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
Mike Samuels: The Class lost one of its great leaders on August 8th. Mike Samuels died of an apparent heart attack at his home in Washington, D.C. Mike represented the best of “run silent, run deep”. He rarely spoke of his many achievements and long-standing service to our class. He came to Yale from Youngstown, Ohio, the first in his family to attend college. He was active in the Class as an undergraduate, as host of two class mini-reunions in Washington D.C., and as the co-author of our 50th reunion “Yale 1961 – 1000 Voices”. Mike became a leading contributor to every issue the Class Council faced for decades. After Yale, he volunteered to teach in a high school in rural Nigeria. That kindled his love for Africa. He received a PhD in African History from Columbia, where his thesis focused on Angola and was written in Portuguese. After serving in the White House as the top aide to the Counsellor for Economic Policy for President Nixon, he became Ambassador to Sierra Leone, at that time being America’s youngest ambassador. He then became the Director of Third World Studies at Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic and International Studies for many years, after which he was approved by the Senate in the mid-eighties to become the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and Ambassador to GATT. After he left the federal government, Mike founded a highly successful and acclaimed international trade and politics consulting firm in D.C. One of his later life rewards, which he cherished, was being invited back to Angola 40 years after writing his thesis, and receiving his PHD, to deliver it in a special ceremony – in Portuguese. There was a reason many of us did not know of Mike’s many accomplishments. He was not that kind of a guy. There was nothing pretentious about him. Mike was interested in people and cared about them. He was a great listener; he gave you his total focus. And, when he did not agree, he would explain why. Disagreements never interfered with his friendships. He became a great friend to those who were fortunate to spend time with him. He exuded a true sincerity that made us all happy to be in his company. A day with Mike and Lena was like a fun day at the beach. Mike will be sorely missed by us all. He may never again be where he once was but will always be wherever we are. Mike is survived by his wife, Lena, his son, Joel, a grandchild, and his Yale ’61 friends.
Lena Auerbach can be reached at: 4301 Military Road NW PH03, Washington, D.C. 20015-2140
Edward Michael Bradley died on Long Island on August 19, 2022. Known as “Michael,” he was the son of the late Otis Treat Bradley and Marian Alling Bradley. Prior to Yale, Michael attended the Buckley School and Deerfield Academy. He went on to receive a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School which led to a partnership at Brown & Wood in NYC where he spent most of his professional career. He married Judith Bradley in 1962 in NYC where they raised four children. Michael loved the eastern shore of Long Island where he spent summers with his parents and family. He had a particular fondness for the beach and loved nothing more than swimming in the ocean, as frequently and often as possible. He was an avid golfer, tennis, and paddle tennis player. Michael is survived by his daughter, three sons and nine grandchildren, all his greatest pride and joy.
Richard Elliott Trinin Greenberg of Norton, MA, died May 15, 2022. Born in New Haven, he attended Hill High School in New Haven, where he played with his band the Kingsman Quintet. Richard continued his education at Yale University majoring in Psychology, and from Tufts University Medical School. After residency at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn Richard entered the U.S. Navy and served as medical officer onboard the USS Topeka. In 1969, he moved to Boston to finish his Orthopedic training. While working at Tufts New England Medical Center he met his wife, Eleanor. Richard settled in Easton MA, where he and Eleanor raised their three sons while he practiced orthopedic medicine at the Brockton, Cardinal Cushing, and Goddard Hospitals. Richard had a lifelong love of learning especially in the fields of math, science, and technology. When not figuring out a math problem, he could be found working on his computer, singing along while he played the piano, or working on a project in his workshop. He is survived by his wife Eleanor Johnson Greenberg, his sons, granddaughters, and siblings.Bill Fort (wife Susan) and Josh Taylor (wife Jeanne) plus a few of Josh’s family members met in Olympia, WA back in May. They had hoped to meet up with Paul Capra, but Covid intervened. Better luck next time.
Charlie Keil recently published Playing for Peace – Reclaiming our Human Nature (Local Paths to Peace Today). Charlie summed up the book by saying: The three sections are clear and shed light on important truths. Copies and reviews can be found in all the usual places.
An update from Nick Nobbe: After recovering from a ruptured knee tendon back in 2021, I returned to swimming at the US Masters Nationals in August 2022, placed 2d in the 400m free, 4th in the 200m free, 8 in the 100m free, placed in three relays, and caught Covid at this super spreader event. All for the greater glory! Pleased to say I’ve recovered.
Our Webmaster, Lou Allyn, has a treasure trove of class information on our web site: yale1961.org including links to recorded talks by classmates, contact information and extended obituaries.