Class Notes

September/October 2019

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.

Our 55th Class Reunion, reported in the previous issue, now seems like a distant (though fond) memory. I just returned from two weeks in Italy with my family, so writing these Class Notes will put me back into my keyboard rhythm. There is even more to report about classmates than usual, since the reunion issue was limited to reunion activities.

Following our reunion, I received many emails from classmates saying how much they enjoyed the reunion. Steve Klingelhofer (who organized the moving memorial service for departed classmates) said it best: “I never saw any old people at the reunion; only wise people.” Bob Buchanan emailed: “The Yale faculty lectures and the classmate-facilitated ‘Conversation’ groups were stimulating. My love of learning was rekindled.” Of course, there were a few logistical elements that could have been better, but overall, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback!

More classmate gatherings are already on the calendar. With assistance from Larry Capodilupo and John Evans, Neil Hoffmann has announced a Class golf outing on Cape Cod, September 25-27, with 16 golfers already signed up. Jon McBride responded: ”Were Mimi and I not in Prague, enroute to Budapest, I’d be there.” Bill Galvin emailed: “Sorry to miss this one; we will be on our way to Greece.”

Loring Knoblauch arranges for classmate luncheons in Chicago about three times a year. Chip Brennan reported that last May it was held at the Glen View Club attended by: Bill Bowe, Chip Brennan, George Covington, Rick Heyke, Ted Jones, Loring Knoblauch, and Wally Winter. Pete Putzel schedules classmate luncheons at the Yale Club of NYC. In March, Pete reported: “In addition to our regulars (Trowbridge, Wagner, Postley, and Putzel) we had John Ogilvie (back from his summer vacation in Patagonia) and first-timer Jarvis Wilcox. Jarvis owns his own gallery in Southport, CT.” There is a hiatus during the summer months, but New York will resume on September 24. Al Rossiter reported that the Boston classmate luncheon in March “was attended by ten classmates: Mike Austin, Jon Clardy, Nick Danforth, Jerry Flannelly, Stephen Greenblatt, David Lindsay, Edward Massey, Bob Rands, Al Rossiter, and Harvey Tannenbaum.” Boston will also take the summer off and resume in September. Jerry Flannelly will team with Al Rossiter to plan the luncheons, now that Edward Massey has moved back to Connecticut. Their go-to location is at The Stockyards in Brighton.

It is my practice to post longer items by or about classmates in Class News. There are 16 new News entries on the Class website, including 11 video presentations from the “Kaleidoscope of Passions” at the reunion by Sam Francis, Peter Giblin, Stephen Greenblatt, Rick Hatton, Waldo Johnston, Jim Rogers, Al Rossiter, Paul Ruden, Nancy Upper, Don Van Doren, and Soren West. If you didn’t attend these presentations in person, you’ll want to check them out online. Also in Class News, there is an opinion piece that I wrote for the Yale Daily News reunion issue. Squash Haven posted: “A big congratulations to our very own Edwardo (St. Mark’s ’19) who was awarded the Sportsmanship Award by the Independent School League.”

This is a four-month compilation of classmate activities, since they were omitted in the reunion issue. In April, Tony Lee forwarded a chilling statement by Gus Speth: “The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed, and apathy, and to deal with those we need a spiritual and cultural transformation … and we scientists don’t know how to do that.” Sam Francis spoke in New Haven to a group of students under the Sponsorship of STAY (Students and Alumni of Yale). Peter Bradford sailed the South Pacific for 5 weeks. Ron Parlato posted “Happy Easter,” with a photo of himself on the Chesapeake Bay. Patrick Caviness posted on Easter Sunday from Lamai Beach on Koh Samui. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Pat emailed his recollections of our visit to the King Center in Atlanta five years ago. At church on Easter Sunday with my family in Greenwich, I discovered that Kip Burgweger was a verger at the church. Jon Wallman emailed: “I had cancer surgery in May, so I was in no condition to attend the reunion. I view this as an inconvenience, not a life-threatening event.” Jon went on to say how much he enjoyed the article about Yale admissions in the early 1960s, which is posted on our Class Website. Jeremy Wood emailed about Nick Danforth’s tireless efforts to protect his family farm in Weston MA under the Weston Conservation Commission “for farming and conservation in perpetuity.” Also in April, Jim Baxter (having recently relocated to Atlanta) and I attended a Yale Club of Georgia event at an historic African-American church. The speaker was Rahiel Tesfamariam, M.Div’09, whose message was, “Arise: Awaking from the American Dream.” Candy Johnston posted a lovely photo of “Waldo’s orchid wall.” Marya Holcombe posted a photo of herself taking orders at the Sunrise Café (breakfast for the needy) in New Haven. Chris Getman participated in his 32nd National MS Society Walk at Harkness State Park. After cutting the ribbon, he did the full mile and a half using a cane.

In May, Patrick Caviness traveled to Bangkok for some medical tests. He emailed: “The tests revealed a blockage in my left leg which they think is fixable.” Jon McBride was in Denver and met with Bruce Driver before seeing each other again at the reunion. I had lunch with an Atlanta-area Yale soccer recruit who is very excited about matriculating in the fall. Sam Callaway emailed: “Sounds like another positive development for Yale soccer. I sense they are on the verge of entering the next level.” Larry Lawrence posted a family photo of a graduation ceremony at Columbia. John More posted a photo of himself in his soccer referee kit and said: “On the pitch for the first time this Spring, thanks to physical therapy and a new knee brace.” Ron Parlato commented on a post I saw about Zuppardi’s in West Haven: “In all my pre-Yale goomba days on Wooster Square visiting my Italian relatives, never once did I ever eat, or even hear of a clam apizza [sic].” Ted Jones posted a lovely extended-family photo in May. Rick Salomon and Laura posted some adorable photos of their new puppy. Many classmates watched and commented on the Yale men’s lacrosse team as they played in their second National Championship game in Philadelphia. Alas, the outcome was for second place this year. On a pre-reunion trip, Dan Pollack visited Mike Mazer in D.C. and Steve Caplan in Rockport MA. Discovering it in some old files, John Evans posted the attendance list from our 30th Class Reunion with the comment: “Do you remember if this was the ‘Taste of New Haven’ reunion? I don’t really remember it. Our Whiffs apparently did not sing, as many are not on the list.” In May, I participated in another conference call with President Salovey. He addressed the “Varsity Blues” admissions scandal and also announced the elevation of the Jackson Institute to graduate school status. Doane Perry and Karen Carmean post regularly from the Guild of Berkshire Artists, where their work is on display. Larry Howe emailed, “Unfortunately, I’ll miss the reunion as I’ll be traveling to Normandy, France, with Sound of the Rockies chorus, the sole US choral representative honored to perform in the 75th Anniversary of D-day.” Candy posted a photo of Waldo Johnston snoozing on the couch “after a long day on Otsego Lake and 7 sailboat races.”

In June, Gene Van Loan emailed: “Hey guys, here is my excuse for not attending our reunion,” to which he appended a picture of himself and his lovely daughter walking down the aisle at her wedding. Gerry Shea, who was at our reunion wrote: “I loved the entire 6 days (2 extra for the Whiffs). The reunion was moving, enlightening, enriching and a thoroughly enjoyable celebration … an unmitigated success.” After I posted about the introductory panel at the reunion, a younger Yalie commented: “Len Baker interviewed me when I was a senior in high school. Presumably, he didn’t stamp, ‘Do Not Admit,’ on his report, for which I’ll always be grateful!” Patrick Caviness reported: “My procedure in Bangkok went well; I can now go back into the gym without any fear of heart attack.” Pat added: “Thanks for keeping me posted on the reunion; I missed connecting with everyone.” Rick Salomon posted: “Flags are flying (finally) at our new house in Palm Beach.” In June, I attended the summer board meeting of the Yale Alumni Fund at the Yale Club of NYC. The featured speaker was Vicky Chun, the new Director of Athletics. Vicky fielded questions about the recent admissions scandal and also addressed the need to better promote Yale Athletic events. Earlier in the day, I had lunch with Guy Struve, Secretary of 1963. Guy is always genuine in his interest in our class and generous with advice about experiences his class has had. I also had breakfast with my godson, Chip Thomas (Stan Thomas’ son), who was unable to attend our reunion with me this year, as he has in the past. Paul Ruden posted a great photo of his wife, Dina, dancing a traditional Hawaiian dance on Ellis Island. Jim Rogers emailed: “Following my ‘Passion’ presentation, when someone asked me ‘What is your next adventure?’, I sheepishly answered, ‘My wife and 2 daughters are about to drive to California for my daughter’s 16th birthday. I’m delighted to report that we made it alive! Along the way, we visited Bob Hilgendorf and Ling in Santa Fe.’” Fred Hornbruch, not to be outdone by Jim Rogers’ Phileas Fogg impersonation, circulated the itinerary of his April-May “Around the World Trip” (13 countries and 32,000 miles).

In Publications on our Class Website, you’ll find books, articles, and blogs written by classmates. Sam Low signed books and spoke about Hawaiki Rising at a bookstore on Hilo. Sam also spent some time at Puuwaaswas Ranch doing research for a new book about his grandfather’s life on the Big Island: “The fields all around are emerald green, cattle and horses are grazing, lumpy clouds are gathering over the Kohala mountains. This place is full of Mana.” This summer, Sam’s work will be featured at the Francine Kelly Gallery in an exhibit titled “Harthaven Artists.” Far and away the most prolific blogger is Ron Parlato with at least 10 posts a month. Ron also joined the closed group Facebook site, Yale Food & Beverage of which I am a co-founder and member. Ron has posted nearly 100 recipes on his blog. Edward Massey, whose new book is Fugitive Sheriff, joined the closed group Facebook site, Yale Authors. Contact me if you’d like to join either of these closed groups, and there are others for: Yale Alumni, Yale Arts & Culture, and Yale Football Family. Other regular bloggers are: Mo Dean, Sam Low, Jim Rogers (he doesn’t originate it), Paul Ruden, and John Wylie. Our newest classmate blogger is Russell Sunshine with a blog titled Agile Aging.

Since the previous issue, we belatedly learned of the death of our classmate, Stephen Williams, who died in 2016. Thanks to Steve Norman who researched the records at Berkshire School to learn of Stephen’s death and added a remembrance. On Memorial Day, I posted on Facebook to the memory of classmates who were lost in Vietnam: Charles Brown, Phinney Works, and Bruce Warner, as well as to the 51 other classmates who also served. At the reunion, I learned that Kip Burgweger’s name was omitted from our 2014 Class Book as one who served in Vietnam. During the reunion, I posted a memory of Lou Cappiello, who was one of the campus police during our years (and saved me from mischief on more than one occasion). Through sheer serendipity, I met his daughter-in-law whose husband is now chief of police in Hamden. Though Jerry Kenney ’63 was not our classmate, I sadly report his death in late June. Jerry was a fraternity brother, a teammate, and a friend to many in our class. The Kenney Family Center at The Yale Bowl is a vivid testimony to the good works of Jerry and his brothers.