Class Notes PDF - Lafayette Magazine - Lafayette College

1961 Douglas A. Hobby29 Rowan RoadChatham, NJ 07928-2210doug_hobby@hotmail.comPresident: Joseph C. NyceFund Manager: Ronald E. GeeseyReunion Chair: James S. SorrentinoWeb Page Administrator:John A. HarobinClass President Joe Nyce offered thesewords about the 50th reunion: “Thereis something comforting about beingwith a group of people who function onthe basis of wisdom instead ofambition.”Dalton Marks indicated he hadmany good friends among his fraternitybrothers but recognizes now thatfraternity life deterred him from gettingto know other classmates. From hisreunion experiences, he remarked, “Irealize now how much I missed. Wereally have many interesting andwonderful guys in our class.”Much of the reunion’s success goesto the planning committee, headed byEd Auble. Class agents representingfraternities and social dorms also helped.One of the best reunion showings everat Lafayette, the event was attended by82 classmates (150 in total, with spousesand others included).Bill Remaly did a great jobarranging the Thursday dinner atDeLorenzo’s in Forks Township; 30attended. Doug Hobby sat with theDU golfers (Bob Howard, Ben Sack,Lew Gill, and Tom Heist) and toldthem they were the heavy favorites atthe class golf outing. Though Dougthreatened to handicap them, they wonthe low score by a wide margin.The class golf outing at Morgan HillGolf Club included 21 golfers. JohnCunningham had the longest drive,and Hugh Richardson and Lew Gillwon closest to the pin contests. Secondplace went to the team captained by EdBaumgardner, which included his wifeTrudy, Nyce, and Richardson. Thoughthe class was unsure which team BobIves played on, he happily collectedprizes. Thanks to Neil Van Cleef forassisting with arrangements.Dick Webster did a wonderful jobwith the Class Memory Book.Class Notes1961All 150 attendees joined the reunionparade in light blue shirts and capsbehind the class banner, carried byDavid Thomsen. Bill Sibal marched inhis infamous straw hat.Many toured the College facilities.Pete Myers, who had not been backsince graduation, was most impressedwith the Bourger Varsity FootballHouse.At the Saturday dinner, Nyce’slighthearted discussion of the class’history and current role with theCollege set the tone for the evening.George Benson provided humorousremembrances of past days at Lafayette.Ron Geesey, class treasurer, reportedon the class gift, which is theestablishment of an internationalspeaker series.For the 50th reunion, overall givingwas $214,071 from 141 donors. Theamount given or pledged to the classgift was $145,167, and the total givento the unrestricted annual fund was$66,669. Other gifts assigned to theclass amounted to $2,235.The 141 donors represent 68.5% ofthe 206 solicited members of the class.Last year, participation was 49.5%, and$73,927 was given.Jim Sorrentino is the new reunionchair. Auble plans to stay active with theclass; he currently chairs the AlumniAssociation’s International Committee.The other class officers were reelected.The College now supports a 55threunion, but the officers hope toarrange get-togethers each year, one ofwhich will probably be at Homecoming.Ed Ahart ’69, chair of the Boardof Trustees, was the guest speaker. Hereviewed Lafayette’s ambitious strategicplan.Theta Xi fraternity held a reuniondinner Friday night at Pearly Baker’s inEaston for the Class of 1961 andadjoining classes. Twenty-three attended,including Joe Blakaitis, AndyCherrington, Roger Hunt, DavePhraner, Dan Schutter, Dick Toro,Myers, Webster, Hobby, Bob Haigh’60, Dave Saalfrank ’60, John Decker’62, Al Alvarez ’63, and Dan Tuck ’64.Schutter assembled the class pictures andnecrology posted at Kirby House.John Sutter looked forward toLafayette’s football game in earlySeptember against North Dakota Statein Fargo, S.D. He and wife Sandy liveonly 40 miles away in Lake Park, Minn.They were also anticipating the birth oftheir first grandchild in October. Sutterfound out at reunion that he andDietz’s wife, Jane, grew up in ForestHills, N.Y., and lived a few blocks fromeach other.The Phi Delts held a gatheringduring the weekend, which includedDale Adams, Fred Bailine, DaveBloys, Bill Buehler, Warren Eberlein,George Halak, and Cunningham.At the Thursday dinner, DaveDenzler mentioned he retired as aprofessor at San Jose State.Doug Hobby’s golf partners werePaul Ackerman, Alan Phillips, andRich Remaly. Phillips works full time inHouston as an executive vice presidentfor Sivco Inc., a high-alloy specialtyfabricator. Remaly is retired as CEO ofChase Pharmaceutical and lives inTucson, Ariz. He works as a seasonalforest ranger. Ackerman keeps busydoing home repair work.Webster said he received goodexercise advice from Ed Vitale. He alsogot to see Jim “Stinger” Westkott, whomade a brief appearance at reunionSaturday.Peter Hanson, the tallest memberof the class, stood out at the parade.He was with wife Karen, whom hemarried in 2005. His first wife, Sue,died tragically in 1990, along with hermother, in a plane crash in Costa Rica.Peter has three children and sevengrandchildren.Denis Gordon works as an attorney,specializing in labor arbitration. Hereceived his law degree from Universityof Pennsylvania and worked with theDepartment of Justice before enteringprivate practice.Pierre Pelanne saw a few of his SAEbrothers at reunion. He and wife Peggy,both retired, live in Williamsburg, Va.Pierre had a long, successful career withthe United Nations and lived inConnecticut. The Pelannes have twosons, who are doing well in business.Gary Ludlow died peacefully athome in April from cancer. He livedin Bath, Ohio. His wife of 48 years,Martha, two daughters, and fourgrandchildren survive him. Ludlowwas born in Bernardsville, N.J., andwas a high school national championsharpshooter with a .22-caliber rifle. Hestudied economics and was a member of88 lafayette • FALL 2011 For full version and photos, see – http://community.lafayette.edu