Winter 2007

Pat Moran (now deceased):

Hi, '52ers!  I'll bet you didn't know that our class has the two oldest delivery boys in America.  It's true.  Dick Schmidt (deceased) in Mesa and yours truly in Tucson.  Let me amplify:  Dick has been in the courier business for a number of years and runs his own tidy operation.  When I realized that I couldn't play the kind of golf I wanted to play because of my heart problems, I contacted Dick and inquired about the courier business.  He gave me some salient tips, and within two weeks I called 40 companies, interviewed 5 and was behind the wheel.  I do it on my schedule, part‑time, and I love it!  It's really just an extension of the 35 years I spent as a manufacturer's rep selling industrial products, same positive mind‑set.  So there, 15 years retired and back to work.  I'll bet there are a lot of you out there who have "un‑retired."  Why don't you write me and relate your experience?

Classmate Charles Scovil typically starts his workday at 6 p.m.  When the sky is completely dark, he leaves his desk and peers into a 22‑inch telescope at the billions of white freckles scattered across the black sky.  Over the 10 or so hours he spends at the observatory nightly, Scovil records stars' subtle changes in brightness with a pencil and logbook.  Why does he do this?  Charles is the chief astronomer and curator of the Stamford (CT) Observatory at the Stamford Museum.  He does not do this volunteer work for acclaim.  "It brings one closer to God, that basically is how I worship," says Charles.  Scovil has made 37,000 observations over 44 years, and his awards if related to football would be the equivalent of the Heisman, the MVP, and the Super Bowl trophy!

It's never fun to receive the '52 obit page.  The latest mentioned two of my friends, Phil Sievering (a high school classmate as well) and Harry Stowers (deceased), an acknowledged leader of our class.  Both will be missed.  The class extends condolences to their families.

The mailbag is pretty thin.  I need some material, so why not take a few minutes and drop me a line?  See you next column.

 Deceased

•   David W Claus

•   Philip J. Sievering

•   Harry Stowers

Pat Moran (now deceased)