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These pages contain all class notes from the Yale Alumni Magazine from 1957 on. The notes from the July 1957 issue through that of July 2004 appear unchanged from their original publication in the magazine save for the correction of misspellings and other small errors. Starting with the September/October 2004 issue, the notes here appear as they were submitted to the Yale Alumni Magazine. The edited notes as published in the magazine can be accessed via https://yalealumnimagazine.com/. The differences are minor. Gaps in coverage 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 since 1957, the frequency of publication has occasionally changed.
Notes: January/February 2021
Notes: March/April 2021
Notes: May/June 2021
Notes: July/August 2021
Notes: Sept/Oct 2021
Notes: Nov/Dec 2021
January/February 2021
Herewith, three previously un-noted classmates' books. From Frank Melhorn: ‘Lest We Be Marshall'd': Judicial Powers and Politics in Ohio, 1806-1812 (2003) and a fresh edition, Frank its editor, of Frederick Grimke's The Rights of Women in a Democratic Republic (2016). From Arthur Wertheim: The Silent Movies of W.C. Fields: How They Created the Basis for His Fame in Sound Films (2020). Arthur writes that he's “lived with Fields joyfully for thirteen years by creating four books about him. A few weeks ago the Academy of Motion Pictures came to pick up all my files as a contribution, leaving twelve empty cabinet drawers. As its van left, I felt I'd lost a friend (Fields) and given my age might never write again.”
From Morgan Thomas in Tel Aviv comes word that, although little has changed in his life, he manages the website Globalcrisis.info, to which he's been adding posts on Covid-19 and the chances and risks of vaccines to halt its spread.
In Memoriam: We learned tardily that Grant H. Griswold died on July 11, 2017, his place and cause of death unknown. Embarking on a business career after college, by our 25th reunion Grant was a farmer in Raphine, a small Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, town, as well as a corporate executive. Steve Weitz writes that he "successfully started, invested in, and managed several companies." John Ryan adds that, in a Harvard Business School yearbook, Grant listed himself as a self-employed farmer and financial consultant who'd been involved in leveraged buyouts. He reported there, too, that he and his wife Jo “had restored an 18th-century stone house, were raising Angus cattle, growing their own food, harvesting bass from their farm pond, tending their apple orchard, and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains." In our 40th reunion book, Grant listed himself as vice-president of Liberty Specialties (now Liberty Medical Specialties).
In Memoriam: Fred Guggenheim's researches confirm the death on November 17, 2018, of Martel W. Davis. Although the cause and place of his death are unknown, he'd been living in Washington DC where efforts to reach him had been unavailing. Marty entered Yale from Andover as one of our very few African American classmates. His entry in our freshman registry lists his address as Monrovia, Liberia, which suggests that his parents may have been linked to the American Embassy there or were Liberians. Marty was a resident of Pierson but, for reasons unknown, never graduated. A notice in an undated issue (presumably from 1956) of the magazine Photostream states that, a native of Washington, he was a drama and English major, was chairman of the Chi Delta Theta dramatic fraternity (not covered in our graduation book), and had been elected chairman of the Yale Literary Magazine, "the first Negro student so honored." However, no doubt because he wasn't in residence senior year, Marty doesn't appear in photographs of Pierson College seniors or of members of the Lit's board. Survivors, if any, are unknown.
In Memoriam: From Henry Chisholm first came word that John P. Oberlin died on March 31, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. We knew Mike, of a family of Belarusian origins, as Mike Owseichik who captained the football team to its first Ivy League championship and was a member of Skull and Bones. After college, he pursued a business career, mostly in the metals industry, his last 25 years with I. Schumann & Company, a Bedford, Ohio, metals supplier, from which he retired in 2004 as vice president of operations. Mike was noted for his contributions to organization boards, his community, and Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, Ohio. A man of imposing figure and large personality, he was to all who knew him a generous and humble man. Bob Mobley, who met Mike in pre-collegiate scrimmages between Deerfield Academy and Mike's Greenfield, Massachusetts high school, writes that he "was already showing abilities as a quiet leader who led by example with a great sense of purpose and who enjoyed having fun but not at someone else's expense or discomfort." Steve Ackerman also notes Mike's "quiet, determined leadership. He was a ferocious football player with a soft side off the field, always friendly and accommodating, a true friend concerned with others." Denny McGill reports that after “our biggest win those years, when Yale's coach Jordan Oliver was asked when he was sure we'd beaten Army 14-12 in 1955, he answered 'when Mike Owseichik knocked Kyasky on the seat of his pants on the last play.'" Mike is survived by Marianne, his wife of 40 years, daughters Karen Klappenbach, Lisa Courtney, and Kathryn "Kit" Galloway, sons John Oberlin, Robert Galloway, and Will Galloway, and many grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Pamela Oberlin. Gifts in his memory may be made to Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora Street, Hudson, Ohio.
In Memoriam: From Tony Converse came word of the death on April 23, 2020, at his home in Newtown, Connecticut of Raymond D. Sipherd. Ray died from the complications of congestive heart failure. A magna cum laude English major who entered Yale a year after most of us, Ray was intent from youth on a theater career. In college, he was stage manager of the Dramat and attempted a musical adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot. Immediately after graduating, he joined CBS Television as story editor and producer and by 1962 was a writer-producer for WNET-13 public television in New York City, where he helped create All Things Considered and the award-winning documentary Years Without Harvest. In 1969 he became one of four original writers of Sesame Street (for which he won three Emmys) and remained a key contributor for 17 years. PBS's website terms him one of the "Pioneers of Thirteen." Ray wrote several books for the Sesame Street franchise, including bestselling Down on the Farm with Grover. (He appears in a 25th reunion book photo with that beloved Muppet monster.) Ray edited a book series for Reader's Digest, where he headed up its television division and created many shows. He also wrote fiction, including the novel The Courtship of Peggy McCoy, a collection of short stories, The Christmas Store, which he later adapted for the stage, and the Jonathan Wilder mystery series. On retiring from Reader's Digest in 1996, Ray returned to writing for the stage with a musical adaptation and production of Leonid Andreyev's He Who Gets Slapped. He served on NEH's advisory panel for film and television, was on the board of the Yale Dramatic Association, wrote articles for CNBC.com, and was a contributing playwright for the Brookfield Theater of the Arts. A sample of his zesty, insightful writing can be found in '57's 50th reunion book, where he wrote of what he learned of words, writing, and life from Daily Themes. Ray is survived by his wife Anne Marie Foran as well as by a brother and sister-in-law.
JMB
March/April 2021
Bruce McLanahan has established the McLanahan Fund for Urban Studies in the Yale School of Architecture. It will support community-based, student-driven research and internships to develop better understanding of the tensions between urban preservation and renewal. From Lou DeLuca: "My wife and I are lucky to be surrounded by gardens and a nine-hole golf course in a small college town [Berea, Kentucky] that continues to function with students on campus obeying all the rules—so far. We help with local food efforts, she with virtual cooking classes for the state Extension Service, I with service on the board of a community urban farm."
Over 57 years as a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, Reed Taylor considers his most important work, starting when Clerk of Session in 1983, trying to make gay rights a "non-issue" for leadership and membership. For this, his church was "corrected" by its Presbytery and the General Assembly's Judicial Commission for "erroneous" actions. Reed represented his congregation at Presbytery meetings and helped explain to other congregations its commitment to Christian inclusiveness. Some understanding and reconciliation, he reports, resulted.
In Memoriam: Marvin R. Cox died in Willimantic, Connecticut, from the complications of a stroke on May 1, 2020. Marvin pursued his early affection for French history, language, and literature with a history major and then a 1966 history doctorate from Yale, where, as an undergraduate, he'd been a member of the Elizabethan Club and executive editor of the Yale Literary Magazine. In 1966 he joined the University of Connecticut's history faculty, where he remained until his 2002 retirement. The author of The Place of the French Revolution in History, Marvin taught French and world history, was deeply involved in creating and maintaining relationships between high school and university teachers, and helped launch UConn's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, of which he was president. In Chaplin, Connecticut, he helped re-establish the Democratic Party and founded the town's historic district, whose governing body he chaired. A fellow scholar of French culture, English Showalter, describes Marvin as a man "firmly to the left in politics and very progressive in social ideology" who "thrived on serious conversation and essays." He was also "funny, often at his own expense" and applied "the same ironic and self-deprecating sense of humor to political correctness in academia and scandals in his local government." In addition to his wife Diane, Marvin is survived by their daughter, Katherine Cox. Contributions in his memory may go to Covenant Soup Kitchen (Windham), Windham Area Interfaith Ministry (Willimantic), the Slater Museum (Norwich), and Joshua's Trust (Mansfield).
In Memoriam: Clark E. Cunningham died of unstated causes on April 18, 2020, at his home in Urbana, Illinois. Clark entered Yale with '56 and at some point became a member of '57. A Rhodes Scholar, he completed a B.Litt, then a D. Phil., at Oxford. Commencing his academic career at Yale, in 1963 he joined the anthropology department at the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana, where, as professor of cultural anthropology, he was a founding member of the university's Asian Studies Department and introduced there the first course on the Asian-American experience. Over his career, Clark undertook ethnographic studies in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia and Thailand, and taught a wide variety of courses, including those in Indonesian languages. A collector of miniature cars and airplanes, he's described as having loved good food and drink, poker, and traveling the world. He's said also to have possessed "a Buddhistic calm, a hilarious dry wit, a big heart, and enormous generosity." Predeceased by his second wife Aulikki Kokko-Cunningham, Clark is survived by his son Eric, daughter Natalie, and their families. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures of the University of Illinois.
In Memoriam: Randolph C. Guggenheimer, Jr., Class Secretary from 1982 to 1987, died on July 3, 2020, from the complications of Parkinson's disease. After college, where he was sports editor of the Yale Daily News, Randy took a degree from Harvard Law School. After practicing law with Guggenheimer and Untermyer, he turned to securities underwriting, investment banking, syndication, and corporate finance and eventually became partner and managing director of Advest. Randy retired when managing partner of Burnham Securities. Effervescent whimsical humor and bonhomie were his trademarks. John Herrmann, a close friend from when both were 9, refers to Randy's "sparkling personality," his being "bubbly and fun, quick-witted, and very smart with an amazing memory." John turned on the radio one Saturday morning when he was 12 to hear Randy as one of the original Quiz Kids. Peter Wolf reflects that Randy "liked to pretend that he was a crusty, cynical guy, full of good humor and irreverence. Yet just below his cynical humor and irreverence was his fondness for friends, his loyalty to his own ideals, and somewhere down deep an innate shyness." Randy is survived by Jane, his wife of 61 years, their three children Randolph III, Steven, and Lynn Horowitch ('85), and grandchildren.
In Memoriam: Harold S. Montgomery died in Milwaukee on July 17, 2020 from heart and liver failure. Older than most of us, he became a member of '57 sometime before our 25th reunion. At Yale he was an industrial administration major. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Starting work with Cutler-Hammer, an electric technology company now part of Eaton Corporation, he remained most of his life in and near Milwaukee in a variety of businesses, including airline baggage handling systems, and engaged in start-up companies for quiz machines, frozen foods, and streaming videos. He's reported to have been a passionate Lake Michigan sailor and dedicated mentor and tutor of young people. He was also active in a local Episcopal church and held a number of parish positions. Predeceased by his wife Norma, Harold is survived by sons John and Peter, four step-children, and grandchildren.
JMB
May/June 2021
We've found Mike Smith, who was with ‘57 for two years. He's been a The Village Voice critic and off-off-Broadway director, playwright, lighting designer, anthologist, and producer. After making harpsichords, he wrote speeches for NYC mayor Ed Koch, founded his own Santa Barbara theatre company, then moved to Oregon. He's now the publisher of Fast Book Press and author of autobiographical Me & Others. Another re-discovered classmate, Art Cottrell, writes from Rhode Island of graduating from Middlebury in 1961, then working as a trust administrator with Hartford National Bank and Trust Co.
In Memoriam: David M. Olmstead died on May 28, 2020 in Washington, Georgia. After college, Dave worked for Milliken Industries in South Carolina, then in Georgia for Concord Fabrics, of which he became president. For our 35th reunion, he reported in as a golfer and--nota bene--a roller-blader. Ten years later, having survived colon cancer, he was still working. Karl Chester describes Dave as "blessed with intellect, a sense of humor, an adventurous spirit, and a large dose of stubbornness." In addition to his wife Dolle Utsey Balte, he's survived by sons Don. E. and John D., daughter Elizabeth J. Darden, two step-children, and ten grandchildren. Contributions in Dave's memory may be made to a veteran's organization in honor of his brother Don E. Olmstead, a Korean War casualty.
In Memoriam: We lost John R. Bussard on June 17, 2020 to unstated causes in Ringoes, New Jersey. John matriculated with us, then stopped out before re-entering with '58. After Army service, he taught high school science before gaining a 1969 medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. An anesthesiologist, he spent his career at the Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, New Jersey. On the side, he restored and flew antique biplanes and owned and rode antique motorcycles. A devotée of classical music, John made destinations of Santa Fe, Glimmerglass, and the Met Opera and was, he wrote, a "gentleman farmer" because it was nice "watching someone else work my farm so as to get a farm assessment on the taxes." John is survived by his wife Elizabeth as well as children Anne Supina, John M. Bussard, and their families.
In Memoriam: Harold M. Hochman died of heart and kidney failure on July 25, 2020 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. With a BA and PhD in economics from Yale and as author of many articles, and editor of books, Hal taught at UVA, Baruch College and the Graduate Center of CUNY, and Lafayette College, from which he retired as William E. Simon Professor of Political Economy. He also served on the staff of the Urban Institute and taught at Berkeley, LSE, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Williams, Wesleyan, and the University of Turin. A specialist in income redistribution, utility interdependence, public choice economics, and the economics of health, he served as editor of the Eastern Economic Journal and on the editorial boards of the National Tax Journal and the Public Finance Quarterly. Notable for his cranky, droll wit and his wry takes on academic orthodoxies, Hal loved travel, food, and wine. Roommate John Tracy recalls him as "a quiet, very bright man, thoughtful and caring." To Rob Walker, he was "generous" and always "sensitive to the feelings and needs of others." Hal is survived by his wife Kappie and their daughter Sandy Lesikar and family. He was predeceased by daughter Betsy. Memorial contributions may be made to Survivor Mitzvah Project, 2658 Griffith Park Blvd (Suite 299), Los Angeles, CA.
In Memoriam: Robert P. Rospond died sometime before August 12, 2020, presumably in Bais City, the Philippines, where he'd lived for some years. For our 25th reunion, Bob wrote that he'd practiced law before becoming involved in the import and marketing field. He also owned an importing company. In 1992 came word that he'd moved to a ranch in Tacoma, Washington, and owned another near Spokane. Five years later, he was living in Reno, Nevada and by 2002 had moved to Bais City. It appears that he had two sons.
In Memoriam: Arnold W. Jones, Jr., died on August 22, 2020, the cause and place of his death unknown. After post-Yale service in the Army Reserves, Pat moved to California, where he ascended through the ranks of banking, which, he wrote in reunion books, he always found "fascinating, challenging, exciting, good fun, and rewarding." After starting at Wells Fargo Bank, by 1967 he was vice president and senior investment officer of Crocker National Bank. In 1985, he became president of Citicorp Trust, part of Citibank Private Bank, from which he retired in 1994. Pat was a leading member of many organizations including San Francisco's St. Luke's Church (senior warden), Grace Cathedral (trustee and board vice-chairman), Lighthouse for the Blind (president), St. Mark's School (trustee), and Crystal Springs Uplands School (treasurer and board member) in Hillsborough, California, where he long lived. He's survived by his wife Wendy, children Arnold, Elizabeth (Yale M.Esc. '02, Ph.D '07), and Gardner, as well as their families and a sister.
In Memoriam: We've learned of the death of Glen A. Harris, Jr., neither its precise date nor cause known, although it can be surmised that he died sometime after February 1 and before August 15, 2020, presumably in or near his home in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Glen wasn't listed in our freshman registry, nor did he appear in our 1957 Class Book. While it's known that he was raised in Seattle, it's not possible to learn with what other Yale class he matriculated. First word of him appeared in our 25th reunion book, when he directed data processing systems for Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company. By our 35th and 40th reunions, he was the firm's second vice president. He's reported as being known for his "knack for merriment and word play" and his "ideas, puns and fiendish harmonies." Glen was also part of PFLAG, which brings families together to support their gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender members. He's survived by sons John and Mark as well as grandchildren.
JMB
July/August 2021
Ed Dean reports from Concord, Massachusetts, that throughout his career he's been active in international and investment banking and securities research, including senior positions with First Albany Corporation and Jefferies & Company and, most recently, as senior principal with a consulting firm that helps clients prepare proposals for government contracts.
Four '57ers' books to report: Dave Clarke's Essays on Pragmatic Naturalism (Lulu Publishers, 2015), Kim Cheney's A Lawyer's Life to Live (Rootstock Publishing, 2021), Dick Brown's Finite Human, Infinite Humanity: History of the Universe and Theory of Everything (Amazon and finitehuman.com, 2021), and yrs. truly's The-Ever Changing Past: Why All History Is Revisionist History (Yale, 2021).
And now the tolling knell. The texts below are, as always, severely reduced from the full obituaries available on the class website.
In Memoriam: We learned just recently that Frederick B. Collins, Jr. died on July 12, 2019. After being with '57 for a year or two, Fred eventually took a BA degree in mathematics and physics at Whitman College and then spent his career as a computer systems engineer at the Boeing, IBM, and Xerox Corporations. He's said to have been loved for his wit, storytelling, musical talent, and love of gadgets. In addition to his wife Janet Sue, he's survived by children Laurel Tomchick, Richard, and Steven and their families.
In Memoriam: James S. Cunningham died of unstated causes on September 4, 2020, in Portland, Oregon. After two years of Marine Corps service, Jim began his career in finance and business administration with First National Bank of Chicago. After serving that firm in London, he moved to the London office of Austria's Creditanstalt, then to Houston with First City Texas Bank as executive vice president, then back to London as managing director of Dutch cooperative bank Rabobank, from whose New York office he retired in 2002. In London, Jim was a consultant with Scotland Yard. From there and later from San Francisco, Jim would put in appearances at the annual class dinner in New York. He's survived by his three daughters Katherine, Ann, and Jennifer as well as members of their families. Contributions in his memory should go to Planned Parenthood or Compassion and Choices.
In Memoriam: Leo M. Bearman died of unstated causes in Memphis, Tennessee, on September 21, 2020. At Yale, Leo graduated magna cum laude in English, a ranking scholar, member of Phi Beta Kappa, president of Torch, and editor-in-chief of the Yale Banner. After gaining a law degree at Harvard, he practiced law until shortly before his death. A long-time adjunct professor in the University of Memphis Law School, Leo was known as a mentor to young attorneys and one of his city's leading trial lawyers. Called by his peers a "lion of the Memphis legal profession," he was named the recipient of the American Inns of Court Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Award for Professionalism and Ethics. Leo served as president of the Young Lawyers of Tennessee, the Memphis Orchestral Society, and Temple Israel and was known for his many other contributions to civic life. Leo's said to have enjoyed a "love/frustration relationship" with golf as well as good wine and food. Those who knew him at college recall his easy smile, his quiet authority, and his soft-spoken humble manner. His four-year college roommate Denny McGill writes that "sitting in his green leather chair, constantly reading, the author of a Harvard Law Review article eventually cited in a Supreme Court opinion, Leo ‘the Lion,' to me, was the brightest and most conscientious person I've ever known or privileged to have had as a friend." Predeceased by Joy, his wife of 60 years, Leo is survived by their children David, Edward, Amy Dorsey, and their families.
In Memoriam: We lost J. Michael Lane to colon cancer on October 21, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. A ranking scholar Phi Beta Kappa in sociology and president of the Yale chapter of the NAACP, Mike took a Harvard medical degree and a master's in public health in epidemiology from U.C. Berkeley. After interning at Bellevue Hospital, he joined the staff of the CDC, with which he remained throughout his career while serving as the last director of its Smallpox Eradication Bureau, then as director of its Epidemic Intelligence Service, and finally as director of its Center for Preventive Services. After retirement, he taught at Emory University and the Australian National University while serving as consultant to many organizations, drug companies, and the WHO. Mike's expertise was smallpox, whose eradication in 1980 was his shared triumph as writer and lecturer as well as medical scientist who, as he stated in our 40th reunion book, traveled to 72 countries in Africa and Asia to fight the disease. A sharp critic of what he called the "elitism, racism, and smugness" he encountered in college, he cited those aspects of Yale as the reason for his not remaining close to classmates. Mike was a bird watcher, scuba diver, back packer, and camper—at the age of 79 traveling from Atlanta to Seattle in a pitched tent. Jeff Freeman writes that Mike "had a droll sense of humor—great at deadpan observations about frailties in himself and others—and was honest and direct in expressing himself about what he liked and didn't like." It was clear in college "how much he valued the academic experience offered by Yale, but also apparent that he didn't have much use for the campus social environment.” Yet, writes Jeff, his role as a leader in the battle to eradicate smallpox was "perhaps a greater contribution to the betterment of society than any other 1957 classmate has achieved." Mike is survived by his wife Lila Elizabeth Summer, daughter Cynthia Michelle Edward, stepdaughter Annabel Moore, brother Roger '55, and others.
In Memoriam: Alan F. Hockstader died in White Plains, New York, on October 24, 2020, of the complications of cancer. Following Army service, Alan took an MBA at Columbia. He commenced his career as an advertising account manager in New York City, then turned to commercial real estate in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Retiring in 1999, he concentrated on playing squash (his college sport); being Chair of '57 Class Agents; and, to the benefit and enjoyment of many starting in 1998, planning and leading more than a decade of distinctive, hugely successful, and unforgettable trips for classmates and their spouses throughout the world. These trips won him the admiration and affection of all who benefited from his organizational genius and unflappable disposition. Alan's freshman year roommate, Frank Melhorn, captures Alan precisely: “always good company, good-humored, cheerful, even-tempered, and unselfish.” John Herrmann, his oldest friend, writes of him simply as having been “a warm, loving human being.” Alan is survived by his wife of 62 years, Birgitta, their daughters Ingrid and Barbara, and two grandchildren. Donations in his memory should go to the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or to the Children's Aid Society.
JMB
September/October 2021
One pleasure of living in the nation's capital is the flow of ‘57ers through town. Recently, I've lunched with Buz Brenton (Des Moines), Jack Hughes (Tucson), Reed Taylor (Williamsville, NY), and Mike Mellen (Charlottesville). All four co-ancients are in high fettle. Mike notes that "Tink Thompson has written a masterful follow-up, Last Second in Dallas, to his original investigative work, Six Seconds in Dallas. His conclusions are troubling but follow from the evidence." Drawing from recent forensic discoveries, Tink argues that JFK died in a crossfire.
In Memoriam: Christopher M. James died on November 25, 2020 in Nashville from the complications of strokes. After college, Chris pursued industrial engineering in the steel industry and financial analysis with the CBS and IBM before assisting Honeywell and other companies take on IBM. Subsequently, he assumed positions with the Singer Companies, then with Litton Industries, at each planning inertial navigation systems for military application. He lived for some years on a yacht in Seattle, boated the western Canadian and American coasts and the Gulf Coast, and toured and camped throughout the American West by motor home. In addition to his wife Julie, Chris is survived by daughter Katherine James, step-children Shanna Rosen Belott and Spencer Rosen, his brother Timothy ('61), a sister, and their families.
In Memoriam: James C. Brady died at home of unstated causes in Bedminster, New Jersey, on October 22, 2020. A college hockey player (our senior year varsity team's highest scorer), in 1957 Jim began work at Bankers Trust Company, then by 1970 became New Jersey's Commissioner of Banking in Governor William Cahill's administration, led development of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, and was founding chairman of the New Jersey Mortgage Finance Agency. Following family tradition, thoroughbred breeding and racing filled much of his life. He co-managed Mill House Racing Stable, which ran prominent thoroughbreds and in 1983 became secretary-treasurer of the Jockey Club, of whose board of stewards he remained a member until 2013. Jim also helped transform the Brady Foundation's summer camp, LifeCamp, into a summer school for the Newark Boys' and Girls' Clubs and served on the board of the Bessemer Trust Company and the finance committee of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Rob Walker writes that he "could sparkle with enthusiasm... but his style was astutely observant, unassuming, and modest even in leadership roles. He was also sensitive, gracious, kind, and loyal." Jim is survived by Joan, his wife of 63 years, their son James C. III and daughters Kerry McDonnell and Joan, as well their families and others. Donations in his memory may be made to LifeCamp via greaternewarklifecamp.org.
In Memoriam: After an unstated illness, Robert Crafts, Jr. died on November 7, 2020 in Poway, California. After college, Bob received a 1962 MD degree from Case Western Reserve University Medical School in his native Cleveland. He then entered the U.S. Navy Medical Corps and spent deterrent patrols aboard POLARIS-missile-bearing submarines. Remaining under naval orders, he completed his medical residency, then served in Guam during the Vietnam War caring for and evacuating refugees from Southeast Asia, work that earned him a Navy Commendation Medal. After further service in Japan, he was chief of internal medicine at Camp Pendleton, California, naval hospital before retiring at the rank of Captain. In 1989, Bob added an MDiv to his MD. This led to an Episcopal pastorate in Indio, California, where he presided and preached in Spanish as well as English. By this time, Bob was probably the only member of '57 who could be addressed as "Reverend Captain Doctor." In 1998, he returned to San Diego as head priest at St. Elizabeth's Church in Linda Vista and became port chaplain for the Mission to Seafarers in that city. Bob was also a bagpiper who served as chieftain of the 1976 San Diego Scottish Highland Games in 1976 and long volunteered as a teacher of kindergarten and first-grade classes in dual languages. Those who knew Bob encountered a serious yet sunny man possessing an easy laugh, engaged in life's fullness, taut in comment, and always pushing to better the world. He's survived by Carol, his wife of 57 years, their three children Karen ('88), Robert W. ('90), and Margaret ('93), grandchildren, a great grandson, and two brothers. Donations in Bob's memory should be made to seamenschurch.org or to sempervirens.org/robertcrafts for restoration of the Robert Crafts Grove of Big Basin Redwood State Park devastated by fire in 2020.
In Memoriam: My roommate Laurence G. Bodkin, Jr. died from the complications of cancer and Alzheimer's disease on November 22, 2020, at his home in Larchmont, New York. In college, Larry distinguished himself by making use of his slight physique in varsity crew and squash. In the latter sport he served as coxswain and was a candidate for that position on the US 1956 Olympic team. After Harvard Law School, he devoted himself to tax law as partner in the NYC firm of Jackson & Nash. In retirement, Larry helped others by assisting young people with special learning needs to navigate their way through New York City's educational bureaucracy and by serving New York federal courts as mediator in disputes involving retirement and disability benefits. He often spent his leisure hours at the piano, playing golf and tennis, and sailing the waters near his family house in Stony Brook, Connecticut. A man of comparatively few words, of warm personality sometimes hidden by a deceptively grumpy bearing, yet of always easy laughter, Larry was a kind, caring, and thoughtful man. He's survived by Muriel (Mimsie), his wife of 57 years, their children Laurence III, Anne, Katherine Robinson, and Christopher, and their families. Donations in his memory should go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (lls.org/ct-hv).
JMB
November/December 2021
Mark your calendars: 65th '57 reunion, May 26-29, 2022.
From Colin Jensen this apposite fact: “We've all heard a lot about the CDC and NIH during this past year. Seven Civil Engineering graduates out of 19 from ‘57 served their military obligation in the US Public Health Service. I was one of them.” Relatedly from Bob Quillin: “After Yale, I spent two years in graduate school, 21 in the Army Medical Service Corps, nine with the Ohio Department of Public Health, and eleven with the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment. I was fortunate to have had assignments and positions where I could make a difference.”
Bide Thomas reports that since retiring from Commonwealth Edison, he and Mary Nell have pursued their hobby of buying and renovating small houses in her Rushville, Illinois, hometown. They've also spent many years in Bozeman, Montana where they “thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful mountains, pristine rivers and spectacular wilderness—and fly fishing and skiing as well!” Writes Andy Poepoe from Honolulu: “My health is fine, which proves that running and biking has worked for me—that advice originally from Chuck Kerr.”
I repeat here my frequently expressed hope that you'll consult the class's unlocked website page for full obituaries. Space limitations here permit only a précis of the originals.
In Memoriam: Arthur F. Wertheim died suddenly on November 24, 2020, in Los Angeles. After college, Mickey received a 1970 PhD in American Civilization from NYU, then joined the history faculty of USC where he helped develop its Women's Studies and undergraduate and graduate American Studies programs. In 1798-1979, he was Fulbright Senior Lecturer at the University of Indonesia. He then assumed the post of Director of Development Communications at UCLA, where he remained until his retirement. Mickey's scholarly forté was 20th-century American culture, his particular specialty the lives of Will Rogers—whose papers he edited in a multi-volume series—and W. C. Fields, of whom he wrote four books. He was known for his love of nature, long walks along the Southern California coast, and devotion to dachshunds. At some point, he embraced Buddhism. Bob Krogh writes that "Mickey was a rather private person, very dedicated to writing. He once fastened an automobile safety seat belt to his chair to help him develop the discipline to remain for hours at his desk." Mickey is survived by his former wife Carol and son Jason and family as well as others. Donations in his memory should go to Southern California Dachshund Relief, PO Box 2634, La Habra, CA 90632-2634.
In Memoriam: Ralph K. Winter, died on December 8, 2020, in Guilford, Connecticut, from s Covid-19 infection on top of treatment for esophageal cancer. Ralph was a ranking scholar at Yale, the sole institution to which, reportedly, he applied in defiance of the Taft School headmaster's telling him that he "wasn't the Yale type." Ralph remained in New Haven, his native city, for his law degree, then became the first law clerk for Thurgood Marshall after the latter had just joined the Court of Appeals for the Second Federal Circuit. In 1962, Ralph began his 20-year service on the Yale Law School faculty as William K. Townsend Professor of Law. He was probably best known for his contention that such statutes as Delaware's incorporation law produce incentives that lead corporations to seek charters where laws lower capital costs and thus raise shareholders' value—an argument that cemented his position as a leader of the law and economics movement. A late-in-life practicing attorney, one of Ralph's clients was NY Senator James Buckley, for whom Ralph won the major 1976 case of Buckley v. Valeo, which threw out central parts of the federal campaign finance law. Nominated in 1982 by Ronald Reagan to join the Second Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, he served there until 2000, the last three years as Chief Judge. In 2017, he received the federal judiciary's highest honor, the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. Ralph was known for his devil's-advocate approach to teaching, his love of the give-and-take of the classroom, the pragmatism of his conservatism, and his wit. Thurgood Marshall liked to tell the story of asking Ralph to check to see if he had jurisdiction in a case. Ralph's response? "Hey, Judge, guess what you ain't got?" At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on his nomination to the Second Circuit, Senator Strom Thurmond asked, “Mr. Winter, you are a dean?” Ralph: “No. A professor.” Thurmond: “Oh, merely a professor? Not a dean?” Ralph: “No sir. A professor, not merely a dean.” Gil Merritt, a fellow federal circuit court judge, writes that Ralph “had a booming laugh and an easy manner that made our considerable differences in judicial philosophy easy to set aside." Predeceased by his wife Katherine, Ralph is survived by his son Andrew and family.
In Memoriam: Paul A. Gimbel died peacefully in Baltimore on December 12, 2020, from the complications of Alzheimer's disease. Paul matriculated with '54 and after Army service re-entered with '57. He was chairman of what appears to have been Yale's inaugural Freshman Register as well as senior year captain of the campus Air Force ROTC unit. After college, he joined his family's firm, New York's Gimbels store, then moved to Miami, where he co-founded Touring Motors, a Ferrari and Lamborghini dealership. Subsequently, he became partner and investor in the privately-held Lawrenceville Corporation, which held hospitality industry properties. In 1964 he bought the Oquossoc Yacht Club in Maine's Rangeley Lakes. He also had a life-long love of mechanical devices, especially of antique speedboats and an unusual 1963 Amphicar. Lou DeLuca writes that “while he enjoyed participating in living room sessions, Paul was much more comfortable one-on-one. A very private man with a subtle sense of humor." He's survived by his wife Patricia, children Virginia Gimbel McLucas and J. Renfield Gimbel, and four grandchildren.
In Memoriam: Ray G. Brown died peacefully on August 1, 2021, presumably in his native city of Columbus, Ohio. The cause of his death was unstated. After college, Ray gained a 1960 J.D. in 1960 from Ohio State University Law School, served in the National Guard, and joined the law firm of Gingher and Christensen, of which he became a partner in 1965. His specialties were tax, securities, and medical malpractice law. In our 1987 and 1992 reunion books, he listed himself as a partner in the Columbus office of Baker & Hostetler. At our 25th reunion, Ray reported that he was on the faculty of the Ohio Legal Center Institute and deeply involved in local community affairs. He wrote, too, that he'd "never again in equal measure experience the magnetic and intellectually stimulating environment that was Yale 25 years ago for an idealistic undergraduate." Ray is survived by his wife Marianne Lehman, their sons Peter and Adam, their daughter Emily Flynn, and two grandchildren.
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