Which Yale professor was most memorable or influential?

April 9, 2022

Classmates and friends:

Here we are, almost sixty years out. Reflecting back to the early 1960s, which professor at Yale was your most memorable and/or influential? And why? What was the course? Over the years, many of you have commented on Harold Bloom, Vincent Scully, and John Blum, but I’m sure there were others.

Do any of you still have the 1963-64 Blue Book that listed all the courses and professors for our senior year? If so, I would like to scan it into the website. I promise to return it to you.

This is not a Class Notes month, so I call your attention to the 25 new articles in Class News that have been added since March 1:

• Howard Gillette ’64 on The Paradox of Urban Revitalization (video) (4/7/22)
• Tony Lee ’64 joint venture with Elders Climate Action Massachusetts (4/5/22)
• Bill Fink ’64 honored at Oxford shell christening (videos) (4/4/22)
• Terry Holcombe ’64 reports reopening of Sunrise Café in New Haven (4/4/22)
• Sam Francis ’64, Tony Lavely ’64 archived ’64 website at Sterling (3/31/22)
• Chas Freeman ’64 interviewed on Ukraine and Taiwan (audio) (3/30/22)
• Dan Pollack ’64 and Nancy honored for “A Lifetime of Service” (3/29/22)
• Neil Hoffmann ’64 says “This is what I want for my 80th birthday” (3/29/22)
• John Wylie ’64 publishes updated article on the human soul (3/21/22)
• Joe Wishcamper ’64 discusses his real-estate career (video) (3/20/22)
• Dan Berman ’64 writes the real story of the Gold Rush in California (3/18/22)
• Jim Rogers ’64 predicts that China will take Taiwan (video) (3/16/22)
• Tony Reno (honorary ’64) holds Zoom football briefing (3/16/22)
• Owen O'Donnell ’64 hosts Bay-Area Zoom for ten ’64 classmates (3/16/22)
• Jerry Flannelly ’64 convenes biggest Boston-area Zoom call yet (3/14/22)
• Stephen Greenblatt ’64 sees Russia and Ukraine reflected in Aida (3/14/22)
• Tony Lee ’64, Sam Callaway ’64, Ward Wickwire ’64 on Yale hockey (3/13/22)
• Al Rossiter ’64 writes The Boston Globe about Ukraine (3/13/22)
• Ed Trippe ’64 organizing a tribute to Bill Fink ’64 on the Thames (3/12/22)
• Bruce Driver ’64 analyzes ten contested U.S. Senate races (3/12/22)
• Jim Rogers ’64 warns “It’s the endgame” (video) (3/8/22)
• Larry Crutcher ’64 and Hannah attend the Iditarod Race (3/5/22)
• Dean Risë Nelson named to Diversity post at Yale (3/5/22)
• Tony Lee ’64, John More ’64, others support Ukraine (videos) (3/1/22)
• Chas Freeman ’64 on a panel to discuss the crisis in Ukraine (video) (3/1/22)

Remember, our next Class Zoom event is only three weeks away: “China: Confrontation or Collaboration?” on Thursday April 28 at 4:30pm EDT. We’ll hear from classmates Mac Deford, Chas Freeman, and Ward Wickwire. Please register by clicking here.

And two months after that, on Saturday June 25, Amy and Bob Rands will be hosting a Boston-area classmate party (“Celebrate 80”) at their Westwood MA home. Don’t forget to send me a photo of you as you celebrate your 80th birthday … or just celebrate making it to 2022! We'll post these photos in the Photo Gallery section of our website.

Sadly, we lost two classmates since the previous all-classmate email:

• Stephen “Steamer” Walke died on March 23 in Montpelier VT. Steamer was only with us for three years before enlisting in the Coast Guard. He later graduated from George Mason College and earned his J.D. at the University of Virginia Law School. Steamer’s full obituary can be viewed here.

• Robert “Rick” Kaminsky died on March 26 in Houston TX. An outstanding member of our Class, Rick was captain of the basketball team, three-time All-Ivy, and an All-American in his senior year. Following his service in the Army, Rick completed his residency in Urology at Baylor Medical School. He went on to have a successful urologic practice in Houston and became a pioneer in lithotripsy treatment. Rick’s full obituary and remembrances can be viewed here.

Cheers,