Class Notes

Categories Class Notes | 1960sPosted on

CLASS OF 1964 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

I hope that when my notes are published, we have an economy that’s working much better than the mitigating practices we are slowly getting through that has turned our sense of normalcy upside down. I’ve been sheltering down in my condo in Savannah, Ga., and time has an unfamiliar pace. I’ve heard from Russ Messing and Bill White, who are managing with the new normal. Recently, I spoke with Paul Lapuc, who is sheltering down in Chatham, Mass., on Cape Cod, and we shared our similar experiences. Fortunately, each of our spouses are doing well, and Bill is a bachelor reflecting on what the world is learning from each day.

Not much else to share, and I wish everyone well during a time we won’t soon forget.

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

Categories Class Notes | 1960sPosted on

CLASS OF 1963 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

Some of you may remember me; most probably do not. I’m Jan Van Meter of the Class of 1963, your new class secretary. However, I’m not replacing Byron Miller in the role. I’m following him and hoping to do the job as well as he.

I’d like to help increase our sense of community as the Class of ’63. What are you doing these days, with whom, and where? How are you coping with what seems to be a world without…everything? What does Wesleyan and the Class of ’63 mean to you now?

Of one thing you may be sure: I’ll be in touch…and I look forward to it.

JAN VAN METER | bensfamily@aol.com; 212/427-2062

Ed.’s note: Robert “Jib” Fowles passed away on March 7. Jib was a College of Letters major at Wesleyan. After graduation, he spent a Fulbright fellowship year in India. He later moved to New York City, where he earned his M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University, and his PhD at New York University. He taught at NYU from 1967 to 1974. In 1974, he went to work at the University of Houston-Clear Lake as a charter faculty member where he taught for the rest of his career.

Jib was a committed scholar in media studies, publishing seven books and some 70 articles. His articles appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, TV Guide, Advertising Age, and many academic journals. His books include Television Viewers vs. Media Snobs (Stein & Day, 1982), Starstruck: Celebrity Performers and the American Public (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992), and The Case for Television Violence (Sage, 1999).

In retirement, Jib served as commissioner of the Wiscasset’s Historic Preservation Commission, a docent for the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and a member of the First Congregational Church of Wiscasset. At the time of his death, he was completing a book on the social history of photographic imagery.

Jib leaves behind his wife, Joy, daughter Celeste Fowles Nguyen ’01, son Nathan, and many others.

Categories Class Notes | 1960sPosted on

CLASS OF 1962 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

Lindsay Childs reports that he published a book, Cryptology and Error Correction, An Algebraic Introduction and Real-World Applications by Springer Nature in their series, Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics and Technology. He said he was excited that he just learned that it is being translated into Japanese. Lindsay wrote, “If there is an upside to the social distancing forced by the coronavirus, it is that there are presently far fewer distractions to keep me from focusing on the next book project: a research level collaboration on Hopf Galois module theory with six other mathematicians (in Munich, Atlanta, Boston, Gainesville, Keele (UK), and Montgomery). We hope to have it ready to submit by the end of the year.”

Bob Gause reported the publication of his fifth book, a collection of short stories entitled Strange Voices. He says he still works two days a week as a consultant in pediatric orthopedics “using telemedicine for 50% of patient visits.”

Dave Gottesman wrote a moving op-ed column on May 7 for The Post-Star (newspaper in Glen Falls, N.Y.) entitled “We Must Take Care of Our Front Line Workers” supporting the emotional needs of health care workers who have been serving the public in the coronavirus crisis. Hank Sprouse sent in the link for the class notes and said, “This is a very timely article at this moment in our lives.” Hank said that Tom Gregory had forwarded the article to him, saying that it was “Powerful, persuasive, and wonderfully written.” The newspaper noted that Dave “is a psychiatrist, the former commissioner of mental health for Albany County, and the former deputy commissioner of the New York Office of Mental Health.” Read it at poststar.com.

Gene Peckham writes that he was a Broome County (New York) Surrogate Judge from 2010 to 2011, then returned to law practice for several years, “semi-retiring a couple of years ago.” He serves as a hearing officer for the New York state retirement system and handles arbitration and small claims matters for the New York state courts. On a personal note, he said, “We have been going to London for about 30 years on a theater trip,” and says that “for retirement recreation,” they have a cottage in Hallstead, Pa., and a condo in Charlotte, N.C. “I am in regular contact with my fraternity brothers Mike Hackman, Dave Irwin, and Joel Teaford. His wife, Judy, retired last year as executive director of the Klee Foundation; his oldest daughter Margo is a priest and canon to the bishop for the Episcopal church in Newark, N.J.; son Joe is a lawyer in Florida; daughter Beth is a pediatric dentist in Charlotte, N.C.; and he has five grandchildren.

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

Categories Class Notes | 1960sPosted on

CLASS OF 1961 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

It is so refreshing to hear of the many exploits and adventures that our classmates have chosen in these times of challenge. For example, when asked if he played clarinet, Calvin “Pete” Drayer replied that he is “totally retired and [living] with my wife in a retirement home. I did not play the clarinet although I took piano and trumpet lessons. More fun was that we had a judges’ singing group and had competitions in three counties. I still play my CD of the Highwaymen and sing along.”

It’s the neglected garage that gained the attention of Phil Rodd. When asked for some recent news, he writes: “News from here? Not so much…Staying at home, growing a beard, and cleaning the garage (which I’ve been putting off for 15 years). Like everyone all over America, some plans canceled or postponed. I was planning to lead a tour of New York people to see Mount Rushmore, but that’s not happening. My stepson’s wedding, which we had planned for July, will be postponed. Other than that, I am enjoying the opportunity to just sit home.”

Russell Mott (AKA Bob Lannigan) states: “My only news is good news. I am not getting married, but for all intents, I may as well be. Two days before my 80th, I met Carol Lessinger of Mill Creek, Utah, and in about six weeks, I moved her to Southern New Mexico to join our family here. I am quite beyond ecstatic about all this and astonished it should occur at this juncture in my life. I am every day in my ceramics’ studio, as I have been for the past 20 years, and that just keeps getting [to be] more and more fun. Here’s a shout out to you, Jon, for all the years you have done this toil about who’s where and done what.”

Peter Funk has checked in with lots of information. “It’s a short story.” He writes. “I moved from NYC to London with my first wife, Lisa, in 1973. We have two daughters who graduated from Wesleyan, Alexandra “Lexy” ’91, and Jenny ’95. In the process, they have continued my deep interest in Wesleyan affairs. Lisa and I divorced, and I married my wife, Jennie, in 1983. In 1988, Jennie and I moved from London to Jersey in the Channel Islands. I have been in the communications field all my working life; film and television production and distribution, broadcasting, and telecommunications. I remain involved with our commercial radio station here in Jersey, but, otherwise, I have pretty much retired to my sailing, tennis, skiing, and traveling, including trips back and forth to the USA to see Lexy and Jenny and the four grandchildren. Assuming our upside-down coronavirus dominated world returns to some normality, I am very much looking forward to our 60th Reunion in 2021. Jennie and I are locked down here on our small island with our fellow 105,000 residents. There are no passenger flights or ferries in or out except for supplies and mail. The incidence of coronavirus is, thankfully, very low as a result. What happens next is an open question as it is most everywhere else in our world.”

Paul Dickson has a new publication out that he claims “is now more relevant [than ever] in that it shows how the nation was able to prepare and mobilize under strong leadership and prepare for a world war, feeling now that a new world war has just begun.” See kirkusreviews.com’s review of The Rise of The G.I. Army, 1940-1941: The Forgotten Story of How America Forged a Powerful Army Before Pearl Harbor.

Sadly, there have been a number of classmates’ deaths. Bob Reiser writes: “Neal Schachtel died in November. We had become good friends over the years, both of us moving to Atlanta in 1971. Neal was diagnosed with leukemia in the summer of 2018, and the doctors could never stop the disease’s progression. Tricia, Neal’s wife, had a luncheon in December celebrating Neal’s life. It was a wonderful testimony to Neal’s generous nature and warm personality.”

Bob continues: “Margaret and I have an active life volunteering. Margaret is on the board of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (the largest public garden in New England, and the second most visited site in Maine, well behind Acadia National Park, but ahead of L.L. Bean). I have the pleasure of serving on the Boothbay Region YMCA board and the Harbor Theater board. In Atlanta, we are active board members of the Alliance Theatre, and I am on the boards of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and Oglethorpe University. This year I plan to finally retire from Balentine, an investment advisory firm after a 50-year career in investment management.”

An additional announcement is the death of Lou Larrey ’61, MAT ’62 on Nov. 7. He had lived in Falmouth for 46 years. His career as an English professor began in Connecticut, with later assignments in Oregon, California, and Massachusetts. Lou enjoyed singing with local choruses, boating, gardening, travel, and reading.

Please stay healthy, stay safe, and keep writing.

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

Categories Class Notes | 1960sPosted on

CLASS OF 1960 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

Thank you to Dave Hohl for planning our 60th Reunion. It is unfortunate that the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from gathering in Middletown. Thanks also to Myles Standish ’60, MA ’62 and Bill Masterson for producing the 60th Reunion booklet that provides an update on classmates. I still have copies of our freshman class directory (1956), 20-year history (1980), and 50th Reunion booklet (2010). Together with the most recent 2020 booklet, they provide an informative historical record.

Dave Hohl led our virtual 60th Reunion via Zoom on June 12. The program began with Alan Wulff reading the names of our 43 deceased class members. Participants then had the opportunity to describe their current activities. Jay Levy answered questions about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We ended our session by having a lively discussion of politics with written background material provided by David Boesel (“The Oligarchs and the Mob” as well as “Similarities between Trumpism and Fascism”), Bill Walker (“Butterfield Excerpt”), and Robert C. Williams (“The Virus of Autocracy”).

From Gus Napier: “Margaret and I remain uneasily isolated in the beauty of our woodland Appalachian spring. Grateful for the friends here and trying socially-distanced hikes and even occasional shared meals at the two ends of a picnic table. Margaret does the grocery shopping at certain hours in a small market and gives socially-distanced tours of her beautiful native plant garden. I ‘chair’ a 12-man discussion group on Zoom and am working on poetry and some photography. I was delighted by the bios in the class book.

“Our son, Mark, a pulmonologist, has returned to his former hospital, Albany Medical Center, to work weekends on the COVID-19 unit while doing his full-time work as a medical director at Anthem. Sarah and her family from Concord, Mass., are headed soon for residence in our guest house, and we are very eager to see them. The parents will both work online. Julia’s family in Buenos Aires seems incredibly far away now. The city is in severe lockdown, but Julia and Juan seem to be very productive. I am in close conversation with Oliveio, 13, who wants to be a filmmaker—we share movie reviews on Letterboxd.

“I am very disappointed not to get to meet for our 60th. I find the impulse to reach out to others very strong and find the old-fashioned landline a good friend. Good luck to us all, and to you-all, as we say down here.”

Rick Garcia has moved to an apartment in La Paz, where he occasionally enjoys the company of children and grandchildren. He is the president of the National Academy of Economic Sciences of Bolivia (ABCE). ABCE and INESAD produced Investigations for the Economic Development of Bolivia that contains the research results of five groups chosen in a worldwide competition. The book serves as a reference for universities and public policymakers in Bolivia. At Wesleyan in February 2019, he presented and discussed a comparative view of liberal arts college education in Bolivia and the U.S., and a paper on sustainable development from the point of view of Bolivia’s compliance with U.N. goals and the performance of the Morales government.

Tragically, Robert G. Williams was killed in a car accident on Nov. 22, 2019. He was an attorney in Mooresville, N.C.

Alan Shestack died in his Washington, D.C. home on April 14. He had been suffering from multiple health problems in recent years. Alan’s first curator job included responsibilities for the National Gallery’s Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection in Pennsylvania. In 1965, he moved to Yale University Art Gallery, where he stayed until 1985, rising to become a director and an adjunct professor. After two years in Minneapolis, he began his tenure as director of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). Upon leaving the MFA in 1993, he returned to the National Gallery, where he was deputy director and chief curator until retiring 15 years later. His longtime friend Mervin Richard commented that Alan “was keenly in love with art, especially prints.” He married Nancy Jane Davidson, an immigration lawyer, in 1967. She died in 2016. He is survived by a foster daughter, Lisa Yi Lu Feng, and two grandchildren.

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

Categories Class Notes | 1950sPosted on

CLASS OF 1959 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

Greetings to the Great Class of 1959! Your scribes are hoping that you are behaving yourselves and looking like masked bandits. Talking about bandits, the Class of 1960 is again trying to assert that it is the fulfillment of Vic Butterfield’s dream of the “Ideal Wesleyan Class.” A distinguished member of the Class of 1960, not surprisingly, made this assertion. (The final evidence: 60th Reunion attendees for the Class of ’59 was 33; while the Class of ’60 had a mere 29 expressing serious interest).

Bob McKelvey reports that working from home was fun at first but now seems like spending time in a high-class jail. He moved his office off the beach in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy to a posh location inland, which is now quite useless.

Ted Fiske reports that he and Sunny are safely ensconced in their Chapel Hill retirement community, and he has recently achieved a new first. Sunny produced a pair of scissors and asked Ted to cut her hair. All seemingly went well, but it looks like it was a one-way deal. Ted has developed a new coping strategy. The days of the week are now to be known as “thisday, thatday, otherday, someday, yesterday, today, and nextday!”

Wolfram Thiemann writes, “Since our last visit to our splendid 60th Reunion, the highlight of our lives has been Wen and my visit to Croatia. She left China for the first time in 1989 to study at the Oceanic Research Institute in Split, former Yugoslavia. It proved to be a really nostalgic and warm rendezvous for her. The rest of the time has been spent in Bremen enjoying my extended family of three generations living in Western Germany’s Rhineland.”

Dave Britt cannot hold back! “My creative juices have fled all known jurisdictions and were placed in a blind trust some years ago. So far, the trustees have noted no activity or interest. To report: Nada, Zippo, Snore City—and those are the highlights! I wear my mask and gloves for shopping (it turns out that my cape confuses people). I see people practicing safe distancing, but finding ways to get out safely and be together. Neighbors, friends, family gather round, as we can. Perhaps more important, we’re gaining some human respect and feeling for the folks who help us survive day-to-day, but cannot afford to lose even one hour’s work, and have no safety net, no health care, no financial resources. We ’59ers are certainly fulfilling the ancient and ambiguous Chinese toast ‘to live in interesting times.’ Silent Generation or not, I think we contribute beyond our numbers! ‘Go Wes,’ old man, ‘Go Wes.’”

Molly and Skip Silloway said goodbye to their home in Salt Lake City and moved to a retirement home in Northern California to be near their grandson. “Hope he is looking forward to it as much as we are,” said Skip.

Sandy, Rosie, and Tim Day are doing well in Arizona. Tim said, “Turned 83 on May 10 and feel pretty good for an old fossil! I survived some heart surgery in early March. Sandy (with nurse’s training) has been a saint in keeping us going, and safe. I had hoped to be wise when I reached this age, but wisdom remains elusive for me. I cannot say whether or not it is safe to open the economy, but do know that the virus’s impact, this unforeseen crisis, has been without precedent. In many cases, the losses will be for good, and the ‘new normal’ will be far different than our life in 2019. Our new puppy, Rosie, broke her little leg and was in a cast for seven weeks.” A difficult time in our history, says Tim, but this too will pass!

Reporting from hard-hit New Jersey, Charlie Wrubel talks of Zooming for all kinds of activities, online training, Pilates, Spanish lessons, and family visits. Food deliveries and takeout are keeping the wolf from the door.

Herb Steiner wrote, “We had a mini-Sigma Nu ’59 reunion on Zoom. Present were Bob Waterhouse, Tim Martin, Joe Vander Veer, Bob Mann, and I. Good to be in touch with old friends.”

Dick Cadigan and Weg Thomas have been keeping our spirits up, Dick with the neologism winners from the Washington Post, and Weg with the quarantine edition of “The Longest Time.” Cads is particularly dangerous now, as he has found a new hearing aid that actually works!

Dave Clemens particularly liked “The Longest Time.” “So well done, creative—loved the use of a Lysol container for percussion. In another era, we could have done a rendition by the Spooky Seven (the famous Eclectic octet, a singing group which included classmates Cadigan, Clemens, Spurdle, Moody, Wenner). Such an abundance of creative, humorous, and inspiring videos making the rounds.”

Skip Silloway | ssillow@gmail.com; 801/532-4311 

John Spurdle | jspurdle@aol.com; 212/644-4858

Categories Class Notes | 1950sPosted on

CLASS OF 1958 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

Marilyn and John Watson recently moved to Davis, Calif. Their daughter teaches in the vet school at UC Davis. John tried his hand at golf after a 65-year hiatus and wound up with severe golf elbow. He has subsequently taken up darts.

Bart Bolton has moved to a condo in the next town. So, the virus boredom did not hit as they went about deciding what to move and what to discard. Bart laments missing his annual winter visit to Sarasota. And his new home is very close to a challenging golf course.

A long note from Neil Springborn tells of a bad knee and good golf. And he damaged his left arm, possibly rotator cuff. Like many of us old guys, he has prostate problems and will live with them. His joyful news described the purchase of a Honda CR-V.

David Epstein and wife Sheila are in Southern California and have been married for 63 years. They have three kids, one a Wesleyan grad. David is considered somewhat of an expert in Early West Coast Jewish History, and he works with the Jewish history department of UCLA. He yearns for one more trip to Middletown.

Younghee and Art Geltzer recently had quite an adventure. They left for Argentina on Feb. 28 before the extent of the infection was known. Their return flight from Buenos Aires was canceled, and the Argentine border was closed. Finally, they flew to Dubai through Rio and a day later, a flight to Boston. Then two weeks of strict quarantine.

Bill Richards is alive and well in muggy Miami, looking forward to Penn’s Woods for the summer.

Pirkko and Burr Edwards are riding out the pandemic in Southwest France. Their confinement has been fairly strict, and they look forward to May 11 and unlimited access to the wine merchant.

Dick Goldman is still in his winter quarters in Key Biscayne, Fla. They have opened up golf and tennis, and he and Patti will return to Massachusetts on May 27.

David Hild and wife Alyce are sequestered at Seabury (a continuing care retirement community) and are well-cared for. They will miss planned trips to Vienna and Newport, R.I. They wish their classmates well.

I have spoken to Dan Woodhead and received his email. We exchanged reading lists, and Dan is really focused on western history. His current book is a biography of Wild Bill Hickok. He would enjoy email corresponding with any Wesleyan brethren who share his interests.

Nancy and Bill Purinton left their beloved riverbank property in South Eliot, Maine, and moved to a retirement village in Peterborough, N.H. They are both well, but, decided with their daughter’s prompting that the time had come to lessen the burdens of property maintenance and be waited upon for a change.

John Corkran was in the hospital for four days with internal bleeding. Seems okay; tests will continue. John is completing his third term on the board of the local affiliate of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. While confined, he watched Netflix’s The Last Dance. I also did and learned a lot about Jordan, Rodman, and Pippen.

Andrea and Gary Iseminger are self-quarantining in their condo in Northfield, about eight blocks from the Carleton campus and 12 blocks from the house they built and lived in for more than 40 years. They gave the home to daughter Ellen, who is a nurse and cares for them and brings groceries.

Roger Turkington has gotten Google to configure a website for his writings, books, and awards at “Poetry by Turkington.” Roger sends his best wishes to his classmates.

Tony Codding waxes philosophical in his note. He reviews our history from the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and then Iraq and Afghanistan. And in our golden years, we are in a 100-year pandemic. What a ride!

Bill Barnes comments about how strange it is to be going to church online. Bill is a retired clergy person, and so is Bill Krenz. Bill Barnes reports that Bill and Rosemary Krenz moved to Annville, Pa., within the past few years. The Krenz family no longer spends time in Mexico. And Bill Krenz told of a visit from Dick Seabury, who was on his way to make a gift to the Hershey Automobile Museum. Dick reported that he and his family are doing well.

Rick Pank is enjoying the glories of spring and getting to books half-read.

Susan and Peter Ralston were vacationing in Mexico nine weeks ago. They flew to San Francisco, and they have been ensconced in a lovely rented house in Berkeley overlooking the Bay and about five minutes from each of their children. Every day they have a visit from a child or grandchild and are well supplied with groceries. Peter needs increasing amounts of care for his dementia. Susan would appreciate an email or call to brighten Peter’s day. Her email: sralston530@gmail.com. Her phone: 917-853-1645. They will be there for the foreseeable future.

Kay and I are riding out the pandemic. I still play golf, and my bridge is online. Basically, bored but safe. Ted Wieseman was to visit in April but obviously postponed his flight.

Cliff Hordlow | khordlow@gmail.com
Apt. 103, 4645 Winged Foot Court | Naples, FL 34112; 239/732-6821

Categories Class Notes | 1950sPosted on

CLASS OF 1957 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

Heard from Mark Feldman that he and wife Mimi are sheltering in place, and so far, so good. He plans to resume teaching this fall, most likely via Zoom, which he terms a challenge for an “aging bookworm.” Meanwhile, he is busy with pro bono work, including responses to environmental issues. He reports that daughter Ilana ’91 is the vice dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs at GWU.

The Clowes—Rusty and Diane—sold their house in Higganum and have moved to Middletown to a condo. Rusty is glad to be rid of gardening chores and the like. They’re in In Town Terrace—a stone’s throw from the Freeman Athletic Center—which is a 28-unit complex called The Pines. Rusty comments on the new normal, e.g., masks, gloves, staying home, yet it is a time when we all think not only of ourselves but helping to preserve the well-being of others.

Bob Anderson writes that he’s reduced a diverse program of interests such as church activities, art/drawing workshops, and historical society. For companionship, he has a cat—one meow for food and two meows for attention—this latter evocative of questions for Bob (he doesn’t specify whether he has answers therefor). Nonetheless, this hasn’t detracted from trips to nearby Guemes Island, a five-minute ferry ride from his home in Anacortes. He says he’s spending time there in self-isolation, the island only home to 800 folks, such that it’s suitable for quarantine. Turning thoughtful, Bob laments what he terms “replacement experience,” such as he attributes to the internet as a substitute for active personal relationships.

Early this year Al Fitz-Gerald worked to give legs to his play about climate change—recalling some of our classmates did a partial reading at the 2012 Reunion. After some revisions to add a portion of “entertainment” and a staged reading, he found from comments that the play is “too conservative for liberals and too liberal for conservatives.” Perhaps an example of the struggle to get a play into mainstream theaters.

I sadly report the passing of John Kandravy in April. A note from daughter Elizabeth Cassidy ’88 attributed the cause as COVID-19. John always valued his Wes experience as shaping his future. A good friend, he lived an exemplary life, and I wish to extend sympathy on behalf of our class.

Art Typermass | joanarth64@gmail.com
144 East Ave., #302B, Norwalk, CT 06851 | 203/504-8942

Categories Class Notes | 1950sPosted on

CLASS OF 1956 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

In this strangest of years, it’s not what folks are doing; it’s what we’re not doing.

Ann and I did not drive to Wisconsin to observe the 90th birthday of my big brother Alan ’52. But Zoom conveyed much of the spirit of the celebration. Alma Mater was well represented—by Al and yours truly, of course, but also by his son Chris ’83, our daughter Judy ’84, and our dear friend Hal Buckingham ’52, whom Al first met at Boy Scout camp 75 years ago. Zoom has also kept us in touch with our closed church’s congregation. It’s not perfect, but it’s still heartening. For our 60th wedding anniversary in July, who knows?

Bob Runyon offered this reading list for the self-sequestered: “1. Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen. (Brilliant, highly readable science reporting; I understood why he was ‘not surprised’ by the 2020 pandemic.) 2. The Plague by Albert Camus. (Compare and contrast.) 3. Drinking with My Father’s Ghost: A Journey Through Irish Pubs by Hugh Reilly.” (Our Chien family tour to the Emerald Isle was nixed.) “4. Call of the Wild by Jack London. 5. Seven Continents by R. Runyon.” (Bob’s antidote for waning wanderlust and his nudge to me to keep putting words on paper. Good stuff.)

Tom Pimpton writes: “I didn’t get to visit the Dry Tortugas National Park in March. We are hoping to go there next year. Now I’m on a waiting list for the medicine to deal with bladder cancer. I really don’t know why it is so scarce. Judy and I will be celebrating our 63rd wedding anniversary on June 29. I was very shy around girls until I met Judy—at Wesleyan. Our oldest daughter, Liz, came on my birthday, June 2, 1958. She will be 62 and is retiring! I can’t believe it. Judy and I are staying isolated. Our governor will make an announcement tomorrow (May 1). I hope he stays conservative, as I don’t want a resurgence of the virus. Peace and joy.”

From Jay Jenkins: “Our best moment to celebrate is Margot’s and my 63 years of marriage! I found her before our choral concert with Mount Holyoke. Margot was from Rhodesia, making logistics expensive but worth it all. Three children: Gail ’84 went to Wes. She had three children with her Wesleyan husband, Jay Farris ’84. Their two daughters graduated from Wes, one with an advanced biochem degree, and the second with a Phi Beta Kappa. Son Dean went to Harvard and was training for Tokyo up until the plague canceled all. Dick Boyden and we have hosted several Eclectic reunions here by the sea in Pocasset, Cape Cod. So fortunate we did as our numbers are dwindling with our last loss, Jack Dunn. My activity other than sailing was heading an architectural preservation museum, a sailing school trustee, and now on the Bourne Historical Commission. I had a rather debilitating stroke last June on my left side, which has caused my restoration of clocks and model shipbuilding to cease. My life by the sea with a good book, my Economist, and my Margot is wonderful!”

Sandy Mendelson adds: “Irene and I continue to live in Bethesda and take advantage of the cultural and familial aspects of Washington, D.C. We’ve both had significant health challenges, but presently all seems to be good. I enjoy some very part-time work in cardiology and bioethics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where I’ve worked in various capacities for 52 years. Irene is retired from her career-counseling practice but keeps her mind active with continuing education courses at nearby American University. Two of our sons and their families, fortunately, live nearby; the third son is in Oakland, Calif. Our six grandkids are scattered from New York to The Hague to California. We’re active in our very lively synagogue in D.C., and Irene has led an organization providing housing to the less fortunate. We still love to travel. In the last few years, we’ve gone to Israel, Patagonia, China, Australia, Iceland, and elsewhere. Hopefully, this will continue.”

And from Jim Wagner: “Betty and I have moved into the Greenspring senior living community, in Springfield, Va., just two miles from where we had been living for the past 32 years of our life together. We can hardly believe the amount of stuff we had accumulated! Boxes surrounded us and it still seems like we threw out or gave away five times as much as we kept. Some clothing and non-perishable food we gave through the church we now attend was received very thankfully by a ministry to the homeless and disadvantaged children. That really made us feel good amidst the problems of parting with our stuff!”

Here’s to better days to come.

George Chien | gchien@optonline.net

Categories Class Notes | 1950sPosted on

CLASS OF 1955 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

Always a delight to receive a note or two from fellow Sigma Chi brothers! It looks like they will do their part to keep me from rambling on about the traditional birthday ride celebrating my 87th with riding buddies from our local club. And yes, we did ride 87, but to be explicit, because of the coronavirus we did choose to mark the distance in kilometers instead of miles! Oh well, not too bad for a bunch of senior citizens. By the way, I’d certainly enjoy receiving a note or two from classmates in addition to fraternity brothers!

From Ric Fisher and for the record, a notice that he was the youngest resident on his street in Lund, Sweden, when he moved there in 1980 and now, he’s the oldest. He says he’s in the high-risk zone: 86, he’s survived an aorta dissection (2016), and still wonders what the next handicap will be! He gives thanks to his wife, Ula, and to Vera, his dachshund, for keeping him active and surviving!

Upon our graduation, I drove from my home in New Haven to St. Louis to pick up Tom Nall to begin a driving trip throughout the states. The original destination was Seattle to meet with one of our Sigma Chi brothers. Tom recalled the many wonderful memories from St. Louis to the end at the Grand Canyon, including picking apricots in Yakima Valley, a bear invading our tent at Mt. Hood, and bathing in mountain streams as well as the beauties all the national parks offered as we toured them. One item that stood out was being laughed at for wearing short pants as no one in the West wore them at the time! Tom has survived a concussion from a fall in 2019 and several illnesses, which resulted in the decision to move into an independent-living apartment in an assisted living facility across the state line in South Fulton, Tenn. He mentioned that it was quite a change from his former house situated on two acres, but he’s settled in and doing quite well.

Marianne and I are well and, like almost everyone else living during these pandemic days, are looking for the chance to resume our former habits. Can’t come too soon.

As always, sincere good wishes to you and your loved ones in the days ahead.

DONALD J. BRAVERMAN | ybikedon35@gmail.com
34 Southport Ln. Apt. C, Boynton Beach, FL 33436