Class Notes

November/December 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.

Following our 55th Class Reunion in May, many classmates sent in photos taken during the reunion. As he did with the pre-reunion slide-show, Sam Francis created another slideshow of these photos with a soundtrack by the Yale Glee Club. From past to prologue, I attended the Yale Club of Georgia Alumni Schools Committee reception for new Yale students, Class of 2023, from this area, 38 in all. One of my “recruits” will be playing on the Yale men’s soccer team and was recently assigned to Benjamin Franklin College. His father sent me a photo of the young man walking through the Class of 1964 Gateway and into the main courtyard named for Len Baker and his wife Mary Anne.

Larry Capodilupo and John Evans are still accepting reservations for the Fall Golf Outing on Cape Cod. Play will occur over three outstanding courses with one dinner at Larry’s home and another dinner at Eastward Ho! Country Club. Following the summer hiatus, classmate luncheons will reconvene in September. For NYC, contact Pete Putzel; for Boston contact Jerry Flannelly; for New Haven, contact Chris Getman. In early September, I listened to President Peter Salovey’s quarterly conference call that had over 100 participants. He shared the optimism of a new school year as well as responding to many alumni questions on topics ranging from campus freedom of expression to Yale’s involvement in China and Africa. Later in September, classmates will be sent our annual Class Dues letter by our venerable Class Treasurer, Chip Brennan. Please consider paying these modest dues. At this writing, our Class has 761 contactable members.

There are eight new articles posted in Class News that are worthy of your attention (classmate connections are in parenthesis): Squash Haven (Jon McBride), Reunion Memorial Service (Steve Klingelhofer), US economy podcast and Yale Politic interview (Jim Rogers), CNN interview (Joe Lieberman), New Yorker article (Bob Musil), URI greenspace tour (Chris Getman), and New York Times Magazine article (Brad Reynolds). After seeing the posted summary of the Reunion Memorial Service, Joe Lieberman emailed: “It was an honor to be asked to participate and a blessing to experience together the memories of our classmates.” Bob Musil emailed: “Thanks for posting this article. The problem of mass production of wood pellets for electricity is not widely known. This will help.” John More added: “Bob is the President of the Rachael Carson Council and has been organizing a campaign in North Carolina and in Congress.” In addition to these News articles, I remind you that Sam Francis has posted 11 “Kaleidoscope of Passions” videos in News, too. Nancy Upper (widow of Dennis Upper), who gave a “Passions” talk on the “Power of Ampersand,” will repeat her presentation on September 19 at the W. Van Alan Clark Jr. Library at Tufts. Further on Brad Reynolds, I am informed that he is in failing health with his family gathering around him in Charleston SC, while the area is being battered by Hurricane Dorian. In recent months and days, Brad’s roommates — Butch Hetherington, Peter Rice, Gerry Shea, and Jim Turchik — have reached out to Barbara to provide emotional support.

After the reunion, John Witherspoon emailed: “Sorry that I had to miss this reunion due to Special Forces Army Ranger Medics training. Headed for the Middle East now.” Later, John emailed: “I’m still developing my screenplay, featuring my grandson, for a movie production about space travel. Getting some help on this from my daughter Reese.” Pete Putzel posted a photo of Bob Kaiser and him in from of the Metropolitan Opera House. Ted Jones continues to work with other Yale swimming alumni to renovate Kiputh Pool in Payne Whitney. Ted also posted photos from Medinah Country Club in IIlinois: “I did one-time marshalling on the 13th hole at the BMW Tournament. Best hole on the layout; 241 over water.” John More posted a photo at St. Anne’s Church in Kennebunkport. Right after the women’s soccer World Cup, John also posted “I’ve attended Men’s World Cups since 1986 and have refereed since 1991. The women played with great skill.” John also posted from a visit to Rancho Jacona in Santa Fe and later at a production of "The Magic Flute" at the Maine Opera. Gerry Shea made his summer pilgrimage from Paris to Marblehead MA. Gerry and John Stein exchanged emails about Paris and French food. We were delighted to get an email from Howard Gillette (who had to miss the reunion): “I’ve had my last treatment for lymphoma and recent tests show no further signs of cancer. I’ve returned to normal activity and am grateful for the good wishes from classmates.” Since Patrick Caviness couldn’t attend the reunion, we caught up via FaceTime video in July. Ron Parlato joined the Yale Facebook Group “Yale Food & Beverage” and regularly contributes his culinary expertise. Ron was in Turkey for 3 weeks this summer and posted many local dishes like kokoretsi and iskembe. Recently, I watched a Facebook Live Webinar sponsored by the Yale Women Facebook Group which featured Yale Professor Paul Freedman, who is an expert and author on the history of American restaurants and food.

In the aftermath of the Varsity Blues admissions scandal, many classmates weighed in with emails and posts. There were lots of opinions both for and against giving athletes preference in admissions. Dick Berk predicted, “The NCAA is toast and so is the structure of college athletics. That is one reason my son Michael decided on club basketball at Penn.” Steve Bingham wrote: “I have to disagree with you on this one, Tony. Whatever ‘admissions distinctions’ might mean for other talents, nothing comes close to how athletes are treated.” Patrick Caviness replied: “I’m still old school. Grew up playing on high-school teams and always wanted to play at the college level. To me, that was part of the college experience. We need to keep the remnants of our team together. Stay connected now more than ever.” Marya Holcombe posted: “This morning, taking orders at the Sunrise Café, I got 3 ‘Thank you, Mama’s’ and one ‘Thank you, my lady’ … honorifics that are part of the cultures of the people involved.” Marya also posted a YouTube video of the kids from Kurn Hattin Homes singing patriotic songs: “It’s a perfect antidote for today’s news. Terry and I have supported this wonderful place for many years.” Marya added some advice: “As my mother said (at age 103), ‘We’re not dead yet; do something good every day.’ ” Later, Marya posted: “Hey 1964 classmates. Rob Goodwin is speaking at R. J. Julia Bookstore on Tuesday night; if you can’t go, get his book. It’s a terrific psychological thriller.” Lavely: “I confessed to making a mistake in Latin when I posted from Italy, ‘Vini Vidi Vici.’ ” Bill Morse commented “I thought ‘vini’ was most appropriate, ‘You came, you saw, you drank!’ ” Also, while in Italy, I rendezvoused with a recent Yale Ph.D. graduate, Anna Marra who was teaching Italian to Yale students at the University of Siena. Rick Salomon posted, “I’ve noticed over and over the link between outstanding science and intense interest in classical music. Almost every one of the 25 Nobel laureates at Rockefeller University was either talented musically or keenly interested.” Later, Laura Landro posted a visit she and Rick Salomon made to Dia Beacon: “If you haven’t been, go! Pretty amazing.” Rick shared a nice photo of him with Tim O’Connell’s (’63) granddaughters.

Replying to my post about URI New Haven greenspaces and the New Haven parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Ron Parlato commented: “I grew up in New Britain CT where Olmsted designed Walnut Hill Park.” Many classmates commented on my early summer post about Gus Speth and his commentary on capitalism and environmentalism. Douglass Lea wrote: “As a self-styled Commie for 6 decades, I’ve always assumed I came by my moralism and anti-capitalism honestly.” John More replied, “I think you came by it very honestly, Douglass. My route was more convoluted, although I was a draft counselor and anti-war activist and started a Sierra Club chapter in Rhode Island while teaching at Brown.” Nick Baskey emailed: “Nick Baskey, Blaine Krickl, Mike Nagel and Karl Zeigler had dinner together with partners at the Queens Club London in early July. Nick and Mike filled the others in on all the happenings at the reunion. Nick, an old Whiff, was most gratified to hear Mike tell the others how important the Whiff participation was at the reunion.” At a different reunion, Nick Baskey posted: “My high-school class of 1960 had an impromptu get-together; lots of humor, some sadness, but mostly warm, fond memories.” Chip Levengood emailed: “In June, I attended the annual meeting of the Peace Corps community in Austin TX where I was elected Treasurer of the National Peace Corps Association. I encourage the many Returned Volunteers from our class to join the NPCA at no cost and to learn about the work we are doing to enhance the value of Peace Corps service throughout the country. During my stay in Austin, I had the great pleasure of having dinner with the son of my late roommate, Woody Woodruff. Josh Woodruff, Class of '93, his wife and three daughters took me to a famous Texas BBQ joint for a meat fest. Great time to reminisce!”

Chas Freeman emailed: “My grandson, Cameron Freeman, was accepted for the Yale class of 2023. He is the fourth of my descendants to matriculate at Yale. Cameron is taking a gap year to perfect his Chinese language.” Chas added: “I delivered the windup ‘centennial’ lecture in the Foreign Policy Association's Great Decisions program in New York in June. I just returned from speaking on the same topic at the summer session in Chicago of the Pacific Pension and Investment Institute. I have been re-invited to serve as a senior fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University and look forward to another year of lecturing and serving as a living fossil in classes there.” Dan Pollack and Nancy had a busy summer of travel, both before and after our reunion. Nancy posted photos from their visit with Mike Mazer in D.C. and later with Steve Caplan in Rockport MA (where they celebrated Dan’s birthday together). They also visited Seattle, Death Valley, and Jackson Hole. Dan emailed: “In October, we’ll have our annual visit with Bob Hannah and Mike Mazer at the Hannahs’ home in Good Hart MI.” Sam Low, who spends every summer on Martha’s Vineyard, posted a message in favor of two years of mandatory national service for all Americans in either military or civilian duty. Sam added: “My service in the US Navy was one of the highlights of my life. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without that experience.” Doane Perry posted the news that Yale’s most popular course, ‘Psychology and the Good Life,’ is now online. Ron Parlato commented: “A far cry from Harold Bloom’s ‘Romantic Poetry,’ Paul Weiss’ ‘Metaphysics,’ or Vincent Scully, ‘History of Architecture,’ but I guess the younger generation needs a little help!’ Doane Perry and his wife Karen Carmean are tireless supporters of the Guild of Berkshire Artists. In August, Karen posted, “Blueberry picking with Doane before chamber music at Tanglewood and a Guild potluck. Love the Berkshire life!” Doane Perry also posted the August ceremony of US Ambassador to Uganda, Deborah Malac.

Bob Hilgendorf emailed: “We had quite an interesting visit with Jim Rogers and his family in Santa Fe. Their daughters are fluent in Mandarin and had a lovely discussion with my wife Ling. They left the next morning for a fly-over of the Grand Canyon.” Tony Lee emailed: “My home town of Wayland MA is starting a series of TED Walks. The group watches a TED Talk and then takes a walk together. It’s a cross between our Reunion ‘Passions’ and ‘Conversations.’ ” Lee kindly sent me a very interesting publication by the Southern Poverty Law Center about Civil War heritage markers. When I asked Sam Francis about his summer sailing schedule, he emailed: “I was going to sail out of Newport in August but canceled for logistical reasons. It gets harder and harder to recruit a crew as our cohort grows older.” Later this summer, as Dorian bore down on the Bahamas, we searched our classmate address list to make sure there were no classmates living there. Sam added: “I sailed the Bahamas in 2014 with Gerry Shea and John Evans. Our cruising grounds were exactly where Dorian came ashore with a cited elevation of 13 feet compared with the storm surge of 20 feet.” Late May, Bill Lear attended a special Harvard Business School program at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: “Confronting Climate Change: Opportunities and Risks for Midwest Agribusiness.” In July, Thomas Susman posted a selfie with his daughters on his birthday. One daughter posted: “Oh Daddy! Slightly hilarious that we are all smiling for our selfie staring at the wrong side of the phone.”

Chip Thomas (Stanley Thomas’ son) visited me in Atlanta in August, and we shared some memories and sushi. Douglass Lea saw my post and commented: “Amazing. I saw Chip as a little kid in D.C. when I visited his Dad.” Chip works for an internet events-planning company and continues to perform as a drummer in the band, Postmodern Jukebox. His sister, Beth, was just named Director of Development at Elisabeth Morrow School in NJ. Jeremy Wood emailed an interesting article about Credo, a collection of observations by William Sloane Coffin that was published 15 years ago. Jeremy added: “Bill Coffin speaks to us now.” In August, there was quite an email thread among classmates generated when Steve Klingelhofer posted a review of a new book by the former Yale Law School Dean, Anthony Kronman. Steve commented: “I actually think that a wider, more egalitarian harvest of students simply broadens the field of future leaders in the world.” Al Rossiter commented: “It’s so much easier to have ‘merit’ if you have lots of advantages at an early age.” Neil Hoffmann commented: “You saw the story of how my father got into Yale. I'm sure his parents were loving and supportive and Hillhouse was a great school. He earned every penny of his Yale tuition himself while living at home and borrowed $600 from Yale so that he could live in Saybrook his senior year.” Edward Massey added: “I come from a low social class family (measured by education and income) that could not have been more stable, more loving, or more demanding in expectations. I have not done much with the advantage that came to me with a scholarship to Yale, but I have, every day, recognized that was exactly what I received. An advantage.” Steve Klingelhofer added a postscript to the lively email debate: “A note of appreciation to all who've entered this conversation; it just shows how interested, and interesting our classmates are!”

Terry Holcombe emailed: “In August, we attended a special event hosted by our New Hampshire neighbor and friend, Ken Burns. He showcased his upcoming new 18-part PBS program, ‘Country Music.’ Set your video recorder now!” In another email, Terry reported: “We spent today swimming with Pete Putzel and family in a New Hampshire lake. Terry is on the board of the William F. Buckley, Jr. ’50 Program at Yale. Tony Lee emailed: “We spent 8 days in Nova Scotia which were wonderful. Did some kayaking and road biking. Currently, we’re in Kingdom Trails VT, mountain biking with my grandsons. I’ll be making another movie of our adventure.” Candy Johnston posted some fun photos and commentary about Waldo. One was a perfectly chopped and stacked cord of firewood. She wrote: “Felling, sawing, splitting. Waldie has been working up a serious sweat.” Candy also posted a photo and commentary of Waldo finishing up another project: “Backbreaking and labor-intensive. Waldo is resetting all the stones on our Saratoga NY outdoor terrace.” Dina Ruden posted Father’s Day brunch in Central Park NYC with Paul Ruden. Later, they posted July 4th fireworks celebrations from both the 50th floor and a blanket in Central Park. Later still, they posted a great photo of Paul’s birthday dinner with family at an Italian restaurant in NYC. In August, Ed Gaffney posted a photo of a volcanic eruption: “As part of my work for the Yucca Mountain Project, I simulated the rise of magma at Paricutin.” Later, Ed posted: “Happy Labor Day to all. I dropped my old computer of yesterday and just picked up a new one. Still trying to find where all those old things went!” Using one of the new Facebook Aging Apps,

Last Father’s Day, Robert Whitby’s daughter posted a photo from his hospital operating room: “I would not be able to wish my father a happy Father’s Day were it not for my aunt who selflessly gave him a kidney to save his life. I love you both.” Carol Wishcamper posted praise for The Magnolia Mother’s Trust, a program to support low-income families: “An amazing year! So many accomplishments.” Just today, Joe Wishcamper emailed: “I was attacked by a wounded grizzly bear on a hunting trip in Alaska on August 28. I was very fortunate to survive. I had surgery in Fairbanks and my doctors here in Maine expect me to recover fully except for some facial scars. I’m feeling generally good and am gradually returning to my normal activities. PS. The bear is dead.”

Kip Burgweger posted from Cos Cob: “Pig roast in Connecticut on the hottest, most humid day I’ve ever experienced. Thank goodness for cold beer!” In June, Frank Hotchkiss posted photos from Alaska: “Greetings from beautiful Alaska. Dog sledding in Skagway today was spectacular. More exploring in Ketchikan and Glacier Bay.” Note: Frank and Sandi relocated from Santa Barbara to Savannah GA in 2018. Steve Floman posted a photo of his Hillhouse high-school reunion in East Hampton complete with souvenir T-shirts. Ashley Macdonald (who attended our reunion) posted beach photos from Castle Park MI, where she and her father Angus Macdonald had created elaborate sand castles. Larry Lawrence and his family posted photos from Ciko, Tolna, Hungary, a family ancestral homeland. Ellen Bachmeyer posted photos with Tim Bachmeyer celebrating Mother’s Day at Eggs and Oats. In April, Karl Zeigler shared a hilarious post during the London Marathon: “Sickening scenes on the telly of 50,000 English people chasing 10 Kenyan men through the streets of London.” Especially funny to me, since I was one of the people doing the chasing in 1982 (still my PR of 3:01). Roger Webb posted: “I’m not very good with Facebook, so often fail to respond to things I should. Thank you to all the kind people who sent me birthday wishes. Getting old sucks, but having friends makes the process tolerable.”

Bill Morse posted a photo of himself in a Resistance T-shirt: “Flutes of the world, join us next year at The Acadia School of Traditional Music and the Arts.” Jim Currie posted from an ancestral hometown in Switzerland with his family. Jim had another family reunion in Fairview PA during June: “Many old friends, several flights out of North Coast Air, memorial services for both parents, and family dinners. A good month, but ready to head back to Arizona!” Michele Mead (who attended our reunion and is the widow of John Armor) posted: “I loved seeing the graduation ceremony of Yale students from Benjamin Franklin College. John was a Benjamin Franklin fan and did full impersonations of him on many occasions. He would have gotten a kick out of seeing the students marching to graduation carrying kites.”

In Publications, you’ll find a new book of poetry by Gus Speth. After writing award-winning books and articles on the environment, this is Gus’ first book of poetry. Sam Low reported: “My book, Hawaiki Rising, is still selling so well that folks are taking the time to comment on it. It has a 5-Star Amazon review.” Frank Hotchkiss posted: “Coming soon. My second book: Just a Common Man. John More posted a New York Times opinion piece by Tim Breen titled "George Washington Would Hate Trump’s July 4th Parade." John wrote: "Kudos to my friend and Taft and Yale classmate. I also recommend Tim’s books on the American revolution and George Washington." Among classmate bloggers, it’s been an active summer for Jim Rogers, Ron Parlato, Paul Ruden, John Wylie, and Mo Dean. In his blog, Shining Sea USA, Paul Ruden did a multipart, extensive analysis of both parts of the Mueller Report. Russell Sunshine’s new blog, "Agile Aging, A Work in Progress," is picking up momentum. Russell emailed: “I'll be posting the first in a series of periodic profiles of senior peers who are setting inspirational examples for us all through creative pursuit of passions or courageous confrontation of challenges.” He added: “I'm also pleased to report that my essay ‘A Man, A Boy and Their Hawk’ was selected for publication in the 2019 edition of the California Writers Club's Literary Review.” Ron Sipherd’s blog, “Ronksville,” is a photo gallery of beautiful botanical and nature scenes with photos he takes himself. Ron emailed: “I carry my camera with me most of the time and post one or two photos a day to my Facebook page. I’m heading up to the NW California coast tomorrow.” We welcome a new classmate blogger, Richard Peck, who emailed: “I’ve started a blog called 'Small Homes for Aging,' dealing with a new approach to the unaffordability of today’s supportive housing for seniors. Classmates might find it timely for themselves or their parents.”

Three classmates had letters to the editor published in Yale Alumni Magazine recently: Dan Berman, “Another degree to rescind;” Frank Hotchkiss, “Bush and Yale;” and John Stein, “A crew career cut short.” In bringing his letter to the editor to my attention, John Stein emailed: “As I idle away my days of retirement with a habit of lassitude, I remind myself that this lassitude is what expelled me from the Class of 1963 into our august 1964 brotherhood (which would have been more august had it had an accompanying sisterhood.” Many classmates regularly post strong political opinions on all sides. I appreciate seeing these, but my editorial philosophy for Class Notes is to exclude them. My favorite political adage comes from Gerry Shea which he appropriated from a Portuguese taxi-man: “I’m neither for it nor against it. Quite the contrary.” From a more meditative perspective, I really enjoy the many classmate posts that share famous artwork. It’s a pure aesthetic, and these come from: David Wyles, Ron Parlato, and Ron Sipherd.

Yale notified us that Joel Kleinberg died this summer in Pasadena; an obituary has not been published yet. Tony Lee emailed: “Joel was a YAF Class Agent for Calhoun College.” We are in touch with his widow, Laurie, who will be providing details soon. Laurie Kleinberg emailed: “Joel and I were so proud of his associations with the Class of 1964 and his love for Yale and New Haven.” Recently, we were contacted by the sister of Mike Shapiro (d. 1987) who was trying to contact Silliman College classmates who remembered her brother. Jim Carney graciously responded to her with details of Mike’s undergraduate life. We also worked with an independent film production company to provide information about Bill Beatty (d. 2007) for a documentary they are producing about one of Bill’s students who greatly admired Bill’s teaching. Sam Low re-posted his poignant 2006 article in the Vineyard Gazette, remembering Bob Kuehn. Last February, the first annual Bill Duesing Organic Living on the Earth Award was made to Wayne Hansen. In 2018, we reported that our beloved football coach, Carm Cozza had died. His wife, Jean passed away in July. Patrick Caviness spoke for many teammates when he emailed: “I have fond memories of Jean. She was always kind and interested in talking to us players and sometimes brought us brownies.” Among the greater Yale family, I also report the death in July of Marie Borroff, a legendary English Literature professor, from whom I took a pilot online course is 2000. We also remember the late Harry Jacunski, our memorable football coach, was is in the Fordham University Athletic Hall of Fame. Chris Getman and I will be attending a memorial service for Jerry Kenney ’63 in NYC on October 31.

Here's what these Notes look like in a visual word cloud (the more frequently a word appears, the bigger the font).