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CLASS NOTES
George Koplinka
75 Chelsea Road
White Plains, N.Y. 10603
desiah@aol.com
Next
year, our 50th class reunion will offer some exciting activities.
The proposed dates are September 7-9. The ’51 reunion
steering committee is planning this three-day weekend beginning
Friday morning on the Columbia campus. The idea is to give everyone
an opportunity to visit new facilities such as the Alfred Lerner
Student Center and the Roone Arledge Auditorium and
Cinema.
Following a class luncheon and an afternoon of lectures, sports
activities and some free time, the reunion attendees will motor to
Arden House by car or bus provided by the committee. After everyone
settles in at this splendid conference center we will enjoy an
informal cocktail hour and dinner with plenty of time in the
evening to reminisce with classmates about the “old
days.” Saturday will be dedicated to lectures and seminars
about significant topics planned by the program committee, a light
luncheon, and an afternoon for exploring the Arden House area with
its numerous recreational and sightseeing opportunities. The
highlight of the evening will be a gala 50th reunion reception and
banquet, attended by many Columbia dignitaries. Sunday morning is
for relaxing, having a delicious breakfast, enjoying Arden
House’s hospitality and preparing for the trip home. Watch
your mail for complete details that will be arriving soon,
including confirmed times and dates for the weekend.
April 15 was Dean’s Day at the College. If you have not
participated in recent years, sign up next spring when the
registration form arrives. The lectures are outstanding and Dean
Quigley’s comments about what is happening at the College are
always enlightening. This year ’51 was represented by Joe
Ambrose, Dave Berman, Willard Block, Joe Brouillard, Ted Bihuniak,
Gerry Evans, Bob Flynn, George Koplinka, Bob Snyder, Elliot
Wales and Paul Wallace.
Class vice president Sam Haines is updating our mailing
list of 343 addressable classmates. If you become aware of recently
deceased classmates in your area, please pass this information on
to Sam. He can be reached by phone at (201) 567-6116, or drop him a
note at 87 Glenwood Road, Englewood, N.J. 07631. Sam also is
compiling a list of “lost classmates” which will be
sent to class members with a future mailing. Please help if you can
locate a lost soul.
We
inadvertently published an incorrect telephone number for
contacting Frank Lewis, who is still practicing law in Phoenix. His
correct office phone is (602) 254-6071. His home phone is (602)
840-5781.
Brian Wilkie wrote that having been “bitten by the
Lionel Trilling bug” he went off to the University of
Rochester and got an M.A. in English in ’52. Thereafter
followed two years in the Army Signal Corps and a Ph.D. from
Wisconsin in ’59. After teaching for four years at Dartmouth,
he spent 22 years at Illinois before moving in 1985 to the
University of Arkansas. He enjoys work immensely (along with the
beautiful Ozarks) and has no intention of retiring. Brian has found
time to publish three scholarly books and is working on a fourth.
In addition he has co-edited, with James Hurt, a two-volume
anthology entitled Literature of the Western World. To quote
Brian, “I lucked out in getting Mark Van Doren for
Humanities, and I’d like to think it shows.” In 1957,
he married Ann Allen Johnson of Winston-Salem, N.C. They have three
grown sons.
Alan Wagner reports that “with age comes
wisdom.” Until last year he had never considered
consultation-for-pay. Recently he discovered a demand for his
knowledge of TV, film, cable and the Internet. Good for you, Alan!
You can put your 50 years of experience to work without being on a
staff, and nobody has to pay benefits. Can’t beat that in
retirement.
Here’s an opportunity to keep in touch with Richard
Bowe. He and his wife, Alice, purchased a
“pied-a-terre” in Grammercy Park where they had lived
for the better part of a decade some 35 years ago. To quote Dick,
“We’d enjoy hearing from, and/or getting together with
former classmates who may find themselves in the old
neighborhood.” Call the Bowes at (410) 208-9741 in Berlin,
Md., to make arrangements ahead of time.
From
time to time we get e-mail messages. Martin L. Katz, living
in Puerto Rico, was looking for a classmate. Jay Lefer
suspected that, from the way one of his messages got mangled,
aliens from NYU must be writing this column. Sorry, Jay. We try to
do our best but don’t always succeed. Call it a senior
moment! E-mail about the 50th reunion is always appreciated; any
offer to be a committee volunteer will be appreciated and
acknowledged promptly. Snail mail is good, too. Phone anytime:
(914) 592-9023. Just keep in touch!
Robert Kandel
20 B Mechanic St.
Glen Cove, N.Y. 11542-1738
lednaker@aol.com
It
never rains, but it pours... suddenly you are coming out of the
woodwork. Good! Please have patience as I try to fit you all in.
(But keep writing!)
Frank Flux has not retired from his antique business in
Bath, England. I agree with Frank that Bath is a charming and
easy-to-see city. He’d welcome visitors.
Jim Dempsey has retired after heading the Far
East subsidiary of Air Products and Chemicals. Unfortunately,
shortly after retiring, he lost his first wife of more than 35
years. He has since remarried, and he and Mary divide their time
between Florida and Pennsylvania. When they have nothing better to
do, they squeeze in a few trips abroad.
Fred Katz also has retired after teaching medicine for
20 years followed by 20 years in private practice. He and his wife,
Charlotte, Barnard ’55, have moved from Denver to the
Minneapolis area to be closer to two of their three children and
their families.
John Benfield has become emeritus professor at the
University of California and has retired from his practice of
thoracic surgery. His visiting professorships have given him and
Joyce many opportunities to travel to Asia and Europe. He is now
involved in a project of The Language of Science which
traces the history of the language of science from ancient Greek
and Latin, through the era when German ruled, to current times when
English is undisputed king.
Richard Gardner is still active in the private practice
of forensic psychiatry and teaches child psychiatry part time at
P&S. Some 18 years ago he was the first person to describe the
causes and treatment in Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)
that arise almost exclusively in highly contested child-custody
cases. A research foundation for PAS has been established in
Washington, D.C. He has written extensively: 45 books and 150
articles.
Bob Landes is semi-retired (he still handles some
general corporate law). He and his wife winter in Florida where he
plays golf. He was elected to the fellows of the American Bar
Foundation and is chairman of the senior lawyers committee of the
N.Y. C. Bar Association.
Dick Wald has retired as senior vice president of ABC
News and is now the Fred Friendly Professor of Media and Society at
the School of Journalism. Professor Wald claims that he and Dave
Braun were so impressed by George Bush’s escapade that
they went to sky-diving school. Boy, have I got a bridge to sell
you!
Fred Becker has been honored by the establishment of an
endowed chair in his name for Cancer Research at the M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center, University of Texas.
Arnold Martin and his wife, Jean, and their “seven
offspring” are still living in the San Diego area.
Evelyn and I attended the reception that Joe Di Palma
and Joycelyn hosted at the Cooper-Hewitt in New York in April on
the eve of their 30th wedding anniversary. Also present: Jim Santos
and Rick (a.k.a. Dick) Tashjian and his
wife.
Richard Kiltie is a retired math teacher living in
Australia and is just beginning to get back in touch with Columbia
via CCT.
Space does not permit me to give any addresses, but if you wish
to communicate with someone mentioned, contact me and I will try to
help. Please keep up the good work and write!
Lewis Robins
1221 Stratfield Road
Fairfield, Conn. 06432
LewRobins@aol.com
Denis M. Andreuzzi: Denis married Catherine in 1963.
They have two daughters, one son and three grandchildren. After
spending two years in the Army, Denis went on to earn a
master’s in finance from NYU. Armed with his degree in
chemistry from Columbia plus his master’s, he worked for
Witco for 37 years, including serving as president and CEO for the
last five years. Witco is a $2.5 billion business with 8,000
employees and 60 specialty chemical manufacturing plants. Without
knowing it, over the years we’ve all used some of
Denis’ products such as baby oil and Kendall Motor Oil. Since
retiring as CEO of Witco, Denis keeps busy as a financial and
business consultant. He’s also involved in raising funds for
Catholic Charities in N.Y.C.
Klaus Bergman: Klaus married Barbara Redman, Barnard
’53, in 1954. They have two children and five grandchildren.
Klaus is another classmate who became president and CEO of a major
American corporation, Allegheny Energy, retiring as president in
1996 and as CEO one year later. Allegheny provides electrical
energy to industries and homes in five states. In retirement, Klaus
is having a wonderful time playing tennis, golf, bridge and
reading. He and Barbara also entry traveling around the world on
cruise ships.
Joseph Cincotta: Joseph married Elaine Margaret in 1955.
They have three sons and four grandchildren. Since 1970, he and
Elaine have been living in Columbia, Md. Joseph worked as an
analytical chemist on research and development projects. He’s
the author of at least four articles in the Journal of Analytical
Chemistry. Having retired in 1995, Joseph is enjoying babysitting
and playing with the grandchildren.
Darcy Gibson: The former president of Phi Kappa Psi
married Barbara in 1957 after he graduated from the School of
Architecture. They have three sons, one daughter, one grandchild
and another on the way. Until 1995, Darcy ran his own architecture
company which specialized in health-related facilities such as
schools for the retired, community residences and halfway houses.
Darcy is still active and currently designing additions to family
homes in Rye, N.Y. On the phone, Darcy reports that he’s
quite proud of one of his sons who has become a writer and
director, with a new film that was shown at the Sundance Festival.
It is called Lush and is the story of a special golfer who is a
drinker.
Thomas Haugh: After teaching biology for many years at
Staples H.S. in Westport, Conn., Tom retired in 1991. He has two
children, Heather and Burke. His wife, Patricia, was killed in an
auto accident in 1988. Tom remarried in 1991, to Maureen Bradley.
He still lives in Norwalk, Conn. but spends a great deal of time
taking in the hay at his and Maureen’s horse farm in
Massachusetts. Tom reported that he’s doing all the skiing
he’s ever wanted to do, playing lots of golf with Dick
Auwarter and thoroughly enjoying retirement.
Charles Kadushin: Charles married Jhislaic Bolanger in
1982. He has two children. After receiving his Ph.D. in sociology
from Columbia, Charles went on to teach for eight years at the
University. Subsequently, he spent 11 years as professor of
sociology and education at Teachers College. He is currently
professor emeritus, sociology, at the Graduate Center of the City
University of New York. He’s also a Distinguished Scholar at
Brandeis University, where he is a researcher at the Cohen Center
for Modern Jewish Studies. Charles has written a number of books
and reports that his favorite was published in 1974, American
Intellectual Elite.
Ronald Landau: Ronald married Linda in 1963. They have
two children and two grandchildren. He’s published five
papers on plasma physics and has been working for a number of years
on improving the design of MRI machines, trying to make them
smaller and less expensive. Ronald is still energetic and is quite
proud of having participated in a 50-mile bike ride around New York
City. He tries to ride at least 20 miles a week. Ronald reported
that he’s had two angioplasty procedures during the past few
years and all is well. He’s also had prostate cancer and has
been successfully treated at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York with
radioactive seeding. Ronald asked me to tell everyone that the
procedure has few side effects, and he’ll be glad to talk to
classmates about his experience.
Al Ward writes from Columbia, S.C. that more than 20
members of the 1951 and 1952 football teams met in Litchfield, S.C.
for a reunion and some competitive golf and tennis.
Robert Wallace retired as chairman of the department of
surgery at Georgetown University in 1995. Since 1998, he’s
been president of the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and
Education and also chairman of the scientific advisory committee of
a foundation in Paris, France. He’s also medical director of
Sulzer Carbomedics, Inc., enjoying retirement and learning to play
golf.
Irwin Kline and his wife are happily retired, traveling
and visiting 11 grandchildren. They recently saw Al Jackman
in California.
John Lustig sent the first e-mail message I’ve
received thus far. He wrote he’s been married to Anne for 46
years. They have five children, seven grandchildren and one on the
way. They retired to Laguna Woods, Calif. about 10 years ago and
have been enjoying retirement by traveling and visiting children
and grandchildren. He spent more than 40 years working in the
public library field and ended up as a director of community
services and assistant general manager of Monrovia, Calif. Anne
worked for doctors and ran a medical lab. John and Anne would love
to hear from classmates.
Howard Falberg
13710 Paseo Bonita
Poway, Calif. 92064
WestmontGR@aol.com
Whenever a classmate of ours passes on, I feel bad. When it is
someone I knew reasonably well, I feel particularly sad. On March
30, Dr. Henry Littlefield passed away in Pacific Grove,
Calif., after a heroic battle with colon cancer. Many in our class
will remember Hank as a member of our Varsity wrestling and
football teams as well as a lead actor in our Bicentennial Varsity
Show. He carried his interest in athletics and acting all of his
life. Hank served as dean of students as well as wrestling and
football coach at Amherst. For the last 24 years, Hank lived on the
Monterey Peninsula, where he taught American history and served as
headmaster at The York School and most recently taught at Robert
Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. Hank and Saul
Turtletaub maintained a close relationship that began at
Columbia. He will be missed.
John Brackett recently retired from the practice of
pulmonary and critical care medicine but remains active with
grandkids, travel, attempts at golf and rowing. John still competes
around the world in masters’ rowing regattas. If we ever had
a contest to determine who in our class was in the best physical
shape, it wouldn’t surprise me if John won. Dick
Werksman is now a senior anti-corruption advisor at the State
Department as a result of the merger of USIA with State in October
1999. He received the distinguished honor award from USIA for his
work in Latin America as well as the Aurora de America prize from
the Public Ethics Foundation in Buenos Aires. Dick continues to
arrange the speakers program for the Columbia College Alumni Club
of Washington, D.C. which meets for lunch the last Tuesday of every
month except for July and August. If you would like to attend,
please call him at (202) 647-7304.
George Goldstein of White Plains, N.Y. is now
semi-retired. George spent 16 years specializing in pediatric
medicine and then gravitated to the pharmaceutical industry where
he spent 25 years, most as corporate v.p. worldwide medical and
regulatory affairs for Sterling Winthrop. During his career he was
chair, pharmaceutical research and manufacturers association
commission on drugs for rare disorders. He is now doing some pro
bono work as well as enjoying the pleasure of being with his wife,
Shirley, and three “great daughters.”
Carol and I were in Ohio recently and had the pleasure of
getting together with Jim Burger and his wife, Donna, as
well as Brian Tansey and his wife, Amy. All look well and
fulfilled.
In
preparation for our own 50th reunion, I was able to be in New York
for my high school’s 50th. I was part of the Bronx Science
contingent and saw Lee Abramson, Steve Barrett, Jack Blechner,
Bob Burstein, Bernd Brecher, Stanley Fine, Steve Gilbert, Mel
Goldstein, Al Fiellerstein, Les Levine (two of our judges),
Len Moche (my roommate in Hartley Hall), Simeon Pollack,
Al Weinfeld and Steve Winber. Also in attendance was a
spouse, Joel Gerstl. I hope that they will all be able to be
with us at our college 50th.
Remember, if you are interested in helping out in preparation
for our 50th, please contact our President, Bernd Brecher, who can
be reached via email at BrecherServices@aol.com.
Please be well, enjoy life, contribute to the world we live in and
keep in touch.
Gerald Sherwin
181 East 73rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10021
gsherwin@newyork.bozell.com
What
more can one say? It was a glorious weekend — Reunion 45.
From the reception at Lerner Hall on Friday evening to our class
speakers Saturday morning to lunch at the Terrace Restaurant
mid-day to dinner at SIPA Saturday evening to dancing on Low
Library steps to our final breakfast in the Low Rotunda Sunday
morning, it was called the best reunion ever. Once again, our class
had the highest number of attendees and classmates among all the
reunion classes. Thanks go out to the Saturday morning speakers who
spoke about everything we strive for: wisdom with Donald
Kuspit, money/capitalism with Lew Mendelson and
longevity with Jesse Roth.
Our
guys even won the “battle of the singing groups”
between the current-day Kingsmen and our fearsome songsters Marv
Winell, Lew Mendelson, Stuart Kaback, Alan Pasternak, Aaron
Preiser, Alfred Gollomp and Herb Gardner. After the
Kingsmen finished their two-song serenade, the older group
proceeded to “belt out” the “oldies but
goodies” repertoire of Columbia melodies the younger bunch
had never heard. The Saturday dinner closed with an emotional
rendition of “Sans Souci.”
Classmates came from near and not so near for the celebration
and all agreed to come back for the 50th. Many who couldn’t
make it sent notes, e-mails and even called to express regrets. The
West Coast was well represented — from Northern California:
Bernie Kirtman, Bill Cohen, Alan Pasternak, and Ralph
Tanner; from Southern California Jeff Broido and Ed
Rodgers. Tom Chrystie made it from Wyoming. From the
Southern parts of the country were: Atlantans Ed Francell
(150 lb. football) and Ross Grumet (freshmen ‘B’
basketball); and Houston’s Milt Finegold. Moving north
toward the mid-Atlantic region were: Sven Johnson from
Virginia, Jerry Plasse, who drove up from Maryland, and
Les Trachtman and Lew Mendelson from our
nation’s capital. Representing Cleveland as he does so well
was our John Jay Award winner, Jim Berick. From Pennsylvania
and Delaware we saw Dave Stevens, who will be making a
concerted effort to get all Sigma Chis to come to the next event,
Joe Vales, who postponed two golf games to be with us, and
Aaron Hamburger and Abbie Leban from Wilmington.
Harold Kushner, author and lecturer of note, traveled down
from Massachusetts for the weekend. The upstate contingent included
Barry Pariser from Newburgh, Gordon Kaye from Albany
and still going strong in Rochester, Beryl Nusbaum. Late
Saturday night Stu Perlman arrived to say hello to
classmates, those on the dance floor and those taking a
“break.” Stu was in New York from Chicago for a family
function. The crew from Long Island included: Larry Balfus,
Steve Bernstein (dancing the night away), Jim Gherardi
(not dancing), Jules Rosenberg, Hal Rosenthal, Bob Hanson
and Darenn Rathkopf (back on campus after many years).
Making the trek from across the river in New Jersey were Bob
Pearlman, Aaron Preiser, Marv Winell (whose voice started to
sound like Jack Armstrong’s after all the singing),
the good professor Gerry Pomper, Dick Kuhn and Ferdie
Setaro, Al Martz, Brooklyn Tech’s own John Naley,
and Messrs. Armstrong and Kaback. We had classmates
from the suburb of Westchester: lawyers, doctors, and retired
baseball players: Bill Epstein, who hosted the Kirtmans,
Alan Sloate, Herb Cohen, Marty Dubner and Berish
Strauch, and Jack Freeman and Ron McPhee who was
giving interviews to Spectator all day Saturday and
Sunday.
Finally, from New York (including Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx,
Staten Island and Manhattan) were Friday night’s bard, Bob
Sparrow, ex-Spec board member George Gruen, more
doctors and lawyers: Paul Frank, Ezra Levin, Don Laufer, Steve
Rabin, Bob Loring, Ed Siegel, Allen Hyman and Jesse
Roth, business people: Jim Phelan, Bob Brown and
Alfred Gollomp, and in the more creative vein: Herb
Gardner and Donald Kuspit.
The
deep-felt emotion in seeing old friends and getting to know other
classmates even better was evident throughout the weekend. People
were so enthusiastic that plans were being made for mini-reunions
between now and 2005. Some classmates stayed in dorms — some
stayed in hotels. Some toured the campus and the neighborhood
between meals. Very few went to work out in the gym —
although some of the hardier souls thought about it.
All
agreed Columbia looked in great shape — the green lawn on
South Field, Lerner Hall, the upgraded Butler Library, the new dorm
on Broadway, the lecture rooms (even Alma Mater could be seen
smiling) — V&T and the West End and all the other
terrific restaurants and stores on Broadway — now
affectionately known as SOHA (South of Harlem). We heard many fine
words from Dean Austin Quigley. Both Austin and President George
Rupp joined our class at Saturday evening’s
reception.
As
an aside, there was a get-together among the former editorial board
of Spectator on Sunday afternoon. Besides Messrs. Pomper,
Finegold and Gruen, Lee Townsend joined the
group. Lee couldn’t make the 45th, nor could other past board
members, Bob Kushner or Ron Cowan, due to prior
commitments.
We
received a remarkable number of e-mails, notes and phone calls from
classmates who couldn’t be with their brethren June 2-4.
There were no “dog ate the invitation” excuses. Our
guys were in Paris, Italy, conducting family business, moving,
resolving personal issues, going to graduations, etc. We know that
we will be seeing Ivan Leigh, Anthony Viscusi, Charlie Sergis,
Bob Banz, Stan Lubman, Don McDonough, Jerry Catuzzi, Bob
Dillingham, Roger Stern, Tony Blandi, Lew Sternfels, George Stark,
Harvey Solomon and Jack Stuppin in 2005, if not
sooner.
Other news to report: We heard from Gary Berry in
Northern California, who has retired after being in pediatric
medical practice for over 35 years. The old Forest Hiller, Ted
Baker is teaching at the Kennebunkport, Maine Middle School. He
celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary last year in Hawaii. Ted
has sent out a blanket invitation for classmates to visit him. One
of our key speakers from the 40th (how long ago was that), Harry
Scheiber, was recently elected honorary fellow of the American
Society for Legal History in recognition of distinguished
contributions to the field. Harry gave a special lecture in Taiwan
a few months ago on the heels of that award.
Hardy souls of the stalwart Class of 1955. After basking in the
glory of the 45th, it is never too early to start thinking about
the 50th. For those who were just there, it was great seeing you
all. For those who couldn’t make it, you were missed.
There’s always next time. Stay well. Remember, the good guys
keep winning. Love to all. Everywhere!!!
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