Roger Algase: “I am still going strong as a business and professional immigration lawyer at the age of 88, fighting for justice and human rights for non-citizens and US citizens alike, as well as speaking out against Israel’s Gaza genocide. I am still in regular touch with my good friend, classmate and fellow Latin student in “Porky” Benton’s class, David Harrison. I am supported in my work by my wife of the past 30 years, Satoko Ishikawa, and am in close touch with my two daughters from my first marriage, Sara Levin and Julie Fracchia, as well as my two grandchildren Jack and Justin Levin, all of whom live in or near Orlando, FL. ”
Ray Clevenger: “As I wrote for a long-ago reunion book, I am not sure exactly what Sam Phillips did for me, but my life since Andover has been blessed and I am pretty sure Sam had something to do with the opportunities I have had in life and the person I turned out to be. I still feel that way. At the recent reunion, I stayed in my senior dorm (Paul Revere North) and went to look at my upper room in Johnson South. I had forgotten how spartan the rooms were and still are. Classrooms looked pretty much the same, as did the beauty of the campus, now dotted with fancy new buildings. I have no reason to doubt that Andover is still a meaningful and positive experience for most of its students, at least, so I hope it can last.”
Tom Hale: “It was at Andover that I encountered God and determined to my best ability to follow Christ. I believed He was leading me to become a medical missionary to the poorest (at the time) country on earth — Nepal. I entered medical school and on the first day of classes I met my future wife Cynthia Berberian. She also had determined to become a medical missionary. And so after a year we got married, and then, after medical training and two years in the Army, we went off to Nepal where we served for twenty-five wonderful years. Andover was the first step in that journey.”
September telecon with Jim Liles: He and Suzie still drive 1,000 miles from the Ozarks in Arkansas to the two-story house he and his son built 20 years ago. Ten miles from Grand Lake in the Colorado Rockies, where, not long ago, they were joined every other year by Bob and Linda Rogers. Where they still get together with Perry Lewis. After Jim’s daughter Diana finished her African studies at Ohio State Steve Kaye helped pay for her trip to Africa.
The honor of instigating The Great Route 28 Detour Caper belongs to the class of ’54. To the upperclassman of uncertain identity who asked Jim to “give me a hand” pointing the detour sign down Hidden Field Road. When Dave Gunn moved cones the deed was mostly done and the perpetrators had “split and run.” “My God, what have we done!” Jim’s reaction when the bus appeared that reverberates still.
Peter Parsons interrupted an email with this: “Right now I have a super typhoon NANDO on top of me.” That was September 21 5:59 PM Pacific. Next day, at 7:20 AM, he wrote, “Now I am lying in my sofa with typhoon Nando thrashing my surroundings with heavy rainfall, and I am praying that my house does not slide down the hill.” Repeated attempts to rouse Peter by email went unanswered until the 30th and this: “We were without electricity and internet on and off for the two week duration of TWO TYPHOONS, Nando and Opong. I did swim my 1000 meters for a few days, but fierce winds and rains kept me away for several days. My only loss was two old pine trees. During the time indoors we looked over our Pot Pourri of 1955. It was fun seeing all the guys and places.”
Bob Rogers: “Andover, Class of 1955! I remember those Andover years well because my long-term memory is better than my short. Linda and I now live in Albuquerque, New Mexico where the sun shines brightly every day and the Balloon Festival arrives annually to fill the sky with colorful bounty. It is amazing to look up into the morning sky and see hundreds of colorful balloons drifting to the hither and yon. We left the East coast 7 years ago to help with a newborn grandchild while our daughter completed her medical residency at UNM. Our son and his family live in Salem, MA. Do I still make music the answer is definitely yes but only when I’m in the mood. We’ve had some lovely visits with Jim and Suzie Liles in Colorado and Arkansas and I assure you Jim can still identify correctly every bird he hears. Good cheer to all my classmates.”
Dick Woods and Robin “celebrated their 65th anniversary this May. He retired in 1992 and the two of them have now traveled to 142 countries and still sail (now under power, having aged out of sail) out of their home in Connecticut, from Maine to the Bahamas. Their three children are scattered across the inland US, so boating is giving way to more sedentary interests such as family.”
Remembrance posted to my website for Louis Michael “Mike” Bell. Also obituaries for Dr. Scott Stewart III; Charles Gordon “Terry” Zug III; and Deborah Green West, Abbott ‘55 and wife of Mike West PA ’55. [Ref. Abbott ’55 class notes.]
Until we meet again, with thanks to all,
Dave