Tag: 1959

Bob Chase reports from a retirement residence in Virginia. Both children nearby keep an eye on him. Bob still follows politics and his favorite sports teams. As many of us do, he worries about the outlook for his grandchildren. He remarked favorably on President Roth’s comments and responses to pressures being applied to education. Ted Fiske and his wife, Sunny Ladd, also enjoy life in a retirement community, this one in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They recently took a Viking Cruise on the Rhone River with an extension to Paris. They enjoyed the fact that the boat took them to sights rather than having to chase the sights themselves. They spend July in Islesboro, Maine, then move to Alstead, New Hampshire, and a lakeside cottage with both daughters nearby. Ted continues to oversee his Fiske Guide to Colleges, 43 years of guiding high school grads, recently my own included. He is proud that Wesleyan has a president who has spoken eloquently on his opinions about pressures on universities.

Tim Day says he and Sandy spend a third of each year in Phoenix, La Jolla, and Jackson Hole. Overseas travel is a frequent supplement. He remains healthy, with gym workouts four times a week. The only change seems to be the pace. From Alan Brooks we learn that for the first time in 40 years, he has had to miss Masters/Senior shot-put competition due to a severe case of gout. He hopes to return to it next year. Pete Rockefeller recently visited Wes and spoke with President Roth who he commends for standing up with courage and integrity for Wesleyan’s principles. Pete is coming to grips with the end of a 50-year career in computers.

We heard from Paul Stevens, who is still working part time for SMRT Architects, a company his great-grandfather started in 1884! After back surgery, he recently ran a two-mile race, at a grandfatherly pace, with his two sons and three grandsons. Well done! They summer in Maine at a cottage they have been to since 1968. Plenty of continuity in this family. Recent hot weather reminded Charlie Huchet of sunning on the roof of the Deke house on “Tar Beach.” The hot weather stands in contrast to the weather at an archaeological dig his daughter was at in Ireland, digging for medieval objects in the mud. He suggests it was easier to find the pub.

Bob McKelvey is still working at the investment company his family started and has recently partnered with a California group. Lots of new systems and issues to resolve. Various ailments have slowed his travels to Wes. He stays in touch with two groups of classmates, an Alpha Delta Phi group and an Oxford College group. He recently joined a group of Alpha Delts, Classes ’57–’61. It is interesting to find out what they have done, including a dining steward who has published eight novels. As with others, he thinks Roth’s defense of academic freedom was well reasoned.

Herb Steiner says that one of his 12 grandchildren is at Wesleyan. He and Ellen still winter in Delray Beach, Florida, then spend the rest of the year in Mahwah, New Jersey. He is “aging out of those difficult violin parts, so I’m playing the viola. The viola music is in the alto clef. Learning the clef is like trying to master a foreign language. I’m still in close contact with Joe Vander Veer, Bob Ogren, and Tim Martin. All are well.”

Joe Mallory was in Maine for the summer and early fall: “Enjoying the natural beauty of the earth while learning to live by myself. Health [is] good—walking a mile or two daily with modest discomfort from sciatica. Just had two grand-twins graduate from Dartmouth, with another scheduled for next year.”

Bob Gillette shares that he and Marsha “returned to our New England roots last year as we moved from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Springfield, Massachusetts, to a senior community. It was invigorating, recently, as we participated in a humanists discussion group that tackled philosophical questions that felt like the bull sessions of Wesleyan days. Thoughtful neighbors shared life insights and continued questioning where we are, where we have been, and where we continue to go. Indeed, I am finding this lap of life exciting, though not without its challenges. Luckily, Marsha and I, after 66 years of marriage, have settled into a time and place that feels just right. We have our health, canoe paddling is still a passion, [there are] plenty of cultural opportunities to experience, and being surrounded by kind and supportive folks our age, all have made for a very full and active life. I play my alto recorder every day, and I’ve teamed up with a resident violinist for Baroque playtime.

“Within the morass of our political situation, we recently participated in ‘good trouble’ at our own No Kings rally. It was stirring to hear the honking horns of supportive cars pass by as they viewed old folks in wheelchairs and walkers display posters and waving American flags.

“I am still writing with others in a writing group and giving book talks. I have gotten involved in the governance of our community, and my teacher’s blood still courses through my being, though a bit slower. How significant to realize that after 66 years since our ’59 graduation, the essence of our liberal arts education is still a driving force in our lives. Let’s keep going, as long as we have left. Best wishes to everyone with hope and courage that this country can flourish with humanity. Our four grandchildren and two great- grandchildren deserve the opportunities and freedom we experienced.”

In April, Hank Lifson hada show at theHudson River Gallery in Coralville, Iowa, (a suburb of Iowa City). “My exhibition, entitled The Stones of Tzfat (the title derived from John Ruskin and Mary McCarthy), was an impression of a town in northern Israel, which is a center for Kabbalistic mysticism, established in the late 15th century from Sephardic Jews fleeing Spain. I’m pleased at the results since many people viewed the work. I’m also still living, painting, and drawing in a retirement home in Cedar Rapids.”  

Sadly, Ed Murphy lost his wife, Marilyn, last year to dementia. They “had been married for 55 years. I’m slowly accommodating to her passing—near daily swim workouts, visiting friends and family, and making a few new friends. . . . Though my house now is much bigger than I need, I’m not tempted to move. The thought of having to clean out 54 years of accumulated stuff is too daunting. Looks like I’m here for the duration.

“The other day I happened on [the] thoroughly researched and engagingly written two-volume History of Wesleyan University [by Dave Potts ’60] in my library. It set me to reminiscing about our four years at Wesleyan, friends made, professors who inspired us, and President Butterfield, who kept it all focused on liberal arts education. It was 70 years ago this September that our Class of 1959 came together to begin its journey. What a journey it was and continues to be.”

Finally, Alan reports that Laird Burnett wrote to let us know that his dad, Walter Burnett, died on June 8. Alan and Walter were roommates throughout their years at Wes, and Alan said, “I will greatly miss his Christmas newsletter and occasional visits here in Connecticut and at our cottage at Maine.” Our condolences to his family.

Skip writes: Greetings. We begin with a summary of the original Class of ’59 that arrived at Wes in the fall of ’55. This summary is thanks to Paul Hadzima, who prepared it after our 65th Reunion in May 2024: 202 arrived in ’55; 159 graduated in ’59; 88 were still alive at our 65th, at which nine were in attendance. Wesleyan’s records may be at fault for several pluses or minuses, but this is a pretty good summary. I can probably answer simple questions about the lists.

Marty Weil was first to reply. He sent greetings to all with the closing line from a famous Christmas poem: “And to all a Happy Holidays.” He is still “doing it” at The Washington Post.

Tim Day had just returned from Park City. One of the few of us who is still skiing. He continues to support the USMC by sending marine officers to HBS and the Advance Management Program. He reported he and Sandy are in good health and living “the good life.”

Herb Steiner reported the birth of grandchild number 12. He and Ellen planned to enjoy winter in Delray Beach, Florida. He recently caught up with Joe and Nan Vander Veer, who were in Ridgewood, New Jersey—Joe’s hometown for a Ridgewood Symphony concert and Herb’s efforts with his clarinet.

Bob Hydeman checked in. He and Judy are in their 62nd year of marriage. They have two children and five grandkids; ages of all range from 60 to 22. All grands have college degrees, four have graduate degrees. Great-grandkids are next. Judy has become a great artist, and Bob is working with a small tech company, helping with its marketing. Never idle!

Charlie Huchet ruminated about his 16-year-old granddaughter who is “in love” for the first time and wonders if it is too soon to consider marriage; a 21-year-old granddaughter at George Washington University worries about being arrested for demonstrating about the trans issue. Despite these issues, he is confident these kids will “turn out great.” He loves reading, cooking, writing cranky letters to the local rag, serving on the local planning commission, and tilting with his blunted lance at the neanderthals. Laughing with Charlie Wrubel and Tom Malamud ’60 fills the rest of his time.

Joe Mallory spent Christmas week in LA with his family. He has three grandkids at Dartmouth, but presently they are in Peru, Japan, and London. Another grandkid is in Ojai, California. I agree with Joe on his recalling where he was when at that age. He had never been anywhere but Philadelphia and then Middletown. Very similar in my case. We thought about jobs in spring of our senior years; his grands already have job offers from junior summer jobs. 

Molly and I traveled to Alta, Utah, for our annual kids and grandkids skiing week.

Alan shares: Tom McHugh’s widow, Anne, wrote from Hillsboro, Oregon, that “This has been a quieter year marked, unfortunately, by the loss of altogether too many family members and dear friends. Fortunately, my health remains well.” Anne continues to settle into her life, very much enjoying the Pacific Northwest and being near to at least some of her family. After Thanksgiving she was looking forward to going to San Antonio, a city she always wanted to visit, with two friends from her retirement home. 

Walter Burnett wrote from Cockeysville, Maryland, that he is in an active community with many new friends and opportunities for enjoying life and following his interests in public policy, genealogy, bridge, and the natural world. As he has for the past 16 years, Walt spent this past summer traveling 5,700 miles, the highlight of which was time spent in Crested Butte, Colorado, with members of his family.

Greetings to the great Class of ’59. In this issue of Class Notes we are reporting on several events that are collective rather than individual.

First, our 65th Reunion. For various reasons, only a few stalwarts were able to attend. They were the Messrs. Steve Kaplan, Ed Murphy, Joe Mallory, Alan Brooks, Ted Fiske, Paul Hadzima, Joe Vander Veer, Herb Steiner, and Skip Silloway. Those of you who were unable to attend missed an absolutely sparkling spring weekend on the Wesleyan campus. Blue sky, moderate temperatures and humidity, and the spring green showed off the many trees planted over the years. It could not have been better. We enjoyed the many events Wes had planned for us including the class parade, the Alumni Association meeting, and the awarding of athletic prizes at the gym. And just walking on the campus in all its splendor was a plus. The best for us was the informal class memorial service for those in the class who passed away. The names of our deceased classmates were read out by Skip with a pause after each for a comment or remembrance. All present regretted how few we remembered. It took about an hour, and everyone appreciated it. (Last winter Wolfram Thiemann wrote from Bremen, Germany, to express his great regrets at not being able to attend our 65th Reunion due to his restricted mobility. He was sorry to hear about all the unrest on U.S. campuses and hoped Wesleyan was handling it well. Wolfram closed by saying how much he was thinking about and missing his Wesleyan classmates.)

Second, the effort to remember classmates raised questions about numbers. How many joined Wesleyan in the fall of ’55? How many graduated? How many are still alive? And so forth. Fortunately, Paul Hadzima was there, and he answered all those questions and more. There is some question about the accuracy of Wesleyan’s records, so Paul had to make several “adjustments”: 202 of us arrived on campus in the fall of ’55; 152 graduated, while 47 did not. There were 94 on a list of deceased that Wesleyan prepared, but Paul determined that 28 did not belong on that list for various reasons. Thus, 66 of our graduating class by this 65th Reunion were deceased. Of the 152 who graduated, 88 are still with us, although not all are able or willing to travel. Airports, plane rides, etc., are hard work!

Third, a report on the Class of ’59 record of donating in this reunion year. Of the 88 still going strong, 46 donated in this year: $164,241 was raised for Wesleyan’s greatest need (this means donating through WAF), and $307,988 was raised for other support (this means to specific efforts such as scholarships or a specific athletic team). Overall, $1,316,869 was raised for our toral reunion gift (this means our total for five years).

And, lastly, a postscript from Alan:

            “Diminished in numbers but not in spirit, the MidCoast Maine ‘reunioners’ gathered for the eighth year (it could be more; we kinda lost track) at Joe Mallory’s lovely home in New Harbor on September 12. 

“Joe prepared his signature dinner of Chicken Marbella for Dick and Linda Cadigan, [my wife,] Marie-Pier Brooks, and me. It was quite tasty! Kudos to the chef! Following [the] mandatory discussion of our medical challenges, there was talk of family, friends, Wesleyan, and, of course, the great Class of ’59.

“We hope to continue the tradition and to pull Bob Chase, one of the original members, back into the group.”

Walt Burnett wrote that after 34 years, he has come down for the last time from his North Carolina mountain, having closed on his home there in July 2023, and is now comfortably ensconced in his independent living residence at Broadmead in Cockeysville, Maryland. Walt said he has gotten involved in several activities at Broadmead. He also enjoys the Baltimore Symphony and Everyman Theatre and serves as a board member of the Broadmead Chapter of the Maryland Continuing Care Residents Association. Walt has kept up with his traveling this past year, though largely family oriented, much of which centered around a big family reunion on Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. Walt also worked in a visit to Wesleyan.

In December, Alan Brooks caught up with Tom Young at a basketball tournament at Berkshire School, where Tom taught for many years. Tom related how he and Dave Darling regularly visited Fred Stone, their baseball teammate at Wesleyan, after Fred had his debilitating stroke. Tom sent Alan a packet of wonderful testimonials of Fred from his funeral service in February 2023. (Fred’s obituary can be read on the Portland Press Herald website, pressherald.com).

Marty Weil reports in from The Washington Post where he is an editor. He is glad to have us doing the editing of elements of the “woke” phenomenon. He allows he may or may not come to the reunion. How is that for taking a stand?

We heard from Charlie Huchet. Still living in the same house but now all on one floor. Getting to it, however, requires 29 steps up to the front door. He is cutting back on his many community activities but remains active in Friends of the Library and local politics. He has just applied to run for the local planning commission. That doesn’t seem like cutting back!

Bob Waterhouse updates us on his move to Venice, Florida, in 2018. He describes it as “kind of ‘winter reverse’ via air-conditioning. Not doing much but my days are full.” We imagine many of us might report the same experience.     

Herb Steiner reports the “gift” of two stents as presents for his 86th birthday. Sounds like all is well as he is in rehab, but he had to cancel a European boat trip. Winters in Delray Beach, Florida, for four months starting in December. Biking, pickleball, and walking are activities he hopes will be in his rehab program. Reading and daily violin practice are brain-healthy activities. Hopes to come to the 65th. Regularly sees Bob Ogren, Tim Martin, and Joe Vander Veer.

We heard from Tim Day, writing from Jackson Hole. He and Sandy are almost done “downsizing,” as many of us have done. In their case, this means maintaining their three locations: Phoenix, La Jolla, and Jackson, but moving to condos or managed properties. A glass of wine or two sees them through the many choices that have to be made. Tim is active—three days a week in the gym—but admits to needing a bit more sleep as a result. (Don’t we all?) His initiative to send marine officers to Harvard Business School continues. He has now sent 75 marines to HBS, 24 of whom are general officers. That is a great contribution!

We all miss John Spurdle.