By John A. Wilkinson
65th Reunion! May 22–25. Our last formal reunion. Don’t hesitate. Sign up.
You have received many notifications in many formats detailing the compelling program that Chuck Schmitz has created with expert help from many classmates: the calligraphy of Lynn Hanke and John Blanpied, old copies of the Yale Daily News gathered by Jim Ottaway, our artifacts curated by John Bing, a tour of the newly renovated Peabody Museum arranged by Doug Guiler, a reception and dinner at the museum themed by Dan Horowitz and introduced by Tom Schaumburg, a curated tour of the Yale Center for British Art thanks to Dick Brodhead ’68. There will be a presentation by Dick and your recording secretary on 65 years of institutional change; another curated tour of Sterling Library, especially the Hanke Exhibition Gallery, again thanks to Lynn; a memorial gathering at the Giamatti Bench honoring the 100 classmates who have died since our last reunion; and, finally, a last dinner gathering led by our class secretary of 20 years, Pete Wells. Join us!
From Paris again, Guy Robinson writes that his wife, Libba, was invited to attend the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame de Paris. Libba is completing her 18th year as chair of the French Heritage Society, which played a major role in the restoration of the cathedral.
Peter Chapin, serving as a mentor to an emerging young artist at the Strata Gallery in Santa Fe, not only successfully urged the local hospital to purchase one of his mentee’s works, but sold six of his recent paintings to the hospital. Two happy artists, many admiring patients and medical staff.
“Lx=b” is the title of a scholarly article by Nisheeth Vishnoi, the A. Bartlett Giamatti Professor of Computer Science and recent speaker on artificial intelligence at our Tuesday Tea. His comments and the discussion are on our website. Bart, who once compared the marketing of genetic research (genes) to Gloria Vanderbilt’s marketing of jeans and probably could not distinguish between a personal computer and an electric typewriter, would be bemused that his named professorship is occupied by a computer scientist.
Kimberly Goff-Crews ’83, secretary and vice president for student life, spoke at a Tuesday Tea in January on her work to further diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the university.
John Bing has agreed to succeed Pete Knudsen, who conceived of Tuesday Tea and has adroitly run the program for the past four years of 39 sessions.
Jack Reese notes that the name of his undergraduate roommate, Fred von Hurter, is missing from the In Memoriam section of our 1960 website. Fred’s widow wrote to Jack from Switzerland three years ago but apparently did not inform Alumni Records.
Four recent obituaries added to the website:
Roger Bernard. Harvard Medical School, residency in surgery at the University of Rochester, surgeon with the Air Force; Roger moved to Oregon where he served as chief of staff and chairman of the board of Asante Hospital. Among his many outdoor activities in retirement was golf, including three holes-in-one. Roger’s family concludes the obituary with, “The world is a better place because of him.”
Steve Lasewicz. Steve was totally devoted to his hometown of Bristol, Connecticut, and to Yale. As a temperature engineer, he cared for his fellow citizens and was honored by them with the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his work for Bristol’s service organizations. Yale Club president, AYA delegate, Science and Engineering Association president, Class of 1960 golf czar, class executive committee member, Steve chaired both our 45th and 50th reunions.
John LeBourgeois. Lifelong swimmer, PhD in history at Tulane, MBA at the University of Chicago, amateur artist, stockbroker, banker, professor, university administrator in Japan and the US; John’s career was richly varied. In retirement, he committed himself to racial justice, especially through the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation in Saint Louis and Louisiana’s Whitney Plantation, both with historic ties to his family over four centuries.
David Carls. After Harvard Law, Dave began his work in New York City, successfully campaigned to elect John Lindsay ’43 mayor, and then moved his practice of corporate and real estate law to Boston. He served for many years as treasurer of our class and, in addition to many volunteer activities, became an award-winning gardener.
Tempus fugit, sumus hic.