Class Note 1972
Issue
Jan - Feb 2016
Happy New Year! Getting ready for our 44th reunion? Mark your calendars for June 16-19. We will join the classes of 1970 and 1971. Look for details soon!
Our class president Bill “B-Man” Schur met in Chicago with John DeVierno at the Art Institute of Chicago. “John was in town for a legal conference. He has his own law practice in Washington, D.C., specializing in legislation and lobbying.”
Bill also reports, “My wife, Donna Fletcher ’77, and I had cocktails with Jim Birchall and his wife, Anne. Jim is a bond lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama. They were in Chicago for a convention of bond attorneys. Jim looks the same as he did 40 years ago, when we were also classmates at Cornell Law School. He has a full head of hair and plays golf as well as always, with an eight handicap. Anne is as lovely and engaging as always. Two of their children are Dartmouth alumni and were Big Green golfers. James Lee Birchall ’02 was captain of the men’s team and Kathy Birchall ’04 was a stalwart on the ladies’ squad. Lee, as he is known, is a corporate lawyer in Birmingham. Kathy is married to Charles Gardner ’04. Their third child, Betsy Birchall, was a champion golfer at William & Mary (class of 2013). She currently is a medical student at the University of Alabama.”
Charlie Nearburg says, “I have continued to race in selected vintage Formula 1 races in Europe, the United States and Canada. It has been a real privilege and great fun to race some legendary tracks such as Spa, Catalunya, Mugella, Imola, Brands Hatch, Hockenheim, Dijon, Estoril and, last but not least, Monaco. With great support from WDK Racing in England, I’ve been able to be on the podium in most all of the European Union and United Kingdom races and secure a number of victories. Without a doubt the proudest I have been was to finish second to a 20-something British pro driver in the fastest of the Formula 1 races at the 2014 Grand Prix Historique de Monaco. I was driving the ex-Alex Ribiero, Hollywood livery, March 761-B. This race was an incredible thrill in front of a capacity crowd and televised live throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. It was also a big challenge with a field of about 40 cars on the tight streets of Monaco, where the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship will start only 24 cars due to the short length and tight confines of the track. It was a great race and I was incredibly honored to stand on the Monaco podium. Karen had to claw her way through the police to join the WDK crew at the finish line.”
Finally, it is with deep sorrow that I report the death of Rudy Ellis. I spent many an evening losing bowling matches to Rudy when we returned to Towson, Maryland, and Parkville, Missouri. He will be sorely missed.
—Bill Price, 12 Lummi Key, Bellevue, WA 98006; bill@drivasolutions.com
Our class president Bill “B-Man” Schur met in Chicago with John DeVierno at the Art Institute of Chicago. “John was in town for a legal conference. He has his own law practice in Washington, D.C., specializing in legislation and lobbying.”
Bill also reports, “My wife, Donna Fletcher ’77, and I had cocktails with Jim Birchall and his wife, Anne. Jim is a bond lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama. They were in Chicago for a convention of bond attorneys. Jim looks the same as he did 40 years ago, when we were also classmates at Cornell Law School. He has a full head of hair and plays golf as well as always, with an eight handicap. Anne is as lovely and engaging as always. Two of their children are Dartmouth alumni and were Big Green golfers. James Lee Birchall ’02 was captain of the men’s team and Kathy Birchall ’04 was a stalwart on the ladies’ squad. Lee, as he is known, is a corporate lawyer in Birmingham. Kathy is married to Charles Gardner ’04. Their third child, Betsy Birchall, was a champion golfer at William & Mary (class of 2013). She currently is a medical student at the University of Alabama.”
Charlie Nearburg says, “I have continued to race in selected vintage Formula 1 races in Europe, the United States and Canada. It has been a real privilege and great fun to race some legendary tracks such as Spa, Catalunya, Mugella, Imola, Brands Hatch, Hockenheim, Dijon, Estoril and, last but not least, Monaco. With great support from WDK Racing in England, I’ve been able to be on the podium in most all of the European Union and United Kingdom races and secure a number of victories. Without a doubt the proudest I have been was to finish second to a 20-something British pro driver in the fastest of the Formula 1 races at the 2014 Grand Prix Historique de Monaco. I was driving the ex-Alex Ribiero, Hollywood livery, March 761-B. This race was an incredible thrill in front of a capacity crowd and televised live throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. It was also a big challenge with a field of about 40 cars on the tight streets of Monaco, where the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship will start only 24 cars due to the short length and tight confines of the track. It was a great race and I was incredibly honored to stand on the Monaco podium. Karen had to claw her way through the police to join the WDK crew at the finish line.”
Finally, it is with deep sorrow that I report the death of Rudy Ellis. I spent many an evening losing bowling matches to Rudy when we returned to Towson, Maryland, and Parkville, Missouri. He will be sorely missed.
—Bill Price, 12 Lummi Key, Bellevue, WA 98006; bill@drivasolutions.com