Mar 1999

It has always been clear to me that one day my inability to out-drinkWill Bogaty would cost me. Alas, at our Harvard weekend in New York last fall, that shortcoming came home to roost, as it were, and here I am, your new corresponding secretary. That annual mini-reunion, enhanced by the Bulldogs’ avenging the tragic “loss” of three decades earlier, included classmates Ralph Sando, Larry Franks, Steve Dixon, Jeffrey Rosen, Rob High, Don Galligan, Quentin Lawson, David Stretch, and, I think, Jim Schweitzer, or at least a comatose facsimile thereof. All of them, and accompanying spouses and friends, seemed to be in good shape, relatively successful and happy. Of the group, only Bogaty has news, which is that while he awaits his fate in the recently announced Mobil-Exxon merger, he ponders how he will pay for Pampers for his youngster.

Anyway, I am humbled by this responsibility, regardless of the circumstances of my nomination. If you don’t remember me (and if you didn’t spend a lot of time in the Payne-Whitney 5th floor basketball courts or in Mory’s, you wouldn’t), I was the one who had the pet monkey named Moses during freshman year in Vanderbilt.

I am living in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where I am the editor of the free, alternative weekly newspaper, the Louisville Eccentric Observer, which I founded in 1990. I have a 15-year-old son who is headed for a career as a professional golfer, which means he probably won’t be attending Yale. Enough about me.

I hope to be entertaining you with Bogaty-like wit over the coming months, but my first responsibility is to catch up with some of the accumulated correspondence. Here are the most recent news items.

William Shullenberger reports from Lawrenceville, New York: “I’m in my 17th year of teaching literature at Sarah Lawrence. I’ve offered courses in African literature, now, in addition to the courses on Milton, English Renaissance, and the classics that I’ve done for years. Bobbie and I wrote a book about our two years teaching on a Fulbright grant in Uganda. It’s called Africa Time, and University Press of America published it this fall.”

John Wyatt Starr sent along a copy of his Christmas letter from his hacienda in Barcelona, Spain. It reports that his daughter Carli (21) is a Washington intern: “ . . . armed with a fear-inspiring last name, . . . she has skirted past Oval Office Evil. . . . ” Daughter Lauren (19) is a student at University College of London. Wife Christy is writing a Newcomers Guidebook to Barcelona. As for John, he apparently has a business selling stuff all over the world, but I couldn’t figure out what. In any event, I wish I could reprint his letter in full; he probably ought to be writing this submission. If you want to reach him (maybe for tickets to the next golf tournament at Valderrama), his email address is (100620.3703@compuserve.com).

Tom Earley checked in from Alexandria, Virginia, as follows: “Had a great time at the Napa weekend organized by John Gazzoli. It was amiable and rejuvenating, and we drank some good wine. John is wasted at the law.” Others attending with spouses and partners: John Beinecke, George Chopivsky, Woody Collins, Walker Knight, Earl Sacerdoti, Jim Spellergerg, Dick Treffers, and Jamie Woolery.

Michael Baum reports from Madison, Wisconsin, that he has just completed his first year as CEO of Advantage Learning Systems, a public company whose business he must assume is self-explanatory. In any event, the NASDAQ symbol is ALSI, and it has risen from its initial offering price of $24 to somewhere in the mid-50s. Surely Tom must realize this information goes directly to the development office! He notes these events have “greatly increased the volume and diversity of my junk mail,” and he and Ruth look forward to the 30th reunion.

Art Segal, gynecologist-to-the-stars, has moved his growing family (three children) to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he continues to practice. Question: Do the mountains visit Mohammad, or vice versa?

Finally, Jim Herrington wrote from Lahaina, Hawaii, to advertise that he has two extra copies of The Old Campus for our class, in excellent condition, which he is willing to send to anyone who wants them. He requests a $3 payment for postage after receipt. He can be reached at P.O. Box 1256; Lahaina, HI 96767-1256. It’s hard to believe that such a popular volume is out of print, but apparently that’s the case.

In case you want to take on the aging George Foreman, Nick Davidson, who visits Louisville periodically from his California home, has developed a boxing training camp in the desert. He also is working on a book on health tips for boomers. Brad Gascoignehas moved back to his hometown of Cleveland from the west coast and has invited me to play golf at his club, where Yale golfer and former Tiger Woods agent John Hughes Norton also is a member. (I will accept his invitation and extend one to them and others to join me at Valhalla, where the 2007 Ryder Cup will be held.)

Bruce Weinstein, our class delegate to AYA, has reported on last fall’s AYA Assembly, the theme of which was “The Internationalization of Yale.” Among the questions discussed, Weinstein wrote, were: Should Yale admit more international students, and if so, should overall student body population be increased to maintain the current ratios? Should the university increase the range and depth of course offerings relating to international topics and languages? Should Yale promote international campuses offering a Yale degree?

Weinstein concludes: “There was ample (and I hope overwhelming) sentiment that Yale remain a world-class American university offering the finest undergraduate education in the country, incrementally moving to increase opportunities for international studies and students.”

That’s it for now. I look forward to hearing from all of you.