CLASS OF 1962 | 2022 | FALL ISSUE
Pandemic concerns cruelly limited in-person attendance for our 60th Class Reunion, but we were still well represented by Robin Cook (also there to celebrate the graduation of his son Cameron ’22, exactly 60 years after his own), Joel Teaford and his wife Maggie, and Hank Sprouse. Hank reports that attendance was very sparse for all the older classes, and that in the alumni parade he, Joel, and Maggie were second in line behind only three intrepid members from the Class of 1952.
Hank further reported that his sadness about the absence of old friends at the reunion was partially mitigated by “a wonderful feeling of comfort and sense of belonging” as well as gratitude for his experiences at Wesleyan. In passing he visited the beautiful wood carving of a pair of northern cardinals that he had presented to Wesleyan 10 years ago at our 50th Reunion, and which remains on display just outside the faculty dining room in the Usdan University Center.
(Ed. note: I can personally attest that Hank’s internationally recognized bird-carving career is still going strong, and for many examples of his work you can visit his impressive website at http://www.hanksduckdecoys.com.)
As partial consolation for our pandemic woes, Mike Schramm from the Office of Advancement graciously organized and monitored a Zoom “social hour” for interested classmates shortly before Reunion. The participants were Bruce Calder, Dick Dubanoski, Ray Fancher, Jim Gately, Bob Gelardi, Mike Hackman, Bob Hunter, John Huss, Dave Irwin, Bill Jefferys, Bob Krugman, Bruce Menke, Gene Peckham, Mike Riley, Bob Saliba, Joel Teaford, Rick Tuttle, and Len Wilson. Dick Dubanoski placed our meeting in historical context by noting that the 60th-year alumni he saw in our own graduation parade of 1962 had graduated in 1902 and been born around 1880, so collectively we represented nearly a century and a half of life experience. Everyone appreciated this opportunity to see and briefly hear from one another, and at the end, several asked if we could share email addresses. Mike Schramm replied that explicit consent was required for the sharing of addresses and started a list of those who provided it. The list has been passed to me, and now contains more than 30 names with addresses. Anyone wishing to be added to it—that is, to have their name and email address added to a list that will be shared with other classmates so inclined—should let me know.
In other class news, Robin Berrington reports that for him in formal retirement, cultural life continues unabated, and his activities have included serving as a docent offering public tours at D.C.’s National Museum of Asian Art; acting as a board member of the Contemporary American Theater Festival in West Virginia; and arranging at home in D.C. a successful showing and sale of contemporary Japanese prints brought down from New York by a friend. Upcoming in September is a tour of a Chinese rural folk house that was rebuilt near the Shenandoah River of West Virginia, and which hopefully will be used for cultural and educational exchange programs between the U.S. and China, “something that is keenly needed nowadays.” Finally, he is planning for next spring’s Japan Bowl, the nationwide competition for American high school students of the Japanese language. He reports that “the enthusiasm of the young students who come to D.C. for the finals rounds is very contagious and is something reassuring to see.”
John Hazlehurst writes, “Not much to report, other than my continuing gratitude for reasonable health, my fabulous spouse Karen, and our three dogs including two puppies. Still writing a weekly newspaper column and actually getting paid for it. Sorry to miss the reunion, but maybe we can all mega-geeze for the 70th!” I should add that John’s highly engaging columns are available online at https://www.csbj.com/users/profile/john%20hazlehurst/ and are definitely worth a look.
Dave Hedges reports that he and Ann sold their home in Rochester, New York, and now have a condo in Ft. Myers, Florida, (where they live for half the year), while also spending about three months in Corvallis, Oregon, (where Ann’s son has a house with a nice apartment for their use), and summer in their cottage on Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Park and Judy Blatchford also have a summer home nearby, so he connects with them every year. The graduation from Gettysburg College of a granddaughter prompted visits with Phil and Janet Calhoun in nearby Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as well as with his close friend, fraternity brother, and Wesleyan roommate Ted Hillman, now living in unfortunately declining health in a retirement home in the Pittsburgh area. Dave remarks that “four of my six grandchildren have now graduated from college making me feel quite elderly”—a sentiment that will resonate with many of us.
Congratulations to Bob Gelardi, who chaired the Charity Relations Committee of the Destin, Florida, Charity Wine Auction Foundation as it raised “the largest amount ever, $3,700,000, to 16 local charities for children in need.” This was the third-largest wine auction in the nation, in a town of only 15,000 people.
Vin Hoagland, now retired from teaching chemistry at Sonoma State University, “loves living in Northern California after growing up in New England.” His wife is an accomplished dressage rider with an outstanding horse, while Vin finds his locale great for bike riding and normally covers about 250 miles a month doing errands or visiting friends. In July, however, he suffered a fall coming off a bike path onto a bike lane on a street, which restricted riding for several weeks but did not prevent him from continuing to teach AARP Safe Driver classes at local senior centers.
Charlie Murkofsky still maintains his full-time psychiatric office practice while also spending time visiting six grandchildren and their parents in dispersed places including Hawaii and Texas. He and his wife Susan “got lucky with COVID, which we both had pre-vaccine without severe illness.” He is “still trying, notwithstanding resistance from my lower back, to stay active with skiing and tennis and to keep the noggin going with French lessons and puzzles. I find it very sobering and sad thinking of our dwindling numbers.”
I must conclude with two sad notes. Bill Oliver reported that his fellow DKE brother and lifelong friend Jack McCarron passed away in March. His obituary can be found at:
https://godfreyfuneralhomes.com/tribute/details/2336/John-McCarron/obituary.html.
And many of you will already have learned of the passing of John Driscoll, who together with his wife Gina served Wesleyan so wonderfully for many years in the alumni office. For tribute and details go to: