Tag: 1963

Two of our classmates sent word of their activities.

Terry Irwin wrote: “Decided it was time for me to step up and communicate with my class.” He retired from Northwestern Mutual in 2007, and he and his wife, Cynnie, moved from Jacksonville, Florida, to Concord, New Hampshire, to be near their then seven-year-old granddaughter. He reports it was “a great move,” and has taken advantage of all that the White Mountains have to offer. He has been involved in supporting refugees from Congo and has assisted four orphaned sisters since 2011, becoming “grandpa” to three-year-old Ayan. Terry and Cynnie moved to NH CCCRC, Riverwoods, starting a new chapter, including meeting new friends and getting involved in the available activities. He still travels a couple of times a week to Concord to tutor in ESL or citizenship and visit with his sister.

Don Sexton writes that he is recovering from a bout with cancer. Without going into details, he said radiation therapy was dreadful, taking away his appetite, so that he dropped to his Wesleyan football weight of 165 pounds. The therapy caused a break in his stand-up comedy on Broadway and his art shows. The good news is that the New York Improv Company has asked him back. Also, an acting company has asked him back (perhaps to reprise his role as King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland). He now has four months of art shows scheduled for the fall and next spring. Don has written a poem, “Grab Life.” He says: “Those of you who have been through cancer, or had friends or loved ones go through it, know that the emotional dimension of grabbing life can play a major role in recovery.”  The poem ends:

                  Y’all come with me

                  All the best to all my friends

                  Y’all come with me. Grab Life

It is with sadness that I report the deaths of two of our classmates, Chris Rich and Bob Rideout.

Wesleyan received the following announcement regarding Chris: “Christopher Rich, age 82, of Burlingame, California, passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2024.” The most recent information I was able to find on Chris comes from his contribution to the Wesleyan 1980 Alumni Record, in which he reported that after graduation he had received a master of arts in teaching from Harvard, moved to Palo Alto, California, and was teaching at Palo Alto High School. He had married and had three children. Perhaps one of us had been in touch with him and can add to this.

Bob died on November 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 83. After graduation he joined the Central Intelligence Agency and later served in the U.S. Air Force. Subsequently, he received a master’s degree in international affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs at Princeton. He served as one of “Nader’s Raiders” in the summer of 1968. In 1969, he began a career with the Federal Bureau of the Budget, that spanned six presidencies and 14 budget directors.

After retirement, Bob was ordained in the Episcopal Diaconate in the Diocese of Southern Ohio, and served two churches in the Columbus area, as well as developed feeding programs for the underserved and school children. A more complete obituary may be found in the online version of this magazine.

I would much prefer to report on the activities of our active classmates; please contact me so I can write of your doings. I know that most, if not all, of us are retired, and that some of us are not enjoying good health, but I also know that news of you is welcome to your fellow classmates.