NOV / DEC 2005

Few things catch my attention faster than a letter with a first class stamp. So Stephen Tauber, Lexington,MA, leads the column. In 1998 Stephen retired for the second time, and writes, "I am now carried as a retiree on the records of three distinct companies--for none of which I ever worked." Nothing sneaky, though; he just worked for companies that were merged or sold off. The benefits match his donations to Cornell and cover prescriptions and pension. "A bit confusing," he says, "but it does seem to work out OK."He closed with regards to all. Paul Franks, Tulsa, OK, is "mostly retired but still doing consulting in environmental geology.He stays busy taking care of his 1930 [good year!] vintage house and enjoys a Celtic music series at Tulsa's performing arts center. John Crager, who summers in Upper Jay, NY, and winters in Bisbee, AZ, considers himself a snowbird with health club workouts. His younger sister says he is still a "health nut."He says, "So be it."Whitney Mitchell wrote from Stuart, FL, last November that all was going well despite the trees downed by the two hurricanes that hit the area. Things were fine with his Nantucket home.Whit runs into Cornellians in Florida and Massachusetts and sends "cheers to all."

George Vlahakis, Nashville, TN, is "still hanging in with fairly good health."He continued,"My wife Marina is still doing physical and occupational therapy. She can get around pretty well in spite of having her stroke over five years ago. I feel she's like the ‘Energizer Bunny.' She just keeps on running. As for me, being a caregiver for her is a labor of love. After over 50 years of marriage and after all she's done for me in raising two wonderful children and putting up with me, I have no complaints." Eleanor Moffit Gates, Ivoryton, CT, who last wrote about researching and writing her own books and editing and finishing her father's, now writes, "In recent years I have dealt more with charities, organizations, and causes, which has gone far toward impoverishing me." Joan Schoof Hoffman is still in Bogart, GA. Joan used some spare time during the year to volunteer at the local hospital in its fundraising division and to knit afghans for the local shelters in the evening.

Don Collins, BEE '53, writes, "Same old thing--busy as hell enjoying retirement in Ft. Lauderdale, FL."Water keeps him busy, whether at two yacht clubs, on the QM2, or on the Danube. He also still looks forward to "seeing any surviving EEs or PiKAs or whatever." So call him if you're down that way. He is in the class directory. Peter '53, JD '57, and Jean Thompson Cooper are still in Southold, NY. The Coopers have eight grandchildren, age 30 down to almost 5, and five grandchildren all under 7. Jean's rug-hooking school and classes continue to thrive. Helen Icken Safa has been named to the editorial board of the Latin American Research Review. Her eldest grandson was married in June 2004.

Robert Lamb, Terre Haute, IN, turned 75 July 1, 2004. He'd been through two operations for colon cancer, and radiation and chemo, but reported that he was recuperating OK. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are "happy, healthy, and doing well." Bob received his MLS from UC Berkeley in '61 and served 34 years as an academic librarian, retiring from Indiana State Library on June 30, 1995 as a full professor. Don Parmet, JD '55, who winters in Palm Beach, FL, and summers in Melville, NY, announced the birth of his latest grandson--no granddaughters. David James Cook was born August 12, 2004 to Nancy Parmet Cook '85.

That cleans out the mailbag. I'm sorry that so much of this was written by all of you last fall and winter, but with space and time constraints, that's the way it goes. As I have a little extra word space here, I offer some reminders. If you'd like to reconnect with a classmate or any kind of Cornellian, the online Alumni Directory (https:// directory.alumni.cornell.edu) is there to help. All you need to access it is your Cornell ID--those numbers that appear with your name on all mailings you receive from Cornell. For your entertainment and further education, Cybertower (http://cybertower.cornell.edu) is as close as your computer. Try it. Try, too, the Class of '52 Web page (http://classof52.alumni.cornell.edu), which Paul and Polly Prine Herman work hard to keep up. They, as I, would like to hear from you. Finally, the 2006 CACO and class meetings will be in Philadelphia in February. If you remember Philadelphia from the '50s or '60s, believe me, it has changed. So think about attending.

And as I have a few words left, do any of you know the whereabouts of Bernard M. Bates, Don L. Bates, or Alexander Bernitz? If so, let us know. -- Joan Boffa Gaul, 7 Colonial Pl., Pittsburgh, PA 15232; e-mail, jgcomm@aol.com