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Summer-Fall 2001
Vol. 64, No. 1

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Undergraduate
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'50s
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In Memoriam

Class Acts

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Class Notes--Undergraduate

'50

Class Correspondent
Kenneth Hubel

2562 Oak Circle N. E.
North Liberty, IA 52317
(319) 626-6562
E-mail: khubel@inav.net

Mel Anderson may be remembered not only by classmates from 1950, but from 1942 as well. After the War, when he returned to campus to complete his studies in engineering, he had two children and two more before graduation. He initially worked on guided missile systems and later switched to the design of digital computers, digital television, and circuits for decoding scrambled signals. He later taught electronic engineering at Northern Montana College before retiring 10 years ago. He has written several books-"one as an audio book, and eight others are now available as e-novels." Mel and his wife had six children. Two daughters live close by in Washington State. He'd be delighted to hear from old classmates. His e-mail address is mfand@juno.com.

Don Parker married Isabelle La Beouf '45N, a graduate of the School of Nursing, a month after graduation. He joined RCA as a specialist developing optics for color television and military applications. Several years later, he was chief engineer at RCA Camden and later became vice president of programs. He remained with the company when they were acquired by General Electric and managed development and production of secure communications systems in the 20 years before his retirement in 1991. The work merited commendations from the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Donald Parker, their son, has a money management company in New York, and their daughter, Leslie McGowan, is township planner for East Brunswick, N.J.

Isabelle died in 1984, and Don married Veronica Bush in 1992. They are enjoying golf and tennis (strictly doubles), and he documents their numerous trips with his major hobby, photography. (17 Coach Lane, Cherry Hill, N.J. 08002)

In a postscript, Don recalled that he "spent the frigid winter of '45-'46 at the Navy Pre-Flight school in Iowa City." Navy Pre-Flight vanished long ago, but he would still recognize the chill from the annual "Alberta Clippers."

Ted Pella met his German-born wife, Christel, in Stockholm in 1956, when he was working for a biomedical engineering company. She was skilled in electron microscopy, and when she was invited to Johns Hopkins as a research associate, the friendship blossomed into marriage. After Ted managed a new company for a Swedish firm in D.C., they returned to Stockholm with their two children, 6 and 7, who quickly learned the language. The change in culture brought some difficulties ("Why can't daddy speak Swedish as well as we can?") and many pleasures, such as the Dec. 13 St. Lucia celebration, when members of the office staff strolled the halls carrying candles, singing carols, and following a young woman wearing a crown of burning candles. Grog added to the warmth. The Pellas have noticed changes in the Swedish ways since then-including a loss of the old formality.

Some years later, they returned to the United States and started their own company on the West Coast in biomedical manufacturing. With the expectation of Ted's imminent retirement, their son is assuming more responsibility for the business that now has a staff of 35.

Ted reflects with gratitude on his professors: John Christopher in history, H. P. Atkins and A. O. Ginkel in mathematics, D. Green in German, Edwin Wiig and W. Albert Noyes in chemistry. And he recalls old friends: George Austermann, Art Couch, Gene Welch, Chuck Feltz, Norm Wallen '52 (Mas), and Terry Terezi. (4485 Brittany Drive, Redding, Calif. 96002)

'56

45th Reunion
October 12-14, 2001

'57

Charles Achilles '67W (PhD) was one of three authors of the fourth edition of Finding Funding, Grantwriting from Start to Finish, Including Project Management and Internet Use. The book provides an update for changing technology and strategies of writing successful government, foundation, and private grants. . . . Davis Clark '67M (MD), '72M (Res) e-mails that he has retired from Concord Orthopaedics, which he founded in 1972. He has moved to York Harbor, Me., and works part time at Acess Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Exeter, N.H.

'58

Class Correspondent
John Rathbone

RD 2 Box 55
Hamilton, NY 13346
E-mail: jrathbon@dreamscape.com

Your correspondents have been saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Hersey Perry in November 2000.

Cordell Bahn '62M (MD) wrote to say that Jerry Gardner's notes in the Rochester Review regarding Jim Alrutz's work in Africa caught his eye. Cordell recently retired from practicing surgery and is interested in what others are doing at our stage in career and life. He has remained active in the medical school alumni activities, including reunions. "Of late, though, I've been coming back almost yearly to spend time in Rochester and Geneva; putting it together to make it at a '58 reunion time would be excellent."

Marg Taylor Adams says that she loves it in Florida and enjoys her golfing.

Pete Tarrant wrote to say that he has been in the country for a while getting caught up on things.

Dick Vidale retired from Boston University at the end of May. The Vidales planned to travel, including "a three-week sojourn" in Greece.

Don Culley is looking forward to the simultaneous celebration of his 45th Rochester reunion and his 55th high school reunion in the same year-2003. Don reports leading a satisfying and busy life, having just turned 70, and being in good health "for his age" (not an exact quote, but close enough!).

On April 18 Elinor (Lyn) Abbey sang the soprano solo (the Pie Jesu) of Faure's Requiem at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Schenectady, N.Y., with the Octavo Singers choral group. Lyn adds, "If you know of anyone in the New York capital region interested in singing in a choir, let me know; we can always use more male voices!"

Joyce Timmerman Gilbert was planning to take a choir group to England and Wales in June and then race back to sit in on son Matthew's dissertation defense at Cornell Medical School. In July, her immediate family will be going to Germany (Bavaria) to attend the wedding of their German son and his French fiance. "Then Dick and I will participate in a conference in the Bohemian Forest (Czech Republic), after which our kids will pick us up for a quick run through Dresden and Berlin to Denmark to visit a church family whose daughter is one of our son Douglas' students here in Rochester. Nothing like complexity, I always say. Dick retires on June 30, 2002, after 32 years at Rochester Unitarian. We'll skip town for about two years, probably returning to the general area to establish a retirement base. And I'll take a small group to Holland, France, and Germany in May 2002. Tough choice between the clothes and the no-clothes spas in Baden Baden! Anyone want to go along?"

Walter Sy '62M (MD) sends "Greetings from New Hampshire from me and Jeanie (nee Maddox, nursing 1960)! I retired almost three years ago after a wonderful 35-plus year practice of medicine. After Rochester, Dartmouth, and Yale as the sources of my education, I did my tour with the Navy, then returned to Dartmouth for a 10-year academic career. About 20 years ago, I came to Keene, N.H., in private practice, dividing my time between anesthesiology and an office practice in pain medicine. Through the years, Jeanie has used her nursing skills in a variety of ways, not the least of which was to raise our three children, Jennifer, Christian, and Alice. Many boards have benefited from her organizational skills, the city was improved by her several terms as council person, and presently the industrial community benefits from her part-time role as an occupational health nurse with special attention to OSHA requirements. Our interests beyond those of profession and family have always centered around rural living and farm labors. Yes, we still heat with wood, spin wool, make maple syrup, grow big gardens and "can" every fall. All this occurs on a hilltop farm with a 50-mile view in Westmoreland, N.H. All of you who may come to this area are urged and welcome to stop by. A longtime interest in history has led to Civil War reenacting, and at times Jeanie joins in with her beautiful 19th century attire! Furniture-making for me and volunteering in a variety of efforts for Jeanie fill out our days here in the hills. Travel gets us down out of the hills, especially to the northwest (Jennifer and family), the south (Alice), and two miles down the road (Christian and family)! For Jeanie and me, the University remains as a guiding experience as well as a time of so many good memories. Cheers and best wishes to all, Walter and Jeanie"

Mary Robinson Grow wrote that she visited her daughter, Ginny, and her family in Illinois in April and May.

John and Val Evans Rathbone have again helped to move their younger daughter, but only a couple of houses down the street this time-and it didn't even snow! They anticipated a trip west to Fallon, Nev., to visit their other daughter and her family who, according to current plans, will join the Rathbones and head east in a caravan returning to New York for "an extended visit" while the family relocates.

'59

Brett Hawkins sends a note that he has retired after 37 years as a college professor. His career included faculty appointments at Washington and Lee University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The author of numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and of seven books, Hawkins has been listed in Who's Who in America for the past 14 years. He's currently writing short fiction. . . . The History Book Club chose Wars of the Irish Kings, by David McCullough, as a main selection of the month for October 2000.

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