I’m sorry to report the passing of several classmates: Phil Olsen died on March 18, 2021, and Sam Brown died on July 21, 2021. Ed Lifset, a DKE brother and a government major, passed on October 22, 2021. And Dana Pearson passed away on February 15, 2022. Dana was Alpha Delt and majored in American Studies. Dana and I first met in competition as hurdlers while we were at different prep schools. At Wesleyan, I recall that he excelled in soccer and was president of the glee club. My condolences to their families and their classmates.
I am very sad to report that we have lost the leader of our class, Bill Wasch, who died on August 28, 2021. After a decade-plus absence, Bill returned to Wesleyan and worked for the University from 1964 to 1985. Bill’s Wesleyan legacy includes the establishment of the Susan B. and William K. Wasch Center for Retired Faculty and the Baldwin Medal in 2012, awarded to him for extraordinary service to the University.
Hal Buckingham advised that Bill, wheelchair bound, had visited him a few weeks before he died. Bill was not doing well as he had advanced Parkinson’s—his voice so weak, Hal could not hear him, but noted that his mind was there.
A complete obituary for Bill is available in the online Class Notes or in the Hartford Courant. Our most sincere condolences go out to his children, grandchildren, and classmates.
Alan Ward reported that he just celebrated his birthday vaccinated and boosted and is a bit nostalgic after his grandson’s 2021 graduation severed his last active Wesleyan tie. He was a Deke in 1952 and still is. He identified several persons at Wes who enriched his life, expanded his understanding, and helped him to live, namely, Don Dalessio, Herb Kelleher, George Brodigan ’51, Bill Wasch, and John Driscoll ’62. He extended his best wishes to all our 1952s, as he didn’t expect to physically be with us at alumni weekend, but he would be in spirit.
Don Stauffer finally bit the bullet and moved in with his longtime friend, Susan Shipherd. Since she is in the same retirement community, it was a short move, but with a lot of downsizing. One thing he unearthed was the December 1950 issue of The Cardinal. A lot of the contributors were ’52ers: himself, Bill McCluskey, Jack Murray, Ralph Glisson, and Ed Banks, most of whom were English majors, including the editor in chief, Dixie Sanger. He said it marked the first and only time he was included in the same publication as Robert Ludlum ’51.
Our 70th Reunion will have happened by the time you read this. I hope those of you who were able to come enjoyed seeing friends and the campus.
Somehow, I have been offered the opportunity to gather and share notes from some of our friends of yore. I’ll start by telling you that Jean and I moved from Middletown almost 10 years ago and now live in Essex at Essex Meadows, a well-respected and well-run CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community), similar to hundreds of such facilities across the country. Except for the constant constraints caused by the pandemic, we are fine and enjoying life at its best.
To the point however:
Chuck Exley
Received a good note from Chuck Exley who now lives with wife Carol in “sunny Sarasota.” A grandfather to six and great-grandfather to “three adorable girls”; and he noted that two granddaughters are Wesleyan alums, as well as his son, who is class of ’83.
A longer note came from Barney Kathan, most loyal of the loyal alums. He has written several books, one of which is in current consideration for publishing by Yale University Press. He also works on memoirs in a class devoted to memoir writing. I doubt that he is alone in that. Most significantly he has established an annual award for a top performing woman in the Film Studies program, in honor and memory of his daughter Nancy Lee Kathan, Wesleyan ’76. Sadly Nancy died three years ago. All who have returned to the campus during the past 70-plus years look forward to seeing Barney in his cardinal-red jacket, a trademark of the Kathan family.
A very newsy message came from Charlie Selig. As I read it, it reminded me of many of the same memories and reflections of my own life. I think you will agree. My long memory of Charlie is of seeing him in the Wesleyan “press box,” reporting the play on Andrus Field or in Alumni Field House. That was radio at its best. So here it is:
“Hi Biff . . . glad to say hello to my old friends at Wesleyan and particularly the DKE brothers. Not sure how many of us remain, but we are all thankful for the good life we have enjoyed. My wife died in 2010, but fortunately I met a wonderful lady, and we have been together since 2011. We spend eight months a year at Boca West C.C. in Boca Raton, Florida, and the other four in New Rochelle, where Madalyn lives in the summer. I just sold my condo in Mamaroneck where I lived since 2005, moving there from a Rye, New York, house where we lived 45 years. In Florida, we still enjoy tennis, bridge, and many friends in a most wonderful community. They have taken well care of us during these past two difficult years. . . . Three children, five grandchildren—I have been truly blessed. My health is OK, but at 93, it is not like the old Wes days or even when we were 70 and thought we were old. . . . Have not been to Wesleyan for a long time. I certainly enjoyed my years there, but now we just enjoy life as far as it takes us. Best to all my old Wes friends. Sincerely, Charlie Selig.”
Footnote: 1951 performed well for the Wesleyan Fund in 2021, our almost 70th Reunion. I hope that an off year in celebration won’t be an off year in giving. . . .
I’ve conditionally agreed to be the new Class Secretary for our class, as long as you have some news to share. You can call me or write to me—two or three sentences about what you’re doing would be great.
A little about myself: After Wesleyan, I raised a family and spent 10 years as a professional Boy Scout executive and World Book Encyclopedia manager, and 23 years selling high school textbooks in Connecticut. In the latter half of my life, I was an advocate for LGBTQ+ issues, especially as it related to the Boy Scouts of America and to creating open and affirming church relationships within the United Church of Christ. There was an article recently written about me that talks about this:
Any Wesleyan alumni from this era who would like to talk with me about anything (other than politics), feel free to contact me by phone or email (see below). I have lived a very interesting, fulfilling, and unusual life since retirement.
We were very sorry to hear of the passing of Edward J. Huth on November 2, 2021, at the age of 98. His wife Carol wrote to us to say, “Ed always spoke very highly of his years at Wesleyan. He was particularly influenced by Fred Millet who thought highly of Ed’s writing ability, using him to copy read a book he was publishing. Millet also included one of Ed’s papers in his Christmas greeting. Wilbur Snow was another teacher Ed remembered with gratitude.” Our most sincere condolences to Carol and their family.
My birth came in July 1922, so 2021 was my 100th Christmas and still no pony. That sobering thought set me thinking about “time’s wingèd chariot.” There was a time when the focus in the high school classroom was on teaching the fundamentals—reading, history, English composition—and setting an example of what it meant to be a good student and decent human being. During the early 1950s, Bill Cunningham ’47 and I were teaching at Chicago Latin and were eager to send good young men to Wesleyan. With the help of Don Eldredge ’31 and Jim Wood 1915, we first persuaded David Noble ’56, followed by Jack Dearinger ’57, Bill Wallace ’57, and Norm Wissing ’57, to attend Wesleyan. Over the past dozen years, Dave and I have corresponded occasionally, and currently Jack and I are in contact. Sad to say, Norm has died, and of Bill, I have known nothing since he entered Wesleyan. They were good students and good men. In 1986 the University of Chicago named me Outstanding Secondary School Teacher. You four taught me how to become that teacher. Thank you. I miss the classroom.
Welcome to your section of the Class Notes! If you have any updates to share, please email classnotes@wesleyan.edu. And if any of you would like to become the new Class Secretary (or Secretaries) for your year, please let us know.
