Class Notes, January/February 2022

Class Notes, January/February 2022

Every year, the timing for submitting this class notes forces me to think about the coming year before I’m ready. From the perspective of November, the coming year looks more promising; but in the last edition, I had to admit to being lousy at predicting events. Nevertheless, I am still hoping we will be able to hold some face-to-face gatherings before 2022 is over. 

In the meantime, our class Zoom program racked up two more excellent programs. The October program featured NASA administrator and classmate Bill Nelson. David Roscoe summed up Bill’s presentation, which was entitled “The Moon, Mars, and More”: “Bill’s Y65 Zoom Hour this afternoon was terrific, complemented by moderators Phil Crane and Larry Walker. Bill so clearly loves his role as NASA administrator—all the details of his sprawling enterprise are right at his fingertips, and he clearly embraces the job and intends to leave his fingerprints on future programs. The three-way mutual admiration society between Bill, Phil, and Larry was a treat to watch—they had so much in common yet had not known each other at Yale or in the 50-plus years since. The questions from the 80-plus classmates who tuned in covered a wide gamut, and Bill never missed a beat in answering them.” If you missed seeing it live, it’s posted on the class website. 

As a result of Bill’s excellent presentation on topics such as “will we fly supersonic,” the class discussion group temporarily stepped away from more contentious issues when a small but elite group of classmates regaled us with their own experiences on the Concorde. Burt Haimes won best in show for “I once flew it sitting across from Isabella Rossellini. She was traveling with her infant son whom I said looked like her. I later found out he was adopted! So much for being cool.” Jim Danly had the most diplomatic post: “I particularly enjoyed the oh-so-French attitude of the crew. The lead hostess apologized for the brevity of the flight, which obliged them to offer only a petite collation. They proceeded to serve us a three-star gourmet meal.” And David Roscoe had the most harrowing: “Shortly after a Heathrow takeoff, the Concorde blew one of its two engines. The pilot flew out to sea, dumped most of the fuel, and we returned to the airport. Didn’t get to New York that day.” So much for those of us who thought business class was a big deal.

The November 10th Zoom program featured Yale president Peter Salovey sharing his views on “Yale Today” and his vision for the future. Jonathan Fanton and I moderated the session, which like all our previous Zoom programs, drew a large audience. President Salovey answered a range of questions on topics including: the alumni trustee selection process, free speech and Yale’s principles for ensuring it (he noted Yale’s principles predate the Chicago Principles and are more specific), the recently announced Campaign for Humanity, Yale’s role in international collaborations with a focus on China, the naming of Yale’s buildings, and divestment of fossil fuel holdings. President Salovey also raised the curtain a little on the forthcoming announcement of Yale’s plans to increase support of the New Haven community. It was a very candid and informative session. As I have said many times, if you’re not getting notices for our Zoom programs, go to yalealumni.yale.edu and update your profile. Stay tuned for a full round of Zoom programs in 2022.

You all have been too busy or too lazy to send any brief notes, but happily Ralph Protsik obliged with the following: “One thing that was clear from the class essays for the 55th reunion class book was that family—Zooming with them, vacationing with them, relocating to be closer to them—has become an important part of many of our lives. So it is that Susan and I have departed San Francisco for Asheville to be closer to ours. No more views of the Bay Bridge; no more walks along the Embarcadero; no more MTT and the San Francisco Symphony. But spectacular views of Biltmore Lake and Mount Pisgah, and enough breweries to satisfy Richard Burton. Also, more closet space. So far, we love it, even if it means upsizing from an apartment to a 3,500-square-foot home. Y’all come see us.” 

Ralph also reported on a second memorial service for Dan Bergfeld, held in Connecticut and attended by other classmates, including Peter Conze: “On another note, more than three dozen Whiffs joined family and friends in New Canaan in September to celebrate the life of classmate Dan Bergfeld, who died last year. Whiffmate Kyle Pruett paid tribute with Psalm 23, sung to the tune of ‘Amazing Grace’; Peter Sipple, ’62 Whiffs, gave the eulogy. Bergie was beloved by all who knew him, and his absence will be deeply felt by the ’65 Whiffs and the Whiff alumni community. His wife Holly is helping to fill this void.” 

Finally, John Malugen sent me the following sad news: “Our classmate and my good friend, Bill Thomas, passed away peacefully on August 27 in the presence of his family. Bill was smart, ebullient, and always fun to be with. He was a well-regarded lawyer for many years here in San Diego. Bill was very enthusiastic about Yale, and he participated in many class activities and several class reunions. He will be missed.”

As winter approaches, please stay safe and healthy, watch the Zoom programs, and send news—you don’t have to have written a new book or climbed Everest for it to be of interest to your classmates.