Each month for the past 19 years I have sung the praises of our wonderful classmates who have achieved great things or are involved in one creative project or another; however, there are two men who have become the heart and soul of our class: Dave Halloran and Allen Collins. Year after year Dave has turned out a world-class newsletter while proffering the feelings of our class personally to each and every one who might need a bit of bolstering. He writes lyrically with warmth, genuineness and humor.

The other, our president, Allen Collins seems to be ubiquitous. He attends all events, large or small, offering the friendship and support of our class. Because of his travels the class of ’53 is represented everywhere. In addition, he is the center of a mailing operation that communicates to our membership, in real time, all the breaking class news that comes our way. Kudos to them both. How fortunate we are to have them!

Our peripatetic ambassador, Peter Bridges, prolific author of essays and books, has just completed a third essay titled “My Family on the Roads.” It joins two others, “My Family on the Water” and “My Family on the Rails.” You can find these on the electronic journal, Eclectica. As usual Peter takes us along with him and his subjects on an interesting trip, making use of his central theme to bring in the historical, societal and environmental aspects of the times. They are written beautifully and are worth your time to read. And speaking of writers, Dick Cahn wrote to tell me how excited he was to interview and write an in-depth piece about Jeh Johnson, secretary of homeland security, for the Journal of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Sadly, I close these notes acknowledging the profound sympathy of the class to the families of our classmates who have left us. They are Paul Arenberg, Frederick Bush, Clyde Claus, Lawrence Harrison, Mayo Johnson, Frederick Miller, Peter Patterson and Richard W. Badger.

—Mark H. Smoller, 4 Schuyler Drive, Jericho, NY 11753; (516) 938-3616; dartmark@gmail.com