Ralph Swanson reports: “It is with a great deal of sadness that I inform you of the passing today (9/26/2019) of our good friend and classmate, Eric Prosnitz. I just learned this from his long-time girlfriend, Kathi Willis. As you know, Eric was being treated for cancer, but he was very upbeat about the prognosis (I spoke with him last in August). Apparently, he developed a fast-moving blood infection and there was nothing they could…
Martin Hoffmeister, an American architect, died several years ago. Your scribe, in spite of much searching, has not found much about his life. Here is what we have from prabook.com: Martin was born on August 27, 1942 in Prague, Czechoslovakia to Vaclav Rohlik and Milena (Hoffmeister) Klikova. He came to the United States in 1966. After getting his Yale BA in 1969, he earned a Master of Architecture from Yale in 1972. He did postgraduate…
Edward Jay Ferraro died on January 3, 2019. Terence Lenahan writes: Ed was my oldest friend. We met in the summer of 1962 at the end of ninth grade. We went the same way, so we often walked home together talking though his trip was much longer, all the way to Yankee Stadium, about four miles or more. After that we were debate teammates for three years and traveled all over the country together competing….
You can go home again!
Your scribe and nearly 400 classmates, with 300 spouses and family members, returned to Yale for a fabulous 50th. My limited word allowance cannot do justice to the rediscoveries of old friends, and, yet again, the making of new ones. Add in nonstop intellectual stimulation, animated conversations day and night, a steady supply of libations and tasty comestibles, all topped with two servings from our gentlemen songsters, the superb 1969 Whiffenpoofs.
Madeline Hoffman holds the Class of 1969 Scholarship for 2018-19. Yale reports that: “Maddie gained valuable experience as a high energy physics intern at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, in Livermore, California.
Back on campus for her senior year, this …
Your scribe has learned from Barbara Plyer that her husband Bruce Plyer died on November 15, 2018. In an email to your scribe, she reports that “He had just finished lifting weights and came upstairs. His death was a sudden catastrophic event and took only minutes. He loved his time at Yale. He was a member of the Dramat; he rowed for four years; he was an architecture major.” “Bruce was also a talented artist who…
Ken Brown writes: “Over the weekend of October 20th, 6 members of our class with 3 spouses attended a weekend in Charleston, SC. Last November, Ben Slotznick and Ian Glenday from the class of 1970 approached me with the idea of a joint class of 1969, 1970, and 1971 off- site mini-reunion. The thought was that, given the relatively few Yale alumni in the southeast, getting 3 classes to participate would ensure a good crowd. …
Michael Emery Smith died April 23, 2018, at home with his family by his side after a short, but hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Here is what we know: “Michael’s career was mostly in commercial banking. Michael was an involved member of his community as part of the MDI Lions Club and served on boards of various local charitable organizations including the Southwest Harbor-Tremont Ambulance Service, the Tremont Historical Society, the Acadia Family Center,…
Some news about 50th Reunion activities, reports from Harold Ozer’s life, and a request from Barney Brawer regarding an intergenerational sharing of perspectives, possibly to be held with other classes at our reunion.
The Mother of all Reunions is set for May 30-June 2, 2019. That is less than a year away! The latest news about our program and attendees will be posted on the Class Website at yale1969.org. It is time to mark your calendar. Your scribe looks forward to seeing all of you. The Reunion Committee is also planning an event during the Yale-Harvard football weekend this November in Cambridge. More news on this to follow!…
In the process of preparing obituary/remembrances for our 50th Reunion ClassBook, your scribe and others have learned that several more of our classmates have died. We have also found out more about the lives of others who have passed away. When there is room in future issues of this column, I will publish more information about these classmates. According to legacy.com, John C. S. Hutchinson died on November 14, 2013: “Mr. Hutchinson was a U.S. Navy veteran…
How do we top the unalloyed joy of a magnificent upset of the Cantabs in 2016? How about a brilliant 2017 season (9-1) capped with an Ivy Championship, and a delightful drubbing of our hapless nemesis from up north? Your scribe’s white hankie waved with many others in the Bowl, as our long trek through the desert of defeat faded into “mem’ry’s haze.” The Bulldogs are BACK! Here now the news: David Lawrence, via our…
News about the life of Ed Boyle, who blazed a brave and productive path to his end in 1999, leaving behind a lot of people who deeply respected and admired him.
Some reports & stories from Don Lewis and Sam Weisman. References to Joe Mohrman, Bob Horvitz, Reed Hundt and Roger Haile. RIP: Robert Struse. Read more: advanced golf, Jewish ancient wisdom texts and directing a play at regional theatre!
Chris Hoffman publishes a new book of poetry. Some delayed and sad news about Thom Graham, who died in a farming accident in 2012. And we highlight some recent recognition about our own Frank Shorter after the 40th anniversary of his win in Montreal Olympics.
From David H. Johnson: “My wife and I recently visited Mary Starnes, widow of former Dramat director Leland Starnes. Mary lives in Salisbury, Maryland. Lee was teaching and directing at Salisbury State College (now University) when he passed away in 1980. Mary’s as bright, pretty, and perceptive as she ever was. She remembers all the Dramat performances (and performers) of the late ’50s to the late ’60s. She has very precise memories of taking MFA…
