published by Monkey Puzzle Press last January (and yes, it is just as frothy a read as it sounds). An excerpt from my second novel is in the current (summer) issue of the hipster dad magazine Kindling Quarterly. Another excerpt is in the upcoming issue of Provincetown Arts. The novel itself, Come Away, will be published in November by Dzanc Books.” Thanks for the news, Stephen. My heart goes out to you.

This time around we have a double first for this column, in my memory, at least. Two of you sent photos. It’s a sign of the times, for sure. Look for them online at classnotes.blogs.wesleyan.edu/.

One of the photos is from Jeff Sarles. Seems he and Gary Hill took in a Yankees-White Sox game. Says Jeff, “Russ: Attached is a photo of Gary Hill (on the left) and me (on the right) (both class of 1970) at a Yankees-White Sox game on August 23 at Yankee Stadium. If you run this, please be sure to note that Gary is a Mets fan and that I’m a White Sox fan so that no one mistakes us for Yankee fans.” Consider that gauntlet thrown down, Jeff. You didn’t mention the score, but I checked and it was 5-3 Yankees. As it happens, I watched a White Sox-Orioles game in June in Baltimore. With the storm break in the middle, the game went into 12 innings before the Os took it 5-4. Fourth row, just past third base. Great game! (Last-minute word:  Congratulations to S.F. Giants fans for winning a well-played World Series against the K.C. Royals.)

And speaking of baseball, turns out fellow fan Ted Reed exercised his editing powers helping our own Dr. John (Yurechko) write the following piece, accompanied by a photo: “How I Spent the 4th of July 2014:

“My Revolutionary War re-enactment unit participated in the July 4th festivities at Mt. Vernon, Va. I assumed guard duty near a strategic storage shed. I had my photo taken more than 300 times. Photos first with the wife, then husband. Photos with families of two, no three, four, five children. Mass photos with busloads of teenagers and busloads of veterans. People from China, France, the Philippines, India, numerous African nations, even Canadians and Brits. People who claimed to be relatives of John Paul Jones, Genghis Khan, the Saracens and rock’n’roll stars. Tall people, short people, fat people, skinny people. White, black, brown, tan, red people. Pregnant women. Women who wanted to be pregnant and women who did not want to be pregnant. Little old ladies who pinched me, wanting two . . .’C’mon Sweetie’ . . . no three, four pictures. Grandfathers who did not know how to take a cell phone photo. Boys with dreadlocks in attitude poses, arms crossed, chests puffed out. I did ‘Selfies’ with pre-pubescents. Action shots with bearded guys and blond gals wearing baseball hats or football jerseys. People from every state in the Union and a good percent of the United Nations. Kids with mothers threatening: ‘Bradley! Stand next to that nice soldier for a picture or else you won’t get any food for three weeks!’ Or ‘I’m a state senator from Illinois. How about a picture?’ One couple insisted I pose with their two dogs. What was I supposed to say? No? Sixteen tourists asked me if I was George Washington. Four of those asked me where my tomb was. ‘Did anyone ever tell you look like George Washington?’ Only two people asked me where the toilets were. There were Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, atheists and polytheists. Click, click, click! I was dragged into a portrait shot of an extended family from Puerto Rico, with me in the middle. I was captured by every type of camera imaginable: old Polaroids, Instamatics, brightly colored cell phones and lap tops, disposables, $3,000 professional lenses. That storage shed stood at a crossroads for a procession of All of Humanity. I’m now posted on various crannies of the Information vacation world—your very own July 4th photograph. That nice soldier who was not George Washington.” [Signed] “John Yurechko (Class of 1970), 1st Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line, McLean, Virginia.”

John, that’s a terrific account. I never understood reenactments—still don’t—but I was totally transported by your piece.

Expecting Steve Ingraham in a few weeks. News on that in the next column.

I thought we had more news this time, but I’m not finding it on my computer, so I guess I’ll end with best wishes for the upcoming fall season. Not too soon to plan to attend the class Reunion next May. Unless some miracle occurs, I can’t see making it; it falls close to the end of our school year, but I hope many of you will get there.

Don’t forget we have a Facebook page and that you can post news on WesConnect.

Take care of yourselves and don’t forget: We like visitors.

Russ Josephson | russ_josephson@yahoo.com
P.O. Box 1151, Kilauea, HI 96754

Aloha, all.

Again, I have the sad duty to report the loss of two classmates, Paul Macri and Doug Maynard.

We lost Paul to leukemia on April 9th. After Wesleyan, Paul graduated from the University of Maine School of Law, where he was an editor of the Maine Law Review. He then clerked for the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. To quote from his obituary, “It is widely thought to be true among members of the Maine Bar that he argued more cases before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court than any other private practitioner in Maine history.” (MORE ONLINE)

Charlie Holbrook said of Doug Maynard, “He was my roommate freshman year. Doug was a great lacrosse and soccer player and always fun to be around. He will be missed by all who had the privilege to know him.” I regret that that’s all I know. Our condolences to the family.

Charlie also wrote: “This summer I will be auditing a graduate history course from Professor Nat Greene. This will be the fourth graduate course I have taken from him.” (MORE ONLINE)

Tony Balis writes that “The Humanity Initiative soon will launch a grassroots effort to end war by 2020. Comments and suggestions from Wes classmates are more than welcome (tony@humanity.org). The intent is to encourage tens of thousands of monthly tea gatherings in villages and towns across the continents to create their own action agenda around ending war. THI has trademarked “humanitea, an infusion of peace” and is sourcing our first tea from a sacred mountain in Sri Lanka, where 80,000 people have died in a recent civil war. 100 percent of the revenue will be returned to Sri Lanka to establish interfaith councils of young leaders dedicated to the dialogues of peace, rather than the monologues of war. The new web site is humanitea.org.” My hat’s off to you!

Ted Reed (class correspondent emeritus), wrote up his news. Thanks, Ted. “Early this summer, Ted Reed had lunch with Mark Mintz in Hoboken, Jeff Sarles in Charlotte, and John Yurechko in Charlotte. Ted was preparing to fly on the first non-stop flight ever from the U.S. to Chengdu, the fourth largest city in China, on a United press junket on June 9th.” (MORE ONLINE)

Heard from Steve Talbot, who reports his married son Dash lives in L.A. and is working as a lawyer for the nonprofit Children’s Law Center, where his clients are all kids. . . . Daughter Caitlin, runs a yoga studio in Hollywood (Asks Steve: How Southern California can you get?) and acts as often as she can. Thula, a short narrative film she produced with her friends in Cape Town, was just accepted into this July’s Durban International Film Festival, the biggest and oldest in South Africa. Wife Pippa enjoys retirement and, “I’m still happy to be making documentaries and news stories for PBS and other broadcasters.” Check out his sister Margaret’s book about their father. It’s called The Entertainer: Movies, Magic and My Father’s Twentieth Century. (MORE ONLINE)

I missed two visits from classmates. KNK brother Michael Hunter visited Hawaii in December while I was on the Mainland and Mark Geannette wrote: “Just got back from the Pride of America cruise of the Hawaiian Islands. . . . My wife, Gloria, and I are trying to fit full-time jobs around lots of travel. . . . “ (MORE ONLINE)

Old KNK brother and Meriden boy Jerry Cerasale wrote, “At last I retired!” He testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on his last day at work. “Jan and I now live on Cape Cod and love life without alarm clocks. As I say, ‘If you’re lucky enough to have a house at the beach, you’re lucky enough.’” Enjoy!

Better Late Than Never category: John (Jack) Ingraham wrote, “I graduated from Fordham Law School in 1975, where I shared an apartment with cousin Steve Ingraham and Bruce Hearey ’72. After a couple of brief stints in the public sector (law clerk to a federal judge in Tulsa, Okla., and assistant district attorney in New York County, N.Y.), I settled into private practice with Conner & Winters, in Tulsa, Okla. (1980 to present), specializing in trusts and estates law. My wife, Judy, and I have three children, Andy (31), Rob (28) and Nicole (15). The boys are living out my college fantasy as budding rock stars with, respectively, Bravo Delta, based in Las Vegas, and The Revivalists, based in New Orleans.” Thanks for the update, Jack.

Another classmate sent me ready-made info, and has my thanks. “Gerald Everett Jones has already had one humorous novel published this year, Farnsworth’s Revenge, which was released (appropriately enough) on April Fool’s Day. It’s the third screwball saga in what he calls the Rollo Hemphill Misadventures series. Another novel, also humorous but based on a true story, will come out in early September. Mr. Ballpoint is about the consumer craze over the introduction of the first ballpoint pen in the United States in 1945. Some critics have compared Gerald to Kurt Vonnegut and the wry tone of his humorous fiction to John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces. Gerald blogs about male-centered comic fiction at boychiklit.com.” Thanks for the news, Gerald. (For those who may not know, boychik is Yiddish for “boy” or “young man.”)

Yiddish lesson #2 as Mark (Marcos) Goodman wrote that he’s “returned to living in Buenos Aires where he’s been obsessed with dancing salsa and rueda de casino [a kind of salsa round dance] every day. Lots of moves to learn and young girls who smile at the alter kacher!” My research defines that as an old complainer. In this case, maybe a bit meshuggenah to be dancing that much? Watch your back, boychik.

Also heard from Prince Chambliss that he was in Cambridge, Mass. recently “for the Harvard College graduation of the daughter of a law school classmate. Harvey Yazijian was kind enough to drive in from Wayland so that we could visit for a few hours.” Reliving hitching days in college and reminiscing, Prince plans to attend our upcoming 45th Class Reunion next year and urges you to attend. He plans to have another book ready for the occasion, while hoping the first book may be made into a movie.

A note from Bill Rodgers indicated that he, Amby Burfoot ’68 (and Boston Marathon Champ of 1968), and Jeff Galloway ’67 (and American Olympian) “joined well over 1,000 runners and walkers at the first Legends Run Half Marathon in Middletown on April 6th. A number of folks from Wesleyan joined us at this terrific new event!” A big salute to all of our age or older who can run without pain!

In February 2013, John Sheffield made an unusual move, from St. Simons Island, Ga. to New York City. John reports he retired from a career in tennis coaching and administration in December 2012 “only to turn around and start up a new self-employed career as a yacht delivery and charter captain.” He’s enjoying his first grandchild (Ryan), born in New York City in March, 2013, and reports he’s “[s]till happily married to my high school sweetheart, Bunny. Two daughters live in New York City and Wellington, New Zealand, respectively.”

Thanks to Barry Gottfried who wrote to say that “on February 11, 2014, my wife and I became the proud grandparents of Charles (‘Charlie’) Royce Gottfried, born to David Gottfried ’04 and his lovely wife, Elizabeth Barrett Topping, Dartmouth ’02. We’re enjoying every minute of it!” Congratulations!

Until next time, I wish you all safe and productive lives. Write if you have news or if you’re coming to Kaua’i. Full column at classnotes.blogs.wesleyan.edu or on WesConnect.

Russ Josephson | russ_josephson@yahoo.com
P.O. Box 1151, Kilauea, HI 96754

Aloha, all. As I’m writing, the coincidence of Thanksgiving and Hannukah, which I understand will not occur again for 70,000 years—and thus I predict none of us is going to be around to celebrate it!—is nearly upon us, giving us the formal occasion to ponder major issues and to stop our busy lives long enough to be thankful. Personally, I’m glad to be vertical and in reasonably good shape. And, yes, I think about the alternative when I’m up early to exercise and walk in the dark. Glad I can still fell trees and move rocks around in preparation for actually beginning to build our little house. I’m learning patience with the process, although I have to say patience is waning as I continue to teach 7th graders.

On to true happiness: Gus Spohn reports, “I am blissfully retired now from my position as director of communications and publications at Yale Divinity School, from which I received my M.A.R. in 1973. After graduation I worked as a reporter for the Bristol (Conn.) Press, followed by seven years as Protestant editor for Religion News Service, then took the position with YDS in 2004. My wife, Sarah Clark ’73, and I have two children, Julia Clark-Spohn ’02 and Katy Clark-Spohn Botta ’05. (Katy is married to Robert Botta ’05.) I am the proud grandfather of Wilder Gustav Botta, born in February. Sarah and I have lived in Hamden, Conn., since 1980 but are likely to relocate (who knows where?) in the next year or two.” Congratulations, and enjoy!

Elbridge Smith shared this: “I seem to have missed the Wesleyan get-togethers scheduled this fall in Honolulu—but it’s been so long in between, I’m not sure I’d know anyone going. Our son ‘E.Z’ (Elbridge Zenichi Smith) has joined my law firm as a law clerk, while he awaits the bar exam results, which may be out within the week. After three years in Boston, which they loved, he and his long-time girlfriend, Jill, are back home, he to work and she to work on her PhD at University of Hawaii Med School (a research biology area I cannot pronounce). Our daughter, Meredith, had also gone back to school and has now received her master’s in teaching from University of Hawaii in May; she is now teaching fifth grade at Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School; and in September she married chef James Word. All four of them live with us in Kailua now, with our multiple dogs and cats. In addition to our family trip to Boston, we made another short trip to Cobleskill (upstate), N.Y., to take my Mom back for the rest of summer after the wedding and enjoyed some great apples, fresh corn, a couple of 36–38 degree nights, and the beginning of fall leaves turning.

“I thought all this graduation and employment by the kids meant I would get to think about easing towards retirement and cruising in my ’55 Chevy, but since we have to expand the house to accommodate all, I may have to continue working, not just to keep the world safe for democracy (aka filing federal employment cases) but paying a mortgage. I could go on (what lawyer couldn’t?) but that seems like the more ‘da kine’.”

Nathan Heilweil reports he’s “still working, visiting my three grandkids, 5 years to 6 months old, playing tennis almost every afternoon in summer and three nights a week in the winter, and enjoying a great steak and vodka (extra cold, shaken—not stirred—with extra olives) with Suzanne, my wife of 40-plus years. Still feels like our first date!” Nathan’s looking forward to seeing everyone at our 2015 Reunion, as am I.

The art world is that much richer because Bruce Williams remains very active in it. He shared a couple of links. The first is video of one of the artists with whom he has worked: vimeo.com/ileife/artis. The second is a film he made several years ago: vimeo.com/ileife/optica.

Among those classmates who’ve opted for climes warmer than Connecticut is Roger Mann, who writes: “I have been living in Naples, Fla., for 13 years, operating a swimming pool service business. This summer I sold the business and retired. I can now play tennis and nap during the day and stay up past 10:00 p.m., when necessary. My wife, Tessa Tilden-Smith, is still working.”

I love this report from Robby Laitos: “On Sept. 19, 2013, Mark Fuller drove from Aspen, Colo., and I drove from Fort Collins, Colo., to attend a book-reading/signing by Katy Butler ’71 at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. Katy’s new book, Knocking on Heaven’s Door, has emerged on the NYT’s nonfiction best-seller lists, and in late September 2013, it was No. 8 in the Denver Post’s nonfiction best-seller lists. After an outstanding reading and discussion of Katy’s book at the bookstore, Katy, Mark, Brian (Katy’s partner), and I repaired to a local watering hole in Lower Downtown Denver for some adult beverages and serious laughter and reminiscing about ‘Wesleyan West’ in Aspen in the early 1970s. Katy looked and sounded great, and is obviously (as she puts it), ‘an overnight success at age 64.’ Mark Fuller is a true environmental pioneer and powerhouse in western Colorado, and is presently executive director of the Independence Pass Foundation, doing incredibly innovative work on high-altitude revegetation. Mark also has successfully combined efforts from the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Department of Transportation, and local governments to preserve some of the most pristine land in the Western U.S. I am fine (just getting older) and try to stay active, primarily by trying to keep up with Mark in his outdoor pursuits. In the winter, I have skied with Mark down ‘Roberto’s Run’ in Upper Snowmass, the only ski run I have done in 49 years of skiing that truly terrified me (Mark eats this stuff for breakfast), and in the summer of 2013 I gamely followed Mark on a successful climb up the East Ridge of Shimer’s Peak outside of Aspen, another heart-in-your-throat adventure. I also enjoy watching Sponge Bob Square Pants with my 7-year-old (true story).”

Word arrived here that Stuart Frank won the Historic New England Book Prize for 2013 recently for Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved: Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum, published in Boston by David R. Godine. According to the New Bedford Whaling Museum, “[t]he book is also the recipient of the Boston Bookmakers Prize for the year’s best work in the pictorial category.” Also from the website, we learn that Stuart earned master’s degrees at both Yale and Brown, as well as a Ph.D. in American civilization at Brown. He is the author of a number of books, including Herman Melville’s Picture Gallery (1986)—awarded the John Lyman Book Award of the North American Society for Oceanic History, and the Dictionary of Scrimshaw Artists (1991), which also received the John Lyman Book Award. His Scrimshaw and Provenance was published this year by Mystic Seaport. Additionally, he has written many monographs and articles. For those who remember Stuart playing guitar in stairwells around campus, it will come as no surprise that he also has toured four continents performing historical and nautical music. (See the website for more: whalingmuseum.org). Congratulations, Stuart.

Heard from Michael Hunter. Here’s an update, maybe his first ever: Mike couldn’t decide on a major and ended up changing it twice, resulting in staying on for a year after graduation to “take enough music courses to have the equivalent of a BA in music, then stayed another two years to get my MA in music (choral conducting and organ performance). I think I was the first ever Wesleyan MA in Western music. . . .” Continuing, “I got a job on Main Street, Middletown, at The Church of the Holy Trinity in the fall of 1970, and I’ve been an Episcopal Church organist and choirmaster ever since. After my dad died (here in Tampa) in 1997, I moved down to look after Mother, who died in 2004. I was appointed to my current position in October 2003, and have loved every minute of it. I’ve just been given a five-month sabbatical to round out my 10th year on the bench at St. Andrew’s…” Mike then did some traveling and is about to come to Hawaii as I write. He also shared that he’s been growing orchids for a long time: “I tried growing them under lights in Connecticut, but never had much success. Now I have about 200 plants on my screened patio (as you probably know, we call them ‘lanais’ here), and they are all flourishing. In fact, one of my projects for these early days of my sabbatical is to divide and repot them… should take about two weeks, if I only stop to eat and sleep.”

And, finally, Maurice Hakim sent this interesting bit of news: “As co-captain of the 1969–70 Road Trippers Society, I am very pleased to see something is still going well at Wesleyan.” To prove his point, he attached the following link: glamour.com/sex-love-life/blogs/smitten/2011/09/the-25-horniest-colleges-in-th.html.

I’ve just created a Facebook page called Wesleyan Class of 1970 after discovering we don’t have one. If you want to sign up for it, please send me a friend request. Thanks. And, as they say here, a hui hou (until we meet again).

Russ Josephson
P.O. Box 1151, Kilauea, HI 96754
russ_josephson@yahoo.com