Author: Bryan Stascavage '18

The photos below are from Dave Darling’s induction into the Wesleyan Baseball Hall of Fame, and submitted by David Eklund, who writes, “Please note the very special wall sign ‘running between the ears of Tom Young and Dave D.’ ”

The 55th Reunion of the Great Class of 1959 was an unbridled success. We had a good crowd returning, tremendous fun catching up and wandering around a campus that continues to change, capped by a lovely Class dinner. It was a great pleasure to have Nancy DiMauro with us for the weekend. Dave Eklund held forth in great style. (I have pictures!!). Dick Cadigan was our M.C. for the evening, and ran things with great enthusiasm and his usual panache. Doug Bennet and Midge were able to attend, which made the evening even more special. At cocktails beforehand, my wife Cyndy met Mike Whalen ’83. Her first comment was “What a big fellow you are!”

Cads has gone off to Uganda for three weeks for some well earned R&R after his great Reunion performance. He is on a mission with the Kellerman Foundation to work with the Batwa peoples, and then on to the Greek Islands in September! His last comments before departure were: “Great 55th! We can still laugh, sing, toast with and to each other. Great fun!!”

Larry Brick reports: “No need to invent a story about me. I am a first-class felon happily trapped with my wonderful deaf wife of 50 years. We ski bum for two months every year in the Rockies, scuba dive in the Caribbean, enjoy our extended family of three sons, six grandchildren, and close relatives. We live in a Continuing Care Community in Philadelphia. No housework, yard work, repair work, no work period. Deaf Community activist, career educator and administrator, living with the annoying and occasional aches and pains that are part of aging and which are much better than the alternative!”

Walter Burnett has just returned from a three-week trip of day hiking at the Mount Rainier, Olympic, and Pacific Rim national parks. Planning a trip to Indonesia this winter and Hawaii next fall. Walter is not slowing down at all, having just retired from the faculty at Emory University on July 1. He is still living in Western North Carolina, but spends time in Atlanta as well.

Marsha and Bob Gillette’s comments on our Reunion: “We glowed with warm recollections of the Reunion on our long ride back to Lynchburg. There is something special about our fellowship, which we seem to take for granted, but others notice. The genuine excitement of seeing each other and being together was palpable. We are so lucky to have been there to celebrate our 55th. Somehow we just cannot wait for another five years to pass. Having Al Haas ’56 with us for dinner was very special. He was my ‘big brother’ at Eclectic, and during those freshman days of self-doubt, he supported me. It took a bit longer for us public school folks to adjust to the demands of Wesleyan. I look forward to reading Dave Potts’ ’60 new volume on our years at Wesleyan and their historical context.”

Owen Tabor and Margaret summered on the Isle of Skye, to escape the Memphis heat. They had a cottage on a singlet-rack road by the sea. Lots of beauty, quiet, sheep, and a great pub not too far away in operation since 1790. All in all, a perfect setting. I asked O. if he had brought along his bagpipes and kilt. “The pipes have been on the shelf for a while, and the wee kilt is in the closet, as I have become less wee…but the rest is good, man!”

Phil Pessoni was included in the publication, Legendary Locals of Middletown. I guess the authors felt that his close 20-year relationship with Jackie Kennedy and Caroline was important enough to qualify for that honor. Phil’s grandfather, Patrick Michael Kidney (1877–1967), was also in the book. He held many town positions over 40 years and had a great influence over the lives of many Middletown residents. Congratulations, Phil.

Joan and Ted Bromage got back to Mt. Desert, Maine, and wrote: “It was a great Reunion and good to see so many survivors! Joan and I enjoyed ourselves, felt heartened by the return of singing, and intrigued by the ‘aggie’ program at Long Lane. Had some time to do some historical research and I think we located my old study hall, the Goodyear Tap!”

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of John Briscoe. Our classmate Marty Weil wrote his obituary in the Washington Post. “Congressional Aide, Nonprofit Director” was the subtitle, but John said it best about himself in our 50th Reunion Book: “Briscoe has served as a practical idealist, an entrepreneur, a problem solver and an unreconstructed early 1960s optimist.” His wife Kate, his children and all his Eclectic brothers will sorely miss John, Peace Corps volunteer, Congressional aide, development director of several nonprofits, Lakeville farmer, husband, father, great pal of many. John Alexander Holway Briscoe was quite a man!

We are also greatly saddened to report the death of Robert Jensen. Robert came back for our 50th, at which time he was still running his successful jewelry store, which he told us was the largest in the U.S. in terms of display area. Our sympathies to his daughter and family.

Dana and Dave Clemens have been covering a lot of ground lately, and in sensible places, given the winter in the Northeast. Three weeks in Hawaii in January, most of March in Florida sounds pretty clever. A trip to Thunder Bay in July for a family reunion rounds out the 2014 plans, but there was not a way to squeeze Middletown into the mix, sadly.

Carol and Shive Shively have just returned to their home in California after a wonderful family reunion in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with three of their children and assorted others. Carol writes: “Shive continues to meet the challenges of Parkinson’s and is doing quite well. He has started playing the trumpet again, and is busily teaching the gal who is looking after him to play, too—a great sign. More travel to the East was not going to be possible this year.”

Fred Stone wrote: “It was a great honor to be inducted into the inaugural Wesleyan Baseball Wall of Fame on May 3. My teammates Dave Darling and Tom Young attended the event in the Usdan Center, which gave the Class of ’59 good representation. I was grateful for their support. Tom and Dave drove to Maine last summer to check out my progress since my stroke in 2010. I walk with the assistance of a walker, but otherwise I am in good spirits and take life one day at a time. The Wesleyan facilities were very impressive, and the Wall of Fame program was a class act.”

Charlie Wrubel’s son Bill ’85 won an Emmy for his role in co-directing Modern Family which, itself, won the Emmy for best comedy series. Bill has won five Emmys and now moves on to Warner Bros., where he has a contract to produce his own material. Wow!

Since our last class notes came out, we are sad to report the passing of Bob Berls. We chatted about his coming back, and he said at the time that he was too frail to try it… Our thoughts are with Bob’s wife and family.

Note to all classmates who took pictures at the Reunion: Please e-mail them to Cynthia Rockwell (crockwell@wesleyan.edu) and she will make sure that they are posted on our Class Notes website. I have already sent mine in, and hope others will follow! This is the url for the site: classnotes.blogs.wesleyan.edu/class-of-1959/. We found Wesconnect difficult to access. Hopefully, this experience will be different!!

Skip Silloway | ssillow@gmail.com; 801-532-4311

John Spurdle | jspurdle@aol.com

Well, my latest plea elicited 15 responses. Ezra Amsterdam is still Distinguished Professor of Cardiology and Master Clinician Educator, at the School of Medicine, UC–Davis. And he continues to play tennis every weekend and is still a loyal Yankees fan.

A long note from Roger Van Tassel covers the 56 years since we graduated. He studied chemistry at Tufts and completed a PhD in chemistry at Northeastern U. He then continued as a scientist, retiring as director of the Environmental Effects Division, which studied the effect of the environment on military systems. His avocation has been motorcycles. He has been riding steadily for 50 years. With his partner, Judy Love, he rode out to Colorado and New Mexico in 2012 and this February rented a motorcycle to spend two weeks touring New Zealand. He and Judy now live in the Charlotte area of North Carolina. He continues to explore the South, but also enjoys trips to New England and travel abroad.

Dan Woodhead follows the Bay Area baseball teams, he praises the Oakland As and believes the San Francisco Giants are hopeless. No details,but Dan reveals Bob Hayes has written a book on Themistocles, the Greek hero.

Dave Epstein, the publisher of Western States Jewish History, a quarterly journal now in its 47th year has created a Virtual Museum in the cloud for your computer called the Jewish Museum of the American West, which tells the story of Jews in the American Wild West.

Bart Bolton is hoping to arrange a round of golf for Charley Denny, Ed Kershner, himself and me next February or April in Naples. We’ll play the senior tees, maybe only nine holes. Bart is working on a 60th reunion for his small high school class.

Tony La Cava retired after 25 years as director of a center for independent living. And he celebrated his 32nd anniversary with his partner, Cliff. Tony has children in Massachusetts, California, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Art Geltzer has retired from the private practice of retinal surgery, but continues research on his NIH grant at Brown Medical School, looking into the treatment of macular degeneration. Anyone interested in this subject can contact him at Clinicaltrials.gov. Art continues close interaction with Mel Cote and his wife, who is an accomplished artist. Art also sees Dennis Allee, who is a highly skilled potter. Art will be going to an academic conference in Chicago at the end of October. In November he is off to Berlin and Vienna; in March it will be Rome and Tuscany.

Bill Higgins has just about retired from his psychology practice and from teaching psychology at the local college. Sadly, he has had to give up golf due to two ankle replacements and a sore shoulder. He still travels: Montana last year and Charleston, S.C., this year. He has been married for 42 years and his three children are in Denver, Asheville, and San Francisco.

A brief note from Bill Barnes assures me he is alive and well and very anxious for our 60th Reunion. Bob Furber, a California resident, spent August and the latter part of July “rolling around New England.” He traveled from Middlebury to Wesleyan with a pause in Newington, N.H., for the Furber Family Association’s Reunion and Dedication. The trail there will be renamed the “William Furber Ferry Way Trail.” In September he will attend his 60th high school reunion in Plainville, Conn.

I received a note from Ruth Newman telling of Warren Newman’s passing on July 6, 2014. His death was due to pancreatic cancer.

Dave Schalk assured me he was alive and well, but had no news of even minimal interest to the class of 1958.

Toni and John Corkran made only one trip this year, to see their oldest grandson graduate from South Kingston, R.I., high school. They returned to North Carolina through New Jersey and Delaware. They conclude their travels with two days of camping on the Outer Banks of North Carolina including to Ocracoke Island. John wants to thank all classmates who donated to the Wesleyan Fund this year.

Often a note loses impact when edited, so Burr Edwards’ note in full: “Before spending a few weeks at our French house (hoping the roof is intact) and then returning to Kenya, we are now (end of July) in London recovering from my godson’s wedding in Somerset. His bride was a friend of Kate Middleton and he went to school with William, so they were both in attendance. Very posh and traditional—more than Yank and Finn (my wife) republicans (small “r”) can usually manage! The best man (also from Kenya) did manage very well, considering his future sovereign was listening and laughing.”

Kay and I are flying to New Hampshire next week and hope to meet Dick Goldman for lunch at the Andover Inn in northern Massachusetts. Kay and I are acclimating to summers in southern Florida. I do not mind a steady diet of 92 degrees and playing golf at least three times a week.

Thanks for the e-mails.

Cliff Hordlow | Khordlow@gmail.com

Summer highlights and high life for Lois and Bill Shepard comprised an extensive lecture cruise to Scandinavian and Baltic ports aboard the impressive-sounding Brilliance of the Seas Baltic out of Harwich, U.K. Ports included Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm, and St. Petersburg, the last featuring a visit to the Peterhof. One nice surprise was the city of Tallinn. Bill recalls his stint as a Baltic desk officer during his State Department days, yet never visited Estonia until now. He also commented that he picked up on some anxiety there over Russia-Ukraine. Estonia was a former SSR. I guess history is never that far removed. Back in the USA, they were in Michigan in August at a granddaughter’s wedding in a lakeside setting.

Closer to home and not that distant, Mike Stein and wife Jasmine made trips to James Madison’s home, Montpelier, near Orange, Va., and also to Monticello, where a new visitors’ center awaits those touring Thomas Jefferson’s home. He adds that they both appreciate living in an area rich in American culture. Coming up on their list are Civil War battle sites, including Bull Run, very nearby their home. Some of those are on the bucket list of yours truly, so I’ll be interested in Mike’s forthcoming reports.

With this column largely dealing with summer pursuits, it strikes me as how transitory the season is, now that colder days have arrived. Like a line from a Paul Simon song: “July, she will fly, and give no warning to her flight.”

Talk about filling “the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run” (Kipling—I was always taught to acknowledge quotes in English 1-2), Gordy Wilmot reports on his family’s annual sleepover party for nine grandchildren, ranging in age from 6 to 25. All manner of sleep equipment is trotted out: beds, mattresses, sofas, loveseats, and so on. Games included football, Uno, and Twister (yes, really). Late night rewards included pizza at one a.m. For those able to rise early, Marilyn cooked a pancake breakfast. Readers of the column may recall that Gordy treated his family to a Bermuda cruise last year. Uno and Twister were also played on that occasion. Wow—it sure is good to have the Wilmots as grandparents.

Early this past summer, Joan and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. We took our family, including three grandsons, ages 5, 12, and 14, to the Sagamore resort on the southern end of Lake George. Luckily, the late June weather was cooperative, so all enjoyed a variety of activities such as golf, boat rides, and paddle boarding. Service and dining were exceptional, and they even recently opened an indoor rec center for rock climbing, mini golf, and even a whiffle baseball stadium. The grandboys made good use of it all.

Art Typermass | AGType@msn.com

This will be mostly about Alan Gordon, who left us too soon in May 2010, but is fondly remembered. On Reunion weekend last May I talked with Larry La Brie and his wife Beth, who had just come from a memorial service in Hazardville, Conn., for Alan. They brought me copies of remembrances of Alan by Jim Wagner and Charley Longley, two of his freshmen roommates in Harriman Hall. I wish we had space to reproduce them here in full, but we don’t. I hope to capture a fraction of their eloquence in the excerpts below.

First, let me say that their fourth roommate, Bill Sieverling, left somewhat different impressions. According to Jim, Bill was “constantly worrying he was going to flunk out,” while Charley recalls the same Bill “suddenly appearing at 12 o’clock to nonchalantly type out a paper for a 1 o’clock class.” Well, we all know how that turned out [junior-year Phi Beta Kappa]!

JW: “I was the last to arrive, so I got the remaining upper bunk and the desk by the door, but I soon discovered that I had no trouble falling asleep when I only got about six hours of sleep a night!” He adds, “What an interesting assortment of guys we were!” Charles, he recalls “was a quiet fellow who kept to himself and didn’t talk very much, but was not at all unfriendly once you got to know him.”

CL: “I arrived at Wesleyan at my (our) quarters—and there was Alan’s mother. Don’t remember why she and I happened to be there alone, but I do remember learning that she was from Brazil, that I began pestering her with foolish questions about the country. I later learned that she wrote a gracious letter about our encounter to my mother, for they had been classmates at Wellesley. Alan’s mother made excellent guava jelly. [Alan] let me have a taste and no more! It must have been one of his favorites. No guavas in Maine. Delicious.”

JW: “Al [was] a serious, but pleasantly extroverted, friendly, and humble guy who seemed more amazing the longer you got to know him. He was the son of a missionary and planned to go into the same sort of work himself. But that was not all. Alan was very musical, and I got the impression that he could play almost anything that made sounds. Most definitely he could do very well on the guitar, accordion, piano, and organ, as well as sing quite well! Sometimes I wondered how he ever found time to study!”

CL: “Most of all. Alan loved things musical. I remember him at the organ in the darkened chapel on Friday night, with just the console lit up; and at the keys of the upright in the John Wesley House working out variations of songs for a composition class. About our junior year, he showed up with a big accordion, loaded with keys and buttons. And I remember Alan, elegant in tux, splendid in white shirt and black bow tie, full of smiles, eager and ready to sing!”

JW: “I remember Al best as a Christian brother and mentor who was very helpful to me as a brand new born-again Christian. I had had a very real conversion experience before arriving at Wesleyan. Al was there and often would encourage me when I hit a difficult spot or found studies or some other aspect of college life overwhelming. I remember Al more as a Christian who lived out his faith in practical way than one who talked about it a lot.”

CL: “It was through Alan that I became involved with the First Baptist Church in Middletown, teaching Sunday school and participating in youth fellowship… Occasional Sunday dinners after church with Rev. Johnson and family were lovely occasions.”

JW: “Alan’s girlfriend Alma visited from time to time. I seem to recall that they had been friends and sweethearts for some time, and it was really nice to attend their wedding in the Wesleyan Chapel just one day after we all graduated! I believe he was the first one in the class of 1956 to get married, and I was one of the last, not finding God’s choice for me until 1969! Indeed, I think that Al and Alma’s wedding was the first such ceremony that I had ever attended.

“I wonder what Alan is doing now in the great throngs that surround God’s throne as pictured in the Book of Revelation. Is he playing guitar, accordion, piano or organ, singing or perhaps directing the heavenly choirs? In any case, I do look forward to that Great Day when Alan and I and all the saints will be there singing (and playing) in the hugest orchestra and choir ever assembled to sing God’s praises forever! (I know he will be out of work as a doctor because there will be no more pain or sickness there.)”

Tributes to a great man, one sorely missed.

In July, Ann and I drove to New Hampshire to visit the sage of Antrim, Dick Winslow ’40. At 96. Dick is as gracious and witty as ever. He gets around with the help of two canes, but he still drives a car—too fast at times, he admits. Speaking of great men…

GEORGE CHIEN | gchien@optonline.net; 201/261-0997 

BOB RUNYON | rrunyon@unomaha.edu; 402/393-3320

The following sad news, sent to me from freshman roommate Drew Clemens, arrived just after I had submitted material for the previous edition of Wesleyan. I feel that even though the timeliness of this information may be somewhat “outdated,” it should be shared with all. Drew wrote, “Bob Sayre (’55 Eclectic) died on April 16 of complications of malignant melanoma. Bob is survived by his second wife, Hutha, three children, two step-children, and seven grandchildren. He taught in the English Department and American Studies Program at the University of Iowa for 33 years.” Drew and his wife, Julie, kept in contact with Bob over the years with occasional trips together including reunions that also included Mary Lou and Wink DelDuca.

Drew writes, “Julie and I remain in good health overall. I closed my private practice three years ago but remain very active in teaching and writing about psychoanalysis and psychotherapy at Case Western Reserve as an emeritus professor of psychiatry and at the Cleveland Psychoanalytic Institute as a training and supervising analyst. I’m on the executive council of the American Psychoanalytic Association and will be the president-elect of the American College of Psychoanalysts. Given a free hand by the editors, I write informative or reflective columns for a psychiatric journal several times a year (see Drew Clemens.net for PDFs). Being retired thus has been a relative matter, but there has been plenty of time to enjoy life. Julie and I make bird-watching trips (Ecuador, Colombia, Belize lately) and she monitors butterfly populations weekly. I play singles tennis and do some biking and hiking. Julie and I continue to sing great music with the Choral Arts Society of Cleveland, go to frequent concerts by the Cleveland Orchestra, and above all enjoy our cottage on Lake Chautauqua, N.Y. Our two sons are doing well in software architecture and residential architecture respectively, and we have four grandchildren.” Yes, Drew, it has been a long road since we first started out rooming together after the tragic start of losing a roommate during freshman orientation. Thanks so much for sharing your words with us!

I received a phone call from Hal Stuhl and enjoyed chatting with him and reminiscing about former acquaintances both at Sigma Chi and Wesleyan. Hard to believe the enrollment during our years numbered approximately 750, including graduate students! Certainly made for an environment where it was possible to know such a high percentage of the student body. Hal and his wife have been spending more time here in Florida, where they have a place on the west coast in Bonita Springs. He mentioned he celebrated both his 55th anniversary and his 80th birthday. I reminded him that middle age now runs through 85, so he should have plenty of time to continue playing golf and exercising! Our bike club tries to plan a weekend ride in Naples annually and as this is just somewhat south of Bonita Springs, I hope we can plan to get together one of these days.

Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, I have traded “words” with both George Edwards and Brad Miter. Needless to say, I’d welcome the opportunity to do so with more of you!

On a personal note, Marianne and I remain well and in decent spirits. Family-wise, my younger daughter, Pamela Torres, spent the summer months at the University of Hawaii earning a second master’s degree in education, this time in leadership. Proud to say she was one of 25 students chosen to attend the university on an all-tuition-paid basis. Really a proud dad! Cycling continues to keep me going and I am on a path to exceed more than 6,000 miles this year, assuming weather and knees cooperate! It’s fun teasing my “younger” riding companions to pick up the pace every once in a while!

As always, I hope these notes find you and your loved ones healthy and happy. Would love to hear from more of you if the chance permits.

DONALD J. BRAVERMAN | ybikedon@bellsouth.net
27A Stratford Ln. W., Boynton Beach, FL 33436; 561/654-3711

Greetings all! Thought you’d be interested in who attended our 60th last May in Middletown: John Binswanger, Hank Bruner, Bob Carey, Eric Cone, Chuck Davis, Marty Feins, Joel Finegan, Bob Gruskay, Terry Hatter, Carter Hearn, Rich Hinckley, Bud Johnson, Bob Montstream, Myron Poliner, George Ray, Zeke Richmond, Bob Schnuer, Art Spada, Bruce Storms, Jim Swain, Dave Walden, and Hal White.

Meanwhile, here’s the latest from a few of you: New Yorker Bob Schnuer and Vickie will migrate back to Boca Raton around Oct. 1, bad knee and all. Bob’s refused a replacement, so far. Curt McLaughlin just published (with son, Craig ’79) the second edition of Health Policy Analysis: An Interdisciplinary Approach at Jones & Bartlett Learning. Curt says he’s got one more major project in the works, and “then time to adopt retirement completely.”

Marshall Umpleby was sorry to miss the 60th, and says his health is pretty good, considering. Cancer is in remission, chemo shot every six weeks. Nurse Mimi keeps Marshall on a strict diet, and his morale is okay.

Emi and Al Flynn, who now reside in Asheville, N.C., did some nice traveling this year. In May, they flew to Bozeman, Mont., to start a guided tour of these National Parks: Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion; then Salt Lake City to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Later, Martha’s Vineyard with son and daughter plus families, staying at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown.

Lynn and Bud Johnson, in the fall of 2014, retraced steps through Italy’s lake country, with added time in Venice, Florence, and Siena en route to Rome. In early 2015, Bud and Lynn will visit Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, with time at Angkor Wat before heading home via Singapore.

Dick McCray’s wife, Carol, tells us that Dick had a traumatic brain injury two years ago, and finds it difficult to travel. Dick had wanted to attend the Reunion, but it wasn’t really possible. Our prayers are with you, Dick

Bob Muir is sorry to have missed the Reunion. Meanwhile, he and Harriet have a new abode at Apt 302, 200 Bristol Glen Drive, Newton, N.J. 07860. Finally, sad news: Our Classmate Bill Morrison passed away last May.

I have a few photo collages left from the 60th; e-mail me if you’d like one. All the best to all of us!

BOB CAREY | bobcarey@optonline.net
618 W. Lyon Farm Dr., Greenwich, CT 06831
203/532-1745

In the last issue Jim Griffis’ family was enlarged by my misreading his note. Jim has not four children, but only one son, who we remember being born during our junior year. His son is the one with four children (all adults). Now living in Texas, Jim says that his attempts to contact fraternity brother Herb Kelleher have been unsuccessful.

Distinguished Alumnus Awardee, Trustee Emeritus, and New England gentleman David Jenkins passed away peacefully June 17, 2014. An English major, Dave was president of Eclectic, an end on the football team and member of Mystical Seven. Our sympathy is with his family, especially his wife, Shirley Muirhead Jenkins, who loyally cared for Dave during his final years.

Federal Judge James R. Miller Jr., died June 25, 2014, in Easton, Md. Jim was a history major, an Alpha Delt, and member of the track team. In November 1970, at age 39 when sworn in, he became the youngest federal judge in the country. He retired from the bench in 1986. Jim remained in private practice until 2006. An avid sailor, he spent much of his last years traveling and being with family. Condolences are extended to his four children and their families. For further details see online obituaries at magazine.wesleyan.edu.

JOHN W. MILLER | Jwalmiller@aol.com
306 Autumn Court, Bartlesville, OK 74006 918/335-0081

The last issue of this magazine carried word of the death of John “Didge” Dodge on Dec. 8, 2013. Didge, a member of Sigma Chi while at Wesleyan, spent a very productive career with the Boy Scouts of America. We send sincere condolences to his widow and children.

Classmates may recall the 2010 China visit by Al Chien and family, including his brother George Chien ’56, to the site of the bridge his father had designed over the Mekong River (known as the Lancang River in China) as part of the Burma Road. They were disappointed to find that only days before their arrival the bridge had been dismantled because of planned construction of a dam downstream. But disappointment turned to thrilling news in June 2014, when the Chiens learned that the bridge had been reassembled across the river at a safer place and is available for visitation but not crossing by vehicles. The bridge is legendary in China because it was that country’s first cable suspension road bridge and was replicated by many other bridges on the Burma Road. The bridge is named for the Chien brothers’ father, Chien Chang Kan, who not only designed it, but supervised its construction in 1939–40. Tragically, shortly after the bridge was completed, their father was shot down by the Japanese and killed while conducting an aerial inspection of bomb damage to the bridge. Members of the Chien family, hopefully including Al, plan to revisit the bridge, now a museum piece, in 2015.

John Wood, his wife Pat, and granddaughter made a vacation trip through New England during the 2014 summer. Among others, they visited Sigma Chi brothers Kim Zachos (and Anne), and Ken Taylor (and JoAnne). At Kim’s, they happened upon Charley “Rogo” Rogovin (and Marcy) who were visiting Kim and Anne while en route to Nova Scotia. John missed seeing Hal Buckingham (and Joyce) by minutes. Having left his original law firm in Indianapolis sometime ago, John has continued practicing law with the Indiana Department of Family Services on a full-time basis.

While visiting Kim Zachos, Rogo was able to reconnect with his old Chi Psi mate, Dave Nixon ’53, in one of the weekly coffee breaks Kim has with fellow attorney Dave in Manchester, N.H.

We lost another of our exemplary classmates when Jim “Harpo” Reap died on June 8, 2014. Jim, based in White Plains, N.Y., had an extraordinary career as a practicing attorney, city, and state judge, Rear Admiral in the USN and Commander of the NY State Naval Militia, all the while being active in a wide variety of local and state civic and bar organizations. Remembered at Wesleyan as a nine varsity letter athlete and captain of the golf team, Jim continued his golfing prowess and won the Westchester (NY) Bar Association Golf Championship 13 times. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, two sons, a daughter, and two grandchildren, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy on their and our great loss.

As the deadline for submitting these class notes arrived, we received word of the death of Bill Bruner on Aug. 30, 2014, in Charlotte, N.C. Bill’s beloved avocation was competitive sailing and he was an acclaimed sailor until Alzheimer’s struck him down 13 years ago. He leaves his wife, Jean, two sons and several grandchildren, as well as all of his Wesleyan classmates, to mourn his loss.

DONALD T. SANDERS | dtsanders1@sbcglobal.net
33 Sunny Hill Drive, Madison, CT 06443

Just as this issue of the magazine was going to press, we learned of the death of Don Sanders. Don has been our faithful and dedicated Class Secretary, author of our Class Notes since the first issue after our graduation in 1952. He remained steadfast in his service, even after suffering a paralyzing stroke four years ago. He leaves a daughter, son-in-law, two grandchildren and his longtime beloved companion, Joan Boutelle, to each of whom we extend our heartfelt condolences. To say that he will be missed by his classmates is a vast understatement. (HCB)

Charles Selig wrote from Boca Raton, Fla., that he was still playing lots of tennis and bridge. His wife died suddenly in 2010 but he was super fortunate to have found a wonderful lady, Madalyn, to fill the void in his life. He has three children living relatively close to him and five grandchildren living in New Jersey and Massachusetts. He made a trip back to campus with his granddaughter and was much impressed with the changes he saw. “It was all very beautiful,” he said.

Neil Keller wrote from Crompton, N.H., that his wife, Jane, has Parkinson’s disease and can’t leave Pine Rock Manor in Warren, N.H., but she still paints in watercolors, plays bridge, and loves to talk. Their children mostly live in Tilton and Durham, N.H., but they have a son in Corvallis, Ore. They were happy to have a visit from Pat and Bob Gardner, who came from Eastham on Cape Cod. Bob and Neil were freshman roommates at Wesleyan.

Fred Gilman lives in Weston, Mass., but spends a lot of time in New Hampshire. “I’m still practicing law somewhat,” he wrote, “with lots of pro bono work.” Fred said he was still in good health.

Bill Mitchell, writing from North Carolina, says life next to the mountains is quite good this year. “It has brought cooler summer weather and more rainfall,” he says, “Something the huge apple-growing establishment is rejoicing over.” Bill reports there’s plenty to do, with lots of concerts and theater. “Once in a while I get a call from John Taylor,” Bill says, “And I did hear from Charlie Culver at Christmastime.” Bill reported losing his wife four years ago. In three weeks time, Bill would see his second granddaughter go off to college. Another will follow next year. “I hope to see all of them graduate,” Bill said.

Chuck Exley wrote from Grosse Pointe, Mich., where he and his wife, Carol, were born and reared. He had just returned from visiting his son, Yates Exley ’83. Chuck commented on the Wesleyan football team’s loss to Trinity which spoiled an undefeated season. “I have two friends who are Trinity grads who have become temporarily unbearable,” he reported. Oh well, Wesleyan was once a football power and beat Michigan, 14–6. The year was 1884, Chuck. He has a granddaughter, Sara Guernsey ’15, who is a senior fine arts major at Wesleyan. “She rounds out the cast of three of my progeny at Wesleyan: my son Yates, a grandson, Brian Walker ’00, and now Sara. All have done a lot better than I as undergraduates,” Chuck says, “but I have not found it necessary to get into this with them.”

Richard De Gennaro wrote from Florida that he was going strong as was his brother George. “I’m in excellent health,” Richard wrote, “which I maintain with my fitness routine, which includes yoga workouts. My wife, Barbara, and George’s wife, Mary Jane, are also in good health,” he wrote.

Bill Churchill wrote from his summer home. After spending the last 25 years traveling the far corners of the world, he and his wife, Maggie, decided to look at the USA this year. They spent most of May visiting the Rockies, and the Southwest, including national parks. Their itinerary included Mount Rushmore, the Devil’s Tower, Yellowstone, the Tetons, Bryce Canyon in Utah, Zion, Monument Valley, and Mesa Verde. “This is an amazing part of the world,” Bill wrote, “and I’m glad we had the time and energy to discover it.” His other news involved the graduation of three grandsons, who will be entering Washington University, RIT, and Stanford. I’d say they did all right, even though they didn’t choose Wes.” Bill had his annual lunch with former roomie Bob Switzgable. “We shared memories and insults and had a great time. He looks good,” Bill said, “except for his scruffy beard that is supposed to make him look wise. He is a wise guy. Some things never change.”

In my latest notes to class members I spoke of Wesleyan’s accomplishments on the academic side, with three new courses of study being introduced. Bill Mitchell said he thought the diversity was laudable, but he wondered if that kind of effort might deny places in the class to non-diverse kids whose grades and SATs, are above those who are admitted. “What I wonder,” Bill said, “is whether a new kind of quota system has been put into place, the reverse of the kind of admission practices we felt existed and deplored 70-odd years ago.” Perhaps other classmates might want to comment on this and perhaps the president might want to address the issue.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
100 Elena St., Apt. 618, Cranston, RI 02920-7620

Calling all gentlemen of the Class of 1950! Can you believe it—the 65th Reunion for this class! Save the dates: May 21–24, 2015. It’s sure to be a fantastic weekend—but only if you come! If you’d like to have input as we plan events, please e-mail Katie Tedford (ktedford@wesleyan.edu). And thanks to those already participating!