Class Notes | 1940s

n my previous class notes I identified the team of alumni whose responsibility it was to alert and encourage at least a few of the remaining classmates of 1949 to return for our 65th Reunion. We failed miserably. The only alumni who attended the Reunion were the five team members, namely, Dick Gibbons, David Knapp, Chip Stone, Bob Wylie, and I.

They should all be fired and a new group selected for this responsibility at our 70th Reunion.

Seriously, though, it was nice to get together with these few. However, not all of us were able to attend the reunion dinner Saturday evening. Bob Wylie’s wife, Karen, could not make the trip with him to Middletown, so his attendance was limited. Gratefully, Audrey was able to fly from Florida with me for the Reunion in spite of her recent knee surgery.

Of course she had the additional incentive of visiting with our sons, Don in Darien, Conn., and Bill Jr. ’71, in Grafton, Vt.

See you all at our 70th… rrriiiggghhhttt!

William C. Brooks | williamcbrooks@comcast.net
9 Willow Pond Rd., Amelia Island, FL 32034

Brittany Marshall ’08 writes to share sad news: the loss of William B. Mervine of Westport, Conn., who died July 4, at home. He was 93.

Sandy Mclean | rmcleanjr@aol.com
2270 Melville drive, san marino, ca 91108

This summer, Francis Lovett was preparing lectures for this fall, as part of the continuing education series at Longmont Senior Services Center. The first is to be “Snippets of Inside Ireland,” dealing with sights and sites one never experiences during a conventional tour. Next are two sessions on the poetry and other vicissitudes of Frost, Snow, Coffin, and Neihardt. The final talk will be on the history of, accomplishments of, and influence on the ski industry of the Tenth Mountain Division.

FRANCIS W. LOVETT | francis.lovett@comcast.net
805 Compassion Drive, Apt. 208, Windsor, CO 80550
907/460-9338

With football in the air, it’s obvious that summer is just about over, and I hope that you had a good one!Speaking of football, I’m reminded of our freshman year of 1939, when Jack Blott’s team won the Little Three Championship and we tore down the goal posts at Amherst. Here’s hoping that Coach Mike Whelan ’83’s Cardinals can repeat last year’s outstanding season and win it again this year!Gene Loveland writes: “Good to hear from you. Forty days from my 94th birthday and feeling good. No more trips, though. I’ve had my fill of airlines. Still busy with my two-page biographical sketches of newcomers and my four putting tournaments. Two of our residents here have sons who were graduated from Wesleyan: last names are Ling and Clutterbuck.I received a nice letter from my old Montclair High buddy and Clark Hall “roomie,” Dick Ferguson, in which he says, “It’s always good to hear from you. Hope all is well with all of yours. Give Bob our best. Not so perfect with Marge. She had a fall on the stairs of Pals Cabin last January which brought on the issues of shingles and she still has an aftermath which we are hoping will end! The family is all well. Gordie has moved to Kiawah, S.C., and is running a dental clinic there. David is doing a great job taking care of my old office. Daughter Kim drops in to see us when going to and from their summer place in Rhode Island from Philadelphia. She is in the education field there. Doug is in New York, quite busy making kilts for many people in New York and London. It would make me happier if I could be out playing golf. I do get to ride my bike frequently.”Candy Molina Ferguson wrote, “My dad, F. Edward (“Muzz”) Molina passed away on Sept. 17, 2014, one week after meeting his hero, Coach Michael Whalen ’83. Dad was a retired businessman living in New Milford Conn.”Keep me posted on any news that’s of interest.Frederick P. Appleton
100 O’Brien Court, Suffolk, VA 23434

Word has arrived that Edgar Allen “Ted” Jones died on May 10, 2013. Ted was that good-looking guy who distinguished himself in many campus activities. He was editor of the Argus, member of Mystical Seven, stalwart of the Senate and manager of varsity basketball.

He was known for enthusiastic participation in international relations studies and served as treasurer of the Neuman Club.

His life career burgeoned in remarkable ways. He excelled in law, starred in the TV productions Day in Court, Traffic Court, and Accused. He authored two books, Mr. Arbitrator and Break a Leg, Professor. 

The Class extends sympathy to Ted’s wife, Helen, of 68 years, 11 children, 23 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

GEORGE P. MORRILL
167 Thayer Road, Higganum, CT 06441 |860/345-2673

Let’s see, what can I write about for the next issue of Wesleyan. Oh, I know, how about “the Last of the Mohegans,” better known as the class of ’49. A group of us, namely Dick Gibbons, David Knapp, Chip Stone, Bob Wylie and I who, I firmly believe, are among the last few of the class of ’49 still alive, are attempting to induce remaining class members to come to Wesleyan for the 65th Reunion. Of the group I was required to contact, few were still alive, only one came to the phone, two responded through another party or his wife. None committed. I don’t blame them. We are all quite old and I for one, have a very “hairy” health history and, I am 89 years old—and some are older.

In spite of the difficulty involved, Audrey and I are heading up there from Florida to our old home state of Connecticut, where we will spend some time with a son who lives in Darien, Conn., and a son in Grafton, Vt. My wife had knee replacement surgery nearly four weeks ago and I informed her that she’d better be mobile before we go north. She threatened me with her cane.

I did receive a letter from a fellow Alpha Chi Ro member, Dan Collister ’50. Dan was one of the “gang” at the Downey House, where he worked beside my brother, “Hap.” He watched my brother’s and Janet Ablehauser”s love affair grow into a marriage. Sadly, both are deceased now. The couple that ran the Downey House, “Heidie” and Enid Heidemann, were a very special couple and often had many students visit their home. Dan lives in Gates Mills, Ohio, but also has a place in Kiawah Island, S.C.

William C. Brooks |williamcbrooks@comcast.net
9 Willow Pond Rd., Amelia Island, FL 32034

Catherine Cotins ’86 writes: “Arthur Cotins died peacefully surrounded by his family on July 28, 2011, at the age of 84. He was known as Jim by many of his friends and at Wesleyan his friends called him Tex. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Carroll Cusick Cotins, son Arthur James Cotins, daughters Catherine Agnes Cotins ’86, and Elizabeth Cotins Low, and eight grandchildren. He had a truly wonderful life and his kind heart will be missed by all who knew him more than words can say. At Wes he was a proud member of Psi U fraternity and manager of the undefeated football team. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa.”

Please send updates to the editors.

Sandy Mclean |rmcleanjr@aol.com
2270 Melville drive, san marino, ca 91108

CHARLES HILL |HillChas3@aol.com
115 E. 9th St., Apt. 10L, New York, NY 10003

“What are the news?” wired Horace Greely, insisting that ‘news’ is a plural noun. “Nary a new,” came back the clever gotcha response. And so it is with this column: nary. Hence, lacking inspiration from you out there, and unwilling to create fiction, I’m indulging in a bit of unique history. Back in early 1943, 13 Wesleyan men from ’43, ’44, and ’45 procured the requisite three letters of recommendation and were accepted into the Tenth Mountain Division: Stan Mann ’43; Norm Benson, Frank Bowles, Dick Brengle, Don Haight, Chip Lofstedt, Bill Low, all ’44; Donald Dunn, Pete Griskivitch, Bud Lovett, Gene Noble, Bill Thompson, Bill Wannamacher, each ’45. Bowles, Low, Griskivitch, and Wannamacher left the Division before we were deployed to Italy, and Haight was killed in action; the rest of us came home in various states of good health or disrepair, some back to campus, some to other campuses.

I know that seven are no longer living; I’m fairly sure that four are still alive; I truly want to know of Bill Low and Pete Griskivitch. I recall that Bill was in our admissions office for some time, and Pete was a registered Tenth Mountain veteran some years back. Can anyone fill me in? And isn’t Wesleyan’s association with this unique and heralded division of World War II perhaps worth a story in our alumni magazine? Slán go fóill.

FRANCIS W. LOVETT | francis.lovett@comcast.net
925 Hover St., Apt. 1L 106, Longmont, CO 80501