Tag: 1953

Jerry Zachin, having received the Wesleyan alumni magazine the last week of February, felt compelled to announce the birth of his second great-grandson, Alden Michael Roose, just a week earlier in Portland, Oregon. Proud Wesleyan family are parents Katie ’10 and Robbie Roose ’05 and grandparents Michael and Mary (Nastuk) Zackin, both ’80. This past year has limited Jerry and his wife, Sandy, to Sarasota, Florida and Yarmouth, Cape Cod, as trips to the Danube and Mississippi Rivers and a voyage from Singapore to Sydney were cancelled. Australia was to have been his last continent. They hope for a trip to Japan in the fall. They keep busy with golf and online bridge.

     By landline telephone George Anderson requested contact information for Warren Oscar Eastman. (George states that this is the extent of his communication skills.) Warren passed away February 17, 2021 at 90, just six days before George’s request. Warren was born in Middletown, lived in Cromwell, was a member of Sigma Chi, and a chemistry major. He spent his career with General Electric at several locations in research and corporate planning activities ending up at headquarters in Fairfield, Connecticut. After retirement he and Patty became snowbirds living in Osprey, Florida and Frye Island, Maine. As a member of St. Andrews UCC church in Sarasota, he was active in the local community. Warren is remembered as our aggressive class agent for many years following graduation. He is survived by a daughter and a son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

     Warren’s fraternity brother and lifelong friend Basil Gideon Anex, 88, died August 12, 2019, in Seattle, his birthplace and retirement home. As high school valedictorian, he hitchhiked across the country to join our class. Basil was a Sigma Chi and chemistry major. After a PhD at the University of Washington and a postdoc at Indiana University, Basil held positions at Yale, at New Mexico State University, and at the University of New Orleans, where he remained until retirement in 1995. As an avid jogger and recycler he was featured in Runner’s World for collecting 400 pounds of refuse during neighborhood runs. He is survived by his wife, Gretchen, of 60 years, a son, two daughters, and five grandchildren.

   Samuel Graham Macfarlane, 88, Pittsburgh, a Sigma Nu and a government major, passed away April 21, 2020 in Baltimore of multiple myeloma. Following graduation he served in the Army’s security agency as a code transcriber for three years, before joining Travelers Insurance in the underwriting department. In 1959 he was persuaded to join Waverly Press, owned by his father-in-law. Studying accounting nights at Johns Hopkins University, he became a CPA and eventually CFO of the Press until retirement in 1998. He was a vestryman of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church. He served as president of Maryland’s American Lung and Mental Health Associations. As empty-nesters, he and his wife Susan invited Peabody Institute graduate students to live with them and also sponsored up-and-coming opera singers (opera was Sam’s passion). They visited opera houses around the world and took time to play golf at St. Andrews Old Course in Scotland. He was a Pittsburgh Pirates fan until the Baltimore Orioles defeated them in the 1979 World Series. After 20 years he had become a true Baltimorean. Sam and Susan had a daughter and two sons.

Condolences of the class to all three of these families.

Even before the pandemic, the concern of our 90s and soon-to-be 90s should have been our health and safety. We are kept going with many doctor appointments, but DIY projects require thoughtful decisions: i.e., if it is too high, do not call for a ladder, request assistance; if it is too heavy, call for help. DIY projects can be hazardous.

Restrictions on travel have caused Jerry Patrick to postpone a trip to Tahiti for sailing, meanwhile passing time building ship models including a 5th century BC Greek trireme with 186 hand-carved oars, and a New Bedford whaleboat about 1880.

Daily walks and time with Netflix take a portion of Walt Cutler’s time in Washington, D.C., along with Zoom conversations with two granddaughters now freshmen at Wesleyan. Reading Wesleyan history in the last issue reminded him when he hosted a broadcast of 1920s–1930s Dixieland jazz recordings from his collection of 78s, but nothing better than the High Street Five.

For the first time in 18 years I spent the summer in Oklahoma rather than at my New York farm, because of COVID-19 and a knee replacement four months ago. Fortunately, it was cooler than usual.

For those who did not receive my email requesting news, let me know how you are creatively spending time or if you recently have moved, your new location or how you celebrated your 90th.

JOHN W. MILLER | jwalmiller@aol.com
306 Autumn Court, Bartlesville, OK 74006 | 918/335-0081 

A note from Walter Cutler proudly announces that two granddaughters will be entering Wesleyan this fall as members of the class of 2024: Grace Cutler, in Evanston, Ill., and Nina Cutler, New York City. Walt looks forward to following their progress and that of the University.

Ted Shapiro, who responded to Earl Forman’s obituary, recalls while rooming together their junior year that they began dating their future wives. Ted is a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Weill Cornell Medical College, where he graduated in medicine and then returned as a professor in 1976. He has been there since. He loves teaching, researching, and “the scope of interests I tap in my work, the foundations were made at Wesleyan. I am proud to say that my granddaughter is a sophomore at old Wes and enjoying a totally different curriculum but the same respect for a liberal education. I have four more grandchildren and two children. Joan and I have been married for 65 years.”

Samuel Dennison Babcock Millar Jr., born Jan. 16, 1931, Montclair, N.J., member of Phi Nu Theta (Eclectic), history major, three-year soccer team, died unexpectedly, Oct. 3, 2019, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Mass., at age 88. He received his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law. He worked college summers at the family-owned inn on Lake Waramaug. During the Korean War, he served his country as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. In 1965, Sandy married Judith Johnson, and they raised their two children in Darien, Conn. Sandy was a 40-year resident and real estate/probate attorney in town. He was a partner of his firm Millar & Ambrette, at the time of his retirement in 2003.

Sandy was a firm believer in public service: chairman of the Board of Tax Review, chairman of Gallivant, chairman of the Darien chapter of the American Red Cross (and 12-gallon blood donor), president of the Darien Chamber of Commerce, president of the Darien Kiwanis Club, and president of the Middlesex Club. Given his love of nature, he was active for many years with the Friends of Woodland Park. During his time in Darien, he was an enthusiastic tennis and paddle player. A highlight was winning the Middlesex Men’s doubles tennis championship.

In retirement, Sandy and his long-time companion Frances Hitchcock split their time between homes in Wellfleet, Mass., and Camden, Maine. While in Wellfleet, he volunteered as a docent at the Wellfleet Historical Society. His daily morning routine was to walk for miles at Newcomb Hollow Beach, soaking up the natural beauty, picking up litter, and finding left behind items that someone somewhere might find useful or enjoyable. This morning ritual was capped off by a dip in the water regardless of the temperature. In Maine, he was a member of the Rockland Kiwanis Club and Camden Garden Club. He and Fran enjoyed annual travel adventures overseas. While visiting family in Connecticut, he cheered and applauded his grandchildren at sporting events and recitals. He is survived by companion Fran, his son, his daughter, and four grandchildren. Condolences to the family.

John Miller is at home after four days in the hospital recovering from knee replacement—a knee that too often smashed into hurdles. His annual summer retreat to Central New York to beat the heat may become a fall retreat. Send me a note as to how you have endured the pandemic.

JOHN W. MILLER | jwalmiller@aol.com
306 Autumn Court, Bartlesville, OK 74006 | 918/335-0081 

I received a handwritten note from Bill Rack for my missing class news in the latest magazine. I apologize for obviously overlooking the deadline. Bill and his wife, Barbara, are well in San Barbara, Calif., and fully expect to remain there, a long way from Wesleyan.

A belated recognition of the passing of Milton L. “Snuffy” Smith ’53, MAT ’55, 86, Aug. 23, 2018, in Georgia. Milton, a member of Delta Tau Delta, an English major, received an MAT degree in 1955. After a time in the Navy and at Perkin Elmer and Raytheon corporations, he joined the staff of the College of Technology SUNY, Utica, and was president of the local school board. After retirement, he with his wife, Gail, moved to Georgia, first to Big Canoe then to a retirement facility. He authored Wildlife Whimsy (2009) that described his encounter with a variety of wild animals in Upstate New York. The book was dedicated to his survivors: Gail and their four daughters. Plans were made to have his remains cremated and inurned in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, as is allowed for 29 years of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

Earl J. Forman, 89, died Feb. 2, 2019, in Wayland, Mass. A member of the John Wesley Club and a chemistry major, Earl received his PhD in analytical chemistry from MIT in 1957. He joined Hercules, Inc., and then Polaroid Corp. in 1970, remaining until retirement in 1994. He was an active supporter of the Jewish community, serving as president of two congregations. In addition to being an avid bicyclist, he was often found on the golf course. Survivors include his wife Beatrice, three sons, and seven grandchildren.

Robert C. Lavin, 87, of Duxbury, Mass., died Nov. 24. President of Alpha Chi Sigma and a math major, Bob was best known for his pass-catching ability of the football team. After two years in the Army Counter Intelligence Corp., Bob joined the family business, manufacturing air pollution control systems. He became president of the Robert C. Lavin Corporation (LAVCOR). He served several organizations: the Shriners Hospital for Children-Boston, Masonic Lodge and district offices, and after moving to Duxbury, the Yacht Club, the senior center, and the Council on Aging and Rural and Historical Society.

Bob was known for his extraordinary talent at the piano. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan, three daughters, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

On behalf of the class, condolences are offered for those classmates who have departed.

JOHN W. MILLER | jwalmiller@aol.com
306 Autumn Court, Bartlesville, OK 74006 | 918/335-0081