CLASS OF 1951 | 2014 | ISSUE 2

Bob Switzgable wrote from Stratford, Conn. I had told him and others about the companionship I have with my little dog, Bennie, and our ice cream ritual at bedtime. Bob’s wife died three summers ago and he keenly feels the void. I think he will look for a pet. Bob has two grandsons at Bryant University, just 10 miles from where I live.

Two generations ago Ken Kenigsberg’s family was chased out of Russia, then the Soviet Union. Now, ironically, Ken’s son is an honored guest and drives around Moscow in a car with diplomatic plates. Ken’s daughter-in-law is with the U.S. State Department. She, Ken’s son, and their two children live in the embassy compound. He is the editor of Nautilus, an online science magazine, and sends all his copy via the Internet. Ken wrote that he’s had to give up skiing, hiking, tennis, and sailing, but he still swims and enjoys writing poetry. He acquired a taste for it during his undergraduate years at Wes. One more thing about the Kenigsberg family: Ken’s granddaughter, Alison, graduated from Wesleyan four years ago and is finishing up four years of cantorial studies.

Dave Jones wrote to tell about the trip he and his wife, Ann, made on the steamboat American Queen from Memphis to New Orleans. On the way, they saw many beautiful mansions and Civil War battlefields. “The music on-board was terrific,” Dave wrote.

To the benefit of fellow members of the John Wesley Club who might want to be in touch with him, Dave Morey has moved to the following address: 10 Savage Farm Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850-8839. He moved to eliminate the up-hill climb that he and his wife, Helen, had to make from their cottage to the main building of their retirement establishment. The move was a difficult one for the Moreys because their mover didn’t move everything. “Many carloads later, I finished the job,”wrote Dave. “Now the big job is finding things and locating a new place for each one.”

Frank McCathran wrote that he and his wife, Carol Anne had decided to move back from Ocean Springs, Miss., to Germantown, Md. “Tired of the heat, humidity, and hurricanes,” Frank wrote.

Roger Stimson wrote from the frozen north (Michigan) that he’d had total knee replacements on both knees, the first in November, the second at the end of January. “It takes about six weeks to feel the knee is close to being back to normal, so I had my second knee done as soon as possible,” Roger wrote. “That should make me ready for the sailing season this summer. Better to be housebound in the winter than in spring or summer,” he added. Other than bum knees, Roger said that his health has been good and he works out regularly at the Y. His son, David, who is in the old-time vinyl record and audio equipment business, got Roger involved in restoring a 1950s vintage turntable. Roger also continues to be an active ham radio operator.

Bill Churchill wrote in the fall that he and his wife, Maggie, had decided to move to a continuing care retirement community in Burlington, N.C. “We have been happy in Fearrington Village,” he wrote, “but we decided to downsize and move to a place where we can get more care when the time comes. Meanwhile, we are living in a comfortable duplex with a view of the lake and the company of several friends from our old village.” Bill wrote, “Hope to find a new golf course and some volunteer activities to keep me going.” Bill said that he and Bob Switzgable had their annual lunch on Cape Cod this past summer and that Bob hadn’t lost his sense of humor.

DAVID M. PHILIPS davephilips69@hotmail.com
100 Elena St., Apt. 618, Cranston, RI 02920-7620