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Notes: December 1998
Notes: November 1998
Notes: October 1998
Notes: July 1998
Notes: May 1998
Notes: April 1998
Notes: March 1998
Notes: February 1998
Notes: December 1998
Well, another football season is upon us and as these notes are
written we just lost our ninth straight "contest" to Dartmouth, in
spite of a great effort by Don Walker Scholarship Fund recipient Ken
Marshner. As we wait for change, maybe we should change the name of
the Yale Bowl to Ebbetts Field.
To those of you who sent news with your dues, thank you! There are
no guidelines on content (news of grandchildren, medical thrills,
retirement, travel, thoughts, are all welcome), but we are always glad
to hear from us. If you're not a regular correspondent to Class Notes,
give it a shot -- you will be published.
Tim Childs writes, "Hope and I and Sally and Allen
Wardwell had a great visit to Barcelona and Catalan environs in
May. Later in the summer, I had the misfortune to suffer two
'breathing attacks' (the medic called 'em 'exacerbating of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease'), and in consequence, I am now hooked
up to an oxygen machine, or cylinder. This is likely to complicate my
fondness for foreign travel, but perhaps I can figure out a way. ... I
am paying for 45 years of enthusiastic smoking! I have no one to blame
but myself!" Tim was hospitalized briefly with pneumonia, but at last
report is on the mend.
Hugh Thompson says that retirement is exciting, that he had
a pacemaker installed in June, and that son Hugh IV was married in
July, Stephanie married in August, and then he "huffed and puffed up
the Grand Teton." Tim Childs, take note. Intriguing note from Keith
McEligot: "Knocking wood, everything chugging along okay. Enjoy
being a semi-retired 'shore rat' on the New Jersey coast. (Your tax
dollars have enabled the Corps of Engineers to restore our beaches.)
My years of watching L.A. Law, Law & Order, and now The Practice have
equipped me to be an effective expert witness for my forensics
engineering business. ..."
Eddie Robinson has retired from the practice of medicine
(July 1998) and is enjoying it. He is spending a lot of his time
sportfishing or exploring with a new computer.
Bob Rhoads has two grandnephews who are Yale material
(unbiased opinion of guess who). Dick Massey's son Steve (after
a late start) has had a second child, Katherine, raising Dick's total
grandchild total to four. Anthropologists tell us that our strategies,
whether in primitive or advanced societies, are directed toward
maximizing our number of "successful" grandchildren. I wonder who the
big winners in our class are; please send nominations.
Ken Sharp went to a federal judge's seminar at the Elkhorn
Ranch in Montana where he ran into the owner, Dwight Minton '59. Ken
subsequently attended the wedding of Sandy Clark's daughter.
Let's hear about that directly from Sandy.
"Sandy and Marcia Clark's daughter Jennifer was
married on October 10 to Michael O'Driscoll in Lisdoonvarne, County
Clare, Ireland. The festivities were grand and in the midst of them
were Ken and Mary Sharp and Dave and Gail
Bowman. Sharp established himself with a red Irish wig and his
adjustable golf club allowing him to play 18 holes with a single club.
Bowman distinguished himself by braving the Irish elements and lending
an air of amusement. It should be noted that none of the Yale '57
group did much Irish dancing."
John Leinenweber has been pressed into service as a teaching
fellow at the Yale Divinity School. He recently led discussions of his
new (last May) book, St. Gregory the Great, Pastoral Practice. (St.
Gregory was a 6th-century pope who converted England among other
things, and numbered among his better hires, Augustine.)
A new voice heard from this month is Charles Gold's: "I am
continuing my active consulting practice in international technologies
management. Have accepted the vice presidency of the International
Software Benchmarking Standards Group, an industry association trying
to improve software practices through the collection and maintenance
of a database of software practice data."
I received a cryptic note from our illustrious AYA representative,
Bill Ellis: "If it's not in the Encyclopedia Britannica -- 1910
edition -- I don't want to know it."
I can't quite end on that progressive note. There is a special
gathering in New Haven this weekend (October 23), to celebrate 100
years of Yale swimming. I know that Don Miller and others will
be involved and will expect to gather some highlights for next month's
notes.
—Ellsworth Davis
Notes: November 1998
On September 14, I spent five enjoyable hours with Don
Roberts and representatives of other classes at the Yale Club in
New York, hearing from Rick Levin and others about various happenings
at Yale. It was a pleasure listening to a president everyone feels
good about and not hearing the M-word once.
The University's financial situation is good, thanks to good
markets and tremendous alum generosity, as well as good management. On
the last point, it is worth noting that Yale's costs were up less than
3 percent in the most recent fiscal year, the only Ivy university to
make this number. We have made some "great hires," including full
professors of economics, English and psychology, and a distinguished
theologian, Miroslav Wolf, author of Exclusion and Embrace. We have
four new deans (out of 12 schools), including Gus Speth '64, '69LLB,
who will head the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
starting in July 1999. Speth is founder of the World Resource Council
and administrator of The U.N. Development Programme. Rick Levin is
clearly positioning himself as a high-level recruiter in his post-Yale
career.
Opportunities for community service in New Haven are considered an
attraction for potential Yale undergraduates these days, so being in
the city is not considered the drawback it was painted to be a few
years ago. I left the meetings on September 14 feeling more confident
about Yale's future than ever before. (Even if the stock market is not
quite as productive in the future as it has been.)
Don Roberts tells me that the Don Walker Fund (started up
after the 25th Reunion) is now around $850,000 and on current
assumptions is supporting about two and one-half scholarships a year.
Thanks to all participants!
Bill Cuddy and spouse Vivian hosted a meeting of the
Wilderness Society which I had the pleasure of attending. A number of
distinguished environmentalists were present and I came away with the
feeling that there are fewer higher callings than protecting our earth
for future generations.
Gil Merritt reports that he and Robin went on the Yale tour
"Historic Cities of the Sea" (from Venice to Arles), and had a
wonderful time. "Scully, now almost 80, was charming, frank, and open,
amazingly youthful, still one of the country's most expressive,
exuberant history of art teachers."
Some of you will be pleased to know that President Levin spoke
positively about the idea of having a successful football team! He
mentioned that we had transfers from Stanford and the Air Force
Academy who were fine players. We started the season with a squeaker
over Brown, a modest but positive start. Also, the Old Campus has been
"redone" and is apparently worth visiting. (According to our
President, sidewalks actually go where people go!)
It's not too late to join Hockstader's trip to China. Also, come to
the Princeton game and Mongillo's party!
I'm happy to say I have no special health or mortality reports this
month, and little other news. Spy on your classmates! Send me news!
Tell us what you're doing and thinking about. I'll even record
grandchildren news! (Maybe.) I'm increasingly impressed by how much we
care for each other. Keep me posted on news, big and small.
—Ellsworth Davis
Notes: October 1998
Summer in the Northeast was terrific for outdoor activities, which
is another way of saying we didn't get enough rain. On the other hand,
I hope the boisterous flooding by the Yangtze River, on the other side
of the world, will not mean any disruption for the Class of '57
planned junket to China. Alan Hockstader -- our travel Mandarin
-- tells me that the following classmates have signed up for the April
20-May 6, 1999, trip: Steve Hopkins, Lyman Drake, Steve Colgate,
Dick Crisler, Joel Sharp, Ken Sharp, George Hutchinson, Allen
Thompson, George Atkenson, Rod Correll, Read Charlton, Bill Sheffield,
Frank Kimball, Arthur Nassau, Alan Hockstader, Bill Wrean, and
Seib Adams.
One morning in late July I was listening to public radio, and there
was (surprise) Bud Trilllin. There were technical difficulties
getting the interview going -- from Trillin's summer haunt in Nova
Scotia -- but a discussion about Family Man, Bud's 20th and most
recent book, ensued. Without going into a rerun of the interview, I
will report Trillin's comment on his summer habitat. "My friends in
New York think Nova Scotia is either salmon or Newfoundland." Many
more zingers were reported in a luncheon interview with Mel Gussow in
The New York Times on August 8, 1998; one example: "I would like the
only martini ordered here this afternoon." Two other media spottings:
Bill Bogert in A Perfect Murder; he plays a finance
secretary in the UN who provides critical information to Gwyneth
Paltrow. (Bill was quite impressive, and I understand Tom Quirk
had a role in editing the script.) Also, Dick Arnold was on
CSPAN in a discussion on "Judiciary Independence." Dick was brilliant
and charming, as usual.
Howie Gillis continues to progress toward good health, and
to show off his recovered youth he and Edwina hosted a dinner in late
July for various classmates and wives, etc. In attendance: Sandy
Clark, Dave Bowman, Peter Fritzsche, Tom Quirk, Alan Hockstader, Nancy
Mongillo, Tony Hogan, Bern Kosto, Gillis, and myself. Tony
Hogan, lifetime Greenwich resident, has moved to Branford,
Connecticut, to be nearer his New Haven grandchildren. We had not seen
the Hogans in a long time, and we had a great reunion. Kosto was
suffering from writer's cramp after a long day of writing Viagra
prescriptions, but was otherwise in good spirits.
For your calendar: Nancy Mongillo invites all classmates to a party
after the Princeton football game, continuing a tradition she and
Frank and the family established several years ago. Also, the
ever-resourceful Bern Kosto has made early arrangements for a
class get-together in connection with the Yale-Cornell hockey game on
Saturday, January 3, 1999. Details at a later date. Don Roberts
saw Brayton Wilbur on a recent trip to California and reports
that Brayton returned to San Francisco after Yale and now lives in the
house he grew up in! He and Judith have been married for 35 years and
they have four children, two of whom have joined the family business
which Brayton took over when his father died in the 1960s. Brayton's
is typical of the nomadic, footloose-and-fancy-free lifestyle we
associate with California.
Don had a telephone visit with freshman-year roommate, Phil
Derby. After Yale, Phil also returned to his roots, Hawaii, after
army service in Japan. He majored in Japanese studies at Yale and has
spent most of his adult life teaching. Currently he is teaching
English as a second language to Japanese college students in Hawaii.
One of his two children was in the Yale Class of 1988. Phil reports
1957 classmates in Hawaii: Andy Poepoe, Dick Simons, and
John Sommerville. Phil welcomes visits from classmates coming
to Honolulu.
We received a nice note from Teresa Mithen, director, Dwight Hall
Summer Internship, thanking the Class of '57 for $6,000 support we
provided for the internship program. This program enables Yale
students to continue their commitment to public service and social
justice during the summer months. Our gift supports two interns in
this excellent program. Frank Mongillo was behind the class
involvement in this program, and we are continuing support in his
memory.
The Hillier Group (architects, designers, and more) announced three
promotions, including our Whiff pitch pipe, Carl Myrus. He has
been named studio principal, and oversees the quality of design for
projects and serves as project designer for selected projects. Glad to
see that Carl is still pitching.
The Class Project is alive and well and living in various minds
waiting to spread its wings and fly. It will probably have something
to do with music and education, something to do with kids, something
to do with Yale and New Haven, and is still seeking definitive form.
Malcolm Mitchell's creative spirit is the chief nudger, and
progress is being made.
We spent a delightful evening with Jack and Pixie
Pendergast recently and want you to know that Jack will be
happy to advise any and all classmates on ways to invest in urban
residential real estate for those not seeking gain or tranquillity.
With the stock market showing signs of fatigue, this may be a good
time for some of you to consider creative ways to convert your assets
to income, make a nice gift to Yale, and take care of your
next-generation bequests. There are a number of classmates who can
provide guidance in this respect, and Don Roberts or I can help
you get pointed in the right direction if you're interested. Yale has
a lot of expertise in this area, and several classmates have taken
advantage of opportunities to convert low-cost stock into gifts for
Yale, greater income for themselves, reduced taxes, and more.
I'm sorry to report the passing of three of our classmates.
David Sawyer, October 24, 1997, in Houston, Texas. David was at
our last reunion and will be missed at future gatherings. John
Speer II, April 24, 1998. John lived in the Netherlands with his
wife Dagmar and was a translator, Dutch/English.
I heard from George Lee that Heinz Molsen died on
July 1, 1998, after a brief illness. Heinz was a former president of
the Dallas Cotton and Commodity Exchange and board member of the New
York Cotton Exchange for 15 years. Frank Melhorn flew down from
Toledo, Ohio, for the funeral; to quote Frank: "Heinz was a delightful
guy, pure Texan, loved sports and hunting, had a great sense of humor,
and he and his wife Chris made friends and kept them." Frank was
recently elected president of the Yale Club of Toledo. George left for
Scotland shortly after the funeral, where he was humbled and
exhilarated by playing the great golf courses which are regular sites
of the British Open.
Please keep those letters and postcards coming. News about
classmates and yourself are needed and appreciated.
—Ellsworth Davis
Notes: July 1998
As there is not a lot of news ("fit to print") this month, I
thought I would write a few words about one of our classmates, Seib
Adams. Seib is dealing with an advanced case of prostate cancer
and is pretty much finished with the regimens that modern medicine has
to offer. I had lunch with Seib at Mory's recently and loved hearing
his war stories of the publishing business. If you have a young friend
or relative who wants a vocation where you can meet and work with
interesting people and stay in touch with words and ideas all your
life, make sure he/she considers publishing. Seib graduated Yale
without any resources except for a valuable degree, talent, and
desire. He "done good" and he and his spouse Ruth are enjoying their
retirement in Sharon, Connecticut. Seib is usually in his garden where
he devotedly pursues his favorite avocation. "Who loves a garden still
his Eden keeps,/ Perennial pleasures plants, and wholesome harvests
reaps." (Amos Alcott)
Seib has recently begun a regimen of an herbal medicine called
PC-SPCS, and his first "round" lowered his PSA substantially. If
anyone is interested in knowing more about this, Seib invites your
call. He can be reached at 860-364-1144. Taking the long view has kept
Seib's life full and enjoyable. He has had this illness since 1994 and
I pray he continues to enjoy his activities for a long time.
John Leinenweber has translated and edited books three and
four of Regular Pastoralis by Saint Gregory the Great. John's
book, Pastoral Practice, should be available around May 8. This
is a handbook for people who are in a position of counseling others,
particularly with an eye toward spiritual growth (could be a good
self-help handbook for all us sinners). The publisher is Trinity Press
International, P.O. Box 1321, Harrisburg, PA 17105. John sent me a
clipping from the Yale Bulletin and Calendar showing the
restored Marquand Chapel steeple, and also gave a good pitch for Yale
Divinity School as a residential institution, where "community life is
fostered." John has been at YDS since 1991, and has obviously loved
it.
I enjoyed some entertainment and dinner recently with Bill
Cuddy and spouse Vivien. The entertainment was songs from Porgy
and Bess by performers from a Connecticut opera production of P&B.
The voices were terrific and the performers attractive, serving as
reminders of the important role music plays in all our lives. We had
dinner at Chalet Ipanema, an excellent Brazilian restaurant in
Hartford. Bill has been hiking up hills with ankle weights on, as he
prepares for a trip to Peru in August and hiking at 15,000 feet. This
is the 31st country that Bill will have visited since our 1957
graduation. Not bad for a private-sector lawyer from Connecticut.
Don Roberts sends in this report from AYA spring assembly:
"Present from the class were class delegate Bill Ellis, Bill
Fleming from Omaha, and me. The assembly theme was 'Yale as a
Community,' but rather than attempting to summarize the proceedings,
here are specifics which interested me: For years about 15 percent of
Yale undergraduates lived off campus; this figure rose to 19 percent
in the 1980s. The number now is 13 percent, which is pleasing to the
University and probably stems from better housing, better food
available during more hours, and other efforts by Yale.
"Five years ago Yale received about $2 million a year in royalty
income; this year the total is $30 million, largely related to the
biomedical field. The Class of 2002 will be 50-50 male/female; 56
percent from public schools; 42 percent will receive student aid from
Yale, with an average grant of $13,000; six to seven percent will come
from non-North American countries, up from two to three percent five
years ago; sons/daughters of Yale graduates were admitted at greater
than twice the rate for non-Yale children; 80 percent of the 'targets'
of Yale athletic coaches will come to Yale. ... On a different
subject, your secretary is pleased to report he completed his 23rd
Boston Marathon in four hours and 13 minutes, a rather sedate pace of
nine minutes and 40 seconds to the mile."
The class has organized a 17-day luxury trip to China exclusively
for class members, from April 20 to May 6, 1999. The cost is expected
to be $2840 per person, not including airfare. Space will be limited
to 60 people (including spouses), so sign up now! For any
questions, contact Alan Hockstader at (203)324-4844(w) or
(914)761-3488(h), or email him at abbih@aol.com.
Please send news about yourself and other classmates, and ideas for
the class project, to me, Don Roberts, or Malcolm
Mitchell.
—Ellsworth Davis
Notes: May 1998
The annual class dinner took place at the Yale Club in New York
City on March 19, and it was one of impresario Sandy Clark's
grade-A efforts. There was drinking before dinner and then an
excellent dinner (menu chosen by Gale Kosto -- terrific), followed by
speakers and one song.
Following a presentation to a meeting of the class council,
Malcolm Mitchell talked about the class project at dinner and
told us that there were five issues classmates expressed concern about
more frequently than any other: campaign finances, environmental
issues, gambling, disarmament, and musical education for children.
There has been a reduction in music programs in the public schools, in
spite of evidence that it enhances academic achievement, especially in
math. A process is evolving that will enable us to pin down a project
that will hopefully involve many members of the class in different
ways, and Yale's talent and interests in different ways. I certainly
hope that's fuzzy enough to excite everyone!
Our dinner speaker was our new classmate Peter G. Kelly (Yale Law
'62), who was elected an honorary member of YC'57 (to deal with the
concern that we were having a speaker who was not a member of the
class). Peter's talk about international trade ("Make Money not War")
was far-ranging, befitting his extensive travel on behalf of private
initiatives to promote understanding and commerce between peoples of
many nations. One of Mr. Kelly's many interesting observations was
that there had never been a war between democracies. He reviewed the
growth of democracies and private enterprise throughout all the
regions of the world and left us feeling positive about future
opportunities for peace as well as economic growth. As an encore Peter
joined Carl Myrus, John Shaw, Gerry Neary, and Joe
Clayton for a rendition of "Bandeleros." Neary said the likelihood
of the four Whiffs finding a tenor (Peter Kelly) was about one in 800.
Myrus thought it more like one in three million. Anyway, they sounded
great!
The following classmates were in attendance: George Armour, Don
Bab, Hiram Bingham, Larry Bodkin, David Bowman, Toby Briggs, Frank
Brown, Tim Childs, Tom Chittenden, Dave Christianson, Sandy Clark, Joe
Clayton, Robert Corry, Jack Curlett, Ellsworth Davis, Doug Dial, Bill
Ellis, Peter Fritzsche, Charlie Grimes, John Halpern, Garson Heller,
John Herrmann, Hal Hochman, Alan Hochstader, Steve Hopkins, George
Hutchinson, Bob Joost, Charlie King, Andy Kner, Bern Kosto, Lars
Kulleseid, J. Edward Meyer, Frank Michelman, Malcolm Mitchell, Carl
Myrus, Gerry Neary, Bob Neff, Richard Newman, Robert Pegg, Tom
Perkins, Millard Prisant, Tom Quirk, Rex Robbins, Don Roberts, Reed
Rubin, Ruben Shapiro, John Shaw, Chris Sonne, Mike Sweedler, Rob
Walker, Brian Walsh, John Watling, and Peter Wolf. It was a
pleasure to see Suzy Abuza and Lynne Chapman, who made us realize our
immortality even more than our mortality.
My wife Sara was recently in Kansas City for the annual conference
of the Public Library Association, and brought back the Daily
Planet (PLA newspaper) featuring a '57 superman, Bud
Trillin. Bud was the keynote speaker for the opening general
session and highlights of his speech were feature news. Trillin
proclaimed himself "the poorest trustee of the New York Public
Library" (which could still leave you in superb fiscal condition), and
gave a reasoned and witty talk praising books, librarians, and free
speech (except for home movies). "Chip" Freeman was recently
traveling in Kenya, where he found great demand for his 40th Reunion
cap. In one village he was offered an elephant in trade (carved),
which he turned down. In the next village he put his cap down and
never saw it again. Should have made the trade, Chip.
We received a note from Larry Strasburger telling us that
"the American Psychiatric Association has announced that I have been
selected to receive the 1998 Manfred Guttmacher Award for outstanding
contribution to the forensic psychiatry literature. The award has been
given for the paper 'On wearing two hats: role conflict in serving
both as psychotherapist and expert witness,' published in the
American Journal of Psychiatry."
The Wall Street Journal carried the news that Allan
Kaplan was appointed vice chairman of Lehman Brothers, Inc. Among
other major responsibilities with his firm, Allan is chairman of the
fairness-opinion committee. We'll keep that in mind next time we need
a Solomon-like judgment.
Congratulations to Dick Massey and Roberta on the birth
(October 18, 1997) of their fourth grandchild and first-born to son
Steve and wife Melissa.
The class council met on the day of our annual dinner and more than
20 members attended. Treasurer Tom Quirk reported the class had
a cash balance of about $50,000.00, an excellent post-reunion status.
Secretary Don Roberts reported:
1. Each member of the class council was polled to be sure they
wished to be on the council and an up-to-date list of the membership
was circulated. Membership, as always, continues by self-selection and
includes classmates who are interested in Yale's activities and wish
to work on behalf of Yale or our class.
2. Thanks to Binky Davis and Howie Gillis (and Tom
Perkins for a splendid class book), our 40th Reunion was a big
success. Nearly 400 attended, including 233 classmates. The panel
discussions were very popular.
3. Other class gatherings: Unfortunately, Nancy Mongillo's
post H-Y football game reception was lightly attended. So was the game
before it. In January about 35 classmates and spouses went to a Yale
3-2 come-from-behind victory over Princeton at Ingalls Rink and then
had dinner at Woolsey Hall, all arranged by Bern Kosto. Earlier
this month Jim Banner and Steve Hopkins held their
annual and long-standing 1957 reception in Washington. It followed a
University-led program, "A Day with Yale in Washington." Forty
classmates and spouses attended the reception.
Alan Hochstader suggested a trip to China. Unlike AYA trips,
the travelers would be exclusively 1957 classmates and spouses. He
will poll the entire class, but there was plenty of interest on the
part of those at the council meeting. The trip would be about 17 days
in spring 1999.
Malcolm Mitchell spoke of a class project, a way to "give
something back." This idea first surfaced at reunion to make use of
1957's skills and increasing free time, with a goal of making a
difference. The project would culminate at our 50th Reunion. This
prompted considerable discussion. About the only ground rule
established: the project would not involve fundraising. Malcolm and
the class secretary will poll the class for direction and volunteers.
Keep those letters coming. Thanks for your help.
—Ellsworth Davis
Notes: April 1998
On January 31 the Class of '57 used the occasion of the
Yale-Princeton hockey game to hold a mini-reunion. Yale won an
exciting, if penalty-marred, game by the score of 3-2. Nineteen
classmates, plus spouses, children, and friends moved from the hockey
rink to the Woolsey Hall rotunda for cocktails and dinner under the
approving eyes of A. Whitney Griswold and other ex-presidents of Yale.
Although we have been enjoying this mid-winter get-together for a
number of years, this is the first year in several that we were not at
Fritzsche's. Ruth and Peter are now in Branford, so we were not
able to take advantage of the stunning hospitality they provided on
Prospect Street the last few years. Consider this one more effort to
say thanks for a bunch of good times.
Some of the "usual suspects" were missing from this year's
gathering, but the following were present: Chip Anderson, Don Bab,
Toby Briggs, Ellsworth Davis, Pete Flagg, Peter Fritzsche, Howie
Gillis, Dick Jones, Gus Kellogg, Bern Kosto, Ed Meyer, Mike O'Hearn,
Jack Pendergast, Don Roberts, Elliott Schiffman, Ruben Shapiro,
Jonathan Swinchatt, and Robert Walker. Thanks to Bern Kosto
for arranging this nice evening.
Some of the highlights: Mike O'Hearn, newlywed, recently
returned from an Antarctic honeymoon with bride, Sherry. I know it's
summer in Antarctica, but I suspect that Mike chose the site to
demonstrate, "I've got my love to keep me warm." I survived the
refreshments line at the hockey game with the company of Jon
Swinchatt (we missed one goal and two fights). And heard a little
about his 20-year association with the Dzogchen Community of Conway,
New Hampshire, where he has practiced a specific type of Buddhism
seeking higher values in life through "stretching" the mind. This
practice kept Jon quite sublime while we participated in the
interminable queue for drinks, etc.
We received a wonderful note from Glen Harris, which
follows: "In 1997 I elected to retire from a 40-year career with The
Phoenix, Hartford's most energetic life insurance company. Those 40
years afforded me a wonderful opportunity to witness -- and
participate in -- a remarkable transformation of the
financial-services industry. This transformation sprang from the
advent of computer technology and its subsequent swift evolution.
These decades were a great adventure, replete with fascinating
technical challenges and good folks to work with. How can the future
possibly match all this for sheer fun? That turns out not to be a
problem: Charlotte and I are enjoying our new-found freedom to come
and go as we like, while I finally have sufficient time to pursue the
study of abstract mathematics in a serious way. (I can imagine the big
grin spreading across the face of my old friend Jack Ferguson,
should he chance to read this.)"
Glen and Jon Swinchatt clearly have something special to contribute
to the Class Project. I hope they and others will get involved with
Malcolm Mitchell and other coordinators of The Project.
A note from Brian Kelly informs us of some good news for
Brian's publishing venture: "Charlottesville, Virginia -- Montpelier
Publishing of Charlottesville, owned and operated by Kelly and his
wife, Ingrid Smyer-Kelly, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a
four-book package of Montpelier's historical titles by Cumberland
House Publishers of Nashville, Tennessee." Cumberland House will
publish two of Montpelier's Best Little Stories historical titles this
year and two next year. The first in the series to appear under the
Cumberland House imprint will be Best Little Stories from the Civil
War by C. Brian Kelly, with Varina: Forgotten First Lady,
by Ingrid Smyer, in April.
Tom Perkins sent me a program from Center Stage Theater in
Baltimore for a production of Les Blancs by Lorraine Hansberry.
Rex Robbins played the role of Dr. Willy DeKoven and was quite
terrific. Rex has had a long and productive career in theater and is
now "semi-retired." He is in regular contact with Bill Bogert
and told me that Bill's mother was a dancing partner of Caesar Romero.
Now I understand why Bill is always the last one off the dance floor
at reunions.
Judge Gil Merritt is looking for a reunion cap. If anyone
has an extra one, please call him.
To those of you who sent news and views of themselves and/or other
classmates, thank you! Please think of this column whenever you hear
any news about classmates.
Looks like a good turnout expected for the class dinner on March 19
at the Yale Club in New York City. See ya.
—Ellsworth Davis
Notes: March 1998
The Class of 1957 Dinner will take place Thursday, March 19 at the
Yale Club of New York. Malcolm Mitchell will report on the
class project and our featured speaker will be Michael Jordan.
Mike is CEO of CBS, formerly Westinghouse, and will talk about changes
in American business. The Wall Street Journal carried an
article, "The New Managers, Conglomerates are Out," that featured Mike
and CBS. Whether you will be at the dinner or not, you might want to
read the article in the WSJ of December 31, 1997.
The Yale Bulletin and Calendar carried an article on the
opening of the Yale Bookstore (Barnes and Noble College Bookstores)
with a picture of the first transaction between the store and --
Sam Chauncey! Wallet in hand, Sam is cheerfully participating
in his one millionth transaction with an entity that includes "Yale"
in its name.
Those of you who are weary of the rain, sleet, and snow that are
usually featured in northern winters may want to respond to a real
estate ad in the Wall Street Journal of December 12, 1997. Rutgers
Barclay and Leslie are selling their Santa Fe residence. The
house, and three guest cottages, is located on 26 acres, seven miles
from the town plaza. I'm sure Rutgers would arrange a great deal for a
member of the Class of '57. Right.
Emil Buhler writes, "Beginning third year of semi-retirement
from stone-and-tile importing business I started 25 years ago (with
partner). I'll consult through 2000, then bow out with the company
still flourishing, God willing. All you read and hear about Miami is
true, and then some. Reports fail to mention, however, that it is
still Paradise except for the occasional hurricane. I enjoy family
spread about and around my jungle home in Coconut Grove." Sounds great
to me!
From Russell Goddard, who splits his allegiances between the
classes of 1957 and 1954, we hear, "I am extremely well. I am pleased
to report, the long warfare against an extensive history of manic
depression is virtually over. My wife and I are thrilled and we report
with joy on identical twin granddaughters who as of this writing are 5
days old, Singe and Madeline." Better twins than septuplets.
Congratulations!
Glad to hear from Robert Granger who writes, "Very sorry I
missed reunion, due to unavoidable scheduling conflict. I continue to
commute from sunny Florida to frigid Minneapolis, where I am involved
(as chairman of the board) with an interesting startup company called
Source Food Technology. Meanwhile, my stepson has transferred from
Helsinki University to Florida Atlantic in neighboring Boca Raton. He
now lives with the Grangers, much to the joy of his mother Anneli, and
yours truly."
Bern Kosto informs us, "Working hard, our group of nine
urologists merging with 18 general surgeons and specialists. 'Bigger
is better,' or at least necessary. I am first VP of Congregation Beth
Israel, with a membership of 1,500 families; that takes a lot of time.
Gale's firm, which specializes in corporate immigration, has taken in
another partner. Seth finishes law school at BC. He will clerk for a
federal magistrate in Boston. Adam and Andrea are on the faculty at
Columbia, he in medieval history and she, biostatistics." After five
years of reporting on the doings of his classmates, I'm delighted that
Bern is sharing some news about himself. We are grateful.
Here's some Yale news of interest: Among the nation's colleges,
Yale has the highest percent -- 98 -- of its freshman who return the
following year. (From the perspective of 40 years out -- Why not?)
Don Roberts writes, "The University will present ten to 12
'A Day with Yale in ...' during this school year. These are 9am-3pm
sessions, presided over by either the President or the Provost,
including talks by three faculty members and at least an hour of Q and
A. Days were held in San Francisco and Los Angeles in January, and
through Bill Hamm and David Laventhol we arranged 1957
receptions after the events."
Phil Weymouth enjoyed our 40th Reunion and notes that his
son, PBW III, was reunion campaign chairman for the Class of '87. Phil
has been made a lifetime trustee of the Delaware Museum of Natural
History, having served as president/VP for 18 years, clearly a labor
of love.
In attempting to track down Mark "Tom" Carleton, Sam Guy
called me to help with his search. I'm sorry to report that Tom died
October 1, 1996. Friends of Tom will remember him as learned, with a
great sense of humor. I understand he was a wonderful teacher, and he
will be missed.
—Ellsworth Davis
Notes: February 1998
Hopefully, you all had joyful holidays and are off to a good start
in 1998. For those who endured troubles of whatever flavor in the
recent past, your classmates are with you, for "better or worse."
The football season was trying for Yale fans but a valiant effort
against Harvard made the affair in the Bowl far more entertaining than
any Yale graduate expected. Yale outplayed Harvard in the second half.
It was damp and chilly in the Bowl, but warm and dry at the
Mongillos'. Nancy thought this was the 22nd time the class had
been invited after the final Bowl game of the season. Present from
1957 were Bern and Gayle Kosto, Howie (Yes!) and Edwina
Gillis, Dick Jones, Tom Chittenden, Tom Quirk and a son,
Steve and Judy Hopkins, Larry and Muriel Bodkin, Don
Bab, Mary and Don Roberts, and, of course, Nancy and Frank
Mongillo Jr.
The above information is from Don Roberts. I had a conflict in the
form of a wedding in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Jack and
Pixie Pendergast's daughter Joan was married to Raymond Thomas
Cox at St. Catherine of Siena Church. A beautiful service featuring
appearances and participation by 16 Pendergasts of various
generations, including Jack III '57, Jack IV, and Jack V. Sara and I
went to the wedding with Peter and Ruth Fritzsche and
spent the night in Newport before going back home to read about the
Yale-Harvard game.
I had a long talk with Dave Bowman recently and discovered
that he is a case manager and group counselor. Dave was getting ready
to see his son Bruss, a successful entrepreneur providing
administrative services to hospitals in California, Arizona, New
Mexico, and Hawaii. Bruss was competing in a Tango championship in
NYC. A six-foot, four-inch entrepreneur who dances in Tango
competitions. Who asked if Bruss is the son of our Dave Bowman? A
great leap forward for the Bowman gene pool, perhaps.
I had a long lunch with "Chip" Anderson and it made me think
how easy it is to talk with classmates. Chip practices law in New
London, Connecticut, and he and Mary are very involved in historic
preservation and support of music in eastern Connecticut. Current
issues, personal and general, as well as age-old questions caused two
hours to go by very quickly. Chip is a new addition to the class
project participants and will be in touch with Malcolm Mitchell
to "sign up."
An article in The New York Times tells an amusing story
about the marriage of Phil Pillsbury's daughter Caroline, a
descendant of John Standish, to Andrew Oliver 2d, who traces his
lineage to Priscilla and John Alden. Perhaps one of Longfellow's
descendants can write a sequel to The Courtship of Miles
Standish. In any case, this wedding story serves to remind us that
we are all "boat people," with different landing dates and ports of
arrival.
The New York Times carried an editorial on November 20,
criticizing the New York state Board of Regents for passing a
resolution requiring students to take three years of language classes
and pass a challenging exam to graduate. The language requirement was
proposed by Ed Meyer, who spoke of his dismay at going to
tennis tournaments and meeting foreigners who spoke English, and being
unable to reciprocate. Regardless of the merits of the arguments
concerning the language requirement, I'm glad to see Ed wants the kids
in New York City to get the language education that he missed at St.
Paul's and Yale. Hmmm!
John Bussard and Betsy are proud to report that daughter
Anne has entered their alma mater, Jefferson Medical College, as a
first-year medical student. Congratulations! John G. Miller,
USMC Ret., is drawing close to retirement from the U.S. Naval
Institute and writes that he is ready. Chuck Schaller
has headed for Beaufort for the winter and will not return to
Connecticut until May/June. John Ryan and friend, Mary Gregg,
have bought a home together just outside Philadelphia. John, too, is
slowing things down a bit and has hired a replacement CEO for DLB
Systems. He tells us, "Life is better."
Charles Strong is still in Wilston, Florida, working for
Montenay Power Corp. He really enjoyed the Florida Marlins World
Series victory.
We see in the Wall Street Journal that the variable annuity
managed by TIAA-CREF turned in a No. 1 performance for the last three
years, as measured by Morningstar, Inc. Doug Dial runs the
equity portion of this huge fund, and deserves huge praise for this
performance. Also, congratulations to all teachers in the class; hope
you sent Doug a thank-you note for Christmas.
Don Roberts reminds me that we have three sitting chief
circuit court judges (Dick Arnold, Gil Merritt, and Ralph
Winter) and wonders if any college class has ever produced that
result before. Last night, on the business news, I saw Michael
Jordan, Bill Cosby, and Dan Rather participate in the ceremony of
listing CBS (was Westinghouse -- Jordan is CEO) shares on the New York
Stock Exchange. Any of these three would be acceptable as speakers for
our class dinner, now scheduled for March 19. Mark that date on your
calendars and try to be there.
On a sad note, Rolf H.G. Sandvoss died on September 17,
1997, at St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains, New York. Rolf was a
fraternity brother of mine (Zeta Psi) and I remember him very
positively. He sang with the Glee Club and the Alley Cats and was a
manager of the football team. Memorial contributions may be made to
the Sandvoss Scholarship Fund, established for the Sandvoss children,
c/o Micheal Dirmier, 135 Pines Bridge Road, Katonah, NY 10536.
Please send news of your own and any you know about classmates.
Thanks for your help.
—Ellsworth Davis
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This Page Last Updated: February 23, 2008.
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