Winter 2013

Pat Moran (now deceased):

As I began to write this column it was late July and I had a birthday coming up.  I was either going to be 38 or 83.  I couldn't remember which!

Speaking of age, we '52ers know a little bit about that subject.  Class members and their mates know cranky knees or their replacements.  They know migrating arthritis, especially when the weather changes.  They know stiff lower backs that scream with every step.  Yes, “growing old is not for sissies,”  but we octogenarians rejoice at being upright and thank Our Maker every day for the health and good lives that we do have.

I must admit that I have been caught up in the C.J. McCollum-mania.  To those who don't follow the Lehigh sports scene, C.J. is a remarkable young man who graduated May 2013 with a stellar record in the classroom (journalism) and on the basketball court.  C.J. also contributed his time and talent to the Bethlehem community working with kids in the lower grades with their language skills.  C.J.'s crowning moment came when he was chosen in the top 10 in the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.  He has since played in the Rookie Summer League where he was the leading scorer.

I received several e-mails regarding C.J.;  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.

I will conclude with a letter from John Kerr (deceased), my former roommate at Sigma Nu.  Since 2001, John 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."

Thanks, '52ers, for your input.  YOU make this column possible.

Deceased

• Charles F Collins

• William F Garbe

• Michael H Seiler