Frederick W. Morris – 50th Reunion Essay

Frederick W. Morris

4854 Russell Ave S

Minneapolis, MN 55410

caribouowl@gmail.com

612-759-9050

Spouse(s): Connie Noterman (1985)

Child(ren): Zachary (1986) and Andrew (1988)

Education: Georgetown University Law, 1975

National Service: US Army Reserves, ’70–’76

Career: Trial lawyer for 38 years

Yale is more an impression now than a detailed memory. Like prior civilizations buried beneath succeeding eras, Yale has been covered over by layers of life. I cannot recall what, if any, grand ambitions I may have had. But I do recall that I was eager to get away from the relatively safe incubator of Yale and into the real world. Between then and now, I’ve spent a deeply meaningful year in the inner-city as a VISTA volunteer, served in the Big Brother program to a number of young boys, worked my way through law school and had a successful career as a trial lawyer in which I represented a lot of folks pro bono in their efforts to secure basic benefits from the system, married and raised two sons, and suffered a spinal cord injury that has left me somewhat handicapped. Beneath all of these layers, the four years of Yale lie as significant but by no means the most important years of my life.

What are my takeaways from the highs and lows, bumps and bruises of careening around life for 70 years? I’ve learned that the small things are the big things. Notable professional successes come and go while human connections endure. My year living and working with an inner-city gang as a VISTA volunteer was transformational. One young man, Andy Waters, was so full of life and enthusiasm despite his circumstances that I promised myself to honor him by naming a child after him, should I ever have children. He was very special to me. He later was arrested for bank robbery and incarcerated at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. That, however, has not diminished his special qualities in my eyes. I have a son named Andy. I learned up close during my year in VISTA that we’ve done a poor job of creating equal opportunities for success among a significant part of our society.

The things that warm my days are memories of and ongoing connections with family and friends. Although the details grow dimmer, I recall with pleasure the years of playing on the Yale football team from 1966–68, especially 1967–68. The final Harvard game was disappointing but, as I’ve learned, life happens.

In January 2014, shortly after retiring from practicing law, I had a skiing accident that bruised my spinal cord. That injury has taught me many lessons. Initially, I was paralyzed below my neck. I’ve recovered use of my upper body but am still using a cane for walking. I cannot bike, ski, hike, take long walks… many of the things I loved doing before my accident. I work out daily in an effort to continue to recover strength and more functionality. This process has taught me patience and given me perspective. All the old clichés are, for me, real—live in the moment, don’t take people for granted, be kind.

In the years since graduating, I’ve learned we’re all fragile. We need each other more than we realized 50 years ago.