AndoverMagSpring2015

stay connected...Members of the “Boston Group” of the PA Class of ’48 met for a lunch at the Stage NeckInn in York, Maine, along with former head of school Barbara Landis Chase and husbandDavid Chase. From left, Brad Wellman, Roger McLean, Norm Henderson,Barbara Landis Chase, Allen West, John Bloom, David Chase, and Bob Segal.In 2014, on a family trip to Japan, Fred Fenton ’53 and daughterin-lawSanae Nagamatsu posed beside a bronze statue of Buddhain Nara.195065th REUNIONJune 11–14, 2015ABBOTNora Johnson1619 Third Ave., Apt. 13GNew York NY 10128212-289-2097noraj31@gmail.comPHILLIPSEric B. Wentworth2126 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Apt. 32Washington DC 20008202-328-0453ebw@bellatlantic.netWhile some of us were just starting to massagethose creaky joints to prepare for our 65thReunion under Andover’s “big tent” June 11–14,two members of our class enjoyed a little reunionof their own, months ahead of time and manymiles from the Hill.When George Beatty and his wife, Noelle ’50,moved to Denver last fall to be closer to theirdaughter, Julia, and her family, George made asurprise phone call to a longtime Denver denizen,classmate Chris Weatherley-White. Both Chrisand George had been English-Speaking Unionexchange students back in the day: Chris cameto PA our senior year from Harrow, then Georgespent the following year in England, at CliftonCollege in Bristol.“We had a marvelous dinner together,” Chrisreported, “and, as you can imagine, had a lot tocatch up on after 65 years! The conversationranged from the immense challenge of arguinga case before the Supreme Court (George,obviously!), writing a novel (George too), mutualexperiences with Noelle’s father, Alan Blackmer,and much else.” Chris said he and George wereboth looking forward to our June reunion, whichchairman Tony Herrey has been organizing formonths with notable zeal.As for his own activities, Chris continued, “I amstill very involved with Operation Smile and go onthree or four missions a year. Not doing primarysurgery—I have seen too many surgeons tryingto operate beyond their ‘sell-by’ date—but a lot ofmentoring younger surgeons, quality assurance,and heavy involvement in research. In fact, I am atpresent setting up a pretty major cleft palate studyin India, which will take me there two or threetimes next year.” Chris said his three children aredoing well in their various fields, from investmentbanking to state government, and he hasfive grandchildren, ages 4 to 22. “No complaints,and anticipating seeing many old friends at thereunion,” he added.Skip Schaum reported he had agreed to takethe helm of a new enterprise, International GatewayGroup, which will bring Internet services toremote and rural areas of Latin America, Africa,the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Its satellitetransmitting antennas will provide educationalprogramming as well as two-way videoconferencing,linking rural hospitals and clinics overseaswith medical facilities in the United States. “I guessthat I can’t sit idly by and watch the world turn,”Skip confessed. “I have a compulsion to ‘get intothe game.’ ”Andy Hall, with his wife, Felicia, and daughter,Cicely, spent three weeks in India this past year.“The three of us found India to be fascinating butelusive, beautiful yet polluted, charming and at thesame time uncaring for many of its own people,”Andy wrote.Last fall, Bruce Kaiser reported, “I traveled for35 days in Jordan, Israel, Venice, Trieste, Slovenia,Croatia, and Montenegro, ending with five daysin Paris to visit friends with whom I had donebusiness. The cultures, history, sights, and peoplein Jordan and Israel are interesting and complicated—nothingis simple—but I always felt safeand found the people to be friendly and open insharing ideas. Slovenia is particularly beautiful, andthe pace there and in Croatia and Montenegro ismuch more relaxed—and the Adriatic’s water is soclean along the whole coast.”This spring, before our reunion, Tom Keefeand his wife, Susan, spent a month in Florence,where Tom was looking forward to taking half-dayItalian lessons for four weeks. “I’ve been taking lessonsat Rice University for the past 10 years,” Tomexplained, “but I think a little bit of total immersionwill be a good addition to that.”Then, right after our reunion wraps up,Will Watson and his wife, Myra, are set to fly toVenice for a 10-day cruise along the Dalmatiancoast to Athens, examining, he says, “the variousGreek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian footprintsalong the way.” The cruise will be led by Dan Weiss,art historian and current president of Will’s almamater, Haverford College.Not all of our classmates, by any means, havebecome globetrotters. Take Skip Weymouth, whofound himself a fulfilling role close to home inGrand Rapids, Mich., with “Musical Memories,”his own sing-along program. “Eighteen years andover 1,500 performances has been a wonderfulway for me to spend my retirement,” Skip wrote inthe 36th and final issue of the program’s newsletter,which he sent me. Toting his keyboard, microphone,and large-print song books, Skip has beenbrightening the lives of people in nearby retirementcommunities, assisted living facilities, memorycare units, nursing homes, veterans’ homes, seniorcenters, senior apartments, and anywhere elseseniors gather.For many years, Manny d’Amonville, at 8672 Andover | Spring 2015