Tag: 1969

John Bach is “still the Quaker chaplain at Harvard and a painting contractor. I’m going out with my boots on.”

Chuck Taylor “spends time on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, in the Hudson River Valley, and traveling. Friends are welcome at either location. Bright lights, city lights, or beautiful, historic, lower Hudson River Valley.”

Fred Coleman continues as a “trauma psychiatrist for refugees in the USA.” He is a member of the Global Mental Health Learning Collective, with 18 teams in nine countries. (No surprise, the focus is trauma and mental health.) He says that his wife, two kids, and three grandchildren are well. This year he has traveled to Australia and New Zealand; to Maui with a daughter and her family; and to Lake George in the Adirondacks. Fred also attended a great 60th high school reunion at St. Andrews in Delaware; and he recommends reading Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley.

Bill Eaton wrote, “I met my wife, Janet, 52 years ago in Madison, Wisconsin, while I earned a PhD in sociology. We spent five years in Montreal where I taught at McGill. After five years at the NIMH in D.C., I worked as a teacher/researcher in mental health for 40 years at Johns Hopkins. I edited a prominent textbook and developed a screening scale for depression disorder that’s in wide use. We live in Kendall Crosslands, a Quaker retirement community in Pennsylvania. I published a novella, Outward Bound. I make noise in a band called Sweet Potato Fries, reminiscent of my involvement in the Wesleyan jug band, Vulgar Boatmen. I enjoy supporting Michael Bennet ’87 for governor [of Colorado].”

Harry Nothacker is “still involved in athletic activities. [I just completed] a swim/run biathlon in Rehoboth, Delaware, which I first entered in 1982. Silas Wild, and a navy roommate, encouraged me to start running. Since then, I’ve competed in about 400 races, with distances from one mile to Ironman treks.”

Dennis Marron wanted to let us know that he visited Wesleyan with his granddaughter, who he “thought was a fit. She, however needed ‘big-time football,’ so she chose Virginia Tech. . . . On another note, I have a grandson who plays football and lacrosse [and he] excels at both. Could be another ‘Hoy’s Boys’!”

Ken and Visakha Kawasaki are authors of multiple books and publications available from their Buddhist Relief Mission.

Stuart Blackburn wrote, “All good in Brighton (UK).” He has another novel due out next year; it will be set in 1940s San Francisco.

Phil Wallas sent in this sad news: “Class of ’69, Dr. Bill Demicco died in early July. He and his wife, Marie, lived in Scarborough, Maine. At Wesleyan he managed the unusual combination of pre-med studies and the demanding CSS program. He was a man of many talents: pulmonologist, father, husband, musician, painter, dancer, foodie, lobster-fest host, and more. If you knew him, you knew a thoughtful, warm, steady, funny friend for life.”

Steve Remmer also wrote of a classmate’s passing: “Jack Meier died [on May 30] after a long battle with esophageal cancer. He died at his dream home in Bluffton, South Carolina, with his wife, Claudia, by his side. Jack was a fraternity brother at Deke and roommate in New York when we both were enrolled at Columbia Business School. He was a good friend, and together with John Mihalec, the three of us spent many evenings at Deke discussing the war in Vietnam, race relations and the civil rights movement, sports, music, and women. It didn’t help our grades, but we became lifelong friends. During the past six months or so, the three of us were able to reconnect, joke a bit about ourselves, and remember those special times at Wesleyan. Jack will be sorely missed.” John added that “although Jack started out in our Class of 1969, he took some time off and actually graduated in the Class of 1970; and he played [on] the undefeated 1969 football team the fall after our graduation.”

John Lipsky ’68 responded to a Bob Dombroski comment: “I remember vividly the appearance of Janis Joplin and the Holding Company at MoCon. I was on the breakfast crew. As I sat having dinner, Janis and the band joined me and began talking. Their subsequent performance left no doubt they were headed to the big time. I saw some memorable concerts in the circular hall.”

Mid-July. Hot and wet in Old Saybrook. In cities and states around us, floods rip apart the landscape, our town a protected enclave. Daughter Liz, Josh, and family just left. The grandchildren go in many different directions at warp speed. Little speed for us. The locale offers shops, doctors, restaurants, health club, library, and theater. People I worked with are dying, multiple teachers and students this spring. The consolation—a Haddam/Killingworth reunion at Hammonasset State Park and a 60th high school reunion at Rockledge CC in West Hartford. Can’t forget Janis singing, “Ball and Chain.”

Fritz Wiecking wrote, “After an interesting and varied work life, I am currently retired in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and contemplating a move to Costa Rica in a few months. I’ve worked as an Episcopal priest, as an economist in several think tanks and public interest groups, for unions, and [in] politics. I’m currently spending time as a painter.”

John de Miranda said, “Still teaching aspiring addiction counselors virtually through UC San Diego. My son, Colin, and his partner, Alice, are living with us and saving for a home they are building in Merida, Yucatan. Glad to be healthy and living in Northern California with my wife, Carol-Ann. Her nursing training is very useful at this stage of life. Watching the new Bob Dylan movie yesterday brought back tons of memories of the ’60s.”

Steve Knox contributed, “In 2020, Bonnie and I moved to Asheville, North Carolina. Since then, we have been living here along with our kids and grandkids. In September, Asheville was devastated by Hurricane Helene. The River Arts District and many homes and small businesses were washed away. The nearby North Carolina Arboretum lost 5,000 trees. Fortunately, we suffered no property damage or personal injuries. Many of our friends and neighbors were not so lucky. We did lose utilities and water and had to leave town for a while. Our lives are back to normal now, but I suspect it will take years to clean up the mess.”

Stuart Blackburn said: “Remember the Vietnam draft lottery of December 1969? It’s the centerpiece of my new novel, Luck of the Draw. I hope many in the Classes of ’69 and ’68 will find it interesting.”

Michael Fink wrote, “2024 was an interesting year for our family. I had 3 level cervical spine surgery on March 7, which resulted in bilateral C5 palsy incident to the surgery. That meant paralysis of both shoulders, which eliminated use of my arms from shoulders to elbows. Pretty radical. Now nine grueling months of two-times-per-week PT later, my brain has relearned how to communicate with my shoulders, and I’ve regained mobility. Further strengthening still ongoing but making strong (pun intended) progress. Our daughters, son-in-law, and live-in significant other for daughter Becca, joined Susan and me for two weeks in Portugal in late August. A great time was had by all. ‘We travel as a pack.’  Our middle daughter is now . . .  pregnant after arduous IVF process, and we expect our first grandchild (boy) about third week of June; Jenni’s doing great. 2024 was a good year, except for the palsy, and 2025 looking to be outstanding. Wishing all of us a healthy, joyous, and constructive 2025.—Michael”

Tony Mohr shared, “It was [a] year for traveling on cruise ships. In July, as part of a longer trip to Europe, Beverly and I took a seven-day cruise from Venice to Athens. Then in November–December, we cruised from Lisbon to Cape Town, 24 days visiting Morocco, Cabo Verde, Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Sao Tome, Namibia, and South Africa. The trip was an eye-opener, an education we’re glad we had the chance to experience.

                  “I’m still sitting on the bench part time and still helping to edit the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Social Impact Review. We’re always looking for good material. If anyone is interested in contributing, please reach out to me.”

Jim Weinstein wished everyone a happy New Year.

Peter Arenella wrote, “Knees and hips require care. Mia and I live in a rural Mexican village. Watch a lot of Netflix and have almost 13K followers on X where I post about why and how our democracy has fallen into a potentially fatal abyss. Mia is a certified California court interpreter working remotely. She is brilliant and beautiful. The kids are well and thriving. Dave, because of birth complications, listens to a different drummer. His daily call is a highlight because he’s so content with his job. Kay has a PhD in clinical psychology and teaches it in LA.” [INSERT PHOTO]

Nick Browning said, “I’m blessed beyond any merit. Grandkids visit us in Vermont. No more basketball or tennis, now it’s pickleball. I’m constantly whipsawed between the good fortune and comfort of my life and the terrible news presented by the media. Our world is spiraling toward crisis state.”

In 2024, Jeff Richards saw three Broadway productions on The New York Times Best Ten List: Purlie Victorious, Maybe Happy Ending, and Our Town. Spring plans include David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross, with Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, and Bill Burr. “I find it difficult to believe it’s the 60th anniversary of our freshmen arrival. The line from Wilder’s play is in my head. ‘Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute.’ I remember many of those minutes from my Wesleyan days with great fondness.”

Jack Burtch’s book, Raising the Bar: The Mentor Guidebook for New Lawyers, helps young lawyers adapt to law firm life. “Susie and I celebrated our 55th anniversary. I’m an associate in my son’s law firm but not billing much.”

Ken and Visakha Kawasaki are saints in their constant efforts to bring peace and justice to Southeast Asia.

Robert Dombroski wrote, “While diligently chronicling my history as a ’69er, I dug up on an obscure website the precise date of the Janis Joplin concert at McConaughy: March 9, 1968. What else happened on that date is trivia now.” Does anyone remember this concert? Let us know!

Deb is part of several women’s groups that take wonderful care of their sisters. She bakes and gives away dozens of small chocolate chip cookies weekly. Annie is a therapist based in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and rescues mini-Doxies. Liz, Josh, and three children—nine, 14, and 16—live in Dundee, Michigan. Grandchildren warm New England hearts. I read large print, watch TV, hang out with Deb, cook soups in a crockpot, cobble together artwork, and exercise at the Saybrook Point Health Club. Nick is right. We are blessed beyond expectation. Before sleep, not counting sheep, I thank my relatives.

David Freedman reports: “Our 55th Reunion provided enjoyable opportunities to visit some of our fellow ’69ers and meet some alumni from other years. Kudos to you [Charlie] and the other organizers! As I said to John Mihalec, ‘see ya in five years—if not sooner!’”

David continues, “Starting with the reunion, it has been a good summer. After a series of family gatherings and the Peachtree Road Race, my wife, Carmen, and I returned to Puerto Rico for a six-week visit, visiting old (in more ways than one) friends and sampling some new restaurants that sprouted after Hurricane Maria. Not as ample as the Atlanta food scene, but there is progress. The frequent power outages have made the Puerto Rico restaurateurs resourceful and creative. And they are busy—after all, eating out beats cooking at home in the dark! As for daytime, the ocean water is warm, and the foliage lush; quite a contrast to the Middletown winters we remember.”

Charlie Morgan writes: “I got a wonderful review of my book on the Massachusetts Constitution from an attorney in Massachusetts.” The reviewer said:

“Mr. Morgan’s book is a must have for any litigator who practices corporate law focusing on the rights of not only those with ownership or managerial interests therein, but those who are otherwise aggrieved by their actions or inaction. It is an extraordinarily erudite treatise on every aspect of the subject and includes a meticulously detailed history of American constitutional jurisprudence. I highly recommend Attorney Morgan’s book for anyone who loves the law and wants to delve a little deeper into it.”

Charlie continues, “There is not much to report except that I am on the verge of publishing another book, tentatively titled Truly Dumbfounded, Dismayed, and Delighted: A Journey of Discovery, which is nearly 200 pages of anecdotes about events in my life, many humorous, some philosophical, and some sad—including several from my days at Wesleyan. One reviewer had this to say about the manuscript: ‘The quote in the “Waxing Philosophical” subchapter, “Human Behavior,” is, for me, beautifully put: “Frankly, human nature is one of those things that cannot be regulated into submission.” The whole “Waxing Philosophical” chapter is exceptional, in fact. The way in which the chapter approaches ideas from a logical, non-ideological perspective is refreshing and heartwarming. To be honest, I enjoyed the whole book. It’s funny, humble, introspective as much as it is retrospective. The tone is light and heartfelt.’”

Bill Eaton says: “Thanks for continuing to keep everyone in touch! Attached is a cover of a short novel I finished last year. Writing it kept me busy during the first year of retirement! Can you believe the sales from Amazon have skyrocketed to over 10!

“We have moved to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, near Doe Run, Pennsylvania, where they make a cheese from a mixture of goat, sheep, and cow milk, called Saint Malachi. It has won international cheese competitions!” 

Darius Brubeck writes, “Catherine and I are planning a U.S. book tour in April that will hopefully include Wesleyan.”

Stuart Blackburn shared a photo from his and Judy’s (his wife) organic food store in Brighton. He said that his next novel, “Luck of the Draw—out early next year—begins in 1969 with the draft lottery . . . should spur a few memories.”

Tom Goodman continues producing new work during the most productive period of his life as an artist: https://www.tomgoodman.com/

Last year, Michael Fink “retired subject to wrapping up few loose ends on August 31, 2023, and Susan and I moved to a mid-’60s home on [a] three-quarter acre in a lovely older subdivision in Columbia, South Carolina. Love our area, love the city and environs, love our neighbors, and really appreciate how people say ‘hi’ and wave with a smile even to perfect strangers. We installed a pool in June 2024 and are enjoying it most days. Loving retirement in every way. So busy making some cosmetic changes to house including landscaping all around so it takes a lot of time, research, and decisions. Middle daughter Jenni got married in a fabulous venue outside Philly to a guy we welcome in our close-knit family. The other two girls are doing great as well, and we spend major holidays together here or there. Off to Portugal with the girls and their main squeezes for two weeks into mid-September. Then back to South Carolina football—Division 1! 

“I’m recovering from bilateral C5 palsy reaction to 3 level cervical spine surgery on March 7.  It’s been a long road back to use of my arms and building muscle, but I’ve made great strides and am close to fully functional. Time will bring 100%. It’s been quite a journey! Y’all stay well and happy. —Michael”

From Andrew Cohen: “I’ve retired from clinical medicine, now emeritus professor at Brown (Alpert) Medical School. Carol and I have moved from Rhode Island to a wonderful home in Shelton, Connecticut, where we love to hike and swim. Still teaching medicine and physiology (now at Yale), writing, and starting a history podcast with the American Society of Nephrology. I remain in regular contact and have running conversations with my buddy Rich Kremer and sometimes with Orrin Baird.

“Best to you and all my classmates.—Andy”

Steve Gleich reports, “Lilly and I are still living in rural Nova Scotia. Both [of us] are retired from careers in psychology—school and clinical, respectively. We are active in teaching and administration of our local Buddhist retreat center (Dorje Denma Ling in Tatamagouche) and a local meditation group. We have a former foster son, Andrew, whom we see often. He lives in Halifax and will turn 42 in November. Yikes!

“Here is a photo of our visit last year to Campobello Island with Lilly’s brother and sister-in-law who live in Maine. Also, a photo of our solar panels hard at work cranking out 7,000 watts.

“We are well, yet old. Thinking fondly of all you classmates and would especially love to hear from Peter Pfeiffer or Nick Browning or anyone else I crossed paths with 57 years ago.”

Tony Mohr says, “It’s been a pleasant season. Beve and I took a ‘grand tour’ of Europe during June and July. We started in Paris, where we met up with old friends well before the Olympics, thank you, and visited some out of the lesser-known places like the Place Furstenberg and the Dior Museum. Then we hopped on the Orient Express and rode to Verona and headed up to three days at Lago di Garda, staying at the Villa Feltrinelli, a budget-busting paradiso. Next, we went to Venice for three days before jumping on a weeklong cruise from Venice to Athens via Croatia, Monemvasia, Crete, and Santorini. We hung out for a few days near (not in) Athens before flying home.

“Now once more, I’m judging part time. Retirement is good.”

Steve Smith shares: “I am writing to let you folks know that while I expect to be in Garden Island Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lihue, Kauai, until I pass away, I really enjoyed, appreciated, and learned a tremendous amount at WesU!!!!!

“I can no longer eat—I get three one-hour liquid feedings daily via a feeding tube that enters my body in the middle of my chest. I also cannot walk anymore, get out of bed, etc. But I can continue to do many things that keep me very positive, happy, and motivated like talking with/seeing my wife, Margaret Bubon Smith; family, friends, and colleagues; texting/emailing/calling people; reading and writing; using my computer; watching TV (approximately 60 channels available); listening to all kinds of music, etc., etc., etc.

“I get visitors regularly—my wife, brothers, sister, friends, and colleagues living on or visiting Kauai, etc.—so I am very fortunate. Also, am planning/expecting to assist a local resident/colleague in development of their family sandalwood plantation project—you may recall I owned and operated my private company, Forestry Management Consultants–Hawaii (FMCH) for over 30 years, and prior to that worked for 12 years (1982–1994) in a family owned and operated forestry company, Kamika Timber.

“Hope it is clear my life is/has been trucking along pretty well.

“So much aloha (love, affection, peace, compassion, mercy) and many ‘mahalos’ (thank yous) to the Class of ’69 and other class members, faculty, and people I met at WesU. —Steve”

And, lastly, this from Paul Melrose: a picture of he and Fred Coleman in Madison, Wisconsin, where they live and meet for breakfast once a month.

Ted Sanderson “directed Rhode Island’s Historic Preservation Committee for 40-plus years. Now, rehabbing a one-level modern home. With three children and three grandchildren, there’s plenty of visiting. Find us at the Newport mansions.”

Charlie Morgan published a book on Massachusetts’s constitution. “A bit of drama with the Mayflower Society and my HOA. Otherwise, healthy and busy with nonprofit and consulting clients.”

Steve Gleich “volunteers, teaches Buddhism, and admires his solar panels in rural Nova Scotia. Lily and I take care of each other and stay in touch with our foster son, Andrew, 42, and my brother, Dan ’72. Love to you all.”

Jerry Martin “retired to Vermont with daughters, Lyllah ’99 and Sarah, and four grandkids. On a sheep farm with ominous clouds of tyranny threatening, we are hopeful.”

From Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, “We continue our food distribution in unstable Sri Lanka. Be well, peaceful, and happy without enemies, worries, or troubles.”

Bill Eaton’s novel, Outward Bound, is available. Look for forests, murder, and love in a trip across the country. “We’ve been married over 50 years, with two sons and five grandchildren.”

Lynn Kozlowski is “fully retired from the University of Buffalo. I write 50-word stories and was in the running for a Story of the Year Award.”

Bill Demicco wrote, “Marie and I returned to St. Croix for the eighth time. Golf and gardening await better weather. Our daughter is a full professor of pathology at the University of Toronto. I spoke with Phil Wallas—he and Lynn just back from a month in Africa.”

Tony Mohr is now the managing editor of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Social Impact Review. Tony also wrote an essay, “The Last Carefree Summer,” which was published in the Loch Raven Review. Recently his memoir, Every Other Weekend—Coming of Age with Two Different  Dads, which was published last year, placed second in the memoir category for the Incipere Awards. (In Latin, “incipere” means “to start” or “to begin.”)

Dave Dixon said he “spent a wonderful week with my two-year-old grandson and his father in Amsterdam and nearby cities, appreciating a life in which a car is truly an afterthought. Got together about two months ago with Jeffrey Richards, Rob Pratt, and Bruce Holstein ’70 for a Wesleyan benefit performance of Purlie Victorious on Broadway (produced by none other than Jeffrey Richards).

Charlie Ingrao recently became an Italian citizen.

Fred Coleman said, “We are all well; Wendy and I, kids and grandkids [have] recovered from various ills.” Fred is still [working] with refugee programs, clinic consults, and Global Mental Health Learning Collective. In October he attended a conference in Entebbe, Uganda. “Other than a 52-hour plane delay (but that’s another story) it was great. Working on a project to use dignity as a lens for looking at human rights in mental health care. If any of you in health care, legal world, education, or other fields have reflections on dignity as a [central] ethical principle, please drop me an email.”

Barry Checkoway wrote that he his book, Youth Dialogues on Race and Ethnicity: Challenging Segregation, Strengthening Diversity, was just published by Oxford University Press.

Bryn Hammarstrom was “looking forward to 55th.” His “open-heart surgery in 2020 went well, and I’m back to chainsawing and splitting the firewood that heats our home all winter.”

Darius Brubeck didn’t make our ’69 Reunion. Instead, he was playing in Switzerland at Marians’ Jazz Room with his brothers, Chris and Dan.

Ron Reisner was in Baton Rouge for Easter with his wife to visit her son, a junior at LSU. “Last month we all went to Belize for spring break and a beach vacation. We leave here for Scottsdale to visit my high school basketball teammate and some golf dates there at McCormick Ranch. . . . Also spent some days in the fall at Pinehurst and golfed with my Wesleyan teammate, Fran Spadola. Fran . . . can still hit that golf ball a long way (after all he was a real slugger in the Red Sox farm system). Such an enjoyable fun day with a really class-act teammate and friend from Wesleyan.”

David Freedman spent the winter in Puerto Rico with his wife, Carmen. “We still have good friends there and enjoy the holiday party season and new restaurants that have sprouted post-pandemic.” He also wrote that he “worked on a potable water project sponsored by a local Rotary Club in Puerto Rico . . . there are pockets of poverty that don’t have drinking water. If any of our classmates have experience in this type of relief effort, please share. My email is lcdodavidfreedman@gmail.com.”

Paul Dickman died just before Reunion. He and Fran lived in Phoenix, where he led the pathology department at the Children’s Hospital. Paul was a re

Rick McGauley lives in Orleans, Massachusetts, and has family close.

Rip Hoffman resides in Redding, Connecticut, and is a Lutheran minister on call.

John Mergendoller ’68, travels, birds, and studies north of San Francisco. His family takes the whole image on the Christmas card.

Mo Hakim ’70 is the Lemonade King. His organic beverages are widely available.

Phil Dundas ’70 winters in Abu Dhabi and summers in Westbrook, Connecticut.

The death of Professor Richard Buel saddened many. While he lived at Essex Meadows, his presence along the Connecticut shoreline was apparent. He and I met monthly at a CVS. He led a remarkable life.

Daughter Annie is a child therapist in New Jersey and rescues dachshunds; five right now. Other daughter, Liz, has three children, ages eight to 14, girl/boy/girl, in Dundee, Michigan. Her husband works in an area nuclear plant.

Our world has shrunk to clinics, CVS, and TV. Maybe add library and food. I read large print. God willing, I will return for Commencement. Writers/artists/friends always welcome in Old Saybrook.