Class Notes

July/August 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?

You can see on our Class Website/Events page that our Quarterly Zoom events have continued robustly. While there are no longer any restrictions on in-person gatherings, we have found that Zoom attracts many more classmates at far lower cost (i.e., no travel or facilities). Our new YAA support person Stephanie Hartnett provides terrific technical support for these events. All you need to do is register to attend and click on a link to participate. On April 27, a record number of classmates and friends heard Nortin Hadler talk about “Health at Our Time of Life.” Joe Wishcamper helped plan the Zoom program and Sam Francis facilitated questions. My favorite line of Nortin’s was, “Very few age cohorts in history have reached 80 years of age in such record numbers.” That being said, Nortin reminded us that the death rate is still one per person! On July 13, classmate-author Jethro Lieberman will discuss his new novel Everything is Jake and reflect on the differences between writing fiction and non-fiction in book form. Edward Massey, himself a multi-book author, planned the event; Larry Crutcher, who edited our seminal 50th Reunion Class Book, will moderate. Video recordings of both events will be posted in due course.

Classmate gatherings, both in-person and via Zoom, have continued apace. Classmates in and around New Haven met at Mory’s for luncheons organized by Chris Getman on March 1, April 6, and May 3. Jerry Flannelly invited the Boston-area group (including some in England) to Zoom calls on March 15 and April 19. Owen O’Donnell invited the Bay Area CA group to Zoom calls on March 16 and April 12. These regional gatherings are always interesting and lively, so I encourage you to join if you’re so inclined. Looking further out, our 60th Class Reunion will be held in late May or early June 2024; YAA will announce the exact weekend early next year. Co-chairs John Evans and Ted Wagner are assembling a planning committee and gathering program ideas, so contact them if you want to get involved.

In other Class News, we have or will soon post articles about both the Nortin Hadler Zoom event and the Jethro Lieberman Zoom event. It’s also newsworthy that Chas Freeman is as prolific as ever with presentations on “World orders: The global kaleidoscope in repeated motion” (September 21, 2022); “Can the U.S. effectively counter Chinese influence in the Gulf Cooperation Council?” (December 14, 2022); “U.S. China policy: A case of self-harm” (February 7, 2023); and “From pawns to global powers: The nations of the Middle East strike back” (February 14, 2023). Classmates may recall that Sam Francis built a special photo gallery of classmates’ 80th birthday celebrations over the past 18 months. There are 53 photos posted on our Class Website/Photo Gallery/80th Birthdays, and you’re welcome to add yours. In Yale News, we noted that Howard Lamar, who reshaped the study of the American West, died on February 22, 2023. He taught at Yale from 1949 to 1994 and was president of Yale in 1992-93. Who among you took classes with Howard? On a recent Facebook post, we were reminded of the history of Handsome Dan, whose keepers over the years included Toddie and Chris Getman: “This photo of Yale’s famous mascot is from around 1889, Handsome Dan I, who was owned by a Yale student and was the first U.S. college mascot. He won first prize at the Westminster Dog Show and was famous for his trick of barking aggressively when told to ‘speak to Harvard.’ Yale is now up to Handsome Dan XIX, but Handsome Dan I lives on. You can see his taxidermied body in the Payne Whitney Gymnasium lobby.” Urban Resources Initiative, a non-profit organization in New Haven that our Class has supported for years with a Summer Intern stipend, recently published a beautiful pamphlet, “New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing: Dedicated to the Victims of Gun Violence.” Some classmates toured the site during our 55th Class Reunion. Squash Haven, another non-profit that our Class has supported, expressed their gratitude: “Your support will ensure that Squash Haven has the resources to continue to deliver exceptional tutoring, mentoring, and coaching to youth in New Haven as they strive toward excellence.” In March, the Class of 1964 bought a Mory’s brick to thank Jennifer Julier for her many years of service to our Class. Did you cast your ballot in the Yale Corporation/Trustee election in April?

Bam Alling called in April to tell me that he was taking one of the Yale-sponsored trips to Italy and the Mediterranean in May. Chip Brennan, our venerable Class Treasurer, is on the same trip. During one of the Bay-Area Zoom calls, Owen O’Donnell posed the question: “When and how did you meet your spouse or significant other; what was your relationship like and how did it change over time? Steve Bingham replied: “I met Francoise while living ‘underground’ in Paris in the early 80s. We were film students together at the University of Paris VIII. She is considerably younger but was able to adapt to my new (real) identity once I told her after a year. Our relationship is Franco-American, and we sometimes wish we were living in France. Our relationship has grown stronger living in the US. She even finally became a citizen this year! She’s a French teacher at the College of Marin.” Mike Sherwood followed with: “Steve, when you and your wife are alone together, do you speak French, English, or some combination (Franglais)? My brother is married to a Puerto Rican woman and lives in Puerto Rico. They mostly speak Spanish at home, except when I'm visiting since I don't speak Spanish. Both their kids are bilingual (what a gift!).” Bingham explained: “Mike, we go back and forth, with no particular logic, though if the subject is French or France, we always talk in French. We generally avoid Franglais, mixing the two languages in the same sentence. As Francoise teaches French, the French language is always at the top of her mind. She’s teaching subjunctive right now. It’s hard to teach as Americans almost always avoid using the subjunctive!” Bill Bowe posted: “On April 14, 1828, Noah Webster published An American Dictionary of the English Language. In this edition, he spelled the word ‘tongue’ as ‘tung.’ Bet y’all weren’t ready for that!” Pat Caviness posted multiple times this spring: “Frederique and I have lived in Samui Thailand for almost 20 years. We know well the advantages of retiring here.” Later, “A beautiful blue sky and blue pool. Few sights in life provide more of a reason for hope — and a smile — than a bright, blue sky.” Still later, “Singapore Airport. In transit, heading to Frankfurt and then on to Toulouse FR. Singapore has one of the largest and most beautiful airports in the world. Where else can you roll your trolley through beautiful gardens on your way to the gate?” On his way to France, Pat must have had a premonition about the protests when he posted a map of Europe: “In case you have eye strain, France is the only country in the EU with a retirement age of 62!”

Dick duPont emailed: “Hey, Tony, we're all wishing the best as you and Nancy [Lindley] validate the obvious love you share, which, of course, doesn't need any validation. As my late brother Bill loved to say, ‘It might not help, but it can't hurt.’ Joe Wishcamper and I are like schoolboys, plotting our forthcoming ACK invasion by land, sea, and air. My friend Don and I will land mid-afternoon June 23 in his Cessna 310 to rent a set of wheels and secure our lodgings. Joe will slip past the enemy radar under the cover of darkness that evening. We will fetch him and feed him fresh seafood and 7-Up (a toast to you two) — then a brief repose, before casting off at Madaket Marine well before daylight. With any luck at all, we will pillage the enemy rips and depths, then retreat with guns blazing via PWM to ILG — 42 hours later, our coolers full of fluke (and only the CCP, with their surveillance buoys, will have a clue what just happened) — soothing, n'est-ce pas!” Celeste Finn, wife of Eric Fossel, posted photos and encouragement as Eric recovered from serious surgery: “Good vibes for this guy, getting a revision on his failed spinal fusion.” Later, Celeste messaged, “As much as Eric is a bulldog he’s also like a cat. He's tough as iron; his passion for work only increases, and he is getting some of the most promising data of his life at this point.” Sam Francis emailed me when I sent him this issue for posting: “Bobbie and I are on a cruise around the British Isles until May 13, so I can’t guarantee to process the Web version of the Class Notes any earlier.” I asked, “Is it a Yale trip? Nancy and I are doing the Yale Barge Trip in September: ‘Autumn in Provence, Burgundy and Beaujolais on the Rhone and Saone’.” Sam replied, “No, it’s a Viking trip, ‘British Isles Explorer.’ Not one of their river trips, but on one of their ocean-going ships.” Ed Gaffney posted: “For decades, economists believed immediate action to fight climate change would decimate the economy, but a new study adds to a growing body of research showing that the economic benefits of climate change outweigh the costs.” In January, Toddie and Chris Getman sent a New Year update: “First, let us get one thing clear: Our grandchildren are smarter and better looking than everyone else’s. 2022 was a rather bland year spent trying to avoid COVID (unsuccessfully). Toddie tolerated the smashing of our vows, ‘For better or for worse, but not for lunch!’” In April, Chris Getman wrote: “On Sunday, April 23, I will be in Waterford CT for my 34th MS Walk. We lost our Scottie Edward last fall, so the walk will be a bit lonely. Great progress is being made to try to find a cure for this debilitating disease. Our household, which is now officially in Rhode Island, remains lively, energetic, and vibrant with constant influxes of family and friends.” Douglass Lea posted a beautiful photo from Bequia with this quote from Homer: “A wine-dark sea, with pigmentary hints of Cahors.” Karl Ziegler, Karen Carmean (wife of Doane Perry), and Pat Caviness all commented. Joe Lieberman was cited in an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune in April: “Former Senator Joe Lieberman knows better than most the impact third-party bids can have on presidential elections. His ‘No Labels’ group has cash, known names, and the potential to disrupt the 2024 elections.”

Fellow Yalies attended Nancy and Tony Lavely’s wedding in May: Dick Niglio (best man), Jay Lavely ’65 (brother), Diana Blom and Ted Jones, Nancy and Dan Pollack. Stan Thomas’ son, Chip Thomas (Tony’s godson) was there too. As a new resident of Minnesota, Tony Lavely posted about his gastronomic discovery of the regional fish walleye. Waldo Johnston commented, “Enjoy!” Ted Jones commented: “Many a walleye over a campfire in the Quetico.” And Don Van Doren wrote: “You just had to get out of Atlanta to Minnesota! Walleye is a little better than Long John Silver’s, eh?” Commenting on Tony Lavely’s post on the 40th anniversary of his run in the Boston Marathon in 1983 were: David Wyles: “Way to go, Tony. That’s called pushing yourself to the limit.” Martin Padley: “Love that statement above your name: ‘Tony runs fastest when diapers need changing!’ Those were the days!” Waldo Johnston: “My daughter Crickett Y93 is running it right now … mile 15.” Sam Low posted: “I remember my father painting this scene. He sat in his car with a water can and brushes while he painted and sketched it … then finished it at home. Seaview Avenue in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, during a Nor’easter, probably in 1954.” After the Oscars telecast, Ron Parlato posted this about Jimmy Kimmel’s joke about the Irish: “Oh, come on! Of course, the Irish are inveterate drinkers and brawlers. And even if they no longer are, lighten up for God’s sake.” Nancy and Dan Pollack posted: “Today, April 20, we’re celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary! So much to be thankful for. Life is good!” After reading Russell Sunshine’s Blog about Cloverdale CA, Mike Sherwood emailed: “Thanks, Russell. Interesting and well-written as always. Keep ‘em coming! By coincidence, this coming Saturday, I'm going to be riding in the Wine Country Century bicycle ride, which winds its way through the Sonoma County wine country. I'm doing the geezer 35-mile route, not the full 120 miles possible, and I'll be riding with my son who will make sure I don't crash and if I do will be there to help. In another concession to age, I'll be riding a borrowed e-bike — a new adventure for me!” Ron Sipherd, photographer and blogger, posted one of his daily photos with this caption: “An American coot. I looked it up.” Russell Sunshine commented on Owen O’Donnell’s reference to “the disturbing issues which have occurred at Stanford University recently”: “Read this review of the Stanford Law fracas in the New York Times. As usual, the situation was more complicated than the initial headlines trumpeted.” In March, Chip Thomas (son of Stan Thomas) had a very serious ski accident. We were relieved when he posted: “Three weeks ago, I was in a brutal ski accident at Hunter Mountain NY. Included among my injuries were fractures of my skull, ribs, vertebrae, and sternum. My Bern helmet saved my life, and the Hunter Ski Patrol provided immediate and excellent care. I’m very much on the mend.”

In March, Nancy Upper (surviving spouse of Dennis Upper) emailed: “Stephen Greenblatt is mentioned and quoted in The New Yorker article, ‘The End of the English Major.’ The whole piece is worth reading. In the March 15 Boston Zoom, we discussed the declining interest in the humanities, and the consequences of that. As the article states: ‘American scholars … have begun to wonder what it might mean to graduate a college generation with less education in the human past than any that has come before.’ You could write a letter to the New Yorker editor about the Yale Class of 1964 revisiting the Yale Canon!” Joe Wishcamper emailed: “Tony, I’m sorry that Carol and I can’t be at your wedding on May 19, but I will be fishing off Isla de la Juventud, an island off Cuba May 12-20. I always think of David Plimpton on a trip like this. Carol will be waiting for me in Alaska, to which I’ll speed via a redeye from Miami in order to board a boat on the 21st. But that means missing the classiest Class wedding of the decade!” In January, David Wyles messaged, “I’m going to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital for spine surgery and may not be able to post much for a month or so while I’m recuperating.” Happy to report that David recovered and posted, “Here is my son, Rio ‘Soulshocka’ Wyles, rehearsing for a performance at the Greek Theater in LA in a benefit concert with musical luminaries Neil Young and Stephen Sills.” Later, David Wyles added: “So, technically Moses was the first man to download files from the cloud using a tablet.”

In Class Website/Publications, I call your attention to six books written by Nortin Hadler, who was our featured speaker on the Zoom event held in April. Jethro Lieberman’s latest book, Everything is Jake, is also listed and can be purchased on Amazon. Watch for Syd Lea’s forthcoming sixteenth collection of poetry, What Shines, coming in September. Syd posted three of the poems on his newsletter Substack.

Since the previous issue of Class Notes, we have posted the obituaries of two classmates on our Class Website: Bill Sloan died on January 20 in Cheshire, CT. Bill served his country with honor and pride in the US Army and had a 46-year career as a stockbroker in New Haven, Hartford, and Glastonbury, CT. George Ridout died on January 27 in San Rafael, CA. George was a San Rafael school district administrator who was known for his commitment to youth education and religious faith. Obituaries of these classmates are posted on our Class Website/In Memoriam, where you are welcome to post your remembrances. We also welcome the purchase of Mory’s Memorial Bricks for any classmate. Thanks to these classmates who bought Mory’s Memorial Bricks in recent months: Steve Hoffman for Larry Johnston; Jon McBride for John More; Bill Schmidt for Jim Reece; and Jim Whitney and Peter Jokl for George Ridout.