Class Notes

May/June 2023

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. If you would like to write a guest column, please let me know. Do we have your current email address in our website directory?

This issue of Class Notes will be largely devoted to our annual Class Council meeting, which was held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, in New Haven. It was our first in-person Council meeting since 2020 just before COVID-19 restrictions were imposed. Our experience with Zoom during the interim gave us the idea to make this 2023 meeting a hybrid event by adding a Zoom feature to the meeting in YAA Rose Alumni House (the DKE House in our day). Nineteen Council members attended in person and were joined by ten Council members via Zoom for a total of 29 out of 35 Council members. It was the highest percentage attendance in recollection. The Council ratified the nomination of John Howells to join the Council, filling the vacancy caused by Robert Whitby’s death last year.

The meetings began with Class Secretary Tony Lavely introducing Stephanie Hartnett who is replacing Jennifer Julier Yale ’77 as our YAA staff liaison, since Jennifer retired. Jennifer provided a seamless handoff to Stephanie, so the meeting arrangements were excellent. The Council endorsed a citation for Jennifer and purchased a Mory’s brick in her name to express our gratitude. At the beginning of the meeting, we noted that it was Joe Lieberman’s 80th birthday that day, so there was a Council shout-out to Joe who would be waiting for sundown to celebrate. As usual Class Webmaster Sam Francis proved agile technical support throughout the meeting for both those in the room and those connection via Zoom.

Routine Class business was conducted in the morning. Class Treasurer Chip Brennan reported on the Class Treasury where the main income is generated by the 37% of classmates paying Class dues. If you’ve overlooked this modest $100 request, it’s easy to pay it online (just search for “Pay Yale Class Dues”). Ward Wickwire, Chair of Yale Alumni Fund Agents, reported on the status of YAF contributions for this fiscal year. We thank the twenty-one 1964 Class Agents who have solicited donations to put us on track for a record participation year. Bill Morse, Class YAA Representative, reported on the 2022 YAA Assembly with specific focus on the role of the Yale Board of Trustees and some of the controversial events on campus. Weili Cheng Yale ’77, YAA Executive Director, joined for this part of the meeting and added her perspective. Later Weili posted a group photo on Facebook with this message: “Hanging with the great Yale College Class of 1964, thanks to the work of colleagues.” Chris Getman gave an update on our Mory’s Memorial Brick initiative where classmates and friends have donated Memorial Bricks in the name of 274 departed classmates. Bricks are currently being solicited for nine classmates who have recently died. You can learn how to donate a brick here. Special thanks to Chris Getman and Sam Francis for overseeing the Mory’s Memorial Brick program, which has a goal of remembering every departed classmate on Mory’s outdoor patio and on our Class website.

Three years ago, when COVID-19 curtailed in-person gatherings, Edward Massey and Joe Wishcamper stepped forward to plan Zoom events for the Yale 1964 Authors Book Clubs and Zoom Theme/Topical Events. We’ve executed one event per quarter for the past three years with attendance of 80-90 classmates per event. The next two Zoom events on the schedule are Nortin Hadler speaking on April 27, with Sam Francis moderating. Jethro Lieberman (author of 31 books) will be our featured classmate author on July 13 with Larry Crutcher moderating. Jethro’s title is: “Everything is Jake and Thirty Others.” Check the Class Events page on the Class website for details. Howard Gillette reported via Zoom on the Civil Rights Zoom event that was held last December 1, featuring classmates Jim Duderstadt, Joe Lieberman, and Joe Rich.

Ted Jones, organizer of Class golf outings, reported on the very successful outing on Cape Cod last September, thanks to hosts John Evans and Larry Capodilupo. Ted reported that our annual golf outing on the Yale Course will need to find a new venue since the Yale Course will be closed until 2025 for major refurbishments and enhancements.

The major new agenda item for this Council meeting was the kickoff for our 60th Class Reunion in May 2024. Co-Chairs John Evans and Ted Wagner have already begun forming a Reunion Planning Committee and soliciting ideas for program content. If you would like to get involved in this process, please contact John or Ted. They will be attending the Class of 1963 reunion this coming May to observe new Yale content and approaches. Special attention will be paid to facilities and transportation for physically impaired people.

At the conclusion of our regular business meeting, Sam Francis navigated a tour through the Class website and its rich account of classmates and their activities. The most visited section of our website is In Memoriam, where 283 classmates are remembered with obituaries, remembrances, and photos. Since the previous issue of Class Notes, we have been notified of the death of George Ridout who died on January 27 in San Rafael CA. In 2022, we reported the deaths of sixteen classmates.

We welcomed very special guests to the Council meeting on Saturday afternoon. From the Urban Resources Initiative Greenspace Program at the Yale School of the Environment, we welcomed our 2022 summer intern Claire St. Peter (a junior at Yale) who gave a vivid visual report about her work in New Haven neighborhoods last summer. We were also joined by Anna Pickett who was our sponsored summer intern twelve years ago and is now a valued administrator in the program. Anna gave an update on the stunning progress of the New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing, dedicated to the victims of gun violence in New Haven. We hope to visit this garden during our 60th Class Reunion. Chris Getman, our Class Liaison to URI, added his enthusiastic endorsement for the work done by Colleen Murphy-Dunning at URI. The Class Council voted to renew Class of 1964 support for the URI summer intern program.

Our other special guests were from Squash Haven. Director Julie Greenwood documented how well Squash Haven had emerged from the period of COVID-19 restrictions. It’s stronger than ever with more New Haven young people enrolled and being admitted to more internships, colleges, and even graduate schools. Speaking to us about their roles and experiences at Squash Haven were Christian Aviles, Director of College Placements, and Chelsea Coronet, currently a senior at Wilbur Cross High School. Chelsea is touring and winning squash tournaments in many cities on the East Coast. Jon McBride, our Class Liaison to Squash Haven (and a Masters Champion himself) testified to the success of this program. Jon reported that many classmates have added their personal financial support to Squash Haven to complement the financial support from the Class Treasury, which was renewed.

Special thanks to Chris Getman who arranged the dinner at Mory’s on Friday night and the dinner at the Lawn Club on Saturday night. On Friday, we watched the men’s hockey team in an exciting come-from-behind 4-2 win against Colgate. Saturday, they weren’t as fortunate, losing to Cornell 1-5.

Hopefully, this report will make you proud of your 1964 Class Council. If you would like to be nominated for membership on the Council, please contact Tony Lavely or any other Council member. The next issue of Class Notes will return to the traditional format of reporting on classmate activities, so please keep your input coming!

Your dutiful Class Secretary Tony Lavely will wed Nancy Evenson Lindley (surviving spouse of Clarkson Lindley ’64) on May 19, 2023, in Minnetonka Beach, MN, and relocate from Atlanta, GA to Long Lake, MN. Dick Niglio (who lives nearby in Wayzata, MN) will be Tony’s best man for the second time.