CLASS OF 1963 | 2023 | SUMMER ISSUE

Life updates and remembrances from several classmates:

Len Edwards writes: “I retired from the bench in 2006. I have flunked retirement, as I still teach and write (judgeleonardedwards.com). I have lived in the same house since 1977. Nearby, my son and family live. I remarried after my wife of 38 years died and between us, we have 12 grandchildren. I look forward to a reunion this spring.”

Fritz Henn contributes: “I am looking forward to graduation when my oldest granddaughter will graduate from Wes. That is three generations of Wes graduates. I am fully retired and actually gave my last lecture two years ago at the Winter Conference for Brain Research. I was asked to give the distinguished opening lecture, with introductory lectures by two of my previous students. It was a great way to end my research career but I miss both the lab and the students. 

“Currently I am living in Washington, D.C., sharing an enormous house with my daughter and her family and have the luxury of staying with my son and his wife (Wes grads) in their summer home on an island off the Maine coast during a good part of the summer.”

Jack Jarzavek shares: “I was remembering Bob Martin the other day and wondered how much many of our classmates knew of his fame and accomplishments. Bob was my freshman roommate and fraternity brother. He got his PhD from Brown in the late ’60s, and then taught for his whole career in Montreal. Bob wrote extensively on American literature and was one of the first openly gay literary critics in the U.S. His first book, of many, was his Brown thesis: The Homosexual Tradition in American Poetry. It is still a classic in the field. He did extensive research on Melville, Hawthorne, and American expats in Italy. Bob died in 2012. He was known for his erudition and wit.”

From Don Sexton: “Celebrated my 80th birthday in January. When I was in my teens, never thought of reaching 80, so am happy to be here and aboveground. Am busy with painting (www.sextonart.com). Have solo shows coming up later this year at the Litchfield, Connecticut, library (July–August) and at the Bruce S. Kershner Gallery in Fairfield, Connecticut (November–December). I continue to perform stand-up comedy on Broadway and elsewhere—love the audiences. After 50 years of teaching at Columbia, I pretty much have lost any stage fright I might have once had. My wife and kids and grandkids like to remind me, ‘But, Dad, some people should have stage fright.’ Best wishes to all—look forward to your 90th! Be well.”