Tag: 1965

Class of 1965 35th Reunion Memorial Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship
Michael Ivy ’20, College of East Asian Studies, Government

Dear Classmates, we begin this issue with a message from our tireless class co-conveners, Hugh Wilson and Mark Edmiston: “A group of us met at Homecoming last fall to plan our 55th Reunion, which will occur May 22-24, 2020. Plans are to have a reception and remembrances of recently deceased classmates on Friday afternoon followed by dinner and then the Wombats (who are excited to be playing again!). Saturday will include Wes Shorts with classmates giving brief comments or reflections on issues important to them. At dinner that night we are inviting all faculty from our era living near Wes as our guests, along with Barbara-Jan Wilson, who has tentatively accepted the invitation. Sunday will include brunch and departure. Hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend. The record for 55th Reunion attendance (classmates plus guests) is 48. Let’s set a new record!”

The great response to my recent request for news necessitated using only a portion in the last magazine. Below is information not previously printed.

Brian Baxter: “The day after I retired from full-time work, my wife and I left for a month-long home exchange with a couple from Amsterdam, who lived in our home in Sarasota, Fla., for the month that we lived in their home in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam, with their four cats and several fish. We also ‘inherited’ several neighbors who welcomed us into their lives, while we enjoyed having the time for a leisurely exploration of the music, museums, and culture of Amsterdam and several nearby cities.

“During the past six years, we have developed lasting friendships through month-long home exchanges with three families in Paris, one in Vienna, one in Dresden, one in The Hague, one in eastern Maine, and one in the Upper East Side in NYC.

“We split our time between condo communities in center city Philadelphia and on Little Sarasota Bay on the west coast of Florida, when we are not enjoying home exchanges or other travel. We have become very involved with an amazing community of condos in Sarasota known as Pelican Cove, where I am serving as president of the board. My wife, Ilene, is the chair of the steering committee.”

Clyde Beers: “Donna and I now are delighted to have three children and their families, including eight grandchildren. The latter are stretched out from almost-in-college to a 3- and a 5-year old.”

Gar Hargens: “Win Chamberlin’s account of building for Habitat took Missy and me back a year ago to a similar adventure in Northern Cambodia. We didn’t have wheelbarrows, but instead carried bags of sand and cement to the middle of the dirt floor and mixed a concrete soup. Maybe it was the 90-degree heat and humidity, but by next morning the slabs had miraculously cured enough to stand on for the final ceremony. The Cambodian family were moving from a shack that was constantly flooded. With a toilet and cold-water tap, they were ecstatic with their simple space.

“Kirt Mead’s wife, Susan, and I spoke recently. She said the support of her daughters and the Meads’ great network of friends has helped deal with the shock and pain. She was about to head overseas and visit familiar places and friends. We agreed to meet up in Nice next April, one of her favorites.”

Great to hear from Bird Norton, one outstanding athlete and friend: “Things going well as we all hit 75! My so-called depression has not come back since that wonderful 50th Reunion.”

Unfortunately, must end this report on a sad note, as just received word of the passing of David Lott on June 19 at his home in Beaufort, S.C. Dave was born in Hartford in 1943 and grew up in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Shady Side Academy and after Wesleyan earned a master’s in history from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. He was a partner in the firm of Foley & Lardner and practiced law in Milwaukee and Chicago. He is survived by his wife, Susan, and his first wife, Margaret, and their children: John, Katherine, Sarah, and Edward. He was involved in a number of community organizations, and I remember reaching out to him for advice some years ago and he was kind and generous with his assistance. He will surely be missed by all who knew him.

Philip L. Rockwell | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

Dear Classmates, Thank you to the following for the great response to my request for news:

Brian Baxter: “For over 50 years I told myself to write about the impact Wesleyan has had on my life. So, under the heading of better late than never:

“After a 42-year career as a top executive in state and local government in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City in areas ranging from city management to labor relations to finance to human services, I retired six years ago. I was amazed to discover that the world was able to move forward without my continuing contribution, and my only regret now is that I didn’t retire earlier.

“The day after I retired from full-time work, my wife and I left for a month-long home exchange with a couple from Amsterdam, who lived in our home in Sarasota, Fl., for the month that we lived in their home in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam, with their four cats and several fish. We also ‘inherited’ several neighbors who welcomed us into their lives, while we enjoyed having the time for a leisurely exploration of the music, museums, and culture of Amsterdam and several nearby cities.

“During the past six years, we have developed lasting friendships through month-long home exchanges with three families in Paris, one in Vienna, one in Dresden, one in The Hague, one in eastern Maine, and one in the Upper East Side in New York City . . .

“We split our time between condo communities in center city Philadelphia and on Little Sarasota Bay on the west coast of Florida, when we are not enjoying home exchanges or other travel. We have become very involved with an amazing community of . . . condos in Sarasota known as Pelican Cove, where . . . I am serving as president of the board . . . My wife, Ilene, is the chair of the steering committee . . .

“Building on my stint as a health care lobbyist for nonprofit human service agencies and urban hospitals serving large numbers of Medicaid patients, I have spent the last five years working as a part-time consultant for the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, working on a campaign called #IWantToWork that is working to reshape public policy in Pennsylvania relating to employment for people with disabilities.

“Looking back, I credit my experience at the College of Social Studies for preparing me for a very satisfying career in public service. The five-page papers that we were required to submit each week, making an argument and supporting it, was excellent preparation for the many policy memos I wrote to governors and legislators over the years . . .”

Jeff Kessler: “. . . still in the active practice of neurology. Four married children and seven grandchildren help distract me from my deteriorating golf game. Have received really nice phone calls from members of the teams that I have been able to support in addition to the school itself. My daughter, Vicki ’07, and her husband, Evan Browne ’05, are constant reminders of the special gift of what Wesleyan imparts to each of us for a lifetime.”

Arthur Rhodes: “Still seeing patients at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where I am professor of dermatology and senior attending. Mostly patients with melanoma, or at high risk. Leslie and I have nine grandchildren between us, both in Chicago and New Orleans.”

Clyde Beers: “Since retiring, I’ve become an avid (vegetable, fruit, and berries) gardener. Up to this year, almost no problems. This year, unfortunately, I’m at war with critters . . . I think it is all the rain we have had, but maybe it just took time for them to find our ‘food in a raised bed.’ The groundhogs and rabbits wiped me out of my first crop of broccoli, zucchini, lettuce, carrots, and cilantro. They later attacked the cucumbers and tomatoes, but by that time my defenses were vastly improved.

“Donna and I now are delighted to have three children and their families, including eight grandchildren. The latter are stretched out from almost in college to a three- and five-year old.”

Carl Hoppe: “In March this year I left my Beverly Hills office of 42 years and moved my office closer to home. In four-and-a-half years I will probably hang it up. Our youngest, Colette, has completed a two-year assignment at NIH and entered an oceanography program at USC. Our oldest, Kathryn, is tenured at Green River College in Washington. The middle girl, Anne, has left Rupert Murdoch’s Harper Collins and is senior book editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in NYC. Diane and I have reduced practices. Diane is active in community issues. I help her out with that and play tennis three times a week. Life is good.”

Gar Hargens:“. . . 1965 class notes in the recent Wesleyan. . . was particularly meaningful to me. Win’s account of building for Habitat took Missy and me back a year ago to a similar adventure in Northern Cambodia . . . we didn’t have wheelbarrows, but instead carried bags of sand and cement to the middle of the dirt floor and mixed a concrete soup. Maybe it was the 90-degree heat and humidity, but by next morning the slabs had miraculously cured enough to stand on for the final ceremony. The Cambodian family were moving from a shack that was constantly flooded. With a toilet and cold water tap, they were ecstatic with their simple space.

“We came home from those three weeks only to learn of Kirt Mead’s passing and jump right back on a plane. Dave Dinwoodey’s words beautifully described Kirt’s service and the fellowship and love surrounding his family. I spoke to Susan the other day and she had just finished reading your notes and totally agreed. She said the support of her daughters and the Meads’ great network of friends has helped deal with the shock and pain. She was about to head overseas and visit familiar places and friends there. We agreed to meet up in Nice next April, one of her favorites.

“Dave Good and I meet for lunch regularly. David was head of Austrian Studies at the University of Minnesota. He remembers interviewing one of our firm’s founders, Elizabeth “Lisl” Close who grew up in her parents Alfred Loos house in Vienna. Close Associates is 80 years old this year and I’ve been part of it for fifty. Missy says I can’t stop now because ‘architects don’t get good until they’re 80,’ like Frank Lloyd Wright. Great . . .”

Bruce Patterson:“Martha and I bought a condo in Florida in 2015. In Osprey, just south of Sarasota. Love it. Martha, the good one, walks early and regularly sees Stephen King on his walk with his dog. Nice, friendly guy. Still spend half year in Connecticut since both kids live in Stamford. We’re very lucky. Will probably downsize in Connecticut.”

Jim Stewart: “Thought it might be worth noting that this summer I was recognized for 50 years of service with my law firm of Pullman & Comley, LLC, in Bridgeport, Conn. Daughter, Kristen Stewart Barbarotta ’00, and daughter, Courtney Stewart Dutt, Trinity ’03, both practice in my field of trusts and estates here in Connecticut.”

Great to hear from Bird Norton, one outstanding athlete and friend: “Things going well as we all hit 75! My so-called depression has not come back since that wonderful 50th Reunion. Any one hear anything more about Bill Brundage? I wonder how he did through all those natural catastrophes on the big island of Hawaii.”

David Gross: “’Retired’ after 32 years as a professor of English at the University of Oklahoma in 2004. Returned to my home state of Maine at that time. Since then I have taught two courses in the Honors College at the University of Maine each semester, as well as two online for Oklahoma. I even served as interim dean of the UMaine Honors College for a while. As much as I love Maine, I’ve become sick of the winters . . . so at the end of this academic year I will really retire, and Stephanie and I will relocate to the Texas Hill Country . . . Because I started in the Class of ’64, it is with friends and fellow Betas from that class that I have stayed in touch. I see John Schacht ’64 and Ken Kekke ’64 on visits to Iowa City . . . and have had several nice long phone conversations recently with my freshman year roommate, Dave Best.”

David Osgood: “I just finished reading Bad Stories: What the Hell Just Happened to Our Country. Steve Almond ’88, the author, is a Wes Tech alum. Except for staunch Trump supporters, I think most will find this a good, thought-provoking read.”

Rick Borger: “Judy and I are enjoying life at Cornwall Manor in Cornwall, Pa., after having lived in Jerseyville, Ill., for a number of years following my retirement in 2004 from The Hill School in Pottstown, Pa.”

Bertel Haarder:Brief resume—“Junior year at Wesleyan 1964-1965; 37 years as Danish MP since 1975; seven years in the European Parliament.; 22 years as Danish cabinet minister, including 15 years as Minister for Education and Research. Educational reforms were deeply inspired by the Wesleyan experience.”

Steve Badanes: “Giving a lecture at Wesleyan in October. Invited by Elijah Huge, who teaches architecture at the college . . . Still running the Neighborhood Design/Build Studio every spring at University of Washington (ndbs.be.washington.edu) and teaching in Vermont at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School (yestermorrow.org) every August. (Saw Jim Bernegger there this past summer). Enjoying life on Whidbey Island and working in the studio, doing some woodturning, furniture, and trying to make some art. Linda is busy in her studio, beekeeping, and in the garden.”

Guy Archer: “Andrea and I took a trip to Winnipeg, Ottawa, Portsmouth, N.H., Boston, and Bristol, R.I., for the month of July. We’re keeping fit walking up and down Diamondhead Crater four or five times a week—better than joining an exercise club.”

Philip L. Rockwell | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

Dear Classmates, it was a pleasure seeing Bill Blakemore in March at an event celebrating the late Richard Wilbur MA’58 Hon. 77, in Memorial Chapel. Bill’s remarks were wonderful, as you’d expect, and highlighted a moving evening of remembrance. Professor Wilbur, former U.S. poet laureate, recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes and the National Book Award, taught at Wesleyan from 1957–1977 and is fondly remembered. Among Bill’s reflections was the fact that Mr. Wilbur had a profound effect on himself and on a number of our fellow students, including Bill Hunt, the late Sam Davis, and the late Spike D’Arthenay ’64. NPR covered the event, which you can find at npr.org.

Win Chamberlin provided this recap of his recent trip to Haina, Dominican Republic, with Habitat for Humanity: “We pushed loaded wheelbarrows into the house and poured a cement floor where there had been only dirt. The house was made of wood salvaged from shipping crates. We painted the inside white and the outside yellow. Our family was a single mother who had three adorable sons. Because of our work and the generous support from Habitat for Humanity, she has a bathroom, a floor, and a painted home. Her life is transformed.

“Haina is one of the 15 poorest municipalities in the country with nearly 65 percent living at or below the poverty level. The average annual income of the families served by Habitat Dominican Republic is $2,400. But the people are attractive, happy, and self-sufficient. They left us charmed and full of gratitude for the warm welcome we received from their community.” Wonderful report and work, Win!

Mary Ellen and Dave Dinwoodey were on campus in April for the dedication of the impressive new tennis courts on Vine Street and for the inaugural match, the nationally ranked women’s team versus a talented Tufts squad.

Terrific day (Cards were victorious) and a number of generous contributors to the project honored former standout Wesleyan tennis players, including Mike Burton and Fred Millett (recognized through Mary Ellen and Dave’s gift).

Dave and Jim Bernegger recently got together for lunch and then saw a performance at the Boston Conservatory in which Jim’s son, Quinn, had one of the lead parts. Quinn, who has a very impressive tenor voice, is finishing up his opera program at the conservatory and wants to make opera singing his career.

Fred Newschwander has published A Day in the Life of a Country Vet, a book I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend. (It is available on Amazon.) Fred has now retired but remains active in number of veterinary organizations and has been honored for his enormous contributions to his profession and to countless animals and their owners. Fred writes, “I sadly noted the passing of the two Wesleyan faculty members who had the greatest influence on my life at Wesleyan: Bob Rosenbaum and Dick Winslow ’40. I did a 10-day horseback safari in Botswana this spring where we rode about 15 miles per day to different tent camps. Enjoyed a boat/elephant tour of nature preserves in India in early 2018. The skiing and snowmobiling season has arrived, but I must admit it is getting harder to drag myself out into the cold.” Thanks for writing, Fred, and great job on the book!

As reported in the last issue of the magazine, Kirt Mead passed away last fall. Mary Ellen and Dave Donwoody attended Kirt’s memorial service in December and wrote his touching reflections of that event: “The service was held in a smallish Episcopal church in the very lovely waterside town of Marion in southeastern Massachusetts, where the Mead family has a summer home. Every available seat in the main church was taken, along with overflow in an adjacent smaller chapel. I’d estimate a good 250 people or more.

“The service itself was beautifully delivered with lovely reminiscences by Kirt’s two daughters and his two brothers, classical music by a string quartet, some poetry and hymns, and reflections of the presiding minister who clearly knew Kirt well. You would have quickly recognized from your own experience the Kirt Mead whose life was being celebrated: A prodigious intellect; an independent thinker unafraid to take a solitary position; and a man with a deep curiosity about most everything. In my own mind, I kept hearing a description of the quintessential Wesleyan graduate. The service had the effect of making me feel more deeply the loss of a classmate with remarkable talents.

“After the service, we headed a few blocks over to the water and the town’s primary yacht club, where Kirt was an active sailor and member, for a reception. We spoke with Kirt’s wife, Susan, who’s doing pretty well under the circumstances. She was very appreciative that we had come to the service, so I was glad that we had decided to make what proved to be a pretty modest effort, only a bit over an hour each way. I told the family that those of us who had worked with Kirt on our 50th believed that he had seemed to come full circle and had renewed his attachment to the current Wesleyan, and they all shared that same impression. Interestingly, I ran into Gar Hargens there. Gar had been visiting his son in Newton and came to the service before flying back to Minneapolis.

“Yesterday’s service for Kirt causes me to reflect upon the growing importance of the extended friendships that we are blessed to have with one another.”

Finally, during my annual trip to South Carolina for tennis, I stopped in Conway to see Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers play the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The game was played on Vrooman Field, named in honor of John, the school’s long-time coach, professor, athletic director, and administrator. Unfortunately, John and wife Deborah were on a cruise to France and missed an exciting game won by CCU 17-16 with a walk-off homer in the ninth.

Philip L. Rockwell | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

Dear, Classmates. First of all, it is very sad to report the sudden passing of Kirt Mead on Nov. 26, 2017, in Massachusetts. Kirt was a man of great intelligence and accomplishment. All of us were enriched by his involvement in our 50th. And, many of us saw Kirt looking great at our 2017 Homecoming meeting with the class of 1968’s 50th.

Received thoughtful holiday greetings from Bob Barton (Lanesboro, Mass.), Dave Dinwoodey (Wellesley, Mass.), Steve Flance (Santa Fe, N.M.), Chuck Hearey (Orinda, Calif.), Fred Nachman (Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Ted See (Hartford, Conn.), and Bill Trapp (Lacey, Wash.).

Congratulations to noted architect Gar Hargens (AIA, NCARB), president of Close Associates in Minneapolis, on the celebration of the firm’s 80th anniversary.

Gar writes: “…professor John Martin gets credit for opening my eyes to architecture. I believe Ann Ulmer (daughter of Close’s founder) taught at Wesleyan…and one of their grandchildren may have attended. Colby Andrus ’63, our cross-country manager, encouraged me to go to the University of Minnesota, his home state, for my degree in architecture, and I’m glad I did.”

And, I asked John Dunton if he’d elaborate on his involvement with international travel and Intervac, which follows: “Carol and I are halfway through a year living in a small town in France; this is hands-down the biggest adventure of my life. It took me 62 years to get to Europe but that first trip to Paris showed me what I’d been missing. After several more visits to France we decided we wanted to get beneath the tourist tour surface and see what it was like actually to live here. In 2012 we joined Intervac, an international house exchange program. Over the next three years we hosted 10 families from France and Germany in our home in Waltham, Mass., while they toured Boston and New England. Once we had eight housing IOU’s scattered around France we took seven weeks in 2015 and visited our new friends in Paris, Versailles, Fontainebleu, Souvigny, Strasbourg, Provence, Lyon, and Veigne, a small town south of Tours in the Loire Valley. The Veigne couple got an offer from Boston University to study and teach there; they needed a place to live with their three children, we loved their home in Veigne, so voilà! We swapped houses for a year.

“We’re living and loving small-town life with its slower pace; the personal interaction with Marco, our baker, and his wife, Maggie, at the boulangerie; buying meat from Bernard, the living image of a small-town butcher, at his boucherie. Weekly we shop at Marché, a collection of food vendor trucks and tables set up in the town square. We buy more types of cheese than we knew existed, explore the amazing varieties of fish laid out in a cornucopia of colors and shapes on shaved ice, and select among chicken, duck, goose, turkey, pigeon, rabbit and more, most with heads still attached. The vegetables in season are there: lettuce is ’salad,’ okra is gombo, but don’t try to find kale—maybe in Paris, but not in Veigne. From the day we arrived our neighbors have been beyond helpful and welcoming, and friends of our host family frequently invite us to their homes. Fortunately, Carol speaks French; my attempts to learn it are about as successful as my D in German at Wesleyan would indicate.

“What do we miss? Family and friends; Boston’s cultural attractions; and American washer/dryer/disposal appliances. But we’re reveling in this experience especially when we share the chateaux and cathedrals, as well as small-town life, with visiting family and friends. Welcome to Hotel Veigne! However, we are fully booked through July after which, with some sadness, we will return to our other home.”

John, thank you for your interesting write-up and information on Intervac!

Philip L. Rockwell | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

Dear Classmates, thank you for some very good responses to the recent request for news:

Fred Newschwander writes: “I am reluctantly realizing and accepting that my body is no longer young, so I am trying to adapt and maximize what it can still do. The downside: A spouse’s horseback injury and health issues led to mental health problems which led to an unwanted and untimely divorce. Therefore, at a time when I was working on my bucket list I no longer had anyone to play with. My friends say they are too old for the kind of activities I like to do. Those who are young enough still have jobs and on weekends are busy with family activities. The upside: The Bucket List check-off continues. I have completed a book of stories from my 38 years as a mixed-practice veterinarian. Last year I did a 10-day wilderness horseback tour of Iceland, riding 20-40 miles per day in the rain between wilderness huts. This summer I am returning to Botswana for a rerun of a horseback camera safari where we ride across the veldt between rustic tent campsites. Continuing a love first developed by choir director Richard Winslow at Wesleyan, free moments are filled by singing at nursing homes in an a capella octet. My horses have already worn out a set of horseshoes this spring.”

Tony Schuman has been appointed interim dean of the college of architecture design at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He observes: “At a time when a number of you are dialing it back a bit, I am dialing it up. The dean of my college retired last fall after 25 years on the job. I am not a candidate for the permanent position, but I agreed to steer the ship until the new chief is in place.”

Condolences to Paul Larson’s family. In a very fine obituary he is: “remembered for his compassion for others, his kindness, his spirit, and his generosity. His unconditional love for his family was always his first priority. He was quick-witted and always had a joke at-the-ready. He believed laughter was the remedy for all. He truly loved his country, Christmas, and the 4th of July, as well as boating and beach vacations in Maine. He also was a diehard Red Sox fan. He was a friend of Bill’s for 15 years, which brought him serenity and peace.  He firmly believed in giving back to one’s community. He served as a Darien youth sports coach, Holmes School PTA co-chair, and Darien Boat Club officer. Paul served on the Darien RTM and the Board of Education. He was a member of Darien Kiwanis Club, Darien Men’s Association, the Country Club of Darien, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. After moving to Norwalk in 2004, Paul became an officer with the Norwalk Association of Silvermine Homeowners, a volunteer at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, and a member of the Norwalk Community Chorale.”

Paul was born May 22, 1943, in Bristol, Conn. As a Cardinal, he captained the track and cross country team and was a member of Kappa Nu. Paul received his MBA from Rochester and was a U.S. Naval Reserve supply officer aboard the U.S.S. Caloosahatchee, and retired as a Lieutenant Commander. He began his career as a securities analyst at Chase Investors Corp., was then an assistant vice president at the General Electric Pension Fund, and finally an equity analyst/portfolio manager with General Reinsurance.

Steve Flance writes that Gary and the Wombats provided some of that good old rock and roll for the New Mexico Children’s Foundation in April. The Jacob’s Robe Wombats continue to serve worthy causes and to amaze all of their grateful fans! For me, anyway, one of my greatest college memories!

Bob MacLean writes: “Just passed my 40th year as a professional ski instructor. Still flying and part-time flight instructor with an interest in an air charter business out of Palo Alto.

“Two years ago started a new business in the food world. We are introducing Yolá yogurt topping in grocery stores, competing with Reddi Wip out of a pressurized can, bringing a yogurt product to that category. Check us out  at yolawhip.com.

“Lots of travel, not unlike my life in high tech and medical devices from which I retired 12 years ago. Winter finds me in Colorado enjoying the outdoor life. Fall and spring in Baja, Mexico, and the rest of the year staying in touch with family and friends and challenging myself with an occasional golf game with Phil Russell, Pete Whiteley, and Lynn Edwards. Old roommate Ralph Jacobs remains a constant source of entertainment on and off the airwaves.”

Bertel Haarder spent his junior year at Wesleyan (1964-65) and credits his experience in Middletown as a positive influence in making policy as Danish minister for education and research for 15 years. He writes: “After more than 35 years in the Danish Parliament and 22 years as cabinet minister for ten different ministries, I’m now back in Parliament, running for a seat in the upcoming election. We have removed all age limits in the public administration so, my age—72— is no problem. I’m very engaged in European and Nordic cooperation. For seven years I was in the European Parliament, and recently I was president of the Nordic Council. In Denmark we note with satisfaction that the American president is not speaking for the American people nor his administration when he salutes Brexit and courts Marine le Pen. A century of warm and cold wars have taught Americans—I hope—to value European cooperation.”

Wolf Brueckmann writes: “This may be my first update for class notes in 50 years, but I have decided to follow the ‘better late than never’ precept. I am about to celebrate the first anniversary of my move to Luray, Va., from the Washington, D.C. area, where I spent most of my professional career since leaving Wesleyan. My work was centered around a variety of international economic and business themes, involving various roles such as association executive, lobbyist and university teacher.

“Luray lies in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, and I now enjoy both river and mountain ranges from close up. An added bonus is having Nick Anderson as a close neighbor. My special retirement treat is that I can devote time to oil painting, which I was able to do only intermittently on weekends in the past. I am proudly following the progress of my daughter Loni, who is going into her third year at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School (she just passed her Medical Board exams). I very much enjoyed seeing classmates at the 50th Reunion, which already seems a long time ago.”

Peter Kelman shared that he and his wife, Therese Mageau, moved to Northfield, Vt., shortly after Reunion, in hopes that it would be easier for his mother-in-law who has dementia. His son, Sam Kelman ’03, lives there with his wife and children.

Peter also wrote of his travels over the past 18 months. “10 days on an education-focused stay in Cuba; an eye-opening month in China (primarily to visit our daughter and her children who are living in Shanghai while our son-in-law works for Apple Computer, but we also spent two weeks on a private tour of ethnic minority villages in southern China); two weeks on the West Coast (including the Turner Classic Movie Festival in Hollywood) and Southwest (to visit Therese’s Mom, combined with some walking and bird-watching); a 20-day walking trek across England, and another month in Asia to visit our daughter and grandkids (this time also seeing Beijing, as well as parts of Vietnam, and Cambodia—all quite inspiring, especially in contrast to the ugliness of our country at this time).”

He’s also blogging about the election, President Trump, the Republicans, the Democrats, etc.—“stressing the positive as much as I felt it.” He says, at its peak, he had over 150 readers, but since leaving for China in mid-March, he hasn’t had the time or the inclination to continue. For those who may be curious, his “optimistic-progressive blog” can be found at morningpete.com.

Bertel, Bob, Steve, Tony, Fred, Wolf, and Peter: Many thanks for your thoughtful communications and warmest wishes!

Philip L. Rockwell | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

Class of 1965 35th Reunion Memorial Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship

Michael Ivy ’20, Indianapolis, IN

Classmates, I hope your holidays were merry and bright and that 2017 has started well for you and your families. Nice recent greetings from:

Steve Badanes sent a great photo of him and his partner on a beach somewhere in the Seattle area. She’s giving him a big hug midst a sea of driftwood! Steve sent this as he was on his way to his annual Yestermorrow School class in Vermont. He leads groups of young people in the fine art of community building. They conceive of, design, and then build everything from gazebos to recreation areas and cabins—all for public use and made with sustainability and the environment in mind.

Mary Ellen and Dave Dinwoodey are enjoying their grandchildren and are fit and active. Enjoyed seeing them at the resounding football win in Williamstown in the fall.

Joining us at the game were Prudy and Bob Barton. They are well and in the process of getting out of the “farming business.” They have a lovely place, Sky Dance Farm, in Lanesboro, Mass., not far from Williamstown. In Prudy and Bob’s holiday message they write: “We are clearly in the autumn of our lives. Change is constant, even as we enjoy the fruits of continued life work. Our health is good, our offspring and spouses are wonderful, real people…The farm is for sale, our lake cottage sold last month.” Over the years, they’ve raised chickens, sheep, et al, and have wonderful dogs and cats to boot, all on hundreds of verdant acres. Their children—Molly ’00, Adam ’04, and Eliza—are flourishing and have produced three grandchildren, to the delight of Prudy and Bob. Looking at the photo of Prudy and Bob, I’d say autumn looks pretty darn good!

Ellen and Ted See sent a lovely message and picture of their five young grandchildren. Quite a fun and active group! Also, nice to hear from Marilyn and Bill Trapp who are well and enjoying their lives in Lacey, Wash.

Julia and Amertat Cohn sent a wonderful message, which will end this edition of class notes: “We wish that your journey for 2017 be filled with even more success, inspiration, and of course good health and LOVE so we can become better examples for our world.”

PHILIP L. ROCKWELL | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

Dear Classmates, thanks to those responding to the request for news!

Class conveners Mark Edmiston and Hugh Wilson write: “Although we have nothing planned for Homecoming 2016, we hope to meet at Reunion 2017. We’d like to consider the following opportunities for the class to pursue:

• East Africa safari trip centered on Kenya combining sightseeing with time at Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO).

• Cuba trip focused on higher education and the opportunities for ’65 to assist students there. We also talked about a $100,000 scholarship endowment to fund a Wesleyan student’s study in Cuba.

• Fund the compilation of a directory of alumni willing to mentor students in various ways.”

They add, “These are not mutually exclusive and feedback is encouraged. Also, detailed information would be available at the meeting.”

Bill Trapp writes, “Marilyn and I, the three kids, and eight grandkids are all doing fine, and I am headed out this morning for a round of golf. Could it get any better? We are enjoying some crisp Pacific Northwest fall weather and will soon drive to Southern Cal to visit friends. I certainly wish I could be there for Don Russell’s induction ceremony. He means a lot to all of us who were lucky enough to have had him for a coach and mentor. We will never forget his kindness and patience!”

Bob Block writes, “After retiring in 2011 following 36 years with the department of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, I am now an emeritus professor and chair. I served the American Academy of Pediatrics as president-elect, president, and past president between 2010 and 2013. Since then, I have been spending more time with my wife, Sharon, and my woodcarving hobby. We are enjoying our three grandchildren who live nearby.”

Bruce Patterson writes, “I’m semi-retired. My wife, Martha, who is fully retired, and I bought a condo south of Sarasota last year after the horrible February 2015 in the northeast. We spent five months there last winter and had a ball. Just about every night we walked to Casey Key Beach to watch the sunset. Fabulous! While home in Stamford, Conn., I still do marine surveys, and am now doing one for the Darien Police Department. Both our kids now live in Stamford, so we’re very lucky. Our son works for a hedge fund in Old Greenwich and our daughter is a buyer for T.J. Maxx.”

PHILIP L. ROCKWELL | prockwell@wesleyan.edu

Dear Classmates: Here’s the news that’s fit to print:

Congratulations to John Hall, who has been elected by the alumni body as a university trustee! Mark Edmiston, Stew McConaughy, Bill Blakemore and now John are the members from our class to serve in this prestigious role. Anyone who knows John will agree that he’s a fine choice and will do an outstanding job.

John Vrooman and his lovely wife, Deborah, were great hosts to me and a friend during a recent trip through South Carolina. They live in picturesque Conway, close to Coastal Carolina University, where he and Deborah have made enormous contributions for nearly 50 years. Although both are retired from formal teaching, coaching, and counseling duties, they stay very involved there. Coastal has grown from a small two-year community college in the mid-’50s—operating out of public school classrooms at night—to a highly respected university with nearly 10,000 students on a beautiful 630-acre campus. John and Deborah have been on that journey much of the way. Also, the handsome new baseball field is named Vrooman Field and John has been inducted into the university’s athletics hall of fame. This is in recognition of his achievements as head baseball coach, where he recorded 345 victories, six consecutive Big South championships, and the university’s first NCAA regional appearance in 1991 at Florida State University. John also served as director of athletics and is professor of history, emeritus. Since John retired, the baseball program has continued to achieve impressive results and, as this is being written, CCU has just shocked the baseball world by upsetting North Carolina State, LSU, Florida, TCU. and Arizona to win the NCAA Division I championship in Omaha. Congratulations, John!.

While a number of us are in retirement, Grant Parr is closing in on seven years as physician-in-chief of the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at New Jersey’s Atlantic Health. Grant preciously served as chair of cardiovascular services at Morristown Memorial Hospital, now a part of the Atlantic system. The Institute performs more heart surgeries than any other hospital in New Jersey.

New class co-conveners Hugh Wilson and Mark Edmiston hosted several profitable meetings over Reunion & Commencement weekend in May. Classmates present included Hugh, Mark, John Hall, Dave Dinwoodey, Kirt Mead, Tom Elliman, Win Chamberlin, and yours truly.

Hugh reports: “Our meeting began with a presentation by Kennedy Odede ’12 on the Shining Hope for Communities school for girls (SHOFCO) that he founded in a slum suburb of Nairobi, Kenya, where Kennedy grew up. This was a WESeminar sponsored by our class and was open to the entire community. Kennedy described the success of the school, which is about to graduate its first eighth-grade class, several of whom will then spend a year at Loomis Chaffee or Miss Porter’s School in the U.S. From our discussions, it sounded as though SHOFCO (shofco.org) would welcome a visit by a group of us to the school in the future. They would also welcome introductions to other private boarding schools in North America that might be interested in providing scholarships for these girls.

“We then walked across campus to a room in the new Boger Hall (the old squash courts). John Hall reported that the class has raised approximately $4.1 million and should be able to reach our goal of $5 million. We were also told by Barbara-Jan Wilson that 102 Wesleyan families have donated greater than $1 million each and that 12 of these families are parents, not alumni. This leads all other schools in NESCAC and is a testament to the quality of education that current Wesleyan students feel they are receiving. Furthermore, Wesleyan admissions were the most competitive they have ever been, with just 17 percent of applicants being admitted.

“Our next agenda item was discussion of Wesleyan’s exchange program with the University of Havana. Two members from Wesleyan’s exchange office informed us that between one and three students have spent a semester at the University of Havana during each of the past three years. The program (CASA) is run by Brown University with several other Ivy League members. It was suggested that our class could endow a summer internship for a Wesleyan student for $100,000, a possibility that we felt was worthy of further consideration. We also raised the possibility of bringing Cuban students to Wesleyan, but this seems to be legally more complex at present.

“We also discussed helping to create a database of Wesleyan alumni who would agree to be contacted by undergraduates for counsel on careers in a wide range of fields. Please provide any feedback on the subjects of a trip to East Africa and SHOFCO, support for Wesleyan internships in Cuba, and the database project to Hugh (hrwilson@yorku.ca) or Mark (mme663@mac.com).”

Many thanks, Hugh (and Mark!)

PHILIP L. ROCKWELL | prockwell@wesleyan.edu