Class Note 1965

Greetings. I am writing during the holiday season, when cheer is good, families are gathered, and news for the column is usually scarce. Not this year.

In November Joel Sternman, Brian Porzak and Hank Amon were hosted by classmate Father George Rutler at the Rectory of St. Michael’s Church in Manhattan. Rutler is the pastor of St. Michael’s, having been appointed by Cardinal Dolan in 2013. He has published 21 books and since 1988 has broadcast worldwide a weekly television program on EWTN, the Global Catholic Television Network. Hank says it was an afternoon to discuss “old times, our current work, and topical issues.” One of the topics must have been a December 18 lunch, organized by Amon and Sternman. It was the first of planned informal get-togethers of ’65s in New York City. They hope the meeting will eventually include classmates from the greater New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut area. Attendees were Amon, Carl Boe, Shep Curtis, Jim Gerson, Tucky Mays, Porzak, Mike Rodgers, Jon Silbert, Charlie Strauss, Sternman, and Bill Webster. Classmates interested in attending future meetings should contact Hank (camon@whitecase.com) or Joel.

Nancy and Roger Hansen’s holiday letter shows a handsome, multi-talented family—teachers, engineers, a firefighter, a physical therapist, an M.B.A., a Massachusetts Maritime student. Roger notes that he keeps “several balls in the air” and has taken up wood turning. Sharp tools…balls in the air…hmm.

Bob Komives writes, “Life is good and fulfilling. Our year centered around a two-month trip that started with a wedding in Virginia and ended with a family reunion in Wisconsin, not far from my hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota. In between was a summer in Europe,” wherein Marney and Bob explored northwestern Spain, then Torino, Italy, and southern France from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean by bicycle. He continues, “On the semi-productive side, most of my ‘work’ happens in coffee houses. I massaged my ego (by publishing on Amazon) a collection of my poetry, drawings, and abstracted photos called Scribbles & Coddles, and a second edition of Good Day: Poetry and Images for Seasons of Optimism, a book that combines my poetry with the paintings of a talented artist. Now most of my writing returns to short, personal vignettes from my childhood that started as bedtime stories for my grandchildren. I help in the library of the bilingual school and I hope to extend my urban planning career by volunteering in our city’s effort to be a sustainable community.”

Following Komives’ lead, I published Fatal Score, the first in a series of thrillers, in November and am now busy with the business side of getting the book out. Books two and three are written, and I’m working on No. 4 when time permits.

I am looking forward to 2019 and to hearing from those of you who think you are too busy, too engaged in good works, too enmeshed in family activities to write. Like Jell-O of old, there’s always room for a note, right?

—John Rogers, 6051 Laurel Ave., #310, Golden Valley, MN 55416; (763) 568-7501; johnbairdrogers@comcast.net