Class of 1957: 55th Reunion

The Class of 1957 held its 55th-year reunion under intermittently cloudy and rainy skies. However, overall the weather cooperated so that we were able to walk comfortably from one venue to another and, importantly, to enjoy dinner on the lawn and under the tent at the home of Gil and Carol Hogan in Woodbridge. As usual, the excellent dinner was organized by Gil, who has done so for almost every one of our 11 reunions. Fortunately there was no replay of the deluge of rain which almost trapped us for the night at Pine Orchard, following the dinner at our 25th-year reunion. In recognition of Gil and Carol having provided the venue and planning for almost all of our class dinners (which have contributed importantly to the collegiality and success of our reunions), Gil and Carol were presented with an inscribed sterling silver tray from the members of our class.

The attendees, in addition to our hosts, the Hogans, were: Jack and Barbara Blechner, Harry and JoAnn Briggs, Jack and Ann Carey, Louis and Mady Cooper, Hal and Jo Fallon, Tony and Mary Fons, Liz (Held) and Ben Forsyth, Al and Vivian Fried, Bob and Pat Glass, Dick Kahler, Stan and Carol Kilty, Bill and Priscilla Kissick, Jack and Francine Levin, Howard Minners and Eleanor Souville, Bob and Jill Modlin, Hugh and Donna Moffet, Herb Newman, Joe and Jody Pagano, Ray Phillips with his daughter, Wendy Kahn, and Joanie Sheeran, Mel and Marianne Roberts, Gil and Marlene Solitare, Don Stahl, and Romeo Vidone.

Our excellent attendance (we were matched only by the 50th reunion class with 28 and the 45th with 24 classmates) contributed to the success of our reunion. Our traditional class meeting was also well attended. At that time, it was announced that our continuing success in fundraising for the Class of 1957 Scholarship had resulted in a fund that as of June, 2012, ranked 4th out of 10 class scholarships. The Class of 1957 Scholarship has already helped support two students, with annual stipends of more than $8,000. The level of support will increase as the result of our most recent fund-raising efforts. As usual, some members of the class were asked to describe unusual activities. Liz Forsyth has another career as the co-author of approximately 20 books, written for middle school and high school readers, and covering a wide range of topics. Don Stahl shared with us how he started writing essays about his experiences and activities. He closed by reading selected segments of his essay “Equanimitas,” which beautifully described some of his recollections of being a medical student and experiencing the rewards of the Yale system. Harry Briggs and Jack Levin received Distinguished Alumni Service Awards, bringing the number of members of our class to have received this award to five. (Bill Kissick, Gil Hogan, and Howard Minners had also been recognized in this manner). As the result, the Class of 1957 is the first class in the 29-year history of this award to have five members so honored.