Claes Nilsson – 50th Reunion Essay

Claes Nilsson

192 Fayerweather Street

Cambridge, MA 2136

nillsonclaes@yahoo.com

617-947-3052

Spouse(s): Kathleen (1989)

Child(ren): Carl, Matthew, Siri, John

Grandchild(ren): David, Bayer, Julie, Everett, Rosalie, Ronan

Education: Yale MD

National Service: US Army Medical Corps, 1981–1983

Career: Medicine

Avocations: Painting. Glass blowing

College: Ezra Stiles

Yale changed my life. I was accepted early after my junior year in high school and decided to wait one year. I started a major in physics and philosophy and changed to international relations. I was interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy in part because I was born in Sweden and held a deep admiration for Dag Hammarskjold, the second secretary-general of the United Nations. I participated on the Yale debate team with my dear friend John O’Leary, who served as ambassador to Chile and died tragically of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We were both members of the liberal party in the Political Union and received great help from John Kerry. I served as the head of the Yale delegation to the Model United Nations. I played intramural tennis, JV soccer, and the trumpet in the Yale Marching Band.

I have vivid memories of the 1967 Harvard-Yale Game, marching into the bowl through one of the tunnels onto the field with 72,000 cheering fans as we played the Star Spangled Banner. A close friend and classmate, Bob Polackwich, taught me to play golf at the magnificent Yale golf course. He was captain of the team and we were very close. He died in a boating accident in Florida where he was an oncologist and deep sea diver. I made lifetime friends of Matt Flynn, Paul Abrams, and Ralph Swenson.

I finally decided on medicine and was accepted to Yale Medical School. Golf helped me to survive the intensity of medical school. I used to play nine holes with my friend Lee Goldman. Eventually I pursued internal medicine at the University of Vermont and hematology and oncology at the University of California, San Francisco. After my fellowship, I joined the Army Medical Corps and carried out research at the Presidio in San Francisco. My commanding officer wanted me to stay in the army but I took a pass on that and returned to Boston to work and teach at Harvard Medical School. After a couple of decades, I started a program in Portland, Maine, and then returned to Boston. Now I have gone full circle and work in rehab medicine and hospice.

I am fortunate to have four children and seven grandchildren. My wife Kathy is a talented and published poet. I have found great joy in painting and glass blowing. It has been a while but I am still drawn to golf.

As I write this, I will be flying to Milwaukee to campaign for Matt Flynn for governor of Wisconsin. Matt has been a lifetime friend and inspiration.

For many years, starting at Yale, I struggled with depression. Finally, I found the right combination of medication and therapy. Now life is good.