Class Notes

Dear Classmates: Here’s the news that’s fit to print:

Congratulations to John Hall, who has been elected by the alumni body as a university trustee! Mark Edmiston, Stew McConaughy, Bill Blakemore and now John are the members from our class to serve in this prestigious role. Anyone who knows John will agree that he’s a fine choice and will do an outstanding job.

John Vrooman and his lovely wife, Deborah, were great hosts to me and a friend during a recent trip through South Carolina. They live in picturesque Conway, close to Coastal Carolina University, where he and Deborah have made enormous contributions for nearly 50 years. Although both are retired from formal teaching, coaching, and counseling duties, they stay very involved there. Coastal has grown from a small two-year community college in the mid-’50s—operating out of public school classrooms at night—to a highly respected university with nearly 10,000 students on a beautiful 630-acre campus. John and Deborah have been on that journey much of the way. Also, the handsome new baseball field is named Vrooman Field and John has been inducted into the university’s athletics hall of fame. This is in recognition of his achievements as head baseball coach, where he recorded 345 victories, six consecutive Big South championships, and the university’s first NCAA regional appearance in 1991 at Florida State University. John also served as director of athletics and is professor of history, emeritus. Since John retired, the baseball program has continued to achieve impressive results and, as this is being written, CCU has just shocked the baseball world by upsetting North Carolina State, LSU, Florida, TCU. and Arizona to win the NCAA Division I championship in Omaha. Congratulations, John!.

While a number of us are in retirement, Grant Parr is closing in on seven years as physician-in-chief of the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at New Jersey’s Atlantic Health. Grant preciously served as chair of cardiovascular services at Morristown Memorial Hospital, now a part of the Atlantic system. The Institute performs more heart surgeries than any other hospital in New Jersey.

New class co-conveners Hugh Wilson and Mark Edmiston hosted several profitable meetings over Reunion & Commencement weekend in May. Classmates present included Hugh, Mark, John Hall, Dave Dinwoodey, Kirt Mead, Tom Elliman, Win Chamberlin, and yours truly.

Hugh reports: “Our meeting began with a presentation by Kennedy Odede ’12 on the Shining Hope for Communities school for girls (SHOFCO) that he founded in a slum suburb of Nairobi, Kenya, where Kennedy grew up. This was a WESeminar sponsored by our class and was open to the entire community. Kennedy described the success of the school, which is about to graduate its first eighth-grade class, several of whom will then spend a year at Loomis Chaffee or Miss Porter’s School in the U.S. From our discussions, it sounded as though SHOFCO (shofco.org) would welcome a visit by a group of us to the school in the future. They would also welcome introductions to other private boarding schools in North America that might be interested in providing scholarships for these girls.

“We then walked across campus to a room in the new Boger Hall (the old squash courts). John Hall reported that the class has raised approximately $4.1 million and should be able to reach our goal of $5 million. We were also told by Barbara-Jan Wilson that 102 Wesleyan families have donated greater than $1 million each and that 12 of these families are parents, not alumni. This leads all other schools in NESCAC and is a testament to the quality of education that current Wesleyan students feel they are receiving. Furthermore, Wesleyan admissions were the most competitive they have ever been, with just 17 percent of applicants being admitted.

“Our next agenda item was discussion of Wesleyan’s exchange program with the University of Havana. Two members from Wesleyan’s exchange office informed us that between one and three students have spent a semester at the University of Havana during each of the past three years. The program (CASA) is run by Brown University with several other Ivy League members. It was suggested that our class could endow a summer internship for a Wesleyan student for $100,000, a possibility that we felt was worthy of further consideration. We also raised the possibility of bringing Cuban students to Wesleyan, but this seems to be legally more complex at present.

“We also discussed helping to create a database of Wesleyan alumni who would agree to be contacted by undergraduates for counsel on careers in a wide range of fields. Please provide any feedback on the subjects of a trip to East Africa and SHOFCO, support for Wesleyan internships in Cuba, and the database project to Hugh (hrwilson@yorku.ca) or Mark (mme663@mac.com).”

Many thanks, Hugh (and Mark!)

PHILIP L. ROCKWELL | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

May 27, 2016
Aloha, Dear Classmates,
“O ivied walls! O storied halls!
O shrine of long ago! (54 years ago)
The altar fires our fathers lit Shall still more brightly glow.”

And so they did for four short days in May for all of us from the class of ’66. I hope in some small way this column will capture for you, our class, not the specifics but the essence of what was, indeed, for me one of the more, if not the most, emotional, remarkable events that I have experienced in my life. In this effort I have borrowed occasionally from the poetic presentation style of our classmate, Sandy Van Kennen and ask for his forgiveness if it doesn’t adequately sum up the occasion.

At the head of this adventure was our class leadership under “General” Rick Crootof, whose vision and mission for us all was to play out over the four days; and to Dave McNally, his trusted sidekick. Thank you so much, Linda and Michelle, for letting your husbands lead us all in a wonderful adventure. In a statement to us all, those who were able to participate and those who were not, he reported post-Reunion:

“Seventy members of the Class of ’66 returned for a warm and loving 50th Reunion. The weather was glorious, and we had three excellent dinners too. Spirits and anticipation were high following the magnificent class book put together by Al Burman, Frank Burrows, Jack Knapp, John Neff, and Dick Stabnick, and sent to us all beforehand. For many, the highlight was a new feature, initiated last year by ’65, of ‘shorts,’ where about two dozen of us addressed the class about some meaningful aspect of our lives, often involving overcoming adversity. We had three of these sessions and could have gone on longer than the five hours we did devote.

“Saying goodbye on Saturday night (or Sunday morning) was hard at this stage of life, and hopefully, especially since attendees have no registration fees from now on, we can return more often than every five years.”

And so the adventure began…

Thursday, May 19th: Checking in at the Usdan University Center in the afternoon—Organized chaos; good spirits; food lines; laughter; joyous students anticipating graduating; older folks with wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, pet dogs; registering; housing assignments; Wes students handling all.

Then it was off to our first event—our Class Seminar—in which we heard the tale of ‘Paradise Lost’ in relation to the university’s endowment back in the last years of the last century. Great discussion by Jim Dresser ’63, Professor Karl Scheibe, and Wesleyan’s CIO Anne Martin. Despite the multitude of dollar reductions back then, my thoughts were on the positive side, for what are endowments for? And what did those dollars bring? Double class enrollment; women on campus; enhanced faculty; and great art, student, physical education, science facilities; good returns on investment. In my thinking, Wesleyan today is what it is because of those expenditures back then.

Then, off to reception and dinner at Patricelli ’92 Theater. And it was here that our Reunion really began. And it did so after a wonderful meal. Rick, working with Dave McNally, put together a series of “shorts” whereby our classmates were asked to share, and did they ever. We need to extend a special thank you to the inspirational Jeff Nilson, Will Rhys, Tom Broker, Jack Knapp, Bill Boynton, and Doug Robins, whose initial presentations and personal reflections set the tone for all of us over the next two days—heartfelt tears; support; laughter; spiritual; friendship; oneness with each other.

Then “bedtime”—off to Clark Hall. Joyce and I were blessed to have had wonderful floormates in our old dorm, which was actually called the “New Dormitory” until 1924, having been built in 1916 and named for John C. Clark, Wesleyan trustee (1910–1946) and former board president (1912–1920). On our floor were Sandy Shilepsky and his wife, Carol; fellow Hawaii classmate Gifford Lum and his wife, Audrey; Larry Carver; Sandy Van Kennen and I know there a few others to whom I apologize, as we passed in the bathroom sight unseen.

Friday, May 20th: The next day began with breakfast at the Highwaymen Common Room, Romance Languages and Literature Department—who knew this was EQV! More good “healthy” food. Dave McNally then got us started again with our sharing “shorts”—and our thanks to Wesleyan student Wesley Layug ’17 for loading flash drives and making it all work. It was a morning filled with great sharings from our classmates—wonder, laughter, tears, family, marriages, divorces, remarriages, redivorces, children, grandchildren, travels, food, art, music, health, and wellness.

Then off for a picnic lunch at Russell House—tents, laughter, buffet lines, students, alumni, kids, pets, sunshine.

The afternoon was spent by all having many different options; touring campus, reception for Sigma Nu and Kappa Nu Kappa members hosted by Gary Miller ’56 and our “General,” sessions in art, writing, social entrepreneurship, Korea, receptions for Alpha Delta Phi members, for former football team members, and the dedication of the new Boger Hall, named in honor of outgoing Board Chair Joshua Boger ’73.

Those of us from Chi Psi adjourned to the old Lodge, with John Driscoll ’62 in tow, for reminiscing and photo ops on the back steps.

Then on to another reception and dinner with President Michael Roth ’78 in Beckham Hall in the old Fayerweather Gym. (Just a note that this hall in named in honor of Edgar Beckham ’58 who was instrumental and an inspiration in the lives of many of us while at Wesleyan.) Great food blessed by our resident kahu (preacher) John Bensinger; warm; maile and orchid lei; exuberant, passionate president; floor walking; fraternities; Wesleyan Spirits; Alma Mater; Wesleyan Fight Song.

While it was bedtime for Clark Hallees, the night was just beginning for those who lodged in Cromwell. Led by Ted Zeller, Dave McNally, and Dave Putnam on guitars, the harmonious voices of Kit Laybourne, Rick Osofsky, Marc Kasky, Bob Dearth, Ken Mandelbaum, Bruce Cost and numerous others recaptured folk music, perhaps not heard since the ’60s, long into the night.

Saturday, May 21st: Up early, it was continental breakfast time at Olin Library’s Develin Room and, again, Dave McNally convened us all for another morning of concluding “shorts.”

More wonderful sharings, which concluded with Sterling Baker doing the wrap for this wonderful program of life shorts—in a record 90 seconds.

Adjourning, it was off to the Memorial Chapel to remember our dearly departed. In a heartfelt service, we fondly brought forth the remembrances of 28 of our classmates. The noted English film director and artist Banksy remarked: “They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.” The names of our departed classmates will always continue to be on our lips.

Then, with the carillon from South College sounding, all the Wesleyan classes gathered in front of the Usdan Center for the traditional Parade of Classes. The spirit of the Wes football team of ’65 overtook me and Steve Schaffer (attending with his wife, Sally, formerly from Middletown), and we undertook a photo in the picture booth with this old center (#53) snapping the ball to his quarterback (#14)—needless to say, there were no fumbles!

At 11:30 a.m. sharp, yours truly had the great honor of sounding “Trumpet Voluntaire” on the bagpipes as the signal to line up for the traditional university parade of classes. And, shortly thereafter, with much air in the bag, everyone stepped off to the sound of pipes in the lead, echoing the tunes of the “Wesleyan Fight Song,” “Ode to Joy,” “Blue Bells,” and “Men of Harlech” amongst the brownstone buildings of North College, South College, the chapel, and theater; down in front of the old Lodge and Alpha Delta; then along High Street to the intersection of College Street and then back to and ending at the Memorial Chapel. There, the sounds of the pipes were replaced with those of the Old Wes Brass Ensemble as all those who had made the trek from earliest to latest classes filed into the Memorial Chapel for the Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association.

Calling the Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association to order, Daphne Kwok ’84 led us all in celebrating the recognition and awarding of distinguished Alumni Awards, Outstanding Service Awards, and the James McConaughy Jr. Memorial Awards. We all extend our heartfelt aloha to two of our classmates; Essel Bailey Jr., who received the Distinguished Alumnus Award and Rick Crootof ,who received the Outstanding Service Award for well-deserved recognition—inspirational; moving; intergenerational interfacing.

Then it was picnic time under a huge tent erected on Andrus Field—students, alumni, Frisbees, band playing, sandwiches. And then off to WESeminars, where two of our own, Alberto Ibargüen and Donald Craven participated—Discerning Fact from Fiction; HIV/AIDs.

As the sun set over Foss Hill, it was again time to eat—our 50th Reunion Class Reception and Dinner—held in the Campbell Reference Center at Olin Library, and what a dinner it was! Our class kahu again blessed the food with plates full of sirloin steak, fish, or veggies and coupled with a wonderful dessert…again a food extravaganza! At the end of our meal, it was time to recognize those who had taken such good care of us over the past three days—Wesleyan students who had served as our waiters and servers who were, in every sense, our grandchildren and we, their grandparents. Rick greeted each one with a kukui lei and, giving them a hug, noted our thanks and gratitude to each one. They, in turn, presented to all of us alum kukui nut lei. The kukui nut is a symbol of enlightenment, as its kernel was used as a candle in ancient Hawai`i. Today, it symbolizes knowledge and the ongoing search for enlightenment.

Rick then noted our class mentors; Professors Jeanine Basinger, Erika Franklin-Fowler, Nat and Anne Greene, Rob Rosenthal, Karl Scheibe, and Don Russell. Unfortunately, all could not be with us in person but those who could not were certainly there in spirit.

Next, of particular importance, was recognizing the multitude of our class members who had graduated Phi Beta Kappa. This, indeed, is an impressive group of men who have in their professional lives made significant contributions to our world society, our country, our local communities, and to Wesleyan.

A wonderful recognition was then extended by Rick to all our classmates who have served our country through uniformed service, either in the military or the Public Health Service, including the Indian Health Service. There were 18 in our class attending the Reunion including David Boyle, Bill Dietz, John Ulcickas, and Bill Sargeant, with his inspirational career. It’s noteworthy that a total of 50 of our classmates have served in this regard.

It was then left to Essel Bailey Jr., our Class Gift Chair, to identify our class gift, which is in the form of a scholarship to Wesleyan. This is an ongoing gift and one to which we all need to donate—whether it’s one dollar or a million—participation is what matters. You can help others in 50 years experience what we now have—a oneness of class relationships within the Wesleyan family. So, whether you were able to join us at the Reunion or not, please make an effort to be in the spirit of our class and be a part of this giving.

As the evening drew to a close and after all the kudos had been extended, the glow of many remembrances remained—friendships, hugs; kisses; handshakes; no goodbyes—only “until we meet agains.”

And so we all departed as one—some taking in a last remembrance at the Wesleyan Spirits 35th Anniversary Concert in the Memorial Chapel—energy galore, harmonious voices, wonderful spirit.

Sunday, May 22nd: A final fling—brunch at the Usdan University Center—and what a brunch it was!—oatmeal, fruit, eggs, bacon, ham, pancakes, French toast, a moveable feast!

At this point, let me just insert some individuals not already mentioned but whom it was so good to see and with whom to renew friendships. I apologize to those not mentioned, as I know there were many to whom I did not have an opportunity to say hello: Howie Brodsky and his wife, Joan; Tom Broker and his wife, Louise Tsi Chow; Frank Burrows; Clark Byam and his wife, JaNelle; Ted Lilly; Hank Lufler Jr. and his partner, Michael Gerdes; Dave Putnam and his wife, Shirley; Irv Richter and his wife, Ann Marie; Phil Shaver and his wife, Gail Goodman; Bill Sigafoos and his wife, Lissa; Dick Stabnick and his wife, Cheryl; and Doug Werner and his wife, Pamela. At this point I also need to thank my wife, Joyce, who accompanied me and whose family is from Higganum. We married early in my Wesleyan career and had a memorable reception in the Lodge, so our Reunion brought back many happy memories of times past.

And so it was for those few magical days in May when we, as members of the Class of 1966, once again renewed our friendships. When Victor Butterfield noted that “if our years at Wesleyan were to be the best years in our life, then the university had failed”; what he didn’t say was that “if our years at Wesleyan were to produce sustaining friendships and wonderfully positive personal relationships which were to give us a sense of fulfillment then the university has certainly succeeded.” And so it has.

Purposely, we have saved a final thank you and last note of praise for the wonderful efforts of our University coordinator Pam Vasiliou. It was she who kept all the planning members and committees on track and who made sure the school was on board with everything that it needed to do to make our Reunion and the work of the committee a success. Pam, you have the enduring gratitude of, and eternal thanks from, all of us for all your work and wonderful efforts on our class’s behalf.

Some final kudos:

We need to recognize John Stremlau, who traveled the farthest to attend the Reunion, having made the trip from South Africa; and Dick Stabnick who made the shortest trip, having driven down from Hartford, Conn.;

We need to recognize Bruce Cost and his wife, Kavi Reddy ’01, who welcomed their young daughter, Coco, last year and who immediately had 70 “uncles” and untold number of “aunties” during the Reunion; and, finally, we need to give the “youth” award to Steve Schaffer, Hank Lufler, and Clark Byam, who look like they could immediately suit up for the Wesleyan football and swimming teams and make a difference.

And a final thought from Linda Wheeler in her Ain’t Life an Artichoke?, in which she noted: “Understand that happiness is not based in possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.” And so it is for our “General,” for his “trusted sidekick” and for all our classmates of ’66.

“We’ll all be young again together;

Life’s short—then fill with joy its span…”

And for four wonderful days in May we all certainly did. Thoroughly stoked; Go Wes! Mahalo.

Hardy Spoehr | hspoehr7@gmail.com

1833 Vancouver place, Honolulu, Hawai’i, 96822

808/944 8601

Classmates: It turns out that some of you keep running into each other, or arrange to meet with one another, or start what turn into e-mail chains with one another. Nice to know that you don’t have to rely on these Class Notes, which only appear three times a year, and are skewed by who does and does not communicate with me.

Random meeting #1. Tom Drew wrote to tell me that he and his wife were playing tennis in Florida, and only after the second set did they learned that the guy on the other side of the net was a classmate: Bob Kesner. Here’s Tom’s account: “This e-mail was prompted by a fortuitous meeting at the tennis courts a couple of days ago. We had a game with a couple from Vermont, found to be Bob Kesner and his wife, Andrea Torell, after a set or two. What fun. Last night we had dinner with Gar Richlin and Migs, who are in Longboat Key, possibly the biggest Wes ’67 reunion since our 45th.” Tom and Carolyn had sailed their boat from Rhode Island to Sarasota, Fla., and, presumably by the time you read this, have sailed it back to Rhode Island.

Planned meeting #1. Dave Sweet wrote to tell me that he and some Commons Club pals have been gathering almost annually in or near Portland, Maine. Here’s his account: “I had the pleasure of sharing a couple of meals last summer with several classmates/Commons Clubbers through the continuation of an almost-annual summer gathering in northern New England. The idea of assembling those within reasonable distance of Portland, Maine, for an extended lunch originated with Tom Bertocci and Punch Elliott. Last Sept., it yielded two get-togethers. Lunch on the Portland waterfront included Cindy Bertocci, Toby Astley, Tom Elliman ’65 and his wife, Betsy, and my wife, Glen, and me. Several days later, Toby and I met up with Punch and David Patterson in Concord, N.H. It can be reliably reported that all are doing well.” Dave and Glen live in West Chester, Pa., where he is self-employed as a consultant to local governments on matters of zoning, land use planning, and open space protection.

E-mail chain #1. After reading a New York Times story about Amherst College’s struggle with how to deal with the very bad behavior of its namesake (Lord Jeffrey Amherst), and whether or not the school should keep the nickname “Lord Jeffs,” Ted Smith sent an e-mail to a bunch of us (“This may help to explain why I never liked Amherst!”) and asking what we thought. This elicited a range of responses, including one from Peter Kovach (“The question we need to ask is why Wesleyan has fallen so consistently behind Amherst [Williams, Pomona, etc.] in all the ratings in the last decade or more.”), Bob Dyer, Bob Pawlowski, Howie Foster, Ned Preble, Aidan Jones (“Maybe David Foster Wallace would still be alive and writing today if he’d gone to Wes rather than Amherst”), and yours truly ( “I, too, have been following this Amherst story with interest, especially because Amherst has, in fact, become a much more diverse place than it used to be. Under its former President, Tony Marx, Amherst went from one of the least diverse of the elite schools to one of the most. In one of my classes, I use a book by a social psychologist at Amherst called Speaking of Race and Class that is based on a study of Amherst students.”). Oh, yeah, one more (late) participant: Jim McEnteer (“We’ll drink the wine tonight, drink the wine that makes hearts light”).

In addition to these random meetings, arranged gatherings, and e-mail chains, other classmates, when they write to catch me up, mention Wesleyan friends with whom they are in touch. In the past few months this has included Dave Garrison (in touch with Dick Clemmer, Jim Ruhlen), and Ned Preble (in touch with Phil Corkill, Dave Reynolds, Dave Butler, Jim Guard, Jim McEnteer and Ted Smith). I’ll provide more about these guys next time.

Meanwhile, I hope you will keep on running into each other, keep arranging meetings with your old (and getting older) friends, and keep e-mailing them (with copies to many other classmates). And let me know so I can share these things with the rest of the class, and, it turns out, share these things with other readers from other classes—you 1967 guys are not the only ones who read this column. Some from the class of 1966 read it, too. Just today I got a wonderful e-mail from my old (and getting older) friend, Larry Carver ’66, from whom I last heard decades ago, in response to something I wrote in my last column about the poet Richard Wilbur. Larry has been teaching English at the University of Texas since 1973. He is currently the Doyle Professor of Western Civilization, and is the director of the Liberal Arts Honors Programs. (He took two classes from Richard Wilbur, one on Milton and one on modern American poetry; he also participated in the now-legendary faculty-student charades competition).”

Richie Zweigenhaft | rzweigen@guilford.edu

I will start with Wig Sherman (Army vet) who let me in on a Wharton reunion at a dinner hosted by Jay Hoder (Navy vet) in Vero Beach. (Back in the day, back in Rhode Island, they played ’ball against one another.) Bob Runk ’67 (Army vet)—and some non-Wes guys—were present. “As you might expect, we listened to oldies but the night was not spent conjuring up old memories…rather focused on the present and future. All the while laughing.” Wig and Jay live in Grand Harbor, a community owned by Carl Icahn, as does Mike Spence, who is such a good golfer that he is shunned, and Ed Cortez ’69, who is an active artist and the lead singer in a local rock group.

There is a brilliant and hugely influential 2010 book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander that persuasively argues slavery was succeeded by Jim Crow laws, which created a permanent racial underclass and that, in turn, has been succeeded by The War on Drugs and mass incarceration to the same end. And Eric Blumenson’s research on “Policing for Profit”—how the federal Drug War gives police departments financial incentives to pursue drug offenders—was cited prominently. Eric teaches at Suffolk Law School in Boston.

I recently spoke to Dave Webb (who is splitting his time between Cape Cod and Ft. Myers), and he reported Paul Jarvis, a psychologist formerly in private practice and at Illinois State University, is retired. Living just outside of Chicago, Paul also has an in-town condo. Two daughters and grandchildren nearby. His wife, Carolyn, authored what has become the standard text—“the Samuelson”—of nursing. Peter Corbin, a Millbrook, N.Y.-based artist, had a one-man show at the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Va. Featured were a number of his fishing paintings complemented by a lovely catalog and a 2014 video showing the progression of his work on one painting, which presented his philosophy. Bill Beeman was quoted in the Times’ Feb. 14th Travel Section in an article about Americans traveling to Iran.

Judy and I went on a Viking cruise of the western Mediterranean in January. It was our first ever as we search for a way for me to travel, given my limited mobility. While I have never been so pampered or well fed, I thought it pretty sedate. Fortunately, we brought along our own excitement in the most genial persons of Chris and Gary Wanerka ’62, pillars of our new town. Chris cooks a mean shad and Gary is a legendary semi-retired pediatrician specializing in allergies.

It is my somber duty to report we lost two from our class in December: David Moss and John Grace. Robert Pease ’69 was kind enough to give me an account of David’s life: He completed his first two years at Wesleyan, after which he was drafted into the Army and served as a medic—becoming known as “Doc Moss”—with the First Cavalry in Vietnam, providing the initial treatment of wounded soldiers during the Tet Offensive and starting a medical program for Vietnamese villagers. He returned to Wesleyan in 1968 but moved to Oregon without completing his degree—something he later attributed to his recent combat experience. After receiving a BA and MA in history from the University of Oregon, his career included staff work in the Oregon State Legislature, chief of staff for the Oregon Speaker of the House, and the renovation of dilapidated properties into rental houses for modest-income families. A city councilor in Salem, he was appointed chairman of the State Ethics Committee by the Governor, in which role he was known for forthrightly speaking his mind on issues such as gay rights.

A skier, whitewater rafter, sailor, carpenter and historian who was active in several charities, he developed a paper titled “The Myth of the Vietnam Veteran,” which used social statistics to argue against the image of veterans as drug-using, homeless, poorly-educated, suicidal losers. He presented this paper to many civic groups along with another one on PTSD, in which he argued that it was a very real but subtle condition. He leaves his wife, Patricia Graves Moss MAT’70, and a daughter.

While I only knew him in passing, I remember John Grace as a person of uncommon decency. His wife, Joan Raducha, put it nicely in saying, “His Wesleyan education was a significant part of his future.” A Grateful Dead fan and a whitewater canoeist, he spent an undergraduate year in India, earned his MA at Hartford Seminary Foundation, was a Fulbright tutor for a year at the Ramakrishna Mission in Calcutta, and then coordinated the University of Wisconsin Year in India Program in Banaras for three. Joan reports (somewhat incredulously, I think) that he convinced her that they could do anything together—including a rock climbing and rappelling course in the Himalayan foothills.

They returned from India to Madison, Wisc., where John established after-school programs in rural communities. He believed in servant-leadership and continued his commitment to human services, ultimately serving families and children as the head of the Wisconsin Association of Family & Children Agencies for 25 years. Further, through volunteer board commitments and his involvement with Madison’s Quaker Meeting, he worked with foster children, homeless families and as a patient advocate. Always an avid reader, in retirement, he consumed four papers a day, traveled widely and was an engaged grandfather. Besides his wife, he leaves a son and a daughter—Laura Raducha-Grace Thompson ’03, a physician and the mother of two.

I will close by reminding you that your 50th Reunion is May 24-27, 2018. You are expected to attend and, after that, I promise that I will never bug you about anything again. Sandy See (seescape@verizon.net), Stuart Ober (ober@stuartober.com) and George Reynolds (greynolds@sandpointefunding.com) continue to seek volunteers for our Reunion Committee.

LLOYD BUZZELL | LBuzz463@aol.com

70 Turtle Bay, Branford, CT 06405 | 203/208-5360

Dennis Marron “is alive and well in Madison, Conn., with wife of 43 years, Jo-Ann, enjoying time with daughter Dana, her husband Peter, and their children, Carter and Nolan, both Wes material. I saw Jack Ingraham in Tulsa. My best to everyone.”

Tony Mohr and “Bev spent a week in Marrakesh, then Lyon for the wedding of a close friend met 43 years ago in Red Square. Reception was a seven-course meal in a two-star restaurant. I still try cases and churn out personal essays for publication.”

Roy Willits “retired from programming and mentoring new programmers though went to Bangalore to train a few more. I needed luck, good health, and patience. Programmers in India, managers in New Jersey, and account managers in Costa Rica—an absurd business model. I want to create some furniture or wood sculpture.”

Steve Knox “was in George Creeger’s freshman English class with Ed Sanders. Terrific experience. I will practice law four more years. It’s fun and exhausting to collect grandchildren. Take care.”

Jeff Wanshel “teaches playwriting at Manhattanville College. Ara Fitzgerald MALS ’00 is my boss. Wife Edi Giguere is a realtor for Douglas Elliman in Scarsdale. I saw Katy Butler ’71 as she book-toured her marvelous Knocking on Heaven’s Door. I see Basil Comnas, when he’s back from Afghanistan, in NYC, as well as Peter Cunningham. I have a new play and novel ready. We’ll see.”

Lynn Kozlowski “returned to being a professor of community health and behavior at SUNY/Buffalo. I still aspire to have some scholarly irons in the fire. George Creeger told me, ‘Just think of the Ph.D. as a union card’.”

John Mihalec “saw the red highlight in the last issue and decided to let someone else have the fun.”

Bill Schroder’s “blog, yourinnerrhino.com, is small but mighty. I enjoy the whole process greatly. Elias and I are in good health, and I go to the gym almost daily. Who’d believe it? Not even me.”

Fred Coleman reports “Life is varied. Just hiked a week on the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu, a graduation present to my youngest daughter. Then I met with the ambassador from Laos about a UW Global Health project in his county. It’s not the destination, but the joy of the journey.”

Pam and Rick McGauley “visited kids and grandkids in Austin, and Portland, Maine. When the tourists arrive on Cape Cod June 1st, we stay put for three months. Pam has her flower gardens, I go with veggies.”

Pete Pfeiffer says, “More of the same here on the northern frontier. Milt Christenson is back from a year of camping and painting his way around North America. He is one intrepid traveler and a state treasure. I’m planting hundreds of oaks on my place, trying to leave something for future generations.”

Russ Helgren “had lunch and a short visit with Eclectic brother Bernie Freamon—catching up on old stories.”

Charley Ferrucci is “three years into retirement. Mary and I have a home in Farmington, Conn., and a cabin in Newark, Vt. Wayne Slitt drags me to hockey games. We’re traveling to Melbourne with son Ted’s musical group. Two weeks with 70 of his high school students should be memorable.”

Doug Bell “has the first hemp growing and processing business fully approved by the Uruguayan Ministry of Agriculture.”

John Bach “was interviewed by Democracy Now about friend Daniel Berrigan. Growing old ain’t for sissies, but still beats the alternative. I hold all classmates in the Light, as Quakers are wont to say.”

Mark O. Hodgson “had breakfast with John. His wife, like mine, has cancer. I enjoyed the reunion with a great person after so many years of divergent experiences. Our generation is getting to that age of ‘organ recitals’ we hated with our parents. We have to trust the medical/industrial complex, knowing it screws up and its treatment involves a component devoid of conscience yet is often effective.”

Tom Earle “still teaches at Punahou in Honolulu. I bought a house for investment and will renovate it. I enjoy carpentry and have built three houses. Now I work smarter, not harder, and use air compressors, nail guns, and impact drivers.”

Don Jennings “has visited Old Saybrook, helping a sister and doing garden work on his Knollwood Beach house. I still live in Sudbury, contemplating a less-work situation. Anita and Bob Dombroski moved successfully from Monroe to Traverse City, Mich.”

Rameshwar Das wrote, “Kate Rabinowitz ’83 and I have sponsored yoga, nutrition, meditation, photography, and poetry programs in honor of our late daughter. Check annalyttonfoundation.org. Most held at her Springs School. Kate teaches therapeutic yoga. I work on a book and lead meditation retreats with Ram Dass and in Amagansett. Warm wishes to all.”

Alex Knopp “has completed 10 years of teaching at Yale Law School Clinic, and four years of working for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund as plaintiffs’ representative for the landmark Connecticut school desegregation case, Sheff vs. O’Neill. I chair the Norwalk Public Library Board, guiding it through an expansion and modernization process. The Board of Common Cause of Connecticut engages me on campaign finance reform. Wife Bette retired in June from teaching 8th grade and is halfway finished with her fantasy novel of time travel for senior citizens.”

Darius Brubeck and his wife “moved into the former home of Henry James in Rye, UK. My quartet released Years Ago and plan a fall Canadian tour. Granddaughter Lydia Elmer ’17 is back from a semester in Madrid. Best wishes to all.”

Barry Turnrose “retired last August from 38 years at the CSC. The work world quickly faded into irrelevance. Cutting roses is more important. Kate and I now live in Gilbert, Ariz. Son Erik and family are nearby. Daughter Heather and family will join us when the time is right. I speak regularly with roommate Harry Nothacker and would love to hear from Dave Farrar, Ron Reisner, and John Wasserman. Does Darius remember squash partnering freshman year? Cheers to all.”

From Ron Reisner: The annual basketball golf outing on June 3 at Quarry Ridge in Portland was well attended. Richard “Blade” Emerson as usual was our organizer. Jack Sitarz, Steve Knox, and Pat Dwyer and I made a fun foursome. Brian Silvestro, Bob Woods, Blade, and Andy Gregor were in another group, along with Frank Waters, who sold his insurance agency and retired from coaching girls varsity high school basketball so he can now spend as much time as he wants pursuing his real dream of being a full-time golf “shark.”

At the dinner, Coach Reilly thanked all us “old-timers” for attending. It is hard for all of us to realize that Wesleyan is now more than 40 years in the past for all of us. A great time was had by all and Frankie is just a phenomenal golfer and, as always, an all-around good guy. He is and always has been just a Phenom in all ball sports. Blade is just ageless and looks and acts if he got out of Wes just a few years ago. His enthusiasm for Wesleyan never runs down. The Wes spirit was alive and fun for a great day for Wesleyan athletics.

Always love,

CHARLIE FARROW | charlesfarrow@comcast.net

11 Coulter Street, #16, Old Saybrook, CT 06475