These pages contain all class notes from the Yale Alumni Magazine from 1957 on. The notes appear unchanged from their original publication save for the correction of misspellings and other small errors. The few gaps in coverage that exist result from the absence of Class of 1957 notes in a few issues of the magazine over the years. Also, in keeping with changes in the magazine itself, the frequency of publication occasionally changes.

Return to Master Index of All Class Notes

Notes: November 1978
Notes: October 1978
Notes: April 1978
Notes: February 1978

Notes: November 1978

One of the joys of enduring a newspaper strike is that one gets exposed again to the New Haven Register, wherein a recent article appeared reporting a school being closed in New Haven and the valiant attorney's attempts to forestall that unhappy situation. I quote from the paper: "Under questioning from attorney Frank Mongillo, Jr., last year's unsuccessful candidate for mayor," a local real estate agent went on to report the problems that could be anticipated around the school if it were closed. The article went on at some length. I'll spare you all the details, but will add that the judge threw the agent out as not really being able to answer "Mongillo's queries." Needless to say, Frank lost the case. Frank, we wish you much luck on the next venture, perhaps a bet on Yale vs. Harvard? It's safer than the political process and a courtroom.

A press release reports that Dr. DeForest Mellon, Jr. (does anyone ever call him Mike anymore?) is taking a leave from the University of Virginia to be a Thomas Jefferson Scholar at Downing College, Cambridge University. It says here that Dr. Mellon "plans to study the mechanisms of ionic regulations in the nervous system of marine invertebrates." Wonder if he'd like to take a look at the nervous systems of some 43-year-old Yale types? Bet our "ionic regulations" are in terrible shape. Mike has been at U. Va. since 1963 and will be back there in the Fall of 1979.

Had a nice note from Ted Frembgen, who says that he is "firmly and permanently ensconced in Southern California." He claims to be a mediocre tennis player and above average at Backgammon for those of you who want to take on,. Ted and his wife, Penny, live in Santa Ana and have two children. He's the sales manager for a company that makes boat trailers.

Bumped into Randy Guggenheimer at the U.S. Tennis Open. His first comment was, "you're not going to write anything about me in the Class Notes are you?" Of course I will. Anyone as hungry as your humble Class Secretary is, will use anything, even news about Gugg. His oldest enters Harvard this year, breaking what I'm told, is an old Yale tradition. The other two children are at Exeter. This suggests that Randy and Jane are working very hard to support several schools. I'll bet they aren't the only ones.

I have a note here that says nice things about Richard Finley. According to the word I have, he's been names president of Teledyne Republic in Cleveland, O. The company makes fluid power components. He lives in Lakewood, O., has five children and a wife, which will keep anybody's lifestyle "fluid."

A reminder, The Class of 1957 will be sharing a tent at the Yale-Princeton game. Howie Gillis is nominated host for this affair. He'll be there to see that all the amenities of the "house" are extended to you. I'll be there with my note pad, so come ready to help me out.

—Junius (Sandy) R. Clark III

Notes: October 1978

Back to school for the kids, back from vacations for all and, also, back to the Class of 1957 for Clark. I've heard from a good number of the Class over the summer and, thanks to the 25th Reunion, I've seen a fair number of you.

Spent a great weekend in Cleveland where nine members of the Class of'57 showed up for a reunion from high school. George Dunn led the whole affair. According to my wife, "George isn't wild anymore." While he may have calmed down a bit in his old age, George throws a good party. It was good to see him and his bride, Becky.

Others that were seen, talked to and send their best are Kurt Bloch, Ted Jones, Frank Beam, Jack Turben, Bob Corry, Hank Chisolm, and Peter Fritzsche.

Beam is, or will have, relocated to the Chicago area by the time this article runs. Frank is the head partner for Ernst & Ernst in Chicago. Sounds like a great job for him. Bob Corry and his wife made the trip from Iowa City. They're getting to be "regulars" at these sort of affairs.

Turben hosted the golf part of the reunion and from the way that he hits the ball, he may get elected to perform the same chore for the 25th Reunion from Yale. Fritzsche was full of big deals. By the time this article runs, I expect that Pete and his associates will have purchased half the businesses of this country. In fact, if we're not careful, the entire Class may wind up working for him.

Moving away from the Cleveland crowd, but staying with reunions, Ken Sharp and his wife, Mary, flew into Connecticut not long ago on their way to a reunion at Andover. Had a good visit with them over lobster from Long Island Sound. Ken is the best advertisement for living in Florida. For those of you who contemplate a move south, please research it with Sharp. He has a "lock" on the good life.

Bob Mobley called to report on a new job and a new son. The new job is with Kingstree in Los Angeles. It's a firm that conducts sales training and communications courses. Mobley is sales manager of the company which figures, since he isn't the type to be in a closet in the backroom. The new son, Michael Menzies Mobley makes him the official Oldest Father in the Class of 1957, unless someone wants to contest that statement. Bob reports that he's seen Charlie Grimes and, according to Bob, "Charles needs a new suit. Perhaps the class fund could chip in towards this cause." I don't know about that. According to Joe Mark we need all the cash we can get. Conspicuous consumption like new suits may be well beyond our budget.

Hank Conlan has set up his own executive search and recruitment firm in Palo Alto. While Hank didn't say so, those of you wishing to relocate in the San Francisco area are advised to get your resumés to him. Hank and his wife live in Palo Alto with their five children.

Don Bain has checked in from Denver, where he is a lawyer. Don and his wife, Mini, have three children (two at home and the oldest is at St. Paul's). Don is the Colorado rep to AYA.

That's the news for this month. Remember, those of you who are planning a trip to the Bowl this fall, the Clark household is 45 minutes away. We always have beer, food and room for guests. Come and see us.

—Junius (Sandy) R. Clark III

Notes: April 1978

First off, let me apologize to all who cannot face a month without their injection of "what's going on with 1957." We missed a recent issue of YAJ, not because we were late, but because the powers that "be" just wouldn't run our timeless prose. With that as an opening, let's turn to the news, of which there's a great deal.

The oldest, new-father-in-the-class role will be taken over by no other than our former Class Secretary, Pete Fritzsche. By the time this runs, Pete and Ruth should be the proud parents of their sixth child. My father used to say that Pete "knew" better, but I don't know....

That means that John Herrmann is in second place, unless, of course, he has some news for us. Groth?

Phil Pillsbury reports from Turin, Italy, where he is consul and director of USIS. He's been there since 1976 with his wife, Nina, and two of their three children. As Phil reports on his lifestyle: "It's a fascinating time to be in Italy ass the question of Eurocommunism centers on the Italian Communist Party. He also adds that they enjoy the proximity to the Alps and skiing, which shows his true capitalist leanings.

William (Sandy) Armstrong reports from Seattle (there's another one from that part of the country). He's been there about three years after a good stretch in various parts of the country with Hornblower & Weeks. He's now with Smith, Barney, Harris Upham. Sandy reports that John Poinier is also in his office.

While I'm on the subject of Poinier, Ken Sharp called recently to report on lots of skiing out west over Christmas. He said that he had talked to Poinier... now if John would only report on himself.

John Fistere has moved to El Cajon, Calif., where he is chief systems engineer with Solar Turbines International. John had been with Westinghouse in Philadelphia before moving out west. He's married with two daughters, Jennifer and Jessica. Oh, yes, his wife answers to the name of Jane.

Dave Hyatt wrote a very newsy note and I'm going to quote liberally from it. "I'm living a semi-alternate lifestyle in Warwick, R.I. I'm workshop manager of the Family Life Education Workshop Program. I put on effective education workshops in Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut." Dave also reports that he does some carpentry on the side and referees soccer. Sounds like his "semi-alternate" lifestyle is just as busy as everyone else's. Dave also gave the 20th Reunion a one-day trial and was disappointed. Dave, we'll expect you for the whole show on the 25th; we may even put you on the program as an "alternate."

Charlie Gold wrote a nice card. He's with IBM in Armonk, N.Y. He lives in West Cornwall, Conn., with his wife, Barbara, and their two children. From the list of activities that they're into perhaps we should compare them to Hyatt's "alternate lifestyle."

It was great to hear from John Ross since it was practically the end of freshman year when we were last in touch. After a number of years in California, Johnnie and his family moved east. They're living in Granite Springs, N.Y. John is with Chevron Oceanic in New York City. In contrast to Fritzsche, John and his wife became grandparents last November.

Ran into Tony Bingham at the Yale Club a few weeks back; he looked terrific. He's moved back east from Western Canada and is running a mining company in New York. The Binghams are living in Rockland County. It was good to see him, especially since Tony had more grey hair than I do.

By the time this article runs, Glen Harris' challenge to the Class may make some sense. He says, "I'd like to issue a friendly challenge to the Class of '57; if you are passing through the middle of Connecticut, call me at 633-1402 for a game of tennis. I've been practicing!" I hate people who are that confident. If anyone takes Glen up on this and you want an audience, remember that Halpern and I are the class watchers.

Ara Bagdasarien is Chief of Surgery at Bristol Hospital. He lives in that Connecticut community with his wife and two children.

As you begin to plan your summer travels, for those who are coming east or heading toward Cape Cod, the Clark house is five minutes off the Connecticut Turnpike. We'll always have a beer, a place to take a dip and would love the chance to get caught up with you. It's a great privilege to hear from any of you, whether by mail or in person. So don't think you're imposing.

Now for a brief rundown on some of the classmates in the East. I had a nice letter from Frank Mongillo. It sounds like he's ready to have another "go" at the Mayor's job in New Haven. When he does, we'll be ready.

Another political happening: Henry Goldzahler has been named new cultural commissioner for the City of New York. He will be in charge of dispensing a fair amount of money to support museums, performing arts groups and to certain cultural events that take place in the parks of New York. Henry has had a fine career at the Metropolitan Museum, interrupted by a year as program director for the National Endowment for the Arts. Henry has most recently been the curator of 20th Century Arts and before that he made quite a name for himself as a champion of pop art and its practitioners. His new job sounds very exciting, but I hope that Henry has a thick enough skin. It's mandatory for a public servant in New York. Good luck to you, Henry.

David Mininberg has been appointed Associate Professor of Surgery/urology at the Cornell University Medical Center. He is also Attending Urologist at New York Hospital. James Wilson Rayen is in the Fine Arts Department at Wellesley College where he is Director, Studio Major. He took a sabbatical last year in France and as this article appears he'll have a one-man show at the Wellesley College Museum.

Bill Keen is back in Philadelphia after nearly two years working on the Seabrook, N.H. nuclear power station. Bill came away from that experience with less than high praise for the Clamshell Alliance demonstrators. For more details contact Bill directly in Center Square, Pa.

In closing, let me thank everyone who has written. Your thoughts and notes are greatly appreciated. For those who have yet to write, please to so, especially those who are living abroad. I would include in this group John London, Sandy Speer, Jim Therrien, and Quincy Hunsicker.

Also, I'm amazed at the number of people who are jogging. It's almost an epidemic within the Class of 1957. If you'd like we'll stage a "1957 only" marathon with John Halpern serving as the tournament director; time and course to be chosen later.

See you next month.

—Junius (Sandy) R. Clark III

Notes: February 1978

Here comes the Judge ... Here comes the Judge, as Sammy Davis used to say. Now we can too. Gil Merritt reports that he has moved from private practice to Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (covering Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee). He was appointed in November by President Carter. Gil reports that the court sits 15 weeks out of the year to hear cases. The remainder is spent in his chambers, a place not to be confused with his "bedchambers," Gil did not mention a thing about fixing parking tickets, et al., but with 37 weeks of free time perhaps he's worth a try. If you want to find him, Gil's address is 612 Fair St. (would a judge live anyplace else?) in Franklin, Tenn.

Your Class Secretary went to the Yale-Harvard game and ran into a smallish turnout at the '57 tent. Spotted Reid White and Joe Clayton with their families; Art Diefendorf was there and Charlie Abuza was too. Toby and Kate Briggs were seen to step in, look around and then head for the Bowl. For the Cleveland crowd, Fritzsche again "gave" his choice seats to Matson who was sporting a new wife.

Gil Hemsley is an Associate Professor in the Theatre and Drama School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His field is lighting design. He sent a note with a copy of an article from the October 17th issue of Time. To quote it: "In Gil Hemsley, the director has the best lighting designer in American opera. Hemsley paints a single set as though it were a blank canvas, creating reality out of apparition and believability out of reality legend." Do you suppose his papers in Sewall's Tragedy course had that same sense of "creating reality out of apparition"?

Robert Weinmann is a man of many hats, and for a neurologist that's no small feat. Bob, a graduate of Stanford Medical School, now teaches there. He lives in San Jose and is the president of the Santa Clara County Chapter of the Union of American Physicians. On top of that he is an editor of some note. He edits the Santa Clara County Medical Society Bulletin and he has started a muckraking publication called The Nightletter for American Medicine. He's the editor and publisher of this newsletter and he's set a goal pointing out the idiocy (lunacy?) that occurs when the federal and state bureaucracies meet the medical establishment. Once he slays that dragon, maybe Bob would like to apply as Class Secretary. There's lots of muck that needs raking here.

There is some sad news. John Phillips died March 27, 1973. He is survived by his widow, Sandra, two children and uncle, Jerome Carney '21 of New Haven. Sandra can be reached at RFD 606, Sunapee, N.H. 03782.

Jeff Freeman writes that he ran in the New York Marathon and finished in 3.28. He says that while plugging along the 26 miles he "spotted John Halpern watching all of us." Some are doers and some are watchers, obviously Halpern and most of the Class are in the latter category.

Received a part of a Citicorp 3rd quarter report that announced a "new policy-level position" created exclusively for George Vojta. He is executive vice president and head of long-range planning for the bank. George's job is to identify and evaluate the "portents" that the future holds in terms of the opportunities, requirements and problems for Citicorp. Given the problems our Class has with dues, perhaps George would add this ominous portent to his already overflowing list.

Inky Clark writes that he's in his eighth year as headmaster at Horace Mann which is now the "largest private school in the U.S.A." He is a member of a number of boards and associations affiliated with the independent schools and, I can report, he's the baseball coach. Saw him and his team when they had a practice game last spring against Darien High School.

Ron Savin has been appointed as Associate Clinical Professor at Yale Medical School. He reports that for a hobby, he and his wife, Marilyn, are "slowly expanding a collection of cigar store Indians" and they would love to find some more. Your help will be appreciated by them. Ron lives at 4 Edgehill Drive in Woodbridge, Conn.

I had a nice note from Nortie Wright, who is now living in California. He's the producer of a new series for public television called Freestyle. They're doing 13 half-hour dramas with the first one scheduled for next October. His wife, Susan, is an accomplished actress. We've enjoyed seeing her several times on Broadway. She spent the summer on the road doing Music Man and Sound of Music and took one of their boys along. Nortie got to keep the youngest.

Ed Meyer reports that he was elected to the New York State Board of Regents which is a non-paid position, but "challenging because it involves policy making in education." Ed's oldest son is a freshman at Yale and the Meyers are living in Armonk. To cover all of this, Ed is a senior partner of the New York laws firm of Spengler, Carlson, Geubar, Churchill & Brodsky.

Until recently Ed was our senior most unelected politician. He has now been replaced by Frank Mongillo who lost his race for Mayor of New Haven. Apparently our donation didn't do the trick.

Remember your class dues are needed. I'm told that so far your participation has been on a par with what we would expect from Ron Savin's wooden Indians.

I'll close on that note.

—Junius (Sandy) R. Clark III