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alize that I may be presumptuous in thus
stretching my prerogative as Ithaca agent—
50th Reunion '16—beyond the breaking
point, but I am hopeful that at least a dozen
doddering dodoes of '16 will show up for a
re-do of our great Reunion of last June.
Yours in 1916,
Herb Snyder"
Here we are trying to even locate an
envelope left by Frank Thomas for pinchhitting
purposes on the '16 column while
he's away on his usual world-wide meanderings
and, for better or worse, same
turned up. Picking and choosing—Harold
Belcher, MD, of 20 E. 53rd St., New York,
reports his retirement from the "frying pan
into the fire," busier than ever with industrial,
institutional, and consulting problems
in medicine, and with music, family, and
church on the side as usual, but in his own
words "Excelsior," onward through the
mountain, we assume, his banner aloft.
Word from Allan Carpenter that Murray
and Alice Shelton visited with him while on
a trip west to see their children and families,
and glad to report the Sheltons doing
very well indeed. Also a note at hand addressed
to Birge Kinne by Bill L. Webster
with many thanks to all the Reunion workers
and committeemen, and that they enjoyed
it immensely.
A kind word or two from Jules Sobel,
stressing that he and his wife will ever
cherish the memory of the Reunion. And in
identical vein, a note from W. Frank
(Shrimp) Lockhart. A word from Ed Mendinhall
accenting the pleasant and lingering
memories of the 50th and the opportunity
of meeting once again many old classmates.
Lyman Davison wrote in that "it was my
first attendance at a class Reunion—now I
know what I missed earlier. My wife and
I had a wonderful time, and luckily, I met
quite a number of my friends who, like me,
could finally make it back this time."
"Nick" Carter reported in that he had a
wonderful time, but that the '16 red coats
played havoc with his linen due to showers.
Yet he had a grand time, smudged or not!
W. S. Oles offers a common complaint,
i.e., had to hit the bank to pay his income
taxes, but still had $10 for class dues, and
had quite a time of it at the 50th. Big Bill
Fisher reported that "after leaving our 50th,
Julia Lee and I drove out to the West
Coast; looked over spots in Washington,
Oregon, and Idaho that I had last visited in
1912; then headed for Vancouver, Banff,
and Jasper; then back via Yellowstone,
Glacier, and the Grand Teton Parks, returning
home in August."
Sam Newman of 165 E. 19th St., Brooklyn,
(Phone IN9-4120) still has the welcome
sign out for any Ί6ers who would be interested
in seeing his collection of art objects
and paintings, including some old
masters. H. R. Sunball, retired, reported in
that "our Reunion surely was a gala affair;
after leaving Ithaca we drove around southern
New York and into Pennsylvania, and
decided that traveling was a fine way to
spend retirement years. Judge Sovocool of
Ithaca reported that both his son and
daughter graduated from Cornell and he
now has seven grandchildren as future potentials.
He's in semi-retirement and usually
winters in Florida around Ft. Lauderdale.
"Our 50th brought everyone nearer to Cornell,
both in pride of accomplishment and
in sadness for the loss of dear classmates."
Have not had a written peep out of
Thomas to date, so presume no news must
certainly be good news.
'16 PhD—Joseph V. DePorte published
"Boyhood and Revolution: the Story of my
Early Years" in the spring issue of Per/Se,
a quarterly put out by The Stanford U
Press. He was director of the New York
State Health Dept.'s office of vital statistics
until he retired in 1958. At other times, he
worked among immigrant groups on the
lower East Side, taught at the State U of
New York at Albany, and worked in Chile
as a technical expert for the UN.
'17
Men: Herbert R. Johnston
81 Tacoma Ave.
Buffalo, N.Y. 14216
Shortly after Ells Filby had organized his
Committee of '17 and got them going full
speed ahead working on attendance for our
Golden Jubilee Reunion, he left for Texas,
visited all the Ί7ers there, and then went
on into Mexico. He had a nice visit with
"Hap" Tears in Dallas.
Bob Wilson, likewise, got everything organized,
including the program for our
"baby" Reunion on Monday, May 15 at
the Cornell Club of New York and then
left for Mexico where he visits Yucatan in
search of the best honey in the world. His
secretary states that he will probably be
there for several weeks. If necessary, he
can be reached by mail at Hotel Merida,
Yucatan, Mexico.
Had a nice letter from Art Stern, in
which he stated that he and his wife had a
nice visit a few months ago with Julia
Aronson Dushkin in Jerusalem, Israel.
Julia's husband is Prof. Alexander Dushkin,
who is the retired head of secondary school
education in Israel.
Clarke B. London wrote from Bagdad,
Iraq that he would be with us for our Big
50th. He is again teaching at a university in
Bagdad. In 1962, he traveled all the way
from Bagdad to our 45th Reunion. Aquiles
Armas Mendez writes that he will surely be
with us for our Big 50th. He had his passport
all ready to attend our 45th Reunion
in 1962 but had to cancel the trip because
elections were being held in Peru that weekend
and it was feared that the communists
might get into power and no one knew
what would happen if they did.
Herb Schneider writes that he still has
weekly luncheons with Jack Magoun '12
and Andy Hanemann in Harrisburg. Bill
Wheeler sent a card that he is enjoying the
winter months in Florida but to date had
not contacted any classmates there. Dave
Blakelock, San Clemente, Calif, has done a
wonderful job in contacting his California
classmates regarding our Golden Jubilee
Reunion and has a good group coming from
that state. The State of Florida also has a
good showing in prospects for attendance at
our Big 50th. The state making the poorest
relative showing to date is New York, which
has more Cornell alumni than any other—
and they are all very close to Ithaca. So
let's get busy, New York Staters, and improve
our snowing. Be sure to remember
the "baby" Reunion on Monday, May 15 at
the Cornell Club of New York. Early returns
indicate a big attendance and a complete
program for our Big 50th will be discussed.
'17 Women: Lots of news from the girls
of '17—most of them planning to be in
Ithaca in June for our glorious 50th Reunion:
Marie Grenier Haynes, 53 S. Century
Rd., Buffalo: "After 44 years of teaching, I
retired from the classroom in 1963. My
daughter attended Cornell for two and a
half years, then received her BA and MA
from the U of Buffalo. She is now a teaching
fellow at UB. She has two daughters
who have their eyes on Cornell (1970 and
1973! maybe). Her husband (also a UB
grad) is academic counselor at UB. Both
are working for their PhD in philosophy.
My husband is an Alfred graduate; taught
in the Buffalo school system for a while; is
now at Sylvania Electronics doing technical
writing."
Helen E. Murphy, 312 Chestnut St.,
Phoenix: "Hobby — bird photography.
Honor — emeritus professor of biology,
Adelphi U."
Auleen Russell Robbins, Bleuheim Rd.,
Phoenix, Md.: "Towson Methodist Church,
past-president of WSCS. Manor Garden
Club, plus my own garden, both flower and
vegetable. PEO—Chapter K, Md. One son
and one grandchild, Cynthia, 12. They live
near Oxford on Eastern Shore. Play a lot of
bridge and keep busy while sitting with the
needle and some knitting."
Alda Deibler Slack, 55 East St., Fort
Edward: "Had a note from Mary Johnson
Moore. Think she is planning to reune
with us. Nothing new except grandchildren
are growing up. Two have degrees from
Cornell. One is a sophomore in Cornell, one
a freshman at RPI, and another a freshman
at U of Vermont at Burlington. Looking
forward to the newsletters and also the big
get-together in June."
Eleanor Poole, 43 Ave. A., Page Mobile
Village, Fort Myers, Fla.: "Just loafing and
enjoying my retirement. Will see you in
June (I hope)."
Geraldine Willis Huston, 571 Cumberland
Ave., Teaneck, N.J.: "My husband and I
plan to be in Europe this spring—Greece
and the Greek Islands our farthest point
(shades of Lane Cooper's courses on the
Greek classics!). Do hope we see the old
friends at the Reunion, we haven't seen
since school days."
Amanda K. Berls, 453 F. D. Roosevelt
Dr., New York.: "Since I retired, I have
been spending much of the year at my
beach cottage in Amagansett on Long Island,
though I still maintain a N.Y. City
apartment. I have become much interested
in art, and pictures I own have been exhibited
in a number of museums, including
the Metropolitan Museum of New York."
C. Irene Hayner, 1310 Granger Ave.,
Ann Arbor, Mich.: "I am now retired as
associate professor emeritus of library
science at the U of Michigan, living in Ann
Arbor with a retired English teacher. I am
active in AAUW and church work and I
am at present an elder in the First Presbyterian
Church. I am also very much interested
in community activities and am
working as a volunteer starting a library for
patients at the Michigan State Mental Hospital
at Ypsilanti. For recreation I enjoy
reading and travel and have had three trips
to Europe with friends. Have driven across
the continent four times and spent three
weeks of this past summer around Banff,
Jasper, and Glacier National Parks. Every
trip is a thrill."
Mary Johnson Moore, RD 3, Winsted,
Conn.: "Was president of the Litchfield
County hospital auxiliary for two years and
a member of the hospital board in Winsted.
I hook rugs. Greetings, Ή.O.K.' Looking
forward to seeing you."
Anna Bristol Hall, Brick Kiln Lane, No.
Pembroke, Mass.: "We knew we were
choosing a good Reunion committee! Right
on the job. The 50th—My, my! Won't it be
fun. I am living alone in the same place.
My husband passed on in '64. My three
sons live within driving distance, so between
family and church, I keep pretty well occupied.
In the summer I tend the flowers and
hedge on my little acre."
Elizabeth Fisher Irish (Mrs. S. R), 309
S. Gore Ave., Webster Groves, Mo.: "I am
a living refutation of those recent books
about women needing extra-marital jobs or
careers to fulfill themselves. I am very
50 Cornell Alumni News