graduate news
When we arrived 10 minutes and $33 later (I did get a receipt from the Revolution Rickshaw Company), the doorman eyed me suspiciously. He refrained from extending the courtesy of opening the plastic flap on my vehicle. I blurted, ‘An author, here for the book signing.’ ‘Second floor, and you have a coat check around the corner to the left.’ Upstairs in the library, authors were finding their numbered tables. Collecting Shakespeare and I were at a table next to Steve Forbes and his book, Money. I introduced myself to Forbes as another Steve. ‘A good name,’ he acquiesced. Why wasn’t I surprised? At the University Club I had been signing books across from Cokie Roberts. At the Press Club, across from Ted Olson and Ralph Nader. What would my subjects Henry and Emily Folger have said about all this?” Please refer to Memoriam section for the obituary of Chip Morse.
1960 CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Albert Vandam arvandam2@comcast.net Lenny Holmes writes, “Life since our 50th reunion has been good: 2011: U.S. travel, including Alaska, Florida, D.C., Boston and intermediate points, visiting a number of classmates along the way. 2012: A 3,100-mile bike tour from the Pacific to St. Louis on the Lewis and Clark trail, raising awareness and funds for Habitat for Humanity. Thanks to all who contributed.
64 Nobles SPRING 2015
Left to far right: Captain Mike Poor ’60 navigates near Naples, Fla.; Lenny Holmes ’60 says here, “Performing my new profession.”; Art Watson ’64 and wife Carol off Mount Desert Island in Maine last summer; Alexander Caskey ’64 makes a bourbon toast to honor the spirit of former teacher Bill Biddle.
2013: Substantial volunteer duties in connection with the America’s Cup. Daughter Melissa worked for Oracle Team USA and ended up marrying a Kiwi sail designer. Completed an intensive course to become a certified tour guide. 2014: Substantial work providing tours and services in San Francisco; major trip to New Zealand to see Melissa and the country; continued to observe and enjoy the growth of Danielle’s two daughters; expanded volunteer efforts by driving seniors to their local errands and doctors in the community minibus. 2015: Will do another charity ride for Habitat for Humanity from San Francisco to Atlanta: 3,300 miles in two and a half months. Wish us luck and contribute generously if you feel the spirit. Ongoing: I continue to appreciate the good fortune of a superior education, strong Puritan work ethic, excellent health, and the rewards of family and friends worldwide.” Barry Treadwell writes, “Deb and I plan to be at Nobles this spring for our unbelievable 55th reunion! We had a very busy summer, as I was the general chairman for the 34th USGA Mid Amateur
Championship at the Saucon Valley C.C. This was our seventh USGA Championship, but we never had one as busy as this one. We had 264 players for practice rounds, and then two days of medal play for 64 places, for four days of match play. We used two of our three courses and had 600 volunteers. It was a big success but a great deal of work. We had Lou Holtz as our guest speaker, and he was terrific. Deb and I will be at our place at Hammock Dunes in Palm Coast, Fla., for the winter. See you all in the spring.”
1961
wife Tally, abetted the miscreant’s prevarications by treating him to a sumptuous steak dinner at Park Square in Boston.
1963 CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Jim Lehan 508-520-1373 jblehan@aol.com
1964 CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Ned Bigelow 781-704-4304 moe9817@aol.com
CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Jim Newell 802-467-3555 newell43@gmail.com
1962 CLASS CORRESPONDENT
David Mittell damittell@gmail.com Fed up with more than half a century of D.A. Mittell’s broken promises to visit his estates in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 15, 2015, Roger Brown, accompanied by his
Art Watson reports that he and his wife, Carol Golubock, have been off cruising on their “tiny” sailboat. They left their homeport near Annapolis, Md., last June and sailed to Canada and back. Last fall, after a brief respite ashore, they headed south with hopes of wintering in the Bahamas. Art says, “Hopefully as you read this, we will be headed northward, nearing Chesapeake Bay and the conclusion of a great adventure!” Franklin Reece writes, “I still relish the time we shared together
at our 50th reunion last year. Wonderful memories of long ago were rekindled while we gave birth to new ones. Thank you Class of ’64 for making 2014 a very special year. The year also saw the birth of our first grandson, Franklin Thompson Reece (N 2032?), and my startup of a new business initiative called Interim Executive Solutions. We provide leadership to nonprofits in transition. Currently, I serve as the interim executive director of the Cambridge Historical Society and was in the same role at Tower Hill Botanic Garden when we met for our reunion. I urge anyone who is post-retirement and wishes to find a way to move off the sidelines and back into the game to get in touch with us at www.interimexecu tive.solutions. It would be great fun to give back to the nonprofit world together. My best wishes to all for a happy and healthy 2015.” Alexander Caskey writes, “Our 50th reunion generated such intense warmth that I felt we needed a way to keep the momentum going. I built the website for my college class, so it seemed a good idea to do the same for the Class of 1964. Rick Farlow, stellar editor of our classbook, agreed to join the effort, so we are now a team and close to launching. Initial focus is on our 50th (with photos, videos
and other materials supplied by John Riley, Ned Bigelow, Clint Smith, B. Wolbach and others). Isa Schaff (school archivist) and former Nobles faculty member James Bride are helping us construct a section on the Nobles faculty of our day, and we expect to include a blogging/comment component to make the site a forum for communication and exchange, rather than just an archive. We’ll announce the launch by email. In early October of 2014, Matthew Schmid ’65, Jim Summers ’65 and I trekked to New Hampshire for a climb to Crag Camp, the epicenter for the Nobles Outing Club winter climbing during the Bill Biddle years (late ’50s to mid ’60s). At Crag Camp, we spread some of Bill’s ashes, recited some of his favorite poems, shared bacon (a staple for any Biddle-led trip) and toasted his memory with bourbon (another Biddle favorite). For more information about the Biddle years, and to learn about the Biddle Outdoor Leadership Fund, which benefits Nobles, please visit www.biddlefund.info.”
1965 CLASS CORRESPONDENT
Jim Summers jim.summers@gmail.com
Jim Summers shares, “Hello y’all. I’m your new class correspondent. Don’t ask me how or why, but I am. With our impending 50th reunion, I have thought much about my experiences at Nobles and, more generally, about my experiences as a private-school student. As some of you may remember, I had attended the Belmont Hill School for the fifth, sixth and seventh grades. I was, therefore, in private schools for a total of eight years. Back then, being a preppie was my normal— the usual, the ordinary. I took it all for granted. Now, looking back, I appreciate that being at a school such as Nobles was anything but ordinary. It was utterly extraordinary. All of it—the good, the bad and the ugly. That aside, my classmates, it is my hope that as many of you who are able will choose to gather together on May 8 and 9—our 48 Hours. For the majority of us, it will be the last time we will see each other in our lifetime. ‘Gather ye rosebuds while ye may / Old time is still a-flying…’ (R. Herrick). Come ye all. Celebrate ourselves and make merry.” Bill Sargent writes, “My 20th (!) book just came out. It is called Islands in the Storm and is about how barrier beach communities fared before, during and after Hurricane Sandy.” John Martin reports, “In the accompanying photo, I am getting ready to warm up for the Oklahoma City head race this fall. [A head race is a time trial race, which is typically 5,000–10,000 meters in length.] Didn’t do very well, but I didn’t finish last, and I had a great time. On the road to recovery following a hospitalinduced, gram-negative E. coli
blood infection early last year. Currently in Florida deciding important things, like whether to lose another few pounds to race level (no age handicap) as a lightweight in sprints this spring. Ain’t retirement grand?” [Note from Jim Summers: Several years back, John incurred a major injury that required shoulder reconstruction. He was told at the time that he would never row again. Two years of intensive rehab later, John “... took a bronze against good competition at old man’s nationals...” That’s rarefied territory.] Ben Fox writes, “I’m still skiing with my beloved Claire Barker and still teaching GED. I am looking forward to a trip to Armenia, where my great-grandfather will be honored for his role in speaking out against the genocide. I happily anticipate our reunion.” Rick Railsback writes, “My recent activities have very much revolved around welcomed new professional obligations. Having invested heavily in the development of new skills in recent years, I’ve been greatly heartened by strong interest in my experience and appreciation for the impact of my coaching. What a joy it has been to reinvent oneself at this age and be able to bring value into peoples’ lives. My personal experience strongly suggests what the world’s spiritual traditions have always taught, that unprecedented levels of satisfaction come from helping others. A pity, in a way, that it’s taken me 67 years to learn this, but, hey, I’m only 67!” Rick Weinberg reports, “I am still living in the same house that I built in 1970 in Bath, N.H., with my wife, Barley. I have three adult children: two boys, who are part-
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