Class Notes

November/December 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. 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?

For reasons that are evident, I’ve asked Pete Putzel to write the lead for this column: “I am delighted to share the news that, in a November ceremony in New Haven, the Yale Alumni Association will confer the Yale Medal — its highest honor — upon Tony Lavely. In announcing this news, the YAA particularly cited what we have all experienced for many years: Tony’s ‘seemingly endless supply of energy’ in creating ‘thoughtful, congenial’ connections both as our Class Secretary and within the broader Yale community. Tony joins Chris Getman (1999), Terry Holcombe (2011), and Len Baker (2013) as our fourth classmate to receive this prestigious honor. The Yale Medal has been conferred only 370 times since it was established over 75 years ago. Together these four classmates constitute a veritable Mt. Rushmore of the Class of 1964. On behalf of the entire class, I warmly congratulate Tony for this richly deserved recognition.”

Thank you, Pete and fellow classmates. No matter what I have done for Yale over the years, it pales by comparison to what Yale has done for me since 1960. I’m overflowing with gratitude. Anne and Pete will be joining Nancy and me and my family at the Medal dinner, along with Bobbie and Sam Francis, Dana and Dick Niglio, Stan Thomas’ son, Chip, Ralph Jones, Ward Wickwire, plus members of the Yale Club of Boston, the Yale Club of Chicago, and the Yale Club of Minnesota.

Now, back to my duties. In addition to our regular regional classmate gatherings at Mory’s (Ralph Jones), in the Bay area (Owen O’Donnell) and Boston area (Jerry Flannelly), I’m pleased to report that Tom Susman has volunteered to convene classmates in the Washington D.C. area. And Don Van Doren is organizing a classmate luncheon in New Mexico during Tony Lavely’s visit there in early October.

Our series of all-classmates Zoom events will continue with two sessions in the fourth quarter. Joe Wishcamper has organized a session for October 15 with Dick Berk exploring the theme “AI, Criminal Justice, and the Land of the Free,” moderated by Tom Barnard. Don Van Doren is organizing a second session on December 3 with John Wylie presenting in our ’64 Authors series, “The War Mind and the Wink: How Healthy Human Needs Have Been Tribalized for Conflict.” Gus Speth will moderate that session.

Ted Jones reports that 16 classmates and friends will gather at the refurbished Yale Golf Course for the fall golf outing on Wednesday, September 23, followed by dinner at Mory’s.

In light of the vitality of our class activities, it saddens me to report the loss of seven classmates since the previous issue. Gordon Davis died on May 19, 2026, in Santa Fe, NM of cardiac complications. Gordon was a distinguished lawyer and civic leader especially for marginalized people and international advocacy. He is survived by his wife Melissa and their three children. Keith Huffman died on July 3, 2026, in Great Falls, VA. A Whiffenpoof at Yale, Keith went on to Yale Law School and a distinguished international legal career. Keith is survived by his wife Christine and their two children. Tom Rowe died on July 11, 2026, at his home in Marina del Rey, CA. After Yale, Tom attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and Harvard Law School. Tom had both a distinguished legal career and an academic career on both coasts. Tom is survived by his wife Susan French. Doug Hershey died unexpectedly on July 18, 2026, in Sacramento, CA after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. After Yale, he attended Cornell Medical School and became a highly recognized expert in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Prenatal Care. Doug is survived by his wife Jane Bronwyn Bateman and their twin sons. Bill Chandler died on July 18, 2026, in Louisville, KY where he had been a lifelong resident. After serving in the US Navy, Bill became an investment banker. Bill is survived by his wife Betsy Opper and their son and daughter. Tim White died on July 20, 2026, in Mirror Lake, NH. Tim was an avid airplane pilot and an adventurer in the air and on the water. At Yale, Tim was a member of the Bachelor’s singing group and later got his MBA at the University of Chicago. His business career spanned from musical instruments to newspaper publishing. Tim is survived by his wife Sally Ann White and their son and daughter. Ted Wagner died peacefully on August 2, 2026, in Wyckoff, NJ. After serving in the US Army, Ted attended Yale Law School and became an estates and trusts attorney. In recent years, Ted served on our Class Council and also organized classmate luncheons at the Yale Club of NYC. Ted is survived by his wife Eileen. Please read the obituaries of these men on our Class Website and consider writing a remembrance and donating a Mory’s memorial brick.