JAN./FEB. 2008 VOLUME 110 NUMBER 4

The Class of '52 News and Dues mailing arrived in mid-October, the same week I was writing this column, so I didn't expect to have new News to work with.However, two very efficient people sent e-mails. So here, first, from them, up-to-date news:

Suressa Holtzman Forbes (sforbes1@rochester.rr.com) writes that she and Dick have a new address in Rochester, NY. She has retired from many of her boards, but remains a very active docent at the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, planning and leading art tours for the Gallery Council. Suressa sent a full report, and this time I have room: She would rather be playing tennis, but her back won't let her.What does she most remember from Cornell? "Courses with Meyer ‘Mike' Abrams,William Sale, and Stuart Brown '37, PhD '42. But I must also include my Once and Present Husband, Dick Forbes." The old Cornell friend she'd most like to hear from is Pierre Tonachel. She closed by commenting: "Dick and I went to reunion and enjoyed seeing Stu and KatWoodbury Haskins and also Sue Youker Schlaepfer. Unfortunately, some other friends from the Class of '52 did not come." The second prompt responder was Jim Gibbs (jgibbs@stanford.edu).He, too, has retired. The rest of his news was shorter, but welcome."My wife Jewelle and I are delighted to be grandparents--at last! Grandson Julian Angelo Gibbs was born on May 11 and lives nearby in Alameda, CA."

Now, news from late 2006 and early 2007. In October 2006, John Talmage (Seagull2@optonline.net) wrote from Riverhead, NY, that while retired, he was restoring 1929 and flying 1931 antique airplanes from the farm airstrip and working on homebuilt experimental amphibian aircraft. He was also involved with a joint-venture golf project on part of his family farm, which is on the Long Island Sound shoreline.Most fondly from Cornell he remembers "friends and extracurricular activity experiences that were broadening for this rural boy who attended a two-room, two-teacher, eight-grade elementary school before high school." In November 2006, Rabbi Ronald Millstein (joyceem6@optonline. net; Great Neck, NY) wrote that he and wife Joyce's activities were Broadway and Off-Broadway theater. They had also been cruising. One memorable cruise left the ship with interior damage and 30 passengers with serious injuries. A much better one was from Athens to Rome, and Rome to Venice with many interesting stops. Ronald remembers "the extraordinary beauty of the campus, with its views, fall foliage, awesome gorges, and handsome buildings, not to mention the auditory pleasure of the Chimes concerts." Sadly, he officiated at the funeral of his friend, classmate and professor Paul Avrich, on February 22, 2006.

In December '06, Paul Franks, Tulsa, OK, wrote, "This growing old ain't no fun."He had just had a left shoulder replacement. He did have some fun in the summer that year, though, with a "fine trip to Scotland--Edinburgh to Inverness to Skye, Harris, and Lewis, down the west coast to Burns Country and back to Edinburgh. Gorgeous country and friendly people."We trust his shoulder is now working well. As of December '06, Evan '51 and ElaineWillis Hazard, BS Nurs '53 (eehazard@paulbunyan.net) remained in Bemidji, MN, but after 46 years in a four-level house with yard, garage, and outdoor storage, they had made the move to a townhouse. "Operation: shoe horn," wrote Elaine, "was partially successful.We are at our new digs, still working at downsizing enough to fit. Stay tuned; the struggle continues." I'm sure they are now settled, and, as they are now "within walking distance of medical care, an exercise facility, and shopping," it sounds like a move more of us should make.

Richard Clark (capeclarks@aol.com; Osterville, ME) retired in 1997. Now he is active with "golf, boating, travel, theatre, books, model boat building, yard work, and more golf." On August 5-6, 2006, Rik participated in his 14th Pan-Mass Challenge as an 84-mile cyclist and volunteer. The event raised $25 million for the Dana Farber Cancer Inst. His most fond memory of Cornell? "Transferring to Cornell as a junior and then pledging to the Sigma Chi fraternity." The old Cornell friends he'd most like to hear from are Barlow Ware '47, Laurie Robinson '77, and Mary Berens '74. Lastly, a note from Susan Strumer (Strumer@sbcglobal.net; Ridgefield, CT), widow of classmate Josef Strumer and an honorary member of the class. As of February 2007, Susie had joined the New York Cornell Business Breakfast roundtable, which had been very active. She noted, "The dining room at the Cornell Club-New York has become extremely good. The New York Club could today be described as the most upscale club/boutique hotel in the city." That's it. Pay your dues, subscribe to the magazine, and send news. The Gauls are off on a frolic of their own--to China--but we'll be back. I'll hope to hear from you.

.-- Joan Boffa Gaul, 7 Colonial Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15232; e-mail, joangaul@mac.com