CLASS OF 1977 | 2025 | SPRING ISSUE

1977 ARCHIVES | HOME
← 1976 | 1978 →

Best wishes go out to all for a happy and healthy 2025. The “healthy” part is not one that we take for granted. Several folks wrote in regarding the loss of Mike Balf in 2024: Hank Rosenfeld notably expressed great sadness among so many and always viewed his friendship with Mike as a true blessing. Iddy Olson echoed the same sentiments along with the loss of Danny Zegart. Iddy caught up with Lisa Brummel in NYC postelection. John Fink is now fully retired from Aloha United Way with an eye toward friends, family, travel, music, and sports without management responsibilities or email work reminders. Carol Cooper has a new role as interviewer and copy editor for WestZine, a new art zine launched by progressive folks at Westbeth Gallery. In addition, Carol has joined the Board of Trustees for the public school of journalism nonprofit organization, Press Pass NYC. In April 2025, Carol will be co-presenting a weekend program on connection between C. G. Jung and the Surrealist Movement for the C. G. Jung Institute and Kristine Mann Library of East 39th Street in Manhattan.

Arnie Alpert writes in that “Classmates will remember that a number of us joined a demonstration against the Seabrook, New Hampshire, nuclear power plant in the spring of 1977.  Antinuclear activism continued at Wesleyan for at least several years thereafter. The story of the No Nukes Movement has been captured in two recent creations. A new feature-length documentary, Acres of Clams, has just been released by Eric Wolfe and posted on YouTube. Also, Amrys Williams, a local historian, produced an article, ‘The Radioactivists: Nuclear Power, Weapons, and Protest in Connecticut,’ published in Connecticut Explored Magazine, focusing largely on activism at Wesleyan. (I’m featured in both.)”  Indeed Arnie, we remember this like it was yesterday. Links to the documentary and article are here:

Acres of Clams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPuE9oKh6-I&t=198s

“The Radioactivists”: https://www.ctexplored.org/the-radioactivists/

Many folks relayed thoughts about what for most of us will be entering the seventh decade: the big 7-0. Steve McNutt got a jump on things by turning 70 on December 21: traditionally the shortest day of the year. Steve renamed it the “the longest night of the year.” Steve had his first sabbatical year at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, interrupted by hurricanes and much damage to his home in St. Petersburg. Mark Slitt is traveling to Australia and Morocco in 2025; he is the proud new parent of three kitten bundles of joy.

Barry and Susan Leslie Raebeck celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary last June at home in East Hampton, New York. In addition to three grown daughters, they have five wonderful grandchildren, ages four months to 10 years old. Both have retired from fulfilling careers as educators in 2020. Barry maintains his college admissions consulting business, while Susan maintains the social infrastructure of the community. Barry recently had his third education-related book published by Rowman & Littlefield, Joyful Teaching: Being the Teacher You Admired. He published a book of historical fiction, Tyger on the Crooked Road: William Blake—Painter, Poet, Prophet, several years ago and has lectured on Blake in England. He also is active in civic environmental matters. They spend quality time with ’77ers Liz Hancock and Will Sillin, Rob MacNeille, Jim LaLiberty (and wife, Julie), and Buddy Taft (and wife, Liz), as well as Andy Silverman ’76. They are in touch with other Wes friends, too, and love to hear from them!

For me, 2025 marks a significant year, not only in terms of the numerical age, but by the passing of the torch at my company that I founded 33 years ago. As of January 1, my firm has been sold to four “young-ins” that have been groomed over the past several years with lessons in what makes an architectural practice run in addition to creating beautiful buildings. We worked hard to set the firm up for success in the foreseeable future. Seeing the firm I founded produce meaningful works of architecture and, equally important, be a positive respectful work environment and culture is one of the proudest accomplishments of my life. The fact that the practice will live on and excel makes the transition that much easier. So, 2025 will be a “victory lap” of sorts. My role moving forward in 2026 will be as a consultant or as I like to say to the office: “when the salt-and-pepper hair comes in handy, I am your guy.”  So, as others have noted, lots of travel ahead, while health is good. I am also working in how to assist bringing a level of civility back in dialog, generally getting people interacting and communicating with others in constructive ways in a world where this is sorely lacking.

So, happy birthday wishes along with New Year’s salutations to all.

GERRY FRANK | gfrank@bfearc.com