Does social distancing increase word count?

January 9, 2021

Dear classmates and spouses:

Does social distancing increase word count?  Apparently so. The March-April 2021 Class Notes issue, which follows, is the second longest of the COVID-19 Era. There are 114 classmates mentioned, along with 36 spouses. With apologies to Mark Twain (“If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter”), it’s more words from more people. 

Above and beyond the participation in regional Zoom “luncheons,” it seems that more classmates (roommates, teammates, songsters, etc.) are engaging with each other from a distance, which I take as a good sign for the day we can congregate again. 

There are many hyperlinks in the Notes that follow, so I hope you will use them to connect to even more information on the Class website.  As always, please reply with more news about yourself, your families, and other classmates. We don’t get charged by the word!

Cheers,

March/April Class Notes

It’s early January 2021 as I write this column for the March-April issue. Vaccine distribution is going slower than expected, so there is still uncertainty about being able to congregate freely in 2021. Your Class Council will conduct its annual meeting via Zoom on February 13. Perhaps more certainty will come out of that meeting as to future class events. For now, like so many others, we are engaging via Zoom. Regional virtual luncheons occurred monthly in November and December: Mory’s/New Haven (Don Edwards hosting), Yale Club of NYC (Peter Putzel hosting), Boston (Jerry Flannelly hosting), and the Bay Area (Owen O’Donnell hosting). All have been well-attended (aggregate of >50 classmates) and the conversations lively: politics, climate change, vaccines, and stock market. Robert Whitby, one of the first in our cohort to celebrate his 80th birthday, said it best: “It’s great to be alive and to be planning wild things for the next decade. I enjoy our Zoom virtual luncheon calls and await the time when we can resume meeting in person again.” Ted Jones is exploring the possibility of a Class golf outing in the spring. If not then, at least in the Fall.

On a wider Yale scale, Zoom was the default format for President Salovey’s quarterly updates, Yale Alumni Association (YAA) events (Bill Morse, our YAA delegate, reporting), Yale Alumni Fund events (Kai Lassen and Tony Lavely YAF Board members reporting). Outside of the Yale community, there was Tony Lee’s Climate Change Zoominar Series, in which about 30 classmates have participated. John More and Tom Barnard have facilitated some sessions. Due to some logistical challenges in New Haven, our Class Treasurer Chip Brennan’s Class dues letter was sent later than usual this fall. The modest dues are easy to pay online. During the fall, many classmates were involved in Alumni Schools Committee (ASC) interviews with local early-action applicants to Yale. All interviews were conducted via Zoom, and candidates were as eager as ever to present their credentials. I did three interviews in Atlanta and was gratified by the resilience these students show. In the early-action round, Yale admitted 837 out of 7,939 applicants (10.5%).

In the email sent to all classmates and surviving spouses in December, we highlighted classmates in the news. Just since then, there have been eight additional news articles to finish 2020 with a record number of articles. Jim Rogers spoke at a Reuters Summit, Stewart Flory was posthumously honored with a Adolphus College Fellowship, Dick Ainsworth was featured in the Ohio “Lamplighter,” John More posted an inspirational poem for our times, Rick Salomon published his memoir, Jon McBride posted a Squash Haven video, and Bob Kaiser was lauded in a new book. Lastly, 53 classmate authors were posted on the Yale Authors Facebook page throughout the year.

Many classmates shared year-end holiday greetings. Tom Barnard and Carol, just down the road in Savannah, spoke of “a time of reflection.” Dick Berk and Susan “are taking UPenn’s offer to retire in 2021.” Dick has taken up Tai Chi. Dan Berman (we’re high school classmates, too) and Lorna: Dan reminisced about his “last time in Atlanta on his way to Mississippi for Freedom Summer in 1964.” Patrick Caviness and Frederique posted: “All the wonder and magic of Christmas and a New Year of Peace, Health, Success, and Fun.” John Evans and Dottie wished: “A better 2021 with vaccinations for all!” Frank Franklin and Cindy posted, “We enjoyed the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes.” Frank also posted: “A Pennsylvania winery has released Sh!t Show, ‘a fine wine for the times’. Is there any other two-syllable word that summarizes 2020 so accurately and succinctly?” Stephen Greenblatt (another high school mate) and Ramie posted “an outdoorsy romp in the snow with our dog Marcus.” Neil Hoffmann and Nancy sent a digital card with a family photo (all wearing masks). Waldo Johnston and Candy posted a dramatic quilt greeting “from our bed to yours.” Larry Lawrence and Sally let their dog, Daisy, do the writing along with an extended family photo. Tony Lee and Margie sent a digital card and family photo taken in a Florida Swamp celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Tony wrote about 2020: “We re-engaged with climate change. We connected with Elders Climate Action in developing and leading a three-evening ‘Climate Change 101+’ course. The response has been terrific, and many Yale classmates have participated.” Sam Low posted greetings at sunset from Sepiessa Point Reservation on Martha’s Vineyard. Angus Macdonald and Marjorie emailed: “Love to you, and many happy, healthy, and prosperous Christmases to come!” Edward Massey and Anne reflected on “our greatest loss has been the spontaneous events of visitors coming to stay.” Mike Mazer and Hannah emailed: “Our best for good and healthy holidays and a better 2021.” Dan Pollack and Nancy quoted a Kahlil Gibran poem “that describes the relationship between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren.” Paul Ruden and Dina emailed greetings from their new home in Washington, D.C. accompanied by a video of Andrea and Virginia Bocelli singing 'Hallelujah'. Gerald Shea and Claire sent a lovely video from La Ramee, Mortefontaine, with Christmas Eve wishes. Jan Truebner wrote: “All good wishes for 2021. A beautiful snow today — there’s hope!” Don Van Doren and Diane emailed a great photo of themselves (wearing dog face masks, no less) and their two dogs, “Ready for a treat?” Ward Wickwire and Tracy sent a digital card that displayed Zoom gallery shots of their extended family.” Karl Ziegler and Jane Fuller sent their first greetings as newlyweds: “Wishing everyone a fantastic and prosperous 2021.”

Mike Austin, a regular on the Boston Zoom calls and a participant on the Climate Change Zoominars, emailed, “I’ve signed up for the MIT Energy Innovation Webinar Series.” Paul Balser celebrated 19 years at Ironwood Partners. Tom Barnard emailed, “My wife Carol is having an operation at Mayo in Jacksonville in early January; “She’s very well organized and brave.” At Thanksgiving, Pete Putzel emailed, “Traditional turkey and fixin’s here in Connecticut. Missing the daughters and grandkids, but modern communications help.” Howard Gillette told me that Steve Bingham’s niece is making a film about Steve’s life and experiences. Stay tuned! Bill Bowe posted old photos of Near North Side Chicago during the time I lived there in the 1970s. Bill claimed that Hugh Hefner lived in my building; first I heard that story. We reminisced bout Melvin’s outdoor café. In December, Patrick Caviness and Frederique flew from Samui to Bangkok: “We practically have Samui Airport to ourselves.” From Bangkok, Patrick added: “As we entered the Grand Palace, a polite guard told me I needed to cover my legs (Bermuda shorts) and Frederique needed to cover her bare shoulders.” Later, at a trendy Italian restaurant, they had a Tuscany-inspired dinner. Jim Currie replied to our holiday news all-classmate email: “Thanks for this. I was moved by many items, especially the story about Sam Low and his friends.” Giles Crane replied to the same email with news about himself: “My varied course in life involved Viet Nam, working in private industry for half of my working days, joining the NJ Department of Health for the latter half. After retiring, I taught epidemiological computing and graphics in public health for 12 years. Diana is my spouse of 55 years. We moved from Princeton over Cherry Hill to Skillman, NJ when ‘downsizing’ about five years ago. She became a professor at Westminster Choir College. Our two loving daughters, who are married, live in separate directions: Rebecca in Wellesley, and Gillian near Houston. I still play the violin and bagpipes and have not been run out of town yet.”

Ralph DeFronzo inspired a roommate email thread with Kip Burgweger, John Hunsaker, and Frank Franklin. Ralph wrote: “Unlike John, I do not see retirement in the future, and I am glad that I do not have six grandchildren in the house. The COVID pandemic has slowed everything down but we have managed to keep the Clinical Research Center at 100% capacity. This year I surpassed 800 publications and still have four NIH grants despite the decreased funding brought about by COVID. I have run out of national and international awards to win for scientific achievements. The only thing left is to find a true cure for diabetes — a tough one but I am working on it. One benefit of COVID has been the shutdown of the medical school, which afforded me time to get my left-knee replacement (old football injury). The rehab has been intensive, but I am now back to playing golf. I have a new addition to the family — Olga. We have been together for two years and it looks like I will play it out with her. She is from the Ukraine and started her residency training last July. It’s been fun learning internal medicine again. All of my kids are doing well and are off the payroll. They should be supporting me. I often think about the four of us and the old days at Yale. It was a great time.” John Hunsaker started the thread with this: “I am inter alia most thankful to have been your classmate in that faraway time of the ‘60s. We haven't communicated in a while, so I hope this finds you and your loved ones in good health and spirits. I remember well when Ralph invited me to his hometown of Saugus MA for Thanksgiving, 1960 and took me to see the ‘little guy’ play high-school football. My retirement is going not exactly as planned. I am doing some medicolegal/forensic consulting, dealing with attorneys in civil and criminal matters, giving depositions, and testifying in court a bit. COVID has slowed this a lot. More to the point, my wife, Annette, has six grandkids (ages 3 - 12), and they all depend on and live with us! The conversations are not as crisp as the ones we had at Yale. I include a non-Trumbullian, Tony Lavely, as he is a part-time Kentuckian, an English major like Kip who didn't spend much time on Science Hill like the two famous MDs and is a self-proclaimed cutter and paster who regularly and punctiliously girds his loins for us as class scribe. Hope to see everyone at the next reunion. Jim Rogers, with whom I recently communicated by congratulating him on the success of his triple-bypass cardiac surgery, said he was treating.”

Steve Floman and Susan both came down with COVID-19 in November but thankfully recovered. Steve emailed: “So, we have it or had it but are very lucky that the impact appears to be minor, so far. How did we get it? Who knows? I’m the one who had been out and about so Susan says I’m the culprit. In 54 years of marriage, she’s almost always been right and probably is this time, too.” Frank Franklin (my neighbor to the west) gave me enough for at least two columns: “While I retired from UAB 10 years ago, I continue to mentor and lecture in a variety of venues including three grand rounds in 2020 for the 160-hospital Ascension Health System. It was nice since their medical education center is at St. Vincent’s Hospital, located in Birmingham. The last two presentations were weird as I was in a room with just the camera person. Cindy was the sole live audience member, but she was bored as she had endured hearing me prepare the presentations. I stopped teaching courses online for UAB, U-Mass, and U- Arizona 2-3 years ago as the prep time using the course-management software overwhelmed the joy of working with the students. Currently, part of every day is consumed with communicating with many people on topics of shared interest in food, nutrition, agriculture, and child and community health. Have devoted some fun time communicating about public health aspects of COVID. Some of my COVID communication is on Facebook. Frequently Ron Parlato, our fellow Trumbullian, comments. We actively argue over our different perspectives in private messaging or on phone calls. He is a delightful and intelligent guy who I have gotten to know a lot better than during our Trumbull years. Since these faux-academic activities in retirement are voluntary, there is no pressure to accept tasks that do not interest me. I do miss my clinical care of working with mothers and children over their GI and nutrition challenges. Cindy and I would love for you to join us for a Birmingham mini reunion any time before our 60th. Lavely can come over from Atlanta and join in. Our Yale years were very formative and launched us into a life we can all be grateful for. An interesting thing to do at your visit is to visit the Legacy Museum and the Lynching Memorial run by Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery. Tony Lee and Margie visited with us two years ago and enjoyed a visit to the EJI centers. They also spent a day mountain biking in a nearby state park which apparently has a national recognition. Tony and Margie are incredibly fit and will probably be at our 80th reunion — they may even bike there. We politely declined their invitation to join them on the mountain biking. Please let us know if you are up for a Birmingham visit post COVID — likely early 2022.”

Sam Deloria posted: “Debra Haaland [new Department of the Interior Secretary] is a good example to our young people of how you can take charge of your life and ‘get it together’, as so many people say, and so few people do.” Don Edwards told me that I could share the good news about Sally’s oncology treatment: “We got fantastic news today from Smilow. Sally’s cancer is caused by a gene mutation that can be treated with an oral medication, a daily pill with modest side effects. Her doctor, Roy Herbst, is the Chief of Medical Oncology and began working on this drug in 1996. She could not possibly be in better hands. Sally’s long experience as a Pastoral Associate and Hospice Chaplain has taught us that being open about our health challenges is the only way people who care about us can know we need their support. Terrifying as her diagnosis was (and is), we have never felt we had to go through this alone. Our experience with Dr. Herbst is a powerful reminder of the value of academic medicine in general and Yale in particular.” Celeste Finn (spouse of Eric Fossel) posted: “My Facebook community is my social life and support system. I am thankful for you. You buoy me up. Thank you for being here and for being whatever you are like as a person; you are perfect.” Steve Floman couldn’t attend the December Mory’s Zoom call and emailed: “I won’t be able to attend. I want to let everyone know that Susan and I both tested positive for COVID almost 14 days ago. My only symptom has been a stuffy nose with some diminished sense of smell. Susan had achiness and loss of energy but has improved significantly over the past seven days. Neither of us had a fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, cough, or the other significant symptoms. So, we have it or had it but are very lucky that the impact appears to be minor, so far. How did we get it? Who knows? I’m the one who had been out and about so Susan says I’m the culprit. In 54 years of marriage, she’s almost always been right and probably is this time, too.”

Harvey Geiger emailed: “Going over Yale College files I found an interesting issue from May 15,1963, in the Yale Daily News. I remember that spring day well! I was on the roof of my entryway at Trumbull casting water balloons down on police cars parked on the street near Sterling Library. I was filling them up in the bathroom, and I was soaking wet. Then, oops, one went through the cruiser’s windshield. The cops jumped out and were rushing to the entryway, going from room to room. I was going to be arrested! With no place to hide, I quickly took off my clothes and got into the shower. When the cops rushed into the bathroom, they opened the shower door and found a naked innocent me all lathered up, washing myself. They were embarrassed, apologized for the intrusion, and bounded up to the next floor looking for the culprit.” From Jerusalem, Marty Gerstel posted a photo of himself standing under a snow-laden tree that had fallen into a building roof. Explain the mystery, Marty! In November, Chris Getman emailed: “I hope to see classmates at the Class golf outing in the spring. I played The Yale Course last week, and despite months of neglect, it was in decent shape. The new Director of Golf there, Peter Palacious, has big dreams for what is potentially a very fine track.” Howard Gillette and I talked in December about the potential for a mini reunion in Atlanta in 2022. Howard and I are impressed not only with Atlanta’s rich civil-rights history but also with the 21st-century city that Atlanta has become. Neil Hoffmann emailed: “I pass this along to all my at-risk friends. Nortin Hadler and I have been concerned about the potential for overhead ventilation systems extending the spread of viral droplets from the beginning. Another reason to wear a mask in any indoor situation, even if no one is close. Stay out of restaurants and places like offices.” Like many other classmates, Neil also closely monitors and shares all new developments about climate change, including many of Yale’s initiatives. Ralph Jones, another participant in the Climate Change Zoominar Series, is also a frequent contributor of new developments, including investment strategies.

Terry Holcombe and Marya posted about the Jupiter and Saturn planetary alignment: “This has to be a sign of a great year to come; let’s also celebrate the winter solstice. The light is coming back!” Marya posted later: “When I was growing up, my Mom always taught me that God created every human being in His own image. So, when you meet another person — especially one who does not look like you — remember you are looking at the face of God. If you make that person smile, you are making God smile.” Waldo Johnston and Candy (like Marya, she is the poster in the family) posted: “It’s time for a change and a new path in life. Meet ‘Pathfinder’ [a sleek Prism RV], our new home as we seek to explore/boondoggle rural America.” On their first stop, Candy posted, “Tonight is our first night in a state park and it’s lovely. We had hoped to visit Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center, but all the attractions were closed due to COVID.” Later, in Lake Griffin State Park in Fruitland Park FL, Candy posted: “We learned about epiphytes (resurrection ferns), saw grass cypress, great oaks, and black water rivers.” Candy’s diary continued: “Camping brings out something new in us. Tonight, we watched a movie, and I recommend it to you. ‘A Most Beautiful Thing’ chronicles the first African-American high-school rowing team in this country, many from rival gangs all rowing in the same boat.” Candy even found the right quilt for the RV: “Flemings Nine ‘Somerset’ pattern needs some borders to fit Pathfinder’s queen bunk.” Ted Jones forwarded an article about The Course at Yale that Butch Hetherington‘s son, Alex, sent to him: “It is a very deep dive into the current status of the course, and very illuminating. Even with the work the crew has done to date, it may be best to plan on a gala '64 gathering next May, when Palacios and the crew have had a chance to put the final touches on their intentions.”

Relying to an email from Chris Getman, Kai Lassen wrote: “Great to hear from you, Chris. Marion and I have also been in our self-imposed quarantine since March. She has a compromised immune system, so we are being very careful. Our son Tyler had just graduated with a masters from the University of Miami School of Marine Science this spring. He was living in Brickell with his fiancée, so both of them fled Florida and have been living with us since late March. They had been planning a large fun destination wedding at Ocean Reef which was COVID canceled and were instead married in the duPont family chapel here in October with only sixteen immediate family attending. It was beautiful and very personal, and they will be moving to NYC next fall when their offices reopen. I last visited Stewart Flory in February 2018 when I was in Minneapolis for the Eagles Super Bowl. He had been in a dementia facility then for several years, and we had a nice visit though I was never quite sure whether he really knew who I was. His wife Ellie had been updating me periodically, and I have spoken with her several times since Stewart died on November 27. I am delighted to buy a Mory’s memorial brick for Stewart.” In reply, Chris Getman reminisced about his childhood in Delaware: “I went back to my 60th reunion at Tower Hill which I left after 8th grade. Good fun to reconnect with old — I mean really old — friends. Wilmington must be upended now that Biden is hanging out in his basement. I went to the Queen Theater (which I remember is on Market Street) a lot as a kid because, as I remember, it had the opening of good movies. It’s now Biden Headquarters. These are fond but distant memories of Wilmington which I left when I was 12.”

Frederic “Eric” Lassiter was one of my roommates in Wright Hall freshmen year. Out of the blue (literally), I heard from him recently. Eric emailed: “I have just scanned the Class of '64 website. I note your continued involvement in Yale activities. I recall quite clearly memories of our freshman year together as roommates. Yes, my behavior at times was reprehensible and provocative. Too many water bombs. I couldn't snap out of it. And there I was at Yale University behaving like a jerk and not taking my gift of opportunity seriously. Under these circumstances, it was probably better that I left Yale. I finished college at NYU some years later.” After I confessed to Frederic (as he prefers to be called now) that I wasn’t certain whose behavior was the more contagious, I told him that he was still a member in good standing of our Class. Frederic continued: “Thank you for your warm and self-revealing response. I’m glad that Yale ultimately worked out well for you. Yes, you may certainly add my email address to the Class Directory, and I would be glad to receive periodic notices about class activities. I am presently living in Longmont CO, near Boulder, and have lived in Colorado for around eight years. I am presently retired. After graduating from New York University in '67 with a degree in English Literature, I worked briefly in the publishing field and then trained as a counselor in New York for a psychospiritual-type organization called the Pathwork. I was a counselor for a number of years, married a Dutch woman (from whom I am now divorced); we had a son, David. David and his mother Flora have since returned to Holland. I went back to school in the ‘80s and got a master’s degree in Social Work, after which I mainly worked for the state of Maryland. I still feel a bond with Yale, somehow. So, it's good to reconnect.”

On the 79th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Tony Lavely posted a tribute to his parents who had married just three months earlier. “My father had started his first job as a Methodist minister, and my mother was pregnant with me. Compare the challenges of those years to ours today!” A number of classmates commented with similar memories. Pat Caviness said: “I was born in August 1941. My mother was working in D.C. as a secretary, and my father worked for the US Treasury. I’m sure they were scared about the future when the attack occurred, but they rarely ever talked about those years to me.” Marya Holcombe commented: “This is a lovely lesson in the way we should deal with adversity. I always remember, you can’t have a testimony without a ‘test’.” Michelle Mead (surviving spouse of John Armor) added: “Our parents were courageous, weren’t they? We should honor them by being the same.” Rick Salomon commented: “I was born in December 1942. My father, then 32, landed D-Day plus three. He was awarded the Bronze Star as part of the team that liberated Dachau. He had a hard time buying German products for the rest of his life. When I asked my father what he did to earn the Bronze Star, all he’d ever say was his commanding general thought he made a good martini without vermouth.” Tony Lavely was impressed with the fact that all 739 Yale varsity athletes voted in the presidential election, so he posted personal tribute pages to each of the 33 undergraduate student-athletes from Georgia on the Yale Club of Georgia Facebook page. These days, the best-known Yale athlete in Georgia is Foye Oluokun ’18 who is having a terrific year with the Atlanta Falcons.

Douglass Lea posted: “The 110 Major League Baseball alumni who died in 2020 were by far the greatest collection of players ever to die in a single year. The groups aggregate Wins About Replacement (WAR) was 1,012.6, more than double an average year over the last century.” On an even sadder note, Douglass posted: “A friend surprised me with a copy of an old photo I had taken of my son Zack at Stonehenge on a cold and windy January 7, 1992, one year to the day before he was killed. We like to imagine he’s already scanning the horizon for the spaceship that would convey him to where he’d be needed next.” Tony Lee had to take a few days off from his Climate Change Zoominars to recover from an illness. Tony emailed: “We are very grateful on this Thanksgiving, too. We just got the test results back, and I am negative on COVID-19.” Like me and many other classmates, Sam Low changed his holiday travel plans: “I canceled my trip to Maine to see my family. Good choice, I think, although difficult.” Marya Holcombe took the long view: “Next year, Tony, you will come to Connecticut, and we will all be together some time afterward.” Michelle Mead (surviving spouse of John Armor) posted: “I lived across the street form Kurt Vonnegut when I lived in NYC. One day, we had a conversation on a park bench. We just talked and talked about everything under the sun. Finally, I stood up and said I would have to be getting home. Kurt gave me a lovely smile and said one of the kindest things, ‘You are a merry soul!’” Later, on Thanksgiving, Michelle posted: “I’m spending Thanksgiving by myself, with my cat, but planning on having a nice, long Zoom chat with John’s daughter and family.”

John More emailed: “’Attended’ Thanksgiving dinner with my daughter’s family in Brazil earlier today via Zoom. In spite of some logistics problems, they had a traditional turkey dinner. First time our daughter has cooked one herself; granddaughters joined in.” Later, John posted: “My completely new knee is hidden under a brace. Successful operation. Now facing a long rehab. Thanks to my surgeon and Livy who is massaging my foot and taking care of me.” On New Year’s Eve, John posted: “Celebrating together watching the Met Opera Gala.” On the news of Paul Hornung’s death, Rich Niglio and I reminisced about having drinks with him in Louisville when we both lived there in the 1960s: “Our table was never empty of fresh drinks when we were sitting with Paul. Everyone in the bar wanted to buy a round!” Ron Parlato posted from the Jekyll Island Club in Georgia: “Wonderful restored Victorian resort built by the Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Morgans as a rural retreat. We’ve stayed here every summer for years.” Doane Perry posted a great photo of his wife, Karen Carmean painting. They continue to support and promote art in the Berkshires. Dan Pollack and Nancy posted from Arizona: “This beautiful cactus usually blooms in the spring, but we get to see these magnificent flowers just before we celebrate a day of thankfulness.” Later, Nancy added: “I don’t think there are any more 3-D structures left for Danny to build. His next challenge is putting together a radio-controlled glider plane.” Dan and his roommates — Will Elting, Bob Hannah, and Mike Mazer — have frequent Zoom calls, since they haven’t been able to have any “Moose Jaw” reunions in Michigan. Pete Putzel and Anne have been hibernating in Connecticut, but Pete continues to be absorbed with climate-change issues. Pete also monitored the number of Yale-affiliated appointees in the new administration.

In an interview for “Marketplace Morning Report” for the BBC World Service, Jim Rogers issued a note of caution about market conditions as we close out an unpredictable and volatile year: “I think everything has been done badly,” Rogers said, “People couldn’t work, people couldn’t eat, people couldn’t do anything.” Jim also checked out our “Where’s Waldo” interactive map and emailed: “Amazing! Well over 75% of us alive 56 years out. It turns out that one of the very best-kept secrets to a long life is to go to Yale in September 1960. I’m surprised that 5% of us live abroad, given our profile in 1960.” Paul Ruden emailed: “I write to inform you of some major and positive news from the Ruden family. Dina has decided to return to the non-profit sector to complete her long, varied and successful career. We are happy to announce that she has been accepted into a graduate program in the Georgetown University Center for Public & Non-Profit Leadership. She will begin classes in February. Further to this, we are moving to Washington, D.C. in December.” Later, Dina posted “It’s always interesting to see what my husband is reading at any given moment: Obama, Angelou, Baldwin.” Stewart Sharp emailed: “I really enjoyed reading these Class Notes which are a tribute to your dedication and diligence. I do have one favor to ask. I would very much like to know who of our classmates are still alive, and I would very much appreciate if you would email me the link and whatever password I need to get access to the list. [Editor: Our email directory is here. These are the classmates who are still alive. To see the list of deceased classmates, go here.] Neil Hoffmann very kindly gave me a link to a site which allowed me to browse through our 'Old Campus', a nostalgic trip I very much enjoyed. As it happens, I still have my copy of the 'Eli Book' which I will be happy to mail to you if you think anyone in our Class would be interested. Imagine reading that Yale tuition was $2,300 back then! Having just turned 79 in September, I am proud to report that I am keeping busy. I am now participating in a research study which lasts five weeks, where I am being pushed to walk 1.5 miles a day at the highest speed I can maintain. During the final two weeks, I will receive brain stimulation to improve my cognitive skills and my memory, in addition to the exercise.” [Editor: Does anyone still have a copy of the blue paperback, “Courses of Study?” If so, please contact Lavely.]

Laird Smith emailed: “Really wonderful Class Notes with greater length and detail than the space allowed in the magazine.” Laird noticed that there was lots of information about climate change in the online notes with many classmates active in climate change organizations. Paraphrasing his longer comments: The problem is that unless technology really develops and saves our standard of living, we should inculcate the necessity of a different way of living for our children and grandchildren. Laird was appalled at the disconnect between lip service and reality at his granddaughter's school. Save the rain forest but drive the SUV the walking distance from home to school. Chip Thomas, son of Stan Thomas (1942-1995) released a new single “Magic Stuff,” in which he accompanies a vocalist on the drums. Chip commented: “The world needs a little magic right now, and this little piece is a reminder that it’s all around us and in us through our loved ones all the time.” At year-end, Chip added: “Wow, what a whirlwind. This was a year of unnecessary death from COVID, police, war, and hate. But it was also a year of life, greatness, and a year that forced us to deepen our relationship with ourselves. I’ve learned more about myself this year than in any other.” By coincidence, Ian Robertson ’63 called me to ask about Stan Thomas whom he remembered from DKE: “I did not know that Stan was your roommate. If I decide to write something about his joining DKE, I will send a draft to you to review and edit before attempting publication.”

Nancy Upper (surviving spouse of Dennis Upper) emailed: “Another magnum opus from you! I have been a regular on the Thursday evening Zoom series on career development for Yale alumni. So motivating to meet and learn from great people every week.” Later, Nancy added a postscript to the group of surviving spouses who receive all our emails: “Ladies, if any of you have news to share, please send it along to Tony Lavely. Our news is just as welcome and worthy as the men’s!” Gene Van Loan emailed: “As of December 31, 2020, I will be (finally) retiring from Wadleigh, Starr & Peters.” [Gene’s new email address is listed in the Class Directory.] In the fall, Robert Whitby posted: “Attending ‘Doing Conservation Differently: Lessons from Lion Guardians’.” Joe Wishcamper emailed: “Your first 2021 class notes are terrific: newsy and entertaining. My news as 2020 nears an end is that I have acquired in the past year 20 commercial solar arrays in Maine and New Hampshire. Barely a year ago I had zero. I learned a lot, including that It takes more stamina than I’ve got at this age to deal with the demands of a new business. Nevertheless, it has been exciting, and it has gotten me through an otherwise grim year.” David Wyles posted: “2020 has been pretty much of a bummer for me. Took a nasty fall down some stairs in February and broke my neck. Been in and out of hospitals and rehab ever since. But I still consider myself a very lucky man. My surgeon told me that if I had landed a couple of millimeters either way, I could have been paralyzed or dead. I have a great physical therapist. I even started driving again last week. Hallelujah! Free at last!” Roger Webb commented on a New Year’s Day Black Eyed Peas recipe on Yale Food & Drink: “We did ‘em with onion, celery, red sweet paper, half a Sorento pepper, little bit of tomato and bacon. Should do it more than once a year.” [Editor: More on the private Facebook page Yale Food & Drink in the next issue.] Ward Wickwire emailed “No great trips or large family gatherings this year, but a great season, all things considered, at the golf club, my last year as president.”

Before I update our Publications section, I want to call your attention to the many media outlets that Yale offers these days. Terry Holcombe reminded me how interesting and informative these outlets are when he emailed: “I have found few classmates who read the daily Yale Today. It is very informative, as is the Yale Daily News with which it competes. It might be worth suggesting watching them both in some communication. Part of it is fun. YDN identifies a problem (such as 124th rank in computer science) and Yale tries to rebut it. Biggest item of the immediate future will be Yale’s decision on how to allocate the vaccine. The original idea was to give it to health workers and then the vulnerable. That is now being hotly contested based on the idea that White people have better health over-all and should not get any until everyone with any minority connection is serviced. Contrary to CDC, but that may change with the new administration. The Union has weighed in; the faculty and administrators are mostly White; support staff Black; the latter should get it first.” Yale’s YouTube channel (to which you can subscribe) is another resource. Yale Schola Cantorum streamed, “Oh Come, O Come Emmanuel” in December. Others commented on mining Yale’s YouTube channel, ‘I’ve watched two history book talks on Southeast Asia, Fauci on COVID-19 with the School of Public Health, another book talk from the School of the Environment.’ The Yale Glee Club presented ‘A Vision Unfolding: Anthems of a Crowd.’ Mory’s website offered a splendid 2021 Whiffenpoofs Virtual Holiday Concert. Finally, as a resident of Georgia (soon to lose its status at the center of the political universe), I took special delight in hearing the 2020 Whiffenpoofs sing “On that Midnight Train to Georgia.”

At the beginning of January 2020, I resolved to post one Class of 1964 published author (and his book) each week on the Yale private Facebook page Yale Authors (it’s easy to join). In all, 53 authors were featured in this montage. Pat Caviness commented: “I had no idea we were surrounded by best-selling authors. Bravo! Proud of our class’s literary excellence.” I plan to continue this routine for 26 weeks into 2021, before we run out of authors. Rick Salomon published his memoir, It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, and kindly sent me a copy. I tried to persuade Rick to post it on Amazon Books (where the books of other classmates are available with “Click to Buy”), but he demurred. Rick emailed: “Emphasis on family, long investment, philanthropy career with David Rockefeller.” If you are interested in reading it, Rick will send you a copy. Delayed by COVID-19, Edward Massey’s latest book, Founding Sheriff, is coming in February 2021. Not content to rest, Edward is working on a third in his Sheriff Series, Forever Sheriff. Howard Gillette has a new book for possible release in 2021: Paradox of Urban Revitalization. When Tony Thomson saw that I featured his book on Facebook, Eat your Heart Out Ho Cho Minh or Things You Won’t Learn at Yale, he emailed: “I’m working on another novel now. My original major was English, but after a three-year break in the Army, I couldn’t face any more little essays about imagery and so forth. I switched to history and graduated in 1967.” Stephen Greenblatt wrote a wonderful review of Maggie O’Farrell’s book, Hamnet, in the New York Review of Books. Jeremy Scott Wood sent me the November 7 issue of The Writers Almanac which featured Stephen Greenblatt in it on his birthday. Fred Hornbruch emailed: “Thanks for all the great class news. I just finished editing a friend’s book and working on my own and other titles in 2021.” Though he’s not a classmate, I got to know Steven Smith when he was head of Branford college. Steven is Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science at Yale and posted: “Thrilled to announce that my book, Reclaiming Patriotism in an Age of Extremes, will be published by Yale University Press and available in February.”

We’ve added Jethro Lieberman as a classmate blogger to our contingent of twenty-one. Jethro’s blog title is “Taking Offense” and might be a precursor to another book of the same title. Frank Basler posted an inspirational message, “The Miracle of Hope,” on his blog to lead us into the New Year. Mo Dean, who is often joined by other bloggers in his blog, “Moristotle & Co.”, had a lively thread about Beethoven’s deafness and death, to which other classmates, Nortin Hadler and Neil Hoffmann, added comments. Bruce Driver, whose blog, “Center-Left-Purple-Stater,” focuses on Senate Races, has turned his full attention to the Senate runoff in Georgia. With his recent relocation to Washington D.C., Paul Ruden might be discontinuing his blog “Autumn in New York.” Paul emailed: “I’m not sure I can sustain a blog about Washington D.C. as a place, so I might just close up that whole angle and concentrate on the kinds of subjects I’ve addressed in “Shining Sea USA”. Ron Sipherd, who is a regular on the Bay Area Zoom calls, reminded classmates that he regularly updates his collection of photographs of Bay Area flora and architecture on his blog, “Ronksville.” When Mike Sherwood saw the collection, he emailed, “This is incredibly good! Thanks for sharing.” Russell Sunshine shared some of his blog, “Agile Aging,” with the Bay Area Zoom group, which spun off a smaller group to discuss his entry on “Election Reflections.” Andy Villalon, whose books we featured in the previous issue, emailed: “The class notes were, once again, unbelievably good. As an academic who spends most of his time writing, I am especially impressed by such thoroughness. I just took note for the first time of the Y and Roman Numerals on the Class logo. Very imaginative.” Gus Speth also commented on the previous issue: “Thanks for the good mention of my poetry book!”

Sadly, since the previous issue, we have added four classmates to the In Memoriam page on our Class Website. Harvey Berenson died last May in NYC after a long battle with leukemia. Tom Kleven added a guest book message for Harvey. Whenever a classmate obituary is posted at legacy.com, I add a guest book message of remembrance on behalf of the Class. Classmates can do the same, like Tom did. Bill Goddard died in October in Rhode Island. Bill was only with our class for freshman year but is remembered by Stew Sharp. Ben Moyer died in November in Brookline MA. His surviving spouse, Frannie, notified us with an email which we posted. When she saw his In Memoriam page, Fannie emailed: “Thank you so much. This is hard to read but wonderful. I’m so proud of him.” Peter Bradford emailed us about the death of Stewart Flory in Minneapolis in November and wrote a remembrance. From Kai Lassen, we also learned of the fellowship named for Stewart at Gustavus Adolphus College. Doug Gebler died in Elizabethtown KY in July 2020. Tim Bachmeyer died in Clermont FL in August 2020. Bill Kridel emailed about the earlier death of John Ogilvie: “John is survived by his beloved and wonderful wife Silvia, who will continue to live in Argentina and NYC, and me. We were at school together in 1957 and had been friends all over the world. I miss him and his sense of values and outspoken opinions especially about Yale and politics and the merits of Malbec over Merlot.” Chris Getman toils dutifully to secure Mory’s Memorial Bricks for each of our departed classmates. Our gratitude goes out again to Jan Truebner, who continues to send Class Notes and News to surviving spouses, many of whom reply with their appreciation.