Class Notes Jul/Aug 2018

The Mother of all Reunions is set for May 30-June 2, 2019.  That is less than a year away! The latest news about our program and attendees will be posted on the Class Website at yale1969.org. It is time to mark your calendar. Your scribe looks forward to seeing all of you.

The Reunion Committee is also planning an event during the Yale-Harvard football weekend this November in Cambridge. More news on this to follow!

We have just learned that Joel Peterson died in April 2018. This newspaper memorial was submitted by his wife Patricia:

“Joel Peterson, longtime member of Olivet, died at Our Lady of Peace Hospice four months after his cancer diagnosis. Joel taught philosophy and religion for over 30 years at North Hennepin Community College and also worked several years in curriculum development at the MnSCU system office.  He enjoyed working collaboratively with colleagues across the curriculum.  Family activities included sailing, camping, and traveling.  He was a runner and a musician.  At Olivet, he sang in the choir, served as moderator, and offered sessions in adult education.”

We have also recently learned that Paul McLaughlin died on March 28, 1986. This obituary appeared in the Boston Globe on April 1, 1986:

“Paul Edward McLaughlin, 38, a scholar who devoted his life to history, especially the intellectual history of 20th-century philosophy, died Friday in San Francisco after an illness of several months. A longtime Cambridge, Mass., resident, he moved here in November.

After military service, Mr. McLaughlin entered Harvard University to pursue graduate work. From 1974 to 1976, Mr. McLaughlin did primary research in Paris on his dissertation, “Alexander Kojeve and the Hegelian Revival in France Between the Wars,” with a Mme. Carriere Traveling Fellowship and a Harvard University Traveling Fellowship.

This work, completed in Cambridge in 1981, broke with Anglo- American historiographical tradition, which had regarded continental philosophy between Kant and Sartre as “largely terra incognita.” Mr. McLaughlin’s work established the logic and continuity of Hegel studies in France in the ’20s and ’30s as a critical element in development of existential Marxist philosophy and contemporary neo- Hegelian schools of thought. Harvard awarded him a PhD in 1982.

While writing his dissertation, Mr. McLaughlin also worked at WGBH-TV and at the Word Processing Center at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Engineering.

In recent years, while continuing scholarly work, including studies of Sartre and of telecommunications theory, he was self- employed as a word- processor and text editor. With an intellect that was considered daunting, Mr. McLaughlin’s friends knew another side: a passionate fan of rock music and the Boston Celtics, an enthusiastic amateur artist and birdwatcher.”

On a happier note, Madeline Hoffman ’19 is our 1969 Scholarship beneficiary. According to Yale, “Maddie has declared a major in chemistry (intensive) and reports additional interests in chemical engineering and physics. She puts her engineering skills to work as lead of the earth science sub-team for the Yale Undergraduate Rover Association, and she also captains our club swimming team. Reflecting on her years at Yale, she writes ‘I’ve learned how to branch out of my comfort zone and really work hard at problems. I’ve also grown as a person because of the people I’ve met here who have shared their unique experiences with me.’ Last summer she traveled to Berlin with Yale Summer Session and credits the program with helping her to vastly improve her German language skills. During her time there, she spoke the language constantly and was able to ‘explore a new culture more fully and go beyond the tourist destinations.’”