FRANK C. HOHMEISTER JR., 89, an importer, died Jan. 24, 2015. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He imported French marine products and served on community boards. His wife, Joanne Davis Hohmeister survives, as do three sons, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
JOSEPH I. CARTA, a retired businessman, died Nov. 29, 2014. He was 85. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he served in the U.S. Army and worked in sales for several companies. Among those who survive are his wife, Florence D’Onofrio Carta, five children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
WILLIAM W.M. BERKMAN, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, died Nov. 12, 2014, at age 85. He was a member of Sigma Nu. During the Vietnam War he completed 148 combat missions. Later, he served at bases worldwide, retiring after 31 years as assistant director of Plans HQ NORAD/ASCCOM. He received numerous awards and medals. Survivors include his wife, Cynthia Hammond Berkman, four children, seven grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and his sister.
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
LESTER P. JONES JR., the retired executive director of wood products for Steelcase, died Jan. 14, 2014, at age 86. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho and received his degree with honors. During World War II he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He had a long career in office equipment sales and design, and launched the Steelcase Wood Division, through which he brought modular wood products to the open office plan. Among those who survive are his wife, Chloe Bissell Jones, one daughter, one granddaughter, and a sister.
GEORGE S. STANFORD, a nuclear reactor physicist and a member of the team that developed the Integral Fast Reactor, died Oct. 7, 2013. He was 85. He received his bachelor’s degree from Acadia University, a master’s degree from Wesleyan University in 1951, and a PhD from Yale University. He retired from Argonne National Laboratory after a career of experimental work in power-reactor safety. Survivors include his wife, Janet Bowlby Stanford, and three children.
W. FRASER KEITH, a retired systems manager, died Dec. 4, 2013, at age 83. He was a member of Sigma Nu and received his degree from the University of Minnesota. Among those who survive are his wife, Bevelyn Gervais Keith, four daughters, two stepdaughters, 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and his sister.
THOMAS D. GIVEN, a retired science teacher in the Duxbury, Mass., schools, died Apr. 7, 2014. He was 84. The son of Philip L. Given of the class of 1909, he was a member of the John Wesley Club and received a master’s degree from Harvard University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Survivors include his wife, Donna Zizek Given, and two children, David A. Given ’85, and Mary E. Given ’93.
LOUIS D’AMANDA, 84, a retired attorney, died Jan. 21, 2014. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and received his law degree from Cornell University. He also attended Harvard Business School. After he passed the New York State bar exam he joined his father’s firm of Chamberlain & D’Amanda, where he practiced trial law for 40 years. In 1987 he was elected a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was an active athlete and a dedicated conservationist. Survivors include his wife, June Allis Van Voorhis D’Amanda, four children, 19 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
