Class Note 1962
Issue
Although noted elsewhere it bears repeating in this column that classics superstar Dan Tompkins has the distinction of having his name carved in stone as one of three recipients of the Temple University Great Teacher Award for 2008-09. “I’m not exaggerating when I say that Dr. Tompkins is one of the best, if not the best professor I’ve had,” said Elizabeth Torresson, an undergraduate classics major and senior thesis advisee of Tompkins. “It’s really very simple. He makes his students want to learn—to want to shoot for the stars. He values every student and appreciates their unique gifts.” Dan modestly intones, “My one sage remark is, teaching is never easy!” Amen to that, and congratulations, Professor Tompkins!
Dan relays the following news of Al Dynner’s retirement activities: “I’ve had fun going to Tanglewood a number of weekends, but otherwise have been in and around Boston. That all changes on September 5, when I head to Fiji and board a ship for a 22-day diving expedition to the Phoenix Islands, part of the country of Kiribati and the world’s largest marine protected area. This will be a scientific expedition to assess the health of the coral reef system and marine life following an El Niño bleaching event five years ago. On board in addition to scientists are my good friends Greg Stone, senior vice president of the New England Aquarium (where I am chair of the board of overseers and trustee) and of Conservation International; Larry Madin, executive vice president of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; and Brian Skerry, underwater photographer for National Geographic. The trip will be written up in a National Geographic article to follow. If interested, you can also follow the expedition via our blogs on www.neaq.org.” It’s the next best thing to being there and you don’t have to get wet.
From our 49th state, fellow oceanographer Craig Dorman writes, “Cynthia and I are doing well in Fairbanks. We still have our house in Arlington, Virginia, and go back there for a bit every year to visit the two kids and their families that stayed in the D.C. area. I ‘retired’ from the University of Alaska (vice president of academic affairs and research for the statewide system) a couple years ago—sort of my fourth retirement—still consult a bit, but mostly we spend our time doing what folks do in Alaska: hunting, skiing, traveling, gardening and crafting. We have plenty of room and would welcome visits from classmates who may be passing through this lovely (when not burning!) part of the world.” For those heading “into the wild,” Craig makes an enticing and generous offer. Book early!
In August Richard Hannah and his always lovely wife, Joan, came to visit us in northern Michigan, “Land of the Yooper.” However briefly it was Butch and Sundance together again. Sundance drove more than 1,000 miles to reach our place in Cedarville. That’s got to be a record for a doctor making a house call! Classmates traveling through the eastern U.P. in the summer should be sure to give us a jingle. The welcome mat is always out, eh.
—Jim Haines, 307 Sewickley Ridge Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143;(412) 741-9088; jbhaines@comcast.net
Nov - Dec 2009
Although noted elsewhere it bears repeating in this column that classics superstar Dan Tompkins has the distinction of having his name carved in stone as one of three recipients of the Temple University Great Teacher Award for 2008-09. “I’m not exaggerating when I say that Dr. Tompkins is one of the best, if not the best professor I’ve had,” said Elizabeth Torresson, an undergraduate classics major and senior thesis advisee of Tompkins. “It’s really very simple. He makes his students want to learn—to want to shoot for the stars. He values every student and appreciates their unique gifts.” Dan modestly intones, “My one sage remark is, teaching is never easy!” Amen to that, and congratulations, Professor Tompkins!
Dan relays the following news of Al Dynner’s retirement activities: “I’ve had fun going to Tanglewood a number of weekends, but otherwise have been in and around Boston. That all changes on September 5, when I head to Fiji and board a ship for a 22-day diving expedition to the Phoenix Islands, part of the country of Kiribati and the world’s largest marine protected area. This will be a scientific expedition to assess the health of the coral reef system and marine life following an El Niño bleaching event five years ago. On board in addition to scientists are my good friends Greg Stone, senior vice president of the New England Aquarium (where I am chair of the board of overseers and trustee) and of Conservation International; Larry Madin, executive vice president of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; and Brian Skerry, underwater photographer for National Geographic. The trip will be written up in a National Geographic article to follow. If interested, you can also follow the expedition via our blogs on www.neaq.org.” It’s the next best thing to being there and you don’t have to get wet.
From our 49th state, fellow oceanographer Craig Dorman writes, “Cynthia and I are doing well in Fairbanks. We still have our house in Arlington, Virginia, and go back there for a bit every year to visit the two kids and their families that stayed in the D.C. area. I ‘retired’ from the University of Alaska (vice president of academic affairs and research for the statewide system) a couple years ago—sort of my fourth retirement—still consult a bit, but mostly we spend our time doing what folks do in Alaska: hunting, skiing, traveling, gardening and crafting. We have plenty of room and would welcome visits from classmates who may be passing through this lovely (when not burning!) part of the world.” For those heading “into the wild,” Craig makes an enticing and generous offer. Book early!
In August Richard Hannah and his always lovely wife, Joan, came to visit us in northern Michigan, “Land of the Yooper.” However briefly it was Butch and Sundance together again. Sundance drove more than 1,000 miles to reach our place in Cedarville. That’s got to be a record for a doctor making a house call! Classmates traveling through the eastern U.P. in the summer should be sure to give us a jingle. The welcome mat is always out, eh.
—Jim Haines, 307 Sewickley Ridge Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143;(412) 741-9088; jbhaines@comcast.net