In May Randi and I enjoyed dinner on the patio overlooking the canal and moored yachts with Joan Mauk—great company and a delightful setting.


Bob McIlwain arranged for an excellent luncheon halfway between Vero Beach and Palm Beach, Florida, for a group that included the McIlwains, Frank Harrington, Joel Leavitt and Veda and Randi and me. Thoroughly enjoyed by all.


Tommy Ruggles reports that Joanne Harris (George’s wife) sent him an article about the extraordinary friendship between Lee “Sak” Sakorin and well-known boxer “Hurricane” Carter. Black, schooled in New Jersey’s mean streets and professional boxing, a furious mauler in the ring and, after his release (following nearly 20 undeserved years in prison and a reversal of his conviction by Judge Sarokin), a figure who embodied near beatific acceptance of the brutal hand dealt to him. Years later the dying Carter said to Sak, “I wanted yours to be the last voice I hear because you gave me my life back.”


I called Ken Clark, who is in great shape, to report the sad news that Charlie Abbe, my freshman-year roommate and later his, had died. 


I learned from the alumni magazine that 38 from the class of ’40 remain. This prompted a call to the alumni records office, where I learned that there were 305 of us ’50s remaining above ground as of June 27. I also note that the class of ’35 still writes a column—do the numbers.


A note from Varney Truscott bears the unhappy news that Lud passed away on January 22 from complications from a stroke.


Also, Peggy Smith writes that Girard “Jerry” Smith died after a prolonged illness on February 20. The class and I extend condolences to both of these ladies.


Adding to the gloom, the College reports the deaths of G. Renfrew “Rennie” Brighton on October 23, 2010; Emil Hudak on March 30; Harold A. Polson on November 16, 2010; Edward Slade Sawyer on May 9, 2013; and Owen “Rock” Smyth on December 23, 2010.


Please, send me some good news if you can.


—Nev Chamberlain, 1835 N. Garden Grove Circle, Vero Beach, FL 32962; (772) 569-2893; ranevero03@gmail.com