Class Notes | 1950s

Walt Burnett wrote that after 34 years, he has come down for the last time from his North Carolina mountain, having closed on his home there in July 2023, and is now comfortably ensconced in his independent living residence at Broadmead in Cockeysville, Maryland. Walt said he has gotten involved in several activities at Broadmead. He also enjoys the Baltimore Symphony and Everyman Theatre and serves as a board member of the Broadmead Chapter of the Maryland Continuing Care Residents Association. Walt has kept up with his traveling this past year, though largely family oriented, much of which centered around a big family reunion on Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. Walt also worked in a visit to Wesleyan.

In December, Alan Brooks caught up with Tom Young at a basketball tournament at Berkshire School, where Tom taught for many years. Tom related how he and Dave Darling regularly visited Fred Stone, their baseball teammate at Wesleyan, after Fred had his debilitating stroke. Tom sent Alan a packet of wonderful testimonials of Fred from his funeral service in February 2023. (Fred’s obituary can be read on the Portland Press Herald website, pressherald.com).

Class of ’58,

My quest for “exciting” info was met by some—for example, Neil Henry bought a brand-new washing machine and has a new puppy.

Dick Goldman continues his post-career activities. He continues as vice president of the Wesleyan Law Alumni Association. He is interested in doing some consulting in the area of succession planning for privately held businesses. He did spend two and one-half months in Florida this winter.

Dan Woodhead is proud of his three grandchildren, who are going to the Paris Olympics on the United States Water Polo Team. All three have Stanford roots.

Bill and Rosemary Krenz are still students. They regularly walk four blocks to the campus of Lebanon Valley College. Younger students interview them, especially inquiring about their work with refugees and the hungry. They will soon celebrate 67 years of marriage.

Exciting news from Bart Bolton, his great-granddaughter is now two years old. He points out that for most of us, our 70th high school reunion will be this spring. And by now he and wife are in Florida.

Burr Edwards contributes a lengthy piece where he has suggestions to make golf easier for “ordinary” folks. For example, place the ball at waist to eye level—much more natural than at one’s feet.

Bill Richards wrote to me inquiring about Walt Karney. I responded telling him of Walt’s death on January 29, 2024, and sent him a copy of his obituary.

Kay and I celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary in March. Still manage to play golf three times a week, despite using a driver on par 3s. Bridge and gardening are my pastimes. 

Keep the emails flowing.

Not much to report from our classmates in this issue. Maybe next time will be better.

I did hear from Al Kalb. He’s still healthy enough to swim regularly and has no restrictions on other activities. Just does them slower than he used to. I know what he means.

Dick Cassie writes that he is five years removed from the state of New Jersey and living in Newtown, Pennsylvania, with his very significant other of 12 years, Suzy Maguire. He wonders if it’s not too early to start thinking about our 70th Reunion in 2027, when we’ll be in our early 90s. Along those lines, it would be well to make sure the Alumni office (alumni@wesleyan.edu) has your current mailing and email addresses.

Gordon Wilmot says that he and his wife, Marilyn, spent eight nights in Newport, Rhode Island, during which time they celebrated their birthdays. Gordon also writes that he wishes Wesleyan’s Democracy in Action program [that happened on campus this past spring] had presented a conservative perspective to go along with its liberal leanings. 

Bob Anderson has largely retreated into his art making and gardening, while speaking out in church and community for a saner world. He is currently reworking a journal sketch from a medieval monastery he once visited on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. See a bit of his work on the internet at www.guemesislandart.org. Bob expresses good wishes and continued collegiality to all our classmates.

Betty and I are well in Hilton Head. Things are gearing up for the annual PGA golf tournament we have here. Traffic will be congested, to say the least. If you’re interested, watch it on TV. Some say CBS airs the show, but others say it’s our Chamber of Commerce that does it all.

Until next time.

Bob

As I write, Ann and I have just returned from a family pilgrimage to Grand Isle in Lake Champlain—between Vermont and New York—where we witnessed in all its glory the April 8 total eclipse of the Sun. It was Ann’s and my 11th successful total viewing around the world: from Aruba in the Caribbean to Zambia in the middle of Africa to Novosibirsk, smack in the east-west center of all Russia—also including the Black Sea (a Wesleyan sponsored tour), Turkey, the South Pacific, Indonesia, Chile, and two other sites in the continental USA. Our two misses, both weather related, were in Hawaii and Shanghai but have not dimmed our continuing quest. Believe me, it never gets old.

      The next total solar eclipse visible from the continental USA will be in 2044, but take heart, and set your sights on either Iceland or Spain in August 2026.

            We’ve received remembrances of three recently fallen classmates.

            In case you missed it, our most recent loss was Andy Milewski, who died in January. Like many of you, I’m sure, I remember Andy—with Larry Tremper—as one of the twin towers of the Cardinal hoop squad. Andy was a local product (Meriden) and lived most of his subsequent life in Connecticut, where he devoted much of that life to civic service.

            Bob Calvin remembers: “Andy Milewski was a fraternity brother of mine at Delta Sigma. He was a big, sweet guy with a passion for basketball. The obituary you sent really reflected a life I would have expected for Andy. I have not seen him since graduation. Strange to not have seen someone for almost 70 years and then read his obituary.”

            From Al Haas: “Dick Boyden was one of a kind in many ways. Among other attributes, he was loyal, sentimental, diligent, thoughtful, and smart. He did not suffer fools gladly, and he could sniff out self-aggrandizement, pomposity, and arrogance with ease. He was a loyal class agent for many years and a steadfast scribe for our delegation at Eclectic for decades. He was the glue that sustained our bond to the fraternity and to our relationship with Wesleyan, achieving one of the sustaining records of support for the College. In real ways, physical, spiritual, and values, he was a giant. He was one of the best amongst us.” 

            Dick Bauer remembers: “Jack Dunn and Ed Thorndike very graciously invited me to share their Clark Hall fourth-floor dorm digs even though I was a Beta and not an Eclectic brother. I guess that made me ‘Eclectic adjacent.’ It was a happy experience for me for sure.
            “The three of us joined in a psych project—running rats to see how well they navigated their maze. Just keeping them from dying off was enough of a challenge for me. We did write it up, but it never got published in Nature.
            “Ed knew what he was good at, wanted to be, and with whom he wanted as his life partner, even as a sophomore. He would go through his physics problems at lightning speed, skipping intermediate steps, and putting a square figure around his answer, which was invariably right. As much as he liked his Eclectic brothers, he wanted to get on with his life, which meant marrying his beloved Liz ASAP… which he did. It took me a couple more years to get to that point, but I, too, married a Smithie—very happily so.
            “It seems both ironic and cruel that Ed should suffer from dementia, but he illustrated how ‘time and chance happen to us all.’

            “It was heartwarming to learn of the Thorndike dynasty at Wesleyan.”

            How about some news from the here and now?

            Jim Jekel writes, “As with most of our class who are still alive and kicking, I’m alive but kicking far less, with a usual assortment of illnesses, pains, and forgetfulness. Fortunately, I live close to all four children and frequently see most of my eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren (with more in the pipeline). My old brain could never pass a Wesleyan test now, but it still functions normally for everyday matters. 

            “If any classmates are passing just west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I live in Camp Hill and would love to have them stop by.”

Many thanks to Rick Congleton and Drew Clemens for making sure a “shutout” was avoided, and my 60-plus years of submitting to Class Notes is still ongoing!

Rick notes that “our class seems to be pretty depleted” but he is “hanging on and recently enjoyed a 90th party in July.” I did appreciate his “good luck with Class Notes” comment.

A last-minute email from Drew and Julie Clemens (sister of Tem Taylor) related Drew’s recovery from a small stroke three years ago, and they are still enjoying the move to a retirement community eight years ago, especially the friendships, bridge, and in the Wesleyan tradition, singing in a chorus! So good to hear from my freshman-year roommate once again!

On a much less happy note, I am saddened to report the passage of Andrew Holmes. I know I speak for all of us in offering sincere condolences to his family.  

Still acclimating to my Silver Spring surroundings and greatly enjoying new friendships with fellow members of our local senior center. Having a facility that provides lunches and athletic workout equipment is super. I do miss bicycling but am thankful for continued contact with members of my Florida riding group. Memories and friendships are really so important.  

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

Terry J. Hatter Jr.,from the United States District Court, shares this happy family news: “Our great-grandson was just born in March and his cousin, our great-granddaughter, is one year old as of this April 5.”

Bud Johnson reports that he has the class reunion on his calendar but can make no promises because of medical uncertainties. He’s glad that we can stay in touch through these notes. Marty Feins has done some research and learned that last year, four members of the Class of ’53 made it to their reunion (not bad for 91- and 92-year-olds). 

Ed Dewey, active in his community, shared this snapshot:

“I am living in a large senior-living facility in Gainesville, Georgia, with my wife, Joyce. We have been married for nearly 49 years. I have two children, a boy and a girl, and two grandchildren, also a boy and a girl. My career was in corporate finance in the engineering and construction industry in Florida and California. I retired in 1979 and then lived for 21 years in Big Canoe, Georgia, and after five years, here in Gainesville. At age 92 I was elected president of the resident board.” 

Your much-traveled scribe, at age 91, is well and waiting for your news.

Richard Edward France, 91, passed away May 6, 2023, at White Oak Manor, Waxhaw, North Carolina. Dick was born in Downsville, New York. Dick was president of Delta Sigma (Delta Upsilon). He was an MBA graduate of Syracuse University before being commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1955. He began a long career in the paper industry, where he became vice president of human resources for Container Corporation of America and, subsequently, for Caraustar Industries. Dick missed our many reunions as union negotiations occurred the same weekend annually. Dick is survived by Jeanne, a daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren.

Dr. George “Bakes” Bacon, 91, died December 27, 2023, at his home in Michigan. George, a graduate of Duke Medical School in 1957, enlisted in the U.S. Army serving in Germany. His residency was in pediatric endocrinology, after which he joined the University of Michigan Hospital. In 1986 he accepted a position to rebuild the department at Texas Tech University. He returned to Michigan in 1995 and later became emeritus professor at the University of Michigan, retiring in 2005. He is survived by his wife, Grace, three children, and three grandchildren.

Class condolences to the families of Dick and Bakes, both my fraternity brothers.

Following up on my notes from the last issue, here is more information on the passing of D. Ronald Daniel on December 16, 2023. After graduation in 1952 with honors and distinction in mathematics, Ron earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He was awarded Wesleyan’s highest alumni award, the Baldwin Medal, in 1981, and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1988. He spent his career at McKinsey & Co., retiring as managing partner emeritus. Ron served on Wesleyan’s board from 1969 to 1987, was elected chair, and subsequently elected trustee chief emeritus. Ron’s children, David ’77 and Stephen ’82, and granddaughter, India ’22, attended Wesleyan, of which he was extremely proud. The Daniel Family Commons, the space in the Usdan Center where Wesleyan Board meetings are held, is named after his family. He is survived by his wife, Lise Scott, his two children, stepdaughter, Amanda Hampton ’91, and several grandchildren.

Zdenek David reported that he got an article published, “Masaryk’s View of Amos John Comenius,” in Comenius: The Journal of Euro-American Civilization, Vol. 10, 2023, No. 2, p. 135-150. Very impressive! Keep it up!

Sam Fitch writes that he is still doing okay and independent living with his lady in the Phoenix, Arizona, area and trying to enjoy life as best he can. He sends his best to all the rest of the Wes alumni and especially our Class of 1952.

Together with my wife, Barbara, daughter, Ellen ’82, and son-in-law, Samuel Bender ’82, MD, we attended a wonderful performance of Camp! on campus on Saturday, April 13, 2024, an original musical co-written with Sarah Linsly ’24 and directed by my granddaughter, Eliza Bender ’24.

Please send news.

Good correspondence with Francis Baudry who had come, at age 16, from Lyon, France, by way of New York City, to breeze through all the science programs to become a doctor and noted psychiatrist. He now lives on Cape Cod with his family. He sees a few patients, is active, and happy. Good news.

A great letter from Chuck Exley who also had a very successful post-Wesleyan career:

“Hello Biff:

“I am writing from sunny Sarasota, Florida, where I have lived with my wife, Carol, for well over 15 years. By chance, I just hosted a family reunion here over Easter weekend and was joined by my son, Yates Exley ’83, my nephew, Brian Walker ’00, and granddaughter, Sara Guernsey ’15, in addition to my two daughters and three great-granddaughters. I haven’t had the opportunity to catch up with any classmates of late but always look forward to the write-ups in the Wesleyan Magazine.

“Sending my best, Chuck”

Like Chuck, we would all like to hear from you.

Biff  

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

CLASS NOTES EDITOR | classnotes@wesleyan.edu