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Robin Berrington writes: “I put together a group of 12 other theatergoing participants from the Washington, D.C., area to attend the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in July. I have attended CATF since 2004, was asked to join their board, and most recently ‘graduated’ to the honorary board. I have seen it rise in prestige and popularity over the years as it features new plays seldom or never seen before, on topical—sometimes controversial—themes and with new young casts fresh from New York or the West Coast. The New York Times has even called it one of the ten best summer festivals in the U.S., so I never have a problem assembling the group to accompany me. This time we were asked to look over a newly deconsecrated church as a future site for its activities. Everybody said it was one of the highlights of one of the best years ever.”
News of this award for Lindsay Childs: “The University at Albany Emeritus Center recently elected Lindsay N. Childs as William L. Reese Fellow for 2024. Named after founding President and benefactor Bill Reese, the program is designed to honor to UAlbany emeriti for sustained, consequential and exemplary post-retirement professionally related contributions and achievements in scholarship and creative productions, teaching or service, in or outside the University.”
Although no longer actively practicing medicine, Robin Cook’s writing of medical mystery thrillers continues unabated with his latest entitled Bellevue, scheduled for December publication. “Strangely enough it incorporates a bit of the supernatural,” Robin reports, “which is certainly unique for me as hard science has always been the cornerstone of my stories.” He recalls that at Wesleyan, “after my first paper in freshman humanities rated a miserable C-, I felt relegated to the ‘hard sciences’ and stayed away from difficult courses like English and literature because they all involved writing, which was understandably graded on a subjective basis. On the other hand, Wesleyan encouraged me to do an Honors College distinction thesis, the experience of which was why I thought I could write my first book. Ultimately, I give Wesleyan the credit it deserves for my writing career.”
Bill Everett sent “a little news from the Smokies as we continue aging in place in these mountains,” and included this photo of one of his beautiful hand‑turned wooden bowls “if that will help break up the page.” Other impressive examples of Bill’s handiwork, and that of his wife, Sylvia, may be viewed on their joint website, WisdomsTable.net.
Jim Gately reported an extended cruise with his wife, Kay, during most of February and March to various parts of Asia. “We flew initially in early February to Auckland, New Zealand, and boarded the Seabourn Sojourn there a couple of days later. After spending several days exploring both North and South Islands, we headed west to Sydney, then northeast along the Great Barrier Reef, and eventually to Darwin. From there, we spent several days exploring various islands in Indonesia before steering north to the Philippines, and finally to Taiwan. We flew back to Philadelphia and home in Villanova from Taipei, arriving home jet-lagged but totally satisfied with our adventure. We learned a great deal about the history and current politics of all six countries (not five . . . this is a quiz!) we visited, met some extraordinary people, and thoroughly enjoyed all the many varieties of nature and humanity we met along the way.”
Bob Gelardi “retired” in July from his volunteer job as chairman of the Charity Relations Committee of the Destin (Florida) Charity Wine Auction Foundation, after serving for 13 years. This year the charity provided $3.5 million to 16 local children’s charities (and over $30 million since inception in 2005). Bob developed a model he would recommend for other charities to follow: “We have written agreements with each recipient charity spelling out not only their responsibilities to our Foundation and ours to theirs, but also their responsibilities to each other and the children they serve. We bring together all 16 executive directors twice a year and underscore these partnerships, and each executive director shares what they need and how they can help each other. Playground equipment, computers, and office space are among the many things they have helped each other with over the years.” Bob appended the above photo of a recognition plaque mounted by one of his charity’s grateful recipients.
John Hazlehurst reports “further evidence of our late-life dog dementia,” namely a seven-month-old Bernedoodle to join their three-year-old Chesapeake [and] a two-year-old Aussidoodle. “They’re delightful, destructive, and demanding. But they bring love and laughter to our lives and keep us from spending too much time mourning the departed. And to all classmates, drop in and see us if you’re ever in Colorado Springs. Just one request: if you come, take a few milk bones with you to bribe the canine guards at the gate.”
Jerry Rice wrote as he was “currently preparing my annual lecture to incoming graduate students at Georgetown University Medical Center. This marks 20 years of my teaching there as distinguished professor in the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and will most likely conclude this episode of my career. After 30 years in the U.S. Public Health Service, seven years subsequently with the World Health Organization in Lyon, France, and then 20 years at Georgetown, I’m finally ready to retire for good.”
Bob Saliba reflects on his four years in a continuing care retirement facility: “We have been very, very happy here. We are in reasonably good health. I did not want to move to Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, but finally lost the domestic argument with my wife, Jenny, of over 50 years, and I consider the decision to move here to be one of the very best. I am completing my term as president of the council here. We have made many friends. It’s a different environment than living in a single-family home or apartment, but it’s worth it. Yes, the fellow residents are all old, but guess what? We’re old too.”
Rick Tuttle conveyed the great news that digital copies of the Wesleyan Argus from 1863 to 2023 are now available online at: https://digitalcollections.wesleyan.edu/islandora/wesleyan-argus. Scroll down to our years and relive the events and issues that were consuming us then.
Chuck Work reports “I do have some news. I am running as a Democrat for the Florida State House of Representatives here in Naples. A very uphill battle. But at least I am doing something.” Previously a lifelong and active Republican, Chuck was convinced by changes in the political landscape to shift his affiliation.
Finally, and very sadly, I received news from Hank Sprouse that his Wesleyan roommate and lifelong friend Tom Gregory passed away last December following a two‑year struggle with ALS. Tom was fine with telling people about his condition because the more people who know about it, the more likely is help for a cure. Tom had a distinguished career as a producer of award‑winning medical documentary films, and as senior vice president of Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska. His friendships from Wesleyan and Eclectic were always important to him and cherished. A full obituary is available here and a shorter one at https://www.jsonline.com/obituaries/pwix0650691.
Ray Fancher | fancher@yorku.ca