Fall / Winter 2020 Class Column

Bill Erdman
(407) 644-0391
1171 Willa Vista Trail, Maitland, Fl.. 32751
Class of ‘52 web Site:  seeoursite.org/lehigh

Got an email from Alan Koppes (deceased) in April - no news just an email address change notice so I have to assume he is still with us.  However, I’d rather get an address change notice than a notification of a Classmate’s death - C Theodore Blaisdell, died on April 3.

Robert Arndt wrote:  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?  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 through some of 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 who had a perfect 4 year scholastic record.

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 CE Engr degree for my entire working career.  My only regret being not buying 100 shares of something, anything at graduation.  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!  Those shares would have come in handy today.

Dick Schmidt (deceased) sent me a fantastic letter with so much news I ran out of room here.  See the web site for photo of the 5 Lehigh graduates in his family.

Recap of life:  Married 34 years, four kids (3 daughters), 2nd marriage to Carolyn added 6 more girls - total of 10 kids, 20 grandkids and 18 Great Grand Kids.  They live everywhere!  Spent life in sales as salesman, sales manager, regional manager, sales trainer.  Worked with his Dad, then with Executone, specializing in hospital products about 38 years.  "Retired" but worked for local courier service, then started own service.  Had both knees replaced.  Ten years ago, got bored again, started driving cars for Enterprise.

In spare time started and became president of two Jaycee Chapters in NJ; president of the Somerset County Auto Dealers Association:  active in local Republican activities; on the Montgomery Township (NJ) Parks and Recreation Commission for 16 years and Chairman for 10 years; served on Montgomery Planning Board (Advisor and Alternate); was a 4H Horse club leader and county 4H board member.  Moved to Arizona, was on the Fountain Hills Parks and Recreation Commission for six years, chairman for three.  Arizona License plate number - "LEHIGH".  Been active in whatever Alumni Club was nearby and President of the Arizona Club.  He has been to all of our class reunions.  Also made most of the 1950 (UNDEFEATED) football team reunions and organized the 65th.

In August I received a hacked email from Ralph Fortney and when I questioned it and asked for an update he replied, “I wish I had something of interest to share with my classmates.  If my math is correct many of our class are or will become 90 in 2020.  So the least I can do is wish them a very happy birthday and best wishes for good health during these challenging times.

Now that COVID-19 has given us all this free time, how about sending me some exciting news?  I’m using the extra time working toward my goal of 90 miles by bike the week of my birthday in September.  Bill.

DECEASED:  Edgar T Mertz