Class of 1972

Dear ’72s, our class held two winter mini-reunions. The first was in Sedona, Arizona. Thanks to adopted classmate Carol Zwick and Ed Wisneski for sending in comprehensive reports. Charlie and Karen Shudson hosted the early arrivals and led hikes through the remarkable red rocks of Sedona before they departed for London. Tuesday night the group gathered at the award-winning Elote Cafe in downtown Sedona. Wednesday about half the attendees ventured south 50 miles to historic, mile-high Prescott, where Ed and Susan Wisneski have lived since 2013. Ed led a tour of Arizona’s first territorial capital (1864) with more than 800 buildings on the National Register. The group enjoyed lunch at the 1877 Palace Restaurant with pictures of their most famous patrons in front, including Wyatt and Virgil Earp, Doc Holliday, and his girlfriend, Big Nose Kate. The group concluded the day with a wine tasting and light meal at Page Springs Cellars hosted by winery member Roger Curley. The final day of the mini was Cactus League Day. Baseball expert extraordinaire Neal Traven set the group up for a day-night spring training bonanza in Scottsdale with the Mariners versus the Brewers followed by the Reds versus the world-champion Rangers. Some were treated to visits to the fabulous Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory and a musical instrument museum. In attendance were Carol Zwick, Dan and Linda Cooperman, Charlie and Karen Schudson, Charlie Shockey, David Stephens, Neal Traven and Elizabeth Gray, Roger Curley and Ann Kirkpatrick, Joe Davis and Leigh Gathright, and Ed and Susan Wisneski.

The next mini occurred in Naples, Florida. Give a rouse to Jim Rager ’71, for once again generously offering a couple of boats for fishing and sightseeing as well as hosting a sumptuous brunch at his lovely home and arranging a delightful dinner at the Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club for ’70s, ’71s, and ’72s. We enjoyed fishing, shelling, a lunch at Marco Island, and three dinners. In attendance were Gary and Ginny Shanley, Gary and Laura Dicovitsky, Robert King and Elizabeth Donovan, David and Fran Friend, Shel and Barbara Prentice, Dan Cooperman, Bill Schur, Dick and Margaret Curran, Ted and May Swan, Bill and Pam Enos, David Elsroad, David Mechlin, Mike Meehan, Jim Neville, and adopted classmates Sarah Mater and Bobby Yadley.

Coop and Bob King had a vigorous conversation about Coop’s working with Steve Jobs and Bob related that he recently discovered that his father had been awarded the Bronze Star for valor in WWII. Separately, Mike Meehan talked about an aunt raised on a farm in Kansas who pinpointed where the Soviet Union was storing its intercontinental ballistic missiles. Mike Meehan had an opinion piece in the April 19 Wall Street Journal about the basketball team forming a union. Mike’s suggestion that the players hike in the White Mountains for a week before complaining about having the opportunity to attend a world-class institution while playing a sport they love could apply to many major decisions. In 1937 the Dartmouth football team was undefeated and invited to play in the Rose Bowl. Ernest Martin Hopkins declined the offer, explaining, “If one held to the fundamental philosophy of college men incidentally playing football as against football players incidentally going to college, most of the evils of intercollegiate competition would be avoided.” Amen, President Hopkins.

—Shel Prentice, 2311 Tradition Way, #102, Naples, FL 34105; shelprentice72@gmail.com