Hi all. Here is the news that our classmates shared.
Anand Cousins ’80 (who was originally in the Class of 1979, but graduated in 1980 with a degree in physics) submitted this update for inclusion in our 1979 notes: “After a career in teaching, doing R&D, and product development in mechanical engineering, I retired a few years ago and am working on spreading information about how to fight climate change effectively at the household level. Many of us are reading the news and feeling that we are helpless to affect the course of events (see the recent COP30 conference and the backlash against renewable energy in the U.S.). However, after looking into the issue in a quantitative way, I believe that individuals and households actually have a large amount of leverage in reducing North American greenhouse gas emissions. I invite those interested in reducing their carbon footprints to read this recent article, where I discuss our family’s experience with reducing emissions: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-we-reduced-our-co2-emissions-and-met-the-paris-climate-goals-da41a1224515.”
Such happy news from Jono Cobb,whois getting married on Martha’s Vineyard to Julia (Hollander) Campbell ’80. Julialost her husband just a few months before Jono’s wife, Suzzanne, passed away. On behalf of the class, I wish you both much happiness.
Sean Barlow and Banning Eyre report that despite federal defunding of public media, their program Afropop Worldwide is airing on 110 stations in the U.S. and on afropop.org. Initiatives include active discussions withWesleyan regarding partnering on the 40-plus-year Afropop Archive. They invite folks to join them for the Afropop Music and Culture Tour of Senegal in January 2027. Past Afropop Tour participants include ’79 classmates Rich Sussman, Debbie Mincer, Ralph Maltese, Matt Jarvinen, and Sheila Peck ’81 (honorary ’79er). More info: sean@afropop.org.
John Tjia sent this update: “I finally retired in September 2024, at age 71; 2025 has been the first full year I did not have a paying job in nearly 50 years, and it’s great. (My week is now one Sunday and six Saturdays.) My 40-year career in financial modeling in banking, which I loved, is happily closed. I am doing oil painting and sold my first painting to a local restaurant— it’s on display there; another is now on exhibit. I got a little better at table tennis. Attempts to learn piano got sidelined by a new discovery: I hate homework (practice); I’ll pick it up again later. Since late 2024, I am chair of the board of directors of a spiritual nonprofit called Subud New York, and one main task is shepherding the membership through the sale of our building in Manhattan, closing maybe in nine to 12 months’ time. I keep in touch with Wesleyan buddies Vinod Busjeet ’73 and Arthur Paterson ’75 through weekly Zoom calls. All is well!”
Willie Jones tells us that “after a wonderful trip to Italy and visiting Venice, Vicenza, and Torino last fall, I returned to Charlotte last November. I was able to sell my house quickly, and I now live in Lancaster, South Carolina. Retired life is good. I’m reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. I’ve discovered the joy of being a grandfather and spending quality time with family. [This year] will be a year of domestic travel for me, and hopefully, I’ll have the chance to see parts of the U.S. that I never have. Perhaps I will run into some ’79ers along the way!”
Finally, as for me, your class secretary, whereas this issue seems to be awash with news on retirement, I’ll share similar updates about my own. My husband and I have been retired from our careers in finance for almost seven years and enjoying it. Board service is part of the mix as is international travel to far-flung areas of the globe that are on our bucket list. Have met a lot of wonderful folks on our trips, fellow travelers and locals alike, and enjoy that part almost as much as learning about the countries we visit. Our two adult children, Matthew (Princeton ’13) and Wes alum Megan Dolan ’17, are gainfully employed in professions they find meaningful, are happy in their personal lives as well, and are just really good young people. Parents can’t ask for better than that. My husband and I enjoy donating our time to help our communities in New York and California and to volunteer initiatives in the UCSD community, where we also attend classes. All is well! And I am thoroughly enjoying my work as your class secretary.
Reports Bill Adler: “It’s hard to believe that I’m in my 11th year living in Japan. I’m
enjoying this place a lot, and I’d be delighted to show you around if you visit.”
John Herzfeld writes: “I was honored by the presence of our class co-secretary Ken Kramer and his wife, Robin, at our performance of Beethoven’s Ninth with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra, for which my home base—the West Village Chorale—provided the vocal forces. Kathy Mintz and Noreen O’Donnell (sister of Brian O’Donnell’79) turned out, as they have for nearly every West Village Chorale concert for the past couple of decades, and completing the party was my wife, Tatjana! Hope to make it up to New Haven to see Ken play his trumpet in the Yale Medical Symphony Orchestra.” I can report that the privilege was all mine: A stunning performance it was by John and his New York City choral group, and I can recommend to any and all within striking distance of the city to come hear ’em!
Dave Landman lives with his wife, Marian, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and continues his lifelong, extreme mountain-climbing and exploring activities, having now climbed all Seven Summits continental peaks. He is on track to complete the rare Explorer’s Grand Slam, which additionally incorporates treks to the South and North Poles—the latter of which is the only remaining leg for Dave and is planned for next year. Of note, Dave takes this on in support of the Juniper Fund, which provides financial support and skill-building opportunities for Sherpa families suffering loss from the casualties of that occupation.
Sam Liss writes: “Happy to relay that a group of outstanding WesTech folks joined together at the U.S. Open Tennis event in New York back in September—including Steve Greenberg, Don Rosenstein’80, Ken Kramer, John Beresniewicz, John Herzfeld, Andy Simon ’80, respective spouses, including Gail Liss, and Liss daughters, Alix ’16, Emmy, and Jessica.” (Thanks for setting it all up, Sam.)
“Would add a shout-out—albeit not yet time to nominate University MVP or lifetime service awards in front of our approaching 50th (and clearly we have a few to whom we can raise a glass)—to express great and timely appreciation to Michael Roth for how he has led and represented our alma mater and its essence in the public domain throughout the unbelievably tumultuous 2025.”
Rich Order is busy following up on the publication of his 2025 book, Reimagining a More Perfect Union: A Better Constitution for Modern America, in which Rich brings his legal background to a treatise on recommending the rewriting of portions of our Constitution. During this past year he has been engaged in discussing the book at venues including television, radio, churches, Jewish community centers, political organizations, and book clubs.
Kevin Rose proudly announces the upcoming wedding of his son, Danny ’19, to Julia Kim ’20, this year in NYC. He looks forward as well to a subsequent wedding this year in Italy for another Wes couple, Nolan Webb ’20 and Stasie Litinsky ’20.
Julie Scolnik is now in the 29th season of her music series, Mistral Music. Her memoir, Paris Blue, continues its active presence in bookstores and book clubs, with a possible film version in the offing. Julie invites anyone traveling during the summer months through Provence—where she spends four months with her husband and cats—to pay a visit.
Julie at a book event in August 2025
Dave Wilson continues his active jazz saxophone career with the Dave Wilson Quartet, having recently released his eighth recording, When Even Goes West. Says Dave, “I am grateful for my experience at Wesleyan in the mid-1970s, especially studying with the late Bill Barron; it helped shape my career in music to where I am today.”
Lastly, on a sad note, we mourn the June 6, 2025, passing of Kofi Osae-Kwapong. A link to Kofi’s obituary can be found online in the archived section of the ’78 class notes, at classnotes.blogs.wesleyan.edu.
oliday cheer this year included: Mark Slitt, who will be visiting his seventh continent in 2026—Antarctica. In 2025, Mark traveled through Morocco on a Jewish heritage tour. Joan Goldfeder recounted a fine trip to Montreal late in the fall, pretending it was Paris, with Joe Tringali,Arlene Lappen,Peter Bickford, and Nancy Milburn, the dearest of friends. Jim LaLiberty sent holiday greetings, along with a “Great Moments at DEKE” photo (credit to Jeff Laszlo ’78) of Bob Scanlon, Bruce Fessenden, Mike Coffey, and Jim against a photo of the Rolling Stones. A classic!
Top photo: from left to right: Bob, Bruce, Mike, and Jim.
Yoriko Kishimoto wrote about California life split between Palo Alto and Boonville. In Boonville, Yoriko grows olives along with cultivating a pinot noir vineyard. She is active in both locations, with open space and agricultural issues. She has two daughters, one in Seattle and the other in Oakland, as well as a 100-year-old father going strong in Tokyo. Scott Director reports on the birth of their second grandchild (first grandson) in July. His son, Sam, and daughter-in-law live in Richmond where Sam is a professor of philosophy. Scott and wife Carol visited Richmond in the fall and more recently went to Mexico City to see their daughter, Isabel, and son-in-law. Hope Neiman has taken residence in Ventura, California, three blocks from the beach, and has a home in Mammoth Lakes, enjoying the snow and surf lifestyles of California.
I am fortunate to get to see Sue Guiney more now than at every fifth-year reunion, as I have joined her fine nonprofit board, Writing Through. Sue is a proud new grandparent to grandson Finneas. Sue’s most recent novel was published: Where We Find Ourselves. It is the last in her series about life in modern-day Cambodia. I can attest—it is a tremendous read. Sue has connected with Betsy Hecker, Mary Jo Wade, and Arlene Lappen and more recently visited with J. Mark Beamis and Jane Eisner. Speaking of Jane, she got to visit Rachel Balf when she was visiting the States, and she dines with Don Lowery frequently. Jane’s book on Carole King has been well received by classmates as well as the press.
Andy Darpino sent along his fine holiday wishes to all! Carol Cooper shared the news that Routledge UK will be publishing her next book as part of their Jungian and archetypal psychology line: adapted from her doctoral dissertation using Jung’s foundational Anima/Animus theory examining work of female participants in the Surrealism and Jungian Psychology.
Steve McNutt writes that he is finally recovering from the effects of Hurricane Helene. In mid-December, he got together with Steve Gold and Andy Adesman and their wives. They watched the sunset and had dinner at Longboat Key. A nice mini-reunion, I’d say. Steve is still working (professor at USF) but is planning to retire in 2026.
It has always been difficult for me to write about fellow classmates’ deaths. This is especially true of someone who I knew for the greater part of my childhood. Arlyn Greenspan-Siegelaub passed away from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease earlier in 2025 and is survived by her husband, Steven’78, her son, Jonathan ’06, her daughter, Tracy, and her grandchildren, Jacob and Estella. Our hearts go out to the entire Siegelaub clan.
I close by where I began, wishing everyone well in 2026. As the lucky recipient of your notes of personal updates, it is my pleasure to pass these notes to our class. I will shamelessly make a plug—which I shall do at each set of notes this year—for people to clear their calendars on May 21–23 in 2027 for our 50th Reunion. Even if one has not attended a reunion, it will be worth making the effort here. At this point in our lives, connecting with people and aging as a community is a powerful legacy.
Thanks to everyone for responding to my blatantly guilt-inducing plea for notes. You really came through! And it was so gratifying to hear from people we haven’t heard from in a very long time (if ever).
And, yes! It’s the year of our 50th Reunion! If you’ve missed the steady trickle of email about the reunion, let me know. There’s a lot going on, and I’ll be happy to catch you up (and make sure you’re in our database for future news).
Al Cohall sent a note!: “Hi everyone! I just retired after a long career at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, where I developed several programs for vulnerable populations (young people at risk for, or living with, STIs and HIV), as well as formerly incarcerated individuals with significant medical, mental health, and substance use issues. I also ran a CDC–funded Prevention Research Center and an STD/HIV Prevention Training Center. I had the opportunity to teach at both the School of Public Health and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. It was a blast! Now I get to relax, exercise, write, and spend time with my wonderful wife, five kids, and three grandkids.”
From Rob Williams: “I plan to be at the reunion. For the past five years I have been an infectious disease physician on the island of Maui in Hawaii. This is a great place to work as the lifestyle is much slower than southern New Jersey, where I had been working for the previous 33 years. Most of the family is on the mainland, and we are expecting grandbaby number eight in January. I keep in touch with Pete McArdle, Dennis Harrington, and Harry Loeshelle. Next week I am expecting a visit from Bob Thompson who will vacationing on Maui. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in May.
“Attached is a picture of myself, Pete McArdle, and Dennis Harrington. This is after the Trinity game in 1975. It’s the last football game the three of us ever played.”
Peter McCardle, Rob Williams, and Dennis Harrington
From Fred Fuchs: “I spent 12 years in LA with Jay Abramowitz, Bruce Singer, and Lars Fredrickson. I am still in California, but [in] the Bay Area, and have a film club the last five years with the guys each month, with also Sid Rothberg, Hank Alter ’77, and Dave Apicella. We meet each month online.”
From Mel Blake: “I’m happily retired for three years and enjoying life with wife, Rebecca, in Portsmouth New Hampshire. Taking advantage of good health to travel, play tennis, and take long walks in our beautiful historic town. I’m looking forward to seeing classmates at the reunion!”
Faith (Breslow) Szydlo updates us that she’s living in the greater Boston area and has recently retired from a career as a software engineer. She’s happily spending time with her granddaughter.
Elyse Grasso writes: “In 2025, I published the first two novels in a fantasy series. I am working on the third volume.”
Deepest sympathy to Ken Carpenter for his very recent loss: “[My] wife of 48 years, Susan (Johnson) Carpenter ’77 passed away peacefully, at home surrounded by family, the morning of January 4, 2026.”
Meredith Bergmann had a very productive year. She created a monument for a park in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, that will be unveiled in June; it’s currently at the foundry. Her sculpture, Mother & Child with a Glock, won best in show from the New England Sculpture Society’s Mattatuck Museum show.
In poetry, Meredith’s chapbook A Special Educationwas reissued, and several of her poems were published in various publications in 2025.
Her biggest news was finishing filming Pointing Fingers, the first commercial, full-length feature film written by, about, and starring people with minimally-speaking autism, currently in postproduction. The film was written by Meredith’s son, Dan Bergmann (a playwright and activist who lives with minimally-speaking autism), and directed by her husband, Michael (a writer and film director). Meredith was DP and production designer.
Joe Mabel writes: “As an administrator and contributor to Wikimedia Commons (like a job except for the getting paid part), one of many things I’ve been up to is cross correlating old photos of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest (clear up into Alaska, at times) in four different Seattle institutional collections. I’ve found a surprisingly high error rate in the titles and descriptions. At this point, I’ve had easily over 1,000 corrections and additions accepted by one or another collection. Here’s a link to an illustrated lecture about that I gave in 2023: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jmabel/Final_draft_of_talk_for_WikiConference_North_America_2023.
“Also, in terms of connecting to other Wes alums, last spring I was in Los Angeles and had lunch with Martha Meade (who was burned out of her longtime home in Pacific Palisades and is currently living in Thousand Oaks); this summer I saw Kerri Rubman and her husband, David, when they visited Seattle (where I have been based for almost half a century); and on an October 2025 visit to NYC, I got together with David van Biema ’80 and Jim Melloan’77 at Caffe Reggio, a Greenwich Village coffeehouse where I was a weekend regular during my high school years.
“Looking forward to seeing people at the reunion or possibly in NYC the week after. Or in Seattle in the summer, if anyone is headed this way.”
Deborah Lyons writes: “Having retired from Miami University (after 36 years of teaching, not 21 as it said in the last notes), I am moving back to New England at the end of May, either to Northampton or elsewhere in Massachusetts. I welcome any advice about choosing a new home. My email is still lyonsd@miamioh.edu.”
Bruce Demple seems to have had the best possible year! He tells us: “2025 began with my wife, Sue, completing chemotherapy, and no additional treatments were needed. We celebrated with our first-ever trip to Hawaii in February. We had a few wonderful days on the Big Island, one of which involved the morning spent on a lovely beach and sunset up at 9,000 feet on Mauna Kea. Lots more on Hawai’i too. We spent several more days on Maui with longtime friends from my Berkeley grad student days—they’ve been asking us to visit there for years. Returning by way of Berkeley, we learned that our younger daughter there was pregnant. That was the second such news, as our older daughter in Brooklyn was expecting, too, in the spring. Granddaughter Daphne arrived at the beginning of May and granddaughter June in mid-September. Girls rule! It’s been such a joy to watch them develop and work on exploring the world, while being informed about the proper way to care for babies. . . We had the first all-family gathering in Berkeley for Thanksgiving; Sue and I came back to Berkeley for the Christmas–New Year holidays, which was great fun. Amongst the family excitement, we did some traveling in the summer, including a visit to Sue’s family and our friends in England, with a several-day foray to Berlin, seeing my 85-year-old dear friend Klaus, whom I met immediately in the months before WesU when I went to work in a factory in Göttingen, West Germany. I know his family well, through kids and grandkids, too, so it was very rewarding after a six-year break. In early October we attended a scientific meeting in Trondheim, Norway, which was Sue’s first visit to the country (and maybe my eighth). Rainy but beautiful. Oh, yes, one thing I let my colleagues know at the meeting: At the end of 2025, I would be retiring (past tense now appropriate). That’s definitely a bittersweet decision: Being a research scientist and university professor really was my calling, found somewhat by accident late in my college career. I will miss that and I will miss the students too. But family beckons!”
Bruce Demple (second from left) and family
Leslie Gabel-Brett writes: “I am looking forward to teaching my course again this spring at Wesleyan, Social Activism and Theories of Change. I am working with my co-teacher, Beverly Tillery, to revise the syllabus to reflect the very challenging times we are in. I am also looking forward to attending our 50th class reunion!”
Laurette Tuckerman sends greetings!: “Hi, classmates! The short story is that I married and moved to Paris in 1993, where I’ve worked as a scientific researcher (in fluid dynamics, numerical simulations, and bifurcation theory) ever since. I have three children, all around 30 years old, and I can’t make it to the 50th Reunion because I am organizing a contra dance weekend. Come by to visit!”
Susan (Peterson) Avitzour writes: “The past half-year [2025] has been relatively quiet for me, after the craziness of the June war with Iran. I’m extremely thankful for the Gaza ceasefire and the return of the hostages and still managing to hold onto my hope for a far, far better future for all of us in this tormented corner of the world.
“On the personal level, I’m doing very well, other than normal age-related orthopedic complaints— though it turns out that even at the age of 70, one can find solutions and get back into reasonable shape! I’m spending most of my time nowadays working on my writing (to which I’ve returned after a yearslong dry spell), learning my part and singing in a choir, birdwatching, and of course spending time with those of my descendants who are living in Israel.
“Half of my children and just over half my grandchildren are now living in the Bay Area (Berkeley, etc.), so we’re planning a trip to the States in May. I had hoped to be able to attend the reunion, but unfortunately, I can’t be on the East Coast at the relevant time. I hope that those of you who can make it to the reunion will have a blast!”
And from Doug Hurd: “I finally did retire. After Wes, then professional school, DDS, married a wonderful gal, spent some time as a researcher and teacher, interrupted by a really bad auto accident, then private practice in upstate New York for 38 years. My wife and I have made the most of this beautiful part of the state that we live in, been involved in our community in areas we felt worthwhile, and now have more time for travel.
“I did visit and keep contact with Wes, but mostly with members of the art department where I worked for awhile as a student (not my major). Finally, it was my children that kept me coming back.
I have two children, both graduated from Wesleyan with honors. My son has a PhD in geology, and while at Wes, was a New England wrestling champion (I wrestled for four years also). My daughter graduated with high honors in dance, now has a master’s in nursing.
“I am hoping to make it to the reunion.”
From Barb Birney: “It’s been fun to spend time with my dad, Bob Birney ’50, filling in details for a biography that I’m writing. He is 100 years old and resides in Williamsburg, Virginia. I asked him a question that I suspect no one has asked since he graduated. I asked him who recommended in 1946 that he go to Wesleyan. After some casting around, he tentatively called up the name of a boyhood friend. I called the alumni office to find out if a Willard Lockwood (’46) had ever graduated from Wesleyan. For sure, Willard went to Wesleyan on the Thorndike Prize and graduated in 1946. Dad is in a nursing home with some paralysis, but the mind is as sharp as ever.
“I’ll be visiting with friends on the East Coast around Reunion time, so please let me know if you want to get together. Email is: barbarabirney@msn.com.”
We heard from Larry Gilius! He tells us: “I’m writing this on my third day of retirement. And I can say that retirement is a good invention. I enjoyed the past 19 years as head of the Writing Center and other operations for Mount Hood Community College, east of Portland, Oregon. I particularly enjoyed the brave, resourceful, and big-hearted students there, who taught me so much. But it is interesting and very promising to ask about each day now, ‘What do I need to have happen today to feel fulfilled?’ rather than ‘What should I do for my employer today?’ I think I can get used to this. Nancy, my wife of 34 years, and I are enjoying having our daughter visiting from Scotland. She completed a master’s program last year at the University of Edinburgh in ‘high performance computing’—supercomputing. (OK, I’ll brag. There were 800 applicants for the 40 spots. She was the only student accepted from the U.S.) She works now for Great Britain’s main center of supercomputing in Edinburgh. That means an excuse for us to travel there, which we’ve done twice in just over a year, including a September journey to the magical Isle of Mull on the west coast. I’d visited there in the summer after my first year at Wes and have wanted to return all my life. We’re also enjoying a new home after 20 years in Portland. We’ve joined the Adam’s Creek Cohousing Community just east of Portland in Hood River, at the east end of the amazing Columbia River Gorge and at the base of Mount Hood. Cohousing means our own condo but also shared facilities like a ‘common house’ for some meals and activities, and shared responsibilities for governance and life together in a multigenerational community of like-minded souls. It’s been a fabulous new way of life, another thing I can easily get used to. Sending my best wishes to all.”
Cheryl Alpert notes: “I remain a REALTOR® in the greater Boston area but have pivoted my focus to rightsizing—‘rightsizing a home does not define increasing or decreasing the size of your home. You are adjusting your home size to better fit your needs,’ meaning that I act as a consultant to help you better understand what you are seeking and why as well as prepare to move. I am still potting and have found an amazing ceramics instructor, community, and studio that I love. I see Rook Van Nest and Jeff Dunn ’75, both live in my town, and J. Mark Beamis ’77 on occasion.”
Janet Brooks (left), Neely Bruce
David Harmin and I are doing well. David just completed his first year of full retirement and is clearly very, very happy about not having to get up early to go to work. Being in complete command of your time—for the first time since, oh, 1958—is a fantastic experience. We try as often as possible to see Tom Kovar,Mike Greenberg,Nina (Rusinow) Rosenstein, and Marjorie (Allen) Dauster. Doesn’t happen as often as we’d like! David returned to campus in early October to sing Neely Bruce’s “The Bill of Rights”; Janet Brooks was part of the chorus.And we both went back to campus in late November for Neely’s performance of “The Songs of Richard Winslow.” We both have very fond memories of Dick; hearing his work performed was deeply affecting.
I’m sorry to share the very sad news that Lynette Vialet passed on in 2024. She had been an ob-gyn in Colorado for many years. A colleague wrote of her: “I wrote this speech on the day my mentor and the woman who delivered my daughters died. We all remember that special mentor in our lives. Lynette Vialet was the epitome of strength and resilience. She was a flight surgeon in the air force, one of the most respected physicians in our hospital, and a Jazzercise instructor. She knew just what to do in every situation. She took incredible ownership of patients, and it was my honor to work with her. She was one of us. One of the best of us. She was magical.”
As of this writing, I’ve heard from these folks that they’re planning/hoping to attend the reunion:
Andi Grubb Barthwell
Meredith Bergmann
Mel Blake
Jon Daniels
Talya Fishman
Fred Fuchs
Leslie Gabel-Brett
Oliver Griffith
Debra Haffner
David Harmin
Byron Haskins
Dan Herr
Doug Hurd
Joanne Lukitsh
Wendy Lustbader
Deborah Malamud
Martha Meade
Cathy Popkin
Bob Thompson
Rob Williams
Many of the people who have attended our Zoom sessions have indicated that they’re leaning toward attending, but I haven’t included their names because they haven’t definitively said “I’m coming!” I don’t want to put words in anyone’s mouth. . .
Thanks for sharing high points of your experiences at our 50th, post-reunion connections made, and other recent news. Please continue to contribute to these notes and to enjoy or add to Reunion photos in our Google album.
From left to right: Dennis Chin, Cynthia Ulman, and Bruce Paton attend a talk given by President Michael Roth in San Francisco in January.
Brett Sherman’s most special moment was arriving on Friday with Bart Kummer by train from NYC. “We made it to the dorm expecting to drop our bags, and there were our classmates already partying: Emely Karandy, Alyson Greenlaw Cleary, Bill Devereaux, Jim Daley, Dave Terry, and Mark Nickerson. Seeing them all together was a wonderful start. Also joining for the weekend were my freshman year roommate Kathy (Scholle) Hale, who I get to see regularly in Rhode Island, along with Bill Bass ’74, who had such a good time at the Class of ’74 Reunion, he came back. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to catch up with David Lipton, Susan Gans, Cutty Wilbur, Pat McQuillan, Perry Cacace, Steve Levin, Gary Steinel, Jack Hoover, and many others. An unexpected pleasure was spending time with classmates I had not known well before. At the time of the reunion, as I was about to retire with some trepidation, it was comforting to learn that most of our class had already retired and were flourishing.”
Speaking of New York, Dave Rosenblum lunched in NYC a few days after Reunion with Bob McNamara, whose family commitments prevented him from attending. Bob, who is retired and an avid sailor, lives in Westchester. In December, Dave had dinner in NYC at Bart Kummer’s apartment on the Upper West Side—less than 10 blocks from Dave and Sue’s pied-à-terre.
David Leisner’s newest album, DEDICATIONS, is a collection of 10 works that are premier recordings. David commissioned all but one from illustrious composers who are among his friends. Five of the pieces were commissioned and written during the pandemic. One was written originally for Segovia in 1957, but in 1979, David was the first to ever perform it. This is a digital-only release that you can find at the top of the Performer Recordings page on David’s website: http://davidleisner.com/recordings/. David calls DEDICATIONS “one of the most important albums I’ve ever made, so I truly hope that you might find time to listen to it!”
Jeff Morgan observed, “our 50th Reunion was way more fun than I thought it would be. I went with my old friend, Vicky (Rigsby) Keiser, and we hung out and had a great time with old and new friends. I hosted a tasting of wines from my Berkeley, California, urban winery, Covenant, for some 100 thirsty alums. (It was basically a giant therapy session for me with good drinks.) I continue to rediscover my musical self, playing gigs in New York, San Francisco, and Miami, which feels good after a 20-year hiatus. I’m blessed to have my youngest daughter, Zoe, working as Covenant’s GM. And both my daughters (along with three grandchildren under the age of two) now live nearby.
“That the Sinners festival (in Clarksville) coincided with a previously planned tribute weekend to musician Son House . . . caused some concern for Bruce “Dr. B” Weinraub, a physician, piano player, and owner of the Blue Room, an event space on Third Street. Weinraub, who organized the Son House tribute weekend, had invited Joe Beard and John Mooney to headline the event, which also featured a screening of and panel discussion about the 2016 documentary Two Trains Runnin’. Weinraub said he hoped people who came out to experience the Sinners events would also take time to get to know Son House and his contribution to the Delta blues. ‘It’s all related,’ he said.”
In November, Martha (Faller) Brown welcomed her first grandchild, Luna Valkyrie Means. “From this grandmother’s perspective, she is already strong and quite vocal, so I know she’ll make her mark on the world. All other news kind of pales in the face of new life!” Martha has been a beta reader for Tim Brown’s(’72) current project, writing his Union Township Trilogy. His first volume, The Brangus Rebellion, “a climate fiction thriller,” came out in 2023 under his pen name R.R. Corvi (rrcorvi.com). It won a first-place book award from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association.
Speaking of grandchildren, Kathy Scholle Hale and her family recently welcomed a fifth grandchild named June Margo Hale. Paul Gionfriddo and Pam also became grandparents for the fifth time this winter when their daughter, Lizzie, gave birth to her first child, Ryan, who has many Wesleyan connections on both sides of the family. His paternal grandfather is Brian Katten ’79, Wesleyan’s longtime sports information director. In the fall, Paul and Mark Nickerson caught up at a Wesleyan-hosted NCAA Division III second-round soccer game. “We dodged a few raindrops as we cheered Wesleyan on, but unfortunately late first-half and early-second goals cost Wesleyan a close match.”
During Middletown’s cold-weather winter, Paul spends several mornings a week warming up with an indoor jog at the Wesleyan field house, which is open to older local residents in the morning. “We share the space with Wesleyan’s spring sports teams on several mornings. It’s mind-boggling how many students are engaged in sports these days (and how many are up and active so early in the morning—certainly not what I remember!).”
Richard Hume retired on December 31, 2025. He and Lesley and headed to New Zealand and Australia for a month—a welcome change of climate from snowbound Michigan. In Chicago, their son, Michael, and his wife, Ashley, delivered a fourth Hume grandchild, Deckard, last July. His older siblings are two, 11, and 13 years old. Richard and Lesley’s daughter, Rebecca, remains in Brooklyn working for Protect Democracy.
It was great to hear from Eric Appellof for perhaps the first time. (It’s never too late!) After earning his degree in chemistry, Eric worked for a year as a lab tech at Pfizer in Groton and learned that chemistry was “not my true calling. The next logical step was obviously law school, with a side of business school thrown in for variety.” After earning his JD/MBA from Syracuse University in 1980, he moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, spending half his career in a law firm and the second half working in-house at People’s Bank until retiring in June 2016. “Along the way I married twice (with a divorce in proper sequence) and had four children, one of whom is Wesleyan Class of 2006. Since retiring I have moved from Fairfield to Branford, just a couple of blocks from Long Island Sound.” Although Eric missed the Reunion, he got together with freshman roommates Rich Hume and Jeff McChristian along with everyone’s spouses in May. He’s seen Jeff again more recently, along with JD Moore, a high school classmate who is affiliated with the same law firm where Eric got his start in 1980.
Watch for Amy Bloom’s new book, Blunt Instrument,out June 2 from Mysterious Press. It’s set at a small, excellent liberal arts university in Connecticut. A difficult person is bludgeoned to death with a bronze bust of Nathaniel Hawthorne. A disgraced former English professor investigates. . .
Susan Gans sums up the reunion’s success thus, “Our 50th Reunion was a blast, and word is that our class set the record for 50th Reunion attendance, fundraising, and number of submissions and essays for the Class Book (which, sadly, was the last Class Book to be printed, as we were told that it will go all digital starting with the Class of 1976). Staying up late in the lounge talking with classmates felt as though we’d been transported in a time machine back to 1971.” Susan is enjoying retirement, spending a lot of time traveling (Italy last summer and Croatia in the fall), fostering and seeking good homes for dogs, and planning events for the 400-member tandem cycling group she founded five years ago.
Cathy Gorlin spends the winter in Naples, Florida, but her heart is back in Minnesota this year with the wonderful Minnesotans who are gathering to protest. She writes, “So many I know are afraid to leave their homes. My brother’s kid was maced, beat up, illegally detained, and then let go. On the brighter side, our son and daughter-in-law are expecting a baby girl in March.”
Doug DeNatale and Gail “were so delighted to connect with many beloved classmates at Reunion. Since then, we’ve been fortunate to finally find our forever retirement home in the town of Randolph, New Hampshire, in the White Mountains. It’s a unique town founded in the early 1800s, mostly by academics and clergymen who formed the earliest hiking community.” They are enjoying much snow and a lovely view of Mounts Madison and Adams. Doug won’t fully retire as director of the Arts and Cultural Management
Graduate Program at Boston University until the end of next year, and Gail’s not yet ready to leave her position as senior associate director for Strategic Development at the Center for Teaching and Learning at Northeastern University. Their two daughters are flourishing: Martha established a day-care center in Kingston, New Hampshire; while Becca, a pastry chef, is taking a parental break in Barre, Massachusetts, to care for the three grandchildren Logan (four), Remi (three), and Colten (one). Doug adds, “I recently had the great pleasure of joining Brad Kosiba and Dorothy for dinner at their beautiful home in Chapel Hill. We’re hoping that they and our other classmates will come visit us in Randolph!”
Sticking close to home, Rachel (Adler) Hayes and husband, John, visited their son in Miami for Thanksgiving and spent three weeks in January at their farm in Schoharie, New York. They continue to cook at scale with their synagogue—Friday night Shabbat dinners for 200 and supervising Christmas dinner prep for 600-plus people in need in neighboring communities. “My peeling and chopping skills are deepening,” she says.
Jeff McChristian reported from West Hartford, happy to say that his summer health adventure—a spinal infection and eight-day hospitalization, has pretty much resolved. “I am off heavy-duty pain meds and slowly getting back in shape with continued PT. I’ve done some gentle cross-country skiing twice in the past week, a benefit of the first real winter we’ve had in several years. Grateful to Commander Dennis Chin, MD, [who] was immensely helpful and generous with his time during my recovery. I’ve stayed in touch with several classmates since our 50th, including Dennis, JD Moore, Eric Appellof, Carole Evans Sands, Emely Karandy, and Rick Segal. Bruce Tyson also reported that he expects to have his house rebuilt this year after it burned to the ground in the Palisades Fire last year.” For 2026, Jeff and Pat resolved to make up for six months without travel. They returned to Guatemala in January for Pat’s sixth community mosaic project in the largely Mayan town of San Lucas Toliman. Next will be southern Spain in March, and then Greece in May, stopping in Istanbul on the way home, and finally, Nepal and Bhutan in October. In between, they’ll drive to South Carolina to visit their daughter and son-in-law, as well as Vermont and upstate New York to see friends and family.
My summer and fall were a medical challenge as well. Two months after Reunion, Bob and I celebrated with 80 friends and family the wedding of our son, Ethan, to his beloved, Amanda. A few weeks later, a scan revealed a mass deep in Bob’s brain that seemed to be causing severe vision problems he’d been experiencing for almost a year. We were immediately sucked into the alternate universe of a medical crisis and spent a month at UCSF Medical Center seeking a diagnosis. When it came, we were blessed to learn that the lymphoma they diagnosed is very rare, and the top specialist in it is based at UCSF and leads a clinical trial that Bob could join. After three additional months of intensive chemo, Bob is in remission, receiving continuing outpatient treatment, and feeling pretty good. We are both enormously grateful.
Meanwhile, Brian Steinbach is relieved to be done with four weeks of five-day-a-week radiation treatment for a very low-grade prostate cancer, which he reports has a 95%–plus success rate at 10 years.
Ellen (Kabcenell) Wayne had a big family get-together this winter. Their son, Michael’05, his wife, Lucy, and children, Akiva and baby Lillian, came from Rotterdam and stayed with Ellen and Charlie’73. Their other sons, Daniel, with his wife, June, and Joey Wayne, with his wife, Hannah, and three young daughters also attended. They were joined by Ellen’s brother, Brian Kabcenell ’78, his wife, Joanne, and sister, Amy (the one non-Wesleyan Kabcenell).
Having traveled farthest to attend Reunion, Karin Johnson rated it “AMAZING. I never imagined that I would be able to re-connect with so many people and even forge new connections. It has been wonderful to see that some of the very important things in life can be sustained this long. I was strongly reminded of why I wanted to go to Wesleyan in the first place. These are harrowing times, but what a gift it is to know that there is bread for the journey.” Karin, Janet Brodie, Risa Korn, and Jane Hutchins continue regular Zoom visits to stay connected. Karin has also recently heard from Karen Kawaguchi and Lydia Evans. She adds, “Here at home, my family is well, and my grandchild is a chatty two-year-old, so life is delightful. Japan is becoming a trendy destination, it seems; feel free to reach out if you are in the neighborhood!”
Finally, no one worked harder and was more determined to be at our 50th Reunion than Charlie Stolper. As Karin Johnson remarked, “His presence was so strongly felt,” and he was buoyed by the love and support he received from us in Middletown last May. Charlie, surrounded by his family, succumbed to Parkinson’s disease and myotonic dystrophy (diagnoses he received shortly before our 40th Reunion) on September 24, 2025. He was generous in death, choosing to donate his brain, spine, and vital organs to the Stanford University Biobank to advance the study of myotonic dystrophy by researchers around the world. He donated the rest of his body to the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University.
Brian Steinbach was kind enough to write the following memories of Charlie:
“Charlie was the first classmate I met when we both ended up in the same suite at Lawn Avenue (as it was then called). Notably, all five of us from that suite attended the 50th Reunion—Charlie, me, Jeff Cox, Phil Swoboda, and Dave Rosenblum. Charlie and I ended up being suite, or roommates, for four years—another year at Lawn Avenue and then two years at Delta Tau. We had many adventures in those years, including a cross-country trip after freshman year that featured a stop at Dave’s in Portland; a 10-week European trip the next summer (memorably, we almost missed our flight because we went to a JFK Airport outside viewing area to have a last joint before the trip and returned to the gate to discover almost everyone had boarded a bus to the plane; fortunately gate personnel knew we were missing and drove us out to the plane). We drove to concerts as far afield as Waterbury (the Dead, along with Cindy Ulman and Martha (Faller) Brown, as well as Santana), NYC (Hot Tuna), and Providence (George Harrison and Ravi Shankar); and other road trips. We did lots of listening to loud music, and he brought me into DJing at WESU. We celebrated Charlie’s 21st birthday in the long tunnel under Foss Hill (with help from Cindy and Brad Kosiba). I spent one Thanksgiving with him and his mother and sister (and David Leisner) at a ski resort in Vermont. Somehow, during those years he managed to excel at CSS. After graduation, we stayed in touch, visiting in Charlottesville (when I was at UVA law), NYC (where he first worked), Boston (when he was at HBS, again excelling, and I was in Providence), NYC again (where he achieved his dream of being an investment banker by working for Kidder, and met his future wife, Christy), Princeton (where they lived for a while), Concord, Massachusetts, Chicago, and D.C. One D.C. visit involved his younger brother, who had just turned 21, drinking us both under the table. There was a ski trip to New Mexico where we stayed with Christy’s aunt and uncle at Los Alamos and inadvertently dissed them by traveling to ski at Taos each day. Fortunately, they didn’t hold it against him when he married Christy. I attended his wedding and he my first wedding, and I was his son Chad’s godfather. We exchanged visits to Evanston and Concord for our respective 40th birthday parties. He talked me into preparing the music CDs for our 35th Reunion. We did not see each as much after that, other than at Wes reunions, but we stayed in touch, and I was very glad to have a chance to talk to him at Reunion and to join the well-deserved standing ovation he received on arrival for our class picture. Charlie leaves behind the wonderful Christy, his daughter, Tory, and son-in-law, Jackson, his son, Chad, and daughter-in-law, Lydia, and his grandson, Tucker.”
As Dave Rosenblum said, “Even as he was physically debilitated by illness, Charlie remained engaged, including in fundraising for Wesleyan. He offered us all a lesson in courage and grace through his determination to attend our 50th.” Charlie departed with Wesleyan in his ears, as Tory invited close friends to send voice messages of love and support that she played for him in his last hours. He was deeply loyal to Wesleyan, so if you feel inspired, make a gift in his memory to Wesleyan’s Financial Aid and Access Fund. His family will host a memorial celebration to honor Charlie in Manhattan on May 23, 2026. Contact me if you would like more information.
Monique Witt reports: “We are all still involved in music. Bill and Jane Pearson have joined Steven and me for a number of concerts, two stops with Rickie Lee Jones, while Ben tours with her and assorted jazz. Mike Minard ’75 shared a wonderful composition (he’s so talented), and I talk to Linda Bierer all the time, trying to start up our walks in the north woods again. Unfortunately, bitter cold in January, but spring always brings Central Park walks with friends. Ben is home between multiple tours, having circumnavigated the globe again. He toured Spain with Catherine Russell and the Midwest with his trio and Laura Anglade, and his third Nebula album is slated for release in February. Dev finished the last production details on new product lines for NAM and patent filings. Steven is going ‘of counsel,’ and I’m still doing board work when not at the sound labs. Looking forward.”
Howard Curzer writes: “After 45 years of teaching (mostly) in the Texas Tech University Philosophy Department, I retired in July of 2025. My wife (Anne Epstein) also retired from her solo practice as an internist and sleep medicine specialist. We left our home of 40 years and moved into a townhouse in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NYC, seven doors away from our daughter (Mirah), son-in-law (Josh), and granddaughter (Clara). I’m still doing research—writing papers and a book. Although I miss teaching a bit and might go back if I could find the right part-time position in NYC, I’m savoring the experience of not grading papers.”
Bill Bass shares: “In the first year of my retirement, I did little more than lay on a Florida beach. In the past 12 months, I’ve been a bit more active, traveling to Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Albuquerque, New Mexico, [and] Tulsa, Oklahoma, to deliver an address for the Cum Laude Society at my old high school; and then to Middletown for the alumni reunion where I stayed with Kathy Scholle Hale ’75 and her husband, John. Then on to Martha’s Vineyard where I visited with Rick Gilberg and his wife, Lisa, and followed that with a trip to London and more beach time in Florida.” Bill wrote this update from Toronto, and he flew back to Tulsa in January for his first solo art exhibition.
In our last class notes, Fred Kessler shared that on January 7, 2025, they evacuated from their home in Pacific Palisades ahead of the fire that swept through their wonderful community and changed it forever. Their house survived but is currently uninhabitable. They hope to move back in sometime next fall.
What else in 2025? On October 30 Fred had successful brain surgery to remove a benign tumor between the eyebrows that was causing increasing inflammation in “the Wesleyan-best-part of my brain.” The surgery was long and the recovery somewhat difficult, but they got it all.
Also in 2025, his daughter embarked on her new goal of becoming an interior designer by taking on that role for their home remodeling and rebuild of the garage/studio and by sojourning to London for a three-month course.
Fred sends greetings to our 1974 classmates and many thanks to those who reached out to them after the fire to check on how they are holding up.
Karla Bell and Mark Wallach ’71 had a wonderful vacation at Chautauqua Institution. The lectures were insightful, educational, and, at times, funny. They heard Doris Kearns Goodwin speak about presidents, including the qualities she believes are necessary for a great president, and a paleoanthropologist on the cause for the dominance of humans over other competing species, etc. Midweek they were joined by Mark’s son, Philip ’05, his wife, Vera ’05 (both Wes CSS), and their three daughters. It was a thought-provoking week and a great visit.
James Kempf writes: “My wife, Renate, and I moved into a continuing care retirement community called Enso Village in March last year, located in Sonoma County, California. Enso Village features ‘Zen inspired senior living,’ which means that unlike most CCRCs, the emphasis at Enso Village is not about turning away from the approaching end but rather turning toward it. There are many older monks from San Francisco Zen Center who have retired here, and there are many active Zen, Tibetian, and Vipassana meditation practitioners, as well as people who practice in the traditional Western religions of Judaism and Christianity. Moving here has been kind of like coming to Wesleyan as a freshman, there are so many interesting people to meet and such a broad variety of different activities to participate in.”
Charisse Lillie reports: “In December of 2025, I was honored by the Philadelphia Bar Association with its Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award, which recognizes individuals in the Philadelphia legal community who have made significant contributions to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the legal profession. In 2025, our two youngest grandsons, Kane and Cashel turned six and three respectively. My husband, Tom McGill, and I also have two sets of twin great-grandsons—Levi and Logan, who are three, and Nakoa and Jonas, who are one. Lots of joy and happiness during Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year with the little ones!”
Harold Sogard notes that the increase in the number of our classmates giving to Wes during our 50th Reunion seems to be holding fairly steady, which is a wonderful thing. Especially in these tough times!
Larry Green has completed his first full year of retirement following 47 years of legal practice. He is devoting his time to nonprofit board service, consulting, writing, family, fitness, and travel. He wrote a short book under his Hebrew name, Lev, that was published by Page Publishing in late 2025 and entitled What If the Mystery of Dark Matter Has a Spiritual Solution? Larry and his wife, Denise, live in Ogunquit, Maine, and are now blessed with seven grandchildren.
Howard Shalwitz returned to direct his first play at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in D.C. since stepping down as artistic director in 2018. It ran from February 3 to March 1, 2026. The World to Come by Ali Viterbi focuses on the lively residents of a Hebrew home for the aging in California as the world around them is crumbling. Howard hosted a special performance and reception for Wesleyan alums on February 8.
From Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dana Barrows writes that he and “Holly Babbitt love living on the Massachussets SouthCoast for the past five years.” He says he continues working on his terms, year 51, as an estate and business planning specialist with Northwestern Mutual, working mainly through joint work partners with closely held business owners. He calls it “intellectually stimulating and fulfilling. We each have developed significant friendships here, and deep connection to various nonprofits and volunteer activities, including the Garden Club of Buzzard’s Bay, the SouthCoast Community Foundation, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, Westport Conservation, and others. Our challenging course, Allendale CC, is less than a mile away, and we are surrounded by amazing hiking trails that lead down to the marshes and the ocean.” They feel that “Wesleyan and Connecticut College continue to courageously serve as a beacon of light and reason and leadership in these turbulent times.”
Jim Powers celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary (Martha Wettemann, Trinity ’73) at Rose Vineyards in Branford in May. He also presented on humanism in medicine in November at the annual meeting of the Gerontologic Association of America.
Dr. Michael Fossel writes that his new book, Reversal,came out in February. It reportedly is significant as a “unified model of aging that connects molecular biology and clinical medicine.”
From Nashville, we have a newsy note from Bill Williams. He writes that “my wife and I recently bought the dog a yard and left our Nashville condo for Ashland City, a little rural community about 40 minutes from the city. It’s slower, a whole lot quieter, and the dog now shares her yard with a friend.” He also notes “I have somehow gotten myself involved in public policy surrounding diabetes care. Having had type 1 for 65-plus years, I find that I have a good bit of credibility with legislators and their staffs. As a result of enormous improvements in insulin and diabetes technology, significant numbers of longtime type 1 diabetics are now reaching Medicare age” and he says there are serious challenges with services and care.
Bill also said, “I spent a day on Capitol Hill in October with a delegation from the grandly named Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition and am now involved in an effort here in Tennessee to make diabetes tech more available to Medicaid recipients in a fiscally sustainable manner. Stay tuned.”
Our faithful correspondent Dr. Mark Helfat sends a colorful note about his newest work. Mark says, “Retirement has permitted me to complete and publish my first (and last) novel; the culmination of a 15- to 20-year project. Are there literary awards for procrastination? A Vet’s Story (available on Amazon) is an easy read that follows the exploits of a veterinarian on a mission of revenge, which is interspersed with personal recollections and unique veterinary anecdotes. The names of several Wes friends and acquaintances appear throughout the book (misspelled to protect the innocent). The University also appears on pages here and there. My faculty advisor was Dr. Nicholas Knight, a Shakespeare scholar in the English department. While I took a slew of science courses to fulfill my veterinary college application requirements, I also completed an English major.”
Mark notes, “Dr. Knight didn’t know what to do with me as I appeared to have a split personality. That being said, we survived each other for four years and left on good terms. Perhaps he knew that one day those Faulkner and Alexander Pope lectures would come to the aid of this advisee’s confused aspirations.” The Beagle Book club gave his novel “4 Paws Up” a nice review on their Bad Biscuits review site.
Bill Corvo writes that his documentary, Max Corvo for Freedom—about his father Max Corvo, who was hailed as one of the heroes of World War II as head of the OSS in Italy—has won a series of awards, including a special film festival award. It is available through Amazon. Congrats, Bill, as a historian and your special work about your father. Bill’s work has also been featured in The Middletown Press if you would like to find out more about Bill and his dad.
Stephen Sullivan writes that he has spent the last year building a “final stage home” on a remote island in Washington State in the San Juan Archipelago. He says, “It is a relatively compact house on one level with bathrooms accommodating a wheelchair. As an architect for the last 40 years, it was challenging and fun to design the abode knowing that if I were lucky, I would die there, looking out on the meadows, the straits of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains in the distance.” He also notes, “I would not have made this choice to build in this location were it not for the fact that my daughter and granddaughter live on our family retreat there. Its immediate proximity to Canada also feels comforting in our challenging moment in history. (I like the fact that the San Juan Islands are practically in Canada. The Pig War of 1872 redrew the international border to give these islands to the USA, rather than to the Crown).” Stephen says, “I have happily retired (95 %) from my architectural practice and I now plan to be the old potter I have always hoped to be, since seeing ancient potters in Japan during my 1973 Watson Fellowship making their simple wares. My big project is to replace the burners on my kiln, reminding me of the extraordinary art department faculty at Wesleyan when we were there, including Mary and John Risley who were lifelong mentors to me.”
We also heard from Mike Robinson who said that Bill Burke hosted him during a busy visit in which they went all over, from Bill’s home in Centennial to Breckenridge to downtown Denver. He said that Bill continues fundraising efforts for the Duke Snyder memorial endowment in honor of the late, longtime hockey coach. Bill told Mike there was also a memorable pond hockey tournament in early 2025 in Greentown, Colorado, that some spirited Wesleyan hockey alums took part in. For some, there is no age limit to what you can do.
The class has increased its activities outside of our quinquennial reunions (there is one coming next year…). Our quarterly class Zoom reunions, which actually originated with planning committee meetings for our 50th Reunion, continue, and all are cordially invited to join in. Announcements of these calls go out to the whole class mailing list, but if for some reason you are not receiving them, please send me a note, and I will see that you get them in the future. Dave Hagerty, Ron Ashkenas, and Bonnie Blair are continuing the work of the Reunion Program Committee and arranging more structured Zoom meetings, with speakers of interest from our class and the Wesleyan community in general discussing a wide range of interesting subjects. Again, if you are not getting notice of these, please let me know. And finally, the University is developing a new program for superannuated folks like us who have survived their 50th reunions—College Row Classes. As such, we are entitled to participate in special programs, both on campus and remotely. Plus, we get a special lunch and other benefits at the spring Reunion weekend. Since I am lucky enough to live close enough to drive up for the day, I have not missed a reunion in several years, and I encourage all of you to come as well.
John Manchester has released a new album—Bach Keyboard Works Arranged for Virtual Orchestra. It’s available on Apple Music, Amazon, and Spotify. I’ve acquired it and enjoy it a great deal. It’s very reminiscent of Stokowski’s orchestral transcriptions of Bach organ works, except this time the orchestra is virtual. As John describes it:
“When I returned to music five years ago after a long break, all I wanted to do was play J. S. Bach on the grand piano my wife found me. My old hands, neck, and back had other ideas—variations on “ouch!” I was halfway through learning the long, difficult G Major Fugue from book one of the Well- Tempered Clavier when I came to the terrible realization that I wasn’t going to make it to the end of the piece without my hands falling off. . .
“I’d been toying with the notion of returning to composing using the recently impressive digital tools of theVirtual Orchestra. If I couldn’t finish playing the G Major Fugue, I could arrange it for my glorified ‘band in a box.’ When I started inputting the piece to my computer, the results sucked. I’d made my own music with a computer in the past . . . I started on an album and gradually discovered why the fugue sounded wrong. My new digital tools were shiny and sharp but required new skills on my part to make decent music with them. . .
“Composing an album of my music was great fun. So, I did another. At that point, I felt I’d said what I needed to for the moment. Now that I’d mastered my new tools, what about that Bach fugue? I’d originally wanted to orchestrate it because I hate not finishing things I start. I had another reason— orchestrating this piece might reveal aspects to me and a listener that weren’t apparent when played on a keyboard. . .
“Aside from my own compositions, I only perform Bach. And I listen to a lot of it, mostly his vocal music. It does something for me that no other music does. It arouses the deepest feelings. The majority of his music is devoutly Christian, which might be enough to convert me if I didn’t know better.”
Steve Scheibe reports: “Angela and I recently returned from a month in Japan, and my Japanese continues at the level of my first trip in 1985. I was thinking now that I met up briefly with Connie (Sutherland) Hernandez on that first trip and have not had contact since, at least to my recollection. All good in California and still going back and forth to Brazil. Finally, I speak frequently with my brother, Karl, and he is doing well and has nice recollections of our class. Ha ha!”
I will leave it to the rest of you to interpret that “ha ha!”
Mark Lerner says, “On September 30, 2024, after 49 years of service, I retired from the U.S. Labor Department as a senior attorney in the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the solicitor’s office. I get to spend time doing my wife Inna’s favorite activity—fitness. Our older son, Misha, is a graduate student at UC Berkeley, pursuing a doctorate in Slavic studies. Our younger son, Sammy, graduated from Washington and Jefferson College and is planning to pursue a career in genealogy.”
Warren White makes the following suggestion: “DMV residents should consider the Richmond, Virginia, Fan Historic District Holiday House Tour.As a volunteer docent for the past five years, I recommend a guided tour of the largest, intact, U.S. Victorian district while it is decorated for Christmas.”
Edward Swanson sent holiday cheer with a poem:
FOR MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT THIS HOLIDAY TIME!
Last Christmas I sent you a poem
It wasn’t too good, but it was my own.
This year, yet again pressed for time
I’m sending these words again in a rhyme.
It’s been a hard year here, I have to admit.
To get through these months has taken some grit.
The fire from Eaton nearly got our poor home
And though it was spared we had to leave it too long.
A broken arm made things quite hard for a while,
And deaths of good friends seemed to put sadness in style.
But all of you give me great comfort and cheer.
And I want to say thank you at this time of the year.
I have fond memories galore of places and things
And each of you is in there like a bright shiny ring.
Happy holiday, dear friend, may the new year bring you
From John Schimmel : “I remain the extreme opposite of retired. Still commuting to the UK to work as executive producer of narrative content for the video games Squadron 42 and Star Citizen; still teaching screenwriting at UC Riverside’s low-residency creative writing MFA program; still rolling spec projects up the hill. Managed (finally) to get my wife, Maureen, to the UK for a two-week, theater-and-museum holiday. . . .”
Harrison Rue “retired” in 2024, after 11 years leading Honolulu’s and then Hawaii’s transit-oriented development (TOD) programs. Before returning to Honolulu, he was a lead consultant to federal agencies under President Obama’s sustainable communities’ partnership. Hank is starting to draft his next book, but if you want to “focus local” on your own neighborhood, check out his “Real Towns: Making Your Neighborhood Work”—a free download on his LinkedIn page.
“After retiring from a 50-year stint in the rabbinate, I now reside with my wife, Helen, in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina,” says Brett Goldstein.
Dave Lindorff says, “I’m still ‘committing’ journalism, trying to expose the corruption, criminality, and mendacity of the U.S. government and the obscenely wealthy ruling elite who fund its leaders. Lately, Joyce and I have been spending half the year in Cambridge, where she is a lifetime fellow at Clare Hall, a graduate college there, and half the time home in the Philly area, where she’s still a Temple professor.” He also notes, “Unfortunately, we will be in Cambridge for the third term there, which starts on May 2 and runs through the end of June, so I won’t be able to make the epic 55th (!) Class Reunion in person. I hope there will be some opportunity to meet online.”
Joe Keller spends year in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, playing golf and boating. Still managing a commercial real estate portfolio—retirement is overrated. Continue to go to Wes Homecoming but amazed at how much Wes has changed ideologically in 55 years. Hoping DKE reopens—site of many good times and friendships.
“I was back on campus for Homecoming in October and really enjoyed the “past 50th Reunion Lounge in the PAC for the game. I am enjoying semiretirement in Denver after selling my business and am looking forward to our 55th Reunion in May. I have also invested in a start-up, which has added a new dimension to my workday. In my spare time I am trying to learn Japanese. It is the most challenging learning I have ever undertaken. I enjoy regular contact with Greg Friedman, Jim Tober,John Hastings, and Rich Suval via text and Zoom (courtesy of Greg), writes David Siegel.
“When I joined demonstrations against the government in ’68 and ’70, I never thought I’d be doing it again 58 years later. Never thought I’d be alive 58 years later, but that’s another story,” writes Stephen Voorhies.
Marvin Williams is alive and has nothing new to add.
Ran into Stephen Ferruolo at No Kings rally in La Jolla, California, where we both reside. He provided a picture of us on the corner. Been attending many of these rallies around the country—there always seems to be one everywhere I go, including red states!
Neil and Stephen
Take care everyone and remember the 55th Reunion is coming up May 22–24. Hope many of you can attend. Aloha.
Sadly, the Fall ’25 Issue of the magazine reported the deaths of five classmates. I had previously reported on the deaths of Bob Segal and Calvin deGrasse. Here are links to obituaries for Brian Dawe, Michael Mastergeorge, and Randy Miller.
Additionally, we lost Peter Miceli on October 31, 2024.
Russ Bradshaw (second from left) and Brian Dawe (third from left).
Russ Bradshaw wrote in memory of crewmate Brian Dawe, sending a team photo (at right). Also, Russ had an interview published in Wesleyan’s fall edition. He says, “It describes my experiences in a New Age group that worked for ‘inner and outer peace,’ based in Queens, meetings in NYC at United Nations. Unfortunately, the leader had a well-hidden ‘shadow side,’ of MeToo sort. . .” The experience resulted in a traumatic experience for Russ’s family, so he “decided to devote my efforts to exposing how cultic groups recruit and try to retain members.” I concur with Russ’s suggestion to read the piece (on p. 36) if you missed it.
Our very own Brooklyn cowboy, Jeremy Serwer, wrote: “Still living the country life here in northeast Connecticut—close enough to enjoy civilization when needed, yet far enough away to mostly be away from it. Working very part-time with one client; on three nonprofit boards; doing lots of volunteer work focusing on veterans, antisemitism, and equine pursuits. Mostly, working or riding horses three to five days a week. Had a decent 2025 Cowboy Mounted Shooting season. Wife, Nancy, is still flying for American Airlines as a first class purser out of Boston; finally starting to talk about retirement, maybe two years away. Works well, as I managed to rob the cradle anyway—43 years ago.
“We’re a chip shot off any highway Wes mates might travel between NY and Boston. It’s beautiful on our property. There’s a guaranteed lunch for anyone wishing to take a driving break (jeremy@theserwercompany.com). Last visit we enjoyed was from Chase Van Gorder ’71, Wes Beta bro. Great fun.”
By the time you read this, Jamie Kirkpatrick’s new novel, The People Game (Koehler Books), should be published. More information appeared in the Fall ’25 Issue.
(Dr.) John Yurechko caught us up on his news: “I have published two volumes of poetry, my first, titled Head Lines, way back in 2014; followed in 2025 with Second Thoughts.
“I retired from a 30-year government career in 2011. I have given lectures to various audiences on the Ukraine war, NATO, and other national security topics. I have written articles and contributed to books on Russian/Soviet military issues.
“I met my wife, Jane, a Wellesley graduate, when we were both in graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. (I completed my PhD in history in 1980.) We settled in northern Virginia, then moved to a lakeside home in central Virginia in 2016.
“Alas, my rickety body demanded that I cease active participation in Revolutionary War (with the 1st Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line) and Civil War (28th Massachusetts Regiment) reenactments, although I continue to do living history talks for local school classes.
“Three daughters and a grandson named Wesley (pure coincidence!).
“I noticed in your most recent notes an update from Steve Talbot, remarking that he was just in Vietnam. Jane and I just finished a trip there and to Cambodia in October 2025. Vietnam was still decorated with flags and slogans celebrating the 50th anniversary. It was quite an experience.
“I get together with Chuck Caramello (who lives in Maryland) on almost a weekly basis to eat sushi and ‘chew the rice.’ Chuck, a professor emeritus of English, retired as a dean at the University of Maryland. He is working on his second book on equine and equestrian history. Jeff Nye (who lives in northern Virginia) joins us at times as well.”
Frank Waters is the equivalent of folks who call in to a radio show and introduce themselves by saying, “Longtime listener, first-time caller.” He sent a summary of his life since graduation: “My wife, Janet, and I have been married for 50 years and have two adult children and three grandchildren.
“I never left Connecticut after Wesleyan. I went to work for a Hartford insurance company after graduation and a few years later, bought a West Hartford property and casualty insurance agency (from Page Harman ’42, another Wesleyan alumnus), which I owned for 35 years. I sold it 12 years ago but remained active on a part-time basis in the insurance industry until last year. Now I just play a lot of golf, run a fantasy football league, which I have been commissioner of for 39 years, and babysit for our two younger grandchildren. Oh, I was also the varsity girls basketball coach at Avon, Connecticut, high school for 19 years (1997–2016), where I had a career record of 378–95, with 13 league championships and one state title.
“Wesleyan alums that I see most regularly include Brendan Lynch ’68, Jim Akin’72, John Papa ’79, and occasionally Gary Walford’71 and Brian Silvestro. I do get back to campus a couple of times a year for athletic contests and golf outings. And I promise to make our 60th Reunion if I am still sound of mind and body.”
Frank promised his father to write a book about his family’s experiences in WWII, and A Drumstick for Thanksgiving Please is now published. Frank’s description: “It is a true story of the Waters family journey, basically through the World War II years. The principal figures are my father, Frank Waters Jr. ’42, and my uncle, William Waters ’42, who were both Army Air Corps pilots and [Wes grads].”
“Frank’s debut literary work fulfills a 30-year-old promise he made to his father, a World War II fighter pilot. A Drumstick for Thanksgiving Please chronicles realities of life in the 1940s, not only for the faithful U.S. Air Force pilots, but also of their families during their absences.
“With multiple family members away in Europe, the Waters family corresponded, even when one of them ended up as a POW in a German camp. Their close relationships carried them all through the war and beyond, proving that family ties make a difference when faced with adversity.
“Follow the decades-long saga of one family who thrived despite the difficulties of a world at war.”
Edward HazenWalker, aka “Sachin Hazen,” wrote (I believe for the first time) and shared a lot of news and a fascinating story:
“After graduation, cum laude Phi Beta Kappa, I traveled across the country in a VW Bug. Came out as bi/gay in Berkeley, mingled backstage with Joan Baez and Mimi Farina, had my mind exploded in Monterrey, stayed up all night writing/channeling ‘the wisdom of the universe.’
“Returned to the culturally OCD East Coast to share New Age consciousness, failed miserably. Had a breakdown, found the will to live again by following my intuition to my ancestral homeland, the then Soviet Union. Had a successful career in IT, made a lot of money in real estate in Boston. Spent five years in an ashram in western Massachusetts, became a psychotherapist, manifested a beautiful home surrounded by forest in Connecticut.
“Contemplating the end of life, I moved to Mexico to the decadent Oaxacan Coast to relax and chill until death. Instead, my body got stronger and healthier and I had to recalibrate. As a spiritual teacher, I was invited to stay in beautiful homes in fascinating places, San Miguel de Allende, the Ansonia Hotel in Upper West Side Manhattan, and now the Mojave Desert.
“Along the way I had the freedom and encouragement to begin writing again. Short stories, often highly erotic, poured forth from me. After the death of my mother, I started to spend more and more time in the next dimension communing with her. This coincided with developing abilities as a shaman, and ultimately as a psychic and channel.”
Jerry Cerasale sent good advice (for me, at least): “At our age it’s time to retire.” He says, “I’m still enjoying my time on the Eastham Select Board. However, I’m continually amazed at the ‘pressing’ issues that citizens raise. Eastham is in the midst of facing a state mandate to put in sewers and a wastewater treatment plant, covering new bonds for installing a new water system (before 2020 there were no fire hydrants in town), and paying its part of a $170 million high school. The pressing issues from many citizens are pickleball courts and usage and dog walking. I’ve learned that many times it’s the little things that count.”
Tim Greaney’s new novel, Taking Up Life in Both Hands, is available on Amazon. It’s a satire about a large Catholic hospital system that has lost its way and fallen prey to profit-hungry executives. Information about his first novel, St. Sebastian School of Law, a satirical take on law teaching during the first years of Trump, can be found at www.timgreaney.net.
Peter Ratner wrote, “In my case, I would say no news is good news. We are back in Seatoun and hopefully finishing our house renovation by the end of the year. Did a trip to Scotland, London (where our daughter married her partner after 20 years and two children), and NYC in October. We look after our youngest granddaughter every Thursday. Other than that, we just keep on keeping on.”
From David Jones: “I’m now in my 38th year as president and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York, a nonprofit, and a member of the Board of the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Agency of New York). Still not quite ready to retire but maybe in two or three years. Enjoying my three grandchildren: my 13-year-old Sophia in Boston and my five-year-old Acher and three-year-old Ren in Brooklyn.” He says that he had “a recent advocacy victory, after 10 years of effort, led a successful campaign called Fair Fares for half-priced fares on subways and buses for low-income New Yorkers. To date, more than 300,000 people have signed up. It’s this kind of work which keeps me going well after my expiration date. Best, David”
Bruce Williams sent an update: “I got a tick-borne bacteria, anaplasmosis, which upset my equilibrium —listing to port—which sent me falling down [the] stairs one hot midnight in July 2024, the eve of getting treatment, during which I broke my neck, hence my lengthy rehabilitation. I was working on a film at the time and was unable to bring it to something like a finished form until last spring, eight months, and I’m not completely happy with what I’ve done since my fall. Gives me something to aim for in between poems.”
For those of you who are a bit poetry-challenged like me, Bruce included this note: “Lots of pentameter / except the first line / iambs not so much).”
CLASS NOTES
Aloha, Oy Vey, Aye Bobo, and Howdy!
Last time I wrote to the class as a whole
was for our 50th Reunion book,
but I never got a copy. Maybe
there was some right-wing sabotage. Maybe
the post office was being set up to fail.
Maybe it was just your standard SNAFU.
Now our class moves ever closer to the
back page of the alumni magazine,
ever more onto obituaries.
I almost made it. Anaplasmosis,
fractured cervical vertebrae, rock star
neurosurgeon, a book load of nurses,
stuff of legends. My rehab goes well, but
I still list a bit to port. My left foot
still tends to drag. Common names escape me,
but I delight still in what I read, like
after lights out in the women’s lock-up
in Greenwich Village when a sister calls,
“Hey, Angela! What’s imperialism?”
Since my fall, A.I. has metastasized.
Still quite fallible, it says a friend died
two years ago. Wrong. It rightly says I
misremember what professor Davis
actually wrote. The correct copy is,
“Angela, what does ‘imperialism’
mean?” “Lock-up” in the House of Detention,
not “Lights out.” Same thing. Approximately.
Angela answers, teacher that she is.
What I remembered was more dramatic,
more cinematic, and where but in books
can one be a political prisoner
with Toni Morrison as editor?
How great is that? A happy Hollywood
ending too. She goes free as a spirit.
Stuart Frank sent an update on his book publishing: “Delighted to report that my book Biographical Dictionary of Scrimshaw Artists, the product of 35-plus years of research, has now been published in two volumes by Scrimshaw Forensics® and is available online at Amazon.com. This clears the path for me to look for a publisher for my next grand opus, The Herman Melville Song Book, a scholarly anthology and analysis of the authentic songs, ballads, tunes, and chanteys referred to in Redburn, White-Jacket, and Moby-Dick. In a way, it’s a follow-up to (or a follow-through) to my first book, Herman Melville’s Picture Gallery: Sources and types of the “pictorial chapters” of Moby-Dick (1986). Hints and contacts from classmates shall be greatly appreciated! (stuart.m.frank@verizon.net) Meanwhile my wife, Mary Malloy, has been lecturing occasionally at Wes and is busily engaged in writing articles and chapters on maritime history, Indigenous Northwest Coast art, a book about Americans in the Pacific in the 19th century, and her fifth novel (something about a female pirate in the post-Napoleonic era), while I continue as editor of the triannual journal Scrimshaw Observer and as founding director of the Scrimshaw Forensics® Laboratory. So, we’re both busy in retirement. And I expect you are, too.”
I heard again from Andy Edlen. In case you missed his saga online awhile back, here it is again: “On the heels of graduation back in the Pleistocene, Jeff Wanshel ’69 told me of a call he got from a high school friend of his, John Emulin, leader of a band called Lothar and the Hand People, about a job opening at Jimi Hendrix’ Electric Lady Studios on 8th street in Greenwich Village. I went to work there a bare week before Jimi’s sad passing. Over the next couple of years, I went from gopher (go fer this . . . ) to night manager to staff engineer. Lots of brushes with fame, amazing audio adventures and a ringside seat viewing the greed and venality of the record biz. The ensuing decades were filled with a blur of bands, work at West Coast studios and some time on the road backing up Bobby Freeman (Do you Wanna Dance and The Swim in a kind of white-boy soul revue. Then, a couple of decades making music and sound fx for computer game companies in the Bay Area, where I’ve resided since 19(gulp)73. And over the last decade, I’ve been doing IT at UC Berkeley.
“My brother Steve and I have a number of songs up on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/user-568633504 that you and your readers might enjoy. And I escaped the cutting room floor (and was given some generous screen time) in a movie about the studio’s early days, findable on Amazon as Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision. The editors kindly included my sentient moments from the interviews, and it’s a pretty fair time capsule of that window in the studio’s history.
“I’m in touch with precious few friends from the era, and I hope this Class Notes appearance may help remedy that.”
And an update: “At Wesleyan, I translated Neruda and a number of Spanish Golden Age, 16th-century writers like Cervantes and Lope de Vega, and my Spanish is still in decent shape. . . .”
I continue teaching middle school, but plan on retiring next year. Vera, my wife of 38 years, and I live in our little dodecagon house with a two-year-old mini-Aussie dog in a quiet valley on Kauai. We deal with downed trees and rocks rolling into the “road” to pavement, along with flood watches. We plan to sell this house and get a place that’s paid-for elsewhere on the island. I want to finish writing some books, including one on sex education for middle schoolers, based on the questions my students have asked and my answers to them. (Would love suggestions for finding publishers.)
We recently traveled to Nevada and Utah where we visited Bryce and Zion National Parks and hiked around some other gorgeous places. Highly recommended, especially Bryce.
