Let's celebrate EIGHTY!

January 13, 2022

1964 classmates and friends,

As I wrote the March-April Class Notes in early January 2022, I realized that those of us born in 1942 would be celebrating our 80th birthdays this year. Some classmates turned 80 earlier and others may not hit this milestone until later, but it’s a cohort celebration, nevertheless. Despite our aches and pains, it’s a time to reflect and be grateful for the bounty of our lives.

As I think about age, the words of Harold Bloom, a beloved teacher for many of us, come to mind. Here he writes about Wallace Stevens:

I am haunted by many passages in Wallace Stevens, and one that I keep hearing centers his extraordinary poem, “The Course of a Particular”:

“And though one says that one is part of everything,
There is a conflict, there is a resistance involved; And being part is an exertion that declines: One feels the life of that which gives life as it is.”

And then there is Ulysses, by Alfred Lord Tennyson, a poem that Bloom called “the greatest poem in the English Language”:

“Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

What is going through your mind as you turn 80?  What are your plans for the ninth decade of our lives?  My own thoughts return to Ulysses:

“Come, my friends,
‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.”

The March-April 2022 Class Notes which follow provide ample opportunity to connect with classmates for socialization and enrichment in this new year and beyond. Or of course you can read these Notes in your browser.

Cheers,

March-April Class Notes

As I write this column in early January 2022, I realize that those of us born in 1942 will be celebrating our 80th birthdays this year. Some classmates turned 80 earlier and others may not hit this milestone until later, but it’s cohort celebration, nevertheless. Despite our aches and pains, it’s a time to reflect and be grateful for the bounty of our lives.

There were many classmate gatherings in the last two months, some planned and others spontaneous. Back in October, the minireunion on Zoom was a great success. Chris Getman and Robert Whitby chaired the session titled “Sixty Years of Change to Yale’s Academic Canon.” Stephen Greenblatt, Roger Thompson, and Jock Reynolds (honorary) were among the principal presenters. A video recording of the entire session is posted here. Howard Gillette emailed: “Congratulations on the warm reception to the ‘Yale Canon’ program. I very much look forward to watching it online.” Chris Getman emailed Stephen Greenblatt: “Your session with Dick Brodhead was inspiring and brilliant. It’s been broadly distributed, and I know many classmates will watch it.” The YAA Assembly and Convocation in November 2021 was held via Zoom again. Bill Morse, our Class Delegate, and Ward Wickwire, our Chair of Class Agents, attended many of the sessions. YAF Board Member Kai Lassen also attended many of the sessions. Tony Lavely was a presenter at a session on November 6 about “Virtual Programming.” In it, he showcased the ‘Yale Canon’ event. Tony Lavely also attended President Salovey’s Quarterly Webinar on November 10, in which Peter addressed topics ranging from the return to on-campus learning to the restoration and expansion of the Peabody Museum.

Later in November, The Game on November 20 was a magnet for many classmates. Tony Lavely was a guest of Anne and Pete Putzel in their now-permanent home in Sharon CT the day before The Game, and then they drove down to The Bowl to join other classmates at Toddie and Chris Getman’s traditional tailgate. Sam Francis drove up from New Jersey. Others attending were: Jerry Flannelly, Steve Norman, Jan Truebner, and Edward Massey. I was personally touched by the coin-toss ceremony that honored Jerry Kenney ’63 with his surviving spouse Carol and his brothers at the midfield ceremony. The only thing that spoiled the otherwise entertaining game was a game-winning touchdown by Harvard in the last minute. Jerry Flannelly commented: “Too bad The Game didn’t end a minute sooner, but it was a good one.” Most of the group reconvened at Mory’s for dinner, joined by Marya and Terry Holcombe, to drown their sorrows and “wait for next year.” Patrick Caviness emailed: “I’m envious of you going to The Game.”

Regional luncheons and Zoom luncheons continued through December. The Mory’s Group, organized by Chris Getman, held luncheons at Mory’s on November 3 and December 1. They convened again on January 5 via Zoom. The Bay Area Group, organized by Owen O’Donnell, had Zoom events on November 18 and December 15. In the November meeting, they discussed John Wylie’s essay, “The Origin of the Human Soul: Making Sense of Emotional Fossils.” John’s essay is now posted online on our website, and he explained it this way: “The essay interprets the same experiences of severe mental illnesses that have been stigmatized through the ages, as ancient beacons that illuminate a fresh and uplifting vision of how we became who we are today.” Two newcomers to the Bay Area Group attended: Patrick Caviness and David Wyles, motivated by their strong interest in Wylie’s essay. The Boston Group, organized by Jerry Flannelly, met via Zoom on November 17 and December 14. In November, Neil Hoffmann emailed: “I know we’ve avoided politics in the past, but I would love to hear what people think about our relationship with Taiwan and the threat I see that support being in light of what seems to be China’s understandable interests.” Eighteen classmates attended in December, including Blaine Krickl, Sheldon Leader, and Karl Ziegler from the U.K. Among other far-reaching topics, they discussed the possibility of an outdoor party next summer. Nancy Upper agreed to help organize the event.

Turning to upcoming events, the second “Yale 1964 Authors Book Club,” featuring Timothy Breen’s book, The Will of the People: The Revolutionary Birth of America, will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, January 12 at 4:30pm EST. John More will facilitate the event. A week later, on January 19, the Class of 1965 has organized a Zoom event with Joe Lieberman to discuss his “No Labels” initiative. David Roscoe ’65 cordially invited 1964 classmates to this event. The annual Class Council meeting will take place via Zoom on Saturday, February 19. We will feature faculty and a student panel from the Yale School of the Environment. Ted Jones is working to schedule a Spring golf outing on the Yale Course, if conditions permit it. John Evans and Larry Capodilupo are hoping for a summer golf outing on Cape Cod. Watch the Events page on our Class website for details. Joe Wishcamper is organizing a Class webinar for Thursday, April 28 to focus on “The Future of China/U.S. Relations.” Mac Deford, Chas Freeman, and Ward Wickwire have agreed to co-chair the event. Lastly, while it is not an event per se, you should have received Chip Brennan’s letter to solicit 2021-22 Class dues. Please consider the modest request.

The News page on our Class website has been updated with five new articles that are too long for Class Notes. You will find stories about Chas Freeman (here), Howard Gillette (here), John Wylie (here), Edward Massey (here), and Joe Lieberman (here). Sam Francis emailed Joe Lieberman: “Your article on the opinion page of the WSJ has attracted a lot of positive comments from our classmates.” Peter Jokl added: “I enjoyed Joe Lieberman’s article. He always hits the nail on the head.”

This begins the traditional section called Class Notes, but most of it doesn’t appear in the YAM version, due to word count restrictions. Karl Ziegler emailed: “Many thanks for organizing the posting of my African photo murals on the Class website.” When I visited Robert Whitby in November, I admired the stunning sculptures by the Dutch artist Kees Verkade that he displays in his home. Later, Robert graciously treated me to lunch at his Indian Harbor Yacht Club. John Witherspoon emailed, “Thanks for all that you do for soooo many.” Jeremy Scott Wood was one of many classmates who liked the poem “After the Rain,” by Jared Carter ’61, that I posted in October. In the same spirit, he added two poems by Yeats: “The Song of Wandering Aengus” and “Sailing to Byzantium.” David Wyles emailed: “WOW! Thanks for posting the article about my son, Rio. I hope our classmates get a kick out of watching and hearing his lyrical skills as a rapper. It lit up my heart when I saw this.” John Wylie wrote: “I was so sorry that you couldn’t be at the San Francisco Zoom meeting. I am aware of the heart-warming outpouring of sympathy of the loss of your wife. I feel as if I knew her from your wonderful Facebook page.” Nancy Upper forwarded an interesting article (though she didn’t agree with its premise) about Stephen Greenblatt, “Why Stephen Greenblatt is wrong – and why It matters.” Nancy also posted about two Yale connections to ballet: “(1) The book Following Balanchine, published by Yale University Press. (2) The honorary degree Yale awarded to ballerina Suzanne Farrell who was a friend of mine in Cincinnati. We were in the Cincinnati Opera Ballet Company together as teenagers.” And this about Carter’s “After the Rain” poem mentioned earlier: “The version of ‘After the Rain’ you included in Class Notes brought tears to my eyes as I watched the whole ballet again with tears of remembrance for the art form that shaped my life.” Writing to Jan Truebner after Jan distributed the November all-classmate email to surviving spouses, Nancy said: “One of humankind’s greatest needs is to feel that he or she is a meaningful part of a meaningful group. Jan, you make each surviving partner feel that she is a meaningful part of the Yale community. Tony’s Notes and links embrace everyone live, deceased, and immortalized in a Mory’s brick.” Gerry Shea echoed the praise for the “Yale Canon” minireunion when he wrote: “Congratulations on all the kudos from Salovey et al.” Russell Sunshine emailed: “This was a year of coping with COVID but with the good fortune to be in a continuous-care retirement community which organized the whole campus for our vaccinations. The careful protocols made us feel safe to venture out, first on day trips, then on longer vacations. Among the longer excursions was a pair of stimulating summer road trips. In August, we traveled north to the Oregon coast exploring dramatic shoreline scenery. In September, we turned south on a loop that featured my 60th high-school-class reunion in Pasadena.” Russell added: “Tony, I don't know how you keep track of all these threads and elders but you're obviously bringing interest and joy to a broad circle of your peers. Friendship and fellowship grow more important with every passing day.”

Eleanor Ridley (surviving spouse of Clancy Ridley) emailed Jan Truebner: “Thanks for sending the Class Notes. ‘After the Rain’ is such a lovely poem. It means a great deal.” Jim Rogers emailed: “Given I now live in Asia and given what has happened in the world since September 1960, I looked up how many Asians were in our class. There was one Chinese — Yuan Tai — and two Japanese — Yuji Noga and Fred Sakamoto. Noga had a Japanese address while the others had U.S. addresses. All three seem to have attended U.S. private schools. Only Fred Sakamoto is in a couple of our later Class Books. The other two seem to have disappeared. Do you know who they were and what happened to them? I am just asking as idle curiosity given what has happened to the world since. So, in September 1960 one redneck and three Asians entered Yale as freshmen.” Ron Parlato wrote: “Just a short note to say hello and wish you well. I hope you have managed well during the last two difficult years. I am fine, busy teaching literature (my second career and working harder and with more pleasure and enthusiasm than my first). I continue to study Turkish, my umpteenth language. Language and linguistics have been a lifelong fascination; and my son’s wife is Turkish, so Turkey is always in our plans. I write two to three times a week on my blog, posts on political philosophy and culture, satire, and conservative opinion. I am enjoying my grandson, now almost four. He is the brightest, happiest thing in my life. My health has been excellent thank God but turning 80 gives me the willies real bad.”

John Podeschi responded to two articles that I posted in Class News. First, on his comic book collection: “Your aptitude for graphic design is apparent. Your choice of the two comic books pictured is fine. Of course, I have owned and sold multiple mint issues of X-Men comic books (starting with issues of the 12-cent-cover-price era), including the issue that you pictured. Your choice of the Classics Illustrated ‘Oliver Twist’ is personally appropriate in that I am considered to be the preeminent bibliographer of Dickensiana. Before the age of Internet marketing, comic-book conventions were where dealers and collectors did business. In the late 1980s, it was possible to make more money on a weekend selling comic books at a large comic-book convention than was my annual Yale salary of the early 1970s, which says more about the Scrooge-like wages universities like Yale were paying their Bob-Cratchit-like academic employees, than about the collectability of comic books. The ‘Tactical Opportunities’ subsidiary of the Blackstone Group recently bought the CGC collectibles grading company, the company that gave a condition grade of 7.5 to the "Oliver Twist" comic book. One could therefore say that Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman '69 is now in the comic book business---very indirectly of course. I had not expected that my casual email to you could be turned into the informative, readable, and eye-catching piece that you've created. By the way, the comic book character Bruce Wayne, who of course is Batman, was a Yale man. I forget which issue of which Batman title showed Bruce Wayne's Yale diploma hanging on the wall. Secondly, John commented on Yale Connections to Muhammed Ali: “I just read your piece on Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali in the Class Notes. As you probably know, Ali's original name of Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. has Yale connections — Ali's father being named for the famous Kentucky abolitionist, Lincoln stalwart, and aboriginal Republican, Cassius Marcellus Clay, who graduated from Yale in 1832. I think that someone even proposed renaming Calhoun College ‘Clay College’ in honor of that great crusader for emancipation. I personally thought that Calhoun College, if renamed, should have been named in honor of Noah Webster (who graduated from Yale in 1779). He produced the three most influential books in American history: his dictionary, his speller, and his grammar. Webster is buried in Yale's backyard, in Grove Street Cemetery, the resting place also of Yale luminaries like Eli Whitney. In regard to Muhammad Ali, I am not sure that Ken Burns captured the personal warmth of Ali's character. It was easy to obtain film of Ali's sometimes mocking theatricality. In the 1980s I occasionally sold sports memorabilia at some of the big sports-card conventions. Big-name athletes were brought to these shows to meet fans and sign autographs. Dealers were polled on which of these guest ‘greats’ were most popular. The very personable Muhammad Ali was by far the favorite of dealers and fans. They truly loved him. I was told that he was especially good with young people. In contrast one famous athlete, who was at lots of shows, was universally despised by dealers — that was the mean-spirited Pete Rose.

Dan Pollack replied to my year-end all-classmate email: “We can be grateful for your dedication to keeping our Class united and in touch. Your friendship is greatly appreciated. We hope your work for the Class of 1964 gives you great satisfaction. I do the same for my high-school class and even though the newsletter I founded doesn't receive much response, I still enjoy creating it and ‘reaching out.” Dan added: “You may remember that Yale named one of the two new residential colleges after Dr. Pauli Murray. The Amazon Prime documentary ‘My Name is Pauli Murray’ details her remarkable career advocating integration, women’s rights, and LGBT rights.” Doane Perry’s quote — “After more than a year of Doane’s serious memory loss, it came back!” — in the November-December issue of YAM was captured as a page headline.” Pete Putzel emailed: “It has been a good year since we last corresponded about climate change. Lest we diminish our devotion to the Cause, I thought it appropriate to pass along this thoroughly disheartening article in the Washington Post. The only creatures who seem to be welcoming arctic warming are the beavers. I hope that you and yours are all well. Anne and I loved our time with you in November.” While I was visiting Pete, he reminded me that classmates Tom Trowbridge and Dick Vietor also live in Sharon. Pete also told me about rooming with Howard Gillette in East Haven CT following graduation when they were both Carnegie Teaching Fellows at Yale. Later, it was Waldo Johnston who introduced Pete and Anne to Sharon in the 1970s when Waldo was teaching at Kent nearby. After he read the Class News article about Muhammed Ali and our attendance at Ali-Frazier I in Madison Square Garden, Rich Niglio emailed: “Thanks, Laves. You brought back some old memories. Now, I’m motivated to watch the Ken Burns documentary. Also, you have been a wonderful godfather to Chip Thomas. I’m sure Stan Thomas is smiling down as he watches his son’s progress with your hand on his shoulder.” Anne and Edward Massey wrote: “This new reality brings us to the Truth that our intimate circle of family and friends are the fruit from which we drink of friendship and love. This year, we traveled a bit. Edward attended his high-school reunion in Utah. Our six-week summer stay at Drake Island ME was exceptional. The ocean always provides the peace and ease the Soul longs for.” Jack Ostrich emailed: “Jon McBride organized a Zoom call for the '64 Whiffs on Sunday, December 12. Everyone was present except for Don Haggerty, who lives in Buenos Aires and told us that his computer would make it impossible to join us. Gerry Shea and Jim Schulz joined us from Paris at about 10:00pm their time. We (or, rather, Jon) plan a repeat Zoom rendezvous in about six months.” Yale posted appreciation, “Supporting Leaders for a Better World,” to two classmates who underwrite undergraduate scholarships: Chuck Mokriski sponsored Naheem Watson ’24 in Timothy Dwight. Sheldon Leader sponsored McKinsey Crozier ’22 in Timothy Dwight and David Rubin ’23 in Morse.

Frederic Lassiter emailed: “Thanks for your diligence on your secretary duties and attention to detail for the class of ‘64. By any chance, do you have any information about the whereabouts of a classmate named Roy Peterson? I would like to contact him.” Though he is not in our class, Jon Larson ’63 posted a holiday video that touched me, so I share it here. Margie and Tony Lee posted holiday greetings: “We remain very concerned and involved with the climate change crisis, working with a team of five others and leading a four-session class by Zoom, ‘Can We Stop Climate Change?’ Visit us at www.canwestopcc.org to learn more and, if interested, to sign up for a class. One of the most important actions is to just talk about it! We wish you all the best for 2022.” Earlier, Tony Lee wrote: “I hope you are doing well. I heard you attended your 60th reunion at Newton High School. Margie’s cousin, Edie Prentice Mendez, did not. But she did just complete our latest ‘Can We Stop Climate Change?’ webinar where we also had five of our mountain-biking buddies in attendance. That’s now a total of nine mountain bikers. Can’t call us Neanderthals much longer. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Rory Stewart is now at Yale’s Jackson Institute. He is terrific. I read two of his books and heard him talk on several panels. If you were looking for a different kind of speaker at our Class Council meeting, he would be an excellent choice.” And more from Tony Lee: “Speaking of disappointing results, college hockey has a pairwise ranking system for the fifty-four teams in Division 1. Yale is last. 54th out of 54. Good year to Zoom our Class Council meeting. In all fairness, when the ECAC canceled all games last year for COVID, several of Yale’s best players transferred to other schools.” Nancy Lindley (surviving spouse of Clarkson Lindley) emailed: “I just read your notes to classmates and friends, in which you included Jared Carter’s poem. I can see how this poem resonates with you after your profound loss. My thoughts have been with you, even though I have not shared that. Losing your spouse after a long marriage is in some ways like losing an arm or leg — a part of you. Time does make it easier, you learn to adapt, and relish cherished memories. A memory I have of you is staying up late and talking in the tent on Saturday night at the last Yale ‘64 reunion. A fun end to a great weekend! I am planning on attending the reunion in 2024. Visiting Yale on reunion weekend is a special treat!” Susan and Bob Hannah emailed just before The Game: “Go Yale! But, since we live in Michigan, it’s been fun to follow Michigan State. Susan and I both picked up extra degrees there, years ago.” Dan Pollack remembered George Humphrey on the anniversary of his death in 2012: “I remember sitting with George as the last reunion he attended. He was having difficulty speaking and remembering. George was one of the nicest and toughest people I’ve ever known. I corresponded for a while with his wife Patience.” Dan Pollack added: “Nancy and I visited George in California when he was in the Marines. George was a wonderful model, indeed!” Pat Caviness also added a memory of George Humphrey: “I never knew George when he was in the late stages of his Alzheimer’s disease. I've often wondered if George getting his head banged on every play at center contributed to his disease. We were lucky to have George as our captain and friend. I wish I could have heard him play ‘The Orange Blossom Special’ on his harmonica.”

Neil Hoffmann circulated an American Institute of Architects video about Edward Mazria with this message, “Some good news on carbon use.” Nancy Upper replied: “Thank you, Neil! This video reminds me of E. O. Wilson’s book Consilience and the quote: ‘Every college student should be able to answer the following question: What is the relation between science and the humanities, and how is it important for human welfare?’” Terry Holcombe covered a Yale Daily News article “Students struggle with winter’s diminishing daylight,” with his unique brand of sarcasm: “I predict that the next whine will be from the captain of the sailing team about the fact that there are tides in Long Island Sound.” John Howells graciously treated me to lunch at Asley Golf Club in November and gave me some much-appreciated advice about losing a long-time spouse. His wife Pat died ten years ago. Chris Getman emailed: “Toddie and I are still in Charlestown RI where I have a full-blown office. We’ve also bought an apartment in Evergreen Woods, a retirement community near New Haven. Reluctantly, we’re going to sell our house on the Hartford Turnpike in Hamden.” Chris also wrote: “James Hatch, the 54-year-old sophomore and former Navy SEAL, will speak to the Yale Club at noon on December 10. He was on the Captain Philips expedition and was wounded trying to rescue Beau Bergdahl. He’s been on the Anderson Cooper CNN show and was interviewed twice by Mary Louise Kelly on ‘All Things Considered.’ He speaks nationally and has formed a not-for-profit corporation to support service dogs. We’re lucky to have him.” In November, Howard Gillette was on a panel in Philadelphia, “The Ecology of Homicide: Race, Place, and Space in Post-War Philadelphia.” When I asked Howard if he had connected with Dick Berk, who recently retired from U Penn, he replied: “I had lunch with Dick several times when I was teaching part-time at Penn. I hadn’t heard that he retired.” Stephen Greenblatt emailed: “I was touched by your card, Tony, characteristically upbeat and hopeful, even in this time in which you must feel the loss most intensely. COVID permitting, Ramie and I are going to Costa Rica for a holiday just after the New Year and then to Rome for our joint sabbatical in the spring. If you happen to be in Italy between February and the end of April, please be in touch. Among other things, l promise you some of the best ice cream you have ever eaten, just a few yards from our house. Harry, my youngest son, is just finishing up his second semester at Yale — typical of the disrupted calendar of so many of the students. The experience was infinitely better than his first semester, last year, when everything was in lockdown, and we’re hopeful that things will continue to be relatively open and normal. Here we are from this past summer, in Corfu, just to give you a glimpse of him.”

Roy Felshin emailed: "In late October, I had the unaccustomed pleasure of attending a sermon by our classmate Douglas Grandgeorge at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia, New York. This small, historic church is in a very beautiful, rural part of upstate New York, 85 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. Douglas, who lives a bit closer to the city in Patterson, NY, has been the Pastor of the Smithfield Church for 13 years. Before that, from 1980 to 2008, he was assigned to a succession of Presbyterian churches in Manhattan and Queens. Classmates who remember Douglas from our college days will not be surprised to hear that he has an ecumenical approach to religion and a progressive outlook on current events." Dorrie and Jerry Flannelly emailed on December 21: Greetings on the Winter Solstice and all the celebrations of Light, with love and cheer.” After he posted one of my recent all-classmate emails, Sam Francis emailed: “My ‘burst of energy’ mirrored yours. I'm pretty compulsive about managing my inbox. On a personal level, things are pretty calm despite the pandemic. Or perhaps because of the pandemic, because Bobbie and I are still living the hermit’s life even though we’re fully vaccinated and the pandemic seems about to have run its course. Nobody in the family has contracted the disease. We have no travel planned until next April (Viking River cruise in Portugal). Our daughter and granddaughters in Sudbury MA are now fully vaccinated also, so we’ll start making periodic trips up there. In short, we’ll start easing back to normalcy. The same can be said for EMS, by the way (no EMS staff have been infected, and Squad operations are easing back to normalcy).” Later, Sam assisted a current Yale senior who was attempting to track down 1964 members of Phi Gamma Delta, apparently the predecessor to the current Myth and Sword Society. After he posted the previous Class Notes, Sam Francis emailed me a deeply appreciated message: “Your communications concerning Wanda clearly hit a resonance, touching people strongly and personally. You’ve forged a strong bond with the Class (or, more accurately, strong bonds within the Class). The uniqueness of our Class was reflected in President Salovey’s remark, which I’ll repeat just because it’s a touching reflection on the ‘marvelous community’ of the Class of 1964, thanks to you: ‘What a fantastic event! You have a marvelous community in the Class of 1964, and I am so glad that your work with them brings you a sense of purpose during this time. Please say hello to the group for me.” Sam also demurred on a request to join yet another Yale discussion group: “My plate is currently full as a member of the local ambulance squad and its IT manager, as a senior deputy of the local office of emergency management, as Tony Lavely’s right-hand man and IT guy, and as the grandfather of three high-energy granddaughters (yesterday I spent a couple of hours play-acting with my 6-year-old granddaughter as competing ‘wild dogs’ hunting moose, elk, and deer simulated by pillows of various sizes).”

Chas Freeman emailed: “I'm back at Brown's Watson Institute for another year as a ‘visiting scholar’ and remiss in not bringing recent public activities to your attention. Here are speeches delivered over the past year, with a video of two. [Now posted on Class News]. After I asked Nick Danforth to tell me some more of his wonderful life stories, he emailed: “You’re very kind, Tony, to care so much. I'm shutting down our farming shortly, so I hope to get to some of my long overdue memoir writing — but as usual, I make no promises. We'll see. You and I both lost our wives far too soon (even though mine was shot dead by an insane former employee seven years after our divorce). It's like when several of us 64s lost our beloved offspring. We each know a bit about how bad it hurts, though we're all different ... as well as similar. Since I was briefly the interim Yale Class of 1928 class notes amanuensis, I learned back then from my Dad’s classmates how often we alums will be losing our spouses — sooner rather than later. You and I could probably write about the widower's experience to our classmates, as well as so much else we remember these days. There's no end to what we classmates may ‘find interesting’ as we spend more time reading all morning on the sofa on these colder and nearly final days — and maybe, hopefully, final years. Add to my happier memoir to-do list: how I introduced the two happiest, or at least most enduring, '64 married couples: Hannah and Bob Kaiser and Florence and Sheldon Leader. Long may they reign!” Mo Dean kindly emailed: “Congratulations, Tony, for being asked to present the planning and development process for the ‘Yale Canon’ event to the YAA Fall Assembly.” Don Van Doren emailed: “What a fabulous video you made about your wife Wanda … and great remembrances. I feel I had come to know her a little through your writing over the years.” After The Game, Pat Caviness emailed: “Thanks for an on-the-scene description of The Game. I was following the action on an ESPN gamecast so didn't have an appreciation of the fourth down call. When you saw them setting up to go for it, what did you think? Did you question the call in real-time? I believe as a well-schooled QB yourself, you probably thought, ‘Coach, what the Hell are you thinking?’ From halfway around the world, my impression was that it was one crazy call. Your thoughts? Looking forward to seeing your tailgate photos and Vanessa's 40th birthday. Robert Whitby: Did he climb the Seven Summits (the highest mountain on every continent)? I'm familiar with that one as Louis Bowen, Johnny Bowen’s ‘63 brother, is a member of that exclusive group. Frederique and I have a little travel bug. We’re going to Phuket for her birthday. That's an island on the western coast of Thailand with a population of 400,000. We haven't been there in over seventeen years. Right after Christmas, we’re flying to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with friends for a week in the capital. We’ve been to Siem Reap, Cambodia, many times but for some reason we have never been to the country's capital (population, 2.2 million). It's really a big city like Bangkok, but we have friends living there and want to check it out.” Earlier Pat emailed: “Here are a few photos from my last 80th birthday celebration held on a big catamaran sailboat with good friends. The day was blowy, raining (at times), and sunny. Everyone came with a driving desire to have one last fun celebration. Lots of food and plenty to drink. My birthday was August 28. I think I did an exceptional job of dragging this one out!!!”

Replying to my November all-classmate email, Paul Manchester emailed Jim Carney and me: “I don’t know anything about Brooks Carder, but if he is homeless, shouldn’t we do something to help him?” Jim Currie circulated a video about the Omicron variant: This is a brief, very cogent analysis of the current Omicron situation. I recommend spending some time with it, and consider sharing it with friends and family.” Carol and Tom Barnard (who live in Savannah) were my house guests in November. We went to see the annual Holiday Lights display at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. While we relaxed my home, Tom told me the fabulous story of the Harvard-Yale Regatta in 1962. Yale won the four-mile race by one second! Tom emailed: “Thanks for your thoughtfulness in setting up our visit. Carol is an enthusiastic Christmas lights viewer and general holiday celebrator. She puts out decorations for all occasions.” Tom added: “By the way, while visiting our grandchildren in Maine this September, we had a delightful visit with Carol and Joe Wishcamper at their beautiful home in Freeport.” When he saw the YouTube link I posted, Frank Basler emailed: “Where did you find this sermon? And what a thoughtful frame you put it in, quoting form my webpage. Thank you for putting this together.” I invited my Atlanta neighbor, Jim Baxter, to a holiday party, but he regretted: “Thanks for the thoughtful invitation, Tony. I hope you have wonderful holidays. My daughter has moved to Paris, and we are now in Paris visiting so must decline your invitation. Until the New Year.” Lorna and Dan Berman emailed: “Congratulations for moving forward despite reasons for sadness.” Steve Bingham emailed: Francoise and I are in France visiting her sister in Nantes which the Americans nearly destroyed trying to chase out Nazis with very imprecise bombs.” Bob Buchanan was one of many classmates who thoughtfully buoyed my spirits over the holidays: “Your Christmas card was endearing and made me feel very blessed to have received it. We are at the age when someone in our inner circle is going through something that we know is devastating, and it’s just a matter of time for those who aren’t. Maybe your being our class secretary has given you exposure to so much of this that you have prepared us for our time to experience it. Maybe your gift of communicating has enabled us to grow and accept what we may have otherwise wanted to deny or reject. But this classmate has come to appreciate how you have tried to enhance this time in our lives with the joys and sorrows of the news we shared with you … and then your Bibi left you after so many years of joy. It was hard to read your card without thinking how I would have tried to express how much Sharon has made my life so wonderful over our 56 years together.” I was hoping to connect with Kip Burgweger at Christ Church in Greenwich CT, where he is a verger, but he emailed: “I very much appreciate your letting me know when you will be at church, because I would dearly love to see you. Unfortunately, I will be attending a service at an Episcopal church in Dallas TX with my daughter Lauren and my 21-month-old grandson Noah. He goes to pre-school at that church. As you might have guessed, we arrived in Dallas last night and will be here for the twelve days of Christmas (and who knows how much longer). Enjoy the service and have a very happy Christmas and best wishes to your daughter and her family.” Phil Anderson emailed an article about arrests in Washington D.C.: “This sounds like the things that MLK Jr. fought in the South are still present in D.C.” Michelle Mead Armor (surviving spouse of John Armor) spent a month in New Orleans (my favorite American city) during the fall but took time to email me about Wanda: “I'm glad for Wanda that she had such a full and wonderful life. A loving family, courtship, marriage, children, the whole shebang. Ski diving! What a woman. I suspect that she loved you with the same ferocity and sense of adventure.”

In addition to those captured above, year-end holiday greetings abounded, both traditional and digital. Carol and Tom Barnard included a beautiful photo, taken by Tom, of Mount Wilson, CO, with a John Muir quote. Bob Buchanan wrote :Our family reunion at Black Butte Ranch OR brought all twenty-one of us together for three weeks.” Dottie and John Evans wrote, “Hope to see you in February.” Jerry Flannelly included a poem by Susan Cooper, “Welcome Yule!” Margaret and Howard Gillette included photos of their grandchildren. Stephen Greenblatt wrote: “Harry, my youngest son, is just finishing up his second semester at Yale, typical of the disrupted calendar of so many students.” Marya and Terry Holcombe “prayed for peace in this season of blessings.” Butch Hetherington wrote: “Thank you for your card and family news; hope you have a very happy holiday.” Ted Jones wrote, “Hope to see you soon (and not just Zoom) in 2022.” Steve Klingelhofer offered “blessings to all.” Mary Jane and Rick Kroon reported family events, including their son Michael’s “talent for pencil portraits” and their “granddaughter Michaela’s acceptance at Yale.” Sally and Larry Lawrence bade farewell to their beloved Daisy. Margie and Tony Lee reported that they celebrated Christmas in Richmond VA and posted his new Climate Change website. Anne and Edward Massey spoke to the “reality of change” and their “feeling of home” in Norwalk CT. Dana Wood and Rich Niglio recounted their countrywide travels with photos to see family in 2021. Ron Parlato wrote, “I’m enjoying my grandson now almost four; he is the happiest thing in my life.” Nancy and Dan Pollack remembered my late wife Wanda, “smiling down.” Nancy and Russell Sunshine wrote about their blogs and summer travel on the West Coast. Jan Truebner included a family photo “Glamping in Maine in 2021.” Kathleen and Robert Whitby echoed the Spirit of Christmas joy.” Joe Wishcamper noted a mutual connection between his son Rick and my son-in-law Parker Corbin over conservation in Montana. Jane and Karl Ziegler: “Jane and I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and New Year despite the huge loss of your beloved Wanda.”

In Publications, Joe Lieberman has written a new book, The Centrist Solution: How We Made Our Government Work, and How We Can Make It Work Again. In it, Joe documents how a centrist governing philosophy has been essential to our democracy for over 200 years and argues that it is just as critical today. Howard Gillette has just published a new book, The Paradox of Urban Revitalization: Progress and Poverty in America’s Postindustrial Era (The City in the Twenty-First Century). “In profiling nine cities grappling with challenges of the twenty-first century, Howard evaluates the uneven efforts to secure racial and class equity as city fortunes have risen.” Edward Massey announced that his new book, Forever Sheriff, will be published in May 2022. Francis Snyder added a number of his books to our Publications page, some of which are listed in Amazon France. I came across a book by Nancy Upper (surviving spouse of Dennis Upper and a “regular” on the Boston Zoom calls) published in 2004, titled Ballet Dancers in Career Transition. I came across another archived item in Dennis Upper’s 1974 scientific paper, ”The Unsuccessful Self-Treatment of a Case of Writer’s Block.” It has zero words! Classmate bloggers — Mo Dean, Jethro Lieberman, Ron Parlato, Paul Ruden, Ron Sipherd, Russell Sunshine, and John Wylie — were active through the end of the year.

Since the previous issue, we have been notified of the deaths of three classmates: Jim Thomson died on November 19 in Bend OR. Jim’s wife Holly told us of his love for music and technology. Tom Lovejoy died on December 25 in McLean VA. Though he graduated with us, Tom affiliated with the Class of 1963, with whom he started. The NY Times praised Tom as a “wide-ranging ecologist and Amazon rescuer.” Mark Furcolo died on December 16 in Wellesley MA. Mark was a civil trial lawyer who had served as Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts. You can read about these men on our Class Website / In Memoriam.