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Class NewsEnd of the 2011 Football Season The 2011 football season is now over, and although the Tigers had difficulties on the field this year, the home-game tailgates turned out to be winners, despite adverse weather conditions provided by Mother Nature. However, the spirit of 1956 did not falter, and many of the stalwarts braved the wind, rain and snow, enjoying each other’s company and sharing tasty delicacies!!
The 1956 “Yale Gate” on November 12 brought out the multitudes at Cap with a crowd exceeding 90 folks. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful gathering with good friends. The culinary contributions to feed the masses were amazing, and we’re sure no one went away hungry!! We’re happy to announce that because of the generosity of the Great Class 1956 tailgaters and friends, over $3,100 was raised for the Princeton Band, surpassing last year’s collection of $3,009. As they do for 1956 Tailgaters at each home game behind Cap, the Band performed for the crowd, and a special recognition Locomotive was given to the graduating seniors.
The highlight of the tailgate was an appearance by Kimberly Ho Schoelen, immediate past President from the Class of 1981, who presented Dan Gardiner with their reunion jacket and bestowed upon him the distinction of being an Honorary Member of their Class. This was in recognition of Dan’s dedicated involvement with Reach Out 56 / 81.
Following the game, the Class held a reception in the 1956 Suite at the stadium, where Jim Freund tickled the ivories, providing wonderful background music and sing-a-long participation.
To view a small sampling of the day’s events, click on the following link. Yale Events 2011 We thank Sue Grassmyer, Dave Jordan, Lisa Schmucki, and Joanne Meeker for their photo contributions. If anyone has additional pictures to supplement this slideshow, please send them to Tom Meeker at tandjmeeker@verizon.net. ADDITIONAL PICTURES: Thanks to David Jordan, we have some additional candid shots from the tailgate, game and reception during the Yale weekend festivities. ENJOY!! Just click on the following link:
Dave Jordan's Pictures
Post Penn Football Game Gathering The Bennetts rallied the troops after a bad loss to Penn in Philadelphia. Those on hand included Joyce and Dan Gardiner, Marilyn and Bill Horner, Jean and Dave Jordan, John Simon, Mary and Ken Snedeker, Sue and Don Stuard, Betty Lou and Jack Thompson, plus other local alum. The general consensus was that we should just play half a game!!!
On Sunday, October 16, 2011, Dave Jordan had a successful book-signing for his new book published by Indiana University Press, FDR, Dewey and the Election of 1944. The affair took place at the Saturday Club in Wayne, Pa., and was attended by friends, neighbors, relatives and some high school and college classmates. Dave was pleased that the general reaction to his book was very favorable. “If these folks like it,” he figured, “maybe it’ll be a best-seller.” Dave spoke briefly to the group about the many travels involved in putting the work together as well as his personal recollections of that election, “when I was nine years old.”
Hilton Head Mini Reunion A dozen of our classmates gathered on Hilton Head Island on the weekend of October 13-16, 2011 in perfect weather for tours of Savannah, Beaufort, and Spring Island, hosted by Steve Alfred and Bill Sweeney, along with their wives. Accommodations were in a picturesque 2-story inn adjacent to a marina, with breakfasts on an outside balcony overlooking the marina. Dinners were in the Salty Dog Cafe, the Sea Pines Country Club (followed by a comedy show), and around the pool at the condo of Steve Alfred and Rita Hungate (ending with a speaker on the history of the development of Hilton Head Island). On Friday, the group toured beautiful historic Beaufort, a National Historic Landmark whose distinctive architecture sets it apart from Charleston and Savannah. We saw the Verdier House (1804) which served as headquarters for the Union army occupying Beaufort and surrounding areas from November 1861 until the end of the Civil War. We also visited St. Helena's Episcopal Church, which served as a temporary Union hospital during the battle of Port Royal Sound. We then went to Spring Island, where our classmate Bill Agnew welcomed us to the Summer House for lunch. A highlight was a talk by General Percival Drayton on the battle of Port Royal and the subsequent abolitionist experiment involving the 10,000 slaves left behind by fleeing plantation owners. On Saturday, we visited Savannah's National Historic District with its innovative city plan based on 24 interconnected squares, 22 of which survive today. Lunch was at Vic's on the River, formerly a cotton warehouse overlooking the Savannah River. After lunch, we toured the Isaiah Davenport House and Museum before returning to Sea Pines.
In addition, several classmates played the famous Harbour Town golf course, while others enjoyed walking on the ocean beach. Those classmates who attended for all or part of the weekend were Bill Agnew, Bruce Akers Steve Alfred, John Bodman, Royce Flippin, Roger Kaufman, Alan Korhammer, Fraser Lewis, Peter McDavitt, Paul Shein, Gene Singer and Bill Sweeney. To view a slideshow from the weekend's events, click on the following link: Slideshow from Mini Reunion
Neil Rudenstine recently made headlines in the New York Times with regard to his being elected Chairman of the Board of the New York Public Library. Congratulations!! For full details, click on the following link to the article which appeared in the NY Times. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/former-harvard-president-to-head-new-york-public-library-board
Heard from Joe Nishimura about a recent trip, and he sent the accompanying picture: “Joyce and I had a delightful evening in Paris, including a sumptuous home cooked French dinner with Dick McCormack and Marie-Claude.”
Slade Mills sent the following update on his activities: “This may be a repeat of the comments I made for our 50th (I had little new to say for the 55th so I said nothing) but my four activities in the pro-bono world have not changed much since then. Surprising to realize that, and also suggestive of the idea that maybe its past time for me to stop doing some or all of these things. Very briefly, I'm entering my ninth year as President of the New York Youth Symphony, a wonderful organization whose website www.nyyouthsymphony.org will tell you all about it. We provide tuition free training and performance opportunities to talented young musicians, composers and conductors ages 12-22 throughout the New York area. Several 56 classmates have been very supportive over the years - they know who they are, and I am very grateful to all of them. Nine years is about five years too many, but the end isn't quite yet in view. I am also still attempting to support our great leaders of RO56-81-06 - Dan, Jack, Jim and our new younger colleagues, as well as the undergraduates who have breathed new life into the College Awareness program at two high schools in Brooklyn. Hard to believe that we've been going out to Paul Robeson High School for the best part of ten years. I also help the kids at Robeson to write business plans for their Virtual Enterprise programs. As long as the schools - Robeson and the Academy Of Innovative Technology - want people like us to help, I will be glad to stay involved. Third involvement - Union Settlement in East Harlem, where John Hill and Bevis both served as Chairman and where George Hirsch was on the Board. Long ago at John Hill's urging I walked up to 104th Street and started teaching English to their primarily Mexican immigrant constituents. I don't teach any more but am still on the Board of Union Settlement and the Union Settlement Federal Credit Union. Finally, because Phyllis and I lived in Chile fifty years ago and still have good friends there, I'm Secretary of an organization called the North American Chilean Chamber of Commerce in New York City, which gives me a chance to practice reading and occasionally writing in Spanish. Great country, great colleagues. As to other interests, we are happy to have children and grandchildren in Vermont and London and that gives us a good excuse to go to those places. I play golf - Phyllis and I have had a lot of fun over the years playing with Anne and Jack Fritts, and Carter Walker and I go at it from time to time in Washington CT where we both have houses. I am responsible for two modest flower gardens, and occasionally I sally forth with my often uncooperative chain saw.”
The Tiger football season began on September 17, and in keeping with tradition for the past 25 years, the 1956 Tailgaters continue to congregate in back of Cap and Gown for all home games. For those who were not there, you might like to see slideshows from the first three tailgates, and hopefully you can join us for future home games. Just click on the following links: Lehigh Tailgate, September 17, 2011 Bucknell Tailgate, September 24, 2011 Columbia Tailgate, October 1, 2011
By the way, Cap and Gown has been totally renovated, and the back yard has been dedicated to the ’56 Tailgaters, as evidenced by this plaque.
On October 1, Cap held a special event to commemorate the completion of the renovations, and the following is a link to a few pictures taken during the festivities. Cap Celebration.
SUPPLEMENTAL REUNION NEWS / PICTURES We're finally starting to receive additional information and pictures from classmates of our 55th Reunion to augment what has been published below.
Please share any news and photos to post on the Class website. There is no restriction on length of the news, but any pictures should be sent as a jpg attachment. Please send information to Tom Meeker at tandjmeeker@verizon.net.
55th REUNION - MAY 26 to 29, 2011
Rick Aron - for the jackets, shirts, bikinis, and long-term care of all the other mementos. Jim & Kathy Brazell - for the care and feeding of the splendid Battlefield tour, and of Rand. Chuck Coward - for the great whole Scully setup, and then all the personal follow-up with the bands and the sound techs. Arthur Eschenlauer - for the best bevs in the East. The Yuengling was super, the wines treated us all to your most select taste, and your close attention to the whole enterprise was a vital part of things hanging together from start to finish. Janet Eschenlauer, Sue Rodgers and Tom Fulmer - for overseeing the organization of the art exhibit. Royce Flippin and his calling team - for a super turnout by our class, and spouses, guests and associates. A super result of your devoted effort, and every one of them made our reunion more enjoyable by their being here. Tom Fulmer - for incredible edibles from beginning to end - a remarkable bounty on a budget. And for our unique reception in the Art Museum………truly a highlight of our experience for the weekend. Joe Grotto - for absolutely outstanding music - every evening. Jim's Trio, Stan's Big Band, John Garth and the Boilermakers were each just perfect for us and popular as the word spread to the rest of the reunion crowd. Almost enjoyed the most the kids coming around to dance at the 55th…… who ever heard of that? Dave Jordan - for a really fun - and reasonable - class book, that received great appreciation from the classmates and provided enjoyment to all, especially for its very individualistic and personal views of all those who were a part of it. Kirby Holmes - for an absolute knockout P-Rade, from the great lead band to the Born Again Band and the totally famous Bikini Babes, and for his unrelenting encouragement and support for the short-lived rolling Time Machine. Jim McCulloh - for your hospitable, and persistent, welcome to our satellite classes for their dorm housing and their company at our lunches on Friday and Saturday. Mal & Carole Schwartz - for the greatest, most all-encompassing spread sheet on every detail of every person coming to our reunion, as the base for our recruitment, registration, housing, meals, bevs, garb, revenue accounting, and all other purposes. And especially for negotiating the four dimensional lodging riddle with diplomacy and aplomb. Paul Shein - for keeping track of our bucks as they flowed in and out, and for disposing our proper obligations promptly and accurately in all directions. And yet to come, for pulling together all the strands of our financial report for the Reunion. Bill Stein - for bringing his experience as Conductor of the Battle Creek Symphony to the rejuvenation of the famous '56 Born Again Band, born once again to carry the magical tunes of Princeton down the P-Rade route to the acclaim of onlookers young and old. Bob Varrin - for stepping in to organize the crew with a will, when Ben Spinelli handed over the assignment. Your unflappable practicality supported not only our outstanding crew and their making it a great reunion for us, but on other fronts from headquarters to registration, transport, and beyond. Sue Rodgers, Janet Eschenlauer, Sue Stuard and Joanne Meeker - for the great idea, and then the wonderful contents, of the Tailgate Cookbook, which stole the day as our happy drop-in for everyone who came to our reunion. And our staff meteorologist - for complete reversal of the persistent weather forecast of "scattered thunderstorms & 30% rain" for every day of the weekend. Incredible job! To each one of you: It wasn't about to happen without your personal contribution - and your huge encouragement and enthusiasm every step of the way. You truly made our day - every day.
The Student Crew Team, led by Cathryn Quinn ’12 and Matt Wakulchik ‘12 was the absolute BEST, going above and beyond the call of duty to make everyone comfortable and ensure our needs were met. A HUGE LOCOMOTIVE to them all!!
The weekend’s events began on Thursday with our Distinguished Classmate, Stape Roy, along with Anne-Marie Slaughter ’80 and Frank Wisner ‘61, presenting “A Conversation on China”, a campus-wide event sponsored by The Class 1956. This was a standing-room-only event and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
The day continued with a wonderful dinner and great music by the Freund Family Trio….our SUPER Classmate Jim along with his sons Tom and Eric. They were phenomenal!! Friday morning brought more sunshine to enhance the very moving Class Memorial Service at the University Chapel. Bob and Sue orchestrated a beautiful service, which deeply touched all who attended. Those Classmates / wives / associates who participated in the service (in order of appearance) were Mary and Ken Snedeker, Bob Rodgers, Sidney Pinch, Malcolm Schwartz, Royce Flippin, Coleman Brown, Gordon Schwartz, Fraser Lewis, Ross Webber, Tom Meeker, and Elise von Koschembahr.
Later Friday afternoon, a ReachOut 56-81-06 Forum was held with panels whose members from the Class included Jim Freund, Jack Fritts and Slade Mills. Discussions included Joining to Make the World Better – an Alliance; Serving Through Fellowship and Volunteer Activities; and Qualifications, Responsibilities and Joys of Service on the Boards of Non-profit Organizations. Whew…………are you exhausted yet?!? There’s a LOT more to come!
Next was the beautiful reception at the Art Museum, organized by Tom Fulmer, Docent, who gave a brief introduction. We were then greeted by Director James Steward, followed by a visit and address to the Class by President Shirley Tilghman. The day continued with dinner and the Class Meeting, where the following occurred:
New Officers announced: The “Distinguished Classmate” award was bestowed upon two very deserving Classmates……David Jordan and Bob Rodgers, both of whom have gone “above and beyond” to make this The Great Class ’56.
The Class also “grew” in number with the announcement of two Honorary Classmates; namely Sue Stuard and Joanne Meeker. The evening was filled with the great sounds of Stan Rubin’s Big Band for our listening and dancing pleasure. What was wonderful to see were so many Classmates and undergrads crowding the dance floor and kicking up their heels to Stan’s fantastic music. During the course of the entire weekend, an art exhibit was open, displaying wonderful creations, in numerous media, by classmates / wives. Hey, there’s a lot of hidden talent in this Class!!! Saturday morning a reception was held for these very creative artists, and we hope all at Reunions had an opportunity to see their creations. Although not every piece of artwork was photographed, there is a sampling of the exhibit in the attached slideshow. Click on the following link to enjoy some of the artwork. Art Exhibit The Class was treated to two special concerts during lunch on Saturday prior to the P-Rade.
Saturday afternoon the Class convened at the magnificent new Frick Chemistry Atrium for a reception. If you missed it, this is a “must see” structure when you’re next on campus.
All of a sudden, it was Sunday morning, and we all gathered in the Class of 1956 Lounge in Princeton Stadium for the Farewell Brunch. The wrist bands are now off, the Reunion cup is empty, but our hearts are filled with the memories of a truly MAGNIFICENT reunion. To relive our wonderful Reunion weekend, click on the following links to view slideshows of the various events. Thursday - afternoon and evening Friday Memorial Service, Battlefield, Art Museum Reception and Class Dinner with Dancing Saturday Lunch with Band concerts, P-Rade, Dinner, Dancing and Fireworks NOTE: With the huge crowd that gathered for Reunions, it is inevitable that some classmates may have been missed during the “roving picture taking”, and we sincerely apologize. However, if anyone would like to contribute additional pictures, we will create a supplemental slideshow for this website. Please send any pictures, as Attachments in jpg format, to tandjmeeker@verizon.net. Sincere thanks and appreciation to the following classmates, who contributed photos for our website and slideshows: Jim Freund, Gordie Schwartz, Jim McCullough, Jim Monahan and Joanne Meeker. ANNUAL CLASS DINNER IN NAPLES, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16, 2011 Members of The Great Class: 1956 gathered for a pre-55th Reunion Dinner on Wednesday, February 16 in Naples, FL. This was the 8th annual get-together, which was hosted by Frank Klapperich and his wife, Mugs. The Princeton Annual Giving Office was represented by Paul Raeder, who underwrote the cocktail hour and wine served with dinner. Also attending were Bill and Penny Agnew, John and Susan Bodman, Jim and Kathy Brazell, Pete Buchanan, Adie and Jody Dietz, Jack and Rita Doub, Derick and Sally Driemeyer, Joe and Vivian Grotto, Bill and Mary Helen Halloran, Charlotte Halloran (widow of Jim Halloran), Gordon and Judy Hammes, Bill Hoglund, Kirby and Judy Holmes, Ken and Nancy Lange, Bill and Jean Lemmon, Bob and Janet McCartney, Tom and Mary Lou Mees, Lenny and Marcia Meyers, Nick and Varick Niles, Fred and Laura Pardee, Fred and Rhonda Prichard, Bob and Sally Richards, Ted and Willie Rissell, Ken and Mary Snedeker, and Bill Sweeney and Donna Brunstad. Everyone enjoyed a delightful evening and look forward to our Class Reunion in May, as well as next year’s Class Dinner in Naples.
ALUMNI DAY - FEBRUARY 26, 2011 Alumni Day on February 26 brought 21 classmates back to the campus. The awards luncheon in Jadwin was memorable, and the Service of Remembrance in the Chapel was very moving as we honored the thirteen classmates we lost in 2010. Immediately following the service, all enjoyed cocktails and dinner in the Stadium 1956 Suite, arranged by Ross Webber. After dinner, we were entertained and enlightened by the following undergraduates majoring in theater and music: Bethy Adkins ’11, Adman Hyndman ’12, and Ben Barron ’13.
Attending the day’s events were Alfred, Bennett, Culin, Coward, Eschenlauer, Fritts, Flippin, Freund, Fulmer, Jordan, Gardiner, Lewis, Horner, McCulloh, Meeker, Rodgers, Schein, Steigbigel, Stuard, Varrin, Webber, and Honorary Classmate Dottie Werner.
To view a slideshow of the day's events and classmates, click on Alumni Day 2011.
54th REUNION - May 28 - 30, 2010 Joyce and Dan Gardiner hosted a delightful cocktail/dinner party Friday evening of Reunions in celebration of our 54th. The highlight of this event was a presentation by President Fraser Lewis of our Distinguished Classmate award to Coleman Brown.
In addition to Dan, Fraser and Coleman, those attending were Alfred, Bancroft, Barclay, Bennett, Culin, Doub, Eschenlauer, Flippin, Freund, Fulmer, Grotto, Holmes, Horner, Jones, Jordan, McCartney, McCulloh, McMillion, Meeker, Millspaugh, Rodgers, Rudenstine, G. Schwartz, M. Schwartz, Shein, Snedeker, Stuard, Thompson, Updike, Varrin and Webber plus Rodger’s daughter, Elisabeth ’86 and her husband James Tellichuysen. Joining the P-Rade group on Saturday were Jerry and Bos Crowther.
To view slideshows of pictures taken during the weekend, click on Friday Dinner and Saturday P-Rade.
PERSONAL UPDATES WHITNEY E. KERR writes……”I’m still working in the commercial real estate brokerage and land development business in Kansas City. Day and I celebrated our 52nd anniversary in January, 2010, and we are weekend farmers in Arrow Rock, Missouri, looking after three antebellum houses and over 800 acres. Antique cars continue to be a strong hobby interest, with current projects restoring a 1921 Sunbeam and 1925 Hudson Super Six. We are blessed to have 4 of our 5 children and 9 of our 11 grandchildren living in Kansas City. Come visit us!!”
A lenthy excerpt from JIM FREUND's"Turning 75" article appears on January 13 in PAW online. The full text can be found by visiting his website www.jimfreund.com. Also on his website are: a new article, "Sheer Happenstance," which (among a survey of life's other chance occurrences) describes the convoluted route Jim took to arrive at Princeton in the fall of '52; a short story, "...But the Melody Lingers On"; some added photos, including a gallery devoted to Vancouver, site of the upcoming Winter Olympics; and his most recent piano recording, "It's Three-Quarter Time," containing 192 popular waltzes. Enjoy them all by visiting www.jimfreund.com.
GORDIE SCHWARTZ (Gordon F. Schwartz, MD) has recently been appointed Director of the Jefferson Medical College Breast Care Center in Philadelphia, PA. To read his full curriculum vitae, go to www.jeffersonhospital.org and type "gordon schwartz, md" in the Search Box.
Classmates of '56 may be interested to know that at its meeting on September 12, 2009, the Princetoniana Committee of the Alumni Council created the ROBERT B. RODGERS Gavel. Bob is the immediate past-Chair of the Princetoniana Committee, which promotes the enjoyment of Princeton history, lore and traditions. The gavel was created in appreciation of Bob's deep dedication and loyalty to Princeton and the Princetoniana Committee and its activities, and to honor other past Chairs of the Committee. The gavel will be passed from Chair to Chair of the Committee at the beginning of their term of office.
Headline in the Los Altos, CA town crier of November 4: "Los Altos granddad's TapTapCars for iPhone and iPod bridges generation gap". Our own RY SMITH (Kobert Reynierson Smith II) developed this game to identify a car's manufacturer and model name from three clues. We suggest visiting www.TapTapCars.com to get in on the fun.
HUDSON VALLEY MINI REUNION Our October 11-15 mini-reunion gave us a “taste” of the Hudson Valley and was a great success. At various times, Classmates in attendance, with spouses and significant others, were Alfred ,Barclay, Brazell, Brink, Crowther, Culin, Doub, Easter, B. Evans, Flippin, Freund, Frost, Gavrin, Gerard, Grotto, Jordan, Kluger, Lewis, Mather, Pardee, Rodgers, Sater, Shein, Snedeker, Stuard. Our headquarters were in Tarrytown NY.
On Monday we boarded a bus for a tour of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Dave Jordan gave us a very pithy and humorous talk on West Point on the way up, mentioning in passing his interest and writings on Generals Hancock and Warren, both West Point graduates. (More detailed write ups on our mini reunion and Dave’s talk will be posted on our Class website.) Following the tour we stopped for lunch at the Academy’s Thayer Hotel after which we boarded a 1917 Riverboat for a cruise down the Hudson through the beautiful scenery of the Hudson Highlands. That evening after a lovely dinner at our hotel, we were briefed by the Director of Hudson River Programs of Riverkeeper Inc., the environmental watchdog of the River. He was very informative about how problems confronting the River were being addressed. He mentioned the resurgence of recreational activities and benefits to marine life, as well as problems with the quality of NYC drinking water, famed for its excellence. Some of what he had to say prompted some pointed questions, especially on the subject of nuclear energy. On Tuesday we headed north to Hyde Park. We easily we filled the 1.5 hour bus trip with some anecdotes on the Hudson River and other s from our undergraduate days. On a more serious note, Bos Crowther told of his brother Jeff and wife Alison’s charitable activities in memory of their son Wells, lost during his heroic rescue efforts at World Trade Center on 9/11. After a tour and delicious lunch at CIA (Culinary Institute of America) we visited the Vanderbilt mansion and grounds. Our speaker that evening was Colonel Jim Johnson (U.S. Army, Ret.), a 1969 West Point graduate and currently Director of the Hudson River Institute and a professor of History at Marist College. He arrived in the uniform of an officer of the 5th New York regiment of the Continental Army, cocked hat and all. After dinner, we enjoyed his informative and highly entertaining talk on the history of the Revolutionary War as fought in the Hudson Valley, though there were several references and some discussion of other Battles, e.g., Princeton. Col. Johnson mentioned that he was well acquainted with the Yankee Doodle Taproom. At the end of his talk Bob Rodgers led us in a locomotive cheer for the Colonel. In true Revolutionary War style he replied with several “Huzzah” cheers to our class. Our last day, Wednesday, included tours of Kykuit, the magnificent Rockefeller estate, Jay Gould’s estate, Lyndhurst, and lastly, Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s home. A terrific dinner was held that evening at The Castle in Tarrytown, a former estate in the style of a medieval castle. After we arrived we heard the familiar piano of Jim Freund echoing from the Great Room of the castle. We thanked Corky and Randy Frost, Sue Hendricks and Bob and Sue Rodgers who were all a great help in making the Mini-Reunion a great success. After dinner Jim Brazell gave us a lively talk on Washington Irving, America’s first man of letters, and the first American writer to achieve an international reputation. Jim also noted that Ted Rissell’s forbears sold Sunnyside to Irving in 1835, and that John McElroy made a major contribution to the literature on Irving with his volume on Irving’s “Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. Afterward, Jim Freund was again at the keyboard in true reunion fashion leading a sing-along while others danced on. Finally, it came time for a rendition of “Old Nassau” and a locomotive led by Bob Rodgers before returning to our Hotel. Several of us met at breakfast the next morning to bid farewell until the next occasion.
DANUBE MINI REUNION....June 6 - 13, 2009 The mini-reunion on the Danube was a great sucess, and "Johann Strauss the Youngest" has documented the wonderful events of the entire trip in the following article.
ON THE BEAUTIFUL ORANGE-AND-BLACK DANUBE By Johann Strauss the Youngest
Our Class of ’56 European adventure in June 2009 started for many of us in different parts of Europe and at different times. Some came from Prague, some from Berlin, some from Vienna, and even some from Italy. All of us wound up in Budapest, Hungary, for the start of the journey on the luxurious River Cloud II on June 6, although there were encounters of ‘56ers in various parts of Budapest for a couple of days before that. After a get-together dinner on the ship on Saturday, and a welcome from our cruise director, Rita, and our captain, Reinier Dekkers (a native of Rotterdam), Sunday saw us on a bus tour around Budapest, topped off with a walking tour on Castle Hill, around the Fisherman’s Bastion and St. Mathias Church, and a visit to the great statue of St. Stephanus Rex, Stephen the first king of Hungary. Included also was a tour inside Budapest’s magnificent opera house, featuring the royal box which was used only once by the Emperor Franz Josef (of the Austro-Hungarian Empire). The emperor was angered by the audacity of the Hungarians in creating such a grand opera house that he stormed out of his first performance there, never to return. A second box was created, however, for his wife, the Empress Sisi, and she enjoyed numerous operas there. We were treated as well, back on ship, to a talk from Noah Steinberg ’90, who came to Budapest almost by accident after graduating from Princeton, only to become a successful businessman there, complete with a Hungarian wife and family (who helped him learn the difficult Hungarian language). As we sailed away from Budapest late Sunday, up the Danube, leaving behind the mysteries of the forint, the Hungarian currency, for the universality of the euro, we were greeted with a glorious full moon and the spectacular and well-lighted ruined castle and Basilica of Esztergom, the most monumental building of Hungarian Classicism. Quite a sight, as we approached it and then chugged on by.
At noon we docked in Bratislava (“Pressburg,” up to 1918 and the conclusion of German domination), now the capital of Slovakia, with its 430,000 residents. Our tour guides, “George” and Branca, conducted us through main pedestrian thoroughfares and many side streets of Bratislava. We saw the town hall, the opera house, the famous Carlton hotel, the building where a six-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave his first performance, as well as traces of the musical careers of Lizst and Lehar. As a perfect follow-up, we were then treated to a concert in an old converted church, where the soloists of Ambassador Orchester Pressburg, violinist Alan Vizvari and pianist-soprano Anna Patkoloo, performed Danubian music to everyone’s great pleasure, from Strauss’s “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” to a Hungarian czardas and a selection from Lehar’s “Merry Widow.” Returning to the town square after the concert, a number of us were met by a group of high school students who attend a bilingual school in Bratislava and who were making a film of Americans talking about various matters. To the question posed to us, “What do you think of modernism in art?” we turned to Sue Stuard, who came up with a most appropriate answer, all duly taped and filmed.
In Bratislava, we were honored with the presence of two Princeton graduates of the Class of 2009. Peter Capkovic and Emily Sands joined us for lunch, dinner, and the evening talk, and filled many of us in on undergraduate doings at the Best Old Place of All. We returned to the River Cloud II, docked far beneath the most impressive Bratislava castle, which we didn’t have a chance to visit (though a few intrepid souls made the daunting climb), for a barbecue dinner on deck, followed in the lounge by a well-received talk on the music of the Danube by Dave Jordan, and followed then by the playing of Geza, the ship’s pianist. Leaving Bratislava at midnight, we were delighted the next morning to pull into beautiful Vienna at about seven AM, close under the lovely red-roofed Jubilee Cathedral, built to honor the celebration of Franz Josef’s fiftieth year of reign. After breakfast we had an illuminating talk about Vienna from Tom Lachs ‘h59, president of the Princeton Club of Austria, and were soon off on our first view of the Austrian capital, on a gloriously sunny day. Our bus tour took us around the Ringstrasse, the highway built on the ruins of the old city walls, with our guides pointing out one Viennese landmark after another. We stopped at the Belvedere Palace, the former residence of Prince Eugen of Savoy, the greatest Hapsburg military figure, and we walked around the site, admiring the beautiful structure and the lovely and well-tended gardens. Our bus then took us to Stephansplatz, where we visited St. Stephan’s Cathedral, being given not only a tour of the interior of Austria’s most revered church but also a not-generally-open-to-the-public climb of 132 steps for a visit to the cathedral’s roof and a walk around the same. After a satisfying lunch back aboard ship, a smaller group was taken by Tom Lachs on a tour of Jewish Vienna, including a visit to the main Jewish synagogue (subjected to recent attacks by Arab terrorists) and the Jewish Museum. In the evening, part of our group was conducted by Bob Rodgers to a concert at the Muzikverein, while Michele and Ed Gray took the bold step of attending a five-hour performance of Wagner’s “Siegfried” at the Staatsoper - complete with ten curtain calls at the end. Wednesday was cooler and a bit rainy, but this hardly dampened the spirits of the Class of ’56. The main tour in the morning was to the Hofburg, the historic home of the emperor and empress of the Hapsburg Empire and the center of the Holy Roman Empire for over six hundred years, now the site of several museums, including one of the private apartments of the Empress Elizabeth, known to one and all as “Sisi,” as well as the world-famous Spanish Riding School, home of the Lipizzaner horses. Some of us, mastering the intricacies of the Vienna Underground, were off on trips of our own, to places like the Karlsplatz and the renowned Schonbrunn Palace, summer home of the Hapsburgs. Tom Lachs conducted another afternoon tour, this one into the “secret sites” of Vienna, fascinating nooks and crannies of this wonderful town not usually visited by tourists. After dinner we were treated to a talk on Vienna from historian William Weyr, an Austrian-American friend of Corky and Randy Frost from Bronxville, NY. At one in the morning of Thursday the 11th, the River Cloud II pulled out of Vienna, and we headed upriver to Durnstein, a small village on the Danube in which autos are not allowed; here we had a morning walking tour of the town. Perched on a mountain high above the town is the ruined castle in which Leopold of Austria kept England’s King Richard the Lion-Hearted, captured on his way home from the Third Crusade, until a ransom was paid for his release. We didn’t get up to the castle, but we did have an extensive walk through the town’s famous church. We then saw the procession from the church through Durnstein celebrating the festival day of Corpus Christi. We returned to the ship for lunch - featuring delicious raw oysters from the Netherlands - and then sailed up to Melk, home of an historic Benedictine abbey. Our extensive tour of the gigantic abbey was climaxed by an organ recital in the church, performed by one of the monks. We saw the statue of St. Koloman, patron saint of the region, an Irish missionary who was killed by the locals because he didn’t speak the language and they thought he was a spy.
The next day Friday, after we had passed the city of Linz during the night, we docked in the morning in Passau, Germany, and shortly thereafter began a tour which took us into St. Stephen’s Cathedral (it may be noted that various St. Stephens are celebrated along the Danube), this one richly decorated with baroque stucco ornaments and frescoes and featuring a 1928-vintage organ with more than 17,000 pipes - the largest cathedral organ in the world. For half an hour we were treated to a marvelous concert on this great instrument. After lunch back on the ship, many of us resumed our walking tour of Passau, a city celebrated for its confluence of three rivers, the Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz (a joinder pooh-poohed by a good Pittsburgher like Bob McCartney).
At 5:15 the ship left Passau and about three hours later pulled into Vilshofen. In the morning, after a last hearty breakfast, we settled accounts and bid a fond farewell to the River Cloud II. We broke up into three groups, one on a bus going to the Munich airport, one on a bus going into Munich, and a third, much smaller group of those making their way otherwise from Vilshofen. The riders on the bus into Munich, who thought they were simply getting transportation into the Bavarian capital, were surprised to have our bus driver stop and pick up a guide, who gave us a comprehensive tour of the city, with a stop and walk-around at the Nymphenberg Palace and a quick drive around Olympic Park, site of the 1972 Olympics. The touchiest moment of the morning came when we dropped off Cheryl and Pierre Bennerup at the main railroad station at 11:27, trying to catch their 11:30 train. After the tour of Munich, at about 2 PM, our bus pulled up in front of the hotel where many of us were staying. Everyone got off and the Danube Cruise Mini-reunion of 2009 for the Great Class of 1956 came to a close. As a postscript, and a sign that the Great Class never quits, on Sunday the 14th Jean and Dave Jordan came across Fred and Claudine Bacher and Bob and Kit Watson (in from Regensburg), at the Munich train station, then later ran into Pat and Marty Raymond at the Dachau concentration camp shortly after the latter encountered Mary and Ken Snedeker there. And - lastly - at dinner in Paris on Monday the 15th, the Jordans heard the piano player doing “East of the Sun” and gave him an appropriate Princetonian hand.
53rd REUNION Another terrific Reunion with wonderful friends. While the P-Rade had beautiful weather, the rain came down again on Friday night, but certainly did NOT dampen the spirit. Many thanks to Mary and Ken Snedeker for graciously hosting the fabulous Class dinner on Friday Night.
Pictured are stalwarts at the the 53rd Reunion cocktail/dinner party. Undeterred by an evening shower, the number of classmates, wives and friends numbered, magically, 56! Enjoying the food, drink and comraderie were Bancroft, Barclay, Brazell, Coward, Culin, Doub, Eschenlauer, Flippin, Freund, Fulmer, Gardiner, Grotto, Holmes, Horner, Jordan, Lewis, Linde, McCulloh, Meeker, Quay, Rodgers, Schneiderman, G. Schwartz, M. Schwartz, Shein, Snedeker, Stuard, Tilgner, Thompson and Updike.
To view a slide show of some of the Reunion festivities, click on the following link. However, BE PATIENT, as it could take a couple of minutes due to the large number of pictures: Reunions 2009
Letter of Thanks from 1956 Scholarship Winner March 30, 2009
Dear Mr. Meeker: It was a pleasure meeting you and various members of your class recently at the Decade of the 1950s scholarship luncheon. It was amazing to see how many members of the class have stayed so well connected, and made me excited to join the Princeton Alumni network after graduating. I know I did not get the chance to talk to everyone who was there, and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the class of 1956 for the financial support that makes it possible for me to attend this university. I am a 2007 graduate from Woodstock Union High School in Woodstock, Vermont. I am entering my sophomore spring here at Princeton and have recently decided to concentrate in Politics. I am hoping to receive a certificate in both Contemporary European Political and Cultural studies as well as in Urban Studies. I hope to study abroad in Europe next spring to deepen my knowledge of the region. On campus, I am a Career Peer Advisor and work with Career Services to help provide students with feedback and insight in the areas of both resume building and finding summer internships. I am actively involved in Princeton Unicef and am the Unicef liaison between the New York office and our student group. I work for the Institutions for Fragile States Program, which is part of both the Woodrow Wilson School and the Bobst center. I recently joined the Tiger Inn and look forward to taking my meals there next year. I welcome the chance to speak more with you and any members of the class of 1956. I have enclosed my email address in case anyone plans on visiting campus, as I would love to have the opportunity to thank any alumni in person. Thank you so much for your support, which has provided me with the opportunity of a lifetime. Best,
1956 Tailgate Haven - April 2009 Tailgating behind Cap & Gown before every home football game is a 1956 tradition that dates back into the mid 1980s. It has become increasingly popular to both Cap and non-Cap classmates. We have embraced graduates from other classes as well, all of whom enjoy the camaraderie, in addition to the regular visits by our Princeton University Band.
Cap & Gown is now planning a Club expansion and modernization that will also include a reconfiguration of the back yard. We, members of the 1956 Class and Cap section, have bid on the naming rights to the yard for memorialization of our famous and precious tailgates. This will include a monument appropriately inscribed. Anyone desiring to make a contribution should please contact Royce Flippin, royce@flippinassociates.com, 732-613-0330; or Tom Meeker tandjmeeker@verizon.net, 973-748-9581. (NOTE: Click on the e-mail addresses to send a quick response.)
ReachOut ’56 (RO56) A unique trans-generational effort, dedicated to identifying crucial societal challenges and formulating solutions, was launched by members of the Princeton Classes of 1956 and 1981 on February 23, 2008. In the spirit of furthering “Princeton in the nation’s service and in the service of all nations,” a partnership was created to perpetuate and expand existing community service programs of both classes and develop new initiatives in the years ahead. ReachOut ’56 (RO56) has been involved in community service efforts for some time. For the past seven years, it has awarded and funded each year two RO56 Fellowships to graduating Princeton seniors who devise a one-year special project for a non-profit organization of their choice, The organization has also undertaken a number of programs involvingactive participation by classmates and friends, focused predominantly on secondary school students and faculty in inner city and at risk communities and on the subject of college, vocational and cultural awareness and guidance. As ’56 alumni saw a need to perpetuate what they had created, they began a dialogue with members of ’81. The younger class had graduated the year ’56 celebrated its 25th reunion, and had their 25th in conjunction with the 50th reunion of ’56 two years ago. Alumni of ’81 had been searching for an appropriate vehicle for their classmates to participate in public service efforts. A joint venture between the two classes met the objectives of both. A series of exploratory discussions culminated in a joint meeting at which ’81 members were added to the existing board of trustees and officer ranks of RO56, and the name of the organization officially changed to Princeton ReachOut ’56/’81. There is much enthusiasm among classmates of both ’56 and ’81 for this union. One of the first initiatives planned will be to invite members of the Class of 2006 to participate in order to provide a full 50-year trans-generational span. The President of Princeton University, Shirley M. Tilghman, upon being informed of this alliance, offered her congratulations. She observed, “From its inception ReachOut ’56 has embodied the Class of 1956’s commitment to public service, in this nation, and in all nations, by inspiring Princeton graduates to pursue opportunities to serve after graduation. With the intergenerational expansion of the program to include the Class of 1981, the future vitality of this Princeton Alumni organization will be assured for years to come.” Dan Gardiner ’56 will be Chairman of ReachOut ’56/’81 and Jon Wonnell ’81 will serve as President. They, together with Jim Freund ’56, Jack Fritts ’56, Marty Johnson ’81 and Frank Ordiway ’81 will form the group’s initial executive committee. All those involved consider this to be an auspicious initiative – one that not only will prove successful in fulfilling important community service needs, but also will redound to Princeton’s good name, and hopefully will serve as a model for cooperative ventures among other alumni classes. |
Fraser Lewis writes: This is such a good photo of Anna and Frank Embick, Maxine and me having lunch on Thursday of Reunions, I thought I'd share it with you for the web site. Frank still fits into his old reunion shirt; I outgrew mine around our twentieth. Fraser
Sincere and heartfelt thanks to Sue and Bob Rodgers for leading an amazing committee , which put together such a fantastic weekend. While there were many helpers “behind the scenes”, the major players assisting Sue and Bob were, in Bob’s words, the following:
Upon arrival at Reunion headquarters, the first thing that greeted us all was the GIGANTIC “welcome mat”…..the 13-foot diameter “Let the Good Times Roll” wheel, created and built by Bob Rodgers, and which enhanced the theme of our Reunion…”The Fullness of Time”. Unfortunately the wheel could not navigate the entire P-Rade, but it did lead the Class through Bloomberg Arch and past the reviewing stand in Poe Field.
Speaking of Jim, we want to recognize his amazing musical and photographic talents, as well as his extreme generosity for providing a DVD entitled ”Going Back” covering noteworthy moments at Princeton Reunions from 2006 – 2010, for EVERY classmate at the 55th Reunion…..what a WONDERFUL gift and source of very special memories. In appreciation of his on-going musical talents and DVD gifts to the entire class, he was presented with a special Tiger statue inscribed ” Jim Freund ’56, Classmate of Note”.
By the way, if you didn’t receive a DVD, just contact Jim at 
The choir, directed by Sue Rodgers, and whose members included many classmates and wives, was stupendous. They were Peter Ambler, Bob Card, Frank Embick, Tom Fulmer, John Garth, Nancy Garth, Tine Graham, Vivian Grotto, John Hanna, Al Mather, Cathy Pinch, Sue Rodgers, Malcolm Schwartz, Bill Vanden Heuvel and Lois Vanden Heuvel, along with Sue Strenio ’12, and none other than Penna Rose, Director of Chapel Music.
Early Friday afternoon and despite the heat of the day, Rand Mirante ’70, an honorary Classmate, led the Battle of Princeton Tour, which concluded at the Firestone Library. All who attended had rave reviews for the event, and Jim and Kathy Brazell did an exceptional job coordinating a wonderful experience.
Dan Gardiner was scheduled to also participate on the panel, but was sidelined due to a medical situation. Happily, he joined in the Reunion festivities on Saturday.
Our own John Garth, playing the keyboard, provided ambiance to the affair.
Fraser Lewis was presented with a crystal tiger in appreciation of the fabulous job he did leading the Class these past five years. It has been a rewarding job, although occasionally difficult, but he dealt with all issues with wisdom, enthusiasm and ultimate humor.
As many of you know, we have had a very close relationship with The Princeton University Band for over 20 years with regard to football tailgates. This mutual affection has deepened, and we were honored that The Band’s new CD, “Songs in the key of LOUD”, gives thanks to The Class 1956 in its cover, along with a picture of the Band’s ’56 Bongos, created by Tom Meeker.
Following the University Band’s performance, our own “Born Again Band”, under the leadership of Bill Stein, gave an outstanding mini recital. The members included Bob Brink, Bob Card, Art Eschenlauer, Jerry Kurtz, Bob McCartney, Lee McMillion, Dick Robb, Kit Smith, and Ken Snedeker, augmented by Erez Lirov '99 and Tom Artin '60, and all should be congratulated on their resounding performance. The Born Again Band also marched in the P-Rade and led the bevy of the infamous ’56 Bikini Babes.
Dinner followed at headquarters with music and dancing to the Boilermakers Band. As darkness fell, the Class had a perfect location behind Scully dorms to watch the Reunions fireworks, a spectacular show!! While difficult to capture fireworks on a simple digital camera, there are a few shots in the slideshow.
The time certainly flew by, and it was wonderful having the few days to catch up with classmates and relive the antics (and lies) of 1952 to 1956.
Photo L to R, George Easter, Fred Sater, Jim Brazell (half hidden), Corky Frost, Dave Barclay, Paul Shein, Bos Crowther (half hidden), Jack Doub, Fraser Lewis, Don Stuard, Steve Alfred, Bob Rodgers, Russ Culin, Dave Gavrin, Bruce Evans, Jim Freund
Monday morning we heard a fine talk from Ann Scott about the history of the Hapsburgs, from the Holy Roman Empire, the “defenestration of Prague,” Maria Theresa and the Pragmatic Sanction, right up through Franz Josef, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, and the end of the First World War (and of the Hapsburgs).
Following this, we took a choo-choo to Gerhard Fischer’s winery, where we were invited into his wine cellar for tastings of two white wines he produced and one red wine.
Dinner consisted of a specially prepared menu, accompanied by wines selected for each course. After dinner we celebrated Bill Lemmon’s 75th birthday, with a Tiger birthday cake carefully arranged by his wife, Jean. Following that, in conformance with the wine-synchronized flavor of the day’s activities, we had a lecture in the lounge from our class president Fraser Lewis, a celebrated oenophile, complete with tastings of two Austrian whites and two reds. Most then staggered off to bed.
That evening, we were honored with the Captain’s Farewell Drink of champagne in the lounge followed by the Captain’s Farewell Dinner - a climax to the week of gastronomical treasures which the River Cloud II’s staff presented to us. The staff in turn was honored by the wearing of the Class of 1956 Reunion jacket by many of our participants. We were also able to celebrate the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Laura and Fred Pardee and the 45th wedding anniversary the next day of Joan and Tom Spence. Finally, there was a presentation of gratitude for all their efforts in making the trip a great success - paintings of six of our stops along the way - given to Maxine and Fraser Lewis.
Unable to join the festivities due to a Vassar bound granddaughter’s graduation, Bob Varrin made his commanding presence known as a Marshall at the P-Rade on Saturday.
