CLASS
Alfred J. Koeppel '54 1he President's Leadership Medal was created to honor supporters who have made "extraordinary contributions of time, wisdom, and resources" to Trinity College. Over the past decade, no one has made more unstinting contributions to Trinity in all three categories. He has been a calm and steadying Influence In a period of rapid change-a leader with a strong sense of what is best about Trinity and a clear vision of what must be done to make It better still. Born and raised In Brooklyn, he relishes the vitality of city life and the cultural and commercial opportunities it offers. The Trinity that he discovered when he enrolled In 1950 must have seemed a tiny place. At this small place, however, he explored the depth and IJI'eadth of the liberal arts, completing an interdisciplinary major, achieving the Dean's Ust and completing Professor Harry Costello's famous list of books worth reading. He joined Theta XI Fraternity, worlced on the Tripod, and edited the Ivy. Fl'om Trinity, he joined the family business, a law and real estate firm that now specializes In commercial real estate in midtown and downtown Manhattan, where he has made his career. In 1957, he was graduated from the Brooklyn Law School. Under his leadership, his finn has flourished In the roller coaster wolfe of New Yodc real estate and now engages the enei'/Pes of another generation--thl'ee of whom are Trinity graduates. He has always remained close with the College, rising throullh Trinity's alumni ranks, as an interviewer, a class agent, a member of the National Alumni Association's Executive Committee, and an active volunteer leader in two capital campaigns. In 1985, he joined the Board of Trustees and served as Chalnnan of the Board from 1990 to 1996. Under his extraordinary stewardship, Trinity has enhanced its campus, resolved a long-standing controversy over fraternities, expanded the faculty, embarlfed on an ambitious comPf'ehensive campaitJn, made an unprecedented commitment to improve its neighborhood, and selected the College's 18th President. As a leader, he has been analytical, optimistic, and clear-sighted. Whatev• tumult that su"ounds him, he remains calm, confident, and focused on the task at hand. Trinity's debt to this alumnus is enormous. Mr. President, it is an honor to present to you the recipient of the President's Leadership Medal for 1996, one of Trinity's most devoted sons, ALFRED JAMES KOEPPEL, Class of 1954. Alfred Koeppel, right, receives the medal from ftwmer recipient George Kellner '64.
NOTES
Reunion, classmates reminisced about the 17 classmates in '45 and '46 who made the supreme sacrifice. Their names are now among those inscribed as a permanent memorial. They include PASQUALE ARACE, WILLIAM BEATTY, , JACQUES BLOCH, JOHN BURNS, GEORGE COBB, ROBERT DERICK, HENRY HONEYSETT, JOHN NASUTTA, GILBERT TABOR, JR. - all from the Class of'45; and GEORGE BASSETT, THOMAS FLANIGAN, CHARLES FRAZEE, REX GREENE, LOUIS GUZZO, LAWRENCE LATTIZORI, CHARLES SPRINGER and EDWIN TAYLOR II, from the Class of 1946. Arthur E. Fay 18 Gloucester Ln. West Hartford, Conn. 06107 fax: 860-522-2390 Class Agents: Andrew W. Milligan '45 Irving]. Poliner, M.D. '47
The Class extends sympathy to BRENT HARRIES on the death of his wife. A group of classmates gathered for lunch at the Homecoming game with Amherst. They included BOB BLUM, ROGER HALL, FRANK SHERMAN and BOB TANSILL. You missed a great day by not coming -- put it down for next year. BEN BYERS '51 writes that this past August, by coincidence, four alums were included in a group of guests at a magnificent ranch 6,500 feet up in Montana's Rockies on the northern edge ofYellowstone Park. He notes, "We did Trinity proud in the face of keen competition from Princeton in fly fishing, hiking, wrangling, trail blazing, mountain riding, square dancing, pool playing and procrastinating. What a great time! All made possible by our very gracious hosts." Attendees were HANNAH STEBBINS '92, DICK STEBBINS '59, CARL T IEDEMANN and Ben. EDWARD ALBEE's play, "Three Tall Women," was presented at the Dallas Theater Center. FRED BORN '65, who lives in Dallas, sent the playbill to the alumni office. An interview with Albee appeared in the August 1996 edition of The Progressive. Robert Tansill 270 White Oak Ridge Rd. Short Hills, N.J. 07078 Class Agents: Robert M. Blum, Esq.
John G. Grill, Jr. Harry K. Knapp
As mentioned in the notes from the Class of'50, BEN BYERS tells about the "chance" meeting of four alums at a ranch on the edge of Yellowstone. Sounds as if everyone thoroughly enjoyed the setting and those gathered. SCOTT BILLYOU sent a review of the Chronicles ofthe Frigate Macedonian, 1802-1922 by JAMES DE KAY The book is a biography of a famous vessel captured by Stephen Decatur during the War of 1812 and converted into an American naval vessel. The book is noted in "Books by Trinity Authors" in this issue. E Bruce Hinkel 15 Woodcrest Dr. New Providence, N.J. 07974 Class Agents: Timothy R. Cutting David E Edwards
Reunion '97: June 5-8
TED THOMAS, who lives in West Hartford, writes that he is "still involved in turf vending, otherwise known as real estate sales." Class Agent: Lyndon H. Ratcliffe
RALPH DAVIS is treasurer of the Hartford Black History Project at the Connecticut Historical Society. In addition, letters he wrote regarding the importance of integration; the reopening of the Bloomfield Branch Library and the availability of a Bloomfield swimming complex; and the "lasting beauty of penning thought" have appeared in Hartford-area newspapers. Samuel H. Ramsay, Jr. 8 Greenwood Ave. Rumford, R.I. 02916 L Class Agents: Richard T. Lyford, Jr. Joseph B. Wollenberger, Esq.
Only two items to report this time: MICHAEL MORPHY has moved to Montecito, Calif