Class Notes

November/December 2024

Note: Classmates' names in gold font are links to a pre-addressed email form (if your browser is properly configured). Other links (underlined) take you to more information about the topic. A shorter version of these Notes is published in the Yale Alumni Magazine. If you would like to write a guest column, please let me know. Do we have your current email address in our website directory?

As I write this column in early September, I’m in countdown mode for a 24-day safari trip that Nancy and I are taking to four countries in Africa, departing on September 16. It’s been my good fortune to be tutored by eight classmates who have been there: Pat Caviness, Dick duPont, Sam Francis, Toddie Getman, Stephen Greenblatt, Tony Lee, Pete Putzel, and Joe Wishcamper. Sam Francis wrote: “Enjoy your trip to Africa, Tony. I went on a safari in Tanzania with National Geographic ten years ago, and it was one of the most interesting trips of my life.” Tony Lee emailed: “I hope you really enjoy your trip to Africa. As I recall, this is your twice-delayed honeymoon trip. Margie and I spent four months in Zimbabwe in 1995 and loved our experience. Leave white clothes at home and bring two good pairs of binoculars. Our two biggest surprises were birds and antelopes. Fabulous.”

Many classmates connected during the Olympics to cheer for the twenty Yale-affiliated contestants. Nine of them won medals. By total medal count, Yale alumni tied with Denmark and Cuba and beat Greece, Switzerland, and Turkey! It reminded us of classmates Mike Austin and Wendell Mottley who won medals in Tokyo in 1964. Mike donated his gold medal to Yale where it is displayed in Payne Whitney Gymnasium. We also cited it on our 60th Reunion “1964 Campus Footprints” map, available on our Class website. The inspiring video of Wendell’s medals can be found here on the Class website.

Many classmates live-streamed the National Memorial Service for Joe Lieberman that was held in Washington, D.C. on July 23. The video is posted on Joe’s In Memoriam page on our Class website.

Ted Jones is organizing a fall Class golf outing on September 25-26 in the New Haven area, most likely at Tashua Knolls in Trumbull (followed by dinner at Mory’s) and, the next day, more golf at The VUE in Hamden.

Regional luncheons and Zoom calls will continue through the fall. Ralph Jones is organizing luncheons at Mory’s on September 4, October 2, and November 6. After a summer hiatus, Ted Wagner is organizing luncheons at The Yale Club of NYC on September 11, October 9, and November 13. Owen O’Donnell is hosting Zoom calls in the Bay area on September 11, October 9, and November 13. Jerry Flannelly is hosting Zoom calls in the Boston area on September 18, October 16, and November 20. You do not have to live in the Bay or Boston areas to participate in these calls. Just contact the host to be added to the Zoom invitation list.

Tony Reno (honorary classmate) will hold a “Coach’s Corner” at Mory’s Temple Bar on September 16. Team #151 is predicted to win the Ivy League again this season. Tony Lavely added: “Ben Mann, the grandson of Chuck Mercein ’65, is a senior on Team #151.”

Because of my trip to Africa, I will miss the first of President Maurie McInnis’ quarterly webinars on September 17 but will report on her updates in the future. The YAA Assembly and YAF Convocation will take place November 14-15 with the theme “Leading for a Better World: Advancements in Health, Historical Inquiry, and the Environment at Yale.” Ralph Jones (YAA Class Delegate), Ward Wickwire (Chair of Class Agents) and Tony Lavely (Class Secretary) are planning to attend. The final home football game against Princeton will be that Saturday. The annual Class Council meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2025. If you have interest in serving on the Class Council, please contact Tony Lavely. Some of you who attended our 60th Class Reunion may have seen the presentation by Yale Hospitality, “16,000 Meals a Day: How Yale Does It.” I spent most of my career in hospitality, so I was very impressed.

In Yale and Class news, I can report the following. Janene Castaldi has officially taken over as our YAA support liaison. Janene worked with Stephanie Hartnett in reunion planning during 2023-24, so she got to know our Class very well. Nora Bok in the Yale Development Office reported our final 60th Reunion Class Gift total of $10.5 million, easily surpassing our original target of $9 million. Thanks to all Gift Committee members, Alumni Fund agents, and especially donors! With the degree of engagement exhibited by classmates at our 60th Class Reunion — and ongoing — I was encouraged by the findings of this 2024 Harvard study: “The #1 thing that makes us happy in life is social fitness; It helps us live longer.”

With presidential politics at a fever pitch, news of our classmate Tim Mellon’s mega (or should I say “MAGA”) donation to Trump animated many classmate texts and emails. Bob Kaiser circulated an article in The Washington Post, “Trump’s biggest donor is a Gilded Age heir also backing RFK Jr.” Bob Archer found another article in The New York Times, “Timothy Mellon, Secretive Donor, Gives $50 Million to Pro-Trump Group.” On a lesser scale, Vance’s Yale Law School affiliation also made lots of news. Many classmates were contacted by reporters in connection with these stories. Reporters were quick to find Mellon’s name on page 2 in Howard Gillette’s book, Class Divide: Yale ’64 and the Conflicted Legacy of the Sixties. On the other side, Gus Speth was featured by the Harris campaign on an August 5 Zoom call, “Elders for Kamala.”

In July, Tony Lavely live-streamed the swearing-in State Department ceremony of his cousin, Stephanie Sanders Sullivan, former US Ambassador to Ghana and now U.S. Ambassador to the Africa Union and the U.S. Permanent Representative to United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. When she was a little girl and we were freshmen, Stephanie’s father, John Sanders, taught geology at Yale and was the keeper of Handsome Dan (the only undefeated bulldog in history). Pete Putzel commented, “John Sanders was our football coach in Calhoun College.”

Ron Sipherd emailed the Bay-area Zoom group: “For those who have not seen it, Yale president Maurie McInnis' ‘Opening Assembly Address to the Yale College Class of 2028’ is worth a read. I was particularly impressed by her emphasis on the issues of social isolation and student mental and emotional health.”

For classmate’s Notes, we’ll begin with the Ns. Dana and Dick Niglio had a traditional New England “shore dinner” with Nancy and Tony Lavely on the shore of Lake Minnetonka in August. They commented on the article about legendary New Haven pizza that Bill Woodfin had circulated. Niglio and Lavely were amazed to learn that one of Nancy’s good friends had been married to Pete Gogolak, the first soccer-style kicker in American football. Dick and Tony both remembered the puzzlement the entire Yale team had in October 1961 as Gogolak trotted on the field to kick a 31-yard field goal to beat us. As Cornell lined up, we thought it was a trick play from a distance that no one expected a successful field goal.

Martin Padley replied to Ted Jones’ email about a Class golf outing in the fall: “I’m open to whatever course you decide to take. If we end up at Tashua, I suggest we play Lyman Orchards on the second day. If we can do the Cape as a two- or three-day event and the Putzel ‘Connecticut combo’ as a two-day event, there’s every reason to do New Haven as a two-day event. And I would vote for playing Yale two days in a row when it’s back online. And if I were coming from Chicago, I’d make it a three-day event.” During the Olympics, Martin Padley wrote: “I recently read Ancient Olympics by Nigel Spivey — slow but interesting.” Pete Putzel posted a three-generation photo from years past with him, his father, and his son.”

Nancy and Dan Pollack posted, “Our Napa grandchildren, Amira and Shai, are in town with their parents for a week! Of course, we celebrated with a family dinner! Yesterday, Max (Senior) and Luke (Sophomore) left for college. Jake is a junior in high school!! So thrilled to spend some quality time with the kids!! Missing Lilah Bunny, but we’ll be seeing her very soon!!! Thankful for these moments!!!” Following the Bay-area Zoom call in July, Mike Sherwood emailed: “A lively and interesting conversation today, as always! I had meant to ask, but forgot, what any of you know and think about the new Yale president, Maurie McInnis. All I know is what I read in the July-August '24 Yale Alumni Magazine that came in the mail today after our Zoom call. On paper, she seems quite good.” Joe Wishcamper, who was also on the Zoom, replied. “I think she will affirm the Woodward Report which has been Yale’s policy on speech for 50 years. It holds that all speech is protected except speech that threatens others or interferes with university functions. At Stony Brook she firmly enforced similar principles. She has been a Yale trustee for two years which will help her become effective quickly. I am optimistic.”

Chip Thomas (son of Stan Thomas and grandson of Tony Lavely) is advocating for new U.S. legislation with the “Fans First Act” to achieve fair and transparent event-ticketing reform — “FixTheTix.org.” Tony Thomson emailed John Hunsaker’s Trumbull College group, “I never voted in the UK though I was on the brink of becoming a Brit for tax reasons when I ran out of career there. Voting in the UK depends upon which constituency you are living in. No idea who is running there in Fulham. We had one pederast MP — otherwise all were forgettable. I went to Peter Woodward's wedding in MN and knew his parents fairly well — terrible loss — so young — only child I think — anyone remember Peter's first roommate, Pierre Canu? Canu seems to have vanished without a trace — went back to France? David Sandor was a CA charmer — bright and funny. The army was good for me — gave me a break from Yale and a chance to learn things about people that are worth learning — also a chance to read widely without having to write pathetic little essays — then there was Vietnam — wonder what happened to all the sandbags I filled?” John Hunsaker replied: “Tony, we get all our kitty litter from Vietnam, all as a result of your work product. My service as an enlisted lawyer in an MI Group in West Deutschland (everyone I worked with outranked me, so they put me on civilian clothing status), serving the Colonel and command, dealing with courts and boards (some of the investigations were humdingers), and writing wills for those heading to Vietnam. Not one sandbag, but. we did dress up and trundle our MI4s to the woods on alert once a month.” After our 60th reunion, John Hunsaker added: “I enjoyed our talks and reminiscences at the reunion and was quite happy that our four suitemates, plus Bam Alling, Dan Pollack, Tony Lavely, and Sam Francis … and spouses … were as garrulous and vigorous as ever. Though he wasn’t there, I enjoyed Tony Thomson’s offering in the Reunion Book. And thanks to the mates for their grand service in the military. I’m discombobulated that you outranked me, Tony. A final note to the two Trumbulians — the late Peter Woodward and Dave Sandor who enriched our lives immensely — I recall fondly our many times together and hope their families are at peace. PS. I recognize and thank Tony Lavely and Sam Francis (and others) for producing an outstanding 60th and thank the Trumbull guys who made contact with those in the best residential college.” On July 4, Kip Burgweger wrote the Trumbull group: “Happy Independence Day, all. My town of Greenwich CT celebrates our country's birthday. The Town has about an hour-long ceremony with many things, including:

Raising the current 50-state flag and the original 13-state flag and having boy scouts and girl scouts display the flags of the original 13 colonies,
Reading the names of Greenwich residents who fought and were killed in the Revolutionary War followed by a 21-gun salute,
Having children read the Declaration of Independence and
Reading the names of families who settled in Greenwich between 1640 and mid 1700s and reading the names of current resident descendants who are called upon to stand.

I stood for two families from whom I am descended and some of whom are buried in a cemetery in my front yard. After the ceremony ended, the Town served a birthday cake for our country. I had a piece with lots of frosting. Now to Pierre Canu. I spoke to Pierre. He was not interested in attending the reunion. However, as far as I know he was upright and in good health. However, his contact information was not helpful. His email address at that time was not working due to some issue with AT&T. The phone number in our contact list was no longer current. The number I used that worked is (828) 264-2241. Hope it is still operating. For God, for Country and for Yale — be well.”

Gene Van Loan emailed: “Tony – I have a suggestion for our next reunion. One of the things that I found frustrating was my inability to figure out who was who and to try to connect with certain classmates with whom I had hoped to connect. The cause, of course, is that we don't look at age 80 what we looked like at age 20. Trying to squint at someone's nametag just doesn't do the trick. Likewise, reviewing the pix that classmates post in the Reunion Book may or may not have any relationship to how they look now (even assuming that one could match a Reunion Book photo up with someone at the Reunion in real time). My suggestion for the future is the following: As each registrant comes in, his photo is taken so that we get a picture of what he looks like in the here and now (and without costumes, hiking gear, etc., such as what we find in the Reunion Book). The photos — with names in large print for those who might be visually impaired — are posted on a large bulletin board (perhaps periodically rearranged by reunion staff so as to be in alphabetical order by last name). In addition, the registrant should be asked for his cellphone number, which would be posted with his picture and name. I assume that the value of this is self-explanatory, but I will belabor the obvious by saying that it would allow we geriatrics to come into a class event, like a lunch or dinner, spend time looking at the bulletin board to identify those with whom we wish to re-connect — and to contact them.”

Following the reunion, Tom Walton contacted John Kimberly to follow-up on their conversation at the reunion: “Tony, I had a nice conversation with John Kimberly this morning about the PA retirement community where they live. Thanks for your help in making the connection, and Janene Castaldi’s good suggestion that I should contact you. Many thanks, and kind regards.”

Ward Wickwire, a regular on the Boston-area Zoom calls, emailed the group: “Attached for your information is the August announcement of the Blue Center (named for Neal Blue, Yale ‘57) at Yale’s Jackson School that I mentioned in today’s Zoom. It appears to me to be a great approach to the field of foreign affairs in integrating the participation multi-disciplinary experts in addressing significant global issues. It appears to me to be a necessary and appropriate departure from the traditional foreign policy education stressing geopolitical confrontations. As many Reunion attendees may recall, Tim Snyder, a professor at the Jackson School, gave a well-attended presentation on autocracy vs. democracy at our 60th Reunion in May. The Blue Center is consistent with the Jackson School’s efforts to emphasize a multidisciplinary approach to foreign policy.”

Nancy Upper (surviving spouse of Dennis Upper and a regular on the Boston Zoom calls) emailed: “Thank you Ward and thank you Jerry.” For those curious about Yale Blue Green (YBG), here is their website. Nancy Upper also thanked Amy and Bob Rands for their “family foundation broadly defined that donates about one-third of their annual grants to environmental non-profits. Thank you, Amy and Bob! The Rands may save the world!”

Joe Wishcamper emailed: “Tony, Carol and I are going to South Africa at the end of November on a cool birding excursion on Rovos Rail, a private train.” After wishing Joe a happy birthday in August, he replied: “Thanks, Tony. I still have plenty in the tank, but the car is badly rusted.” Bam Alling called in August to get Bill Galvin’s contacts “so I can compliment him on the great job with the Reunion Book and ask him how I got my photo on the cover three times!” Bam also raved about the retirement community where he and Eileen live, “Porters Neck Village in Wilmington NC, is a great place with great people.”

Following the Bay-area Zoom call in August, when the theme question posed by Owen O’Donnell was, “Has global warming impacted you and if so, how,” Bob Archer circulated a video: “Here is the recording of the 30-minute interview with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-DE) regarding the next phase of climate policy action — a carbon price and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). He was interviewed following the release of the Brookings Institution report that provides the analytical basis for pursuing a carbon tax and CBAM and, I hope, a household rebate. If you want to step in the weeds for a bit, there is an excellent panel discussion following his interview. Whitehouse's final words were to the effect that ‘...the forces are converging...’ and that ‘...it ain't that hard.’" Don Van Doren added: “Thank you for your extended comments yesterday during the Bay area Zoom call about the three pillars supporting effective climate policy. I think that is a message that all Americans, and certainly all voters, need to understand.” Russell Sunshine commented, “Bob, I thought that was an excellent video interview. I especially took away the Senator's final coda, ‘When necessity demands, politics responds.’ I've always reluctantly anticipated that no US political action on climate-change mitigation will occur until thousands die from extreme weather events. A Democratic trifecta in November might speed meaningful action and reduce those unnecessary fatalities. By the way, I noticed that the Senator deliberately avoided endorsing your third stool leg, passing carbon-tax revenues through to households. A two-legged stool feels wobbly. Thanks for sharing.” Fred Buell commented, “I learned a lot from the zoom and from the video interview. I too had been thinking that catastrophes were necessary motivators for macro-actions like carbon taxes. But waiting for these means waiting well past tipping points to act. I’m on our local Climate Smart committee and see all too well how small a contribution local action relying mostly on technological innovation and community-focused initiatives makes. So, though carbon taxes long seemed a necessity to me, I never could imagine them as politically possible until it was too late. Now I can imagine them as a possibility and try to spread the word, Many thanks, Bob.” Len Baker, who spoke on this theme at our 60th Reunion, wrote: “This is potentially a very big deal. Pricing carbon and trading offsets is the single best thing we can do to solve climate. A carbon tax is a good step in that direction, though not sufficient by itself.” First-timer Rick Hatton added: “Not unlike the log jam on adequate and effective wildfire suppression, which has a huge impact on atmospheric carbon when suppression is underfunded and unavailable.” To the wildfire sub-theme, Steve Bingham replied, “To be more accurate Rick, you should say wildfire management, not suppression. Here in the West, we’re in trouble because we did nothing for over 100 years than try to suppress every fire we could. Result: so much fuel on the forest floor that, when fire takes hold, it really takes off. Native Americans knew how to do controlled burning regularly and, refreshingly, are now consultants to US Department of Agriculture Forest Service on how to manage the forests. Rick, I just checked out your 10 Tanker website. Impressive. Maybe at a future Wednesday Zoom you could talk a bit about the science of fighting fires. Anyone living in the West would be interested. We had a very small vegetation fire two miles north of us this week, just north of Marinwood with air support. Pretty scary.” Rick Hatton again, “Thanks Steve, yes I’d be glad to speak a bit about the growing wildfire problem at one of our Zoom gatherings. Many variables to consider and each wildfire is quite unique, which obviates generalizing on solutions applicable.”

During the Olympics, Michelle (surviving spouse of John Armor and a Francophile) posted, “My grandfather, Eugene Comte, was an architect. In his later years, he worked for the SMAC (Societe M d'Asphalte et de Concrete).” When a hurricane hit Savannah GA in early August, Tom Barton emailed: “Conditions are mild so far, Tony. Next 36 hours will tell, but it probably will be OK. To protect against flooding, we moved one of our cars to a higher elevation commercial garage. Insurance companies automatically declare as a total loss even partially flooded cars. Don't want to lose my 10-year-old car. Just read an interesting book about how the human mind works, Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (a Nobel Laureate). Helps explain why we humans can be so irrational (turns out we must be).”

After our 60th Reunion, Steve Bingham emailed: “Tony, sorry for the long delay in replying. We left for France on June 2 and returned July 2, so I’m just getting caught up on emails. Once again, thank you for making the film, ‘A Double Life,’ such a success at our reunion. For the class notes you could add this: ‘I was incredibly moved by the interest of so many classmates in my niece’s film about me. All three screenings were well attended. It reminded me of the support of classmates when I was facing trial 40 years ago, especially the well-attended event at the Yale Club in NYC. I cherish the warm friendship of so many classmates, as does Francoise who appreciates the many Francophiles in the class.’” Later, Steve Bingham emailed: “For those who would like to go to Paris next month (or are already there, Gerry Shea?), the European premiere is September 8 of ‘Un Double Vie’.”

Bill Bowe posted, “I had a great time talking last week with Rick Kogan (The Fascinating Life of Bill Bowe) about my book Riots and Rockets. Martin Padley commented. “You appear to be very much at home in front of a mic, Bill. Perhaps, a new career looms?”

Bob Buchanan emailed on August, “I have been a supporter of the AME Zion Scotland Church for some time. The Scotland community is not far from my home, and I became involved in the rebuilding of the facility which had been damaged by flooding over the years due to a poor stormwater management system designed and implemented by local County officials. During a recent site visit of this redevelopment of the church facility, I was informed that Martin Luther King III will be making a visit there on October 14 to honor his father’s support of the Scotland community 60 years ago. When I mentioned that his father had received an honorary degree from Yale at our graduation in 1964, the conversation took on a new dimension. Could the Yale connection add to the event in October, and if so, how?” Tony Lavely replied. “Very interesting, Bob. In addition to the special connection our class had with MLKjr, I have a family connection. My father was his thesis advisor at Boston University in 1955. I gave his typed dissertation with my father’s markups to Coretta for the MLK Library before she died. Having said this, I will be in Africa September 15-October 11, so I am unable to take the Scotland event on as a class project at this time. I'm cc-ing Steve Bingham who had a special connection to MLK, too. Steve Bingham added: “Thanks, Bob, for reaching out but I can’t add anything helpful. This is an event to remember MLK’s support of the Scotland community 60 years ago. I had no idea that MLK had supported the Scottish community. The most appropriate people to be involved in such an event are of course people in Atlanta of Scottish ancestry. And, given your deep involvement with the church, I hope you’ll be a participant at the event. As such, you can be our Yale 64 rep.” Pete Putzel commented: “Quite apart from the conferring of his honorary degree, I have a vivid recollection of hearing MLK preach the sermon in Battell chapel. Unforgettable.” Steve Klingelhofer wrote: “I've known of the Scotland community most of my life. My 5th-grade Landon teacher, Barker, had a summer camp nearby. I think engagement with King's son and the community is terrific, and, Bob, I'm so glad to know of your own support in the life of this long-ignored historic place and people in Montgomery County.”

Fred Buell emailed the Bay-area Zoom group in July, “So sorry to miss this Zoom — which would have been my first with you all. My disorganization is the reason. I had blocked out the wrong Wednesday on my calendar. Won’t happen again.” Fred made up for it in August when he participated enthusiastically on the climate-crisis theme. On Bastille Day, Frederique Deleage and Pat Caviness posted, “Celebrating Bastille Day with French and English friends at Centara Resort on Koh Samui was a must. It was an outstanding occasion for fine food and great company. Vive la France!”

Dick duPont emailed the Taft boys: “When I was in the Thorofare (the summer before reporting to Taft) my brother Bill and I spent our first two weeks on a pack trip fishing. We had a ball. Naturally, I reported for duty at the Lazy Bar F Ranch outside of Cody, as advised, with light spinning gear and a gazillion small brass or copper spoons with a single tiny treble hook. They worked fine in the stony open streams, though many got hung up in the rocks and perished. Then along came our third camping stop — a place called Blind Basin. It was a sort of a glade dished out of the evergreens in the mountains, about 500 yards long and half as wide. it had a nearly flat bottom, with grasses galore. There was a handsome waterfall at the head of the glade. The stream was only about five feet wide, zig-zagging every which way to in order to keep up its flow. As you would imagine, every oxbow (and there were many) had it's gentle edge on the inside and a two to three foot high, undercut bank on the other. The grass was a mess, and I wasn't coping at all well with my spinning rod and spoons. Being a curious lad, I began to wonder if a fly wouldn't work a hell of a lot better. So I bummed a flyrod and some top water flies from our guide and returned back to the scene of the crime. Of course I couldn't cast worth a shit, but I could muster a good dose of mean force and awkwardness, tossing my fly a few yards past the overhang — upstream and across the brook. Then I would tease it back to the far edge and nurse it into the water. The second the fly hit the water, the current swirled it under the shady overhang and Bingo! — fish on.” Pat Caviness replied: “I enjoyed hearing your early fishing story. You were still at Taft when you learned about the wilderness. I like how you started experimenting when you weren't catching trout with your fly rod. ‘When at first you don't succeed ...’ You had a seasoned mentor to guide you in your fly selection and to teach you how to cast; that kind of instruction is worth a lot. My father enjoyed fishing and would occasionally take me with him. Even when my father caught a lot of fish, I found trying to catch river fish boring. I would go along. Trying to catch a fish with a cane pole was never a thrill. Staring at a bob in the water, waiting for it to wiggle — slow entertainment. Even when I caught a fish, which was rare, I never understood the challenge!” Sam Crocker replied: “Loved your story, duPs! Takes me back to my early years. Growing up in the then-country in Stamford, CT was a lot of fun. My friends and I fished ponds and rivers wherever and as often as we could. We used worms, small live frogs, spinners, plugs, and whatever else we thought might work to catch bass, catfish, and sunnies primarily as well as an occasional trout here and there. Sometimes we would hook into an eel or snapping turtle, though not on purpose! Those were great days full of good memories. Tony Lavely, you might get a kick out of this fishing tale. I was friends with Peter Truebner, Jan’s husband, growing up in Stamford. I lived a short 5-10 minute bike ride from his house. One day I was with him at Woodway Country Club in Stamford. While his mother played golf, we went fishing in a large pond on the course where we were not in the way of the golfers. I caught and hooked a live small frog on Peter’s hook, and he tossed the line into the water. The frog started swimming and then, wham, a fish struck, and Peter reeled a truly giant bass out of the pond! I will never forget the excitement we felt that day! Happy memories to all!”

When a hurricane hit Texas in July, Will Elting wrote; “We lost power for a while, but it’s back in now in Houston.” After our 60th Reunion, John Hunsaker wrote a thoughtful email to Roy Felshin, “Hello Roy, our conversation at the end of the 60th reunion on the train heading to NYC was not only substantive but an eyeopener to me. You talked about your experiences from entering Yale to working your way through. As with a fair number of classmates, this was the first time we ever talked (there were only ~1,000 in our class! you'd think we knew 'em all). What you discussed accentuated how ignorant and naive I was about some fundamental aspects of classmates' lives: the curse of being Jewish at Yale. I applaud you for your courage in dealing with the cruelties of some of the Yale students — which you conveyed quite vividly. The Jewish chaps I was friends with (e.g., Dan Pollack and the late David Sandor) never discussed such disgusting behavior by some Yalies (if, indeed, they had such encounters) and did very well socially and academically — as best I knew then. In another context, Ron Parlato has written a bit about the uneasy relationship between official Yale and Italians. In my tour through Yale, I was fully unaware of that kind of prejudice. I had some great relationships with friends who were Jewish, and there were leaders like the late Joe Lieberman, all of which led me to believe that Yale embraced all kinds of backgrounds with vigor. Apparently not fully. In our Zoom session a few years back (Yale Canon Mini-Reunion), our classmate (the incredible) Professor Stephen Greenblatt in discussion with Professor / Dean / President Brodhead related an encounter he had during his first year with a highly placed Yale administrator, who expressed some godawful attitudes embedded in Yale officialdom dealing with Jews. I didn't know about it then and am baffled about it now. The only similar exhibition of prejudice I was aware of back then was by a chap a few years ahead of me in Trumbull, who bragged about going out on weekend evenings and beating the hell out of homosexuals. Nowadays, to be sure, many students of the Jewish faith are experiencing virulent antisemitism on and off many campuses, including Yale, akin to the 19th and 20th century pogroms. Baffled by these disgraceful acts and the apparent inability of insensitive or obtunded (pick your pejorative) college administrators and staff to reject and contain such attitudes and actions quickly and decisively, I hope you and those of your faith know that the vast number of virtuous citizens uncompromisingly encourage you all in your faith, security, and humanity. Part of that includes implementing the values of a liberal education, as Pres Griswold professed. So, thank you again for talking to and edifying me. I believe nevertheless YC '64 was the best ever and am proud you persisted in being a part of it. See you at the 65th?”

Frank Franklin, a regular in the Trumbull email group, emailed, “Happy Fourth. Celebrating Independence Day Southern style with BBQ and brew. When we first came to Alabama 35 years ago, the mother of one of my first patients, on hearing I was originally from New Jersey, informed me of an important distinction … namely that barbecue is a verb in the north but a noun in the south. We thoroughly enjoyed the reunion and thank the organizers.”

On the first anniversary of Chris Getman’s passing in July, Toddie Getman wrote, “Thank you, Tony. I have most of our kids and grands with me, and we put some of his ashes in an urn with a bulldog on it, a bulldog tie, and our Scottie's ashes, too, under a huge, ancient tulip poplar tree, here in R.I. We had a small ceremony, and later a toast to our boy. We miss him!”

Stephen Greenblatt emailed: “At the moment I am far from politics, with the whole family, twelve of us, in Botswana for a belated celebration of my 80th.” Tony Lavely replied, “Your photos are great Stephen! Nancy and I will be there next month.” Jay Huffard had to send regrets for the August classmate luncheon at Mory’s: “Just tested positive for COVID. So sorry to miss the luncheon.” Candy and Waldo Johnston posted in August, “This evening we experienced Carmina Burana performed by Albana Pro Musica and the Philadelphia Symphony at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Bravo, it was fabulous. We took back roads from Cooperstown and enjoyed back country central NY farmland.” On Tony Lavely’s July 2nd birthday, Blaine Krickl emailed, “Just as I was born on 31 December, providing my parents with something to celebrate the New Year (and an unexpected tax deduction for my father), you arrived in a timely way so your parents could add to their stock of fireworks for 4 July 42. Busy that you and Nancy are, and having marked your birthdays together recently, you will need no encouragement from me to renew those celebrations today. Many happy returns and very best to you and dear Nancy.” As he watched Chris Wallace on CNN’s coverage of the Democratic National Convention, Tony Lavely posted about Chris’ older brother Peter Wallace, “who was the second in our Class to perish in a mountain-climbing accident in Greece in 1961. Even at that young age, Peter was an aspiring newsman, like his famous father Mike Wallace.” In late August, Nancy and Tony Lavely attended a Minnesota Yale Club event that featured Dr. Kelly Morrison ’91, who is running for the U.S. House congressional seat in Nancy’s and Tony’s district. Kelly’s father, Jock Morrison ’67, sat at Tony’s table. Earlier in the month, Nancy and Tony Lavely enjoyed the Minnesota Orchestra performance of “Uptown Nights” at Orchestra Hall. When he saw Tony’s post, Dan Pollack commented: “Fabolous music that makes the world go round.” When he saw Tony Lavely’s post during the Olympics — that included a recollection of Mike Austin’s and Wendell Mottley’s 1964 medals — Pat Caviness commented, “Paris was the star of the Olympics!” When he saw Tony Lavely’s post of the National Memorial Service for Joe Lieberman in Washington D.C. on July 24, Waldo Johnston said, “Bless you, Joe” Commenting on Tony Lavely’s post of his grandson Lio’s baptism at Trinity Church in NYC (the weekend of the CrowdStrike airline SNAFU), Pat Caviness wrote: “I’m amazed you managed to get there. Your other grandson Colton is already knocked-out handsome!” Dan Pollack added, “Beautiful family and happy times. Celebrate often! That’s what life is all about.”

From his home on the beautiful island Bequia in the Caribbean, Douglass Lea posted: “The Bahamas are the fourth-largest tax haven in the world based on assets flowing through the country, with an estimated $13.7 trillion in private household wealth parked there and an estimated $12 trillion in corporate wealth in offshore shell companies. That’s a quarter of all wealth produced annually worldwide. As recently as 2019, the offshore financial services business made up an estimated 20 percent of the Bahamas’ economy.” Earlier, we were relieved to hear that Douglass survived the hurricane in June, when he posted, “Electricity and internet finally just restored. Thanks all. Not a scratch on us, house, and three dogs but plenty of misery around us and in the long aftermath for all of us. Personally, I'm exhausted. Back in a few hours when I finish deleting nearly a thousand political emails.”

Tony Lee emailed: “Margie and I are still mountain biking and gardening, although when the real heat hits we shut down and stay indoors. We didn’t have AC until four years ago when we installed a heat pump. We’re rewriting our climate course and revising the title and focus. A lot has happened in four years. Our current title, ‘Can We Stop Climate Change,’ is no longer a central part of our conversations. The simple answer is ‘No we can’t stop it, but we can mitigate and adapt. So, what are you going to do?’ We’re now doing most of our webinars with Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI). OLLI has 125 chapters throughout the US. We’ve taught at Duke, Tufts, UMass Boston, Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, UVa, and several others. It keeps us busy.”

Edward Massey emailed in July, “Tony, I hope you are having a thorough post-reunion decompression! We initiated our move to Salem, NH, on June 6, did some unpacking after the painters and the movers left, and decamped for Drakes Island ME on the 15th. Five weeks of complete decompression after two months of intensity with the house purchase, financing, and move. Now it comes to an end next week, and we will start our life in Salem.”

In Publications, Gus Speth added to his series “Essays from the Edge,” with: “New Consciousness – The Brass Ring,” “New System Possibility,” and “I Hate Advertising.”

Russell Sunshine engaged many classmates with the transcontinental “book end” to his “Agile Aging” blog about his cross-continent train trip to and from our 60th Class Reunion, “Our Last Grand Train Adventure, Phase Two.” John Wylie commented, “Your usual superbly written post, Russell. After reading about the movie you saw in Montreal on the 1701 treaty negotiations, I was reminded of Kondiaronk. This Huron-Wendat chief played a crucial role in negotiating the ‘Great Peace of Montreal.’ I learned about him reading The Dawn of Everything, where, prior to this (he died just before the treaty), he traveled to Europe and became a widely known intellectual critic of European society, influencing the establishment of Enlightenment ideals.” After reading the first installment, Mike Sherwood commented, “Delightful, Russell! I can't wait for the second installment. I've loved trains all my life. Model trains as a boy. As a boy of about 10, my parents took my sister and me on a five-day trip on the Canadian Pacific Railroad across Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver. Sitting high in the observation car watching the snow-covered Canadian Rockies approach is one of my fondest boyhood memories. As an adult practicing law in the Bay Area, I frequently had to appear in Federal Court in Sacramento. Rather than drive, I always took the train, boarding either in Emeryville or Oakland, and getting off in Sacramento a short two-block walk to the courthouse. Once my spouse Kathy and I took that train across the Sierra to Reno where we visited friends. A wonderful trip! Thanks for sharing your train adventures.” Joe Wishcamper added: “Nice blogpost, Russell. I imagine that the kindnesses you received from others on your trip were largely because of your kindness in encountering them.” When I was five, we rented a farmhouse alongside Route 66 outside of Amarillo. Those were the days of people riding the rails. And the tracks were only a few hundred yards from our house. We had incessant requests for a bed from men who were riding the rails. My dad would let them sleep in our barn but would take their cigarettes and matches from them as a precaution against them setting the barn on fire. I have strong images still in my mind of those men.” Steve Bingham commented on Russell Sunshine’s blog: “And of course you know Arlo Guthrie’s City of New Orleans. I also loved trains, remembering the 200-car freight trains rolling down the Eastern Coast near my grandmother's home in Stonington CT. While underground traveling on Greyhound during a visit to US, I walked into the beautiful Pittsburgh train station where an old guy at the ticket window remembered a dozen trains rumbling through each way in the 50s vs one each way today. I think of this every time we’re in France with bullet trains all over the country, dozens of them, while we’re only now finally building a small link between Bakersfield to Fresno at a cost of billions, which no one will ride. Ah, car-dependent America is slowly destroying passenger rail. So sad.” Russell Sunshine responded to the Bay Area Zoom group: “Thanks to all for your enthusiastic feedback. Glad that several of you share positive train memories. Trains were central to my father's business as a produce broker in L.A. I worked summers for him in high school and the core of his business was shipping California melons (cantaloupes and honeydews) and citrus (Valencias and Nevels) by rail to midwestern and eastern chain stores. Even before I was born, he and my mother would pack suitcases full of party clothes and join produce couples taking the train to Chicago for conventions sponsored by the railways. Coats and ties, singing and sipping, all the way across the country. Bring back rolling celebrations!”

John Wylie, an inveterate blogger, has added a new vehicle to his repertoire: “Here are my own files uploaded to TikTok. I realize there are issues with this app, being owned by China. But it also has an intense font of ground-roots creativity (almost exclusively American). I'm having a total ball on my computer where I am led, step by step like a blind man by my robotic lover, Lady Chat (GPT) — my first TikTok offering is here, so if you fear malfeasance from the Chinese, don't click! I am giving birth to an alter ego, who is quite the British Chap, Sir Percival Throckmorton.” Don Van Doren commented, “I enjoyed them all, John. And thanks to Sir Percival Throckmorton for his illustrious exposition, superbly illustrated. Great work, and I enjoyed re-reading your 60th Class Book commentary about how this fits in with your current passion and avocation.” John Wylie replied: “Don, Thanks very much for these thoughtful comments. I'll include for others the passage that inspired my avocation as a mythologist. ‘For centuries the writ of empiricism has been spreading into the ancient domain of transcendentalist belief, slowly at the start but quickening in the scientific age. The spirits our ancestors knew intimately fled first the rocks and trees and then the distant mountains. Now they are in the stars, where their final extinction is possible. But we cannot live without them. People need a sacred narrative. They must have a sense of larger purpose, in one form or another, however intellectualized. They will refuse to yield to the despair of animal mortality. They will continue to plead, in company with the psalmist, Now Lord, what is my comfort? They will find a way to keep the ancestral spirits alive. We are a single gene pool from which individuals are drawn in each generation and into which they are dissolved the next generation, forever united as a species by heritage and a common future. Such are the conceptions, based on fact, from which new intimations of immortality can be drawn and a new mythos evolved. Edward O. Wilson, Consilience (1999)’.”

Syd Lea posted to his Substack Newsletter, “These two short essays — ‘Sex’ and ‘Death’ — were part of a collection of short essays that I liked quite a bit.” Chas Freeman posted a new essay to his website, “On Diplomatic Professionalism.” After reading Sam Francis’ letter to the editor in the July 2024 issue of Yale Alumni Magazine (which itself was drawn from our Class Website), a Yale alumnus resident of a life-care retirement center in Massachusetts requested permission to reprint it in their resident newsletter. Sam responded: “I would be honored.” In August, Gerry Shea wrote a letter to the editor of The New York Times: “Israel has set a new standard for the settlement of virtually intractable negotiations. If you don't like your counterpart, kill his children. If this doesn't work, kill him.”

Concluding with In Memoriam, we are pleased to write that no classmate deaths have been reported since the previous issue, in which there were five. Jan Truebner (honorary classmate) reached out to Neil Hoffmann’s surviving spouse, Nancy, and daughter, Liz, to invite them to stay connected with our class. Jan emailed Liz, “I’m so very sorry to learn of your dad’s passing. I had gotten to know him through the Yale ‘64 golf outings. We will certainly miss him! For the last several years I have tried to keep the widows of the Yale ‘64 class connected. My husband, Peter, died several years ago and he too played in the golf group with your dad. I don’t have any contact information for your mom but would like to be able to include her in class communications. Could you please send me her email and phone number? Many thanks. My deepest condolences.” There will be a celebration of life for Neil Hoffmann in Villanova PA on September 28. Jerry Flannelly added: “Neil was a regular participant in our Boston area Zooms; his comments were always thoughtful and to the point. We will miss him.” Bill Woodfin added: “I am so sorry to hear [of Neil’s death]. Though we never met except over Zoom I enjoyed an extended conversation over the phone last year regarding his wife Nancy’s biography of the eminent 18th century Philadelphia botanist, John Bartram, who among many accomplishments founded what was probably the first botanic garden in this country. His son, William, also made a notable name for himself as a botanist, ornithologist, and artist. The Upland Sandpiper is Bartramia longicauda. It was an interesting conversation impressing upon me that Neil was a man of many parts. I was not aware that he had studied under Louis Kahn at Penn.” Joe Wishcamper added: “I admired Neil’s conviction and courage. Sorry he is gone.” Sam Callaway added: “What sad news. Neil and I had an off and on email relationship, and I had come to respect him not only as an architect, but as a thoughtful, caring human being. He will be greatly missed.”

After he read the belated news of Jock Burbank’s death, Mike Sherwood wrote: “Attached is my remembrance of Jock Burbank for posting in the In Memoriam section of the class website.”

All classmates are encouraged to send remembrances to Tony Lavely for any of our departed classmates for posting at In Memoriam.” As always, please contact Ted Jones if you would like to donate a Mory’s Memorial Brick in the name of any departed classmate. In July, Ted wrote: “Some of you already have heard, but many may not yet know that Neil Hoffmann passed away in late June. I was very saddened by the news, and I know we all thoroughly enjoyed his wonderful companionship and energy over many years at our semi-annual outings, dinner at Mory’s, and then acting as ‘captain’ for a number of years. It was my honor and privilege to assume his role when his health no longer permitted him to ‘swing’ with us. I have also had the pleasure of assuming Chris Getman’s role as manager of the ’64 Mory’s Memorial Brick program, which grew out of his wonderful leadership effort to resurrect that fabled institution when it was foundering. You may be aware that virtually every one of our 320 deceased classmates has had a brick on Mory’s rear patio etched with their name and years of life, or some other note. Chris’ merely says ‘Boola’. I am writing to invite you to make a $100 donation to Mory’s to have a brick etched in Neil’s name (or in the name of any classmate who has not yet received a brick). I am enclosing a form to complete that you can return to me at: 1120Taylor Street, Northbrook, IL 60062-7807. I hope you will consider this honor to him, and I look forward to hearing from you.” Jay Huffard made a donation in July, “Please use this for anyone who has not had a brick donated in his name.”