J. David Baldwin ’73, P’06

James David Baldwin ’73, ’06, age 72, died peacefully on Monday, October 23, 2023, after living with a complex cancer diagnosis for many months. David was a storyteller with a penchant for lengthy historical contexts, concise personal opinions, random anecdotal asides, and a nostalgic flair. He is remembered tenderly by his former partner, Denise, and their children (and partners), Mara (Sarah), Will (Chloe), and Dennis (Dikshing), who will pass on his stories to present and future grandchildren, including Ellis and Nora.

Born to Martha (Frances) Wisehart Baldwin and James Joseph Baldwin in Bloomington, Indiana, on March 5, 1951, he was the first of a large network of cousins on both sides of the family. Growing up in Indiana he played in several bands, and collected baseball cards, stamps, coins, and records. Some of these interests became lifelong pursuits; he was an ardent audiophile, Cubs fan, numismatist, and philatelist, and he shared these interests with his children. He graduated from North Central High School in Indianapolis in 1969. Frequent road trips to Indianapolis were taken over the years, where his only brother, Frank Arthur Baldwin, still resides. His children have many memories of time shared there, and at extended family gatherings in Middletown, Indiana.

David attended Wesleyan University where he was a member of Chi Psi fraternity, graduating in 1973 with a major in biology. His photographs of tortoises at Galapagos Islands taken during a study-abroad program and the environmental curiosity that experience inspired were a cornerstone of his lifelong interest in and advocacy for the natural world. Despite his enthusiastic and frequent deliverance of the Wesleyan fight song, his daughter Mara eventually enrolled there years later. After graduating, David taught life sciences at Milton Academy where he led bike trips for students across Europe during the summer. His stories of the adventures with his students were amongst his favorites to tell.

He began his doctoral studies at the University of Iowa where he focused his research on milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus). This is also where he met Denise Costich, a newly arrived fellow graduate student in the Biology Department, on the staircase outside the library of the Biology Building, a meeting which began with a bicycle repair and continued into four decades of partnership and family. While in graduate school, they married in 1983, becoming parents in 1984 when their Hawkeye baby, Mara, was born. They moved to New Jersey following David’s graduation in 1986 to start a postdoc at Rutgers University. Sons Will and Dennis were born in Somerville, New Jersey, before the family moved on to Ithaca, New York in 1996.

David was a passionate reader and keen listener, which suited him well for a career in editing manuscripts. David laid eyes upon thousands of pages through his editorial work for the journals Evolution (1984-1989), American Economic Review (1990-1998) and the Ecological Society of America publications (1996-2014). His friends and colleagues at ESA shared that, “he ran a creative if not tight ship and was a friend and advocate to so many of us who were lucky enoughto work with him.” David was heartbroken when ESA shuttered the publication office in 2014 and wasn’t ready to stop. After his retirement, he taught classes in scientific writing at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Mexico City (2015-2017), coaching a new generation of young scientists through the publication process.

David worked hard so he could play hard. He took advantage of time off before and after ESA annual meetings to take his children on extended car trips across the United States and Canada. These were meticulously planned affairs designed to maximize the number of stops at national parks, presidential homes, battlefields, and other historic sites. These trips were formative experiences for his son Dennis, who is now pursuing graduate studies in archaeology and geography. Similar car trips were undertaken during his retirement years in Mexico, and we estimate that during his lifetime David visited 49 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and 20 Mexican states. After passing, his family discovered itemized lists of these trips in one of his notebooks, as well as droves of travel guides, pamphlets and catalogs from museums and playbills from Broadway shows from many shared family outings. These trips were moments when our family came together in body (and sometimes boredom), and feature in some of our fondest memories of our father.

David’s generosity was unapologetically huge, much to the embarrassment of his children when they were teenagers—his love language was giving gifts, and he was methodical in his commitment to his starring roles as Easter Bunny, Cupid, Santa, and Dentisha the Tooth Fairy. In these roles he always strove to find the perfect gift, seeking to support his childrens’ interests instead of trying toimpose his own. David was also a  cat whisperer—Moonshadow, Midnight I & II, Heather, Missy, Spike, Einstein, Cisco, Kringle, Chumley, Tlaloc, and Coco came into his life by appearing in alleys, jumping into his car after work, and showing up bedraggled on the back porch on Christmas Eve. They joined an evolving cast of mostly unnamed reptiles, rodents and fish, among them Common degus called Dangermouse1, 2 & 3, and Bert the Tortoise.

Dave, David, Dr. B, Dad, Bidi: our father wore many hats. He was confident and unafraid to take on new challenges, balancing a laid-back nature with intense ambition. His relationships with friends and family were intermittent but dedicated and loyal; spending time with him alone always felt special and unforgettable. A romantic procrastinator, he lived life and enjoyed it on his own terms until the very end. His legacy will live on through the boundless curiosity he instilled in his children.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Delaware Water Gap, a National Park David drove through hundreds of times between 1995-2023. If you find yourself in the area, be sure to stop by Hot Dog Johnny’s and think of him over a deep-fried dog and a glass of ice-cold buttermilk or root beer.

Checks to: National Park Service

Memo: In memory of J. David Baldwin

c/o Superintendent

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

1978 River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324

A memorial gathering to celebrate David’s life and memory was held on December 3, 2023, at The Watershed (121 West Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Ithaca, New York) in the afternoon from noon-3:00 pm. A burial will take place at Miller Cemetery in Middletown, Indiana, in the spring of 2024. Condolences for his family and RSVPs for either gathering may be sent to David’s email at jdb277@gmail.com.

CLASS OF 1973 | 2023 | FALL ISSUE

Class president Bill Quigley writes that the 50th Reunion was “poignant and healing.” He said there were great seminars, including the Two Nations Now One: 50 Years of Shared Love for Wesleyan, hosted by Wayne BarberRich JasperRon JohnsonJames “Diego” HowardJosh Boger, along with Dean [Stephen] Butler on Zoom. “There were 50 Blacks and Latinos in our class—25 of them identified as premed when they came to Middletown. Twenty-three of the 25 became doctors. Many were first generation to attend college and Wesleyan changed their lives as it did for many,” he says.

Bill writes, “Most poignant for me was when Mike Shoob told his story of personally living The New York Times article our freshman year, “The Two Nations at Wesleyan University,” during that seminar. When Mike went to tell his suite mate on Lawn Avenue, Charles Trahan, to turn down his stereo, he got punched in the face. He never talked to Charles again at Wesleyan but always felt bad about that. He then handed the mic to Charles who was sitting behind him. Charles said that he always felt guilty about what he did and apologized to Mike. They hugged. Pretty dramatic and it felt like real closure for our turbulent years at Wesleyan. I ended up flying with Charles Trahan on my first leg home and we had a great time talking about the reunion.”

Bill also says the film from Donald ZilkhaSteve Goldschmidt ’72, and Granderson Hale showing the incredible behind-the-scenes work they did for so many concerts at Wesleyan was very special, and I had no idea how much they had to juggle.

He also says the 50th Reunion ’73 book was “extraordinary—kudos to Mark HelfaJohn Huttlinger, and Jim Powers. In keeping with one of our themes of the last couple of reunions (I Never Knew You), I have kept the book on my desk since reunion and read it often—fascinated by the lives and thoughts of our classmates. Kate Quigley Lynch, Amanda Broulik, and Lucy Diaz did an incredible [job] organizing and facilitating the reunion.”

My East College roommate from freshman year, Timothy Bahti, says, “My word to our classmates, such as it is, is that it was a pleasure to see them all again, and to get to know—belatedly—a number for the first time. I look forward to seeing them again—when? At the 60th Reunion? I encourage us all to give to the Dean Stephen Butler Fund, in honor of our freshmen dean and in the service of financial support for first-generation Wesleyan students. To those of the class going to the world rugby championship in France this fall: enjoy Paris!”

Dr. Jonathan Raskin writes, “Very sorry to have missed the 50th Reunion but was on a trip in Egypt . . . third time trying to get there due to COVID . . . and family members really wanted to go, so we did visit and had a really great trip. I hope others have a visit there on their ‘bucket list.’”

He says, “My news is that I have been made a clinical professor of medicine in the Mount Sinai Health System . . . an honor capping off decades of the commitment to teach, publish, and care for others . . . something I still do embracing hard effort and humility.”

            Mike McKenna says it was wonderful to connect with so many friends at the 50th Reunion. Over the weekend he caught up with Rick Edwards and his wife, Jackie, Dave and Sheila Bong, and Mark Eaton. He writes, “Really enjoyed seeing Tim Warner and Charlie Wayne who were first-year roommates and lived across the hall from me on Foss Hill. Both are also Western Reserve alums and Tim later served as the Reserve Board chair for years. Had lunch with Tim last week at the faculty club at Stanford where he is in the administration and colleagues with Condoleezza Rice. Also loved catching up with distinguished alumna Claire Reade and her husband the great Dr. Earl Steinberg. Talking with Rich Jasper about the work he continues to do advising young lawyers with clients on death row was also inspiring.”

Mike adds, “Inspired and humbled is a good way to sum it all up, I guess. I was particularly happy that so many Black classmates made the effort to come back. Learning about their family and career successes (so many doctors!) since our graduation made me feel so grateful for Wesleyan and the time we shared together. My overall thought was that I left campus this time, if not exactly feeling old, feeling aware of being part of a unique generation. Raised by parents who went through the Depression and World War II and their values, we hit an exciting period of history that changed all of us and shaped who we later became. I feel genuine affection for those who shared the experience.”

            Bill Burke flew to Connecticut from Colorado for our reunion and says, “The Reunion Committee, guided by an outstanding team from Wesleyan, did a terrific job. Sincere thanks to Mandy Broulik, Kate Quigley Lynch, and Lucy Diaz.” I agree.

Bill also says, “Our memorable reunion combined with Homecoming events last November (reunion planning meeting; reception for hockey coach Dave Snyder and his wife, Diane; catching up with hockey teammates; and beating up on the Williams football team) has been my best Wesleyan experience since graduation,” adding, “How do you follow up on a best 50th Reunion ever?”

My West College roommate from senior year, Dr. Brian Mahoney, says he was sorry to miss our 50th but “I had total knee surgery and would not have been able to make the trip nor move around Wesleyan had Nancy Collins ’74 and I had made it.”

Brian writes, “There is some fun news for all Wesleyan crew participants over these decades. On Saturday, September 30, at the halftime of the home game with Hamilton football they [announced] the NCAA Regatta Finals Silver Medal winners of both the men’s and women’s crew. They [also announced] the establishment of the Calhoun ’62 Men’s Crew Foundation and the so-far unnamed Women’s Crew Foundation. That afternoon George Surgeon ’72 and I [sponsored] a banquet in Beckham Hall to honor the legacy of Phil Calhoun ’62 for reinvigorating—first by rowing, then [by] coaching—the men’s crew (there were no women undergraduates in 1969, so women’s crew did not start until 1972, with my bride, Nancy Collins, rowing). Phil did this as an avocation while he worked in President Etherington’s administration. . . . Phil Calhoun coached me for two years and George for three years. The successful men’s and women’s crews of today were built on the granite bedrock legacy of Phil Calhoun. Contact Wesleyan Giving if you would like to donate to either/both of these 503 c-1 qualifying funds.”

Brian eloquently spoke about what Wesleyan has done for him. He says, “I graduated Wesleyan with three life-changing gifts. Number one, my bride Nancy and I are going strong after 52 years. I got the education that led to my career path in medicine at the programs of my choice. [And] crew taught me the value of lifelong fitness to which I adhere to to this day.”

It was an honor to see so many of you at the very special reunion. My daughter Dana and I shared some nice moments with my former East College roommate, Eddie Nathan, and his lovely wife at dinner. He seems not to have aged and is as colorful and articulate as ever, as are so many of you who I saw on that memorable weekend in Middletown.

“How do we follow up on that?” as Billy Burke asked. I’m sure we will.

Finally we received word that our esteemed classmate Lloyd Mueller died on June 10. Lloyd had retired as the senior supervising epidemiologist for the Connecticut Department of Health and is remembered by many for accomplishing a great deal for public health in Connecticut. He had been a member of the New Haven Quaker Meeting Association and Yale Humane Association. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons, and we will miss him and his notes to us over the past 50 years.

Until next time,

Pete

CLASS OF 1973 | 2023 | SUMMER ISSUE

From Colorado, William “Billy” Burke writes, “I’m so excited about our upcoming 50th Reunion! It has already been terrific seeing classmates during reunion planning meetings on Zoom. I also had the good fortune to attend a planning meeting on campus the morning of Homecoming where the Class of 1972 shared tips from their 50th. It was the start of a busy day.”

He adds, “The next stop was the Spurrier-Snyder Rink where hockey coach Chris Potter hosted a very special reception organized by Billy Devereaux ’75 and Jim LaLiberty ’77. About 30 Wes hockey alums honored Dave (Duke) and Diane Snyder. After watching the football team demolish Williams, several of us enjoyed dinner with Dave and Diane. Great stories, memories, and even a few tears. Not sure if you heard that Duke was recently the recipient of the John ‘Snooks’ Kelley Founders Award, as someone instrumental to the growth of hockey in the U.S. It was presented by the American Hockey Coaches Association.”

Billy says it was a fantastic time on campus. And he adds, “Of course, in the last dozen years or so it’s always bittersweet to walk down the steps from Foss Hill to the Vine Street tennis courts. It’s a nice grassy slope with a flower bed. But it’s no McConaughy Hall. I know the University had their reasons to tear it down but I want to preserve the memory of our very own flying saucer. So, I’m composing a rock opera that will memorialize the venerable venue. So far, I have the opening number and a high-level storyboard. As you may have said in your early reporter days, ‘Film at 11.’”

Michael Fossel writes that “Retirement is a silly idea, so we’re moving ahead with our biotechnology company and planning our FDA human trials.” He says they have a commitment for essentially unlimited funding, which should enable them to target both the dementias and cardiovascular disease. “In the meantime, I’ve agreed to be the editor and senior author for a new Elsevier Publishing medical textbook on aging, age-related diseases, and the prospects for curing them. Much more fun, however, is building a new ‘hygge’ loft over the garage and getting ready for a glorious summer of gardening,” he says.

Stephen Sullivan writes he is not sure if he be able to make it back for our 50th Reunion but he says he looks forward to reading the news of our class.

From South Carolina, Kie Westby writes that he has moved to Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Kie says he had a stroke in March of last year but reports, “I have recovered fairly well. Just started playing golf again. Am retired from the law practice.”

My senior year East College roommate, Dr. Brian Mahoney, writes that he and Nancy Collins “are now 51 years together and counting. Both retired physicians. Three great kids with in-laws and five grandchildren. The most recent is Cullan, born November 29, 2022, which means ‘handsome boy’ in Gaelic. He is a real Gerber Baby.” Brian says they hope to be at the 50th Reunion. He is having a total knee surgery on April 19.

Our colorful and eloquent classmate Eddie Nathan writes, “I’ve joined the committee planning our 50th Reunion. I’ve enjoyed reconnecting, though my sievelike memory doesn’t attach adequate history to the other men on the committee. Even so, it’s gratifying to see and hear them. I accept that the years have opened me a bit more to emotional recollections and gentler feelings, though I still cringe at the sound and smell of infants.” And he thanks us “for keeping these nourishing connections alive.”

And in light of that, at this writing, it looks as if we are going to have a very nice turnout of our classmates for the reunion. I’m sure I enjoyed seeing you on what I’m sure was a very special and memorable time in Middletown.

CLASS OF 1973 | 2023 | SPRING ISSUE

Jay Rose writes that thanks to the efforts of Hank Shelton ’72, a number of Delta Tau Delta members from the classes of 1970–73 held a mini-reunion Zoom call. Representing the class of 1973 were Bud Brainard, Scott Fleischer, Paul Fletcher, John Franke, Mark Helfat, and Jay. Thanks, Jay, for all your efforts.

Rich Ladd tells me he finally stopped working in November as his son graduated from Boise State and his daughter had their first grandchild. He adds, “We are planning to stay in Washington State and enjoy its beautiful landscapes, but we will be traveling the roads of the U.S. in 2023–24 and plan to be present at our 50th Reunion.”

Peter Gelblum writes that the community theater that he’s been president of for the last five years, Mountain Community Theater in Ben Lomond, California, did not produce any live shows in 2020–21 because of the pandemic. He says that during those years, in addition to producing a bunch of short Zoom videos, MCT paid the costs for him to create his first film, about the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire. Peter writes, “In August 2020, the fire killed one person, burned 86,500 acres, including 97% of Big Basin Redwood State Park, California’s first state park, and destroyed 911 homes in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. My wife and I were evacuated for 2 1/2 weeks, with the fire coming within about 100 yards of our house. In early 2021, I interviewed people who lost their homes in the fire and people who fought the fire, transcribed the interviews, created a script using only the words from the interviews, cast actors to play the people interviewed, and filmed them.” Working with a professional editor, they scored the film and backed the actors with images donated by several local professional photographers and painters. He says the result was a 90-minute-long piece of “verbatim film.”  He says he has hosted many local screenings at everything from fire stations to big-screen movie theaters, with all admission donations going to the local volunteer fire departments and a fund for fire victims. Peter adds, “I’m now working on raising funds to get it online for free viewing. Other than that, since 2020, we’ve taken two, seven-week, 8,000-mile, cross-country trips to see friends, family, and amazing places in the motorhome we bought to avoid flying and staying in hotels while the pandemic was raging (as millions of others did). Now, I’m back to directing plays and working on ACLU and other local social justice issues, taking shorter RV trips, seeing as much live music as possible, and enjoying visits with our combined three grandchildren who, unfortunately, are scattered around the country.”

Stephen Sullivan sends greetings from Seattle. He tells me that since graduating from Wesleyan, he has had a “dream career as both a potter and an architect.” In 1973–74, he spent a year in Japan studying Japanese folk pottery as a Watson Foundation fellow. “What a great gift the Watson Fellowship was, to embark at age 20 upon a world very different from the one we inhabit today,” he said. “I was welcomed generously by the people of Japan, and decided that I would become a professional potter, like the masters with whom I had studied there. The reality of American culture convinced me a few years later to give up my dream of being a potter, and to study architecture.”

Stephen graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1981 and moved to Seattle with his partner and future wife. He has been there since that time, and recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of the founding of his architectural practice, Stephen Sullivan Designs, PLLC, www.stephensullivandesigns.com.

He is still working in his architectural practice, while he maintains a ceramics studio on his farm on Lopez Island, in the San Juan archipelago. He says, “The Lopez Island farm is committed to soil regeneration practices as well as wetland restoration and tree planting. My daughter and granddaughter live on the farm.” Looking back at Wesleyan, Stephen notes, “Wesleyan’s art department, with its extraordinary teachers, was an important starting point for me. We were so fortunate to have passionate teachers devoted to the educations of their students.”

To find out more about his work in the past 50 years, he sends these links: https://a.co/d/2OpFCw7 and https://oroeditions.com/product/architecture-as-art.

From Indiana, Stephen Butler says he plans to attend our 50th Reunion and is struck by how quickly 50 years seem to have passed.

And finally, I hope to see you back on campus at our 50th Reunion: May 25–28, 2023. First, keep an eye out for the 50th Reunion Class Book, which will be mailed to your home in late April 2023. This wonderful keepsake will include biographical submissions by classmates, memorabilia, photos, and reflective essays touching upon themes ranging from rugby and football to political protests, and from once-in-a-lifetime concerts to life-changing conversations.

CLASS OF 1973 | 2022 | FALL ISSUE

Rich Ladd in Olympia, Washington, writes that after an entire career in commercial and mortgage lending, he plans to stop working this year when his son graduates from Boise State. He adds, “My wife and I will drive the U.S. on our own time, so hope to be in Middletown for the 50th. We miss Tom Pfeiffer.”

Michael Fossel writes, “Like some others I know, I can never seem to retire. I’m running a biotech firm, chairing global conferences on gene therapy, neurodegenerative disease, and age-related disease, and writing articles and books. I’ve agreed to write/edit (I write 4/14 chapters and have coauthors for the other 10) a new textbook for Elsevier Publishing on aging, age-related disease, and our prospects for curing age-related diseases. Should be a good, solid clinical book. On a more worthwhile note, I have acres of gardens that I tend here in Michigan.”

Michael B. Robinson tells me that he met up with stalwart class agent Jay Rose at the Valley Forge Historical Site on July 5th. He says, “Jay, a history buff, oriented me to a meaningful site from the U.S. Revolutionary War period. I reminded him of my efforts to get him to row crew at Wes as we shared stories of mixed success on the football field.” Michael says, “Jay seems an expert at contributing to all around him but also enjoying life all the while.”

John Spike writes, “Michèle and I divide our years into four slightly less-than-three-month residences in Williamsburg, Virginia (home of the College of William & Mary where Michèle taught in the law school founded by Thomas Jefferson, and I curated the art museum), and in Florence, our home since 1989.”

John also writes that he is the world’s foremost authority on the careers of two brothers from Taverna, Italy, who were born there in the early 17th century and who made significant careers in Rome and sent back more than 20 important paintings and altarpieces.

John says, “In late June, the people of Taverna pleasantly surprised me by unanimously naming me presidente of their new Archivio Pretiano (Preti Archives), which is now under construction inside the principal palace on the main piazza of the town—thanks to funds received from the European Community. It will be my objective to create this facility into a research library and center for the study of the art and history of the region of Calabria and indeed all of Italy south of Naples and north of Sicily.”

Todd Stone writes that he continues his painting practice as an artist in residence at the World Trade Center. “I painted solo in my studio on 71st floor of 3WTC through the emptying of downtown during the pandemic,” he says. In September he exhibited his work at the NYC Culture Club in the Oculus for the 20th anniversary of 9/11. He says, “You can take a virtual visit at my website ToddStoneStudio.com. My artist book Witness Downtown Rising: Twenty Years of Painting the World Trade Center is available on the website store.”

And as we approach our 50th Reunion next year, James Powers says the Reunion Book Committee is hoping you will join them in writing and submitting your individual biographies as part of treasured reflections for the reunion book to Geralyn Russo through grusso@wesleyan.edu. It will take a few moments but your memories will last a lifetime and will no doubt have so many connections to our time at Wesleyan and afterward. James says you can reflect on your strongest memories and what you have been doing for the last 50 years and who you are today. And feel free to tell us how Wesleyan made a difference in your life.

There may have been one person, one professor or one event that had a lasting influence on who you are today.

I’ll never forget how the influence of John Frazer and Jeanine Basinger encouraged my love of film and then on to the Wesleyan Film Board senior year and then on to film connections forever. Or how Wesleyan Argus editor James Repass ’71 encouraged my move to a career in journalism. Or how freshman-year advisor and English professor Joe Reed pushed me toward a freshman-year course in the humanities, saying, “You must do this because you may never read authors like Plato ever again.” Or Joe’s courses on film and author William Faulkner. And in the influence of our president, Colin Campbell.

To locate a classmate or to participate in planning programs, contact Mandy Broulik at abroulik@wesleyan.edu. Go to wesleyan.edu/classof1973 for more information. This is our year to celebrate this incredible milestone!

CLASS OF 1973 | 2022 | SPRING ISSUE

A number of classmates are keeping busy with their writing.

From Seattle, Washington, Stephen Sullivan writes that he has published a book, Architecture as Art: The Work of Stephen M. Sullivan, which illustrates his residential architectural practice based in the Pacific Northwest. It also describes his personal design philosophy founded both in the classics of Western architecture and in his experience and appreciation of the architecture and craft traditions of Japan.

The book tells the story of Stephen’s development as an artist using architecture as his medium. It includes essays on his views of architectural design, which have been shaped by his personal history in the landscapes and the architecture of New England and Japan. Stephen’s training as a potter informs his architecture in its interpretation of houses as “vessels of experience” and in his work’s focus on materiality and the craft.

Thematic essays address topics such as the importance of intuition in the design process and the interplay of analysis with nonrational ways of thinking.

The projects display Stephen’s belief in generating an architectural language unique to a design’s client and its context, creating an architecture specifically tuned to its circumstances in time and place.

The book is carried by many local bookstores and can be purchased online from Elliott Bay Book Company.

Bruce Fergusson had some colorful comments. He writes, “Like everyone else, playing dodgeball with the bride of Franken-COVID variant.  Some near misses in the family but so far so good.  If only there was a vaccine to inoculate against the other ‘viruses’ plaguing the country.” He said he was looking forward to the Seattle Rugby Club’s upcoming season.  “I played for them way back when,” he said. He also closely follows the Seattle Seawolves—the nearest professional team to him in Salem, Oregon—and has been since the league’s inception.  He says he is still writing.  His latest novel, Triskell, came out in February.  He said, “I’m currently writing a children’s book for one kid in particular: my first grandchild.  As Kieran’s only three months old, it’ll be a while before he’s ready to read it, but it’ll be there when he is.”

Vinod Busjeet writes that “My novel Silent Winds, Dry Seas, published last August by Doubleday, is among NPR’s Best Books of 2021.”

Tim Lutz says he retired in June 2021 after teaching geology for 40 years at UPenn and West Chester University. He said his last presentation before retiring was a reflection on the influence of late Wesleyan professor Jelle de Boer on his career. He said it was part of a session to honor Jelle’s legacy, organized by E&ES professors Phil Resor, Joop Varekamp (also retired in 2021), and Martha Gilmore for the Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America.  Since retirement he said not that much has changed. He said he and his wife (also a retired geology professor) are able to continue research projects that will keep them busy for years to come. He said they are also Force of Nature volunteers for Natural Lands, an organization whose mission is to “save open space, care for nature, and connect people to the outdoors.”

Tim says, “I’m looking forward to our 50th!”

It’s hard to believe that I have been so busy for the past two years covering all the fallout from the coronavirus. With any luck, the situation will improve significantly by our next Class Notes as we move closer to our 50th Reunion. Speaking of which, there’s an active reunion committee (Wayne Barber, Joshua Boger, Peter Cross, Michael Donnelly, Irv Estrin, John Feinblatt, Michael Fossel, Bill Gillespie, Steve Greenhouse, Mark Helfat, Diego Howard, John Huttlinger, Evans Jacobs, Rich Jasper, Ron Johnson, Mike McKenna, Ron Medley, Ellen Miyasato, Richard Orentzel, Jim Powers, Bill Quigley, Jim Raymond, Jay Rose, Tom Tokarz, Steve Torok, Charley Wayne, Donald Zilkha, Dave Zita, and yours truly) working hard on updating contact information and looking for recruits to join them as they plan for what’s going to be a great occasion.

Also, I can’t say enough about the incredible work that Kate Quigley Lynch has done to make us all aware of our upcoming milestone reunion. She is very interested in letting you know about what will be happening and would like to get your email addresses. You can reach her at: klynch@wesleyan.edu.

It is hard to believe it will be 50 years. It seems like yesterday that we were all wandering around Foss Hill at the Grateful Dead concert or attending fabulous concerts with Dave Mason at the hockey rink or the Youngbloods inside the McConaughey Hall dining facility. There are so many people I’d like to see, from my West College roommates my freshman year,  Tim Bahti, Paul Dietrich, and Tim Mooney; to hockey club teammates like Tim Thompson; to colleagues on the Wesleyan film board from our senior year like Fred Love; to my senior year West College roommates, Brian Mahoney, Ed Nathan, John Spike, and Paul Baumann; and not to forget numerous friends from our rugby days like Pete Cross, Mike McKenna, Dave Zita, and Bill Quigley. And to reconnect with others like Michael Donnelly, Michael Fossel, Granderson Hale, Steve Greenhouse, Mark Helfat, John Huttlinger, Evan Jacobs, Rich Jasper, Ron Medley, Jim Powers, Jay Rose, Tom Tokarz, Charley Wayne, David Feldman, Don Zilkha, just to name a few people. There are special stories about everyone I just mentioned in terms of their lives and career paths and retirement plans and the past five decades. There are others who I have not heard from in a very long time, like superstar soccer player, Michael Desmond.

Reunion is a huge opportunity to see everyone and take a walk through our past days and relish the changes. The Zilkha Art Gallery is special, and you also have to see what Jeanine Basinger has done with film studies and her legacy. When I flash back to the fall of our freshman year, I remember Jeanine taking a film class with me and John Frazier. And then she was on her way. I for one look forward to a return to Downey House—so many memories there—and a walk down High Street, which I am told Charles Dickens once called one of the most beautiful streets in the U.S. And maybe we’ll have a few moments with Michael Roth, ‘78, Wesleyan’s 16th president or some professors who you have known for decades. And after reporting for such a long time, I look forward to checking out the Wesleyan Argus, which I used to write for, including some news stories and film reviews and rugby articles under the name “Gary Owen.” And on a personal note, I look forward to revisiting the Davison Art Center, where my mother Ellen “Puffin” D’Oench, was curator for decades and where she did an incredible job pioneering the collection. Then there is Main Street, Middletown, once noted as being one of the widest streets in the U.S., where there has been a virtual renaissance or restaurants that even includes Thai food. And you can cap it off with a visit to the famous O’Rourke’s Diner, home of the famous steamed cheeseburger. I won’t forget a choice comment made by Eddie Nathan there early one morning, and as a result of that they asked him to leave. But that is a story for another day.

Hope to see you in 2023 for our 50th.

CLASS OF 1973 | 2021–2022 | WINTER ISSUE

Paul Baumann writes that while attending the funeral mass of Nicholas Clifford, a professor of Chinese at Middlebury College and a board member of the liberal Catholic magazine Commonweal, he noticed something familiar but hard to identify about an older man kneeling reverently in a pew in front of him. When both he and the man got up to go to Communion, he recognized the “older” man was Michael McKenna, a classmate and fellow member of the Wesleyan soccer team, and now a longtime resident in Middlebury. They limped up to the Communion rail together and later commiserated about their time at Wesleyan.

Paul is retired after editing Commonweal for fifteen years. He is in frequent contact with Kirk Adams, Steve Greenhouse, and Steve Forstein. Kirk continues his work as a union organizer and Democratic Party strategist. Greenhouse is retired from his job as the New York Times labor reporter, and is the author of the much-heralded Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor. Forstein is a pediatrician living in Lyme, Connecticut. Paul is also in contact with Chris Keneally, a small business owner living in Easton, Connecticut. All of these friends and classmates played soccer at Wesleyan back in the Paleolithic Age. Chris and Paul also went to high school together in Westport, Connecticut, along with Scott Karsten ’74, another Wesleyan classmate. Chris, Paul, and Scott reengaged at their 50th high school reunion in 2019. Sadly, Scott, an all-state wrestling champion and formidable football player in high school, died last year. He was a prominent attorney in the Hartford area and an outspoken champion of DKE.

     Vinod Busjeet writes that after spending 29 years in economic development, finance, and diplomacy, holding positions at the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the Embassy of Mauritius in Washington, D.C., he wrote a novel, Silent Winds, Dry Seas. He says, “It was published in August by Penguin Random House under its hardcover imprint, Doubleday. A coming-of-age story that starts in Mauritius during a period of political convulsion and ends at Yale, it got a starred review in Publishers Weekly. The book has thus far received endorsements from a Pulitzer Prize winner, a finalist of the Man Booker International Prize, a finalist of the French Renaudot Prize and two New York Times bestselling authors.”

     Bill Gillespie writes that he and Susan sold their home on Hilton Head this summer in a very “hot” market and chose to return to Connecticut to live in West Hartford. He writes “Our 12 grandchildren continue to thrive. Looking forward to seeing folks at our 50th Reunion in 2023!”

On a personal note, I have had some challenging months. Had open heart surgery March 26th to replace infected mitral valve and aortic valve after problems with endocarditis. Brilliant surgeon Dr. Michael Cortelli at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood helped me. Have had a wonderful support team with my wife Connie and daughter Dana here and my daughters Holly, who flew in three times from Denver, and Jennifer, a nurse who flew in three times from Virginia, have been tremendous. Made me really appreciate how much my family matters. Went back to work after two and a half months off. All is well.

CLASS OF 1973 | 2021 | ISSUE 1

From Middletown, Ron Medley writes that “the biggest news” is that he’s just renewed his lease for a College Street studio apartment. “This marks my second year as a part-time Middletown resident,” he writes. “For folks who have not set foot in our adopted city these last few decades, suffice it to say, most of us would barely recognize the place. For sure, the old North End is still familiar with its mom and pop storefronts and O’Rourke’s diner holding up nicely. But, the whole South End of town (including the old Middletown Press building, if I recall correctly) has been bulldozed, sanitized, and curated to resemble an ersatz Northampton or Amherst.” He reports that some will love it. Others will not. “All I know is that as a dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker, the new Middletown comes with one indispensable ingredient that the old one did not,” he says. The city now has a functioning public transit system. Buses now leave Main Street to the Meriden train depot pretty much on the hour, eliminating the need for a car. He says during his first summer there, he walked over to Jane and Michael Gianfriddo’s house on the other side of Long Lane Road for lunch. Ron says,  “Michael and I now have a standing invitation to meet on the steps of Olin for as many power walks as we can squeeze in before the Connecticut Valley summers kick in.”

     Rich Ladd tells me that he lives near Olympia, Washington with wife Carolyn. He still works in mortgage lending and continues to enjoy tinkering with cars. His daughter works at Amazon HQ and his son attends Boise State. “Rugby remains a favorite sport—watching only,” he says.  Rich and Carolyn were very sad at the loss of their friend Tom Pfeiffer.

     Moses Samuel Pinkston tells me that he has retired from the Department of Human Services after 12 years working as an adoption social worker. “I met many children in need of permanent loving families,” says Moses, and others “who were in foster care, and now are permanently living with loving families.” He traveled to Georgia and Florida, as well as all over Pennsylvania, to place children in permanent homes.

     Dr. Ron Johnson tells me Granderson “Granny” Hale runs a homeless ministry in Philadelphia, providing hot meals and clothing to those less fortunate. He has six kids and 14 grandchildren.

     Ron lives in Orinda, California. He is nine months now retired from his medical specialty where he was a vitreoretinal surgeon for the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. Ron now spends his time traveling and working on his golf game, hiking, biking and enjoying life.                                                  

     Ron reports that Doug Belt is presently living in Florida for the last six months after moving from New Jersey. Doug just recently retired from the research and analytics company he founded. He tells us he has been happily married for 50 years! “Some of us remember his wife Sheila, a Mt. Holyoke grad. Doug is most proud of his four exceptional children including an associate professor of law at Stanford, a medical doctor, a biological researcher, and a businessman,” says Ron.

     Albert Smith tells us he is a self-made independent architect who has run his own firm in New York City for the past 38 years! He is married to Rosalyn, the love of his life, and they have five kids.

     James (Diego) Howard is a graduate of University of Michigan law school and resides in Pleasanton, California. He is now retired and tells us he has been married for 35 years with two children and is expecting his first grandchild this April. After suffering a medical setback in 2019, Diego is now vegan.

     Lacy Tinnen tells us he’s been living in North Carolina since 1994 and is married to the love of his life for the past 30 years! He has been in the income tax business since 1991 with national franchises.He has two successful  sons, and notes that despite his busy schedule he still enjoys boating, fishing and biking.

     Marshal Lassiter tells us he’s been living in Atlanta since 1977, has been married for the past 47 years and has two sons. After 43 years, he is still working as an executive for the railroads.

     Zane Bailey currently resides in Philadelphia. He’s been married for the past 41 years and has been blessed with two daughters and grandchildren who are the loves of his life. “Teaching them lacrosse, which Zane excelled at 50 plus years ago, gives him a great sense of pride,” says Ron. Zane retired nine years ago doing medical research and private investigating in the office of his best friend, the late Philadelphia lawyer Ronald White ’73.

     Wayne Barber currently resides in Lake Oswego, Oregon, after moving there from Honolulu, Hawaii two years ago. Wayne is retired from his specialty as an ears, nose and throat doctor with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group and in private practice in Hawaii. He has been happily married to the former Sharon Nelson, Mt. Holyoke class of 74, for 45 years! Wayne has two daughters. Kerri ’91 is an educator and Tori is a sound and light engineer in Los Angeles. Wayne continues to do research in diagnosis and prevention of childhood hearing disorders.

     In other news, can you believe this: our 50th Reunion is right around the corner, in May 2023. Class President Bill Quigley says the 73 Reunion Committee is looking for volunteers to expand and broaden interest and participation. He notes he is looking for a wide range of people, and there will be opportunities to serve on various subcommittees. If you have any interest, please contact Jay Rose (jrose907@aol.com), Kate Q. Lynch (our Wesleyan organizer— klynch@wesleyan.edu), or Bill Quigley (bquig@aol.com).

      It should be an unforgettable weekend.