Class Notes

March/April 2010

by Tony Lavely

Between posting these notes on our Class Website (mid-January) and publishing them in the Yale Alumni Magazine (March), we will be having our annual Class Council meeting in New Haven on Saturday, January 30th. There will also be a class dinner and hockey game (RPI) that evening. We will post the meeting agenda on our Website for your consideration. Those of you reading this column online are encouraged to submit suggestions to any council member about ways to improve class communications and activities.

The final report from our 45th reunion was issued in November. Thanks to the great planning of Waldo Johnston, reunion chair, and his dedicated reunion committee, the reunion was an unqualified success with an attendance of 329 classmates and guests. Thanks to generous individual underwriting efforts, the reunion came in "on budget," too!

Roy Felshin wrote, "I've retired as archivist with the Bronx County Historical Society." Stewart Flory wrote: "Alexandra Marleen Flory was born to Elena and me on October 26th, 6 pounds, 13 ounces," apparently setting a new class record for youngest child! John Howells was kind enough to welcome your peripatetic Class Secretary to his new home in Atlanta where John has lived almost all his life. Sam Francis journeyed to Egypt since his last posting of Class Notes. Peter Giblin and Maritza visited Pat Caviness in Thailand in early September. Bob Sexton, executive director of the Prichard Committee, predicted new opportunities for Kentucky schools, "The stars are lined up so we can really do something, like make a giant leap forward."

As they always do, Chris Getman and Toddie hosted a pre-game tailgate around the woodie wagon and a post-game dinner at the Lawn Club after The Game last November. Despite the unsuccessful gamble taken by the Elis, everyone had a splendid time, including my 4-month old granddaughter, Lavely Corbin. She petted Handsome Dan fearlessly and cried only when Harvard scored the go-ahead touchdown. Other classmates in attendance were Rich Niglio, Will Elting, Peter Truebner, Nick Danforth, and Terry Holcombe, who barely made it back from Jordan where he was with Peter Giblin. Joe Donnelley's widow, Vivian, joined the group, too. Afterwards, Mike Mazur wrote that losing at the end felt like the 29-29 tie in 1968, an epic that has been captured on DVD, if you need to be reminded.

In response to a reunion report ("a sparkling event") sent to him by Nick von Baillou, Bill Roth wrote depressing news, but asked that classmates be informed, "Because of complications from surgery, I'm now homebound with a live-in aide. I missed you in June." Bill Drennen, who promises to guest write this column soon, wrote of his post-reunion experiences: "I've started Beryl Bender Birch's, Boomer Yoga, drove cross-country to go sailing in the San Jan Islands with Merrill Pasco, grew a beard and had my knee scoped!" By the way, the Class of 1965 contacted AYA about inviting Birch to their reunion in June for a similar yoga experience. Bill Galvin reported that Ed Massey got some nice recognition for his book, Telluride Promise, in the Wall Street Journal, the Providence Journal, and the Telluride Daily Planet. Galvin also mentioned that "Robert Whitby spends considerable time in Telluride skiing, attending film festivals, and generally living the good life." Bob Buchanan has been working with 2030 Group, committed to advancing a strong regional economy in the Washington D.C. area.

After spending three days of their ten-week Southeast Asian tour with Pat Caviness and Frederique on Koh Samui, Thailand, my daughter, Vanessa, wrote to Pat: "My brother and I loved talking politics, sports, movies, and music … and hearing the unedited stories about our father's Yale days." Button it up, Patrick! Also, on a personal note, Chip Thomas, the son of Stan Thomas, spent a day with us over Christmas week on Captiva Island, Florida. Stan would be very proud. John Evans will be vacationing on nearby Sanibel Island in February.

Don Edwards will have cataract surgery in early February. Tony Lee will be in Bermuda in late February. Gus Speth will spend the winter in North Carolina. Phil Lochner made an extended trip to New Zealand in December. Harvey Berenson was in Sri Lanka in January. Dan Pollack will be visiting Gary Hallenbeck and Waldo Johnston in Florida in late January. Mike Mazur will be skiing in late January. Joe Wishcamper will miss the Class Council to be in Palm Springs. On a more industrious note, Len Baker will attend the Yale Corporation meeting in February.

Sadly, I report the passing of two classmates since the last column. In October, Bill Elmore died in New Haven. In December, Joe Dilworth died in Pittsburgh. Obituaries of both classmates are posted on the Class Website, In Memoriam.