CLASS OF 1960 | 2026 | SPRING ISSUE

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I, Bill Walker, have assumed the position of class secretary that was so long and ably filled by Sal Russo.

Rob Mortimer reports from Boulder, Colorado, that he and Mimi were on the West Coast and reunited with Dave Potts and Jay Levy. 

Jay Levy reports that he and Sharon had dinner with Wes President Michael Roth and discussed the University’s impressive fundraising campaign. Most important, Jay received notice that he is being recognized by the University of California San Francisco (UCSF): The Jay A. Levy Endowed Professorship in Virology honors Jay, professor emeritus of the Department of Medicine and former director of the Laboratory for Tumor and AIDS Virus Research at UCSF. UCSF says this about him: “As a scientist, he is bold, innovative and a risk-taker. As a leader in academia, he has been and is a generous mentor and collaborator to many and is devoted to doing science that helps others.” Congratulations! 

Dave Hale reports that he and Peggy traveled successfully to Canada last year, but that like most of us, is weighed down with medical issues. “Does my week in Unity Hospital sound like a 65th anniversary present?” 

From Bob Williams: “Our second daughter Katharine (Davidson 2001) is now in her second year as director of development at Falmouth Academy, surpassing many fund-raising goals. FA has also recently acquired the Captain’s Manor Inn in an effort to initiate a five-day boarding program. Maybe some will end up at WesTech!”

Dave Hohl reports he has contributed a $10,000 charitable gift annuity to Wesleyan in exchange for using it to fund a men’s tennis endowment in honor of our classmate Al Roberts. Al is in Wesleyan’s Athletics Hall of Fame for his tennis achievements at Wesleyan, among them a single loss (perhaps to West Point) during his four years and the U.S. 18-and-under champion the summer after his freshman year (he had previously won the U.S. and Canadian 15-and-under championships). He was given automatic entry to the U.S. National Tennis Tournament at Forest Hills, Queens (now the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, Queens) that year, and he qualified for that tournament for several years thereafter, reaching the second round twice. If that endowment reaches $100,000, it can be named for Al.

I was inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame in November 2025, in an elaborate ceremony recognizing my batting average of .432 for Chatham in the summer of 1957 and subsequent accomplishments. A signal honor that included a huge Super Bowl–size ring.

Gus Napier, our class philosopher, has just published a new book: A Life in Poems, a collection of his prodigious poetic output. Gus has a gift of communicating that I found speaks to me as I age and reflect on what’s now a long life. You may want to do the same. Here is the note I received from Gus:

“Hi Bill—thanks for your work keeping us in touch!  

“My news: I have a new book, just arrived from the printer, entitled, A Life in Poems. At Wesleyan, as some of you may know, I apprenticed myself to Richard Wilbur and went some distance down the road to being a professional poet. I published some in national magazines, etc.

“A personal crisis post-Wesleyan got me into therapy and eventually I became a family therapist. My book The Family Crucible (HarperCollins, 1978) became a bestseller and has sold more than 300,000 copies. A second book, The Fragile Bond (HarperCollins, 1988)describes my work with Margaret in our treatment of couples.

“Though writing poetry professionally became the road not traveled, a line by Robert Frost, who was Wilbur’s mentor, I did not stop writing poetry. Recently, Margaret and I assembled the poems we found here and there in our house in North Carolina. This book, crafted with a graphic designer, also includes some of my photographs, another strong interest of mine. We are proud of the book.” ~ Gus

I regret to advise that Chuck Olton died recently in New York. I’m particularly saddened because Chuck was my oldest living friend. We both grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, and met when we were in second grade. We became close friends and were classmates through the Newton school system, then at Wesleyan. We remained in contact, though had not seen one another for some time. Too bad. Good guy. 

Paul Tractenberg said he was sad to hear of the passing of Chuck. “He was such an accomplished and thoroughly decent man. I didn’t share the Massachusetts connection with him but came to admire and like him so much at Wesleyan.” Bob Williams said, “So sorry to learn about Chuck. I heard from Hawk Walker, another Newton boy who grew up a mile or two from where I lived in Wellesley Hills. Wesleyan brought us all together. We [the Folklords] were forerunners of the Highwaymen, who actually became famous. The Folklords were a great folk singing experience. (Ann and I continue to sing together in church choirs, choruses, and quartets.) Rex Hartzell, our bass, died recently as well. Frank Reed and Pete Rockefeller ’59 are gone. . .  Chuck was a great tenor to blend with and an even greater person.”