Tag: 1954

Gentleman of ’54: It was an interesting but brief 65th Reunion on May 24-25 at Wesleyan. Five stalwarts were there: John Binswanger and Gay, George Ray and Pree, Dick Matthews and Bjorg, and Bob Carey and Libby, plus Jim LaCrosse ’57, who started with us in 1950, but departed after sophomore year for the Army, returning later to graduate. George and Pree were at St. Lawrence University for a granddaughter’s graduation just prior to joining us in Middletown for the 65th.

Seven of you had e-mailed that you were coming. The four who did make it, plus three who couldn’t: Marty Feins, Bob Gruskay, and Bob Monstream. John Mesch had hoped to make it, but was unable to do so.

Bob Gruskay moved to Duncaster, a retirement community in Bloomfield, Conn., where he is teaching a course in opera and one in duplicate bridge. Bob Monstream’s health issues required a three-plus day hospital stay the week of our 65th. Len Stolba sends best wishes to all.

Rod O’Connor writes that he is a survivor of stage 4 melanoma and resides these days at his house in Aiken, S.C. Rod has two daughters plus four grandchildren “well along in successful careers.”

Dave Hodgin checked in with me but couldn’t attend Reunion. Jim Yashar was still in Florida until early June, so he couldn’t attend either. Ruth and Norm Stuessy missed seeing everyone at the Reunion. Terry Hatter was having eye surgery during Reunion week, and Trudy was about to have back surgery. Terry hopes to be there at our 70th. Bruce Storms and Ann are “well and happy but were unable to attend the 65th.” Dan Resnick checked in to say hi. Shep Johnson was unable to make it. Dave Walden says they are not doing much traveling now, so was unable to get to the Reunion. Curt McLaughlin was unable to make it due to a conflict with local family activities.

Sad news, guys: Zeke Richmond passed away on April 9 in his Rhode Island home, reported Ann.

Your scribe, Bob Carey, and bride Libby enjoyed the 65th Reunion with our classmates and their wives. Hope that more than four can make it to our 70th in 2024!

All the best to all of you,

BOB CAREY | popscarey@gmail.com
618 W. Lyon Farm Dr., Greenwich, CT 06831 | 203/532-1745

Gentlemen: Thanks for prompt responses from six of us regarding your latest news . . . So here goes: Carl Bufka, while fully retired from his investment business, is still active in taking care of family investment needs. Carl moved full-time to Naples, Fla., two years ago. Health good; flies around the country quite a bit in own plane, but with a professional at the controls these days. Carl’s children are scattered across the country; he’s still surprised when grandkids call him “Grandpa.” Only thing that bothers Carl is the occasional hurricane or Category 4 storm that goes by or through Naples. Carl says he will make it to our 65th!

Shep Johnson officiated at the wedding of their third grandson and will soon baptize their first great-granddaughter. Shep concludes: “All is well.”

Dick Matthews is still working at something he enjoys: being an entrepreneur. Dick and Bjorg traveled last year to Iceland, England, and Tenerife. And they very much enjoy being great-grandparents.

Bud Johnson and bride Lynn are back in Florida enjoying the warmer weather. In early June they are joining friends on an Alaskan cruise. Glacier Bay is their key destination—an iconic destination, says Bud—one they want to see before it melts away.

Len Stolba says that Bud’s Navy pilot memoirs reminded him of “we few draft dodgers,” who entered naval aviation and got to land on an aircraft carrier. Len was a Reserve Marine helicopter pilot for 30 years, plus an architect for 50 years—all thanks to the G.I. Bill. It was all made possible by a Wes townie scholarship, and loans leading to an arts major. (Len says he could get A’s only from the art department.)

Norm Stuessy gets around with a walker these days, following a fall and fracture of two vertebrae. Otherwise he and Ruth are doing OK—except for the loss of oldest son Kevin, who died suddenly earlier this year. Norm says he and Ruth have yet to get over it. Their four other kids are doing well, along with their nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sadly, also, Norm tells me that he and Ruth will not be able to make our 65th in May.

Meanwhile, your scribe, Bob Carey, remains happy in Greenwich with Libby, his bride of 18-plus years. Bob is still a volunteer driver for Call-A-Ride as well as Meals-on-Wheels.

Reunion weekend is Memorial Day weekend in May 23–26, 2019. What a special time, guys, to return to Wes for our 65th!

All the best to all of us!

BOB CAREY | popscarey@gmail.com
618 W. Lyon Farm Dr., Greenwich, CT 06831 | 203/532-1745

Gentlemen of ’54: Thanks for prompt responses from eight stalwarts as we approach our 65th next year . . . Here’s what you told me: John Binswanger is doing OK, plus a lot of traveling—recently to Australia, the Bahamas, and Aspen. John’s company has been reorganized with a minority interest going to the sales staff. John’s been retired for nine years, but still goes into the office four days a week.

Bud Johnson and Lynn have three grandkids out of college, four still in, and one being teed up. Bud’s Navy pilot memoirs (unclassified version) were published in June. Their “reward” was a Baltic cruise to seven countries, then London.

Rod O’Connor writes that at 85 he’s finally stopped actively working and has given up his longstanding passion for golf—so as to be able to spend more time at their house in Aiken, S.C. Rod’s two daughters and four grandchildren are planning a major Thanksgiving fiesta there with 20 relatives from around the country.

Chuck Davis proudly reports that his granddaughter, Caroline, was a member of the U.S. Women’s World Junior Ultimate Frisbee Team that was undefeated in the championship games played in Waterloo, Ontario, in August. Caroline attends Dartmouth.

Ken Davenny has recently been through the flu, two types of pneumonia, and heart failure! His heart has been repaired, and Ken is now undergoing a lengthy rehab process, and, he writes, “I seem to be recovering well.” Go, Ken!

Jeff Lockhart’s two youngest granddaughters are at college in the Carolinas—one at Chapel Hill, the other at the College of Charleston. Both had mini vacations during Hurricane Florence.

Jules Schwaber and Evelyne, at this writing, are staying in Israel, in an apartment near two of their married sons and eight of their 10 grandchildren. Jules, who has been retired from medical practice since 2012, sends his best wishes to all his former classmates and their loved ones.

Lenny Stolba is still wandering around his refuge: 1.6 acres with seven structures, two horses, one pony, one dog, and a box turtle. His kids, grandkids, and one great-grandchild are all healthy. Len send cheers to all “WESU remainers.”

Finally, very sorry to report the passing of Bob Schnuer this summer.

Your scribe, Bob Carey, has been busy in Greenwich with volunteer work, which includes driving for Call-A-Ride as well as Meals-on-Wheels, and manning the phones at Community Answers. That’s it, guys. The 65th is practically upon us. Get ready!

Best to all,

BOB CAREY | popscarey@gmail.com
618 W. Lyon Farm Dr., Greenwich, CT 06831 | 203/532-1745

Gentlemen of the Class of 1954, thanks for prompt responses from seven of you. And so, here’s the latest:

Bill Drury, who resides in Nashua, N.H., was off to his beloved Eagle Camp on Lake Champlain for two weeks, taking a lovely lady with him! Per Bill: “Anything can happen!”

Lynn and Bud Johnson returned from graduations of three of their eight grandkids: Georgetown, Wake Forest, and Brunswick School in Greenwich. Bud reports that the commencement speakers advised the graduates that they’ll be 30 or so before they’ll be on a real career path, and they should remain open-minded, and should speak up and be heard and try to build strong relationships.

Nancy and Shep Johnson are “nursing various ills of the flesh.”

Jeff Lockhart and bride were back on Nantucket for the spring and summer after first visiting their 9-month-old great-granddaughter.

Curt McLaughlin just published, with son Craig McLaughlin ’79, the third edition of Health Policy Analysis: An Interdisciplinary Approach.

In June, Rod O’Connor was a spectator at his fourth U.S. Open tournament at Shinnecock Hills since joining the club 50 years ago. Rod greatly enjoys his four grandchildren (all more than 20 years old), their views on life, and their personal ambitions. Finally, Rod is shifting his interests to his historic house in Aiken, S.C., recently named “Best Small Town in the South.”

Vickie and Bob Schnuer traveled back to Long Island, N.Y., in late May. Bob welcomes any classmates traveling in the area to call 917/862-5141 for a BBQ.

Finally, your scribe, Bob Carey, and Libby traveled to Asheville N.C., in April to visit a granddaughter at UNC Asheville, then to Columbia, Mo., for Libby’s 60th reunion at Columbia College, where she completed two years before matriculating to the University of Missouri in Columbia. In late May, early June to London, then Portugal’s Algarve area (beach coastline facing North Africa), staying at Pine Cliffs Resort, and finally to Lisbon (Lapa Palace Hotel). In early August we are off to San Diego to visit our two youngest grandkids.

That’s a wrap, gentlemen, and muchas gracias for your news. On a sad closing note, we’ve recently lost two of our classmates: Art Spada and Myron Poliner. Next year: Our 65th Reunion! All the best to all of you.

BOB CAREY | popscarey@gmail.com
618 W. Lyon Farm Dr., Greenwich, CT 06831 | 203/532-1745

Hello, Class of 1954. Here’s a recap of your responses to my recent email.

Bill Drury reports he’s getting older and more mellow each day in Nashua, N.H., where he’s still into “genealogy, railroads, and opera.”

Terry Hatter is still on the bench as a federal district judge, but manages to keep his eyes on his four grands, as follows: Eric, the oldest, will graduate from Georgetown Law School in May, while his sister, Lauren, finishes her first year at Penn Law. Their cousins, Leah and Wilson, the younger grands, are still in college. Meantime, Terry is recovering from a fractured kneecap after a fall when leaving a USC-UCLA football game he attended with youngest son Scott ’92. Heal well, Terry.

Dave Hodgin reports working a full schedule plus serving on nine boards (officer on four). Dave spent a month this past summer in Salamanca, Spain, working on his Spanish. He’s thinking about Ireland in 2018. Says, “Life is busy and good.”

Bud Johnson reports three grands in the workforce, plus five in college (Georgetown, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Chicago, and Colgate). Special news from Bud: “My heavily classified post-Korea memoirs are on the press, carrying selected Navy patrol boat moments across the shores of both Chinas, all Philippines, north to Okinawa and Osaka, Japan…and early ’58 Kwajalein/Eniwetok-AEC special duty. Five years in the making.” Good job, Bud.

Rod O’Connor says he’s somewhat retired and living in NYC and Aiken, S.C., as well as Southampton, Long Island. Rod reports that “golf is disappearing in the rearview mirror,” so he needs new outlets. Rod’s oldest grandchild graduated from Wesleyan a year ago, with accolades, and is working in a Chicago children’s hospital doing research. His second oldest, Morgan, is in NYC and has moved from modeling to music production. He writes, sings, and plays instruments with a growing number of fans. Rod’s last two grands (fraternal twins) are in college: Alex at Rollins in Florida, and Max at the New School in NYC, working part-time in designing.

Bob Schnuer (only 85 in March 2018) and Vickie are still commuting between Florida and New York, and doing “reasonably well”—as are their kids and grandkids. They eagerly await the imminent arrival of their first great-grandbaby.

Finally, your scribe, Bob Carey, and bride Libby, sojourned to Sanibel Island, Fla., for six weeks in February and March. Of their 12 grands, four are happily employed, five are in college (Indiana State, Georgetown, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Wilmington, and UVA), two are in high school, and the youngest, Judy, is in middle school.

That does it, guys. Thanks very much for your news. All the best to all of us as we prepare for our 65th next year.

BOB CAREY | popscarey@gmail.com
618 W. Lyon Farm Dr., Greenwich, CT 06831 | 203/532-1745