I received lists of Living and Deceased classmates from the WPI alumni office and have updated the lists that appear when you select CLASSMATES above.
Their records identified as deceased many classmates with whom i had lost contact.
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Recent updates
Jerome Kilburne is now living in a skilled nursing facility
I am still living in Auburn Washington with 3 month trip to Buena Vista Spa in Baja California in the winter and fishing trip to Sitka Alaska in the summer. I have one son and a daughter,3 granddaughters,and 3 great grandsons and 3 great granddaughters. I spend my time boating and fishing in Wa,Baja,and Alaska with my son and great long-time friends,many of which are dying .I still have boats at home and one in Baja but often go with my younger friends. My health has been good so far but I have slowed down after 90. In the 50s I worked on the first semi-conductor computer in the world (Transac) at Philco,using experimental transistors developed at Bell Labs and have been following the evolution of chips both at Boeing where I managed the missile electronics built by Boeing and in the world after I retired in .1989.
Bebe and I are continuing to survive in Vermont despite some leukemia for Bebe and balance problems for me.
After receiving a reminder from Ed Power I have initiated my effort to promote attendance at our 70th reunion.
If there is even a remote possibility of your attendance on May 10-11, 2024 please REPLY to this post.
Be sure to consider having a son, daughter or grandchild join you if it makes the trip possible.
My message earlier today re Harold Lake was emailed to 34 addresses. Eleven of those failed because the address could not be found. They include Owen Allen, Norm Gustafson, Lee Hickox, Stan Jorczak, James F. King, Richard Lindquist, Dan Longone, Milt Meckler, James O’Conner, Frank Rybak and Laurence Sanborn.
If you have any information regarding any of these please respond to this post.
Recent Alumni Journal states that Harold Lake died so his name has been moved to the Deceased list
Mr. cancer finally came to visit not once but twice, and I managed to survive and am ready now with Alberta to fill in some holes in our travel wish list. We are both mobile and, in October, will celebrate 65 years of our teenage love affair.
My “TO DO” list is still full, and among other activities, we will be at WPI this spring to present the 18th annual Strage Foundation Innovation Award.
Doing fine. Spending winters at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club in Palm City Florida and summers at a lake in Sturbridge Mass.
All is well.
Peggy and I are back in Florida. We are very fortunate that hurricane Ian did no damage to our home. Many of the communities around us recieved substantial damage. We’re not far from Ft. Myers Beach. Joe King
Several days ago I received a message from Leigh Hickcox regarding his discovery of a 1970 book that contained references to Wat Tyler Cluverius Jr. who was president of WPI during our freshman year.
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The book entitled “Yankees Under Steam”, published by Yankee, Inc. Dublin NH in 1970 (first edition) includes references to Cadet W. T. Cluverius of Worcester, Massachusetts, as being a witness to events that happened prior to the explosion that sank the battleship U.S.S. Maine in the harbor at Havana, Cuba, on 15 February 1898. An event, which led directly to the Spanish-American War, The book can be found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Yankees-Under-Steam-Anthology-stories/dp/B000J0NME2
Leigh also explored a Wikipedia entry for Wat Tyler Cluverius Jr. which has brief information on the Admiral’s birth and early life, his education, leading to appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy., and his becoming president of W.P.I. The Wikipedia entry can be viewed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Tyler_Cluverius_Jr.
Roger Wildt has been a regular contributor to this forum. He sent a long email to me which includes his comments on the Ukraine situation from the perspective of someone living in Europe.
He suggested that I might choose to share the paragraphs which deal with his personal situation. They are as follows.
And I thought that a lot was happening when, just over a year ago, I added a post to the Forum. Naivety in spades. As to me personally, typical of those having a Charcot Foot and no nerve response in the feet, I picked up a serious infection while we on this April’s annual spring flowers jaunt to Finistere. Now nearly three months later; housebound, no walking, two or three weeks to go and the third lost summer of recent years – foot infection – Covid – foot infection. Not happy; nevertheless thankful to have made it this far.
Such personal issues are nuisances; far more serious is the confrontation in Ukraine. Let me comment as an on-and-off European resident since 1954 and now a permanent Belgian resident for over a decade. Forgive me, for this has nothing to do with WPI, but unfortunately it may have a lot to do with our lives for the times remaining to us. Opinions and responsibility for them are strictly my own.
If you wish to read his comments re the war in Ukraine continue reading.
The war in Ukraine is not a war between Russia and Ukraine – it is a war between Russia and the successful and near-successful democracies that make Russia look less than they wish it to, i.e. Western Europe and, by the NATO connection, the US. This situation, especially like the historic alliance-focused initiation of WWI, has the potential to become WWIII – and some feel it already has. We are now only at the beginning of the beginning and nothing will get better until after it has got a lot worse. Yielding some Ukrainian land to Russia will not be the end (anyone remember Munich); cranking up the barely effective sanctions will not be the end; converting Europe to imported LNG will not be the end. And as to negotiation, where to start with a Security Council member of the UN openly violating everything the UN stands for. Nothing will be the end until after the Putin/Russian goals of both reinstating much of the USSR and Russia’s desired place as equals with other world powers will have taken place. Doubts? As I write this in late July, Russia’s Foreign Minister just announced “…a new round of annexations.” If not within Ukraine, where next? There are a lot of nervous countries along the Russian border.
The Ukrainians are very courageous and willing to fight if supplied with weapons. All this will lead to, as personnel losses occur to both sides, is stalemate – and Belgium has a historic familiarity with the disaster and human cost of trench and artillery stalemate. Although the Ukrainians had some early and unanticipated successes, they cannot on their own, even with continued help, win this one. There is only one way to stop all this – and only one: don’t provide Ukraine with just enough weapons to survive a little longer, but defeat Russia on the battlefield and force their withdrawal back to their initial Russian territory – all the way back – Crimea too.
Currently, outside Ukraine, this is not the most popular alternative, but all too often replaced with bleats of negotiation and peace. The permanent ending will require two things that are not yet being done. First, Europe has to stop using Russian oil and gas – now, not after Russia eventually cuts it off when they have figured out how to divert most of it elsewhere. It will be a cold winter and industries will have to shut down, but the price has to be paid for naively dealing with a non-trustworthy partner. Europe will have to bear most of that burden; it won’t be pretty; we are not yet ready and we won’t be ready for years; it’s apt to be extremely disruptive; it may rupture the current European support for Ukraine.
Second, either through NATO or by some other collective/cooperative means that I cannot conceive at this time, a force large enough to accomplish Russia’s defeat will have to be organized to act. It’s time to stop the French concern about embarrassing Putin and the world’s concern about tactical nuclear weapons. Nothing is optimal; nothing can be guaranteed; everything has a risk. But for every day that this goes on, the end point is going to be more expensive, more costly of lives, more destructive to Ukraine and more dangerous because of growing alliances. And by “act”, I mean what is most likely to be a war – not just a surrogate war into which this is evolving. Gradualism and meekly creeping forward will not cut it. Act means act with the determination to succeed – it’s time for the “Powell Doctrine”. Take your pick – now or later, it cannot be avoided. And it’s not all that far from where I am sitting.
Maybe I might sound a little too hot on this issue for some, but when I look around at all the other things that are happening in the world – and hogging so much of the public’s attention on so many relatively lesser issues – I worry that not enough serious personal and financial commitment is coming forth. Information fatigue, over the horizon distance, too many problems closer to home, drifting along is just too damn easy. How many lives could have been saved if 01 September 1939 was the wake-up call to more than a few?
Forgive the rant; enjoy the rest of the summer; be in good health; many thanks to Howie for his willingness to keep lines of communication open.
Roger Wildt roger.wildt@gmail.com
Walt and Harriet Stewart wrote in response to an email to wahastewart@gmail.com
Yes, we are! We are in the same age category as you two, but enjoying life in our semi tropical paradise. We have survived some challenges and remain In Venice full time now. No more travelling.
Regards to all
Walt and Harriet
I want my classmates to know that I am alive and well. For the past five years I have lived with my wife, Donna, in a 55+ gated community in Glen Allen, VA, a suburb of Richmond. We moved to be closer to our son and daughter-in-law and their nine children, seven sons and two daughters who give us much joy. Sadly, due to my health issues and covid, our travels are now fond memories. We have visited over 85 countries and islands, and are truly fortunate to have done so. I wish the remaining classmates all the best.
Hello Neil,
Hope you are still with us.
Alberta and I continue our busy travel schdule since at this point every day is a gift and we try to use it wisely.
Just. now we are in Florid where I am finishing a cancer chem treatment which has been successful and hopefully we can celebrate in October our 65th wedding annversary and my. 90th year on the planet.
In my spare time in addition to managing our Family Foundation and I am just finishing my seventh book.
would love to catch up
Howie Whittle as webmaster
Hank Boynton wrote:
Doing great in Baja California sur Mex,Playing pickleball,fishing ,swimimming,going on quad rides into the boondocks,partying with friends.Health great.
Going to Seattle April25th,lots of fishing and outdoor activity there(see photo).
Alaska in august
Hank sent a photo to me. Maybe if you respond to him he’ll send it to you.
My last Forum post (about Bebe and me) was almost a year ago. We’ve spent many months visiting with family every week mostly via Zoom but we did manage a get together with most of our vaccinated family for Bebe’s 90th birthday last summer.
Our three daughters are now in their 60s but continue to design websites, perform and record music, care for and ride horses, ski, maintain farm animals and do many of the same things with their 7 children and their mates. We have 3 great grandsons one of whom we only know on zoom.
I just did another mailing to 39 classmates and non have bounced yet as I write this. I’m hoping it will trigger more posts to this forum.
This morning I took Bebe up to Sugarbush for two hours of skiing which she did very beautifully making me very jealous as my skiing has ended do to poor stability.
Neil Gleberman emailed on October 31 to say:
Donna and I are now living in Glen Allen, a suburb of Richmond, VA. We moved to a 55+ gated community to be closer to our son, daughter-in-law and nine grandchildren. They thought it would be better to move closer than Wintergreen Resort where we had resided for 15 years. We are enjoying the community, and the company of our third Brittany, Ginger who is now 7 years old.
Sadly due to Covid we are no longer able to travel, but during our 60 yeas of marriage have traveled to 85+ countries and islands. We have been very fortunate to do so.
Our nine grandchildren give us much joy. The oldest graduated from Cornell and is working in the Atlanta area. The second oldest graduated from Texas A & M and is working remotely for one of the big financial companies. The third grandson is a senior at U. Of Georgia, and the next grandson is a sophomore at UVA. We have a granddaughter and another grandson in high school, and the youngest three are still in elementary school. That makes seven grandsons and two granddaughters!!
Our daughter and son-in-law reside in Northern Florida, and have no children. They enjoy hiking, pickle ball, and all of the amenities their community offers.
I am looking forward to celebrating my 90th birthday in January, God willing.
Hopefully you will get some more correspondence from the rest on your list, and we will look forward to learning about their lives.
Jerry Kilburne emailed me Oct 30 to say “Hi Howie: Still alive and kicking at 90″
I received this email today from Siret Jurison.
With a saddened heart I was able to say good -bye to Jaak at his bedside on January 6, 2021. The cause was cancer of the brain.
Jaak wrote in his Memoir that “I was just lucky”. WPI played a huge role in that Luck – he considered it the foundation for his career in both aerospace and academia. WPI held a special place in his heart.
With found memories I am enclosing a picture taken at the 40th reunion. Jaak and I are on the left and a very nice couple we had the pleasure to visit with on the right.
With every good wish to you and the class of 1954.
Most Sincerely,
Siret Jaanus Jurison
Peggy and I are still at our summer home in Brunswick, Maine. Having travelled a lot and done a fair amount of deep water sailing, I can say that coastal Maine where we are is the nicest place to be in the summer. After 57 years our sailing days have come to an end, we sold our third boat last year. Old age and physical infirmities have caught up us. We both now need wheelchairs when we travel by air.
I think that most of us have lived the American Century. We graduated with an excellent education at a time when America’s power was expanding. The Consulting Engineering firm I cofounded back in 1962 in Vermont is still going strong. After selling out my interest in 1979 I became an Assistant College Professor, manager of a large surveying firm and for the last 12 years before my retirement I was a private Consulting Engineer.
The thing that I am the proudest of is our four children. Each one has done better than I ever did and they gave us eight wonderful grandchildren. Much credit goes to Peggy my wife of 67 years. ( We got married the Saturday before our graduation.)
During our 25 years in Vermont we enjoyed lots of winter sports. Two of our boys were involved in ski racing both at the junior and college level. Our summer weekends were spent on the 14 acre island we owned in the middle of a lake in New Hampshire or sailing the coast of Maine.
We will be heading back to our winter home and residence in Bonita Springs, Florida the end of October. We are fortunate to live in a community that has over 300′ of private beach on the Gulf.
Wishing you all a healthy and happy future.
Joe King (Krzywicki)
As all of our classmates have experienced, 2020 was almost like a lost year. Eleanore’s bridge playing opportunities fizzled, but luckily I was able to continue my weekly golf outings. In about a week we are off to Boston to see for the first time our 10 month old great grandaughter, Heloise, during her and her parents’ visit to Boston from Sweden where they now live.
All our activities are slowly edging back to normal. Fortunately, our health is good and we look forward to more travel as we move into the new year. Our very best to all my classmates and their families!
Doing well! Enjoying life on a small lake in Sturbridge. Getting ready to put the boat away and prepare for my annual trek to Palm City FL. Still playing golf, but frankly not too well.
Keep in touch guys.
Al
Now this has been an interesting year – interesting is the sense of the old Chinese curse that “may you live in interesting times”. Re Covid-19, we so far have not suffered anything more than inconvenient aggravation and, thinking positively, managed to accomplish things that may not have been attempted without the confinement.
Belgium did not do well at the beginning for a suspected three reasons: It’s a world travel crossroads; retirement homes were caught unprepared; infection and fatality counts were more honest and accurate than those of others. Most of the problems were to our north, Flanders and Brussels. We, in Wallonia at the French border and in a very quiet village of about 600, dug in, holed up, and managed to avoid the more serious effects elsewhere in Europe. We also managed to be opportunistic and tackle those domestic tasks that had been put aside for far too many years. First, sort out clothing and other things for disposal. Next, sort, scan, digitize, crop, color balance, file and then burn to CD a collection of about 7,000 35mm slides (both professional and personal). Similarly, finish an already started project to digitize and electronically restore a few hundred vinyl recordings from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s (old friends). We made a big dent in attic storage; wouldn’t have been done without mandatory confinement.
What we did miss were social and family interactions, the restaurants, spring in Brittany and Normandy, autumn in the Jura and Alsace. For social we managed to enjoy a few “bubbles” of like-minded people and, as of this writing, restaurant terraces are beginning to open. We have booked September for some of our favorite French coast haunts, assuming they will be back in operation by then. Just hate to lose another year at this time of life!
Less active physically, we remain busy to the point of wondering how we ever managed our pre-retirement lives. The gardens are demanding (just planted a small orchard), reading is a constant given (philosophy and religion for Dany, politics and current affairs for me), all mixed in with creative writing and floral arrangement courses, more serious photography and the pleasures of stocking a wine cellar. Wish we were younger, but………
All the best to all. Some of the memories of 1950-54 are fading – but not the good ones.
Wrapping up another wonderful winter in Palm City, FL and will be heading north to Sturbridge, MA.
Despite playing golf 3 days a week, my game never seems to get much better, but it’s still fun to be out in the fresh air and sunshine. Best wishes to all.
I will be 90 in August and my wife of 62 years and me are doing quite well. No medical issues. Still live in Henderson NV 10 miles from the Vegas Strip .Since my last post we have added another great grand son.
It’s about 6 weeks since the second COVID vaccination for Bebe and me so we’re carefully venturing out with masks and visiting with a few fully vaccinated friends.
I’ll send another email today to the 42 addresses on my class mailing list to see how many bounce and how many will result in posts to this forum.
The good news is that I haven’t made any additions to our deceased list since April of 2019. Did the rest of us survive COVID and old age?
We are happily “trapped “in isolation in West Palm Beach Florida. We were on a cruise ship around South America when the pandemic broke out and Florida was the only port that would let us dock. Our daughter who lives nearby collected us and found this wonderful rented four-bedroom prison with a swimming pool. Isolation has been a great experience – reading, writing, catching up with old friends, zooming, watching the political circus, seeing movies we missed, playing chess with strangers on the internet, painting, taking several online courses, and even playing the piano. And I found time to finish my latest book which is scheduled for publication later this month.
We both are in good health ( all the pieces are still moving) having just managed to get back to the same weight we were when we got married 63 years ago. We even try to swim a half-hour every day.
We manage to return to WPI annually to participate in the finals of the Innovation Award competition we set up 17 years ago.
WPI has changed as has the rest of the world.
We are always happy to chat/gossip with anyone still around.(we are at strage@me.com)
Keep safe, wear your mask, sign up for a vacinne shot and avoid fried foods.
Retired from Boeing ( Manager of Boeing Missile electronics) in 1988. Now I live in Auburn Washington in the summer and Buena Vista Baja Cal Sur in winter with travel to Alaska often in the summer.Activities now include fishing/boating,playing guitar,swimming/snorqueling in the sea of Cortez,, floating whitewater rivers and quad riding in Baja.
After graduation from WPI in 1954 I went to Cornell and received a Ph.D. in Experimental Physics (in 1960). I married another Cornellian, Nancy McIlroy, in August 1959, and together we moved to Santa Barbara, CA where I taught physics for a year as a sabbatical replacement at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In the spring of 1960, while in Santa Barbara, I received a call from the Head of the newly-formed Solar Physics Branch of NASA’s (National Aeronautic and Space Administration) Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland inviting me to apply to join its effort in developing instrumentation to study the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray radiations from the Sun, using rockets and orbiting spacecrafts. Our emphasis was on understanding how the Sun produced major bursts of energy (solar flares) that impacted terrestrial communications and how these outbursts might affect orbiting spacecrafts. We contributed major instruments to a series of orbiting observatories called the “Orbiting Solar Observatories” and produced new insights into the origin of solar flares. In 1972-3 I spent the equivalent of a sabbatical year at the University of Colorado’s High Altitude Observatory (at the CU campus in Boulder, Colorado) and Nancy, our two sons, Erich and Mark, and I fell in love with the area. Returning to NASA and Greenbelt, I became involved with the planning of NASA’s solar observing program from the Space Shuttle and was designated Mission Scientist (science coordinator) for the first science payload flown on the shuttle (STS-3) in March 1982. That morphed into further planning positions for NASA’s shuttle science programs while still continuing my own interest in solar research. By about 1988 I was appointed Project Scientist for NASA’s Sounding Rocket Program. I retired in November 1994 and Nancy and I moved to Boulder, where we now live just outside of town, with a small pond, a bit of original tall grass prairie, and great views of the Rockies. I kept in touch with solar physics as a co-investigator on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) for ten years as a guest researcher at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder. During the summers we hike in the mountains, grow lotus plants for the Denver Botanic Garden and the Colorado Water Garden Society and work in our garden. In wintertime we enjoy lectures and concerts at CU and weekly lunches with our hiking group. I also play baroque and keyed flute with friends. Our two sons are married and we have two grandsons. Erich initiated and is director of a raptor re-hab center near Dallas, TX, and Mark is a Professor of Anthropology at Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls, OR. Last, but not least, my thanks to Howie for reaching me on the phone for a friendly chat. I’m sorry that we could not attend our 65th Reunion.
May 17, 2019
Fran and I are still “hanging in there” as we deal with the “aging process.” I think you all understand that the description of the “aging process” is best summed up in finding that everything is getting harder to do than it used to be. In one area that is really changing our lives is a serious loss of mobility. Unfortunately that situation has forced us to admit that we are going to have to miss this year’s class reunion. We have made all of them up to now and we are sorry about missing this one.
On the subject of the Reunion I want to be sure mention my appreciation to Howie Whittle, who has taken the lead in trying to communicate with the class and encourage those who can – be sure and join the reunion. Since our last reunion we lost Ed Shivell, who had always taken a major role being our class spokesperson at WPI. We were fortunate to have Howie step up and try to keep the class informed and encouraged to join in to the reunion, if possible.
I mention the “aging process” which now seems to be taking over how our lives proceed from here – of course particularly as to health issues. Fran and I have been located for about 20 years in a “continuing care” retirement community, located in Kennett Square, PA outside of the Philadelphia area. We are able to continue in the independent living cottage, which we enjoy but the next moves would be either Assisted Living or Full Nursing units depending on how things go. Our two daughters and their families live very nearby so that is a real blessing. Our son has been living in California (SanFrancisco Bay Area) since the 1970’s, so we only see him on 2-3 visits here a year (we were able to fly out and visit him, but those flights ended a couple years ago.) The “kids”, as I still call them although they are all now in their 60’s, are a great joy for us.
One last comment — you know how you pass people in a hallway and they say “How you doing ?” I used to say “I’m good” just to acknowledge them — but lately I have been tempted to answer them “How much time do you have to listen to me ?”
Joyce and I are hanging in there. We both had bad falls and I am walking around with a cane. We enjoy time with children and grandchildren most of whom are nearby. Have now been retired for 28 years. Time flies!!!!
My wife, Bonnie, and I are still safely ensconced in our Independent CCRC living facilities on the Masonic Campus in Union City, CA. This is a very active community which takes us to cultural and art events in the local area. Since Bonnie has developed Alzheimer’s, our traveling culminated last year with a cruise in the Indian Ocean and a 34 hour total return time on planes and airports.
We lost our greyhound to cancer, but our new dog takes us for three daily walks. So, we’re still above the grass, but as they say “old age is not for sissies”.
I intend to attend at least the Class dinner on Saturday. I don’t know whether my wife will or not – she is finding it increasingly difficult to get around now because of arthritis. We’ll see how it goes in the next couple of weeks. I tried to post a comment on the class webpage, but the photo at the top keeps blocking out the comment box and I’m not computer savvy enough to get around whatever causes that. We are basically well and quite snug in a cottage at a retirement community here in Worcester. We landed here 5 years ago after a round of engineering jobs in the East in New York City, New Jersey, Buffalo, Bangor ME and back to eastern PA, including a trip through the Theological School at Drew University early on followed by a trip the length of the Appalachian Trail. The good Lord has been very kind to me: only minor surgeries, good health, comfortable driving around, walk with some friends 3 or 4 miles a day regularly and enjoying it greatly. I have an advantage, though – I think I’m actually younger than Hank Strage; just turned 85 this past January. I do hope to get to talk with some of you at the reunion.
Joe King
Peggy & I got married the week before our graduation in 1954. Following that I got commissioned in the Corps of Engineers and went shortly thereafter on active duty. If it hadn’t been for ROTC at Worcester, I would have been drafted in late 1950. I was lucky most of my officer class went to Korea as replacements and I was sent to Germany where Peggy & I spent the most wonderful time for over three year. Part of that time I spent as the CO of an engineering construction company. I supervised more construction work in the Army during that time than I would have in ten years as a young engineer in the civilian world. Following my stint in the Army I spent six years working for a major consulting engineering firm as a Project Engineer and Resident Field Engineer on water supply projects – dams, pipelines, pumping stations, reservoirs and treatment facilities. In 1963 I changed my name from Krzywicki to King and we moved to Vermont where I cofounded the consulting engineering firm of DuBois & King which 56 years later is still going strong. We mainly focused on water supply and wastewater projects early on but the firm has since expanded into other engineering areas. In 1980 I sold out my interest in the firm. Then I became an Assistant Professor at Vermont Technical College for five years. Followed by being the manager for a large engineering and surveying firm in New Hampshire. After that I established my own small private consulting engineering firm which my wife and I ran for 12 years. I think that the best part of my life has been outside the working world. In Vermont during the winter my wife & I managed a junior ski racing team and two of my sons were on college ski teams. A lot of our summers were spent on the 11 acre island we owned in a lake in New Hampshire. The best times we had were with the three ocean going sailboats we had starting in the late 1960s. We sailed the coast of Maine summers up into Canada and in the winters the family would spend weeks sailing the Caribbean Islands. I’ve done some open ocean sailing to Bermuda and had some interesting times in storms in a small boat in the North Atlantic and one time in a very big storm on a freighter going to Brazil in he South Atlantic. My wife & I have been very fortunate we’ve travelled a lot and have four solid citizen children and eight grandchildren. We live in the summer in Maine – the last boat has been sold – and the winter in southwest Florida. I don’t know if we will make it to the reunion. Peggy had brain surgery last May, hip replacement surgery last January and is scheduled for knee replacement surgery this coming May.
65 years since graduation – wow! Spent 2 years in active Navy, 2 at Northwestern Business School, 29 with three Fortune 500 companies, 20 running my own mfg. company in upstate NY, and now 12 in retirement. Since marrying Eleanore, my college love, in 1956, we have lived in VA, IL, PA, CT, CO and NY, and now reside in Malvern, PA and winter in Sarasota, FL. Over this period lots of travel to 23 countries and three quarters of the states. In parallel with this, I had 35 challenging years as a Navy Reservist.
Fortunately our health has been good, allowing us to regularly visit our daughters, one in England, and the other in France. And we routinely make trips to Boston to be with our son and two grandsons.
To Howie Whittle a salute and thank you for leading our class reunion! Eleanore and I are looking forward to seeing everyone again in June.
Bebe and I are still living in Warren, Vermont. Skiing (both of us), horseback riding when horse is not lame (Bebe) and cycling with an e-bike now (Howie) and traveling several times each year, sometimes to visit kids, grandkids and now great grandkids. Other times to new places in the US or overseas. I’m keeping busy playing with several websites like this one with guidance from a brilliant daughter. Hope we see many of you at WPI next June.
The following updates were received by email in response to a July 15,2018 letter from Howie Whittle to 44 classmates. Please post your updates yourself in the space provided so that others can reply to your update directly.
Henry Strage / September 11, 2018
- Despite what you may hear about Brexit, we are all alive and well or as one of our friends described our condition “Vertical, thriving and solvent”
- In addition to actively managing our modest little Global Family Foundation, we both sit on several not-for profit boards, Alberta & I travel a lot, inspect our eleven grandchildren periodically, and I continue to make priceless, irreplaceable and totally profitless contributions to the overflowing cornucopia of literature in the English language. Book six should be out by year end. I even launched one of my books at WPI a few years ago.
- We visit WPI at least once per year to help select the winner in an Annual Innovation award competition. I also help out with the UK WPI Alumni chapter. My contact with other classmates (those that are still with us) is alas unfortunately limited.
- We shortly will celebrate 60 years of married bliss — we will of course never catch up with David Gilbert. Yes, age is just a number and the good news is that as each year goes by our life expectancy also increases.
All the best — keep in touch. Best regards, Henry and Alberta
Roger Wildt / July 29, 2018
As from this end, age is indeed showing its ugly head. Heart problems in 2011; Charcot Foot problems in 2012 and 2015; loss of most of a foot to infection in 2017. However, other than that now limiting my climbing trees, life goes on – but not quite as before. The second retirement has finally settled in – no more consulting; no more report deadlines; no more conferences; no more contract battles; no more ten-time-zone flights – all replaced with an endless European supply of little rural cottages for rent, exquisite local food, the best of wines and currently reasonably stable governments. We are recently back from our annual month on the French coast (Brittany and Normandy; spring by the sea); now hibernating at home in Belgium during the summer holiday tourist glut; then off to the Jura and Alsace for October (leaf season in the mountains). Both trips end with cases of ciders, wines and Calvados to help us make it through the coming winter. We don’t do tours or cruises; we search for an interesting place and then delve into a learning experience of its culture and food. Opportunities abound. As before – with regrets – we will not be back in Worcester next spring. We’ll follow the notices, look at the photographs, and rhe best to all, Roger.
Harry Mirick / July 26, 2018
Howie and Classmates of 1954: I am still alive, enjoying quiet retirement (no more GOP Local activity!). Five married grand daughters, two great grand children on the way in December. Regrettably, Jean Erickson Mirick, wife of 63 years, passed away in January, after surviving a stroke for 6+ years. Thanks for the info on the 65th next June. If all goes well I’m going to try & make it. We spend our winters in Florida and summers here in Maine. Like a lot of older people we’ve been having some medical issues lately, but all is OK now.
Joe King / July 26, 2018
Raise a toast to all of us who have made it this far. Keep me posted. All the best, Joe.
Earlier updates
The following updates were received by email when Howie Whittle asked “Are you still with us?” on July 25, 2015.
Paul London / July 25, 2015
Here, and still going strong. There are 60 of us left; I think that says something good.
Henry Strage
Even as the youngest in the class (I think and hope) to celebrate my 82 birthday in a few months. Yes we all have aches and pains but all the arms and legs are still moving and the ticker (with a little help from a defibrillator) is chucking along trying to keep up. 7/27 added: And BTW I have reluctantly hung up my skis.
Adrian Horovitz
Still hanging in there.
Jerry Kilburne
Still kicking at 84, nowhere as high, however.
Joe King
I’m still here. My wife Peggy & I are here in Brunswick, Maine at our summer home from mid May to mid October. The rest of the year we are in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Harry Mirick
Still alive; just. Had a fainting spell on Easter Sunday; spent three days in the hospital-that with a pace maker has been my 2015 year so far! Tough to grow old, I am told….????? 83 and counting (like all of us). Sorry about Scott getting to heaven before me, ha!
Dick Popp
We are doing quite well for the age! Still in our same house and enjoying the life. Walking without any help! And still driving a car! Our one son, however, had a stroke, and it ended up he had that horrible glioma brain cancer (like Biden’s son). He is now involved in a research program with many hospitals to find something to solve this situation to help others. Let us pray that works. Hope you all are doing well as can be expected!? Please say hello to everyone and we wish them the best from us.
Neil Gleberman
I am happy to report that I am doing very well for my age. My wife Donna and I try to take two or three trips abroad each year. We manage to play golf several times a week. We also fine time to volunteer in our community. We are fortunate to have nine grand children. The oldest is going to Cornell this fall.
Ed Shivell / July 25, 2015
Many thanks. Hopefully you will receive 60 “alive and well” replies! I recently had a long tel-con with Dick Byrnes, he had a stroke some time ago but appears to be managing with the resulting limitations. Ditto Don Ross.
Paul Alasso
I am still here and in good condition. Hope all is well with you and Bebe. Will give you a call one of these days. Am about to leave for a few days in NH.
Charlie Simonich
Thanks for the update. I’m still kicking and curious to know if some of my classmates are still around. Namely, Don McNamara, Nob Niro, Dave Bisson & Andy Morgo.
Al Johnson
Yup, I’m still alive and kicking. Spending the winters in Palm City, FL and the summers in Sturbridge, MA. Enjoying the grandchildren (4) and still playing golf poorly. Hope you are well. Would like to hear how some of the other members of our class are doing.
Walt Dziura
Sorry to hear about Richard Scott passing. Unfortunately the list keeps getting longer. Hang in there!
King Webster
“A little worse for wear” is an apt way to put it, but, yes, still functioning.
Bill Schoeneman
Still with the program. It would be great to get a list of survivors.
Roger Wildt
Reporting: – Still alive. Healthy enough to live for at least a little longer. Enjoying life more and more. Photographic proof attached. Sorry to hear about another passing; the ranks are beginning to thin. 7/29 added: Sorry – no more good news from this end – given that I am quite far away from the other end. My current ties to much of anything in the US are pretty thin other than politics, declining infrastructure (my construction background) and the exchange rate. This week I received an invitation to a 09 October WPI Zurich Project Center Reception. The program is scheduled for 1800-1845 with a reception at either end. We are within a day’s drive from Zurich and intend to be much closer in the southern Alsace shortly thereafter, but not to Zurich for a 45-minute session. Beautiful city that it is.
Ed Power / July 27, 2015
Still here! My thanks to you and Ed Shivell for all you do for our Class.
Mel Holmgren
Just received your current WPI ’54 dlist. Interesting to note those who have recently passed away from among our class – several of my close friends from my years at WPI. Richard Scott, your latest addition to the list, lived just a half-block away from me, on the shores of Lake Quinsigamond, in Worcester. I’m indeed still living, at 84,”independently”, and alone, since my life’s partner of 58 years passed away in 2013. We were blessed with 7 children, which continue daily to fill my life with interest and joy. We have lived in Alaska for 51 years, in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and currently Sitka, for 38 years. My working years were spent primarily as an Electronics Engr. for radio communication systems.
Jaak Jurison
It was sad to see so many classmates on the list. I am still kicking, looking down at grass from the right side and writing my memoir.
Walt Reibling
Yes, I am still here but not as active as I used to be.
Dave Gilbert
Fran and I are still around. This year (2015) we both turned 83 (me in Feb. ; Fran this Sat. Aug 1.) What we are finding is that, in what I call the “aging process,” nothing gets easier. Even the simple things, like putting on your socks and getting “in and out” of the car are harder to do. Fortunately our health is pretty good and we still “get around.” We got over to Scotland for a week last month and had a nice time, but there again, that experience, including the 7 hour flight there and back, has us wondering when we will feel energetic enough to try a trip like that again.
Doug MacLaren
Howie – like they say, I’m still on the right side of the grass.
Harry Chapell / July 28, 2015
Parkinson’s disease is slowing me down. Children help. Son is adding suite for us at their home in Foxboro.
Richard Ferrero
Alive and well. Slowed down a bit. Mailing address is Richard Ferrero 3 Ottada Way Pepperell MA 01463.
Bob Pickford
Sorry for being late in contacting you. I had a major stroke at Christmas and am still in recovery mode moving around with a cane. They took me off Coumidin to change my battery in the defibrillator and that resulted in a clot. At any rate, you can add me to your living list.
Milt Meckler
Your e-mail prompted me to forward an updated WPI ALUMNI NOTE to prove I was still alive and kicking at this point in time. Please stay in touch. Our growing 1954 classmate losses is not good news – “c’est la vie”.
David Nickerson / August 13, 2015 @ 1:04
Yes I am still among the living, at the same address 109 High Pine Circle, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Still work but only a few hours per week. I hope Ed is still enjoying Florida. Best Regards, Dave Nickerson, Remaining Sig Ep along with Bob P. and Harry M.
Howie Whittle / August 14, 2015 @ 1:16 pm
I guess if if I’m going to ask all of you to provide updates I’d better do the same. Bebe and I are still skiing here at Sugarbush and a week or two at Vail each winter. Bebe’s maintaining 3 horses and riding one of them daily while I bicycle with buddies 2 or 3 times a week. We’re both afraid to stop moving! Come see us if you’re in the vicinity at 141 Old Farm Lane, Warren, Vt. Now let’s hear some more from the rest of you.
William Schoenemann / August 20, 2015 @ 11:42
True bionic man – a tribute to medical science. In Masonic independent living facility in Union City, CA. Still traveling and enjoying life with wife Bonnie and three daughters in the Bay area.
Frank Rybak / August 29, 2015 @ 10:00 am
Pat and I are still kicking down here in Maryland by the Chesapeake. Had to give up 37 years of sailing/cruising because of physical problems, but are thoroughly enjoying life. I’m still working as a consultant at nearby tech houses doing mostly instrumentation design. Can’t give it up cause I love the challenges and rewards. Family all live in the local area so that makes life a pleasure. Nice to see 3 grand daughters working on post-graduate degrees even if they aren’t in techie stuff. Hope they can find jobs when they complete their educations. Our best to all you survivors, stay happy and keep pushing……life is good.
Andy Morgo / August 31, 2015 @ 2:56 pm
Andy Morgo – I’m still around and doing quite well. No issues. Moved to the Las vegas area three years ago to be close to family. Lived in Atlanta for 35 years, before that lived all over the country, due to company transfers.. Ct., Mass., Calif., Arizona, Mass. again and then Georgia. Worked for Honeywell for 32 years.Family consists of wife,56 years married, 3 kids, 4 grand kids and four great grand kids. Life has been good.
Frank Rybak / April 14, 2017 @ 10:53 am
Hey Guys, Pat and I are still moving around in our 80s and doing pretty well. We sold our O’Day 35 sailboat a year or so ago and miss the old Chesapeake a lot. I am still consulting a few days a week an am designing analog stuff for laser monitoring. Guess that’s my hobby now. Best to you all.
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