Jul/Aug 2009

40th Reunion

“Who invited all these old guys to my reunion?” was a frequent query at our 40th. We may be getting older, but it was generally agreed that we were getting better. Over 300 classmates and family members came back to Mother Yale eager to see old friends, make new ones, learn more about Yale, and learn more at Yale. There were ample opportunities for us all. And we haven’t forgotten how to party.

Thursday arrivals at Branford had a chance to start early with a discussion of Kingman Brewster’s legacy, led by Geoffrey Kabaservice ’88. Friday greeted us with a steady rain that could not dampen our spirits. We attended outstanding AYA lectures by charismatic Yale faculty on a range of subjects, from the financial meltdown to new advances in functional MRI. After one of many delicious repasts, a 1969 class discussion on the meaning of life and death—and what we should be doing as the hourglass runs low—illuminated us all and showed just how far we have come on the road to true wisdom. Dinner Thursday was followed by dancing into the wee hours. A special thanks to our outstanding musical performers Rick Drost, “Stormin’ Norman ” Zamcheck, and Doug Leonard.

Friday brought sunshine and more lectures, more food, and our class dinner. Honorees included John Nelson, John Gazzoli, Howard Newman, George Chopivsky, John Yarmuth, and Dan Seiver. Our reunion class gift totaled $14,614,057 with a 61 percent participation rate.

Our gentleman songster Whiffs, 12 strong and still strong of voice, regaled us more than once with tunes old and new, and their harmonies brought mist to many an eye in contemplation of those seasons which have come and gone.

Saturday morning we discussed health care reform with classmates Ken Davis and Lee Goldman, and attended still more lectures, from Shakespeare with Murray Biggs to Happiness with Professor Tamar Gendler ’87.

On Saturday afternoon, we attended a three-part class panel on 1) the financial meltdown with Howard Newman, Lang Wheeler, and Wayne Willis shedding some new light on our predicament; followed by 2) politics in Washington with our congresspersons Lamar Smith and John Yarmuth showing that bipartisanship is still possible in Washington; and 3) the Reed Hundt comedy monologue, confirming that he is still the wittiest member of our class.

Before Saturday’s barbecue (featuring a cameo appearance by Carmen Cozza), we were serenaded in Woolsey Hall by Whiffs of all ages, Whim ‘n Rhythm, and Glee Club alums, with a special tribute to Fenno Heath.

On Sunday morning our class council (open to all) elected by acclamation Art Segal andLang Wheeler as co-class secretaries. Thus ends the 15-year reign of George Chopivsky, whose outstanding service to the class was noted and applauded repeatedly during the weekend. Tom Emmons will continue his long and distinguished service as class treasurer, and your scribe is honored to serve a full term as corresponding secretary. Plans are afoot for mini-reunions, regional reunions, and outreach efforts to bring more classmates back into the fold. Kudos were also in order for our reunion co-chairs, John Nelson and John Gazzoli, who worked tirelessly to bring off a truly outstanding reunion.

For the first time our class gathered on Sunday morning for a remembrance of those who have died. All the nearly 100 names were read, and many stood to speak of roommates, friends, and lifelong companions whose memories are still fresh in our minds. I single out for special mention the courageous widow of Ralph Sando, who spoke movingly of his life and death.

Your scribe and many others left the traditional Sunday brunch having renewed old ties and commenced new ones. Our one regret is that more of our classmates were not here to share the joys of friendships old and new. Maybe next time.

Those who attended: Abrams, Adams, Allen, Anderson, Aronson, Ashburn Jr., Averill Jr., Bachman, Baum, Beinecke, Bemis, Bennett, Benson, Berkeley, Bernblum, Beslow, Blasini, Blum ’70, Boisseau, Bolnick, Bonpasse, Bookbinder, Brown Jr., Brush Jr., Bucholz, Buck III, Buckingham III, Bundy, Caltrider Jr., Castelli, Chakravarty, Chopivsky Jr., Clark, Click, Coleman, Colton, Connell II, Cowles, Culver Jr., Curchack, Davenport Jr., Kenneth Davis, Steven Davis, Dawson ’71, Dixon, Drost, Dunwell Jr., Earley, Emmons, Farren, Fauth, Feigenbaum, Fisher, Floyd, Flynn, Gallery Jr., Galligan, Nathan Gans Jr., Phillip Gans, Gascoigne III, Gazzoli Jr., Gennis, Georgiades, Golden Jr., Goldman, Goldsmith, Gottshall, Goulka, Gustafson, Guterbock, Haworth, Heller, Henderson, Herseth, High, Higham, Hill, Hine, Hoban, Hood, Howorth, Hundt, Hurwitz, Hutcheon, Igoe Jr., David C. Johnson, David H. Johnson, Jones, Joseph, Juhasz, Kabaservice ’88, Kang, Kellam ’70, Kimball, Knight, Kovac, Kreider Jr, Krochalis, Lam, Lannamann, Lawson, Lazarus, Lehr, Lenck, Douglas Leonard, Geoffrey Leonard, Lerich, Lerman, Lewis, Light, London, MacKay, Mackoff, Martin Jr., May, McAuliffe, McCaughey, McGuire, McNeil ’70, Mills, Mimms III, Minor III, Mischner, Montes, John Nelson, Scott Nelson, Netter, Newman, Niedermayer, Nilsson, O’Leary, Osgood, Osterman Jr., Park, Perault, Platt, Plyer, Pressel, Prosnitz, Raish, Rechter, Reed, Resnicow ., Richards, Riehle Jr., Rosenblum,Mrs. Joyce Sando, Sawyer III ’70, Schiffer, Schneebaum, Schnier, Schonbrun, Schweitzer, Scott, Segal, Seiver, Seymour, Shlachter, Shorter, Simon, Alan Smith, Lamar Smith, Michael Smith, Richard Smith, Snow, Sokolowski, Sprole, Stallcup, Stiles Jr., Straff, Stretch, Swanson III, Taylor, Thompson, Thompson Jr., Tucker, Tufaro, Turnell, Valeche, Van Dyke Jr., Wakefield, Waldman, Wallace Jr, Weber, Weigandt, Weil ’70, Wheeler, Wickwire, Williams Jr., Williams Jr, Willis, Wise III, Wittebort Jr., Wolfe III, Yarmuth, Yee