Class Notes, Mar-Apr 2024

Ken Brown submitted this obituary for his college roommate Richard L. Farren, who died suddenly at his home on December 3, 2023:

“Richard matriculated with the Yale Class of 1969 but graduated in three years with the Class of 1968.  He attended most of the Class of 1969 reunions but could not resist going to the White House upon the invitation from George W. Bush, Yale ‘68.  He graduated from the Harvard Law School in 1971 where he was editor the Law Review for 2 years. Among his many passions, Richard competed in speed skating races on the Olympic Oval in Lake Placid and the Olympic Training Center in Milwaukee, winning medals for his age group.  Since 1973, he sang baritone with the Mendelssohn Glee Club and the West End Community Choir.  He was a history and science buff with a love of opera, chamber and symphonic music.  His grasp of Civil War History was unparalleled. He is survived by his wife, Ellen, and children Elizabeth and Robert. Richard began his law career at Dewey Ballentine where he was an office mate with Governor George Pataki, Yale ’67, and Fred Berg, Yale ‘67.  Since 2002, he has been a board member of the League of Conservation Voters of New York and in 2009 was named a Super Lawyer for his work in environmental matters. Richard was a practicing attorney at the time of his death.”

As reported on the class website: two class members have received the George H.W. Bush, ‘48 Lifetime of Leadership Award honoring alumni/athletes who, “in life after Yale, have made significant contributions in their worlds of governance, commerce, science and technology, education, public service, the arts, and media.”

Frank Shorter distinguished himself as a cross-country runner and recurring national champion at 3 and 6 miles during his senior year and shortly thereafter.  He became the Olympic trials champion at both 10,000 meters and the marathon in both 1972 and 1976.   He went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal in the Marathon in 1972 and the Silver Medal in 1976.

His storied career included founding and Chairmanship of the United States Anti-Doping Agency.  He became the face and father of long-distance running in the US.  His influence upon the world of distance running has been unparalleled.

Dr. Terry Light was highlighted for his extensive professional and volunteer medical and surgical work throughout the third world.  Terry, whose undergraduate experience included 4 years of varsity wrestling, followed his MD degree with nearly 49 years of orthopedic surgery as a world renown pediatric hand surgeon.  He has performed surgery and supervised orthopedic surgical care in numerous underserved countries for patients whose lives were rendered normal and productive by his reconstructive and rehabilitative surgery.  He served as Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at Loyola University Medical Center for over 25 years.

Hughes Norton’s book, Rainmaker, is about to be published by Simon and Schuster, which describes it as “a rollicking tell-all from golf’s first super-agent, Hughes Norton, detailing everything from his life-changing work with Tiger Woods and Greg Norman to his thoughts on golf’s current money-grab era.”

Although it is a bit late to report, your scribe attended the Yale-Harvard game, which was decided (once again) in the last minute. The stout Eli defense held off a frantic Cantab attempt to wrest victory from the Blue.  Yale thus shares the Ivy title, with victories over both Princeton and Harvard. Bragging rights for another year! Your scribe will still be talking about it at the reunion…↓

From Bill Newman and Derry Allen, our Reuion Co-Chairs:

“Our 55th reunion – May 3-June 2, 2024, is fast approaching. It will be another opportunity to renew and create valued friendships and to learn from each other and Yale professors.  Please plan to participate! Our reunion co-chairs, Bill Newman and Derry Allen, and a hearty band of classmates have been working for the past several months to plan this weekend. Our 50^th reunion was excellent. With each of us now five significant years wiser, our 55^th should be even better. By now you should have received the information from the Yale Alumni Association (YAA) about making hotel reservations. For further information about the reunion, please watch your email from YAA, our YAA reunion web page (https://alumni.yale.edu/reunions/class-1969), and our own class newsletter and website (https://yale1969.org/). If you have ideas and/or questions, please email Reunion@Yale1969.org.”