1961 CLASS NOTES JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2023
1961 Class Notes Editor – Paul Capra
4106 Stonehaven Ln SE
Olympia, WA 98501
E-mail: shonea1@gmail.com
Webmaster – Lou Allyn –
E-mail: yaleclass1961@gmail.com
Website: http://yale1961.org/
Co-Chairs – Class Council
Jamie McLane E-mail: jmclane@profexa.com
Henry Kuehn E-mail: hhkuehn@gmail.com
Ed Cantor writes that the 61st Reunion of the Class of 1961 was a spectacular success. More than 90 classmates, spouses and guests attended the event. In addition to three outstanding faculty speakers, we heard from a panel of 2003 graduates who had taken part in the Grand Strategies program while they were at Yale. The panel included current professors at Rutgers and North Carolina and high ranking members of the Defense and State Departments. In a give and take session they shared their own views on where the United States is headed. Another highlight of the reunion was a dialogue between Ed Cantor and Sam Chauncey ‘57, who served as University Secretary to Kingman Brewster during years of turbulence, and an advisor to decades of Yale Presidents. Sam discussed “Yale Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”. Two undergraduate a capella groups warmed us up on Saturday afternoon. The weekend was climaxed by our own 1961 Whiffenpoofs–all seven of whom were in great voice and spirit. In an emotional finale led by the Whiffs, all in attendance sang out the weekend with Bright College Years.
In preparation for the 61st Reunion, class chair emeritus Frosty Smith meticulously compiled over 150 “trivia” snippets ranging from the sublime to amusing about fellow classmates, their undergraduate capers, and amazing careers. The stories are there for your reading enjoyment, astonishment, and reminiscence: http://yale1961.org
John Hansman and wife Jean reluctantly moved all of seven miles to the Fox Hill Senior Community in Bethesda MD, and writes: contrary to early resolutions, I find myself on a condo board. Jean, the extrovert, is enjoying the added benefits of getting more exercise at the fitness center and teaching pastel painting.
Cotesworth Pinckney writes: The recently published biography, Wild, the Life of Peter Beard, by Graham Boynton describes the interesting international life and photography of classmate Peter Beard.
Juanita Salvador-Burris writes: I am sad to inform you that my husband James S. Burris II died on May 24, 2022. After Yale, Jim went on to a law degree from the U of Minnesota and a PhD in political science from the U of Chicago. We had just celebrated our 50th anniversary the month before.
The family of John Douglas Perry, Jr. reports that Doug passed at his home in Branford, CT on May 15 2020. After Yale, John received a Ph.D from Temple University, writing his dissertation on James Agee and the American Romantic Tradition. Doug was a long time professor of English Literature at Simmons College. In his 44 years of teaching at Simmons, Doug always believed in his students; he counted on their being, in his words, “hardworking and brave.” His colleagues saw him as embodying the best of what teaching had to offer. Throughout his life, Doug explored his passion for good writing, great music, and classic film.
Classmate Albert Ritchie passed on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Born in Charlottesville VA Bert received his Yale BA summa cum laude in 1961. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, St. Anthony Hall, Army ROTC, and the editor of the 1961 Class Book. While studying for his law degree at the U of Virginia, Bert was the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Bert served as an Infantry Officer in Korea and at Third US Army Headquarters in Atlanta where he met his future wife Jennie. He was active as a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the Chicago Legal Aid Bureau, the University of Virginia Law School Alumni Association. and the Board of Visitors for the University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences.
Robert McManus writes: An amazing 45 years came to an end this past August 30, when the love of my life, Nancy, passed away of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She was the best thing that ever happened to me. As I’ve said to other widows and widowers, this is the only grief for which we volunteer, but at times that seems small comfort. Nancy was first diagnosed with an ‘indolent’ form of this shape-shifting malady in 2007, but with mild medications and radiation, she was essentially asymptomatic for 14 years, during which we traveled extensively on six continents. As Nancy herself said on a prior sad occasion: “I will weep for what I have lost, but smile at what I have had.”
As some discovered at the New Haven Mini, Paul Tierney remarried last September following the death of his wife nearly four years ago. Paul and Peggy honeymooned in Italy for 10 days and returned in time for the mini. After all this activity, they are now resting at home in Villanova, PA.
Our Webmaster, Lou Allyn, maintains a treasure trove of class information on our web site: yale1961.org including links to the recent Mini Reunion, recorded talks by classmates, contact information and extended obituaries.