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 1990
Notes: November 1990
Notes: October 1990
Notes: Summer 1990
Notes: May 1990
Notes: April 1990
Notes: March 1990
Notes: February 1990

Notes: December 1990

The sad news about Michael Cooke came well after the deadline for last month's class notes. My last minute comments in the November YAM were all too brief. Let me add a few words about this truly remarkable classmate who embodied so very much that Yale stands for. Mike was a complete person, matching his academic distinction with two-year all-Ivy status as a standout on our championship soccer team, combined with a warm personal touch, best exemplified during his tenure as Master of Trumbull College. President Schmidt summed it up when he described Make as an "extraordinary teacher and scholar" who served Yale in "countless ways." The diversity of his teaching and writing ranged from expertise in and advocacy of both African-American literature and his native Caribbean literature to scholarship in English Romanticism. His books and other publications cover the range of these subjects. Mike's wife Yvonne and his family have requested that memorial gifts be directed to the Sterling Memorial Library, 120 High Street, New Haven, CT 06520.

Mike Dodge was remembered with a special performance in New York on October 22nd benefiting the Marshall J. Dodge II Memorial fund, which provides financial aid for college scholarship students from Maine. The performance "Bert and I and Marshall: A Down East Evening" featured that celebrated down east transplant from Kansas City, Calvin Trillin. Bud, at the time, was also performing in his second one-person show at the American Place Theatre, with the no nonsense title of "Words, No Music." Incidentally, how many of you were as startled as I was to thumb through a recent United Airlines magazine and fine Bud profiled cheek by jowl, so to speak, with Modonna and Jennifer Capriati, Quite a trio. What next?

Although each month's notes seem to boast of the exploits of our numerous publishers and performers, we don't get to write that often about class politicians. Ed Meyer, Frank Mongillo, and Don Bain have been among our few torchbearers here. Therefore, I am happy to report that between the time that these lines are written and read, voters in Hawaii's Second Congressional District (outback Oahu and the six other islands) will have a chance to vote for Andy Poepoe, running on the Republican side. Andy was described in the Honolulu Advertiser as a "former legislator and councilman and Dole Company executive." We hope that Andy will be on his way to Washington when this reaches you.

Congratulations are in order for Jerry Pollitt who has been named to hold the John M. Schiff Professorship at Yale in the fields of classical archeology and history of art. Jerry has served as Dean of the Yale Graduate School since 1986, and is one of the very few professors in the long history of the place to have served as chair of two departments, namely, Classics and History of Art. In addition to all of these assignments, Jerry has been a prolific writer, having authored six books in all. His most recent title is Art in the Hellenistic Age.

Those of us who have attended our winter mini-reunions, held each of the past three years, would confirm that they have been most enjoyable, Unfortunately, they have not been attended as well as we would have hoped. The consensus of the Class Council, after considering the matter, was to try something different fort 1991. We will hold a mini-reunion in conjunction with the annual Alumni Seminar, held the first weekend in June, the weekend after graduation. Some of you, I am sure, have attended these seminars in the past and they have all been outstanding. We plan to supplement the general program with a Class Dinner and perhaps golf, tennis and other programs. Suggestions would be welcome. Circle this weekend in your book, and we will keep you posted.

Once again, as we head towards our 35th Reunion, I would remind everyone that membership on our Class Council is open to all classmates. Just drop me a line. We would be glad to add you to the council.

Seasons Greetings to one and all.

—Thomas P. Perkins III

Notes: November 1990

Yale and the Class of 1957 lost a fine leader and wonderful friend on September 11th, when Mike Cooke died as a result of an automobile accident in Woodbridge, Conn. This writer and prior class secretaries have often noted Mike's continuing achievements and he was the speaker at our Class Dinner in New Haven in January. Mike had been a member of the Yale English Department for twenty years, had served as Master of Trumbull College and as reported in this column, was named the Bird White Housum Professor of English Literature in 1987. Mike served on numerous boards and committees at Yale and at the time of his death served on a special New York State task force on high school curricula. Mike is survived by his wife Yvonne and four children. They can be reached at 97 Lebanon Road, Bethany, CT 06525.

I just wouldn't have thought it possible, but hold on to your hats. Here comes yet another Class of 1957 "Publish or Perish" column. Even discounting Bud Trillin's fourteen best sellers, we have to be the most prolific literary class since Noah Webster was on the campus.

John Leinenweber's most recent book is Be Friends of God, a collection of spiritual readings based on the work of St. Gregory the Great, who flourished 1400 years ago. Having read it myself, I commend it to you. It is easy enough to order through Cowley Publications at 800-225-1534 or 980 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Dick Crisler has published, in Germany, his first hardback collection of photographic work, which goes overseas by the name of Orte & Zeichen, Ein Amerikaner in Europa. As of this writing Dick was still working on the U.S. publication.

Our lawyers are busy writing, as well. Frank Michelman recently delivered the Stevens Lecture at Cornell, which was published in the Cornell Law Review as "Bringing the Law to Life." Frank and Gary Bellow are our two gifts to the Harvard Law School faculty. Challenged by Frank's effort, John Quarles published the lead article in the summer issue of Natural Resources and Environment, with the intriguing title "In Search of a Waste Management Strategy." Knowing John, I am confident the search will be successful.

If you are not so fortunate as to be a lawyer, you can still write about them. Dick Tompson, Chair of the History Department at the University of Utah, is feverishly at work on a "book on legal history, explaining how English, Scottish, and Irish legal systems affected each other over the last few centuries." Dick hopes to have the book published and the movie rights package worked out in time for our next Reunion.

On the magazine front, by the time this reaches you, Lou DeLuca's new quarterly, Golf Links, should be in circulation. Hope it catches on. Look for it at your favorite sports magazine rack.

Bob Driscoll continues as our longest standing magazine editor, with his highly successful Tidings, a monthly journal reporting on the musty mores, foibles, and personalities of the Connecticut and Rhode Island shore, up from New London. We were alarmed, however, to note that recent issues have turned a touch purple, with features such as "The Wicked Widow of Quonochontaug Point" and "Stonington's Secret Sins" as circulation builders.

Last month, we reported that Scott Cannell had claimed the award for the "class baby" with the recent arrival of his son Patrick. Scott had better get back in action, however, because Talbott Huey recently advised from his base on the faculty at Michigan State, that his wife, Aht is expecting in February. Talbott's son Ted is a senior at Yale.

All these goings on obviously makes you wonder who is the classmate with the oldest child. Tony Loughran's firstborn recently turned 37. We will tentatively give Tony this distinction, unless I receive a challenge from one of you good people out there. Do we have any great-grandchildren yet? Keep the news coming in.

—Thomas P. Perkins III

Notes: October 1990

The Earth Sea Institute is a new venture formed by Terry Carlisle in Sausalito, Calif. The Institute's aim is to promote environmental awareness and individual involvement in environmental recovery. Terry reports that his institute's primary focus is the preservation of Antarctica, our last global frontier.

Scott Cannell has claimed and awarded himself the 1957 "Silver Plumber Award" (sic) with the recent arrival of his son, Patrick, Yale Class of 2010. I don't think I need to spell out the singular distinction the award recognizes. Congratulations, Scott, but please stay tuned for next month's YAM to see just how short-lived glory can be.

We are indebted to Ray Ellison for sending a recent newspaper article featuring Joe Robinson, a college professor in New Jersey who continues his pioneering efforts reported here a while back teaching computer drafting skills and providing gainful employment for the severely disabled. The program was originated in 1987 and this past year Joe graduated twenty-three students, fourteen of whom were quadriplegics. The program should serve as a model for the other parts of the country.

I regret to report the death in May of Webb Wilson in Stamford, Conn., after a long illness. For several years prior to his death, Webb operated his own advertising and marketing consultant business. He is survived by his two sons, Winn and Lee. The family specified memorial contributions to the Marshall Bartholomew Professorship at Yale, in recognition and honor of Webb's outstanding performances in the Glee Club, the Alley Cats, and the Whiffenpoofs.

I received a fine letter from Jack Hughes, who leads a diverse and challenging life. The small irony is that he is in the Navy Reserves based in Tuscon, not known as a major naval base. The letter, however, came from Keflavic, Iceland, a more familiar port of call, where Jack was on special assignment. In the Navy, Jack holds the title of Clinical Professor of Surgery, with a Bethesda, Md., address. Jack's military roles have ranged from ship's surgeon on the USS Kitty Hawk to teaching the Advanced Trauma Life Support course at the American College of Surgeons to serving as a combat surgeon in Vietnam. In Tucson, he is a Clinical Lecturer in Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona, while also teaching systems engineering, quite a range of specialties to say the least.

Late Breaking News: We have another class computer whiz, Glen Harris is now in charge of technical design of Phoenix Mutual's computer systems as a Vice President of the Hartford-based insurance giant. Look up your family tree with Richard Rees out in San Francisco who has retired from teaching and is now engaged in genealogical research and publishing. Art Gibb's oldest just graduated from the Naval Academy which frees up visiting this ancient seat of our pre-constitutional government. Finally, Bob Bentley the Class's official portrait painter, who has had an outstanding career based in Lake Forest and London (his rendering of Jack Curlett now hangs proudly in the Tobacco Art Center in Winston-Salem), has expanded his efforts to "landscapes, people-scapes, and golf scenes."

See you next month with, perhaps, a new SPA.

—Thomas P. Perkins III

Notes: Summer 1990

I regret to report the death of Allen MacGregor of Bristol, Maine. Allen had a very diverse career. As electronics specialist, he worked in New Haven, first at SNET and then at Grace-New Haven Hospital, following military service in the Marshall Islands during the Korean War. Allen subsequently moved to Maine and started a clam depuration plant, to purify shellfish that had been exposed to pollution. At the time of his death, he was employed by ARCO, serving on one of the company's oil tankers. Allen is survived by four grown children and two grandchildren.

Our annual New York dinner in March was a great success, thanks to the fine efforts of Sandy Clark. More than fifty strong heard Tim Childs expertly describe the potentially explosive political situation in Eastern Europe. His context was the historical background of the area, and the evolution which brought about the ethically arbitrary current national boundaries. Tim urged caution in U.S. diplomacy in Eastern Europe.

After our NYC dinner, your scribe took in a literary reading in Georgetown, given by none other than the Voice of 1957, Calvin Trillin. Admirers in the large audience included Bud's fellow author, Tim Childs, Bill Eaton, Phil Pillsbury, and Phil Lynch. Bud read vignettes from his next (14th) work to be published in the fall and to be titled Enough's Enough and Other Rules of Life. Be sure to astound the members of your local Shakespeare Club with this pre-publication revelation.

A recent news release described a Silicon Valley firm, Dataquest, as being the "world's largest high technology and electronics industries market intelligence and custom research firm." Wow! It got that way by a recent acquisition of The Ledgeway Group of Lexington, Mass., whose owner and founder is our own Dick Munn. Dataquest is fortunate that Dick will stay on the job and expand upon the innovations that have made Ledgeway a major factor in the customer service market.

Steve Jackson is back in Deerfield, Ill., after a long sting as a consultant in East Africa, Somalia, and Uganda for organizations as diverse as the World Bank and the Experiment in International Living. Ron Bland is out in Seattle, trying personal injury cases for deserving plaintiffs and creating employment for the Class's legion of defense lawyers. Our burgeoning list of C.E.O.s now include Mike Gaskin, President of Prob Robots in Kalamazoo, Mich. Kibbe Fitzpatrick has now compiled close to thirty years of service as an interpreter at the United Nations. Bart Gage, one of the Class's several ministers, is now Associate Rector at St. John's Episcopal Church in Stamford, Conn. The diversity of occupations of classmates never ceases to impress the writer.

We had another strong year of class activities, as a result of the hard work, enthusiasm and hospitality of the likes of Jim Banner, Bill Ryland, Frank and Nancy Mongillo, Bernie Kosto, and Sandy Clark. Thanks to all. Although the Yale fiscal year has almost three months to go as I write this column in early April, it appears pretty certain that the Class, under David Mininberg's leadership, will exceed the already high totals reached last year for the Yale Alumni Fund in both dollars and number of donors. Ditto Rod Correll, our energetic Class Treasurer, whose dues collections this year enabled us not only to pay our way but to increase our reserves towards our next Reunion, which is going to be a humdinger.

We very much want to hold class gatherings all around the country, as we approach our 35th Reunion. Once again, we are prepared to help with lists, mailings, brainstorming of events, washing dishes afterwards, and whatever. I hope to hear from some of you out there, from Honolulu to Vaud, Switzerland, over the summer. We are at your service.

—Thomas P. Perkins III

Notes: May 1990

Twenty-eight billion dollars! That's a lot of money and that is just how much Roland Machold worries about every day as the boss of the pension system of the State of New Jersey. Roland's understandably somber visage was featured in a recent New York Times piece focusing on the growing involvement of large public funds in the management of the companies in which they invest their megabucks. So, Vern Loucks and you other C.E.O.'s out there, be on your toes.

David Laventhol was the subject of a recent feature story in Manhattan, Inc., captioned "The Quiet Newspaper Warrior." David is now publisher of the Los Angeles Times and a key figure in the vast empire of the Times Mirror Corp. David learned his trade as a protégé of the late Charlie Abuza and Dick Thompson in the bowels of the newsroom at the Yalie Daily. This earned him a promotion to cub reporter at the St. Petersburg Times. After stints at the old Herald Tribune, and the Washington Post, David went on to Newsday on Long Island where he became the prophet and then the architect of the strategy of making New York Newsday a Manhattan daily, banging heads with the biggies. This earned David his trip to headquarters in LA, but he still maintains an office in New York and commutes back and forth. David's chattels also include the Baltimore Sun, so hopefully I will get to see him when he is here for his annual inspection tour, which always seems to coincide with the Preakness. David's busy schedule still includes time for a few wagers on the horses, a lifelong pursuit of his, along with journalism.

Brian Kelly is on the academic side of journalism, teaching the subject at the University of Virginia. Brian also edits two magazines, Military History and World War II. Adding to the class's bookshelf, Brian has recently published Best Little Stories from World War II, focusing on the "human side of war." Brian has put together more than 100 personal stories, drawing on dozens of sources, advancing his central these that "war is about people."

The Class's association with the Yale Divinity School continues apace. Bob Barton reports that Jim Carr's daughter Cindy graduated from Yale Divinity with the Class of 1989 and is now serving as Associate Pastor at the First Church of Christ in Simsbury, Conn.

As I write these notes in early March, the Yale lacrosse team is drilling for its annual southern swing to the Mecca of the sport. Our little bulldog, Ch. Pogo's Eliza Yale (better known as Ellie), is getting ready to exhort her team from the sidelines to do its best for God, Country, etc. Incidentally, how many of your pets have collars with "Beat Harvard" on them? Shame of you. With that, enough.

—Thomas P. Perkins III

Notes: April 1990

The faithful assembled January 28th in New Haven for our Mini-Reunion III... In attendance (all with spouses/friends) were Bab, Brown, F., Cooke, Correll, Davis, Diefendorf, Gillis, Kosinski, Kosto, Jones, R., Mininberg, Perkins, Quirk, Schaller, and Shapiro. The terrible weather that night kept away Flinn, Marden, and Neff, who had signed up for the event.

This loyal crew was treated to an excellent dinner in elegant surroundings, a challenging talk by Mike Cooke on the preeminence of literature among the various uses of language (did I get it right?), a private serenade by Yale Precision Marching Band (compliments of Bernie and Gail Kosto's progeny) and the satisfaction of seeing the Elis take a 2-1 lead over Cornell into the third period. Alas, in the long run, the Big Red seemed to have more stamina.

Bernie Kosto has done a terrific job with considerable effort to stage this event the past three years. It is new for our Class, although similar events are popular with classes around our vintage. We wonder about the low attendance, however, and I would welcome comments on how we can interest more of you to join in this event, or your advice as to whether we should pass it up next time around. Please let me know. For my part, I am delighted that Amtrak still stops at Penn Station as it works its way north. I have coupled our mini-reunions each year with a stop in the Big Apple, for the best of both worlds and it makes for a special weekend. What about some of you folks from Philly, Jersey, D.C. and Westerly, R.I. for openers, trying the same thing. We would love to see you.

Binky Davis reports that after paying tuitions to Clark, Connecticut College and Skidmore, he is now focusing on his 4-year-old daughter Alexandra as his "bright, Blue hope." Binky, by the way, was the only one of us (including the Y. Precision M.B. members themselves) who was able to belt out all the words to "Bright College Years," at our New Haven dinner. Is that good or bad?

Dave Lawrence has moved all the way from Lexington, Mass., to Amarillo, Tex. Seth Adams also has a new address, in NYC. Finally, Charlie Cushman reports in from the most interesting address, 1-3-26 Daizawa, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.

To date, no one has taken me up on my offer to publish an "op-ed" piece from one of you folks, so I am still holding the $100 in escrow. Maybe next year.

—Thomas P. Perkins III

Notes: March 1990

Our annual NYC dinner will be held on March 28th. This is a final reminder to those in the area and a special invitation to those from far reaches who may be in the Big Apple that day. We will gather at the Yale Club at 6:00 p.m. Our mystery speaker promises to be up to Bud Trillin's and Joe Vittoria's efforts the past two years. Just call Sandy Clark at 212-661-9230. We'll get you on the list and you can pay at the door, if you haven't signed up already.

I am delighted to report that our 35th Reunion leadership team is shaping up nicely. Howie Gillis will be back at his old stand as Chairman and Director of fun and games. He is the best there is.

Don Roberts will serve as Chairman of Special Gifts, a vital job that is as thankless as it is crucial to the future well-being of Yale. Don recently was promoted from Executive Vice President to Vice Chairman at U.S. Trust. We are not going to settle for anything less than a record 35th class gift and a record attendance at the Reunion in May 1992. I hope all of us will give Don and Howie the support they need and deserve.

Jim Banner is also looking at the feasibility of a new class book. We haven't had one since the 25th. We have a lot of pros, like Seth Adams, who can help us come up with something special and we would welcome volunteers for this project. Just drop me a line at the above address.

The class bookshelf seems to grow a foot a month and continues to be remarkable diverse. Honors for the longest current title go to Tim Childs and his Italo-Turkish Diplomacy and the War over Libya, 1911-1912. Tim's publisher is E.J. Brill. The prize for the most intriguing title goes to Peter Morse, out in Honolulu, author of Hokusai: One Hundred Poets, which was recently published in New York City by George Braziller. Harper and Row has published John Leinenweber's most recent book, Love One Another, My Friends, which contains translations of the homilies of St. Augustine. Finally, I am pleased to report that John Miller's Vietnam book, The Bridge at Dong Ho, previously reported, is the recipient of the annual Wallace M. Greene Award from the Marine Corps Historical Foundation. Dell should have John's new book out in paperback by the time this reaches you.

The New York Times music section reported recently on a Vivaldi Fest, conducted by Hannes Somary, the leader of Amor Artis. A kind classmate provided me with a marvelously vigorous and yet sensitive rendering of the Messiah, with Hannes and the Amor Artis, which I commend to one and all.

Our "lost classmate" plea brought word of Dave Clarke, who is back at Southern Illinois University, teaching philosophy and writing, after a year's sabbatical in Japan. Also back from a year's sabbatical is Swarthmore's Ken Gergen, who was away in Heidelberg and at the Netherlands Institute of Advanced Study, which Ken describes as "the think tank closest to a beach." It's not fair that lawyers never seem to get sabbaticals.

Late Breaking News: Harry Goldberg is now practicing law in Newark as a partner of one of New Jersey's largest firms, Sills, Cummis, Zuckerman. Rod Koehler retired a few years back from Union Carbide but would be happy to sell any of us some real estate in and around Stormville, N.Y. Phil Glover is now Vice President and Comptroller of Western Union's Consumer Services Division based in Upper Saddle River, N.J.

—Thomas P. Perkins III

Notes: February 1990

Last November's column featured recent athletic exploits of our classmates. Since these notes were submitted, word has been received of two remarkable achievements.

At precisely 1:00 a.m. last August 17, Buz Brenton (he's our age) emerged from the brine of Calais, France, completing a 13½ hour swim of the 21–mile English Channel. In the last century, 4,500 individuals have officially attempted the crossing. Buz was only the 390th to succeed. For once, your scribe is speechless. Congratulations, Buz!

Earlier notices have commented on Don Backe's courage in recovering from an automobile accident in 1987 which left him a paraplegic. Undaunted Don is back in competitive sailing. The week after Buz's epic swim, Don and a teammate posted a highly creditable third place in the second annual Independence Cup, an Olympic course five-day regatta for disabled persons in Newport, R.I. We'll sager that Don will take the whole thing this coming summer.

Newlywed of the month is Art Gardiner, who reported at the Class's annual D.C. cocktail party that he and Robin Nuse were married on July 18 of last year. Thanks to Jim Banner, who put the party together, and to Bill Ryland, who was our host, the Washington party was again a great success, with a large and enthusiastic turnout. As always, we are ready to do all that we can to plan similar events in other towns located beyond the shadow line of Harkness Tower. Just ask.

This reminds me that our annual NYC Yale Club dinner this year will be March 28. Plans were still being worked on as this column was being written in December. Locals will get a mailing. If you are from the hinterlands, like me, and plan to be in New York City that evening, call me at 301-244-7516 and I will get you on Sandy Clark's door list.

Bob Crafts joins the impressive list of classmates who have changed careers to join the ministry. Bob retired from medicine in 1986, successfully completed a master's in divinity, and is now deacon-in-charge of St. John's Episcopal Church in Indio, Calif.

Late Breaking News: Andy Glass is now Washington Bureau Chief for Cox Newspapers. Carl Myrus is back practicing architecture full-time as a partner in Hueber Hares Glavin, "one of upstate New York's oldest, largest, and best firms." Ian Jones recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of the founding of his firm, Integral Financial Services, Inc., out in Palos Verdes, Calif. Our list of recent entrepreneurs now include Charlie Carpenter who has started his own packaging firm near his home in Bridgewater, N.J. Pete Greer recently obtained his U.S. Power Squadron certificate. After more than twenty years as a lawyer with the Department of Defense, John Lee is now in private practice with Hogan & Hartson in D.C. Jack Ferguson has moved from Austin, Tex., all the way west to La Jolla, Calif. He has joined a new division of his former employer, IDA. Finally, Dick Munn writes in from Weston, Mass to tell us that a Fortune 100 company was on the verge of buying the market research and consulting firm he started ten years ago "in the corner of my bedroom." The lawyers probably wouldn't let him give us any of the details. See you next month.

—Thomas P. Perkins III