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50 | To introduce myself, I (Marion Steinmann) am the new co-correspondent for this column, replacing Midge Downey Kreitz and alternating with Paul Joslin. I'm a journalist by trade. I was an associate editor at the old weekly Life magazine, writing about science and medicine. Since the weekly Life ceased publication, I have freelanced, writing magazine articles and books.My most recent book, as many of you know, is a report of a survey of the women of the Class of 1950 about what we did with our lives:Women at Work, Demolishing a Myth of the 1950's.

Our new class president, Richard W. Pogue, is a prominent lawyer in Cleveland. Dick formerly headed Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, at one point the largest law firm in the US. Dick is now back at Jones Day as a senior advisor. Dick also is or has been on the boards of many organizations, including Continental Airlines, the Cleveland Inst. of Music, the Cleveland Ballet, and Case Western Reserve U., among many others. At Cornell our senior year, Dick was managing editor of the Cornell Daily Sun when John Marcham was editor-in-chief.

The Tuesday Science section of the New York Times recently mentioned the PAIRS program developed by Lori Heyman Gordon (Weston, FL) in a lengthy article about therapies and other help available for couples with marital problems. PAIRS stands for Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills. PAIRS is not therapy or counseling, Lori explains, but a course--a series of classes. You can learn more about PAIRS and Lori's work from her website, www.pairs.com. Alex Richardson (Livingston, NJ) has published a book called Understanding Parliamentary Procedure, A Tutorial, available from his website, learningsystems.net. Alex's lifelong interest in this subject began in fraternity meetings at Cornell. Alex was the project engineer for the telecommunications system for E-Z Pass on the New Jersey Turnpike. Libby Severinghaus Warner has donated the letters she wrote home to her parents during her four years at Cornell to the Cornell Archives. Libby earned a BFA from the College of Architecture. "It was a tough course," Libby recalls. "We had huge hours of labs, even on Saturday." But in the letters, "you'd think I did nothing but go to parties and football games. And ask for money." Libby has returned to her roots on Philadelphia's Main Line and now lives in Bryn Mawr. Elaine Engst, MA '72, the Cornell University archivist, was delighted to receive Libby's letters, as well as the survey questionnaires that the women in our class filled out and that formed the basis for the Women at Work book mentioned above. My husband and I delivered these questionnaires, which fill three three-inch-thick binders, to Elaine in June when we were in Ithaca for Reunion.

Preston Brower (Castorland, NY) has also recently published a book, Stories of a Boy from Gobblers Knob. "The book chronicles life in the first half of the 20th century in the rural hills of the Adirondacks," Preston explains."My life is used primarily as a timeline. This book is the first of a planned trilogy. I just turned 81 and am hoping to reach 87 to complete the trilogy." Preston was a quality-control manager and is writing this ambitious work despite being legally blind since 2000. Bob Post's number-three grandchild, Katie Post, was due to enter Cornell this fall in the Class of 2009. Bob missed Reunion because of Katie's graduation from high school. Bob recently took a "fabulous trip to Antarctica and South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. How Sir Ernest Shackleton's crew lived on Elephant Island for four months I'll never know." Bob, a mechanical engineer, "worked for 35 years for what was the American Brake Shoe Company and morphed into Abex. I was in sales of brake shoes, wheels, and trackwork to railroads."

Jane Humphreys Dieck, a grade school and high school classmate of mine in Rochester, NY, missed Reunion because she flew to Bermuda with her daughter to meet the Massachusetts-to-Bermuda sailboat race, in which Jane's son-in-law was crewing. After Reunion my husband and I visited another grade and high school classmate of mine, Donald Snyder, JD '52, and his wife Dorothy in their lovely home outside Rochester. Don was treasurer of Eastman Kodak Co. Last winter Ellen Thomas Phillips and her husband Bill (La Mesa, CA) traveled to Laos and Vietnam. Ellen and Bill met as teenagers when their families were Japanese prisoners-of-war in the Philippines during World War II. Ellen missed Reunion because their daughter was getting married and a granddaughter was graduating from high school. Ellen began her working life as a chemist and after her children were grown, turned herself into an artist. She has pieces on public view in San Diego and Los Angeles.

Arthur L. Brundage is a professor of animal science, emeritus, in the Department of Plant, Animal & Soil Sciences at the U. of Alaska. He has now turned his attention from the animal kingdom to the plant kingdom and become a serious gardener. "My collection of five different sunflower varieties,"Art writes, "won Best in Show over all flower entries at the Alaska State Fair recently."Hotel school graduate John J. Carr of McMurray, PA, is active as a consultant to clubs, hotels, and restaurants. John formerly managed the Chartiers Country Club in Pittsburgh. He lunches often with fellow Hotelman Peter Papanou '47. Kirk Reid (Hudson, OH) is putting his engineering knowhow to use by "restoring the 1929 Ford Model A station wagon that I had at Cornell from 1947 to 1950."Kirk was a project engineer for the Terex Corporation. Grace Perkins Naccarato of Lake Luzerne, NY, who taught high school home economics, does volunteer work for her county historical society. William C.Hagel (Ann Arbor, MI), a metallurgical engineer, does oil painting and collects stamps and coins. Formerly president of Arbormet Ltd., Bill has produced two books about "superalloys" and more than 100 technical papers.

A sad note: Kenneth Kersey has written to tell us about the death of his mother, Sally Morrison Kersey, in February of this year. Sally was a social worker in Nevada. "I am sure Cornell had a lot to do with the discipline, determination, and dedication I observed in my mother's efforts in anything she involved herself in," Kenneth writes. "I am grateful she was able to show me the value of such an attitude about life.My mother loved her time at Cornell and spoke of it often."

For many years the Class of 1950 has held a dinner in New York at the time of the annual meeting of the Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO). This coming year CACO will instead meet in Philadelphia, and the class dinner will probably be on Saturday, February 18. Your class officers suggest that you come into Philadelphia a day or two ahead or stay a day or two afterwards, and we'll also plan some other activities.My husband and I will be happy to conduct tours of Center City and also our Historic District (Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, our new Constitution Center, and much more).We can also guide you out to Valley Forge, if you want.Watch your mail for more information about our class's plans for this weekend. Hope to see you here! -- Marion Steinmann, 237 West Highland Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118-3819; tel. (215) 242-8443; e-mail, cjoiner@ix.netcom.com; Paul H. Joslin, 6080 Terrace Dr., Johnston, IA 50151-1560; tel., (515) 278-0960; e-mail, phj4@cornell.edu.

51 | Harry K., PhD '58, and Elizabeth Purdy Schwarzweller '55, Okemos, MI, have six children doing well--three in Farmington, NY, and three in Denver, CO. Harry was awarded the Carlson Distinguished Professorship in Social Sciences at West Virginia U. for the fall 2004 semester. He taught Comparative Sociology and Sociology of Developing Societies. Now back at Michigan State U., he writes, "It is interesting that the Class of '51 is offering a copy of Achebe's book Things Fall Apart. Great! It was required reading in my West Virginia U. course this past fall, along with Naipaul's A Bend in the River. I'd be happy to provide my review questions to the '51 class, and, if any members are brave, they could take my exam. I promise to grade easy!"

Adele Mongan Fasick, San Francisco, CA, toured Argentina's Patagonia for two weeks in summer 2004, and headed for China in June. She is still teaching part-time for San Jose State U.--an on-line course on children's literature for the School of Library and Information Science. She reports hearing that Mary Mundy Arillo had died in December 2002. H. Peirce and Ann Brawner are finally reorganized and settled after a long and tedious move from Seattle,WA, to Warwick, RI. "Two of the greatest states from a sailor's point of view," he comments. Now that he's back in the East, he hopes to make the 55th Reunion. Ken and Anne Ross report from Dublin, GA, that they are beginning their next generation in college with two of their eight grandchildren this year.

Jim Bowers, Newtown, PA, is enjoying life, with some management consulting and some considerable time as deacon and more recently elder of his church after a successful year as stewardship chairman. In Rotary ("my second religion"), he was recently honored with his third Paul Harris Award and the State Vocational Service Award for leadership in vocational and career services and also as chair of the Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee of District 7510. For career services he initiated and led a program at ten high schools where students created a business plan to buy and operate a delicatessen, consulting Rotarian bankers about a loan. He also set up mentoring for Princeton High School students in science at Rider U. For the Ambassador Program he developed a Speakers Bureau of scholars for the 45 clubs in central New Jersey (District 7510). "They have taught us a great deal about various parts of the world through their experiences plus how they developed as special individuals and professionals, many times from modest beginnings."He also reports staying in touch with Keith Seegmiller.

Erik '49 and Phyllis Meyer Simons, Spring Valley, NY, have retired from saving lives with the National Ski Patrol and now risk their own skiing the high peaks from the Rockies to the Alps. Phyllis keeps in touch with Isabel "Lee" Lifson Becker, New City, NY, and Rhoda Horowitz Levine, Scarsdale. AurilynWright Allgor, Jackson Heights, NY, reports that her husband Jerome died March 20, 2005 after a long illness. John G.Martin writes from Yardley, PA, that wife Marjorie (Mahoney) died January 29, 2005. Harry Ewald Petschek, PhD '55, engineering physicist and one-time president of Avco, died on March 29 after a long illness.More about him in another column.

Cornell's Adult University attracted Dave Swormstedt, not heard from recently. He opted for For the Birds: Landscapes and Habitats of San Diego and the Southern California Coast in March with Charles R. Smith and Michael Hamilton as instructors. Barbara Berkowitz Rubin, Rochester, NY, and Vero Beach, FL (winter), reports that while husband Phil completes the great oncology/anatomy text, she is happily reading and swimming. "Not bad for someone with M.S., who scoots instead of walking!" she says. I can sympathize with that. I have a daughter with M.S. She reports that Stan Rodwin '50 and TomHampson, LLB '55, are both in great shape. Tom has a jazz program and teaches at jazz camps when he isn't out birdwatching.

Joyce celebrated husband Kenneth De Gasper's 80th birthday with a party in their Toronto penthouse with 35 friends, including brother Ed De Gasper '48. Kenneth writes from Amherst, NY, that he is closing his Buffalo law office after more than 50 years of practice. Norman Solovay, NYC, has recently authored a book published by the Law Journal Press, The Internet & Dispute Resolution: Untangling the Web, and has "embarked on something of a new career." Some years ago he left a partnership in a large law firm to start a firm with his son. That grew from four to 25 lawyers and was recruited by another large firm. Norman split and became counsel to Hartman & Craven.

Suzanne Briggs Johnson reports from Fort Washington,MD, that meteorologist husband Harry, PhD '54, has retired, and she is an educational therapist at Grace Brethren Christian School in Clinton,MD.Walter Collins writes from Maple Glen, PA, that he was the head of senior issues for the Hoeffel campaign for the US Senate last fall (Specter won). He is an activist on Social Security issues with AARP and the Alliance of Retired Americans.

Barry Nolin's Class of '51 Web page is http://classof51.alumni.cornell.edu. Please send your news to -- Brad Bond, 101 Hillside Way,Marietta OH 45750; tel., (740) 374-6715; e-mail, bbond@ee.net.

52 | Few things catch my attention faster than a letter with a first class stamp. So Stephen Tauber, Lexington,MA, leads the column. In 1998 Stephen retired for the second time, and writes, "I am now carried as a retiree on the records of three distinct companies--for none of which I ever worked." Nothing sneaky, though; he just worked for companies that were merged or sold off. The benefits match his donations to Cornell and cover prescriptions and pension. "A bit confusing," he says, "but it does seem to work out OK."He closed with regards to all. Paul Franks, Tulsa, OK, is "mostly retired but still doing consulting in environmental geology.He stays busy taking care of his 1930 [good year!] vintage house and enjoys a Celtic music series at Tulsa's performing arts center. John Crager, who summers in Upper Jay, NY, and winters in Bisbee, AZ, considers himself a snowbird with health club workouts. His younger sister says he is still a "health nut."He says, "So be it."Whitney Mitchell wrote from Stuart, FL, last November that all was going well despite the trees downed by the two hurricanes that hit the area. Things were fine with his Nantucket home.Whit runs into Cornellians in Florida and Massachusetts and sends "cheers to all."

George Vlahakis, Nashville, TN, is "still hanging in with fairly good health."He continued,"My wife Marina is still doing physical and occupational therapy. She can get around pretty well in spite of having her stroke over five years ago. I feel she's like the ‘Energizer Bunny.' She just keeps on running. As for me, being a caregiver for her is a labor of love. After over 50 years of marriage and after all she's done for me in raising two wonderful children and putting up with me, I have no complaints." Eleanor Moffit Gates, Ivoryton, CT, who last wrote about researching and writing her own books and editing and finishing her father's, now writes, "In recent years I have dealt more with charities, organizations, and causes, which has gone far toward impoverishing me." Joan Schoof Hoffman is still in Bogart, GA. Joan used some spare time during the year to volunteer at the local hospital in its fundraising division and to knit afghans for the local shelters in the evening.

Don Collins, BEE '53, writes, "Same old thing--busy as hell enjoying retirement in Ft. Lauderdale, FL."Water keeps him busy, whether at two yacht clubs, on the QM2, or on the Danube. He also still looks forward to "seeing any surviving EEs or PiKAs or whatever." So call him if you're down that way. He is in the class directory. Peter '53, JD '57, and Jean Thompson Cooper are still in Southold, NY. The Coopers have eight grandchildren, age 30 down to almost 5, and five grandchildren all under 7. Jean's rug-hooking school and classes continue to thrive. Helen Icken Safa has been named to the editorial board of the Latin American Research Review. Her eldest grandson was married in June 2004.

Robert Lamb, Terre Haute, IN, turned 75 July 1, 2004. He'd been through two operations for colon cancer, and radiation and chemo, but reported that he was recuperating OK. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are "happy, healthy, and doing well." Bob received his MLS from UC Berkeley in '61 and served 34 years as an academic librarian, retiring from Indiana State Library on June 30, 1995 as a full professor. Don Parmet, JD '55, who winters in Palm Beach, FL, and summers in Melville, NY, announced the birth of his latest grandson--no granddaughters. David James Cook was born August 12, 2004 to Nancy Parmet Cook '85.

That cleans out the mailbag. I'm sorry that so much of this was written by all of you last fall and winter, but with space and time constraints, that's the way it goes. As I have a little extra word space here, I offer some reminders. If you'd like to reconnect with a classmate or any kind of Cornellian, the online Alumni Directory (https:// directory.alumni.cornell.edu) is there to help. All you need to access it is your Cornell ID--those numbers that appear with your name on all mailings you receive from Cornell. For your entertainment and further education, Cybertower (http://cybertower.cornell.edu) is as close as your computer. Try it. Try, too, the Class of '52 Web page (http://classof52.alumni.cornell.edu), which Paul and Polly Prine Herman work hard to keep up. They, as I, would like to hear from you. Finally, the 2006 CACO and class meetings will be in Philadelphia in February. If you remember Philadelphia from the '50s or '60s, believe me, it has changed. So think about attending.

And as I have a few words left, do any of you know the whereabouts of Bernard M. Bates, Don L. Bates, or Alexander Bernitz? If so, let us know. -- Joan Boffa Gaul, 7 Colonial Pl., Pittsburgh, PA 15232; e-mail, jgcomm@aol.com.

53 | The melodies linger on for Jack Brophy, Al Packer, and other Fifties vintage Cayuga's Waiters. Fourteen from the classes of '51 through '60 were guests of the kids from '55 at their 50th. Jack says they sang for five different audiences, looking particularly for "ladies from '55 to listen to ‘Good Night Little Girl' and blush."No dice. But "one cute coed" jumped onto a singer's lap during the serenade at Cornelliana Night. "Gerry Grady said that I was the only one he knew that was still doing the things he did 50 years ago," says Jack.

Former Naval person Ted Bauckman (W. Yarmouth, MA) describes himself as a "Wash Ashore" on Cape Cod since 1984. But he retains vivid memories of the 1938 hurricane and the devastation it wrought. He offers assistance, advice, and directions to classmates who wander onto the Cape--and he ought to know whereof he speaks after all those years on that salty peninsula, many of them as a realtor. Ted says he's blessed with a family of 26 of assorted generations. Speaking of seagoing, Ted Hunt Jr. (Midlothian,VA) reports "a wonderful cruise visiting five islands in five days (St.Martin, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Thomas), with the unique experience of observing Christmas Day entirely on water."Not like the ones we used to know (no treetops glistening, no listening for sleighbells in the snow).

Alan Raynor (Venice, FL) is a former real estate person. He's left his longtime career to embrace the creative arts. After a year of self-teaching, he feels comfortable creating sculpture in glass. The Gulf Coast sea creatures provide inspiration and life models that exceed the standard range of human imagination.Members of the Class of '53 are invited to critique his handiwork at outdoor shows around Florida, says he. Dave Gatti (Huntington, NY) is "still doing hand-lettering for book covers. After so many years working in pen and ink, I've recently taken up brush and paint to work in color again. Shades of those long-ago days on campus in Morse Hall (long gone--replaced by the Johnson Museum) with Profs. Evett and Daly, talking of Tanguy and Gris, and painting with alacrity . . .We huddle near the hearth now, reading and talking of now and of yesteryear." PaulMakosky (St.Michael's, MD) tells of five grandkids who "develop and delight us. They're approaching computer/e-mail literacy, forcing us to acquire new communication skills."Meanwhile, Paul is completing a million-dollar performance space addition to the local art academy. It's tailored to small group musical events, like chamber music. He's seen the Eastern Shore Chamber Music Festival into its 20th year of free performances. And, finally, Paul and spouse Linda have given in, acquired their first computer and digital camera, and are "teaching ourselves the new set of skills required to use them effectively."

Bill and Nancy Milliman Burnett split the year between Fort Myers, FL, and Slingerlands, NY, but wherever she's in residence Nancy goes bicycling for an hour every morning, swimming when the sun shines. (That's more frequent in Florida than in the Buffalo environs, we're guessing.) "On the other hand, son Bob has a pool and lives two blocks from us in Slingerlands, so I can swim there, too. I love to swim. But my favorite activity after reading is playing my keyboard. At home I have an electric organ. I'm still learning the left hand.My original teacher used to hit my knuckles with a ruler. I quit after the recital. So I'm learning the left hand once more." (But there's no knuckle-knocking now, we hope.)

Many move to the Southwest for golden years in the sun, but cattle rancher Linda Mitchell Davis (Cimarron, NM) was praying for rain for seven long, lean years of drought.We're informed that things were looking better last spring after a good snow pack and spring moisture. Linda is "delighted to have my six children and eight grandchildren involved in our ranch operation. Besides representing New Mexico on the board of the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City and several livestock associations," Linda's an emergency medical technician with the Cimarron volunteer ambulance, "serving an area larger than Rhode Island." It's a pleasure to note that she had time to attend Homecoming in Ithaca last year. Genie Mandelbaum Deutsch has left the life that late she led back in Woodbridge, CT, for the wonderful world ofWisconsin. She and Stan sold the Connecticut place--home for many years--and have moved into an apartment in Milwaukee to be "closer to some of our grandchildren." There are three in Milwaukee, two in Seattle, two more in New Jersey, and 11 in Israel. They'll be wintering in Florida, where there are no reported grandlings. Guess they'll have to take a few with them. Virginia Wenz Cobb (Jacksonville, FL) is going to lots of sports events again, as she formerly did to support people who were to become parents of her 11 grandchildren. There are three sets: two in Jacksonville and one in Chattanooga. She's in her 35th year as a volunteer under the 175-foot oak canopy at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. She was getting around well enough on two replacement knees to enjoy last December's two-week African safari.

Recent Class of 1953 Cornell Tradition Fellow Isabel Huacuja '05, formerly of Laredo, TX, has been bitten by the Big Apple. After showing mom, grandmom, and little sister their first views of campus, gorgeous gorges, and bustling town, Isa became a Cornell grad and almost immediately thereafter an employee of a New York law firm.

See you at the Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO) Mid-Winter activities in Philadelphia, Feb. 17-18? -- Jim Hanchett, 300 1st Ave., Apt. 8B, NYC, NY 10009; e-mail, jch46@cornell.edu.

54 | I do believe we all benefit from the winds of change, be it in the form of location, friends, ideas, physical or mental endeavor, or methods of communication. Our reunion reinforced my perception of our willingness to seek new horizons in our lives. Following along with that thinking, this summer I have sought new ways of contacting class members via e-mail. I have offered this means of newsgathering as it is informal, convenient, and fast. My e-mail address is always at the end of this column, so you are just a type-and-send away from landing in the column with an update. The response to my initial e-mailing has been very positive in its simplicity of reply.

This column is written in August when the weather in the Nation's Capital is fit only for denizens of the Brazilian rainforest. That being the case I escaped briefly to the mountains of Santa Fe, NM.While there I spent a delightful evening with Susan and Ash Collins. Ash is almost fully retired after a career of consulting in the energy field, mostly electric utility clients. Ash says his work drew considerably on the great learning that he enjoyed at the feet of Prof. Alfred E. Kahn. Flying has been a lifelong love and, while his Angel Flights may have slowed some, he is still in the air instructing others in the joy of sailplanes (gliders). Another benefit of being almost retired is the time available for tennis, a sport he and Susan enjoy together.

George Gibson, another e-mail enthusiast, has been living in Ogden, UT, since retiring from the Air Force in 1984. George worked for Hercules Aerospace as plant engineer for eight years before the industry took one of its nosedives. At that juncture, in order to say out of Diane's hair, he started a small home remodeling business, which was a great success. Under the heading of helping his fellow man, George has served on the Salvation Army Board for 20 years and has been active both at the parish and Diocesan levels of the Episcopal Church. He has also been a SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) counselor, where he has helped others start their own small businesses.

"It's a wonderful life," according to Doris Caretti Oniskey, who is always upbeat and engaged. This summer Doris returned to campus twice, once for Len '55's class's reunion and the next time for her first CAU experience taking a course in drawing. Doris ended her CAU week with the Stan Tsapis, LLB '58, family at their house on the lake. Having already covered a good deal of the world, she has, this year, added Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and the Dominican Republic to her checklist, which by my way of looking at things should have been first on her list.When at home Doris says she drives and visits people who are even older than we are. She is also the Home Ec component for her home-schooled grandchildren. It does indeed sound like a very good life.

Bob Bower retired from his first career with IBM, during which he traveled the globe in various management positions. He has now embarked on a new career that encompasses golf and flying his Cessna to various locations to play golf. Sounds like having fun as a means to more fun. Assume they also use it to see a grandchild or two en route. Bob sees Don Henn '52, BS CEE '53, Bob Vogel '52, and Bob Appleby regularly. They always plan on taking in a football game or two. In an e-mail, I had asked what advice we might give to those younger than ourselves and Bob suggested they "take the time necessary to find out what they like to do and then spend the time being the best they can at it. This applies to work and play and makes for a happy life." I think we could all agree with that.

Paul Napier has used his ILR education for the past 23 years as representative for the shared SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) jurisdiction in both the wages and working conditions deliberations and subsequent negotiations of contracts--making his participation more than that of any other member in either union's history. Paul's career as actor and voice performer dates from the early '60s and has decidedly not been one of a 9-5 pattern. Paul says he is as busy today as he has been for the past 40 years. Among Paul's many roles, he counts that of the original General Motor's "Mr. Goodwrench." Paul has taught at UCLA and USC and conducted weekend seminars in various locations. He lists founder of the annual national televised SAG Awards Show on his CV, along with that of coaching both high school football, since 1977, and Pop Warner football, since 1968.

Keep those e-mails coming. By my next column our new baby panda at the National Zoo will have a name (the Chinese have naming rights) and be on exhibit.Meanwhile, I am watching him very carefully during my stints running the panda cam. --Leslie Papenfus Reed, 500 Wolfe St., Alexandria,VA 22314; e-mail, ljreed@speakeasy.net. Class website, http://classof54.alumni.cornell.edu/. Cornell Directory, https://directory.alumni.cornell.edu/. Class news online, http://www.alumni.cornell.edu.classes.htm.

55 | Just before Reunion, Barbara O'Connor Kenny sent a photo of five Cornell gals and their husbands, all decked out in red jackets, taken at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Other '55 coeds in the group were Alice Zufall Fellenzer and Mary AnnMeyer Adams. "The evening ended around 1:00 AM, with loud singing of all the Cornell songs playing on a CD player in one of the cars."

Among several post-Reunion comments were these: Don Scheer's wife Jan wrote to thank "all who did such a marvelous job of arranging everything for our pleasure." Hilly McCann Dearden's daughter Laurel Gardner commented, "I now understand in a deeper way what draws my mother back to Ithaca every five years." Don Maclay reported that Delta Tau Delta's freshman class had 21 members, and of those, ten were at Reunion! Don sent a Class of 1955 red jacket to Gene Marsh, who was recovering from leg surgery. Roger Rothballer was sorry to miss Reunion, as were Bob '54 and Wendy Witherell Hill, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary. Sam Salus said he arranged for Dick Hutman and Jerry Rosenau to come to Reunion, and had also spoken to Tom Litwin and Jerry Flagg. Rona Kass Schneider was sidelined by a fractured kneecap, but adds, "I'll try for the 55th."

Bill Doerler is retired from the family business, Doerler Landscaping, so he and Pat spend summers in Avalon, NJ, and winters in Singer Island, FL. They had dinner with old pal Tom Fricke and his wife. Roger Grigson is president of the Downingtown, PA, Historical Society, among other activities, and sees fellow Hotelie Dick Wood regularly. These days, Donald Demske enjoys painting, gardening, and set building, but said he'd "rather be a hostile linebacker for the Redskins, designated hitter for the Nationals, or shooting foul shots for the Wizards!" Don adds that he's "married to his child bride and she's still a cute chick." John Apgar retired from J.C. Penney 11 years ago, and he and Peggy built a house on seven acres in Terre Haute, IN.

When we heard from Bob Sanders, he was making plans to attend our 50th Reunion (his first!). Bob has been teaching math for 47 years. "I like my job; that's why I keep doing it!"He's also "blessed with great health--a vote for low carbs, low fat, exercise, and multivitamins." Jane Tyroler Sweeney teaches piano and coaches singers in New York City and Westchester County. Peter Haje has three children, age 42 down to 13, and lives in New York City. Pat Hewson Mason is a member of three Ogunquit, ME, town committees, does P.R. for a local art gallery, and writes a weekly food column. Another couple celebrating their 50th anniversary in June were the Sutters, Marcia (Willemen) and Philip, who were married the afternoon of our graduation in the Lutheran Church in Collegetown. Dorothy Conley Cooper opened a ballroom dance studio last spring, and facilitated a countywide leadership group for the Chamber of Commerce. She appreciates being "part of an historic and forward-progressing community" (Circleville, OH).

Loved this story: Some 50 years ago, Fred Antil, our new class president, was invited to Elmira College's Centennial celebration by a girl he was dating there. He and some fellow DUs went down to Elmira, checked into the Mark Twain hotel, "and quickly discovered that room service would deliver pitchers of whisky sours to the room." Emboldened by these refreshments, Fred entered a waltz contest that night, which was being judged by Hollywood dancer Ann Miller. Fred and his date came in second, which he felt was "not too bad, considering my sour-induced haze." Flash forward 50 years, and Fred gets a call from President Lehman's office at Cornell, asking if he would represent Cornell at Elmira's Sesquicentennial celebration! Fred readily accepted, "and this time I was in academic regalia, and not a rented tux."Hope the whisky sours tasted just as good 50 years later! --Nancy Savage Petrie, 6 Inkberry St., East Hampton, NY 11937; e-mail, nancypetrie@juno.com. Class website, http://classof55.alumni.cornell.edu.

56 | I just returned from a two-week vacation in Russia on a Volga River cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg, and I wanted to share a Cornell experience with you.While in St. Petersburg, I visited the childhood home of our professor Vladimir Nabokov, who was most famous for writing Lolita, but famous to us for his course on comparative European literature. The house is now a museum that contains Prof. Nabokov's memorabilia, including secretly circulated hand-copied Nabokov works officially banned for print in Soviet times, as well as photographs of each of his homes in Ithaca while he was a professor at Cornell. There was also a special collection of butterflies that Prof. Nabokov gave to his wife Vera, whom I believe was his teaching assistant in our classes. The property is so valuable that there is talk that the municipality may be selling it for redevelopment as residential condos. If anyone is planning to be there, it's worth a visit: 47 Bolshaya Morskaya, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Mini-reunions. This from Carole Rapp Thompson: "Rivka Gebiner Chatman, Lillian Heicklen Gordon, and I reuned in Rochester in July to celebrate a ‘combined 210 years, honoring our achieving the big seven-oh.' The week included ‘far above Keuka's (sic) waters' at Esperanza, a wine-tasting at Dr. Frank's vineyards, facials, salt rubs, a boat tour of the latest McMansions on Canandaigua Lake, courtesy of Mike Silver, Rivka's loving companion, and shopping at Wegmans and savoring the new corn, a real treat for a New Yorker like myself."

Lucille Snayerson Rich, New York City, writes: "Still living in Manhattan in the same apartment. I wrote a research report on post-traumatic stress disorder after 9/11." Lucille adds her best memories of student life at Cornell: "tray-sliding on the Libe Slope and working as a group leader in a settlement house for adolescents in downtown Ithaca." LizWright Tower, Sandy Creek, CT, sent news of an exhibit in June of her watercolors at the local Keyes Gallery, and a trip this past April with husband Bill '55 and classmate Ginny Tyler Renouard and her husband Laddie to see the ruins in Sicily and Libya. Liz has offered to "round up" her fellow Kappas to attend our 50th.

Nancy Marx Thorpe, Carbondale, CO, is still at the Aspen Inst. in Aspen, CO, as office administrator/gallery curator, and spending more time at her home in San Pancho, a small fishing village north of Puerto Vallarta, brushing up on Spanish, beach walking, and doing lots of reading. Murray Meltzer, MD, Tenafly, NJ, is a professor of ophthalmology,Mount Sinai Medical Center after being in private practice and writing three books. Arthur Reimann, Lakeland, FL, is still working as a self-employed food broker. Foster Kinney, Fullerton, CA, is semi-retired, selling income-producing property in Fullerton, CA, near Disneyland.

Vera JohnsonWinter Lee, San Francisco, CA, reports that she has been happily retired for 11 years.Vera sings with the San Francisco Choral Society and ushers for the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet. Marvin Kirschner, Livingston, NJ, retired from the faculty of UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School, where he served as chief of endocrinology and is now emeritus professor of medicine. Theodora Litner Weihe, Boca Raton, FL, writes that she is retired, remarried, enjoying golf, and teaching water aerobics.

We've heard from Norma Redstone Shakun (Williamsville,VT), Sharon Lee Babat (Boynton Beach, FL), Eric Truhol (St. Clair Shores, MI, and Tierra Verde, FL), Dixie Davis Curtice (Washington Crossing, PA), and Oliver Lednicer (Mt. Kisco, NY), who in retirement has opened a mediation practice regarding disputes in communal living situations such as condos, assisted living facilities, etc. From Bob and Judy Combs Gallinger, Peru, NY: Bob is active in Habitat for Humanity and has been on a church mission in Jamaica to help build medical and dental facilities. Judy continues to volunteer combating illiteracy, and is "spending time at the Y to try to put off aging." From Gene Rook's wife Janet, Lyndonville, NY: Gene was retired with heart problems and from that was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago. Janet knows that Gene would appreciate his classmates' prayers.

I am very saddened to report the passing of our classmate Werner Mendel of Neversink, NY, on June 26.Werner was a dynamic man who pursued his passion, refused to take the easy route, and inspired others to follow their dreams and heart. He will be missed most for his ability to create his visions, whether in the world of finance or in building the New Age Health Spa.We, his classmates, will miss him. -- Phyllis Bosworth, 8 East 83rd St., New York, NY 10028; tel., (212) 734-5009; e-mail, phylboz@aol.com.

57 | Among those celebrating the 70th (birthday, not reunion!) this past summer were Jan Nelson Cole and Joan Reinberg Macmillan. In June, Jan and her family enjoyed wonderful weather and a stay at Tide's Inn on the Northern Neck in Virginia. Swimming, fishing, and a dinner cruise on son Nelson's boat capped a great weekend. In early July, Jan was in Colorado for a few weeks and reports that a group of young alums was playing in a lacrosse tournament in Vail. Cornellians are everywhere! By the end of July, Jan was off to Ithaca and a week at CAU learning about the ecology, geology, and archaeology of Cayuga Lake and the region.

Hurricane Dennis caused a one-day postponement for Joan's surprise birthday party organized by her daughter in Tallahassee, FL. After making her entrance on a red carpet and greeting her many guests, Joan sat down, not to play the piano, but to enjoy the entertainment by some of her friends in the Tallahassee Little Theatre group. Joan wound up her summer of celebration joining Marj Nelson Smart for a Cornell alumni trip to Italy's Lake District. ShirleyWagoner Johnson spent most of her summer in Maggie Valley, NC, after moving from her Lakeland, FL, home to a townhouse in Atlanta, GA. Also in the Atlanta area is Lyn Nehrbas Alexander. Lyn, grandmother of seven, age 2 to 19, has been teaching swimming lessons to children and aquarobics to adults, along with a bit of yoga.

You probably have received the class dues renewal form by now. PLEASE take time to fill in some information about yourself, family, etc. Your news is what keeps this column going. Class officers will be meeting in Philadelphia next February 17-18, and as plans begin to gel for our 50th, Paul Gladstone and Dori Goudsmit Albert will be looking for volunteers. Perhaps you'll be interested in adding your name to the list. -- Judith Reusswig, 19 Seburn Dr., Bluffton, SC 29909; e-mail, JCReuss@aol.com.

We lost a dear classmate in August when Jack McCormick passed away a week shy of his 70th birthday. Jack was a great supporter of Cornell, and this was more than evident over the many times I visited him both in Florida and New Jersey. One of my fondest remembrances involves Jack's visit to our house in Kentucky many years ago when he was president of King Edward Cigars. He brought a box of samples, and I have a picture of Jack and my two sons (then ages 9 and 10) lighting up. A memorial service was held in Ponte Vedra. Thanks to Gerry Grady '53 for keeping me posted on Jack's situation and the service.

Steve and Lee Laden hosted a pre-orientation pep rally for the 65 incoming freshmen in the Philadelphia area in August at their Mt. Airy home. In addition to meeting each other and several alumni/alumnae, the new Cornellians were treated to a vast array of horticulture originating at Cornell, thanks to Brad Baker '83, father of incoming freshman Audrey Baker and owner of a world famous landscape design firm.

Steve Levine, MBA '59, sent along a delightful e-mail in which he reminisced about Baker Hall freshman year when he and Phil McIndoo were hallmates, and the fact that the 50th is creeping up on us. Steve's father was a member of the Class of 1928 (as was my father) and his daughter Lauren graduated in '87. Son Jeffrey has an 8-yearold daughter who might be Ithaca bound in a few years, thus making the Levine family a four-generation Cornell conglomerate. Steve worked for Bell Labs for 38 years, followed by four years with a fiber-optic undersea cable division of AT&T. He and Elaine are now residing in an adult community in Somerset, NJ. Let's not tell the Admissions folks, but if it weren't for some "help" from freshman roommate (and high school classmate) Bernard Horton on a Latin Regents Exam in his high school days, the four-generation gig may not have had a chance. A note from Gil Lamb, BCE '59, recalls his Army years, which took him away from Cornell (he came back to finish in '59) and his fifth-year adventure of rooming with Ike Eisinger. They had both lost several roommates over the years, and Gil believes their membership in Mummy/Majura may have had something to do with their "extended" education cycle. -- John Seiler, 221 St.Matthews Ave., Louisville, KY 40207; tel., (502) 895-1477; e-mail, Suitcase2@aol.com.

58 | Classmates attending CAU seminars and study tours last spring included Stephen, MBA '59, and Evalyn Edwards Milman '60, and John '55 and Almeda Church Riley (For the Birds: Landscapes and Habitats of San Diego); and William '59 and Karen Shannon Tafuri (April in New York: A Spring Theatre Weekend).

The following note, "Tributes to Elsie Dinsmore Popkin," was sent in by Barbara Buehrig Orlando after the last tribute in July of this year.With a little editing, here it is: "Along with classmates stunned by artist Elsie Dinsmore Popkin's death in January from complications of chemotherapy, hundreds of admirers have honored Elsie's passionate spirit, advocacy, and wonderful talent.Husband Mark and their three children were ‘overwhelmed' by the tributes near their home in Winston-Salem, NC: an exhibit of Elsie's paintings, two memorial concerts,more than 600 mourners at an evening service, and an editorial in the Winston-Salem Journal honoring her many contributions to the community." In April, "friends of Elsie," led by Barbara, organized a tribute at the Johnson Museum that included Museum Director Frank Robinson, Director of Cornell Plantations Don Rakow, PhD '87, Art/Architecture Prof. Jane Loucey, and members of the President's Council of Cornell Women. Classmates participating included Anita Podell Miller, Madeline Isaacs Noveck, and Harriet Auerbach Peters.

Earlier in the year, Elsie had been eagerly awaiting the unfurling of The Gates by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in Central Park. Instead, sad friends joined Mark in the park on February 12, knowing that one of The Gates was being dedicated to Elsie. Then, this summer on July 25, Lew Futterman and his wife Starla hosted a Manhattan gathering planned by Elsie's sister, singer/songwriter Anne Phillips, and brother-in-law Bob Kindred (who also plays a cool sax). There was melancholy jazz; Kayleigh Futterman, 12, who's studying with Anne, sang; and slides were shown of Elsie's garden pastels.Mark, the children, five grandchildren, and cousins from afar mixed with Cornellians, painters, and musician friends. "Elsie was always sketching," a friend since grade school recalled; "one was a very good likeness of actor Peter Lawford."How's that for carrying us way back, Barbara asks? Thanks for the memories, Elsie.We miss you. Thus, our columns end for the year with this fine note of remembrance. Thank you, Barbara.

Jan Arps Jarvie and I now look for updates from classmates to refill our empty In boxes. Please do return your News Form from the annual fall News and Dues mailing. Until next time, best wishes to all for Happy Holidays and a good New Year. -- Dick Haggard, rhaggard@voicenet.com; Jan Arps Jarvie, jjarvie@sbcglobal.net. For more class news, check http://classof58.alumni.cornell.edu.

59 | Congratulations and best wishes to Bob Mueller, DVM '68, and his college sweetheart Marcia (Meigs) '60. After many years they found each other once again, via the online Cornell Alumni Directory Online, and were married on Valentine's Day last February. They live in Albuquerque, NM--hopefully with lots of room, for they have 32 grandchildren between them!

On the animal front: Among the volunteer work of Carolyn Babcock van Leer of Freeville, NY, who retired some five years ago as district treasurer of the local school district, is training and socializing dogs at the Tompkins County SPCA. Barbara Friedman Ramrus of Boynton Beach, FL, left nursery and elementary school teaching years earlier for work in the field of animals. She started pet-sitting during that time and continued to enjoy it following her move to Florida eight years ago. She now runs Barbara's Boarding for dogs and puppies, providing "hugs, kisses, treats, and general spoiling." Barbara's husband Karl, a retired New York City teacher, works part-time in merchandising. The latest addition to their family is Sweetpea, a young wire-haired mini-dachshund.

"Much to the concern of my children and friends, I acquired a Newfoundland puppy at the end of January," writes Carol Vieth Mead of Palos Verdes Estates, CA."He is a rascal, but great company for me and my 6-year-old Newfoundland." Carol's daughter Betsy Mead Noel '86 and spouse Andy (Cornell's Athletic Director) had daughter Amelie Elizabeth last October. "She's a darling!" enthuses Carol, who has made several trips to Ithaca to visit her granddaughter.

Toby Friedman Gottfried of Orinda, CA, retired as chief science officer of Calypte Biomedical after 14 years with the biotech company. She continues to provide consulting services to the company. Since Jim Grunzweig of Chagrin Falls, OH, appeared in this column at the beginning of the year, he has welcomed a new grandchild-- number eight--to the family fold. Barbara Sue McIntosh Daley and her husband have five grandchildren, ages 3 to 12, living near their home in Trumbull, CT.

Paul,MBA '65, and Janet McCarthy of Pittsboro, NC, spent the early months of 2005 rebuilding their hurricane-destroyed home in Vero Beach, FL. Paul writes that his consulting business remains interesting and limited--"doesn't interfere with travel!" he notes. Trips include regular visits to their daughters who live in Miami and Santa Fe, plus jaunts to Ireland, Lake Tahoe, and Istanbul and the Greek Islands. Also on the go has been Jean FinertyWandel of Falmouth, ME, who this year traveled to the Bahamas and India. Gerald and Joan Travis Pittel of Boynton Beach, FL, went to Machu Picchu, the Amazon jungle, and the Galapagos. And Harriet Benjamin of Forest Hills, NY, flew to St. Louis to attend her nephew's graduation from medical school.

PaulaMillenthal Cantor,Woodcliff Lake, NJ, has recently mounted a few shows of her watercolors and is working toward another show in 2006. Rochelle Leffert Spergel, NYC, had a recent art show at the city's Temple Emanuel. And Naomi Meltzer Rubin, Gladwyne, PA, had her work on display in two shows in August, at American College in Bryn Mawr and the Third Street Gallery in Philadelphia.

"Lomax Prepares Global Human Resources Course for Fall" headlines an online article from the Moore School of Business at the U. of South Carolina, Columbia. The article portrays the newfound love for teaching of Stan Lomax, JD '62, who has been at the Moore School since 2001. It also describes the course he created for seniors, Global Human Resources, which is being offered for the first time this semester. The course explains why human resources management provides a competitive edge in today's global marketplace. "Low production costs, technology, and access to capital are still necessary, but the traditional sources of competitive advantage cannot provide a sustainable edge any longer," he is quoted as saying. The article continues that it's because the marketplace has become so global that humans are needed to "analyze and discover what to do next in the business, particularly when they are far away from headquarters on another continent," says Lomax. "We're in a new world. The ballgame has changed a whole lot."

On a personal note, Stan enthuses about his recent journey to western China. He spent almost a month there with four other USC professors, following the silk route to Turpan, Dunhuang, and their ultimate goal, Urumchi. "This last city has the mysterious European mummies, over 3,200 years old. Our leader, Prof. Charles Alber, has made a lifetime study of Chinese history, and was incredibly helpful in opening some of the possible theories of how these people came, and left, this barren desert area. The very-well-preserved bodies are housed in an old, dark museum, but even in the dim light, we were astonished at how fresh-looking these bodies are. Their clothing, almost tartan-like textiles, is incredibly well-preserved." -- Jenny Tesar, 97A Chestnut Hill Village, Bethel, CT 06801; tel., (203) 792-8237; e-mail, jet24@cornell.edu.

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