Class Note 1958

Just received (on April 24) the column written two months ago for May/June DAM. Must be time for July/August. 


Coleman Colla (never called “Butch” in Studio City, California) writes that son Elliott Colla has published his first novel, Baghdad Central. Set in 2003 Iraq, it opens grimly at Abu Ghraib prison and describes from an Iraqi policeman’s gut-wrenching viewpoint the misguided U.S. invasion to destroy Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction. Elliott teaches Arabic literature at Georgetown, translates fiction and poetry and spends much time in the Middle East. Great read! 


Steve Nichols has been named a Council on Library and Information Resources Distinguished Presidential Fellow. As research professor at Johns Hopkins since going emeritus in French and humanities, he’s developed technical platforms to link medieval literature with datasets of history, philosophy, language theory and art history. 


Reports from Tryg Myhren confirm that the women alpine skiers championed by Cack Bittner in the February Sound & Fury fared well at the Sochi Paralympics in March. Stephanie Jallen, on one leg and arm, took two third-place bronze medals. Staci Mannella, soon Dartmouth ’18, took two sixths in partially sighted races. 


We lost Bob Massucco, D.D.S., on January 21 at his Mount Desert, Maine, home. “Dr. Bob” practiced oral surgery in Maine, where he ran trails of Acadia National Park in all seasons, paddled Maine’s whitewater rivers and skied Squaw Mountain. His farm produced tons of “Dr. Bob’s Blueberries” for Downeast muffins, pies and jams.


Bill Stillwell, retired education professor at the University of Kentucky, died at home in Lexington on April 19. A Stanford Ph.D. and reserve Navy commander, he was a passionate soccer coach, manager, referee and “super fan.” In 2008 Kentucky created the annual Stillwell Award for Personal Dedication and Service in Education Technology to the Commonwealth Teachers and Students. 


Another sad passing is Walt Fogarty at his home on Shelter Island, New York, on April 15. Football center, Theta Delt brother, Tuck grad and Marine captain, Walt lived abroad many years, managing overseas subsidiaries of Colgate Palmolive. The family plans a memorial celebration on Shelter Island this summer. 


—Steve Quickel, 65 Chapel Road, New Hope, PA 18938; swquickel@comcast.net