CLASS OF 1965 | 2018 | ISSUE 2
Dear Classmates, it was a pleasure seeing Bill Blakemore in March at an event celebrating the late Richard Wilbur MA’58 Hon. 77, in Memorial Chapel. Bill’s remarks were wonderful, as you’d expect, and highlighted a moving evening of remembrance. Professor Wilbur, former U.S. poet laureate, recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes and the National Book Award, taught at Wesleyan from 1957–1977 and is fondly remembered. Among Bill’s reflections was the fact that Mr. Wilbur had a profound effect on himself and on a number of our fellow students, including Bill Hunt, the late Sam Davis, and the late Spike D’Arthenay ’64. NPR covered the event, which you can find at npr.org.
Win Chamberlin provided this recap of his recent trip to Haina, Dominican Republic, with Habitat for Humanity: “We pushed loaded wheelbarrows into the house and poured a cement floor where there had been only dirt. The house was made of wood salvaged from shipping crates. We painted the inside white and the outside yellow. Our family was a single mother who had three adorable sons. Because of our work and the generous support from Habitat for Humanity, she has a bathroom, a floor, and a painted home. Her life is transformed.
“Haina is one of the 15 poorest municipalities in the country with nearly 65 percent living at or below the poverty level. The average annual income of the families served by Habitat Dominican Republic is $2,400. But the people are attractive, happy, and self-sufficient. They left us charmed and full of gratitude for the warm welcome we received from their community.” Wonderful report and work, Win!
Mary Ellen and Dave Dinwoodey were on campus in April for the dedication of the impressive new tennis courts on Vine Street and for the inaugural match, the nationally ranked women’s team versus a talented Tufts squad.
Terrific day (Cards were victorious) and a number of generous contributors to the project honored former standout Wesleyan tennis players, including Mike Burton and Fred Millett (recognized through Mary Ellen and Dave’s gift).
Dave and Jim Bernegger recently got together for lunch and then saw a performance at the Boston Conservatory in which Jim’s son, Quinn, had one of the lead parts. Quinn, who has a very impressive tenor voice, is finishing up his opera program at the conservatory and wants to make opera singing his career.
Fred Newschwander has published A Day in the Life of a Country Vet, a book I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend. (It is available on Amazon.) Fred has now retired but remains active in number of veterinary organizations and has been honored for his enormous contributions to his profession and to countless animals and their owners. Fred writes, “I sadly noted the passing of the two Wesleyan faculty members who had the greatest influence on my life at Wesleyan: Bob Rosenbaum and Dick Winslow ’40. I did a 10-day horseback safari in Botswana this spring where we rode about 15 miles per day to different tent camps. Enjoyed a boat/elephant tour of nature preserves in India in early 2018. The skiing and snowmobiling season has arrived, but I must admit it is getting harder to drag myself out into the cold.” Thanks for writing, Fred, and great job on the book!
As reported in the last issue of the magazine, Kirt Mead passed away last fall. Mary Ellen and Dave Donwoody attended Kirt’s memorial service in December and wrote his touching reflections of that event: “The service was held in a smallish Episcopal church in the very lovely waterside town of Marion in southeastern Massachusetts, where the Mead family has a summer home. Every available seat in the main church was taken, along with overflow in an adjacent smaller chapel. I’d estimate a good 250 people or more.
“The service itself was beautifully delivered with lovely reminiscences by Kirt’s two daughters and his two brothers, classical music by a string quartet, some poetry and hymns, and reflections of the presiding minister who clearly knew Kirt well. You would have quickly recognized from your own experience the Kirt Mead whose life was being celebrated: A prodigious intellect; an independent thinker unafraid to take a solitary position; and a man with a deep curiosity about most everything. In my own mind, I kept hearing a description of the quintessential Wesleyan graduate. The service had the effect of making me feel more deeply the loss of a classmate with remarkable talents.
“After the service, we headed a few blocks over to the water and the town’s primary yacht club, where Kirt was an active sailor and member, for a reception. We spoke with Kirt’s wife, Susan, who’s doing pretty well under the circumstances. She was very appreciative that we had come to the service, so I was glad that we had decided to make what proved to be a pretty modest effort, only a bit over an hour each way. I told the family that those of us who had worked with Kirt on our 50th believed that he had seemed to come full circle and had renewed his attachment to the current Wesleyan, and they all shared that same impression. Interestingly, I ran into Gar Hargens there. Gar had been visiting his son in Newton and came to the service before flying back to Minneapolis.
“Yesterday’s service for Kirt causes me to reflect upon the growing importance of the extended friendships that we are blessed to have with one another.”
Finally, during my annual trip to South Carolina for tennis, I stopped in Conway to see Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers play the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The game was played on Vrooman Field, named in honor of John, the school’s long-time coach, professor, athletic director, and administrator. Unfortunately, John and wife Deborah were on a cruise to France and missed an exciting game won by CCU 17-16 with a walk-off homer in the ninth.
Philip L. Rockwell | prockwell@wesleyan.edu