Class Notes | 1960s

From William “Mac” Runyan:

“Hello Class of 1969,

“I attended Wesleyan for the freshman year of the Class of 1969. I liked much about Wesleyan and played on the freshman soccer team. But after one year, decided I wanted to go to a co-ed school. Applied to Harvard, Swarthmore, and Oberlin. Admitted to Oberlin, attended there from 1966 to 1969. Then went to Harvard in clinical psychology and public practice from 1969 to 1975. Then was a professor at UC Berkeley, from 1979 to 2010, in the School of Social Welfare and affiliate professor in the Psychology Department.

“I have a website at williamrunyan.com. Includes a relaxed photo I like; and access to articles, chapters, and several books in the study of individual lives. In 1982 I published Life Histories and Psychobiography: Explorations in Theory and Method (Oxford University Press). [Below] is a photo I had taken for the book which was never used. Title for the photo in my mind is Psychologist on the Way Up . . . He Hopes.

“What kind of psychology to pursue? In the freshman dining hall at Wesleyan, Jeff Wanshel brought a copy of Toward a Psychology of Being (1962) by Abraham Maslow. This led to Carl Rogers. I felt this is a kind of psychology I would like to pursue. I have focused on the study of individual lives.

“I was flattered to win a lifetime achievement award and have a Festschrift with 17 people writing short articles about my work, their work, and our relationships. This was recently published in the fall 2023 issue of Clio’s Psyche. I hope to soon get the whole Festschrift added to my website, williamrunyan.com or a new related website.

“I’d love to hear from anyone who feels like communicating.”

Jim Adkins says: “I am finally ending my medical career the end of this year. . . . I can’t keep up with the rate of change of info and don’t want to! Contact with old roommate Bob Kayser who, after spending his adult career in the snow of northern New York, moved to south Alabama and is now on route to moving back to upper New York. I continue to play my horn as much as possible and travel as much as I can (need to do before can’t). Progeny are all well as are subprogeny . . . wife (spent most weekends at the Tech) continues in assisted living with multiple medical issues. Enjoy hearing what the rest of the class is up to.”

From Rick Pedolsky: “I’m still living in Stockholm (though wintering in Nerja, Spain). Still with my lovely Cecilia (it will be 50 years next year). Still running my business (though looking for a buyer). And still hoping that we’ll see each other at the next reunion (is it in the works?).”

Stu Blackburn writes: “I was featured in an ‘author profile’ column in Sussex Life in July this year. (Not exactly Time, but I was chuffed.) My wife and I are happily tending roses in a typically damp and cool English summer.

“My new novel, All the Way to the Sea, which is set largely in rural Rhode Island, is now out and available from Amazon. 

“Just wondering if you know how many of our classmates went into the military, either before or after the draft lottery in December 1969. My next novel is about someone whose life is turned upside down by getting a low number in that lottery. Any idea of who got ‘caught’, who fled to Canada, etc.?”

Darius Brubeck says that his book, Jazz at an African University and on the Road, was published in South Africa in May, and the international edition will come out next year. “At present it is only available in South Africa.”

Darius also said that “Our Wes-grad grandson, Nathaniel Elmer ’14, was married this June (to Wes grad Shira Engel ’14) after graduating from Yale. He is now a fully qualified architect; and our Wes-grad granddaughter, Lydia Elmer ’17, is in Chicago, awaiting her bar exam results.”

Fred Coleman sent in news highlighting his busy year. He has a new granddaughter, Laurel, born to youngest daughter Jennifer (Andy). . . . He also just presented “The Intersection of Faith Practices and the Development of Human Rights Driven Mental Health Care” at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago. This was  done “in collaboration with a global mental health learning collective—[a] group of 16 teams in nine countries, which meets monthly by Zoom webinar and holds a yearly conference in Africa. I’ve been doing this for over a decade and it is challenging and very rewarding.”

Since Tony Mohr’s memoir, Every Other Weekend—Coming of Age with Two Different Dads, published in February, he has done bookstore readings and has appeared on podcasts. Tony says it “has been all sorts of fun. My next gig takes place at 6:00 p.m. PST on November 4, on Hollywood 360. Read more about it at www.anthonyjmohr.com.”

He goes on to say, “Beve and I spent the month of April in Australia and swept along the entire east coast, from Tasmania to Melbourne to Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. The place is grand—friendly people, brilliant scenery, lots of culture ranging from aboriginal to modern. Go there before we leave this world.

“And I’m still sitting on the bench part time. Despite being retired, it’s good to keep one’s toe in the water.

“Finally, I still can’t let go of my wonderful Argus memories (Jim Drummond and Jeff Richards, I’m looking at you), which is a reason I’m still one of the editors of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative’s Social Impact Review. We’re always looking for good articles and op-eds as well as interviews with interesting people. If the spirit moves, send us something. Cheers, Tony”

Nick Browning: “I exchange emails filled with political outrage and occasional despair almost daily with Peter Pfeiffer and I think we’re both keeping one another afloat in these perplexing political waters. I see Peter Cunningham occasionally. He’ll have a photograph book published shortly, which I suspect will be wonderful. Walter Abrams,  Rich Kremer, and I play golf almost weekly up here in Vermont. Kremer still reigns supreme with a golf club.

“My wife (Rebecca Ramsey ’75) and I have loved living in Vermont since we retired up here about four years ago.”

Steve Hansel: “Greetings from HOT and humid NOLA . . . breaking records this summer in the wrong directions . . . heat and drought. . . .  Grandchild #9 arrived February 28 and Sofia Florence is thriving. First grandchild in more than 10 years and first for #4 son, Nick, and his wife.

“Disappointed by the legacy move . . . just another brick out of the wall of alumni loyalty . . . a predictable reaction along with other similar schools.”

John Mihalec regrets our loss of classmate, Dan Rose, a first-class person in every respect. (His obituary can be read here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/daniel-rose-obituary?id=52462823)

In April Bob Dombroski traveled “to theGalapagos, enshrined by Melville—The Encantadas—and Darwin: tortoises may hold the secret of longevity?”

Bill Currier continues to take on interesting pro bono cases for clients who want to fight back; taught a white-collar crime class he made up to 11 wonderful Chinese law students (25-year-olds) in Shenzhen at the Peking School of Transnational Law via Zoom; working on a second novel; spent three weeks in Martinique writing and enjoying trade winds during Carnival on a beautiful fragment of France. First significant trip after three years of COVID. Wishing us all health, productivity, and a glimmering  understanding of it all.”

Rameshwar Das: “I’ve been leading online meditation three times a week through COVID, living between form and formless. Also returning to my photographic roots and finally learning Photoshop . . . old dog, new tricks.

“Here’s a recent one: Sunflower Corona ©2023 RameshwarDas

“Ahad Cobb has written a wonderful memoir, Riding the Spirit Bus. Jeff Wanshel and Edi Giguere moved to Pasadena and still sound whole.

“My final book with Ram Dass MA ’54 is cooking along, came out in paperback last fall. . . . Ram Dass/Richard Alpert got his master’s in psych at Wes. https://beingramdass.soundstrue.com/

“Thanks for stretching out the narrative! Love to us all, Ramesh”

Rob Pratt writes: “I just returned from five weeks in the Solomon Islands, where my company is working with the government in putting together a major solar and energy efficiency project. Great trip, and I’m enjoying getting to know new Solomon friends.”

Charlie Morgan shares this update: “It looks like my book on the Massachusetts Constitution finally will go to print in September.” Charlie summarizes it as following:

“The book contradicts several commonly held beliefs of many Massachusetts lawyers since it asserts that the Massachusetts Constitution contains a patchwork of eight provisions that, when considered together, comprise a larger whole granting any person standing to have a grievance heard in court. It asserts that the many instances where Massachusetts courts have refused standing to plaintiffs are fundamentally flawed. The analysis will revolutionize Massachusetts court practice and pleading if it stands up to scrutiny. I expect that, at a minimum, the book will generate heated debate among Massachusetts lawyers and judges over the issues that it confronts.”

John Hickey: “I was saddened to learn that Gordon Holleb died. I remember seeing Gordon playing rugby on the field adjacent to the Foss Hill dorms freshman year on Saturdays and was amazed at his maturity in leading a ‘T-group’ with a group of sophomores (including me) with his pipe in his mouth our sophomore year. I learned that Gordon managed to parlay that interest in group therapy into an inventive group therapy clinic in Cambridge and later into a full-blown career as a therapist in Berkeley.”

Steve Broker lets us know that “Linda and I continue to divide our time between homes in Cheshire, Connecticut, and Wellfleet, Massachusetts, with regular travels to Maine to see family. My birding took me to southeastern Arizona in July, and both Linda and I will be on Monhegan Island in September. Our dear friendship with Bob Pease (Chelmsford, Massachusetts) is in its seventh decade. Brother Tom ’66 and sister-in-law, Louise Chow, have retired this month from spectacular careers in virology at Cold Spring Harbor Labs, Rochester, and University of Alabama, Birmingham.”

Bill Demicco says, “Marie and I still doing well. Best place to be is here in Maine, especially given wildfires, record heat, tornadoes, etc. elsewhere. Our daughter, Elizabeth (MD, PhD ), now full professor [in] Toronto. Also new roof on farmhouse.”

Alex Knopp “recently finished my several terms as president of the Norwalk Public Library and helped secure on-site parking for the library’s new expansion plan. I was recently appointed to serve on a new state commission to review Connecticut’s educational funding of magnet schools and other school choice programs. I still serve on the Connecticut Law Tribune Editorial Board. I walk our municipal golf course several times a week during the summer and was able to win our D Flite Club Championship. My wife, Bette, is having her second book of short stories published (along with two novels). She received her first publishing contract by email as we drove up to our class’s 50th Reunion four years ago! Hope all of my classmates are doing well, Alex.”

Ken and Visakha Kawasaki sent in recent photos from their home in Sri Lanka.

Late August. Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Mornings start with swimming at a local health club. Home for breakfast, New York Times, and cooking. Minicrock vegetable soups—tomatoes, cukes, squash, beans, basil, herbs, and stock. Re-reading Hemingway and realizing his immense artistry. Peter Pfeiffer and Stuart Blackburn published new books. I highly recommend both. Regular visits to Acton Library, Estuary Thrift Shop, Florence Griswold Museum, and Parthenon Diner. Packing for family vacation at Point O’Woods, Fire Island. Red Sox can hit but fielding is suspect. Go Pats, Celtics, and Bruins!

With the birth of Ben Barnett Buzzell in Seattle on June 1st, Judy and I became grandparents.

As I anticipate entering hospice care shortly, I expect this will be my final set of class notes. It has been a joy and a privilege to serve as your secretary.

Take care, guys.

Having spent part of the year in Florida and part of it in Westport, Massachusetts, for eight years, Tom Drew and his wife Carolyn Benedict-Drew decided to sell their place in Florida and buy a place in Manhattan. They are now still sharing their Westport time, but they share it with the Big Apple instead of DeSantis- and Trump-land. Children (four of them, including Joshua ’89 and Jacob ’98) and grands (nine of them) are all within striking distance of the Apple. Tom, a cardiologist, and Carolyn both retired in 2015, celebrating by sailing a boat from Westport to Sarasota. Now, they are into a new urban adventure.

After he read about Len “Bergy” Bergstein’s death in a recent set of notes, Rick Nicita emailed me. Bergy, he told me, was his temporary roommate sophomore year (“I can still hear his cackling laugh”) before they went their separate fraternal ways—Bergy to Chi Psi and Rick to Psi U. Rick enjoyed his career as a movie talent agent for 40 years and then was a “personal manager” for a few years. Now he is involved in producing movies. As he explained it: “I am producing a movie which filmed in Dublin starring my former client Anthony Hopkins, titled Freud’s Last Session that will be in theaters on Christmas Day, and I have a few other movies that might happen with former clients like Al Pacino, etc.  However, I’m not 24/7/365 like I was back in the day. Instead, I spend my life with my wife of 38 years, fellow producer Paula Wagner, play bad golf, and read good books. That suits me better now.”

Our classmate Jim Kates emailed to inform me that he now has a website (as he put it, “I’ve finally entered the very beginning of the 21st century with a website”). It has information about Jim (on the website he describes himself as “a minor poet, a literary translator, and the president and co-director of Zephyr Press”).  It also has lots of great visuals, lots of information about books Jim has written and translated, and much more (including a letter he wrote to his draft board in October 1967). I encourage you to check it out at https://www.jkates.net/about.

(Poaching again, this time from ’64.) When the story broke, I heard from one of my ’66 sources (actually, Smith College ’66, not Wesleyan ’66) that Rusty Hardin ’64, considered a “Texas legal titan” by the Austin American-Statesman and a “legal icon” who is a “Texas legal legend” by the Texas Tribune, was named as one of the lead lawyers working with the Republicans in the Texas Senate to impeach Ken Paxton, the suspended Texas Attorney General (also a Republican). Rusty has been the lead attorney in many high-profile cases. He represented the estate of Texas millionaire J. Howard Marshall in the dispute with former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith (she, memorably, responded to one of his questions in court by saying “Screw you, Rusty!”, a comment that has continued to reverberate as Rusty moves through life).  He also represented the accounting firm Arthur Anderson in the Enron case, and he has represented many professional athletes, including Rudy Tomjanovich, Roger Clemens, Calvin Murphy, Warren Moon, Scottie Pippen, and Wade Boggs. Rusty had this to say about the Paxton case: “This is not about a one-time misuse of office. This is not about a two-time misuse of office. It’s about a pattern of misconduct. I promise you it is 10 times worse than what has been public.”  (However, after a 10-day trial, the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton. According to the Texas Tribune, this was “his most artful escape in a career spent courting controversy and skirting consequences of scandal.”)

(More poaching, from further afield.) A retired guy with time on my hands, I have been reading (in, not all of) a 1,460-page book by David Garrow ’75 titled Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama. Published in 2017 (to mixed reviews), it is a prodigious work, based on over nine years of research that included more than 1,000 interviews, all conducted by Garrow himself. Garrow, who was in the College of Social Studies at Wesleyan, with a subsequent PhD in history from Duke, has written extensively, including a Pulitzer Prize in 1987 for his biography of Martin Luther King, Jr., Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. There is much to quarrel with and much to admire in this enormous and ambitious volume.

This leads me to today’s quiz. Who is your favorite Wesleyan author, and why? Two categories. First, those who were Wesleyan undergraduates (e.g., Amy Bloom ’75, Robin Cook ’62, Jennifer Finney Boylan ’80) and second, those who taught at Wesleyan or had other affiliations with the school (e.g., Paul Horgan, William Manchester, Phyllis Rose). Prizes to be announced.

We begin with a telling photograph.

On the evening of May 24, 2023, President Roth gathered together members of the Wesleyan University community for a ceremony at the College of the Environment to honor, celebrate, and thank Essel Bailey and his wife, Menakka Bailey, for helping to found and support what will now be known as the Bailey College of the Environment. A dinner at the president’s home followed. As Essel has often and rightly noted: “The most significant challenges we face today are environmental.” Thanks to Essel and Menakka’s vision and generosity, the Bailey College of the Environment will soon have new, updated quarters in a renovated Shanklin Hall, funding for student research projects, and an endowment to support interdisciplinary faculty work on environmental issues. Essel (my one claim to fame moving forward will to have been Essel’s roommate sophomore year in North College) wrote to me, with an exclamation mark, “Our whole family, kids, grandkids, and siblings” attended the dinner as did one of Essel’s faculty mentors, Professor Nat Greene. Rick Crootof, Sandy Van Kennen, and Will Rhys represented the Class of 1966.

Wesleyan students and faculty today and for years to come will be inspired by, and benefit from, Essel and Menakka’s vision and support. On behalf of your fellow classmates, thank you Essel and Menakka.

Although he retired as distinguished professor of psychology from the University of California, Davis, eight years ago, Phil Shaver has not let grass grow under his feet, writing: “I have continued working on research and writing projects with other (younger) people. One of them, a very creative Israeli professor, Mario Mikulincer, and I have two new books out, both with long academic titles, I’m afraid: (1) Attachment Theory Expanded: Security Dynamics in Individuals, Dyads, Groups, and Societies; (2) Attachment Theory Applied: Fostering Personal Growth through Healthy Relationships.” For his many scholarly contributions to the field of psychology over many years, Phil will be honored—and what an honor it is—in September with induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Not sure where he finds the time, but Phil has also “been taking watercolor painting classes and playing golf a couple of times a week, until three weeks ago, when I had to have knee replacement surgery. Throwing your weight leftward while pivoting on the left knee gradually wears the knee out. My workaholic professor wife, Gail Goodman (who has not retired yet), and our 27-year-old twin daughters, both of whom live nearby, are a lot of fun and treat me very well.”

Clark Byam, who lives in Pasadena, California, continues “to hike and play some golf. Also have a lot of Goggle stock, so good retirement accounts. Wasn’t recommended by a broker but years ago Wall Street Journal article I read said if you don’t know what to invest in . . . invest in Google. Best advice I ever got.”

On May 25, Barry Thomas sent this wonderfully informative update: “A couple months has passed since Connie and I returned from Burundi. Other than just being a bit lazy, the only excuse is that I have been a bit under the weather for a couple weeks. Nothing serious or chronic, and I am getting better. Just getting old which, I am coming to understand, is serious enough.

“The time in Burundi during February was very good. We were joined by another couple . . . Ana is an early childhood education person who had helped Connie with the online training programs during the pandemic years. Her husband is a now retired professor of religion at Appalachian State. They found the experience to be . . . extraordinary—of course, seeing all the negatives involved with the extreme poverty but, on the other hand, all the good work being done by the Dreaming for Change staff. Connie and Ana had a rewarding three weeks working with the teachers and the children. There are now 130 children in the school that includes a first primary grade. D4C has experienced an influx of children and mothers in recent weeks as they seem to be coming from greater distances for food and other help. Part of the issue is that D4C is becoming known in the province as a good place where food and a nurse’s care are being provided.

“During our visit, D4C celebrated a fifth anniversary. The place of trust that has been built with the community is noteworthy. Connie and I were also impressed with the staff Janvier has attracted and the organization he is putting together. In my time working in poor places, I have learned that, aside from the bad political leadership and governance, the main factor holding people in their subsistence life is the absence of organization management and just plain organizational work experience.”

David Luft plays in a different league. He is now “learning Czech and working on a book about Czech intellectual history since the 15th century.” He “started earlier with Spanish and Latin, and my real love, of course, was English. Thanks to Beckham and COL, I did get pretty good at German, and I kept at it. But I got interested in Austria, which was where Musil was from. So, there was a lot for me to unpuzzle about languages. And then in 1980, Solidarity made me want to learn Polish.” Of course! “For the past 20 or 25 years, I have been learning Czech and Polish in a chaotic way. It’s demanding . . . but pretty interesting. I can see Russia more clearly from there and understand Austria and Germany much better. I did learn some Russian in the 1980s, and Czech and Polish are closer to Russian than to German.”

Tom Pulliam worries that “my story is a little monotonous.” Hardly, Tom. What a life you are living! Tom is “coaching rugby at Stanford (mostly with women’s team who finished third in country last season) and with kids ages 10–14 at San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club—absolutely loving it—and still watching three grandsons (10, 13, and 16), who live seven minutes away, play baseball, flag football, and soccer. The 13- and 16-year-old [are] now playing MLSNext soccer, which is highest youth level in the U.S., but prevents them from playing anything else because it is so intense.” Tom’s “granddaughter is headed to sophomore year at University of Hawaii and is extremely happy there, studying marine biology. I am determined to get over there for visit and to see Hardy Spoehr.”

Shortly after hearing from Tom, I got this note from Hardy Spoehr: “Aloha, Larry. . . . Nothing much to report here except our second hurricane of the season is moving slowly toward us. Also, just want to put a plug in [for] Wesleyan’s ongoing webcasts of its athletic events . . . looking forward to viewing this year’s teams with my morning cup of coffee. . . . He Ola Kakou—be well.” Both Tom and Hardy wrote before the devastating wildfires in Maui.

Al Burman writes that he and his wife, MJ, are “still enjoying work and spending most of our time in Arlington, Virginia, and Sausalito, California, where quite some time back we had a chance for a nice catch-up with Barry Reder and Phil Shaver and their spouses. I was very sorry to hear about Frank Burrows.” Al attaches this photograph “of my wife MJ and me from our Amsterdam-to-Bruges bicycle-barge tour in June 2022. It was great fun and we are off to Mallorca for a similar ride in November.”

Great missive from Joel Russ who writes: “Carolyn and I celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary this year. We are now living in South Bristol, Maine, to be near three grandchildren (two of whom are off to college at Oberlin College and Conservatory and Williams) and are enjoying semiretirement. Carolyn retired after 33 years of public school teaching, and I in a variety of community-based nonprofits in Maine. I still do a little strategic planning and facilitation consulting for Maine-based nonprofit organizations, serve on three local nonprofit boards (land conservation, early childhood education, and chamber music), and one statewide nonprofit board, the Maine Gun Safety Coalition. I also coach the local elementary school cross-country and track and field teams. Trying hard to stay fit and busy.

“My most important activity at the present time, however, is to help raise funds for a critically important Maine resource, LifeFlight Maine, Maine’s only emergency helicopter and air rescue service. This service is particularly important to Maine’s rural and coastal island communities. In the past 25 years, LifeFlight Maine has transported over 36,000 Maine residents of all ages, most of whom were experiencing life-threatening conditions.

“This is my personal story and why I am so committed. Twelve years ago our daughter-in-law, KC Ford (our son Matt’s wife), was a passenger in a small plane that sank soon after leaving Matinicus Island, located 21 miles off the Maine coast. KC sustained serious, life-threatening injuries. Had it not been for a LifeFlight Maine emergency helicopter, KC would most likely not have survived. As you can imagine, our gratitude toward LifeFlight Maine is immense. I have committed to express that gratitude by participating in a major fundraiser, Cross for LifeFlight, a self-directed athletic activity. My goal is to run 100-plus miles in the month of August and to raise $6,000.” Here’s a photograph of Joel the runner and one capturing the cause.

Ever so good to hear from John Stremlau, Hon Professor of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand. John writes: “My wife and I returned to Johannesburg in 2015, where I am working on a comparative study of the politics and international relations of South Africa and the U.S. Reckoning with race in these two different and distant democracies is a major thread. Although it primarily deals with recent and contemporary events, on a more personal level, I recall my formative experiences on issues of nonracialism and political equality, that really began during the 1960s at Wesleyan.

“I believe I owe a special debt to the late John D. Maguire, who was just out of grad school and a member of the faculty. He had developed a friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King, who he [brought to campus] several times during the 1960s. Meeting Rev. King, listening to his address in Foss Hill Hall and in smaller discussion groups, had an enduring impact on my life and still does. Indeed, I probably would not be here in South Africa, which I first visited in 1977 and became a permanent resident in 1999, or served in Atlanta as vice president for peace at the Carter Center (2006–15), had it not been for John Maguire. John, I think was born in Montgomery and in 1961, the year before our first year, was arrested along with MLK and another Wes colleague, David Swift, for joining one of the early freedom rides.”

John would very much like to hear “from any classmates who might have had a similar formative experience with Maguire and King during their four years at Wesleyan. It would be helpful to hear from them as a kind of reality check.” John can be reached at: jjstremlau@gmail.com or john.stremlau@wits.ac.za.

Those of us fortunate enough to live with him on the first floor of a Foss Hill dormitory freshman year referred to him as “the Great One.” That him is, of course, Alberto Ibargüen, who from being editor of The Wesleyan Argus went on to a distinguished career in journalism, among many accomplishments, becoming publisher of the Miami Herald. In 2005 Alberto became president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a philanthropic organization that invests in and supports media, arts, and culture. A New York Times article of March 24, 2023, let us know that Alberto is stepping down from that position. In its lead it says “He Brought an Artistic Flair to the Knight Foundation’s Philanthropy.” The article notes, “In its 18 years under Alberto Ibargüen, the organization funded punk shows in Detroit and poetry dropped from helicopters in Miami. As he prepares to retire, he talks about what might be next.” Congratulations to Alberto on a distinguished career. We wait to hear what is next for “the Great One.” (See: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/arts/design/alberto-ibarguen-retiring-knight-foundation.html).

From celebratory to sad news. Bob Dearth writes: “So sorry to learn of the passing of F. Sugden Murphy, one of my favorite fraternity brothers. We kept in touch often during the first five or 10 years out of Wesleyan and then drifted in different directions as we aged and our families grew. Then later, after he has moved to New Hampshire, I learn he has become good acquaintances with a friend from New Canaan whose wife was a classmate of my wife at Skidmore and who then moved his family to New Hampshire too. Many fond memories of our time together at Wesleyan and after. RIP.” Frederick Sugden Murphy Jr., known as “Skipper,” died on December 10, 2022. An obituary can be read here: https://www.seacoastonline.com/obituaries/pprt0381553.

And our classmate, Grant Holly, died on November 8, 2022. In 1970 Grant accepted a position as assistant professor of English at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he would serve for the next 52 years, a greatly admired and cherished teacher and colleague. Many of you may not have known him at Wesleyan, as he and his wife, Michael Ann, and their daughter, Lauren, lived off campus. He and I, however, became close friends, both majoring in English, both writing our senior theses in the basement cubicles of Olin Library. That friendship deepened as we went on to complete our graduate degrees at the University of Rochester, writing our PhD theses under the same mentor, Professor James William Johnson. The friendship and good times I shared with Grant and Michael Ann beginning from our days at Wesleyan will always be cherished, his death shaking me. Grant, being the life force that he was, I thought would live forever. Here, if you have not seen them, are some links:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/grant-holly-obituary?id=37402268

https://www.hws.edu/news/2022/remembering-professor-grant-holly.aspx

https://www.hws.edu/offices/president/statements/statement-on-grant-holly.aspx

Let’s end on a happy note, this from the peerless Jeff Nilson, who begins with a photograph of his two grandsons, Isaac ’26, and William, “The tallest family member . . . age 17 . . . who plays the piano, the bass guitar, and the standup bass . . . wants to study music in Europe,”  and Jeff’s daughter, Li ’88, mother of Isaac and William.

Jeff goes on to write: “I am still taking nourishment. I try to be grateful every day. I say to myself, ‘This is the day you are given. Rejoice in it.’ Jeff has “started my third children’s book. It is an easy-to-read mystery narrated by a bulldog named Daisy.” Here, the opening lines of Sally, Daisy, and the Mystery of the Kidnapped Dogs: 

“Someone was stealing dog toys from the dog park. But my sister Sally and I didn’t care. We are not fetchers. We aren’t jumpers either. We are sniffers and watchers. We are bulldogs with short legs and heavy bodies. We don’t jump. We don’t run. We waddle. We like a good snuggle and a good scratch behind the ears.

“Our favorite thing is sniffing. Every morning there are great smells on the sidewalk in front of the dog park: other dogs, a few cats, rats and mice, roaches, spiders, old hot dog juice, and drops of old ice cream.

“We hang out with our dog walker Keisha. Here’s a photo of Keisha, Sally, and me in front of the dog park in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn: In that photo behind us, you can see a lot of jumping and fetching. But Sally and I are not one of those crazy fetchers.

“A couple of weeks after this photo was taken, some of my best friends disappeared. There was Alex the Greyhound and Felicia the mutt. She had one blue eye, one brown eye, and a lot of wisdom. I missed her. Who was taking our friends? No one knew how to stop the dognappers. And no one knew how to rescue our missing dog friends….”

Dear Classmates,

Thank you to the following who kindly responded to the recent request for news:

Charlie Bassos: “Daughter, Christi Bedan, is a vice president for the Tampa Bay Bucs. She has been awarded a Super Bowl ring and an Emmy. The Emmy was for a series with Brady and Gronkowski on the Bucs website. My five grandchildren: one 12 and the others six and under, all brilliant and all beautiful! Life is wonderful: 43 years of marriage; warm weather in South Carolina, golf twice a week, and survived a heart attack and small stroke.”

Bob Barton: “I’m hanging in there and fortunately playing a lot of tennis. Major Moise is recovering nicely from shoulder surgery. He says he starts hitting golf balls again in two months. Jay Clapp just completed the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh on an 80-plus basketball team (3-on-3 half-court). He was injured in the qualifying games prior to the nationals, but went to Pittsburgh anyway, hoping he would recover enough to play, but could not. Nonetheless, his team made it all the way to the bronze medal game and lost in a valiant effort.” (Congratulations, Jay!)

Bob MacLean: “In touch with Phil Russell, John Dunton, and Ralph “Jake” Jacobs. Jake and I get together at the annual Laguna Seca Raceway in California, where he knows every driver and car history. A great reunion! This year was my 60th year as a private pilot, having upped my credentials along the way to air transport pilot, certified flight instructor/instrument, while owning a Pilatus PC12 for charter; now it just ferries me between Palo Alto, California, and Aspen, Colorado, where I have worked part time at Aspen Snowmass ski school for the last 17 of 47 years as a certified ski instructor.”

Steve Badanes: “Life is good here on Whidbey Island. I’m still teaching our Neighborhood Design/Build Studio every spring at UW (ndbs.be.uw.edu), but the end is in sight and I might hang it up after this year. We got used to not traveling during the pandemic and it’s gotten pretty hard to get me to leave my studio here in the forest, especially this time of year. I sold my place in Vermont to the caretakers and retired from my summer gig at the Yestermorrow School, so I get to stay in the Northwest year-round.”

Clyde Beers: “Summer all good: family, friends, sports, and a wonderful trip to WES U to see our granddaughter, Libby, graduate. Then to Grand Cayman with our daughter Susie’s family. And then our traditional exciting Fourth of July with (self-exploded) fireworks. Gardens started slow, but with some rain later, everything’s blooming. Golf and tennis fun but challenging, with back and neck soreness helped by physical therapy.”

Carl Hoppe: “As I ‘mature,’ I continue half-time the practice of clinical and forensic psychology (family law). At other times, I play doubles tennis regularly, swim at the beach or at the nearby club pool, and walk our 14-pound dog with my wife, Diane, also a psychologist in part-time practice. Health is good enough for us older folks, but they don’t make memory like they used to!”

Gar Hargens: “Turned 80 in April. Missy and I celebrated at Franconia Sculpture Park like we did for my 70th with kids and grandkids and many friends. When I turned 60, Missy said: ‘Architects don’t get good ’til they’re 80, so why not keep going?’ So, I kept working. Latest project is for a Grammy-winning composer on Enchanted Island in Lake Minnetonka. Alpha Delt roommate Bob Leonard and I enjoy keeping in touch. He’s found a Celtic chapel(?!) he wants us to look at in Vermont.”

John Hall: “Daughter, Samantha, just gave birth to identical twin boys, Archer Ray and Rhodes Herbert Diaz. These are grandchildren eight and nine for Annie and me, but who’s counting.

“Continue to see Kit Laybourne ’66 on a regular basis and have re-engaged with my old roommate, Jim Bernegger.  After the reunion last fall, Mike Maloney and I have discovered many interests in common, including our Irish heritage and the challenges and opportunities brought by immigration. Annie is well on a new set of knees. Son, Jeremy ’92, a writer is on strike. Clear to me that he can’t/shouldn’t be replaced by AI. But that promises to be an epic struggle.”

Arthur Rhodes: “Am spending golden years with famous and brilliant designer wife, Leslie Claire Newman (www.SpaceInteriorDesign.com), among blended families: my daughters in Illinois, ages 53 and 51, and their three children each (ages 12 through 21); and Leslie’s three sons in Houston, Texas, and Mandeville, Louisiana, ( ages 46 through 49), and their five children (ages one through 11). Have totally separated from patient care after more than 50 years in academic medical practices at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Time flies taking care of two homes (Illinois and Louisiana) and visiting family. Leisure pursuits include daily walking, gardening, and photography (see Instagram account under my name or PapaZaydeh.”

As your new class secretary, I extend appreciation for the messages from the three classmates below and unashamedly beg the rest of you for more in the coming months. There are no milestones too small, no reflections too revealing—your classmates want to hear them all. Given life’s calendar, our opportunity for reporting is shrinking rapidly. So, don’t tarry.

Brett Seabury wrote: “Wesleyan started my journey to become a ‘lefty.’ Two of my three daughters went on to Wesleyan too. Liz was a French major and Carrie was an American studies major. After graduating from Wesleyan, I went on to graduate school in social work and later a doctorate in social work at Columbia University. My formal education was broken up with another kind of education—three years in the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I do not think I can be blamed for losing that war because the Viet Cong never invaded Myrtle Beach or Charleston, even though General Westmoreland was a Carolinian. I spent the next 35 years as an academic at the University of Maryland and University of Michigan. There must be some kind of underlying defect in my career choices to work at two U of Ms.

“During my years at Michigan, I was able to pursue an avocation in sustainable farming:  producing grass-fed beef, chickens, sheep, goats, eggs, maple syrup, and raw honey that were sold at local farmers’ markets. At Wesleyan we were required to take many tests upon entering and exiting, and I remember my Kuder Preferential Test score that placed me highest in farming. After four years at Wesleyan, this test showed an even higher score in farming, which upset my parents who paid tuition all those years. When I look back after 60 years, I’m amazed at the accuracy of the prediction of this test. “I am presently involved in trying to get marinas and boat owners to considered electric boats and electric motors in their recreational boats. Though the Plug Boat Directory shows that most electric boats are made in Europe, the industry is growing here in the USA and Canada. One of the first electric boats was demonstrated at the 1893 Chicago World Fair. Today, many of the electric boat manufacturers are in Florida and California, but the industry is spreading across the USA. I hope we can stop the destruction of our planet for our grandchildren’s sake before it is too late. You can view my efforts at: protectmichiganinlandlakes.com.”

Steve McQuide reported: “While I really wasn’t prepared for the Wesleyan experience, I became a scholar of sorts in law school. I married June in the summer of 1967, and those student deferments caught up with me: three years active duty (infantry OCS, Korea).

“I practiced law in Albany, New York, for 35 years, active in local politics and the Rotary Club. June and I raised two fine boys, and now enjoy traveling in retirement, especially our skiing months in Utah, and our three grandchildren. I gave up drinking years ago, and am content, although I am concerned about the stark division of today’s populace along ideological lines. Intelligent discussion and kindness seem rare.”

David Skaggs, a former Colorado congressman, contributed: “After breaking a hip in a fall while planting strawberries in our garden in April, I am happily recovered with a new titanium post in my right femur. If you ever need a hip replacement, the anterior (not posterior) procedure is the way to go.

“I haven’t quite shed all political activity and am now focused with a group called Citizens to Save Our Republic. The mission is to disabuse folks of the surface appeal of the No Labels effort to field a ‘moderate, independent’ presidential slate. Our polling makes clear that a third-party ticket as proposed by No Labels, i.e., candidates for president and vice president—one R and one D—would pull more votes from Biden than Trump and in a predictably close election, ensure another term for Trump. You can decide if that’s a good idea.

“Hope we’ll have a good turnout for our 60th Reunion next spring.”

This is my first class note since becoming Class Secretary. I have the dubious privilege of being, as you all know, Class Agent as well, so you can expect that I will be asking you for both news and donations.

I am succeeding Jan Van Meter, who sadly passed away unexpectedly, just after beginning cancer treatment, in August 2022, news of which only reached Wesleyan recently. Jan had a varied and interesting career, ranging from service in the navy to CIA intelligence analyst to assistant professor of English, among other things. He retired as a senior public relations executive. His full obituary is published in the most recent copy of the Wesleyan Alumni Magazine.

It is with sadness that I report the recent passing of our classmate, Thomas Spragens, on June 1. Tom had a distinguished academic career at Duke, from which he received his PhD in 1968. His obituary can be read here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/heraldsun/name/thomas-spragens-obituary?id=52246604.

Our 60th Reunion was well attended. The weather was, for once, cooperative, and it was a pleasure to see that everyone had aged gracefully. Despite geographical separation, and the increasing infirmities that age is visiting on all of us, I hope that we will have a sizable contingent at our 65th.

My initial request yielded two responses; I can only hope that future reminders will generate more news. Your classmates do care about what you are doing and where you are.

Fritz Henn writes that he is “still moving about.” He recently returned from Paris, as a granddaughter rowed for the United States in the World Rowing Championships. Her crew won the first heat but finished fifth in the finals—a good result, as the U.S. does not have a national team. Fritz traveled with his son, also a Wesleyan graduate. “Met friends and ate well.”   

Alex Aikman reports: “Ruth and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in October 2022. In September of that year, we marked our 30th year together. In many ways, little has changed or happened in many years in the public side of our lives. The private side, however, has had some challenges as well as highlights. Our four children are happily married and successful in their chosen fields, albeit none living nearby. We now are great-grandparents, which is special on its own. Ruth has made these years wonderful, interesting, and loving. Best thing I’ve done since graduating in ’63. 

“At the end of March this year, we moved from California to Medford, Oregon. We both felt it was time to go even though Ruth, born and raised in California and having spent most of her life there, will always think of herself as a California girl. The move has had its challenges, as do all moves, but we still feel it was the right decision.”

Like probably all of us, Alex is retired. After a brief stint in a law firm, he moved to court administration. “I was able to work for about 45 years in court administration in state courts, with most of those years as a management consultant, to trial and appellate courts across the nation. I have written the leading book on ‘the art and practice of court administration’—also the title—and have contributed to a book that may replace mine as the leading book, which we hope will be published in the first quarter of 2024.”

Two noteworthy outdoors accomplishments top off this report. First, Richard Dranitzke undertook a one-week hiking trip to the Faroe Islands, followed by a second week touring parts of Iceland with his daughter and her two children. The Faroe hike was listed as four out of six in difficulty by its organizers, and despite age‑related concerns expressed by his family, Richard reports that “being the rational, slightly stubborn fellow that I am, I had to go. . . . Faroe Islands are one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to!” His photo of himself against the scenic Faroe backdrop confirms this and although conceding that the event was quite challenging, Richard humorously described himself as the best hiker in the group at the final dinner at the end of the trip. 

In another impressive adventure, Walt Fricke “was invited by a friend to join a party canoeing the Horsethief-Ruby Canyon stretch of the Colorado River. After uncovering my canoe from its repose under a tree and confirming that it could be carried on my small SUV,” Walt found “the water was an order of magnitude higher than on my previous trips, and in its one rapid, I got unceremoniously tossed out of my position in the stern by a fierce cross current and swam the rest of the rapid. Fortunately, the canoe didn’t dump, and all ended well.” Kudos to both Richard and Walt.

In a more worrying report, Bruce Menke relates that his youngest son, who holds an MIT PhD in computer science and works for Google, has been slowly recovering from three spinal fractures sustained when he was struck by a large SUV while in a protected Boston crosswalk. Thankfully, after many weeks in a wheelchair followed by assistance with a walker, a full recovery is eventually expected. In other news Bruce and his wife Karen “continue to fight the good fight” for Democratic causes in Athens, Georgia, both with letter writing campaigns and by hosting a fundraiser that brought in nearly $8,000. Their two other sons and a daughter-in-law are all having highly successful careers as tenured professors at the University of Georgia, two in English literature and the other in genetics.

John Hazlehurst reports that despite losing a position with the collapse of his longtime employer, Colorado Publishing, he and wife Karen continue to produce their successful visitor magazine, Colorado Fun, and further have accepted new positions with the weekly Pikes Peak Bulletin. “Otherwise, life goes on and I’ll soon be joining my Colorado Springs High School classmates for our 65th reunion. There will be about 50 of us, and we’ll all be wearing large type name tags.” John further reflects that “our days at Wesleyan seem so distant—and much to my surprise, neither of our Colorado senators call me for advice. They’re both nice kids who graduated from Wesleyan. How did we get so goddamn old? Here we are, ‘Livin‘ after midnight,’ as the song goes.”

In a somewhat related vein, Steve Trott writes that contrary to the “golden years” myth, “Well, big surprise. North of 80 ain’t all that it’s cracked up to be. . . . But the good news, I guess, is that the combined ages of our putative presidential candidates, if understood in IQ terms, is off the charts.” Steve deplores the country’s polarization, “hearing all the time from the pundits that ‘Americans want divided government.’ What? This mess?  I think that’s rationalizing incompetence into a strategy.” On the personal side, he and Carol are still in California where “this place is crazy expensive . . . maybe just crazy period. Downtown San Francisco is now a homeless encampment . . .  and parts of downtown LA are nearly as bad.” Steve concludes by thanking Bob Hunter for “continuing to keep my NATO thinking on the right track.”  

Len Wilson writes there is “not much new in my world. Staying active with YMCA alumni groups, nationally, internationally, and local, and editing a newsletter that goes to over 20 countries and keeps me busy scrambling for interesting articles. . . .  I continue to play pickleball several times per week and would like to find a partner over 80 that would make for a formidable doubles team. Joyce continues to enjoy painting when we have some spare time without company at our shore home. Looking forward to learning how our other classmates are faring and funning.”

In a very sad note received just before going to press, I learned of the passing of Stan Scholl in Madison, Wisconsin, this past July 13. His obituary may be found here: https://www.prattfuneralservice.com/obituaries/Stanley-J-Scholl?obId=28433897.

Unsurprisingly, as we increasingly find ourselves among Wesleyan’s oldest surviving alumni, our news and notes tend to focus largely on issues related to aging. As a concluding note in this context, I have recently been appointed as the oldest “citizen member” of an Older Adults Advisory Committee established by my local regional government. I expect (hope) to receive far more advice from this position than I can give and will try to keep you posted on any useful or promising results.

The response from classmates for this Class Notes publication has been excellent.  Terry Allen is in the starter’s box with the following: “In January 2023 I sold the last of the 20 companies I had started since Wesleyan. I wouldn’t have had to start so many if more had been successful, but I enjoyed the challenges along the way. Recently, Debbie and I acquired a license to farm cannabis in Vermont. She is the grower, and my focus is marketing. We are having a ball! We both play tennis every week and take overseas hiking trips once or twice a year, plus visit our seven widely located children and nine grandchildren.”

          Bob Owens reports that he is “doing reasonably well” after experiencing a minor stroke two and a half years ago. He bemoans the fact that he is no longer driving, but expresses his gratitude to his life partner, Barbara Morton, and to volunteer drivers in his community transportation program, allowing travel to appointments and even a future road trip from Denver to New York City, making it possible to visit his granddaughters.

John Alvord provides this update: “Marie and I are still living in Las Vegas (home of the Stanley Cup–winning Golden Knights) and enjoying retirement. We finally sold our house and bought a condo. I don’t miss the outside work since someone else now does it. I hate to see what has happened to our country and fervently hope it can be fixed. I just heard that Pete Drayer passed away last year. He was my freshman roommate, four-year fraternity brother, and a groomsman at our wedding. Pete was a very highly regarded judge in Philadelphia and will certainly be missed.”

Jack Mitchell tells us about his serious, yet successful, eye transplant operation performed last spring. “Bacteria were eating my membrane over the cornea, which was extremely painful. The surgeon removed the membrane, cleared the infection, and then inserted a donor’s membrane.” Now completely pain free, Jack resumes his tennis and his devotion to his family clothing business. He adds: “I’m excited to announce the addition to the business of my oldest grandson, Lyle ’16, a past graduate of Wesleyan and of Columbia Business School.”

While teaching ceramics at a boys’ camp, Russell Mott questioned a class of 10-year-olds, “How old do you think I am?” to which most replied 70-plus, while others said 60 somewhere. The answer most appreciated by Russell was “I can’t count that high!” Russell also mentions a 14-year-old lacrosse goalie wishing to follow his dad, who played lacrosse for four years at Wesleyan. “Shout-out to Nate Osur, Tommy Patton, and our class who started lacrosse at Wesleyan in the spring of 1959.”

Limited space allotment requires that only a portion of Emil Frankel’s informative and extensive update is enclosed in this Class Notes publication with a promise of his remaining comments to be revealed in the next edition. Emil writes: “I was on campus for Reunion & Commencement weekend and participated in meetings of the trustees and trustees emerita. There was some discussion of what Wesleyan’s response would be to what was then seen as the inevitable (and has since occurred) decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to end affirmative action in college admissions, a core element of Wesleyan’s pathbreaking admissions policies for over 50 years. President Roth stated then—and repeated in his subsequent statement announcing the end of legacy admissions—that Wesleyan would remain committed to building and maintaining a diverse community and would continue and expand its efforts to do so within the limits of the Supreme Court decision. A wonderful surprise during the annual march of the alumni was to be greeted by Jim Thomas’ son. Since I was the only one in our class present, and carried the Class of 1961 flag in the parade, I was the one to benefit from a wonderful conversation with the son of one of our great classmates.”

Robert Hausman reports: “I am still in touch with Glenn Hawkes, Emil Frankel, and Bob Wielde. Bob also adds in free form:

“In the midst of my dotage I am asked for some news.

May I be excused by claiming the blues?

Since WesTech has done away with legacy,

it leaves my grandson leg-less in misery.

“I am content in my senior condo. I walk an hour a day and then lift weights for 15 minutes. All my family is close by. I am a new great-grandfather. In my junk, I found a directory for our freshman class. If you want to see what you looked like in ’58, I will sell it to the highest bidder. The same with a Commencement program I found, if you want to see what prizes you won.”

Lastly, Russell Mott wrote recently to tell say that Joe Powers passed away in mid-September. Russ said, “Joe and Maria had moved back to the Washington, D.C., region from New Mexico a few months ago, and they were living in northern Virginia when he died.” Condolences to his family and friends.

Respectfully submitted,

Jon

Nici and John Dobson experienced 32 wonderful summer days in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.

Jim Meyerhoff is retired from his position as chief of the Department of Neurochemistry and Neuroendocrinology at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He is currently a faculty member in the Psychiatry Department at Uniformed Service University of Health Sciences where he continues to investigate medical neuroscience that is relevant to injuries that are experienced by those in the military. He is grateful for the superb biology courses he received while at Wesleyan.

I have joined an informal group led by K. C. Sulkin, MAT ’65. After walking together, we go to a nearby Whole Foods for coffee and conversation.

I am saddened by the passing of Will White ’61 in January 2023. He began attending Wesleyan with our class in fall 1956 and received his bachelor’s degree with a major in geology in 1961. Our families developed a close relationship that was fostered by those special years when all of us were living in Colorado.