Dick Paine
paine45green@aol.com
H. Allen Holmes was awarded the Foreign Service Cup on May 4, 2018, by the Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired (DACOR). Over two distinguished careers, in the Foreign Service and as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, Holmes advanced the national security of the United States and laid the foundation for the next generations of foreign affairs leaders..
Hon. H. Allen Holmes ’50 receives the 2018 Foreign Service Cup from DACOR President James Benson.
Mark Cluett ’51 shares a Third Form photo taken by Charlie Friend ’51. (R. to l.) top: Mike Metcalf, Dan Ford, Ebby Gerry, George Caldwell; second row: Peter Elliman, Mike Humphreys, Peter Stearns; third row: Ken Ives, Warren Wilson; fourth row: Fergie Reid, Peter Winans, Tadger Webster.
David Sinkler
ddsinkler@comcast.net
Hugh Magee sends in this report: “As we approach our 30th holiday season together, we Magees have much to be thankful for at this time of celebration and reassessment. Admittedly, in these troubled days, it might be tempting to wonder whether Christmas can stand for anything more than a brief expression of hope in an otherwise hopeless world, misleadingly dressed up with a bit of commercial tinsel. If so, we can at least remind ourselves that our wishful thinking (if that is what it is) need not be in vain. Rather, it can serve as a kind of prayer of confidence that, regardless of what we may believe (or not believe), the “everlasting Light” of Christ can yet illumine the earth, and with it all life. In our case, such confidence remains a reality even in the midst of a shared concern for my health. Congestive heart failure is normally a progressive disease and it has had an inevitable effect on our lifestyle and, most likely, on my lifespan. In the new situation in which we now find ourselves, however, we carry on much as before, despite my limited energy and curtailed mobility. Yvonne’s artwork continues to attract widespread admiration and my third book, which takes the form of a ‘spiritual autobiography,’ is on the verge of publication. We also value the thoughts and prayers of the many family members and friends on both sides of the Atlantic who have supported us with their continuing encouragement, wise counsel and, in some cases, visits. So, love and good wishes to all as we recall the message of the angels: ‘Fear not.’”
Joe Williams writes: “My wife, Terry, and I invited a few of my pals for a mini-reunion at the Yale Club and, while we look very sedate and composed (in the photo), we had a ball. There was much catching up to do and our thoughts and prayers were extended to Hugh Magee, who was in hospice at that time and, fortunately, is now back home.”
From Truman Bidwell: “I celebrated my 85th birthday on the second of January at a lovely French restaurant in New York with my daughters (two of whom graduated SPS), my sister, one of my first cousins, and a close friend. Among those heard from (and missed at dinner) were my Yale roommate, Joe Williams, Albert Francke (my alter ego of approximately 78 years), and Yvonne Magee, wife of Hugh Magee. I also had the pleasure of seeing the Emerys and the Stearns in the Christmas season. This birthday brings to memory my first anniversary at SPS, when we lined the street to clap for members of reunion classes as they strolled by. When the 25th reunion form walked by, I remember thinking ‘nobody gets that old!’. Well, at least I can remember the event, although our 25th anniversary from SPS is ancient history. As we move more or less gracefully on, I am ever grateful for the wonderful memories of our days at SPS, the friendships forged and the lessons learned about leading the ‘goodly life.’ Hope to see many formmates in the New Year.”
Ross Macdonald reports: “Still living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, after 22 years along with Jeff Coffin, Ethan Emery and winter visitors such as Bill Emery. We even have a Mexican reunion hosted by Fred Appel with about nine alumni and a couple from Mexico City. I am a dual citizen and have had several businesses here, from a gym to the present service delivering items from the United States to various Mexican cities.”
Raleigh “Mouse” Coffin published his book Phyllis, A Beautiful Life, Forgotten, about his family’s struggle with his wife’s Alzheimer’s. It was published by Archway, a division of Simon & Schuster, and is available now in three formats on Amazon and – soon – in bookstores.
Marion Silliman sends this January note about her husband, Henry Silliman: “Henry continues to set records as he patiently copes with Huntington’s Disease. We moved across the driveway into a house our nephew (a brilliant architect who understood our needs) owns, and we continue to live happily ever after. We have several aides, who have become our guardian angels. Henry understands the holidays, reacts with delight to visits from family, and is able to thank them, smile, and cheer. His physician son in Denver keeps an eye on the strides modern medicine is making in solving/preventing this disorder from passing into future generations. There are 18 grandchildren and a first great-grandchild on the way.”
Form of 1952 mini-reunion at the Yale Club (l. to r.)front: Rosie Francke, Cordelia Stearns, Terry Williams, Ludmilla Bidwell, and Shelley Emery; back: Peter Stearns, Joe Williams, Truman Bidwell, Albert Francke, and Bill Emery.
Form of 1953 formmates (l. to r.) Peter Swords, Nick Platt, and Jim Hammond met for dinner in New York.
Ed Harding
ed@thehardings.org
Peggy and I hope to see many of you at our 65th reunion, May 31-June 2. Please visit our form website at www.sps.edu/1954 and let us know if you plan to attend. Hotel rooms are available at the Holiday Inn in Concord. Reserve your room by calling the hotel at 603-224-9534. Reservations must be made before May 1. Mention you are with SPS ’54 when you call. We will be guests of the School for dinner on both Friday and Saturday nights (Friday in the dining hall with other forms who have also celebrated a 50th, and Saturday on our own in Sheldon). As of this writing (January 10), I have had positive responses from Jay Cushman, John McGinley, Bill McKim, Dick Perkins, and Peter Pool. Let me know you’re coming and stay tuned for more details.
Nat Howe
nathowejr@yahoo.com
Don McLeod writes: “Really enjoyed the poster of the doors at SPS. I framed it. Makes a wonderful reminder of time spent there.”
Bill de Haven
bill_dehaven316@hotmail.com
David Hunt, Phil Iglehart, Sandy Holloway, and I had our annual duck hunting expedition on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in January.
A note from Anthony Horan: “I fully retired from my subspecialty surgery practice of urology in June 2018. My interest in the specialty continues in the third revision of my book on prostate cancer aimed at foreign editors. The title will be The Rise and Fall of the Prostate Cancer Scam. It will arrive at Amazon in January 2019.”
(L. to r.) Guy Rutherford ’58, Patrick Rulon-Miller ’58, and Melissa Walters at the final resting place of Bill Kirk ’58, St. Luke’s Parish, Darien, Conn.
Allan Ayers
aayers3667@gmail.com
Guy Rutherfurd
rutherfurdguy@gmail.com
A message from Hunt Janin: “I recently finished a book for McFarland & Co. on Historic Nevada Waters: Four Rivers, Three Lakes, Past and Present, and am now working on another one, Explorers and Writers of the North American Frontiers, 1528-1879.”
Sydney Waud
swaud@stribling.com
From David Atkinson: “Under the trusty leadership of Sydney Waud, preparations are moving ahead for the celebration of our 60th. You have probably seen the announcement on the website the School has for us (www.sps.edu/1959). All the information is there. As of January 16, we have the following confirmed: Martha Luz and David Atkinson, Mary and Tony Carpenter, Susie and Loring Catlin, Peter de Bretteville, Daniel Dent, John Douglas, Sherri and Bill Eldridge, Barbara and William Everdell, Donna and Mike Gagarin, Mike Garfield, Anne and Ridge Hall, Betsy and Steve Hershey, Barclay Howe, Hartmut Keil, Victoria Fay Leonard and Edward Leonard, Julia and Malcolm Mackay, Susie and Ned Maguire, Speedy Mettler, Suzanne and Grinnell Morris, Mary Barnes and Peter Neill, Frank Nelson, Yumiko and Motoi Okubo, Louis Orr, Sheldon Prentice, Evander Schley, Tina and Eliot Scull, Lorraine and Brad Taylor, David Vietor, Sydney Waud, and Sigrid and Prescott Wintersteen. We are on track to set a record for the greatest attendance at a 60th Reunion. Don’t miss it.”
The tradition continues for three of the Class of ’59 – Speedy Mettler, Coley Burke and Sydney Waud – who went to Fishers Island to establish their 52nd year of fishing together. Their quarry this trip were stripers, blues, and the elusive, hard-fighting albacore.
A note from Sam Callaway: “Jill and I recently returned from an oft postponed but much anticipated two-week trip to Europe. Five days in Paris, three in Genoa, and the balance in Lucca, Italy. We had glorious hiking in mid-summer weather along Cinque Terre south of Genoa, and we loved the informality, fabulous Italian cuisine, and renaissance architecture and other sights in and around Lucca. We had promised one another this trip for a number of years and were not disappointed. We are now proud grandparents of two young ladies (ages three years and four months) living in California, which has accounted for our frequent, commuter-like trips out West in recent years. That will all end next year when our daughter and her family move back East. We will miss the excitement, bustle, and amazing beauty and outdoor activities that have given us so much pleasure in California, but it will be wonderful to have the family where we will all be able to gather more frequently. I am sad to have to miss our 60th due to an unfortunate scheduling snafu. I urge as many of you to return to SPS as possible, as Sydney Waud, David Atkinson, and Malcolm Mackay are planning what I am sure will be a memorable occasion.”
David Atkinson ’59 on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela last October.
Form of 1959 friends (l. to r.) Speedy Mettler, Sydney Waud, and Coley Burke celebrating their 52nd fishing trip.
Ted Johnson ’59 racing at Daytona, going into a turn at a speed more than twice his age.