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Robert Arndt

Bob sent me an email as I was actually 2 clicks away from sending Spring's column to the Alumni office and said, “I'm sorry to be so late with this. Our computer system from Comcast has been out of service in our entire retirement building all week. My granddaughter Jnana Breck-Arndt (pronounced Jana) graduated from Syracuse in May 2024, summa cum laude in Psychology. This she accomplished having graduated from a small high school in Vermont. She overcame the disappearance of her mother from a hospital clinic in Tucson, Arizona. January 2019. To this date, authorities have not been able to find her. Very mysterious circumstances as her car and cell phone were still at the hospital after the disappearance.” - December 2024

Bob, sent me this little bit of nonsense to fill out Augusts' Alumni Bulletin correspondence: “Twenty years ago, I read a biography about Warren Buffett. Turns out his birthday is the same as mine - August 30 1930. So I sent him a birthday card, Warren Buffett, Omaha, NE. I told him a little bit about myself but ended with, ‘we were both born on the same day, wouldn’t it be something if we both died on the same day.’ He sent the card back to me with his note across the top, ‘Bob, this sounds like a good idea, but let’s wait until we’re both 100’. We have 6 more years to go. I still feel pretty good. I send him reminder cards every 5 years. Maybe I’ll get some class A shares of Berkshire Hathaway.” - July 2024

Hi Bill, I attended this year's Fordham football game in November. As at last year's Fordham game, I sat in the same bus from the parking lot to the stadium, in a seat across from the same classmate, Steve Antalics, who was wearing his same brown 1952 dink. He said he is still working part time on the Lehigh campus. The game wound up the same....we lost I think then and now. Also, I have more info about my French trip. As you all have read, there was a giant fire at Notre Dame Cathedral starting at the roof. The Spire eventually collapsed sending lead dust onto almost every visible surface. For public safety, it was reported that these surfaces must now be carefully cleaned, removing lead dust and Paris grime, resulting in a clean looking Notre Dame that has not been seen since the Cathedral was basically finished 700 years ago. That should be something to see but my age will prevent me from making the trip. The new Spire is supposed to be finished by the end of 2023, the Cathedral by end of 2024. votre ami (your friend) Bob – November 2023

Hi Bill and Kay, I made a solo trip to France in May 2023 to see families that I knew when I was stationed at Chinon Engr. Depot, 1953-54, in the Loire Valley near Tours. This was about my 6th trip. The French population seems a little more disciplined than us.... there is no trash along the major roadways and I did not see any trucks collecting it, there are no big fences on highway overpasses to prevent people from throwing rocks on cars below, I did not see violence programs on TV such as Dateline or people settling their issues with guns. I also took a trip to the South of France on TGV high speed rail to see some families that had moved there. So all in all, it was a wonderful 2 week trip at age 92 that I will not be able to repeat unless I have a full time agent to handle my baggage, car rental and smartphone. Votre amie (Your friend) Bob. July 2023

In March Bob wrote: Last August, I moved into a retirement facility (finally) here in suburban Philly, in Audubon, PA. It is called Shannondell....a very big place with 10 buildings and 1,300 residents. There are endless activities, pretty good food, and touring entertainment groups coming thru in the evenings. About the same time, Bob Hoyt also moved into a retirement place in Newtown Square, 20 miles way. You might get a note about it from him.

I was surprised when Burt Sutker '55 (also a resident here) contacted Lehigh to get a list of all Lehigh grads presently living at Shannondell. Turns out there are 8 of us (classes of '52 to '91). We had a grand dinner here on Feb 1, 2023 complete with picture of us which we sent on to the Alumni Bulletin. Jessi McMullen said she would try to get it in the Spring Bulletin.

I had another surprise when I attended the Lehigh-Fordham football game last Fall. After the game took the bus ride back to the parking lot. Noticed a fellow sitting across from me wearing our original brown 1952 dink. It turned out to be Steve Antalics. He said he goes to most Lehigh home games and that he still works part-time in one of the Chemistry Labs.

I hope you're doing well Bill. I noticed Costco last week had a stack of new electric bikes $500.00. Give them a try. I would if I could.

Bob – March 2023 Reply from Bill: I still like to pedal, the electrics go too fast for me. My best so far this year is 22 miles at 9.8mph.

Four* of us from the Class of '52 attended - Dick Schmidt (deceased), Ralph Fortney, Wally Field, and I. Stephanie Fisher, Lehigh staff, helped to organize us, making our theme sign and providing golf carts to rest our 90 year-old legs. We were the first class in the parade and as we passed the reviewing stand we tried to sing the Alma Mater. We were the best looking class but we were not rewarded for our handsomeness nor our musical efforts. Dick said, “We'll just have to try again at our 75th.” Outdoor lunch at Packard Lab featured tasty food and good conversation. Ralph and I went to hear President Joseph Helble’s comments on the State of the University. Dick said, “The Lehigh campus looks beautiful, the best I’ve ever seen it. Lehigh buildings and grounds are to be commended.” Ralph enjoyed the Bethlehem City bus tour. The dinner was held in the University Center and while sipping our pre-dinner drinks, President Helble joined us. We were also joined by Dick Allen '51 and Bill Burgin '56. I don't know if we will have a 75th Class reunion - if we do, Dick and I are going to give it a try. Hope you will try and join us. Bob Arndt.

Tail-gunner Bob Arndt
Bob, at rest
Tori Penske, Director of Family Giving and Bob

From Bob Arndt to Bob Hoyt: Sorry that you missed us. Schmidt (deceased), Ralph and I were in golf carts at the head of the parade. The Luncheon in front of Packard was terrific, comments from the new president were O.K., my bus tour of Campus nor so good - non-student guide not totally informed. Ralph said his tour of Bethlehem was great, with guide in Moravian costume. Dinner in University Center was pretty good. Wally Field, Dick Allen '51 and Bill Burgin joined us. - June 2022 70th Reunion News

Bob wrote: Hello Bill. I was cleaning out a closet recently and came across an old Lehigh Alumni Bulletin...July 1952 to be exact...must have picked it up right after graduation. It described our graduation....do you remember who our commencement speaker was?...give up? It was Frank Adams... Chairman of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey who spoke on the place of the individual in a group society. I think I dozed some through it. Degrees were handed out to 540 of us, including Bruce Reinhart (deceased) who was given a special award as only the second man in University history to that time who had a perfect 4 year scholastic record. Wow!!!. I wonder if that has been achieved in all the years since.

On a personal reflection, Lehigh was the best thing that ever happened to me. I grew up in the Lehigh Valley, never more than 50 miles from home. After Lehigh, I kept very close to my C.E. Engr degree for my entire working career....my only regret being not having taken some business courses while at Lehigh. I should have bought 100 shares of something, anything at graduation.

To the present day, my granddaughter has just been accepted at Syracuse University for a total cost of more than 65 times what it cost me to go to Lehigh. College costs have gotten to be pretty ridiculous.

I keep in touch with Bob Hoyt who lives about one mile from me. We're both pretty healthy and Covid-19 free. You do the same. - April 2020

Two days later: Thanks for the info. My degree was in Civil Engr., followed by a 25 year career with Bethlehem Steel. I worked on several major projects: Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia, Madison Square Garden and Metropolitan Opera House in NYC. and after Bethlehem the Seabrook Nuclear Power Station in NH with PDM. I think that is very good history that started as a 10 year old kid with an erector set. With regard to Bethlehem, although this news is scheduled to happen before bulletin publication, their 21 story home office (built 1972) will be imploded May 19. The national media will, I believe, headline it as a clear indication of the demise of the American Steel Industry. In my opinion, Bethlehem need not have gone down this road had Washington and a few key individuals prevailed. More on this in another blog. - May 2019

Hi Bill, I heard your cry and......I note the passing of Ralph Schwarz '48, M.A '51 on Oct 13 2018. I'm fairly certain in my memory that he was responsible for the overall planning and design of our '52 Spring Music Festival production of the Broadway Musical "Brigadoon" even though he was not listed in our Epitome write-up of it. As noted in his obituary, he then went on to plan / develop major projects for the Ford Foundation, J Paul Getty FA. Center, and the Holocaust Museum in NYC. I had never seen the likes of the Lehigh Brigadoon production; it started my lifelong love of musical theater. I still sing in the PhillyPops Chorus Christmas shows. Does Lehigh produce Spring Musical Festivals today? (Editor's note: Sorry, Bob, I do not know) - Bob Arndt - May 2019. Stephanie Fisher, Lehigh guru answered his question, "I checked around and it looks like Lehigh no longer produces a Spring Musical Festival. You could look at Zoellner's website to see all the various theater and music shows that Lehigh is involved in. I hope this helps!"

From Fall / Winter 2017 Alumni Bulletin: As Ralph Fortney said during the festivities: "We may not have had quantity, but we sure had quality!" Robert Arndt joined 12 other '52 Classmates at our 65th Reunion - See Fall / Winter Alumni Bulletin for more details.

From Fall / Winter 2016 Alumni Bulletin: Bob "Ardent" (Alumni Bulletin error, not mine) writes that he had been dealing with spinal stenosis prior to laminectomy surgery (L2 to S1) in March 2015. Thanks, Bob, for the note and good wishes. I'm happy that you are almost pain free.

From Summer, 2015, Alumni Bulletin - Bob recently attended a Lehigh Alumni Club meeting along with John Kerr (deceased), Ralph Fortney, Robert Kiesling, Ed Purdy (deceased), Neil Randall (deceased), Richard Schaphorst, and George Young (deceased).

From Spring 2014 Alumni Bulletin - Ralph Fortney spotted Bob McCann (deceased), Chick Kuss, and Bob Arndt at the New Hampshire-Lehigh football game.

Winter 2012 Alumni Bulletin: Another 60th Reunion attendee, Bob Arndt, is still active in choral singing, oratorios, and the Peter Nero Christmas Show. Bob said he discovered that he and Warren Buffett have the same birthday, August 30, 1930. He sent Mr. Buffett a birthday card in hopes that he might receive a few shares of Berkshire Hathaway in return. Still waiting!

I just reviewed my write-up for our 50th reunion and I am still into the choral singing thing, Oratorios at Wayne Presb, Berkshire Choral and the Peter Nero Christmas Show.

And recently I discovered that I have the exact same birthday, August 30 1930 as Warren Buffett. So, in 2010 I sent him a birthday card, plus a copy of my drivers license to prove identity, plus a short letter about myself. At the end of it, I said " Wouldn't it be something if, like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, we both died on the same day?" Two weeks later, he returned my letter with a note...."Bob, sounds like a good idea, but lets wait until we're both 100." So I plan to keep reminding him to stay in good health with future birthday cards. Who knows, a few shares of Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares may show up in my mailbox! - Bob - May 2012:

Bob Arndt e‑mailed an account of his career in the steel industry. In retirement, Bob has concentrated on his love of choral music. At his church in Wayne, Pa., he sings with the Peter Nero Festival Chorus Christmas Show, and with the Berkshire Choral Festival in Sheffield, Mass. - 2010

From 50th Reunion Book, 2002 - During my high school days in Allentown, PA, I often wondered if I would ever progress beyond the part-time job I then had at Hess Brothers Department Store or would Hess Brothers and Allentown be "it" for me. No one in the family had ever attended college. All had been in the area for over 100 years.

One day though, my mother told me if that distant cousin of mine could make it through Lehigh, then hell, I certainly should be able too. Lehigh was my first small window to some of the big outside world. I went to work for Bethlehem Steel, retiring at age 48 when my entire division was eliminated. I am still working as I write this - now for my sixth employer. The positions have always been with a fabricated steel-type company - office building frames, containment liners for nuclear power plants and recently, large water tanks for cities and industry.

I have moved 11 times from New York to Los Angeles, which has been sort of a hassle, but I've met a lot of wonderful people along the way and seen a lot of this great country. I have 2 adult children, David and Allyn and 2 grandchildren. My hobbies are golf and choral singing. The latter was capped by being part of a 100-voice choir that gave a glorious 10-city concert tour of Europe in 1993.

It has been a wonderful ride so far. Thanks Mom and thank you Lehigh.

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Thomas "Tom" Balch

Received a phone call May 2, 2019. Sounds like he is doing well. Still attacking the treadmill and stock market. Hopefully he will send latest pictures . - May, 2019

From 50th Reunion Book, 2002 - Not much has changed for me in the 15 years since the 35th Reunion Book was published. I retired in 1985, moved to Vero Beach, FL, got remarried and have lived there since.

In 1952, I was drafted out of summer school before I could graduate (they didn't get a very enthusiastic soldier), went to Korea and rose to the lofty rank of corporal. Then back to Lehigh to finish up. I started working in Cleveland, then moved to Texas, California, Chicago, Toledo and back to Cleveland. The last 14 years as a machine tool sales agent, though before that also working for IBM, Erico Products, Medusa Cement and Textron, all in sales engineering.

Retirement has included scuba diving, downhill skiing, health clubs, traveling and getting real estate and stock broker licenses, mostly by knowledge. Since retiring, most of my skiing and some traveling, too, has been with Elderhostel though I recently jointed the 70+ Ski Club and plan to take some trips with them, also. Retirement life is just fine with me. I don't plan any major changes, health permitting of course. Photo is of me and wife, Karen.

Donald Beck

From Fall 2008 Alumni Bulletin - Don Beck e‑mails from Haddonfield, N.J., that he and his wife, Carol, Cedar Crest '52, have been married for 55 years, retired 11, and have four children and eight grandchildren. , Don is also active in the American Legion and is a weekly volunteer on the battleship USS New Jersey.

February 2008: 1948 -- Life's pivotal points -- Fulfilled U.S. Army enlistment and returned to U.S. from Occupation Duty in Japan. Accepted at Lehigh under the GI Bill. Met my future wife, a Cedar Crest gal, on a blind date.

Married: Carol Staples (Cedar Crest '52) - Nov. 1952.
Children:
- Don Jr. (Fordham '77; MBA Cornell '79)
- Christopher (Delaware '80; MBA Lehigh '81
- Timothy (UMass '81; Villanova Law '84
- Susan (Rutgers '85)
Grandchildren:
- Eight ranging from 26 yrs. to 7 mos.

Started working career with Westinghouse Electric two days after graduation and retired as Senior Industrial Engineer from Sony Music, Inc., the last day of 1996. The last half of my career was spent in the manufacturing and distribution of recorded 33/45 RPM music with CBS (Columbia) Records. The facility was subsequently revamped to the manufacture and distribution of Compact Discs (CD's). We entered a new era of operations when Sony purchased and enlarged the CBS Pitman, NJ plant.

Absolutely enjoying retirement, especially visiting our children and grandchildren--our son Don and his family in California, and the others in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Other activities include Elderhostel, attending theater and concerts, and, of course, playing golf. Also keeping active with our Condominium Association, the American Legion (Past Commander), volunteer with restoration activities aboard the USS New Jersey, Haddonfield Retired Men's Club, and various church and community activities

December 2001: My apologies to Don, I've had the wrong picture of him since September of 2000! Bill Smith (deceased) told me in December of 2001, "Don Beck lives in Haddonfield and I see him every week or so. He tells me that instead of his picture in his write-up----it is a picture of Elmer Beck. I told him I would write and have this corrected."

Don it is corrected. How about writing to me using the handy-dandy information form and letting us know more about you than your picture is wrong? Bill <><

May 2001 - From Bill Smith (deceased) - Good afternoon----I just saw Don---We are both in the 65 club in Haddonfield, so I see him most Thursday afternoons. He is also in the Haddonfield Legion Post and he marched with them in the Memorial Day Parade.

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Joseph Boandl

From Summer 2017 Alumni Bulletin: From Albuquerque, N.M., Joe Boandl writes a very complimentary letter expressing how much he likes the '52 column. Thanks, Joe, it's a labor of love.

Picture from 50th Reunion Book, 2002 - ->

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Richard "Dick" Cornman

Bill, Don't do anything rash. I will send you an update in a few days. Time is of the essence at the moment. Got too many irons in the fire. Dick - March 2012

I won't, Dick. You wrote this over 10 years ago and I am still waiting! How about doing something "rash", and writing to me? - Bill, May 2023

Picture from 50th Reunion Book, 2002

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George Eakin

Bob Hoyt writes in August 2010: The weekend of May 14-16, John Seville, Bud Eakin and I were hosted by Bruce Hill (deceased) and his wife, Jacquie, at their mountain retreat house which is about an hour southeast of Pittsburgh. We were all congratulating each other on making it to 80.

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William "Bill" Erdman
Biography


1952	1999	2001	2002 - New hat

2003 - Victim hat*	2004	2005	2006

2007	2008 - Same hat as 2002	2009 - Same hat!	2010 - Same hat

2011 - Same hat	2012 - New hat!	2013 - Same old hat	2014

March 2015	July 2015	2016	2017

2018	2019	2020	2021

2022	2022.5	2023	2024

*The victim of an experimental turkey vein heart by-pass operation this Summer

The news from here is varied: In September the Erdman clan (21 at last count) had our annual "Dad's Birthday Challenge." Here I challenge all to ride a bicycle my age (94) in miles in 30 days, and/or in 7 consecutive days during the month. Only 2 of the crew beat me - I rode 306 miles (my age 3 times) and 6 times I road 94 miles in 7 consecutive days. Boy is next year going to be a challenge!

We survived the 2 quickie hurricanes Helene and Milton with minor wind damage. The Orlando area was not in the direct path of any hurricanes this year. Our home is not in a flood prone area either. I guess we will stay put for a while.

My caregiving role continues. Kay is slowly loosing her short term memory and is no longer the wonderful, fun-loving sweetheart I married 67 years ago. I've changed also but if you are going through a similar period you understand what I am saying. Kay was my caregiver for the first 64 years and now it is my turn. We still travel although it is exhausting and we are totally zonked when we get home. Going to Austin, TX, for Thanksgiving but staying home Christmas. We chose to use in-home healthcare rather than go to a facility and with 4 hour, 2 days a week outside support we are reasonably content with the situation - not great but tolerable. Communal living was not our choice.

I'm still doing website maintenance and design plus bike riding but sometimes it is a struggle. My best to all you that are having similar experiences - I credit several men's support groups, our church, friends, family and a strong belief in a God of love for getting me this far and in such reasonably decent shape - October 2024

I'm still pedaling my bike but I can't walk anymore - its a balance thing. Sitting on a bike changes my center of balance enough to allows me to ride and miss most of the things I have trouble seeing. I've averaged 194 miles a month so far this year despite the heat. It helps to get out very early in the morning which also gets ahead of traffic. I did have a serious scare the other day that I don't want to talk about that was a good reminder and as a result changed my daily route a great deal. - July 2024

Bob Hoyt sent me an email that I promptly lost. I don't remember if I replied or just filed it. Trying to remember what he said and what I did, I realized that dementia is a sneaky menace. My wife Kay is suffering with event-related dementia and I am her caregiver. What happens when the caregiver starts getting loopy? Easy answer: He remembers an old song and starts singing; Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy? One stanza is:

Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy.
Giddy and foolish the whole day through
Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy.

Way down South where the bananas grow
a flea stepped on an elephant's toe.
the elephant cried, with tears in his eyes,
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

I think, in my case, that 93 ½ is the knee in my dementia curve. It is all downhill from now on! Bill <>< - March 2024

Looking forward to Thanksgiving - expecting 8½ relatives who are planning to do all the cooking, baking and preparations so Kay can sit back and enjoy the fellowship. I'm going to enjoy the food! - November 2023.

We did it! Kay and I saw Niagara Falls! We never, in all our travels, had ever taken the time to see the falls. We took a Christian Tour out of Charlotte, NC. It was a bus tour - 1 ½ days up and 1 ½ days back with 2 days on the Canadian side. It wasn't crowded, weather was great, Falls were wet, guide was great, driver was careful, other tourists on the bus adopted Kay and I as their surrogate grandparents and took very good care of us. Even had dinner on the Ohio River in Pittsburgh on the way back.

The toughest part of the trip was the 1 ½ day bus ride back from Niagara! The most relaxing part was the AmTrak sleeper to Cary, NC, and back. - October 2023.

It is almost August and time to send the newest news to the Alumni Bulletin for the 2023 Fall / Winter issue. The only news I have is about Richard Schmidt's death. So it wont be mostly white space I may have to add more boring stuff about me - like Kay and I spent 2 weeks in northern North Carolina, just South of Sparta and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was great getting away from the Florida heat and enjoying the cool, mountain air. Our son and I rented 2 electric bikes and rode over 185 miles through the beautiful countryside. I did not feel comfortable on the e-bike but it did carry over a lot of scenic roads. When I first rode my pedal-powered bike at home, I checked the tires twice, thinking they had gone flat!

We actually rode the entire width of the Blue Ridge Parkway, several times - make sure you read that correctly. July 2023.

Oops! It looks like I haven't listened to my own pleadings of "Write to me more often as I need to hear the latest from each and everyone of our Classmates". Since October I have been spending a lot of my time as a caregiver for my wife. Kay suffered a drop in her hemoglobin to 4.3 (way below normal of 12 or above and 6 or 7 is considered serious to fatal. I almost "lost" her. My hat goes off to all caregivers - they are a unappreciated breed. Lake Jesup, FL

Physically and mentally I'm still active - biking and maintaining 5 websites keep me going but seem to take twice as long to get things done as it used to. I'm not sure the "Golden Years" is an accurate description of being 92 - I would change the metal connotation to the "Lead Years" as it seems that a lot of lead has settled in my butt.

We are experimenting with in-home health care instead of moving to a retirement facility. This allows us to enjoy our home and regulate caregivers to our existing needs rather than have caregivers regulating their support according to their needs. In other words, we get individual care when we need it rather than sharing their time with others in need. Experience being caregivers with several relatives over the years taught us that even the best facility can't provide adequate individual care.

Stay healthy and safe and let us know how you are doing during the miss-named "Golden Years." - April 2023

Hurricane IAN missed us! We were most fortunate, he didn't even fill our pool to overflowing. Lost one small tree and that was the extent of it. A large portion of Central Florida had major flooding along the St Johns River and tributaries. In our area the Spanish Moss was the big looser - October 2022.

One year later and I'm still in a "Wow" mode. I'm sill vertical and riding my bike. I'm not as spectacular as Bob Hoyt, but I rode 209 miles this month (August) and 2,600+ miles since my last birthday. Note that I do not use an electric bike - they are too dangerous for me. The only exciting thing I did recently was allow myself to get screened into a mailbox by a rather large truck. The mailbox lost and I lost some blood from my left arm and leg. I have empathy for Bob. - August 2022.

Here it is, September, 2021. Wow! Things are not really booming around our home. Haven't heard from many of the remaining class. I can only assume that someone looks here occasionally. I wish they would let me know they are still alive and kicking.

COVI-19 has bypassed most of our family across the country - everyone got vaccinated early and avoided the rush. One son had a mild case months after he was stuck. Another son is a lead chemist with Pfizer so we are kept up to date with the latest information. He was part of the team that helped increase the vaccine quantity available after the initial release.

Because news is scarce I will reluctantly bore you with my activities. My family has joined me this year in my goal of riding my bike my age. I'm 91 so I challenged myself to ride 91 miles this month, ride 91 miles over at least one 7 day period and ride 91 days in one day. I accomplished the first two in the first 2 weeks. The third challenge is in my dreams - my best day has been 19 miles, a long way from 91. The 4 of us involved in the challenge have ridden 531 miles so far (September 13th). It has been fun with our daughter, son and his wife riding together, virtually. September 13, 2021

Incidentally, I don't ride an electric bicycle. I always try to ride with the wind and downhill.

It is early May, 2021, and I'm still hanging around. I'm back up to 50 to 60 miles a week on my bike and have avoided contact with motor vehicles so far this years. I dodge other bikers and dogs occasionally but mostly they are quiet, early morning rides - not too much going on at 6:30 in the morning. Kay and I are looking forward to going somewhere this Fall but time will tell if the country is ready for us. Our kids have been able to visit us lately which is wonderful.

It is a new year and still quiet from my classmates - January 2021.

Is there anyone left out there? I haven’t heard a peep from any of you guys! It sure makes it hard to update a web site about the “Golden Years” of the Class of ’52. I expected it to be the other way around - as you sat around in your mask and hand sanitizer, looking for something to do, I was sure you would take this opportunity to write me several newsy notes. It is your loss as I am forced to bore you with my misadventures.

This year I had set a goal of 90 miles on my bike, the week of my 90^th birthday. I achieved the goal and beyond - 118 miles in 5 days bracketing my birthday. In fact I did 290 miles the month of September. My family gave me a great celebration via Zoom. Seeing all my family was a fitting reward.

HOWEVER, don’t be too excited about my skills on a bike. At 6:30am, October 7^th, your knight of the road was hit broadside by a woman that ran a red traffic light and demolished my bike and also did the same to me! As I crossed an intersection on a green light, I looked right and saw only the hood of a full-size pickup truck as it hit me. My only reflex was to straight-arm the hood - this saved my life. The action threw me from my bike which she then ran over. If I had stayed on it, I would not be writing this today. The good news: I walked away from it, mostly cuts and bruises, a sore hip and leg, dislocated thumb from the hood, driver was insured, passerby gave police an eye-witness account of what happened and I had it all recorded on my helmet camera.

Kinda morbid, Bill. Any less intense information? Yes, there is - My camera was torn from my helmet and landed out in the road - five cars drove over it (recorded of course). Not light-hearted enough? Well, if you must have something to laugh at I need to tell you that every part of my body was covered by cuts and bruises, except my face, so as I laid on a slab in the ER, I looked like what I was - a 90 year-old bag of bones. I called my wife to tell her that I made it to the hospital. To do this lying down, I had to hold my cell phone over my head. Yep. I dropped it on my forehead and drew more blood! It was the first time I laughed all morning.

OK people, this is what you get for not sending me some updates. Write to me. Save me from myself. Bill <><, November 2020

As for me, I reached and passed my goal for my 90th birthday - I set a goal of riding my bicycle 90miles the week of my 90th. I went 118 miles, 28 miles over. I've ridden over 2,700 miles this year so I guess I have to say I'm still in reasonable shape although the miles have not all been pain free. I fall off every so often because of poor eyesight and balance problems but I haven't broken any bones so far, just some nasty cuts and bruises. I hope to ride till either the wheels fall off or I can't get back on after I fall off. Send news, please - November 2020.

Old COVID-19's got us also! It is the middle of August and Kay and I keep on, keeping on. I haven't heard much from Lehigh guys so I figured I might as well send you a glamour shot of me after riding my bike and working in our yard today. An 8 X 10 glossy of this vision of loveliness is available for just a dollar, three ninety-eight plus postage and handling. Put your order in now as quantities are limited and this will be my last photo with my favorite hat - it has seen better days and the sun is coming through the holes in the top and burning my less-than hairy head. - August 2020

In July we flew to Oakland for a short visit with our daughter Karen's family. Then met our son, Don, and his wife in Juneau, embarked on a jaunt with Christian Tours that included Alaska Marine Ferry to Skagway, bus to Whitehorse, Tock, Fairbanks and Denali, train to Talkeetna, bus to Anchorage, and a boat tour through Kenai Fjords National Park. The ice fields were sad looking from Global Warming but the wildlife was abundant in spite of hot weather and smoke from numerous wild fires. In September we took a bus tour through the Canadian Rockies and were happy to see the beauty without all the wild fire smoke.

We also had a wedding in August as our granddaughter, Claire, got married. Times are changing - Her one year old daughter, Rosa, attended. - October 2019

Welcome to 2019! 2018 was one of our most interesting years - Probably most notable because we lived through it! Our first Great Grandchild, bicycle accidents, tours, reasonably good health overall and knowledge that I'm still God's favorite - Of course, so are you).

We just signed up for a July, Christian Tour of Alaska. We plan to do the Juneau fly-in, ferry to Skagway, bus to Fairbanks, train to Anchorage and home again. Our son Donald and his wife will be joining us. We probably made God laugh again - He does not always agree with our plans. January 2019

It has been a busy and interesting Summer. Took a tour of "The Canyons and Mesas of the Southwest" in May and both caught the flu on the flight back from New Mexico (So much for flu shots).

Blessed with our first Great-Grandchild in June - Claire's daughter, Rose, was a 1 pound, 13 oz preemie. It is a different world now a days.

Fell off my bike in August and spent 8 days in the hospital as a result of the bacteria in the mulch pile I landed in (Choice of that or a tree or an unmarked missing section of concrete). No visible damage but in 4 days Nocardiosis was eating my arm from wrist to elbow. Nocardia is sometimes called "The Gardener's bacteria" because it is found in dirt and mulch - Rare in the US but prevalent in more agrarian countries. I would have been better off it I had hit the tree! Three to 6 months antibiotics to go.

Still planning a trip this month to Amish Country (Lancaster, PA) and Washington DC's Museum of the Bible. Never a dull moment! - September 2019

We made it through Christmas with visits from most of our kids and grandkids and now are watching Florida's excuse for spring as many flowering trees and bushes are blooming and most of the snow birds are thinking about staying here rather than head north for more Winter weather. Kay and I have lived here for over 50 years now and I can't remember ever wanting to move back. However I must admit I am not enjoying it as much as I used to - too many Yankees and their automobiles clogging the streets and highways! I think you would be wise to stay up north and just send money. March, 2018

Kay & I took a Motor Coach tour of New England this October. Nine days out of Charlotte, NC, to Portland, Maine, via NY, VT and NH to see the colors of Fall. Tour included boat tour on the Hudson River, boat tour of Lake George, NY, Mt Washington Cog Railway trip, Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train, Hobo Lunch on Lake Winnipesaukee Scenic Train, Lighthouse Cruise out of Portland Harbor followed by a Lobster Dinner, Lunch in "Little Italy" followed by New York City Harbor Cruise. Weather was excellent, leaves were beautiful and overnight AmTrak from Orlando to North Carolina and back was icing on the cake. It was fun looking at the leaves, knowing I didn't have to rake them! Up to 60 miles a week on my bicycle now. - October 2017

Irma paid us a visit this weekend! She was not pleasant! She blew all the loose stuff out of our trees, turned off our electricity for several hours and made a lot of noise. We've asked her not to come back. September 2017

So far we have survived the heat this Simmer but it has been a struggle. We did have a fun 2 ½ months when our 22 year-old granddaughter, Claire, from North Caroline lived with us as she served as an intern with The United Way here in Orlando. Boy did the energy level drop to zero when she left! We had forgotten how hyper young people are!

I did manage to complete a project I stated in 1989. As a Christmas gift to Kay, I started an autobiography to chronicle our family history with movies, stills, scrapbooks, digital images and even copies of monologues from stand-up comedians that I had collected. In February I began to put all this stuff into one, useable format. July 5th I finished version #1 which was 635+ Gigs in size. I had to buy twelve 1 terabyte external hard drives to share this history with our kids and grandkids! As expected, some enjoyed the collection very much while others couldn't be bothered looking at it. People are people even if they are related to you! I've now completed version #2 as I learned a great deal from the first edition. I suggest you think about leaving a legacy for you family - start now!

Note to Bob Hoyt - I still average 60 miles a week on my bicycle w/o a motor! Still waiting for you to reply to my acceptance of your 2014 challenge. - August 2017

Twenty-sixteen has been a different adventure for us. Kay had a knee replaced and as she heals we find we are very limited in our usual outdoor activities. Travel this year will be delayed until later but we are hopeful to start again in October. I still ride my bike about 50 miles a week and each day am thankful that there aren't many hills in Florida! Incidentally my rogues gallery picture for this year is different in that it shows my "cat vest" instead of my usual slouch hat. I'm proud of that vest because Kay made if for me, knowing full well I don't like cats! After 59 years of marriage I know when to be gracious. - August 2016

It was reunion time for the Erdman clan (We have one every other year) so after most of the family showed up in Orlando around Christmas time we all hustled over to the Gulf Coast and partied on Anna Maria Island. Seventeen of us had a wonderful time getting to know each other over again and realizing how blessed we have been as a family. I was able to bike around the island with kids and grandkids and was happy to realize that I could keep up to almost all of them - some I even "rode into the ground"! December 2015

Kay and I spent an interesting 2 week in Iceland this September. We drove around the island, stayed at B&Bs and ate fish and lamb every chance we had. The people were wonderful, the scenery we saw was beautiful, the sun we saw very rarely. I don't think Iceland is for everyone - it was quite different from any other foreign country we have visited. Maybe if the weather had been nicer we would have enjoyed it more. If you are a "comfort" traveler, go there with medium expectations.

Maybe being 85 had something to do with it but I had a marvelous birthday celebration at a farm-stay in Northern Iceland. The 12 year-old daughter baked me a pastry loaf and gave me a quart of milk, right from her own cow! Doesn't get much better than that! - December 2015

Kay and I just returned from a week in Puerto Morelos (30 miles South of Cancun), Mexico. We were joined by our daughter and her family and the 6 of us enjoyed it immensely. We rented a home on the Gulf and used it as a base fro seeing the countryside. Puerto Morelos is where the Mexican come to vacation so we were in the minority and didn't see or hear a lot of Americans. Two of us spoken reasonable Spanish so we got along well.

We snorkeled on the coral reef, toured several Mayan ruins, swam in the Cenote Siete Bocas (Fancy name for 7 sinkholes!) and ate at typical Mexican restaurants full of non-English speaking diners. We did not drink the water and stayed healthy!

We saw some spectacular sand sculptures on the beach in town:

Our "Gated" community was "protected" by a wooden bar, raised and lowered by by hand. It separated the paved road from the dirt / potholed road to our "Villa" (I use the term very loosely!). Don't get me wrong - it was what we expected and wanted. We had too much fun to be worried about the small things.

Just put in an article about Bob Hoyt and accepted his challenge for a bike race. I added a picture of me pedaling up the approach to the bike bridge over the Ohio River just East of Louisville, KY. Kay and I biked the trail there on our way back from a 2 month, tent camping / biking trip out West. We had to come back early because the smoke from the forest fires in Alberta, British Columbia and western states were overwhelming. Enjoyed ourselves in spite of the adjustment we had to make.

A quick example of the problem due to smoke - What started out as a one-day, 300 mile trip ended up as a three-day, 1,600 mile odyssey! Not many roads between Lake Louise and Jasper. - October 2014

May 9th, 2014 - Sitting here updating the web and thinking, "Why don't people write and tell me what's going on in their lives?" It dawned on me that I haven't done it either so here is my latest:

Kay and I are getting older also, right along with the rest of you. We keep moving but we we're doing it a lot slower. No major problems so we checked out our Honda Odyssey (200,000+ miles) and decided to do another 3 month trip this Summer. We still ride our bikes every day so that will be part of the trip but a big difference will be the addition of our daughter, Karen, and our grandson, Wade. We are blessed that they want to camp, hike and bike with us. Keep active everyone, it seems to help.

August 8th, 2013 - Kay and I just returned from a 2 1/2 month driving trip out West and Mid-Atlantic to see all our kids and grandkids. We had a family reunion in Three Rivers, CA, during this time as well as a side camping trip with two of our kid's families. For the most part we were doing our usual, although it gets tougher each year, camping in a tent, riding our bikes and just enjoying the beautiful world God has given us.

December 1st - Had a great Thanksgiving with family and looking forward to Christmas with more family. I wish you all a great Christmas Season and suggest that we all remember why we celebrate - regardless of our belief or un-belief. "Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Man" is a wonderful thought that would allow all of us to enjoy life as it is meant to be enjoyed.

August 2012 - Just back from 2 back-to-back trips - Alaska & North Carolina / Michigan. Kay and I spent a month in Alaska with our daughter Karen and her family. We flew to Anchorage with our camping stuff, rented a car and toured the beautiful state. The mosquitoes were bad in Denali and near McCarty but the rain was a more consistent nemesis as it rained sometime during the day every day but one. I have to admit that the 6th night in a wet tent was almost the last straw! But we toughed it out at some wonderful B&Bs to give our stuff a chance to dry out so all-in-all it was a fun trip. The awesome beauty of Alaska and the company of our daughter's family made for a wonderful adventure.

Our second adventure was a week in a cabin in Maggie Valley, NC, with our son, Don, and his family followed by "relative" stops in Lexington, KY, Louisville, Indianapolis, Kalamazoo (Son, Dave and family), Charlottesville, VA, and Raleigh. We were gone a month this time also. It was great telling everyone that we had come North from Florida to get warm (In case you hadn't noticed - it was warmer in IN, MI and NC than in FL this summer).

From Summer 2012 Alumni Bulletin: from Bill Erdman, our tireless webmaster, comes a report of a cross‑country jaunt. Boy, this guy loves long driving trips! From May to August the Erdmans drove 15,000 miles. They escaped the heat of Orlando, Fla., enjoyed 85 degree temps or less on most of the trip, and survived a low of 17 degrees in Bend, Ore. These are tent‑on‑the‑ground campers and they survived rain, snow, hail, earthquakes, hurricanes, porcupines, and bad drivers along the way. Bill and Kay, you are hardy folks. Well done!

September 2011 - Kay and I just got back from another cross-country jaunt. We left May 19th and got back August 29th. We saw all our kids at least once, drove over 15,000 miles and continue to appreciate each other's company (54 years next week!). We escaped all of the heat here at home (Orlando, FL) after we left Austin, TX, as we were never in temperatures above 85° (except in Zion NP) and survived a low of 17° in Bend, OR. We continue to manage the tent-on-the-ground type camping although it is getting tough to get upright in the morning. We encountered rain, snow, hail, earthquakes, hurricanes, porcupines, ferry crossings and bad drivers as we did a large loop covering the West, Canada and Michigan. We met our daughter's family in Colorado and camped with them a week. We carried our bicycles with us and logged over 300 miles on them. Boy, was it great to get home and sleep in our own bed again!

We are hosting our bi-yearly family reunion this Thanksgiving so are looking forward to seeing all 17 of our kids and grandkids again. What a blessing it is to have all our family well and active.

August 26th, 2010 - We did it again and are still good friends! Kay and I spent 3 months on the move, seeing 3 of our 4 kids and a large part of Northern US and Southern Canada. We spent Memorial Day near Ashville, NC, with Don and his family, had a blast at our granddaughter's graduation in Kalamazoo, enjoyed the Amtrak trip out and back to see Karen in Concord, CA, where we celebrated her Masters Degree Graduation, drove North to the Soo, East to Ottawa, Lake St Jean, Quebec, and to Natesquan, Quebec, where we took a supply boat to Blanc Sablon, Quebec, disembarked for a tour of Labrador then South for 10 days in Newfoundland where we did the B&B thing and met many wonderful "Nuffies". Another ferry to Nova Scotia brought us to the Cabot Trail followed by Halifax, NS, then the Bay of Fundy, NB, Acadia NP, Maine, through New Hampshire, Vermont, upstate Ny, then home through PA, MD, VA, NC to see Don again and then home. !2,000+ miles not counting the train trip. Not bad for two old duffers! We were able to ride our bikes over 200 miles on various Rails-to-Trails along the way. (Yep, it's the same hat!)

Summer 2010 Alumni Bulletin: Our hardworking Webmeister, Bill Erdman, sent in some wonderful news from 2009: He and his wife, Kay, traveled on a three‑month, 13,500‑mile odyssey in their Odyssey, where they saw family; rode their bicycles 500 miles (wow, is that impressive); slept overnight in a submarine in Muskegon, Mich., with two grandkids; and took part in a hot air balloon rodeo in Steamboat Springs, Colo., which included 38 balloons. Great stuff, you kids. Webmaster note: Pat is a year behind! We did another one this year - see above.

October 2009: Spent a rainy week in Austin, TX, babysitting 2 grandkids while their parents celebrated their 15 years of marriage. Rain cut down on soccer games we had to watch and curtailed other outdoors activities. Had to rush back home due to an emergency with a 95 year0old gentleman I am POA / HCS and Trustee of his estate as he died while we were away. It's a long drive from Austin to Orlando when you are in a hurry. Thing have settled down now and I have more time for my own projects now.

August 2009: Kay and I just got back from a 3 month, 13,500 mile odyssey in our Odyssey where we saw all our kids and grandchildren twice and rode our bicycles 500 miles as well. We had one of the best times ever and were still speaking to each other when we arrived home. Visualize 3 months worth of junk mail in your living room (That's what mail slots are for)! As I re-read previous notes below it seems like we have done this type of trip before - but this was the best! We even slept overnight in a submarine in Muskegon, Michigan, with 2 grandkids. Highlight of the trip was a balloon rodeo in Steamboat Springs, Colorado - what a sight as 38 hot air balloons took to the sky!

June 2008: Just returned from the baby sitting jaunt. It was a blast because we survived this batch also. This trip took us to Michigan and North Carolina. Stopped by to see Harry Smeal (deceased) on the way - he is doing well. We drove and took our bicycles so we were able to log 177 miles on various bike trails along the way.

May 2008: Baby sitting is our theme this April and May. We had our daughter and family from California here to spend an Elder Hostel type week in Arcadia, FL, looking for fossils (Don't go there - I know who the old fossil is!). Then we spent a week with our 6 and 8 year old grandchildren in Gig Harbor, Washington. Next week we drive to Michigan then North Carolina to do a week of baby sitting for each of our twin guy's families. It's fun spoiling them then leaving.

November 2007 - Kay and I just returned from a 3 months, driving (mini-van), tenting (5 X 7 Wal-Mart special) and cycling (Trek hybrids) tour of the Northwest - Michigan to Washington, Jasper, Alberta to Southern Utah. We spent a week with all our kids and grandkids at a reunion at Lake Junaluska, NC, and managed to see them all again as we traveled. We also celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary while traveling.

Didn't get chased by buffalo this year but did have a near-miss with a falling ponderosa pine. Our conclusion: This is a wonderfully beautiful country and we need to get out West mire often to see the billions of stars that are hidden in the East because of light pollution. We had a solid month of great weather to enjoy the clear, cool nights.

We recommend everyone take a long, leisurely trip through the states to re-capture the thrill of this great country. Bill <><

November 2006 - Boy has it been a quiet 2006! The only e-mail I received was notification of Bob Borofski's death in March! So I guess I'll start off by saying that since our June report below, Kay and I flew to Walnut Creek, CA, and Gig Harbor, WA, to see 2 sets of our family. Then 6 days after we returned we drove to New England to eat leaves and look at the lobsters, I mean look at the leaves and eat lobster.

From there we drove to Kalamazoo, MI, to see another son and his family, then to Kay's 50th college reunion at Franklin College, on through beautiful and colorful West Virginia to Raleigh, NC, to see our last child and his family. In all we were able to pedal 185 miles on our bikes an various trail along the way.

What a beautiful country we have! Bill <><

June 2006 - Kay and I took another driving / camping / cycling trip out West this Spring. We touched bases with our kids in Raleigh and Kalamazoo, saw Kay's sister in Louisville and had a Kay's cousin's reunion in Wa Keeney, Kansas.

Then we camped / cycled (Over 200 miles) throughout Colorado / Utah/ Arizona & New Mexico. We might still be there if it hadn't been for the fires - we were plagued by them in Arizona and Colorado so we headed home early. Bill <><

We are rested up from our trip and looking forward to seeing all our kids and grandkids this holiday season. Son David and family are moving to Groton, Connecticut, so we will have a new area to visit.

September 2005 - Kay and I just returned from a 3 months driving tour, visiting our kids and seeing the U S. We took our hybrid bikes with us this time and clocked over 700 miles each on Rails to Trails trails throughout the country. We are now known as Buffalo Bill & Calamity Kay as we had an almost disastrous encounter with some Bison in Grand Teton National Park! We went biking early in the morning in an area named Antelope Flats. It was flat but had no antelopes, just a herd of buffaloes. We waited until they were all on one side of the road and away from the edge before we started to ride past them. Two juveniles took exception to us and charged us as we passed. I got between them and Kay and she pedaled faster than I've ever seen her go and escaped. They did not like me and got as close as the edge of the very narrow road before I let out a primordial scream (Kay did not recognize it as coming from me) that made them hesitate. When I ran out of breath they charged again. I was Mr Cool - I shied away from them and fell off my bike! I screamed again and managed to get back on my bike. By this time they were on my side of the road but one last, desperate scream gave me time to burn rubber, and pass Kay. I think Lance Armstrong would have been hard-pressed to keep up with me! Later we talked with a Park Ranger and learned:

Buffalo can sustain 30mph for several miles! - Oops, they could have caught us if they wanted to.
Buffalo have bad eyes and people in bike helmets look like strange buffalos (Remember the problems VW Beetles had with buffalos years ago?)
Always look at a buffalo's tail:
- Down - Happy Buffalo
- Halfway between down and horizontal - Not a happy buffalo, something is disturbing her
- Horizontal - An unhappy buffalo (Or as we thought, relieving herself)
- Vertical - You are in serious trouble
People in general are stupid around wild animals:
- Man was gored to death 2 days earlier as he photographed one and another one gored him from the side - He should have taken a picture of her tail first.
- One Japanese man actually put his infant son on a buffalo's back and took a picture of them - tail must have been down.
- Other cyclists from the area confirmed the fact that buffaloes don't like helmeted people on bikes!

What a beautiful country we live in!

December 2004 - Kay and I had a healthy year and a great one for travel. We visited all our grandchildren several times during the year - this is a difficult task as they live in North Carolina, Michigan, California and Washington state. We camped in Alaska this Fall, rode the Marine Highway from Skagway to Seattle, got snowed on in Michigan (To you Northerners this isn't a big deal but to a Floridian of 36 years it is). Click my 2004 image to see the Cadillac Roadsters I made this spring.

May 2004: Spent a pleasant 2 1/2 weeks in Gig Harbor, Washington, babysitting a 2 and a 4 year while our kids went to Italy for 2 weeks. We survived and enjoyed the spring flowers and great weather.

Since we have been home Kay and I have been riding our bikes along the many bike trails around Orlando. Great time of the year for this in Florida.

December 2003: Just returned from a 3 week excursion to the cold North on a grandchild safari. We were snowed on in Michigan and South Carolina. Had Thanksgiving in Raleigh and fulfilled a life-long ambition - Rode my bicycle on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Great trip.

July 2003: Oops, God had a different voyage in mind for me. On the 10th of July, 2003, I did my usual 12-15 mile bike ride in the morning but started showing all the classic symptoms of Angina - nauseated, arm pit uneasiness, tight across the chest, jaw ache. Admitted that afternoon and had a stress test the next morning. Passed all but the last step when some blockage showed up. Saturday morning Angioplasty was unable to get through the blockage so I was asked, "One bypass or four?" Using a pickup team they collected in the hallway they did a quad on me.

That was 2 weeks ago and at this point I think I'm over the worst of it. Quite an experience.

As of May 2003: Made it through the Holiday season and tax time in good health and spirit. We are on a trip through North Carolina and Michigan seeing kids and grandkids. We are looking forward to our every-other-year family reunion this June and are seriously considering driving to Alaska via the Alcan Highway with a return on the inter-coastal ferry to Seattle then San Francisco to see our West Coast kids and grandkids. We'll see what God has in mind.

As of October, 2002: A fabulous trip of 2 1/2 months and 9,000+ miles. Unfortunately we saw very few leaves of color. However, the lobsters in Maine at the roadside "joints" were wonderful. Funniest event was a "sick" crow in Indianapolis that had people worried about West Nile Virus. It turned out to be a stuffed one that the kids would move every 20 to 30 minutes! CDC wasn't amused!

Too many other great highlights to mentioned except that Kay and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary as we traveled.

As of December 2001: Finally got home after 16,500+ miles! What a pile 3 months worth of mail is when it has been shoved through a mail slot! Trip was spectacular with visiting and tent camping in State and National Parks. The most memorable was the Oklahoma City Memorial - This is a "must-see" for everyone passing near the city.

Glacier National Park

Yosemite National Park

Buchart Gardens, BC

As of October, 2001: Half way through a 3 month driving trip across the US, stopping to see all our kids as we go. Spent several weeks in Gig Harbor, Washington, baby-sitting our 2 year old granddaughter as her baby brother arrived. Will go to Victoria, BC, then on to San Francisco on our way back to Florida.

As of October, 2000: We had a great trip to Germany to see our son, then Turkey on a Rick Steves Backpacking Tour and home via the Greek Isles. The tour was our first organized tour and I must say that Rick Steves knows how to plan and organize a great cultural experience. I would recommend his tours to anyone in reasonable physical shape.

As of June, 2000: Kay & I spent 3 weeks in Ireland, including Belfast.

God is good. This I know because 4 years ago I was told by my retina specialist, after several attempts to fixed my detached retina, that I was "legally blind" and would never drive, use a computer, read or do woodworking. He suggested I apply for a Guide Dog!

He was an excellent surgeon but underestimated the power of prayer. It is obvious I can use a computer and I can read most everything, I have finished several involved woodworking projects and drive when there isn't much traffic. Wow!

Web site started in 1996

Biography

Married to Kay 58 years, 4 Children, 7 grandchildren

Click to enlarge

BS in ME, Lehigh University. Drafted during Korean War, discharged as a Sergeant.
Product Engineer, Allison Division, GMC. Indianapolis.
Chief Transmission Engineer, Clark Equipment, Jackson, Michigan - 4 patents.
Self Employed in Tampa, Fl. Sold business to help start a land development company in Orlando, Fl.
Accepted Christ as Lord & then went bankrupt.
Became Sales Rep, Systems Salesman & Hospital System Specialist for UARCO Business Forms. Retired after 21 yrs.
Now a web site designer and active in local UMC Church
Love the Lord

Top Of Page

Wallace "Wally" Field

I'll be 93 this September and I’m pretty sure I was the youngest in our class. Hard to believe I walked into Lehigh as a 16 year old. It was an exciting time for all of us, and for me the excitement went on for the entire 4 years. My degree is in Chemical Engineering.

My current health is excellent. I've had my share of maladies, but the docs have brought me through in flying colors. I am single...divorced 20 years ago. I live alone in a 2 BR, 2 Bath apartment in Quakertown.....20 minutes from LU. I became a ballroom dancer 20 years ago and I'm still doing it 2-4 hours per week in Allentown. Picture a 92 year old dancing with pretty 70 year old ladies. It is tons of fun!

I am still singing in Grace Church of Bethlehem choir (40 years!). A 50 member choir and we are darn good if I may say so myself!

I have 3 grandchildren. One just got her PhD in biology from Penn State. She will be working for the CDC in Omaha. The other two are boys, 6 and 7. Their mother, Corinne, went to Lehigh.

I was at our 70th and I would dearly love to be at our 75th. Probably not many make it to their 75th. Wally, July 2024.

From Bob Arndt to Bob Hoyt: Sorry that you missed us. Schmidt (deceased), Ralph and I were in golf carts at the head of the parade. The Luncheon in front of Packard was terrific, comments from the new president were O.K., my bus tour of Campus nor so good - non-student guide not totally informed. Ralph said his tour of Bethlehem was great, with guide in Moravian costume. Dinner in University Center was pretty good. Wally, Dick Allen '51 and Bill Burgin joined us. June 2022 70th Reunion News

From Fall / Winter 2017 Alumni Bulletin: As Ralph Fortney said during the festivities: "We may not have had quantity, but we sure had quality!" Wally Field joined 12 other '52 Classmates at our 65th Reunion - See Fall / Winter Alumni Bulletin for more details.

From Spring Alumni Bulletin 2017: A great shout-out and thank you to Wally Field for being my host for 10 days in November in Lehigh Land. We saw the Fordham and Bucknell victories and the winning of the Patriot League title.

I received several e-mails regarding C.J. McCollum: Pete Shaw (deceased), Dick Schmidt (deceased) and Wally Field all brought me up to date on C. J.'s early doings in the NBA. Pete mentioned C. J.'s pre-draft article in Sports Illustrated titled "Poked, Prodded...then Picked,” in which he writes about his own experience leading up to the draft. C.J. is indeed a well-rounded, classy guy. - Winter 2013 Alumni Bulletin

And recently, with beaming pride he relayed that his granddaughter, Casey (Cassandra), has been accepted into the Lehigh Class of 2017 with a generous, well-deserved scholarship package. Congrats, Grandpa! Casey sounds like a special young woman. Wally also mentioned CJ McCollum '13, our basketball superstar. CJ's broken foot has mended and he is currently, as of early May, working out with a trainer preparing for the NBA draft, where he could be a high draft choice.

I will attend the 60^th Reunion and walk. Single, live in Quakertown, PA. Play lots of golf and do ballroom dancing 2-3 nights per week. Am an avid LU sports fan...go to all home games (football, basketball, wrestling, etc). Still in excellent health and enjoying life. Wally – May 2012

From Fall 2009 Bulletin - My good buddy, Wally Field, is recuperating from back surgery, which will curtail his singing and dancing in Bethlehem‑area musical theater for a while. Daz "talks" to Wally often via online duplicate bridge.

From Winter 2005 Bulletin - DAZ and I met Wally and Ceily Field in Palm Springs, Calif, the first week of February '04. Their Pennsylvania pallor quickly turned to golden brown as their golf scores improved. On the third day, Ceily shot 92' and Wally 78. Not bad after a four-month layoff. We are expecting the Fields in February '05 for golf and grub.

Spring, 2001: Pat Moran (Deceased) took his annual trek East in September and witnessed three Lehigh victories (Penn, Princeton and Cornell). His thanks to Barb and Bill Smith (deceased) and Ceily and Wally Field for opening up their homes to him.

At halftime (Cornell game), the 50th anniversary of the 1950 undefeated team was celebrated. On the field were 31 of the original 42 players; imagine, not only are 31 of these guys still with us, but 74 percent of them returned! Of those back, 11 were from our class - Bob Borofski (deceased), Stan Gedney (deceased), Pete Ginesi (lost), Lon Haines (deceased), Bill Henderson (deceased), Dave Mesick (deceased), Joe Orr (deceased), Dick Pradetto (deceased), Walt Pullar (deceased), Dick Schmidt (deceased) and Bill Smith (deceased).

Winter, 1980: The University and Wally Field wish to thank each of you who pitched in to help Lehigh and the class financially in the past year. 53% of the class contributed to either the Annual Fund or new Century Fund-a new record for the Class. $53,235 was contributed by the class through Annual Giving. This places us Number One among classes between 1949 and 1958 with whom we primarily compete.

Top Of Page

Ralph Fortney

As Class Correspondent I asked Bob Hoyt to be my eyes and ears at our 70th Reunion. Here is Bob’s report as written to Bob Arndt and Ralph.

I failed miserably inasmuch as I was late for the march off. I was standing at the ’52 post awaiting a go-cart which never came. I heard the announcer yell, “The Class of ’52’” but I wasn’t there. After lunch I spotted Dick Schmidt's (deceased) son who led me to Dick and his wife. End of report.

From Bob Arndt to Bob Hoyt: Sorry that you missed us. Schmidt (deceased), Ralph and I were in golf carts at the head of the parade. The Luncheon in front of Packard was terrific, comments from the new president were O.K., my bus tour of Campus nor so good - non-student guide not totally informed. Ralph said his tour of Bethlehem was great, with guide in Moravian costume. Dinner in University Center was pretty good. Wally Field, Dick Allen '51 and Bill Burgin joined us. June 2022, 70th Reunion news

From 2018 Summer Alumni Bulletin: An email from Ed Leidheiser's widow, Mary Lou, reports she enjoys the column and stays in touch with Ralph Fortney.

From Fall / Winter 2017 Alumni Bulletin: As Ralph Fortney said during the festivities: "We may not have had quantity, but we sure had quality!" Ralph Fortney joined 12 other '52 Classmates at our 65th Reunion - See Fall / Winter Alumni Bulletin for more details

From Summer, 2015, Alumni Bulletin - I think Ralph recently attended a Lehigh Alumni Club meeting along with John Kerr (deceased), Robert Kiesling, Ed Purdy (deceased), Neil Randall (deceased), Richard Schaphorst, and George Young (deceased). - Ralph was listed as "Arnold"

From Winter 2014 Alumni Bulletin: The alumni office and Ralph seem to have "lost” Joe Paquin (deceased), Sigma Nu 1953. Joe, phone home! Anyone with information on Joe, please contact me.

From Spring 2014 Alumni Bulletin - One of my favorite '52ers is Ralph Fortney, whose wry wit is always a joy. He writes: "Sue Ann and I are hanging in there, aging as gracefully as possible. We attended the annual Tower Society meeting, and we watched the exciting New Hampshire-Lehigh football game, resulting in a four to zero season. Too bad Fordham rained on our parade the following week. The Marching 97 were at full strength, sporting what appeared to be new, snazzy uniforms and performing better than ever. Spotted Bob McCann (deceased), Chick Kuss, and Bob Arndt at the game. We now rely on the trolley to transport us to and from Goodman Stadium - that should give you a clue regarding our mobility!! Ralph goes on: "I still play golf once or, occasionally, twice a week (assuming I recover from the first round) with several other geezers from my club. Enjoying it more playing from the forward tees to a course of about 5,800 yards and barely clinging ' to a 16 handicap. I still feel blessed to be out there enjoying nature and good fellowship. Remember, golf is a 'holey' spiritual game, despite some of the language!"

Winter 2013 Alumni Bulletin: I will conclude with a letter from John Kerr (deceased), my former roommate at Sigma Nu. Since 2001, John Kerr (deceased) and Mims have been living near West Chester, Pa., at Hershey's Mill, a 750-acre gated community of about 1,800 homes situated in 25 villages surrounded by a golf course. John and some of the other Lehigh alums living there decided to form an alumni club. With help from the University, they attracted alumni from the classes of the '40s, '50s and '60s in the greater Philadelphia area and northern Delaware. Meetings have included talks by administration members on campus planning, a recent Stabler gift of 750 acres in Saucon Valley and student life today. The spring 2013 meeting included John, Ed Purdy (deceased), Bob Hoyt and Ralph Fortney. John ends by saying: "He and Mims are doing okay, considering the warranty is running out on some of our body parts."

From Summer 2012 Alumni Bulletin:
The 2012 Lehigh Alumni Awards

The Alumni Award is given during Reunion year to a member of the celebrating class who has given continuing support of their time and talent to the university, as well as has contributed significantly to the civic, religious, social, industrial, business and professional life of their respective communities. It is the Lehigh University Alumni Association’s highest award. Congratulations and thank you to this year's winners!

Class of 1952 - Ralph Fortney,
B.A. Conservation 1952

From Fall 2011 (January 2012) Alumni Bulletin - I've had some recent correspondence with Ralph Fortney. When I lament that my drives on fairways, which are as hard as an interstate highway, rarely exceed 175 yards, Ralph says he envies the hard surface that adds those extra yards! In all other matters, Ralph is adjusting "to life on the downslope of the bell‑shaped curve." Ralph and Sue Ann live in a full‑care retirement community in Greenville, Del. "We are popping our fair share of prescribed pills, but we still have all our original parts." The Fortneys are active in volunteering, golf, and visiting their family in North Carolina and Georgia.

Fall 2009 - The Tower Society article about the strength of Lehigh's Endowment and Faculty had this picture of Ralph and his wife Sue Ann:

Spring 2009 - Mary Lou Leidheiser, widow of Ed Leidheiser, sent a card from Flat Rock, N.C. thanking me for my efforts as correspondent and mentioned a wonderful visit with Sue Ann and Ralph Fortney after their granddaughter's wedding in Greensboro. Mary Lou sent a heavenly 'hi' from Ed.

Spring, 2007 Alumni Bulletin - In early November (2006) I received a number of email photos of a group of happy and good‑looking "seasoned citizens." The location was the lovely South Carolina home of Sarah and Harry Stowers (deceased) on Hilton Head Island. In attendance were Scottie Malcolm (deceased) with wife Lura, Bob McCann (deceased) with wife Ann, and Ed Ed Leidheiser (deceased) with Mary Lou. Sue Ann and Ralph Fortney, who also have a place on Hilton Head, joined this group for dinner. The conversation got around to the classmates’ prowess many years ago in varsity baseball and basketball. All agreed they were awesome jocks. Today they are awesome bocce ball players, fortified with copious adult beverages. Some things never change! Editor's note: Harry Stowers died August 12, 2007 right after this news article was published)

My wife and I visited Wil Wilbern (deceased) at Mornigside Assisted Living in Newport News, VA while enroute to our Granddaughter's graduation from North Carolina State in Raleigh, NC. Wil is doing as well as can be expected following a stroke which resulted in partial paralysis of his left side. He is mentally alert but confined to a wheel chair which fortunately is powered so he gets around quite easily - but no drag racing in the corridors. The Assisted Living environment is very nice and the Staff is friendly and helpful. He's forever a Lehigh supporter and would like very much to hear from classmates. I have contacted the Alumni Office and gave them Will's current address which is: Morningside Assisted Living, 655 Denbigh Blvd., Newport News, VA - Ralph Fortney, June 2004

Summer 2003: Class Vice President Ralph Fortney sent a long, cheery note saying that Ed Ed Leidheiser (deceased) and his new bride, Mary-Lu, had stopped by his Delaware home. They looked great and are very happy after a Thanksgiving wedding aboard a cruise ship with both their families in attendance. Ralph also mentioned attending a Lehigh Alumni meeting at the South Carolina Yacht Club (Hilton Head) and chatting with Bob Homing and Charlie Paules (deceased) who are residents in the area. Ralph went on to say that the Class Of '52 Scholarship has gone once again to Christopher D. Bromley '02, Of Mystic, Conn.

From 50th Reunion Book, 2002 - My greatest achievement was marrying my college sweetheart, Sue Ann, following discharge from the U.S. Army in 1954, after serving in Korea. We were blessed with two lovely daughters: Janice, University of Delaware '77 and Sarah, Lehigh University '80. Both are now married to great guys and each family has presented us with two fabulous granddaughters: Marianne Diana, University of North Carolina - Class of '02; Theresa Diana, North Carolina State - Class of '04; Jennifer Bridges, age 9 and Julia Bridges, age 2. Our goal is to attend all graduations.

Career wise, I was a "TREEHUGGER", spending all 39 years with DuPont - holding a variety of manufacturing and personnel management positions including Plant Manager at two locations and Director of Human Resources for Corporate Research and Development. I retired from the International Department as Group Director - Latin America.

Family and career have been augmented by numerous volunteer activities. For example, I have served as President and Board Member of 4 community associations, Elder and Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, Board Member and 20-year volunteer Delaware Chapter American Red Cross, President Lehigh Alumni Club of Delaware, Committee Chair and 10-year volunteer McDonald's LPGA Championship. I enjoy playing golf, being part of a team rating golf courses for the Delaware State Golf Association and relaxing at our villa on Hilton Head Island.

Attending and graduating from Lehigh was a personal achievement. The total Lehigh experience served me well throughout my life providing close, lasting friendships, opening doors in both the business and social worlds and presently affording me meaningful ways of giving something back. It's been a privilege to serve as a Class Officer, Class Agent, Co-Chair of the 50th Reunion Fund Committee and most recently as a Board Member of the Lehigh University Alumni Association. I see exciting things happening at Lehigh, but best of all, I feel "at home" whenever I'm on campus.

Fall 2001: Ralph Fortney, class vice president and agent, spent an evening recently with Chris Bromley, the Physics / EE major who is the recipient of our Class of '52 Memorial Scholarship. Ralph says that Chris is a bright, delightful young man whom we can all take pride in sponsoring. As to our class fundraising, our total stands at almost $4.6 million, up from $4.0 million in March 2001. This is a nice start, upon which we can build.

Summer 2001- Toward the latter part of 2000, the Morans (Pat now deceased) played host to Sue Ann and Ralph Fortney. It was fun to share our warm weather with Sue Ann and Ralph who have had a mean winter back in Delaware.

From the Lehigh University Alumni Association nominees list:

Ralph Z. Fortney '52

May, 2001 - Ralph Fortney, of Greenville, Del., retired as group director B, Latin America with the DuPont Co. in 1990, after 38 years of service.

His role in alumni activities includes:

Past president of the Lehigh Club of Delaware
Class agent and class vice president
Member of 40th and co-chairperson of 50th Reunion Fund Committees
Admissions Outreach and phonothon volunteer
He is an elder and deacon in the Presbyterian Church
Past board member of the Delaware State Chapter of the American Red Cross
Corporate coordinator and longtime committee chairperson of the McDonald's LPGA Golf Championship Tourney
Delaware State Golf Association volunteer
Society Associate of the Asa Packer Society.

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Homer Frankhouser

Summer 2010 Bulletin: On a slightly more upbeat note, Homer "Frank" Frankhouser, of Houston, Texas, was inducted into the Offshore Oil Hall of Fame. Frank has a long history of offshore oil experience (North Sea and Irish Sea, and since 1992 has been president of his own company)

Picture from 50th Reunion Book, 2002 - ->

December 4th, 2000 - In Korea during the war as a Lieutenant in a Combat Engineer Battalion.

Was the Southern District Manager for Dravo Corporation and Vice President and General Manager of Dravo Ocean Structures,Inc. Then joined Brown & Root, Inc. of Houston Texas and became Deputy Chairman and Chief Operating Officer for Europe and Africa as well as being a Senior Vice President of Brown & Root, Inc. before retiring.

I am currently, the President of Frankhouser & Associates, Inc. involved in International Consulting. Listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. Betty is my wife and we have 5 children and 8 grandchildren

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Revised: December 02, 2024