Class Notes: May/June 2024

Class Notes: May/June 2024

As with last year’s notes for the May/June issue, these notes are being written in Mexico where the weather is nearly perfect. Back in St. Michaels, the geese are temporarily free from supervision, although reports indicate they have found somewhere else to congregate and fertilize.

Upcoming class activities are gaining momentum: as reported in the last issue, Ralph Protsik is hard at work, with excellent assistance from the YAA, planning the minireunion in Asheville, North Carolina, for this coming September. The dates have been set: September 16–19 with accommodations at the Village Hotel on the Biltmore Estate and multiple opportunities to sample the local scene. Stay tuned for more information and registration. As for our 60th, Janene Castaldi, our YAA representative, informed me that the two reunion weekends in 2025 are May 22–25 and May 31–June 1. No firm assignments will be made until later this spring, but historically, 60th reunions tend to be on the first weekend. So, save both weekends on your calendars, and we’ll let you know as soon as they’re announced. As in the past, our reunion team of Roscoe, Leich, and Farrington will be attending the class of ’64’s 60th to observe the behavior of much older alumni. Fred Kneip has bail money ready if the need arises.

In further 60th news, Jerry Libby and a contingent of southern California classmates held an early kickoff for pre-reunion regional lunches. Jerry reported: “Twelve Southern California classmates gathered for lunch at the Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles on February 29, renewing a quasi-regular tradition that had been interrupted by the pandemic. Bob Leich provided 60th reunion and possible minireunion updates, and as in the past, everyone provided a brief update as to current circumstances and activity. (Bob urged that unless a classmate had been read last rites, updates regarding health issues should be kept to a reasonable length.) The event was enjoyed by all, and there is a tentative plan to do it again in early 2025. Attendees were Sam Bruttomesso, Dan Denison, Alan Howard, Jeff Jennings, Jay Lavely, Bob Leich, Jerry Libby, Modie Moore, Dave Nochimson, Dick Pearce, Fred Roberts, and Bill Wilbur.” A picture of the group is posted on the class website yale65.org. As the 60th draws closer, sadly we no longer have Jeff Miller shepherding the pre-reunion lunches in other locations. Let me know if you’d like to take on the job.

The 2024 season of the class Zoom program continues after an excellent session with Yale College dean Pericles Lewis. On March 20, David Roscoe will lead a discussion with Vardit Ravitsky, president of Hastings Center, about AI and health. Many of you will recall David’s class dinner presentation on AI which stirred both fascination and apprehension. April and May are yet to be announced, but Bob Hammond reported that June 19 will feature Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, talking about gun violence from a public health perspective. All the Zoom sessions are posted on our website.

Brief notes: Bob Leich sent a fascinating comment on the life of Temple Emmet Williams who started with ’65 but did not finish. Temple died in 2022. Bob’s full note will be posted in remembrances. From Chris Cooke: “Life Below Zero, The First Alaskans is a ‘reality’ show series that runs on the National Geographic Channel and features the lives of Native Alaskans (and others) in various locations throughout rural Alaska. On March 5, the series will air a new installment which features two of my grandsons, Gage and Avery Hoffman, of Bethel, Alaska.” 

Dar Gillette reported: “Ken Bardach and I have recently had a book that we have been writing (with a third coauthor) published by Amazon. Its title is: Noble Leadership in the Emergent Reality. The idea for the book came from a discussion with Ken: I told Ken that I wanted to write something about leadership to ‘hang off my website.’ Ken suggested I write a book about leadership, and I agreed to do it if he would help me.” Finally, Landon (Bunky) Carter is offering an eight-week online course entitled Creating the Life You Love. Contact him at landon@landoncarter.co.nz. 

We’ve lost several classmates since the last notes. On February 29, Chris Kinney reported: “Bill Parsons passed away this morning. He was in the hospital in Florida initially for a bad cough and a cascade of bad things followed. Bill and I were born three days apart in the same hospital with parents that were friends. Like twins from the start.” The YAA sent a notice that Robert E. Smith had passed away on December 14, 2022. I also was just informed that David “Dave” William Russell Sr. passed away on January 22, 2024. Those obituaries we’ve received are posted on the class website yale65.org. Please visit the website and post remembrances.

I look forward to seeing you either in September in Asheville and/or on October 25 at the class dinner. Stay vaccinated.