Class Note 1956
Issue
The mailbox was nearly empty, but the contents were very personal. I’ll start with the good news. Susan McRae, a staff writer for the Daily Journal in Los Angeles, did a great story last spring on John Van de Kamp, suggesting with good reason that he’s “a California institution.” John has had a very successful and well documented career in the law, serving as state Bar president, California attorney general, Los Angeles Country district attorney, Los Angeles’ first federal public defender and U.S. attorney for the Central District. What is not so well known is John’s work as an arbitrator for the past 15 years. He’s used his considerable skills to assist contesting entities to find common ground and resolution. He has received rave reviews from lawyers who’ve watched him practice, and “his background in government and public office has given him a vast knowledge and sophistication in how government works and policies are made.” Those who have watched him work are not only struck by his “demeanor as a neutral member of a three-member arbitration board” but his “grasp of the highly complex and technical issues, involving claw-back provisions, redemption and book values.” While reflecting on this new engagement, John said, “I enjoyed this kind of work and thought, ‘This is something I can get into in my old age.’ ”
I’m cautious about writing about my former roommate Bill Hamilton, since I see so much of him now that we’ve moved to Quechee, Vermont. But in his mature years he and his wife, Janet, have taken up croquet and not the typical backyard game one sets up over the 4th of July weekend. Bit by the bug some time ago in Florida, Bill put in a regulation court immediately next to his 18th-century home up in the hills overlooking Piermont, New Hampshire. It serves as a practice facility for the two of them and a tournament setting several times a year for their croquet friends along our two coasts. That’s a good story in itself, but these two have managed to play so well they’re in the championship flight of tournaments on both coasts, competing against our country’s best, most of whom are 45 or 50 years their juniors.
Our nine classmates who died last year have each been memorialized by the Baker Library with books. These are acquired with funds made available by our class and means that their impact continues for the students who roam Baker 50-some years after we each did.
Painfully I’ve learned recently of the death of the wives of two of our classmates. John Tamagni’s wife of 52 years, Janet, died in early February after “a long and difficult battle.” John Parke wrote of his wife’s death in early April. He and Mary were married for 55 years. Both of these fine women were deeply involved in their communities and will be missed by all who knew them.
—R. Stewart Wood Jr., P.O. Box 968, Quechee, VT 05059-0968; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol.com
July - Aug 2010
The mailbox was nearly empty, but the contents were very personal. I’ll start with the good news. Susan McRae, a staff writer for the Daily Journal in Los Angeles, did a great story last spring on John Van de Kamp, suggesting with good reason that he’s “a California institution.” John has had a very successful and well documented career in the law, serving as state Bar president, California attorney general, Los Angeles Country district attorney, Los Angeles’ first federal public defender and U.S. attorney for the Central District. What is not so well known is John’s work as an arbitrator for the past 15 years. He’s used his considerable skills to assist contesting entities to find common ground and resolution. He has received rave reviews from lawyers who’ve watched him practice, and “his background in government and public office has given him a vast knowledge and sophistication in how government works and policies are made.” Those who have watched him work are not only struck by his “demeanor as a neutral member of a three-member arbitration board” but his “grasp of the highly complex and technical issues, involving claw-back provisions, redemption and book values.” While reflecting on this new engagement, John said, “I enjoyed this kind of work and thought, ‘This is something I can get into in my old age.’ ”
I’m cautious about writing about my former roommate Bill Hamilton, since I see so much of him now that we’ve moved to Quechee, Vermont. But in his mature years he and his wife, Janet, have taken up croquet and not the typical backyard game one sets up over the 4th of July weekend. Bit by the bug some time ago in Florida, Bill put in a regulation court immediately next to his 18th-century home up in the hills overlooking Piermont, New Hampshire. It serves as a practice facility for the two of them and a tournament setting several times a year for their croquet friends along our two coasts. That’s a good story in itself, but these two have managed to play so well they’re in the championship flight of tournaments on both coasts, competing against our country’s best, most of whom are 45 or 50 years their juniors.
Our nine classmates who died last year have each been memorialized by the Baker Library with books. These are acquired with funds made available by our class and means that their impact continues for the students who roam Baker 50-some years after we each did.
Painfully I’ve learned recently of the death of the wives of two of our classmates. John Tamagni’s wife of 52 years, Janet, died in early February after “a long and difficult battle.” John Parke wrote of his wife’s death in early April. He and Mary were married for 55 years. Both of these fine women were deeply involved in their communities and will be missed by all who knew them.
—R. Stewart Wood Jr., P.O. Box 968, Quechee, VT 05059-0968; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol.com