Robert Maurer writes: “I am happy to report that I have finally retired! I just completed 10 years working in group homes for developmentally and intellectually disabled adults. I say to anyone ‘listening’ that, as a nation, we truly need far more mental health advocates and practitioners.”
Fritz Henn proudly notes that his granddaughter is now at Wesleyan. That makes three generations: her parents both also went to Wesleyan. He writes, “She took a gap year working helping a family in France in order to get French down. At the end of her time there we met so I could introduce her to German relatives she never met. Ella ’24 did get to Heidelberg, where I lived for nearly 20 years, when we had our 50th wedding anniversary; in the interval my wife, Suella, passed away and I was anxious to get back to my old haunts one more time. We toured Munich, Dresden, and Berlin and went to Hamburg where the virus caught us. We got the last planes back to Washington, D.C., and San Francisco; in fact, she was on the NBC Nightly News, just interviewed catching the last flight to SFO.
“I sold my house and joined with my daughter’s family to buy a very large house in D.C., where I have my own apartment but eat with my daughter’s family (much better cooks and as an infectious disease doctor, Sarah is good to be around currently). I still have one last research project going, hoping it will cure depression (but beginning to doubt it).”
Scott Wilson reports, “What a difference a year-and-a-half makes! Lucy and I had returned from a three-week mind-expanding tour of Egypt and Jordan, and then attended a Maya symposium at Tulane University in New Orleans, continuing our pre-Columbian studies. But those were the end of normal ‘exterior’ life events. Since then we have turned to ‘interior’ events, keeping our heads down from the virus and the political maelstrom, but the ‘interior’ events hold benefits, too: An expanded and productive vegetable garden is one; Zoom provides access to an array of lectures far beyond our own pre-Columbian Society of D.C. events, and my pastel painting and drawing continue, with some frameable efforts. I’m compiling all of our travel for the past 50 years, vivifying memories that had lain dormant.
“One product of my college teaching was a co-authored, community organizing text published in 1994 by Columbia University Press. It has continued to sell well for more than 25 years.”
Hank Zackin turned 80 in August. “We have three grandchildren: Sam 16, Isabella almost 14, and Lola 12. I am retired, but looking for something productive to do. I read a lot, mostly fiction, and am grateful to our local library, especially during COVID. Both my wife and I are fully vaccinated, remaining fairly healthy and as active as possible, but no travel as yet.”
Fred Taylor says that his family’s three children married and he now has 10 grandchildren. “No wonder we are worn out at 80. I am still working part time at Evercore, which helps keep the mind stimulated. Carole celebrated her class of 1965 reunion at Connecticut College. We had our 54th anniversary!
“It’s terrific to be able to be very happily married to the same person for all these years. I enjoy staying in touch with Wesleyan with the Emeritus Trustee Annual meetings. It continues to be an active, engaged campus. I stay in touch with Lew Whitney regularly and we enjoy trading our latest book suggestions.”
“A few years ago I retired from Columbia Business School after 50-plus years, 10,000 students, and 100 endless faculty meetings,” Don Sexton began. “I am now learning how to be retired. Fortunately, I minored in art at Wesleyan and have been a professional painter for more than 30 years, and now I have time to put a little more effort into that career. Had to reschedule a few 2020 solo shows due to COVID, but have been doing commissions and have six solo shows in the New York and Connecticut area scheduled for 2021–22. I have also been participating in courses in improv and in standup comedy to keep alert during these later years and have some fun during open mike nights.
“My wife Laura is still working for the New York City Education Department as a parent coordinator and has been working from home. Our daughter is a mechanical engineer and senior manager in the defense industry. She and her husband have two terrific children. Our two sons are developing careers in the restaurant business and in the film industry. Usually we live in Tribeca in New York but during the pandemic we were staying in our country home in northwest Connecticut. If you’re near or visiting New York, my next solo show in Manhattan will be during August–December at the East 67th Street Library. Information on my shows is on my website: www.sextonart.com or email me: don@sextonart.com.”
“I delayed responding to your request, Jan, hoping that the muse would strike, but there is not a lot going on that is exciting,” wrote Harvey Bagg. “Anyway, since the onslaught of COVID, Martha and I have been pretty much hunkered down in Chatham, New York. She is actively practicing law from our makeshift office. I, being completely retired, keep more or less busy with catching up on my reading and various projects around the house. I note, however, that my current tastes in literature are not the great books, but mysteries. On a ‘me’ note, I was recently awarded the Vietnam Veterans of America Achievement Medal for my work with veterans. I hasten to add that I did not serve in Vietnam, but there is no Dominican Republic Veterans of America organization. I hope that this provides a little grist for the class notes mill. Best to all, Harvey.”
Len Edwards is busy as ever: “We have now moved to the Sierra Nevada mountains for the summer. Our house is in Truckee, a railroad town near where the first continental railroad ran through and still does.
“My wife, Margie, and I married 12 years ago after both of our spouses died of cancer. With her nine grandchildren and my three we are busy with birthdays, graduations, and demands that we appear at holiday celebrations. We are both in our 80s but just barely, and our health is holding up. I, however, have flunked retirement. I still work as a consultant, teaching judges and attorneys around the country on juvenile law issues. I also am on the state ethics committee and am working on a project to reduce the impact of the opioid crisis on Californians.
“One sad note: I am particularly grieving the loss of Peter Whiteley (’65) who was a close friend through grammar and high school and who then attended Wesleyan. Sadly, he passed away recently.”
Stan Lewis, bound to be a lifelong artist, did pause to comment on his life. “Karen and I are living in Leeds, Massachusetts, a part of Northampton. Basically all I do is paint and visit grandchildren. Our oldest grandchild, Zoe, daughter of John Lewis (’64), just took a guided tour of Wesleyan. She was very impressed.
“I am getting tired and wearing out, but Karen has, over the years, made me do these 22-minute exercises every day (Miranda Esmonde–White’s Classical Stretch). I seem to be able to do a lot.
“I’ve got a method of painting that is so impossible that I continually fail. If I keep going, something good happens in about a year or even in 10 years. My classes in Kierkegaard, at Wes with Professor Crites, was a big influence as I developed this method. We have a large yard, and I decided years ago to use that as my subject matter since I am a landscape painter. In the winter, if it is really cold, I draw views out the windows. Right now I have a winter-spring painting based on my yard that I have been working on for 12 years. It must be finished for a show I will have in 2022 at the Betty Cuningham Gallery in NYC.
“The worst thing for me (besides the ongoing problem of not really knowing how things will turn out in my painting) is the news. We watch a lot of it on TV and can see our daughter-in-law Alisyn Camerota, an anchor on CNN. I slowly read books on my iPhone.”
I took on this new position as class secretary hoping that it would bring me back into contact with old friends and acquaintances. That it has, and I thank those classmates who extended good wishes privately, as well as those with the substantive news reported below.
Pete Buffum is retired, still married after 55 years, and in the same Philadelphia house after 50 years. After spending 20 years in program development and evaluation of prison and probation settings while teaching occasional courses in criminal justice at Temple University, Pete “spent another two decades mostly assisting my wife in her real estate career. Now, while I consider myself retired, I am finding it difficult to get her to retire. She has way too much energy. But in the scheme of things that’s not much to complain about.”
Bob Gause still practices pediatric orthopedics in Winterport, Maine, probably as the oldest on the staff with “no more surgery but 25 patients in the office tomorrow. They keep me young just solving their problems so I am lucky.” He recalls rooming with Dave Fiske and Tony Scirica in the Psi Upsilon house “along with a boa we fed mice from the psych lab. Good days . . . good memories. Memory is key.”
John Hazlehurst reports, “I’m still living in Colorado Springs, happily ensconced in a three-story Victorian not far from the three-story Victorian where I grew up. Still gainfully employed as a reporter and columnist for the Colorado Springs Business Journal, and amazed and amused by life as a crusty old geezer. Together, Karen and I have six kids, 22 grandchildren, and four great-grands. We’re healthy and active, although not as fit and foolish as we were a few years ago. Too busy to retire—three big rescue dogs, multiple jobs paid and unpaid, our statewide visitor magazine Colorado Fun, frequent family visits, and the never-ending renovation of the 1899 house.”
Mike Riley is “still trying to reach out with my (heterodox, insouciant, outrageous) answer to ‘what is to be done?’ with our time and our country,” with his website maritalhospitality.com.
Bob Saliba and his wife Jenny have moved to a retirement community—Fellowship Senior Living in Basking Ridge, New Jersey—where “I was the reluctant spouse, but I can say with confidence that it was the best decision ever. We are in good health and are enjoying living here very much.”
Steve Trott relates that after 33 years on the Ninth Circuit Court he has assumed “inactive senior status” with one case left to finish. His “spirited dissent” on an immigration case judgement by his colleagues became one of roughly 90 out of 12,000 requests to the Supreme Court to be taken up, and “the Court reversed my colleagues 9-0 and sent the case back with instructions to do it right. Now I will probably get to write a new opinion correcting our mistake.” In his new life after 55 years with the law, Steve plans to “spend much of my time bothering Bob Hunter with questions about foreign affairs.” Steve added that the Highwaymen, “after losing Chan, Bobby and David, closed up shop after singing together for 50 years in the end of a great adventure.” A final note added that Rick Tuttle visited for a few wonderful days in Boise during which they celebrated Rick’s birthday and “had a great time catching up and exploring terrific memories from Wesleyan and EQV.”
And finally an update from your new secretary: Personal life has been up and down as I lost both my first wife Lynn and son Seth to cancer while just in their 40s, but have been happily remarried for 30 years now to Helena, a Finland-born, and now retired, flight attendant with Air Canada. My resulting exposure to both Finnish and airline culture has greatly enriched my life. I have also been lucky professionally. After a PhD in clinical psychology from Harvard, I landed in the large and internationally staffed Psychology Department at York University in Toronto, where in 1980 some like-minded colleagues and I established a new specialty graduate area in the History and Theory of Psychology. Our small program has turned out a steady stream of outstanding scholars and teachers, while my own research and writing became focused on this area. Its most visible result has been the textbook Pioneers of Psychology currently in a 5th edition published by Norton. Although formally retired, I maintain affiliation with the program but work as I say for less than half the time and with half the efficiency of yore.
Just prior to going to press, I received the very sad news of the passing on November 4, 2021, of our longtime leader and friend to all, Bruce Corwin; his obituary ran in the Los Angeles Times: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/bruce-corwin-obituary?id=31339645
Best wishes to all for the holidays and 2022.
We’ll start with a personal note from Paul Dickson: “For many years, I had hoped to get a shot at teaching a session at a writing class at Wesleyan. In part I wanted to do a little payback for the writing classes I took from poet Richard Wilbur, the influence of novelist and historian George Garrett, as well as the impetus I got from musicologist David McAlister, who allowed me to write my distinction thesis on rock ’n’ roll. On May 10, I got to do an hour as a guest lecturer in the writing class taught by Dan DeVisé ’89, a neighbor, good pal and highly talented journalist and author. My guest presentation was on his last day of teaching the course. It was both an honor and pleasure to talk (albeit remotely) to a group of Wesleyan juniors and seniors. Among other things, I talked about what it took to make a living as a writer, both glories and the inevitable challenges of living such a life. As for Dan, I have read two early versions of Dan’s new bio of B.B. King which came out in October 2021, and it is a fine work: King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King. Meanwhile, I heartily recommend his last book The Comeback: Greg LeMond, the True King of American Cycling, and a Legendary Tour de France.”
A short note from Bob Hausman reveals his optimism for the world as his progeny populate the planet: “A new baby granddaughter, when all the others are already grown. Few things have shaped me more than my Wesleyan education. A family friend is now on the faculty in theater. Her name is Katie Pearl.
Pete Drayer reports that he and his wife, Sandy, continue living in a lifecare community. John Rogers expects to relocate to Lexington, Kentucky, in September.
His “camp name” is “Mook,” but Russell Mott (aka Bob Lanigan until 1979) is returning to summer camp. “I am celebrating my 82nd year, returning to camp for the summer,” he writes. “This, my 20th summer at Bauercrest, a 90-year-old Jewish summer sports camp in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Since my principal gig is ceramics, I brought my entire studio with me when I moved last year from down south. Two Thanksgivings ago, I asked the director why a sports camp in Massachusetts wanted an 80-year-old potter. ‘I want to establish a working art center,’ he told me, and we are off and running to make that dream a reality. The kids arrive in 72 hours, and the studio is about 80 percent ready. I am figuring this is about as good a job as one could get, and it is all happening during my 82nd summer on the planet. I am truly one of the lucky guys.” Russell adds: “Bauercrest did a wonderfully edited video on ‘Mook,’ and it is on their website: Bauercrest.com.”
Mark Lischner has completed 50 years of medical practice in pulmonary medicine. In addition, the group that he founded, Pulmonary Medicine Associates, has expanded to include critical care, infectious disease, palliative care, and wound care. It currently has 50 physicians and 12 nurse practitioners. Mark appreciates the mental stimulation provided by his medical practice, which was especially important during the pandemic when many activities were prohibited. He reported that he has a low-grade lymphoma that is responding to chemotherapy.
Dave Major and co-author Sirkku Juhola have published a new book, Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Cities: A Guidebook for Citizens, Public Officials, and Planners. Dave says that he and Professor Juhola are foregoing royalties from Helsinki Press so that the book is available for free download worldwide under a Creative Commons license.
Congratulations to Bill Murphy who was honored for his 60 years of teaching at Hanover High School. Bill credits his late wife, Kay, for everything he has been able to do. A current student commended him for leading by example and encouraging critical thinking. An article about this event appeared in the Valley News.
An interview of Dan Nebert entitled “Role of Environmental Genetics in Preventive Medicine” was published in Yale University Journal of Biology and Medicine. He has made significant contributions to clinical pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics.
Ira Sharkansky wrote: “We’ve moved to a retirement village, after 46 years in Jerusalem. The city has changed. Much more ultra-Orthodox than in the past, and lots of building near where we lived. Now we’re getting used to neighbors even older and weaker than us. Still blogging about Israeli politics.” You can read more about his thoughts at www.jpost.com/blogger/ira-sharkansky.
Congratulations to Paul Tractenberg on winning his first poker tournament. He entered the competition as a way of supporting the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. You can read more about this event in the New Jersey Jewish News.
Bill Walker wrote an op-ed article entitled “The Coming Demand Surge Brings Back Memories of 1970s Inflation” that appeared in the Wall Street Journal in March 2021.
One of my favorite places to visit is Mount Rainier National Park. An interview done by the philanthropic Washington National Parks Fund describes a few of my family trips to the park and my involvement with hiking in Washington State. I have had occurrences of an abnormal heartbeat called supraventricular tachycardia since 2009. During the pandemic, the frequency and duration of these episodes increased, so on May 4 I had successful catheter ablation to destroy the heart cells that were causing the abnormal electrical signal. I am thankful to be living at a time when medical technology can provide a way of eliminating this disorder.
George Will, the Washington Post columnist, on “What my 80 years have taught me”:
“’There is,’” as George Santayana said, “’no cure for birth and death, save to enjoy the interval.’” So as they approach the end of their intervals, 80-year-old martini drinkers—plucky octogenarians not intimidated by their busybody physicians—should expand their repertoire to include a couple of Manhattans!”
Jim Brands writes that he is looking forward to getting his old Delt brothers together for the wedding of his granddaughter early next year: brother-in-law Tom Buckovich ’61, brothers Paul ’64 and Harold ’65, and spouses.
Dick Cadigan’s son Steve ’86 has written a new book to be published in August on the new work world for employees and employers, timely as ever. Well done, Steve!
Bob Chase sends the following great update: “As our numbers thin down, I find myself more and more reflecting on those special years we had together. I expect I am not alone in counting many of our classmates at the top of my list of ‘special friends.’ Joanie and I moved several years ago to a senior living home in Springfield, Va. It was probably a good decision, but I never realized there were so many old people, and people who, with cheer, gracefully and bravely faced the indignities of aging. Joanie has had some growing neurological/speaking issues as well as compounding of her long-standing bad back, but retains her cheerful demeanor and love of life. I am somewhat better off, but have not escaped the common loss of some facilities!
“I keep my golf clubs at the ready, but it is remarkable what excuses I can find for delaying getting them out. We are still planning to visit our beloved house in Boothbay Harbor, Me., but will fly up there to overlap with our kids. Unfortunately we will miss our regular mini-reunion with classmates Alan Brooks, Dick Cadigan, Charles McHugh, and Joe Mallory because of scheduling.
“Still counting on seeing as many of you as possible at our 65th!!”
Tim and Sandi Day are staying cool in La Jolla, enjoying the ocean breeze and watching surfers glide through the waves. Tim says it is peaceful, but now that they have had their water fix, they will be off to Jackson Hole and the Tetons. They have an addition to the family in Lucy, a very cute 2-year-old pug.
“My days are filled with repetitive tasks—some family office work, bible study (GO Tim), lots of physical exercise. We dine out most nights at a group of favorite places, almost home cooking, with Lucy sitting quietly in her baby carriage with us.
We plan to go to Israel this October, with any luck, and then maybe back to New York.”
Dave and Mary Eklund are back in travel mode, having spent a month in Nantucket. They have had a house there for more than 50 years, which they have finally decided to sell. They and the children will miss it terribly, but the combination of a long commute from California and long-distance maintenance became more and more of a chore.
Owen Tabor has been hiding out from COVID in Charlottesville, but will be returning to Memphis shortly. His 13 grandchildren must be a class record, or near it! All are in college, but none are at Wesleyan. The Tabors will be busy for quite a few graduations to come! Owen referred to Wesleyan as a “treasure,” a view many of us share.
Back to George Will:
“To be 80+ years old in this Republic is to have lived through almost one third of its life. Pretty amazing in itself! And to have seen so many ephemeral excitements come and go that one knows how few events are memorable beyond their day. (Try to remember what had you in a complete lather during Bush One’s administration). This makes our finishing sprint as 80+ years old especially fun, because it can be focused on this fact: To live a long life braided with the life of a nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to an imperishable proposition is simply delightful.”
Class of ’58, my email produced many responses.
On June 9, Burr and Pirkko Edwards celebrated a major step in the COVID deconfinement schedule for France by taking the TVG to Paris. They were able to go to restaurants, and on the return trip, the bar car was open. In Paris they visited Reid Hall, where various academic and cultural programs are held, sponsored by Columbia University.
Dick Goldman wrote to thank me, my wife Kay, Art Levine, John Watson, and Wayne Fillback for their friendship and support at this difficult time (Dick’s wife Patti died several months ago). He and his daughter planned to visit his son in Vermont and celebrate Father’s Day. Dick is very enthusiastic about the Wesleyan Lawyers Association, which has expanded to many cities. And soon he will speak on networking for lawyers by Zoom. It will be a follow-up to an article he wrote for the American Bar Association Journal a few years ago.
Bill Richards relates that his wife and he were vaccinated and went to his granddaughter Riley‘s ’21 graduation at Wesleyan. His great-grandfather’s brother graduated from Wes in 1870, so the family has graduates in three centuries.
According to Art Geltzer, New England is returning to normal behavior. They have opened up their Provincetown house and invite ’58 Wesmen to visit. Art heard from Dennis Allee who resides in Truro, Massachusetts.
Kay and Bob Terkhorn recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs.
John Corkran has sharpened his domestic skills while wife Toni recovers from a fall. Daughter Carol ’85 works a crisis hotline for income and farms for fun. Susan, BSN, URI, and RN, manages a team of nurses. Tim ’90 will teach in the Lexington, Kentucky, school system.
Despite being homebound Roger Turkington just finished New and Collected Poems, a collection of 500 poems and published by Dorrance Publishing, Pittsburgh.
Art Levine reminds me I am much older than he. My birthday is June 12, his is July 6.
Soon Jack Wright will self-publish the book he has been working on for 10 years. This one uses neurobiology to consider personal change. It is Breakthrough: Now You Can Change, Find More Happiness. Jack would welcome a Zoom meeting of our class.
Dan Woodhead reports that not much is new. Son Jeff gives great support with food deliveries and laundry service.
Tom Mosher is in La Jolla, California, and believes it is finally opening up. Most seniors are vaccinated. Four of his seven grandchildren are in college. He hopes for family reunions in Maui and Nashville.
Amusing note from Neil Henry. He is still looking forward to his 84th birthday. Liz and he are vaccinated and Liz volunteers at a vaccine clinic. Big news: barstools just came back so that Neil will not have to phone ahead for a reservation and then sit on the sidewalk.
Dick and Betsy Tompkins were in Minnesota for the summer. He also took his annual fly- fishing trip. And he hoped his trip to Ireland in August would not be cancelled by COVID.
After two nonconsecutive terms and two interim terms as condo association president Tony Codding has taken the secretary’s slot. In the summer he does paddleboarding and boating.
Our hardest worker is cutting back. Ezra Amsterdam will retire and come back at 43%. His 15th book, Manual of the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, was just published. He is still involved with teaching, research, and noninvasive cardiac imaging.
Kay and I are well, for our advanced ages. In fact, I have begun a valedictory run. No Rolexes or Rolls Royces, but no Top Flight golf balls, no house wine and no coach airline flights. Hope we can put the Zoom meeting together.
This from Sam Bergner: In usually quiet Metuchen, New Jersey, the Bergner household entertained a visit from Bill Fullarton earlier in the year. With some family business to attend to, Bill drove in from Dublin, Ohio—some 14 hours straight and staying awake through lunch, then arriving “fit as a fiddle” according to Sam. Turns out that Bill’s granddaughter and Sam’s grandson, one a current and the other a future student at Trinity, are Instagram friends. Seems that Bill and the Bergners are still studying, i.e., courses and lectures online. Sam adds, “If only we could remember the material the following week.”
On the move finds John Allison. I had a conversation with John a few months back wherein he told me he was destined for Virginia to be close to family. When I mentioned that this would help him to escape winter, he said, “Not so much, actually, it is (west) Virginia, not to be confused with West Virginia but still mountainous terrain and can get snow.” When John has a new address, it will be reported in the next column.
Heads up ’57, 2022 is a reunion year!
Editor’s note: We are sincerely sorry to report the passing of Art Typermass on October 4, 2021. This was his last update for Class Notes. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and classmates.
Our May Reunion was a qualified success. Owing to the pandemic, of course, we couldn’t gather together on the campus, but we did the next best thing—we met on Zoom. Participation was limited; 21 steadfast classmates on screen: Dick Bauer, Bill Bixby, Dick Boyden, Bob Bretscher, Bob Calvin, Pete Gardiner, Art Goodkind, Jim Gramentine, Al Haas, Dick Irwin, Jay Kaplan, Jim Katis, Larry La Brie, Sandy Mendelson, Mort Paterson, Phil Trager, Dave Thompson, Art von Au, Jim Wagner, Paul Weston, and yours truly had a lively exchange of news, memories, and aspirations for our post-COVID future. Unable to attend but sending their greetings were Bill Horrocks, Guy DeFrances, and Dave Wolf. I was impressed by the general sense of optimism from a group that has been around, as Bill Horrocks observed, for four scores and seven years. I also marveled at the number of classmates who have, like Ann and me, lived in our current residences for 55 years or more. A particular highlight of the event was Mort Paterson’s show of his recent paintings. Best of all was the prevailing attitude that “We ought to do this again.” Which we should—when the stars align correctly. Kudos to my fellow Reunion committee members (Boyden, Irwin, Thompson) who hashed out the format, and sincere thanks to alma mater’s stalwart staff for making it happen.
Dick Bauer’s assessment: “Like you, I thought it was a rather good reunion given the Zoom parameter. What pleased me was the number of our classmates engaged in public enrichment initiatives despite our advanced ages.”
Al Haas writes: “Thank you once again for your integral contribution to keeping the ’56ers connected. The recent cyber-reunion efforts on the part of the University staff with your involvement resulted in a wonderful walk down memory lane and surely a ‘bucket list’ item for many, including me. I am not sanguine that my classmates need to hear that I am still engaged fully with our business of working with high school students on the school and college application process, which is increasingly vexing, competitive, and wrought. Our interest from the outset was to provide guidance to qualified international students from around the world who wanted to study in America. I learned from living and traveling abroad that many top students were attending third-rate colleges, a clear mismatch not good for the American image worldwide. I intend to keep it up as long as I have ‘fooled’ our students that I know what I am talking about. After all, it takes a young one to detect a phony. So far, so good. Warm regards to one and all.”
From Jim Wagner: “Things are slowly returning to normal around here. The church my wife and I attend had its first full set of all ‘in person’ services on July 4, a dual celebration of our independence from Britain and COVID-19! Some of the nice concerts in the area are returning, either this summer or next fall. We hope to attend some with friends, as we no longer need a car and there are close to a hundred clubs and activities right here where we live!”
Tom Plimpton had “two things to report: I had my bladder cancer surgically removed in July. (2) On Saturday, July 3, my two daughters, Liz and Katie, went to Minnesota for one week to a resort owned by a cousin of ours. Keep up the good work—peace and joy.”
Get well, Tom. We’re all pulling for you.
Jay Kaplan’s daughter has informed us of the sad and startling news of her father’s unexpected death on September 1. We last “saw” Jay during our Zoom reunion in May. He seemed then to be, as always, energetic, enthusiastic, and fully engaged. He was a generous contributor to this column, because, of course, he had much to convey. It’s safe to say that in his 87 years, Jay didn’t waste a single one of them. He will surely be missed. His obituary can be seen in The Washington Post. Our hearts go out to Samantha, her brother Lael, and to Ann, his bride of 57 years.
Incidentally, I’ve retrospectively given our Reunion a handle: Fifty-six’s sixty-fifth [56’s 65th]. My spreadsheet tells me that a quasi-palindromic reunion is a once-a-century phenomenon! I’ll send you a copy if you need proof.
Looks like Jim Shepard has set a class record for the number of years until retiring, as he writes that in December 2019 his wife Sally encouraged him to shut down his expert witness practice and he has finally gotten around to listening to “the Boss” even though he wanted to delay for another year. Enjoy yourself, Jim, and as you added in your note, you can devote your time to the trials of the pandemic and the former president!
Drew Clemens continues to keep his hand in psychoanalytic training and professional organizations and has once again rejoined the editing business with a monthly type of magazine newsletter for his independent-living residential community called the Cardinal. He and his wife remain active and healthy, thankfully!
After 25 years as a retiree in Williamsburg, Virginia, John Ineson has moved to a continuing care retirement community only 23 miles from his family in New York City. He believed that some unexpected cardiac problems made it abundantly clear that being closer to his daughter and her family made good sense. He is getting used to the new facility in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and states that the casual lifestyle of Sigma Nu is not going to work in the new location, so he spends time “unpacking, packing, stacking, and fussing.” John writes that he is willing to discuss living in a CCRC with anyone interested!
“Not much to report,” writes Jake Congleton who continues to reside in Maine and would be happy to welcome any visitors! He was, like most of us, pretty well confined during the virus but, unlike most of us, was able to spend time with his wife Sally and their doggie Sadie on their pontoon boat (in the summer), and is now catching up with family and friends.
Things have been quiet here in Florida for Marianne and me. For us, like most of you, the pandemic has dictated our actions. Please know that my wife worked remotely for more than a year and a half and is still able to prepare my meals when I could not dine out. Fortunately, my passion for biking has not been curtailed, and as of today, I have been able to record more than 4,500 miles of great exercise and wonderful socializing with fellow riders.
I regret to inform you that our classmate, Vincent “Wink” Del Duca Jr. passed away on October 5, 2021. Our class sends our deepest condolences to his wife, Mary Lou, and his entire family.
Always, sincere good wishes to you and your loved ones in the days ahead.
