Class Notes

March/April 2007

by Tony Lavely

In recent years, a number of classmates have written enthusiastically to tell me about their participation on trips organized by Yale Educational Travel. You should know that Gus Speth is leading a special trip to the Brazilian Pantanal Region, August 10-19, 2007. The trip is only open to friends and classmates of Gus.

Sam Brookfield wrote: "I have taken on a new and incredibly challenging assignment as Executive Director of Nigeria Higher Education Foundation to promote excellence in Nigerian higher education."

Lawrence Speidell has co-founded Ondine Asset Management "to specialize in equity investing in the stock markets of frontier countries."

Tony Morris continued his good work with Wildfire Research Network (www.wildfireresearch.org) last Labor Day weekend by monitoring a large fire in the Los Padres National Forest. Rick Hatton's Tanker 910 dropped thousands of gallons of retardant above the town of Ojai to contain the fire.

Chris Getman (mourning the death of Baby Huey) e-mailed details about a new program: the Yale World Fellows Program (www.yale.edu/worldfellows). Chris has high praise for the mission of this program, so please take a look with a view toward nominations later this year.

Tom Walton wrote that he "retired from The World Bank last December … now consulting on international environmental issues from Washington, D.C."

Paul Balser, John Ogilvie, and Rick Kroon will be fishing in Argentina in February. There will be news from that trip in the next issue.

Don Edwards retired as President of American Boychoir School, after thirteen years. Don credits Yale "for cultivating my love of choral music."

Tony Lee e-mailed: "I spent a wonderful week in Santa Barbara in October with Joe Wishcamper and Carol at a seminar called ‘Provocative Perspectives on Leadership and Service.' Carol and her five Dream Partners were the leaders for 25 attendees. The seminar featured spiral dynamics, the power of the integral view, and provided a context for effective decision making in the 21st century." Tony added: "The material is terrific and sorely needed in today's fractured world."

Joe Wishcamper e-mailed that he has "formed another development company specializing in acquiring and rehabilitating existing affordable housing, currently focused on four properties in Mississippi." Joe and Carol have demolished their house in Freeport, Maine, and are building a new one on the same site.

Gordon Davis is splitting his time between Hong Kong and Beijing in a new job for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

Pat Caviness has moved from Hong Kong to Koh Samui, Thailand. He is building a home in a development called Nagalaya, for which he also serves as chairman of the executive committee. Pat has set up a small construction management company to develop the project, but is also "slogging up and down the hills and swinging a machete occasionally to clear away jungle."

Paul Ruden had hip replacement surgery in January and is "doing really well in recovery." Paul is still planning to attend the Class Council meeting in late February.

I saw Terry Holcombe and Marya in Providence, RI, at the VIP opening of the 100th Ruth's Chris Steak House. Also attending the festivities was Donald Coustan, who is chairman of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Brown Medical School Women's & Infants Hospital. The current Master of Branford College, Steven Smith and his wife, Susan, enjoyed the evening and WaterFire celebration, too.

Waldo Johnston is chairman of our 45th reunion and planning is underway for the May 2009 weekend. Please e-mail Waldo (WaldoJohnston@comcast.net) with your ideas and suggestions for this reunion.

Jim Duderstadt and Mathew Shapiro sent the sad news of the death of Gary Saxonhouse last November. Matthew said: "Gary faced his recent illness with dignity, courage, and intellectual curiosity. We join in heartfelt sorrow with Arlene and their children." I also received a touching e-mail from Gary's daughter, Lilly Saxonhouse Krenn: "My father loved Yale greatly, and he cherished his relationships. He was proud to have his two daughters and his son-in-law graduate from Yale and spoke at a Yale conference this past spring even as he was confronting his illness."