CLASS OF 1962 | 2024 | SUMMER ISSUE

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Bob Gelardi writes that “I, my wife, Laury, my two grown children, and three grandkids are all doing well, and in July I’ll be ‘retiring’ from my position as chairman of the Charity Relations Committee and board member of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.” He notes that  DCWAF has given over $32 million to over 100,000 kids at 17 charities in northwest Florida, and that as chairman he has worked with the executive directors of those charities to coordinate efforts and help them to support one another in their efforts on behalf of kids in need.

John Hazlehurst was “finally enjoying spring after winter of subzero temperatures, merciless winds, and one snowstorm measured by feet, not inches. Why am I not in Florida? Because I’m too old, cranky, and broke to move. We’re still happily ensconced in our old house, slaves to the whims of our two young dogs.” John’s wife, Karen, was editing the ninth yearly edition of Colorado Fun Guide, and he himself has a new job writing for a revived local weekly, the Pikes Peak Bulletin. [Ed. note: Even nonlocals can enjoy John’s colorful columns at https://pikespeakbulletin.org/author/john-hazlehurst/.] John concludes, “I keep thinking that I should go hobble around the campus and attend the 62nd Reunion of the Class of ’62 . . . but maybe we’ll go to Vegas instead. Again, fair winds and clear weather to all of our classmates.”

Bruce Menke reports, “Activism may not make for exciting reading. But that is what we [in Georgia] are still heavily involved in doing: climate change action; gun safety legislation advocacy; working with candidates for Congress and the state legislature; trying to roll back attacks on access to women’s health care; letters to editor and messaging to members of Congress urging the support of Ukraine; and on and on it goes.”

Jon Staley reports from Tucson that he and his wife, Chitra, paid a memorable visit to the Anza Borrego state park in Southern California to see and study its wildflowers and geological features. Their practiced eyes spotted innumerable botanical treasures and indications of a “landscape that seemed to have been formed underwater”—altogether producing “a picture of the desert Southwest that turns out to be not Sahara-like at all.” Jon adds that he loves the sun, rocks, and cacti of the Tucson area but regrets he must move to California next January. He has two rambunctious grandsons and plans travel to the Italian Lake District in May.

Chuck Work reports that all is well in Naples, Florida, and “the winter season was a little colder than usual, which kept us out of the pool, but we could still be comfortable on the golf course.” Chuck “spent part of a weekend with Emil Frankel ’61 at his lovely home in D.C., and while there, spoke with Phil Bertocci, who is fine and working on another book. Also spoke with Milt Schroeder and arranged to get together with him and Mary in May, when Roni and I are headed to Phoenix for a national parks tour. A third generation Work is now ensconced at Wesleyan as my brother David’s (’68) granddaughter is finishing her first year.”

A note from your secretary: Helena and I are still healthy and happy at home in the Toronto suburb of Oakville, where we take regular advantage of the numerous and attractive hiking trails nearby. I remain moderately busy academically, mainly on short articles and book reviews; I currently look forward to reviewing the complete set of reworked English translations in the soon to be published Revised Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. As a new appointee to my region’s Older Adults Advisory Committee, I have learned the interesting fact that “older adult” is now favored as the most appropriately “neutral” designation for our age group, supplanting such alternatives as “senior citizens,” “the elderly,” “geriatrics,” or (my favorite) “geezers.” In closing I will just say that I greatly enjoy receiving periodic news from the outstandingly diverse and interesting group of older adults who constitute Wesleyan’s Class of 1962.

Ray Fancher | fancher@yorku.ca