My apologies for growing old on December 28 and the teeny column it caused.


An unwelcomed phone message from an always welcome Jilly Harned informed me that Bobbie Birney’s darling, Jim, had moved to hospice. Special good wishes from me and on behalf of the class to our preacher and beloved friend.


Randi and I enjoyed a lively and tumultuous lunch with Joan Mauk, son David Mauk and Bob and Joan McIlwain. Tumultuous because we were kicked out of the first restaurant by a very disagreeable hostess—all but one of us in our 80s.


An always enjoyable call from Frank Harrington noted that he is relatively well, although pretty much confined to quarters, and Rosemary has had a visit from her granddaughter.


Alex Hoffman writes a news-filled letter. He is fine but Twinks has suffered a series of disabling strokes. With “wonderful spirit and determination” she has made very good progress toward recovery. Her spirit is “an inspiration” to Alex. With outside help, they continue to live in their apartment. Alex expresses dismay at the “costly and still-growing academic and administrative bureaucracy at the College. He notes that the administration “allowed radical students calling themselves ‘real talkers’ to occupy Parkhurst, then canceled classes in order to consider demands such as having the College pay for sex-change operations.” How the world has changed.


He has recently spoken with Joe Medlicott and Clift Whiteman and reports that Dave and Karen Taylor have moved to a new apartment in Lebanon, New Hampshire.


Speaking of Joe Medlicott, he writes that David Davis, whose name does not appear in the Aegis but does in the 50-year book, has received the National Humanities Medal from President Obama. Joe also sent me a clipping that announces that John Wulp, who lives on an island in Maine, at the age of 86 is still active in the theater, the off-Broadway theater, that is.


Joyce Miller reports that, sadly, her husband, William Mason “Bing” Miller, died in December of a heart attack. Other deaths include those of Frank Dickinson and Sherman “Sherm” Hoyt in January, Ismar “Izzy” Stahl in December and William “Bill” Schneider in February. The class extends condolences to the families of these men.


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