CLASS OF 1951 | 2023 | FALL ISSUE

Bill Hillis sent in a remembrance of what he has done. He graduated from the Brunswick School in 1947, then went off to Wesleyan. After graduating, he went to Cornell Medical School (graduated 1955) and did a surgical residency for two years at the University Hospital of Cleveland (1956–57). He spent two years in the U.S. Navy (1958–59) as a junior medical officer on the USS Midway. Afterward, he returned to the University Hospital of Cleveland to complete his surgical residency (1960–62). He spent 16 years in general surgery practice in Greenwich, Connecticut. Bill retired in 1997, living in Goshen, Connecticut, until 2014. He currently lives in a retirement community, Masonicare at Ashlar Village, Wallingford, Connecticut. He says he and Barbara are doing well.

Charlie Selig writes: “I am still here living a very good life. This is probably our last year in New York as we, meaning my significant other, Madalyn, is selling her condo. We plan on returning to Boca West, Boca Raton, Florida, where we have resided together for over 12 years. No more tennis, but swim laps here and in Florida, three or four times a week. Still crazy New York Giants fan and now watch all games on TV. Hoping to see team play in Miami this fall. Best to my old DKE friends and others at Wes. Sorry, have not been back to Wes for a long time. Regards, Charlie”

Word received that Dave Morey has died. Lived most recently at The Kendall in Ithaca, New York, after a long career in marketing at a variety of prestigious members of corporate America. Dave was an active member at John Wes and busy with the Atwater Club. Condolences to his family and friends. His obituary can be read here: https://www.lansingfuneralhome.com/obituaries/david-morey.

CLASS OF 1951 | 2023 | SUMMER ISSUE

Just three responses since the fall when I last asked. We have all slowed down but what seems boring to you just might be of interest to the rest of us. I really like to have some “news” to share.

Now the “news.” From Richard (Dick) De Gennaro, “I am still alive at age 97. That’s my news.” You may remember that Dick and his brother George were members of Alpha Chi Rho. George had been in the service and Dick had studied in France prior to coming to Wesleyan.

Boardman “Barney” Kathan writes, “The only thing that I would add to the class notes is that after five years I have created an endowed scholarship fund at Yale Divinity School to help students with their tuition costs. I agreed to do this back in 2018, and I was received into a special donors’ group in a special dinner at the school in the fall. I had graduated from YDS in 1956.”

Charlie Selig, always the reliable correspondent writes, “All OK here at Boca West, Boca Raton, Florida. I had to stop tennis this year, but swim regularly and work out a number of times each week. Lots of bridge and social life keep me busy. Nothing like Florida weather . . . return to New York for four months in June. Enjoyed NFL season with my Giants finally hiring the coach and GM needed for future growth. Best to all Wes friends.”

CLASS OF 1951 | 2023 | SPRING ISSUE

Here we are in December with notes that you will receive in the future. Past notes in the future, and so it goes.

Good note from Ted Bartolotta, now residing in Florida with his wife, Evie, of 71 years. Ted retired from the Glastonbury, Connecticut, school system, where he led one of the best public school systems in the state. Ted noted that they have lived in Naples, Florida, for 32 years but did not comment on the recent hurricane.

Barney Kathan wrote in, as is custom, and told that currently he is hosting Don Schellhardt ’71, who has recently moved from California. Barney can be counted on to be at events, Homecoming included, in his family heirloom red jacket.

We have learned of the death last year of Bob Hammett, in retirement after a distinguished career in the ministry.

And our all-time best and most successful cheerleader and fundraiser Dave Jones died on Thanksgiving Day (2022). Dave’s work and generosity for alma mater are, and will remain, unmatched. A friend to all who knew him, he will be missed.

Jean and I have lived at Essex Meadows in Essex, Connecticut, for the past 10 years. The Meadows is a Continuing Care Residential Community with a full range of services from independent living to a licensed health facility. Managed by LCS of Des Moines, Iowa, I imagine many of you are in a similar situation. Why not share your stories.

CLASS OF 1951 | 2022 | FALL ISSUE

Slim pickings this issue for two possible reasons: First, the spring issue just arrived, and the news was old at best; and second, my address has been listed incorrectly. Someone out there may have received mysterious messages from unknown “friends.” Please note the correct address in this issue and PLEASE send some news.

I did receive a follow-up to the last issue from Charlie Selig. No real new news, but he does stay in touch. Thank you, Charlie.

A note from Chris DeGraff says, “Sandy and I are still enjoying our home in West Hartford. No more skiing, but we have been able to spend time in our Stratton ski house with family.”

Jean and I have survived the hot, dry summer in Connecticut and look forward to our 70th wedding anniversary in early winter.

Cheers to all.  Write when you can.

CLASS OF 1951 | 2022 | SPRING ISSUE

Greetings classmates, 71 years later:

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. . . .

Andrew Strouthes ’51, P’81

Andrew Strouthes ’51, P’81 passed away peacefully at age 98 on February 15, 2022.

Andrew was born in Lefkara, Cyprus, and he immigrated from Cyprus to the United States in 1947. He graduated from Wesleyan University with honors in 1951. He went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut in 1952 and a PhD from Temple University in 1960.

Andrew was an associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he specialized in animal behavior. He was devoted to his research in animal conditioning and to his students; he was renowned for learning all his students’ names within the first week of each semester, even in large lecture courses of more than 150 students. He was considered by many to be the best teacher they had at SUNY. His work in fear and reward conditioning in rats has been cited many times, and during the course of his research, he also found a correlation between saccharin consumption and mortality in rats.

Andrew was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Mary Joyce, and son Daniel Strouthes. He is survived by sons Peter of Austin, Texas, and Mark of Arnold, Maryland, and daughter Daphne of Dallas, Texas. Known as a raconteur and bon vivant, he was beloved in the Gardens of Annapolis, where he lived for the last years of his life.