Is 42 a lucky number?
March 11, 2022
1964 classmates and friends,
Since we’re still in our cohort 80th birthday year, I think it’s worth celebrating 42, the birth year for most of us. According to the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, first published in 1979, 42 is “The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.”
In Adams’ telling, 42 was calculated by an enormous supercomputer named Deep Thought over a period of 7.5 million years. Unfortunately, no one knows what the question is! I think most of us can agree that 42 has been a “lucky number” for us. Here are two iconic images from 1942:
Sadly, the image of war in Europe is vivid again. Many classmates have commented on the invasion of Ukraine.
The May-June 2022 Class Notes are embedded below and also posted on our Class Website. It’s the third issue and the halfway mark of the year. Many of you replied to my earlier emails to all classmates with your own stories of celebration. Keep ‘em coming!
The annual Class Council meeting took place via Zoom on February 19. You can find reports at Class Website/News. Overall, there are 28 new News articles posted since last month.
Don’t forget that we have a 1964 Zoom Webinar on Thursday, April 28, “China: Confrontation or Collaboration.” Ward Wickwire is spearheading this event with co-hosts Chas Freeman and Mac Deford. Watch the Events page on our Class Website for details.
One more 80th birthday request: Please send me a headshot photo (jpg) of you celebrating your 80th birthday, or just a recent headshot waiting to celebrate. This idea came to me when I got this photo from Joe Lieberman’s son on Joe’s 80th in February.
Spoiler Alert: The May-June 2022 Class Notes which follow are the second longest Class Notes ever, because I’ve heard from many classmates who haven’t written before. If it’s too much, you can always wait and read the YAM version (1200 words) in June. By the way, you can read these Notes in your browser in living color if you prefer. That way you can use the Search feature to find your own name!
Cheers,
Tony Lavely
May-June Class Notes
We held our annual Class Council meeting last week, so the schedule of 1964 Class activities is very much on my mind. The meeting was held via Zoom and lasted for seven hours! Thirty-one of thirty-six Council members attended. As much as we want to return to New Haven for in-person gatherings and social events, the Zoom facility really increases attendance and virtually (pun intended) eliminates personal travel expenses. You can find seven reports about the Council meeting on our Class Website/News. From time to time, classmates rotate off the Class Council; if you would like to be nominated to serve, please contact me.
As we contemplate the likelihood of returning to in-person meetings and gatherings, some classmates have said how easy it has been to “meet together” via Zoom; no time and expense for travel, albeit not as “sociable.” We’re considering a hybrid model in the future, giving classmates the option to attend in person or via Zoom. Mac Deford, Class Council member, emailed: “Hybrid actually sounds good; I’ve done it with some other meetings, and it works well.” Another loyal Class Council member, Neil Hoffmann, emailed: “God knows I’m happy that most of you have the strength and energy to travel and that many Council Members live close by. But yes, I would love to continue as a Zoom member if you think I can make a contribution. I've seen similar setups for Congressional hearings which are both in-person and on Zoom. Seems workable.”
At the Class Council meeting, John Evans and Ted Wagner were unanimously confirmed as co-chairs for our 60th Class Reunion in Spring 2024. Yale is planning on-campus commencement and on-campus reunions this spring, so unless something unforeseen happens, we will be back on campus for our 60th class reunion in two years. At the Class Council meeting, Sam Francis pointed out how much information about our past reunions is archived on the Class Website/Events page. Sam, who regularly updates and improves our Class website, recently added some new features to the home page footer, including an index to the monthly emails to all classmates. Jan Truebner regularly forwards these emails and Class Notes to about fifty surviving spouses for whom she has email addresses. In February, Jan wrote the spouses: “Thanks to Tony for providing many opportunities for your reading, listening, and viewing pleasure.” More and more spouses and surviving spouses are joining Class events and reading Class communications.
Our second Yale 1964 Authors Book Club, featuring Timothy Breen and his book The Will of the People, was a big success. Moderated by John More, the Zoom event was attended by over sixty classmates and spouses. John More wrote: “It did take some effort, but the actual Book Club was pretty easy because of the subject and the participants. It feels good to connect with classmates. A real benefit of Zoom.” Joe Wishcamper emailed Timothy: “You did a really good job yesterday. I particularly appreciated the way you responded to questions. I was also moved by your closing remarks. A wonderful ninety minutes.” Bill Morse added: “The Book Club presentation by Tim Breen was exceptional. The fact that today we can find online the newspapers and publications covering the revolution as seen by locals, triggers my curiosity about my own hometown, Princeton. The Zoom Book Club concept is an exceptional way of bringing our class together and stimulating them.” Jennifer Julier of YAA, who hosted the event using YAA’s Zoom account, wrote: “What a terrific meeting yesterday!” Building on the success of our first two Book Clubs, Edward Massey is canvassing for classmate authors to feature in 2022-23, with the plan to do two per year.
In 2021-22, we also transitioned to Zoom for what used to be called “minireunions.” The first one last May was “Sixty Years of Change to Yale’s Academic Canon” chaired by Chris Getman and Robert Whitby. Joe Wishcamper is working to expand these theme events, shorter than minireunions but just as topical. The second theme will be: “China: Confrontation or Collaboration?” Ward Wickwire and Mac Deford will moderate the event, directing questions to the panelists, among whom will be Chas Freeman and Susan Thornton. Chas, a classmate, and Susan, a lecturer at Yale Law School, both have extensive experience in China and East Asia in the Foreign Service — in fact, they knew each other while in Asia. Len Baker, who has had extensive experience in the private sector in China, is consulting on the event. The event will use a webinar format on the afternoon of Thursday, April 28. Joe Wishcamper is also soliciting ideas for theme events after this one with the expectation of doing two per year.
On January 19, the Class of 1964 was invited to join a Zoom event organized by the Class of 1965, titled “A Live Event with Joe Lieberman.” In the ninety-minute session, Joe talked about his new book The Centrist Solution, and his organization “No Labels.” The event was attended by over 200 Yalies, equally split between the two classes. After the event Joe emailed: “The event was a pleasure for me, all the more so that our class was invited.” For surviving spouses, Jan Truebner added: “Aren’t we lucky to be included in all these Class events?”
At the Class Council meeting, Howard Gillette proposed a theme Zoom event in the Fall to look at affirmative action as SCOTUS hears the Harvard/UNC case in which Yale is an amicus curiae. It will focus Yale and classmate knowledge of affirmative action on this timely issue.
At the Class Council meeting Ted Jones reported that the Yale Golf Course is open only to residents of Connecticut, so plans for a Spring or Fall Classmate golf outing are on hold. Ted is also exploring a golf outing return to Cape Cod in the Fall with co-hosts John Evans and Larry Capodilupo.
Regional classmate events continued in the first quarter, primarily via Zoom. The New Haven/Mory’s group met via Zoom in January. Jim Whitney, who should know, emailed: “I hate to say this, but I think that, at least for January, we should forego an in-person luncheon. The current variant is just too virulent, and oldsters like us, even with vaccines and boosters, have to behave cautiously.” So, Don Edwards hosted a Zoom in January, and then Edward Massey stepped in to host on Zoom in February (see the story), when Don was otherwise engaged. The group returned to Mory’s in early March, hosted by Chris Getman. Boston classmates continued with mid-month Zooms through March, hosted by Jerry Flannelly, with twelve to fifteen attending each month. Expecting an easing of guidelines by summer, Amy and Bob Rands offered to host an outdoor Boston-area classmate party with an 80th birthday theme at their Westwood MA home on June 25. Nancy Upper (surviving spouse of Dennis Upper) volunteered to help with planning and communications. The Northern California classmate group, organized by Owen O’Donnell, continued to meet via Zoom, too. They have taken to focusing on one or two themes for discussion. In February, it got a little contentious when they debated “governmental policies concerning the pandemic including mandates, vaccines, and masking.” It’s in situations like this that I’m reminded of Thomas Jefferson’s line: “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as a cause for withdrawing from a friend.” With word spreading of the success of these monthly regional events, Bob Buchanan and Jon McBride are planning to revive the Washington D.C. “breakfasts” of years past. There is a good-sized ’64 contingent of over fifty classmates in the area. Pete Putzel, who moved to northern CT, is looking for a NYC-area classmate to reinstate the NYC-Classmate Zooms and Yale Club luncheons. Any takers?
There were many other enjoyable and informative Yale Zoom events during the first quarter. Here are a few that I attended:
- 2022 University Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration with Majora Carter;
- The February YAF Board meeting with the new Dean of the Yale School of Art, Kymberly Pinder ’95;
- President Peter Salovey’s quarterly webinar;
- Yale Alumni Academy’s screening of My Name is Pauli Murray.
Many of these and other Yale video events are archived on the Yale YouTube and Vimeo channels as well as our Class Website/News.
Before updating you on Class News, here are the latest statistics about our Class, courtesy of Sam Francis:
- Matriculated in 1964: 998
- Currently living: 775 (78%)
- Known email address: 86%
There have been twenty-eight new articles added to Class Website/News since my February all-classmate blast email:
And now for Class Notes (these are the shorter exchanges by and about classmates that usually don’t get included in the YAM printed column). Ron Parlato emailed: “I don't mean to bother you with my posts; but yours on turning 80 got me thinking even more than I ordinarily do about the end of life. My latest post, written this morning, is a further reflection on Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich, a powerful story about a man’s dying and the increasing relevance of the past. A comment made to me recently about a friend dying of Parkinson's said, ‘Well, he had a good life.’ Tolstoy's story, on the contrary, expresses the total meaningless of the past. I asked my cousin how she felt about turning 80. She said, ‘I never thought it would apply to me!’”
Richard Peck emailed: “Thoughts regarding 80:
- A welcome sense of freedom
- Discomfort concerning relevance to daily life
- A sense of gratitude for the blessings of a long life and for having lived in these times
- Possessed of hard-won wisdom, whether welcome or not
- Preferring to focus on the moment and not exaggerate the past.”
Doane Perry liked my “Celebrate 80” email: “Well done! Thank you.” John Podeschi responded to my January email to all classmates: “A fine opening letter, Tony. There was no better way to express your thoughts on life’s journey than through the lens of great poetry. I too was a student of Harold Bloom. It was he who recommended me for the English Honors program. In those honors seminars we learned as much from our fellow students as from our teachers. Our senior seminar met in James Folsom's chambers in Saybrook College. Sandy Mack and Stephen Greenblatt were in that small group. Both were brilliant — virtuosos at explicating texts. Thank you, Sandy and Stephen. You were enlightening teachers even then. Tony, your apt choice of Tennyson's ‘Ulysses’ carries great meaning as we voyage into the quieter waters of octogenarianism. Those verses immediately made me think of ‘Ithaka’ by C. P Cavafy (1863-1933), a truly poetic poem inspired by Ulysses’ voyage back to his home island. Those verses also speak to your theme. Written in the Greek language — a language echoing the language of Homer's ‘Odyssey’ — Cavafy's ‘Ithaka,’ as a starting point and as a destination, can represent for us many things, even the Yale of our youth. Here are a few passages from that poem (as translated by Edmund Keeley), with my ellipses:
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one
full of adventure, full of discovery [....]
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you're seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind [....]
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you're destined for.
But don't hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you're old by the time you reach the island. [....]
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.
Wise as you have become, so full of experience,
you'll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.”
Dan Pollack emailed on many topics: “I watched the Amazon documentary about Pauli Murray. It’s fascinating. She was a true pioneer.” Dan also circulated some facts about Ukraine: “Why does Ukraine matter?” Dan emailed about his remembrances of Jim Klint: “Jim and his parents were the nicest, most hospitable people I have ever known. Jim, Bob Hannah, and Gary Hallenbeck lived down the hall from me in Morse College. Spring vacation of junior year, we stayed at Jim's home in Rockford, IL before driving to the University of Wisconsin, Madison where his girlfriend and future wife Kris fixed us up with dates. Beautiful weather and us poor deprived Yalies went crazy watching all the beautiful coeds. Unfortunately, we had to leave to return to all male Yale College.” Later, Dan reconnected with Kris Klint (surviving spouse of Jim Klint) during the NFC playoffs: “Kris, so nice to hear from you. Nancy and I send our best wishes for good health to you and your family. My memories of Jim and his family are ones I will always treasure. The weekend we spent at the University of Wisconsin was truly special. Nancy and I are blessed with three wonderful kids and six grandkids. Watching them grow and become independent is our greatest pleasure in life. You are ALWAYS welcome at our homes in Chicago and Scottsdale.”
Michael Price responded to “Celebrate 80,” as follows: “I just turned 80 two weeks ago and still look forward to future deeds and experiences.” Pete Putzel commented on the book review that Stephen Greenblatt wrote in The New York Times: “Many thanks for bringing this to my attention. The review is as much a tour de force as the Calasso book. Most of the blizzard hit the Connecticut coast and spared us its fury; we only had about 6” of snow, but temperatures in these parts are now in single digits. I’m ready for spring!” Pete also emailed: “Bob Kaiser and I traded warm emails a couple of months ago. He and Hannah are in NYC and were starting to go to the opera and theater, just before the advent of Omicron.” As the topic of Ukraine heated up on the January Boston Zoom call, Bob Rands shared his perspective on Taiwan: “Taiwan is so much more important than Ukraine in the scheme of things.” Dick Roskos emailed: “Tony, I keep thinking of the best way to enter my class interactively. I still have a very active psychiatric practice now located in Denton TX. I do predominantly in-patient work at University Behavioral Health Hospital. For the past thirty years I have been specializing in treating trauma patients such as those with PTSD, early childhood trauma, and dissociative identity disorder. In reality, we garner patients from around the country, because it is such a subspecialty. I am a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Texas A&M Medical School, having medical students join me routinely for the past ten to twelve years. Don’t really consider stopping. Though trying to get my golf game back in shape. When I reach 80, I might join some octogenarian tournaments. Deep in my heart I am a Yalie.”
Al Rossiter emailed: “Thanks for the information about Henry Miller's thoughts on turning 80. Another one, my favorite and a must-read for aging classmates, is a piece by Roger Angell called ‘This Old Man.’ It's the title story in a collection of his essays, which contained lots of stories about baseball.”
Paul Ruden commented on Pat Caviness’ post of a historic home in Little Rock AR that Pat restored many years ago: “Did you happen to save any photos of the finished interior? You know, so we can judge you for how good a job you did, historical authenticity and all that.” Rich Shiffrin emailed: “I have not participated in the class notes (as far as I can recall), but since I will be 80 on March 13, I thought to fill in a very little bio. I remain an active faculty member and researcher (in cognition and cognitive science) at Indiana University. I also remain active in various scientific honorary societies. In addition to my research in cognition, I have been spending considerable time writing about the practices of science (e.g., arguing there is no ‘reproducibility crisis’ and arguing science needs to govern the way we do statistics rather than the reverse). Increasing arthritis has limited my recreational activities to rock climbing, both in the local climbing gym and at my annual summer conference, ASIC. Hopefully, the pandemic restrictions will soon allow visits to my children and grandchildren.”
Ron Sipherd answered the questions I posed in January (What is going through your mind as you turn 80? What are your plans for the ninth decade of our lives?): “If I had to sum it up in one word, it might be ‘comfortable.’ I'm slowing down, of course — my running now is more of a fast shuffle — but otherwise in generally good health, living the life I choose at my own pace. Very happy to be retired. I have had jobs I loved, but not all of them were loved by any means; and the freedom to do as I please with friends and associates that I like is priceless. And the days are full. I seem to have almost no idle time, between household tasks and my photography. I never imagined I'd become an artist. But I enjoy it and people say they like the results. I expect I will continue doing what I can with what I have for as long as I am able. You might also like Constantine Cavafy's poem ‘Ithaca.’
Russell Sunshine commented on “Celebrate 80,” as follows: “I’m a year younger than most of you; I feel perpetually shortchanged for skipping third grade. But it’s a treat to see you doing your rallying thing. Keep beating the drum.” Drawing from his insightful blog, Russell wrote: “Like many of you, I’ve found the past two years disruptive and demoralizing. I want to stay informed and engaged. But I also feel the need to nurture my equilibrium and equanimity. Here’s one technique I’ve recently been practicing. Maybe it will work for you: ‘Like most of my peers, I’m aware the aging glass is both half-empty and half-full. We have to take the sour with the sweet. But it’s my impression that we tend to over-emphasize seniority’s downsides. If that’s correct, this reflexive pessimism exacts a high price. Not only can it impair our mental and emotional health. It can also neglect and undervalue seniority’s rich offsetting opportunities, passions and pleasures.’ ” Russell also commented on Timothy Breen’s Book Club: “Tony, good to see you on the Book Club looking and sounding so well! All of us especially liked Timothy’s concluding remark about Liberty, dramatically contrasting revolutionary responsibility and obligation with ‘the extreme libertarianism of the selfie generation!’ I'd like to quote this in my upcoming blog post. When and where can I listen to or read the recorded transcript?” [It’s posted on Class News.]
Tony Thomson wrote: “On this sunny but freezing January day, I want to expand on the skydiving idea — forgive me if you know all the stuff that follows — and I can’t remember where you are located so it is general information. I will be 80 in October. Not to prove anything but to explore the pleasures of aging, my brother and I are planning on making one or more parachute jumps on a day during a warmer time of year, maybe September after Labor Day? My brother and I jumped twice on the same day in Orange MA about 1966 or 1967 but not since. We jumped from a very small plane with a static line to open the parachute like the 82nd Airborne. Today, jumping is more organized and professional. As far as I know every jump center makes you jump tandem with an experienced instructor. A chute and reserve chute are automatic. You just enjoy the ride. Statistically, it isn’t dangerous, and it isn’t expensive. There are places to jump all over the East Coast. Here is the website of a leading center just to give details. No age cutoff and no special level of fitness is required. I think they make you jump off a picnic table as a test. Obviously, recent knee or hip surgery would rule someone out. Beards are OK. Anyway, I wondered if we could do it as a sponsored jump for some worthy charity? That way we might attract more people including wives or significant others and sponsors who would like to watch but not jump. A nice early fall outing. Maybe get little local newspapers to cover it? Any ideas for a charity, like Alzheimer's research?” [Here are other likely classmate skydivers.]
After watching the Lieberman webinar in January, Tony Thomson added: “Joe should have been president!” Charlie Thomson remembered Harold Bloom, too: “Thanks so much for all your work, Tony. So much news. Glad to see so many of us remain standing. Having taken three courses with Harold Bloom (starting with my first Yale class in English 25), I appreciated your reference. I have to admit, though, even being an English major, I never understood Wallace Stevens. Harold could quote long passages from every author we studied. I wrote him a thank-you note ten years ago, and he actually replied! But I remember best a seminar with Robert Penn Warren, where we discussed the first 1½ pages of A Farewell to Arms for an hour and a half.”
Jan Truebner forwarded a lovely message from Kris Klint (surviving spouse of Jim Klint): “I often don’t read all of the articles that you kindly send, but this morning I was motivated by the concept of turning 80. I was delighted to read the article about Martin Luther King, Jr. and listen to the accompanying prayer which MLK recited in the chapel during the graduation weekend. I enjoyed the article about Nathan Chen and the lack of a US diplomatic presence at the Olympics this year. I was also fascinated by the Arthur Miller book about turning 80 which was written fifty years ago and still is relevant today. Tony Lavely put together a lovely array of articles by classmates, and I look forward to reading more of them. I also want to thank Tony for submitting the article about my husband, Jim Klint, and his relationship with the 49ers football team. I have memories of great times visiting Yale in the 1960s and enjoyed meeting so many of the Yalies who were Jim’s friends, Tony being one of them. Jim would be honored to know that his college friends are still enjoying the memories of Jim and his relationship with the 49ers and their five Super Bowl victories. Please pass on my thoughts to Tony. Thanks for the memories!”
Nancy Upper (surviving spouse of Dennis Upper) emailed Jan Truebner: “Many thanks for sending more of Tony’s wonderful writing, and his links to articles by classmates. We learn never to ask a woman her age. Still, if you can gently inquire if any surviving spouses turned, or will turn, 80 this year, I am sure Tony would love to hear their stories. The distaff side of ‘turning 80’ is just as important as the spear side. Classmates will enjoy reading how their female counterparts feel about this milestone birthday. This NYT article by Jane Brody sets an example. Thank you, Jan.” Later, Nancy wrote: “I read the Cavafy poem that John Podeschi excerpted. It’s so apt and moving.” Nancy also commented on the invasion of Ukraine: “Regarding man’s tendency toward destruction, the late great biologist, naturalist, and proponent of biodiversity E.O. Wilson (a myrmecologist) said that if insects disappear, the world will not go on as before. If Man disappears, the Earth will gradually return to the verdant, healthy, biologically diverse planet it once was.”
Even before the Liebermann Zoom event took place, Don Van Doren emailed: “I look forward to this discussion. Gerrymandering, Citizens United, election reform at the state and national level, the 24-hour news cycle, and many other factors have altered our political systems to elevate more radical positions on both the right and the left and to reduce the opportunities for collaboration and compromise. These factors make it more difficult for centrist views to predominate, let alone to gain traction. Yet, the re-emergence of the center is critical to rebuild our country’s shared sense of purpose. I look forward to Joe’s remarks. Thank you for promoting this opportunity.” Andrew Villalon emailed: “Thanks for the heads up about the Joe Lieberman event, Tony. And Happy Birthday, Joe (who turned 80 on February 25). Actually, I'll be turning seventy-nine this year (hopefully).”
Tom Walton commented on the poems cited in January: “Thanks for the poems, Tony. I will just barely make 80 this year, in December. I will find and read the whole Wallace Stevens poem. I would respond to Ulysses with lines from Wordsworth's Intimations of Immortality that I think about often these days.
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind.
All the best for 2022.”
Sitting in Logan Airport, Boston, Joe Wishcamper attended most of the Class Council meeting on Zoom in February and then flew to Bogota that afternoon. Later, Joe emailed: “I am back in Bogota from having been in the Orinoco River network fishing for peacock bass — a pretty rigorous trip. Fly to Lima tomorrow, meeting Carol for a birdwatching boat trip on a tributary of the Amazon — an upscale trip for a week in early March.” Jeremy Scott Wood called attention to the online exhibitions of Martin Luther King, Jr. at Sterling Memorial Library. Jeremy also recommended “The Song of Wandering Aengus” and “Sailing to Byzantium” by William Butler Yeats.
David Wyles posted: “Sorry I've been missing in action here on Facebook. I've recently been elected President of the Board of Directors for the Westside Regional Center. I'm honored to be helping this terrific organization, which serves and supports individuals with disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and their families. Westside Regional is a non-profit funded by the State of California and the Feds and our service area stretches from Malibu to Gardena, and from the ocean through Inglewood, heading into the midtown of L.A. We take care of about 10,000 individuals and their families. Believe me, it’s a big responsibility and a lot of work. But I’m enjoying it. I really think I’m doing some of God’s work (even though I’m not religious at all). It’s a bit of payback for all of the years that Westside has supported my autistic rapper son, Rio. Rio’s mom, Judith Feldman, and I are eternally grateful to Westside and the wonderful case workers who have helped us tailor services for Rio, including two music producers who work with him every week to create and record his music. We’re hoping to make some low-budget guerilla-style videos of the rap songs he’s already written sometime this spring and summer. One of his music producers, Sam Kingston, who’s a recording engineer for DJ Muggs of Soul Assassins and Cypress Hill fame, says that nowadays people will only listen to music if it also has visuals accompanying it. Consequently, if Rio is to get any traction outside of the special-needs community, he needs to have these music videos to build his street cred as a rapper. Wish us all luck, my friends!”
John Wylie contributed mightily to the Bay Area Zoom discussion about the history of vaccine mandates. Karl Ziegler, a regular on the Boston Zoom calls, emailed: “I attach through a very circuitous route a most thoughtful analysis of the events of January 6 last year written by our classmate historian Timothy Breen. My sister, Renate Parke, and her family are justifiable admirers of Timothy’s work. I thought you and other classmates of ‘64 would enjoy the attachment, and Timothy was also the featured author for the second Yale 1964 Authors Book Club on January 12, 2022.”
Phil Anderson emailed: “I may be the first member of our class to roll that front birthday digit to start my ninth decade this year. I did it on 4 January 2022. Wanting to mark the event in style, my wife celebrated with me as we were both in COVID quarantine, not exactly how I had planned to leave my 70s behind! But turning 80 is now one of those ‘do you remember where you were and what you were doing’ occasions. We have decided that if the health horizon improves, my half birthday on 4 July would be a day to celebrate with beer and brats. Anyone in the neighborhood is invited to join us. We are still at the same address in Richardson, Great State of Texas.”
When she read some of my articles about New Haven pizza, Michelle Mead (surviving spouse of John Armor) told me that for a while John owned a pizza restaurant in North Carolina, named “Dun Furgot.” Michelle, who lives in Charlottesville VA now, is in a regular writers group on Zoom as well as a French conversation group. She posted: “Julia Child and her husband used to attend the American Cathedral in Paris, where I sang in the choir. We had a lot of famous people attend services. The biggest deal was probably to sing for the service attended by George and Barbara Bush.”
Len Baker had to miss the Class Council meeting: “I’ll be in Hawaii with kids and grandkids.” Paul Balser, a longtime board member of The Hudson Guild in NYC, announced their annual benefit in April. Paul wrote: “The Hudson Guild Mission has been rooted in core values of opportunity, inclusion, diversity, and commitment to community.” Tom Barnard, a new Class Council member, exchanged emails with fellow physicist Sam Francis about Tony Leiserowitz’ presentation: “Dr. Leiserowitz gave an enthusiastic presentation. I believe his project of tracking U.S. public opinion about climate change is professional, reliable, and dedicated to the long term. He has an engaging personality and is a visible emissary for Yale.” Following the Yale Canon minireunion last October, Tom Barnard circulated a New Yorker assessment of Great Books Courses.
Dick Berk emailed a New Year update: “2022 is going well. I am spending two weeks on the Island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas with my wife, son, daughter, and their families. The weather and location are perfect. We have been here several times and like it a lot. This is retirement on my terms because I can work remotely. My research on fair algorithms is getting lots of attention, so many opportunities are coming my way. I can pick and choose, which is lovely. More generally, the international scientific community moved onto the Internet a year or so ago and that continues. I get to participate on international online seminars several times a week. Great fun. I am not a rock star, but my work gets me lots of deference, and I have colleagues from all over the world. And my work keeps getting published. My son Michael is a digital nomad. He is a data scientist/software engineer working for a media firm in the Bay Areas that allows him to work remotely. So he literally works from where he wants. For the past month he has been working from Ecuador. He is fluent in Spanish and loves spending time in South America. When he leaves Eleuthera he will be going to Colombia to work from there. There is enormous demand for people with Michael’s skills so he makes a ridiculous salary and can pretty much write his own ticket. But he is occupationally restless, too, and I expect within a year he will move to a setting that is more technically challenging, perhaps with a startup.”
Dan Berman commented on “Celebrate 80”: “We oughta send it to the Yale Daily News. Loved it! Hell, I'm not even 79 yet. I hope I still feel pretty good five weeks from now. I'm exactly two months younger than President Biden, and he's talking about a second term. Argh!!!!! It has not been an easy year for you Tony. Keep up the good work. More later mi amigo.” Steve Bingham responded passionately to the discussion of government mandates in the Bay Area Zoom group: “I have a hard time tolerating ongoing refusal to be vaccinated, particularly as the evidence is in.” Steve added: “Tony, as you can tell, I’m passionate about this. Perhaps, you could suggest to Yale that it organize some kind of online event on the issue.”
When Bob Buchanan read that Tony Leiserowitz would be speaking to the Class Council, he wrote: “I don’t know if you recall or participated in this, but when Gus Speth became Dean of what is now the Yale School of the Environment, some of us contributed funds to enable Gus to attract the best faculty possible as well as provide scholarships for those students (home and abroad) that Gus was particularly interested in attracting. Years later, when my wife and I were on a birding trek in Bhutan, some of the guides and most respected environmental officials there were alumni of Gus’s program. Gus appreciated the support from our Class, and we used to get together whenever he came to D.C. to testify on the Hill. I don’t remember the year, but Gus asked if some of us wanted to sponsor Tony Leiserowitz’s first efforts to reach out to the public and conduct surveys on climate awareness. Accordingly, I have been reading the results of his surveys and been disappointed in how little public awareness really developed until recently. Glad you have him coming to our Class Council.”
Pat Caviness and Sam Crocker, classmates at both Taft and Yale, recently reconnected with Dick duPont, also a Taft and Yale classmate. Dick spent two years with us at Yale, but had lost touch. At their urging, he reaffiliated with 1964. Welcome back, Dick. Dick rediscovered his 1964 roots when he came across the obituary of Bruce Warner on our Class Website. It so moved Dick that he wrote a touching letter to Mimo Robinson (surviving spouse of Bruce Warner), which is now posted on In Memoriam. Dick is a prolific chronicler of experiences and friendships, and he has already added to the lore. Pat Caviness emailed Dick: “I've just finished reading your pamphlet, ‘Letters of Taft.’ What a treasure trove of photos of your sons growing up! When I got to the end, I was deeply moved by your poem about Bob Poole, our Taft coach, friend, and irreplaceable mentor. Pat and I connected on a WhatsApp video call in March. He is exactly twelve hours ahead of me in Thailand. Frederique and Pat recently sold their villa on Koh Samui and moved to a slightly smaller place: “It's in an estate, the house is large and sits high on a hillside with a commanding view of the ferries on a busy harbor below. I have enjoyed our incredible view every day and more recently the new garden. I am warming to the idea of setting up an indoor exercise and TV room, large office space, and enjoying being closer to a large nearby village.” Pat also remembered our teammate Jim Klint: “Jim was a caring committed teammate on and off the field. When your head was hanging down or you were sidelined with an injury, Jim was there to encourage you and pick up your spirits. As the 49ers team doctor, Jim earned his five Super Bowl rings the same way, by taking care of his teammates.” Pat and I also shared vivid memories of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Pat emailed: “Cool and personal coverage of Mardi Gras. Loved seeing those beads. I got my DrPH at Tulane Medical Center. I got my Master's in Business at Wharton. Going to Tulane was my personal journey to fulfill a promise to myself to obtain my doctoral degree at some point in my life. And I wanted to reorient my career away from investment banking and my expertise in banking to the medical field.” Sam Crocker, the other half of the duo who lured Dick duPont back, emailed: “I’m very happy that Dick will be affiliating with the great Yale Class of 1964! Yes, I am Class Secretary for the Taft Class of 1960. Dick and I were classmates at Taft for four years and developed a very close friendship there which has remained strong over the years and is one I very much value. We played on the football team together (he was the QB and Captain). We also played on the hockey and baseball teams together. As linemates on the hockey team, we had great communication, something which made playing together so much fun. We then played together on the Yale freshman hockey team where we were happy to join forces with former Hotchkiss archrivals Bruce Warner, Strachan Donnelley, and Peter Wyckoff whose Hotchkiss team beat Taft at Ingalls Rink for the Founders League Championship our senior year! In addition to playing sports, Dick was also a student leader at Taft. An accomplished artist, writer, athlete, sportsman, aviator, and land conservator, Dick is gifted in many areas. Indeed, a true renaissance man!”
Sam Callaway, another Class Council member, emailed about the Nathan Chen story during the Winter Olympics: “I read it and loved it. And thanks for the photo of our hockey team. I had one for many years, but it was misplaced in one of our moves, and I never found a replacement. Although we always gave a maximum effort, we were an overmatched group compared to our previous two years, but it was a fabulous bunch of guys who left me with nothing but fond memories.” When Larry Crutcher saw the article about classmate connections to Muhammad Ali, he emailed: “On a personal level, I was fairly close to Owsley Brown II, having also grown up in Louisville. We drove back and forth together, roomed together one year, attended weddings, visited his place in Canada, and I went to his funeral. I can also tell you that my family plot, and indeed my own (pre-planned) marker in Cave Hill Cemetery, is just around the corner from Ali’s. Col. Sanders, on the other hand, is on the other side of the cemetery.” So intriguing was Larry’s account that we extended the Ali story with another article. Larry Crutcher added: “My wife and I acquired a place in Watch Hill RI a year or so ago, which apparently came with a standing invitation to Chris Getman’s monthly Mory’s lunch. It’s nice to have a new group of friends … especially at our age. It goes without saying that your columns and class stewardship serve a real purpose. We’ve had dinner with Chris and Toddie alone in Charlestown RI and surely will again this summer.” Jim Currie isn’t letting 80 take him away from his love of flying airplanes: “One of the things I’m doing this weekend (in addition to catching the Super Bowl) is going for some flying with Art Koral in his Pitts Special. Three hours in the air today, more tomorrow and Monday. Location is near a little village called Temecula (CA). Later this year or early next, I hope to take possession of a little beauty called the Sling High Wing. I keep telling these folks that I can still vaguely remember walking around a WWII Naval Air Base (Hutchinson, KS) as a young toddler, but they don't seem to be buying it.”
Bill Drennen emailed in January: “Happy New Year to you. I’ll be in my Shepherdstown WV home for another month, then I return to Fiancé Bella’s house in Novato, CA. I’m having my left knee replaced there in February and expect to stay until June. I do hope to tune into the Yale Authors Book Club tomorrow.” Bruce Driver, another Class Council member, emailed from Colorado: “Tony, I thought you did a really nice job today herding our class cats through a long meeting. The YSE kids who appeared in the afternoon were great. They all seemed really bright and aware. Hope you are adjusting OK without Wanda.” John Evans, a regular in the New Haven/Mory’s Zoom group, responded to a newsletter from Joe Lieberman’s son, Matt, that talked about Joe Rogan: “Joe Rogan’s video is very good. He is smart and articulate and does an excellent job of defending himself. After all, he was just interested in having interesting conversations and trying to ferret out the truth, thus abdicating any responsibility as to content. That being said, he minimizes his offense to only two shows, credentialed doctors spouting (in Matt Lieberman’s terms) crackpot ideas. It seems to me that the number of crackpot ideas is far beyond two from what I have read, but I don’t follow Rogan. An interesting column in today’s NYTimes by Roxane Gay on the difference between censorship and curating. Worth reading. She also describes Rogan’s earlier reality show ‘Fear Factor’ which, coupled with the current controversy, would lead me to believe that Rogan has little respect for his fellow man.” Jerry Flannelly, another Class Council member, circulated an interesting YouTube video featuring Yale sociologist Nick Christakis, “COVID-19 Will Reshape Humanity.” When Sam Francis posted Roger Angell’s New Yorker article, he commented: “The Roger Angell story was fun. He’s still alive and going strong at 101!” After Tony Leiserowitz spoke to the Class Council, Sam Francis wrote me: “Tony Leiserowitz’s expertise (human geography) falls into the social sciences rather than the physical sciences. If you want to know about the public’s climate-change knowledge, attitudes, policy preferences, and behavior, and the underlying psychological, cultural, and political factors that influence them, ask a social scientist — ask him. But if you want to know about climate-change science and climate models, ask a physical scientist.” (Sam was commenting on Leiserowitz’s answer to a climate question Sam had posed.) Sam Francis didn’t take any time off from 1964 website updates, but Bobbie and he managed to spend a week in the snowy Berkshires during February with their family.
Frank Franklin emailed from Birmingham: “We always enjoy your insightful newsletters. In June 2022, we will celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary and my 80th birthday (now a national holiday, Juneteenth — unsure what I did to deserve this recognition — LOL). My favorite song for this June will be one of my all-time favorites, James Brown’s ‘I got you (I feel good).’ While we do not see many classmates in person, we communicate frequently with Neil Hoffmann, Ron Parlato, John Hunsaker, and Kip Burgweger. The most fun Yale things we enjoyed recently are three drama courses from the Yale Alumni College. They are excellent and filled with a small group (~18) of students very knowledgeable about theater. We often learn more from our fellow students than from the instructors. We are not among the knowledgeable folks but have found that the bottom quintile learns the most if you do the work and pay attention. We will see plays in London with Murray Biggs for a week in October 2022 as part of the Yale series. We recently completed a global art certificate from the Smithsonian. These drama and art courses partially make up for what I missed from my undergrad days that were focused on social sciences. A former student asked me the other day if I am finally retired. I had not thought about the question specifically before. The answer is ‘pretty much’ as I have not seen patients in ten years and not taught a full course or written a research grant or paper in two years. Of my former life in pediatrics and public health, the remaining remnants are several lectures a year and consults and mentoring colleagues on research grants and papers. These activities are still fun and challenging. In its place are arts courses and creative activities like clay sculpture, improv storytelling, and playwriting. So far so good, but I recognize and fear the loss of my wife as you sadly recently experienced and the inevitable involution of our physical, mental, and social lives. As we are 80, we can count ourselves among the lucky ones, as 50% of Americans born in 1942 have died already. The proportion is likely lower for males, but I do not readily find that number. Among our classmates of largely white males, the last time I looked about 25% of our classmates have died. Do you know the actual proportion? [It’s 26% of those who matriculated in 1960.] Given our age of 80 and reasonably good health, our current cohort of 80-year-old classmates has a life expectancy of 93. Thus, we might see many of our classmates back for our 70th reunion. The Yale experience of gold-medalist Nathan Chen can be contrasted with the basketball players at Overtime Elite. According to Chen ‘Figure skating isn’t the only thing I’m passionate about. I enrolled at Yale University in 2018, where I’m majoring in statistics and data science.’ While discussing his decision to balance athletic training with school, he told the Yale Daily News ‘It was honestly a no-brainer. Yale was a completely different venture for me. I’d never considered that I’d truly have the opportunity to go, and I didn’t want to pass that up.’ Contrast Chen with the youth at Overtime Elite.”
On “Celebrate 80,” Edward Gaffney emailed: “As the ‘baby’ of the bunch, I’m still waiting for 79.” Chris Getman, longtime Class Council member, wrote: “As you know, Toddie and I bought a place at Evergreen Woods, a retirement community in North Branford. Our primary residence will still be our home in Rhode Island. Our kids from Wisconsin are coming back to pick up some stuff next weekend. Our move this year was complicated and our New Year’s cards got misplaced in the shuffle.” When Chris learned about Dick duPont reaffiliating with our Class, he emailed: “How do I get in touch with him? We both grew up in Wilmington DE, but I was on the other side of the tracks from him. I think we were in Cub Scouts together.” [Note: All 664 email addresses that we know are listed in the Directory on the Class website, and every classmate who is named and bolded in Class Notes has an embedded email address. Just click on the name and an addressed email template appears on your screen.] Among his many other Yale/New Haven affiliations, Chris Getman is chair of the “Friends of URI.” Chris is also close to the current Dean of the Yale School of the Environment, Indy Burke. Indy wrote Chris: “I’m sorry that I’m late to get back to you. Bill and I were arriving in elk camp which was very exciting. I’m sorry you’re selling in Hamden, but glad that you’re still relatively close. Right now, Bill and I are sticking close to home, working mostly remotely, and only venturing out very occasionally. We are starting classes on January 25, a week late and doing the first two weeks remotely, in hopes that Omicron will be on the downslide then.” Getman replied: “Great to hear from you, Indy. Glad that the elk adventure was successful. Better you than me, Thanks for the suggestion of Tony Leiserowitz. He will be addressing our Class Council remotely on February 19.” Angus Gillespie emailed: “Tony, I loved your citation of Henry Miller’s ‘On Turning 80.’ Powerful literary refence.”
After his review of Roberto Calasso’s book appeared in the NYT, Stephen Greenblatt emailed: “If you were going to read on, I would recommend The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony. I just read a wonderful, poignant book by Bart van Es, called The Cut Out Girl. We are off to Rome a week from tomorrow. Back at the end of April. If you are coming to Italy, give me a shout; we will take you to a great restaurant and the best gelateria in the city.” During the Winter Olympics, Bob Hilgendorf emailed: “I submitted this op-ed to the Santa Fe New Mexican for possible publication. Thought it might be of interest to you and other classmates. Give me your reaction. Thanks for what you do to keep our class together.” Frank Hotchkiss posted a five-star review of the Booth Western Art Museum in Georgia. After the Class Council meeting, Neil Hoffmann wrote: “Thanks for the terrific meeting. It occurs to me that if the Council had been in person, in New Haven, that I would not have been able to make it. So, it's time to resign so that you can appoint one of your worthy candidates. I appreciate the honor of being a member and getting to know you and others. I hope I made some small contribution. I look forward to staying in touch. The Zoom activities are a wonderful innovation which I appreciate very much.” Neil also affirmed his enthusiasm for Squash Haven: “I love what Squash Haven does for the city kids!” Responding to “Celebrate 80,” Hoffmann emailed: “I read your thoughts on turning 80 and the Class Notes made it clear that many of us are not thinking or acting like we're 80 at all. In any case it made me think of my grandfather Rudolph, a New Haven native, who shortly after my father was born in 1909, was diagnosed with tuberculosis and beat it by leaving his machinist job at Winchester Arms and driving an open cab for many years. He was my hero and at 82 was with us at our graduation. So, one goal for me is to make it to grandson Casper's graduation from Haverford College in 2025. Earlier, Neil Hoffmann commented on Mo Dean’s blog “People are a lot like cars”: “Most of the Class of ’64 were born in 1942, perhaps spawned by the war in Europe and the threat that posed to young people just recovering from the Great Depression. An uncertain future that they never talked about. An elderly lady friend of my parents had a post-war Chevrolet sedan that I remember driving about 1958. Stick shift and no power steering, it was a bear to drive. It seemed antediluvian in an era when my parents didn’t keep a car much more than three years and the new model cars were all the rage among teenagers. Remember?”
In early February, Terry Holcombe emailed: “I am writing from Delray Florida, where it is 80 versus 7 below in New Hampshire. At the Council meeting, what about making a commemorative citation to Marie Coady, longtime bartender and server at Mory’s and a loyal friend to 1964.” As someone who knows my father’s connection to Martin Luther King, Jr. [my father was King’s doctoral thesis advisor at BU in 1955], Holcombe asked if I knew the first job King had in New England. [I did.]
Fellow Atlantan John Howells wasn’t able to attend my holiday party: “I am at Hilton Head. My oldest is celebrating her 50th this weekend.” Howells, who lost his wife Pat ten years ago, has kindly invited me to lunch periodically to talk about grief. We had lunch at his golf club last week, and I learned that he makes wooden canes as a side gig. Several classmates and spouses are proud owners. Jay Huffard commented on Joe Lieberman’s Zoom event, “Thanks for inviting me. I love Joe and often supported him. Many great ideas.” Waldo Johnston commented on the article about Nathan Chen at the Winter Olympics: “What a wonderful story about an amazingly gifted and thoughtful athlete. I did see his performance, and it was indeed spectacular. Not only has he the skills to perform these maneuvers but he also has, it would appear, the mental discipline to perform under arguably the most intense pressure imaginable. Yale is fortunate to have him. I share Tony Lee’s view that he should be immediately recruited to join the men's hockey team.” Following the Class Council meeting, Waldo emailed Sam Francis: “I thought your presentation about our class website was amazing, as usual. It seems that every year you find some other way to help us keep in touch with each other and to celebrate the achievements of our friends. You are a treasure for our class and hope we are not wearing you out.” Sam Francis replied: “Thanks for the compliment, Waldo. It’s a labor of love on my part. The challenge is to keep up with Lavely. In breezing through the website during my presentation, I happened to notice your Kaleidoscope presentation ‘Geezers Go Sailing’ in the section on our 55th Reunion. I know that you’re still a geezer, but are you still sailing? Is the Royal Grand Harbor Sailing Venue, Pavilion, and Bistro still in full flower? I wish you fair winds and following seas.” When Pete Putzel extolled the pleasures of living in Northeastern Connecticut, Bob Kaiser replied: “I’m not moving to Connecticut! Pete said last time we talked that he planned to personally reconvene NYC lunches when they again became possible. The Yale Club did resume meal service before Omicron. I don’t know where that stands now. And I wonder how many of the old lunch regulars still live in New York? Tony, I hope you’re coping with the grief that must be a large part of your inner life these days.”
Blaine Krickl, who regularly joins the Boston Zoom calls from the UK, emailed in early January: “I marked my 80th birthday milestone Friday last, I can assure you, I didn't feel a thing. We had intended to eat out in London but with the recent surge in Omicron-variant cases, felt that circumspection was the name of the game, thus it was lunch at home. Tony, your card was a very moving recitation of news and bereavement we so appreciated. I can report that our holiday was touch-and-go since both Julian and Laura tested positive for COVID-19 and only just turned negative Christmas morning. With Hugo at 22 months and typically curious and active for the age, our days of celebration were lively.” Blaine continued: “Wally Grant graced my milestone date with a copy of Henry Miller's book, On Turning Eighty, which I have yet to read through and respond, though I did have half an hour's phone call with him last evening. As Wally is your Grecian father, I urged him to share the link with you as well. [I have Blaine to thank for bringing Henry Miller’s book to my attention.] I hope, wherever you are marking the day and with whomever, it’s an upbeat and heartening time. You are so very ‘family strong,’ I can't see the day unfolding any other way. Our very best for the day and the new year as it unfolds.” Later, Blaine gave his feedback on some of our Class Zoom events: “Joe Lieberman was excellent. It was very much a ‘not-to-be-missed’ session, much as was the virtual class reunion discussing the ‘Yale Canon.’ I’ve dropped a note to Jerry Flannelly to thank him for his continuing efforts to host the Boston Zoom. Let me echo the sentiments of so many others in praise and gratitude for the work you do on behalf of the class. You seem to be everywhere on any day where there is a class-related meeting or event.” Frederic Lassiter emailed: “Thanks for your diligence in your secretary duties and attention to detail in 1964 Class Notes. By any chance, do you have any information re the whereabouts of a classmate named Roy Peterson. I would like to contact him if he is still able to be contacted. [Note: Roy is in ’64 but doesn’t have an email listed in our Class Directory, nor does Yale have any other contact information.]
Tony Lee emailed Waldo Johnston: “Thanks for reaching out to me and expressing a concern about how the Class Council can function together without being divided along political lines. A simple answer is to focus on current issues and not dwell on how we got here. Working together on a topic of concern can be productive.” Lee also weighed in on Tony Leiserowitz’ Class Council presentation: “Thanks to Tony Leiserowitz for the clear and convincing talk and slides. Thanks to Tony Lavely for setting this up for the Class Council members. And distant thanks to Gus Speth. Without him none of this would have happened. Lee continued: “Here’s my two cents. We have everything we need to start a massive program of solar, wind and other renewables. The US presently has about 10% in renewables, and we can increase that percentage to 70 or 80% before it starts getting more complicated with battery storage, etc. After all, the sun doesn’t shine at night or on cloudy days. And the wind doesn’t always blow. The recent NOAA report on sea levels rising faster than previously expected is very serious. We are not, however, able to stop the melting of glaciers or the rising sea levels.”
In January, Joe Lieberman sent me a warm note of condolence: “Thanks for your holiday card which is an eloquent and inspirational journey of one wonderful family during one year, through the best and worst of what life gives us. Hadassah and I thank you and pray that you will be comforted by your wonderful memories of Wanda and strengthened by your faith to go forward with hope. And, of course, we pray that this year will be full of only the best of times for you.” Matt Lieberman sent me a photo of his father celebrating his 80th birthday on February 25: “Four score years ago, this great guy made his debut in the world. A great leader, a great dad, a true mensch!” [Note: Hey, why don’t all classmates send me a photo (.jpg) of their 80th celebration … or just a good photo taken this year.]
Sandy McKleroy, who roiled the Boston Zoom group with his views on government vaccine and masking mandates, emailed on a more harmonious theme: “Your ‘Celebrate 80’ was a good gathering of poems and thoughts to celebrate our launch into 80+. At a lull in class proceedings during our 40th, I had considered and regretfully did not recite Ulysses, which I had always loved and had ‘learnt by heart’ for my 50th birthday. Hopefully, in ’24 (God willing), I can recite it. Another two favorite powerful short poems are ‘Ozymandias’ on the ultimate emptiness of tyranny, and e e cummings’ ‘i thank You God for most this amazing day.’ Gems!” John More changed his Facebook profile photo to include the flag of Ukraine and wrote: “I’m looking forward to the service tomorrow at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square. And prayers for Ukraine.” John also joined the 80th birthday photo club and posted: “The love of my life, Livy, got me the perfect balloons to celebrate my 80th today.” Following the Class Council meeting, Bill Morse, our YAA Class Delegate, wrote: “I agreed with Howard Gillette’s critique of the trustees’ decision to abruptly terminate the petition process, but I see my role as YAA Class Delegate not as critiquing them but as reporting what they said. I was giving our class the Yale-trustee version of what they represent and do. I do agree with the trustees’ effort to keep politicking out of the process. But they could have handled it better. Tony Leiserowitz’s presentation of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication was exceptional. The School of Environment students were an inspiration.” Sam Low posted: “Here is a short video I produced with a friend to help understand the Polynesian star compass. Aloha.” Colleen Murphy-Dunning, the YSE liaison to Urban Resources Initiative, emailed: “Thank you so much for your continued support of URI’s program. I hope you will share our gratitude with all the members of the Class of ’64. We are accepting internship applications now from interested Yale students and will let you know the name of the student sponsored by your Class in the coming weeks.”
Many classmates added New Year greetings in January. Susie and Frank Basler: “In the midst of so much chaos, we wish you a far more loving 2022 and every growing trust in the future.”Angus Macdonald: “Health, Prosperity, and Happiness. All the best for 2022!” Arlene and Chip Nielsen: “Happy New Year. We will continue to send ‘year-end letters’ to discuss our two daughters, one son, three grandsons, and our families.” Nancy and Dan Pollack sent an e-card with animated rockets. Russell Sunshine wrote: “Thanks for your handsome (and brave) holiday card, Tony. You must be so proud of your handsome and talented offspring! I’m thinking of you as you navigate life without Wanda.” Diane Senior and Don Van Doren emailed: “We are eagerly anticipating our next adventures in the coming year, likely including the resumption of international and domestic travel, and reconnecting with family and friends.”
Many classmates are still “writing like they’re running out of time.” [See Publications.] Edward Massey’s new book, Forever Sheriff, will be released in May. In his blog, Edward says: “Here are my resolutions: To write four hours every day and exercise some.” Congratulations to Edward Massey who has been named Reunion Chair for his Harvard Business School 55th reunion this year. Timothy Breen wrote a review in The Times Literary Supplement in January, “Life, liberty for all?” Also in January, Stephen Greenblatt wrote a review in The New York Times Book Review, “The Book of All Books.” Mo Dean included Tony Lavely’s missive, “Celebrate 80,” in his blog, Moristotle. Syd Lea began a new blog with a short story, “Bound to Happen.” Ron Parlato added two stories about old age to his blog, Uncle Guido’s Facts: “The Scary Prospect of Old Age and Empty Shelves” and “The Libido of the American Male.” Russell Sunshine posted “Savoring Small Pleasures” in his blog, Agile Aging. Jim Rogers posted his New Year predictions on Yahoo Finance: “The next bear market will be the worst in my lifetime.”
It was heartening to see that there were no classmate deaths reported in January and February, but we still reflect on earlier passings. The Yale School of the Environment added a tribute (“An Amazing Role Model”) to Tom Lovejoy’s In Memoriam page. Gerry Shea circulated another tribute to Tom Lovejoy from The New Yorker. Jim Currie added a remembrance to Tom Lovejoy’s In Memoriam page. John Evans added Mory’s Memorial Bricks for Dick Ainsworth and John Ogilvie; Tom Barnard donated to the general fund for Mory’s Memorial Bricks.
