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/December 2010
Notes: September/October 2010
Notes: July/August 2010
Notes: May/June 2010
Notes: March/April 2010
Notes: January/February 2010

Notes: November/December 2010

Classmates continue to lead full lives. I hear from many who still laugh heartily, wax elegiac about what we've lost, occasionally praise the world we've gained, and report about their work, achievements, travels, and hopes. Among them, for example, Gordon Bellis writes that he'd "returned from a dinner in San Francisco, nine of us evaluating the top six '89 Bordeaux ‘blind.' The wines were distressingly homogeneous. A magnum of Hospices de Beaune, Corton, Cuvée Dr Peste, Grand Cru, 2003, which I had the good fortune to buy five barrels of at auction last year, blew all the Bordeaux away." Not surprisingly, Gordon adds, "Life is good, as is my health, knees excepted, and my liver continues to perform heroically."

Then there's Ian Henderson, who writes that he'd "just fished on the Big Hole River with Mike O'Hearn. If any classmate likes bird dogs and grouse and quail hunting, I hope he'll let me know. I've solid dogs and will travel west, south, east, or north." Analogous outdoor diversions have been the subject of a photo, eventually for our website, of Chris Sonne and Roly Machold afoot together in the Adirondacks last summer. Their knees are apparently in better shape than those of Mr. Bellis.

One who doesn't lay down his professional arms is Frank Lin. He has, he writes, "successfully completed research in Bangkok on the detection of tsunamis using satellites. The only method now used to detect them is only 25% successful. My team of computer scientists has discovered a new way to detect one at birth by examining the infrared radiation emitted by the erupting tsunami's epicenter. The accuracy is very high."

Unfortunately, this has been a tough season of losses for us, viz.,

In Memoriam: From John Poinier I learned that we lost William T. Thieme on May 30, 2010. After college, Bill entered the practice of orthopedic surgery in Seattle, remaining in that practice until 2001. Highly valued for his leadership, he was the head of the hip clinic at Children's Hospital, chief of surgery at Swedish and Ballard hospitals, and chief of staff at Ballard. He was also a sailor, nationally ranked croquet player, and woodworker. Bill is survived by his wife Arrol, three children, a brother and sister, and six grandchildren. Contributions in Bill's memory may be made to the Friends of the Orphans Northwest Region, 1800 112th Avenue NE, (Suite 308-E), Bellevue, WA 98004-2938.

In Memoriam: From Ara Bagdasarian came word of the death on June 25, 2010 of John M. "Mike" Roche. Mike died at his Redding CT home from complications of Parkinson's disease surrounded by his family. After distinguished undergraduate years (Ivan Selin calling him "the best student in the engineering school"), Mike joined the Perkin-Elmer Corporation, for which he worked his entire career. He held several patents in analytical instrumentation and wrote and co-authored several technical papers. Mike is survived by his wife Barbara, six children, seven grandchildren, two sisters, and a brother. Donations in his memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at michaeljfox.org.

In Memoriam: Robert H. MacKinnon died in Hyannis on July 6, 2010, not long after I'd reported happy word from him. Of sunny disposition, great warmth, and fine singing voice, Bob was a greatly esteemed partner of Shearman and Sterling, where he played an important role in the restructuring of the Penn Central Railroad and the reorganization of Daewoo and Southmark Corporation. He was also a longtime trustee of his pre-collegiate alma mater, the Northfield Mount Hermon School. Bob is survived by his wife Ilse, a daughter, two stepchildren, his brother Richard ('60), and six grandchildren. Contributions in Bob's memory should go to the American Heart Association or the American Heart Association Memorial, 1 Union Street (Suite 301), Robbinsville, NJ 08691.

In Memoriam: George Bullwinkel and Peter Robinson let me know of the death from a fast advancing cancer of our class Peter Pan, our Puck, Charles B. "Cheeb" Everitt at home in Manchester, MA, on July 11, 2010. A shrewd, mischievous, always youthful lad who never failed to charm, he was also a serious, skilled professional. After graduation, Cheeb entered the publishing world and rose to high positions at Little Brown. He was then president of the Globe Pequot Press. After that, he turned himself into a literary agent. His death is confirmation of the passing of youth. Cheeb is survived by his wife Susan, a son, and two granddaughters.

In Memoriam: David A. Gibson died in Charlotte, NC, on August 16, 2010 after a short battle with cancer. After attending the University of Virginia Law School and becoming editor-in-chief of The Virginia Law Review, Dave returned to his native Vermont where he long practiced law. He also served as state and federal prosecuting attorney, state senator, and Secretary of the Vermont Senate--a position in which he followed his father and brother. In addition to his companion Nancy Beasley, Dave is survived by four children, a sister, a brother, seven grandchildren, and Carmen Manas, who joined his family during her high school years. Memorial contributions in Dave's name may be made to Grace Cottage Hospital, 185 Grafton Road, Townshend, VT, 05353; the Episcopal Relief and Development, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA, 22116-7058; or a local hospice.

—JMB

Notes: September/October 2010

I've learned of two more classmates who served long military careers. One is Joe Lemmo, a naval officer for slightly over 20 years. Much of his service spent on land rather than at sea, Joe was in Vietnam in 1968 (after being on Okinawa earlier), at USC for a master's degree in systems, and finally in the nation's capital. Another is Charlie Goode, who served as a Marine infantry officer for 25 years, retiring as a colonel. After commanding troops during the brief Dominican Republic crisis in 1965, he flew hundred of missions as an aerial observer for Marines. Then like so many military officers of our generation, he was in Vietnam, serving as advisor to Vietnamese Marines during the Easter Offensive of 1972. A battalion commander twice, he earned an MA at Boston University and was advisor and faculty instructor to the Air Force Command and Staff College. Charlie was the recipient of the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star w/V, Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal w/V, Vietnamese Honor Medal, and three Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry. "It was an unbelievable privilege," Charlie writes, "to be able to train and lead young men who would willingly go in harm's way for their country, whenever they were asked to do so. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!"

John Crosby reports that he and Laura live happily in sight of the only falls on the Mississippi and enjoy their cabin on the north shore of Lake Superior. John serves on a few non-profit boards and tries to learn the piano. Sandy Clark writes that he and Marcia spent a spring night with Bill and Ginger Chadduck in Spotsylvania, VA, horse and Civil War country. The Chadducks have "lovingly restored the main house (ca. 1829) and moved a smaller dwelling (ca. 1740) onto the property as a guest house. They've done most of the work themselves, and it's exquisite."

In Memoriam: Bob Goering informed me of the death at home in Cincinnati on May 6, 2010, of William O. Mashburn III. Bill intended upon graduation to enter the Coca-Cola bottling business, which apparently he did without a second thought, because before long he was president of the Cleveland Coca-Cola Bottling Company. He then bought Randall Food Products, of which he was majority owner and CEO at the time of his death. An avid boater and fisherman as well as a president of the Cincinnati Yale Club, Bill is survived by his wife Jane, daughters Kendall and Meredith, son William, and two stepdaughters. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, Southwest Regional Office, 2808 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45206, or the Ohio River Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, 7124 Miami Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45243.

In Memoriam: Michael H. Jordan died in Manhattan on May 25, 2010, from the complications of neuroendocrine cancer. A ranking scholar in chemical engineering, after graduation Mike received a Princeton MS in the same subject, then joined the Navy where Hyman Rickover spotted him and put Mike on his staff. After naval service, he began his rise to posts of high corporate responsibility. From McKinsey and Company, he moved to PepsiCo in 1974. After heading PepsiCo's overseas food and beverages division, he left in 1992 to head Clayton, Dubilier, & Rice, the private equity firm. He was then tapped to stabilize the old industrial firm Westinghouse. This he achieved by transforming Westinghouse into a media company, now CBS. By then known as the "turnaround king," Mike took over leadership of Electronic Data Systems in 2003 as its CEO and chairman and transformed it, too. Inevitably, Mike was sometimes confused with the other Michael Jordan, with whom he once appeared in a public service announcement for the United Negro College Fund. Our own Michael gave up basket after basket to the other one. But it's not recorded whether the taller of the two Michael's ever appeared in an ad for Electronic Data Systems. If so, it's unlikely that he would have been pictured turning the company around and watching it be sold to Hewlett-Packard for $13.9 billion. Mike is survived by his wife, Hilary Cecil-Jordan; his children, Kathryn Donaldson, Stephen Jordan, Francesca Cecil, and many grandchildren. Donations in Mike's memory may be sent to the Center for Excellence in Education, 8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 215, McLean, VA 22102, or to the United Negro College Fund, 8260 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, P. O. Box 10444, Fairfax, VA 22031.

Recently published: Polly J. Price, Judge Richard S. Arnold: A Legacy of Justice on the Federal Bench (Prometheus, 2009).

—JMB

Notes: July/August 2010

As I write, the class minireunion in Santa Fe has just concluded. I'll have a report of it in a future column. But let it be said here that the gathering could never have come off without the dedicated and skilled efforts of Mark Roth. Mark had to go through this twice—his first attempt, last year, failing to get enough registrants. We're greatly in his debt for his repeated heavy work.

As you know, I've been trying to run down classmates who served a full military career. I'm making progress. Among those reporting in is John Westcott. Putting his engineering major to work after graduation, John joined the Naval Civil Engineer Corps, in which he long managed construction activities at naval shore facilities. Serving in too many places to name here (including Vietnam), he concluded his service as commander of a California naval base and four Seabee battalions. Retiring at the rank of Captain, John then entered the health care industry in Chicago, where he headed the development of a new medical center in that city. Now retired near Palm Springs, he and Greta ("my Yale date") have just marked their 53rd anniversary. Another career military officer is Bob Crafts, who spent 22 years in the Navy after 1964 as a chest physician and undersea medicine officer. Retiring also as a Captain, he's been an Episcopal priest since 1989, serving as port chaplain for The Mission to Seafarers in San Diego. A third, and for this column final, long-time military officer is Peter Robertson. Unusual in serving in the Army after having lost an arm in Korea, Peter worked in psychological operations, special warfare, and propaganda analysis and did tours in Okinawa and Hawaii, as well as a second one in Korea. After taking medical retirement as a major in 1972, he obtained an MBA and became a banker focusing on commercial letters of credit and trade finance. Now "retired," he remains engaged as a volunteer in the United Church of Christ, his involvement including eight years as treasurer of the Pacific Northwest Conference.

With the assistance of others, I've also been trying to whittle down our list of "lost" classmates. So far, I've been able to establish, with the help of Leo Bearman, that Thomas K. Shappley, Jr. died on December 2, 2002. Composer Griffith Rose is among the quick but desirous of keeping his coordinates unavailable to others. And Barry Rubin has helped me find out a fellow alumnus of the Yale Russian Chorus, John M. Francis. After four years in Zimbabwe, seven in Budapest, and two in Moscow, John and his wife Elaine Fultz have settled into their new home in Philadelphia. I remain on the trail of others and will report what I may learn in the months ahead.

Filmmaker Norton Wright and wife Susan Watson, after vacationing last summer in Ireland driving its "sudden death country roads"—what's his problem? I did it without a scare or scratch—shortly afterwards joined Gerry and Nan Snyder kayaking in Vietnam with stops in Hanoi ("Minh's jazz club was a gas!") and the hill-town villages of the north, before going to Cambodia's Angkor Wat. "Gerry and Nan," reports this irrepressible correspondent, "have invited us to join them in a plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel." Keep your eyes on the obit pages.

Reid White, preferring more sober days, also has traveled, he a-bike, on a week-long solo tour of the hills of southeastern France last August "in the vicinity of the lovely town of Cotignac. Biking in the morning starting at 7, poolside by 1 PM, great food and, of course, the wines were French. Now that's a vacation!" Sandy Clark, while wintering in Florida, writes of his retirement "job." "I start my 5th year as an usher at the spring training games in Sarasota. First four years for the Reds, who moved away, and now we start with the Orioles. So I get my fill of baseball."

And we've heard from Steve Ackerman after many years. Following Marine service in Honolulu after college, Steve has been in LA ever since. For 20 years, he's been publishing a newsletter, "The Readers Exchange" (www.the-readers-exchange.com), and within the last three years has started VerityPoint Financial, a firm built around executive/employee benefit consulting. He and his second wife Jane have a daughter and five sons between them and a 14th grandchild on the way. Active in the LA community, they see Hank Conlan and Joe Mark when northward in Carmel. Joe and Sheila seem to get many visits, including one not so long ago from Merrell and Lynn Clark. Up and down the West Coast, the Clarks visited Jay and Mary Louise Conte in Seattle and Paul and Karin Eisele in San Francisco and breakfasted there with Jim Cunningham.

—JMB

Notes: May/June 2010

The class's Winter Day in New Haven was a great success. 45 classmates gathered over lunch, heard athletic director Tom Beckett review the class's unsurpassed record in sports and the great broadening of athletics since then (women, 35 varsity sports), then, later in the day, gathered at Steve and Edie Flagg's home for more fellowship and dinner.

Bob and Ilse MacKinnon, usually on Cape Cod, are snow birds to the south island of New Zealand where they winter in that country's "best wine growing region," have a sleepout ("Kiwi speak for guest house"), and tend over an acre of botanical garden. In response to my request for information about classmates who'd spent their careers in the armed forces, Bob Quillin writes of his 21-year Army career, his final decade at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, before retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1980. At Walter Reed, he was a nuclear medicine science officer doing radiation clinical and safety work, which he continued until his most recent retirement for the Ohio and Colorado departments of public health. Among Bob's many citations was the Bronze Star for service in the Medical Service Corps in Vietnam, where he saw the Tet offensive up close.

Ara Bagdasarian continues to practice surgery, "albeit at reduced hours," with his son ('91) in Bristol, CT. Frank Lin, retired from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, now spends much time in Bangkok working on topics of artificial intelligence, returning summers to Maryland, and visiting family members in Sweden. Val Kibens has written a moving, insightful memoir (accessible to registrants of the class discussion list) of his youth in Latvia and wartime Germany, then in Mississippi, before his college matriculation.

Phyllis and I lunched in March with Bob and Anneli Ganger at their seaside home in Gulf Stream, FL. Bob has written a lively book, noted on the class website, about their (unofficially) historic house, which he and Anneli have restored with their own hands. Bob is deeply involved in historic preservation and civic matters in his community. On June 18 or 19, adventurer Shelby Tucker, out of London, will be signing copies of his latest book, The Last Banana: Dancing with the Watu, in Manhattan. Historian Jesse Lemisch continues to write regularly for New Politics and the History News Network. He is active in the Campaign for Peace and Democracy and works, he writes "opposing US wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq; in support of Haiti against the US role there; against government repression in Iran; against Israel's war on Gaza."

I have the sad duty of reporting three deaths.

In Memoriam: Nelson J. Dunford died, presumably in New York City, on February 27, 2008. I have no information about him or his life.

In Memoriam: L. Guy Palmer II died in Savannah, GA, on January 16, 2010 after suffering for years, writes Jack Pendergast, "from the disabilities to which he finally succumbed but without complaint and without losing his sense of humor." After Yale (Skull and Bones) and Army service, Guy entered the investment business, first as founder in 1966 and president of Davis, Palmer, and Biggs in New York, then in a succession of posts in firms like General Motors. He was a member of many charitable and educational boards, for a long time especially of the Charles A. Dana Foundation. He was also devoted to his Williston alma mater, from which he received its highest recognition, the Distinguished Service Award. In addition to being an avid golfer, Guy was a serious oenophile and inductee into the Chevaliers du Tastevin. Jack writes that "Guy could turn mixing martinis with a putter in a ten gallon milk can into a dignified ritual." Lou DeLuca notes that while "Guy didn't suffer us Democrats lightly, he would always talk through issues, ask great questions, and listen carefully. Our friendship was made stronger because of his openness, curiosity, and respect for our differences." Guy is survived by his wife June, their five children, and a brother. A memorial service is scheduled for June in Pelham Manor, NY. Contributions in Guy's memory may be made to the Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224.

In Memoriam: Lester Perry Philp, Jr. died on February 17, 2010, in Chatham or Madison, NJ. After Yale and Army service, he earned an MBA from NYU, worked at the NY Fed, and spent 25 years at Bankers Trust. Until recent years, he ran LPP Associates, which specialized in tax and financial planning. Perry is survived by Margaret, their sons Eric and David and their families, and a sister and brother. Donations in Perry's memory may be made to RISE, c/o CUMC, 460 Main Street, Chatham, NJ 07928, or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.

—JMB

Notes: March/April 2010

Washington's old Riggs Bank (collapsed, absorbed) used to advertise itself as doing business in the "most important city in the world." This New Yorker balks at that epithet, but I must admit that many people, including classmates, often make the capital a port of call. Recently, for reasons happy and sad, many did so. In December alone, Phyllis and I saw Floridians Chantal and Walter Clarke, he retired after 35 years in the Foreign Service, more years teaching at the Navel and Army War Colleges, and now consulting. To celebrate the marriage of Franz Gimmler and Effie Stallsmith, which Phyllis and I attended, Bill and Wendy Wrean flew in from Boston and Don and Lyn Backe motored over from Annapolis. And attending the moving Arlington interment with full military honors of Marine Colonel John G. Miller, I was joined by John's Pierson suitemates Ade Graham, Don Griffith, Geoff Skidmore, Ted Vlamis, and their wives. The Skidmores traveled from California, the Vlamises from Kansas.

Can any classmates, by the way, report to me the names of those 57ers, quick or otherwise, who pursued careers as military officers? I know of some but surely not of all and would like to gain a fuller sense of the class's involvement in military service. No doubt the number and proportion of graduating seniors entering the military nowadays are sharply below those of our years.

In November, yrs. truly and spouse dined with always zippy Hal and Margo Russell in Chicago and accompanied them to a concert in Orchestra Hall. Hal involves himself in local and civic affairs both in the Russells' Lakeside, MI community and in Chicago. Charlie Strong has motored far from his Frisco, TX home into the western and mid-western states and covered by his reckoning 7,000 miles along the way. No sedentary life for that man. I don't know whether Ray Carlsen is involved in the class's Music in Schools Project, but he's running a program in Seattle that's the same in spirit and intent. "The Carlsen Cello Foundation is now in its 10th year," Ray writes. "We have 52 cellos loaned to talented students who cannot afford a quality instrument—the instrument they require to progress and compete." Regarding the Music in Schools Project, Steve Wittenberg's full report of its activities and progress for 2009 is now posted on the class website.

Andre Schiffrin was recently kind enough to send me a copy of his splendid A Political Education (2007). Following that, he has compiled and written Dr. Seuss and Company Go to War (2009). A collection of editorial cartoons from the radical NY daily PM along with a long Schriffrin essay, it's a book about the press during World War II. Those of you concerned about the declining condition of publishing should read Andre's The Business of Books (2000). The work, now available in 25 translations, has been acclaimed worldwide. An American sequel is slated for later this year.

As Larry Bodkin writes to me, many classmates joined together to hear in the new decade at a New York concert given by Amor Artis, the splendid chorale of Hannes Somary—a concert preceded by cocktails at the home of Don and Mary Roberts. While the list of attendees is too large to provide here, I can report that Ian and Roberta Henderson traveled from Louisville, Hugh and Mary Jane Peterson came from Atlanta, and Rod and Chloe Correll arrived from Johnstown, NY. In addition to many New York couples, three widows of deceased classmates—Anne Bingham, Suzie Abuza, and Judy Newbold—also were present.

Our trusty field correspondent Tom Perkins has sent at my request the following report about the November dedication at the Yale Bowl of the Jensen Plaza, named for the generosity of the four Jensen brothers, including Colin Jensen. "The plaza faces the portal for the fifty-yard-line seats on the Yale side of the Bowl," Tom writes. "It has plaques embedded in the ground celebrating the members of each Yale class who played football for the Blue, including, of course, the celebrated class of 1957. Colin claims that there are more members of our class listed on the 1957 class plaque than for any other class, so maybe that's why we won all those games."

'Ere you read this column, the class's annual midwinter event will have taken place in New Haven, Gus Kellogg and Dick Jones the customary impresarios. Up next is the annual class dinner at the Yale Club on March 25th. Following that will be a late April class minireunion in Santa Fe, ably organized by Mark Roth, about which you've already been notified by mail. I join with all of those planning these events in hoping that you'll attend.

—JMB

Notes: January/February 2010

As I write in early November, the second recent extended discussion—this one about global warming—is taking place on the class discussion list (a.k.a. class listserv). These exchanges are deeply informed, witty, inquiring, serious. Given the number of numinous minds in the class, that's not surprising. What is surprising, and lamentable, is the low proportion of classmates who are members of that list. You can sign up through the class website or by notifying Vic Norton, the list manager.

Also as we go to press, three scheduled class events are before us. The first, the yearly November football-game-focused gathering at Yale Bowl, preceded by a class council meeting and followed as always by a post-game gathering at Nancy Mongillo's home, will have occurred by the time you read this. The second, scheduled for Saturday, January 30th, is the annual winter day in New Haven. Its luncheon speaker will be Tom Beckett, Yale's Director of Athletics. The unbeatable team of Gus Kellogg and Dick Jones is planning post-luncheon activities, including museum tours, perhaps a play, a dinner, and a hockey or basketball game. The third event will be the annual class dinner in New York on Thursday, March 25th. After a class council meeting, dinner will feature Sam Chauncey speaking about Yale's decision to admit women in 1969 and its impact on the university since. Put both events on your calendars, and hold on for further details.

Yrs. truly and bride spent a September weekend in Chapel Hill with Otis and Delores Graham. My fellow historian continues to examine the nexus of immigration and environmental problems and is currently at work on a history of the environmental policies of presidential administrations since the late nineteenth century. Tung H. "Sunne" Jeong reports that he came out of retirement last summer (from his professorship at Lake Forest College) to chair a conference on display holography in China. After the symposium, he stayed in China to watch the solar eclipse and climbed the Emei Mountain with friends—"on well-built steps, of course."

I have the sad duty to report four deaths since our previous class notes.

In Memoriam: Robert R. "Randy" Hare died at home in Framingham, MA, on July 3, 2009. After graduation, Randy served in the US Army, received an MBA from Harvard, and worked as financial analyst for the Raytheon Corporation until his retirement. He is described in an obituary as having been a "virtuoso pianist and talented painter, an avid poker player, an outstanding bridge and chess player, and a regular attendee of greyhound races." Randy is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Gallucci and son Bruce Hare.

In Memoriam: Randolph Rogers died on September 20, 2009 after a long illness. Randy entered Yale with the class of 1955, then, after serving as a US Navy hospital corpsman, re-entered with our class. A long-time employee of the 3M Company, Randy served on Stamford, CT's board of representatives as chair of its fiscal committee and was chair of the parish counsel at Holy Spirit School there. Randy is survived by his wife Noreen and children Peggyann Diaz, Brian, William, John, and Timothy Rogers. Two daughters predeceased him. Memorial donations may be made to Save the Children, Westport, CT or The Richard L. Rosenthal Hospice Residence of Stamford.

In Memoriam: Don Lowe let us know that his roommate Ivan H. Wolpaw died on August 11, 2009 of a drug resistant staph infection while in the hospital for routine surgery. Don writes that Ivan attended Case Western Reserve Law School after Yale and spent most of his career as a title examiner specializing in foreclosed commercial properties in or near his native Cleveland. He is survived by his four children Erik, Deidre, Heath, and Alec. Memorial contributions in Ivan's memory can be made to Dobama Theatre, 2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118.

In Memoriam: Phil Derby and Tom Quirk wrote to tell me that Alexander "Pooch" Smallens, Jr. died peacefully surrounded by his family and loved ones on September 28, 2009 at home in White Plains, NY. Pooch battled multiple sclerosis for over forty years but succumbed to multiple myeloma. The son of noted conductor Alexander Smallens and composer-violinist Ruth White Smallens, Pooch, active with WYBC in college, spent much of his career as a broadcasting executive with CBS and ABC Radio. Although forced into early retirement due to his illness, he made an indelible mark on the radio industry as a pioneer in the development of FM music programming and was instrumental in the creation of the first FM network. Alex, as he was known after Yale, is survived by his wife Timmi, his daughter Meredith Smallens Lonner '83, and his son Sandy Smallens '87 as well as five musical grandchildren. Donations in Alex's memory may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

—JMB