CLASS OF 1951 | 2019 | ISSUE 1

George DeGenaro died late last summer in Sarasota, Fla. He was 93. After graduation from Wesleyan and Yale Law School, he praticed law at two different firms, retiring in 1989. After that he studied painting with Arthur Getz, a well-known cover artist for the New Yorker. George’s paintings hang in homes, galleries, and restaurants across America. He and wife Mary Jane Lloyd lived in Manhattan; Greenwich, Conn.; Roxbury, Conn.; and eventually Boca Raton, Fla. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, two sons, three stepdaughters, and 12 grandchildren.

Bob Switzgable wrote from an assisted-living facility in Stratford, Conn., where he has been living the past two years. “I don’t get out very often, but my health is good,” he wrote. He was spending his time reading and watching TV. Bob still owned two houses, one in Hartford and one on Cape Cod, but was thinking he might sell both of them. He wrote, “What does one do with 13 rooms of furniture and a lifetime collection of junk?” Bob plans to leave it all to his sons to sort out.

Bob Willett wrote from an assisted-living facility in Manhattan Beach, Calif., with a view of the Pacific Ocean. Bob’s wife, Martha, visits him every day and his daughter visits and takes care of his estate.

Bob wanted to know how many of us attended the 65th Reunion. The answer was 12, but not all at one time. One of them was Les Aroh, who wrote that he and his wife, Janet, were still enjoying life, but at a slower pace with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Another correspondent was Frank McCathran who checked in from Georgetown, Md.

Ken Barratt and wife Sab are living in Green Valley, about 25 miles south of Tucson. Ken has been playing in a three-man band. He visited Mount Rushmore and will have visited Death Valley by the time this sees print.

Frank Hassell moved from Florida to Alabama. His new address is 903 West Union Street, Apt. 15, Eufaula, AL 36027 or 128/249-6880 if anyone wants to contact him.

Sandy Malcomson’s daughter, Kate, wrote that her dad was struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, but was still living in his apartment and enjoying visits from his four daughters and seven grandchildren. “His eyesight doesn’t allow him to read,” Kate wrote, “but he still follows the news.”

Chuck Exley wrote from Florida but his son, Yates Exley ’83, was living with his wife, Gina, in South Kingstown only a few miles from me.

In Indianapolis, Howard Goodrich and his wife, Darlene, are leading a full life. Howard is exercising his talent for poetry and sent me two thought-provoking samples. A classmate, Dave Welsh, appeared “out of the blue.” Dave played football during the glory years of the late 1940s for the Goodriches.

Sadly, I report the loss of David McMillan. His son wrote that Dave and his wife, Margaret, had long, happy lives and fond memories of Wesleyan.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
57 Grandville Court, Wakefield, RI 02879