Take Arms Against a Sea of Troubles
August 11, 2021
Classmates and friends:
It has been my custom in recent years to send monthly emails to all 1964 classmates and surviving spouses. In odd-numbered months, these emails deliver the YAM Class Notes; in even-numbered months, these emails update stories and articles in Class News.
In recent weeks, I have fallen behind on the Class News entries as my wife, Wanda, entered her final days. I’m at least five articles behind, which I will remedy in coming weeks. If you will permit my expression of personal grief, I have asked Sam Francis to add Wanda’s obituary to Class News (here). I will also be adding a Mory’s Memorial Brick in her name as “A Friend to 1964.” For those of you who have lost spouses (and children), I now understand your pain.
Sadly, I report that Ellen and Bill Galvin lost their son, Will, in July. And the deaths of two classmates have been reported since my previous email: Dan Kapica died on July 8 in his Olympia, Washington, home; Nick von Baillou died on July 29 in Alabama.
In recent days, I have taken solace in Harold Bloom’s posthumously published book,
Take Arms Against a Sea of Troubles: The Power of the Reader’s Mind Over a Universe of Death. Another book,
How We Die: Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter, by our 45th reunion speaker, Shep Nuland, also provided guidance for me. Many classmates have called and written to express their condolences to me. Your friendship and support mean a lot.
Sincerely,
Tony Lavely
