April 2012 - Alumni News - Williams College

Emily. Fervent hopes were
expressed that they can be with
us in person next year.” Dick
Wells provided an addendum to
Wally’s report by writing from
Vero Beach, Fla., that the decision
was made to schedule this
fall’s minireunion the weekend
of the Trinity game, Sept. 28-29.
“We will once again ‘reune’ with
1950 at the Taconic Golf Club
for a buffet dinner. The following
night, after celebrating our victory
over Trinity, we shall dine
at Mezze Bistro again, which is
the former Le Jardin restaurant.
El Presidente Charlie Jarrett will
advise the class where housing
has been arranged for the
weekend. I am still swinging the
golf clubs, a few more times than
previous years. Just received my
year-end handicap and noted that
I had played 118 rounds in 2011.
Get to play every week with Bob
Kingsbury ’58 both here in Vero
Beach and in Williamstown.
Vero Beach is sometimes referred
to as ‘Williamstown South.’
Chet Lasell ’58 runs the alumni
group of about 35 here, and
there are quite a few affairs
held with college speakers. The
Williams Reunion Jazz Band was
scheduled to play at the Indian
River Club in Vero Beach March
20, and the alums planned to
host the Williams golf team the
following week for rounds of
golf at three courses with lunch
to follow at the Bent Pines Golf
Club.” At that point, our golfcentric
classmate signed off with
the admonition that he didn’t
want to spoil your humble correspondent
with too much news
all at once.
Alec Clement notes, “Things
are in pretty good shape healthwise.
Had wonderful time at the
Octet reunion in Williamstown—
audience was terrific, and mixing
with the younger crowd was a
treat. Video of the performance
is available. Made our annual
stop on the way home at the
Davenport Maple Farm on the
Mohawk Trail to pick up my gallon
of maple syrup. In October
Jack Hornor ’51 provided a wonderful
lieder recital at his new
digs at Brookhaven in Lexington,
Mass., and dividends were realized
in seeing some additional
old friends there. Christmas
dinner was pleasant—both my
boys and the grandchildren
joined the festive board. My
daughter and my Episcopal priest
son-in-law were tied down in
Alexandria, Va., with his church
schedule, but we hope[d] to see
them early in 2012. Carolyn and
I wish all our Williams friends
the best for this new year.”
A short report from Dr. Joe
Takamine in LA strikes a positive
note, although he did close his
medical office last year after 52
years of practice: “I’m not retired
but enjoying life. Had an 87th
birthday Dec. 6. Am blessed with
good health and truly grateful
for every day. 2012 should be
an interesting year. Blessings to
everyone.”
Jim Geer: “I don’t know where
the years go. … It seems like just
yesterday in 1974 when we were
celebrating our 25th reunion at
Williams the same time that my
father Joseph White Geer ’14,
was celebrating his 60th. Now,
in 2012, it is almost three years
after we celebrated ’49’s 60th
reunion. Even though 63 years
and over 1,000 miles separate
us from Williams, it is still very
much a part of our life. Our
daughter Suzanne Delight Geer
’07 was home for Christmas with
us on Boca Grande in Florida.
The day after Christmas, the
daughter of Hank Estabrook, Liz
Hatfield, and her husband Bob
were nice enough to spend the
evening with us. Each Thursday
on Boca Grande I have lunch
with a group that includes Bill
Snare ’51 and Joe Albertson
’54. Lucy and Jim Stanton ’40
live right next to Our Lady of
Mercy Catholic Church on Boca,
which we attend, and we often
see Lee Comfort ’66 at church.
Dr. Thom Ervin ’68 is also an
island resident. The parents of
Stephen Christakos ’77 and John
Christakos ’87 live just across
the street from us, and their
grandson Jack Sessler ’07 was
in my daughter Suzanne’s class
at Williams. For a very small,
seven-mile-long island in Florida,
Williams College is very well
represented.”
In a separate update, Wally
Barnes sent along interesting
bio notes about a friend from
the Class of ’47 that probably
belongs in their Williams People
column. But it’s worth including
here: “Barbara and I spent
a week over New Year’s at
Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass.,
exercising, eating less and sleeping
more. Great way to get back
on the right track healthwise.
Missed seeing him this time, but
Bob Mills ’47 is a legend in his
own time here, where at 88 years
young he is the oldest (by far)
full-time outdoor guide. He leads
parties on snowshoe and cross
ski trips and hikes up Berkshire
trails including the challenging
n 1946–49
Roaring Brook Trial up Mount
Greylock. I can personally testify
that the pace he sets is challenging,
and often people 60 years
his junior lag behind. Following
25 years at General Electric,
he retired to become a ski
instructor at Butternut Basin in
Great Barrington, Mass., before
moving to Canyon Ranch. An
article about Bob in the Pittsfield
Berkshire Eagle a few years ago,
headlined ‘Leading an Ageless
Lifestyle,’ reads, ‘He enjoys his
Canyon Ranch job very much,
and the resort’s fully equipped
exercise room offers a vast array
of equipment he can use. Because
he gets considerable lower body
exercise on the job, hiking several
miles a day, Mills concentrates
on machines and free weights for
upper body workouts three times
a week.’ The article adds, ‘Mills
is often asked by clients about
his trim physical condition. He
says that keeping involved and
physically and mentally active
helps him stay healthy.’” Wally’s
closing comment: “He’s an inspiration
and great role model to
geezers, teenagers and all those in
between.”
Giles Kelly writes that he
expects publication this April of
a coffee table-type book called
The Diplomatic Gardens of
Washington, which he and his
wife Ann Sevens created over
a three-year period for Schiffer
Books. The book features Ann’s
photographs. (Giles’ news nicely
coincides with publication of this
issue of Williams People, and is
being hyped solely at the discretion
of your class secretary.)
That’s the good news. The bad
news is that Giles “jumped ship”
onto a dock last November and
messed up his ankle. Since then
he has been trying to get rid of
the limp that is spoiling his image
and canceling his tennis. He also
commented that during the last
Christmas season he was “pleasantly
surprised at how fast his
five grandchildren have grown
into interesting adults.”
Ed Maynard adds, “It’s been a
busy year celebrating the bicentennial
of the Massachusetts
General Hospital. I was given
a pin recognizing 55 years on
the staff and even had a video
interview. Truly a great place to
work for so long. And Harvard
hasn’t made me emeritus yet,
so I’m about to start another
semester of teaching. At 85, my
only complaint is being unable
to reach those drop shots on the
tennis court.”
aPril 2012 | Williams PeoPle | 13