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31 | As this is written I have no news notes, even from your most "faithful correspondents."However, I did find a mislaid folder marked "Emergency Filler,"which I had created a couple of years ago for just this situation. I thought it was time to remind you of the contribution of one of the greatest of the '31ders to our class's distinctive history. You may recall that I have told you of my own reaction to the "Sy Katz '31 Parade" down Fifth Avenue in New York City after Columbia games. So I thought the following were timely: the reactions of the band members themselves, as reported in issues of "Big Red Band Notes," the alumni newsletter of the Big Red Band.

Ali Rodriguez '05 (Sax): "For the past two seasons all I've heard is how great and wonderful the Columbia trip is. The City! The lights! The shows! The midnight bus ride! But for me the truly memorable part was the Sy Katz '31 Parade! It was raining as we lined up in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral. People were standing alongside of us, probably a mixture of Cornell alums and random New Yorkers. I heard the drum beat. The cadence began and off we went, marching down Fifth Avenue. All during the parade I had a huge goofy grin on my face. I couldn't believe we were actually marching down one of the most famous streets in the US, if not the world.We stopped in front of the Cornell Club and performed a concert. I have never been more excited about playing. I was bubbling over. In just one trip, I made a lifetime of memories."

Susan Kloet '06 (Piccolo): "One of my most treasured memories was the road trip to Columbia. After the football game we rode down Fifth Avenue to St. Pats. To a girl who had never been to New York City before, this was arguably the sweetest thing ever. Then came the Sy Katz '31 Parade down Fifth Ave. Despite the rain, there was a big turnout of Cornell alumni there to cheer us on.What an awesome feeling! Next came a concert for the Cornell Club. I've never seen so many people watch one of our concerts before. Then came a great buffet dinner--and a warm shower."

Our Sy would have loved those tributes. It was his idea that a band as great as Cornell's ought to have a parade. He went down to City Hall and got a permit about 30 years ago, and the band is still marching down Fifth Avenue. I'm afraid none of us '31ders will be able to march on Nov. 11, 2006, but I'm sure the band will welcome all other Cornell classes. Join the fun!

Look for our full Reunion Report in the Sept/Oct issue of this magazine. -- Bill Vanneman, 237 N.Main St., S. Yarmouth,MA 02554-2088, tel., (508) 760-4250; email, ggrampi@yahoo.com.

32 | Recently I have heard grumbling that an abundance of electronic devices is smothering both leisurely conversation and written correspondence to the detriment of civility and what once was thought to be respectable grammar. Some relaxation of the rules of syntax (such as "never split an infinitive") is welcome, as James J. Kilpatrick points out from time to time in his syndicated column, but I still prefer an informal speech by Frank H. T. Rhodes to the prattle that comes from our television set.

When I find a well written letter, one that pleads no cause, among the pile of mail that arrives daily, I often save a gem and take pleasure in rereading it long after it reached me.

John V. Rice, the son of the dean of Ag, grew up on campus. He died in August of 2001. For several years he sent me handwritten letters on lined notebook paper, many running to three or more pages. They were great exercises in stream of consciousness with many recollections mixed loosely together. Here is one:

"My wife's family and my family used to have our Thanksgiving dinner at Taughannock Farms Inn. There we listened on the radio to the Cornell-Penn game.However, at one time we did not do that and we listened to the game on bleachers in the Drill Hall. Someone had a direct line to the game and reported the info to us. Yes, I think this was later done in Bailey Hall, where a large number of people could listen in greater comfort. Bull Durham always reported to the crowd on how the game progressed. Those were the days. I hope you will find the Xerox copies from the Alumni News interesting."

The Xeroxed material mentioned above consisted of six pages plus a full-page picture of a Boy Scout ostensibly lighting a fire by the friction method. The article covered the early days of scouting's ties with the university. I have no recollection of my inflicting this detailed account on my readers; that might have shut down our Class Notes prematurely. Incidentally, the Bull Durham mentioned above as giving the play-by-play (more or less) of the Penn game was Charles Love Durham, PhD 1899, professor of the Classics. -- Jim Oppenheimer, 140 Chapin Pky., Buffalo, NY 14209.

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36 | Reunion is already behind us as you read this, but deadlines being what they are at the Alumni News, this column is being written in mid-May, well in advance of Reunion 2006.We received news from several '36ers indicating that they were coming back to the Hill in June. Stay tuned to this space for a full Reunion Report in the Sept/Oct issue.

Ernest Cole, MS '59, wrote in April and was looking forward to seeing the people and the Cornell campus again. His news was penned by his caretaker, Ms. Irene Dalrymple: "Mr. Cole lives at the Sunrise senior community in Palm Harbor, FL.He is mostly in a wheelchair and has aides who help him walk each day for stamina. A wheelchair van helps with taking trips out to eat and other rides. Health permitting, he would like very much to take a cruise sometime this year.He had 50 years in the Rotary Club and enjoyed it immensely." She adds that he does not look his 93 years! With help from her daughter, we also heard from Ruth Griffiths Bennett (Bellevue, NE). Connie Bennett Meunier '64 writes that her mother was looking forward to attending the 70th Reunion and hoped that others from her class would be there too.

Arthur Glasser (Shoreline,WA) wrote earlier in the year and was working on plans to get to reunion with the help of his son Sam '67. "I am now permanently retired and have been living in the Crista Senior Community since September 2004.While in Seattle (28 years), we lived across the street from the U. of Washington. This served to make me a bit humble whenever I looked across the street--while rowing number 7 on the Cornell J-V crew, those lads beat us twice! One of our sons-in-law is on the faculty there. At present, I am working with two grad students at Fuller Theological Seminary (where I served for 29 years), helping with their dissertations. They are both tackling cultural/theological problems in churches in Southeast Asia. I am also involved with Project Mercy, a school and hospital complex in Ethiopia."Arthur's wife Alice is in a nearby Alzheimer's facility, "after 63 wonderful years of sharing life together," and he walks the distance regularly to visit her. "I'm enjoying good health, coupling my visits to Alice with four separate weekday walks around a nearby track. One hour a day keeps me in shape for whatever a Cornell visit would entail!"

As you know, Harry Bovay mailed a letter to all classmates last November to talk about reunion and discuss reunion gifts. Bill Bebbington sent an engaging and interesting response: "My personal estate, all of which derives from the education I received at Cornell, is in a living trust. In that trust, I have designated only a few specific beneficiaries, the remainder to be divided equally among my three children. The most notable of the exceptions is to Cornell, specifically the Chimes and Sage Chapel for operating costs such as maintenance and equipment, but not for capital expenditures. I am making this gift because the Chimes and the Chapel were very dear to me and my wife, Barbara (Wilson).We were married in the Chapel and had the Chimes played for us. Barbara died of leukemia in 1986 after a wonderful life together." Bill reiterates how important Cornell was to him in his letter to Harry: "I'll hazard a guess that you were a CE. I was a ChemE. Baker Lab, which occupies the first page of the 2006 Cornell calendar, is where I learned about everything of consequence." -- Class of '36, c/o Cornell Alumni Magazine, 401 East State St., Suite 301, Ithaca,NY 14850; e-mail, cornell_magazine@cornell.edu.

37 | I hope that all of you had a pleasant spring and are ready for a beautiful summer.We love to hear from you, so please keep us informed of your many activities.

Elizabeth Nichols Sheldon writes that she and her husband are living in a retirement home and appreciate the convenience and support they receive. Elinor Sisson Furnival recently moved from Central New York to 3895 Old Vineyard Rd.,Apt 32B,Winston-Salem, NC 27104-4943. She claims that the weather is "fairer" and there is no snow. She keeps busy doing Sudoku puzzles.

We have an active traveler with Beatrice Hirschfeld Blumenson. Having traveled worldwide, she has settled for winters in Tucson (six months) and six months in New York. In between time, she is a reading volunteer. Sarah Shute McMahon keeps occupied by playing bridge and traveling (her last vacation was to Portugal) and has now become an antique dealer.

Mabel Carroll Street, MA '41, visited her granddaughter Sarah Ordonez '08, a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology.Mabel wrote, "Cornell is still very beautiful. What a swinging place it is compared to the deep Depression era."Her daughter Janet Street Ordonez was Class of '78. Son John is a pilot who flies a DC-7 and lives in Ohio. Barbara Pratt Smiley celebrated her 90th birthday during her annual trip to Vermont with all her relatives, many of whom are Cornell graduates. She and other relatives attended Marion Mack's memorial services. She was their cousin and a former longtime Cornell employee.

Please continue to write us--any time of year! -- Selma Block Green, 15 Weaver St., Scarsdale, NY 10583; tel., (914) 472-0535.

38 | We still have a big stack of news to report on from all of you. To fit as much in this space as possible, we'll let you speak for yourselves. Check out the last paragraph for a walk down Memory Lane.

PhilWolff (Saranac Lake, NY, and San Diego, CA; philipgwolff@aol.com): "We are retired and enjoying life. I am founder, past president, and curator of the 1932-1980 Lake Placid Winter OlympicMuseum. In 2005, this museum was the recipient of the Olympic Cup, a yearly award given by the Int'l Olympic Committee. I am the oldest licensed two-man driver of bobsleds at the Lake Placid Olympic Run. I also golf, work in my hobby shop, and build ship models." JimMcKay (Chevy Chase, MD; jmckay@cov.com): "I am working five days a week at my law firm, Covington & Burling, doing 100 percent pro bono work--primarily representing veterans in the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. I am also very active as a trustee of the George Preston Marshall Trust and am president of its foundation. In my spare time, I sometimes watch movies on Netflix."

MannyWolinsky, MD '41 (Beachwood, OH):"Haven't been doing too much. I am legally blind and otherwise physically handicapped, but still up and around.Wife Marjorie drives, and I criticize! I enjoy listening to books on tape, and visiting kids and grandkids in Maine and Vermont.Wish I could still be working at fighting diseases and teaching medical students and residents." Bernard Gartlir is still practicing law in New York and Florida, and recently celebrated 65 years in practice, as well as his 65th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley (Richmond) '40. In his spare time, he plays golf.Martin Beck and wife Lorraine are retired in Boynton Beach, FL (MBeck8901@aol.com). George Batt (Princeville, HI) is an occasional tour guide for the Waioli Corp.--"three to four times a month, as needed.Other activities include being chaplain for the Masonic Lodge, ushering at the Congregational Church, paddling my outrigger canoe once or twice a week, and gardening and taking care of flowers in the yard.We have orchids growing on trees around the house."

Jewel Rost Paley is keeping fit in Boca Raton, FL. She plays bridge and golf. James Moyer (Ellenton, FL; rujimoy@aol.com) is also trying to stay healthy. He and wife Ruth (Pierce) '41, PhD '69, travel and golf. PageWest (Towson, MD) is keeping busy and walking as much as possible. "I attend an occasional cocktail party and have dinner with friends at the club."Hobart Roberts (Elma, NY):"Doing well. I'm currently residing in my own home that I purchased in 1953 with my late wife Bertha. After retiring from Trico Corp., I caught up with boating and travel.My granddaughter and great-grandson reside with me and take good care of me, as I have dementia. Due to that, I've been unable to join in at reunions or travel like I used to."William Kumpf,MS '50 (Elk City,OK; wakumpf@cableone.net): "Retired. I've been ‘working' with my computer, exercising, and planning a trip with my son and grandson to Buffalo and Rochester in May."

Here's a sampling of our writers' fondest Cornell memories: Meeting and later marrying my best friend, Elsie (Hughes) '39; we celebrated our 65th wedding anniversary last year (Phil Wolff); the fellowship at Kappa Sigma (Jim McKay); the beautiful campus, good teachers, a friend bringing dates from Watertown, NY (Manny Wolinski); snowball fights at McFadden Hall dorm and the winter walk to Baker Lab for an 8 a.m. class! (Bernard Gartlir); house parties and dancing (George Batt); the high quality of the Physics faculty (Jim Moyer); winters, and sleeping on the screened porch at the DU House (Page West); the beautiful campus and field trips with Dr. Ken Post and Prof. Ralph Curtis (William Kumpf).

Haven't written us yet? Please send your news and best Cornell memory to: -- Class of '38, c/o Cornell Alumni Magazine, 401 East State St., Suite 301, Ithaca, NY 14850; e-mail, cornell_magazine@cornell.edu.

39 | The 2006 Reunion will be over by the time you read this column, written in April. After a relatively mild winter with very little snow, spring has sprung in all its glory with the forsythia hanging down the wall on University Avenue, the magnolias all over in full bloom, and furious games of Frisbee dotting the Arts Quad. Only a few more weeks till exams and graduation, and then quiet will descend on the campus and town until the middle of August. That much has not changed!

Our Cornell Tradition Fellows,Mary Montague '07 and Michelle DuMond '08, have written delightful letters thanking our class for its help and telling us a little about themselves.Mary is very involved in the Sports Medicine department and travels with the women's lacrosse team, although she can no longer play due to an injury her freshman year. She is taking lots of science courses and hoping to make a career in sports medicine after college. She says, "Cornell has been a life-changing experience for me, and I would personally like to thank you for that."

Michelle is a legacy. Her father and his family are Cornellians. She is a pre-med, planning to become a doctor, and finds the Biology major pretty demanding. However, she still manages to do other things she enjoys, like singing in an a cappella group and leading backpacking trips into the woods as part of the Orientation program for prefreshmen, one of the popular ice-breakers before classes start. She's involved with a volunteer group called Books Thru Bars, which supplies reading material to prison inmates. "I am so thankful for the Cornell Tradition that I cannot express my gratitude enough. I just hope that someday I will be able to help others the way you all have helped me."

Part of the requirement for the Fellowship is that the recipients must do paid work for 250 hours, and both women are enjoying that--Mary at the country club, and Michelle in a biology lab. Both claim the work experience is invaluable.When we read the wonderful letters the Fellows write, it enforces our belief in the good we do by supporting the Tradition Fellowships.May I suggest that if you contribute to the Cornell Annual Fund, you might indicate a gift to this worthwhile program in the name of the Class of 1939.

Jane Davison Fast sent an impressive Christmas card of herself with her large and handsome family, and good wishes to us all for a healthy and happy year. Dorothy Kelly Sennett writes that she and her husband still live in their own home and are doing very well, with strong family support. "We love our spot next to the woods where we can feed the birds and watch the deer." She remembers Jean Smith McElwee with great fondness, saying Jean was one of the bravest persons she has ever known, and an inspiration always. One change of address: Barbara Babcock Payne, 606 Savage Farm Dr., Ithaca, NY 14850.

Have a wonderful summer! -- Ruth Gold Goodman, 103 White Park Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850; e-mail, bg11@cornell.edu.

Bob Reid writes that he and wife Becky are now living in Green Valley, AZ, in an assisted-living facility called La Posada. They seem to be quite happy there. Their daughter Janet works at the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, and comes to visit them on occasion with her children Andrew, 9, and Ian, 3. Glenn Robinson is living with one of his children in Brockport, NY. The basement has been finished off in a nice, cozy apartment. The picture he sent indicates that he feels well and is enjoying his family.

Alfred Kuchler lives in Barneveld, NY. He returned the News Form with his class dues payment, but sent no message this time. Here's a message to all of you: No need to wait for our annual class mailing to send in news.Write us at any time--by e-mail or postal mail. -- Phil Twitchell, 1963 Indian Valley Rd., Novato, CA 94947; e-mail, philtwitchell@comcast.net.