By Arthur Greenwald
As I write these words in March, our class listserv is ablaze with a lively debate over the respective tactics of the Clinton and Obama campaigns. Whether or not that contest has been decided by the time you read this, one thing is clear: there’s scant evidence online that anyone in our class is backing McCain. What’s up with that? I know you’re out there and we want to hear from you. As always, sign-up instructions for joining our electronic party line are found at the bottom of this column.
On the other hand, any seeming liberal bias evaporated last month as our listserv writers expressed condolences to Chris Buckley over the passing of his father. It was touching to see even self-described socialists praise William F. Buckley for his intellectual honesty, his talent, and of course his ever-present wit. Several years ago in Yale Commons Dining Hall, both Buckleys addressed a gathering of Yale Daily News alumni. Chris’s remarks were especially entertaining, and nobody laughed harder than his dad. I’ll always remember the affection and pride so apparent on that famous face.
Another proud papa is Cal Whipple ’40, who sent me an article from the Columbia Journalism Review praising a news series created and produced by his son, Chris Whipple. “What Would You Do?” is a featured segment of the ABC News show Prime Time. Chris calls it “a Candid Camera of ethics.” Chris and his colleagues have staged such public outrages as an eldercare worker berating an old man, as hidden cameras capture the reactions (or lack thereof) of passersby. Unfortunately, the latest series concluded its run in March, so watch out for its return. Meanwhile, some reciprocal pride from Chris who writes to remind us that his dad is also “a class notes columnist (1940) and the son of a class notes columnist, the late Frank Whipple (1913).”
From my hometown, Don Block writes that he was recently cited as the nation’s “outstanding administrator in the field of adult basic education.” This is no surprise to anyone familiar with Don’s work as executive director of the Pittsburgh Literacy Council (www.gplc.org). Don and Mary’s daughter, Laura, is a junior at the music school of Duquesne University, where she studies flute and piccolo and is preparing to tour China with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony.
From Washington, DC, Rob Cole writes—no, wait! This is just a letter asking me to contribute to the Yale Alumni Fund. I’ll keep this in, just in case you think I am exempt from such harassment! Naturally I encourage you to give all your earthly possessions to Yale, starting with your Bear, Stearns holdings.
Drexel professor Paula Cohen is alive and well in New Jersey, where she’s married to Alan Penziner ’73. Their son Sam graduated from Yale last year while daughter Kate is a member of the Class of 2011.
On a decidedly more somber note, I’m saddened to report the accidental death of Ben Vinal, 24, son and stepson of Pam Kohlberg and Curt Greer. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the charity of your choice.
I’m glad to be able to end with much happier news. Charles Leiserson (cel@mit.edu) and his wife Wendy are celebrating the birth of a daughter. Katherine Hope arrived early on Valentine’s Day morning. Charles writes, “Kate joins her older half-siblings Ricky (28), Will (26), and Debby (23). It’s sobering to think about starting a family all over again at age 54, but Kate is beautiful, and Wendy and I are looking forward to seeing her grow with our love. Am I nuts, as my erstwhile Yale roomie Glen Miranker asked, or is Kate a gift to me in my dotage?”
Please keep in touch—especially you invisible Republicans! Subscribe to our class listserv at www.aya.yale.edu/lists. And update your contact information at www.alumniconnections.com/yale. As always, your class notes news is welcome. Write to yale1975@aya.yale.edu.