Mar/April 2017

On a surprisingly mild late November afternoon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a miracle happened. After a decade of disappointment, Yale’s underdog Bulldogs played superbly on both sides of the ball and upset a potent Cantab team, 21–14. Your scribe enjoyed every minute of it, and will continue to savor sweet victory, undimmed “through mem’ry’s haze.” The white handkerchief came out, and vigorous waving shook off the years of dust and dreams denied. It even dabbed a few tears of joy. Hallelujah.

This sweetest of victories followed consumption of a most tasty collection of comestibles, served up by our redoubtable biennial Cambridge host and hostess, Lang and Kathy Wheeler. There was good conversation among classmates, and another fine performance by the current Whiffenpoofs.

Meanwhile, back on earth, class rep Harold Mancusi-Ungaro has submitted his 2016 report on the AYA assembly: “I had the privilege of representing the class as your delegate to the annual AYA assembly this year, November 10–12. Every year there is a unifying theme representing a sector of the university. Last year was medicine and public health. This year was the role of the art schools and the arts at Yale—Teaching to Our Strengths: Yale’s Schools of Art, Architecture, Drama, and Music. We heard from the deans of each of the schools as well as representative undergraduate and graduate students in each discipline. This was also the first AYA assembly for Weili Cheng ’77, the new executive director.

“When you think about it, art is part of the liberal arts education. It chronicles our history. In addition, these schools interact with other schools. Classes in the museums teach medical students the importance of observation. Architecture interacts with the School of Forestry and Environmental Sciences to appreciate the impact of each on the urban landscape.

“Appreciate that this was the week of the presidential election. We heard from President Salovey. He reiterated Professor Woodward’s principles of 1974. Despite what you might have heard in the press, there was order. I have to say, it was quiet compared to our day: chalk messages on the Cross Campus sidewalks.

“The real theme and purpose of the meetings and the AYA in general is to encourage engagement or re-engagement of alumni with the university and with each other. There are options for mentoring—mentoring students or even each other.

“That said, we have a 50th reunion on the horizon. Most of us are turning 70 next year. More have retired. Let’s look forward to perhaps some local or regional mini-reunions in the next couple of years to reengage. To be sure, Art Segal and I have some ideas. The AYA office will be there to help us. And maybe it is time for the listserv (so twentieth-century) to give way to a Facebook page. Anyone have the time, expertise, and interest? Please let us know.

“And thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you.”

Harold also reports on his own life’s arc: “I retired January 31, 2015. We did our share of traveling in 2015 thru this past winter. We stayed home enjoying Sonoma County this past summer. Funny, after growing up always wanting to be a doctor, then fulfilling my personal and professional goals, I do not miss it. I have gone back to the passions I had and developed in high school and college: art history and photography. I have become increasingly involved in alumni activities, particularly for the medical school. I have served as secretary and now VP of AYAM and will assume the role of president in June 2017 to June 2019, encompassing both my medical school and college reunion years. I cannot adequately express to the class how gratifying it has been to become engaged with Yale again, and in a sense giving back.”

From Bruce Bolnick: “I retired three years ago as chief economist at Nathan Associates, an international economics consulting company in Arlington, Virginia. I still do intermittent consulting, most recently in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Mozambique. Retirement activities include developing proficiency on classical guitar (I joined the Boston Guitar Orchestra, and have done several low-key performances), and serving as a volunteer naturalist for Mass. Audubon and Appalachian Mountain Club.”

George McNamee, a man of few words, but many obvious talents, reports in toto: “Parent ’20 Roger McNamee.” WTG, George! George is CEO of Plug Power, Inc., which makes sense, I guess.

Ten years ago, your scribe began listing our classmates who were “lost” according to Yale’s records. Several were later welcomed back into the fold. With the 50th looming on the horizon, I have obtained an updated listing of the “lost,” which continues herewith: Sheldon Carnes, John Cunningham, Cornelis Disco, Felix Downes-Thomas, Angus Ferguson, John Fifield, and Ellison Funderburk. I fully realize that some classmates are “lost” on purpose, and wish to remain that way. But I will keep a candle burning in the window, just in case. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Your scribe was just informed of the death of Neill Watson. A memorial will appear in the next issue.

“The closing years of life are like the end of a masquerade party, when the masks are dropped.”—Arthur Schopenhauer.