CLASS OF 1958 | 2023 | SPRING ISSUE

Dan Woodhead was the first to report. He noted that the football team had a record of six wins, three losses. Overall, a good season.

Dick Goldman attended a reception on Homecoming weekend and then went to the Williams football game. After the game, dinner with friends, including Alan Brooks ’59. Dick is still working as the vice president of the Wesleyan Lawyers Association. He had a nice call with Bob Hayes, a recent widower, and looks forward to getting together. Dick winters in Key Biscayne from December 15 until March 31.

A sad note from Bob Furber, who told me of the passing of Ron Nowek on November 21. 2022. He and Ron were very close. Bob followed Ron to California in 1962. He considered Ron a perfect friend.

Tony Codding spent most of last summer at Long Lake, Maine, with his partner. It gave him an opportunity for lunch with Bill Clark, MD, in Bangor, Maine. They had not seen each other since our 50th Reunion.

Our youngest member, Neil Henry, just celebrated his 85th birthday. Doing well with his pacemaker. Went out to dinner with Liz and imbibed two glasses of wine. He is avidly watching the World Cup soccer matches.

Bob Terkhorn and family went on a Danube River boat cruise in September. They boarded the AmaMagna in Budapest and cruised for seven days visiting Vienna, Linz, and Prague. Great trip!

Dick Seabury is well. He is considering buying another 1929 Model A Ford at auction. He is still a county park commissioner and member of several historic societies.

Joan and Bob Wuerthner had mild cases of COVID and have recovered. Bob continues to play tennis and his doubles partner is his 24-year-old grandson. The young man covers the court, setting up put aways for Bob. Good team.

A note from Ezra Amsterdam explains his work status. He retired and came back part time, which is really full time. His latest book, Self-Assessment Preventive Cardiology is ready to submit to the Manual of the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, 2021.

Tom Mosher and wife Heidi are doing well and expect to visit Germany next year. Sadly, Tom tells of the loss of his brother, John, class of 1955.

Kay and I are doing well. Kay gave up driving, due to her macular. I play bridge every Thursday with Ted Wieseman. I play Mondays with Barbara Levine, Art Levine’s wife. I have an occasional phone call with Rick Pank, who has lived in the same house in Rowayton, Connecticut, for 54 years.

Hope to have the 65th by Zoom.

Regards,

Cliff

CLASS OF 1958 | 2022 | FALL ISSUE

Excellent response, 15 emails and a couple of phone calls. Bob Wuerthner, with the aid of his physical therapist, plays doubles tennis twice a week. Biggest concern is the plight of the Red Sox.

Rosemary and Bill Krenz recently celebrated their 65th anniversary. And they made a donation for Ukrainian refugees. Well done!

Bill Barnes is adjusting to life without wife, Pat. For 35 years he has played viola in the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra. And he enjoys phone conversations with Bill Krenz, his old roommate.

And my old roommate Dan Woodhead sent a lengthy note describing his reclusive life. Perry Mason mysteries, the New York Times archives, and crossword puzzles are his main activities. He is immensely proud of his grandchildren, Stanford students and water polo players. He is still near the Safeway in north San Francisco.

Bob Furber talks of sorting through the clutter in his house, trying to find significant work he did during his 40 years as a mission analyst. One item he found was a memorandum he wrote during an all-night effort to derive the ”probability of hit.” He was successful and had developed a turbo basic code that saved his job, and the code is used presently to target the Hellfire Missile, which was used recently to assassinate Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan. Some health issues, but he enjoys waking up each morning.

Dick Seabury is well and needs 10 more years of life to finish his “to do” list.  He has done restorations on two old Dodge cars. Extra funds will go toward tuition for nine grandchildren. And he gives money and labor for Congressional candidates.

Bill Fryer is alive and well. He is involved with three other pastors merging four Lutheran congregations in Reading, Pennsylvania. He and Joanna spend much time with family.

Tom Mosher reports all is well. Had COVID in January, now fully recovered.

Burr and Pirkko Edwards are in southern France and are concerned about forest fires. Burr worries about the grapes as well. He and Pirkko have had four COVID shots.

Ezra Amsterdam is now working only 43 % of the time, still writing—two books are being readied. Still tennis and the Yankees. Is there anyone working more than he?

Janice and Tom Burns are now on their summer excursion, MidCoast Maine. Tom is still in northern Virginia, and he would like to hear from classmates at tomb221x@gmail.com.

Tony Codding curtailed travel due to COVID except for two weeks in Aruba. His main activity is to serve as secretary of his condo board.

Neil Henry had a sudden blackout on Monday, and by Tuesday had a pacemaker installed. Neil, my wife has one, it really helps!

Provincetown is the weekend getaway for Art Geltzer. He enjoys retirement and walks on the beach.

Bob and Kay Terkhorn took their first post-COVID trip. They cruised from Venice to Rome. All went well except for a mess at Heathrow Airport.

Bart Bolton writes from Massachusetts. He misses luncheons in Punta Gorda and is struggling with Parkinson’s. But he and his wife are great-grandparents. Well done!

I have had phone conversations with Art Levine, Rick Pank, and Ted Wieseman. All are OK, struggling with mobility. Kay and I are relatively well off, still worried about COVID, and contemplating a trip to Toronto. Will we contract COVID if we go?  Let you know if we did go next issue.

Keep the info flowing,

Cliff

CLASS OF 1958 | 2022 | SPRING ISSUE

Class of ’58, I received 10 emails and two phone calls in response to my pleas.

Bart Bolton and wife have become great-grandparents.  He is now on Longboat Key in Florida where he expects to get together with Ed Kershner.

Pirkko and Burr Edwards just celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary.  He realized he should provide his bride with a timepiece.  He wonders if a plastic egg timer will do.

Dave Hild mentions a bad hip, dropped foot, and spinal stenosis, but says he is in great shape otherwise. He and Alyce enjoy gardening, seeing grandchildren, and trips to NYC and Nantucket.

Tony Codding was beginning to spread his wings (restaurants and concerts), then omicron appeared.  He plans a reunion lunch with Bill Clark this summer in Maine.

Betsy and Dick Tompkins are active and well in Vero Beach, Florida. He is on the board of governors of his club.

Despite the pandemic, Tom Mosher and family had a fun week in Maui and another week in Nashville.  He did survive a mild encounter with COVID.

Reporting from Kennebunk, Maine, is Bob Wuerthner.  He and Joan are fine. His big activity was a Friday trip to Portland to play tennis.  He had to end his email to stoke the woodstove.

I am in frequent contact with Dick Goldman.  Since the passing of his wife Patty in  January 2021, he remains very busy.  He is active in the Boston Bar Association and the American Bar Association.  He is wintering in Key Biscayne, Florida, where he plays golf and tennis. His tennis partner is 54 years old!  And he is proud of the accomplishments of the Wesleyan Lawyers Association, which has started 14 networking groups in different cities.

Janice and Tom Burns have been living in the same house in northern Virginia since 1975.  He and Janice gave up overseas trips the last two years.  They did visit the Maine Coast.  Tom exchanges emails with Don Fuhrmann.

Hard to believe: Ezra Amsterdam retired as distinguished professor of medicine on July 1, 2021. No rocking chair for this guy! He will continue writing, teaching at various levels at the med school, and participate in various scholarly activities with major cardiology organizations. He still roots for the Yankees.

Kay and I have kept a low profile during the pandemic: I still play golf, but ride alone; my bridge is totally online; and I do eat out a couple of times per week.

Keep the news flowing. Stay safe.

CLASS OF 1958 | 2021–2022 | WINTER ISSUE

Class of ’58, my email produced many responses.

On June 9, Burr and Pirkko Edwards celebrated a major step in the COVID deconfinement schedule for France by taking the TVG to Paris. They were able to go to restaurants, and on the return trip, the bar car was open. In Paris they visited Reid Hall, where various academic and cultural programs are held, sponsored by Columbia University.

Dick Goldman wrote to thank me, my wife Kay, Art Levine, John Watson, and Wayne Fillback for their friendship and support at this difficult time (Dick’s wife Patti died several months ago). He and his daughter planned to visit his son in Vermont and celebrate Father’s Day. Dick is very enthusiastic about the Wesleyan Lawyers Association, which has expanded to many cities. And soon he will speak on networking for lawyers by Zoom. It will be a follow-up to an article he wrote for the American Bar Association Journal a few years ago.

Bill Richards relates that his wife and he were vaccinated and went to his granddaughter Riley‘s ’21 graduation at Wesleyan. His great-grandfather’s brother graduated from Wes in 1870, so the family has graduates in three centuries.

According to Art Geltzer, New England is returning to normal behavior. They have opened up their Provincetown house and invite ’58 Wesmen to visit. Art heard from Dennis Allee who resides in Truro, Massachusetts.

Kay and Bob Terkhorn recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs.

John Corkran has sharpened his domestic skills while wife Toni recovers from a fall. Daughter Carol ’85 works a crisis hotline for income and farms for fun. Susan, BSN, URI, and RN, manages a team of nurses. Tim ’90 will teach in the Lexington, Kentucky, school system.

Despite being homebound Roger Turkington just finished New and Collected Poems, a collection of 500 poems and published by Dorrance Publishing, Pittsburgh.

Art Levine reminds me I am much older than he. My birthday is June 12, his is July 6.

Soon Jack Wright will self-publish the book he has been working on for 10 years. This one uses neurobiology to consider personal change. It is Breakthrough: Now You Can Change, Find More Happiness. Jack would welcome a Zoom meeting of our class.

Dan Woodhead reports that not much is new. Son Jeff gives great support with food deliveries and laundry service.

Tom Mosher is in La Jolla, California, and believes it is finally opening up. Most seniors are vaccinated. Four of his seven grandchildren are in college. He hopes for family reunions in Maui and Nashville.

Amusing note from Neil Henry. He is still looking forward to his 84th birthday. Liz and he are vaccinated and Liz volunteers at a vaccine clinic. Big news: barstools just came back so that Neil will not have to phone ahead for a reservation and then sit on the sidewalk.

Dick and Betsy Tompkins were in Minnesota for the summer. He also took his annual fly- fishing trip. And he hoped his trip to Ireland in August would not be cancelled by COVID.

After two nonconsecutive terms and two interim terms as condo association president Tony Codding has taken the secretary’s slot. In the summer he does paddleboarding and boating.

Our hardest worker is cutting back. Ezra Amsterdam will retire and come back at 43%. His 15th book, Manual of the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, was just published.  He is still involved with teaching, research, and noninvasive cardiac imaging.

Kay and I are well, for our advanced ages. In fact, I have begun a valedictory run. No Rolexes or Rolls Royces, but no Top Flight golf balls, no house wine and no coach airline flights. Hope we can put the Zoom meeting together.

CLASS OF 1958 | 2021 | ISSUE 1

Class of ’58,

     A generous response to my last email. Tom Mosher and Heidi are in La Jolla, California, and enjoy tennis, bridge, and coast walks. They enjoy good health, but are a little stir crazy. 

     Art Geltzer is in Rhode Island and is in quarantine except for daily exercise and grocery shopping. He has had one shot of the Moderna vaccine.

     Bart Bolton canceled his February trip to Sarasota and is hoping to go in April. He has had difficulty scheduling a vaccine shot. He feels he needs one to travel to Sarasota.

     Roger Turkington is publishing a new book, New and Collected Poems. He sends best wishes to all classmates.

     An entertaining recollection from John Corkran: He recalls during rushing that on a day-date he went to a roller skating rink and that during a game of Red Rover he skated out of control into a row of lockers. John thanks all who contributed to the Wesleyan Fund.

     Dick Goldman lost his wife, Patty, on January 9. After a moving memorial service, which I and several other Wes people attended by Zoom, Dick continued his significant activities. He will do a seminar for the American Bar Association and will continue starting networking for Wesleyan lawyers in major cities.

     The virus hit both Kay and Bob Terkhorn in October. Both escaped hospital stays and have had their vaccines.

     Dan Woodhead has a new hobby­—The New York Times’ “Time Machine.”  He has access to every issue going back to 1851. He is a history buff and is really hooked. He also loves reading about the Civil War and frequently does crossword puzzles .

     Since the pandemic limited Neil Henry’s trips to restaurants and bars he put the saved money to home repairs. By now he will have had two shots of the Pfizer vaccine.

     Jack Wright is working with a Black/Indian friend on the Flathead Reservation to develop an anti-racism program.

     Tom Burns and wife, Janice, are “hanging in there in Northern Virginia.” Lots of Zoom get-togethers and walks in the woods. Kids are in Massachusetts, Florida, and Northern Virginia. Tom hopes he will soon be able to visit them. 

     A note from Dick Tompkins lamented the passing of Charlie Keck. Charlie and Dick were close lifelong friends. Dick met his wife, Betsy, at Charlie’s wedding in 1959. Dick remembers Charlie as a pediatrician, kind and gentle with many interests.

     I was semi-joking when I mentioned vaccinations in my recent email. But, Tony Codding sent a brief account of his efforts to get the vaccine.  He will feel the needle on February 13.

     I believe Ezra Amsterdam wins the award for the alumnus working the hardest.  He just published his 15th book, Manual of the Am Soc Prev Cardiol. Still does teaching, clinic visits, supervision of fellows and test interpretation (virtually). Tennis is still on the back burner and he still roots passionately for the Yankees.

     Burr Edwards, in France, just finished delivering a two-day training course in public-private partnerships to professionals working with the West African Power Pool. The course is done online and he does this as a way of staying in the saddle on a horse at home.

     As a result of the pandemic the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra, where Bill Barnes had played for over 30 years, came to a sudden halt. But for six weeks last fall, while following strict COVID-19 protocols including temperature checks, wearing of masks, and playing while socially distanced at least six feet from one another, he joined 20 players in preparing a small concert of string music for our area community television station. The result, seen on YouTube as well as community TV, was quite satisfying.

     Recently I had a nice phone conversation with Bill Krenz, who shared the following: Bill and Pat Barnes frequently phone him and Rosemary. Both couples have had their shots. Bill Barnes is an accomplished violist and Bill Krenz plays the cello, but modestly admits he often puts the audience to sleep.

     Kay and I are ok. She had a pacemaker implanted late December and it has really helped. I am still golfing; you can often find my name on the tee sheet. I play bridge even more than golf, all virtually on Bridge Base Online. I have played with Ted Wieseman, and Burr Edwards will join us later this spring. 

     Stay safe, keep the notes flowing.

CLASS OF 1958 | 2020 | ISSUE 3

I am sure the pandemic has curtailed travel plans for our class. My emails depict how our guys are coping. 

So, Neil Henry writes of his excitement: the installation of central air in his wife’s 120-year-old house. He and Liz are in Richmond and admire the restaurants and brew pubs from afar. And he hopes his classmates are keeping safe.

A bike accident caused Bob Furber to break his right hip. Then, six weeks later he tripped over a wet floor sign and multiply fractured his right femur. Shortly thereafter the surgeon stood at the foot of the operating table and said, “We have to stop meeting like this.” Staying indoors is not that bad since he escapes temperatures that are 90-plus.

Bart Bolton moved into a condo to minimize use of stairs and it was close enough so they kept their “staff’ of doctors. He spoke to Ed Kershner and he and Marilyn are unsure about going to Sarasota in February, obviously due to the virus. His condo is close to a challenging golf course and he hopes his game will be up to the challenge.

 Burr and Pirkko Edwards are in southern France and keeping a low profile. No travel or restaurants. Socially they do have an occasional small gathering of friends. They encourage all to keep their heads down.

 In July, Dick Goldman ran to be president of the Wesleyan Lawyers Association. He lost, but, was appointed vice president. He received support from Bart Bolton, Neil Henry, Rick Pank, Ramsey Thorp and Ted Wiesman. A major activity for him now is to help start networking groups in major cities for Wes grads who are lawyers. He is doing all this and is a caregiver to wife Patty, who has significant health issues.

 Since March, Joanna and Bill Fryer have stayed close to home. He retired in 2001 but still helped to merge four congregations in Reading, Pennsylvania.

 Dick Tompkins and wife Betsy are fine. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August. They split their time between Florida (eight months) and Minnesota (four months). 

 Dan Woodhead is fine, but would like to connect with classmates to discuss our president. Protocol forbids me from stating his views.

All is well, writes Bill Richard. His granddaughter, Riley, has returned to Wesleyan for her senior year.

 Kay and I are keeping a low profile. Our governor has opened all bars and restaurants, but we stay away. I play golf on our fine course and bridge online. Keep the emails flowing.

Cliff Hordlow | khordlow@gmail.com
Apt. 103, 4645 Winged Foot Court | Naples, FL 34112; 239/732-6821

Barbara Ann Ryan, MALS ’58

Barbara Ann Ryan, MALS ’58 passed away on April 9, 2020 at the age of 87. A full obituary can be found here.