Jan 2004

Anticipation of the reunion certainly has had an impact on the old mailbag. Your letters are streaming in, I guess because either you don’t want to answer a lot of questions next spring, or you’re not planning to be there. We all hope it’s the former and not the latter. In any event, here we go.

Daniel Seiver wrote from Cincinnati: “My daughter graduated from Yale in May, my son graduated from high school in June, and started at my school, Miami (Ohio), in August. I got married in August. The sun is shining again!” And what did you do on your summer vacation?

From Alan Hurwitz in Amherst, Massachusetts (Yes, this was written in third person) : “Alan and Ana (I’m guessing this is the bride’s name, but penmanship is not Alan’s forte.) Lizano-Hurwitz celebrated their third wedding anniversary this past June, after a whirlwind 13-year courtship and an impulsive wedding proposal in a romantic restaurant in Sorrento, Italy. Turns out it was the perfect process, though he is convinced his marriage, his first, may shock some, especially several former girlfriends. Alan continues consulting with organizations on management issues in the U.S. and other countries, trying to help folks deal as well as possible with this shrinking and increasingly complex world. Alan and Ana spend part of the winter in their Miami Beach condo. Please come by for our sunset wine ritual on the balcony,” they said. (I apologize if your wife is not named Ana.)

Albee Budnitz, a fairly regular correspondent, checked in from Nashua, New Hampshire, but I must paraphrase, since Albee is even more deficient at the pen than Hurwitz. He announced that his second grandchild, a girl, was on the way, which means when you read this she will have arrived. Two of his children have found gainful employment. One has an MFA from Yale School of Art and is working in Boston; the second is working in the UK. A third child is in New Zealand for junior year abroad from American University. Albee said that he is winding down some of his medical/political terms and looking forward to more personal and family time.

William Shuman wrote, in perfectly legible form, from Redmond, Washington: “Have enjoyed reconnecting with the recently married Bruce Mazo (Sarasota, Florida) andRichard Olsen (Topanga, California), who is a marriage counselor par excellence. Both are former roommates.” Andy Vickery, a trial lawyer in Houston, sent along a bio, with a note that read: “As enclosed shows, I fight grizzly bears — big grizzly bears.” Apparently he was referring to the pharmaceutical companies who make antidepressants, whom Andy successfully sued. I am sure the development office is all over this one.

Finally, William Freeman wrote, in perfectly legible form, from Milwaukee: “At the age of 40 I became totally disabled. I live on Social Security in a government-subsidized apartment. The highlight of my month is getting the Yale Alumni Magazine.”

Remember, our 35th is May 27-30, so make plans now, and send extensive reviews of your last five years to avoid unnecessary chatter between cocktails. Until next time, I am your humble correspondent, begging you to print clearly.