Class Notes

November/December 2009

by Tony Lavely

As I started writing this column several weeks ago, I was challenged by a dearth of classmate news. I attributed this to the post-reunion letdown on the assumption that the easy and lively exchanges during the reunion dampened the usual flow of news afterwards. Undeterred, I emailed all 32 members of our Class Council to announce the birth of my first grandchild, a healthy 10 pound 1 ounce girl, named Lavely Pyne Corbin. Along with congratulations from 21 Council members came a fresh batch of classmate news. Terry Holcombe added, "It's nice to see the Lavely name go from last place to first!" Thanks to these responses, you will be spared an autobiographical column, save for one more bit of personal news at the end.

Shortly after the reunion, Chris Getman accepted Jim Rogers' challenge to produce a "Class" bow tie. In amazement and gratitude, Jim responded with a $1000 check to the Class Treasury for which we are grateful. Joe Wishcamper emailed: "Mike Sherwood dropped by after the reunion, headed up to Canada for a bicycle trek. Mike is the senior attorney at Earth Justice." Joe added, "Dave Plimpton plans to retire by year-end from his position with the State of New York. He's a psychologist working at a mental health unit at Coney Island, treating mostly immigrants." Wishcamper has six hunting trips scheduled this fall out west, three of which are archery hunts.

Those of you at the reunion know about the special tribute to (Captain) George Humphrey, organize by Dan Pollack. All attending members of the football team signed a commemorative Yale football and sent a 1964 team picture along with a reunion picture. No members of the 1964 team were recognized! Patience Humphrey sent a lovely note of gratitude: "Please express our appreciation to all the classmates involved in this tribute to George. I read your letter him, and he was moved and touched. The signed football is very special." We will post a picture of the signed football on the Class Web site. Dan added: Mike Mazur's son (singing name "Bob Harp") just published a CD titled "Collecting Dust." Dan added: "Gary Hallenbeck and Marilyn are looking for an apartment in Chicago for the summers; we visited the beautiful Botanical Gardens." Dan has also been in touch with Kip Burweiger and Pat Caviness regularly. Dan's daughter, Debbie, will be married in Callistoga, CA, in October.

Paul Ruden emailed to remind classmates about Ed Massey's new book: Telluride Promise. There is a link to this publication on the Class Web site, along with other books published by classmates. The author added: "The book is catching fire as it resonates with today's questions of who do you trust." Ed also asks you to email him with any event or talk on the subject of today's financial ethics. Massey spent a week during August in Portillo, Chile. Nortin Hadler wrote: "Carol and I spent much of the summer at our beach house. Our son, Jeff ('90), was recently promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at UC-Berkeley." Nortin added: "My most recent book was released by UNC Press in October, Stabbed in the Back: Confronting Back Pain in an Overtreated Society."

John Evans wrote: "Tony Lee's sister and brother-in-law from Bermuda visited Tony in August; they played a round at the Yale Course. Bill Galvin, Don Edwards, and I joined that outing." John added a bit or trivia: "The Mid-Ocean Club in Bermuda was designed by CB McDonald, who designed the Yale Course." John added: "Owsley Brown and Chris hosted a party on Nantucket in August during a Whiffenpoofs reunion; the Whiffenpoofs will celebrate their 100th anniversary with a celebration in New Haven in October." I had a nice visit with John in Chatham in September.

Gus Speth emailed: "Cameron and I have completed our move to Strafford, VT, where I'll be teaching at Vermont Law School. During my ten years in New Haven, I was constantly supported by members of our class, for which I'll always be thankful. I hope you will continue to support the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies." Bill Galvin emailed from Greenwich: "I convinced Phil Lochner to join me on the board of Family ReEntry, a local organization focused on reducing prison recidivism. Robert Whitbey, another Greenwich resident, agreed to help develop a strategic plan for FRE through Community Partners." Galvin also echoed John Evans report about the Cape Cod golf outing this summer. Steve Norman wrote: "Jay O'Brien is beginning his 34th year as Professor of Law at St. Louis University. Jay will be teaching Evidence this fall."

Wayne Batcheler (who continues to update entries on the "In Memoriam" section of our Class Web site) wrote: "Steve Bingham's daughter, Sylvia, graduated from Yale in May. Last April, Steve received the National Lawyers Guild prestigious ‘Champion of Justice' Award, recognizing his lifelong contributions to social justice." Tony Morris emailed that he will be speaking at the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at SFES in October. Tony has been very active during the rash of forest fires in California this summer. Terry Holcombe wrote: "Bill Roth has been awarded a named endowed chair at the University at Albany School of Social Sciences." Terry added: "Mory's Preservation, Inc., has received a 501(c)3 designation. Any contribution you make before December 31st will earn class reunion credit, as well."

This summer, Sam Francis took some time off from Class Webmaster to sail from Palermo, Sicily, to Tropea, Italy, by way of the Aeolian Islands. Sam wrote: "Most notable of these islands is Stromboli, a continuously active volcano for over 2000 years." Bam Alling sent a posting for the Class Web site: "Trumbull Beer & Bike Race." Pat Caviness and others have asked about posting remembrances on the Class Web site; just send them to Sam Francis or me, and we will see that they are posted. Will Elting emailed: "Bob Hannah's new grandchild (his eighth), Susanna Paez, was born in April. Bob and Susan attended a University of Michigan football game in September at the invitation of Jim Duderstadt and Anne; they also toured a new campus building, ‘James Duderstadt Hall'."

James Kerr and Helen Miller were married in August in Castine, ME. James is counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York.

And finally, as I finish this column at 30,000 feet, I'm on my way to Atlanta where I've accepted a new job as EVP (and an investor) at Church's Chicken. So I'm exchanging $99 steaks for 99¢ chicken; sign of the times, I guess!