Fall / Winter 2021 Class Column

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

I received a nice note from the mother of a 2018 Lehigh graduate saying that she had read our Class of ’52 column and commented on my biking adventures.  Our Class is famous…or infamous!  Fortunately we received lots of news this period - so much I had to delete some information.  For ALL the news, see our web site.

Bob Hoyt added a few tidbits to his colorful history:  It’s a strange feeling now that everyone in our class is in their 90’s.  I still drive.  My condo has all bedrooms on the 2^nd floor and I have no problem getting up and down the stairs.  I’ve been a widower since I lost my wife, Terry, in 2003.  We were married 49 years.  It’s been tough being alone for the past 18 years.  I’ve gotten nervous bike riding because of balance issues.  My children gave me a stationary bike so I’m getting some exercise that way.  I might try again on my bike when I get to my summer home.  I recently talked with the widows of Bruce Hill and Fred Gartside, both of whom were ushers in our wedding.  John Seville’s wife had me talk with John but the conversation was definably one way.  She has had to put him in a place for advanced Alzheimer’s patients.  Bob’s final comment was, “Who would have thought that at the age of 91 some of us are still going.”

Charles (Chic) Whedon wrote:  Your last column struck a cord!  I've been meaning to write but, like so many others, put it off.  I know of one other classmate, Jerry Underhill.  He lives in Dallas, TX, with his wife, Ann.  Both are reasonably healthy and spend a lot of valuable time visiting their children and "vacationing".  I went to work with Union Carbide upon graduating and spent 36 years with them.  On the way I met a wonderful girl and married Marge who unfortunately died in 1996.  We had 3 children, Carol, Chuck, and Frank.  They still live within striking distance so I am fortunate.  We lived in Fanwood and Westfield, NJ.  I'm now living in Seabrook Village, a very nice retirement community in Tinton Falls, NJ.  Having gone to Lehigh and learned what a great sport wrestling is, I introduced it to my two sons and then to two grandsons.  They were pretty good - three of them wrestled in the NJ State Championships.

Bill Skillman wrote:  Sorry to hear that your bike riding makes you look like a 90-year-old bag of bones.  I quit riding over 10 years ago so I will settle for just looking like a 93-year-old bag of bones without all that exercise.  I also have a checkered history with bicycles!  In the 8th grade, I was playing tag in the school bus parking lot and collided with a another bike.  Knocked me unconscious and his bike dug a hole in my thigh.  Years later, a friend and I went swimming and riding back home we locked handlebars and landed in fresh tar.  This left a matching hole in my knee.  Several stitches - scar and tar still there.  Later, I helped my step-sister learn to ride her bike - next day, riding her bike, she fell and broke her arm!  I miss biking, but I guess I'll do without at 93 and leave it to you younger guys.

Robert Kradoska writes:  We live in Sarasota but are now at my condo in Ocean City, NJ.  We will return to Florida in October.  I still have a house in PA.

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