Class Note 1968

Our 45th reunion will be history when you read this column; watch for a full report in a future newsletter. But you don’t have to wait five more years before future reunion opportunities. Looking ahead, a mini-reunion in Hanover October 11 through 13, for the Yale game, more rounds of golf at Bandon Dunes (Oregon) October 28 through November 2 and skiing in Utah (Deer Valley/Park City/Canyons/Alta/Snowbird) next March 1 through 8. Check the class website for more details and whom to contact. Speaking of skiing, the recent Jackson Hole, Wyoming, annual ski trip had about 15 classmates and 10 guests. Larry Griffith served as overall coordinator of this year’s skiing week. In the highlight of the trip, Hap Ridgway’s better half, Susan, won the coveted 1968 Horse’s Ass Award. Some news arrived from classmates during the spring: Noel Augustyn wrote a very newsy letter. He participated in the 2012 Wheelock Conference, which is an annual event co-sponsored by the Eleazar Wheelock Society and Aquinas House. Noel served as a panelist on a seminar on “Faith and Law: Do Justice, Love Mercy.” This particular event also included celebration of the 50th anniversary of Aquinas House. Approximately 300 attended, all, I guess, to hear Noel speak. While in Hanover Noel had lunch with John “Bear” Everett, and regularly stays in touch with Larry Hall in Hawaii, Andy Hotaling in Chicago and John Pfeifer in Washington, D.C. John Maxfield recently remarried, on the island of Santorini. He proudly noted that his wife, Anne, is the “world’s best internist, a top-flight (get it?) aviation medical examiner, an emergency physician and a fabulous cook.” His daughter and son, both English, graduated from Oxford; daughter is studying in California and son working in Japan. John recently moved to near Cleveland, Ohio, and has become a rabid fan of the Cleveland Orchestra. Dana Waterman continues to work in his law practice, Lane and Waterman, in Bettendorf, Iowa, where he serves as managing partner. Dana also serves on several nonprofit organization boards. He and Faye have five grandchildren, three in Illinois and two in Boston, whom they visit frequently. Kevin O’Donnell, who served as one of the leaders with a health discussion panel at the reunion, shared news of his two children: Kate is an attorney in Boston and son Michael ’02 is dean of students at the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. On Facebook I was intrigued by a posting from Dick Olson: He had DNA testing and learned his background included 2.8 percent Neanderthal—just as I suspected (kidding). He also learned that his maternal haplogroup came from the Arabian peninsula and his paternal haplogroup from the Iraqi/Egyptian/Ethiopian area. Fascinating! On a more solemn note, a memorial service for Rocky Fredrickson, who died last January, will be held on August 3 in Plain, Washington, for classmates who wish to attend. Details in the obituary section of the alumni magazine website.


—David Peck, 54 Spooner St., Plymouth, MA 02360; davidbpeck@aol.com