Greetings, fellow ’70s. It’s December 22 and since the world didn’t end yesterday as the Mayans predicted, I guess I should start Christmas shopping and get to work on this column as it is due Hanover in less than a week.


Add another ’70 to the growing list of retirees. After 30-plus years with the Golden Gate Bridge District in San Francisco Harvey Katz called it quits about the same time as his youngest son headed off to college. Not content to stop there and just enjoy being empty-nesters, Harvey and Mary left Marin County and moved to Reno, Nevada, as he puts it, “from one beautiful place to another.” Harvey also reports that just prior to retiring he and Mary vacationed in Tanzania, where they summited Mount Kilimanjaro. So maybe 65 is the new 35.


The Ohio Art Co.’s Nanoblocks made the Amos Tuck School of Business’ 2012 “Top Tech Toys” list. In case you or your kids or your grandkids didn’t find Nanoblocks under the Christmas tree I’m sure you can call Larry Killgallon, president and chief operating officer of Ohio Art, and he’ll see that you get some. You may recall that Ohio Art’s flagship product, Etch A Sketch, got more than a little publicity in last fall’s presidential campaign.


Kudos are once more in order for Star Johnson for orchestrating a second first-class mini-reunion this fall. According to Star (and confirmed by independent auditors) nine classmates plus spouses turned out for a perfect day in Princeton on November 17. Tom Quinn was in town from Denver and joined Linda and Bob Mlakar, Faffy and Jim Decker, Sally and Ernie Babcock, Pete Donovan, Wayne Bardsley, Denny Brown and Jeff Dahlman. It must have been a great time because, as Mlakar noted, “Tailgating is a lot tougher than playing!” Star reports, “The day was gloriously brilliant and warm and the Big Green stunned Princeton by scoring 35 unanswered points, after starting the game down 14-0, ending the game winning 35-21.”


Speaking of reunions, here is an update regarding our 45th. The alumni relations office has reinstated grouping three classes for those 30 to 45 years out. This means that we will be celebrating with the ’71s and ’72s in June of 2016. In another positive move the College has done away with mid-week reunion dates. So mark your calendars now—we hope this won’t conflict with anyone’s high school 50th.


—Bill Wilson, 304 Highlands Bluffs Drive, Cary, NC 27518; wilson8689@aol.com