Culminating five years of work, George Biggs (Georgetown, Texas) completed composition of his first cantata, “Watching for God at Dawn,” and it had its premier performance at his church late last year. This had to have been a life highlight! The work was performed by nine singers, a narrator and six instrumentalists. George has composed many choral works, vocal solos and instrumental pieces.


I watched The March on PBS recently, recalling the 1963 civil rights march on Washington, D.C. Who should appear in footage from that time but a young Berl Bernhard (Annapolis, Maryland), then serving as staff director, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Photos of Berl huddling with the Kennedys and prominent civil rights leaders reflected their uncertainty and apprehension about the likely outcome of that historic event. The narrative then switched to show an exuberant Berl in 2013 recalling the peaceful and impactful march.


I enjoyed reconnecting with Harry Berwick (Richmond, Virginia) recently. Harry spent many years in Boston as a senior analyst with Loomis Sayles, specializing in the retailing and consumer goods industries. In retirement he finds pleasure in gardening (he still mows his lawn), opera, senior classes and his church.


As he planned for retirement years ago Mo Monahan (Stephens Bay, New Zealand) asked himself “What do I like to do?” The answer: Get the hell away from noise, congestion, tension and acrimony and go to where there is peace, happiness and contentment! The solution: New Zealand, which has delivered on all of his goals. In a recent note Mo reminisced about arriving in Hanover from Hawaii in 1947 with Blaine Boyden and Jock McIntyre and being invited to the “foreign student tea!”


Wilson Cross (Durham, North Carolina) lives across the street from the University of North Carolina where he enjoys working from home in a one-man business selling a very specialized tool for installing or removing marine propellers. Boats and boating have always been a great love. “The world is my market!” he says.


Herm Christensen died unexpectedly on December 9 at his home in Atherton, California.


—Pete Henderson, 450 Davis St., Evanston, IL 60201; (847) 905-0635; pandjhenderson@gmail.com