CLASS OF 1971 | 2026 | SPRING ISSUE

1971 ARCHIVES | HOME
← 1970 | 1972 →

Aloha, classmates. Here are the notes I received:

Mark Lerner says, “On September 30, 2024, after 49 years of service, I retired from the U.S. Labor Department as a senior attorney in the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the solicitor’s office. I get to spend time doing my wife Inna’s favorite activity—fitness.  Our older son, Misha, is a graduate student at UC Berkeley, pursuing a doctorate in Slavic studies. Our younger son, Sammy, graduated from Washington and Jefferson College and is planning to pursue a career in genealogy.”

Warren White makes the following suggestion: “DMV residents should consider the Richmond, Virginia, Fan Historic District Holiday House Tour.As a volunteer docent for the past five years, I recommend a guided tour of the largest, intact, U.S. Victorian district while it is decorated for Christmas.”

Edward Swanson sent holiday cheer with a poem:

FOR MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT THIS HOLIDAY TIME! 

Last Christmas I sent you a poem

It wasn’t too good, but it was my own.

This year, yet again pressed for time

I’m sending these words again in a rhyme.

It’s been a hard year here, I have to admit.

To get through these months has taken some grit.

The fire from Eaton nearly got our poor home

And though it was spared we had to leave it too long.

A broken arm made things quite hard for a while,

And deaths of good friends seemed to put sadness in style.

But all of you give me great comfort and cheer.

And I want to say thank you at this time of the year.

I have fond memories galore of places and things

And each of you is in there like a bright shiny ring.

Happy holiday, dear friend, may the new year bring you

Good health and good cheer, and lots of fun too!

On a sad note, Ed also sent word of his freshman roommate’s passing, that of  Vladimir “Walter” Zdrok ’72: https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/milmont-park-pa/walter-zdrok-12259273.

From John Schimmel : “I remain the extreme opposite of retired. Still commuting to the UK to work as executive producer of narrative content for the video games Squadron 42 and Star Citizen; still teaching screenwriting at UC Riverside’s low-residency creative writing MFA program; still rolling spec projects up the hill. Managed (finally) to get my wife, Maureen, to the UK for a two-week, theater-and-museum holiday. . . .”

Harrison Rue “retired” in 2024, after 11 years leading Honolulu’s and then Hawaii’s transit-oriented development (TOD) programs. Before returning to Honolulu, he was a lead consultant to federal agencies under President Obama’s sustainable communities’ partnership. Hank is starting to draft his next book, but if you want to “focus local” on your own neighborhood, check out his “Real Towns: Making Your Neighborhood Work”—a free download on his LinkedIn page. 

“After retiring from a 50-year stint in the rabbinate, I now reside with my wife, Helen, in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina,” says Brett Goldstein.

Dave Lindorff says, “I’m still ‘committing’ journalism, trying to expose the corruption, criminality, and mendacity of the U.S. government and the obscenely wealthy ruling elite who fund its leaders. Lately, Joyce and I have been spending half the year in Cambridge, where she is a lifetime fellow at Clare Hall, a graduate college there, and half the time home in the Philly area, where she’s still a Temple professor.” He also notes, “Unfortunately, we will be in Cambridge for the third term there, which starts on May 2 and runs through the end of June, so I won’t be able to make the epic 55th (!) Class Reunion in person. I hope there will be some opportunity to meet online.” 

Joe Keller spends year in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, playing golf and boating. Still managing a commercial real estate portfolio—retirement is overrated. Continue to go to Wes Homecoming but amazed at how much Wes has changed ideologically in 55 years. Hoping DKE reopens—site of many good times and friendships.

“I was back on campus for Homecoming in October and really enjoyed the “past 50th Reunion Lounge in the PAC for the game. I am enjoying semiretirement in Denver after selling my business and am looking forward to our 55th Reunion in May. I have also invested in a start-up, which has added a new dimension to my workday.  In my spare time I am trying to learn Japanese. It is the most challenging learning I have ever undertaken. I enjoy regular contact with Greg Friedman, Jim Tober,John Hastings, and Rich Suval via text and Zoom (courtesy of Greg), writes David Siegel.

“When I joined demonstrations against the government in ’68 and ’70, I never thought I’d be doing it again 58 years later. Never thought I’d be alive 58 years later, but that’s another story,” writes Stephen Voorhies.

Marvin Williams is alive and has nothing new to add.  

Ran into Stephen Ferruolo at No Kings rally in La Jolla, California, where we both reside. He provided a picture of us on the corner. Been attending many of these rallies around the country—there always seems to be one everywhere I go, including red states!

Take care everyone and remember the 55th Reunion is coming up May 22–24. Hope many of you can attend. Aloha.

NEIL J. CLENDENINN | cybermad@msn.com
PO Box 1005, Hanalei, HI 96714