Tag: 1957

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

Jim Brown ushered in 2020 with a family cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. Three oldest granddaughters, ages 22-25, granddad comments, “all cute and creating devastation among bachelors and partying ’til 5 a.m.” The Brown dinner table was a lively experience with 14 in attendance.

Last summer, Ed Mehlman had a health scare, waking up with intense pain that led to an ER visit and an immediate operation to repair a perforated intestine. It was successful and he was home within four days. The ordeal was not over, as he suffered a stroke shortly thereafter that affected his speech. Could not talk at all—a “full stroke.” With speech therapy, he got back to normal. Subsequent happy news included weddings for his middle son and his eldest grandson. Ed was pleased to host relevant dinners, all events taking place in New England.

Hank Fulton took to the road last summer, keeping up with classmates. There was a lunch in Easton, Pa., with Rod Henry, whom he’d not seen in 60 years! Then visiting Penny and John Parkin in nearby Michigan. This attests to the enduring friendships we made at Wes. Hank has been slowed down some with an AFib and the acquisition of a pacemaker early this year.

Bob Gorin’s daughter, Bethel Gorin Gottlieb ’90, attended Wes’s admissions weekend with daughter Alexandra who is a junior at The Brearley School in NYC.

Heard from Bill Fullarton recalling a meeting some years back with the president of Ohio Wesleyan about a real estate project. Upon exchanging greetings, they realized there was a Wes connection. It was Tom Wenzlau, who was an economics instructor in the late 1950s. I too remember Tom, having taken his Labor Eco course. Catching up on family, Bill writes that three daughters with his first wife, Ann, are all married, all with three children of their own. Grandchildren are in a host of colleges, e.g., University of Washington, VA Tech, and George Mason. Bill has been married to his present wife, Jane, for 20 years. He remains active via service on real estate boards, plays golf in season, and he does the gym four times weekly. He’s also learning Spanish with a group meeting every week.

Jeff Williamson writes from Great Cruise Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands. That’s his mid-winter residence from which he then heads back to Madison, Wis., where family resides. He reports that it has been 11 years since retirement from Harvard. Health remains strong.

Dividing time between home in Washington State and traveling in Mexico, you can find Bob Anderson with a host of activities, including art, immigration and environmental issues, and even an occasional sermon when his current pastor is away. His art output is heavily influenced by Mexican culture, including some from prehistoric times.

The Wilmots—Gordy and Marilyn—celebrated their 30th anniversary with a river cruise on a paddle wheeler from Tennessee all the way down to N’Orlins. One of their granddaughters graduated from URI with a degree in wildlife management and is in Florida doing dolphin research. She lives with the Wilmots in Palmetto and has a convenient commute to work.

Sadly, we have lost three classmates. Jim Brecht in Elizabethtown, Pa., in October. He is survived by wife Patti. Ted Voss and Owen Garfield in November; Ted in Newton, Mass., where he is survived by sister Sophia, and Owen in Yarmouth, Maine, where he leaves wife Deborah. Condolences to the families on behalf of our class.

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

Welcome to the latest of a range of events and recollections. Janice and Ken Travis celebrated their 60th anniversary earlier in 2019. And shortly after, their grandson’s wedding. Ken adds that the mother of the groom, daughter Leslie ’85, was beaming throughout. The “something old” on the wedding cake was a cutter from the Travis wedding reception of 1959. Ken says that he and Janice had it washed.

Not to sound competitive—Jack Goodhue reports that he and Jane are in year 63 of their marriage. They are living the good life in Wilmington, N.C., and have since Jack’s retirement at age 58 as president of an oil company in 1993. Recent trips overseas include one to Budapest and another to Southern France. They also drive cross-country once annually to California to visit their son and teenage granddaughter. Jack writes a monthly magazine column, “Your Business.” He’s done 307 of such since 1993 (but who’s counting). At the time I am writing this, Jack says the Goodhues survived fierce storm Dorian (the 16th one they’ve experienced with no significant damage).

How would you like an inflation rate of 55%? That is what Naren Bali tells us is the state of the economy in Argentina. And some around here are not pleased with the Fed. Naren and spouse Margarita get by on savings and a bit of work alongside of that. He has been retired 12 years, but hires out as an IT consultant. Their daughter, born in Seattle when Naren was teaching at the University of Washington, is a professor of poli-sci at Michigan State. She has two children, ages 13 and 10. The Balis’ son is also a professor (math), as is his wife, and they had their first child, a girl, earlier in 2019. Naren terms her “our new weakness.” Their Buenos Aires neighborhood is pleasant and is 15 minutes from downtown by train, and they spend most of the summers at their beach house in Uruguay.

The Gordy Wilmots also celebrate an anniversary—the 30th. He and Marilyn embarked on a river cruise on the Mississippi—a steamboat from Chattanooga to New Orleans. I hope Gordy knew when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. The Wilmots enjoy excellent health, have even joined a bowling league. They go down to Palmetto, Fla., annually, from late in the year until May. Can be reached at 941/981-9888 and would welcome classmates who may be visiting in the Tampa-Sarasota area.

Dick Cassie retired from Rutgers Dental School in March. Having been a widower for some 10 years, he has been seeing a lovely widow, Suzy Maguire, in recent years, and has moved from the Jersey shore to Newtown, Pa., to be closer to her. Recently they traveled to California to see Suzy’s grandchildren and where he connected with Bill LeSuer in San Francisco. Dick’s new address in Newtown is 124 Willow Drive 18940.

Catching up with Ed Parmee, writing that he had taught anthropology and community development at the University of Arizona at Tucson for 36 years. Two marriages, each for 23 years, and a daughter and two stepdaughters. There are eight grandchildren to keep Ed busy. Also keeping him well occupied is a family history project that will weigh in over 500 pages and cover several hundred years. A wide group of nations comprise the story—they range from France and Germany to South Africa and Australia. He hopes to go to publication in 2020.

Bob Gorin reports that his grandson, David Gottlieb ’22, completed a successful freshman year (“Did better than I did,” Bob adds). David is an Argus sportswriter. He included a photo of David in his sophomore dorm room and said, “The large banner on the wall is the 1987 Little Three hockey championship banner. David’s late dad, Brian ’88, was the goalie on that championship team. Shortly after Brian passed away the coach presented the banner to my daughter, Bethel ’90. It had been signed by all team members. It is so appropriate that it is now back at Wesleyan.”

Bob Anderson has traveled to prehistoric Mexico, with Oaxaca on the Yucatan being a favorite spot. He would welcome like-interested companions who might be at least modestly conversant in Spanish. He continues with his sculpture and drawing projects.

Mike Stein died in September. An eloquent note from his son, Peter Stein ’84, paid tribute to his father’s 50-year U.S. government career, three years as a Marine officer, and 47 years working for the CIA. Peter made particular reference to Mike’s communications skills and commented on the capital cities around the globe that duty took them to. Mike was Wes-loyal throughout. ’57 has lost a great friend.

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

I hope all are enjoying the summer: Sonnet 18 tells that “summer’s lease has all too short a date.” Jim Brown continues to be fit with regular gym workouts. Wife Betty underwent a second knee replacement with success. He says that keeping up with children and grandchildren keep both he and Betty well occupied. Son Dr. Chris Brown is active in fields distant from medicine, e.g. a third book about DaVinci, a PBS film, and earlier this summer, an expedition in search of the Ark of the Covenant (which, for Wikipedia fans, is thought to be a chest containing the Bible’s sacred treasures, even possibly the Commandments—at least some of them). Jim adds that he knew he was outflanked when Chris beat him at chess, daughter one swam faster, and daughter two made PBK at Wes.

Bill Pratt reports that the “blue wave” democratic victory in New Mexico in the 2018 elections helped his win, taking a seat that had been Republican for some years previous. He was pleased with the 2019 legislative session—constructive in addressing practical problems such as water conservation, criminal justice, and surprise medical bills. Some disappointment in failing to take on gun legislation. So far he likes his new career, adding that being retired and experienced has its advantages.

My eldest grandson Johnny Maggio entered the University of Wisconsin last fall and—early on—had a meeting with Jeff Williamson in Madison that provided a unique and valuable intro to college life. Jeff has been busy managing repairs to his winter home on the island of St .John (USVI) that sustained damage following a severe hurricane that struck the Caribbean.

Sad news upon the loss of two classmates past May:

Allen Jay, suddenly, of a heart attack. In recent issues herein, I wrote on Al not allowing orthopedic problems to dissuade him from an adventurous trip, but his passing was, of course, unrelated thereto and unforeseen. Condolences to wife Ricky and the Jay family.

Then, Bob Sharlet. Bob’s Wes tenure was interrupted by military service, and upon said conclusion, he transferred to Brandeis, where he graduated in 1960. He taught at Union College for 35 years and authored a number of books, many focused on international political science.

Sam Bergner is ensconced in a new apartment in Metuchen, N.J., having sold his house last year. He says that wife Lynn loves the new digs, adding that her view is all that matters. He is dealing with early stage Parkinson’s.

Bill Shepard writes that his Wes decision to major in French lit was influenced by the choice of something that would remain active even in retirement, which has proven to be the case. He mentions reading Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris at about the time last spring when the fire hit the cathedral. He adds that his command of the language is adequate, surely aided after his years of usage in France during his years of service.

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