Class Notes | 1950s

Gordy Wilmot and family are enjoying a summer cruise out of Boston to Bermuda. This is an event that the Wilmots have done previously, and it attracts almost the entire participation of the family, 19 in all. His eldest grandson married in May and all the Wilmot children (three) and grandchildren (nine) attended. Gordy hosted a bachelor party in his rec room, where the fare consisted of pizza and games included Dungeons and Dragons.

John Chaplick writes novels, the latest entitled Parchments of Fire. Deep sea divers discover a 2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck that harbors secrets proving potentially catastrophic to modern day Greece. This is the fourth of John’s published novels in the adventure genre. His fiction writing career began on the first day following his retirement, after finishing his morning cup of coffee, and he has not looked back. The novels are framed against the dark shadow of foreboding, but with a real event likely to occur in a contemporary setting. The books are available via Amazon or EngagingBooksBlog.com.

I’ve heard from Naren Bali in Buenos Aires, where, among other things, he reminds me that it is winter in Argentina. He has a consulting practice and says wife Margarita is busy with a variety of cultural pursuits including modern dance and video production. She completed a three-month program as an invited artist under a Mellon fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle. Their children teach at the university level; daughter poly-sci at Michigan State and son math at the University of Buenos Aires.

Naren updates on a “periodic economic crisis” in Argentina with a resignation that this will ultimately pass. He cites a Spanish saying, “No hay mal que due cien anos” loosely translated as “there’s no harm that lasts a hundred years.” Somehow that sounds more resonant in the original language. He concludes his note this time with some nostalgic thoughts about our time at Wes, where the so-called Silent Generation benefited from government by a “reasonable Republican” and the Yankees won the World Series. (Naren, I second the motion, especially the baseball reference even though it wasn’t every year, just many of them.)

A note from Dick Cassie informs the class of the passing of Roger Nelson in April. Friend and roommate at Wes, Dick played basketball versus Roger in high school and when they found out they were both headed to Middletown, they decided to room together, along with Ted Kuhn. These two Jersey boys kept in touch all throughout the passing years—a lifetime of fun and laughter. Dick writes that Roger was always upbeat, true to his associations in business and personally. He adds that Roger was wont to say that Wesleyan gave him “a terrific education.”

Bill Shepard’s wife, Lois, is recovering from a knee replacement. He endorses Jim Brown’s comments (in my last column) on the values of regular swimming and the backstroke in particular. Bill writes for the periodical French Wine Explorers and will teach an American history course on World War I at nearby Chesapeake College.

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

Jay Kaplan’s new book, Secrets and Suspense (International Law Stories), has been published by Academica Press. You can read about Jay and the book on Amazon’s website. I’ve had the privilege of reading a sample chapter, which was fascinating.

Bill Bixby writes: “In May I was inducted into the Wes Baseball Wall of Fame with other new members from 1963, 1977, 1988, 1991, and 2003.

“Unfortunately, none of my family could attend, but some friends did. The alumni baseball game was mostly fun but looked a lot more like batting practice.

“I lost my wife, Fran, who passed away in September. But my family is very busy, and all are doing well. My son, Mark, and his wife, Jen, went to Germany to visit their son, Evan, a senior at Hobart William Smith, studying there. His older brother Tucker graduated last year from Trinity College and is in the U.S. Marine reserves. My middle grandson, Reed, graduated last year from Union College and works at an insurance company in Charleston, S.C. My granddaughter, Kira, a junior, is doing well in high school.

“I’m on a waiting list to move into Applewood, an assisted independent living facility only 10 minutes from my home in Amherst as well as from my son’s home.”

From Dave Thompson: “I’m writing from our winter roost in Vero Beach, Fla., but going north soon to Weston, Conn., and our house of 45 years. Two of our three children live in Connecticut and their young-adult kids still call it home. We have one daughter and a granddaughter in California. Joyce and I will celebrate our 60th anniversary with a family bash in Montana. My only serious complaint is that days are getting briefer—they go by too quickly. This sounds like a ’56er contented with life; a fair interpretation! Looking forward to our next Reunion.”

John Foster greets spring: “Renewal, yet the old body resists. We are blessed by having both our boys—one a WesTech grad—with grandkids here with us in Marblehead. Several of the latter are in college, though—Vassar and Brown—and two are youngsters. Thus—bypassing the med issues—life is good.”

Jim Wagner adds: “During the March 2 nor’easter, a tree fell on our house. Fortunately, insurance will pay all but the $500 deductible, and we were able to live in the house while awaiting repairs. It was a crazy late winter and spring: two 80-plus degree days in February, March colder than February, and four nor’easters. For the winter as a whole, we seemed to be in a donut hole as far as snow was concerned. Even my brother-in-law in Charleston, S.C., had more snow than I did in northern Virginia, and good old Connecticut, where I grew up, got clobbered at least once.

“In April Betty and I had a great time attending her 50th class reunion at James Madison University here in Virginia. We talked with JMU’s president, and I shared with him that my liberal arts education at Wesleyan was valuable to me as a science major. He was familiar with Wesleyan’s high reputation and said that JMU had a similar requirement for students majoring in the sciences—that they take at least a minimum number of liberal arts type classes for a well-rounded education.

“In June we plan to return to Harrisonburg for a week-long classical music festival featuring the music of Bach. It is sponsored by the music department of another school located there, Eastern Mennonite University. Hope y’all have a great summer!”

[In case you’ve forgotten, we were all required to take at least two courses in each of three disciplines: humanities, social science, and hard science—and to swim four lengths of the pool!]

Finally, “Sheila and Bob Runyon are suitably installed in their new apartment above the pond. We have downsized (kinda). Sheila more than Bob (a borderline hoarder). Selling the old homestead (36 years) was a necessity, but still a traumatic transition in memory. We have some great neighbors who have organized a Friday evening floor party: 5 p.m. wine, hors d’oeuvres, and conversation in a public space. An offshoot for guys is a Wednesday evening junket to The Casual Pint, a new craft beer franchise a few blocks away. Last week’s nature drama was the birth of five Canada geese underneath the first-floor balcony of a near neighbor. These new animal friends provide Bob with a treasured connection with the natural landscape. My daughter-in-law completes her first college year at the University of Nebraska Omaha in May, and my grandson will be off to Northwest Missouri State University for his freshman year in the fall. This struggling writer was immensely impressed with George’s superb memoir, Shards, which was independently published.” Thanks, Bob.

George Chien | gchien@optonline.net

Sincere thanks to Stuart Rapp for his loving tribute and words upon notification of the passing of Jim Wright earlier this year. Although the full text is too lengthy to be included in class notes, highlights were sent specifically intended for inclusion. “Our generation was called ‘the Silent Generation,’ but I believe our history will one day be heard, albeit in a different voice from some before, and no doubt some after. Our story was not heroic as some are, but in terms of our individual lives, I believe all of us who have occupied this niche in time will one day be seen as deserving as the others, with the same memorable qualities of which King Harry spoke so long ago (begging our collective pardon for his timebound assumption of male supremacy)—

“This story shall a good man teach his son,

And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remembered!”

A notice of Jim’s passing is included in the obituary section of the magazine and a full obituary is available online.

Ric Fisher is doing “fine” and living in Sweden. He is now the proud owner of a pacemaker as the result of a Type A aortic dissection late last year. Understandably, he lauds the Swedish health care system and praises his wife Ula “who has been not only loving, but also indispensable” during his recuperation. While no longer playing tennis seven hours a week, nor biking anymore either, he still finds time to vigorously walk his dog! Ric, one of my cycling buddies (an 80-year-old youngster) has been riding with a pacemaker for a number of years and says the Swedes are second to none in the field of pacemakers. Wish you the very best.

Laughed while I read the update sent by Jim Shepard and let me quote his May 15 submission in its entirety: “Friday morning I must leave by 5:30 a.m. to get to Silverado for the annual renal transplant meeting. Lectures don’t start until 1 p.m.; but I want to get there by 8 a.m. That is when I am scheduled to play the South golf course. At Wesleyan I realized the most important premedical school course was intramural golf.” Glad you haven’t lost your sense of humor, big guy!

Marianne and I have survived an unusually wet several months and, thankfully, we didn’t have to contend with flooding as did many in this part of “paradise.” We, for the most part, are still relatively in good health and able to enjoy the daily routine. I agreed to serve on the board of directors of our community, filling a vacancy until the end of the year. I do have the option of not standing for reelection if for any reason I feel it necessary. One provision I insisted upon was there would be no way my service would interfere with my four-day-a-week cycling schedule! Still at it in spite of the frequent rainouts these past several months. I’m only approximately 400 miles behind my annual target. As of today (June 5) I have logged a hair under 1,700 miles. While not as fast as I used to be, I can still hold my own with the youngsters (those under 80) in our group!

As always, my best wishes for health and happiness for you and your loved ones.

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

Gentlemen of the Class of 1954, thanks for prompt responses from seven of you. And so, here’s the latest:

Bill Drury, who resides in Nashua, N.H., was off to his beloved Eagle Camp on Lake Champlain for two weeks, taking a lovely lady with him! Per Bill: “Anything can happen!”

Lynn and Bud Johnson returned from graduations of three of their eight grandkids: Georgetown, Wake Forest, and Brunswick School in Greenwich. Bud reports that the commencement speakers advised the graduates that they’ll be 30 or so before they’ll be on a real career path, and they should remain open-minded, and should speak up and be heard and try to build strong relationships.

Nancy and Shep Johnson are “nursing various ills of the flesh.”

Jeff Lockhart and bride were back on Nantucket for the spring and summer after first visiting their 9-month-old great-granddaughter.

Curt McLaughlin just published, with son Craig McLaughlin ’79, the third edition of Health Policy Analysis: An Interdisciplinary Approach.

In June, Rod O’Connor was a spectator at his fourth U.S. Open tournament at Shinnecock Hills since joining the club 50 years ago. Rod greatly enjoys his four grandchildren (all more than 20 years old), their views on life, and their personal ambitions. Finally, Rod is shifting his interests to his historic house in Aiken, S.C., recently named “Best Small Town in the South.”

Vickie and Bob Schnuer traveled back to Long Island, N.Y., in late May. Bob welcomes any classmates traveling in the area to call 917/862-5141 for a BBQ.

Finally, your scribe, Bob Carey, and Libby traveled to Asheville N.C., in April to visit a granddaughter at UNC Asheville, then to Columbia, Mo., for Libby’s 60th reunion at Columbia College, where she completed two years before matriculating to the University of Missouri in Columbia. In late May, early June to London, then Portugal’s Algarve area (beach coastline facing North Africa), staying at Pine Cliffs Resort, and finally to Lisbon (Lapa Palace Hotel). In early August we are off to San Diego to visit our two youngest grandkids.

That’s a wrap, gentlemen, and muchas gracias for your news. On a sad closing note, we’ve recently lost two of our classmates: Art Spada and Myron Poliner. Next year: Our 65th Reunion! All the best to all of you.

BOB CAREY | popscarey@gmail.com
618 W. Lyon Farm Dr., Greenwich, CT 06831 | 203/532-1745

The first persons I encountered on Friday of our 65th Reunion on the lawn of the president’s house were Marilyn and Atwood “Woody” Dunham from Maine and Bill Teachout from Santa Ana, Calif. After greeting President Michael Roth ’78 we shared past and recent events. Woody’s daughter and my son, Thomasjohn, joined us for dinner in Usdan. Crossing High Street to Downey House I joined a reception for ’53 and ’58, when Sandy Millar and his companion, Fran Hitchcock, from Wellfleet, Mass., and Honolulu’s Phil Olsen, appeared in the crowd of ’58ers. Phil will visit his great uncles’ fishing village, north of the Arctic Circle in Norway.

Early Saturday morning, some of our classmates listened to Professor Logan Dancey discuss the changes in political party demographics over the past decade. I listened to a discussion on identification of medications to eliminate the effect of genetic abnormalities, while others found interest in “Wesleyan and the Great War.” Lining up for the alumni parade behind North College were Judith and Mel Katz from Greenwich, Conn., Joan and Bob Lavin from Duxbury, Mass., and Warren Eastman with his son, Richard ’81. Warren relocated from Florida to Connecticut to be near family after the passing of his wife. Joining the short parade around College Row to the chapel was Shirley Muirhead Jenkins, wife of two Eclectic men. The class banner was carried by Woody and Sandy. Class members and guests occupied two tables for the post-50th Reunion lunch to enjoy a talk by Mike Whalen ’83, Wesleyan athletic director, on recent events.

Our class reception and dinner featured a table of Eclectic alumni and their companions, including Ann Teachout, Shirley, Gunilla and George James ’52, and a table of Phil, Mel and Judith Katz, John Miller and his son, and two representatives of the university. Reminisces flourished!

Pre-Reunion messages: Herb Kelleher was restricted from travel as a result of a recent illness and sent greetings. Earl Forman telephoned to state doubtful attendance, as he has good/bad days from cancer. Milton “Snuffy” Smith travels with an electric scooter around his retirement village while his wife has taken over driving. Ed Lifset wished a successful weekend from California. Jim Griffis lives in a great senior retirement apartment facility in The Woodlands, Texas, with 4 p.m. happy hour and penny poker three times weekly. His son, Jim, born April 1952 while dad cooked breakfast at the Deke house, lives nearby, as do two grandchildren. His motor scooter gets him out.

Post-Reunion messages: Two missed their first Reunion since graduation, Harold “Oggie” Locke, my freshman roommate and fellow chemistry major, and Jerry Zackin, who scheduled a Dubai-Rome cruise long before Reunion. Steve Friedland attended a granddaughter’s graduation in Washington and looks forward to our 70th. Bill Rack is looking forward to enjoying tennis and golf with Bill Teachout, who is moving to Santa Barbara.

Our fundraising goal of $30,000 has been exceeded.

Attendees asked how many were in our class and how many are living; 167 graduated and about 120 graduates and nongraduates are deceased. The last two Wesleyan issues identified four additional passings, and one since Reunion. John S. Brownson, 85, died on Feb. 26, in Watertown, Mass. Born in Asheville, N.C., a Sigma Nu, an economics major with a master’s from Columbia and PhD from Boston University. Survived by his wife, Sonja. Private burial services were in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass. He was Korean veteran.

My second freshman roommate, Raymond Drakoff, 87, born in NYC, died on Aug. 13, 2017. John Wesley Club, a chemistry major, a retiree of Lever Brothers Research Center, and active in art appraising and collecting. He was living in Bal Harbour, Fla.

Sargent Bradlee Jr., 87, born in Boston, died on July 15, 2017. A Chi Psi, he left at end of sophomore year to earn a BA from Harvard. He was a consultant to ISS Corporation and lived in Hanover, N.H.

Charles “Charlie” A. Hoyt, 85, born in Middletown, Conn., died on June 19, 2017 in Millbrook, N.Y. A Delta Tau Delta, an English major, Mystical Seven, he earned a master’s and PhD from Columbia. Best known as manager-star (from Olla Pod) of the High Street Five, a professor of English literature at Marist College, professional jazz musician, and freelance writer. He specialized in the romantic movement and Shakespeare and authored a textbook on the history of witchcraft. He is survived by five children and eight grandchildren. His jazz band was featured at several Reunions.

John M. Williamson, 85, born in Rochester, N.Y., died on July 31, 2016. A Gamma Psi, a psychology major, active in the theater, he retired as a packaging engineer at Eastman Kodak in 1991, and was a U.S. Army veteran. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joanne, three children, and seven grandchildren.

Condolences to the families of these classmates.

JOHN W. MILLER | Jwalmiller@aol.com
306 Autumn Court, Bartlesville, OK 74006 | 918/335-0081 

Sadly, I regret to inform you of the passings of Morag Kennedy, Don Stauffer’s wife of 60 years; Peg Collings, the wife of Harry Collings, after 65 wonderful years together, and Robert Goodman Jr. on May 7, 2018. Don and Bob were both classmates of mine at DU. We send our sincerest condolences to their families.

Last Christmas Don visited his son, Andy, and wife Isabel in Dallas, where they had moved from Manhattan. He is living at the Avila Retirement Community in Albany, keeping busy with retirement-type activities: Master gardener for 22 years, a book club member, and singer with Jubilate Singers. He had a real thrill joining a 200-voice chorus in a Carnegie Hall program last spring celebrating the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther and the Reformation and is planning a one-week trip with a friend to Tuscany in October to soak up culture and wine.

Harry has been living at Sun City in Lincoln, Calif., east of Sacramento, for 17 years. He worked for the Dupont Company for 36 years in the petroleum chemicals and pulp and paper divisions in tech sales and account manager positions. In Sun City, he and a friend started an astronomy club 14 years ago that is still very active today with over 100 members, monthly meetings, and star parties.

Bob’s son, Carey, advised me of Bob’s demise at age 88, surrounded by his wife of 62 years (Virginia Saunders Goodman), his three children, and extended family. Bob was a graduate of Friend’s Central School in Philadelphia and an exchange student at the American School in Mexico City. After Wesleyan, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent two years with the 7721st Radio Broadcast and Leaflet Group in Mannheim, Germany, doing research for propaganda leaflets to be dropped over Poland denouncing the Soviet Union at the beginning of the Cold War (I was stationed in an ordinance group also in Mannheim at the same time, but our paths never crossed there). He spent much of his time playing fast pitch softball, drinking beer, and as a friend of the daughter of the mayor of Heidelberg, was invited to the first New Year’s Eve party held at the Rathaus that was permitted by the military authorities. He spent a tense evening in dress uniform, while most of the rest were former Nazis.

After returning home, he began his teaching career at Staunton Military Academy as a math teacher and coach. After marrying, Bob and Jinny moved to Christchurch School in 1955. In 1960, he moved to the Collegiate Schools, formerly a girl’s school where Bob was hired to add a program for boys. He then had headships at Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, Augusta Prep in Georgia, and Arlington School in Atlanta. In 1972 he became founding headmaster of Trinity Episcopal High School, where he spent 14 years. After a stint with the Community School of Performing Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University, he joined Southern Teachers in 1990, which had been acquired by his family in 1981. After his retirement in 2000, he served on the Fulbright Scholarship Committee at Virginia Commonwealth. He also served as president of the Richmond chapter of the English-Speaking Union, which honored him with an Award of Merit for his many years of service in providing education and cultural opportunities for students and teachers.

Jack Murray is into his 16th year of retirement from the French literature program at UCSB in Santa Barbara. He has heart issues, so he no longer travels. He enjoyed the Reunions while he could make them and misses the alumni and wives still around. He’s had a very full life, whether solo backpacking through the Santa Barbara County mountains or adventure traveling (France, South America, Maya ruins in Central America and Mexico, New Zealand, and Timbuktu in Mali).

Hal Buckingham writes that after a more than 68 years off-and-on search, he connected with Bill Housum last October at the fair in Fryeburg, Maine, a huge blue-ribbon event where he was volunteering at an information booth. After leaving Wesleyan Bill transferred to Albright College, where he spent his career, editing their alumni magazine, and at Fryeburg Academy (a venerable prep school founded in 1972 with Daniel Webster as an early headmaster), as director of admissions. He climbed Mount Fuji in Japan during an R&R and he has climbed Mount Washington in New Hampshire 100 times and has manned the tourist station at the top. He resides in retirement in Fryeburg, Maine. Wow!

Dixie Sanger and his wife, Maggie, are alive and reasonably well in a snug condo in Wilmington, Del., more or less retired, still active in church and 12-step recovery work. His big news is that they had two beautiful great-granddaughters in the past couple of years and wishes everyone should be so blessed. Amen!

That’s it for now. Please keep me apprised of your news for future issues.

Joseph N. Friedman  | jfriedman@regalnyc.com
400 East 56th Street, Apt. 28LM, New York, NY 10022 | 917/715-8881

Charlie Selig marked his 89th birthday in February still enjoying life to the fullest with winters in Boca Raton, Fla., and summers in Westchester. His wife, Madalyn, whom he married seven years ago, has given him “the greatest life to enjoy,” enhanced by visits from his son and grandchildren. Charlie follows Wesleyan football and hopes to get to a game next fall.

Jim McKeon’s wife, Betty, wrote that he had died a year ago, but his granddaughter was doing well at Wesleyan in the sophomore class.

Bert Roberts said he was sending his first message to a classmate since 1951. He had spent most of his years since then working as an executive with a wholesale electrical distributor, mostly with an industrial clientele. Prior to that, he had an Air Force tour. He and his wife, Joyce, spent their 67 years raising two daughters and seven grandchildren. They’d been fortunate enough to travel to Europe four times and even had time to enjoy Alaska. Bert said he’d slowed down greatly during the past year but hopes to try golf again this summer.

Harry Webb’s wife, Sylvia, gave a lengthy report on Harry’s death in New Britain, Conn., where he had enjoyed a long and distinguished law career, serving with two law firms and then founding his own as he approached retirement. He served on local, county, and state bar associations. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed running, hiking, tennis, and skiing into his 80s, and was an avid traveler, visiting Alaska, Turkey, Normandy, the Baltics, and South Africa. He leaves his wife, a son, three daughters, and 10 grandchildren. Harry entered Wesleyan with our class, but transferred to UConn, where he graduated in 1953, earning a law degree from UConn Law, and a master’s degree in tax law from New York University.

Howard Goodrich from Indianapolis wrote that he and his wife, Darlene, were still enjoying a full life—he will be 90 in September—for which they’re very fortunate and grateful. He wrote, “May peace and grace attend your lives.” Thank you, Howard. He also sent 24 lines of verse entitled, “In Times Like These,” ending with: “Our culture in Division / Longing for that fresh breeze / To articulate and change it / In the times to come.”

Bill Mitchell is “still alive and kicking here in the mountains of North Carolina.” He took one trip to New Jersey and several to the Atlantic area to visit family and attend his granddaughter’s graduation in St. Louis.

Biff Shaw and wife Jean take advantage of their close proximity to Wesleyan. They attended the dedication of Wesleyan’s refurbished tennis course paid in part by a gift from our own Dave Jones.

Dave and his wife couldn’t attend the dedication, so Dave asked Biff and Jean to stand in for them. Last summer, Bill and Jean attended the dedication for a wonderful gift of art to the Mattatuck Museum, also made possible by Dave Jones, which and he Ann were able to attend, along with Barney Kathan.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
43 Cannon Street, Cranston, RI 02920-7620

Dear classmates, we regret to inform you that three of our classmates passed away. Richard W. Ahlers, from Pittsburgh, Pa., died March 14, 2018. He was an Alpha Delt at Wesleyan. Dick worked for U.S. Steel Corp. for 34 years in Ohio and enjoyed his cottage on Lake Manitou in Canada. He is survived by a large family, including one great-grandchild.

Roger W. Haskell, from Hempstead, N.Y., died Dec. 28, 2017. He was a Sigma Nu at Wesleyan. After an internship in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Haskell spent 25 years with the public health service in Seattle and was awarded the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Meritorious Service Medal twice in his life. He retired to a 140-acre farm in central Oregon. He is survived by his wife, Edna, and their family.

John C. Roy, from Paterson, N.J., died May 30, 2017. He was a Psi U at Wesleyan. After medical school and orthopedic training in NYC, Dr. Roy practiced at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey, serving as chairman of various committees. He retired in 1993. He was affiliated with the Lutheran Church in Mendham, N.J., and Lebanon, Tenn. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, two sons, a son-in-law, and six grandchildren.

BUD DORSEY | margiedorsey5@gmail.com
121 Renegar Way #105, St. Simons Island, GA, 31522 | 912/638-5616

Dear Friends,

By now you probably know of the death of Doug Bennet. You can read about him in these articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Hartford Courant.

A good guy, a great friend of ours, and a great friend of Wesleyan.

He will be missed.

If anyone has reminiscences to share, please send them along.

Sincerely,

Skip, John, Bert, and Ed

Skip Silloway | ssillow@gmail.com; 801/532-4311 

John Spurdle | jspurdle@aol.com; 212/644-4858

---

Thoughts on Doug from Classmates

Tim Chapin: “Whenever Doug took on some enterprise, he quickly became the face of it, and eventually its leader.  He brought a whole new meaning to “over-achiever.” He also was attentive to the more minor issues in life and a kindness and empathy for the less fortunate or those in trouble. He is the man who is missing from today’s world;  we need a million more Dougs, not one less.”

Dick Cadigan: “Doug had an amazing career and contributions to ‘making the world better’!”

Tim Day: “It is very sad to lose another of our great classmates. Doug lived a life of distinction and brought honor to the Class of ’59. May he RIP and celebrate a celestial reunion with those who proceeded him—like my roommates Terry Smith and Marty Jaskot and many other friends.”

John Dennis: “When I ran for congress in 1988, Doug was a magnificent behind the scenes tutor. The political world was a new territory for me  and with all the other far more important things that were on Doug’s desk, he always seemed to have time for me. More than a skilled political counselor, he was a master confidence builder. As I look back at the years of his presidency, I wonder if the greatest legacy that he left Wesleyan might possibly have been the same gift that he gave me. Confidence Builder!”

Bob McKelvey: “In reading yesterday’s lengthy and laudatory NY Times obituary about our friend and classmate, Doug Bennet, detailing his contributions to education, NPR, the State Department, and the political world, I suspect that Vic Butterfield would have said: “That is what I call contributing out of proportion to his numbers.” Vic would have been very proud of Doug,  as are all of us to have had Doug as a friend and classmate.”

Joe Mallory: “I did not know Doug very well at Wesleyan but never heard anything but good things about him.In thinking back, I was able to recall one anecdote that might be worth adding to the collection: It was at the beginning of our junior or senior years when Dean Barlow assembled the new crop of dormitory counselors to brief them on the mission, rules, protocols, etc. As we approached the eagerly anticipated end of the meeting, the dean invited questions or comments. Whereupon, Doug raised concern regarding the policy that dorm counselors on duty during party weekends were allowed to have dates in their rooms. To this day, I remember the stunned silence that fell over the group and the dismayed looks as Dean Barlow seemed to agree that Doug’s concern had merit. Of course, we had no way of knowing that somewhere in the future Doug would become president of Wesleyan University. However, after witnessing that display of strength of conviction, and in this case, raw courage, I think none of us would have been surprised.”

Skip Silloway: “I did not know Doug well when at Wes. I became acquainted much later when he became president. I am grateful for his having reeled my father back into the Wes fold. He had been very much estranged for many years. Doug and Dad became great friends proving opposites attract. They exchanged visits to each others homes. The aging conservative business man and the liberal college pres. They argued each others positions over an abundance of single-malt scotch and a genuine friendship ensued. It was great for Dad to have this connection in his later years. This is a personal anecdote but how I remember Doug. It is a measure of who he was. I am grateful for the connection.”

Owen Tabor: “Doug was a guy with great eyebrows. He was not particularly athletic but he gave a great effort on the soccer field. He was, we all knew, very smart. His time at NPR was remarkable and he provided a summer job for our daughter, Mary. She went on to the NY Times and a great, but shor,t career in journalism. He had plenty of social graces, a resonating voice and ready smile. When he became president of Wesleyan I thought, ‘What a great choice,’ and it was. Although we were not particularly close I considered him a friend and the loss is significant. He understood fraternities and their pluses and minuses, but he was a fine mind in a reasonable body with a strong heart. May flights of angels . . .”

Charlie Wrubel: “Doug was the right president for Wes during his tenure. His vision and practical application of financial strategy both energized our growth and created a sensible approach to building our  endowment. Wes should be forever grateful for his leadership.”

Nelson Edwards emailed to remind me that not much was new, but he was planning on our 60th Reunion in late May.

Bill Caspary is still teaching at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He has been teaching for more than 50 years! He and Rima will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this year.

Patti and Dick Goldman are very glad to be in Key Biscayne, Fla., away from the Boston weather. Dick is relaxing now, but in Boston he teaches law and started a group for Wes graduates who are lawyers. Dick is the Boston representative for the national Wesleyan Lawyers Association.

Although he has been retired for 16 years, Bill Fryer works part-time as an interim pastor. He and Joanna love to travel and visit children and grandchildren. He is looking forward to our 60th.

A sad note from Alice Higgins: Bill passed away July 31, 2017. I remember him fondly.

Bart Bolton’s grandchildren take center stage in his email. The oldest grandson is now working full-time in the IT field and the oldest granddaughter was married last fall. He and Ed Kershner will be on Longboat Key in February and plan to meet with Charlie Denny and me for our annual luncheon.

Toni and John Corkran celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in January. John wishes to thank the class for their generous response for the 60th Reunion gift.

Art Geltzer and Mel Cote plan to attend the 60th despite the death of Mel’s wife, Polly. She was a fine painter and active in the art scene until a few months ago.

Frank Vietze writes of his favorite Christmas present: His three children and four grandchildren from Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Southern California, and Frank and Barbara from Michigan, gather in Kentucky to spend six days together. All of his grandchildren play soccer.

Don Hill is still in San Mateo, Calif., enjoying 89 percent retired life. He will coordinate an economics institute for teachers and professors at Stanford this summer for the 31st consecutive year. He plays tennis three or four times a week. Highlight of 2018: watching a grandson at Stanford play water polo against another grandson in Cambridge.

Despite record-cold weather, Neil Springborn and family are doing very well. They enjoy golf and serving on boards and commissions. A daughter, Allyson, is an accomplished barrel racer, son Jeff is with the National Weather Service and was transferred to Houston, Texas. One granddaughter is playing Division II soccer and another is in Hong Kong.

A long note from Tom Burns gives a brief overview of his life. After Wesleyan and the Army, he enrolled at Cal Berkeley where he met wife Janice. After Cal he had a wide variety of work in computers and systems in four locations for four companies. They have three children scattered along the East Coast from Massachusetts to Florida. He now enjoys local community activities in Minnesota. Most every year he and Janice enjoy an overseas trip and a few summer weeks on the Maine Coast.

Fred Houck, recovering after spinal surgery in November, will travel to Florida and walk every day. He is hoping to be of assistance to the Reunion committee.

A very upbeat note from Bill Barnes. He and Pat celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last summer at New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington and Vermont’s Mt. Mansfield in Stowe. He recalls their days as a married couple in Wesleyan’s Veterans’ Village. Also, there were the Krenzs and the Mansfields. His retirement is active and fulfilling. He is in his 30th year as a violist in the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra and subs at area churches.

Neil Henry plans to return for the 60th. He is proud of his three grandsons who are playing basketball for the first time.

Kay and I are doing well, no serious health issues yet. And we definitely are planning on May 25-27 for our 60th Reunion. Hey, gang, let us do it!

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