Class Notes

July/August 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?

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the USA, I’m reminded of other festive celebrations, including the 200th anniversary in 1976, when we were just twelve years out of Yale. Did any of you imagine where we’d be this year? Looking forward, remember we have our 65th Class Reunion coming up in 2029, just three years from now. If you’d like to be on the Reunion Planning Committee and help shape the programing, please let co-chair Sam Francis or me know.

In more recent days, I hope you were able to attend the 1964 Zoom call with Ralph DeFronzo on March 19, when he spoke about the “Treatment of Diabetes and Obesity,” with Frank Franklin moderating. If you missed the session, you can find the full video online on our Class Website/News. There will be another Zoom event on June 18 (shortly before this issue appears in the Yale Alumni Magazine) with Chas Freeman speaking about, “The World in Turmoil — What’s Next?” Ward Wickwire will moderate that timely session, and the video will be posted on our Class Website shortly thereafter.

Ted Jones has scheduled the Spring Class golf outing for June 3 and 4. It will be the first outing on the restored Yale Course since 2023. Ted invited the family members of Don Edwards — daughter Jenny and grandson Charlie — to the group meal at Mory’s on June 3.

The Yale Bulldogs have scheduled ten games this fall (three non-Ivies) with The Game against Harvard in Fenway Park. Let me know if you would like to join a 1964 mini-reunion in Boston that weekend. Given the ominous signs during Coach Tony Reno’s resignation last year, we were deeply saddened but not shocked to hear the news of his diagnosis in April with a fatal brain disease. Please keep our honorary classmate and his family in your thoughts at this difficult time.

It saddens me to report the death of eleven classmates since our previous issue. This is the greatest number of deaths reported in any issue, though somewhat inflated due to the timing of reports. Jon Wood died on February 23, 2021 in San Antonio, though we were notified only recently. He was a prominent public utilities lawyer and an ardent believer in the value of the arts. He was survived by his wife Connie. Sam Farrington died on October 23, 2025 in Claremont NH, an area he loved and hiked for many years. Sam had also served as Clerk of the Superior Court in the area. He was survived by his wife Debbie. Bruce Scherling died on December 13, 2025 in Somers NY. He was a lawyer who had a lifetime love of literature and philosophy. Chuck Mokriski died on December 20, 2025 in NYC. In his senior year, Chuck was a member of Book and Snake. In later years, he established a permanent scholarship for a Yale undergraduate. John Heinz died January 4, 2026 in Los Angeles. He had a distinguished career in technology and engineering and was an avid aviator himself. He was survived by his wife Maureen. Klaus Boese died on January 28, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Klaus was only with us for senior year having transferred from Germany. He had a distinguished career in international finance. His wife Janet survived him. Peter Hutchings died on February 25, 2026 in NYC. Peter was a respected leader in the healthcare industry. He was survived by his wife of 43 years, Martha Wolfgang. Travis Meredith died March 27, 2026 in Fort Myers, FL. Travis devoted his career to academic medicine, holding positions at several institutions including Emory Medical School and Washington University. He was survived by his wife Karen. Dick Howe died on March 29, 2026, in Morristown NJ. In addition to a successful career as a corporate attorney, Dick had another life as a musician. He was survived by his wife Liz. Paul McAlenney died on April 16, 2026 in Simsbury CT. He was coxswain for the Yale heavyweight crew as an undergraduate. After graduating in 1964, Paul attended Yale Law School and practiced corporate law in Hartford for 44 years. He was survived by his wife Debra. Don Edwards died on April 27, 2026 in New Haven CT. Even in in his last year, Don was an active and dedicated member of our Class Council. I know it was the thrill of a lifetime for him to see his grandson Charlie ’26 give his report to our Class Council last February as a summer intern for Urban Resources Initiative (URI). I cannot possibly do justice to the productive and beneficial lives these men lived in the limited space offered in YAM. So, please go to In Memoriam on our Website where you can read more about their well-lived lives and families. If you know any of the families, please contact them to remember their departed loved one. Memories are never more important than at a time like this. And please consider donating a Mory’s Memorial Brick in their names (contact Ted Jones to donate).