By Bill Sargent
Tom Clark died on August 7, 2016. He played football at Yale and eventually graduated in 1963.
William G. Mathewson died on August 27. He was a veteran of the US Army, serving in 1961–1963, and a graduate of Harvard Business School in 1965. He was employed by the Wall Street Journal for 39 years, and retired after serving many years as a senior editor.
Lynn Gunnar Johnson writes, “I’ve just returned from a tour of universities in South Africa: it was the tenth trip I’ve made with the AYA program YaleGALE—Yale’s Global Alumni Leadership Exchange. Started back in 2008, YaleGALE enlists Yalies who have served in leadership positions in alumni affairs to visit universities in other countries. Few universities abroad—especially outside of Europe—have the tradition of vigorously cultivating alumni loyalty. During the last two years I’ve been chairing a program that provides consulting and alumni workshops for institutions that need more customized assistance.”
Gary Simons says, “Barbara and I have now acquired ownership of her family’s summer cottage, a place where she spent most of her summers during grade school through college. It is located in the beautiful Conyngham Valley, a very peaceful oasis between the Pocono and Appalachian Mountains. Conyngham is where we met in the 1950s and where we lived in the early 1970s before moving south to Philadelphia, Atlanta, and retirement in Estero, Florida. It is a great place for family life.” Gary adds, “Life is good!”
Steve Adolphus notes, “Great that Dick Wiener in now a member of same tennis club as us in East Hampton. We actually got to hit some singles last weekend and both survived.”
Bob McManus sends word, “At an age when most of our attainments are less than cosmic, I have succeeded in crossing an item off my ‘bucket list’: On July 30, I stepped across the Oklahoma state line at Chilocco, in Kay County, and thus can say I have been in all 50 states.” Bob adds, “Truth be told, I feel a little bit bad about North Dakota, as Fred Truslow and I merely clipped its southwest corner for about 90 miles in August 1957, driving back from the West Coast to enter Yale.”
John Hansman writes, “My wife and I went to Portugal in April, enjoyed Lisbon, and then headed north for a boat tour of the Douro River wine country. Innocents abroad, we learned that river tours are iffy things. Recent rains raised the water level too much, our Viking boat did not move, and we saw northern Portugal through a bus window.” John adds that he has been busy as president of his homes association, and feels that with respect to this work, “I have a few dozen fellow enthusiasts, but most care not and will not have their happiness affected!”
Phil Perrone says, “Just a note to say that I will be up in Nova Scotia to launch a kayak trip into the Bay of Fundy, to catch the 40-foot tides and magnificent scenery through Cape Breton Island.”
Ron St. John has an update: “Briefly, another stint at WHO Geneva earlier this spring. While vacationing with friends in Normandy touring WWI and WWII battlefields as well as the spectacular Mont Saint Michel abbey, WHO asked me to extend my trip and come to Geneva. I was asked to give a series of presentations and talks to mid-level managers on how to organize emergency responses to large-scale epidemics using the Incident Management System. I also provided some input into the early use of this system for the yellow fever epidemic in Angola.” Ron adds, “No further projects at present other than our startup company Sitata that provides health and safety information for international travelers—for free.” He also adds, “For now just enjoying the summer in Ottawa, visiting kids and grandkids.”
B. Lee Mallory sends word, “Daughter Emily and I joined Andy Block, his daughter Shauna, and sons Andy and Chris to fish for Atlantic salmon on the Upsalquitch River in New Brunswick, Canada. This was the 22nd anniversary of our first ‘father-daughter’ trip to Alaska in 1994. Andy caught the only mature salmon and all the rest caught some grilse. It was a fine way to close out our 55th reunion.”
David Brewster says that his daughter Kate ’93 told him about the Boston Athenaeum, and he decided to try to import the idea to Seattle, “a reader’s city if there ever was one.” Dave describes his new venture: “Donated books from fine private libraries that circulate among members; quiet working/writing spaces; and lots of programs for the public.”
Alan Brumberger reports that he and Carol celebrated their 52nd anniversary; took their granddaughter on her college graduation trip to Venice, Rome, Istanbul, and Almaty, Khazakstan; and “sold our last East Coast home and now live full time in Montecito, California (taxes and all).”
Bruce Chabner writes that his granddaughter Bebe has moved into a phone booth–sized room in Farnam. “Worth the discomfort, I am sure.” He also had a “nice golf outing” with Bill Barry and adds, “Bill has every trout in Wyoming worried now that he is semiretired and spending more time on the rivers.”
It’s worth noting that Austin Pendleton is directing a highly acclaimed production of N. C. Hunter’s 1953 classic A Day by the Sea.
Charles Deahl reports, “Last July Patricia and I went to Amarillo where we were hosted by Phillip and Judy Periman. The four of us drove to Marfa, Texas, (a genuine West Texas road trip) for the opening of Robert Irwin’s much-anticipated installation Untitled (dawn to dusk). We were able to go to the opening, and to have outstanding meals and meet wonderful people, because of John de Neufville and John and Jill Walsh. John and John were instrumental in working with the Chinati Foundation and bringing Irwin’s piece to fruition.”
Joe Novitski writes, “Prompted by a gentle dare from our late classmate Jim Elting’s eldest daughter, an accomplished and very competitive rower—like her father—I entered the US Rowing master’s national championship on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts, this August. My single scull and I made the age-appropriate final, where I lost to the established fast masters in the 75-to-80-year-old cohort.” Joe adds, “After 20 years out of print, my book WINDSTAR; the Building of a Sailship was reborn as an eBook in September and in a print-on-demand edition in November.”
Bob Marsh reports great news: “Betty and I are fine. My lymphoma has been vanquished, and the doctors say I am cured.” Bob adds that he has now rejoined his golf league.