The Caring Class Network (CCN), brainchild of our longtime newsletter editor, the late Al Huck, and treasurer Charlie Balch, joined by class president emeritus and neurologist Alan Rapoport, M.D. (alanrapoport@gmail.com), continues to support the well-being not only of our classmates, spouses, and widows but also those of the adjoining classes of 1960, 1961, and 1963.
For the past three years CCN has offered two programs. The first is a monthly Zoom meeting in which top experts—some drawn from the impressive roster of ’62 healthcare professionals and my wife, hepatologist and virologist Elizabeth Fagan, M.D.—offer presentations on a variety of physical and mental health issues; legal, financial, and daily living challenges common to our age group. The second program, facilitated by class psychiatrists David “Bags” Bergman, M.D. (dbergmanmd@gmail.com), and Bernie Jacobs, M.D. (berjacobs51@gmail.com),meets monthly by Zoom in a caregivers’ peer support group. It is not therapy but rather congenial support offered in a safe space through the sharing of experiences and practical solutions to caregiving and dementia problems.
Under consideration as of late April is the formation of a small group to be facilitated by psychiatrist Ted Beal, M.D. (malbeal83@gmail.com), and psychologist Bob Sprafkin, Ph.D. (rpsprafkin@gmail.com), with a focus on anticipating and planning for grief as well as processing grief experiences through mutual help. Introducing the topic in the April CCN Zoom session, chaplain Paulette McPherson of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sibley Memorial Hospital, in Washington, D.C., presented “Bereavement Before and After Death: Grieving and Learning to Adjust” (https://tinyurl.com/5d3hv2b5).
Those interested in participating in any of these groups should contact the facilitators.
Check this space in the next DAM issue for a report on our sensational 85th birthday bash in San Antonio, Texas.
I regret to inform you of the deaths of Edwin “Ed” D. Robb Jr. of Clemson, South Carolina, on October 29, 2024; Anderson “Andy” G. Bartlett III of Porter Ranch, California, on January 3; the Rev. Dr. John C. Kees of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 27; Austin C. Eaton Jr. of New London, New Hampshire, on March 31.
Obituaries at https://1962.dartmouth.org (navigate to “Classmates,” “In Memoriam”).
—David L. Smith, 1810 Columbine Pl., Sun City Center, FL 33573; (775) 870-2354; david@davidl smith.com