Class Note 1951
Squash is still an important part of Rick Austin’s (Loudon, Tennessee) life, even though a knee replacement ended his competitive playing 20 years ago. He and his two sons are members of the Jesters Club, an honorary organization of international players recognized for their contributions to squash. He is involved in Racquet Up Detroit, a program for out-of-school youth, now in 10 cities, which uses squash, in combination with academic tutoring and mentoring, to help young people achieve their full potential. (Visit the Internet for more details of this inspiring program.) Rick’s son Jim and grandson Patrick recently honored him by creating the Rick Austin Campership Fund, which allows four Racquet Up Detroit kids to benefit from a summer camping experience.
Geeb Goldberg still lives in Louisville, Kentucky. I enjoy his occasional bulletins. Under the heading, “It’s a small world,” he reports that his daughter-in-law is a member of my wife’s Evanston, Illinois, book club. I’m angling for a reunion.
Charlie Blood (Belgrade Lakes, Maine) describes his idyllic life: “Loving family, a little country church with many friends, excellent health and the joy of summers at our comfortable old camp on nearby Great Pond, where Shirley and I dabble in our woodlots. Passing my 85th birthday wasn’t hard at all!”
Dick Barnes (Washington, D.C.) lost his wife, Toni, last year; they had been married for 61 years. He remains active, attending events at the Brookings Institution (“my favorite think tank”) and the Carnegie Institute for International Affairs.
Still working: Dr. Jim Cavanagh (Tallahassee, Florida) is a full-time volunteer teaching anatomy at Florida State University’s School of Medicine. Aldan Markson (Maplewood, New Jersey) still has an active law practice, now devoted entirely to mediation and arbitration.
Recent deaths of classmates include Leonard “Red” Balaban, Ed Eichler, Bob Fiertz, Gary Mansur and Earl Reynolds. At Dave Batchelder’s memorial service this spring 11 ’51s paid their fond respects: Dick Dutton, Mike Choukas, Henry Nachman, Loye Miller, Dave Saxton, Howie Allen, Nase Hurowitz, Jack Giegerich, Bill Merkle, Ed Weisenfeld and Bob Hopkins. Bob joined family members in remembering Batch.
—Pete Henderson, 455 Davis St., Evanston, IL 60201; (847) 905-0635; pandjhenderson@gmail.com
