by
Barrie
Rich
March 2007 Issue <<
Previous
by
Barrie
Rich
The
Washington
,
D.C.
, mini-reunion plans for November 1-4 have gotten off to a good start,
with some 200 indicating that they plan to attend. Hotel space is
limited, so if you have not booked yet it is recommended that you do so
now. We look forward to seeing you in November. Ken McDonald, who
is co-head of the mini, reports that last August he attended the
International Congress on Military History at
Potsdam
,
Germany
. Then in September he lectured at a conference, "Spies, Lies and
Intelligence," at
Christ
Church
,
Oxford
.
Except for the game itself, the
Princeton
mini-reunion was a great success. More than 60 filled the class skybox
and we were entertained twice by the 1954 Whiffenpoofs consisting of Meacham,
Russel, McLean, Coughlan, Peay, Thornton,
Monde, Hiers, Gregory, Ravenscroft,
Clifford, Franciscus, and Burger. They will entertain us
again in
Washington
.
Charles Johnson and Nicholas Brady '52 have
provided a generous gift to Yale to fund the teaching and research of an
expanded Grand Strategy program for 15 years. It will be called the
Brady-Johnson program in Grand Strategy. Gerald Grinstein, chief
executive of Delta Airlines, continues battling to keep the company
going and avoid a takeover bid. A nice note from Sandy Muir
reports that, along with Vera and John Franciscus and
Sandra and James (Buddy) Thompson, he and Pauli
summered in Harbor Springs in northern
Michigan
. Apparently John wrote books and played tennis and golf. Buddy ran a
business and flew airplanes, while
Sandy
sailed and taught Machiavelli at the local Chautauqua.
Bob Zimmerman writes that last spring he met and
courted Darrellene Shield of
Holland
,
Michigan
, and
Fort Worth
,
Texas
. After a whirlwind three-month courtship they were wed on May 23. They
now live in South Haven,
Michigan
, and
Naples
,
Florida
. He reports that they are both widowed after long and happy marriages
and look forward to many happy years together. Good luck to you both. Allan
Rabinowitz and Leah attended the launch of the "Yale
Tomorrow" campaign on September 30. He says it was an inspirational
day starting with breakfast at the new
Rose
Center
and ending with a formal dinner at Commons at which President Levin made
a convincing case to support the campaign. "The entire day was
extremely well planned and made a convincing case to help Yale be
prepared for tomorrow."
Tom McLean decided that for their 50th wedding
anniversary he and Judith should do something special. So they took
their three children and seven grandchildren (ages 18 to 2-1/2) to
Tuscany where they rented a magnificent villa with a lovely garden and
pool for two weeks in San Giovanni d'Asso, about 30 kilometers southeast
of Sienna. They had a great time. A report from Harry Adams says
that things are "a bit tight" out there on the
Kansas
prairies. He hears that things are better in the
Washington
area. Sorry to hear that. Lewis James writes that he is still
working as a pathologist in the
UMass
Memorial
Hospital
system, but is seriously thinking about retirement. He took the entire
family to
Tuscany
for a month in April with headquarters at a villa outside Pistoria.
"A magnificent month!"
A nice note from Tom Briggs says his
grandchildren now total six. He ran five marathons in 2006, including an
unforgettable 26.2 miles through a game preserve in
Kenya
. More power to you, Tom. Charles Drummey writes that he is still
working full-time in
Ellington
,
Connecticut
, doing estate planning and estate and trust administration. This gives
him so much pleasure and satisfaction that he plans to continue
indefinitely. Rod Wood writes from
Charlotte
,
North Carolina
, that he now has nine grandchildren, five of whom are living close by.
He is still active in SCORE and working on his golf. He hopes to join us
in
Washington
. David Foerster continues his private practice full-time in
plastic surgery but has brought in a younger surgeon and plans to turn
over the practice to him this year. He and Barbara have an antique
business and will work some time there.
After 16 years and about 24,000 miles, Dan Swisher
and Senta finally decided to part company with their trawler Sun
Dance. They sailed from
Puerto Vallarta
,
Mexico
, where they live, up to
California
where it was sold. The trip was smooth and they are now boatless for the
first time in 20 years.
Sadly, there are two deaths to report. Robert
Gillette died last summer in
Oakham
,
Massachusetts
, of lung cancer. Bob worked for many years in the steam-generating
business. He loved his horses and enjoyed traveling. He is survived by
his wife, Ann, and three children. Dr. Richard J. Sylvester died
in
Dayton
,
Ohio
, on December 16. Dick received a master's degree in civil engineering
from Yale and a PhD in engineering and applied science from the
University
of
Colorado
. He practiced engineering with the U.S. Air Force and Mitre Corporation
in
Boston
for more than 40 years. He is survived by his wife, Helen Louise, three
sons, and two daughters.
Contact:
Barrie
Rich
4522 Woodmere Rd.
Tampa, FL 33609
gaiusiv@aol.com
|
|
Email Barrie Rich
by
Barrie
Rich
By now all classmates should have received the final
formal sign-up letter for our mini-reunion in
Washington
,
D.C.
, November 1-4. Hopefully everyone who plans to attend has confirmed
hotel reservations.
A detailed update letter has just been received from the
Wild
Center
in
Tupper Lake
,
New York
, signed by Obbie Clifford, founder and chairman. The center
opened last July and so far has had 80,000 visitors from 50 states.
Their goal is "to inspire a broad public understanding of the
natural systems that shape and sustain the
Adirondacks
." Visitors see the museum as presenting science that is clearly
representative of issues germane to the
Adirondacks
. Basically it is like taking a walk through the woods, but this time
you know what you are looking at. Russ Reynolds and Carl Shedd
are on the advisory board. Anyone going near the
Adirondacks
this summer is urged to see this wonderful outdoor museum.
John Franciscus writes that after 45 years
dealing in real estate in Puerto Rico, he is shifting his efforts to
timber nursery in
Canada
at
Echo
Lake
, ten miles east of Sault Ste. Marie, with a base camp in Harbor
Springs. His new book came out in December, The Last Frontier: Puerto
Rico and the
Caribbean
.
Steve Kumble has announced his marriage to Angela
Marie Giguere on December 22 in
Palm Beach
,
Florida
. Their home base will be in
New York City
, with vacation homes in
Newport
,
Rhode Island
, and
Palm Beach
. Good luck to you both.
Sadly, there are five deaths to report. Judge Ronald
J. Fracasse died February 17 in
Connecticut
. Following Yale he attended
Boston
College
Law
School
. He then practiced law for 21 years in
New Haven
. He was appointed Superior Court judge in 1979 by the late governor
Ella Grasso. Until his recent illness he served as a trial referee. He
is survived by two daughters and a son.
Our class lost one of its best-known members on January
16 when Russel Goddard died in
New Haven
after a long battle with cancer. He sold life insurance for Aetna Life
for many years. He was a member of various Yale organizations, audited
several courses, and attended our mini football reunions regularly. His
biography was published in 2004. Russ is survived by three children, six
grandchildren, and a sister, Margery.
Tilghman Evans died on January 8 on
Bainbridge Island
,
Washington
. Following Yale he completed a three-year at Harvard and went on to
earn a master of law there as well. Like so many of our class he joined
the overseas division of Citibank for several years before branching out
into a career of investment banking and other interests. Later he earned
a PhD from the
College
of
Marine Studies
at the
University
of
Delaware
. In 1987 he was invited to Yale for five years as visiting fellow,
working on the international security program. Later, in 1992, he moved
to
Seattle
where he set up a small pharmaceutical company. He is survived by his
wife, Margaret, a daughter, and a son.
Theodorus Van Wyck Cushny of
Unionville
,
Pennsylvania
, passed away on December 29, 2006. Following Yale he obtained a law
degree at
Columbia
Law
School
. He was a president of the J. & W. Seligman Trust Company and the
U.S. Trust Company, as well as president of the National Horse Show
Association of America. Several years ago he listed himself as senior
vice president of Farrell, Kibbey and a resident of
Lexington
,
Kentucky
. He is survived by his wife, Cora, and three children.
On December 16, 2006, Dr. Richard J. Sylvester
died in
Dayton
,
Ohio
. He received a master's degree from Yale and a PhD in civil engineering
from the
University
of
Colorado
. He then devoted over 40 years to engineering and management with the
U.S. Air Force and Mitre Corporation in
Boston
. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Helen Louise, three sons, and
two daughters.
Contact:
Barrie
Rich
4522 Woodmere Rd.
Tampa, FL 33609
gaiusiv@aol.com
|
Class
Notes