Jan/Feb 2008
January with Simon and Garfunkel: “Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to speak with you again. . . . ” Another year quickly passes into memory, never to return. And still we sing, “time and change shall nought avail, to break the friendships formed at Yale.” Raise a glass, my friend, for dear Old Yale.
Now the news. Our New York head doctors are getting the kudos: Stephen Billick writes: “I guess a person knows that he has gotten old when he starts getting awards. I recently was presented two awards. I received the William A. Schonfeld Award from the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry ‘for outstanding achievement, excellence, and dedication throughout his career in psychiatry’ last March. Then in June I received the Wilfred C. Hulse Award from the New York Council on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ‘for his outstanding contributions to the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.’” Roger Rahtz writes: “I’m honored to have been elected president of the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, which is the oldest psychoanalytic organization in America. In addition to psychoanalytic training, NYPSI offers a wide variety of educational and scientific programs for mental health workers and the community at large.”
And then the darkness: Jim Schweitzer reports: “I’m sorry to have to pass on the sad news that our classmate, Ralph Sando, died of cancer in mid-October. Ralph, who was a prominent ophthalmologist in Philadelphia, is survived by his wonderful wife Joyce, whom he met our junior year and married in 1970; three children, all of whom graduated from Yale; and four grandchildren. Ralph was devoted to his family, his patients, and his community. He was a patron of the arts and a tireless and generous supporter of Yale. Lengthy articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News, written after Ralph died, detailed his extraordinary career, achievements too numerous to mention, and the incredible work he did in his community. You can find the Daily News piece at www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/10568412.html.
”All his professional accomplishments aside, Ralph was undoubtedly most proud of his family: his ‘Belle Amie’ Joyce and his children Ralph Jr. ’93, Holly Rieck ’95, and Blake ’99. Ralph Jr. was Ralph’s partner in their medical practice; Holly and Blake are attorneys. Ralph’s funeral was October 20 in Bryn Mawr and each of his children gave a separate eulogy. They were each remarkable—eloquent, touching, funny, heartbreaking. Each captured Ralph perfectly, each in a different way. Many of our classmates came to the funeral: Dave Stretch, John Yarmuth, Robb High, Don Galligan, Larry Franks (and wife Ellen), Steve Dixon (and wife Peg), Quent Lawson (and wife Ellen), Kim Morsman (and wife Ingrid). It was a nice turnout of Ralph’s roommates, other Morse College buddies, and DKE fraternity brothers, and it was a tribute to the strength of the friendships Ralph made—and maintained—over more than four decades. But it was a sad day.
“Those wishing to make a contribution in Ralph’s memory may send it to the Ralph S. Sando M.D. Fund at Fox Chase Cancer Center, c/o Institutional Advancement, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111.”
More missing (55 total) classmates: William E. Patton, Joel L. Peterson, John D. Porter, Thomas S. Reid. Any information is welcome.
“Those were the days my friend/ We thought they’d never end/ We’d sing and dance forever and a day/ We’d live the life we choose/ We’d fight and never lose/ For we were young and sure to have our way. . . ./ Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days.”—Gene Raskin (sung by Mary Hopkins).