Class Notes

December 1998

by Dennis Lynch

We are at an age when all of us contemplate the possibility of retirement and/or changing our life's priorities. Sam Low and Bob Kuehn recently purchased a summer home on Martha's Vineyard and have “been spending time fishing for stripers and blues.” Sam is presently in a “semi-retirement” mode, working on various retirement projects and racing his Porsche (seven starts, five firsts, and two second-place finishes). There's nothing like the laid-back, sedentary life of a race-car driver! Reuben Waterman writes that “after almost 30 years of practicing law, upon the graduation of my youngest from Yale (Mark ’97), I've chucked it all and gone to work for Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado. I now manage the Pines condo complex, the largest at the resort. Life is good.” Lastly, Phil Lochner announced his retirement from Time Warner earlier this year. Happily he “now spend(s) his time as a director of various businesses, working as an expert witness in securities law cases and consulting. Not working full-time is wonderful.”

As the financial burden of funding educational expenses ebbs and more free time is available, classmates have donned their traveling shoes. John Hanold and his wife Pam “were part of the highly successful China tour of the Yale Alumni Chorus (July-August 1998). We celebrated our 30th anniversary the day of the final concert in Shanghai on August 3. It was spine-tingling to sing with graduates across 30 years in both directions, and to see again friends from the 1962-67 period.”

On a far less adventuresome journey, Chris Getman visited with George Humphrey in Cleveland. According to George, he and Chris “enjoyed a round of golf followed by a Cleveland Indians victory [September 17, versus the dreaded Yankees – Ed.], and the customary reminiscing made for a very enjoyable day.” (The celebration was short-lived! – Ed.) Lastly, Franklin Basler spent three weeks in Estelli, Nicaragua earlier this year. He lived with a family and studied Spanish. Franklin observes that “the scars of our misguided policies during the Reagan/Bush years have yet to heal. It's a beautiful country worthy of our compassionate attention.”

Back in the States, Jim Turchik offers another political comment: “Clinton should resign! Congrats to Joe Lieberman.” In addition to these pithy remarks, Jim expresses great pride in his family: daughter Kirsten, assistant VP at Marsh-McClennan, Johnson-Higgins; daughter Rebecca, teacher in Alexandria, Virginia; and son James, working at Citibank in Buffalo, New York. Another proud papa, John Doane, relates that “our older son Tad graduated from Cornell in chemistry and Latin American studies, and now is doing research in agricultural chemistry at the University of California-Davis. Our young son Steve just entered Stanford.” In addition, he and his wife are working on a developmental-stage company to make plasma-based equipment for the printed-circuit-board industry.

Two brave souls have volunteered for organizing local class get-togethers. Neil Hoffmann is now president of the Yale Club of Philadelphia. He agreed to serve because, according to him, “Fortunately, others do most of the work. Any of you who are in the Philadelphia region, I urge to join. At $30 dues, it's a very modest investment in maintaining your Yale connection.” Across the continent Roger Lewis writes, “If you are serious about local class events, I would volunteer to hold one in San Francisco.”