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: December 1983
Notes: November 1983
Notes: October 1983
Notes: June 1983
Notes: April 1983
Notes: February 1983

Notes: December 1983

The AYA is busy preparing a list of freshman admitted this fall and sired by '57ers. I know I promised to print it in this issue, but you'll have to give me a black mark for veracity and some other color for hope and perseverance. Tune in next issue... (and, if it gets as garbled as it did last year, for the next three succeeding issues).

More news than last month, but only my dogged determination never to miss an issue stops me from hoarding these tidbits for a longer piece later on. A letter from Peter Grose: "Deciding finally to leave behind me a two-decade career in journalism. I have left The New York Times to become director of Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, a think-tank of position roughly midway between the hustle of journalism and the supposed placidity of the academic world. My book, Israel in the Mind of America, will be published by Knopf in November and has been selected for the Book of the Month Club. My wife Claudia (nee Kerr) has been running a management training program for the City of New York, and daughters Carolyn and Kim are energetic teenagers at the Horace Mann School, where they are eager students of two classmates, Ink Clark and Hannes Somary. We still live in New York, but try to spend as much time as we can on Martha's Vineyard."

A letter from Bob Young: "I have lived in England since 1960. Until 1975 I was a don at Cambridge but resigned in order to spend full time on my writing and editing. Three years ago I got involved in a television and book series, Crucible: Science in Society. One of the programs we decided to make was about nuclear weapons. I also commissioned a book for our series on the same topic. The net result is that Joel Kovel and I worked closely together on his book, Against the State of Nuclear Terror, and he also figured prominently in making the film, The Nuclear State. The book was published in the spring and has been well-received. The film is highly regarded by those who have seen it, but the channel has so far refused to transmit it (for political reasons connected with the climate here). Joel's book will be published by South End Press in America, but there are as yet no plans for broadcasting our documentary series there. Any bids from television tycoons in the Class of '57 will be welcome, Joel is a professor of psychiatry at Albert Einstein Medical School and has also written books on White Racism and A Complete Guide to Therapy and the Age of Desire.

Finally, I have an announcement that Eugene Doggett has joined the Corporate Finance Department of Tucker, Anthony in Boston. A competitor, but congratulations anyway.

—Randolph C. Guggenheimer, Jr.

Notes: November 1983

I feel like Old Mother Hubbard. Nary a "bone" to fill this blank sheet (I wonder if it is good procedure to start a column off in this fashion. I have visions of news-hungry readers immediately turning to '56 and '58 for substance). While I understand that we are too old for birth announcements, it would seem that we all should be ascending the corporate ladder--or its non-corporate equivalent--as we near our 50th birthdays. Hasn't anyone been promoted recently?

Speaking of being old, I was shaken by the sign over The Old Campus last fall greeting incoming freshman: "Welcome to the Class of 1987." Has it really been 30 years since our welcoming sign hung on Phelps Gate?

We were up at Yale in September installing daughter Lynn for her junior year. She is an English major and I thought it might be interesting to list the courses that she is taking this year. I have no idea whether she is the typical junior or not, but I do know that some things have changed in the Course Catalogues since we were students. For example, did anyone of us take a seminar in "Versification?" Or a sociology course, "Popular Culture and Mass Media? Or "The Social History of Impressionism?" Her other two courses are "History of Music" and "Victorian Novels." (The last of these was known as "Modern Novels" when we were there, or am I overdoing the age bit?)

I don't want to threaten any classmates, but if I don't get any news soon, I am going to publish a list of new Yalies sired by 1957. Last year when I did that it took three issues to get everything straightened out.

—Randolph C. Guggenheimer, Jr.

Notes: October 1983

It's October, it must be football. Please come to the 100th Yale-Harvard game November 19 and plan to attend our Class Dinner at Kline Biology Tower after The Game. (I know it wasn't built when we were there, but it's quite big and you will have no trouble finding it.) Wives, friends, children, etc., are not only welcome but essential. Early plans are for an open bar at 5:30, dinner at 6:45 and entertainment from a Yale singing group. Ticket applications had to be in yesterday, but with any degree of effort you can scrounge up a pair. See you there.

More class business--Toby Briggs has taken over from Tony Hogan as our AYA Representative for a three-year term. He will ably represent us at the Assembly meetings held in New Haven twice a year, and if he doesn't provide me with news, he'll be out on his ear. Our other class officer, Treasurer Rod Correll, has left his leather tanning business in upstate New York and enrolled in the Yale School of Management. He now resides with family in New Haven. For sheer devotion to Yale you can't beat Rod. He becomes Class Treasurer and moved back to Yale's business school to learn how to handle the job. I wonder if anyone expects me to go back to Yale for graduate work in English just because I write these notes? (No comments, please!)

News--at last--Ren Zimmerman sent me an announcement of the birth of daughter Edith Randall in June. She weighed in at 10 lbs, 1 oz, which is definitely "keeper" weight. Dave Bowman sent Sandy Clark a resumé listing his acting accomplishments since he became a full-time actor in 1974. Dave has appeared in T.V., films, legitimate theater and commercials. I hope he lets us know what to watch for in the future. The N.Y. Law Journal had an article last summer on Judge William H. Timber's former law clerks listing Carroll Brewster as "perhaps the most distinguished of the 36 former clerks." Perhaps?

Rick Kirgis writes: I have just been appointed Dean of the Washington and Lee University School of Law. I have taught here for the past five years, having also taught at various times at the University of Colorado, UCLA, and the University of Michigan Law Schools. Frank Strong will become a professor at the University of Arizona College of Law, Tucson on January Bob Bentley was featured in an article in the Chicago Tribune last spring. Bob painted a portrait of Congressman Dan Rostenkowski which now hangs in the Capitol. Bob lives in Winnetka, paints three or four portraits a month and according to the article "looks like neither a stockbroker (a former job) nor a painter as much as a movie or television star." Looks and talent--a good place to end, except for the not-so-new plea--News please.

—Randolph C. Guggenheimer, Jr.

Notes: June 1983

My final column of the year--a fact which I know will displease all members of the Class (except me). When I took over from Sandy Clark, I asked him where the news came from. He told me that it mysteriously appears--from letters, news releases and one's own devices. He was right. This month all sources are represented.

Letters: a short one from Allan Kaplan telling me that daughter Caroline Anne was admitted to the Class of 1987. I hope she is only one of many. Make sure she is available to take care of us at our 30th Reunion, Allan. A long letter from Victor Goodman, who tells us that he has three at college--Jeff, graduating from Miami (Ohio), Arlyn at Michigan, and Julie at Cincinnati. To even the numbers, David is at high school. Victor, a marvel of consistency, has been married to Elaine for 25 years and has been practicing law in Columbus since graduating from Harvard Law School. He is now senior partner of his firm. Victor's list of civic activities boggles the mind and is too long to recite. He adds, "Hopefully, a report in YAM that I am 'alive and well' in central Ohio will enable those passing through to give us a call. I did hear from Len Katz the other day as he was transferring planes. We do see Susan and Kurt Bloch on a fairly regular basis, including a G.S.U. football game each year. We have kept in touch with Irene and Bruce Schragger, who are our resident 'experts' on things to do and see in New York City."

News Releases: Only one of these this month. Hal Hochman, Professor of Economics and Finance at Baruch College and Director of its Center for the Study of Business and Government, has been named to Who's Who in Economics, a Biographical Dictionary of Major Economists 1700-1981. The volume lists 674 living economists most frequently cited in professional literature. Hal has M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale also, but we had him first.

Own Devices: I think I started the year referring to Bud Trillin's trip to Hong Kong in order to eat chicken wings as being the reason the price of The New Yorker was raised. Now, the article he wrote and other food reports are collected in Bud's new book, Third Helpings. It got good reviews in the New York papers. Bud was on Johnny Carson plugging it, and since I am doing the same, where the hell is my free copy? A news story reported on Joe Vittoria's move from Hertz to become president of Avis in February. The move engendered a $25 million lawsuit alleging stolen documents and broken employment contracts. Joe should be in the papers on this one for quite some time. Don't lose too many $25 million suits, Joe. They start to add up.

A sad note to end on: William Henry (Sandy) Armstrong died on March 6 in Bellevue, Wash. He was an investment broker with Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis. A native of Sharon, Pa., he lived in Rockford, Ill. and Chicago before moving to Seattle 10 years ago. At Yale he lived in Silliman and was a member of Chi Phi. He lettered in varsity track. Survivors are his wife, Ann, who can be reached at 8818 205th Place, S.W., Edmunds, Wash. 98020, daughter Amie Winifred and sons William Byron and Charles Crane. Also, his sister, Mrs. Van Enloe of Rome, Ga., who forwarded me the above information.

—Randolph C. Guggenheimer, Jr.

Notes: April 1983

I only published that list of Yale '57 children last December in order to fill up space, and it continues to do so. Five more letters came in adding names of offspring to the published report. Ladies first: Timmi Smallens writes on behalf of husband Alex says that her daughter Meredith is in the Class of '84 (not Kendall, but I explained that last issue), and son Sandy has recently been accepted into the Class of '87. Marla Perlman knows that our classmate Larry, who died in 1975, would be proud that son Jonathan is in the Class of '86. So are we, Marla. Glenn Sheffield adds John V. '83, son of Bill, to the list. Parenthetically, I am pleased we have interested wives reading the column. I will keep my act clear and my sexist remarks to a minimum. From the male side: Hal Russell adds Nina '86, to the list and Don Bab reports son Andrew admitted to ''87. A final word--Yale tuition is increasing to almost $12,900 next year. Not only are the kids bright, but the parents are poor.

More from the ladies--Mary Gergen fills us in on husband Ken: "Ken, besides being a terrific husband, has time to be a psychology professor at Swarthmore College and a serious contributor to his (our) field, social psychology. Swarthmore has a very generous sabbatical policy--so we've spent academic years in Rome, Paris, Kyoto and Heidelberg. (Unfortunately we missed the 25th Reunion because we were attending a meeting in Germany.)" Martha Hollenback, Pete's wife, writes that "the Classbook and the Reunion were both great."

Overseas news--Walter Clarke reports, "Currently serving as Counselor of Embassy for Political Affairs at American Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria, with wife Chantal, Nicolas (15), Quentine (12) and Aurelie (2). Sorry to have missed the 25th Reunion but long commute. Glad to have missed the Yale-Harvard game." E. Peter Smith, still living in Belgium, accepts Bill Wrean's challenge of first grandfather of the Class. He, too, is a grandfather and is "enjoying the experience immensely." Hugh Thompson writes: "Had the pleasure of filling in for the New Haven Rowing Club and enjoying their victories in the F.I.S.A. Regatta in Amsterdam, Holland in October. Steve Flagg was the local class representative. After 25 years in the desert it was a thrill. Bill Becklean and Tom Charlton '56 were part of a victorious Philadelphia crew."

A letter from John Hughes details his doings. "After helping to develop cancer education and surgery at the Medical Center of Ohio at Toledo, I spent six years reorganizing emergency care for the University of Arizona. I took a position returning to surgery--now in the Navy at Long Beach, Cal. One interest has related to prevention of highway injury--I'm pleased to have Dept. of Transportation support to do a symposium for Arizona on the subject during this fiscal year. I'll be up in Alaska doing surgery for a few weeks this spring. It's fun to put new adventure into a surgical career."

Sandy Clark sent me a clipping from the Chicago Sun Times reporting that Ron Savin, a dermatologist in New Haven, is doing a study on bald men to see if the drug Minoxidil, which lowers blood pressure, can cure baldness. Many of our classmates wish he would hurry up! Howie Gillis forwarded me a New Haven Register article on a potential new cartoon strip to be drawn by Garry B. Trudeau based on the late Marshall Dodge's "Bert and I" skit. The strip may be ready within a year.

Keep those letters coming in.

—Randolph C. Guggenheimer, Jr.

Notes: February 1983

I always throw away "Mark your calendar" notices, but next fall after the 100th Yale-Harvard game we will have a Class Dinner in New Haven. And, if you are of a mind to stay in New Haven, it may behoove you to get a hotel reservation early due to Reunions and centennial hoopla. While on the subject of football, we had a good group at the cocktail party following the Princeton game. Present were Charlie Abuza, Gordon Bellis, Pierre Bourquin, Howie Gillis, Randy Guggenheimer, Bill Hall and Alan Hockstader, all suitably encumbered with family members. I understand that Binky Davis, Carl Myrus, and George Vojta were also spotted at the game, but opted for a quick exit.

Two interesting letters to share: the first from Al Jerman, who was a dentist in the Air Force; "This summer I retired from the Air Force after 21 years and attained the rank of colonel. I thoroughly enjoyed the Air Force but it was time to move on. On June 19, I was married to Beverly Fletcher in Bristol, Conn. We had known each other for 30 years and she was at Briarcliff while we were at Yale. After the wedding we moved to Arlington, Vt., where we had purchased 'The Cheese House.' This is a retail/mail order business selling cheeses and other Vermont products. Needless to say, this is a big change from military life and we are thoroughly enjoying it. Small town living in Vermont is a delight. We bought a big old farmhouse with lots of fireplaces, woodstoves, a tennis court, etc. My 14-year-old son is living with us and my daughter is a freshman at Smith. So far our mid-life career change has worked out very well and I would encourage others contemplating such a stop to think positively." Al said in our Reunion Yearbook that he was looking forward to a second career, and it looks like he has it well under control.

If you were worried that our Class was shut out of the House of Representatives after last November's election, the second letter I received from John Spender, should cheer you up: "Briefly (what I have done since leaving Yale) is as follows: Called to the Bar in London 1960, and in various States of Australia thereafter. Appointed Queen's Counsel (an honorary title--this means you are 'learned in the law' and, so it is said, a Leader of the Bar) in 1974. 1960 to 1980: practicing member of the New South Wales Bar, 18 October 1980; elected to the Federal Parliament as a Member of the House of Representatives." Married, two children (girls aged 5 and 4)." While John has not specifically invited anyone to call, I like his hometown so much that if you are ever in Woollahra, NSW, please look him up.

The New York papers reported that Henry Geldzahler, with a tear in eye and a bunch of flowers from Mayor Koch in his hand, recently resigned as Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, City of New York. I am sure he remains Honorable, nonetheless.

A few notes from our literate Class due payers: Tim Childs received his Ph.D. "on schedule" (his words, not mine) in May 1982 from Georgetown in Modern European and Middle Eastern History. He is now planning to do some part-time teaching in the Washington, D.C. area. Pete Hill writes that the construction business, of which he is a part, is picking up along the Space Coast in Florida. He recently purchased a Beech Bonanza and is learning to fly "shotgun" for both sons who fly: Rich who attends Embry Riddle University and Peter at University of California-Santa Cruz. Ted Jones gave a plug for our Reunion, with wife Sunny's seeing half a dozen of her Smith classmates adding to their enjoyment. Bill Keen thinks the winters of Pennsylvania are more inviting than the one and a half years he spent in "sunny, humid Central Florida." As a civil engineer he is awaiting reassignment. Let us know where you end up next, Bill. Mike O'Hearn writes that all is well with his insurance business and wife Nancy is building a greenhouse for her vegetable-plant business. Son Jeff is a junior at Kenyon; Jenny, a sophomore at Brown, would not look at Yale because it is in a city (?) (his question mark, but the same thought occurs to me), sons Charlie and Scott are at New Canaan High.

If you have not yet yielded to Rod Correll's dues plea, please do.

—Randolph C. Guggenheimer, Jr.