Tag: 1957

Bob Weiner made a cross-country move from Hollywood back east to live with his daughter (and 11 cats) in the Catskill mountains.  He is enjoying it all—the beauty of the change of season and the pastoral setting. Bob concludes with “life is good.”

      Also on the move—but a shorter distance—we find Jeff and Nancy Williamson in a senior retirement center, Capital Lakes. Their  new address is 110 So. Henry St. 110, Madison, WI, 53703. They continue to migrate to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands in the winter and Maine in the summer. Jeff continues with economics research; some can be found through the Harvard Economics Department emeritus faculty website.

     Early last year, Jim Brown assembled a family group of 14 for a cruise on the Allure of the Seas, before the pandemic curtailed some of such activities. Jim’s son Chris, an oral surgeon, supplied the entertainment at mealtimes, e.g., calling out the chef about an “uncooked” chicken (it was rubber).

     Rutgers University has designated Dick Cassie professor emeritus. Dick retired from the School of Dental Medicine in 2019.

     Bob Anderson is busy with a wide range of pursuits, among them hosting a young Honduran awaiting asylum, gardening, and sculpture. He also finds time for church-related issues such as child separation matters, all of the foregoing out of his home in the maritime climate of Washington State.

     Novelist John Chaplick has new work out, A Light Too Far Away, which he says is based on the life of a client of his. He’s not revealing more than that. He adds that he’s pleased with the reception thus far. Info can be found by emailing jchaplick@gmail.com and visiting engagingbooksonline.com.

     Had a good conversation with Herb Camp—he and Alice are in Stony Creek, Connecticut and not travelling much during the pandemic. The Camps have four children and six grandchildren, all of whom are New Englanders, the furthest from Connecticut being one in Vermont, so there is ample opportunity for visits.

     Sadly, Jon Altschuler died last fall. I received notice from Jon’s wife, Olivia. They were married 45 years. He leaves two sons and three stepchildren. He practiced law through his own firm in New York City, and found time for leadership roles with New York Hospital and the East Side Chamber of Commerce. His was an exemplary life and our class misses him. His official obituary reads: 

Jonathan Bobrow Altschuler, 84, died on Oct. 19 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. A graduate of Wesleyan University and Columbia Law School, he started out in the Justice Department as a civil rights attorney venturing to Mississippi providing legal aid to African-Americans. He established his own practice in New York City in 1968 litigating until his death. He served as President, Chairman and served on the Board Of Directors East Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of New York Hospital and was a member of the City Club and Democratic Committee in Poughquag, N.Y., among many other organizations. He is survived by his wife, Olivia, a brother Michael, two sons, two step-sons and step-daughter, five grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren.

    Tom Reed died last November, this news from Nancy Reed. They were married for 59 years. Tom had a long career in insurance underwriting with Aetna. The Reeds travelled extensively and Tom maintained an interest for sports on levels ranging from Little League coaching to Mets and Giants fandom. Our ’57 sympathy goes out to Nancy and the family.

All a-ok in Washington State on Guemes Island, Bob Anderson writes that having studied thousands of years of human history and a focus on the signs of empire in process, he sees patterns emerge (any relationship to the present?). He rounds out a busy time with sculpture and gardening as well as continuing with his life’s work in the UCC in any way that he can. His note concluded about whether we “keep the Republic.” Quote attributed to Ben Franklin.

My family is scattered all over our great nation. Daughter Laurie and son-in-law Joe are in Houston, Texas, the latter in a new job in pro sports marketing. Two of three grandsons are in college. Johnny a junior at Wisconsin and Will a frosh at UDenver. Son Dave and daughter-in-law Crystal working from home in Quincy, Massachusetts; Dave is a client investment manager with Morgan Stanley. They expect a first child, a daughter, very soon. No shortage of places to visit, should the occasion arise.

Two years ago Sam Bergner decided to make some changes. After 50 years in the commercial real estate business, he retired and downsized into an apartment in nearby Metuchen. This in-town location seemed ideal, with trains to NYC, restaurants, etc. Unfortunately, the pandemic plus Sam’s health issues have curtailed his taking advantage of these amenities. However, he continues to enjoy audio books, online lectures, and his seven grandchildren. And even after 58 years of marriage, he and Lynn continue to make each other laugh every day.

 Sadly, I report on the loss of Dr. Bill Pratt and Bob Gorin, both earlier in the year. Bob had been a steadfast supporter of Wes through the years. Previous columns highlighted his underwriting of skating parties at the Central Park rink. He was proud of Gorin generations attending Wes. Dr. Pratt, after retiring following an exceptional career in medicine, took on a different role as a member of the New Mexico legislature. Notes in preceding columns evoked his satisfaction therewith. On behalf of the class, our sympathies to their respective families.  

Jack Braitmayer writes: “My wife, Nancy, and I are fine, living the life of Reilly in our house in Marion, Massachusetts, if one can do that in COVID-19! I have gotten to the age of 90+ (originally ’52), and I am now having a hard time expressing myself in phone conversations and phone calls. My oldest daughter Karen, an architect specializing in ADA issues, was recently quoted in The New York Times, which made me very proud. My second daughter Kristina ’83, married to “Bo” Hewey ’82, is still teaching and they have acquired a small island off the coast of Maine for family fun. My son Eric, my youngest child, is the CEO of IMTRA, a supplier to the marine trade, and enjoys cars and golf in his free time. Kristie and Bo have a granddaughter living in Nicaragua, where both her parents are employed. We get them to visit once a year at Christmas, but maybe not this year.”

Art Typermass | joanarth64@gmail.com
144 East Ave., #302B, Norwalk, CT 06851 | 203/504-8942

Heard from Mark Feldman that he and wife Mimi are sheltering in place, and so far, so good. He plans to resume teaching this fall, most likely via Zoom, which he terms a challenge for an “aging bookworm.” Meanwhile, he is busy with pro bono work, including responses to environmental issues. He reports that daughter Ilana ’91 is the vice dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs at GWU.

The Clowes—Rusty and Diane—sold their house in Higganum and have moved to Middletown to a condo. Rusty is glad to be rid of gardening chores and the like. They’re in In Town Terrace—a stone’s throw from the Freeman Athletic Center—which is a 28-unit complex called The Pines. Rusty comments on the new normal, e.g., masks, gloves, staying home, yet it is a time when we all think not only of ourselves but helping to preserve the well-being of others.

Bob Anderson writes that he’s reduced a diverse program of interests such as church activities, art/drawing workshops, and historical society. For companionship, he has a cat—one meow for food and two meows for attention—this latter evocative of questions for Bob (he doesn’t specify whether he has answers therefor). Nonetheless, this hasn’t detracted from trips to nearby Guemes Island, a five-minute ferry ride from his home in Anacortes. He says he’s spending time there in self-isolation, the island only home to 800 folks, such that it’s suitable for quarantine. Turning thoughtful, Bob laments what he terms “replacement experience,” such as he attributes to the internet as a substitute for active personal relationships.

Early this year Al Fitz-Gerald worked to give legs to his play about climate change—recalling some of our classmates did a partial reading at the 2012 Reunion. After some revisions to add a portion of “entertainment” and a staged reading, he found from comments that the play is “too conservative for liberals and too liberal for conservatives.” Perhaps an example of the struggle to get a play into mainstream theaters.

I sadly report the passing of John Kandravy in April. A note from daughter Elizabeth Cassidy ’88 attributed the cause as COVID-19. John always valued his Wes experience as shaping his future. A good friend, he lived an exemplary life, and I wish to extend sympathy on behalf of our class.

Art Typermass | joanarth64@gmail.com
144 East Ave., #302B, Norwalk, CT 06851 | 203/504-8942