MARCH APRIL 2017
Class Notes March/April 2017
Two more entries in the freshman prom alliances that led to marriage. Herc Segalas and prom date Peggy Whorton have been “going steady” for years having attended both the dance celebration of both the class of 1955 event as guests and then ours. While marveling at that historical happening, I was blown away by a note from Emil (Hatch) Liebewein who informed me that his prom partner Deborah Mathes and he were married in 2005 after both of them survived the passing of their first spouse. That makes five freshman promenaders united by marriage Ed Renner, Pete Allee, David O’Brasky, Herc Segalas and Hatch Liebewein. Under the banner of enduring love, I hope they and their lovely mates will lead the attendance at our 65th reunion.
I received the following widower advisory from Raleigh (Mouse) Coffin. “Sadly my wife Phyllis of 54 years died July 14th from advanced Alzheimer’s. This so impacted our family emotionally, physically and financially that I am completing a book about our bout with Alzheimer’s entitled “Phyllis: A Wonderful Life Forgotten”. Hopefully none of our classmates will have need to read it, but should they ever be faced with this challenge, they may learn something from my own experience and suggestions.”
Some notes from classmates gratefully contributing their class dues: Jonathan Fleming in retirement and along with his wife pursuing their current almost daily walking project along the C&O Canal from tidewater DC to Seneca……Ralph Smith, a US Magistrate Judge who retired from the bench to enjoy Cape Cod playing pickleball, volleyball and sailing on his 18 foot day sailer (Ralph was recently visited by his Sillimanroommate Jim Donn)….and last but by no means least Ivan Phillips who is a “regular” at Ken Liebman’s monthly and entertaining NYC Yale Club lunches reserved for the class of 1956.
I’ve been informed of six more classmate deaths. On October 27, Peter Traphagen passed away peacefully at his home in Erie, PA. A former owner of two companies, Custom Engineering and Hanley Post Supply, Peter was a lifelong sailor who traveled the The Great Lakes extensively and received the Great Lakes Cruising Award. A piano player and lover of Jazz which he shared both with his friends by hosting many memorable Jazz parties.
Stephen Blodgett Jr died November 9 in Middlebury Vermont. Following his military service, he worked as a security analyst for Morgan Bank. Four years later, after consulting with Cornell Agriculture School about the best place to grow apples, he moved to Vermont and developed a large commercial orchard in Shoreham known as “Sentinel Pine” on banks of beautiful Lake Champlain. From there his prime Macintosh apples were delivered across the US and England. An accomplished pilot, fisherman, bird hunter and gardener, Stephen is survived by five children and eight grandchildren.
Dr Arnold Case died November 1 in Hartford, Connecticut. He completed his Internship at DC General and Residency at Rochester General. Arnold was a highly regarded gynecologist who trained many physicians in Laparoscopic surgery and Community based outpatient care for women. He also trained nurse practitioners in gynecology and was instrumental in helping then obtain autonomy as medical providers. Near the end of his career, multiple sclerosis may have robbed him of his physical strength and intellect, but it was reported he never lost his sense of humor, his ability to sing, or his charm. He is survived by his wife Ann and three daughters.
Thanks to Jack Flobeck I was informed that George Darmstaedter Jr died peacefully in his sleep October 18 in Pittsfeld Illinois. George played one year on our Yale football team, went on to sell astroturf to athletic venues and worked as a sales rep for Monsanto. He is survived by his brother Bill. William Wurster died December 21 in West Bend Wisconsin. He played on our Yale football Team, stayed in New Haven to earn a Master’s Degree in Education and later taught history and economics at Menomonee Falls North High School for 35 years. He is survived by his wife Deborah and three children.
Thanks to Joe Paquette, I learned of the relatively sudden death of Walter J Cantley, Jr who was diagnosed with lung cancer only two months before he died on December 27. After a near death experience while in the air force when he survived a midair collision, George returned to the Philadelphia area to join his family business Cantley and Co. a Major steel fabricator. He was an avid golfer as well as an active card player which hobby he proudly admitted he developed at Yale. He is survived by his wife Joan, two sons and a slew of both grand and great grandchildren.
Finally, Breaking News! Thanks to the efforts of our newly appointed class Webmaster Bill Rees, we have a signed contract with a professional website manager who will be creating a new website for the class. Stay tuned for Further developments including guidance on how access the site.
More to come.
Two more entries in the freshman prom alliances that led to marriage. Herc Segalas and prom date Peggy Whorton have been “going steady” for years having attended both the dance celebration of both the class of 1955 event as guests and then ours. While marveling at that historical happening, I was blown away by a note from Emil (Hatch) Liebewein who informed me that his prom partner Deborah Mathes and he were married in 2005 after both of them survived the passing of their first spouse. That makes five freshman promenaders united by marriage Ed Renner, Pete Allee, David O’Brasky, Herc Segalas and Hatch Liebewein. Under the banner of enduring love, I hope they and their lovely mates will lead the attendance at our 65th reunion.
I received the following widower advisory from Raleigh (Mouse) Coffin. “Sadly my wife Phyllis of 54 years died July 14th from advanced Alzheimer’s. This so impacted our family emotionally, physically and financially that I am completing a book about our bout with Alzheimer’s entitled “Phyllis: A Wonderful Life Forgotten”. Hopefully none of our classmates will have need to read it, but should they ever be faced with this challenge, they may learn something from my own experience and suggestions.”
Some notes from classmates gratefully contributing their class dues: Jonathan Fleming in retirement and along with his wife pursuing their current almost daily walking project along the C&O Canal from tidewater DC to Seneca……Ralph Smith, a US Magistrate Judge who retired from the bench to enjoy Cape Cod playing pickleball, volleyball and sailing on his 18 foot day sailer (Ralph was recently visited by his Sillimanroommate Jim Donn)….and last but by no means least Ivan Phillips who is a “regular” at Ken Liebman’s monthly and entertaining NYC Yale Club lunches reserved for the class of 1956.
I’ve been informed of six more classmate deaths. On October 27, Peter Traphagen passed away peacefully at his home in Erie, PA. A former owner of two companies, Custom Engineering and Hanley Post Supply, Peter was a lifelong sailor who traveled the The Great Lakes extensively and received the Great Lakes Cruising Award. A piano player and lover of Jazz which he shared both with his friends by hosting many memorable Jazz parties.
Stephen Blodgett Jr died November 9 in Middlebury Vermont. Following his military service, he worked as a security analyst for Morgan Bank. Four years later, after consulting with Cornell Agriculture School about the best place to grow apples, he moved to Vermont and developed a large commercial orchard in Shoreham known as “Sentinel Pine” on banks of beautiful Lake Champlain. From there his prime Macintosh apples were delivered across the US and England. An accomplished pilot, fisherman, bird hunter and gardener, Stephen is survived by five children and eight grandchildren.
Dr Arnold Case died November 1 in Hartford, Connecticut. He completed his Internship at DC General and Residency at Rochester General. Arnold was a highly regarded gynecologist who trained many physicians in Laparoscopic surgery and Community based outpatient care for women. He also trained nurse practitioners in gynecology and was instrumental in helping then obtain autonomy as medical providers. Near the end of his career, multiple sclerosis may have robbed him of his physical strength and intellect, but it was reported he never lost his sense of humor, his ability to sing, or his charm. He is survived by his wife Ann and three daughters.
Thanks to Jack Flobeck I was informed that George Darmstaedter Jr died peacefully in his sleep October 18 in Pittsfeld Illinois. George played one year on our Yale football team, went on to sell astroturf to athletic venues and worked as a sales rep for Monsanto. He is survived by his brother Bill. William Wurster died December 21 in West Bend Wisconsin. He played on our Yale football Team, stayed in New Haven to earn a Master’s Degree in Education and later taught history and economics at Menomonee Falls North High School for 35 years. He is survived by his wife Deborah and three children.
Thanks to Joe Paquette, I learned of the relatively sudden death of Walter J Cantley, Jr who was diagnosed with lung cancer only two months before he died on December 27. After a near death experience while in the air force when he survived a midair collision, George returned to the Philadelphia area to join his family business Cantley and Co. a Major steel fabricator. He was an avid golfer as well as an active card player which hobby he proudly admitted he developed at Yale. He is survived by his wife Joan, two sons and a slew of both grand and great grandchildren.
Finally, Breaking News! Thanks to the efforts of our newly appointed class Webmaster Bill Rees, we have a signed contract with a professional website manager who will be creating a new website for the class. Stay tuned for Further developments including guidance on how access the site.
More to come.
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