Class Note 1961
Issue
July-August 2024
Through the decades, the class of 1961 has quietly and continuously expanded in both quantity, with the formal admission of spouses and widows as participating classmates for all class-related purposes, and quality, with otherwise unassuming classmates who have accomplished some unusual achievements.
When wives and widows were adopted into the class of 1961 nearly a decade ago, Nyla Arslanian worked with Patti Rich to establish and lead the class of 1961 women’s initiative committee. Together they recruited other spouses and widows, created their own discussion sessions as an integral part of the multiple mini-reunions each year and periodic reunions, and created their own periodic telephone conference calls and a few periodic regional luncheons for class wives and widows.
More than a decade ago Nyla was one of only three women recruited to become a member of the class of 1961 executive committee. A few months ago the position of class treasurer became open when the then excellent class treasurer Ron Wybranowski had to resign for personal reasons. Without hesitation Nyla stepped up and volunteered to assume the position and become the class’s first female class officer. Within two months, and with Ron’s assistance, the changeover had become smooth and seamless.
Ted Tapper is now a retired primary care physician who spent his career servicing the underserved population of Philadelphia. One of his young patients was indicted and convicted of attempted murder in 2015 and sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison, despite Ted’s testimony at the trial that it would have been nearly impossible medically for his patient to have committed the crime in question. Apparently, the defendant’s lawyer could have done a better job for her client.
For the next nine years, Ted regularly visited his former patient in prison while working diligently with lawyers to get his conviction overturned. Assisting Ted at times was his son, Jake Tapper ’91, a well-known television news personality. Apparently, Ted was successful. The conviction was overturned in early 2024 and the prisoner in question was released unconditionally. Kudos to Ted for his ongoing diligence and success.
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com
When wives and widows were adopted into the class of 1961 nearly a decade ago, Nyla Arslanian worked with Patti Rich to establish and lead the class of 1961 women’s initiative committee. Together they recruited other spouses and widows, created their own discussion sessions as an integral part of the multiple mini-reunions each year and periodic reunions, and created their own periodic telephone conference calls and a few periodic regional luncheons for class wives and widows.
More than a decade ago Nyla was one of only three women recruited to become a member of the class of 1961 executive committee. A few months ago the position of class treasurer became open when the then excellent class treasurer Ron Wybranowski had to resign for personal reasons. Without hesitation Nyla stepped up and volunteered to assume the position and become the class’s first female class officer. Within two months, and with Ron’s assistance, the changeover had become smooth and seamless.
Ted Tapper is now a retired primary care physician who spent his career servicing the underserved population of Philadelphia. One of his young patients was indicted and convicted of attempted murder in 2015 and sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison, despite Ted’s testimony at the trial that it would have been nearly impossible medically for his patient to have committed the crime in question. Apparently, the defendant’s lawyer could have done a better job for her client.
For the next nine years, Ted regularly visited his former patient in prison while working diligently with lawyers to get his conviction overturned. Assisting Ted at times was his son, Jake Tapper ’91, a well-known television news personality. Apparently, Ted was successful. The conviction was overturned in early 2024 and the prisoner in question was released unconditionally. Kudos to Ted for his ongoing diligence and success.
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com