Author: Randi Alexandra Plake

The Great Class of 1959 continues to shine. You will have received a letter from our extraordinary co-class agents reporting on this year’s results—74 percent of our class participated in raising an amazing sum. Well done, Burt and Ed! We go for 90 percent at our 60th. Hope you are enjoying your birthday cards reminding you of that event, among other things!

Ed Murphy also tossed this on the pyre to keep the class fires burning: “By heading to Arizona after our son’s change of command ceremony, we managed to miss Irma by three days. Our two sons, one living in Tampa, and the other on the beach in Jacksonville, had the excitement, but no damage!”

Steve Pyle and family survived Harvey and various other Texas storms. Austin wasn’t hit directly, luckily. He is still very active painting oils, and has a backlog of commissioned work that seems to grow rather than diminish. Never made it to Fishers Island for our annual golf outing, so look forward to 2018.

World travelers Mary and Dave Eklund were home for a change in Tiburon, Calif. managing the Tiburon Library used book office. Dave is also the chair of the sanitation district, as you remember. Mayor next?

Ted Bromage writes, “Having missed our anniversary Bermuda trip in 2016, as I was in the hospital, we rescheduled for last May. Joan tripped and fell in Portland the night before departure, breaking her left arm, so Bermuda is still on the bucket list. We are now booked on a two-week cruise from San Diego via the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale. Our fingers are crossed.” (And so are your class secretaries’—such drama!)  “Dylan finished his walk on the Appalachian Trail in five months and three days. Granddaughter Abigail, daughter of Sally ’84, is newly engaged, and started nursing school at Emory. We are still too active in our local Episcopal church, but old habits die hard.”

Larry Brick is far from retired, as the following note shows: “Since moving into a Continuing Care Retirement Community six years ago, I thought we could finally retire in peace and relax. Not so! Discovered the oppression of being a senior in a place run by administrators with an almost total lack of sensitivity to the needs of their residents with multiple disabilities: hearing loss, vision problems, mobility difficulties, health issues requiring special diets, and the complex needs of senior citizens in their last years of life. Only if children or a trusted relative lived nearby to supervise, did the patient get good care. This had to stop, and my wife and I took up the cause. At one point I said to the administrators, ‘I wonder how this place got the approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Nursing? Maybe I should give them a call to see if there is an easy way to resolve it.’ Two weeks later a major problem of handicapped access was solved.  Conclusion: I guess I am a long way from retiring in peace and relaxing with the administration thinking they know more about our needs than we do! They need to improve their listening skills to become less deaf! And I close with my motto: Nothing About Us, Without Us.”

Marty Weil sends tweets on a variety of subjects, including timely humor and commentary on world events and politics.

He says: “I think we need to recruit more followers for my Twitter feed—it is @martyweilwapost. If our classmates do not have Twitter accounts, please get friends, relatives, acquaintances to follow, or get one.”

Right on, Marty. Mine is @jspurdle6128. Skip?

Dick Cadigan commented on the recent New York Times article, “Sex at Wesleyan: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t? An Alumna Asks.” Read it at nyti.ms/2vvQoB0. “The essence is summed up at the end of the article: Says one undergrad: ‘I always ask for consent…Always. I do not know what I will do after graduation. Am I still supposed to ask?’ Such worries are a burden, but not like ours, summed up by John Travolta in the song “Staying Alive.”

Tom McHugh responded: “I saw it, and am afraid I had difficulty understanding the gist of the story. Thoughts/interpretations welcome.”

Bob Chase couldn’t resist: “I cannot understand why Cads sent this to all the guys who knew less about sex than any of their contemporaries.”

Since I live in Naples, Fla., I did have a couple of e-mails as to our status during and after Irma. Briefly, we evacuated to Mobile, Ala., and returned September 24 to minimal damage.

In late May, Kay and I flew to The Hague to celebrate my granddaughter’s high school graduation. Four days later Kay, daughter Kara, and I flew to Toulouse in southern France. We rented a car and drove to Lectoure where Burr Edwards is in semi-retirement. After four glorious days and some great French wine, we flew back to Amsterdam. Burr and Pirkko were very hospitable, and Burr is still available for consulting work in Africa.

Bart Bolton inquired about our safety and told me that Charley Denny had left Naples for safety in Charlotte, N.C. Bart hopes that Florida will recover enough for our annual luncheon in Punta Gorda.

Tana and Roger Paget have moved from La Jolla, Calif., to Salt Lake City, Utah.  They are living in a three-generation household, with youngest son and family.

A nice note from Bill Krenz asks about our survival and mentions that he and Rosemary just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. He recalls their first home in Veterans Village where the rent was $28 per month.

Bob Furber is anticipating our 60th Reunion and relates his “adventure” viewing the eclipse in Wyoming. The tour started in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Toni and John Corkran just returned from a 2,400-mile trip to the West Coast.  They attended the wedding of a cousin in Leavenworth, Wash. They camped in their travel trailer and found their camping skills still in good order.

A note from Dick Goldman covers a few topics. He is making progress on his quest to unite Wesleyan lawyers in the Boston area. He now has contacted 18. We also talk golf and our continual search to regain lost distance. He will visit a son in Vermont this fall.

John Arnold e-mailed about the death of Beau Freeman. John obtained a brief statement from Beau’s wife, Peggy. “Beau was a gentleman the likes of which they don’t really make anymore.” Beau had 59 years in the family auction business.

A long note from Art Geltzer described the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival, September 21-24. This festival seems to be really novel since it moves from room to room. Art is gathering votes for aesthete of the class of 1958.

Nothing more except a reminder that our 60th looms next May.

Cliff Hordlow | Khordlow@gmail.com
Apt. 103, 4645 Winged Foot Court | Naples, FL 34112; 239/732-6821

Writing from his home in Nova Scotia, Ed Porter is active in his printmaking interests, and recreational sailing. He and wife Lainie enjoyed a summer family trip aboard a narrowboat along canals in Warwickshire. The Porters highly recommend it—“a grand way to float through the English countryside.”

In New Mexico, Bill Pratt is working to enact a co-op statewide healthcare plan that would be nonprofit. If there is interest in such a plan—which he believes would work in other States—the site is nmhealthsecurity.org.

Last September Dick Cassie underwent a total knee replacement—turns out it was the second such procedure, the initial one resulting from a basketball injury in a 1956 game at Williams (he adds that it occurred 10 days prior to junior prom). Further, Dick would think it fitting for the old knee remnants to be donated to the archives of the athletic department in Williamstown. Continuing to teach oral diagnosis at Rutgers, he was afforded several weeks of rehab before returning to the classroom.

In a note from Sparky Watts, he reports that he and wife Sarah will re-lo to New Mexico in 2018. The Watts’ enjoy visiting with their daughters in Jacksonville. Sparky adds that he reads and studies films about “an entity Ramtha,” whom (he) met almost many years ago. My search engine discloses that Ramtha is a school of enlightenment established in 1988 in Washington State. His note also added a kudo for the work your scribe does for the Notes (as did Bill Pratt). Much appreciated, Sparky and Bill.

Gordy Wilmot says his pacemaker has been performing well enough to produce a normal heartbeat. He and Marilyn have (by now) completed an annual migration south. With an eye towards global warming, he wonders if the family can stay all year-round in Rhode Island. The Wilmots have booked a summer Boston-to -Bermuda cruise for the entire family—19 in all—their third such event.

Heard from Jack Braitmayer that he’s not on his boat as often as previously, but that his son is. He adds that there are all manner of new “toys” for sailors, e.g., equipment to ease docking maneuvers, and that he needs to be brought into the “modern world.” The Braitmayers enjoyed an October western trip seeing their daughter and her family and then taking to the Colorado and Snake rivers.

Sam Bergner continues to unbundle his real estate portfolio, apparently with success, as he’s down to a sole commercial property. Sam and Lynn are giving careful consideration to downsizing from their home to apartment-condo type space. They did a bit of traveling up to Niagara Falls this past summer, as part of an Elderhostel-style tour.

A late summer note from Bob Gorin informs of the loss of his wife of 57 years, Natalie. On behalf of the class, Bob, our deepest regrets. Bob and family continue their support for Wes…recalling his organization of annual skating parties in NYC in honor of his daughter Bethel ’90 and his late son-in-law, which have raised funds for scholarship programs throughout the last several years. He reports that the first such recipient thereof will graduate in 2018.

Sadly, Carey Congdon died of acute leukemia in August. A memorial service was held in New London. Carey’s entire career was in graphic arts and publishing. Prior to coming to Wesleyan, he had served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. I talked with Carey often and always found our conversations to be informative and upbeat. I know he leaves behind active projects that he was passionate about. I extend our class’ condolences to wife Bonnie.

Al Fitz-Gerald reports on the progress of his play, Prisoners of Hope. There have been several performances to date, most recently at SUNY Potsdam. Al received praise from a UN scientist, who applauds the play’s impact both on the performing arts and climate control.  Other performances have generated accolades, including an endorsement from the Florida Studio Theatre, whose reviewer cited an effective contrast between comedic moments and the serious issues that are addressed.

Bill Shepard lectures on American history at Chesapeake College and finds growing interest in the Civil War as well as WWI. He is using his father’s combat notebook from the latter conflict as teaching vehicle. He also thinks classmates might be interested in his wine-tasting course. More info: bsshepard@aol.com.

A note from our Re-u emcee: Whitey Johnson rounds out reporting on the event. “The fine dining and conversations in the Taylor Room were replete with remembrance, exemplified by words from ‘Campus Memories.’ Old times, old friends we hold to you, hands joined, hearts full, pledge every man, your love and honor to old Wesleyan!” Whitey extends appreciation for the event committee: Messrs. Reiss, Travis, Ochsner, Williamson, Braitmayer, and yours truly. Bill Reiss and Ken Travis received 2017 WUSA’s (Wesleyan University Service Awards).

Expressing thanks for the opportunity once more to serve as emcee, he closes with Vic Butterfield’s charge to our class at graduation: “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Best wishes to all for happy and healthy 2018.

Art Typermass | joanarth64@gmail.com
144 East Ave., #302B, Norwalk, CT 06851 | 203/504-8942

Congratulations and wishes of happiness to Ron Benson, on “[his] marriage to Shirley Chitty, she 79, me 83, the second for each of us. Her first was 53 years, mine was 55. Each of our spouses had long bouts with dementia, and we met in a support group for caregivers. We began dating about three years ago, after each of our spouses had gone home.

“It is surprising and invigorating to touch strong affections that had not been a part of our lives for a while. In addition, the second wedding for me was an entirely different experience. The first time, I spent the ramp-up period in Seattle, while my bride-to-be carried the load of planning and executing the event. I hopped off a Navy plane in Atlanta on July 2, to be married on July 3 in Athens, Ga. This time I have had the pleasure of being in on the planning of every nuance and floral stem. Though the vows were much the same, their weight and significance have been subjected to greater introspection.

“We will be living in Peters Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh.”

The event of the Chien family’s year was August’s coast-to-coast total solar eclipse. We moved our annual family reunion from New York’s Catskills to a lake house in southeastern Tennessee we had rented the previous October—giving us 10 months to fret about the weather. Forecasts were dire, but we awoke on eclipse day to cloudless skies. Our eclipse was picture perfect! It was Ann’s and my 11th total, but the first for 13 of our gang of 20, ages 16 to 94, and including four Wesleyan grads: Al ’52, yours truly, Chris ’83, Judy ’84. It was especially gratifying for our granddaughter Jeannette, whose only previous try was foiled by rain in Shanghai in 2009. Now 16, she mused, “I’ve waited half my life for this.”

More about the eclipse.

Walt Ebmeyer writes, “What a wonderful way to do the eclipse.  A few friends here at the old folks’ home planned to drive to Charleston. Even if it snowed, we could still have fun in The Holy City. But more and more people got sick as the great date approached, and we ended up watching a partial on the roof.”

Jim Gramentine gave it the old college try. “The day before the great event found my wife and me having lunch in Beatrice, Neb., with Shelia and Bob Runyon and their strapping grandson, Gabriel. That morning we had inspected Homestead National Monument, an official site for observing the eclipse, only to determine that by sunrise it would be hopelessly crowded. Therefore, we and the Runyons agreed to go our separate ways.

“By mid-morning the Gramentines had stumbled upon Fairbury, Neb., which seemed to have it all: few people, a large, treeless field, several porta-potties, and even a nearby McDonald’s. Partially cloudy when we arrived, the skies began to darken and then gently to rain.

“The horizon was brighter to the north, so on we drove to a dirt road traversing a corn field, only to move again yet two more times. In spite of the overcast, we enjoyed as much of the partial eclipse as we might have had we stayed in Milwaukee, but by 12:55 p.m. the sun had been swallowed, though not by the moon.

“We returned to Fairbury to drown our sorrows in Big Macs, only to find that the town had been true to its name. All who stayed had viewed a perfect eclipse. Would that some other life-altering celestial event had changed my restless nature before we flew to Nebraska.”

Alas! From John Foster: “Hate to say I’m not an umberphile, a word I suspect you must have created. I have been accused of having my head in the clouds occasionally though. Thanks for keeping flickering flame alive for the ’56ers.” (Actually, someone else made it up, though it’s not yet in the dictionary.)

But, Jim Wagner writes: “Betty and I saw the eclipse from Charleston, S.C. My brother-in-law had just moved there, so we were able to combine eclipse viewing with a nice visit. It was touch-and-go with variable clouds all day, but they parted just at totality and we could see the corona and the spectacular ‘diamond ring effect.’ It wasn’t clear enough to see planets or stars near the sun, but a bonus was visible lightning and audible thunder from a thunderstorm several miles away!”

Finally, from Frank Cancian: “Since our retirements from academic jobs in California, Francesca (a sociologist) has become a psychotherapist (part-time), and I’ve focused on the documentary photography I did with anthropology. Our kids, Maria and Steven, often use the Spanish they learned during many months in Mexico, and granddaughters, Emma and Rosa, are now in their 20s. We all travel a lot.

“My photos, taken in Italy in 1967, are now getting lots of attention there. See my websites: frankcancian.net and museomavi.it.

“I owe thanks to the memories of three Wesleyan people many of us knew: David McAllester, Sam Green, and Jack Paton ’49.”

That’s all for now, folks.

George Chien | gchien@optonline.net

Jim Wright, writing from his Maine location, described an exciting happening occurring in September. From May through October, Jim is an interpreter at the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, Maine, where he presides over a permanent exhibit house once occupied by Captain Jeremiah Merithew, sometime schooner captain, later ship builder and banker. He wrote that one day he stepped out on the porch to greet a group of visitors from the National Trust for Historic Preservation who came to the museum from a cruise ship docked in nearby Belfast, where he spotted a name tag with a memory to it—Janet Heston—and “looked to her right.” There was his classmate and fraternity brother, Phil Heston! Jim is planning on another visit when he heads to Bethel, Conn., with Stu Rapp. Nice story, Jim, and thanks for sharing!

I very much appreciated the kind words Kip Snow sent, saying that “I do read the class notes Don writes so faithfully. It would be wonderful if more of us would respond to him. The older I get, the more nostalgic I get. We should all remember: It’s better to be seen than viewed or perhaps remembered than forgotten.” Kip, I’d be more than willing to make you my advocate! And to all, hopefully Kip’s words will encourage you to send a word or two this way.

Here’s an e-mail that I received from Jim Rudin that I’ll quote verbatim. “Although it has been more than 60 years, I remember you quite well. You, perhaps, do not remember me since I transferred to George Washington University in 1952. I later became a rabbi, served as a United States Air Force chaplain in Japan and Korea, then a couple of congregations in the Midwest, and ultimately, spent 32 years as the American Jewish Committee’s interreligious affairs director, retiring in 2000. Currently, my wife and I live in Ft. Myers, Fla. I did attend the 1985 Reunion. While at Wesleyan I was a member of Beta Theta Pi, but all of this stuff can be found on my website, jamesrudin.com. Finally, I, too, am a cyclist, though not like yourself and your outstanding mileages. Sorry to ramble on. I look forward to hearing from you.”

Marianne and I were thankful to have escaped any damage from Hurricane Irma, which did cause a lot of concern in these parts. There’s still much vegetation to be cleared from the roadways and communities, namely downed trees and broken limbs. One of my favorite bike routes heading north on A1A into Palm Beach still has bike lanes and shoulders littered with the vegetation. Nevertheless, I continue to add to the mileage in spite of pronounced heat and humidity (daily heat index has been over 100 degrees for a few months), and while frequent rain has curtailed the miles, I still have a shot at the annual 5k target. I’ve logged 3,450 miles to date (Sept. 29) and am hopeful I won’t have to do a few double centuries in December to reach the goal.

As always, let me wish you and your loved ones good health and happiness in the days ahead.

DONALD J. BRAVERMAN | ybikedon@bellsouth.net
14790 Bonaire Blvd., Apt. 102., Delray Beach, FL 33446