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| MAR./APR. 2005 VOLUME 107 NUMBER 5 | Class Notes |
30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39
30 | It's March, and thoughts are turning to Reunion 2005! Members of the Class of 1930 will be marking the 75th anniversary of their graduation from Cornell. Celebrate with us, in body or in spirit, as Cornellians everywhere meet on the Hill, June 9-12, 2005.
It's not too late to register to come to Ithaca this June. Nor is it too late to send in the Reunion Questionnaire you received last fall, even if you won't be able to make the trip. In this space, we'll update your classmates on your lives, your recent activities, and your memories of Cornell--whatever you'd like to share with us.
Sidney Kaufman, PhD '34, who was in Ithaca just last November, will be coming to reunion from Houston, TX. Sidney began his professional career at Shell Oil Co., shortly after earning his doctorate at Cornell. At Shell for over 35 years, he became Assistant VP for Exploration Research. In 1972, Sidney joined the Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell as a professor, and retired fully in 1992.
Max Rosenn lives in Kingston, PA, and will be driving to reunion.He writes, "I am happy to state that I am still working every day as a judge of the US Court of Appeals." Judge Rosenn is in his 35th year on the bench and has sat in about 4,500 cases. On his last visit to Ithaca a couple of years ago, he presided over the final round of the Law school's Moot Court arguments.
Beatrice Foster Whanger (Fayetteville,WV) attended her last reunion in 1980 and wishes very much she could attend this one! However, after a recent hospitalization, she needs assistance to walk and drive. She adds, "I enjoyed the years I was a Home Demonstration Agent in West Virginia."
Berry (Alexander B.) Credle, PhD '39, of Chapel Hill, NC, was last in Ithaca for a nostalgic visit five years ago. He won't be able to come to Ithaca in June, but returned the questionnaire with a full report of his professional and personal life. "At 96, life has been full and fulfilling. After receiving my doctorate from Cornell, I taught Electrical Engineering there for 25 years, moving from Franklin Hall to Phillips Hall and rising to assistant director. Before retiring, I worked for IBM for 18 years. I was happily married to Louise for 62 years and have three children, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. For the past 19 years I have lived at the Carol Woods Retirement Community and was on the founding committee. Currently I am in assisted living, but still get out to concerts and events. I have been a Rotarian for 48 years and was District Governor in the 1980s."
Join us in Ithaca if you can, Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, for some or all of the planned festivities. Excellent hotel accommodations and convenient campus transportation are available to all Class of '30 attendees. Your comfort is assured.
Send us your news. -- Class of '30, c/o Cornell Alumni Magazine, 401 East State St., Suite 301, Ithaca, NY 14850.
31 | Ever since our 70th Reunion, every time your class president received a copy of the periodic report on our class treasury, he was reminded that before we are all gone, the class should do something about designating the use of any remaining funds in our account with the university. Otherwise, the money will disappear into the cavernous maw of the university's general budget--to be used for striping a parking lot, or such. Finally, this past summer I got around to discussing with the Alumni Office what we should do.
We were told that, first, we should set aside funds for our 75th Reunion; and second, that the university has indicated that it would like us to add funds to our Campus Beautification Project account, as it has turned out to be more expensive than originally estimated. For example, the plantings on the east side of East Ave., down the hill from the Chemistry building, had to be replaced with granite blocks because the salt in the snow-melt splashed up from the roadway and killed the shrubs and trees. In any event, the agreement provides that those of us who make it to the 75th will have the opportunity to amend the distribution of these funds, if they see fit.
After allowing for the preceding set-asides, it appeared that we still would have about $9,000 left in our account in June 2006 after our 75th. At this point the Alumni Office asked us to consider "helping out a younger class (the Class of 2000) that through no fault of its own was in desperate need of funds" to finance its first (5th-year) reunion this June. This suggestion reminded me that at many annual meetings of the Cornell Fund, I have been amazed at the wide variation in contributions between classes in the same age group--some classes giving in the millions and other adjacent classes in the low hundred thousands. Even granting that the spectacular success of one or more individuals in a class can make a big difference, clearly in such special cases and in general, "class spirit," developed over the years, has been the controlling factor. After graduation, the prime time for developing that class spirit is at reunion, beginning with the very first.
Therefore, I could think of no worse way for the Class of 2000 to start its 70-plus years as alumni/ae of the university than to experience a poor first reunion. Attendance limited by a lack of promotional funds, and a similarly inhibited and therefore uninspiring program, will leave the good prospects who do come, unhappy and discouraged about attending future reunions. The class will be deprived of the opportunity to broaden acquaintance among classmates and other reuners--for the fun of new friendships, as well as of "networking" by those interested in professional advancement (just think how many good friends you made after you graduated). From the point of view of the university, the loss is incalculable. A difference in "class spirit" can mean a difference of millions of dollars in annual giving and other support of the university in the years between 2005 and 2075.
The Class of 2000 and the Alumni Office have expressed their appreciation of our gesture of support. The latter may use 1931 as a role model for other classes with a balance. I believe that this could be our class's greatest contribution to the university!
In my phone conversations with the surviving officers, I learned that: Ethel Bache Clark is carrying on in her usual spirited way at her retirement community; Jim Knipe is as alert and sharp as ever, in spite of being largely restricted to his apartment most of the time in order to care for his invalid wife Doris; Len Gordon is comfortable in Florida, but is no longer up to his two or three times a week golf outings; and Jerry Finch, PhD '36, is losing his eyesight and has moved to the assisted living unit in his retirement community. Fortunately, he has found a good friend to read his mail and share a preprandial glass of wine. Jerry says he never thought the day would come when one glass of wine would suffice. -- Bill Vanneman, 237 N.Main St., #250, S. Yarmouth, MA 02664-2088; tel., (508) 760-4250 ; e-mail, ggrampi@gis.net.
34 | Richard Rozelle of Glenwood, FL, wrote several months ago, still remembering his great trip to Ithaca last June: "I was fortunate to have my daughter Judith from Rochester and my son Richard from Houston, TX, with me at the 70th Reunion." Irene Van Deventer Skinner, BS '36, MS '45 (New London, OH) also attended the 70th, then had several family visitors from Florida and Georgia afterwards, plus a Cornell friend from Indiana. She writes: "I've been putting together 400 letters my husband wrote to his parents during World War II. He was with a band that played twice for FDR, Churchill, and Stalin in Africa and Sicily. They were Patton's 7th Army Band and played to keep up the morale of the troops. I still hear regularly from the band--a gifted group."
Irene continues: "The world's most pressing problem is learning to understand each other, caring for each other, and closing the gap between the haves and the havenots. Another problem is our economy and the tax burden for future generations. The solution is to raise public awareness in the US, including travel to other countries to see the problems people face.We should also learn to live within our means and not spend money we don't have." Irene remembers living in Sage Dormitory her freshman year "with friends who became friends for life. I was 16 years old, and three of us ran up and down through the gorge on Friday nights--to church--and played records and cards on the floor in our room."
We also received a lengthy Cornell memory from George Tretter, with the underlying message that "in order to reach the top, one must put forth his utmost effort."A wrestler from his days as a small, skinny kid in the slums of Brooklyn, George made the wrestling team at 118 pounds, and kept the varsity position for three years. However, he continues, "I feel that I never became an outstanding wrestler because I was too busy surviving financially and academically and did not have the right attitude to reach the top."Here are some excerpts from George's memoir:
"I followed my brother Max '27, JD '29, to Cornell. He was an outstanding student at the Law school. He was head of the Order of the Coif, was editor of the Law Journal, started the Moot Court, and was president of his class and a double-A student.My brother would send home pictures of the campus and campus life. He also participated in the ‘greased climbing pole' contest--an annual event. A picture showed him with clothes all torn up, full of mud and grease--a sight to behold. This activity was eventually discontinued.
"I could never compete with his accomplishments. In order for me to survive and to send money home during the Great Depression, I never could spend too much time on my studies. I was an average student and it didn't bother me since I enjoyed the subjects I took.What I lacked academically, I made up in persistence, personality, and resourcefulness. I was acquainted with many of the business people downtown and helped them make money. This same situation prevailed in my wrestling career. I was a steady wrestler and never achieved or desired to achieve champion status. I just enjoyed wrestling and kept my head above water.
"I did not make the top spots in wrestling and academics because I was lackadaisical. I was satisfied to just get by. I had lots of friends on and off the campus and that was very satisfying and rewarding. After Cornell, I succeeded in business because I vowed that my family would never have to live in poverty. I worked to the maximum to pursue my goal with the right attitude and the support of my wife."
George went on to list several events that he'll never forget from his days at Cornell. Look for those stories, as well as news from Mary Terry Goff, Marion Call Hemmett, and others, in the next issue. Send your news and views to: -- Class of '34, c/o Cornell Alumni Magazine, 401 East State St., Ithaca, NY 14850.
35 | Reunion 2005 is approaching. I hope that you have marked your calendars for June 9-12 and, if you are able, are making plans to be in Ithaca. The Statler Hotel will be our residence and departure point for activities held elsewhere. Your expenses at Cornell will be surprisingly low.
Responses to the initial advisory letter from Viola Henry Miller-Mullane, our Reunion Chair, have indicated that the following classmates are on the early "Yes" list: Bill Barden (Falls Church,VA); Esther Major Batchelder (Williamsburg,VA); Dr. Irving Behr (NYC); Joseph John Davis (Frederick, MD); Ruth Harder Dugan (Hamburg, NY); Helen Berdick Freedman (Catonsville,MD); Dr. Tevis Goldhaft (Haverford, PA); Florence Nusim Greville (Charlottesville,VA); Kitty Morris Lockwood (New Rochelle, NY); and J. Hambleton Palmer (Annapolis, MD).
Theodore Kheel, LLB '37, whose career has involved the mediation of more than 30,000 labor disputes, recently made the New York City news bestowing a substantial grant to the City U. of New York to establish the Institute to Nurture New York's Nature.His aim is to foster the development of the City in a way that protects and improves its environment.
Elizabeth Myers Martin Slutz (3939 Erie Ave., #108, Cincinnati, OH 45208) writes that she and her husband, a lawyer still practicing part-time, are fairly active in the community and attend plays and musical events. Her son Peter Martin '61 is a Cornell Law School professor who organized the Cornell Legal Information Institute. She also has three daughters, a psychiatrist in Michigan, a French professor in Minnesota, and a dietitian in Vermont. She has 14 grown grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She grew up in Ithaca where her father was a professor in the Ag college. After high school she walked to her father's office for a ride home, taking a route the end of which is now the Class of 1935 walk. You must have been in tip-top shape when you entered Cornell, Betty.We are glad that you hope to make reunion.
Catherine Pennock Predmore (2701 Pickett Rd., #4043, Durham, NC 27705) writes that she is retired and has a great-granddaughter. G. S. Gudernatch, MD '39 (17 Cobble Rd., Salisbury, CT 06068) is retired but keeps his professional skills current by reading medical literature.He is a 60-year member of the Sharon, CT, Lion's Club and has been studying molecular physics and Russian history. He has two grandchildren in college. Florence DeRemer (1028 Ellis Hollow Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850) wrote that she was a member of the pastoral nominating committee that searched for a new pastor for the 200-year-old First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca.
I hope that my next report will include the good news that many more of you are planning to meet on campus for our 70th Reunion. I also hope that I will have personal updates from more of you as well. It is really easy to contact me directly. -- Albert G. Preston Jr., 252 Overlook Dr., Greenwich, CT 06830; tel., (203) 869-8387; e-mail, davada35@aol.com.
36 | I am pleased to have heard from quite a few of you lately (and I know who all of you are thanks to someone at the Alumni Affairs office putting the label in that box on the News Form), but before getting to that I think you will enjoy an excerpt from Harry Bovay's remarks after being given the Frank H. T. Rhodes Award at a dinner in Ithaca on Oct. 15 for his generosity and service to Cornell over the years. Harry grew up in Memphis, TN, and, he says, "To get to Cornell I hitchhiked for 12 days and spent $6.71. I landed on the Cornell campus not knowing a soul in New York State. Lucky for me, I found work to help me pay my way. I lived in a $2-a-week boarding house in a bedroom 10 feet long and 6 feet wide with a card table for a desk and a hook for a closet. I didn't even unpack until Thanksgiving because I was not sure that either my work or my grades would allow me to stay." Fortunately he did stay, and years later started his own very successful engineering consulting firm.
Now from some of the ladies. Jo Biddle McMeen has sent me the following certificates of honor, which will get into her file in Ithaca: Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Certificate of Performance Excellence "for outstanding performance and lasting contribution on 10,000 local live interviews during her career"; and the Business and Professional Women/USA Woman of the Year Award "in appreciation of her exceptional leadership and integrity and her distinguished achievements for the betterment of her community." Jo has also written the school news pages for the Huntingdon Daily News and for some time each November she has honored several people whom she designated as "Some Pumpkins." This year there was a gathering of many of those "Some Pumpkins" to honor the "Great Pumpkin" herself by planting a small tree in the local park and placing a bronze plaque on it.
So there's the news from two of our distinguished classmates and a hard act to follow. However, here's Dorothy Greey Van Bortel, MS '41 (2207 Theal Rd., Rye, NY 10580), our class president, who says, "I enjoy movies, rides in the park, and friends. Donating money to various charities is a hobby. I am called a ‘saint to many.' " Ruth Rosenbaum Roemer, JD '39 (265 S.Westgate Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90049) says that her husband Milton, MA '40, who was a professor of public health at UCLA, passed away Jan. 3, 2001. "I am still teaching health law at the UCLA School of Public Health. Our son John is the Elizabeth and Varick Stout Prof. of Political Science and Economics at Yale. Our daughter Beth is a strategic planner for the Permanente Federation, the liaison of medical groups across the country of Kaiser Permanente."
We have also heard from Ruth Staley Engel (43 Edinburgh Drive, Toms River, NJ 08757), who "hit the big 90 in October. I keep busy with my ‘taxi service,' taking those who can't drive in the heavy traffic here to doctors and shopping." It's nice that you can be so helpful, Ruth. I'm sure it is appreciated. Finally,Hannah Asai Culver (97 Lewis Rd., East Quogue, NY 11942) is still active with community affairs and manages to play bridge several times a week and also enjoys bowling. -- Bill Hoyt, 8090 Oakmont Dr., Santa Rosa, CA 95409, subilhoyt@SBCglobal.net.
37 | As spring approaches, we look forward to hearing about your activities. Please keep writing to us; we enjoy reading about you and your family. Esther Schiff Bondareff has been president of the Palm Beach Zoo since 1986. In her humorous manner she writes that she has "now graduated to cleaning cages." As we all know, Esther has always been a successful fundraiser for Cornell and very active with Cornell Club activities. She also works with Planned Parenthood.
Ruth Mason Phillips is enjoying a great life in Colorado, having moved there from Virginia three years ago to be near her daughter Frances Phillips Lazear, DVM '76, and husband Greg. Fran is now enjoying early retirement. The area close to Ruth is on the western slope of the Rockies near Grand Junction. Nearby is an area called Grand Mesa, which is lovely for hiking in the summer and for snowshoeing and skiing in the winter. She hopes to return for reunion in 2007.
As for Flora Daniel Glass, she is very active in the Judson Retirement Community. She writes their weekly newsletter and works in the conservatory and the library. She also visits the patients in the Hospital Unit. Glenna VreelandWilcox is also in a retirement community and claims, "Lots going on if one prefers, but one can just chill out if one doesn't care to join in." Glenna is busy reading, line dancing, and doing aerobics. She went to St. John's, Virgin Islands, in August and had a great time.
Alice Richards Campbell has advised us that her activities are still limited because of a fractured hip last July. But she claims that she is almost back to normal and has no illnesses and, except for an aspirin once a day, takes no medicine. Her son Robert visits her daily. Church, gospel concerts, and e-mail keep her very busy. Ellen Carnell Seaburg takes daily walks with husband Roy, also 91 years old. Ellen also spends time gardening and reading.
As for me, I am off to enjoy my second childhood with my two grown daughters, Nancy and Lori, in Orlando, FL, where I will be revisiting Mickey Mouse, Goofy, the Epcot theme park, and MGM Studios.We enjoyed hearing about what you've been doing, so please continue to send your updates. -- Selma Block Green, 15 Weaver St., Scarsdale, NY 10583; tel., (914) 472-0535.
President Ed Shineman has moved south--at least from midtown Manhattan to an apartment in Battery Place.Write him at 455 North End Ave., Apt. 411, NY 10282 or phone (917) 522-1250. Ed's recovering from a broken hip suffered at a family gathering last spring following his granddaughter's wedding in May. Thanks to good care and therapy he's making good progress and was hoping to be able to shed the walker that has been a constant companion. Ed's beloved tennis games may have to wait a while, though.
Baldwin Avery fell from a ladder while painting at the summer camp on Pocono Lake, PA, and broke his hip. He has recovered sufficiently to be mobile again so that Baldy and Harriet have been able to return to their regular winter headquarters in Ft.Myers, FL. They've sold their Ft.Myers house and are living in a nice solid retirement apartment that weathered last season's hurricanes, so no more ladder-climbing is on the agenda. Granddaughter Megan Avery Rogers, Fordham '04, who received the prestigious John Kieran Award, was a four-year member of the women's rowing team with a 3.69 GPA throughout her career. There are two other daughters in the Avery clan.
Walter Crissey is well along with an autobiography he's been writing for his family--three daughters, six grandchildren, and four great-grands. He's finished the part on the "working years" about his career as a senior scientist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, during which he had much to do with the research and management system for migratory waterfowl in North America. Now he's having a lot of fun "putting back together again" reminiscences from the post-1975 retirement years.Walt, whose wife Martha died in August 2003, lives in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
Silas B.Weeks's interest in Quaker history in New England nurtured the writing of two books, New England Quaker Meetinghouses, Past and Present and Chasing Dead Quakers (about burying grounds). Professor Emeritus of the U. of New Hampshire, and Director Emeritus of the New Hampshire Farm Museum, Silas and his wife Constance have lived on and operated Back Hills Farm in Eliot, ME, for many years.He reports that R. David Thomas,MS '39, lives with his daughter on a Vermont sheep farm. Silas comments wryly that he'll get to be 90 with children--twin sons--eligible for Social Security.
Edward Blitzer was happy to attend the 100th anniversary of Lightolier Inc., of which his grandfather was founder and Ed was longtime president and chairman until retiring in 1981. The Blitzers celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in London this year. They have two sons and five grandchildren. Nancy is a docent at the Bronx Zoo, NY, and Ed supports and teaches English in Action, a program for teaching English as a second language.
Millard and Genevieve Coggshall welcomed their first great-granddaughter in September, and in October celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary.-- Robert A. Rosevear, 2714 Saratoga Rd. N., DeLand, FL 32720-1403.
38 | Richard Goodwin (Silver Spring,MD) starts us off with a story of good health: "I was told by a doctor at the Naval Hospital in mid-November, ‘Can't give you a flu shot at this time; you're too healthy.' " Dick and wife Isabel ("Babs") sold their home in Kensington,MD, and moved to the nearby Riderwood Village in Silver Spring (just under 2,000 residents at present). "Still getting settled, and we like it--many nice features. Not much travel this year due to the change.Visited baby sister in Cape Cod as usual.We're signed up for a one-week cruise on the Mississippi Queen in April and May,Memphis to New Orleans. Son Bill and his wife live not far from us in Maryland. Grandchildren in Georgia and Colorado Springs. Still enjoying golf. I have some contact with fellow Cornellians through the Cornell Club of Washington, DC, though none that I knew in my years at Cornell."
Another nice long note came from Bill and Elsie Harrington Doolittle (Glastonbury, CT), who wrote that Bill dismantled his N-scale model railroad--reportedly the largest in Connecticut--and sold the rolling stock on eBay. "Designing and building it was the best part."He is still building ship models. "Elsie completed a custom of taking grandchildren on a trip to France for a high school graduation gift, completed by taking the youngest of our seven grandchildren at once--ages 19, 17, and 13.We couldn't wait until '05 and '08! Travel is not as much fun anymore, so after wonderful tastes of every continent (except Antarctica), we don't plan to go overseas anymore. Elsie is starting her 19th year as a volunteer docent at Hartford's Wadsworth Atheneum of Art. The last four summers have each seen a granddaughter's wedding and family reunion. This fall the wedding is that of our youngest daughter."
Martin Beck (Boynton Beach, FL) is living the quiet life in Florida--"interrupted quite thoroughly by two hurricanes in two months. No serious consequences other than the loss of some beautiful old trees, roof shingles, and electricity (for a time), and a lot of howling wind. Other folks were not quite as lucky as we were.We see the Len Robertses when we get to New York and enjoy the Big Apple and the theatre."
George "Keoki" (George in Hawaiian) Batt of Princeville, HI, still gives tours at Waioli and Grove Farm, historic farms on Kauai. "I do tai-chi, chi kung, and yoga every week, mostly tai chi, and go to Maine every year in July and August. Dorris and I will go to the White House in December to ‘undecorate' after Christmas--tear down the decorations carefully and store for the future.We'll stay with daughter Wendy, who has been at the White House as a permanent florist since the Reagan Administration.We have, in the past, decorated the White House, but it's a long process. A little too much for ‘two old Batts.'"
Stephen Roberts, DVM '38 (Bath, NY) writes that he was very sorry to lose his first wife Betty Jane (Harris) in the early '90s. "We had 53 great years together, two children (Stephen Jr. and Gail), and several grandchildren. I am enjoying my new life (last 10-plus years) with my second wife, Ruth, in her old home on the outskirts of Bath. I have given up horseback riding and polo, but still walk my dogs, and enjoy alumni news from Cornell and the Vet college. My best wishes to the old Cornell gang. Do keep in touch."
Some short notes. Arthur Burdin (Lodi, NY) says he's still hanging in at 90. He spends summers on Seneca Lake and winters near two daughters in South Carolina. James Cooney (Corning, NY): "Still alive! Health not as good as usual, but upright. Travel limited to visits to children.Have either worked in or visited Europe, Japan, Africa, Korea, and China, plus most of the US looking at potential plant sites. Not much left to be seen at my age." Jean Burr Joy (Skaneateles, NY): "We are still here. Not as good as we used to be, but go to many medical appointments. Very little travel. Our grandchildren are starting to marry--nice way to increase the family."
Patricia Prescott Kleps Hok (Davis, CA) has retired to a retirement home, Atria Covell Gardens. "The food is good, the entertainment satisfying. One of my oldest friends lives next door. I am having a very happy time. Had a wonderful family reunion last summer here in San Francisco. All my East Coast relatives came." And lastly, from Charles Lounsbery of Trumansburg, NY: "I am the youngest of seven children and have only one sister living, Kathryn Lounsbery Hutchings '35. At age 88, I am becoming a homebody and enjoying reflections of days past. Feel so fortunate to be alive and see all the wonderful changes that have been made. It is a wonderful time and I'm glad to keep my eye on the sparrow."
Much more news still to report in the upcoming issues. Join in--write us today.-- Class of '38, c/o Cornell Alumni Magazine, 401 East State St., Suite 301, Ithaca, NY 14850.
39 | Reunion brought the extra gift of more letters from you than I have seen in years. Thank you all. It all helps to flesh out a meager imagination. It's December in Ithaca as I write, and a very cold, snowy day. The good news is that for several months now I have received no reports of classmate deaths, so we must all be hanging on in reasonable health. Glory Hallelujah!
We received two lovely letters from our class scholarship recipients. Michelle DuMond '08 is a freshman majoring in the biological sciences, aiming eventually to become a missionary internal surgeon. Through her youth group and church she had already spent three summers helping to build a hospital in the Dominican Republic and hopes to continue working in medicine in less fortunate countries.Michelle also loves fencing,mystery novel writing, debating, and singing a cappella, as well as her science courses. Her variety of interests indicates an exciting future at Cornell, and we hope our help will contribute to making her dreams a reality.
The second student, Mary Montague '07, is majoring in nutritional sciences with a goal of medical school also. She is a women's varsity lacrosse team goalie and a volunteer assistant in the Cornell Sports Medicine Dept. She is also a fitness monitor at the Cornell Fitness Center. "Thank you again for helping me to continue my education. Your contribution means so much to students at Cornell, helping reach our goals and live our dreams." There you have it: your gifts to our Bill Lynch Tradition Scholarship at work. It's a mighty pleasant feeling, is it not?
To catch up: Evelyn Wilson Monroe lives in Cokesbury Village in Hockessin, DE. Confined to a wheelchair and with major loss of sight, she would love to hear from classmates at ckit1@comcast.net, so sit down at your keyboards and write! Virginia Campbell Thomas is still an active deacon in the Episcopal Church, assisting and preaching. She wrote an article about a family trip coast to coast in 1924 in the magazine Arizona Highways. Both she and David '37, MS '39, her husband of 64 years, are addicted to life in Vermont, even when snowbound at minus 25 degrees F. That beats Ithaca!
Diana Dibblee Carroll and her 93-year-old friend Dr.Willem Kolff, an inventor of note, were pictured at Reunion in the Sept/Oct '04 issue of Cornell Alumni Magazine. Her comments about her adventures at Cornell are fun to read (page 48) and typical Diana. Good picture, too. One good result of Reunion was the renewal of old friendships. Sally Steinman Harms discovered that JanetWasserman Karz and Dawn Rochow Seymour also live in the Rochester area, and they have gotten together since.
Bernie and I hope you are all having a healthy and happy year. Let's make 2005 just another snap of the finger! -- Ruth Gold Goodman, 103 White Park Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850; tel., (607) 257-6357; e-mail, bg11@cornell.edu.
Peter Lazoration (Horseheads, NY) and his wife Mamie Lou celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They have eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Pete spent 25 years in the US Army and attained the rank of Captain. He retired from Agway and now delivers Meals on Wheels and assists at the Horseheads Historical Museum and the V.A. Hospital. Donald Whiteman of Adams, NY, keeps busy as a member of the Lions Club and continues to work for SCORE and the nearby Agricultural Museum at Stone Mills.
Arnold Allison lives in Tamarac, FL, and has a great story. It seems he was going with a girl for a number of years while at Cornell, but they separated when they were both taking their master's at Columbia and married others. They each lost their spouses of many years and after his died, his former lady friend sent him a letter of condolence. The bottom line is that they met again and have been going together for three years.
Jerome Schneck of New York City has been designated a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Assn. Bob Boochever, JD '41 (Pasadena, CA) is still sitting as a senior judge on the US Court of Appeals. Richard Netter, JD '41, also of New York City, states that his life is equally balanced among: "lawyering" and charitable activities; vice chairman of Beth Israel Medical Center; a member of the Advisory Committee of North General Hospital in Harlem; various capacities for the National Conference of Community and Justice; and a president of Thanks to Scandinavia, which he and the entertainer Victor Borge founded in 1963 to honor the rescuing of Jewish people from the Holocaust by the governments and churches of Scandinavia. John Ogden (Milwaulkee, WI) is a part-time realtor at Ogden & Company, which is run by two of his sons. His other son, a graduate of the Hotel school, is running restaurants in Georgia and in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head, SC.
Byron Bookhout, MS '40, lives in Dover, DE, and is in reasonably good health. He still bowls regularly. He also volunteers each week at the local hospital. John Lankes has moved to a retirement home, The Devonshire in Hampton,VA. Austin Kiplinger lives in Washington, DC, and observes that our column for 1939 Men now has only a few classes ahead of us in the line-up in our alumni magazine. Sam Vail of Binghamton must be alive and kicking, as he sent in a News Form with no news. Similarly, another classmate submitted news, but there was no name on the form. In any case, he and his wife Gretchen say that they are moving to a retirement community in Boca Raton, FL. -- Phil Twitchell, 1963 Indian Valley Rd., Novato, CA 94947; e-mail, philtwitchell@comcast.net.