What did you experience in the past 12 months that you’ve never experienced before?
September 13, 2022
Dear 1964 classmates and spouses,
This email carries with it the November/December 2022 Class Notes, which are also online. As I prepared these Notes I was struck by how many things classmates are doing as our cohort enters its ninth decade … really remarkable things. So please let me know what experiences in the last year were new and remarkable.to you.
These thoughts brought to mind some lines from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s epic poem Ulysses, which in our day Harold Bloom called “the greatest poem in the English language.”
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
Little remains; but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things.
Please make a note of upcoming Class events and organizers:
- Class Golf Outing and Dinner, Cape Cod (Ted Jones), September 28-30
- “Classic Whiffenpoofs” at Mory’s, October 17
- Yale-Princeton Game (Chris Getman), November 12
- Webinar on SCOTUS Affirmative Action Case (Howard Gillette), December 1
- Monthly Mory’s luncheons (Chris Getman), first Wednesdays
- Monthly Boston-Area Zooms (Jerry Flannelly), third Wednesdays
- Monthly Bay-Area Zooms (Owen O’Donnell), third Wednesdays
You will read about the deaths of three classmates in this issue of the Notes:
The November-December Class Notes are embedded below and also available on our Class website.
Please tell me the new things you’re “bringing.”
Cheers,
Tony Lavely
407.770.8942 (cell)
November-December Class Notes
[To read these Notes in your browser in living color, click here.]
This is the final issue of Class Notes for 2022 but written in September. As we reviewed the YAM schedule and guidelines for 2023, Sam Francis noted: “I note with interest that our class size limits your YAM word count to 800 words. And the word count of your latest online Notes was 9,621. You might point that out in the lead-in to your next online edition.” Just goes to prove that the Class of 1964 cannot be contained, even as many of us enter the ninth decade of our lives!
Regional luncheons and Zooms continued through the summer. Chris Getman gathered the CT-area classmates at the New Haven Lawn Club on July 6 and at Mory’s on August 10. Jerry Flannelly hosted the Boston-area classmates via Zoom on July 20 and August 17. Owen O’Donnell hosted the Bay-area classmates via Zoom on July 22 and August 17. Can we get a classmate volunteer to reignite classmate Zooms or luncheons in NYC and DC? Tony Lavely attended a special Zoom event, “How Yale Works: An introduction to the University’s Finances,” on July 18. The video is archived on the YAF Website. Tony Lavely also attended President Salovey’s quarterly update via Zoom on August 19. On September 28-30 there will be a renewal of the classmate golf outing on Cape Cod hosted by Larry Capodilupo and John Evans at three courses. Kai Lassen, Bill Morse, Ward Wickwire, and Tony Lavely plan to attend the YAA Assembly and YAF Convocation in New Haven on November 10-11. Howard Gillette will lead a classmate panel and Yale experts on December 1 via Zoom to discuss the Affirmative Action case coming before the SCOTUS. Edward Massey is organizing our fourth Yale ‘64 Authors Book Club in the first quarter of 2023; watch the Class Website/Events page for author/book/date.
The Class Website/News page continues to be refreshed with new articles. These are longer pieces by or about classmates that cannot be included in Class Notes. In chronological order, the new articles are listed below. The last four will be posted shortly.
This is the Class Notes section, none of which appears in Yale Alumni Magazine due to its word-count limitation. This issue proceeds in reverse alphabetical order.
Many classmates mourned the death of Robert Whitby in June. Blaine Krickl emailed: “Tony, I presume you are aware of Robert Whitby’s sudden death at home on June 26. His service was last Friday in Greenwich with a luncheon on the grounds of his and Kathleen’s lovely home in Greenwich.” Chris Getman emailed the Mory’s luncheon group, in which Robert was a regular, “This is very sad news. Robert had really become an engaged member of our class. He was on the Class Council and was the co-chair of the minireunion of the event we had last fall concerning the evolution of ‘The Yale Canon.’ I think that most of us know that he survived a kidney transplant and climbed six of the seven highest mountains on each continent. He was taken off Everest at 22,000 feet by a Russian helicopter, which pissed him off. He’s been an engaged member of our Mory’s luncheon group for a long time, and often added thoughtful and disparate opinions of the discussion. Robert’s daughter Michelle asked me to send this to everyone in the lunch group. I think that most of us are aware of the service and hope that many of us can attend on such short notice. He was a very interesting, accomplished, and complex guy.” John Evans added: “Robert had kidney failure and was on dialysis and hence couldn't go on the Canadian Rockies train trip but provided guidance on planning Seattle and Boeing and Vancouver, particularly the Chihuly museum which was a great treat. Then, he got a transplant and seemed ever so much better and had been a regular at class events, driving such events to reality. A shock to hear of such a precipitous end. He will certainly be missed.” Jim Whitney RSVPed for the Mory’s luncheon in July, “I am planning to make the luncheon on the 6th. It won't be nearly as enjoyable or as informative without Whitby, though.” Pete Putzel added: “Very sad news. Robert was a convivial regular at the NYC monthly luncheons. And his finest contribution to our class (with Chris Getman) was their luminous Zoom program on the undergraduate ‘Yale Canon,’ a project that he suggested and then brilliantly brought to fruition. And throughout it all he battled serious health issues. Rest in peace, Robert.” Sam Francis emailed, “So sad about Robert. He was certainly full of life and adventure.” Bill Woodfin remembered Robert, “His loss is terrible news. I regret that, atypically, I had not talked with Bob for some months but last time we talked he was feeling well and swimming laps daily in his home pool. I’m afraid we members of Yale ‘64 are at a highly vulnerable age and that any of us may go out in the blink of an eye. With Robert’s and Rick Kaminsky’s loss just a few months ago I have lost two of my closest friends from our Class, and I grieve for all of us. Quincy Rodgers emailed: “Very sad. Talked to Robert this winter. He sounded weak but spirited. Pam and I took a Class of ‘64 train from Vancouver to Banff a few years ago largely because Witts was one of the organizers. Then he was unable to go because of the complication of getting dialysis treatments on the road, not that he didn’t try to figure it out. I admire the spirit with which he tried and with which he contended with his condition. My lasting memory will be Whitby sleeping on deck in a chilly Chesapeake Fall, conditioning himself for mountaineering.” Bill Morse emailed about Robert Whitby, “I was at the Back Country Jazz concert in Greenwich, with Cece and three friends, on June 26. I did not know that Robert was present. The concert was in a large, indoor riding center. Cece and I packed up our lawn chairs and picnic apparatus after the concert ended. We were a quarter mile away and heard sirens. We pulled over several times, as they were coming right past us. I only learned, later on that evening or the next morning when I read your email, that the ambulances were coming for Robert. The artists were incredible. In his last moments, Robert was in Jazz Heaven.” Tom Hout emailed Bill Woodfin, “Whits was a most interesting fellow. He had a highly developed sense of who he was. What I enjoyed most about him was his nonchalance and ability to handle whatever came his way, often with humor or a gentle dismissal or just a shrug. His early departure from the Mormon Church signaled that he was not your standard bright young ambitious man in the church group, but one who would be charting his own course. The last time I was with him, several years ago in his living room, he recounted the time when he, having gained some accolade, was giving a talk in front of a number of people and he forgot his lines, and you were there in the front row with the script and came to his rescue. He really valued you as a friend. We all have our unique memories of him. Mine is that of an older (two years), more experienced guy with a great sense of humor and a confidence that came with that experience. The Mormon mission and subsequent thinking hard about it will do that for you. Bob’s life unfolded a lot like I thought it would — he loved family, community, and connecting with people, and stayed with them. I am sure that is why he was successful in his work. And of course, I can never forget being an usher in his and Kathleen’s wedding in Salt Lake City, with the unusual circumstance of being inadmissible in the Tabernacle. So, we outsiders found our way to a rare market that happened to sell six-packs of beer. As we walked back to our car in the parking lot with our contraband, a woman in a sedan ran into our car. A clear sign from the Mormon authorities, I assumed.” Edward Massey emailed: “I’m in Drakes Island, ME, with Anne, waking up to last night’s e-mail news about Robert Whitby and wishing I could make this lunch. Alas, I can’t, but I offer this memorial to Robert. Since my eyesight has made it imprudent to drive, I have benefited often from Robert’s hospitality in sharing the right-hand seat of his Porsche. With the first ride, I discovered he had the same eyesight problem I have, but he still drove. It raised the excitement of riding in a Porsche to a new level.” Sam Callaway wrote: “Very sad news indeed, especially as he seemed to be recovering nicely from his recent health problems. I only knew Robert from our lunch group. but he was always a fountain of knowledge and interesting ideas. He will be sorely missed. RIP, Robert.” Peter Jokl emailed, “So sad to hear this. Robert was such a dynamic part of our Mory’s group and of our class. Always enjoyed his company. I will miss him.” Tony Lavely wrote, “I’m terribly sad to hear this. Robert was a leader in our class and a good friend to me. I lunched with him at his Greenwich yacht club last November. I paused yesterday at 5:45pm to remember my last moments eleven months ago with my wife, Wanda. Now, there will be two people to remember on that day. Go for your ultimate summit, Robert!”
Ward Wickwire, our chair of Alumni Fund Agents, reported to Class Agents on the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. “I hope all of you are enjoying your summer. Thank you so much for all your hard work during Yale Fiscal Year 2021-2022. Your hard work helped the class raise $334,326 from 238 donors. The class far surpassed both the dollar and donor goals for the year — a tremendous effort all around! And thanks to classmates who contributed.” Joe Wishcamper wrote this for the Bay-area Zoom group: “The story is that, walking to the dock to depart from a fishing trip in Bolivia, I was asked by a friend how I enjoyed the trip and I answered with ‘I could have used a few more fish.’ This drew a great laugh from my friends because they saw it as summing up in a sentence my approach to everything. I, of course, knew they were laughing with me, my having described much more than just my take on a fishing trip.” Joe also sent in a photo of him and Carol at his 80th birthday party, which we added to the 80th Birthday Photo Album.” Please send your photo if you haven’t already. Joe also added a time-appropriate philosophy posited by one of his Harvard Business School professors, Rowland Moriarty, on the importance of cultivating friendships throughout our lives. Reflecting on some of our current political leaders, Jeremy Scott Wood circulated an article by Robert Reich, “What the hell did they learn at Harvard and Yale?” John Wylie missed the Bay-area Zoom session in August but wrote: “Owen, Sorry to miss the meeting. I’m out on Long Island with entire family: crying babies, kids with issues, lots of noise, etc.” Don Van Doren emailed in July: “Diane and I are in Sligo Ireland for a couple of weeks. We’ll spend most of our time wandering the town and the countryside and visiting the gravesite and local haunts of the poet, W. B. Yeats. It’s a beautiful part of the world.” Nancy Upper (surviving spouse of Dennis Upper) emailed Amy and Bob Rands after their late-June party: “Heartiest, warmest thanks for helping us to celebrate 80 in style! Your setting is idyllic, your food magnificent, and your hospitality the best! Many thanks as well to Jerry Flannelly for his electronic wizardry in linking us to London.” Nancy added a note of appreciation to Sam Francis for posting her remembrance of Dennis Upper: “The piece looks great, Sam. More thanks for offering to highlight Dennis in the band photo. And for your plug for the ampersand.”
Chip Thomas (son of Stan Thomas) launched a new musical album in July. “Circles” is available on Spotify. Tony Thomson emailed Sam Francis about the ignorance among young people about Independence Day, “Sam, I think the next generation needs to learn to read in order to distinguish anything meaningful. Have you seen the stats on American literacy?” Tony Thomson added a note to John Hunsaker over July 4th weekend, “John, have a hearty mens sana in corpore sano from now until 2024 — or until the collapse of civilization as we know it — whichever comes first.” Jan Truebner dutifully distributed Class Notes to surviving spouses: “I’m forwarding the unabridged version of Tony's September/October Class Notes for your reading pleasure. You are also invited (ALWAYS!) to answer the question he poses. Enjoy the remaining days of summer!” Mike Sherwood missed the Bay-area Zoom in July, but wrote: “Sorry, I’ll miss it Owen. I’ll be getting back from Mexico City late that day after attending my daughter’s graduation from business school.” Later, in August. Mike emailed, “I’ll try to make it today but may have to miss or come in late. I have a COVID story to share: Five tough nights in the hospital, and five weeks later still feeling fatigued without my usual energy. But at least I walked out of the hospital alive and wasn’t carried out in a body bag!” When asked to contribute his own eulogy to the Bay-area Zoom group, Ron Sipherd emailed: “I’ll try not to compete with two of my favorites: ‘He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad’ (Rafael Sabatini) and ‘I was born in a log cabin that I build with my own hands’ (Al Franken).” Russell Sunshine also had to regret for the Bay-area Zoom in August: “A medical emergency, goodbye to a cherished friend, and the collapse of an Asian dream, all within the same July week. On July 13, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa slunk out the back of his Colombo palace, escaping to Singapore via the Maldives. Irate at the President’s broken promise to formally resign, street protestors poured into his official residence and the Old Parliament building. By default, under the Sri Lankan Constitution, the Acting Presidency passed to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The New York Times quoted the PM lambasting the protestors as ‘a fascist threat’ before declaring Emergency Rule. That evening, the no-longer-peaceful mob torched Wickremesinghe’s private residence, forcing him into troop-guarded seclusion. The familiar names and turmoil summoned my own intense Sri Lankan memories from twenty years ago. Later, Russell reported this in his blog: Al Rossiter emailed Tony Lavely after the Rands party: “I too enjoyed chatting with you. Enjoy your summer. Hoping you have ample time to hang out with your family.”
In August, Dina Marie Ruden (spouse of Paul Ruden) posted, “We’re at the Nationals game with the grandsons for Paul’s birthday.” And later, Dina posted a photo: “Happy birthday to my handsome and wise husband who encourages and inspires me every day. Here’s to more adventures in the coming year!” Jim Rogers emailed Tony Lavely about Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan and Tony’s new grandson, “She is either extremely dumb or she wants us all to get killed. Great news on the grandson!” Later, on a financial network, Jim Rogers posted: “A positive development in Ukraine in the next few weeks could cause a big stock rally, before a huge crash.” After the attack on Salman Rushdie, Ron Parlato posted one of Rushdie’s quotes: “From the beginning, men used God to justify the unjustifiable.” Ron Parlato also added his own blog message over July 4th weekend: “I celebrate the Fourth with pride, but I am dismayed that fewer Americans do.” Nancy and Dan Pollack spanned the seasons this summer: “We just returned from a ten-day tour of the Canadian Rockies, so nice to know that there remains such a beautiful, undisturbed part of this world. Started in Calgary, Alberta with the annual Calgary Stampede — then to Glacier National Park in Montana — then back to Lake Louise in Banff National Park — then to Jasper National Park — then to Banff, Alberta — finishing in Calgary. We're off to visit our son Andy and family in Seattle on August 6 for seven days. Nancy's having knee-replacement surgery end of August — then beginning of November to Scottsdale for the winter.” Nancy posted a photo: “Walking on the Athabasca Glacier. The Canadian Rockies are simply beautiful. Our journey has been awesome!” Later, Nancy posted a video of Dan waterskiing in Bellingham WA: “He did it. It’s only been 40 years!” In August, Nancy and Dan Pollack sent a handmade quilt to Tony Lavely’s new grandson. Dan added: “The only things you keep during your lifetime are those you give away.” In his “free time,” Dan Pollack built a detailed model of Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain and added this explanation: “The Sagrada Família is famous for being one of the most iconic examples of Antoni Gaudí's unique style, combining elements of Art Nouveau, Catalan Modernism, and Spanish Late Gothic design. The theme of nature figures prominently in Gaudí's design, both in terms of symbolism and the use of organic shapes and forms.”
After reading the news of David McCullough’s death in august, Pete Putzel emailed: “I have been a huge fan of David McCullough and, in the aftermath of his recent death, took a look at his 2015 NYT interview. I was delighted to see that Stephen Greenblatt was a friend of his and that The Swerve received his special admiration. High praise!” Owen O’Donnell, tireless organizer of the Bay-area Zooms, emailed: “I’m going to invite Bob Kaiser to a future Zoom. I loved his book So Damn Much Money, and we have been emailing each other.” Dick Niglio was in absentia for his induction into the New Haven Gridiron Hall of Fame on September 10. We were in Minneapolis, where Dana threw a surprise 80th birthday party for Dick. In the HOF, Dick joined Yale greats Levi Jackson, Albie Booth, Rich Diana, and Terry Holcombe. In June, Paul Manchester posted a cute photo of a little rabbit: “Bunny is about to help himself to Ruth’s chives.” In July, Art Boylston emailed: “I’ve just learned that Marsh McBean died last November. I have contacted his family for a piece.” Nortin Hadler added this about Marsh McBean: “Marsh was one of the pride of Yalies that went north to enter HMS ’68. He and I shared our ‘major’ and worked together on an undergraduate publication. I knew him before the migration as a solid, affable, thoughtful, highly competent young man. I was even more proud to know him as he grew to be an exemplary physician committed to the health of the ‘public’ with little more reason than altruism. Knowing Marsh was a privilege. David Zweig, in his book The Invisibles, talks about those among us who are inspirational shakers and leaders but avoid/dismiss/downplay celebrity. Marsh was one.”
Jon McBride reported that classmate contributions to Squash Haven in 2021-2022 totaled $10,000, which makes our Class a “Leadership Friend.” Edward Massey wrote in his Massey Books newsletter: “Five and a half weeks in Drakes Island ME had the same wonderful, disorienting effect vacations always do. But they also yielded a blog post while I was there and another one immediately upon return. Both are on my website. I share moments from my time with family in Maine, my short story for Western Fictioneers, and my return home.” John More posted: “I’m at Opera Maine for the ‘Flying Dutchman,’ after a great dinner with our friends. Our review: ‘A wonderful production. Senta the soprano was outstanding from her first note on.’” Frederic Lassiter, who was only with our class for one year, emailed: “Thanks for your meticulous and thoughtful information about a number of topics, to include specific information about Yale during WWII. I regret that I did not get to know more members of the Class of 1964 while I had the opportunity. Blessings and good luck out there. P.S. It looks like I am going to make it to 80 years. My birthday is in five days!” Larry Lawrence emailed, “Your daughter Hillary mentioned to me that you may be wending your way down the New England coast at some point this summer, and I asked her to let you know that we’d be delighted to have you stop for a visit in Madison, CT where we have been spending much of our summers since Sally and I were married here in 1985. Marcia and Dave Kalayjian live close by and we often see them while here. I had heard about Robert Whitby’s death. We never crossed paths in Greenwich CT, but I had met him briefly at one of Chris Getman’s lunches. After reading about him, I'm regretting not having known him better. I'm kind of in a similar position with Bill Galvin, but he and I have agreed we should expand on our too-brief acquaintance when I am back in Greenwich after Labor Day.” After Tony Lavely’s grandson was born in July, Syd Lea posted a photo of one of his beauteous grandchildren and added, “And most important, great news about your grandson. I think you will find there is no experience to equal grandparenthood. It is the light of my antiquity. I’m fascinated by your accounts of African-American influences on your worldview, which in many regards are similar to my own, a subject for conversation one day. Of my seven grandkids, three are more black than white, their (very comely) features more like their dad’s than their mom’s. I feel more passionate now than ever vis-a-vis American racism, given that I sort of have skin in the game.”
Tony Lee was the first to discover and read Gus Speth’s new article about “Transformative Climate Change.” “Gus, I liked your article and forwarded it on to Tony Lavely and Sam Francis for Class News. A phrase that came to me after reading was: ‘It will take systemic change and attitude change, working together, to beat climate change.’ I might have to try that phrase out in our upcoming Texas webinar.” In another observation about his ongoing Climate Change Webinars, Tony Lee wrote: “We are finding that our audience is arriving more aware of the problems than before, bringing more grief and despair. We’re moving to Texas, by Zoom of course. Bill Woodfin, Margie and I are leading a webinar primarily for Texans starting August 24. We already have 16 signed up.” Tony Lee added: “Nice to rejoin the human race after a brief COVID shut down. Nice write-up of the Rands party. I am very sorry to have missed it but the mountain-biking weekend at Kingdom Trails was fabulous.” Later, when Tony Lee saw Tony Lavely’s question to all classmates about local climate threats, he emailed: “I will be very interested in reading all the responses to your question about climate change. Hopefully, you will leave the submittal process open for as long as possible. Maybe have a second round. I imagine that classmates will be moved after reading the stories of others. Thanks for doing this.”
In August, Nancy Lindley (surviving spouse of Clarkson Lindley) was the Guest of Honor at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center annual gala in Minneapolis for her twenty years of dedication to the organization. Later, Nancy emailed a message about Gerry Shea: “I do remember seeing the post about Gerry’s love of classical music and the grieving process. Wow! Gerry has an incredibly deep knowledge of classical music, no doubt because he is a singer himself. I loved hearing the Whiffenpoofs at Woolsey Hall in 2019.” Anticipating the question about attendance at live events that Tony Lavely asked all classmates in his August 2022 email, Bob Kaiser wrote about the “I Have a Dream” speech in1963: “That was my first summer as an intern at The Post. My assignment was to stay all day in a three-block stretch of PA Ave nearer the Capitol. I missed the speechmaking which was about 15 blocks away. My wife Hannah and her cousin John Meigs, our Yale classmate, saw all the speeches. However, I didn’t meet Hannah until ten months later at Meigs’ wedding in Philadelphia.” Blaine Krickl commented on a photo of Tony Lavely celebrating his 80th birthday with his children in Tribeca: “Given how far along her pregnancy is, your daughter Vanessa looks simply wonderful and glowing. And what a terrific way to mark your birthday. Thinking about doing things later, Jane and I can identify easily with Vanessa's situation in that Julian and Laura were married in 2015 in Scotland but only produced Hugo in February 2020, when Julian was 44 and Laura 40. He is the apple of our eye, being our likely only one, given the late start. BTW, we are dining with Jocelyn and Nick Baskey this evening and with Eileen and Bam Alling on Saturday. Nick is here for his customary summer stay, full of culture and a change of scene from Florida. Bam and Eileen are on a Viking cruise round the British Isles and enjoying wonderful, though very warm, summer weather.”
In August, Candy Johnston posted, “Fifty-four years ago, Waldo and I said, ‘I do,’ and we still do.” Nortin Hadler participated in an extensive classmate email thread after Roe v Wade was reversed. Nortin added significantly to the conversation by posting a blog from the UNC Press, “Five Myths about Roe v Wade.” Andy Harris added to the climate-change dialogue by emailing, “We in Oregon are particularly concerned with acidification and warming of the oceans, followed by increased, devastating forest fires.” On the same topic, Bob Hilgendorf emailed: “I mentioned in our recent Zoom event that I thought we should have a session in our 60th reunion entitled ‘Can the planet be saved, and if so how?’ In my Harvard Magazine this week there was a blurb advertising the book Unsustainable World by Peter N. Memetz, Ph.D. '73. The subtitle of the book is ‘Are we losing the battle to save our planet?’ In the book, he casts doubt and concludes that given ‘the narrowing path to sustainability (i. e., human survival), nothing less than an extraordinary, coordinated effort’ by civil society, business, and government can turn the tide.’ Grim subject, but if you could forward it to our reunion planners for their consideration, I would appreciate it. My own view is that without a strong UN or some kind of world governance body (not going to happen in our lifetimes, unfortunately) the lawlessness and self-interest of most countries will prevail over any common good. China's model of investment in world economies and infrastructure, rather than arming the world as we do, is worth a hard look. That would also be my suggestion for a topic at our reunion.“
Neil Hoffmann, who participated on the Boston-area July Zoom call, emailed: “Thanks to Mike Austin for a great story about the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The idea that a top American swimmer didn't get the financial support he needed to train properly before an Olympics is inconceivable today. No doubt cost him a 100-yard freestyle medal but great that he got a gold medal in the relay.” Terry Holcombe got Jim Duderstadt to send him the well-documented account of Jim’s tenure as President of the University of Michigan. Terry wrote, “You might want to include Jim’s comments about OSU victories if this marches into Class Notes. You could also add Jim’s record and only reception freshman year.” Recently, Terry Holcombe received an update and appeal from Tristan Kiekel about our classmate Charlie (aka Larry) Johnston, whom Officer Kiekel has looked after for years. Terry wrote: “If anyone else wants to offer direct help, you have her email address. My support now goes to the Sunrise Café, which is now fully back in post-COVID business serving breakfast to over 100 homeless a day. We just got a $25K challenge gift from Fay Vincent, my freshman counselor, so it will be leveraged.” Terry Holcombe and Dick Niglio were inducted into the New Haven Gridiron Hall of Fame in September. Terry was football captain at East Haven High School and played tackle both ways. Not knowing Tony Lavely would be in NYC for his 80th birthday, John Howells thoughtfully emailed “I am going to my place at Hilton Head over the fourth with my family. I am staying on through the weekend. I know it’s short notice and you probably have plans, but if not would you like to come down for a few days?”
Sam Francis and John Hunsaker had an email exchange over July 4. Sam wrote: “John, it’s kind of you to remember my two reunion talks. I hope to give another one in 2024, on some interesting aspects of evolution. It’s also kind of you to remember me when you and your grandkids sing ‘In the Navy.’ My sea duty was perhaps the most rewarding and exciting time of my life. I actually did ‘sail the seven seas’ (in the words of the song). Or at least six of them (skipping the Arctic). As for your question about ‘forever,’ I’ll assume you mean ‘forever’ in its literal sense rather than its metaphorical sense, as when my granddaughter says, ‘This trip is taking forever.’ Nothing is literally ‘forever’ — not democracy, not Homo sapiens, not even the solar system. All are certainly doomed, if not in the short run by our own foolishness, then certainly in the long run by physics. It’s just a matter of time. Homo sapiens is the only species to have invented the means for its own destruction. Unfortunately, we haven’t evolved the wisdom to avoid it. If we don’t end with a bang (asteroid or nuclear war), we’ll end with a whimper (a climate catastrophe of our own devising). I’m not sure where I’d put my money. But if, despite ourselves, we somehow escape those fates, physics is lying in wait. All stars have a finite lifetime, after which they’ve used up their nuclear fuel. In a few billion years, the sun will become a red giant so large that it will engulf the Earth. But the Earth will become uninhabitable much sooner than that. After about a billion years the sun will become hot enough to boil our oceans. In the meantime, carpe diem.” John Hunsaker replied, “Thanks, Sam. I suppose J. Adams meant ‘forever’ metaphorically, as he was no doubt ignorant of the concepts you discussed. viz. what physics tells us. [Sidebar: Burgweger, Franklin, Hunsaker took Physics 12 (no calculus needed) in 1961-62 and did not set Science Hill ablaze.] Apropos of your 2014 disquisition. I always wondered how you knew of my wife's contention that inside I was mostly vacuum [like an atom]. If the sentient me is around in 2024 and is compos mentis [my HS Latin teacher would be proud (res ipsa loquitor)], I look forward to your insights on ‘evolution’ and wonder if you will include ‘entropy’ in the talk?” Sam Francis ended this discussion with: “No entropy in my talk on evolution. Entropy is physics.”
Chris Getman forwarded two articles of interest about legacy admissions: “Elite Colleges’ Quiet Fight to Favor Alumni Children” (NY Times) and “The Shame Deficit” (The Atlantic). Celeste Finn (who attended the Rands party with her husband Eric Fossel) shared a YouTube post of Andy Kaufmann’s Elvis Presley impersonation with Tony Lavely, another huge Elvis fan. (You can see Tony’s Elvis impersonation here.) Celeste wrote: “This has everything.” Jerry Flannelly emailed about the classmate golf outing on Cape Cod: “Not a golfer myself, I joined the dinners in 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed them. I won’t be able to make it this year as I have an appointment with the surgeon’s knife.” Returning to the July 4th email dialogue with John Hunsaker, Sam Francis emailed, “Thanks, John, for your July 4th peroration, though you give me too much credit for foresight and wisdom. But at least I did my part in perpetuating John Adams’ ‘Pomp and Parade’ by marching today in EMT uniform with our local ambulance squad down Main Street in our town’s parade. As to the possibility that our democracy will perpetuate ‘from this Time forward forever,’ I’m optimistic, despite the current absurdities. It would improve our prospects if our education system would enable the next generation to distinguish truth from lies.” Also engaged in the email thread about the ignorance of young people about the true meaning of July 4th, Frank Franklin emailed: “Thank you, John et al. One educational outcome of your message is it stimulated me to look up ‘shews.’ It is not horseshoes, as I guessed, but an archaic form for ‘shows.’ No matter whether you use barbeque as a verb as in the North or as a noun as in the South, enjoy your Que and Brew today.” Returning to the exchange between Terry Holcombe and Jim Duderstadt, Jim emailed: “I was asked to put together a CV that the University could use in the event they had to bury me. I thought I would make them pay for it by drafting a long one.” Terry brought it to Tony Lavely with this, “I thought you might need some additional notice in terms of space on our Class Website and YAM column necrology when the moment comes for Jim Duderstadt.”
Dick duPont has become very engaged with classmates in recent months. Recently, duPs emailed Pat Caviness, “The thing I admire most about you Patrick is your rock-solid attitude about all aspects of your life. Willingness to put your substantial shoulder into something new, whether it threatens or beckons, has been your hallmark, and I love that. The older I get, the more disgusted I become with naysayers and complainers who would rather foment obstacles then help shove them aside. What is that one-liner? ‘Lead, follow, or get out of the way.’ Of course, that puts you in frequent touch with other spirited doers, and they, in turn, produce the richest experiences — ones that come forth so easily when the recall button is pushed. As Joe Wishcamper put it, ‘This, it seems is what this stage of our lives is about — looking back and making meaning.’ And, like you, he has plenty to look back at. Neither of you will ever have any moss growing under your butts. You and Frederique are so happy together. I dare say your double whammy with COVID and the flu is getting lost in your wake. You're both looking great!” Dick duPont reflected further: “I have made some great new friends by tossing aside my inhibitions and knocking on Yale's back door. Surprisingly I was met with a very warm welcome as I rejoined my Class of 1964. One such chap is Joe Wishcamper who lives in Maine. There, he built a distinguished career in commercial real estate, specializing in affordable housing projects which started in Maine, then broke out to quite a number of venues nationally. Now here's the best part — Joe is an ardent big-game hunter and has lost none of his enthusiasm as he crosses the ‘Four Score Divide’ this weekend.”
Jim Carney, another member of the Mid-Atlantic Group email thread, wrote: “I need a dictionary to read Nortin Hadler’s emails. On the other hand, I hate to see him argue a case to a jury.” Patrick Caviness spent most of the summer in Europe with Frederique Deleage. In July, Pat emailed, “We leave Carcassonne tomorrow, for Sett, a French seaside town about an hour’s drive. We're there with friends for four days and then to Paris for five days before our flight home. We're a little tired but enjoying the travel times. We left Portugal in what seems like a month ago. We've attended a French wedding and have been traveling around France for the last four weeks. We are packing and fly out this afternoon for home. Our almost eight-week trip has come to its end. Many fine experiences, and we learned a lot about where we might want to base ourselves part time in Europe.” Posting on Facebook with many photos throughout their trip with these bites: “Throughout France, waiters immediately bring you a cold bottle of water free. In Thailand, you’re charged for a bottle of water. On the other hand, my peach tea, to which I’ve become addicted, is 3.00 Euros per bottle!” Later, “We explored Citadelle, with amazing views of the city with its medieval architecture. Saw Bastille Day fireworks! Yesterday we drove from the hilltops of Carcassonne to the seaside port of Sete on the Mediterranean. We ate our last Sete dinner in the fishing village of La Pointe Courte, a community of fishermen families.” When Pat Caviness got home, he and Tony Lavely exchanged memories of John Wilbur, especially from our 35th class reunion. Pat wrote: “I have a funny story about John that he and I used to laugh about together at Yale and for many years after. I haven't told you because it happened when John and I were in our senior year of prep school. He was at Loomis and I was at Taft. I had never wrestled but in the winter at Taft, I went out to learn the sport! Our first match was against Loomis. My opponent was a tall skinny guy named John Wilbur. At the weigh-in, I remember thinking he was tall, long arms but on the thin side. I thought, ‘I might be stronger than he is.’ Our match started and within seconds John had performed a classic leg sweep. He pulled my entire leg into his chest. I stiffened and he immediately jerked me high up over his head. I was helplessly suspended there when I heard the referee say, very clearly, ‘put him down easy, son!’ The next thing I knew I was down on the mat on my back and John was on top pinning me. The entire match probably lasted less than a minute. I looked on as the ref raised this skinny guy's hand in victory.”
Recently, Tony Lavely caught up with Peter Cummings ’65. Peter lives in Santa Fe and works as an artist. He learned that he had Native American blood and changed his middle name to “Nighthawk.” Peter had forgotten that in 1965, we spent a night in the New Haven jail … but that’s another story. Jim Currie emailed Sam Francis, “Sam, just curious: are you familiar with this guy Lerner (a plasma physicist) and his ideas? He has been around a long time and cites a (1978?) Nobel Laureate in plasma physics as the source of his inspiration and life's work. If so, I would like to know your opinion. Long video discussion with ‘evidence.’ It outlines plasma formation processes that really govern evolution of the universe. He doesn't have any explanation for the Hubble constant but does seem to be able to explain how we got to present structure without a Big Bang/Inflation model. Says the Hubble Constant can be researched and resolved. Prediction is for no heat death (the opposite, in fact) and a universe currently much, much older than 14 billion years. He is working on a ‘more practical’ fusion alternative to Tokamaks (claims they will never work). It seems very straightforward to me, but I am only a naive amateur.” Sam’s reply was, in brief, that the referenced author has no credentials, dropped out of first-year graduate physics because he didn't like the math, then turned to popular-science writing, is not cited by any reputable physicists, has all the hallmarks of a wacko, and is not worth spending time on.
Paul Balser wrote Tony Lavely, “Congratulations on your new grandson. All the best!” Tom Barnard recalled his trip some years ago to see Joe Wishcamper in Maine, “I saw the outside of Joe's barn, but he didn't mention the contents with wives present. My wife Carol handled the logistics for the six-week hunting safari of her boss at Olin Corp. Got all the major trophies.” Tony Lavely shared photos of his 80th birthday party and seeing his new grandson in NYC with his Branford roommate, Dick Berk. Dick emailed: “Thanks for the great pictures. A very handsome crew indeed. Congratulations on your new grandson. My 80th is in October and my two kids are taking me back to Japan for a couple of weeks. I have been several times before, but not for about twenty years. When I was in Japan, I always felt l as if I was coming home. Strange. Speaking of Tribeca and NYC, my son Michael just took a new job as a software engineer (some combination of computer science and statistics) with a firm named DataBricks. So, after about eight months traveling all over South America while working remotely for a media firm in San Francisco, he has a small apartment on the lower East Side. He picked the location because it is very close to two parks with outdoor basketball courts. Too bad he was not good enough to make a living at it, but he always was really a geek in an athlete’s body. That will be important family time for you and your daughter Vanessa. I don’t know Michael’s plans for that week in any case. How about we keep in touch and think about the next time you are likely to be in NYC. It is about ninety minutes north of Philly by train. In NYC we’d be ‘alta cockers.’ I have been getting used to that for some time now.” John Boardman connected with a distant relative when she saw his name on our Class website, “Tony, thanks for passing this on. I will give her a call. We are cousins going back three generations.”
Bill Bowe was in Europe this summer and posted: “This is the Abbaye d’Hautecombe on Lake Bourget in Savoy, France. The view from the abbey is to die for, but after careful consideration I’ve decided not to become a monk.” Later, Bill posted during a heat wave, “Les Invalides hasn’t melted yet.” Timothy Breen, the featured author on one of our Book Clubs this year, emailed: “I will be a resident scholar at the American Academy in Rome for the month of November. I’m working on an article for a national magazine entitled ‘How to Write an American History for our Time.’ I will present this material in a lecture at the Notre Dame University Rome Center. And, of course, for Susan and me, Rome offers many non-academic pleasures.” When he heard about Tim’s project, Stephen Greenblatt, who spends a lot of time in Italy, emailed: “I’m on the board of the AAR and know the place extremely well.” On July 4, John Hunsaker emailed Kip Burgweger: “Having re-read once again the Declaration, I remain steadfastly in awe of the boldness, fortitude, and genius of the drafters. The day before its concretization — on 3 Jul 1976 — John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail ruminating on how successors should celebrate this day engaging in ‘Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever.’ Our physicist-in-chief (Sam Francis) may enlighten us on the likelihood of that prospect. Having witnessed >75 years of such profundity, I don’t think I’ll do all that this time ‘round. I surely hold it special and hope you and yours in health and comfort have achieved the right measure for this day of honor. While the consequential involvements of our formative years have morphed almost beyond recognition and, given the considerable indisputable chaotic divisions among us these days, Adams was presciently on target when he confidently assured Abigail of this: ‘Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of Ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means.’ ” Kip Burgweger replied, “John, your email is very thoughtful and inspirational and takes me back to my early years. Around Greenwich, no town celebrates the 4th. They have fireworks a day or two before or after the 4th, and there are no parades. In my childhood hometown of Kirkland, population 700, they have a three-day carnival, a parade (each year the ladies in our township made floats on hay wagons — one year they built a large shoe with a bunch of us kids in the shoe) and the only fireworks for 30 or 40 miles in every direction. It is a celebration. I miss it. Today in Greenwich was a little different. They had a flag raising at Town Hall with a program that took about an hour and then birthday cake for the US. Part of the program was celebrating Greenwich's birthday in 1640 (I think) by, among other things, reading off the names of the founding families and having descendants stand up as their family's name was read. More than two decades ago, my mother was visiting us. We have a pre-revolutionary cemetery in our front yard, and while my mother was looking at headstones, she found the names of two families from whom we are descended — buried in my front yard. This entitled me to stand up when the founders' descendants were being recognized. That lead to several people stopping to chat with me — a good feeling.”
Tony Lavely, whose daughter lives in Greenwich CT, noted, “Michelle Mead Armor (surviving spouse of John Armor) is descended from the Meads, who founded Greenwich CT. Bam Alling emailed: “We're in London at the end of a thrice-COVID-delayed Viking cruise from Norway and around the British Isles. Had dinner last night with Jocelyn and Nick Baskey, and tonight with Jane and Blaine Krickl. Lots of fun and more Yale memories that the gals probably wanted to hear. Boola Boola!” Michelle Mead Armor (surviving spouse of John Armor) posted the flag of France on Bastille Day, “In honor of my French mother and my own French nationality. Vive la France!”
Classmate authors continue to be productive. Mo Dean wrote: “Inspired by my fictional character in Goines On, today I am launching a new blog column, ‘Story Challenge,’ which will provide a 100- to 200-word beginning for a story and challenge other writers to continue the narrative.” Mo added: “I learned that the State Library of North Carolina has made ‘Goines On’ into a talking book and added it to their collection.” Bruce Driver continues to crank out newsletters on this year’s big political races, state by state. Syd Lea added three more short stories to his Newsletter: “Here is another triad of essaylets from my collection ‘Earthquakes and Angels.’ These essays are well published in the periodicals.” Edward Massey emailed: “I sold a short story to Western Fictioneers annual Christmas anthology, this year’s being ‘On the Trail,’ celebrating with stories the great trails that settled this country: Santa Fe, California, Oregon, and Mormon. My story, ‘Sweetwater,’ and the anthology will be available early November for the Christmas season.” Ron Sipherd emailed: “I just put my April-June 2022 favorite photos online, 36 of them whittled from 130.” Gus Speth’s latest article “Can Transformative Change Come to America?” was published on several online forums. Gus added: “I think it will be helpful. Its outcome is not what some might expect.” John Howells commented on Gerry Shea’s 2013 book Song Without Words: “This is a great read. Gerry must be a genius to have accomplished so much.”
There is one classmate death to report that dates back to last year. Marshall McBean died on November 2, 2021. His wife Jean wrote from Bellingham, WA: “To those who knew Marsh, he had three passions in life: public health, fishing, and growing fruit.” Nortin Hadler added: “We have entered our season of losses. Good memories help us.” There has been an outpouring of sorrow and admiration for Robert Whitby, whose memorial service was held on July 8 in Greenwich CT. A regular at classmate luncheons at Mory’s and Yale Club of NYC, Robert was remembered by many. Jon Larson ’63 remembered Rusty Hale (who died on May 30) with a poignant remembrance that has been added to Rusty’s remembrance page on our website. Many classmates expressed their sorrow to Gerry Shea on the death of his wife Claire on July 11. Sam Francis, who knew Claire from her and Gerry’s participation on his bareboat yacht cruises in the Abacos and in Croatia, wrote: “Gerry, Claire was the rock on which you stood.”
