Class Note 1946
Issue
Nov - Dec 2018
Bob Skutch,who honed his writing skills as editor of Jack-O-Lantern and attending Robert Frost seminars as well as rooming with Howard Samuel, editor of The Dartmouth, has offered a creative suggestion to classmates to submit any 15-minutes-of-fame memories they may have (rather than their latest medical report).
His memory was a children’s book he wrote titled Who’s In a Family in 1995. The book included all the different kinds of families: biracial, gay, lesbian, and multigenerational, as well as animal families. In early 2000 a Boston public school offered kindergarten and first-grade students the opportunity to each pick a book from a large collection and bring it home so their parents could read it aloud. An irate father responded by storming the principal’s office, demanding that young readers such as his son not be exposed to Bob’s book. The father, bankrolled by an organization, filed suit in federal court against the school, which prevailed on First Amendment grounds. The parent got the same organization to appeal the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear it. Hence Bob’s 15-minutes-of-fame memory.
Following the unfortunate death last year of Jack Howard, our class lacked a president. As vice president, I requested our class executive committee of Harvey White, Frank Guarini, Dave Chalmers, Saul Nirenberg, and Bob Levenson to nominate a president and offered to assist whomever they might select. Those who responded requested that I assume the role of president, which I have accepted. Jack set a good example of dedication and unselfish leadership, which I will attempt to emulate.
The College has sent me a complete but outdated list of our classmates. This would be a good time to update your profile with a note to me including your “most memorable 15 minutes.” My most recent update is a return to my infectious disease practice following recent surgery.
Our class sympathy to the families of our recently deceased classmates Michael Warden Ward, who died on April 17, and William Brown Davidson Jr., who died on May 10.
—John L.E. Wolff, M.D., 860 Knollwood Road, White Plains, NY 10603; (212) 772-1700; jlewolffmd@aol.com
His memory was a children’s book he wrote titled Who’s In a Family in 1995. The book included all the different kinds of families: biracial, gay, lesbian, and multigenerational, as well as animal families. In early 2000 a Boston public school offered kindergarten and first-grade students the opportunity to each pick a book from a large collection and bring it home so their parents could read it aloud. An irate father responded by storming the principal’s office, demanding that young readers such as his son not be exposed to Bob’s book. The father, bankrolled by an organization, filed suit in federal court against the school, which prevailed on First Amendment grounds. The parent got the same organization to appeal the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear it. Hence Bob’s 15-minutes-of-fame memory.
Following the unfortunate death last year of Jack Howard, our class lacked a president. As vice president, I requested our class executive committee of Harvey White, Frank Guarini, Dave Chalmers, Saul Nirenberg, and Bob Levenson to nominate a president and offered to assist whomever they might select. Those who responded requested that I assume the role of president, which I have accepted. Jack set a good example of dedication and unselfish leadership, which I will attempt to emulate.
The College has sent me a complete but outdated list of our classmates. This would be a good time to update your profile with a note to me including your “most memorable 15 minutes.” My most recent update is a return to my infectious disease practice following recent surgery.
Our class sympathy to the families of our recently deceased classmates Michael Warden Ward, who died on April 17, and William Brown Davidson Jr., who died on May 10.
—John L.E. Wolff, M.D., 860 Knollwood Road, White Plains, NY 10603; (212) 772-1700; jlewolffmd@aol.com