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40 | Dean Towner,MA '41, lives in Austin, TX, but spends a few months each year in Washington State.He is an educator and spent a year as chairman of a committee discussing curriculum for grades 9-12 in the New Upper School of St. Andrews Episcopal. For relaxation he enjoys bird watching.He and his wife have four grandchildren and two greats.

I get "roundabout news" from several sources. One from Dot Talbert Wiggans '41 sent a report about Martha Cross Durfee '41, MS '61, who died in Sept. 2004 and was married to our classmate Art. Martha had suffered from 20 years of Parkinson's disease. She had worked with Habitat for Humanity across the country and helped with Step- Up Ministry. For Martha and Art's 50th wedding anniversary, their friends and relatives raised most of the money to build a Habitat house in Raleigh, NC.

Here's an update from Bette Limpert Mayhew in Sun City, AZ. After many years of service she has retired from the American Association of University Women. Regardless of living across the country, she gets home to the Canton, NY, area, where she recently spent a few months helping family members with their efforts toward gaining master's degrees. Her daughter Stella Ann Mayhew Ardire '71 changed direction from children's nursing to home health nursing. Bette's late husband Karl, a Merchant Marine, traveled to many world ports. Frederick Beardsley,MD '43, of Storrs Mansfield, CT, has enjoyed his retirement traveling to Italy, Austria, and Budapest. Photography and flyfishing make him happy.

John Weiner helps our class officers and classmates keep up with reunion plans, etc.He and his wife live in White Plains,NY. In case you would like to help him with our upcoming reunion next month, June 9-12, his phone number is (914) 948-8811.He volunteers with Westchester Bridge Fund, which helps prevent homelessness by forestalling evictions with advice, negotiations, and money for worthy applicants. He sends his advice to those of you who are animal lovers: never invest in anything that eats. -- Carol Clark Petrie, Box 8, Hartford, NY 12838; tel., (518) 632-5237.

41 | Our class had a sad loss with the death on February 5 of Robert L. "Bart" Bartholomew, former class correspondent and, in the words of former class president Buzz Kuehn, "the heartbeat of '41." Bart retired in 1996 from Palm Beach Community College.Having earned a master's degree in education, he taught business courses and headed the college's Cooperative Education program. At Cornell, he was a Hotelie and was like cream on top of milk.He was head cheerleader in his senior year, as well as house manager of Theta Delta Chi and president ofWillard Straight.He was also a member of the Ye Hosts, Sphinx Head, and Scarab honor societies. For 35 years, he wrote the '41 Men's class column in the Alumni News.

After Pearl Harbor, Bart was accepted into the Navy and earned the rank of Lieutenant, senior grade. Civilian jobs included Brown & Bailey Paper Box Co., Dictaphone Co.,Volkswagen, and the US Chamber of Commerce. After retirement, he stayed very busy with programs about the Big Band era.With his professional equipment, he produced compact discs for family and friends, and better than that, he wrote a series of one-hour programs that he and his wife Eddie (Burgess) presented at condominiums and retirement communities all over South Florida. He was a fine ambassador of the Big Band era—music our generation still enjoys.

To sum up Bart's life in one word: success. A standout member of the Great Class of '41.

Our current class president, Bill Webber, has had health problems, but has recovered and gets about on a walker. He has moved to Pittsford, NY—closer to his hospital. New address: 408 Stoutenburgh Lane, Pittsford, NY 14534; tel., (585) 586-7568. He is now ready to plan for our 65th Reunion. He also plans to appoint a nominating committee for new class officers.

Howard Schuck, MS '43, has sent a news release on his new book, A Fish Biologist's Impact on National Security. It's about America's defense against nuclear disaster. For more information, call (800) 839-8640, ext. 244. Lew Birckhead did a very pleasant good deed.A young lady asked him to help her out of an embarrassing situation last August. She had been sunbathing topless and locked herself out of her apartment. Lew gave her a shirt so she could go the office for a key!

Your annual News and Dues mailing should be arriving soon—it may have come already.Make sure to return the News Card in the envelope provided. Even a short note would be greatly appreciated. -- Ralph Antell, Beaufort Towers, 7015 Carnation St., Apt. 408, Richmond, VA 23225-5233.

42 | The latest news from the top. Liz Schlamm Eddy (NYC), competent Class President, had a great time at the Council Meeting in Ithaca. She enjoyed all the social events, including the opening buffet and the joint meeting of the Board of Trustees, where a discussion of Cornell's future ensued. Liz attended a luncheon at the Arts & Sciences college, which has a new dean, Peter Lepage. She met with Barbara Crohurst Howell and the two '42 Memorial Scholars, Lynne Feeley '06 and Katie O'Regan '07, at the dinner, which featured wonderful student entertainment.

Our two young students wrote lovely appreciation letters to the class. Both are devotees of the Irish. Katie would like to organize an Irish-American Club at Cornell to raise awareness of Irish culture and language. She was busy all summer taking French at Penn State and may be taking Gaelic this year. Needless to say, she is fascinated by languages. Lynne will study abroad in Dublin this spring at Trinity College, and write an English honors thesis her senior year. She currently writes for the Arts and Entertainment section of the Cornell Daily Sun, reviewing music releases and campus concerts, and has been selected as a Featured Poet. The campus literary magazine Rainy Day will publish five or more of her poems.We can be proud of both Katie and Lynne.

Liz also attended the 100th anniversary meeting of the Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO) in New York City, which included a talk by President Emeritus Frank Rhodes and a luncheon where she was joined by Jean Way Schoonover '41, Eleanor Slack Randles '41,MS '78, Lucy Howard Jarvis '38, and Miller Harris, Larry Lowenstein, and Shigeo Kondo, all '43. She enjoyed a talk by Kathy Okun, senior university advisor and wife of President Lehman. The Alumni Glee Club sang, and a video on the history of CACO was featured. A blizzard hit NYC that afternoon with such force that most attendees who lived nearby checked out immediately to try to get home. Liz booked into a nearby hotel and joined in the big banquet that night, enjoying Chantal Champagne and Big Band music. She will try to get this band for our 65th!

Following the death of her wonderful husband Jim, Jean Pardee Cole (St. Louis, MO) moved to a retirement home near her daughter. She would love to have anyone in the vicinity contact her. Jean called me with the sad, sad news that Connie Caffrey McMurray (Upper Montclair, NJ) passed away. Connie's son Mark called and said she had gone to the hospital with shingles and died of an infection contracted there. Connie was a charming, always sunny and active personality who loved to socialize. Lately, she had been especially keen on bird watching.A travel agent, she loved to go places and do things.My infant son Frankie and I enjoyed an apartment with Connie in Ithaca during WWII and had as much fun as you could have during the war. Always dependable, Connie will be sorely missed by everyone.

James Bean (Hustontown, PA) writes, "After many years of developing a retirement routine, I find myself more rapidly cutting back on activities—mainly for health reasons and only partly my health. No complaints on the changes, though." James and wife Myrtle's oldest grandson served several months in Iraq and is now back home. Emily Germer St. John (Lake Oswego, OR) volunteers with Meals on Wheels and drives shut-ins here and there. She and Robert visited the Netherlands, viewing Dutch Art masters, as well as Anchorage, AK, celebrating with other Clan Campbell members, and reuning with their children at weddings. "Jimmy" enjoys concerts and plays, playing bridge and tennis, and walking. Now boasting seven great-grandchildren, she tells them, "When the time comes for a retirement home, book us on a cruise ship instead—it costs the same."

Clara and Harry Hoose (Sun City Center, FL; chhoose@ij.net) summer in Anchorage, AK, where, although they had six inches of snow in September, they major in growing vegetables. Luckily they escaped hurricane damage in Florida. Frank Caplan (Lacey,WA; 3953caplan@aol.com) retired as editor-in-chief of Quality Engineering Journal, a product of Taylor and Francis Books Inc.He volunteers with Benevolent Fund activities of the Panorama City Retirement Community and boasts six great-grandchildren. Sadly, his wife Shirley passed away recently.

Roy Tunison (Bradenton, FL) worked as publisher's rep (ad sales) for national magazines. He moved from San Francisco last year after 20 years of residence with only one earthquake. He dodged the hurricanes and survived along with his dog and cat. Ruth Simes Morgan (Bonita Springs, FL; crmorg3813733@aol.com) was grateful that Hurricane Charley hit 30 miles north of them.Her competitive spirit keeps her playing golf three times a week.

We also note the passing of Edwin Parkhill (Norwich, NY). He served in the Air Force in WWII, where he spent full time in combat zones flying on bombing missions photographing ground action. He prepared a documentary from the film he shot in the South Pacific. His friend Ronald Reagan did the narration along with Brian Donlevy and Spencer Tracy. David Rose composed an original music score. After working for General Electric, Edwin became an interior designer and established the design firm Hamilton Parkhill ASIC. He was also active in many civic projects, and he and his wife Mary loved to travel. He will be missed by his many, many friends.

Thanks for all your letters and cards. It makes the column so interesting and easy to write. If I didn't get to you, don't give up. Your contribution will be included ASAP.-- Carolyn Evans Finneran, 8815 46th St.NW, Gig Harbor,WA 98335; tel., (253) 265-6618; e-mail, CeeFinn@juno.com.

43 | Among the 60-some notes from you good folk praising and mourning the late, great Roy Unger, is this from Gracia Byrne Ostrander: "I was saddened by Roy's death.We both lived at Kendal so I saw him often with his little dog, Skipper.He was a wonderful classmate and friend and I miss him here."At the class officers'meeting (salad, chicken picatta, speeches, asparagus, the singing of "Evening Song," petit fours, coffee), a successor to Roy was named. The post had been declined by the far prettier of our VPs, Caroline Norfleet Church, who pleaded chronic immobility due to lack of co-chauffeurs. For prexy-by-default's name, go to bottom of column.

The officers present (Larry Lowenstein, Shig Kondo, et moi) voted to fund the digitizing of the Daily Sun for our freshman year, 1939-40. (The classes of '44 and '45 covered— at $5,000 a pop—the balance of our years on the Hill.) I'll let you know when and where it will be posted on the Web. Stay tuned. '43 will also turn over from our class treasury the final $22,000 of the $37,500 we had pledged toward the Class of '43 Scholarship. The current recipient is Sara Martinez, Arts and Sciences '08 (Santa Paula, CA), who plans one day to write the history of the constellations, and possibly to lecture on the subject.

Larry announced that our 2004 contributions to Cornell totaled $1,645,502, double that of our 2003 reunion effort, once again demonstrating '43's appreciation of CU even when Larry is just cuddling not rattling the tin cup. Actually, the gift by the Mac Bakers, a hefty payment on a multi-year pledge by Curt Strand, and a large bequest by the late Barber Conable, LLB '48, were major factors.

A vote of appreciation was expressed—why wait till the last minute?—to 65th Reunion Chair Bob Larson, who summers in Freeville, NY, ten minutes from campus, and to his business-partner helpmate Margo, who—listen up—is the first Wells/Illinois State grad ever to co-chair a Cornell reunion.

Friday at dinner with longtime wife Mary Louise (Snellenburg) '45 and Adele Robinette,my editor at this magazine, our waitress admired my Q & D pin. Hey! It was CACO weekend! Fearing that said waitperson might mistake this shriveled curmudgeon for a biker sporting skull & stiletto, Ms. Robinette jumped in with: "It's a writer's organization."Musing abed that night, I resolved henceforward—in these, my more mellow writer's years—to employ more Quill and less Dagger. Next morning it had passed. I was back to abnormal.

"In trip to Venice, Padua,Verona, and Prague on an opera tour,"writes Jane AdamsWait (Saratoga Springs, NY), "I saw my first ‘Tristan and Isolde.' I had written my freshman English paper on that opera.Would you believe it!" [Yep. I would.] Jack Rice (McMurray, PA): "In October '39, Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledged six Pittsburghers. All entered and graduated Engineering school. I know of no advanced degrees won by any of us. I know that two of us wouldn't even make it to junior year with today's curriculum. Ted Ludwig was killed in the war; five are alive and kicking: Furm South, Jack Cole, Lou Helmick [my spell-check wanted to change this to Hemlock], Bud McGlaughlin, and me. Four of us still live in the Pittsburgh area.What other house has had such a sterling record?" [House of Rothschild? Animal House?]

Quick segue to Mr. South (Sewickley, PA, and Lantana, FL): "Very sorry to hear about Roy's death. Great guy; great Cornellian; he will be missed by the great Class of 1943. In October, the Head of the Ohio Fall Regatta was held here in Pittsburgh. Cornell crews made the trip—women,men's heavyweight, and men's lightweight. All did well, but against weaker competition than in the past.Hosted a party at our home—believe this was our 12th—for the Cornell crews. Good music, good food, good fellowship. Bud McGlaughlin, his brother Dick, and Tom Potter '57 all attended. I was delighted that Frank Collyer '48 came as well. A great evening!"

This from Fay William Brandis '42 (New Hartford,NY): "I'm sorry to report that Mary Ellen (Pearson) is afflicted by Alzheimer's and for the last two years has been in the Katherine Lutheran Home, Clinton,NY, four miles away.We have been married for 62 years and have had a wonderful life. I see her every day. She was always busy in volunteer work. During WWII while I was in England,Mary Ellen worked for IBM and then Sarah Lawrence College. After I came home, we lived in Levittown and East Setauket, LI, Waterville, NY, Smithtown, LI, Ridgefield, CT, and Clinton and New Hartford,NY.We have two boys, Greg and Gordon.Mary Ellen and I wish to convey our best wishes to the Class of 1943."

Miriam Freund Hurewitz (New York, NY): "After many years of working for publishers large and small—both in-house and as a freelancer—of editing and proofreading copy from the magnificent to the ridiculous, and of teaching the tricks of my craft to others, I finally retired December 31. I expect to spend more time traveling with my husband and exploring the Internet."And from Lucille Jenks McGown (Mesa, AZ):"My motto: I will live in the present moment. I will not obsess about the past or worry about the future." To which we all add: Amen.  S.Miller Harris, P.O. Box 164, Spinnerstown, PA 18968; e-mail, millerharris@netcarrier.com.

44 | The ground is white and the wind doth blow—it's February as I write, but you will be reading this a year after Reunion. Art and Dotty Kay Kesten have received many accolades and much appreciation.Mildred Kasper Lillis wrote, "The whole weekend ran beautifully—you richly deserve gratitude from '44." Ann Bode Jennings, M Ed '47, thanked them both for a wonderful 60th. She was impressed by the campus, the programs, and "all that you did to make it a success. It was good to renew old friendships." She went on to visit in Virginia and Santa Fe, and spent a month in San Luis Obispo "sans computer." Alison King Barry, BArch '47, said Reunion was great. She sent news of daughter Kris, who sold her café in Joshua Tree, CA, and set up a "Specialty Food Products" business in the Berkshires. Website www.appalachianaturals.com tells the story. Son Bruce and wife have bought a home with land for a ceramic studio there.

Madeleine King Short regrets missing the 60th, heard it was a great success, and says, "The class of '44 is in debt to you both—Big Time!" Robert Miller was most disappointed but could not leave his ill wife.He plays golf and does yard work daily and attends medical meetings.Nancy Chien Chang of Palo Alto, CA, was very sorry to miss Reunion. She had to come east for the funeral of her brother Ting Chien, MCE '38, in May, then back in June to San Diego for a family celebration of her 60th wedding anniversary.

Some of us are still working. Howard Evans, PhD '50, sent a copy of Cornell Veterinary Medicine magazine, half of which describes his past and present teaching, travels, and collection of specimens. He is an "anatomist by profession, but he was born a naturalist with a particular interest in reptiles."He enclosed an ad for his latest book, Guide to the Dissection of the Dog, 6th Edition. He and Erica were headed for eight weeks in Grenada where he would teach fish and bird anatomy and a natural history course at the Vet School. He mentioned our great reunion, especially seeing an old roommate, Bill Lane, MNS '48. Anne Bishop McKusick writes about her husband's honor, the Victor McKusick Professorship in Medicine and Genetics at the Johns Hopkins U. She says, "Reunion was terrific.Victor feels like a Cornellian, too!"Wells and Sara StormShoemaker are busy renovating a 1740 tavern.Wells was honored by the American Filtration Society with a lifetime achievement award for leadership in founding a growing society.

Thomas Barker of Plymouth, MN, has been working two mornings a week for 14 years rehabbing houses for PPL. He recently lost his wife of 50 years. His four children are standing by. Naomi Zion Schulman is still tutoring first and second grade children and teaching ESL in Stanford, CA. Rose Matt uses a Cornell credit card. She spends more than $1,000 a month and pays in full each month. "All that I buy, whether it be a service or an item, is charged to this card." The Cornell Alumni Federation then uses the royalties from the card's purchases for alumni and class program grants, which benefit all Cornell constituencies. '44 classmates ALERT: use a Cornell credit card. Rose has health problems that preclude her participation in '44 "adventures," but she sends her best.

Curt Beck of Storrs, CT, announces his 80th birthday and marriage to Ina Ruth Kutz two years ago after the death of Althea in '97.He retired as professor of political science at UConn 12 years ago but is a member of the Connecticut State Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services, as well as local government boards. Aaron Waldman married an old friend,Mercedes Curas, on March 30, 2004. They are very happy.

We're travelers. William Calvert did Rome and Florence, "while we can still walk a mile or two." Jim McTague of Naples, FL, "sticks with riverboats."After touring Yellowstone and the Tetons he set off on his annual tour with four daughters (sans husbands) on the Elbe—Berlin to Prague.He still "works enough to stay alert plus lots of charity volunteering." He's starting to whittle medals for the Kestens. The Alan Ledermans spent some months last winter on the Big Island of Hawaii, then on to Eastern Europe including a three-week Elderhostel in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. They spent two weeks each in Romania and Bulgaria with local guides. Charles Van Reed took a 13,000-mile passenger train vacation, June 2 to July 7—"Philadelphia to Bellingham,WA, on three rivers and Empire Builder (AMTRAK), Alaska State Ferry on Inland Waterway to Skagway, round-trip to Lake Bennett on White Pass and Yukon RR, on to Prince Rupert, Canada (ferry), to Nova Scotia, Halifax, return west to Montreal, AMTRAK to Philadelphia." As a member of the National Railway Historical Society and a rail buff, he enjoyed an educational and wonderful vacation. Dorothy (Kleine) '45 did not accompany him on this trip.

Ted Watkins joins the great-grandfather group with Hank Bates, who mentions Alexandar Henry Ross, son of Anne Crum '96. He claims another generation of Cornellians, nine so far in three generations. Maryanne Trask Whitcomb reports a fifth great-grand. -- Nancy Torlinski Rundell, 20540 Falcons Landing Cir. #4404, Sterling, VA 20165.

45 | Again, a classmate will be honored at a banquet during Homecoming in October with the Frank H. T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award, given annually for extraordinary service to the university—not for financial contributions or achievements in business, professional, or outside activities. William Berley (NYC) will follow our co-president Maxine Katz Morse (Rye, NH) as a recipient. Congratulations to Bill, with thanks for his many services to Cornell, especially the Johnson Museum and our class. His activities include three trips with CAU last year, as well as a week on campus for a program sponsored by CAU. He's a member of the CAU Advisory Council, which might have something to do with its scheduling the events he likes. Bill plans to be at reunion and will be glad to fill you in on more things to do.

Honors of another kind went to Robert Olmsted (Jackson Heights, NY). Bob received the 2004 Civil Engineering History and Heritage Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers at its annual meeting in Baltimore last October.He chairs the Society's New York Metropolitan Section's History and Heritage Committee and was principal author of its Guide to Civil Engineering Projects In and Around New York City. Bob and wife Pauline vacationed in France's Dordogne region last year. They will be at reunion, too, as will George Rautenberg (Lexington,MA) who, for five years, has been a volunteer at the Minuteman National Historical Park and keeps busy going to England twice a year to visit his "grandBrits,"with side trips to the continent. Another reunion attendee is faithful Minette Leister (Madison Township,NJ), who still goes to CAU events and belongs to the Cornell Club-New York. She has certainly held up the legion of Cornell connections and activities of our late class president Ed, and is a true Cornellian in everything but the formal details. Another faithful is Oscar Buffalow (Hillsborough, CA), who will again go transcontinental to reune with us. Tom says that his granddaughter Christine '08, who is finishing her freshman year as a physics major on the Hill, loves it.

Henrietta Burgott Gehshan (Southampton, PA) wouldn't dream of missing reunion and is busy as ever, volunteering in half a dozen organizations and keeping track of her seven grandchildren. So far she hasn't persuaded any to go to Cornell. One is even a Penn graduate, now working on an MS there. Another is a U. of Chicago alumnus, still another is at Northeastern, and one attends Tufts.Hank has two more to work on; wish her success! David and Mary WellsMeter Carter are both full of activity around their town (Ocala, FL), doing many volunteer and church things, but also travel. Last year they bumped into two Cornell profs atop a Peruvian mountain! They toured Ireland and voyaged on the beautiful Sea Cloud to Turkey and Greece and planned for a winter Caribbean cruise before heading to Ithaca. As previously reported, RobertWallace, MD '47 (New Hartford, NY) and Charlotte Madison Devers were married almost two years ago after renewing their old undergrad friendship at our last reunion. Of course, they won't miss this one, even though disappointed at not being housed in Statler Hall. They didn't care too much for Hurlburt House, but, as it's been rejuvenated, maybe they'll like it better if they have recovered from their journey to Sicily last fall. No volcanoes in Ithaca!

James Monroe (Covington, KY) was unsure about reunion at last report; we hope he will tear himself away from the tennis court and grandchild-visiting to be able to tell us all about his granddaughter's Charleston, SC, wedding, which he terms a "truly Southern performance."Having attended a few Charleston weddings myself, I know what he means.We will miss old buddies Richard Stacy, BS '49 (Hilton Head, SC) and Frank Swingle,ME '49 (Indianapolis, IN), who are too busy traipsing around the country or cruising to attend reunions, as is Ruth Bussell McLay (Holmdel, NJ). She reports that she and husband John celebrated their 58th anniversary in Seefeld, Austria, and will be in Venice or on a Greek Island cruise at reunion time. Poor excuse!-- Prentice Cushing Jr., 713 Fleet Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23454; tel., (757) 716-2400; e-mail, Cushcu45@wmconnect.com.

46 | I thank Jeanne Quigan Scott for calling again to find out about her news . . . The day of Phil's cancer operation I sent in a March/April column, forgetting I had started another one days before that had included Jeanne's news. I guess I was really worried about the operation. I'm so glad Jeanne called. Please, everyone, accept my apologies. If you can take time to write, I want all your classmates to enjoy hearing from you, as I do. You are the GREATEST.

Here's who I heard from. Jeanne Quigan Scott wrote,"My husband died in 1992. I am living on ‘the farm,' an old family homestead in the Fraser Settlement, Bethel, NY, where I oversee the management of woodlots, and the rehabilitation of an old dam and pond—not exactly what I prepared for in Arts and Sciences. I commute to Manhattan, Westchester, and Massachusetts to visit my daughters and two grandchildren. Both my daughters graduated from Smith College, my granddaughter attends Davidson College, and my grandson attends the Browning School of Manhattan. I'm looking forward to our next reunion and enjoy hearing from classmates."

Maj-Britt Karlsson Gabel (Willow Street, PA) wrote of the marriage of two of her granddaughters in July 2003 and April 2004. She also became a great-grandmother in Sept. 2003. Priscilla Alden Clement (South Hadley, MA) was delighted to find other Cornellians living at Loomis Village: Herb Fordham '42, Roger and Joan Staudinger Dickinson '45, Jackie Rappoport Siegel '47, Bob, PhD '55, and Betsy Bergen, and Daisy Stenholm,who worked in the Treasurer's Office. Daisy has a strong Cornell background.Her deceased husband George and brother Carl also attended; Priscilla said they are planning a Cornell table at dinner. Phil and I discovered that friends in our Wernersville, PA, complex are longtime friends ofWilbur and Marjorie Eberhart Haupt (Overland Park, KS).Unfortunately, we were away when they visited last October.

I got the latest list of CAU attendees: last May, Carolyn Usher Franklin of Ithaca took Ithaca Birding, and Phyllis Stapley Tuddenham (Naples, FL) studied London Theatre.

Our mailbox was stuffed with your Christmas cards. From '46ers: Pat and Sam Miller wrote from Florida, where they were staying from November to April. Ann and Jerry Finch (Bluffton, SC) gave us birthdates: Ann will be 76 in June and Jerry 81 in September. "We have four grandchildren, two in college and two fired up to go. A son and daughter-in-law have had bouts with cancer." Sal and Pat Kinne Paolella (Lakewood, NJ) wrote early to tell us their new retirement address and called this week about their plans to visit their daughters in Mexico and Florida. Jan Basset Summerville (Sackets Harbor, NY) wrote about her grandsons. John reached Eagle Scout in December, Bryan finished Oklahoma State and is working at the nuclear plant in Oswego, and Garret is a senior at the U. of South Carolina.

Ruth Critchlow Blackman (Newtown, PA) is still glad she made her move to a retirement community and hoped to get to the CACO Mid-Winter Meeting in NYC and to reunion. Orrie and Ann McGloin Stevens are still happy in Wyndmoor, PA. Jack and Charlotte Cooper Gill (Hurley, NY) are preparing for the wedding of their oldest granddaughter. I heard from Phil's fraternity brother Bill Donaldson '44 and my AOPi sisters Lou Holden Smith (and Bill '48), Shan Silvani, Elaine Tompkins Merkel (and Walt), and Bonnie Kauffman De La Mater, all '47. Keep the US mails in business—keep writing! See you in Ithaca in 2006. -- Elinor Baier Kennedy, 9 Reading Dr., Apt. 302,Wernersville, PA 19565; tel., (610) 927-8777.

Walter T. Bew Jr. (Linwood, NJ) told his buddies on the Hill he was Walt Bew. But in jig time they began calling him "Malt Brew."Walt, or Malt, conducted a solo general medical practice for 50 years before retiring in 2000. Part of his medical service was done in the US Air Force as a flight surgeon in WWII and the Korean War.Walt has been widowed for 18 years. He and Patricia parented two sons and one daughter, leading to four wonderful grandchildren.Walt will soon remarry—to his angel Juanita— and perhaps show her off at our 60th Reunion.

Seth and Barbara Heartfield (Naples, FL; sethbarbh@aol.com) moved two years ago to Arbor Trace, a retirement community. They enjoy Naples's many benefits and remain active in the community. Adding to their joy, daughter Debby also lives in Naples. After Cornell, Seth worked at construction until lured into the family dairy and ice cream manufacturing business.Next was 20 years in the restaurant business, starting with one landmark restaurant.He expanded to three in the D.C. area before selling out and retiring ten years ago. They have enjoyed bridge and many cruises out of Florida. Presently, they are planning an excursion to Charleston and Savannah.

Lots of San Francisco Bay Area Cornellians turned out for the Menlo Park performance of the Cornell University Glee Club.Your correspondent ran into one classmate and several of nearby years. Bob Reed '42 (San Francisco) sang in the Glee Club for four years while pursuing a degree in Food Chemistry at the Ag college. He later became one of the few Army recruits in WWII whose duties utilized his experience.He was assigned to food inspection in the Army's veterinarian dept. Tom '45 and Marie Buffalow (San Mateo, CA) aren't singers but thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Tom and Marie plan to attend his 60th Reunion this year. Marion Seel Hackley (Mountain View, CA) begged off her El Camino Hospital volunteer gift shop duties for an evening of fun with the Glee Club. Jim '51 and Pat Gunderson Stocker '53 coordinated the great evening and found alumni housing for the participants for the night.

At the end of the performance, former Glee Club performers were invited to join the group on stage. Jim Stocker, Bob Reed, and some 20 percent of the audience of 200 qualified and performed in the final selections. Our old-timers proved they still had talent during parodies of "Song of the Classes" and straight renditions of "Evening Song" and the Alma Mater.

Let's start working now for a mammoth turnout for our "60th in '06" Reunion.We'll have that mammoth turnout, and a ball, if each of us calls a classmate and asks him or her to join us on the Hill in June '06. TO PUBLISH YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS, e-mail it to me. Include your name and city and state of residence. Send news to: -- Paul Levine, 31 Chicory Lane, San Carlos, CA 94070; tel., (650) 592-5273; e-mail, PBL22@cornell.edu. Class website, http://classof46.alumni.cornell.edu.

47 | It is snowing here is in the frigid north as I write in February, but I hope it is gorgeous weather for you as you read it in May. I am currently out of new news from News Forms, so I am going to have to work harder to create this column.

Seymour Rock (seymourock@aol.com) sent me an e-mail—his first-ever submission to the magazine—and tells us that he started at Cornell in 1941, entered the US Army in May 1943, and was discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1946. He re-entered Cornell in September 1946, and was graduated in June 1947 with a BME and married wife Betty shortly after that.He had several job offers, accepted one with the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., and stayed with the company for 20 years while he and Betty lived in Cleveland and Shaker Heights for 20 years. In 1967 he accepted a job offer from General Electric, and with his wife and three kids he drove out to San Jose, CA.He made several trips overseas to the GE Headquarters in Zurich, and coordinated with the GE plant being built on the Rhine River. The plant was finished in 1985, and the nuclear business ended at that point also. After a lay-off, Seymour got a job with Westinghouse Electric in nearby Sunnyvale, and retired from Westinghouse in 1991.His wife died in 1993, he married Frances in 1997, and they have continued living in Sunnyvale.

Sawyer Thompson (tomsimba@aol.com) e-mailed to tell us that his life has been more windshaking than earthshaking. He evacuated his home in Naples because of the two Florida hurricanes and was still in the process of recovering at the time he wrote. He enjoys golf at the beautiful Hobe Sound Golf Club and was able to play while visiting his brother Bill '48 on Long Island last September. Sawyer was re-elected for a four-year term to the Governing Board of the Loxahatchee River Environmental Control Board. I am glad these two friends wrote.

A message from University Vice President Inge Reichenbach reports on the University Board of Trustees and Council meetings held last fall. She reports that all parties "shared President Jeffrey Lehman '77's enthusiasm for and understanding of Cornell's strengths: its diversity of viewpoints and breadth of academic programs, its encouragement of collaboration and interdisciplinary study, the vision of our founders, and his characterization of Cornell as revolutionary and beloved." In addition, she wrote that "the call for increased faculty-student interaction drew an especially positive response."The councilmembers advocated faculty-student mentoring and put that need on equal footing with research and scholarship. Some councilmembers requested "more efficient communications, not just between Cornell and its alumni, but between its alumni and the wider world." There were many calls for a pocketsize "fact sheet" with statistics that we alumni could use to inform. Evidently, the university has plans in the works to launch a monthly, all-alumni e-mail newsletter that they hope will go toward that goal. (My thought: not much help for those without computers!) If any of you are interested, there is available the text and a video of the State of the University Address online at http://www.cornell.edu/president/speeches.cfm.

In 2001 the university started a New Student Reading Project, hoping to initiate dialogue between faculty members and freshmen based on all having read the same designated book. To the great delight of many, the project became a community-wide happening involving staff, administrators, older students, and people of the Ithaca community, spawning more discussion than ever expected. The book for the incoming Class of 2009 is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, written in 1958. The author is from Nigeria and writes of the decay of Africa caused by the involvement of Europe.

Our class vice-president, Barlow Ware, keeps in touch with me often with lighter news from the campus. He evidently had a very happy January enjoying at least eight parties in his honor, celebrating his 80th birthday.He brags he still could jitterbug. Since Barlow's name appears frequently in this column (he's my major source for info from campus) I decided to tell you about him. Barlow started working for Cornell on July 7, 1955 and has been there ever since. Almost 50 years! He retired at 65, but has continued to work in his job for the last 15 year as a volunteer.He is titled Director of Special Projects in the Office of University Development, explaining that he takes on tasks that please him, given to him by his department, other parts of the university, and alumni. He says he really has his own agenda, with a special interest in campus beautification. The department will move from Brown Road to downtown this summer into a new building on Seneca and Tioga streets, where his office will be on third floor.He invites all to visit.

To me he sounds like our own Ambassador Without Portfolio. He began his connection to Athletics running the clock in the new Lynah Rink in the late 1950s before moving to Schoellkopf, where he announced football games for almost 30 years. He now can be found at every home game in the press box on the third floor looking after Important Guests, or on the second floor—the media floor—named in his honor and designated so with a bronze plaque. Special!

You should soon receive the annual News and Dues mailing.When you return the forms, please write about yourselves. It would be good to know something about those whom we haven't heard from in a long time. Your classmates want to know how you are! -- Arlie Williamson Anderson, 238 Dorchester Rd., Rochester, NY 14610; e-mail, arlie47@aol.com.

48 | Virginia Keeler Smith, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL: "Coping with retirement living, trying to reconcile ‘Old Boys' on condo board. Trying to get dinner ordered by 5:00 p.m. Solve all problems by reincarnating Barry Goldwater." John Osborne, Vestal, NY: "Doing AARP tax counseling for the elderly. Granddaughter at West Virginia U. for master's degree in music performance." Prentice Troup,Wolfeboro, NC: "Staying on the move. A good martini, another losing game of gin, and off to bed. Spent two weeks in London. Also play golf—with rapidly ascending handicap. All things are now clear after two cataract operations. Problem today is people who don't listen and don't think. Never figured out what Kerry was talking about. Don't let them beat you down." Lucy Woodruff Groh, Anchorage, AK: "Attempting to put the Groh life accumulation of paperwork in some kind of order. Enjoying visits from and to family, especially to new grandson in Portland, OR.Hope to winter in Palm Desert and cruise on the Queen Mary II."

Jeanne Chamoulaud Kimmell, Cornwall, PA: "Packing to move to Cornwall Manor Retirement Home near daughter in Lebanon. Tried to get rid of four generations of ‘stuff' from women who never threw anything away. Read and watch TV on any channel that teaches me something.Memory is a cone-shaped cup with a tiny hole in the bottom.Day by day you pour more in, but the only things that surface are memories from the '30s, '40s, and '50s. Visited daughter and family in West Virginia near Harper's Ferry where they board racehorses and she raises alpacas. Beautiful place. Just finished pulling out WWI memorabilia and three books from the 19th and 20th century full of Gibson Girl and Boy pin-ups.Uncle Harry was Cornell '13.You should see the Cornell co-ed in her long red dress with the big white ‘C' on her skirt and white muff on her hand. I'd rather be in a canoe floating down the Chemung River if it is still navigable. Spent my elementary school days in Elmira and was flooded out three times.After the '72 flood I found a broken case of Frostilla lotion bottles sans contents. I rescued a few unbroken ones and when they turned lavender in the sun it proved they were pre-WWI.Was packing for a month last September and realized I was a book hoarder. In our original family house we had books in the library, halls, two bathrooms, all seven bedrooms, the kitchen, and the family room (which my late architect husband never completed), and finally in the living room. AARGH!"

Charles Leslie, St. Clair Shores, MI: "I've been retired for 22 years. Should have done it 40 years ago. Play duplicate bridge. Spent a week in the Big Easy (New Orleans) at a bridge tournament, then two more weeks in Cajun Country enjoying unbelievable sightseeing, food, and music." Bob McKinless, Alexandria,VA: "Broken leg healed. Now riding the bike again and singing in Washington's Men's Camerata. Enjoyed seven-day Alaskan cruise with four children, spouses, and four grandchildren. Recently completed an 18-month quest by finding and buying back a toll house clock (with wooden works) that had been in Nancy's family for six generations. An estranged nephew had sold it without telling us and it had changed hands three times before we caught up with it."

Dianne Shapiro Gasworth, Palm Beach, FL: "Retired judge,New York Civil Court, doing mediation work in Palm Beach. Play tennis, bridge, and keep up with the (depressing) news. Recently had a record 13th major operation.Wish I was back at Cornell. Loved my time there. Plan to see grandchildren in college. One's in law school. The golden years are sometimes rusty." Joanne Norton Mayer, Marblehead, MA: "I'm getting my newly fused ankle ready for the ski season. Had a wonderful whitewater-rafting trip on the Colorado River, great summer sailing, and snowy winter in Maine. Getting old is a pain, but we make the most of it."

Charlotte Smith Moore, Binghamton,NY: "Bridge, reading, crossword puzzles, volunteering, entertaining. Traveled to Colorado,New Hampshire, Lake George, and Cazenovia. Go to all home football games. Family was here for Thanksgiving. Cruise to Bermuda in June; family reunion in Kansas later." Harriet Morel Oxman, Sarasota, FL: "Have been elected a second time as president of Friends of Selby Public Library. I'm a volunteer in the Sheriff's Dept. after completing a three-month course in the Sheriff's Citizens Law Enforcement Academy, including rappelling out of a four-story window (pushed by a SWAT team member).Had an unusual trip to Siberia,Mongolia, and China. Rode on the Trans-Siberian Railroad and on a camel and horse, and slept in a Ger (Yurt) in the Gobi Desert. (I'm looking forward to the Statler in 2008!) Many places yet to go and visit."

Ernest Schaufler,MS '52, Ithaca, NY: "Keeping up the old house. Last year I was hoping for rain. Today I'm hoping for sunshine." Edward Brenner, Boca Raton, FL:"Having reached my 78th birthday I must admit that I live a very enjoyable but shallow life. Having retired from work, tennis, and golf, in that order, I now play bridge every day. Because of my wonderful attendance record (and some degree of skill) I have reached that level of Gold Life Master in bridge. I try to balance my shallow life by being a decent, considerate human being in my everyday life. The primary reason I have an enjoyable life is my wife Lee.--Bob Persons, 102 Reid Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050; tel. and fax, (516) 767-1776.

49 | The actor John Wayne has been quoted as saying, "I don't trust ambiguity."Agreed. The simple truth about this column is that it has had more false starts than a Barton Hall track meet.We were a little leery of diving back into the pool, nervous that we would find notices of the passing of '49ers, but got a positive jolt from Bill Feinberg (Ocean, NJ), who sent a pack of photos from our last reunion for the class archives. This is a sneaky way to admit that the mailbag is all pre- Reunion.We will never make it for this column deadline.Hang in there as we cherry-pick for the next time. Besides, we were just reminded that the first week in March was designated National Procrastination Week in 1993.We look forward to celebrating it.Maybe!

The Sun keeps complaining about the Ithaca weather on one hand, but refers to the scene as "FINGER-LAKE'N GOOD." This must be true, as Cornell's applicant pool had more than a 16.7 percent increase from last year with more than 24,000 applications received by the undergraduate colleges for next fall's freshman class. To be fair, we note that all but one of the Ivy League schools increased their pools. Yale was the exception. Post-presidential election fall-out?

Ah, the irony! The National Hockey League called an end to their season after Commissioner Gary Bettman '74, the players, the owners, and a cast of thousands failed to find common ground. There was a lot of huffing and puffing, but no deal.No handshake.Note that there were no cash-paying fans involved. In fact, when have paying customers ever been involved in labor disputes? A rather novel idea. The counterpoint: Back in Ithaca, the men's Big Red hockey team took first place in the ECACHL and the Ivy League, playing before standing-room-only crowds of the loud, wild "Faithful."Dr. E. E. Day told me an arena that seated "about 50"would be all that would be needed. I am certain that he never thought Cornell women would be playing ice hockey! He fought Student Council avidly when it was proposed that a portion of the then-new Student Activities Fee go to women's sports. Times change. The Women's Track and Field Team won their 7th consecutive HEPS championship. Gosh, this will be a dangerous Sadie Hawkins Day.

Tom Clements (Saratoga Springs, NY) has been appointed by Gov. George E. Pataki to serve on the New York State Public Transportation Safety Board. This group investigates all rail and bus accidents across the state, as well as setting safety measures for all the transportation properties. Tom reminds us that he opened his insurance brokerage in 1951 and that his '49er advertising agency was Keegan and Larios, whose office was the back seat of Chris's car in Philly.Where are you, Chris?

Continuing the foolishness in the last column when we pondered the strange manner that we address our body parts in speech, we present the winning contributions from you: "Strike a pose . . . strike a balance . . . split a hair . . . split the difference . . . do the split!" Enough of this. It's time to prepare for serious moments.March 17, for example. Stay well. Stay happy. Be proud to be a '49er. -- Dick Keegan, 179 N.Maple Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830; tel., (203) 661-8584; e-mail, rjk27@cornell.edu.

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