Alumni Class Notes 1945
1965
Theodore Madfis ’45 wrote: “Just celebrated my 96th birthday.” Congratulations from all of us!
Andy Durham ’65 writes: “After retiring from 50 years of coaching tennis, and wanting to give back to the tennis community, I developed an app for tennis parents, players, and coaches called RacketStats. A common theme of tennis players is Andy Durham ’65 a lack of understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, due to the lack of simple analytics. Other sports have access to apps that quantify level and ability and can track incremental improvement, allowing the athlete to absorb much of the responsibility for their growth; not tennis. Our free version is specifically designed for families worldwide that do not have access to professional help in hopes that it will assist parents in guiding their children through this tough sport. Used by beginners, tournament, college, and ITF players and coaches, it is available for IOS and Android smartphones worldwide. And in partnership with MatchTennisApp and CrossCourtConsulting, we are reaching over 50,000 tennis families to make a difference.”
1956
Paul “Lefty” Wennick ’56
Paul “Lefty” Wennik ’56 has served Beyond Soccer in Lawrence, Mass., for the past 12 years as leader and chief fundraiser. The organization provides healthful athletic, nutrition, and academic training to low-income children in Lawrence, who are able to attend Beyond Soccer’s summer camp at a special affordable price, thanks to the generosity of a great many foundations and private donors.
1958 Bob Soltz ’58 and Bob Ravich ’58 made their own reunion on July 20, 2023, when they met with their wives for dinner at the Legal Seafood restaurant in Peabody, Mass. They write: “Even with email contact every now and then, the actual meeting 65 years after graduating Bob Soltz ’58 from Lawrence dominated the dinner conversation. We enjoyed fond memories of past instructors, fellow students, and campus experiences. Thank you, Lawrence, for giving us the opportunity to learn and value our years at the Academy and for creating our friendship. Lawrence, here’s to thee ...”
1970 Tony Andresen ’70 and varsity cross-country captain 1969, reports that there’s still some gas left in the tank. This past June he tackled (and completed) the Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 100-mile cycling race in the Flint Hills of Kansas. UNBOUND Tony Andresen ’70 Gravel, known as the “World’s Premier Gravel Grinder,” is the top gravel endurance cycling race in the world. The Flint Hills ecoregion is designated a distinct region because it is the densest coverage of intact tallgrass prairie in North America and represents the last expanse of intact tallgrass prairie in the nation. “I’ve really got to credit all those afternoons at Lawrence for instilling in me a life-long need to get outdoors and exercise.” Coming up in August is another classic, the 79-mile Copper Triangle ride in Colorado that crests three Colorado mountain passes with climbs over 10,000 feet and a total elevation gain of 6,500 feet. No sweat!
Have a note to share in the Spring 2024 Academy Journal? Forward info and pictures to pglover@lacademy.edu. 3 6 LAWRENCE ACADEMY FALL 2023
