Tag: 1951

It was hard to know in mid-winter how many ’51 classmates would attend our 65th Reunion, but Barney Kathan will be there for sure. He doesn’t miss many Reunions. Last year he sat at the seniors table with Dave Mize, who also plans on coming.

Barney continues to research and his article on “Horace Bushnell and the Religious Education Movement” appeared in the Journal of Religious Education in 2013. His article on the National Council on Religious and Public Education will be published this year.

Bob Gardner wrote that he stays in touch with Biff Shaw and Neil Keller. All three hope to attend Reunion. Bob is still writing science books for kids, more than 200 so far.

Bill Churchill and his wife, Maggie, also plan to attend Reunion. Bill wrote that he twisted Bob Switzgable’s arm and he’d be coming as well. Bill is still enjoying Tarheel Country, but has been escaping the summer heat by retreating to a cottage on the shore of Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts.

Biff Shaw and his wife, Jean, will be attending too. The Shaws have been enjoying a busy life at a retirement community in Essex, 20 miles downriver from Middletown.

Dave Mize will be coming from Vermont and Les Aroh from Kentucky. Ted Bartolotta was thinking about coming but he has had health issues and wasn’t sure he could make it. Art DeGraff said he’ll definitely be coming. His wife, Sandy, has a reunion of her own to attend, but plans to join us for dinner Saturday. The DeGraffs have spent winter weekends in Vermont and Art says he still skis.

At the time I was compiling this report, Dave Jones was hoping health issues wouldn’t keep him from coming. The Reunion wouldn’t be the same without him.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com

100 Elena St., Apt. 618, Cranston, RI 02920-7620

In every letter I write to classmates, I ask who they’ve seen or heard from. Bob Switzgable responded that he has been seeing Bill Churchill every summer on Cape Cod, where Bob lives himself. Bill now lives in Burlington, N.C.

I’ve been telling people about the 65th Reunion next spring and Bob said he plans to come along with King Berlew, who said that if all goes well in the meantime, he and his wife, Jeanne, would also be attending,

Bill Mitchell wrote from Hendersonville, N.C., that his health continued to be good and he continued to be quite active. Bill said he’d do his darnedest to make our 65th Reunion and he was hoping a lot of classmates make it. In the meantime, he’d try to get to a Wesleyan football game.

Bob Willet’s wife, Martha, wrote from Manhattan Beach, Calif., to report that Bob is living in a residential care facility, appropriately named “A Helping Hand.”

I’ve also heard from Jack Pfeiffer, in Jonesboro., Ga.; Jack White, in Wayzata, Minn.; and Bob Mack, in Mexico, N.Y. Jack Pfeiffer lost his wife, Nancy, early in the year and he has moved to a senior citizen’s homestead. He would not be able to make our 65th but hoped we could get enough for a good turnout. “Tell my classmates I wish them good health and a good turnout,” Bob said.

Chuck Exley, writing from Florida, said he saw Matt Clark, Richard De Gennaro and his brother George DeGenaro fairly recently.

Jim McKeon’s wife, Betty, wrote from Danbury, Conn. where Jim was about to move to a residential facility, Maplewood of Danbury.

Bill Steele has also reached the handicapped stage but he still plays a mean game of ping pong and hikes with his wife. Temperamentally, she says, he remains gentle, kind, and funny.

I hope to hear from more of you.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com

100 Elena St., Apt. 618, Cranston, RI 02920-7620

John White wrote from Minnesota that the times had been flying by so fast, he couldn’t believe he had truly graduated from the old alma mater 64 years ago. John said he’d been married twice, had four children, who in turn had seven kids, who are turning into being gray-headed themselves, who in turn have three kids, two of whom came into this world in Australia. “All this means I’m a great-grandfather to those three,” John wrote. John was unhappy that the Minnesota driver’s liscence bureau had revoked his driver’s license. He was trying to get it back, so far without success. “I am qualified as a senior citizen,” he wrote, “and am now at the mercy of my dear wife Mary and a couple of friends to chauffer if I want or need to go someplace.” I know the feeling, John.

Bob Mack’s wife, Mary, wrote that Bob has become seriously handicapped by his Parkinson’s Syndrome and can do very little for himself. The family has a wheelchair-accessible van, and they can take him out occasionally. They also have excellent home health and Mary wrote that the family has been of great help also.

Jack Pfeiffer reported sad news from Jonesboro, Ga., in the death of his wife, Nancy, earlier this year. Consequently, Jack wrote, he has moved to a senior citizen’s homestead, where he has a two-bedroom apartment. “My health is fair,” Jack wrote, “and I try to exercise fairly often.” Jack said he wouldn’t be able to make our 65th Reunion but wanted to wish his classmates good health and a great time.

I don’t know if I included a very newsworthy letter from a fraternity brother Roger Stimson in Okemos, Mich. At the time he wrote, Roger was recovering from total knee replacement on both knees and hoped to be ready for the sailing season. Other than the knees, Roger said his health was good and he was working out regularly with a group of ex-Michigan State professors. He was still a ham radio operator. For anybody who has the appropriate equipment, you can see some of his handiwork on QRZ.com. Enter his call letters (K8RS) in the little box on the upper left and you’ll see his web page.

Dave Welsh wrote from Fort Myers, Fla., where he and his wife, Kathy, retired to in 2002. “We still travel to see our family by driving or flying to see sons, daughters, grandchildren and, in just the last few years, great-grandchildren,” he wrote. “Our lives are centered on our country club, playing many rounds of golf, going to the fitness center, reading and spending time with our friends for dinner a few times a week.” Dave said that he and Kathy were enjoying amazingly good health for their “young” age.

In my letters to classmates, I’m asking everyone to indicate whether they would be able to make our 65th Reunion next year. I think we’d need at least 10 to make it worthwhile for the university to do anything for us.

Biff Shaw and his wife, Jean, have moved from their Middletown home where they’d lived for 57 years to a residential community in Essex 20 miles south. Biff described his new neighbors as a very congenial group from many places, but predominantly from the lower Connecticut River Valley. The facility has independent living, assisted living rehabilitation, convalescence, and long-term care. Biff and Jean go back and forth to Middletown but not to many Wesleyan events, especially those in the evening after dark. They did see the Bowdoin game but missed the narrow loss to Amherst and the cliffhanger with Trinity. Biff reports that he hears regularly from Dave Jones and that Bob Gardner, who was an usher at their wedding 62 years ago, remains in touch. Biff’s son, Jeff Shaw ’79, lives in Bloomfield, not far away, and daughter Deborah lives in New York City with her husband, a retired TV and theater costume designer. Deborah has developed skills in horticulture therapy; one of her assignments takes her to Rikers Island Prison where she works with the inmates. We hear interesting tales from both families, Biff reports.

Howard Goodrich, writing from St. Louis, reported that he and his wife, Darlene, were living a full life with travel, church, and community engagements, even a “fill-in ministry” in mid- America. A highlight of their life has been their summer family get-togethers at Estes Park, Colo., where they rent a four-bedroom place and invite members of the immediate family to come for a visit. “Usually we’ve had 10 to 15 show up,” says Howard. “It’s been nuts, but we have a great time.” If we have a 65th Reunion next year, Howard says he’ll try to make it.

Dick Lucas wrote from California that he and Joan were happy to be living in an “Old Folks Home” full of congenial people. They have two grandchildren and now five great-grandchildren living close at hand. He can still drive, Dick said, and participate in activities. Having grown up in Middletown, Dick could appreciate what we in the Northeast have been having to go through.

Dave Mize wrote that he continues to live in a house with seven fireplaces but he “froze” this winter. Dave has continued to be very active, lecturing in the continuing education program at Dartmouth. His topic was 5,000 miles around the Mediterranean in a Model A. At one of his lectures he was delighted to have four Wesleyan graduates in his audience. Last summer he attempted to drive from Milan to Trieste, only to have his car break down just outside a village in Croatia. It took him six months to get the car back to Vermont. “I’ll repair it when it gets warm and take it back to France,” he wrote.

Charlie Selig wrote from Boca Raton, Fla., that he was still playing a lot of tennis and bridge. His wife died suddenly in 2010 but he was fortunate to find a wonderful lady who has made his life “super good.”

Sandy Malcomson wrote from Philadelphia, feeling grateful that all the “rotten weather” seemed to be sliding by to the north. I think the weather caught up with him after he wrote. Sandy expressed enthusiasm about the prospects for a 65th Reunion of our class next year. I’d be glad to hear from any class member wanting to attend.

Bill Hillis and his wife, Barbara, moved to Ashlar Village, a retirement community in Wallingford, Conn. “We have been busy, happy and all the moving, plowing and trail maintenance have simply disappeared.”

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
100 Elena St., Apt. 618, Cranston, RI 02920-7620

Charles Selig wrote from Boca Raton, Fla., that he was still playing lots of tennis and bridge. His wife died suddenly in 2010 but he was super fortunate to have found a wonderful lady, Madalyn, to fill the void in his life. He has three children living relatively close to him and five grandchildren living in New Jersey and Massachusetts. He made a trip back to campus with his granddaughter and was much impressed with the changes he saw. “It was all very beautiful,” he said.

Neil Keller wrote from Crompton, N.H., that his wife, Jane, has Parkinson’s disease and can’t leave Pine Rock Manor in Warren, N.H., but she still paints in watercolors, plays bridge, and loves to talk. Their children mostly live in Tilton and Durham, N.H., but they have a son in Corvallis, Ore. They were happy to have a visit from Pat and Bob Gardner, who came from Eastham on Cape Cod. Bob and Neil were freshman roommates at Wesleyan.

Fred Gilman lives in Weston, Mass., but spends a lot of time in New Hampshire. “I’m still practicing law somewhat,” he wrote, “with lots of pro bono work.” Fred said he was still in good health.

Bill Mitchell, writing from North Carolina, says life next to the mountains is quite good this year. “It has brought cooler summer weather and more rainfall,” he says, “Something the huge apple-growing establishment is rejoicing over.” Bill reports there’s plenty to do, with lots of concerts and theater. “Once in a while I get a call from John Taylor,” Bill says, “And I did hear from Charlie Culver at Christmastime.” Bill reported losing his wife four years ago. In three weeks time, Bill would see his second granddaughter go off to college. Another will follow next year. “I hope to see all of them graduate,” Bill said.

Chuck Exley wrote from Grosse Pointe, Mich., where he and his wife, Carol, were born and reared. He had just returned from visiting his son, Yates Exley ’83. Chuck commented on the Wesleyan football team’s loss to Trinity which spoiled an undefeated season. “I have two friends who are Trinity grads who have become temporarily unbearable,” he reported. Oh well, Wesleyan was once a football power and beat Michigan, 14–6. The year was 1884, Chuck. He has a granddaughter, Sara Guernsey ’15, who is a senior fine arts major at Wesleyan. “She rounds out the cast of three of my progeny at Wesleyan: my son Yates, a grandson, Brian Walker ’00, and now Sara. All have done a lot better than I as undergraduates,” Chuck says, “but I have not found it necessary to get into this with them.”

Richard De Gennaro wrote from Florida that he was going strong as was his brother George. “I’m in excellent health,” Richard wrote, “which I maintain with my fitness routine, which includes yoga workouts. My wife, Barbara, and George’s wife, Mary Jane, are also in good health,” he wrote.

Bill Churchill wrote from his summer home. After spending the last 25 years traveling the far corners of the world, he and his wife, Maggie, decided to look at the USA this year. They spent most of May visiting the Rockies, and the Southwest, including national parks. Their itinerary included Mount Rushmore, the Devil’s Tower, Yellowstone, the Tetons, Bryce Canyon in Utah, Zion, Monument Valley, and Mesa Verde. “This is an amazing part of the world,” Bill wrote, “and I’m glad we had the time and energy to discover it.” His other news involved the graduation of three grandsons, who will be entering Washington University, RIT, and Stanford. I’d say they did all right, even though they didn’t choose Wes.” Bill had his annual lunch with former roomie Bob Switzgable. “We shared memories and insults and had a great time. He looks good,” Bill said, “except for his scruffy beard that is supposed to make him look wise. He is a wise guy. Some things never change.”

In my latest notes to class members I spoke of Wesleyan’s accomplishments on the academic side, with three new courses of study being introduced. Bill Mitchell said he thought the diversity was laudable, but he wondered if that kind of effort might deny places in the class to non-diverse kids whose grades and SATs, are above those who are admitted. “What I wonder,” Bill said, “is whether a new kind of quota system has been put into place, the reverse of the kind of admission practices we felt existed and deplored 70-odd years ago.” Perhaps other classmates might want to comment on this and perhaps the president might want to address the issue.

DAVID M. PHILIPS | davephilips69@hotmail.com
100 Elena St., Apt. 618, Cranston, RI 02920-7620