Class Notes: May/June 2025
By John M. PinneyMeteorological Spring has sprung and appears to be holding. The osprey will show up soon and the geese have flown north. Despite the Washington Commanders’ loss in the playoffs and the evolving chaos, spring always brings hope.
Spring is also bringing our 60th reunion, and the plans are set for an excellent gathering May 22–25. By now, you should have received and completed your reunion registration, locked in your travel plans, and refreshed your memories by reading through the 60th class book. Your response to the call for essays resulted in a near doubling of the original estimate for the size of the book, and Ralph Protsik and his team have done an outstanding job designing, assembling, and editing. Our reunion program promises to be timely and stimulating, and Yale will provide interesting opportunities to learn new things. The runup to the reunion has been enhanced by the pre-reunion regional lunches, organized by classmates with encouragement and leadership from Jerry Libby. All that remains is for you to come to New Haven and enjoy what our cochairs and Yale have planned for us. Thanks to all who have contributed to this milestone event, with special thanks to David Roscoe, Bob Leich, and Carl Farrington.
The Zoom Hour Series presented its 50th program on March 19 with a provocative presentation by Karl Zinsmeister Y’81 entitled, “Why American Populism Should be Welcomed, Not Feared,” ably moderated by Barry Preston and Tom Wacht. The April program will feature Martina Droth, the director of the Yale Center for British Art, to give a pre-reunion story about that great museum that our late classmate, Ted Pillsbury, first headed. There will not be a Zoom program in May as we’ll be focused on reunion, but June will feature Ian Shapiro, Sterling Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs at Yale University and author of Uncommon Sense. The Zoom team will continue to give us these excellent programs throughout the remainder of the year, and into 2026. David Roscoe provided a recap of all the Zoom programs through January. Highlights include: 57 speakers, 101 moderators, and average registrants: 119.
Brief notes. Bob Hammond shared this note he received from Fred Roberts: “You, David, and Dennis have been incredibly supportive, for which I am eternally grateful. I am leaving for Japan in a few days, returning in April. I will be on a ship between the UK and Denmark for our reunion, so, sadly, I won’t be around for it. I would have loved to see the three of you again, but, alas, my life of travel prevails.” David Ralph reported on a talk by David Hawkins: “David gave a wonderful talk February 20 on “Meeting the Climate Challenge,” to the Yale Club of the Treasure Coast in Vero Beach, Florida. The audience of approximately 40 people asked pertinent questions about new initiatives, such as battery storage and carbon capture, that can address these climate challenges. David believes that scientists have made major strides in developing new technologies even when there has been a lack of political will. David’s talk was initiated by Holly Adams, partner of our deceased classmate Dan Bergfeld.”
A special blast from the past came from Steve Clark’s wife Betsy: YouTube video of the finals of the 1961 AAU Championship Men’s 100 freestyle from the Payne Whitney pool. Steve won in record time as a high school senior, beating Mike Austin Y’64 and what was called the fastest field in history. Definitely worth watching, you can find it by searching online for the event.
I’ve received sad news about several classmates since the last notes. The YAA notified me that Thomas Smart passed away on November 28, 2020, and Warren Cohen died on January 21, 2024. Craig Chisholm reported: “Letting you know that our classmate Steve Cox died from cancer on November 15, 2024. There were three of us classmates in Lake Oswego High School in Lake Oswego, Oregon, who came to Yale in 1961. We all continued our friendship though living and working in different parts of the country. Steve and I swam together at Yale. Having been in NROTC at Yale, he went on active duty and served as an officer in the US Nuclear Submarine Fleet. Steve went to Harvard Business School where he received an MBA. He will be much missed by his friends.” Kristin Ryan sent news that her father, Kenneth Neil, died on January 24, 2024. David Roscoe alerted me that Darwin Gillett died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on January 19, 2025. Please visit our website, yale1965.org, and post remembrances.
I look forward to seeing many of you in New Haven on May 22 when we can share memories and toast those classmates we’ve lost. Travel safely.