40 | Happy May Day and a Flag Day of fun to all--although this is being written on a snowy Valentine's Day! The News and Dues pleas have provided quite a bit of news--more than one column's worth. But it won't last forever, so do send your summer adventures!

EdWardwell, having written right after Reunion that he had no news that's fit to print, wrote a long, interesting letter. Unfortunately, he's been coping with failing eyesight, but he praised all the assistance the Glens Falls Association for the Blind gives, including his personal taxi driver! JohnWeiner drove to Indiana last summer for a reunion of his old Army unit, the 97th Signal Battalion, 9th Army, where he was Adjutant. Another Army reunion (remember, it was the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII) was attended by Don Spittler, who went to Columbus, OH, for the reunion of veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, during which he was a member of the 924th Field Artillery Battalion. He also attended a reunion at Lake George of the retired employees of the New York Conservation Department, where he saw Joe Dell.

Doris Van Alstyne Peller is active in sorority and church activities, as well as enjoying programs that Valparaiso U. provides retirees. She's also traveled extensively, having visited six of the seven continents. A son-in-law is thankfully back from Afghanistan, and her oldest granddaughter is a freshman at Purdue U.Marjorie Dale Hemingway is now confined to a wheelchair, but is contented living in the Wayne County, NY, nursing home, only five minutes from her family and friends. Her address is: P.O. Box 211, Lyons, NY 14489. Gabrielle "Gay" Sichel Rosenbaum reports from Quadrangle in Haverford, PA, where she's lived for 16 years and where she still keeps busy and gets into Philadelphia for concerts. A daughter and two grandsons live nearby. Ruth Maughan Russell still enjoys traveling, even alone. She remains in good health and is looking forward to our 70th Reunion in 2010!

Larry Gardner wrote from Stuart, FL, that he enjoys golf, computers, and do-it-yourself projects and still does financial statements for large farms.He also reported the arrival last June of a great-grandson. John Rutherford has moved from Punta Gorda to Fort Myers, still in Florida. His address is: 10100 Cypress Cove, Apt. 413, Fort Myers, FL 33908.

Another new address came from Bill Mogk. He's moved to a LifeSphere village in Oxford, OH--home of Miami U. of Ohio--where he enjoys collegetown living and where a daughter and her family live, including two grandchildren and three great-grandsons. His new address is 46 Scarlet Oak Circle, Oxford, OH 45056. Betty BishopWilliams lives in a retirement home in Indianapolis, where she helps computer illiterate residents (with whom I empathize!) with e-mail, etc., and is a member of SCORE, which councils small businesses. Her first great-granddaughter was born in May '04. Theodore Kogon had a great time visiting his daughter in Stockholm, then taking a ferry to Helsinki and on to St. Petersburg by train. His "extended family" includes seven children, 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Our class is certainly doing well with our third generation offspring!

Best wishes to all for a fine summer and let me hear all about your adventures, your unadventurous activities, and your family members--especially the greatgrands! -- Ellen Ford, 300 Westminster Canterbury Dr., Apt. 416,Winchester, VA 22603.

41 | Holiday cards from last winter are still providing new information about our classmates. Betty Niles Gray of Durham, NC, is working on getting back to Reunion. She and husband John are moving to an apartment. They worked in two short trips and continue to play golf and bridge, spend time in their garden, and pursue many other interests.

Beatrice Colley Koteff of Chula Vista, CA, has lived there for 50 years--and in the same house for 38 years. Her children, grandchildren, and greats are scattered across the county, so she communicates with them by e-mail. Great to hear from her.

Mary Munson Benson moved to a local retirement community named Woodsedge in Lansing, NY, and left the farm she and husband Clarence had lived on for about 60 years. They are adapting to a different life and enjoying new people. There are many Bensons and Munsons in Lansing.

Attorney Carl S. Salmon Jr. of Manzanita, OR, died on July 2 last summer.He practiced law with his father and was well known for his community activism and philanthropy. He was anticipating our 65th Reunion and was planning to bring his trumpet to play with the Alumni Band.We'll miss him. -- Dorothy Talbert Wiggans, 415 Savage Farm Dr., Ithaca, NY 14850-6504; tel., (607) 266-7629; e-mail dwiggans@verizon.net.

42 | Interesting news from lots of you via Christmas cards. Jean Pardee Cole is so pleased with her new home at Friendship Village in Chesterfield, MO. She had a bout with pneumonia during the winter, but has fully recovered.

Ken Hubbard (Ft.Myers, FL) is still playing banjo with the Gulf Coast Banjo Society, but reports that Sarasota County purchased Snook Haven's land and restaurant on the Myooka River for $3.7 million. They are not sure they will continue their 12-year record of playing there, as it may become a public park.He is very pleased with the improved quality of our alumni magazine. Yates Dowell (Springfield, VA) writes, "I remarried after my former wife passed away after a 58-year marriage, four children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. I recommend it."He's looking forward to reunion. Morris and Phyllis Feil (Boynton Beach, FL) winter in New Jersey. Their son Jonathan '76 lives in Seattle, and son Stuart has two children and lives in NYC. Perhaps I will hear from them on a visit.Morris continues his golf.

George "Howie" Davis, a retired Navy captain, would love to hear from any of you.Write him at 508 Bartell Dr., Chesapeake,VA 23322. He's still playing bridge. Also Paul Handler, DVM '42, wants you all to write to him at 802 Orchard Hill Lane, Brewster, NY 10507 or by e-mail at adam.handler@gofastforward.com. He's into creative writing--"Lots of good veterinary tales of both two- and four-legged characters!"Harry and Geraldine Backus Berg (Eden, NY; hbergjberg@aol.com) are enjoying their 23rd year of retirement, six granddaughters, and the first great-grand. Arno and Paula Collins Preller cruised around Cabo San Lucas and boast of five great-grandchildren. They, too, would love to hear from you at 420 S.Marion Pkwy, Denver, CO 80209.

I was excited when I learned the Cornell basketball team would play the U. of Washington in Seattle and on the Fox Sports Network. Imagine being able to see a game on TV! And it was a good one, although we are not in UW's class. In the second half they used their second team. Superior size was the factor, as the score was tied for the first 12 minutes of the game. Cornell is putting more emphasis on their athletic teams and hopefully there will be more games on TV in the future.

Don and Renee Brozan Goldsmith '47 (Delray Beach, FL) are still active, Don in architecture and Ruth in interior design. Don is head of the local CERT (Civilian Emergency Response Team). The Goldsmiths traveled to England and Italy, play tennis and golf, and enjoy their art collection, three children, and two grands. Doris Stone Hanrahan (Montauk, NY) does not take lightly the destruction of her Punta Gorda home. "The inside is a horror. The walls are demolished down to the studs . . . I'll be looking out my windows at the cold Atlantic instead of palm trees. Cold weather makes me mean, so by February stay out of my way!"Marilyn and Stan Brodhead (Nokomis, FL) love Florida and the very active Cornell and Ivy League clubs in Sarasota. They play golf and are into painting. Their son Richard left as dean of Yale to become president of Duke. J. Lee Hollowell (Hockessin, DE; holloxyz@aol.com) continues his research at an archaelogical site in Ollantoytanebo, Peru.

Sadly,Harry St. John (Avon, CT), who loved Cornell, passed away from complications after a hip operation. Ilese Powell Symonds (Providence, RI) and her husband Paul, PhD '43, both passed away in 2005. Ilese was executive director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Children's Concert Series and active in volunteer organizations. Also, Don Spittler '40 wrote to tell me that Fran Gruen and his wife Ruth both left us recently.

Extra news of CU: Cornell is offering an MBA program here in Washington. Small classes will meet in boardroom locations in Tacoma, Seattle, Bellevue, and other cities. Seventeen months of classes are delivered in a combination of three on-campus residential sessions and three Saturdays per month, held in Ithaca and Queen's College in Vancouver, BC. They will also gather in their boardrooms and connect via video-conferencing to a studio at Cornell where they can talk to the professor. The cost: $92,000. In "News of the Weird‚" two Cornell entomologists named three new species of beetles that feed on mold after President Bush,Vice Pres- ident Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. "We admire these leaders for their courage to do the very difficult and unpopular work of living up to principles of freedom and democracy."

Do keep writing to me to keep this column interesting. -- Carolyn Evans Finneran, 8815 46th St. NW, Gig Harbor,WA 98335; tel., (253) 265-6618; e-mail, CeeFinn@Juno.com.

43 | Act I. 1943, Fort Bragg, NC: Jack Slater meets and falls in love with Kate just in time to be shipped to dangerous duty in the ETO. Act II. 1946, Stateside: Jack, newly home, calls Kate, who it turns out has married some other bloke. Jack weds, raises family. Act III. 1985: Single once more, Jack phones Kate. Surprise: nine years a widow. They court, marry, and move north. As assurance to Kate, should she miss her native soil, Jack buys house in her name in North Carolina. Act IV. This just in: Slaters vacate Cove Neck, NY; move into Fayetteville wedding present. Another poignant (but not the way he tells it) love story, this one from former Sun sportswriter Al Gould: "Recently resumed courtship of ‘old' high school flame.Winters we dig for lost treasure and bait on historic Jekyll Island, GA. Summers find us at her retreat in Montpelier, VT."

Other scenery changes: Katherine and Lou Preston move to Horizon Village, Ithaca. Barbara Styles Hagan moves into an apartment in her daughter and sonin- law's house in Bar Harbor, ME. "Love Maine, even the winter weather, and am pleased to have downsized." The Craig Allens, after 18 years in Florida, relocate to Seattle,WA, to catch up with some of their widespread family. Craig also is pleased; old overcoat still fits.

Join us in congratulating Ace Bean, recipient of the Frank H. T. Rhodes Award. Previous '43 honorees: Larry Lowenstein, Mac and Marguerite Moore Baker '45. I've a great story about Ace, his late son Dave, and Sigma Phi's piano, but it won't fit this space; watch for the next class mailing. Bill Bourke (Sagaponack, NY): "Not to feel left out, had an endoarterectomy April 2005, too quickly followed by stomach cancer in May. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy. Still feel left out because no great-grandchildren at Cornell."

Travel notes from all over. Bill Grimes (Tucson, AZ): "Early in November Marilyn and I, along with Dottie and John Vanderslice, had a wonderful reunion sailing from St. Paul to St. Louis aboard the Mississippi Queen. The Bill Hopples, MA '50, had to cancel at the last moment, but each sunset we remembered them in our toasts." Beatrice Swick Ornitz: "Martin '42 and I celebrated our 62nd anniversary with a world cruise on the Seven Seas Voyager.We are dinosaurs." John Alden: Ann (Buchholz) '45 and I enjoyed an alumni-sponsored trip from Berlin to Prague featuring a seven-day cruise on the Elbe, visits to Potsdam,Magdeburg,Wittenburg, Torgau,Meissen, Dresden, and spectacular scenery in the Saxon Alps on the Czech border.Weather fine.Meals sumptuous."

A number of you, Bill Correll for one, were justly miffed to find your name unjustly missing from the list of duespayers.We apologize for the miscreant (probably a second-hand computer from Yale), and assure you that there will be no further mishaps.We blindfolded and shot the computer; it will publish no lists.

The White House Looks South, historian Bill Leuchtenburg's latest book, drew this from Robert Dallek: "A marvelous example of the vitality and importance of regional, political, and presidential history. No one interested in the presidencies of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Lyndon Johnson and the recent history of the South can afford to miss this book. It enriches our understanding of developments that currently affect all our lives." John Murray, JD '48 (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY): "Still practicing law and co-chairing (with Marion Miller Eskay '54) the Second Friday Lunch Club, which was founded at end of WWII by the Cornell Club of Westchester and meets in nearby Valhalla. Our motto: ‘Not just good conversation, but food for thought, too.' "[Not exactly "Don't tread on me," but maybe the chicken noodle's hot.]

Marge Hannan Antell '45 (Rochester, NY) mailed me a 9-1/2x13 photo of DU house partiers--not apparently partying, more like looking at the birdie. A supine Kurt Vonnegut '44 is togged out in white tie, tails, clean white socks, dirty white bucks. I sent it on to him. He loved it, wished he had saved it and its like, asked that I thank Marge. Thanks,Marge. Dr. John Casale (Vero Beach, FL): "Francoise and I still going strong. Golf, tennis, cycling. Four years ago I took up paintbrush, canvas, oils, acrylics, and watercolor. Now running the art show at the Moorings Club here. Twenty-four grandchildren all doing well. Thanks be to God. Amen. Doc."

A phone call from Bud Kastner recalled the 1940 Finals Week Frosh Riot when the entire Baker Dorms population, prompted by the whoops of an over-stressed inmate, rushed outdoors to rumble, to let off steam, and, oh yes, to invert someone's 1929 Model A Ford in the sanctity of the War Memorial arch. Proctor Manning studies the scene: "Get it out of there." Silence. Nary a single volunteer. Ford owner (senior moments all around; no one can remember his name; not Bud, not me, not Bill Dunn) calls towing company. Tow truck and driver arrive: "25 bucks." "You kidding? Who's got 25 bucks? Take the car." -- S.Miller Harris, P.O. Box 164, Spinnerstown, PA 18968; e-mail, millerharris@netcarrier.com.

44 | It's Super Bowl Sunday, but the game doesn't start till 6 p.m., so let the column begin. Some of us are still gainfully employed. Sigmund Hoffman, MFS '48, continues to sell chemicals to the fragrance industry, but Serena (Ginsberg) '47, MA '48, is totally retired. They spend summers on a lake near Great Barrington, MA, enjoying Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, and golf. Peg Pearce Addicks "is not quitting." She's still associated with the Gunnery as faculty emeritus after 44 years, and town government affairs in Washington, CT. Allen Albright is still fruit-farming in Ontario, NY. His wife has Parkinson's disease.Mitchell Zavon continues some consulting and much civic activity with Common Cause and church. Anne Bishop McKusick reports that her husband Victor still works full-time at Johns Hopkins U. They are now apartment-dwellers after 40 years in the same house. Edward King, JD '49, announced 56 years' private law practice in Ithaca with plans for retirement.When?

Volunteers abound. Mort and Carol Shapiro Siegler '47 have been elected co-chairs of the Center for Catholic-Jewish studies based on the campus of St. Leo U. in St. Leo, FL. Naomi Zion Schulman still volunteers as a second grade reading tutor and in the adult ESL (English as a Second Language) program in Stanford, CA. She announced that an endowed professorship in pediatrics was established by Stanford U. in honor of her husband. Ted Smith writes that Betty Bob does volunteer hearing testing for the Savannah, GA, public schools. She has tested more than 2,000 children. Ted is in his third year as a professor, teaching at-risk kids at the Salvation Army School once a week. He plays tennis three times a week and golf twice. They had a family reunion in August--17 people, including seven grandchildren. Each of the four male grands, aged 6-12, got to throw out a first pitch at a professional baseball game (minor league). They are all baseball fans and were thrilled by the privilege (Grandpa says he bought the franchise that allowed).

After 27 years Thomas Eschweiler, BArch '50, continues to operate the Wisconsin Architectural Archives every day from 2-5 p.m., which records architects' contributions to Wisconsin cityscapes. He says he hosted the annual Cornell bash at his country home--which his family has done for 100 years--but it was a simplified event because so few of the old guard are left. Durland Weale, MS '53, writes from Addison, NY, that he just finished 15 years as the township property assessor. He indulges his agricultural interests with a large lawn and garden and keeps up with youth activity as a school board member. He owns eight antique automobiles (one 90 years old) and "has to care for them. I need a 36-hour day to catch up." Tom Dent of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, volunteers for the ProLiteracy America affiliate in Tarrytown, NY. He is statistics keeper for the all-volunteer organization, which has 50 teachers, 20 board members, and 50-70 students learning English, with a waiting list of 100-plus (mostly Hispanic immigrants). This is very detailed record-keeping. His wife is director of tutoring.

Margaret McCaffrey Kappa, retired from hotel consulting, reads to third graders weekly, helps school programs for grades 1-6 at the Methodist Church twice a week, and cooks weekly for 20 at a rest home. She sings in the Methodist and Catholic choirs, attends healing sessions, and exercises at the Episcopal Church. And she belongs to six clubs--golf and tennis included. Jane Knight Knott says she's busier than ever and enthusiastic about her activities. She "enjoys every day as president of the Lewis College Foundation." She works closely with the college administration and the long-range planning and development group."Nice to be thinking about the future and its promises."Marie Coville Ortner is delighted to find a growing number of Cornellians moving into her retirement community, Jenner's Pond in West Grove, PA. Bob Hickman '43, recreational birder since 1930, recently gave a lecture there with photos and calls of 93 species seen at Jenner's Pond and on field trips.Marie is researching her grandfather, Dr. Frederick V.Coville 1887, who was responsible for bringing wild blueberries into commercial cultivation. She now has a history for the family and a commercial video.

Classmates are reporting and solving health problems. Barbara Hall Bowne says she's "just trying to keep ahead of the Parkinson's demons."Another victim and she have started a Parkinson's disease support group. They had 16 members (and perhaps more since her writing) and they are learning together.We wish them luck. George Schreiner writes that he is living comfortably in Cape May Point, NJ, with wife Irene."Macular eye problems severely limit solo activities, but I still use my reading machine and play solitaire on the computer."He claims four children, five step-children, 24 grands, and three great-grands.

Norma Hirshon Schatz of Longboat Key, FL, sent word that husband Mike '41, LLB '42, died of cardiac arrest on June 10. "I had almost 60 years with this wonderful guy." -- Nancy Torlinski Rundell, 20540 Falcons Landing Circle #4404, Sterling, VA 20165.

45 | Officially one of our classmates, although not well known among us, Vagn Flyger, BS '48, a retired wildlife biologist at the U. of Maryland, died Jan. 9 at his home in Silver Spring,MD. Dr. Flyger (whose name is pronounced Vawn FLEE-gur) shuttled deer to the suburbs and pursued whales and polar bears in the Arctic. Known for an impish and teasing humor, he said he found the squirrel far more accommodating, if only because one did not suffer a hernia from handling it, and kept squirrels as pets, sometimes eating them, saying that they made a piquant substitute in any chicken recipe. He worked first with woodchucks and deer, but moved on to whales during Arctic expeditions sponsored by a Norwegian whaling company. The first summer, in 1961, was a bust because of rough weather. The following summer, Dr. Flyger wowed a band of weary Eskimos (whose forbears had struggled for centuries to harpoon whales and wrestle them into submission) by shooting a lethal dose of tranquilizer at a whale, which rolled over dead.He pronounced the whalemeat, which remained edible after the injection, "delicious."Among his scientific observations: it is possible to sweat at 50 degrees below zero.

My previous plea for identification of those in our reunion photo has produced some results: Ann Buchholz Alden (Delmar, NY) says that she is number 3-8 and wants the final list when complete. I will be glad to send it to all, if only those who haven't yet responded will! Ann and husband John '43 took a Cornell Alumni trip on the Elbe River, Berlin to Prague, in late October. She reports that half of the people on the boat were Cornellian or friends of Cornell and that "our young Cornell representative,Margaux Neiderbach '99, was outstanding (like President Rawlings, she had never heard the song ‘Don't Send My Boy to Harvard' either). It was a good trip."Another cruiser was Ruth BussellMcLay (Holmdel, NJ), who escaped some snow by going to San Diego and taking the Ryndam from San Diego through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale. She says she's tired of snow and would rather bask in the sun than write news to us. Thanks, anyway!

Tireless traveler William Berley (NYC) went to Australia and New Zealand to enjoy the southern hemisphere autumn. Bill's grandson Marcus was a June '05 graduate, and his sister Heather '07, a transfer from Syracuse, joins him in being third-generation Cornellians. He loves reading good books and finds that it is difficult to stay healthy. Having recently read that good health is merely an obstacle on the path to the inevitable makes us wonder if the difficulty is worth it! James Carley, PhD '51 (Tucson, AZ) enjoyed attending reunion but is concerned about "ambitious new edifices moving its appearance toward the jammed-up ugliness of UC Berkeley." Jim was a participant in the annual "El Tour de Tucson" and says that he plans on doing half of the 109-mile course in about the time it takes the young racers to do it all.

Who remembers the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory? In response to an inquiry to our distinguished classmate Engineering Dean (Emeritus) Edmund Cranch, PhD '51 (Ithaca), we learned that in 1943 a new Research Laboratory of the Curtiss-Wright Airplane Division at Buffalo was dedicated, Dr. Clifford C. Furnas appointed its first director, and work began on the largest, most expensive piece of equipment in the building--the wind tunnel ($3.5 million).When completed, the tunnel was capable of testing large airplane models up to the then-unheard-of speed of 750 miles per hour--approximately the speed of sound.

During war years, the laboratory grew steadily as part of the flourishing Curtiss-Wright family, but V-J Day documents were barely signed when the company was deluged with telegrams canceling contracts for wartime production of aircraft.Within weeks, production was reduced to 5 percent of wartime peak, and Curtiss- Wright decided to abolish the Airplane Division in Buffalo and discontinue underwriting the activities of the Research Laboratory. Dr. Furnas expressed his intent to keep the laboratory operating and entered into serious discussions with Cornell. On Dec. 21, Curtiss-Wright bequeathed the laboratory to Cornell and provided a cash gift to complete the unfinished wind tunnel. In 1946, with Dr. Furnas as director, the 545 employees of Curtiss-Wright Research Laboratory become employees of Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory (CAL). In 1947 the CAL wind tunnel became operational and research began in automotive safety. The laboratory was incorporated as Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cornell University, and the Treasury department ruled that it was in "non-profit" status, which continued until 1972, when Cornell disposed of it. -- Prentice Cushing Jr., 713 Fleet Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23454; tel., (757) 716-2400; e-mail, Cushcu45@wmconnect.com.

46 | Our 60th Reunion is fast approaching. Can you believe we graduated in June 1946 (some accelerated during WWII, so graduated earlier)? I'm writing this in early February, but you won't receive the news until May. I hope you've made your plans to attend. If not, get on the phone NOW and call for reservations. Better still, call some old classmates and get them to meet you there.Mavis Gillette Sand (East Aurora, NY), our co-chair, has engaged a piano player for our banquet and after-party on Friday. He is coming all the way from Lockport, so tune up the vocal chords to sing all our old favorites. The annual CACO Mid-Winter Meeting was held in Philadelphia on Feb. 17-18 to put the last polish on plans. Representing the women were Mavis, Pat Kinne Paolella, and Ruth Critchlow Blackman.

Between Christmas cards and phone calls, I've contacted my AOPi sisters. Bill and Nancy Aungier Beveridge (Staten Island, NY) are planning on attending. Nancy has a new knee, and Bill plays golf despite a bad back. They had two grandchildren graduate from college last year. Charlotte Fry Poor (Peoria, IL) will be coming alone, as Bob has been in a nursing home for five years. She moved to a condo nearby.Mary Lou Rutan Snowden (Madison, WI) hopes to come, but Harry's health won't permit the trip. They have five grandchildren--four boys and one girl. Phil '46 and Joan Flood Snyder (Salem,VA) and Orrie '46, LLB '48, and Ann McGloin Stevens (Wyndmoor, PA) are still living in their big houses and seem to be in the best shape of all of us. The Snyders have a conflict that weekend, but we can plan on seeing the Stevenses. Three of their five grandchildren are in college. The latest collegiate goes to Brown. Phil Kennedy '47, ME '48, and I plan on being there to greet you when you arrive, as we are coming on Wednesday. He had his knee operated on this morning and is home already.

Others planning on being at reunion: Art and Doris Ticknor Van Vleet (Richmond, IN), and Ruth Critchlow Blackman (Newton, PA). Charlotte Cooper Gill (Hurley, NY) wrote that she and Fran Goheen Hofler live only two miles apart. They will be traveling together and will be glad to call the Statler home for the weekend. Charlotte's oldest granddaughter was married in September. Dottie Taylor Prey will be arriving from San Mateo, CA. She moved from Pittsburgh last August to be near her children.

It's still not too late to join us in June, so make your reservations today.We would like to have our biggest attendance yet. See you on the Hill. -- Elinor Baier Kennedy, 9 Reading Dr., Apt. 302,Wernersville, PA 19565; tel. (610) 927-8777.

Hallelujah! Our class website, http://classof46.alumni.cornell.edu, has been rejuvenated. Now we have links to important class information and alumni services. So far, your correspondent has viewed five areas, including '46 Class History, a slide show of previous reunions and highlights of our imminent return to the Hill for our "60th in '06" from June 8-11. Also, there is a list of classmates planning to attend, and a list of those who are deceased.What are highlighted are a special tour for us of new buildings, facilities, and dorms, plus demonstrations of some of the fields where Cornell shines. For the non-computer literate,much of this material is part of the Reunion Registration material mailed in early March. It was all done very well, with one exception we will try to correct. Some of the group photos in the slide show should be larger and brighter.

At this writing in mid-February,Mavis Gillette Sand has reported that most class officers are accompanying her to the CACO (Cornell Association of Class Officers) Mid-Winter Meeting in Philadelphia to fine tune plans for reunion. Her fellow planners are Lloyd Slaughter, Dick Turner, Bill Farrell, Ruth Critchlow Blackman, Pat Kinne Paolella and Maj-Britt Karlsson Gabel. Before the CACO pilgrimage,Mavis sat down and submitted a charming memoir for the less-than-300-word contest. Dave Day has also sent in an interesting submission.We'd appreciate more competing memoirs, as well as parodies of "The Song of the Classes."

John Drew (Manasquan, NJ; jack@algonquinarts.org) closed Drew Engineering last year and is now full-time in a labor of love. He's president and running the live theatre he and his wife Fran restored over 13 years ago. Algonquin Arts Theatre now gives more than 250 performances to about 70,000 patrons each year. If they can get away, Fran and Jack will attend reunion. Brendan O'Hara (Glen Head, NY; b_ohara@tullycos.com) wrote, "Three of my children graduated from Cornell. Now my oldest grandchild entered in September. There are 14 more grandchildren. And V-12 started it all." Brendan is coming to reunion and is talking it up to his classmate friends. He doesn't play hockey anymore, but still skates and plays golf.

Rodney Stieff (Baltimore, MD) would love to be at reunion, but doubts he'll be well enough to make it. But with the loving care of his wife Dottie, who knows? Rod continues to follow closely the fortunes of Cornell wrestling and lacrosse, on whose teams he once competed as an undergrad. The Cornell friends from whom he'd most like to hear are Robert Simonds and Dick Turner.

Let's keep working for a mammoth "60th in '06" Reunion turnout. Let's each of us call a classmate and ask him or her to join us on the Hill in June. 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 | Happy spring! As I write, in mid-February, it is cold and snowing outside my window, but we will be reading this in wonderful weather with flowers and leaves and birds, and enjoying and grateful for them all.

The big university news is surely that there is a new president, David J. Skorton, whom Cornell will inaugurate in early July as its 12th president. In President Skorton's letter introducing himself to us all, he certainly sounds pleased with his appointment, with Cornell, and with all of us in the greater Cornell community. I know everyone wishes him and his wife, Robin Davisson, all success and happiness at our institution.

The other big university news is that Melody Davidson, who is on leave this year from her position as Cornell's women's hockey coach, led the Canadian women's team to the gold medal at the Olympics in Turin.

Heinz Meng, PhD '51, sent a long letter telling of his interesting and accomplished life as an internationally recognized ornithologist and falconer and member of many wildlife, ornithology, and falconry associations in North America, England, and Germany. A native of Germany, Heinz came to this country at age 5, and later pursued a lifelong interest in natural history and wildlife (especially birds) at Cornell, studying under Arthur Allen 1907, Paul P. Kellogg '29, and George Sutton, PhD '32. He joined the biology department at SUNY New Paltz, teaching and researching. Heinz was honored by the National Audubon Society for making a significant impact on conservation in the 20th century through his groundbreaking work to save the peregrine falcon from extinction. He was also honored with the first Distinguished Teacher Award by the New Paltz Alumni Association for his "singular accomplishments in leading students to knowledge and understanding." In addition, he has authored numerous scientific articles and co-authored the book Falcon's Return. The book is illustrated with many of his photographs and paintings, since he is also an accomplished wildlife artist. Heinz retired in 2001, but still teaches. He enjoys trout fly-fishing and has three children. Heinz is certainly to be congratulated on a life well lived.

Renee GainesWallace (RWallace@vitaliving.org) serves as the board chairman of Vita-Living Inc.What does the company do, Renee? Help us stay healthy? She is a collector and an art appreciator and has four children and two grandchildren. Her daughter Melanie is a producer on "Nova." Son Andrew has a PhD in philosophy and is a professor in California; son Lee is a photographer; and son Ricky, sadly, is severely brain damaged. Renee recently took a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Richard Bass, a retired doctor living in Scottsdale, AZ, stays connected to medicine, and last year attended a conference at Phoenix Children's Hospital. His wife Elizabeth volunteers in the emergency department at the Mayo Hospital in Scottsdale. They have three daughters and four sons.

Robert Olney, BA '46, is retired from 3M Company. He lived in England both full-time and part-time for 26 years and now travels back and forth to Europe. All three sons have graduated from Cornell, as well as two grandsons and a granddaughter.Well done! You must get to campus often for all those graduations! Robert was married to classmate Wanda (Gasch), who died in 1988, and he married Ann in 1992. On his News Form he sent greetings to class treasurer Margi NewellMitchell. Israel "Jay"Milner (izegmilner@ieee.org) is still (!) working part-time as an adjunct professor of environmental science at Temple U., and is also active in his community. Last year he enjoyed visiting Israel and Costa Rica.He reports he has three beautiful granddaughters who are the children of son Joseph '89 and his wife Allison.

Walter and Elaine Tompkins Merkel (wwmerkel@dnet.net) live in Lakeland, FL, in the winter and Hiawassee, GA, the rest of the year. Adrina Casparian Kayaian and her husband Berge celebrated their 42nd anniversary last year with a trip to Las Vegas. Frank Carney (CarneyCU@aol.com) and his wife planned to celebrate their 50th anniversary cruising from Florida to Bermuda and trans-Atlantic to Spain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. They were to return to Boston on their way to Orris Island, ME, where they live in the summer after wintering in Bonita Springs, FL. Sounds wonderful.

Elaine Baker Temkin, who is retired from the education department at Brown U., lives in Pawtucket, RI, and summers in Westport, MA. Elaine took a two-week driving trip through Sicily. She sees Marjorie Maxwell Glantz and Natalie Mann Rosenstock and has two children and four grandchildren. Herb Meltzer, MS '48 (hmeltzer@bigfoot.com), who is practically retired as a computer consultant, says his only business is, "Why isn't this program you sold me 10 years ago working?" Besides answering those complaints, he publishes a monthly newsletter and is a volunteer usher at every possible venue within 100 miles. He has two sons involved in computers and publishing and a grandson "who gets away with simply being adorable."

In a very recent conversation with class president Pete Schwarz, he told me of a letter he is sending to all classmates. In the letterhead, to my surprise, he has named me Reunion Chairman, since we forgot to elect one in 2002. It's all right with me, but maybe one of you out there would like to do it. I don't own the job. If you would like to do it, please just say so.We will help. Keep in touch. -- Arlie Williamson Anderson, 238 Dorchester Rd., Rochester, NY 14610; tel., (585) 288-3752; e-mail, arlie47@aol.com.

48 | JohnMitchell, St. Petersburg, FL: "Grandson married in Raleigh August '05. Recently discovered learning to enjoy life and be cheerful in spite of vision impairment."

Vincent Greci, Olympia Fields, IL: "Unemployed, (not) looking for a job.Haven't been far from home lately. Last remember taking 3-year-old grandson to a park. Would rather be doing something to ‘perk up' another soul. Plan to do this tomorrow. I was feeling depressed for a while because of a health problem. Then I received a wonderful e-mail from my granddaughter's husband. (Ed. note: Anyone feeling down and wants a lift, call or write me. I'll fax or mail a copy. It's such a generic type of letter that it would make any man or woman feel good no matter what's bothering them.) We have three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Have recently learned how beautiful children are! Solution to today's problems is to get back to the Ten Commandments and re-learn how to respect one another."

Bill McCurdy, Fort Lauderdale, FL (as of last Sept. 10): "In the hospital. Two separate hip replacements and a slight arterial stroke, otherwise OK." Bob McKinless, Alexandria,VA: "Still leading bike and canoe trips for Washington Cornell Club and singing in Washington Men's Camerata.Had a great family reunion May '05 to celebrate the recovery (return) of a grandfather's clock that had been in the family for six generations and had inadvertently been sold by one of my wife Nancy's nephews. I'm pretty well recovered from a cycling accident from 2-1/2 years ago (broken leg). Rode in ‘Bike Virginia' June '05. Cycled 33 miles around the rim of Crater Lake in Aug. '05 with a LXA fraternity brother, then camped and hiked with son, son-in-law, and two grandsons, 21 and 13, at Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic Park, and Lake Tahoe."

Anatole Browde, St. Louis, MO: "Day job is consulting and grandkids. I've been relaxing or loafing, depending on your orientation. Traveled to Toronto and Chappaqua. Paying bills; would rather not be paying bills.Watching grandchildren grow."William Kaplan, Chevy Chase, MD:"I'm into sports." (Ed. is puzzled. How come, Bill, at the CAU last summer you were in "American Trials" and not "Golf Clinic"?) Tom Trafzer, Carmichael, CA: "Keeping out of trouble since retiring in '89. A little golf, a little bridge, a little Internet surfing for family genealogy. Proudly watching the progress of our ninth grandchild in the Hotel school. In March '05 Jane and I moved into a 1,450-sq.-ft. senior complex cottage.We dine in the central dining room each evening and are getting caught up in the activities and committees of this place."

Sally McGowan Rice,Wolfeboro, NH: "Keeping body and soul together. Still go to the gym at least three times a week and walk two-plus miles when it's nice out. Hospice visits, AA meetings, and occasional concerts. Anyone seen Livingston Taylor (James's brother)? He's terrific! Singing and laid-back humor. Family wedding in Portsmouth, NH. I love wallowing in wonderful extended family.We learn more from the bad things that happen to us than we do from all the good things.Most pressing problem is Bush. Solution is patience. GOD is a three-letter word standing for ‘good orderly direction.' Not so recent, but I like it. The meaning of life is to stay healthy until dead."

Herb Podel,Westport, CT: "Present day job is wholesale sports and recreation and community affairs. Everyone except me is getting older. Can't remember what I last did. I would rather be graduating (the first time). Plan to live to at least 2008. Glad I'm still working.Most pressing problem today is how to improve the Mets. Solution is to root for the Yankees. Have not discovered anything new. It's all been done before. The meaning of life is ‘don't grow up.' "Maredith Nims Gubb, Houston, TX: "Attended the wedding of one of my older grandsons near St. Louis. Thankful they returned from Key West honeymoon before last year's storms hit." Lester Wise, Old Westbury: "Visited Cornell in August '05 to see granddaughter Marissa '07.Many changes since I last visited in 2003. Best to all!"

Madeleine Miller Bennett, New York City: "Whitney Museum docent. No after-hours activity. Been to India. Attended film festival. Plan cruise January '06 to South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Hong Kong. Lonely since losing Jay.World's problem is Bush. Solution is next election. Haven't learned anything new recently and I don't know (get) the meaning of life." Harold Raynolds,Woodstock, VT: "Opera (not singing), reading (Sigrid Undset, Kristin Lavransdatter).Where on earth are we headed? I was recently at the 125th anniversary banquet of the Cornell Daily Sun in NYC with 450 attending.My most pressing problem is self-government! World's worst problem is US leadership. Solution: change it. The meaning of life is ‘loving what is.' "

Charlotte Smith Moore, Binghamton, NY: "Went to Reading, MA, to help daughter move three miles to Wakefield, MA. Tomorrow (October 15) I go to wedding of Ken Jones '51's daughter in Burlington, VT. (That's why Char was not at the Homecoming Weekend football tailgate party when Cornell beat Georgetown 51 to 7.We not only missed Char, but we missed her poppyseed cake also.) -- Bob Persons, 102 Reid Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050; tel. and fax, (516) 767-1776.

49 | In the last column, our editor covered nicely for us. It was a time of chaos.We put our Greenwich house on the market in August and went blissfully off to our timeshare in Newport, RI. So much for vacation time! The first phone call was from our broker. Following the first open house, we had an offer that we could not refuse. From that silly moment on, life has been more hectic than a trip to the Trumansburg Fair or a Sebela concert. After settling on our next address, there was the cleaning out of over a half-century of "Oh, we'd better keep that!" It is a work of art still in progress, but many of you have been there. If not, prepare yourselves!

I will spare you the dumbness of what turned up. Obviously, most of it was Cornell-related. Seven bumper stickers all proclaiming: Ithaca, NY: Centrally Isolated. Numerous Big Red Bear decals. Papers written for American Folk Lit. Eleven Cornell paperweights (the most interesting being cut from Ezra Cornell's oak). There was a "greens flag" from the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course (President's Cup - Alumni '49), which I won in a bitterly contested playoff with '49ers Walt Peek, Jack Jaso, and Tom Clements, plus numerous "shingles" attesting that I was a member of some organization or another (many unknown to me). Also: an autographed copy of A History of Cornell by Morris Bishop '14, PhD '26, the original mission statement, bylaws, and membership of "The Secret Eleven" (all '49ers), the secret formula for Sphinx Head Sours, etc. The only thing missing is the traffic sign (embedded in a concrete block) that stood at the gate ofWells College, which members of the Big Red football team delivered to my room in the middle of the night. It was impossible to move and became a lasting part of the decor until graduation.

As we conclude, we tip our Cornell cap (one of 14 that we came across) to those of you who live in warmer climes. This has been a wicked winter here. Nor'easters. Blizzards. Trees down everywhere. Very little power to the people! We don't expect it to be much better at our next abode.We never said we were smart. There is always Vermont. At last, now we should be able to sort out the old news from the ancient to the new and get this column back on line. Stay well. Stay happy. Be proud to be a '49er! -- Dick Keegan, 100 Ashlar Village,Wallingford, CT 06492; e-mail, rjk27@cornell.edu.