|
CLASS NOTES
Stanley H. Gotliffe
117 King George Road
Georgetown, S.C. 29440
Many, many thanks to the faithful members of our class who have
answered my call for letters bearing news. Please keep them coming.
The following communications are listed in the approximate order of
their receipt.
From
Bob Dettmer comes word of Harry Mellins, who was
invited to Hawaii to receive a gold medal from the Society of
Uroradiology. This is a singular honor, awarded annually to an
expert in radiology of the genitourinary tract. As of December
1999, Harry had retired from Harvard and was said to be fully
enjoying his leisure.
Arthur Weinstock, who regularly sends me newspaper
articles (more on those later on), and Betty are well. He still
plays tennis regularly. Ray Robinson, our literary
classmate, and Theresa Wright, who played Eleanor Gehrig in the
film The Pride of the Yankees, were featured guests in late
April at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. They also
appeared together at the Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair, N.J. in
late May. Ray is the author of Iron Horse: Lou Gehrig In His
Time and other sports biographies.
After having been a nuclear engineer for over 30 years,
Charles E. Newlon and his wife, Dotty Jean, have retired to
1301 LaPaloma Drive, Knoxville, Tenn. 37923-1417; telephone (865)
693-7142. They now put on shows for senior citizens and other
groups. He plays keyboard and she does readings. They would like to
hear from classmates/friends and promise to respond.
Bill Franks, who now lives in Dalton, Ga., with wife,
Allene, attended the wedding of their son, Bill, in London. In
addition to the ceremony and subsequent reception, they toured
parts of England and Scotland with the new bride (the groom had to
stay in London and work). They report a most enjoyable
stay.
Tom Gilliam of Englewood, Colo., has sent in further
reminiscences of his days at Columbia. He recalls that while
serving as water-boy for the football team, he would bring verbal
instructions from Coach Little to Sid Luckman. (In those days
coaches were not allowed to signal from the sidelines.) He also
recalls dancing with Madeline Carroll at the Junior Prom and
guiding Margaret Bourke-White around campus during a photo
shoot.
"Chips" Hughes of Saddle River, N.J., writes that he and
Dorothy are active and in good health, traveling, playing golf and
doing "upland bird hunting." He has been retired from the textile
business since 1992. They have five grandchildren ranging from 14
to 22; the oldest just graduated magna cum laude from Providence
College. Attilio Renzetti, Jr. (also P&S '44) writes
from Salt Lake City via the Alumni Office "just to let my
classmates know that I am still alive!" He is now emeritus
professor of medicine, having retired from the University of Utah
on December 31, 1989. He notes that his 80th birthday is 11/11/00;
to some of us, therefore, "still a kid." He remains "a fanatic of
opera and baseball."
We
deeply mourn the passing of two physician classmates who will not
only be sorely missed by us and their families but by patients,
friends, colleagues and the field of medicine. Jack Rainer
died on March 12, 2000 succumbing to cancer of the pleura. Jack,
who specialized in psychiatry, was not only a skilled psychoanalyst
but also was expert in the fields of medical genetics and
psychiatry for the deaf. On April 16, a memorial ceremony was held
at the Hudson River Museum, attended by about 125 family members
and friends, including Arthur Weinstock, who participated in
the ceremonies as a representative of our class. On May 20, 20000
Alan Goldberg died in Delray Beach, Fla. Alan, who had been
a family practitioner in the Bronx for 39 years, was also a gifted
musician who willingly and regularly entertained us at class
reunions. He did this not only with flawless piano music but with
hilarious stories of which he appeared to have an inexhaustible
supply. He was active as a jazz musician during his retirement in
Florida, although he had been in declining health for a number of
years.
Our
sincerest sympathies go to Barbara Rainer and Muriel Goldberg, as
well as to their families.
Herbert Mark
197 Hartsdale Avenue
White Plains, N.Y. 10606
avherbmark@cyburban.com
Our
60th reunion is still two years away, but planning has started as
threatened. Ideas for a program and workers for telephoning are
needed, so call me if you want to do the unprecedented and
volunteer. Sandy Black is the first to offer himself. Sandy,
who recently moved to a retirement community in Florida, will be
contacting his year-round and seasonal neighbors to stir up
support.
Word
that our leader, Vic Zaro, had been hospitalized was
disturbing until I called Vic and was reassured by the man himself
that he is doing well and his recovery is on schedule.
We
had another successful luncheon in May on campus. In attendance
were Bill Carey, Art Graham, Mel Hershkowitz, Aldo Daniele,
Jerry Klingon, Dave Harrison, Vic Zaro, Jack Arbolino (and son,
John) and myself. We followed the usual script: no agenda but
unlimited talk until we were the only ones left in the dining room.
Another luncheon is being planned. Contact me if you want to be
part of it.
Horace Karpf is still professionally active as a
financial consultant. I have also talked to Jim Sondheim, Len
Garth, Charles West and Fred Kiachif. All are well and
busy and all except Len are fully retired. They travel or are
planning to travel and admit to an enormous range of interests and
activities. My wife and I got together with Charles and his wife,
Ruth, at the wives' 55th Barnard reunion last month. We learned
that the Wests had recently returned from a trip to Australia. Len
Garth's judicial duties occasionally require his presence in the
Virgin Islands.
Some
members of the class have not yet returned their questionnaires. I
need them for these notes. The answers to date have been a gold
mine for me, with tales of careers, travel, long ago military
service, grandchildren and you name it.
For
instance, Al Kana was on the Columbia faculty in the
department of statistics for 17 years and was later a professor at
the School of Business at Seton Hall. Al lives in Yonkers and lists
choir and photography among his hobbies.
Warren Baum retired from the World Bank after a
distinguished 27-year career. His professional publications have
been translated into several languages by the bank and remain in
print. Warren spends half the year on Martha's Vineyard and half at
home in the Washington area.
And
again, bad news. We have lost two old friends, Larry Bangser
and Kermit Lansner. Larry was a loyal old marine, supporter
of the Special Olympics and strong family man who practiced law
until the very end of his life. Kermit is remembered widely as the
former editor of Newsweek magazine, but he earlier enjoyed a
successful career in academia and later continued as a respected
writer and critic of cultural affairs. Both friends are
missed.
Dr. Donald Henne McLean
Carmel Valley Manor
8545 Carmel Valley Road
Carmel, Calif. 93923
We
have heard from Raymond Raimondi, who remembers
significantly the days in the second semester of CC (1940) when
Professor Harry J. Carman said that there has always been a study
of Western Civilization but not Eastern. Perhaps this comment had
moved him to become a student of Eastern Civilization. "Carman's
praise of Jacques Barzun ['27] led to my signing up for his course
and writing two term papers, one on Giacomo Leopardi," the Italian
poet of the early 19th century who eventually lost all faith in
religion as well as politics. "I later taught freshman English at
Syracuse. I've always wished to have the opportunity of talking
with graduates about the quizzes on the books we read in
Humanities... are they still given?"
The
Brooklyn Friends School's 50th reunion of alumni and former faculty
will bestow "the Best Teacher Award" to Harold C. Vaughan,
teacher of history, 1950-1960: remembered still after 40 years!
Quote, "History is people, events, geography." He insisted upon
thoughtful, dispassionate consideration of all viewpoints, no
matter how controversial. Succinctly, the Columbia
philosophy.
Tom Kantor has returned from a six-week "fabulous
cruise" to visit relatives in Australia.
Dick Fenton has three children associated with Columbia:
a son, class of '71, who is now director of planning and
development at Presbyterian Hospital; and two daughters with
degrees from P&S in physical and occupational
therapy.
Gordon Billipp writes, "Columbia College Today is
really a fine publication and seems to improve with every issue. I
like the fact that it is sent free to all alumni, so my modest
contribution is actually a pleasure."
Walter Wager
200 West 79th Street
New York, N.Y. 10024
Dr.
Joshua Lederberg - our distinguished scientist's recent
publications include an article on "Pathways of
Discovery-Infectious History" in the April issue of Science.
In May, he addressed Columbia's innovative seminar on "Man,
Computers and Society" in Faculty House.
Dr.
Bruce Mazlish - the cultured president of the Toynbee
Foundation presided at the May 17 assembly in the trustees room of
the N.Y. Public Library when the 1999-2000 Toynbee Prize was
awarded to Professor Natalie Davis, who delivered the Toynbee Prize
Lecture.
Homer Schoen - the bard of Pound Ridge continues to
contribute handsomely as newly appointed chairman of the facilities
advisory committee of the Bedford Central School district. Current
challenge is to recommend plans for facilities expansion and
upgrade to meet projected 40 percent growth in student
population.
Don Mitchell - cheerily wowing Oregon stamp collectors
with his bronze ribbon winning philately displays. Undaunted by age
or distance, he retains his profound respect and admiration for the
fine undergraduates of Barnard College, according to recent
missive.
Henry Hecht - a.k.a. Rolf Hecht, the fiscally sage
retired v.p. of Merrill Lynch, has recently edited a financial text
and attended the 60th anniversary of his N.Y.C. high school,
Townsend Harris, graduation. A classmate at the bright kids academy
who sent regrets was Maurice Spanbock, noted barrister and
book collector briefly abroad with spouse, Marian, visiting
daughter in London.
John Strom - in from his California abode on family fun
in Manhattan, he's inquired about '44 plans to participate in
Columbia's 250th birthday coming in 2004. October 31, if anybody's
counting. Please eat an apple every day, don't stay out till three
and forward your optimistic and brilliant suggestions to class
correspondent who'll share them with newly appointed 250th tsar in
Low Library, Mr. Jay Kaplan.
Clarence W. Sickles
57 Barn Owl Drive
Hackettstown, N.J. 07840
Donna Satow, the competent and charming associate publisher of
Columbia College Today, wrote that readers turn to their
class section first when receiving CCT, which indicates how
important is the news about the class of '45.
Dr.
V. Peter Mastrorocco of Brooklyn, N.Y., kindly wrote to say
that he found the '45 class notes informative and interesting.
Thank you, Peter. He has been re-appointed to the board of trustees
of the New York Methodist Hospital for another term ending in the
year 2003 (that's optimism for you!) having served on the board
continuously for 10 years. Peter has served on the hospital's
strategic planning committee, professional relations committee and
the bio-ethics committee.
Dr.
Joseph M. Stein of Topeka, Kan. expressed gratitude for a
rewarding education at Columbia during the World War II years.
"Though never able to get to a reunion, I have fond memories of
many of my classmates." Peter continues to practice neurology in
Topeka. His wife is an alumna of the Columbia Presbyterian School
of Nursing.
Clarence gave a lecture on graphology (handwriting analysis) in
early May for the Columbia University Club of Northern New Jersey.
Once again his plea to find a flaw in this discipline went
unanswered. Remember his wag comment: "If rats could write,
psychologists would be graphologists." It would be great to have
the psychology department agree to test the validity of graphology.
"Dean Quigley, could you arrange this in the interest of scientific
research?"
Our
nominees this time are Spurgeon M. Kenny, Jr., of
Washington, D.C., and John P. Loth of Freeport, Maine. It
would be good to hear from or about Spurgeon and John.
|
