An email from Tony Lavely '64, Class Secretary

What is the most dangerous/risky thing you’ve ever done?

May 11, 2025

Dear 1964 classmates and friends,

What’s the most dangerous/risky thing you’ve ever done? No, I’m not trying to send you back to the psychiatrist’s couch! Since we’ve survived this long, it’s probably safe to reflect. I remember the late Bob Whitby told us that he had climbed six of the seven tallest mountains in the world. Me? Jumping out of an airplane at 18,000 feet over Florida — with two of my kids — was probably my scariest endeavor. But the real skydivers — Sam Low, Bill Lear, and Sandy Wightman — did it in the 1960s without an instructor strapped to their backs! Anyway, are you glad you did it?

This email to all classmates for whom we have email addresses (672) and surviving spouses (53) delivers the July-August 2025 issue of Class Notes.

Following our 60th reunion, we’ve scheduled three new Zoom calls for all classmates and spouses. Don Van Doren has Class Authors events lined up for June 26 (Gus Speth) and November 6 (Stephen Greenblatt). Joe Wishcamper has organized a Zoom event on October 9 in which Bob Buchanan will lead a panel of classmates who served in the Vietnam War. Although this panel has not been widely announced, there is already a great deal of interest. So much so, that we are considering a second event and panel on this seminal event in our lives. Details and registration links will be forthcoming; you don’t want to miss these events!

In a January mailing, we told classmates that three of us had been affected by the wildfires in Pacific Palisades, CA. Dick Berk reported that “my daughter Rachael and her family were able to stay with relatives in Santa Barbara and have since purchased an apartment in Santa Monica. With three boys under 8, it has been very stressful for school and other normal daily activities, and dealing with FEMA.” Nick Allis emailed “We rented a house for a year in Playa Vista. We’re still debating whether to rebuild, but probably at my age it makes more sense to try and purchase another house which my wife strongly wants to do. They’re very expensive though and we had very inadequate fire insurance.” So far, we haven’t heard from Farhad “Kaz” Kazemzadeh, but we wish him well.

As always, check out our Class website for upcoming events and news between issues. In the meantime, enjoy the summer … and “let’s be careful out there!”

Cheers,

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July/August Class Notes

[To read these Notes in your browser in living color, click here.]

As you explore the current July-August 2025 issue of Yale Alumni Magazine, I hope you notice that the Class of 1964 is now 30% from the front of Class Notes, with 70% of Yale’s classes behind us. But if you compare classmate activities, you’ll see that we are the most vibrant!
 
Following our 60th Class Reunion in May 2024, all-classmate Zoom events were put back on the calendar in 2025. Joe Wishcamper organizes Zooms that feature 1964 classmates with experiences and/or expertise of topical interest. In January 2025, Rick Hatton did a most-timely session on “Wildfire Containment  and Suppression from the Air” that featured his work fighting wildfires with DC10s. Sam Callaway moderated. You can watch the video on our Class Website/News.

 In a January mailing, we told classmates that three of us had been affected by the wildfires in Pacific Palisades, CA. Dick Berk reported that “my daughter Rachael  and her family were able to stay with relatives in Santa Barbara and have since purchased an apartment in Santa Monica. With three boys under eight, it has been very stressful for school and other normal daily activities and dealing with FEMA.” Nick Allis emailed “We rented a house for a year in Playa Vista. We’re still debating whether to rebuild, but probably at my age is makes more sense to try and purchase another house which my wife strongly wants to do. They’re very expensive though, and we had very inadequate fire insurance.” So far, we haven’t heard from Farhad “Kaz” Kazemzadeh, but we wish him well.

Going forward, on October 9, 2025, Joe Wishcamper has asked Bob Buchanan to lead a panel of classmates who are Vietnam veterans to discuss their experiences. Joining Bob Buchanan as moderator will be Kip Burgweger, Bob Hannah, Frank Hotchkiss, Greg Howe, and Cole Oehler. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, so their reflections will be most timely. Although this panel has not been widely announced, there is already a great deal of interest. So much so that we are considering a second event and panel on this seminal event in our lives. You can find a list of all classmates who are Vietnam Veterans on our Class Website. Don Van Doren, who is now organizing the 1964 Authors Zooms, is planning one for June 26, 2025, with Gus Speth discussing his poetry; Bill Woodfin will moderate. Please register here. Don Van Doren wrote: “Gus will reflect on his transition from writing learned books to writing poetry and essays to better influence public opinion.” Don Van Doren also announced that on November 6, 2025, Stephen Greenblatt will discuss his new book about Christopher Marlowe, Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times  and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival. Pete Putzel will moderate.

Ted Jones reported the timing and locations for the 1964 spring golf outing: Wednesday, June 4  and Thursday, June 5, replaying The Vue in Hamden and adding Lyman Orchard, a little further north in Middlefield CT. The group will dine at Mory’s on Wednesday night.

Regional classmate luncheons continue monthly at Mory’s on first Wednesdays (Ralph Jones),  and Yale Club of NYC on third Wednesdays except in July  and August (Ted Wagner). Classmates gather via Zoom in the Bay area on second Wednesdays (Owen O’Donnell) and in the Boston area on third Wednesdays (Jerry Flannelly). Contact these classmates if you would like to be added to their email list. For the Zoom gatherings, you do not have to live in the area.

In Minneapolis on March 22, Dick Niglio and Tony Lavely (with spouses) attended a Whiffenpoof concert at the Minneapolis Club. John Evans, Jon McBride,  Gerry Shea, and Al Rossiter provided 1964 Whiff trivia for Tony Lavely’s post on Yale Facebook sites. Ward Wickwire and Tony Lavely attended a Zoom webinar in April that featured Tim Snyder from the Jackson School of Global Affairs talking about “Theory  and Practice of Statecraft: The War in Ukraine.” Tony Lavely attended President Maurie McInnis’ quarterly Zoom webinars on February 18 and May 12. Tony Lavely also attended a YAA brainstorming session on April 23 about Yale’s social media sites.

In News, during March many classmates watched the Yale men’s basketball team win the Ivy League title and play Texas A&M in the first round of March Madness. Tony Lavely re-posted the story on Facebook, remembering classmates Rick Kaminsky  and Denny Lynch, who did us proud in March Madness in 1962. The March-April 2025 issue of Yale Alumni Magazine featured the community forestry work of Urban Resources Initiative (URI). The Class of 1964 has supported a summer intern at URI for many years. Pete Putzel wrote a letter to the editor recognizing the memories of Chris Getman  and Strachan Donnelley. The online Yale Staff Newsletter, “It’s Your Yale,” featured the “Class of 1964 Gate” in Benjamin Franklin College. Tony Lavely re-posted the article on Facebook. Our 2024 summer intern, Tashi, presented his report at our Class Council meeting in February 2025 and was later featured in the Spring Issue of “Urban Issues.”

In April, President Maurie McInnis presented Len Baker with a commemorative book of testimonials, memories, and photographs recognizing his work for Yale over many years. The May/June issue of Yale Alumni Magazine featured an interview with President Maurie McInnis, just as Ivy League and other universities enter turbulent times.

Bill Bowe posted: “In 1995, I was reviewing the first internet iteration of Encyclopedia Britannica on a PC with the then extant Netscape browser. In 2012, EB permanently sunset its print set that was first published in 1768 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Thirty years after its first internet offering, EB is today up for a Webby Award and competing against Warners Media and other internet heavyweights. How times change and change again.”

After attending the January 2025 Zoom call that featured Rick Hatton and aerial firefighting, Michelle Mead (surviving spouse pf John Armor) posted: “Staying smart  and well-informed. Attended a Zoom meeting with the Class of 1964. Speaking was Rick Hatton, on the front lines of fighting the California fires with his fleet of DC10s. Incidentally, my father created and tested the engines for the DC10s in his job in aircraft electrical systems for General Motors.” Douglass Lea posted a selfie and commented: “The serious no-smile look is sheer vanity, for the single-tooth implant at the center of my lower row was ruthlessly yanked out of its anchorage by a vicious sandwich on Friday. I guess I’ll initiate a go-fund-me campaign to pick up the tab for its replacement.” Bobbie  and Sam Francis spent an early-spring weekend in New Orleans where they enjoyed some of the city’s culinary delights. Sam Francis complimented Colleen Murphy-Dunning on the very complimentary article about Urban Resources Initiative (URI) in the March-April issue of Yale Alumni Magazine: “I was very pleased to see that article, Colleen, publicizing the important work that you do. It did you justice.” Later Sam Francis emailed: “Yesterday was a red-letter day, thanks to Microsoft Flight Simulator. I finally landed on Saba (shortest commercial runway in the world at 400 meters) without hitting the rocks on approach (too low) or failing to stop before running off into the Caribbean (too high). Now I’m off to Paro (most dangerous landing in the world). Wish me luck.” Joe Wishcamper had a courtside seat in the Boston Garden for one of the Celtics playoff games against the Orlando Magic. Joe is having shoulder replacement in May to get his casting arm back. Dana  and Dick Niglio are “doubling-up on Yale reunions by attending the 1965 60th reunion in May. Martin Padley reported: “Melissa and I had lunch or dinner in January with four classmates and their respective partners/wives: Jim Cohen, Peter Rice, Toby Hubbard, and Tony Lee (in a yurt), and played golf in Florida with Larry Capodilupo in March. Larry arrived in his new Corvette. Vroom, vroom. It was admirable that he could actually get in and out without assistance. Am not sure I could.”

We have already highlighted classmate publications in the Events section above. Don Van Doren has scheduled a Zoom event for Gus Speth to discuss his poetry, Let Your Tears Water the Earth (2024) and A Beach as Long as Life (2023). Later in 2025, Don has scheduled another Authors Zoom event for Stephen Greenblatt to discuss his upcoming book about Christopher Marlowe, Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times  and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival. Ed Ranney has also published a new book The Huacas: Rock Shrines  and Ritual Landscapes of the Incas, with his stunning photography.

Classmate bloggers continue to be active in 2025; you can read their work on our Class website in Publications/Bloggers. Check out these recent posts by Chas Freeman: “Democracy Failing”; “Democracy at an Impasse”; “Middle East Erupts”. Syd Lea: “Sydney’s Newsletter.” Syd wrote: “Two new poems will appear in a new and selected collection, due in May 2026; my essay will be in The Things That Remain, a new collection.” Ron Parlato: “Uncle Guido’s Facts.” Ron posted in May, “The Pope, The Ayatollah, And Donald Trump — The President's New Gambit For World Power.”Jim Rogers, “Jim Rogers Talks Markets” “We Are Heading into the Worst Recession of My Lifetime.” Ron Sipherd: “Ronksville.” Ron emailed: “Since I probably won't take any more photos in the next three hours, I compiled my first-quarter 2025 favorites and uploaded them to this album. Not a bad haul for a cold wet winter IMHO.” Gus Speth: “On the Eve of Success: An Octogenarian Views the World.” Russell Sunshine: “Agile Aging.” Russell’s most recent post is, “Reviving an American Classic.”John Wylie: “Why We Became Human.” John emailed: “For those of you on Facebook, I’ve posted a short reflection on a major ancient-DNA study — led in part by a Yale anthropologist — that suggests the evolutionary roots of what we might call liberal instincts. I mentioned this some time ago but, given the times, I thought maybe some of you could use a little Yale-science-backed philosophical support.”

Bill Shields emailed me about a book he had recently read, Puritan Protagonist: President Thomas Clap of Yale College, by Louis Leonard Tucker (whom Bill knew before Tucker died in 2024). It provides a detailed and fascinating history of Yale’s first president. Bill summarized: “The new Charter reconstituted Yale as an ‘incorporate society’ in perpetuity with attendant benefits, including a roster of home-rule-type provisions. There was established a presidency, and president and fellows were given joint executive authority. Clap, Yale's Rector for five years, became the first president. Almost twenty years later Clap went to the legislature to fend off an attempt to have that body intervene in College affairs. From the telling, it sounds like a one-man filibuster and brilliant advocacy. The legislature refused to take any action and Clap returned to New Haven having successfully retained Yale's independence. Despite his diligence, Clap was regularly trashed by students who often resorted to much more than the simple ‘disorder’ mentioned above. Clap's house was damaged, and all the windows were broken by rowdy undergraduates. Commencement ceremonies were a particular touchstone of violence often calling for police intervention. Clap was abhorred by others who chafed under his strict administration. He stepped aside under pressure in 1766 after twenty-six years at the helm. Thomas Clap is buried in Grove Street Cemetery with his wife. Two simple horizontal slabs mark the graves. When last I went, there were no special markings, no plaque, no honors. Thomas Clap is and has been a virtual unknown to the Yale community.” Tony Lavely replied: “Bill, this makes today’s back-benching and sniping look like child’s play.”

Regrettably, I share the news of the death of five classmates since the previous issue. Bob Stilson died on July 20, 2024, in Southport CT. Jon Wallman emailed: “I haven't done a very good job of keeping up with my friends from Yale. I think the last time I saw Bob Stilson, who was one of my roommates in Davenport senior year, was, I believe, at our 50th reunion. I looked him up today and found that he had died on July 17, 2024. It was not a great shock, as his previous Christmas letter had reported that he was in poor health. One of the most impressive things about his life after Yale is that Bob took every course available at Fairfield University, with the exception of advanced math and physics courses, as a participant in their Lifelong Learning Program.” Mark “Sandy” Wightman died on November 9, 2024, in Santa Fe, NM. Sandy attended Hotchkiss and was a member of Trumbull College. Tom Barry died on November 27, 2024, in Briarcliff Manor, NY. Ron Scibilia notified us of his death, and we located an obituary. At Yale, Tom was in Morse College. Ron added: “After Yale College, Tom went on to get a PhD in Classics at Yale. I visited him at his home in Amherst, NY. We got back in touch when he moved to Florida late in life.” Lee Wilson died on February 14, 2025, in Santa Fe, NM. Lee’s wife Danielle emailed us in March. Lee was a member of Pierson College and became a professional geologist. We have included his 60th reunion essay on his In Memoriam page. Doane Perry died on April 7, 2025, in Pittsfield MA. We were notified by his wife Karen Carmean and his son, Curt Perry. Doane was in Morse College and later attended the London School of Economics. Doane was on the Boston-area Zoom call only weeks before his death and took great joy in staying connected with classmates. Karen (who continues to be active in “Art in the Berkshires”) emailed: “We are having a celebration of Doane’s life in the Quaker tradition on Sunday May 18, here at Kimball Farms in Lenox, and another at Friends Meeting in Cambridge on Saturday September 20. Please contact Tony Lavely or Sam Francis if you would like to add a remembrance for any of these men on our Class Website/In Memoriam. Please contact Ted Jones if you would like to donate a Mory’s Memorial Brick in their name.