Class Notes – Mar/Apr 2019

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 drew the cover for the Whiffenpoofs’ album. After Yale, he went to Annapolis and became an officer in the Navy and did two tours in the Pacific. He served in Japan and Vietnam. After earning an MBA at Harvard Business School, Bruce worked for Bendix, and then became a financial consultant, while still active in the Naval Reserve Association.”

“Bruce was a warm and loving husband and I could see the love in his face every day. He was my best friend, my soul mate and my travel mate for the many adventures we went on. I knew Bruce for 15 years before he finally proposed. It was truly a gift and I am so thankful for those days.”

“He was also extremely strong and was called “The Rock” in the Navy. Under that strong exterior was one of the most loving, gentle, and ethical men I have ever known.

She closes her memorial to Bruce with:

“My love for you will never falter, never subside. My love for you will remain a constant, a barrier for grief and a vessel for joy. As you lay your head upon this pillow, do so with the thought of my eternal love resting gently upon your heart.”

Bruce will be buried with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on April 4^th at 3 PM. Friends of Bruce can contact Barbara at barbara.adams-plyer@vitas.com or at 201-739-3589.

Political news: The Wall Street Journal reports that our own John Yarmuth (D-KY) is in line to be the next Chairman of the House Budget Committee: “Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky, the panel’s top Democrat, is considered the frontrunner to become its next chairman. Mr. Yarmuth, 71 years old, is currently in his sixth term in the House. A former Senate aide, Mr. Yarmuth also worked for years in the media, writing columns for a Louisville weekly newspaper he founded and debating politics on television. Currently the only Democrat in the Kentucky congressional delegation, Mr. Yarmuth generally sides with Democratic party leaders, but has said he can be more skeptical when it comes to federal regulations. Mr. Yarmuth has used his position as the top Democrat on the budget committee to challenge years of Republican budget blueprints seeking to reduce federal spending, particularly through cuts to safety-net programs such as Medicare. He said recently that if he takes the panel’s helm, he would hold a hearing on “Medicare for All,” a single-payer system in which the government, not insurance companies, typically pays health-care providers for treating patients.” Classmates with opinions on US healthcare (all of us!) may be able to bend John’s ear at the 50^th. Still another reason to attend.

More politics: Matt Flynn ran for Governor of Wisconsin, but lost in the primary to the eventual winner.

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Lamar Smith (R-TX) retired from the House of Representatives after a career there spanning 30 years. He was most recently the Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

TV: Jim Porter won an Emmy for Outstanding Nature Documentary for his film “Chasing Coral.”  The documentary describes the devastating effects of climate change on coral reefs, Jim’s research specialty at the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia.

50^th Reunion:  Only a few months away!!! The latest news about our program and attendees will be posted on the Class Website at yale1969.org.

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“The secret to staying young is to surround yourself with the younger generation. It is boring to talk to the elderly about their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.”