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Class Notes
1952–1955
was the first player to use my father’s
locker in our new Kamine Varsity
House. Lafayette players’ lockers are
still available for purchase.
Your correspondent, “Le Bruisier,”
is retiring from the Leopard Luncheon
of our Philadelphia Alumni Chapter
after 22 years and some 110 luncheons,
passing the torch to two youngsters:
Andy Starfield ’04 and Bill Casey ’85.
Our ’52 loss: Henry Bangser at 80,
a loyal, contributing Leopard, passed
on June 14. Hank was an economics
and business major and a brother of
Pi Lam. He and his wife, Rita, gave us
a Leopard, Cary Bangser Scottoline
’76, a son, Robert, and four grands.
Henry was an active, caring, concerned
volunteer for many charities, including
Lafayette in his generosity. He will be
sorely missed.
Finally, Bill Simon lives on.
I recently uncovered a Simon classic
in Bill’s inimitable handwriting:
Miniver Cheever, child of scorn,
Cursed the day that he was born.
Clearly, Bill paid attention in his
English classes at both Blair Academy in
Blairstown, N.J., and Lafayette. Thanks
for the memories, Sir William. Aloha.
Go ’Pards!
1953
Leon H. Fox Jr.
6 Firethorne Circle
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444-2405
foxls@msn.com
President: Alan FitzGibbon
Fund Manager: George E. Patton Jr.
Reunion Chair: H. David Moore Jr.
George Patton reports that our class had
68 donors as of April; however,
a 56 percent increase in total giving
raised $73,172 for the Annual Fund.
George also received a nice letter from
our scholarship recipient, Bryan C.
Hendrickson ’10, whose grandfather
is Art Hendrickson ’51. Bryan reports
that he has been redesigning Metzgar
Fields. Also, the David Peach Project
proposal that he and friends submitted
was accepted, so they will travel to
Bogota, Columbia, to conduct a camp for
impoverished children. The Class of 1953
Scholarship had one recipient, and the
grant amount was $2,959. The book
value of the scholarship is $25,009.67,
and the market value is $41,224.65.
Art Whitaker is now with Wells
Fargo Financial and is active in politics
as well.
John Wilson* reports that he and
Jean retired in 1987. He spent 32 years
with New York Life Insurance Co.,
10 years in Trenton, N.J., and 22
commuting from Bucks County, Pa.,
to New York City. He retired as a vice
president. His dad, Bill Wilson ’24,
was also with the company. In 2000,
John and Jean moved to Pennswood, a
Quaker-managed life care community in
Newtown, Pa. John reports that two of
his three sons graduated from Lafayette
(David ’81 and Steven ’82); all three
have done very well in their careers.
He and Jean have eight grandchildren.
Our sincere condolences to the
family of Thomas A. Behney, who
died June 26. Tom was active in the
Lebanon (Pa.) Bar Association and
for many years was assistant attorney
general for Pennsylvania.
We extend our sympathy to the
family of M. Edgar Rosenblum, who
died April 18. He was an arts executive
who nurtured Long Wharf Theatre in
New Haven, Conn., into one of the
most prominent regional theaters. He
is survived by his wife, Cornelia, and
daughter, Jessica.
On April 22, Lois and I attended
the 139th Annual Philadelphia Chapter
Dinner, featuring President Daniel H.
Weiss. It was wonderful seeing Betsy
and Al Rhodes. After a yearlong illness,
Al is doing well.
Editors Note: John Wilson passed away
Oct. 1 just prior to press time. An
obituary will be published in the next
class column.
1954
John A. Ferrante
4 Del Mesa Carmel
Carmel, CA 93923
irenaferr@aol.com
President: Ronald E. Philipp
Fund Manager: Robert Aiello
Barbara and Ron Philipp sent a note
about Bryan C. Hendrickson ’10,
a recipient of the Class of 1954
scholarship. Brian works near Trenton,
N.J. He and his brother share an
apartment and develop and market
web sites. They teamed up with an
artist to renovate an old warehouse
for use by artists, inventors, and other
creative people.
Thomas Arcorace, 77, of Easton,
died Nov. 27, 2008, in New Eastwood,
Wilson Borough, Pa. Tom, an English
major, was an attorney in private
practice in Easton for many years.
He was a member of St. Anthony of
Padua Catholic Church. His cousins
survive him.
Jay F. Bitting died May 12 at
his home in Chatham, N.J. He was
a member of Chi Phi. Jay worked on
The Marquis in his junior and senior years
and played freshman baseball. He retired
from J.P. Morgan as a vice president.
One of Jay’s joys was attending New
York Giants baseball games. His loving
companion, Marilyn Lyn Mackie, and
his children, Leslie, Carol, Pamela, and
Nicholas, survive him. His first wife,
Joan, predeceased him.
Richard Van Ommeren, 77, of
Macungie, Pa., died June 11. He
was the husband of Gayla for 43 years.
Richard graduated in economics and
was active in the Soles Hall programs
and Brainerd Student Union. He was
a certified public accountant in Perkasie,
N.J., and for 26 years was an officer and
partner of the general contracting firm,
Penn Builders Inc. of Quakertown, Pa.,
before retiring in 1995. He was a
member of First Presbyterian Church,
Allentown, Pa. Richard’s survivors
include his wife, son David, and several
grandchildren.
1955
John W. Gilbert Jr.
12 W. Edinburgh Road
Ocean City, NJ 08226-4618
(609) 399-3109
pards55@comcast.net
President: Ralph O. Doederlein Sr.
Fund Managers: Thomas F. McGrail,
Mark B. Weisburger
Reunion Chair: Ralph O. Doederlein Sr.
I attended reunion; 25 class members
showed up. The College said it was a
good turnout, coming as it did after
our 50th. Art Rothkopf gave an
informative talk at the class dinner
Saturday night. As senior vice president
of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, he
was able to give us an insider view of
Washington, D.C. He retired in July.
82 lafayette • FALL 2010 For full version and photos, see Lafayette Magazine online – http://magazine.lafayette.edu