By Rich Banbury
As a Class, we need to figure out what we’re going to do with our website, yale60.org. Unlike the Class Notes, which are published six times a year in the Yale Alumni Magazine, the website is there at every hour of every day. In addition to convenient accessibility, there is a spectrum of submissions, including photographs, poetry, comments and other creative items to be seen on a prudent screen. Peter Wells, our hearty and diligent Class Secretary, has shared in favor of classmates posting their photos and artwork for the site or other hidden talents which should no longer be unknown.
Good news with the revival of the Class Reunion in Chicago during the days of Tuesday, May 15 through Friday, May 18, 2018. Our reservations have been made at the Michigan Avenue Westin, which has been chosen in light of many events which will be within walking distance. Perhaps, a trip to Frank Lloyd Wright’s House in Oak Park, as well as a walk over Frank Gehry’s Bridge across into Millennium Park. A Cubs or White Sox game is being considered, or perhaps there might be an inter-league game playing in 2018 against each other. The Cubs home field, Wrigley Field, is both historic and was victorious in 2016. Originally named Meeghman Park, opened in 1914, Wrigley is tucked away in the quaint North Side and is known for its ivy-covered outfield wall. Jim Taylor has done a wonderful job in recruiting Jessie and Doug MacDonald, Mimi and John LeBourgeois and also Florri McMillan, a good and caring friend of the Class, are all organizing a terrific itinerary.
With the Yale football history, there are aplenty of stories and anecdotes. While Yale beat Harvard on November 24, 1900, the fight song Boola Boola was introduced for the first time. One of the three students to compose it was Allan Hirsh. Allan’s grandson Phil Hirsh tells the story through history that John Philip Sousa played Boola at a concert in New Haven in April of 1901 and “. . . sold more sheet music in the first half of that year than any other song in the country.” The tabletop book, with a wealth of stories and photographs, is Full of Memories, 100 Years of Football at The Yale Bowl by Rich Marazzi.
Alan Gilison continues to flirt with par and often challenges 18 holes into submission. In May of this year, Alan shot 70 at the Rees Jones at Breakers West course, an amazing card of eight under age and two below par. From 15 to 65, Alan maintained a 2 handicap. Doubting any golf courses there, Alan will nonetheless appreciate taking his granddaughter on a cruise to Cuba.
A long career in international relations, Ed Elmendorf was an assistant to United Nations delegate Adlai Stevenson, and thereafter had a substantial professional dedication with the World Bank, while he was also serving many years as president of the United Nations Association. More to come in the next issue.
A riddle – what could be a relation between The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925, fiction) and On the Cusp by Dan Horowitz (2015, non-fiction)?
Stayoung.