Author: classnotes

Please send news to your class secretary.

Most welcome responses from two classmates enable the reporting of more than 60 years to continue. I am grateful.

Tom Nall writes that he is finally in an assisted living facility. He’s still driving, but, of course, there are lots of things he cannot do, “such as getting up from a chair without arms and walking without help.” As he says, “God help me if I should happen to fall.” Tom no longer travels, but despite all this, he says he’s still doing well. Sounds familiar!

Jake Congleton asks, as he begins his 93rd year, “How many of us are left?” He says his claim to Wesleyan fame is that his brother, son, and grandson all graduated from Wesleyan!

Upon receiving Jake’s question, I checked with our Class Notes editor, Liz Taylor, who replied: “It looks like there are 99 individuals from the Class of 1955 that remain with us. Of those, 78 do not have email addresses in our system and 55 do not have phone numbers with us.”

If you are reading this and you have updates for any classmates whose information is incomplete, please encourage them to get in touch with me or to write to Liz directly at classnotes@wesleyan.edu. Sincere thanks to Liz for her continued help.

And, as always, my best wishes to you and your loved ones in the days ahead.

Sadly, there are two passings to report:

Art Goudey’s son let us know that he passed away at the age of 96 in Venice, Florida. A navy veteran, Art was remembered as “a lifelong learner with insatiable curiosity [who] was an avid reader and true outdoorsman.” 

Katy Storms Denman ’89 sent this: “Bruce Storms, age 92, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, passed away on January 16, 2025. Bruce was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity and, after earning his BA from Wesleyan, was a banker by trade. He loved to attend Wesleyan reunions and to travel. Bruce’s beloved wife, Ann, passed away in 2024. He is survived by his son, Tim Storms ’81, and wife Teri; his daughter, Katy Storms Denman ’89, and husband Chip; his grandchildren, Dan Storms ’10 and wife Liz; Meghan Storms; and Chad, Will, and Jay Denman; and his great-grandchildren, Anna and Henry Storms.

Links to full obituaries of these classmates can be found online at classnotes.blogs.wesleyan.edu/class-of-1954/.

Dave Hodgin shared: “Nothing much to report. I have almost run out of consulting clients, nearly all retired or deceased. However, I remain busy with pro bono service as president of the Senior Life Association, and my newest venture, Damians Ladder, which provides free services to help senior citizens and the disabled remain safely in their homes. Still playing golf every week as part of an effort to keep mobile (and have some fun!).

John “Bud” Johnson Jr. still splits his time between a retirement community in Rye, New York, and Stuart, Florida, where he has had a home for 25 years. He wrote, “More time in Florida for more walking and outdoor vistas is winning! I’m still active with ASCF and it’s peace through strength legacy. My time in and around Taiwan and tracking China waters activity is still relevant to strategic defense planning. Our eight grandchildren still don’t believe grandpa was doing that at age 24! All best, Bud.”

We have about two dozen active emails for the Class of ’54, but like other classes, we know there are folks we don’t have any contact information for—i.e., email addresses or phone numbers. If you are in touch with anyone who may not have updated Wesleyan in some time, please encourage them to send their information to the Office of Alumni (alumni@wesleyan.edu) or to the Class Notes Editor, Liz Taylor ’87. Thank you.

Class Notes Editor | classnotes@wesleyan.edu

News from both coasts and in between.

From New Jersey: Richard Levinson claims to work every day in his office (free coffee?), while rooting for the Cubs. He may be our most recent grandfather with a three-and-one-half-year-old grandson. He thinks about and misses those Chi Psi reprobates. He plans to attend our 75th.

From California: Gerald Patrick has enjoyed the first six months of living in a retirement community, the Sequoias, meeting new friends and teaching bridge, along with sculpture and creative writing classes.

From Florida: Sandy and Jerry Zackin’s golf routine was set aside by her knee replacements. They were scheduled for a Great Lakes tour this past summer. Jerry celebrated the 80th anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah on his birthday.

From Washington, D.C.: Walter Cutler is tolerating an unending heat wave. “Helping out is news being made by our Wesleyan president and keeping in touch with two granddaughters who recently graduated from Wes in the same class.”

From Oklahoma: I am enjoying the additional space of a two-bedroom apartment at an independent living facility, Asher Point. I am delighted to have my voice back after many years of only being able to whisper. Many folks here had never heard anything else. Daily walks are part of my routine and one time around the facility is almost a 440.

These four ’53ers and I have been consistent contributors to our notes—I really would like to hear from the rest of you. Are you reading Class Notes? Please send me your name even if nothing else. Let us know if you’re still with us! Thank you.

Lastly, Bob Knapp’s daughter wrote to say he died in February. An army veteran, Bob worked for Southern New England Telephone for more than 30 years and was active in his community, including being a member of Rotary International for more than 50 years.

On Sunday afternoon, April 27, 2025, my wife, Barbara, and I had the pleasure of attending an alumni-sponsored performance of Maybe Happy Ending, produced by lead producer Jeffrey Richards ’69, who also led a dialogue after the production. Also attending were my daughter, Ellen ’82, and Michael Ostacher ’82, MD, who was visiting his mother in New York and was invited by Ellen to substitute for her husband, Samuel Bender, ’82,MD, who was on call. Michael is also the ’82 co-class secretary.

            While seated, I struck up a conversation with the gentleman next to me, who said his name was Pruzan. I replied that I once knew a Pruzan named Michael many years ago, who lived down the block in Neponsit, New York. To my shock, he was that Michael Pruzan ’87, who was attending with his wife, Helaine. Michael’s mother also rented the house next to us. Small world!

            On a personal note, Barbara and I are celebrating our 69th wedding anniversary. She says the secret to such longevity is “two bathrooms.” I say, “don’t divorce or die.” Also celebrating my 94th birthday and glad to still be working full time.

            I haven’t received any notes from classmates for several months, so PLEASE WRITE!

Reliable correspondent Charlie Selig shared, “I continue my good life here at Boca West, Boca Raton, Florida, with Madalyn, my significant other for 14 years—[she] is a very special person [and] I’m so lucky to have her in my life.” Charlie said that his great-granddaughter visited in June, and “my family is here quite often as well.” He now stays in Florida full time as it’s “too much to travel to New York anymore. Best to all Wes friends, Charlie.”

On a sad note, Bill Mitchell passed away on February 21, 2025. Bill was a biology major at Wes, and he spent many years employed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He also served in the Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel. Bill’s obituary said, “He led a life marked by dedication to his family, country, and community.”

We also received news of the death of Leon Protass on August 15, 2025. After graduation from Wesleyan with honors, he went to medical school at John Hopkins and became board certified in internal medicine and neurology, a specialty he practiced for close to 70 years. His son Harlan wrote, “Medicine and science were my father’s passion. He was widely respected for his diagnostic skills, intellectual approach to the practice of medicine, and bedside manner. Even though he largely worked in urban areas, he always practiced medicine as if he were a small-town doctor.”

Our condolences to the families of both Bill and Leon.

We have email addresses for more than a dozen of our remaining classmates, so let us hear from you! And if you are reading this and don’t receive our emails, send a note to me or to the Class Notes Editor, Liz Taylor ’87, at classnotes@wesleyan.edu to let us know that you’re still here. Thank you.

Please share your news or Wesleyan memories with your remaining classmates by sending updates to classnotes@wesleyan.edu.

We are sad to report the loss of two ’49 classmates: Anthony “Tony” D’Esopo on August 15, 2023, and David Knapp on July 29, 2023. Our sincere condolences to their families and friends.
 

Those with class notes, please contact: 

Class Notes Editor
classnotes@wesleyan.edu