Class Notes

Classmates, you should be reading these notes in April, a month or so before our 50th Reunion.

Rick Nicita and Mike Feagley generously agreed to chair the Reunion committee that has been planning events for many months, and a crew of about 15 others also have agreed to serve on the committee. Mostly, the committee has participated in conference phone calls every month since the fall. Those who are on the committee are planning to be at the Reunion, so, just in case you still have not yet decided whether or not to attend, I’ll list their names here in order to entice you to come to Middletown. They are (in addition to Feagley and Nicita), alphabetically, Len Bergstein, Wayne Diesel, John Dooley, Karl Furstenberg, Dave Garrison, Arthur Gingrande, Reuben Johnson, Aidan Jones, Jim Kates, Peter Kovach, Bob Pawlowski, Gar Richlin, Ted Smith, Paul Stowe, Bob vom Eigen, Andy Witt, and your humble class secretary, almost always last in alphabetical order (well, there was a guy in the class ahead of us named John Zywvna ’66).

Numerous others had, as of late December, indicated that they, too, will attend.  They are: Peter Bell, Tony Caprio, Jim Cawse, Muggsy Corr, Steve Duck, Pat Dwyer, Robert Elliott, Howie Foster, George Hicks, Bob Kesner, Bill Klaber, Jeff Oram-Smith, Steve Pfeif, Ned Preble, Joel Rottner, Bill Rowe, Steve Sellers, Dennis Smith, Paul Stowe, Jim Sugar, Alan Thorndike, and Peter Waasdorp.

And then there are bunch of classmates who had said “maybe,” or “50/50,” “possibly,” “unsure,” or “probably.” They are: John Arnault, Frederick Davies, Fred Freije, Tony Gaeta, Jeff Galloway, Gary Johnson, Chris Livesay, Bill Macoy, Jeff Marshall, George McKechnie, David Miller, Bruce Morningstar, John Murdock, Alan Neebe, Paul Nibur, Mark Scarlett, Harry Shallcross, Chris Sidoli, Ed Simmons, and Joe Smith.

And, just in case you need slightly more enticement, a crew of guys from the class of 1966 had such a good time at their Reunion, and tell me that they remember some of us so fondly, that they are planning to come back to “our” Reunion to hang with each other again and to see us. They include Larry Carver ’66, John Neff ’66, Dave McNally ’66, Rick Crootof ’66, maybe Hardy Spoehr ’66, and maybe some others.

I am working with Bob vom Eigen and Bob Pawlowski (“the Bobs”) on a Reunion book that hopefully you have contributed to, but even if you haven’t, is fun to read and is scheduled to be mailed to you around the end of April or early May. In addition to the contributions that you submitted, it includes some recollections about favorite faculty members, some remembrances that some of you have written about classmates who have died, and some articles and photos from The Argus and the yearbook.

I will try to take good notes when I am there, and share some of what I learn during the weekend in subsequent sets of class notes. But hey, why depend on me—come see for yourself. Check out all those above who said “yes,” and whichever of the “maybes” show up. For now, I hope to see you in late May. I won’t say this will be your last chance to attend a Reunion, but you won’t be surprised to learn that attendance is highest at the 50th. After that, olds grads still stagger back for Reunions, but there are fewer who do so. In the words of Janis Joplin (mentioned in a recent set of 1968 class notes—apparently she gave a concert at Wesleyan in the spring of 1968, and then she partied all night with the brothers at DKE), “get it while you can.”

Richie Zweigenhaft | rzweigen@guilford.edu

We celebrate the lives of three beloved classmates, William August Hauser, David Adams Berry, and Alton L. Flanders III. Bill died on October 21, 2016, in Ely, Minn.  “Pacifist, a lover, an artist, a writer, a linguist,” Bill, writes his good friend, Jeff Nilson, was “a wonderful man…one of he most talented people I have ever known. He sang in the glee club, played lacrosse, did quite well academically, spoke Spanish, learned how to speak Russian and German, and embraced everything he did with a glowing life force.”

Playwright and screenwriter best known for the play and film, The Whales of August, David did not graduate with our class, signing up for service in Viet Nam and basing his first successful play, G.R. Point, on that experience.  Alberto Ibarguen tells us: “My most vivid memory of [David]…was a letter from him in Viet Nam to me in the Amazon jungle, where I was a Peace Corps volunteer. He wrote in a clearly legible, firm script, until, according to his narrative, they took a shelling wherever he was and the writing, punctuated by a thumbprint in orange colored clay, became shaky. It gave me an inkling of what he was going through.” Bill Dietz has suggested to President Roth and to David’s executors that Wesleyan would be a fitting place for David’s papers.

Alton passed away on December 22, 2016. Often ill in his last years, Alton, a longtime resident of Nantucket, was a supporter of the Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

On September 8, Bill Boynton, joined by John Wilson and Gary “GFierce” Conger, had the exhilarating experience of being at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to watch the “launch of the OSIRIS-REx mission to rendezvous with a small asteroid named Bennu.” In this his 10th NASA mission, Bill’s role is “to plan the operation of the spacecraft and the operation of the instruments to get the data we need to collect the best sample.” These launches, Bill writes, “never get routine!”

Mr. “GFierce” has “after 40 years selling publishing services to large companies” chosen “art as my second career: traditional oil paintings on canvas of New York City skylines, Ohio and Vermont landscapes…I started painting at age 60 and have found it to be a wonderful way to be my own boss and be totally absorbed in the work.”  Do see his monthly Art Lovers Newsletter.

Tony Alibrio writes: “Not all that much to report,” an assessment with which I disagree, seeing that he spent the three weeks before Christmas at his home in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., before returning to his home in Connecticut to host “a table for 23: four sons with spouses, 12 grandchildren, and two relatives.” Tony is not keen on “Wes declaring itself as a ‘sanctuary campus…,’ my political bent probably the result of working since I was 12 and having to pay one-half of my education.” Tony reports that his brother and fellow classmate, Jim, is doing well.

Delighted to receive David Griffith’s biographical sketch for the class Reunion book; I remember an open field tackle he made against Williams, a thing of beauty.  “Wesleyan,” Dave writes, “for me is a priceless gift to the mind and memory,” a sentiment beautifully put and one I share.

Clark Byam, who practices law in Pasadena, Calif., took his “three children with their significant others…together with my wife and her daughter and husband and grandchild (and my former wife)” to Sedona, Ariz, for Thanksgiving. While there, “both of my daughters became engaged so it was quite a Thanksgiving.” I’ll say! John Shaw writes that he has “completely retired, as has wife Connie, [and] have relocated to Southport, N.C.

With retirement also comes travel. Daniel Lang sent a photograph of him and his wife, Diane Lang MAT’70, standing on the Greenland ice cap this past June. “This was our third trip to the Canadian Arctic. We plan to go in another direction—Nepal—for our next trip.”

The peripatetic Rick Crootof and Linda have recently traveled to New York City, Los Angeles, and Sarasota; next stop, Buenos Aires followed by “a three-week cruise down to Antarctic and up to Valparaiso, Chile.”

I am honored to serve as class secretary, following Howard Brodsky, Irv Richter, and Hardy Spoehr. I took the position on two conditions: I don’t have to take bag-pipe lessons, appealing as that might be, and Hardy will agree to supply kukui nuts for the enlightenment I will need.  So far, so good.  Hardy has done such splendid job, his wonderfully detailed, humorous, inclusive account of our 50th Reunion being one of many examples. The Reunion had many highs, but my fondest memory will be from that last evening, the banquet in the Olin Library’s Campbell Reference Center, Hardy recognizing those Wesleyan students who had been serving us for three days with the gift a Kului lea. The room was absent of dry eyes. Thank you, Hardy. Classmates, let me hear from you. As Richard Wilbur reminds us: “We fray into the future, rarely wrought/Save in the tapestries of afterthought.”

P.S.  A number of us—Dave McNally, John Neff, Rick Crootof, Hardy Spoehr, and myself—are planning to attend our 51st Reunion this coming May, catching up with and cheering on our friends from the Class of 1967 who will be enjoying their 50th Reunion.  Please do attend, if you can.

Larry Carver | carver1680@gmail.com

P.O. Box 103, Rico, Colorado, 81332 | 512/478-8968

Class of 1965 35th Reunion Memorial Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship

Michael Ivy ’20, Indianapolis, IN

Classmates, I hope your holidays were merry and bright and that 2017 has started well for you and your families. Nice recent greetings from:

Steve Badanes sent a great photo of him and his partner on a beach somewhere in the Seattle area. She’s giving him a big hug midst a sea of driftwood! Steve sent this as he was on his way to his annual Yestermorrow School class in Vermont. He leads groups of young people in the fine art of community building. They conceive of, design, and then build everything from gazebos to recreation areas and cabins—all for public use and made with sustainability and the environment in mind.

Mary Ellen and Dave Dinwoodey are enjoying their grandchildren and are fit and active. Enjoyed seeing them at the resounding football win in Williamstown in the fall.

Joining us at the game were Prudy and Bob Barton. They are well and in the process of getting out of the “farming business.” They have a lovely place, Sky Dance Farm, in Lanesboro, Mass., not far from Williamstown. In Prudy and Bob’s holiday message they write: “We are clearly in the autumn of our lives. Change is constant, even as we enjoy the fruits of continued life work. Our health is good, our offspring and spouses are wonderful, real people…The farm is for sale, our lake cottage sold last month.” Over the years, they’ve raised chickens, sheep, et al, and have wonderful dogs and cats to boot, all on hundreds of verdant acres. Their children—Molly ’00, Adam ’04, and Eliza—are flourishing and have produced three grandchildren, to the delight of Prudy and Bob. Looking at the photo of Prudy and Bob, I’d say autumn looks pretty darn good!

Ellen and Ted See sent a lovely message and picture of their five young grandchildren. Quite a fun and active group! Also, nice to hear from Marilyn and Bill Trapp who are well and enjoying their lives in Lacey, Wash.

Julia and Amertat Cohn sent a wonderful message, which will end this edition of class notes: “We wish that your journey for 2017 be filled with even more success, inspiration, and of course good health and LOVE so we can become better examples for our world.”

PHILIP L. ROCKWELL | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

Class of 1964 Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship

Quinn Grom ’19, Belgrade, MT

Once again, I’m coming to you from my trusty recliner, in my man cave, somewhere in the central Florida area. I woke up earlier to a slight chill in the air. Checking my iPhone, the temperature was 49 degrees. It should reach the upper 70s after the noon hour. Looking ahead to the weekend, nighttime temps should be around the 40-degree mark, but only in the 60s by the noon hour. Should I choose to play golf later in the week, 60-degree temp readings mean long pants and shirt sleeves. Any appreciable wind means an extra layer to stay comfortable.

Today was the deadline for submitting my notes. Actually, it was the extended deadline for submission. In all the years of providing my service to my classmates, I’ve always managed to get this information in on time. Well, there hasn’t been much information from classmates, and I believe the election of Donald J. Trump had everyone’s interest. I was going to work on this column earlier, but confirmation hearings in Washington D.C. distracted me. I began to realize that the presidential picks for various cabinet positions carry weight that determines the agenda for our new president, and executive orders and regulations for the various departments impact citizens more than the legislature.

I received an update from Seppo Sailo, and he mentioned art classes we took. He became a painter and it put bread on the table.

Robert Maurer informed us that his debut novel, Passing Through (The Sixties), is available in paperback and e-Book. The opening chapter focuses on the aftermath of the death of Peter Hunting ’63, the first American non-combatant killed in Vietnam. Over the next three years, the intent of four characters is to change the course of American political history. The current climate in American politics would make this novel an interesting read, or at least food for thought.

Food brings me to a lovely evening my wife and I had visiting Chris and Paul Lapuc while they were vacationing at Disney World, along with their son, Douglas, and his wife. Paul works part-time counseling individuals through the conundrums of life, using his experience of a lifetime taking on these challenges.

I had a delightful e-mail from Richard P. Miller, an old fraternity brother, married to Janet for 53 years. They have two daughters, Victoria and Jennifer, who have given them a total of four granddaughters and a grandson. Dick is retired now, having been a publisher of a newspaper in the Detroit metro area. Many years ago, he did an editorial piece about the movie Animal House, where he likened the Tim Matheson character, Otter, a self-appointed stud who became a gynecologist, to yours truly. I didn’t dispute the distinction he suggested.

To close, I’d like to share an e-mail from an old friend retired in Arizona. He sent a quote entitled “Six Ethics of Life”: “Before you pray—believe; before you speak—listen; before you spend—earn; before you write—think; before you quit—try; before you die—live.”

TED MANOS, M.D. | ted_manos@yahoo.com

Class of 1963 Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship Fund

Benjamin Goldberg ’17, Sociology, Film Studies

Gordon Berger has been retired from USC where he taught for 38 years. He had visiting appointments at Claremont Graduate School and UCLA, and describes what he got as “time off for good behavior on a Japan foundation fellowship at the Japanese Ministry of Finance and getting a Fulbright Fellowship at Tokyo University.” He taught East Asian studies and was known locally for his cable programs about sumo wresting. The Japanese government awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun, and upon his retirement, USC gave him various awards for scholarship, teaching, and administration.

After 30 years of domestic partnership, he married Lynne Jacobs, a clinical psychologist. They have seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Gordon likes collecting Australian aboriginal paintings, Japanese woodblock prints, books, and American baseball cards.

Red Erda, appearing for the first time, says he and wife Anne live in Madison, Conn., in the summer, and Guilford, Conn., in the winters. They have seven grandchildren and three grown children. They enjoy tennis, sailing, and skiing. After college, Red volunteered for the Coast Guard. They got married the day after he received his commission, and he served from 1964 to 1967, thoroughly enjoying his duty, which was “driving buoy tenders up and down the East Coast.”

After positions at Drew, Duke, and Emory, Russ Richey has retired, burdened with titles: dean emeritus of Chandler School of Theology, William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Church History Emeritus, and Research Fellow, Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition, Duke Divinity School. He continues to offer tutorials at Duke and to rebuild research and writing efforts. His Methodism in the American Forest was judged “the outstanding book” by the Historical Society of the United Methodist Church. Russ is now co-editor of the new online Methodist Review and has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Southern Religion since its online launch. Wife Merle, whose father is honored with the name of a new park, is an attorney. She takes an active leadership role in their family’s church.

Also receiving recognition for authorship, Robert Gallamore’s book, American Railroads: Decline and Renaissance in the Twentieth Century, won the George W. and Constance M. Hilton Award of the Railroad and Locomotive Historical Society as the best book in railroad history for 2016. Robert is writing another book about how railroads connected nearly all of the state capitals, called Rails to the Domes. He asks anyone who would like to read and comment on his draft of your state to contact him. He and wife Sue “continue to enjoy our retirement at Rehoboth Beach, Del. We try to see our 13 grandchildren annually, but they are spread out among Maryland, Georgia, and California, and it’s nearly impossible to get them all together.”

Stephen Miller writes: “I imagine many of our fellow graduates are going to have knee replacements in the near future. I just had one, and they have made considerable advances that eliminate much of the ‘guesswork’ in the procedure, since the implant can be made individually for your knee.” Steve is a docent for the Berkeley Repertory Theater and gives talks before and after plays. “I take my two dogs to the dog park where, as the dogs play, I schmooze with other Berkeley types. Travel to NYC, Paris, and London every year, and I have a new granddaughter in Utah. I’m not bored the least in spite of the mundane things I’ve listed. As long as you have your health, and a great woman companion, life is good.”

Chris Rich writes: “There was a convivial gathering in Napa hosted by Virginia and Steve Humphrey. Also in attendance were Keith Nave and David Snyder. It was a nostalgic rendezvous lubricated by some of Napa’s best grape juice. We traded telltales, many exaggerations, a few outright lies, and never lost track of the essential truth that we felt very fortunate to be united by our years at Wesleyan, even if our most important learning did not always originate in our classrooms. One surprise was how sparse the gray hair seemed to be on the heads of four so recently departed from WesTech.”

Dean Schooler writes: “Recent months have given me time to appreciate the experiences and opportunities life has given in education, community, family, and philanthropy.” Dean and his wife, Vicki, live in Boulder, Colo. He serves as treasurer, trustee, and oversees investment management for the Schooler Family Foundation. He has written many articles on governing boards, civil dialogue, leadership, public policy, fundraising, and philanthropy. He got his PhD and MA in political science from Ohio State. Prior to that, he studied at the Methodist Theological School and briefly served a Methodist congregation in Ohio. They have five children and travel extensively: Peru, the Galápagos, the Netherlands, and Istanbul, to name a few of their destinations.

It’s my sad duty to report the passing of our classmate, Bill Grossman. There is information about his death in the obituary section of this magazine.

I appreciate it when classmates send in news of themselves. But I would also like to hear suggestions of classmates who, like Red, have never appeared in our column or who have been too long absent from it.

BYRON S. MILLER | tigr10@optonline.net
5 Clapboard Hill Rd., Westport, CT 06880

Class of 1962 Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship Fund

Jessy Carrasco-Gonzalez ’18, Economics

Our 55th Reunion weekend, Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27 is approaching, and a group from our class has been working with the alumni office during the year to coordinate arrangements.

The planning committee came up with some new initiatives this year. First, we have invited spouses of classmates who have passed away to attend, and also invited members of the classes of 1961 and 1963 to join us. Secondly, Wesleyan will be designating a Class of 1962 Reunion Headquarters on campus so that there will be a central place where we can meet and greet classmates. We expect these initiatives to enhance the weekend.

The main focus, as in the past, will be the Saturday evening reception and dinner, commencing at 5:30 p.m. There will be a Friday night reception for early arrivers, and then we gather at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning for a “Breakfast and Conversation” led by Bruce Corwin. This was a very successful get-together at our 50th, and the committee unanimously wanted to convene it again this year.

Although not part of Reunion activities, on Sunday, at the University’s commencement ceremony, Gina and John Driscoll are to be awarded the Baldwin Medal. The Baldwin Medal is the highest honor Wesleyan’s alumni body presents, and it is awarded “for extraordinary service to Wesleyan, or for careers and other activities which have contributed significantly to the public good.” Five years ago, at our 50th Reunion, Bruce Corwin was the recipient of the Baldwin Medal.

We thank John, Gina, and Bruce for their indefatigable enthusiasm for Wesleyan and our class, and congratulate them on this distinguished recognition.

In other news, Dave Creed writes that in 2007, he retired from The New York Times after 17 years providing tech support to the newsroom. Prior to that, he spent 19 years as an editor, and sometimes a reporter, at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky. He and Sara celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2005.

Dave also forwarded a letter from Andre Demidoff, a Danish exchange student who was with our class our freshman year. The letter sent “greetings and best wishes to the class of ’62.” He had returned to Denmark where he taught high school for many years. He urged all retirees to “take up painting, which when you are past 70, will fill your time as well as your house and heart.” Dave had stayed in touch with Andre after reconnecting with him on a business trip to Denmark.

In closing, we hope to have a good attendance at Reunion. For updated information, and to learn who from our class has already registered to attend, go to the Reunion and Commencement web page at wesleyan.edu/rc.

DAVID FISKE | davidfiske17@gmail.com
17 W. Buckingham Dr. Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

A recent posting on Facebook by Richard Corson addresses a librarian’s concern for literacy integrity: “Parsing fake news—Connie retired from the Spence School in 2001. During her time as library director, one of the resource members of her staff created and taught all grade levels with workshops related to information literacy. Even in those early days of Google and other online resources, these librarians were concerned that students should possess the ability to apply critical thinking, judgment, and evaluation to their use of online resources. We have come a long way since the 1990s, but I hope students everywhere still get basic information literacy skills. They are more important than ever.”

Thankfully, the musical arts have sustained and nourished a few of our classmates. Here’s a note (no pun intended) from one of our members: “Jon Magendanz and Bob Johnson were brought together in a Christmas concert, presenting four performances the weekend before Christmas in the magnificent Venice Performing Arts Center in Florida. Jon is a first violinist in the Venice Symphony, a group of more than 60 professional instrumentalists, and Bob is a baritone in the Venice Chorale, consisting of about 100 singers. This was their first collaboration. They will perform there again in March, featuring Bartok, Prokofiev, and the Poulenc Gloria. Jon lives in Bradenton, Bob lives in Nokomis, and both are snow birds.”

And lastly, a word from Phil Rodd: “My wife and I spent a week in August volunteering as English teachers in Spain. We were part of an English language immersion program, so our job was to converse in English for about 12 hours a day. We followed that with a three-week road trip around Sicily (pasta every night).”

Respectfully submitted,

Jon K. Magendanz, DDS | jon@magendanz.com
902 39th Avenue West, Bradenton, Fl 34205 

Class of 1960 Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship Fund

Joseph Ellis ’19, Manhattan Beach, CA

Your dedicated class secretary, Sal Russo, writes, “On Dec. 29, I was severely injured while descending on a ladder from the roof of our house. I broke both my nose and pelvis. In that one instant of time, my role of caregiver for my wife was dealt a severe blow. Fortunately, our friends were a great comfort and help to Judy. In addition, our children, Amy and Alan, who both live in Seattle, worked diligently to place Judy at High Gate Senior Center. I hope both of us will find healing in our lives.”

Congratulations to Dave Potts for winning the 2016 Homer D. Babbidge, Jr. Award “for the best study of a significant aspect of Connecticut history.” His book has received critical acclaim from a variety of sources. Dave, have you begun researching for volume three yet?

Bob Williams and Ann have been singing in The Highlands Chorale, with two concerts a year. Their holiday performance was met with an enthusiastic response by a full house. Bob is also singing in a quartet, perhaps appropriately called “The Uncalled Four.” Nevertheless, they have a devout following at the Highlands. He is having great fun!

Gill Seeley wrote in: “I will be conducting the Port Townsend Community Orchestra, in a program of works by Sibelius, Thompson, Mozart, and Copland at the end of February. I will also conduct the Rainshadow Chorale, also part of Port Townsend, in their May concert, in which I will premiere my new work for choir, Native American drum and flute on a text by my wife, entitled Morning Rabbit. Incidentally, the 40-member chorus consists of mostly retired folks, but they have great work ethic and spirit. I am thrilled to be making live music again after over 50 years of conducting concerts.”

Ed Stein wrote in: “I’m still here. In a few days, I’ll turn 81, which might make me the eldest in our class. Still working, trying to make Chortles, mini-mini chocolate chip graham crackers, a school and household name across the country. Also, doing crossword puzzle solving sessions with seniors at assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Plus, doing some puzzle construction. Will have another New York Times puzzle on President’s Day, Feb. 22, with the theme of Presidential Trivia.

“Wife Addie retired from teaching second grade in New Rochelle, N.Y., after 28 years. She loved it! That is, until teaching became more about test scores. That’s got to change. Daughter Sharon heads up a signage company with husband Tom. Some clients include Greenwich Hospital, the New York Knicks, and Pepsi. And daughter Jamie works in a special marketing group for Hershey’s.”

John Duell wrote in: “Trish and I, with our two families (10 total) celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with a weekend in London in early November. All of us enjoyed a performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, together with some excellent food. Looking forward to three weeks in Madeira in January.”

Rick Garcia, president of the Bolivian National Academy of Economic Sciences-ABCE, attended the Bolivian Conferences on Development Economics in December. The conference promoted the exchange of research experiences among Bolivian and foreign economists working in the in U.S. and European universities. While there, Rick gave the Silver Pin award to the best paper of the conference, written by Mauricio Tejada of the Alberto Hurtado University of Chile for his paper “Sources of Gender Wage Gaps in Latin American Countries.”

Sadly, Dick Huddleston passed away on Jan. 15. We will be following up with more information and reflections on Dick in the near future.

SAL RUSSO | salandjudy@hotmail.com
2700 Kentucky St., Bellingham, WA 98229

Editor’s Note: A heartfelt thank you goes out to your class secretary, Sal Russo, who worked diligently on collecting and compiling class notes while in a rehabilitation center to recover from his fall. We wish Sal a speedy recovery.