Class Notes

May/June 2026

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. These are the same class notes that are 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?

The major activity of our Class in recent months (January-February 2026) was our annual Class Council meeting on February 14, 2026. As we have done in recent years, the 1964 Class Council convened in New Haven on a February weekend to conduct the business of the Class and socialize on two adjacent evenings.

It was a clear sign of the dedication and stamina of your Class Council that 33 out of 36 members attended the meeting; 23 attended in person, and 10 attended via Zoom. Ten classmates brought spouses/guests for portions of the meeting and social events (including Valentine’s Day festivities), and we welcomed nine outside guests, primarily students, for portions of the meeting.

After Tony Lavely called the meeting to order, Don Edwards led us in a moment of remembrance for the twenty classmates who passed away since our meeting in 2025, notably class leaders Bob Bulkeley and David Sherman (our very first Class Secretary). Then, we introduced our devoted YAA staff members Alison “AC” Cole, Heather Corbett, and Krystal Augustine, without whom the meeting couldn’t occur.

Class Treasurer Chip Brennan reported on our Class Treasury for 2025-26. Despite the inevitable decline in membership, revenue from 33% of classmates who have paid Class Dues has generated an acceptable Treasury balance. Please consider paying the modest $100 dues if you have overlooked it. Importantly, dues payments should not be confused with Yale Alumni Fund giving. Ward Wickwire, Chair of YAF Agents, reported that through the first half of the fiscal year, we have achieved 91% of our participation goal, which is commendable. Ralph Jones, our YAA Class Delegate, reported on the November 2025 Assembly, which focused on the Yale budget and the impact of declining Federal support. Ralph’s excellent report is posted on our Class Website/News. Ted Jones updated the Council on the Mory’s Memorial Bricks initiative, where 351 have been honored, with ten recently departed classmates still waiting to be honored. Ted’s full report is on our Class Website/In Memoriam. Notably, Jon McBride told us that he organized a fund which will donate Memorial Bricks for all 1964 Whiffenpoofs.

Although we are still 3½ years from our 65th Class Reunion in May 2029 (our penultimate reunion), the Council initiated planning at this meeting by appointing Tony Lavely and Sam Francis as co-chairs of the reunion. Our Reunion HQ will be a dedicated (i.e., not shared) space in Jonathan Edwards College. If you are interesting/willing to serve on the Reunion Planning Committee, please contact Tony or Sam. Be assured that if you don’t, they will be contacting you! As in previous years, surviving spouses will be invited as guests of the Class, with all reunion fees waived (thanks to Jim Rogers). As he did for our 2024 Reunion, Joe Wishcamper agreed to lead a supplementary fund-raising effort to reduce total costs and provide a financial aid contingency as needed.

Ted Jones reported plans for the 2026 Spring golf outing which will return to the majorly renovated Course at Yale in June 2026. Don Van Doren reported on 1964 Classmate Authors Zoom events planned for 2026. Next up is Chas Freeman in June 2026. In Joe Wishcamper’s absence (Brazil), Don also reported on the topical Zoom event planned for March 2026, in which Ralph DeFronzo will share his renowned expertise on diabetes and obesity. Monthly regional Classmates Zoom calls will continue throughout the year in the Boston area (Jerry Flannelly), the Bay-area (Owen O’Donnell) and the NYC area (Pete Putzel). Ralph Jones will continue to convene classmates for lunch at Mory’s on the first Wednesday of each month.

On Saturday afternoon, we continued our tradition of inviting two organizations (for which we provide stipends) to give updates on their stellar work in the New Haven community. Urban Resources Initiatives (URI), under the direction of Colleen Murphy-Dunning at Yale School of the Environment, introduced their 2025 Summer Intern Charlie Edwards (coincidently the grandson of Don Edwards) who gave an impressive video report. Also joining us were Hilary Getman Pearson and her husband Erik who serves as Board President of URI. Pete Putzel is our liaison with URI. Next was another uplifting report from Julie Greenwood at Squash Haven who was joined by several of their Board members to personalize the stellar success of this organization. Jon McBride is our liaison with Squash Haven.

For the final session of the meeting, Tony Lavely introduced five members of Yale Football Team #152, Ivy League Champions and the first Yale football team to advance to postseason NCAA play since 1945. At the end of their animated discussions, Tony Lavely read and presented a Council Resolution to Coach Tony Reno, our Honorary Classmate, which his son Dante promised to hand-deliver that same weekend. It was only a few days later that we learned Coach Reno announced his retirement for health reasons … a bittersweet postscript.