Class Note 1972
Issue
September-October 2020
I was so pleased to hear from Jack Vayda and Owen Kelly recently. Jack was headed to Nashville from the New York City metro area and suggested that we three have a mini class reunion to catch up. Jack is a lawyer in New York City and is still practicing there and in Brazil, where he was born. He was coming south to visit his two daughters (one a Dartmouth ’10) and his grandson, who live here in Music City. Owen is retired after a long career in the financial services industry and still lives with his wife of 44 years, Ann Kelly, in Nashville, where he is active in the nonprofit world. They have a son who is finishing his Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an internship at the University of Rochester and a daughter who lives in Nashville. Unfortunately, my schedule did not allow us to get together this time, but we are planning to do so when Jack next comes down for a family visit.
Joe Davis reported in to say that in May he retired as the chief operating officer of BKV Corp., the natural gas company he helped to start in 2014. Joe will continue as a director of the company and will “continue to champion natural gas as the low-carbon complement to renewable energy while the world transitions to sustainable energy sources.” Well done, Joe! He also tells me that he recently heard from Lawrie Lieberman, who is now living in Montana. Lawrie just celebrated his 48th wedding anniversary. He and his bride, Moira, were married in Rollins Chapel a few days before we graduated in 1972. Congratulations, Lawrie and Moira!
Ragnvald Bratz dropped me a note from Norway to say that life is “slack” for a 73-year-old retired guy, “but children (four boys) and grandchildren (two girls and a boy) keep us halfway busy.” He and Kristin, his wife of 44 years, spend about half the year in Oslo and the other half up in the mountains north of there. Ragnvald says that, thankfully, the impact of the coronavirus has been milder in Norway than in the rest of Europe. He keeps in touch with John Musser, who is in the Boston area, and with Jan Opsahl, who is retired in the countryside outside of London. Thanks for reaching out, Ragnvald!
Sadly, I must close by reporting the death of two classmates. Bill French died at home in July from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He is survived by Janet, his wife of 38 years, and his son, William French III ’08. Peter Kaczowka passed away under hospice care in April at his home in Adams, Massachusetts. He is survived by his two sons, Aaron and Ethan. Our heartfelt condolences are extended to the families and friends of these sons of Dartmouth. The hill winds know their names.
As Jim Morrison said, “Strange days have found us.” Please check in with me to report on how you are doing during these difficult times.
—David Hetzel, 997 State Blvd., Franklin, TN 37064; dghetzel@gmail.com
Joe Davis reported in to say that in May he retired as the chief operating officer of BKV Corp., the natural gas company he helped to start in 2014. Joe will continue as a director of the company and will “continue to champion natural gas as the low-carbon complement to renewable energy while the world transitions to sustainable energy sources.” Well done, Joe! He also tells me that he recently heard from Lawrie Lieberman, who is now living in Montana. Lawrie just celebrated his 48th wedding anniversary. He and his bride, Moira, were married in Rollins Chapel a few days before we graduated in 1972. Congratulations, Lawrie and Moira!
Ragnvald Bratz dropped me a note from Norway to say that life is “slack” for a 73-year-old retired guy, “but children (four boys) and grandchildren (two girls and a boy) keep us halfway busy.” He and Kristin, his wife of 44 years, spend about half the year in Oslo and the other half up in the mountains north of there. Ragnvald says that, thankfully, the impact of the coronavirus has been milder in Norway than in the rest of Europe. He keeps in touch with John Musser, who is in the Boston area, and with Jan Opsahl, who is retired in the countryside outside of London. Thanks for reaching out, Ragnvald!
Sadly, I must close by reporting the death of two classmates. Bill French died at home in July from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He is survived by Janet, his wife of 38 years, and his son, William French III ’08. Peter Kaczowka passed away under hospice care in April at his home in Adams, Massachusetts. He is survived by his two sons, Aaron and Ethan. Our heartfelt condolences are extended to the families and friends of these sons of Dartmouth. The hill winds know their names.
As Jim Morrison said, “Strange days have found us.” Please check in with me to report on how you are doing during these difficult times.
—David Hetzel, 997 State Blvd., Franklin, TN 37064; dghetzel@gmail.com