Peter Campbell sent a nice update. “My wife, Joyce, and I are living in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Still spend plenty of time in Boston or on Cape Cod. At the most recent Homecoming, Jeff Nesson ’78 shared a picture of Joyce and me at a DEKE Christmas Party, so we go back a ways. I have retired from the corporate world but am involved in a more entrepreneurial venture that keeps me in it a bit. In the last few years, I have reconnected with friends from Wesleyan, many who I had not seen for a long time (you know, life gets in the way) but who I have always held close. Folks from those four years are overrepresented in my list of dear friends; I was lucky that way.”
Willie Jones shared news on his continued involvement with a special venture in the Charlotte area. He writes: “I’ve been very busy as the director of the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department. We are continuing to work on how we interpret and share the stories of the enslaved at some of our historic and cultural resource sites that were formerly plantations. In November of 2023, I received an Excellence in Leadership Award from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Branch of the NAACP for my efforts on the Historic Latta Reimagined Project. We’ve taken an innovative approach to community engagement that was required for this project. When the county opted not to renew its contract with the 501(c)(3) that had previously operated the site for decades, I worked with other county staff and community stakeholders to engage in a holistic assessment of best practices for interpreting difficult historic stories, including slavery. The guiding values developed for the Latta Project—Truth, Transparency, Compassion, Transformation, and Unity—have proved to be useful as Park and Recreation staff work side by side with community partners to plan for the site’s reopening in 2026. We’ve taken a major step forward but still have a long way to go.”
And here is a great article about an honor he recently received:
“County’s Park and Recreation Director Honored with Charlotte’s Men of Change Award”
“Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Director Lee Jones recently received the 2023 Charlotte’s Men of Change Award from the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and the Levine Museum of the New South.
“Charlotte’s Men of Change recognizes Black community leaders for their work as business owners, teachers, political and justice activists, trainers, and visionaries. The Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibition Men of Change: Power, Triumph, and Truth inspired this local annual honor. Charlotte’s Men of Change was on display at the Levine Museum and the Gantt during 2023.”
Kudos, Willie. Amazing work and a great recognition!
Reminder: We are heading toward our 45th Reunion next May. Please save the date May 23–26, 2024. Our class has historically had record or near record attendance levels at our earlier reunions, so it should be fun! If you are interested in becoming a reunion ambassador to help with planning or would like to update your contact information to stay informed, please email Destiny Lopez (dlopez@wesleyan.edu) or Gina Driscoll (gdriscoll@wesleyan.edu).
That’s it for this issue. Thanks for the submissions!
Gail Boxer has been appointed board chair of Cyted, a cancer diagnostics company based in Cambridge, UK.
Geoff Ginsburg, chief medical and scientific officer of the NIH All of US Research Program, has received the PMWC Luminary Award for his pioneering work in personalized and genomic medicine.
Alison Gilchrist reports, “Loving and grateful for: life on the Maine coast, biking, sailing, fun volunteer work in the vast photo archives of a maritime museum, two grandboys, healthy family not far away (brother Geoff ’92 here), good health, and great friends. So happy I went to Wes, by the way!”
John McDermott welcomed his first grandchild, Liam McDermott Lockwood, into their family on November 7 (“everyone is healthy . . . all the best”).
Lucy Mize has welcomed her first grandchild as well— Anna (“she is divine”)—born on August 8 to her son Thaddeus ’17 and his wife, Alex. Lucy is close to finishing her dissertation, “End of Life Doulas in Vermont,” for her DrPh in life coaching. She also continues full-time work, traveling to India, Indonesia, and Thailand. Her daughter, Belle Brown ’22, has done extensive recent Asian travels as well, and is starting work in climate conservation. Lucy sends “all her best.”
Dana Rashti was able to recently spend a month in Sicily as part of an Italian language and cultural immersion program. It was based in Ortigia, a small island that was the historical center of Syracuse. He found Sicily rich in contrasts and history— economically, socially, topographically, culturally, and gastronomically—and was able to visit his grandparents’ hometowns of Agrigento and Canicatini Bagni (“stood on the ground that gave them life and where they spent their youth . . . that was special for me”). Dana has been pursuing nonprofit work since retiring last year.
Writing notes during the Thanksgiving holiday has filled me with an extra sense of poignancy as we find ourselves in a world seemingly more unstable and hateful than we have ever witnessed in our lifetime. Rachel and Mike Balf have been on many classmates’ minds, as well as in my thoughts, since the horror of October 7 in Israel. I am including Mike’s note here in its entirety:
“As you know Rachel and I are living in a war zone. Today (November 20) is the 45th day of war and my guess is that the combat will [still] continue when our classmates are reading this newsletter and possibly the next one as well. We are fine as a family, a kibbutz, and a community. We are not near Gaza nor the Lebanese border—although, if missile attacks from the north become more prolific, we are within range. I will not allow myself to turn this into a political diatribe. On October 7, 1,400 Israeli citizens, the majority civilians, were murdered in cold blood by Hamas fanatics who also kidnapped 250 hostages, many of them children, elderly, and simple civilians. Israel declared war and set out to return all the hostages and eliminate all the military capability of Hamas. Hopefully by the time that you are reading these words in your home the hostages will have been returned (at least the majority) to their homes and their families, though I doubt that the military operations will have ended. Our son, a called-up reservist, is on the outskirts of Gaza with his paratrooper unit. We worry but then there are tens of thousands of parents whose children are also out there defending the lives and livelihoods of our fellow citizens. I am not blind to the fact that there are humanitarian complications and that there are human tragedies on both sides. I have spent part of my adult life working for a two-state solution. I have heard that there are people who say ‘between the river and the sea’—I hope that there will come a day when we can say ‘between the river and the sea, neighbors we can be.’ I hope that wherever you are, you are working to fight antisemitism. We come from a great liberal tradition of defending the rights of all and I hope that can be maintained. We will continue that endeavor, and hopefully there will be an opening for peace down the road.”
Sue Guiney writes that while the world seems to get more and more dangerous and worrying every day, the summer had a real ray of hope—the birth of her first grandchild, Marcos Erix Santillana-Guiney (hoping that he turns out to be a good speller). The grandparent thing seems great. Otherwise, work is well, as Writing Through prepares for its 10th-anniversary celebrations—another ray of hope.
Jay Kilbourn writes after a challenging five years, marked by divorce, COVID, and remarriage, he has landed very happily with Wendy Berg. The Citizens’ Climate Lobby is where Jay is organizing and advocating for a national carbon-pricing policy. They spend time with John Wiliams, Daniel Cantor ’76, Michael Hamburger ’75.
Mark Slitt and freshman roommate Paul Boison continued their annual tradition of attending Homecoming together. The tradition usually includes a loss to whatever Little Three opponent we’re up against. But this year we routed Amherst 34–7.
Bob Glasspiegel and wife Sue moved from Connecticut for Kiawah River, South Carolina (near Charleston). People in their neighborhood are very friendly, much like freshman year when we start making friends from scratch. The big impetus was the warmer weather: year-round outdoor tennis and golf as well as the beauty of the area.
Jim Melloan reports that he’s retired from an editorial career in magazines and test-prep books. He is Living in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and still doing a weekly radio show 50 Years Ago This Week, on the internet radio station Radio Free Brooklyn.
Arnie Alpert and a friend filed suit against the State of New Hampshire for removing a historical marker about the life of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, who was born in Concord and achieved notoriety as an effective agitator on behalf of workers. She was also known as a lifelong advocate for women’s equality and defender of civil liberties, especially during the country’s Red Scare. She had joined the Communist Party, for which she was tried and sent to prison under the Smith Act. It was Flynn’s Communist affiliation which drew the ire of the New Hampshire governor, who ordered the marker removed, even though all the proper procedures for establishing Flynn’s historical significance were observed, which is what the markers are supposed to demonstrate. The story has gained international attention. Arnie continues to fight the good fight. While these notes will be read in 2024, I want to send all the best wishes for a year of peace, kindness, and good health for us all. May the New Year be a return to greater civility.
Last notes for 2023! I hope you all had a peaceful and healthy end to 2023 and the best possible start of 2024.
Debra Haffner was recently honored with the World Association of Sexual Health’s Gold Medal for Lietime Achievement at their biannual global meeting. She is also happy to report that she is engaged to the love of her life. As she said in her email, “Life is a blessing!” Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes, Debra, for both life events.
From Robert Buccino, who kindly responded to my request for memories (as well as recent news):
“I’m originally a ’76er who took a year off and graduated in ’77. I retired after four decades in advertising and now split my time between NYC and Salisbury, Connecticut, with my wife of 41 years. I’m spending a lot of time with music these days, performing on guitar and piano at open mic nights in Litchfield and Berkshire Counties. I fondly remember music at Wesleyan—impromptu jam sessions with Tom Kovar, marveling at Nat Needle’sragtime piano chops, enjoying the Marching Ant Stompers jug band, seeing Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne in MoCon, and Dave Mason and Mahavishnu McLaughlin at the skating rink. Oh, and Orleans, of course. My daughter, Nora, finished her MBA at Stern last year and now works at McKinsey, when she’s not running marathons. I miss Dave Apicella and the Eclectic folks; fond memories.”
From Ron Epstein (to whom I send much gratitude for taking the time to send in such a lovely note):
“Having enjoyed 36 years as a family doctor in an urban academic setting in Rochester, New York, attending to patients who spoke any of 30 languages and spanning the socioeconomic spectrum, I stopped in 2019, shortly before the pandemic. I also did inpatient palliative-care consults for 16 years at the large academic teaching hospital, and stopped that, too, in December 2023, and now have left clinical practice entirely. A bittersweet transition. Yet, my patients’ illnesses, as varied and unusual as they could be, were never as compelling as their stories, and the stories continue to inspire my teaching, writing, and research.
“Starting in 1999, I’ve written articles and a book, Attending, about the inner lives of physicians, exploring how physicians can flourish, explore, and move toward what gives them a sense of purpose and meaning in their professional lives, develop community, and attenuate the epidemic of distress and burnout. With a Rochester colleague, I developed and continue to offer workshops in mindful practice for clinicians worldwide. My research focus has been on improving communication between clinicians and patients/families facing serious illnesses and navigating end-of-life care. Now, I spend most of my research time supported by an American Cancer Society professorship, mentoring younger researchers, enjoying, vicariously, the successes of mentees and junior colleagues as they grow and deepen their work. None of this could I have imagined in 1976.
“Stopping primary care enabled me to put music in a more central role in my life. About the time I stopped primary care practice, I was taken on by a fabulous harpsichord teacher who had just been hired at the Eastman School of Music, and I’ve been practicing daily and again giving small performances.
“My wife, Deborah Fox, continues her work as a freelance lutenist and founder and artistic director of Pegasus Early Music, which offers world-class performances in western New York State. Before the pandemic we both traveled a lot, often in different directions; Deb to perform, me to give talks and workshops. Now we travel together more of the time. Malka, our youngest, is finishing her second year as an OB/GYN resident and lives an eight-minute drive from us. In late 2019 we became a grandparents, and we spend considerable time with Eli, his wife, Qianqian, and Summer and Arlen, in Los Angeles.
“We are not the first to discover that, in the ‘troisieme age,’ after children are launched and before health and energy wane, letting go of ambition brings more creativity, generativity, discovery, and depth, an in-the-moment richness to the small moments of life, reveling in not knowing, directing passionate energy toward what really matters, and prioritizing love and friendship, regardless of the current state of the world.”
From Jim Rolston: “We did finally get to take the airstream to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and the Black Bear Festival! Here is a photo of the rainy night at Black Bear.” (https://www.blackbearmusicfest.com/)
Jim’s airstream
From Melissa Blacker: “Samara Louise Bonham-Rynick was born on September 2. She joins her big brother, Isaiah, who is close to turning five. And my husband, David Rynick ’74, and I continue to lead our Zen organization, Boundless Way Zen Temple, with its main center in Worcester, Massachusetts, and practice groups around the country and the world.” (www.boundlessway.org)
Melissa Blacker’s grandkids: Samara and Isaiah
Byron Haskins and his wife, Gabrielle, have ended their adventure living in Montreal and have returned to Michigan (as he notes, “at least this time around”). If you’re on Facebook, find and “friend” Byron; he sometimes posts links to his music, and it’s worth hearing.
From Betsy Eisenmann: “As a now genuine ‘old person,’ my spouse and I went on two cruises in the past year—not to drink and carouse but see some sights we’d missed thus far. [In] June it was Alaska (Holland America) and in September the coast of Maine (American Cruise Lines, a riverboat type of ship). We had gone on their Snake River/Columbia River Cruise in 2022, which was excellent. Other than that, the spouse works part time as a driver for Audi of Nashua (some people just can’t entertain themselves after retiring!) and is the secretary of the town’s Recycling Committee—which entails not only attending meetings but overseeing and volunteering at the various drop-off events held during the year. As for me, I continue in my church choir and the church-associated Garden Committee and ‘Creation Care’ Committee (environmental, that’s the Diocese’s cute name in quotes). AND—pay attention, class—I just finished this year’s NaNoWriMo challenge, for the first time, with 64,984 words. (The minimum is 50,000 words in 30 days) My professors and other teachers can affirm that I can be quite verbose when writing.”
Bruce (in the back row) with his family
From Bruce Demple: “We had a combined Thanksgiving and (belated) birthday celebration for me, at a rental house that our daughters arranged, and it was outstanding. Both daughters got married recently, so we continued those celebrations. It was not without challenges: three-plus inches of snow on the evening we arrived, which forced one daughter to abandon a car at the foot of the very last hill… of course it got towed. On T-day itself, all was going smoothly until there was a local power outage when the turkey was only about halfway done. We kept the oven shut, and we were planning to get the outdoor grill going, when the lights returned after approximately two hours. So, we extended the cooking time, and nobody got sick! (It was also very good—one son-in-law gets to do the honors from now on!) The next day was for the birthday celebration, also a lot of fun. The photo is from that afternoon; for some reason, the instruction was to ‘look like you’re praying’; I’m not as good at the Vulcan sign as I once was. As one of the oldest members of our class, now clocking 70, I have always tried to share my wisdom and good judgement… Ha, ha, just kidding!”
From Sue (Feinstein) Barry: “My husband, Dan Barry, and I moved to Arlington, Massachusetts, during the pandemic to help take care of our granddaughter. Now we’re looking forward to the birth of a second granddaughter in mid-January. My third book will be published on January 30, 2024, and is titled Dear Oliver: An Unexpected Friendship with Oliver Sacks.”
From Barb Birney: “This year brought a special vacation. I took my niece and her father, Bob Birney ’81, on a tour of Northwest national parks, Oregon beaches, California redwoods, and Glacier National Park. As it was a camping trip, it was an overall comedic experience with much laughter. Apparently, I am to be gifted at Christmas this year with a mallet to assist with tent stakes in the future.”
From Susan (Petersen) Avitzour: “I’ve had quite an eventful half year.
“First of all, this past August I got married, in a civil ceremony in Amsterdam, to Fred Landman. Like me, Fred (a native of Amsterdam) lost his wife in 2019 after a long marriage. Fred and I met in 2021, in cyberspace; we soon discovered that before her marriage to Fred, his late wife had been a friend of Daniel’s and mine—we later found some beautiful photos of Daniel dancing at their wedding.
Fred and Susan
“We were planning a Jewish ceremony in Jerusalem for October 15, but then came Hamas’s attack on October 7 and the ensuing war. Since then we’ve been living with sirens and explosions from far and from near. Both of us are lucky enough not to have relatives near Gaza or children (or grandchildren) in the army, but everyone here knows someone who has been and is being personally and intensively affected by this horrific war. And we know that once it’s over, our lives will probably be irrevocably changed.
“I expect to be coming out of retirement from my profession as a psychotherapist (specializing, interalia, in PTSD), in order to help some of those traumatized by the attack and its aftermath. In the meantime, I’m praying for the safe return of all the hostages being held in Gaza, as well as for the people of Gaza to be able as soon as possible to rebuild their lives.
“May I have better news for the next Class Notes!”
And now for some of those memories I mentioned . . . in response to my mention of David Harmin’s memories of Harriman Hall, I received this:
Cathy Popkin: “Re: David and the broadcasts from his window—I have a vivid (and indelible) memory of the humpback whales…”
Tom Kovar: “Well, it’s [the memory] from the day I met David, which did indeed involve the windows. The big Trinity game was going on below, and somebody had hung a rude, insulting banner out the window. A group of big, angry Trinitarians pounded up the stairs to an anticlimactic conclusion. They got locked out. See if DAH has anything to add.”
And from David Harmin himself: “Recalling my freshman year living in the fourth-level Harriman Madhouse is like playing with magnets: I’ve got all the pieces but they can be stuck together in multiple magical ways. The normal pattern included Jay Hoggard’s vibes’ glorious tones sluicing down the hall, Ray Herrmann’s husky Boris getting all up in the business of the hall’s cat, Bernie Possidente and I blasting sonic experiments out our window across the field and over Foss Hill. Plenty of variations, such as. . .
“During that game that the Cardinals played against the Trinity Bantams, there was a long, wide banner that my hallmates had hung out and were threatening for at least the first two quarters to unfurl from a couple of windows at the field end of the building. This may have been proceeded by water balloons getting catapulted out the central window, thanks to an able piece of elastic someone (not me!) found somewhere and nailed to the jambs. I think that was the same day, probably was, and if so it must have riled the opposing supporters, in retrospect. Anyhow, despite the strong and reasonable objections and increasing alarm of our R.A., that banner wound up unwinding after all—a wisp of wind must’ve caught a corner—and jeez, it turned out to contain a message painted in a most legible font: ‘Bantams are cocks.’ A truism on the face of it. But in the event, more complicated.
“It surely did rile the Trinity fans. The clearest evidence of their displeasure came from the growling and pounding sounds quickly growing from down on the first floor. This was a different kind of threat; less cerebral. Glass may have been breaking below. We were saved, though, to the best of my recollection, by our goodwill ambassador Bob Thompson, who could charm anyone. Confrontation averted, sign removed, peace restored. And well, now I wonder whether that was the same day that the cat wound up outside that same window—not on the ledge but all the way down there on the sidewalk, unharmed but for the PTSD of being chased yet again by the dog.
“Actually, that was typical.”
From Nina Davis-Millis:
“After 38ish years at MIT, I’ll be retiring from my position as director of Community Engagement for the MIT Libraries in January. My plans for retirement include helping to care for Christopher Millis’s and my first grandchild, Zoe Davis-Millis, born in September. Zoe’s other regular Wesleyan caregiver is her father, Simon ’12. I’m also hoping to step up my political activities, building toward the November ’24 election cycle, and who knows—maybe I’ll get back to some music making too. Christopher is immersed in translating the work of Armenian author Krikor Beledian, along with his longtime collaborator, Taline Voskeritchian. He’s also having a grand time selling all kinds of collectibles at a delightful Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtandDesignMatters).”
From Maggie Heffernan, this very sad note: “It is with great sadness that I must tell you that Anita Hersh died suddenly on September 13. was happy to see Jeff Kahn in October when he came to NYC for Anita’s Memorial Service, which was held at the Union League Club on October 28. Anita was president and CEO of Lister Butler. She was an incredible intellect and extraordinarily generous with her friends giving of herself in every way. If you ever had a medical condition, Anita was the person to call because she always knew who the best doctors were. My family called her Dr. Anita! She was a great philanthropist and very generous with her synagogue, Jewish Center of The Hamptons, The Blue Card (an organization that supports U.S.–based Holocaust survivors and their descendants) and the Park Avenue Armory. Personally and financially she loved supporting young artists.”
In September we had a minireunion of some of the freshman East College folk. It’s funny what will trigger the most vivid memories, isn’t it? The little things struck me with greatest force—Beth’s smile, Janet’s laugh, everyone’s voice. We may not look entirely the same (although we’re still recognizable, I think), but we sound the same, and we still use the same mannerisms and inflections. A turn of the head or a particular gesture would immediately send me back to 1972. My only regret is that I was too discombobulated by being in college to understand what a fantastic group of people I was privileged to live with freshman year!
From left to right, David McCarthy ’77, Beth Penney Gilbert, Janet Brooks, Tom Kovar, me, David Harmin, and our fantastic hostess, Karen Gervasoni. (Photo taken by Karen’s husband Greg Horan).
I’ve fallen down on the job a bit, but here’s your secretary back in action. Thanks to all who sent me notes in the bustle of winter holiday season. Gina Novick is MIA too, though for good reason—email autoreply says she’s on sabbatical from Yale, July 2023 to January 2024.
Dr. Dennis Chin sent photos of his tour of duty as a retired orthopedic surgeon in the Navy Reserves. In early December, he was in the Solomon Islands as part of the Pacific partnership 2024 on the USS Mercy hospital ship, with a stop at the 2023 Pacific Games.
Dennis (third from right) arriving in Guam with colleagues on the USS Mercy hospital ship
A note from Jeff McChristian reported on his first year of retirement. He and Pat spent 2023 making up for travel lost to COVID. Their itinerary: A three-week trip to Steamboat Springs to see their son, daughter, and families. Then off to Guatemala, where Pat has participated in community mosaic projects since 2020. Jeff carries luggage and plays music for artists making beautiful mosaics to install along public streets in a small, traditional Mayan town. April was Italy, enjoying the pleasures of Rome, Florence, and Tuscany. Late June took them to Wisconsin’s Northwoods to see Jeff’s sister. Jeff celebrated his 70th at a weeklong guitar camp in Puget Sound in August (a gift from Pat), followed by 10 days of driving and hiking with Pat in nearby national parks. October found Jeff and Pat, with their daughter and son-in-law, exploring Morocco’s charms. In between trips, Jeff does projects around the house, sees friends and former colleagues, and has arbitrated a few cases. His summary? “Retirement suits me!”
It appears that after declaring retirement in December 2023, Judge J. D. Moore amended his decision within 30 days. In January, J. D. joined the Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice at Pullman & Comley, LLC in Hartford. With 10 years on Connecticut’s Superior Court bench, preceded by a career in litigation, he’ll bring vast experience to mediating or arbitrating a wide range of civil matters and family disputes. (With all due respect, J. D., this prompts the question of whether when a judge retires, one can say he has disrobed.)
David Leisner (middle) at the Wes Center for the Arts with soprano Katherine Whyte and his husband, Ralph Jackson, for the tribute to Professor Winslow
Meanwhile, David Leisner is going strong as a performer and composer. Recent highlights include performing a program of Shakespeare readings with solo guitar music with actor Anthony Heald. September 2023 saw the world premiere of Wayfaring, David’s concerto for guitar and orchestra, commissioned by the legendary Pepe Romero. In October, David and soprano Katherine Whyte performed in a tribute to the late Wesleyan professor Richard Winslow. The tribute at Crowell Concert Hall was directed by Neely Bruce, who joined the Wesleyan music faculty in 1974. David has a new solo recording coming out in February and is grateful for good health and 42 years with his husband, Ralph Jackson.
On another musical front, Bruce Weinraub closed his medical practice in Northampton, Massachusetts, to move to Clarksdale, Mississippi, home of the crossroads. He’ll work at the community health center and pursue his interest in blues. “Bennie Thompson is the congressman, Morgan Freeman has a club there, and 60 Minutes recently profiled the city— check it out!”
Some of us are getting a head start on reunions. Steve Levin sent a photo from fall 2023 “at Wes celebrating the 50th anniversary of our ECAC championship season in 1973.” Check out the formidable reunited team of Carl Cavrell, Mark Nickerson, Gary Steinel, Jeff Van Nest, Perry Cacace, and Steve:
From left to right: Carl, Mark, Gary, Jeff, Perry, and Steve on the Wes football field
Jill Rips and Carole Evans Sands, freshman roommates, did a road-trip reunion visiting New England museums, lakes, nature walks, a powwow, and Dana Asbury and her husband, Richard Levy, in Maine. Jill’s working in San Antonio with resettled Afghans who fled the Taliban.
Out on the Pacific fringe, Martha Faller Brown, Bruce Paton, and I have a get-together to hike and dine whenever Colorado-based Tim Brown ’72 and his wife, Rosie, visit their Bay Area grandkids. My husband, Bob, usually joins us.
Hiking along San Francisco Bay in Berkeley. From left to right: Rosie Pillar (Tim’s wife), Bob Daniel, Cindy Ulman, Martha Faller Brown, Tim Brown ’72 (no relation to Martha), and Bruce Paton
I’m introducing a new game for the next year. It’s called (apologies to Waldo) WHERE’S WES-O? A number of classmates seem to be hiding. Let me know if you find Debby Addis, Ramon Alonso, Steve Anderson, Mark Anderson, Deborah Appel, Robert Baratt, June Hatton Barr, or any other ’75ers who are out of touch with our class. There might be prizes at the 50th for our best detectives.
A great Reunion Committee has begun planning for our 50th. There’s still room to join this team, and we’d love to have you. See you in 2025!
Reminder: Hope to see many of you at our 50th Reunion, May 23–26. Attendance for the Class of ’73 at their 50th was 96. Let’s surpass that number!
Charisse R. Lillie was chosen one of their 2023 Directorship 100 honorees by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Charisse is recognized as one of the most influential directors in the boardroom and corporate governance community.
(The 2023 D100 comprises 50 directors and 50 governance professionals and institutions who exemplify the knowledge, leadership, and excellence NACD promotes. Nominees play a significant role in shaping the greater boardroom agenda.)
Monique Witt and her sons, Dev and Ben, are currently working on the mix and master of Ben’s sixth album. “This one is solo piano and accordion. He and Dev chose to re-record some of the accordion parts at Avidon Audio Labs, Dev’s production group, and at the satellite space at OneTrickDog. Dev has engineered over a hundred discs, a number with Grammy nominations, primarily jazz/blues/world, but also some classical. He has also produced all Ben’s albums. We hope also to record Ben’s third album with the Nebula Project (the Sextet plus guests) in March. We are seeing a large volume of streaming of Ben’s work recently, perhaps from his touring exposure, and A Thousand Pebbles was submitted for Grammy consideration this year by a member of the selection committee.
“Ben continues to compose and his touring schedule is as packed as ever. Dev will also be out on the West Coast for his business.
“While my work on the album is limited to graphics, I’m also finishing a manuscript on aesthetic philosophy that I began during the pandemic with a running partner, who is a curator at one of the NYC art museums. It’s certainly not my field of expertise, but there are two academic publishers who have expressed an interest, so we’ll see. It’s mostly a pretext to talk about beautiful works.”
Gary Johnson writes, “Thinking of you . . . and the wonderful times on campus.”
Nancy Collins reports: “Brian Mahoney ’73 and I split our time between Arizona and Minnesota (guess which season is spent where) but we are Arizona citizens at this point. Brian’s physical issues limit our traveling so we are basically homebodies. My time is spent being a PCA when called upon, organizing two book clubs, taking care of two flower gardens in the summer, doing some outside work at both homes; in Rio Verde, playing with the Lady Putter’s once a week (no golfing experience needed), and mentoring a boy (I started with him in third grade) who is now in ninth grade. I exercise every day since I need to keep myself in some 71-year-old shape so we can stay in our two homes, while binge-watching all old seasons of NCIS and NCIS: LA. In the past four years, I have sewn by hand seven Christmas stockings and am working on my fifth Advent calendar for our five grandchildren. In between, I am increasing my knitting skills. In summary, I am increasing the amplitude of other Wes grads accomplishment. I love living in the slow lane and have decided I really was programmed to be like my mom, a stay-at-home wife, and not really meant for the working world. I love being retired.
“Brian and I returned to Wesleyan in late September for the announcement of the Phil Calhoun endowment funds for Wesleyan crew. I was so impressed with what Wesleyan is currently; it was so different it didn’t bring back any less-than-ideal memories. It was a strange experience to be talking to the very accomplished members of the women’s and men’s crews. The women were intrigued by the alumni stories of being the first women on campus in recent history and of what starting the women’s sports teams were like. And they were all so clean-cut in comparison to the students of the 70s!! A very impressive bunch.”
Ken Jacobs writes, “As a relatively late-in-life dad with two adopted kids, I’m at least 10 years behind most of our classmates. My younger daughter is still in college and my son is training as an apprentice plumber. They haven’t launched yet, but they’re getting there! Of course, that also means I’m still practicing real estate law at Smith Buss & Jacobs in New York. We’re up 400-plus co-op and condo associations as clients and 27 lawyers, whom I’m training diligently to help take over the reins.
“I’ve kept up my two most intense college pastimes over the years—tournament bridge and dancing. Bridge took second place to raising a family but I still managed to get to some tournaments; now that I have more time, though, for some inexplicable reason my card sense isn’t quite as sharp as it was in my 30s. I’ve folk danced, contra danced, ballroom danced, and East and West Coast swing danced in New York and New Jersey for over 40 years—my only regret is that my wife, Sharon, with two knee replacements and a hip replacement, can’t join me anymore.
“I still read the Class Notes, but I haven’t decided yet whether to attend the reunion. We’ll just have to see.”
Peter Welcher updates us: “Still living near Annapolis. I’m adjusting to being semiretired, eight hours per week doing tech blogging, etc. We’ve continued some travel and hiking (Banff, Canada area, Delaware Water Gap, and Phoenix area); hope to do more in 2024. We have four grown kids (three UMD, one Elon grad), who each have a dog. Plus five grandkids (one [born] in ’21, three around January ‘23, number 5 on the way). One kid will be spending two to three years working in Rome as USDA/Foreign Service officer handling negotiations; their wife doing USDA management work remotely. Another, State Department lawyer, will be spending two to three years in The Hague; her lawyer husband will be working remotely or as EU presence. We look forward to traveling to visit them!”
Bill Pearson shares: “Greetings to all. Hope to see many of you in May for our 50th. I’m still working, primarily as a management consultant with Contemporary Leadership Advisors, a team of behavioral scientists, and me. I’m also active with several not-for- profits—the Osborn, National Council for the Traditional Arts, City Lore, and the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival.
“Our three boys, Nate, Howe ’12, and Henry, are thriving and far-flung—San Francisco, New Orleans, and New Jersey. CFO, musician, and middle school math teacher respectively. No one married yet, but that’s coming up next August.
“Jane and I are doing our best to have adventures—seeing the boys, NYC theater and music, hiking, fishing, and camping.”
News from Carolyn White-Lesieur: “Nothing spectacular to report except four spectacular grandchildren: two in Toulouse, France, and two in Pelham, New York. All terrific in my eyes, of course. My last volunteer activities were with the Board of the UU Church in Harvard Square while continuing to be active with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) as teacher and trainer for the Family to Family classes. But it is time to taper off volunteering to travel the world, which I hope to do with my French husband. It is now or never! My forever activity is women’s doubles and, luckily, the Boston area has so many tennis opportunities.
“My philosophy on life is simple: if I am upright and walking, it is a good day.
“If you have never been to our Lloyd Komesar’s Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival in August, maybe this is the year to go? Great atmosphere and films. Great atmosphere and films. A small cadre of Wesleyan folks are always there, along with Lloyd, to welcome you. But, first, see you at Reunion?
Wayne Forrest reports, “2023 was a year of blessings. My one offspring, Jamie, got married on a beautiful August day on a lake in northwest Connecticut, fulfilling a wish I made in 2018 when my wife, Jean, was diagnosed with breast cancer only to followed by ovarian cancer a year later. I’ve never been overly religious and have only a tenuous belief in a power outside ourselves, but I prayed then that she would survive long enough to see Jamie’s wedding. I missed the 2019 reunion and thankfully things have normalized, and the future looks very bright. I’ve been so pleased to work with others on the 50th Reunion committee to help create activities (such as a gamelan reunion concert) that will bring more of us together next May. My current state of mind remains optimistic about retirement, but I am not retired. COVID taught us how to work from home—and kept me from a daily 45-minute train ride into Manhattan—and that is keeping me employed. But I see the future and it includes playing lots of music, tennis, cycling on an e-bike, as much travel as possible, and being with friends and loved ones.”
James Krantz reports that his son, Daniel ’11, is now a father. He’s become a grandfather. What a joy!
Arthur Fierman shares: “It has been a whirlwind of a year . . . Starting with my work as chief of pediatric ambulatory care at Bellevue Hospital, we have been doing our best to provide medical care to the thousands of migrant children and families who have arrived in New York City to seek a safer, better life. Many of these children and their family members are housed in shelters near Bellevue, and many have experienced unspeakable trauma prior to and during their journeys in the form of threats, actual physical or sexual violence, the death of loved ones, and/or political persecution. Most come to Bellevue initially to update their immunizations for school entry and to receive other routine health maintenance, but they need so much more in the way of mental health and social services. A surprising number of the children are also in need of care for significant chronic illnesses, which sometimes could not be adequately addressed in their home countries. The challenge has been great, but as I head into retirement from full-time work in January 2024, it is good to know that Bellevue will still be there to support the families in their pursuit of a better life. I am looking forward to retirement, anticipating continuing some connections to NYU and Bellevue, but seeking new adventures!
“On the home front, my wife, Shelly, and I became grandparents in April 2023, when our son, Andrew, and wife, Danielle, brought Ellie Harper Fierman into the world. She is a joy and an inspiration! This past summer, as we have done for several years now, Shelly and I attended the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. Produced by Lloyd Komesar, the fest has been a wonderful event, with over 100 amazing documentaries, shorts, feature-length films, interviews with filmmakers and actors, and great social events each year. Rivaling the event itself over the years is the opportunity to hang out with so many Wesleyan ’74 classmates and other Wes grads—including Wayne Forrest and wife, Jean Seibel, Claudia Catania and John Cady ’71, Sarah Cady and Bob Becker ’71, Wendy Starr and [husband] Jeff Kessler, Lyn Lauffer, Carolyn White-Lesieur and husband, Jean, Bill Pearson and wife, Jane, Bill Burton, David Weller and wife, Rochelle Zabarkes, Seth Davis ’72, just to name a few. If you have never been, you should really consider coming for the 10th annual festival in August 2024!”
Henry Avis-Vieira is “very pleased to inform that all financial markets articles I’ve published in El Exportador—a prestigious trade finance journal headquartered in Madrid—between 2005 to the present are now available online at academia.edu.
“Having a super time working on our 2024 class reunion with so many of my classmates and our fabulous Wes coordinators, such as Mandy Broulik, Lucy Diaz, Geralyn Russo, and others. A real pleasure.”
Fred Kessler reports: “I have been blessed with a great legal career at one law firm, where I have worked for over 45 years; 40 years as a partner. I specialize in helping public agencies conduct procurements for major infrastructure projects nationwide (mostly in the transportation sector) through innovative contracting methods including public-private partnerships. It is gratifying to work on matters that make a positive difference for the general public and create good engineering and construction job opportunities. But I am eagerly anticipating cutting back next year and fully retiring in the near future, so that I can devote more time to family, reading, the outdoors, travel, community service, and relaxation. A shout-out to all my Deke brothers, wherever you are!”
Gray “Jon” Cox is enjoying traveling in person and via Zoom to give book talks on his SmarterPlanet or Wiser Earth? Dialogue and Collaboration in the Era of Artificial Intelligence that was recently published by the Quaker Institute for the Future. Since it is a dialogical book about dialogical reasoning, which has come out just as AI has become increasingly dialogical and everyone wants to talk about it, he is feeling a bit like a Plato at the Googleplex. He is also contemplating a miniconcert tour for the album’s worth of songs that are incorporated via QR codes as part of the argument of the book— including the show starter: “I’m gonna slow right down, so I can get there sooner. I’m gonna slow right down, so I can get there today. I’m gonna slow right down, maybe even come to a full stop. Maybe if I come to a full stop I’m gonna get there right away.” Besides Amazon, etc., it is available in an electronic Creative Commons form at www.smarterplanetorwiserearth.com. He continues to live in his hometown of Bar Harbor, teach at College of the Atlantic, and enjoy family life in the wilds of Maine.
It was a pleasure to see the always colorful Bill Burke (returning from Colorado) at our 50th Reunion, and he told me he shared these thoughts with the Class of 1974 at their 50th Reunion planning meeting during Homecoming weekend. He said they were impressed with what we accomplished including:
96 attendees—a new 50th-reunion record!
80% donor participation versus 51% average for previous 50th-reunion classes
126 biographies submitted for the class book
Bill also writes, “But the significance of our reunion goes beyond those stellar numbers. Throughout the weekend, during the dinners, WESeminars, and social activities, there was a positive undercurrent. And it wasn’t, ‘just my imagination.’ There were, truly, ‘good vibrations’ in the air.”
He says, “By the time we gathered on Saturday at Olin Memorial Library for our class picture and final dinner, there was a feeling that the Class of 1973 had bonded in a way and to a degree as never before. Old friendships were strengthened, new connections were made, and, with the turbulent times of the early ’70s behind us, past ghosts laid to rest. Writer Michael Korda said, ‘One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.’ Whether you were able to attend our 50th or not, your input is valued.”
Congrats to Paul Buell! He writes that he and his Carol (Wellesley ’73) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 16, 2023. He says a number of close family members and friends attended their renewal of vows out at their little church in Maryland’s horse country, including Rob Randall and his wife, Kathy.
Joshua Boger writes that he came out of “retirement,” which he calls an “undefined word,” in April 2023 to join Alkeus Pharmaceuticals as executive chairman, working almost full time now to help to grow a small organization to be ready to file for approval with the FDA of a new drug to slow or stop the leading genetic cause of blindness in children and young adults: Stargardt’s disease (or in some places called “juvenile macular degeneration”).
Joshua says, “The company has completed the necessary clinical trials for approval in the U.S., we believe, and we could be on the market at the end of 2024 or early 2025. There is a huge amount of work that needs doing first though. The disease is more common than cystic fibrosis, but almost nobody has heard of it because, up to now, absolutely nothing could be done about it. Children are born with normal sight and go blind between about 9 and 25. It is a recessive genetic disease, not ethnically linked, and it usually comes as a complete shock to new parents, who typically have no blindness in their families. We have a pill [taken] once a day that can slow progression or possibly stop the blindness altogether. Beautiful science and great possible outcomes. Worth ‘un-retiring’ for!”
Joshua also says he just came back (in late November) from the largest scientific meeting of ophthalmology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, in San Francisco, attended by fully a third of all retinal specialists in the country. “One of the lead investigators in our trials, Dr. Christine Kay, presented to a packed audience the full dataset of the trial that will form the basis of our FDA submission. It was well received,” he says. In a panel discussion afterward, with leading experts not involved in the trial, they were asked, “Which Stardgardt’s patients would you give this Alkeus drug to [assuming approval]?” Joshua says, “The immediate answer from one of the panel, uncontested by the others, was, ‘All of them.’ That just raises the pressure on us to get it done.”
Lastly, Mara Baldwin ’06 wrote to say that her father, James David Baldwin, passed away on October 23, 2023, at the age of 72. David was a biology major and a member of Chi Psi. His obituary can be read online at classnotes.blogs.wesleyan.edu/obituaries.
I attended the wonderful celebration of Jon Berk’s life in Middletown. His family and friends superbly covered all the various aspects of his life, and speakers included our own Bill Gallitto (Jon’s law partner for many years), a particularly eloquent Mike McKenna ’73, and the long-absent Pat Bailey. Pat, asking to be referred to as “Paco,” shared memories of his and Jon’s time in Madrid with the Wesleyan-Vassar (emphasis on Vassar) program. Also present were Tom Halsey and Steve Goldschmidt. As Yogi Berra said, be sure to go to your friends’ memorials or they won’t go to yours.
Pat Bailey told us how he had flatlined for seven minutes during a recent medical procedure but was apparently (and most palpably) revived. He is taking it in stride, now having a second birthday to celebrate. He continues to live the good life in his native Virgin Islands, heavily involved in sailing, as evidenced by his business card, which reads, “World Sailing International, Judge; World Sailing International, Technical Delegate; Pan Am Sailing Vice President; Caribbean Sailing Association Vice President.” Something to ponder while shoveling snow this winter.
While I am always looking for news from classmates like Pat, from whom we haven’t heard in a while, I am delighted to share some very significant news items from several regular contributors.
Andy Feinstein was recently honored by the Connecticut Special Education Legal Fund with an award. For many years Andy has devoted himself to the noble and essential cause of representing students with special needs and their parents in efforts to get the appropriate education the law supposedly assures them. As the father of two successful products of the special ed system, I particularly value Andy’s efforts. He was introduced at the function by Senator Chris Murphy, and I encourage you to view the video at https://vimeo.com/878373470/5a87ed8bff. Watch it and be proud.
Bob in his wrestling days
Bob White, famed class agent and researcher of medical history, was inducted into the 2023 Newark Athletic Hall of Fame in commemoration of his wrestling career at Weequahic High School. Bob loves Wesleyan and also loves that the Weequahic High School Alumni Association bought an ad in his honor.
Lucy Knight, renowned biographer of Jane Addams, was a featured “talking head” in a new documentary about Jane Addams produced by Chicago Public Television (WTTW). It was broadcast in October as part of their Chicago Stories, all of which are now streaming on the station’s website. In the new year she will give a Zoom talk about the Grimke sisters and petitioning for the Frances Willard House Museum in Evanston, Illinois, the city in which she lives.
During the past few months, Leon Vinci attended “a few” public health meetings, visited universities where he presented on climate change and disease vectors, climate and the nexus with media communication portrayals, and citizen science. The list includes Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina; Stetson University; Southern Connecticut State University; National Environmental Health Association Educational Conference, New Orleans; One Health International Conference, Montego Bay, Jamaica; American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta; Interstate Environmental Health Symposium, Jekyll Island, Georgia. “And I’m in the queue to give an international Zoom lecture with Drexel University, (after my knee replacement next month [yuck]).” Leon had two children get married in 2023 (Doug and Laura) and received the 2023 Presidential Citation Award from President Gary Brown of the National Environmental Health Association at their annual educational conference in hot and humid New Orleans in August.
Stay well and keep those honors and recognitions coming!
Continuing with the theme of transitions, unfortunately some are sad. Michael Zuckerman writes, “Yesterday would have been my 45th wedding anniversary with my wife, Evelyn, who died this past March 13.”
David Lindorff writes, “My wife, Joyce, an early keyboards performer and professor at Temple U, and I, an investigative journalist, had contemplated a few years ago slowing down our work life and focusing only on things we found compelling—[her] on performing, recording, and research, and me, on important stories only—when family events intervened along with the pandemic. In any case, we ended up with our son, his girlfriend, and her 6-year-old daughter living in half our home. Meanwhile, our daughter (three years ago) had a son with her partner in the UK where she’s a professor at Oxford. So, now we are grandparents—hands on often enough, with a now adoptive “granddaughter,” who lives with her birth father in Philly, and on Zoom with our grandson in Didcot, just outside Oxford. We never did slow down, as Joyce decided not to retire, and I’ve wound up busier than ever with a film (now in theaters and online) and a book just out that I have to start hustling with book events and interviews. We’re loving it all, it turns out. Just gotta stay healthy and fit. . . .”
From Dick Scoggins: “My wife and I are living in Glendale, California, with my daughter, her husband, and three kids. My son, Nathan ’99, and his wife and three kids, live 10 miles up the road. Quite a journey to get here: Rhode Island, England, and finally California. Still active in missionary work focused on Muslims; quite an active area with the new dynamic of the Arab world. Still using the insights I gained at Wes!”
From Jim Rizza: “It’s been an interesting year here in the Sonora Desert of Arizona. Once again, this year set a new record; hottest ever. And the heat was deadly.
“Several of our plants, trees, and bushes perished despite extra watering and fashioning nursery-cloth shades where we could. Increasing watering time was a hard decision because of the intense, persistent drought here. Our concrete garage floors had to be jackhammered up and replaced because of the combination of tree roots tunneling under the slab looking for water and the shrinkage of the expansive soil as it dried out. The heat placed so much demand on our heat pump that one of the bus bars in our electrical breaker panel fused. Cooling would have been lost in the house in 119-degree Fahrenheit heat for three days until a new panel could be installed, but I was able to jerry rig some temporary wiring to keep the heat pump functioning during that time.
“Our hot water heater is situated in the three-car garage, where temperatures often hovered around 120 degrees this summer. It failed and had to be replaced even though it was only two years old.
“Irrigation for lawns, trees, and shrubs worked overtime and parts failed. Throw in some costly, nonheat-related appliance replacements, premature heat-related tire wear on our cars, and a few other events, and it has been quite a year. It has certainly kept me busy working the problems and writing checks. We find it hard to understand why political polls show the impacts of climate change at nine of the top 10 concerns among voters. Incredible in fact.”
Laurence Mark notes: “I recently produced two films for Netflix: an animated movie musical called Vivo, in 2021, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda’02, with songs written by him, and a new version of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, in 2022, starring Emma Corrin (who played Princess Diana in The Crown). In other words, have lately been feeling like a ‘full-service’ producer, traveling from one extreme to the other—going from a fun family film to classy soft-core porn. An unusual, wide-ranging journey.”
And finally, Michael Brewin comments he: “is thankful for having survived a dramatic year.” He suffered a stroke, then later fell and smashed his skull, resulting in two emergency brain surgeries. Michael then spent months doing daily physical therapy (balance, walking, fingers). A longtime environmentalist and a veteran of educational, cultural, community, and other nonprofit boards, he was also recently appointed by the mayor and city council of Tigard, Oregon, to be the new water commissioner for the greater area’s district, serving 75,000 residents, and thousands of area businesses, workers, and customers/clients/guests.” Michael has resumed his music and writing projects too!
As for me, spending time in San Diego. Seeing Stephen Ferruolo, professor at USD Law School, and Nancy Binkin, who will be celebrating her three-quarter century mark with a big blowout in Piedmont, Italy!
The hardest part of writing this column always is the news of the death of a classmate. And telling you that Seth Kaufman has died is one of the hardest pieces of news I have had to share over the many years.
Here are a few comments I have received about Seth:
Maurice Hakim: “Seth was truly loved by his classmates. The toast of Eclectic, he was an outspoken member of our class and a loyal supporter of Wesleyan ever since graduation day. He and I were formidable political adversaries at Wesleyan. When we ran for the CBC, I could not believe I lost considering Robert Alan Segal and other cohorts had stuffed the ballot box. Seth confessed years later that he had more ballot box ‘stuffers’ than I did. 😃 That said, despite our political differences, we were always friends and maintained that friendship for many years. I loved to tease him. I called him a crazy radical with a bad case of TDS and that would really ruffle his feathers.
“Seth had a big heart. He was a real mensch who helped those who needed help. I will miss him.”
Jeremy Serwer: “When I spoke with him a few times in the past couple of years, his passion for WES—right AND wrong—was always alive and well. He’d start with wondering what the call was about, and then would carry on just beautifully about our class, our experience, and Wesleyan today. . . . [S]omeone like Seth leaves an indelible mark on the world.”
Steve Ingraham: “The Rochester, New York, weather of late has been rain and mist— likely the heavens are weeping for the recent loss of a colorful classmate . . . . the one and only Seth.
“You all know the guy, and can appreciate his decades of service to Wesleyan. Seth style, of course!
“As is customary in the Jewish tradition, his burial was quick—two days after his death on December 19. Below is my note to myself, the essence of which has also been expressed to his wife, Pat. She has been a saint in caring for him through his long illness.
“21 December 2023
I first met Seth on a sunny, early September day in 1966. We freshmen were unpacking in a Foss Hill dorm, preparing to enter life’s next mysterious phase. I remember it like yesterday. I was jittery and altogether at sea that first day . . . until I was greeted in the hall by a fellow frosh with this thick Brooklyn accent. ‘So, aaah, what’s your name?’ In my room he came, without waiting for an answer. He flopped down in the room’s only chair, with those horrendous hush puppy shoes and socks that barely covered his ankles. He proceeded to ask good questions. He also listened. His enthusiasm was infectious; soon my anxieties gave way to laughter, and a lasting friendship was born.
“This past decade has been a terrible trial for Seth and for Pat, his spirited, loving wife.
Whatever one’s version of God, he/she or it went AWOL. How else explain the awful injustice dealt to this pure soul? Groping for something positive, there is relief, I tell myself, now that Seth’s suffering is over. And in time, the acute pain of the moment will, I trust, subside . . . to be replaced by gratitude — gratitude for the deep bonds we shared.
“Seth was curious, committed, passionate, purposeful. He was loyal to those he respected. He was thoughtful, a great listener, and he was funny—no, make that hilarious. Forging our friendship at Wesleyan, I marveled at his ability to relate to folks of all different stripes, people from all corners of the Wesleyan community. During those four undergrad years, Seth was firing on all cylinders. He seemed to know everyone and be at the center of everything. As indeed he was. Through those tumultuous late 1960s, Seth earned not just respect, but also great affection . . . from students, faculty, administration . . . from everybody. His sons, David and Rob, understand this, and take pride knowing that ‘service’ at and for Wesleyan was a calling for their dad. As Pat and all of us well know, after graduation Seth remained a spirited advocate.
To give but one example: for decades he was a tireless and effective fundraiser for Wesleyan. ‘A real mensch,’ as one classmate put it. Who could say ‘no!’ to Seth? Nobody.
“Many have expressed their admiration and respect for Pat’s strength and commitment to Seth through his years of nightmarish illness. I join that chorus. We are grateful for her tireless, unwavering support of Seth through good times and bad. My wish for Pat is that, in time, she will be comforted by the truth: that she did everything possible to bring him some relief. From a distance, I see that what she gave our friend was true love, expressed in a manner that leaves a shining example for David, Rob, and the rest of us.
“I’m pretty sure I speak for many: Seth will always be alive and very well in our hearts.
For me, he has been a colorful, loyal, kind, and magnificent friend for the ages. I was blessed beyond words when he first darkened my doorway that sunny September day in Middletown.”
And there was this in an email to some folks who meet on Zoom: “‘He was one of a kind’ is a tired old phrase. But here, it also falls short because it is an understatement. For me, the fearsome thing about a deep friendship is what must come with it—that dread of the loss that will one day come. In time, the pain will give way to gratitude . . . that someone this special was there to brighten our lives. And now, the debt I feel to Pat [his widow] is immeasurable . . . for her love and support of Seth through this past, most difficult decade.”
Bernie Freamon’69: “Seth touched me (and all of us) in a profound way. I am deeply saddened by his death.”
To all that, I can add only that the last time I spoke with him a few years ago was extremely painful and challenging. The difficulty I had understanding him—not because of the many miles from Hawaii to New York City but because of his physical deterioration—was excruciating. If there ever was a time when I wished I could hug someone over the phone lines, that was it. He was lucid to a T, however, with on-point political observations and concerns. I cannot even begin to imagine how much of a struggle life has been for Seth the past several years. No justice there.
RIP, Seth. You won’t be forgotten by your classmates or, I daresay, by pretty much anyone who met you for more than a few minutes.
In other news, Tim Greaney wrote: “I just published my first novel, entitled St. Sebastian School of Law. It’s a satire on teaching law during the lawless Trump years; it may remind some in our class of that great novel by Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim. I’ve received some nice reviews on Amazon, including this from Kirkus Review: ‘The author moves with amazing agility and insight between the corrupt world of higher education, the bars and strip joints where information passes hands, and the corridors of the rich and the powerful. Greaney’s novel demands full attention from the reader; its portrayal of a small struggling campus is a cross-sectional study of the deep-seated issues in American society. . . . Timely and unapologetically smart, with a set of memorable characters to boot.’
“I’m currently [last fall] visiting our classmate Paul Roth in Venice (the one in Italy). He’s secured a three-month visit at Ca’ Foscari, and after that will take off for Manchester, England, where he’s landed a Fulbright fellowship. Nice post-retirement gigs.
“I’m done with teaching but am on several grants at UCLAWSF, as it’s now called, that allow me to file amicus briefs and write advocacy papers trying to get the courts to enforce antitrust laws in health care.”
Ted Reed wrote: “As you guys all know, this past summer everybody and their brother went to Italy, so my wife and I decided to climb Mount Lassen. We went in the first week of October. It was gorgeous. Lassen Volcanic National Park is in the far northeast corner of California, one of the most remote parts of the state. Lassen itself is 10,457 feet. The parking lot where we started is at 8,500 feet. To prepare, we did two hikes in the Smokies, a few hours from home: both had 2,000-foot altitude gains. Once at Lassen Park, we did a few hikes at 8,500 in order to be acclimated. The preparation made the climb easy. The trail is well marked, well maintained, and has great views every step of the way. I believe I climbed Lassen in 1981, so this was 42 years later. Obviously, it’s fun to still climb mountains at 75 years old, if you can find a beautiful mountain that is easy enough. Looks like our next trip will be to Europe, my wife’s preference.”
In a brief note, Dave Davis said a lot: “I am now semiretired from Oregon Public Broadcasting, so with more free time, classmate Steve Talbot and I are developing a public television documentary about my grandfather, who led an effort to expose crime and corruption in LA in the 1930s. Think L.A. Confidential and you’ll have an idea how the story plays out.” Steve comments: “This documentary project about Dave’s grandfather is a great opportunity for Dave and me to work together again (we started making films together at Wesleyan in 1969!), revisit the city where we were born and raised, and tell an amazing story about crime and politics that is straight out of Raymond Chandler, but all true.”
Good to hear from Bill Bullard. “First, some news about our classmate, Tim McGlue, whom I’ve stayed close to since he moved to France weeks after we graduated. His first wife, Claude, 20 years our senior and both younger and wiser in body and spirit than any of us, passed away in August. Tim stayed close to her after their divorce 30 years ago and was with her the day before she passed. Nothing became Claude’s life as much as her leaving it. A good death, he wrote. But in October, Sylvie, his second wife, mother of his two daughters, and partner for their many years together in Normandy, died of cancer. Both women were our dear friends. Tim had extraordinary good fortune in the women who married him. He is surrounded by friends and family, so he is not alone, but I’m sure the blow is harder than he’ll ever say. I just hope Tim keeps on keeping on, especially with his blues band in Paris.
“On my own front, my wife, Bodie, finally retired after 15 years as head of Spence School in Manhattan, and we lit out for the territories—May and June in Paris, July in Tuscany with our 15 kids and grandkids, and September as guests of old San Francisco friends in a trip to Iceland and a cruise from Greenland to Quebec. It was great to give us and our kids that gift, to know we had the juice to stay on the road that long, and to experience again what it feels like to make Paris a home. Here we are (Bodie and I are in the middle) with our friends in Nuuk Greenland fjord enjoying 12-year-old Glenfiddich over ice from the 12,000-year-old iceberg in the background.
Bill and Bodie (center) with friends in Nuuk Greenland fjord, September 2023.
“We left NYC after Bodie’s retirement and moved permanently to our 18th-century farmhouse near Hudson in Columbia County. We don’t have enough land or animals to call it a farm, though everywhere we look is sheep, cattle, and rolling fields of wheat and hay. I have a photography studio in the barn we fixed up and have just enough success publishing and showing work to keep me busy and connected to the large community of artists and photographers in the area. And the city is just a couple of hours away, so we find lots of reasons to spend several days there a month.”
Mitch Grashin, still active in the marijuana insurance business, wrote: “CALL FOR PHILLIP MORRIS” (a reference to a very old radio program ad.)
Peter Kalischer wrote briefly, as well: “Well, besides relocating/repatriating to the U.S., no news.” Peter and Emi live in Honolulu.
Still finishing our house, but economics dictate a sale if we’re going to retire. For the right price, we can pay this place off and get something basic on the island, albeit undoubtedly in a less-scenic location. If anyone knows someone with a lot of money….
Planning a winter trip to New Zealand in June. It’s an inspiration to get in better shape. When I read about New Zealand, ever other word is “walk” or “hike” or “trek” or similar. Seems like that’s the way to see many of the great sites. Looking forward to seeing it and probably taking about 3,000 to 4,000 photos.
Please plan now for our 55th Reunion. It will be just about a year from the time you read this.
