Tag: 1961

We begin with John Rogers:

Appreciate your last news mention,

So, no reason for any attention.

You really serve our class grads so well.

Hope others will answer with show and tell.

Paul Dickson has recently sold his home in Garrett Park and moved with his wife, Nancy, to Kensington Park Senior Living in nearby Kensington, Maryland. Paul also was recently awarded the 2024 Washington Independent Review of Books Lifetime Achievement Award. Recipients of this annual award have evidenced a long-term contribution in ways that encourage others to contribute and enhance a literary community rich in independent thought and boundless curiosity.

Peter Funk reports that Bill Harris’s wife, Robie, died on  February 6, 2024, according to a New York Times obituary. “Bill and sons, Ben ’92 and David ’94, are holding up,” observes Peter, adding that “All is well with Jennie and me on our small island.”

An additional notice of Bob Owens’sdeath, occurring on  September 19, 2023, has been received. Please refer to https://obituaries.nationalcremation.com/obituaries/denver-co/paul-owens-11469341 for his obituary.

Bob Patricelli writes: “Maggie and I are still upright and active. She labors in the garden and I in politics, i.e., D.C. legislation/Hartford, Connecticut, projects. I am dismayed by our national dysfunction. We have to do better!”

An update from Larry Wiberg has been received: “I’m doing well in Denver, keeping my medical license active and doing some part-time psychiatry. Wesleyan doesn’t seem that long ago. I can still conjure up the smell of the then brand-new Foss Hill dorms. I did leave Wesleyan a year early to start medical school at Stanford (you could do that back then). I only wish that Wesleyan had been co-educational, but my grades might well have suffered! Stanford medical school was on the Palo Alto campus, which I quickly took advantage of and met and married Katie Davidson, an undergraduate senior. We moved to married-student housing and started our family. I continue to have great appreciation for the intense intellectual challenges and experiences I had in my three years at Wesleyan!” 

“Thanks for keeping us more or less together over these years,” writes Larry Krucoff.  “My wife of 61 years, Carole, and I keep busy after retirement. In my case, it’s playing golf in Chicago (not a full-year occupation), shepherding a play reading group, and writing short stories. She is active with book clubs and docent activities at both the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House Museum and Chicago Art Institute. Quite certainly, she’s busier than I. I make up some of the difference by cooking and baking.”

Allen Thomas provides a detailed summary for us to enjoy: “Sixty-three years on from Wesleyan, three marriages (one extant) enjoyed, three continents lived upon, three children sired, five grandchildren indulged, two law firm partnerships practiced, lots of boards sat upon, two nationalities and two religions, and still my wife says I never change, only because I wear the same sort of chinos and the same button-down shirts I wore at Wesleyan and before! Keeping to a few constants in a kaleidoscopically changing life seems prudent. I have lived happily in London for more than 30 years now, sometimes continuing to practice international corporate law (defined as ‘taking money from one SOB and giving it to another’); sometimes as a non-exec chairman or director of insurance and other public companies; sometimes pretending to be an entrepreneur; but always enjoying ballet and chamber music performances, cooking, skiing, and indulging those grandchildren. The work has now pretty much retired from me, but the ballet, music, cooking, and skiing and children and grandchildren still give me much pleasure. I have a holiday house in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, the center from which to entertain U.S. and UK family and visitors (you are all most welcome) and enjoy music at Tanglewood and dance at Jacob’s Pillow.”

Jack Mitchell sends his warmest wishes and tons of hugs. He proudly boasts, “Ed Mitchells, a fourth-generation clothing enterprise with eight stores coast-to-coast, was founded by his mom and dad in 1958 and presently employs my oldest grandson, Lyle ’16.”

Alexander McCurdy warmly reflects: “Pure Wesleyan nostalgia for dear ones who pass in front of my mind’s eye: Tom Peterson, Pete Odell, Hank Hilles, Larry Wiberg.The great professors who live on in their gifts to us. Weren’t we fortunate? Aren’t we still?”

Eric “Swede” Wilson summarizes the following: “Margaret and I are still doing well in Tuscaloosa, the home of the Crimson Tide. Health is good. I’m still active, walking every day, and am semi-retired from my second full-time employment. Margaret continues to paint for friends and children and is engaged in several clubs. The children are fine. My daughter, Avery, is married and lives in Nashville, working as a benefits advisor for a large health consulting firm. My son, Eric, is an attorney in Tuscaloosa, and has a 20-year-old son who attends the University of Alabama. My third child, Martin, continues to reside in NYC, where he is employed by HarperCollins.” 

Here’s a short word from Robert Hausman: “I am still above ground. My family is fine as we anticipate grandchildren graduating and going off to college. I am still in touch with Glenn Hawkes and Emil Frankel.”

Paul Boynton shares that late last fall, he and his wife, Barbara, “joined the family of a close friend on a two-week visit to Namibia that included a several days’ safari on the Kalahari savanna.”

An update from Emil Frankel: “Kathryn and I continue our lives in Washington, D.C. I remain affiliated with a small, Washington, D.C.–based, transportation policy think tank, the Eno Center for Transportation, but most of my ‘advising’ consists of discussing transportation history and policy with former colleagues over lunches and through email exchanges. My intellectual and emotional energies are focused on the efforts to preserve democratic values and institutions both here at home and in Israel. As to the former, I remain involved in every Never Trump activity available to me, including some marginal involvement in a third-party effort (although I remain skeptical that the moment is right to launch a new centrist party). As to the latter, I am deeply engaged in efforts in my Reform temple to educate our congregants and the wider Jewish community about the attacks on democracy by Israel’s current extremist and theocratic right-wing government.

“I returned to my native state of Connecticut a few weeks after Reunion weekend to join in services to honor the memory of my former boss, former U.S. senator and former Connecticut governor, Lowell Weicker. I mention this because Governor Weicker received an honorary degree from Wesleyan in the early 1990s. He was the first sitting governor of Connecticut to receive an honorary degree from Wesleyan for many years, a historic tradition that seems to have been abandoned by the University in the 1970s. Lowell Weicker was a unique and extraordinary public figure; I am proud that Wesleyan recognized his contributions and that I had the opportunity to work with and for him.” 

At the time of our last Class Notes publication, Emil had written: “I wanted to let you know that our classmate and fellow Eclectic, Joe Powers, passed away a day or two ago. Joe and Maria had moved back to the Washington, D.C., region from New Mexico a few months ago, and they were living in northern Virginia when he died.”

Here’s a quickie note from Robert Wielde: “Proof of life. Traveling some. Reading a lot. Worried for the country.”                   

Peter Funk has provided a newsy update. He writes: “I am pleased to report that Jennie and I are well. I remain active in our island’s affairs, continue to sail and race offshore, and generally keep upright. I am reminded of Wesleyan frequently by daughters Lexy ’91 and Jenny ’95 whose offspring have visited campus to assess entry. No hits so far. I marvel at the lunacy of our American politics and the robustness of the economy. I remain hopeful for a more united Europe despite Brexit, which has dragged Jersey into the foreign nation category with attendant border and other restrictions. The war in Ukraine and threats arising overhang everything here. Please convey my best wishes to our fellow classmates and extend my welcome to visitors.”

Alexander McCurdy responded with a question: “My contribution would be a question regarding the folk singing group The Highwaymen. Didn’t this group originate in our era at the Alpha Delta fraternity house? Anybody know how they evolved with or into the later famous group with that name?” Your class secretary replied to Sandy suggesting he Google “Wesleyan Highwaymen 1960,” which he did with gratifying results.

John Rogers:

“Understand the continuing appeal and really appreciate your zeal

I’ve answered more often than you should reveal

So ignore or edit my replies and conceal

Our new home in Kentucky not a big deal

Although plentiful bourbon and horses produce a good yield

The aging body aches before and after each meal

But doubt my wife and 12 doctors really know how I feel

So I’ll continue daily rehab to heal

To try to delay the time when remaining family and friends kneel”

Paul Boynton reports on three issues: “One, my grandson, Caius Boynton, an accomplished musician and graphic artist, has just begun has first year at Wesleyan; and two, his equally talented twin sister, Auren Boynton, is simultaneously matriculating at Williams! Finally, three—their uncle, Eric Boynton (youngest of four sons), was recently inaugurated as the 12th president of Beloit College, founded in 1846.” Paul is the proud grandfather of eight and the father of four.

The response from classmates for this Class Notes publication has been excellent.  Terry Allen is in the starter’s box with the following: “In January 2023 I sold the last of the 20 companies I had started since Wesleyan. I wouldn’t have had to start so many if more had been successful, but I enjoyed the challenges along the way. Recently, Debbie and I acquired a license to farm cannabis in Vermont. She is the grower, and my focus is marketing. We are having a ball! We both play tennis every week and take overseas hiking trips once or twice a year, plus visit our seven widely located children and nine grandchildren.”

          Bob Owens reports that he is “doing reasonably well” after experiencing a minor stroke two and a half years ago. He bemoans the fact that he is no longer driving, but expresses his gratitude to his life partner, Barbara Morton, and to volunteer drivers in his community transportation program, allowing travel to appointments and even a future road trip from Denver to New York City, making it possible to visit his granddaughters.

John Alvord provides this update: “Marie and I are still living in Las Vegas (home of the Stanley Cup–winning Golden Knights) and enjoying retirement. We finally sold our house and bought a condo. I don’t miss the outside work since someone else now does it. I hate to see what has happened to our country and fervently hope it can be fixed. I just heard that Pete Drayer passed away last year. He was my freshman roommate, four-year fraternity brother, and a groomsman at our wedding. Pete was a very highly regarded judge in Philadelphia and will certainly be missed.”

Jack Mitchell tells us about his serious, yet successful, eye transplant operation performed last spring. “Bacteria were eating my membrane over the cornea, which was extremely painful. The surgeon removed the membrane, cleared the infection, and then inserted a donor’s membrane.” Now completely pain free, Jack resumes his tennis and his devotion to his family clothing business. He adds: “I’m excited to announce the addition to the business of my oldest grandson, Lyle ’16, a past graduate of Wesleyan and of Columbia Business School.”

While teaching ceramics at a boys’ camp, Russell Mott questioned a class of 10-year-olds, “How old do you think I am?” to which most replied 70-plus, while others said 60 somewhere. The answer most appreciated by Russell was “I can’t count that high!” Russell also mentions a 14-year-old lacrosse goalie wishing to follow his dad, who played lacrosse for four years at Wesleyan. “Shout-out to Nate Osur, Tommy Patton, and our class who started lacrosse at Wesleyan in the spring of 1959.”

Limited space allotment requires that only a portion of Emil Frankel’s informative and extensive update is enclosed in this Class Notes publication with a promise of his remaining comments to be revealed in the next edition. Emil writes: “I was on campus for Reunion & Commencement weekend and participated in meetings of the trustees and trustees emerita. There was some discussion of what Wesleyan’s response would be to what was then seen as the inevitable (and has since occurred) decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to end affirmative action in college admissions, a core element of Wesleyan’s pathbreaking admissions policies for over 50 years. President Roth stated then—and repeated in his subsequent statement announcing the end of legacy admissions—that Wesleyan would remain committed to building and maintaining a diverse community and would continue and expand its efforts to do so within the limits of the Supreme Court decision. A wonderful surprise during the annual march of the alumni was to be greeted by Jim Thomas’ son. Since I was the only one in our class present, and carried the Class of 1961 flag in the parade, I was the one to benefit from a wonderful conversation with the son of one of our great classmates.”

Robert Hausman reports: “I am still in touch with Glenn Hawkes, Emil Frankel, and Bob Wielde. Bob also adds in free form:

“In the midst of my dotage I am asked for some news.

May I be excused by claiming the blues?

Since WesTech has done away with legacy,

it leaves my grandson leg-less in misery.

“I am content in my senior condo. I walk an hour a day and then lift weights for 15 minutes. All my family is close by. I am a new great-grandfather. In my junk, I found a directory for our freshman class. If you want to see what you looked like in ’58, I will sell it to the highest bidder. The same with a Commencement program I found, if you want to see what prizes you won.”

Lastly, Russell Mott wrote recently to tell say that Joe Powers passed away in mid-September. Russ said, “Joe and Maria had moved back to the Washington, D.C., region from New Mexico a few months ago, and they were living in northern Virginia when he died.” Condolences to his family and friends.

Respectfully submitted,

Jon

“I lead a very simple life here in St. Paul, Minnesota,” (writes Bob Hausman) “with family very close: sons, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I had to go to Connecticut for a funeral, so I got to see WesTech. While there, I made a quick trip to the shore, where I would normally see Red Erda ’63, but he was not home. I did get to swim in the Sound. I am in touch with Glenn Hawkes, Emil Frankel, and Bob Wielde. Coincidentally, public television just did a feature on folk music in which they showed the Highwaymen singing Michael Row the Boat Ashore, a blast from the past.”

An update was sent from Peter Funk: “I am pleased to report that Jennie and I are well here in the Channel Islands. The aftermath of COVID is receding but, like elsewhere, we feel the effects of inflation, the dreadful war in Ukraine, political uncertainties, and particularly, Brexit, which has restricted travel and trade to and from Europe. (France is a mere 17 nautical miles from us.) This too will pass, perhaps. I am also pleased to report that daughters Lexy ’91, Jenny ’95, and their families are well and living in the USA. I may get them back to this side of the Atlantic one day. My fond regards to our classmates and Wesleyan.”

Denny Huston writes: “After 55 years of teaching, most of them at Rice, I decided finally to retire completely from teaching courses in the university, though I will still teach a class in film off campus. Lisa and I have been traveling some, and had a great trip to Madrid in December, where we were given a fun tour by one of my granddaughters, who had been studying there for a semester. Maybe the biggest news in our family is that my daughter Kate ’91 has a son who is now touring the world in West Side Story for the next year and a half. I am sorry that living in Houston puts me relatively far away from life at Wesleyan, though I still am lucky enough to see some Wesleyan people who are passing through, most recently Bill Wagner, a fraternity brother and roommate my senior year. I would love to hear from others who are traveling this way (jdhuston@rice.edu).”

“It all started when we were at Wesleyan in 1958,” writes Jack Mitchell. “The big picture is that all in our nuclear family are healthy. Our family businesses, now eight stores strong, show record sales and profits. Our oldest grandson Lyle ’16, who graduated from Wesleyan and worked five to six years in our industry, is graduating from Columbia Business School in June and will join us as the first in a fourth generation! We will also celebrate our grandson Bob’s July wedding in Colorado. I’m now chairman emeritus, working most days meeting and greeting clients in the Westport and Greenwich stores, and participating on several corporate boards. Tennis is still my favorite game, while enjoying Block Island during summers with Linda as we celebrate 62 years together.” Jack sends his best to all with happy and healthy safe hugs.

In a reflective tone to your class secretary, Alexander (Sandy) McCurdy states: “You’ve kept us connected to that very special time in our young lives, which so quickly slipped by. We charged off into the adventure for which WesTech, as we used to say for some unknown reason, had prepared us. Any news from me could only be extremely boring, except how my mind wanders happily to the Wesleyan campus, from time to time, recalling such wonderful oddities as our dutifully worn freshman beanies. Can we imagine the looks on today’s [students] if they were presented with such required haberdashery? Of course, you know that Pete Drayer died not too long ago. I saw a bit more of him in our May years at his retirement place nearby me, where he settled in with his wife a while ago.”

“Happily, I no longer have a ‘bucket list,’ exclaims Russell (aka Bob, aka Mook) Mott.

“Without a ceramic studio until the summer when I go back to camp, I am beginning my fifth career in drawing with acrylic and collage on stretched canvas, eventually finished over with resin. I have no clue if I possess enough talent to enforce the chase, but the thrill of testing and then again and then again—I’m all over it like a bad suit. For those who may remember, John Keratzes, who died at a very young age in 1975, was my closest friend and ‘best man’ at my first wedding in 1966. (We had the same date of birth, January 18.) I returned from Vietnam in 1975 to learn that he had just passed, so I spent a very long time searching for relatives. Six years ago, I located his son, Matt Komonchuk, who lives with his Brazilian wife Miriam in Portsmouth. He owns a radio station, and we correspond all the time and are best friends.”

Cheerfully submitted,

Jon

Russell Mott writes: “Another summer at camp in Amesbury, Massachusetts, teaching ceramics, and livin’ the dream back in New England. Presently I am running a gallery with my partner, Joyce, and moving from throwing to altered and sculptural forms with the kind assistance of the finest active potter in the country (in my opinion), Steve Hemingway of Minnesota. It is a fascinating and terrifyingly wonderful excursion. For those interested in the final collapse of South Vietnam in ’75, a friend of mine has written a book about the chaotic evacuation of Saigon, something in which I was also involved. Getting Out of Saigon, Ralph White, Simon and Schuster, April 4, 2023. It’s a hell of a tale.—Que tenga buen dia, Jon.” Muchas gracias, Russell.

A bit of poetry from John Alexander:

“Over many years, believe I’ve shared enough.

But if desperate, try usual comments on health, aging and family stuff.

Trying each day to remember pills, appointments, friends, and names,

Especially before the body and mind succumb to increased pains.”

A few words from Jack Mitchell with a bit of promotion tossed in: “Linda and I continue to have a wonderful marriage for 61 years—four sons, seven adult grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. Our Mitchells family of stores in seven locations is very healthy, with constantly improving sales over previous years. We are probably the largest independent family-owned luxury men’s/women’s/lux clothing and jewelry establishment in our country. Presently, it’s a third generation of Mitchells working in our stores—three of our sons and three of my brother Bill’s, moving soon into a fourth generation, two of whom went to Wesleyan! Healthwise, my days include tennis or walks with Linda, or providing motivational lectures on my three HUG publications. I give credit to my dad who claimed that Wesleyan inspired me to open The New York Times to the editorial page rather than the sports pages! Happy, healthy, and safe Wes hugs to all!”