YAM Class Notes: July/August 2019
By John M. PinneyIt appears that by eliminating my usual weather commentary in the last notes, I may have prompted an endless deluge of rain. This marks the third year in a row that spring has shown a tendency to dampen spirits and flood basements.
Hopefully, the spring of 2020 will be fabulous, because our 55th reunion will be held May 28 to 31. Our reunion planning efforts are fully under way, and our own planners (Carl Farrington, Bob Leich, and David Roscoe) attended the Class of ’64’s 55th to observe how this much older group conducts their reunion. In addition to the “Three Amigos,” the rest of the team from the 50th reunion is also back again: Stan Trotman and Mel Shaftel are leading the class gift, Ralph Protsik is heading up the reunion book effort (not as grand as Our Stories, but hoping for updates from us all), with Doug McPheters and David Martin writing remembrances of those classmates we’ve lost since the 50th. Fred Kneip is defending the class treasury, and John Schenck has relieved Jeff Miller in organizing class lunches leading up to the reunion. Dorothy Armstrong has graciously agreed to help make sure all our class widows know they are welcome and encourage them to attend.
In preparation for the 55th, please be sure to: update your contact information with the AYA (https://alumni.yale.edu and click on Directory), mark the dates on your calendars, and reach out to classmates to encourage them to attend. While it’s hard to imagine an event as good as the 50th, there is every reason to celebrate another milestone.
Brief notes: Bill Rawn’s firm, William Rawn Associates, was ranked by Architect magazine as the number 3 architecture firm in the US in their 2018 rankings. The firm has been ranked in the top 6 or 7 firms in the last ten years. Not bad for a recovering attorney. Karl Schonborn’s paintings were on exhibit in March and April at a gallery in Orinda, California.Apologies to Ted Garrett, who due to a rare mistake by me was misidentified as Ted Theodore in the March/April notes. John Shattuck and Ellen Hume have been on an odyssey including Berkeley, California, in March, where they lunched with Steve and Betsy Clark and Perrin and Peggy Quarles. Their next stop was Bruges. John continues to publish and lecture on human rights, voting rights, and the rise of authoritarianism.
Tony Vanderwarker sent the following update: “After being in the film business, then advertising, then writing books, I am now in the restaurant business. Our son Vandy is opening a French bistro, Maison, in Charleston and asked Annie and me to design the interior. We’re also investing to help him get off the ground. After cooking at Fig and The Ordinary for ten years, Vandy decided to follow his dream of having his own restaurant. He opened March 20 and on his first night did 90 covers and exceeded his projections by 25 percent. Looks like we’re off to a great start and we’re thrilled to be participating.” Gordon Bear reported that he retired “three semesters ago. . . . I was happy, healthy, and productive as a professor of social psychology and statistics. I remain fascinated by and hopeful for the evolutionary point of view and continue my scholarly endeavors in that domain.” Gordon recently married Kathleen McGowan, his partner of 19 years. “We’re planning a trip to Boston this summer and hope to visit my roommate, Henry Steady. Also on our agenda is a visit to roommate Larry Taylor in Alexandria. Friendships as old as those that commenced at Yale are to be treasured and celebrated.” Well said, Gordon.
Reminder: Class Dinner October 25, 2019, Yale Club of New York City.