ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY SCHOOL SPRING 2018 NEWSLETTER THE HISTORICAL PLAQUE…
send your dues to AAUS, 587 Fox Lane, Worthington, OH 43085; $15 for newsletters via snail mail, $10 for e-mail newsletters. For those of you on the email list, please e-mail me for your current status if you have questions.
Our plaque has been ordered and should be in place, in front of University School, by our annual meeting date, thanks to our donors. Mark this on your calendar…
FAREWELLS…
ANNUAL MEETING
Unfortunately we have learned of more University School “family” passing away. Our most sincere condolences to all the family and friends of the following, ever growing, list of friends now gone.
DATE: Saturday, June 23, 2018 TIME: 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. PLACE: Ramseyer Hall, Rm. 100 (the old music room) Parking in the Arps garage or limited spaces across the street at St. Stephen’s parking lot. Come see the new plaque, look again at the photo collages, visit with friends and relive our memories as we stroll through the halls. Light refreshments will be provided.
*Wendell Whitacre, ‘44 *Jack Wilson, ‘47 *Irving Modes, ‘51 brother of Sonia Modes Schottenstein, ’46 *Adolphus Dean, ‘58
FEEDBACK
MEMBERSHIP…
In the last issue we featured Elyse Evans’ electronic class reunion. We asked for others to participate in this and we received several comments and memories as well as the following from Ted Clark, ’58.
Our membership drive for 2018 is ongoing. Thank you all for your support which keeps AAUS strong. If your membership designation on your address label is 17 plus the years of your affiliation after your name it means you are a 2017 member. If your label says 17 then please renew, since that membership expired in Dec. If you are renewing, please
“I just received The Late Winter 2018 AAUS Newsletter. First: Thank you to classmate Paul Caley '58 and the anonymous donor for 1
picking up the cost of The Historical Plaque for University School. What a great contribution! Second: Thank you to Bob Butche '54 for his beautiful Inscription, Light In The Darkness of Ignorance. From his inscription, I learned more about University School than I had previously known. I must confess I was very moved not only by Bob's words, but also by the fact that I had been a small part of that experience. I also felt a bit unworthy of the opportunity,---but this "Guinea Pig" turned out OK. In response to the Electronic Reunions concept, I offer the following for consideration. We live in a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Chestertown on Maryland's Eastern Shore. We have a number of US Veterans living here. For Veterans Day, our Veterans were asked to submit an event story of their time in the service. I submitted the below.
respective High Schools, North for her and U-IH for me. Following graduation, Jo and I separated, she went on to college and I joined the Navy. Following boot camp, I returned to Great Lakes Naval Base for electronics school. During this 9-month training experience I joined The Ninth Naval District Drill Team. Representing the Navy, we performed at regional and local military and community events. Skip forward about four years to the Summer of 1962. I was serving on my third destroyer which was stationed at Key West Naval Basin. Fate had just reconnected Jo and me. As a side note, I don't think we were ever really disconnected. In October of 1962, John F. Kennedy was President and the Russians were pushing for and supplying Cuba with arms. With Cuba only 90 miles south of Florida and Key West, the Cuban Missile Crisis quickly became a national issue of serious concern. Based on the very little information we were told, (there was no CNN or Fox News), by October, there were indications of possible nuclear missile installations in Cuba. As initial "negotiations" failed to reverse the situation, the small Key West Naval Base, where the destroyer I was on was stationed, went from 3000 to 12,000 personal as the Key West facility was turned into a fortified command post. The destroyer I was on, along with about 15 others, started patrolling in a Blockade Formation off the Coast of Florida. This blockade between Florida and Cuba was maintained 24/7 for 31 days from mid-October to midNovember when tensions were finally eased. It was during this blockade and the many hours of being "at the ready" that I took one of my several life changing
FORK IN THE ROAD The Choices and Directions we take that change our lives: For our Continuing Care Retirement Community Quarterly Newsletter, veterans were asked to contribute interesting stories about their time in the service. As a Veteran I chose to share my experience on the Cuban Missile Blockade. I have two "Remembrances" from that historic period. A bit of background first. I, like many of us, grew up during the 1950's. That wonderful period of hot rods, drive inns, 45's, sock hops, high school sports and romances. Wife Jo and I dated during our concurrent senior year in our
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Forks in the Road. Since we never saw "any action" during the blockade, the many hours "On Watch" were often spent in conversation with the two others on watch with me in the Radar Control Director. This unique opportunity allowed me to have extended informal talks with a Lieutenant, one of the officers on our ship. This Lieutenant was the driving force behind the above mentioned fork in the road that I subsequently took. Bottom Line. My four year tour of duty in the Navy was about to end in January, 1963. I had enjoyed my time in the Navy, the Navy had treated me well and I was proud to "Do what I could for MY Country". I was planning on reenlisting for another six years and a possible Naval career. There was this Fork in the Road. It started with the fate that reconnected Jo and me in August, two months prior to The Cuban Missile Crisis. The second factor was one of my conversations with The Lieutenant who told me "I think you would ultimately do better on the outside". This was in reference to the option of not reenlisting, but "getting out" and going to College. Jo had completed college and was now working. The Lieutenant's advice turned out to be the right "Fork" to take. Skip forward a few days after the crisis was resolved. President Kennedy wanted to personally thank the Fleet Ships that manned the blockades and helped prevent a potentially devastating outcome. After a long and tiring couple of days of visiting East Coast Naval facilities there were questions as to whether President Kennedy would take the time and make the effort to come all the way to Key West. In typical Navy protocol, if there is a possibility, be ready for that possibility. So paint cans were opened and serious efforts were
made to make our WWII Anti-Sub Destroyer look good, at least from a drive by distance. The Captain ordered an Honor Guard to stand by the gangway to "Present Arms" if and when the President drove by our berthed, freshly painted ship. Your service records follow you as you are transferred from one duty station to another. I got a call to go see the XO, the equivalent of a notice from the IRS. I learned, much to my relief, that I was to form and head up the Honor Guard for the President. I was selected because of my experience and time on The Ninth Naval District Drill Team, four years earlier. Word came that in fact the President was on his way to Key West. So in full Dress Blues, a holstered empty .45 strapped to my side, four other equally nervous sailors with rifles at Parade Rest, we stood by the gangway. About 50 feet from us was the roadway that ran along the wharf where the President would drive by. After what seemed like forever, along came the President's motorcade. As I was about to order "Present Arms" for the passing President, is when it happened! President Kennedy, sitting right behind the driver, tapped the driver on the shoulder and told him to stop. President Kennedy was the first one out of the car. Others, including an Admiral followed. I heard Kennedy say that he wanted to board this ship because it was an antisubmarine war ship. The entourage, lead by the President, started walking toward the gangway and our Honor Guard standing at full attention only ten feet away. Doing all I could, not to wet my pants, I called out "Present Arms". It went OK, the President hardly noticed us. They boarded the ship, and following
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the formal but relaxed greetings, Kennedy said he wanted to go up to the 01 level to see the "hedgehogs", an antisubmarine ship launched weapon. This whole ship board activity and exchange between the President, the Admiral and our Captain took place right behind me and I could hear the entire conversations. The President left the ship, nodded to our rigid Honor Guard and moved on. Our Captain, while thanking the Crew for all they did, said that this day was "The most Honorable and Moving event in his life". We all felt the same. The following events took place after that memorable day. In January of 1963 I got out of the Navy. March of that year, I started college at Ohio State University. April, Jo and I got engaged. On Friday the 13th of September we got married. On November 22nd, I was in a college class in University Hall at OSU. Word spread quickly through that historic building that, almost a year to the day I saw the President, Kennedy had been shot.” Ted Clark FT-2 USN, 8/58-1/63
pictures from then. (If you do happen to have any pictures you could share with Laura, her email is: lhkoenig@gmail.com and her phone is 512-924-5606. I am sure she would appreciate it. 2) In response to the Fall 2017 newsletter in which several members of the Class of ’62 reminisced about Christmas time at U-Hi as well as other fun events, we received this from Leslie Hauck, ’64… “I do not remember the parading down to the rec room!, Do you? And I remember the Christmas Assembly being held in the Gym...with a big tree decorated, and all the classes in a semi-circle... Loved that event; loved the Carnival, too. I remember Lynn Wilson and I sang a song during carnival for a variety show in the Music Room. I'll work on remembering what song. I think we both had canes we held as we danced and sang... Sigh, all Soooooo wonderful…” 3) While thinking back on the good times Phil Stickney, ’67 suggested… A possible topic for a future newsletter could be University School's very own space program. For three years, there were simulated space flights. Each year was a little bit more ambitious, starting with a single capsule orbiting the Earth, and finally our contribution with 3 capsules circumnavigating the Moon. One with 2 girls, one with 2 boys, and a solo capsule. It has been so long ago that most of the details have been lost to me, but maybe some others have better memories, pictures or documentation. I was in charge of communications, and remember how hard it was in the days before cell phones and other modern technology arranging for primary and backup links to all three capsules.
NEWSLETTER COMMENTS AND OTHER MEMORIES 1) We received this from Laura Koenig: Alice Hawley (my mother) served on Faculty at the University School while completing her Masters in Home Economics at Ohio State. I believe the time frame would have been between 1957-1963. She was very good friends with Jeanne Orr (my godmother). Both women remarked how teaching at the University School changed them forever and set a high standard for teaching and learning. I wasn't sure if anyone had any
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Excellent idea Phil! In one photo frame now on the walls at University School, there is an article about this program written by Jane Stewart along with a picture of the “closet” and a hand drawn space suit patch which one of the “astronauts” wore. Please, those of you who were involved send in your memories of the event, do you have a copy of the article Jane wrote?
people of Columbus above self-interest. You'd be hard-pressed to find two people in government today who are as driven to fulfill the purest sense of the words "public servant." For both Dorrian and Pfeiffer, it is clear by the way they live their lives that their priorities are not rooted in dollars and cents or the law, but in how those fundamental elements of their jobs affect people.
WELL DESERVED RECOGNITION…
They get out of their offices and talk with people unlike themselves and their neighbors. They both dine regularly, for example, at Tommy's Diner on East Broad Street in Franklinton.
The Columbus Dispatch ran the following story on Dec. 17th, 2017. The story features two of our most notable public figures in Franklin County who retired at the end of the year. Alan D. Miller is editor of The Dispatch and wrote this article about Rick Pfeiffer, ’62. Here are excerpts from the article. I have taken out the parts about Hugh Dorrian, our retired city auditor, when only he was referenced.
I walked into Tommy's one Saturday morning to find Pfeiffer finishing breakfast. He was on his way to the office to catch up on some work. Pfeiffer is quick with a smile and has a wonderfully dry sense of humor, but he's not much for chit-chat. He moves fast, is full of questions and doesn't mince words. That was delightful to watch when he was elected as Franklin County's first Environmental Court judge.
Dorrian, Pfeiffer built legacy of integrity A large measure of integrity will leave Columbus City Hall when two leaders who collectively hold the conscience of city government retire this month.
That position was created in Municipal Court after a Dispatch series showed how slum-property owners could work the system of code enforcement and the courts to operate substandard, unsafe, eyesore properties without much more than a slap on the wrist.
Hugh J. Dorrian and Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr. are check and balance. Dorrian has been the city auditor since 1969. And Pfeiffer, the city attorney since 2003, has served his community in many ways, including through military service and as a state senator and Municipal Court judge.
Judge Pfeiffer not only grilled the owners, he also got in the car and went to the properties to see for himself how well the owners were complying with his
Both are Democrats, but neither wears that on his sleeve. For decades, they have put city above party politics and the 5
orders.
The AAUS Endowment fund has also been sent a donation from Karen Williams, ’64, in memory of my brother Skip Woodruff, ’59. Thank you very much Karen, both from AAUS and personally!
He gets to the point, and he doesn't try to sugar-coat a bad situation or deflect or obfuscate. We journalists have appreciated that about him. In addition to his many other duties as city attorney, he has been a champion of open government -- not because reporters pushed for it, but because he knows and believes that it is the right thing to do.
If you too, would like to contribute to the AAUS Endowment Fund, please send your check to: College of Education and Human Ecology, Office of Advancement 110 Arps Hall 1945 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43210
Yes, a large measure of integrity will leave with Dorrian and Pfeiffer. We can all pray that those who hold the public trust in those offices going forward, along with all others in City Hall, also will live their lives as true public servants and maintain the conscience of city government.
Be sure to put on the memo line our fund # 604422. If this number isn’t included, it will not go into the correct fund! If you decide to donate to Endowment Fund directly and in someone’s name, please let me know as well since it is easier to acknowledge in memory of.. in our newsletter.
Rick Pfeiffer, really deserves the accolades the reporter bestowed on him as well as much more. The Dispatch has featured several articles about Rick. Rick is a person who has really made a difference to so many people, in so many ways, county wide. We will sorely miss his judicial wisdom, and his willingness to help. In retirement, he and his wife have moved to another state so we will also doubly miss his being around here to bump into. Our loss will certainly be his new hometown’s gain.
LET’S CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!! We need to have more memories from your school days. We love reading about what life was like after your U-Hi experience. How did your U-Hi experience help you through your work years, your hobbies, and in your retirement years? Please share some more autobiographic stories, events and achievements. We would love to hear from you. Snail – mail…587 Fox Lane, Worthington, OH 43085 or e-mail – jswhaueisen@yahoo.com.
THANK YOU… The AAUS Endowment fund has been sent a donation from Esther Smart Monteith, ’48 in memory of her brother, Ed Smart, ’41. Thank you very much Esther!
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