50th Reunion - June 6-9, 2002

At the time of this writing, spring has come to the desert - the critters and the wildflowers are everywhere. The first 50th Reunion Newsletter, Entre Nous, has been mailed to the class.  My thanks to my wife, Daz, for her input and design of the newsletter. Neither of us had done anything like a newsletter before, arid we hope the class approves!

Bill Erdman, our computer-meister, reminds me to remind you that our Reunion Website is where you are now. Please support it!  Bill says that the Website had more than 1,000 hits since its inception.  

Bill Smith (deceased), our special reunion chairman, reports that 25 Comfort Suites rooms (3rd and Brodhead) and 10 Hotel Bethlehem (newly refurbished) rooms have been reserved for the 50tb Reunion.  Those who want to get a "leg-up," can reserve for June 2002 by communicating directly with the motel or the hotel.  Call Radisson Hotel Bethlehem (610) 625-5000; or Comfort Suites (610)882-9700 and ask for the Class of '52 block of rooms.

Bill also reserved the UC for our class dinner Saturday night.  If the class wants something more elaborate, we have time to change the site, but, in the meantime, we have a convenient and reasonable place reserved.  Saturday lunch will be provided gratis outside President Farrington's home. This is customary for the 50th Reunion class.  All we have to do is show up!

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.

From the cyber mailbag: George Pitsilos (deceased), who sold his business in 1992, spends his time traveling and wintering at The Oaks in Sarasota, Fla.  He is still an active golfer at Sarcon Valley and at The Oaks.  Gordon Maxson (deceased) retired from Verizon this past March after 41 years service with GTE and Verizon.

I often think of Herb Meyer (deceased), who was disabled in a sailing accident in 1993 in San Francisco Bay.  As if by divine providence, Herb called here in early 2001 and had a great chat with Daz.  Subsequent to the phone call, Herb sent an account, complete with picture, of his competing in the International Access Dinghy (that's a small boat with large sails, for you land lubbers) Championships in Canberra, Australia, in late February 2001.  Herb, a quadriplegic, finished in seventh place - competing against 138 participants from 84 nations (29 percent able bodied and 71 percent with disabilities).  It's an amazing story of courage and "fire in the belly" competitiveness.  I was so impressed with Herb's account that I'm saving it for my second, class newsletter - coming out in late 2001 - when I can give it the "voice" it deserves.

That's it for now. Thanks for all the info you send me; I love writing the column. Keep me busy!

Pat Moran (deceased)