In summer 1978, 36-year-old Muhammad Ali was recruited by Ford Motorcraft, the auto parts maker, to film a commercial in Alaska. Ali was fresh from a disappointing loss to Leon Spinks; Ford was trying to jumpstart a struggling division. In the middle was Peter Israelson, writer, director, cinematographer, who was running the Ford film crew. Ali’s antics and the zany, affectionate backstory of two weeks of filming and interactions with Peter, fellow actors, and everyday Alaskans provided content for the witty, moving narrative at a Zoom presentation produced by Ed Mazer and attended by an estimated 100-plus classmates, spouses, and guests, including Rich Danziger, Al Palmer, Richard Klein, Gary Silver, Frank Jerabek, Jonathan Bates, Richard Booma, John Howland, Susan Vicinelli (widow of Gae Vicinelli), and Bill King,who commented on apparent lessons learned by Ali at the shoot—the Saswatch Shuffle, Saswatch Sucker Punch and Klondike Kick that may have been used in Ali’s comeback victory over Spinks.

Zoom attendee Fred Jarrett retired six years ago from vascular surgery but still practices medicine in an online counseling and drug treatment program. He and Esther moved from Pittsburgh to Sarasota, Florida. Fred is past president and ongoing participant in a mentoring program for surgical residents and medical students. His memoir To Fruit Street and Beyond: The Massachusetts General Hospital Surgical Residency was published by Archway in 2017. Last June the couple celebrated its 50th anniversary with children James ’97, Julia (Princeton ’01), and Andrew (Princeton ’03) and grandchildren.

Earlier in May another Zoom attendee, Charlie Logan, with wife Claire hosted Psi U brothers and spouses Dave and Michelle Halsted, John and Althea Hicks, Sam and Deamie Cabot, Wick and Liz Warrick, and Chris and Anne Wideenmayer at the historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Mike and Gloria Rie of White Plains, New York, embarked on a Burgundy, France, river barge cruise with views of chateaux and vineyards and capped with canapes and champagne.

I regret to report the passing of Richard Davison, Eric Hansen, and Jim McKeon. Obituaries by Tige Harris appear online in this magazine.

—Harry Zlokower, 190 Amity St., Brooklyn, NY 11201; (917) 541-8162; harry@zlokower.com