CURRENT ISSUE | SUBSCRIBE | ADVERTISE | WRITE TO US | CORNELL AUTHORS | PAST ISSUES
| SEP./OCT. 2005 VOLUME 108 NUMBER 2 | Class Notes |
40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49
41 | It is our sad duty to report the death on July 20, 2005 of Ralph Antell, the good-spirited, steadfast, and tireless correspondent for the Men of the Class of '41. As Ralph was always conscientious about supplying your updates to us, no matter the deadline, his news reports will continue to appear in the next couple of issues. He wrote the following column late in the spring.We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Anne and their four children.--Ed.
To get in the mood, I am playing a Benny Goodman CD--real swing music, like "Let's Dance," "Avalon," and "It Had to be You." Elton Borden lives in a house on his brother's farm. His second home is a travel trailer--he spends weekends with his camping club. The trailer serves as home in the Orlando, FL, area December through February. "We are in fairly good health.We still square and round dance and have traveled in Europe."
Malcolm Vail retired in 1995 and spends six months in Ephraim,WI, sailing out of the local Yacht Club. He is a director at Delnor Hospital. His three children, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren are all in good health and doing just fine. "Betty and me? At age 86, we're still quite active and in pretty good shape for the shape we're in." Class president Bill Webber has a new address: 408 Stoutenburgh Lane, Pittsford, NY 14534. "After major surgery in 2003 and 2004, I sold my house and moved into a new home located in a multi-care facility. I travel to visit four children and grandchildren. I look forward to the 65th Reunion."
Robert Haase and wife Arlene moved into Villa Medici, Apt. 110, 9534 Ash Street, Overland Park, KS 66207. "We have a beautiful backyard with a large patio and a stream for fishing. The yard is cared for by the community, including snow removal. I am still a courier at the bank twice a week and enjoy it." Jack Sterling and wife Hil downsized to a villa at 76 Jillian Circle,West Hartford, CT 06107. They plan a trip to China, as well as a fall reunion with Tom and Barb Shreve and Dave and Sally Ketchum. John and Mickey Borst also went through a similar experience. They sold their home of 25-plus years in Hamilton, NY, and moved to a lifecare community in Leesburg, FL. "Our greatest loss was the passing of Bart Bartholomew, a beloved friend and Theta Delta Chi brother. Our sympathy and prayers go to his wonderful wife Eddie (Burgess)."
Fred Rosekrans and wife Mary moved to Naples, FL, in September 2004 and love it. They were in New York City for the wedding of their oldest grandson, and Fred hopes to have dinner with his cousin Jean Way Schoonover. Sad note from Anthony Pennock: "My wife died last year after 59 years of marriage. She had diabetes and Alzheimer's. I've been going on Elderhostel trips." Robert and Elsie Harley have been married 61 years. Robert writes, "I wish I could walk better. Elsie is a fantastic caregiver. So much energy and ability."
Businessman, engineer, loyal Cornellian, and active classmate Chuck Lake died on June 7 in Hinsdale, IL. I received a long and informative obituary last summer and will share more about Chuck's life in the next issue. -- Ralph Antell, Beaufort Towers, 7015 Carnation St., Apt. 408, Richmond, VA 23225-5233.
EleanoreWearne Holderman, of Orange, CA, is well and lives happily in a retirement home. She has family nearby, and two daughters live in Northern California. She is proud to have ten grandchildren. Dorothy Newman Seligman and husband Donald live in Somers, NY. They are well and healthy, keep busy, and have a full and interesting life. Donald still works part time, but they play tennis and golf. Dorothy does volunteer work and is on several boards and committees at the condominium where they live. She and Donald travel often; this year they are going to Barcelona and surroundings. Her children are both Cornellians, and the children and grandchildren all live nearby.
Martha Perkins Melfi of Liverpool, NY, reports she has no health problems. She takes lots of bus trips. She took two trips to Europe last year--one to France and Italy and one to central Europe. She plans to go to the 756 Tank Battalion Reunion with her daughter. Three children live close by in Liverpool, Syracuse, and Cato. She does a lot of reading and makes rosaries as a hobby. Ruth Kessel Butterly lives in New York City and is still very active as a volunteer at the New York Public Library. Among her various jobs are cataloging the menu collection, which is extensive and dates from the mid-nineteenth century, filing various gallery notices and articles of the art and architecture division, and serving at the information desks. This work gives her good contact with various fields.
Betty Bourne Cullen is moving to an independent living facility in Fort Collins, CO, with family close by, lots of activities, and no more cooking. She says it will be wonderful to be near children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.We received word that Maja Cavetz Stamp died in Vienna,VA, on April 13, 2005 after a long illness. She majored in Floriculture and enjoyed working in her beautiful gardens when she lived in Ithaca.-- Dorothy Talbert Wiggans, 415 Savage Farm Dr., Ithaca, NY 14850; tel., (607) 266-7629; e-mail, flower@localnet.com.
42 | A Cornell Alumni Magazine story reminded me of the job I had as secretary of the History department during WWII. One of the professors I worked for was Mario Einaudi, who became the first president of Italy after the war. His nephew Franco Einaudi, PhD '67, is now president of the American Meteorological Society and director of the Earth-Sun Exploration Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. So don't fail to read the interesting articles in every issue.
Doris Stone Hanrahan (Montauk, NY) called with news of her military family.Her son-in-law is a Navy commander stationed in Bahrain, and her son is an Army general stationed in the US. Her Florida home, unfortunately, is in Punta Gorda, an area that has made the news for not getting the houses repaired following last year's hurricanes. Stonie's house still lacks its roof. She believes that Jim Goodwillie (York, PA) might also have a home there and she'd love to hear from him. She also states, "I have always felt I must finish reading any book I start, and that was put to the test regarding The Trial. To put it succinctly, I hated it--and with no apology for my lack of appreciation." Stonie, please send your Montauk address.
Evelyn VanTyne Morrison (Nedrow, NY) belongs to the Cornell Women's Club of Syracuse and enjoys spending time at her home in the Thousand Islands near the bridge to Canada. She also takes part in activities and classes at her local senior center. "Tyny" is proud of her grandchild Mike, who made the National Honor Society for Outstanding Academic Achievement at Clayton, NY's Thousand Island High School.
Here's some old news: Virginia Stockamore Henry (Albany, NY; gingerhenry@mailstation.com) volunteers at the AMC Hospital, the Red Cross, and the Albany Inst. of History, but hasn't traveled outside the US recently. Gladys McKeever Seebald (Wyomissing, PA) reminisces with her former roommate Kathryn "Kiffie" Fiske Weikel (Pottstown, PA) and they hope to get together. Gladys and Henry attended his veterans' reunion, and she keeps busy with bridge, crossword puzzles, and solitaire on the computer.
Sadly, we report the passing of Glenn Botsford (Ithaca) the day after his 86th birthday. Glenn took graduate studies at the universities of Wichita and Washington. He learned to fly in Ithaca and enlisted in the Navy in 1942, where he qualified as a naval aviator. He flew with TWA and was later a test pilot with Boeing, retiring as an aeronautical engineer in 1984. He and his brother Hal climbed Mt. Rainier in 1967. He was a charter member and docent of the Seattle Museum of Flight. He and Margaret moved to Kendal in 2002 with plans to attend all the university events, but his health interfered with such pleasures. His large family will miss him, as shall we all.
We also regret the passing of John Hogg (Grove City, PA), who was awarded the Purple Heart for the loss of his arm in WWII. And he still played golf. He is mourned by Louise, his wife of 62 years, and his five children, 11 grandchildren, and 16 great-grands. Jane Holub sadly reports the passing of her husband and our classmate Edward (Media, PA) last July. Our sympathies to all.
It was reported to me by a Penn graduate that Cornell is the "last Ivy League school to have what we remember as a ‘marching band.' The rest have raggle-taggle outfits of mismatched boys and girls straggling around as their spokesperson spouts censored words in tune with their marching and tooting." Cornell's teams are reflecting this good spirit. And did you know that you can go to Cornell in NYC to receive a master's degree? A New Yorker magazine ad promotes this accommodation.
Amazing fact:May 19, 2005 marked three years and eight months after 9/11--the same distance of time between the attack on Pearl Harbor and the end of WWII. That war seemed to last forever, and time since 9/11 has just flown by. And the last word: Name two men who changed the world with a mouse.Walt Disney and Bill Gates. Don't forget to send news, pictures, etc., for our class website, http://classof42.alumni.cornell.edu, and also for this column.Write or e-mail me.-- Carolyn Finneran, 8815 46th St.NW, Gig Harbor,WA 98335; tel., (253) 265-6618; e-mail, ceefinn@juno.com.
43 | Dept. of Splendid Decisions. Patricia Rider Huber (Cromwell, CT): "As you can see from the address change, I have moved to the Covenant Village retirement community in central Connecticut. I hated to leave beautiful Cape May, but I am much nearer my offspring, so it was a wise move. Stop by when you are in the area." Robert and Doris Lee Zabel (Webster, NY) were happy to be moving to a cottage in a newly built retirement community in early summer. "We are busy clearing out our home of many years." Jean Hammersmith Wright (Shelburne,VT): "I sold my Heritage Hills condo in Somers, NY, to the first prospect (lovely lady) who entered, and I moved to Shelburne in July 2004--my 17th and final move! I am extremely pleased.Wake Robin is a really fantastic place, now ten years old and modeled after the residential care units of Kendal at Ithaca. Situated on Lake Champlain, 20 minutes from Burlington, its breathless views of the Adirondacks are just one of its many virtues. I watch magnificent sunsets from my third-floor apartment. Come see, one and all, and you'll agree I made a good decision!"
Mary Jo Borntrager Ray (Dallas, TX): "Just before Christmas 2003, I tripped over a suitcase at the airport [bad decision] and broke my neck (the odontoid C3--the same one Christopher Reeve broke). By some miracle, I had no paralysis, and after three months in a very uncomfortable collar, I bounced back and resumed all my usual activities.We recently sold our home of 30 years and are enjoying life in a lovely apartment in a Hyatt residence here in Dallas, not far from our former home.What a job of down-sizing!" John A. Vanderslice (Valencia, PA): "We've moved to the Woodlands at St. Barnabas, a retirement center for independent living.We look forward to the 65th on the Hill." Bob Hutton (West Grove, PA): "My wife Sue (Cassedy) '46 and I have sold our home in Somerset,MA, and sometime in early December will move to Jenner's Pond, a beautiful retirement community located near our family. Reason for the move is two-fold: I was no longer able to perform the minor repairs in our home [In all those years you never taught Sue?], and we missed being close to our family. Our friends tell us we made the right decision and we agree."
Mary Honor Crowley Rivin (Santa Fe, NM, red state): "I have recently learned to play Mah-Jongg. Two or three tables of us at our retirement center play one morning a week. Husband Arnold and I don't travel abroad anymore, but still do stateside trips to visit family and friends. I am active (fairly so) in the local League of Women Voters, mostly in voter registration and education. Last fall, of course, was extremely active."
Hope Ritter (Athens, GA): "Linda and I visited son Michael (Princeton '03) in Greenwich Village [blue state] a couple of months back.Michael hopes to enroll in Cornell Law's special program--two years Ithaca, two years in a Paris international law firm.He speaks French fluently, so it would be an ideal arrangement--if his LSATs measure up.My first contact with Knox Burger since our 60th was by telephone and failed to reach face-to-face because our stay was too brief. Sounds like he's been through the mill, a challenge he is handling with sheer Knox guts."
Sim Gluckson (New York, NY): "Have just finished my tenth year of teaching political science at Marymount Manhattan College in its Center for Living and Learning; I should have taken more liberal arts at Cornell. Have been asked to return next fall, and I will give it a try. I just received the distinguished service medal from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, their highest award for a volunteer.My first grandson, Dan, son of Cornellians Carrie (Gluckson) '73 and Ron Gale '72, ME '73, arrived this fall. Deeply distressed over Roy Unger's death. He was a fraternity brother, a friend, and an all-around great guy. As for 150s, with two new hips and a laminectomy in the last ten years, I wouldn't dare suit up. It would be a helluva lot of fun, but impossible. I still see Stan Levy, Arnie Rosenstein, and Jerrold Lieberman, MD '46. Thanks for the column. Keep it up."
Charles Harris (Island Heights, NJ): "My children are as old as I used to be. I'm busy leading a sheltered, selfish life--like a second childhood--trying to understand now what I learned at Cornell, but didn't understand then.My travel is currently confined to the Internet, a container holding all the information in the world--what a tool! I have 1,000 remaindered copies of a book I wrote and Harper & Row published 30 years ago. The prison system said they had a loading dock--I would ship at my expense; but when they discovered it was hardcover, they refused--prisoners make weapons of hardcover books. I'd appreciate any constructive ideas." [Armor for Humvees?]-- S. Miller Harris, P.O. Box 164, Spinnerstown, PA 18968; e-mail, millerharris@netcarrier.com.
44 | Seven loyal '44s--Hugh Aronson, Doris Holmes Jenkins, Art and Dotty Kay Kesten, Jerry Levitan, MBA '48, Don Middleton, and Mort Savada--braved a blizzard in New York City on January 22 to attend the celebration of the 100th anniversary of CACO (Cornell Association of Class Officers). Dotty then sent a two-page report on class business to all classmates. Art continues to add to the website. He loves doing it and says classmates are funding his effort.
This is being written in June--the end of the news and dues year, and time to wrap up last year's communiqués. Virginia MacArthur Clagett describes her ride home from Reunion with Dunbar King in his 1926 Ford. He shifted gears, worked floor pedals, and, in the rain, hand-turned the windshield wipers. She spent two days, eight hours a day, "sitting in a comfy seat, enjoying the bucolic countryside, mooing at the cows, and waving at teens getting off buses in the middle of nowhere." Andi Capi, MD '46, and Sherrill flew from Reunion to their summer home in Portugal. There they stayed for their usual two months, deciding to sell Casa Capi, which they had built 34 years ago. An English couple who wanted to use it only in fall, winter, and spring, snapped it up. The buyers are allowing them free use of it every summer. Says Andi, "You can have your cake and eat it, too!" Bill Felver, BA '47, MA '50, of Isle of Bute, Scotland, has a daughter who is an opera singer. He has heard her in Berlin, where she sang as a Valkyrie in a Wagner opera (four performances), and in Dortmund, as she performed 16 times in the title role in Puccini's Turandot. As she awaits contracts, he calls it a "precarious profession."
Ruth Caplan Brunton sends a detailed Christmas letter describing family accomplishments. Husband Bob was recorded six hours on Phoenix TV by Arizona State U. and City Managers Oral History Program, telling of his work in six cities--Minot, ND,Milton-Freewater, OR, Elgin, IL, Chicago, Ft. Collins, CO, and Phoenix. Rudy was honored by 60 Arizona mothers at their annual American Mothers Association meeting last year. The Bruntons have three daughters, who are successful teachers, and a son, a financial planner, all with happy families active in community affairs and causes. Rudy and Bob claim eight grandchildren and three great-grands. Tom Dent of Hastingson- Hudson, NY, hasn't been able to cruise with Club '44 because of health problems with his legs. He does volunteer work as a statistician for the Tarrytown affiliate of Literacy Volunteers of America.Wife Geraldine is Director of Tutoring Programs for non-English-speaking immigrants. "This is our way of trying to retain English as the official language of our state and country." DanMorris, BA '76, reports from Ithaca that football coach Jim Knowles '87 asked him to coach kickers at the summer sports camp. "Great feeling to know I can still do it."His son Gregory '87 is editor-in-chief of a new magazine, Greens, slanted toward minorities who play good golf and enjoy good living. Daughter Misty Morris Fearon '89 is the physical therapist for the city of Ithaca's Special Children's Center, and son Christopher '96, a maritime archaeologist, coached Cornell women's rugby while on furlough.
Jacqueline Graff Courtenay has been dancing for several years, taking ballroom lessons and entering competitions each year. She has done shows on cruises, one from A Chorus Line and one from Chicago, and is having a great time. Priscilla Young Waltz of Sea Cliff, NY, still paints, has shows, and gets to Maine for her annual fly-fishing adventure, despite problems with post-polio syndrome. Lucille Jones-Grey Halifax of Venice, FL, says she isn't a big donor to Cornell because the three other colleges she attended (U. of Miami, Rollins, and U. of Florida) and her four children's colleges keep her on their lists. She enjoys Cornell alumni meetings in Sarasota. She's still living independently and often sees Jean Quick Bryant '43 and husband Dr. Henry who live nearby.
Charles Williams writes from Scottsdale, AZ, that he and Barbara will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 15, 2005. A daughter now works for Frontier Airlines, enabling them to fly anywhere in the US--standby, of course. They have already taken one happy trip and plan on many more. Lew Mix of Virginia Beach lost six trees to Hurricane Isabel, but his house was not damaged. He and Connie (Avery) '48 attended two grandchildren's college graduations. Don Crandall lived in the Walsh Hotel in Medina, NY, for almost a year while his sons worked on winterizing his house. He had all the equipment, but says he was too old to do the work himself. Herb Eskwitt invites everyone who lives in or visits the Berkshires to join the Berkshire Cornell Club. -- Nancy Torlinski Rundell, 20540 Falcons Landing Cir. #4404, Sterling,VA 20165.
46 | Kathryn Foote Shaw, BS HE '45 (Penfield, NY) added a sixth grandchild last July. The only girl, she joins her brother, age 10, plus four other grandsons. The baby's parents are also Cornellians: Brian, JD '88, and Marjorie Hodges Shaw, JD '91. I also heard from frosh friend Louise CarmodyWiley (Naples, FL). Lou has four children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grands. She enjoys going to her home in Florida for three months in the winter. Jan Bassette Summerville (Sackets Harbor, NY) reported on three grandsons: John became an Eagle Scout last December; Bryan graduated from Oklahoma State and is working in Oswego; and Garrett is a senior at the U. of South Carolina.
I got a newspaper clipping of our past Prez and Reunion Co-chair Mavis Gillette Sand (East Aurora, NY) about her award from the United Way: the Community Hero Award for Services to Families.Mavis worked for 16 years with the Aurora Healthcare System as a dietician at the nursing home. She presently serves as food pantry manager for FISH (an interdenominational Christian ministry) and is chairperson of the Mission Commission of her church. Seaward "Sandy" '45, BA '47, PhD '55, and she have six children. Their daughter Natalie Sand '76 is working on her master's in philosophy at the U. ofWisconsin,Milwaukee. Grandson Raymond Miller was married last year in Laredo, TX.Mavis wrote that she, class president Lloyd Slaughter, and Alumni Fund chair Dick Turner attended the Mid-Winter Meeting of the Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO) in New York City. (Next year's meeting will be in Philadelphia.Maybe more of us can make that one--I'm hoping to, so join me.)
September kick-off meetings will be held in Ithaca for next year's reunion. Past Prez Louise Greene Richards, BS HE '45, PhD '65, Treasurer Ruth Critchlow Blackman, Reunion Co-chair Bill Farrell, Dick Turner, and Mavis plan to be there. In the meantime, Bill is working on our updated reunion website. Louise wrote from Ithaca that she enjoys being near classmates and other Cornellians who live at Kendal (Carolyn Usher Franklin, BS HE '45, Marion Moulton McPheeters, and Nancy Stephenson Bond '45), and also Binghamtonites Dottie Tinker Powell, BA'45, MD '50, and Rayma CarterWilson, and Waterlooite Bea O'Brien Contant. She wrote, "I enjoy driving through campus and seeing students scurrying around--and am glad I don't have to scurry anymore." Bea taught locally from 1946 to 1980. Since the 1990s she has been the village historian and has helped plan a horse-and-wagon tour on Memorial Day Weekend. Bea's quote: "Waterloo is recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day."Harry and Mary Lou Rutan Snowden (Madison, WI) moved to a retirement community and love it. They have three daughters and five grandchildren. "Living in a university town makes me nostalgic for Cornell, and I might take some courses next year. I'm interested in hearing of any Cornellians nearby."-- Elinor Baier Kennedy, 9 Reading Dr., Apt. 302, Wernersville, PA 19565.
We arrived on the Hill with the country at war / Saw entries and exits, a revolving door / There is no disputing that front lines are hell / But near purgatory's mech lab at Cornell.
The verse above is from a '46 parody of the "Song of the Classes." It may have influenced the late Bob Nagler '50 to create a tradition. He initiated Pi Lam's combined reunion of classes from '41 through '55 in New York City. But before long, the attendees were nearly all from the "revolving door" classes of '43 through '52, when brothers were leaving for and returning from armed service commitments and bonded in their efforts to keep the house going. To my knowledge, of the brothers listed below, only Larry Lowenstein '43 graduated with his original class.
After several reunions in New York restaurants and hotels, Bob and Larry changed the venue to the New York Cornell Club. Bob began with annual reunions in the early Eighties that attracted brothers and their wives from all over North America. Bob retired from chairing the reunions in 1991 and they lapsed. Shortly before he died in 1997, he fanned the flame of renewal and passed the torch to Rick Diamond '50.
Rick's successful "last hurrah" in 2000 created a demand for more "hurrahs" by the brothers. Bob Asher '48 chaired the 2005 edition. He shared credit with Rick, Barry Cohen '47, Stu Sherman, Larry Lowenstein, and Shelly Joblin '48, BA '47, MBA '48, whose contributions were crucial. Those assembled voted not to wait five years for the next gala. They decided the odds favored brothers being more mobile and/or alive in three years than in five.
Robert J. Nist (Trinity, FL; bobnist@msn.com), who was known as Joe at Cornell, sent sad news. His son Robert A. Nist died suddenly in December 2004. "Dr. Bob, a Phi Beta Kappa, practiced endodontistry and was a professor of endodontics at Ohio State U.We often look back to the times his mother would hug Bob and proclaim, ‘You will not be an engineer like your father and struggle in the workplace as a Cornell-trained engineer.' " Joe hopes to reune with us in 2006.
Our class historian, Pat Kinne Paolella (Lakewood, NJ), is sequencing all of Elinor's and my articles to display at our "60th in '06" and add them to the '46 cache at the main library. Pat and Sal are thrilled to finally rate the Statler for reunion and would hate to miss that. They are getting used to their "adult residence" life, which frees them from many household chores.
Let's keep working for a mammoth "60th in '06" reunion turnout and each of us call a classmate and ask him or her to join us on the Hill in June of '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 | I am sorry to announce the death of John Ayer on June 11 in Ithaca. John and Helen (Allmuth) have always been active with the university and our class. John was class president and a Cornell Fund representative, and both he and Helen helped with reunions. Barlow Ware and Margie Schiavone Berens attended the memorial service. If any of you would like to make a donation in his honor, John and Helen's children have requested that donations go to the Cornell Fund and that they be mailed to Barlow Ware (55 Brown Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850). The family will decide later how to allocate the donations. Our class also recently lost Allen E. Dekdebrun, who lived in North Fort Myers, FL.Many of you will remember Dek's mighty skills as a CU quarterback.
Thank you for all the blue forms loaded with news! I can picture so many of you as I read them and remember shared experiences from long ago. I will dole out the news over the next few columns, so don't be concerned if your news isn't included this month.
It seems that a few of our classmates were at graduation last spring. AlanMarkham was there to see granddaughter Joanna Britten-Kelly '05 graduate. Robert Flickinger (rdf7324@aol.com) was also there to celebrate his granddaughter Whitney Patross '05's graduation. Robert Loeper will likely be there soon, as one of his grandchildren will start Cornell this fall, while the husband of another granddaughter will earn a doctorate at next spring's graduation. Robert Olney, BA '46, has surely spent many a May afternoon in Schoellkopf, since he has had three sons, two grandsons, and a granddaughter graduate from Cornell. Jane Johnson McCombs and her husband Bob '51 also squeezed in a graduation during a two-week trip through Texas, where they attended the wedding of their oldest grandson, the 23rd birthday of their oldest granddaughter, and another grandson's high school graduation.W.R. "Bill" Davies (SpudandBill@pacific.net), who lives in Ukiah, CA, reports that his grandson, who just finished San Diego U., is applying to Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management.
Congratulations to Robert Haggerty, BA '46, MD '49 (robert_haggerty@urmc.rochester.edu), of Canandaigua, NY, who was recently honored for his life's work with children's health care. Robert was the chair of the U. of Rochester's Medical School's Dept. of Pediatrics for more than ten years and served as president of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the executive director of the Int'l Pediatric Association.He was also the founding editor of Pediatrics in Review (and served as editor for 25 years). In addition, he wrote more than 150 papers, 200 book chapters, editorials, and abstracts, and also edited three books. He has been described as "likely the most prominent leader in pediatric medicine in the second half of the 20th century." Robert was a pioneer in facilitating access to medical care for low-income families, including migrant workers. In recognition of his work, he received the Alfred I. DuPont award for excellence in children's health care. In addition, the Robert J. Haggerty Child Health Services Research Laboratories have been dedicated at the U. of R.'s Strong Memorial Hospital.Many congratulations to you!
Others in our class have had careers in higher education and some continue to teach. Harry Rubin, DVM '47 (hrubin@berkeley.edu), teaches cell biology of cancer to upper division students at Berkeley and also writes review articles in his field. Israel Milner (izegmilner@ieee.org) is an adjunct professor of environmental science at Temple U. Barbara Everitt "Bimby" Bryant (bryantb@umich.edu) is working with the U. of Michigan Business School as an adjunct research scientist.
Bimby sent a funny story with her news form. "Several years ago there was an article in the Cornell Alumni News about students using scrapbooks from the '20s and '30s as research resources. The article ended, ‘Apparently after the '30s, nobody kept scrapbooks--but the rare books library would like them.'Well, I made a scrapbook for each of my four years. I reviewed them one last time--including pictures of men I didn't marry--and shipped them to the library. Imagine my surprise last June when the Cornell Women's Chorus came to perform in Ann Arbor. One of the chorus members let out a cry when she saw my nametag. ‘My roommate used your scrapbooks for a term paper!' She quickly called her roommate, a member of the chorus--who had never expected to meet the author of the scrapbooks. Her term paper was about college students in wartime. I asked her if she hadn't had a good laugh over all the pressed dried corsages. She admitted she had.We needed four to five formal gowns for all the dances then--not just blue jeans, I told her." Thanks for help on this column to my daughter Beth Anderson '80, who called me from her 25th Reunion in June to tell me the news of President Jeffrey Lehman '77's resignation.What a shock! --ArlieWilliamson Anderson, 238 Dorchester Rd., Rochester, NY 14610; e-mail, arlie47@aol.com.
48 | Harold Vroman, MS '52, Cobleskill, NY: "Retired. Always lots to do. Going to Florida with the help of my sons. Problem is staying alive and keeping ‘up-todate.' Friends help. The world's problem is knowing what's right and wrong. Solution is to read the Bible every day. Have recently discovered that the ‘right way' is better." Claire Girard Peterson, Sunnyvale, CA: "Exercise at spa, help son, travel." Vincent Greci, Olympia Fields, IL: "Retired. I talk to three children about their investments, watch the tube, golf, and take care of my wife (brain aneurysm, but doing better now). Interesting to see that ‘values' was the major factor influencing the last election. I'd like to see more 18- to 30-year-olds get involved in American politics. The world's problem is to love and respect one another every day, regardless of faith difference, worth, political persuasion, etc. I read the book The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren. I recently learned that it's a waste of time being mean, jealous, or envious."
James Bostwick, Lakewood, CA: "Trying to close down a business I've been active in for 53 years. Enjoying life as a grandpa--six kids, 11 grandchildren, one greatgrandson, and still counting. All grandchildren are now in college or graduated. Can't believe I made only $5,000 my first year out of college. Now trying to make $5,000 a month to retire on. Settled for 15 cents more than I could spend. Took up coin collecting. They are pretty and still seem to increase in value. I've tried to encourage the children and grandchildren to do things on their own, make their own decisions, follow through, help others, learn from mistakes, always finish what you start, be responsible for what you do, and don't forget to thank those who helped you. Problem is to find enough time to do everything I should. Solution is to tackle most important and difficult items first. The rest comes easy."
Carmel Along Fischer, MPS '49, community activist and volunteer in Cinnaminson, NJ, was honored and given the key to the city by the Township Board of Education for her more than 40 years of service to the township. She is a founding member of her church and a two-term member of the Township Committee, and pushed for creation of a senior program with workshops on the Federal Discount Prescription cards, grief counseling, personal finances, and computer training. She also worked with the Sheriff 's Academy. Robert Fogel, professor at U. of Chicago, Nobel Laureate in economics, and on the list of 100 Most Notable Cornellians, was on campus for a public lecture last October, followed by a celebratory dinner attended by about 40 faculty members from around the campus.
Tom Trafzer, El Dorado Hills, CA:"My job is trying to master conversion of vinyl records to CD, golfing handicap chairman, and general home factotum.Would rather be relaxing in Florida. Problem: Iraq. Solution: Illigitimus non carborundum. Have learned at a trust seminar that tearing a document into two pieces is an accident, into four pieces is a revocation." John G. and Dr. Merilyn Baron Woods, Philadelphia, PA: "We are pleased to report that our grandson Michael Lis '08 is in Cornell Engineering. Other Cornellians in our family: John's sister Mary '52, our daughter Anne '73, and Anne's husband Neil Sonenklar '73."
Sidney Law, Ormond Beach, FL: "Church choir, rental home in Palm Coast, Zone Net MLM, keeping in touch with large family in US, Holland, Finland, and Germany all keep me busy. Spent a week in a Florida hospital (lots of good-looking RNs). Spent last July-Sept. in Northeast. Have three time-shares in Tennessee and one in Florida. Today's world problem is price of gasoline. Solution: more public transportation, like Europe." Ed De Gasper,Williamsville, NY: "Practicing retirement. Reading up on it. Plan to spend four months in Florida pool. One son, five daughters, five grandsons, 13 weddings, eight divorces. (The girls keep getting re-singled.) Problem: staying on top of the daisies. Solution: keep breathing and start getting ready for our 60th Reunion in 2008.World's problem is understanding grandsons. Solution: give up and stop buying green bananas."
Greta AdamsWolfe, Lake Stream,WA: "Keeping up old house, old garden, old self. Nap ‘after hours.'Would rather be hibernating from holidays. ‘KOKO' (Keep on keeping on). Dr. L.M.MacDaniels's motto: ‘DIP' (Die in peace).Mine: ‘HIT' (Hang in there). Today's problem: too many people; too many cars; greed. Don't know solution." Jim Rea, Forest,VA: "Keeping my virus scan up to date. Caught a snook (fish) in Naples, FL." (Photo of Jim, fish, and son-in-law was enclosed, all three looking good.) "Have four great-grandchildren, two in Houston, two in Brazil.World's most pressing problem today is respect. Solution: offer it. I've learned that each day is a new experience and you catch more fish using son-in-law's tackle and bait. Problems happen, but not to worry.My mother always told me, ‘It will be all right, Jim. -- Bob Persons, 102 Reid Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050; tel., (516) 767-1776.
49 | To celebrate Independence Day (as I write this column), we took our red pill, our white pill, and then our blue one. Spring and early summer have been a wicked combo of rain, heat, and humidity here, so we packed up and went to Reunion with the Class of 1950 for their big one (Ithaca has to be cooler, was the thought). So I followed wife Joan (Noden) and became a Pi Phi with what is billed as the "Class of the Century"--a bit of puffery that we never fully understood and were pleased to hear questioned by President Emeritus Frank Rhodes in his remarks at the class banquet in the Statler. The cocktail hour was held in the new Statler Atrium, and we wandered into the Richard Brown Lecture Hall and shared a Banfi with him in spirit. I told him how much we miss him. He responded with his famous "honk" and I felt better.
Reunion weather was extremely warm and continued to be so, long after the last SUV left the MEWS. In fact, the high was 90 degrees on June 13, matching the record set on June 13, 1949, which happens to be the day we graduated as a class. Barton Hall was hell on earth and many stories have been told about the clothing (or lack of) worn under gowns that day.We will not go there, but 1950 might reconsider its positioning. Forty-niners remain the "hottest" class to graduate!
Time was spent with classmates Bill Eldred, LLB '53 (Princeton, NJ), and Ken Murray (North River, NY) (who also married into the Class of '50), and we saw Don Sutherland (Wilmington, DE) and Don Roberson (Niagara Falls, NY) at CRC (Continuous Reunion Club). Of course, the biggest moment was seeing Char Bullis Pickett '47, nicely recovered from a minor stroke and giving me "what-for," as always.
Strange conversations occur at reunions. A group was trying to recall the names of the movie theaters of our time. They did very well with the State, Ithaca, and Temple, but had trouble with the other one and retreated to the "Near," Far," "Far Far," and "Armpit."Movies bring to mind that another sequel to "Barber Shop 3" should be filmed in Ithaca at the Community Corners Barber Shop, where we understand that three '49ers in sequence filled barber Al Thornton's chair recently. Bob Dean was followed by Jack Gilbert, who preceded Barth Mapes. The conversations were lively, and the tonsorial results were a thing of beauty. Other classes of the era are challenged to put three male members in a row in the same barber's chair--all of them needing a haircut!
Just before Reunion, Helen Hoffman Casey (Old Saybrook, CT) informed us that the class had no website at cornell.edu.We passed this on to Class Prexy Jack Gilbert with understandable pleasure. Can't blame me anymore! Besides, Jack has retired as treasurer of the Tompkins County Library Board so he and Inger can enjoy Big Red football and all the theatre opportunities in Ithaca.We recall that at this time last year they were viewing the fireworks display in Newport, RI, while aboard the QE2. Now they have returned from their Norway trip.
Ned Bandler (Bridgewater, CT) ended a 45-year career with Unilever and US affiliate Lever Brothers Company by retiring as a senior VP and director. Chris Larios (Hurley, NY), who will be remembered as chair of Spirits and Traditions and for a number of sorties to renew Cornell spirit in the post-war era (such as painting statues red at the US Naval Academy and changing the direction of signs "to Ithaca" from Hamilton following a football game--lots of "late" minutes were chalked by coeds and WSGA), has son Dennis '76 and granddaughter Sarah '03.We will save some of his other news for the future, as it is personal.
One of the pleasures of being back on the Hill was to visit the Lab of Ornithology (known variously in our time as Sapsucker Woods or Seersucker Woods). The new lab is wonderful and the viewing much easier.We do miss the bird sounds being piped in, however. Now, there is a class gift!
A favor, please.We have found some buried items for the next column, which may have had a long life before I got my hands on them. To be somewhat up to date and save red faces, we suggest that you can make life easier for all if you just e-mail a few words to the address below. Do it today!
Current Obtuse Observation:Most people don't know what they're doing and a lot of them are really good at it.We just read the Cornell Widow again from April 1949. Hey, if we paid a quarter for a magazine, we didn't throw it out! The ads, both local and national, are interesting, and the editorial staff was either brave or crazed for notice because the humor elements were signed. For example: There was a young maiden--a Sioux / As tempting as any home brioux. / She displayed her cute knees / As she strolled past teepees / And the braves they all hollered,Wioux, wioux! Signed .....r dog.
Could this have been Red Dog? Oh well. 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.