By Bill Sargent
Thomas W. Clark died August 7, 2016. He spent his business career in the paper industry as a broker, merchant, and owner of Chagrin Fibres in Norfolk, New York, where he operated a kraft paper mill for six years. Sheldon Hosen died December 17, 2016. He practiced law in New Haven and was active in the community.
Joe Hester died September 26, 2017. He practiced family law for 25 years prior to becoming a Broome County family court judge and a New York State Supreme Court justice.
Michael Creamer died October 3. He was a certified public accountant. Gerald A. Mason passed away October 29. He received his BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering, and put his engineering skills to practice for 29 years in sales with Hewlett Packard.
Laz Schneider writes, “Irma was a minor discomfort (no electricity for a week) for those of us on the east coast of Florida.” He added that he was helped by a “Little Sun,” a sun-powered reading light that is given to schoolchildren without electricity in need of light for homework. He had received the light as a gift at one of the mini-reunions. Laz adds, “Who can predict the benefits of our reunions?”
Charles Hamlin wants us to know of a new book, Voices of Civil Rights Lawyers: Reflections from the Deep South, 1964–1980. It includes many memoirs, four of which were written by Mac Farmer, who spent two years in Mississippi after Yale and Harvard Law School “putting his life on the line for civil rights.”
Tom Edwards reports that in mid-October Charlie and Linda Hamlin hosted a four-day reunion at an elegant adobe villa in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Attending were John Bingham and Katharine Preston, Charlie and Martina Dill, Tom and Tina Edwards, Ken MacLean and Stephanie Mashek, Jamie and Meg McLane, and, by proxy, Bill and Nini Jastromb and Dave and Ann Simmons. Events included the outdoor “firing” of a ceramic bear by a renowned Native American potter, a trip to Georgia O’Keeffe’s summer and winter residences, and a tour of prehistoric petroglyphs led by Santa Fe–based classmate, David Noble.
Wilford Welch sent word that he was leaving momentarily to lead a trip to China and that his latest book, In Our Hands—Handbook for Intergenerational Actions to Solve the Climate Crisis, is now available. Wilford wrote the book because he is “deeply concerned about global warming and I want to help galvanize the people of the United States and around the world before it is too late. I truly believe that while international terrorism may kill some of us, global warming may kill all of us if we do not take effective action.”
Ron St. John says, “Peggy and I just returned from a fabulous experience hiking Roman Emperor Hadrian’s Wall for the full 82 miles across the middle of England from coast to coast. We took ten days to do it, to allow time for visiting Roman ruins along the way. It was built in ten years’ time by Roman soldiers early in 100 CE, and I was blown away by the sophistication of Roman engineering in the remarkably preserved remnants of the 1,900-year-old wall. We finished with three days of sightseeing in medieval York and Oxford, where I wish I had worn my Yale sweatshirt. If ancient history is your thing, add Hadrian’s Wall to your bucket list.”
Steve Gilford is a busy man. He writes, “Ever since the publication of my book about the Kaiser WWII Shipyards and the story behind Rosie the Riveter, I have been doing book signings and giving talks. I was very ill at ease at first, but now enjoy it. I also serve on the board of the Richmond (California) Historical Association, an organization that includes an historical museum and a 10,000-ton WWII victory ship. With the help of volunteers, we are almost ready to start the rebuilt engines for the first time since 1968. I am also researching a book on an aspect of nursing history relating to the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program where I am a senior history consultant.”
Stephen McReynolds notes that after the death of his wife Peggy last year, he and his daughter and her children took a 48-day trip across the country.
John Hansman writes, “Four years after I started the process, my community of 384 homes was approved for the National Register of Historic Places, and until this spring I was president of our homes association. I continue as chair of the architectural control committee.” He continues, “This summer we toured the Rockies. Next summer back to Europe for a boat tour of the Rhine.”
Leonard Todd sends word, “My wife Laurel and I moved to Los Angeles in May of 2017. We had been living in the little town of Edgefield, South Carolina, for more than a decade, so this has been a big transition. So far, we are loving it. We’re in an apartment in Westwood Village, a charming and historic neighborhood just south of the UCLA campus. Something about L.A. seems to inspire me: since we’ve been here, I’ve written two plays, three songs, and joined a weekly figure-drawing workshop! Another plus: our daughter and her family live only ten minutes away. As for classmates in the area, I’ve enjoyed several meals with Don Shoup, who lives a few blocks from us.”
John Walsh is about to start a new series of public lectures at Yale. You can Google “John Walsh Lecture Series” to learn more and to view them online. There are also many of his lectures on YouTube. John adds, “This, plus some very part-time teaching in the gallery and the history of art department, has been my second career (and last, I imagine). We still live in L.A., but are in New Haven (a lot).” In appreciation for his extraordinary service, the Yale University Art Gallery has created the John Walsh Lecture and Education Fund. Classmates should receive information about this fund and are invited to contribute.