By Bill Sargent
Terrell (Terry) Warrington died on May 3, 2019. He had been a chemistry professor at Michigan Technological University for 30 years and was also a swim coach and Science Olympiad advisor at Hancock High School. His obituary notes that “Anglers of the Au Sable will hold a stream-side memorial service for the legendary trout fisherman later this summer.”
Sandy Cochran writes, “Last year after more than a decade living in New Mexico, five years of which I commuted to Washington working on an Iraq report, Ally and I decided to move back to Alexandria, Virginia, to be closer to our family (son and daughter plus four grandchildren; other daughter plus three grandchildren remain in California). As much as I enjoyed college-level teaching at University of New Mexico, it had become increasingly difficult. Shortly after our arrival in Virginia, we discovered that I had myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). It is a chronic disease that is treatable thru infusion and close monitoring. The cause is most likely contact with Agent Orange during my two Vietnam tours. Fortunately, treatment is only minutes from home.” Sandy adds, “We have been able to reestablish local contacts with former classmates—Mike Samuels, Chum Geissinger, Marty Allen—as well as former professional colleagues in the policy and strategy business.”
Frosty Smith notes, “Nancy and I still enjoy good health (for a couple of old timers). And, yes, I am still working, although not as vigorously as in years past. Our eight grandkids continue to flourish. Our youngest granddaughter is a senior in high school and just accepted a track scholarship to Northeastern. Our oldest grandson is receiving his PhD in economics from Yale in May and his younger sister—a sophomore at Yale, majoring in Russian—just received a Fulbright scholarship to study in Russia this summer.” Frosty notes, “Obviously, the grandkids are much more talented than their grandfather. Thank goodness for their grandmother.”
Peter Carnes says, “In September, Debbie and I took a two-week trip to northern Italy. We started in Milan and journeyed past Lake Como up to the Swiss border and then south again to Verona. It is second only to Rome in terms of ancient Roman ruins, and a very vibrant city. We then traveled north to the Italian Dolomites, an area of valleys, meadows, and towering peaks. In some towns German remains the first language, reflecting its earlier time as Austrian territory. The entire trip featured excellent Italian cooking and numerous vineyards producing outstanding wines. One of our final stops was in Bassano del Grappa where we visited Italy’s oldest distillery. Then in January, working under the principle of ‘do it while you can,’ we headed for a three-week trip to New Zealand and Australia.” Destinations included Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, and Sydney. Sadly, because of tropical storms and more than five feet of rain in less than a week, they missed the Great Barrier Reef. Peter adds, “Nothing planned yet for the next year except perhaps a drive to Florida.”
Bruce Chabner reports, “Still busy at Mass. General Hospital. My wife Davi and I recently visited China for ten days. MGH has a collaborative agreement with a new private hospital there, Jai Hui, in Shanghai. I lectured in Beijing and met with several longtime friends there and in Shanghai. The progress there in infrastructure (roads, trains, airports) is most impressive. Hospitals and medical science research are expanding at an impressive pace. There is an inescapable sense that the government is watching and controlling everything. Nonetheless, this is a determined and carefully planned society which is obviously making rapid strides in terms of science, technology, and commercial development.” Bruce also reports on “a recent visit to our grandchildren at Yale, Bebe Thompson ’20 and Sol ’21. Their younger brother Gus ’23 will join them next fall in JE, which is now an ‘elite’ college.”
Ron St. John says, “We sold our house last August to downsize, but to our surprise, it sold in 24 hours, leaving us ‘homeless’ for the next eight months until we could occupy our new townhouse. Briefly, in the eight months, we visited son in Vermont two times en route to Maine and back; daughters in Atlanta two times (including a stop in Savannah to visit George Longstreth); Florida twice; culminating in a six-week wandering in Europe (Paris, Crete, and Spain). The Spanish sojourn included hiking the last 100 miles of the thirteenth-century pilgrims’ walk to the city of Compostela de Santiago, where supposedly the remains of Christ’s apostle James are resting in the cathedral. Great walk through rural Spain, past thirteenth-century chapels and churches and into medieval history.” Ron concludes, “Time to stop and settle down for a while.”
Ed Cantor sends word, “My wife Rise, Dave and Judy Ryan, Denny and Susie Bates, and I traveled to Israel in March. It was a great ecumenical trip with Jewish, Congregational, Irish Catholic, and Mormon representation. Highlighting our trip was a stay on a kibbutz a mile from the Lebanon border and a rare thunder and lightning storm at the Dead Sea.”
Dick Strub writes, “My wife and I have just finished my bucket list with a great trip to Paris, where we had a splendid lunch with Andy and Shaun Block to start our adventure. Next was a trip on the Orient Express (Ann’s bucket list item) to Venice. Wow, what a great experience. The new suites are fabulous with full bathroom along with Russian caviar and all the Champagne that you can drink. No waiting in line for the loo at the end of the other cars. From Venice we commenced to fulfill my bucket list: four days in Budapest followed by four days in Prague. We were there in mid-April, not a cloud in the sky and the flowers breathtaking. Back to Paris for a few days to relax and sadly check out the fire at Notre Dame that had occurred in our absence.” Dick adds that he recently had dinner with B Lee Mallory and Susie in New Orleans before they left for Montana.
Bill Sargent says, “In the March/April 2018 alumni magazine, I included word that my wife was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. Many have asked about her recently, and I am remiss in not previously including a note that she died at the end of November.”
More than 120 classmates and significant others were in New Haven May 2–4 for a superb mini-reunion that included talks by eight speakers, including Laurie Santos, whose course on happiness was held in Woolsey Hall because it included 1,300 students. Please note the dates for future mini-reunions: Dallas: October 24–26, 2019; Charleston: March 24–26, 2020; Kansas City: September 24–26, 2020.