CLASS NOTES Dick Leithiser wrote from Queensburg, New York, where he was for the holidays. He spent Thanksgiving at his niece’s home in Albany, New York, with 34 family members. He said that it was a happy and loud gathering. Dick said that 2013 was a good year with no surgeries, and he is still able to live independently in the mountains and in Cape Canaveral, Florida. His mobility is somewhat limited, and he has some arthritis in his hands. George and Nell Oliver miss living in the mountains and hope to spend more time there this year. Alice and I hope this means that we can resume our summer lunches with them in Highlands. I received a nice card from Ruth and Red Bragg. He said that he and Bookie Bond made the same trip to Camp Breckinridge that Hoge Sutherland and Ed Burwell did in October 1950. Red and Ruth are fine. Bob and Nancy Lynd spent three months (November 2013 to Jan. 31, 2014) in Sanibel, Florida, (as usual) and enjoyed it (as
usual). Last spring, Bob’s doctor found “something” on his lung and wanted to operate, but he finally concluded with a biopsy that the “something” was benign. This enabled them to make a scheduled trip to Normandy, a long standing item on Bob’s bucket list. Needless to say, the trip was enjoyable and fascinating. Bob and Nancy really miss our mini reunions in Fort Myers, Florida. Those were something else and were so well organized by Ralph and Marilyn. Ann Witt sent a card with a picture taken last summer at her 75th birthday party. All of her children and three of her five grandchildren were there. One of them was Foster Witt, of course, and it was heartwarming to think about his father, whom our brother rats knew so well. Alice and I lived right across the street from Foster Sr., Hoge Sutherland and Tom Harwood when we were all in law school. I remember sometimes when Foster and I were in the library, I would say that I had to go to the grocery store, and he would say he would go with me. That meant he
Class of 1950B: In Memory
Donald B. Kirsch
Peter M. Meredith
42
Erskine Williams Jr.
Sheff D. Olinger Jr.
Edward B. Burwell
was coming to dinner. That happened a lot, and Alice and I remember it fondly – very fondly. Let me hear from you. Your brother rats want to know how you are and what you are doing.
’51
John Ross
These notes cover the period of Oct. 31, 2013, through Feb. 10, 2014, and are basically in sequential order. On the last day of October, I failed to reach Tusten Lanning in Birmingham, Alabama, and left birthday greetings on her message recorder. I likewise failed to reach Harry Bailey at the beginning of November and left a birthday message. Gloria Cowherd called for info, which I supplied, and reported that she and her family are doing well. I wished Des Wray in Staunton, Virginia, a happy birthday and visited with him, during which time I reported on his roommates, Richard Chaplin and Harry Bailey. Jake Wamsley thanked Win Baber for assuming our email coordinator duties and requested that he “keep it up for the indefinite future.” Dick Knight ’70 would like to contact one of our BRs that he met at a Society of Cincinnati function in Washington, D.C. I had a nice visit with Marion Carozza ’50B in Baltimore, Maryland, in which she acknowledged appreciation for having received a valentine card from VMI. I informed her that Buddy Bryan ’71, vice president of the Foundation, was responsible for this activity. Marion subsequently sent me a very informative and impressive biography and obituary of her husband, Tom. I wished Mrs. Whitlow a happy birthday. I traveled to Lexington for the Institute Society Dinner on Founders Day. The Corps looked great, and the dinner was very well attended. I was joined by Harry Bailey, who was accompanied by Dorothy Ann Reason, the widow of an old U.S. Army friend. Harry described the dinner as “a wonderful affair,” including a presentation by Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62 and a performance by the Glee Club. However, VMI ALUMNI REVIEW