Milton Magazine - Milton Academy

Class Notes1933Francis Harrington Brookspassed away on March 15, 2008,at the age of 93. Husband toPamela; father to Christina,Laura and Holly; and grandfatherto Arin and Brenden, Franciswas an avid outdoorsman wholoved skiing, sailing, playingtennis and hiking. His manyadventures included sailingacross the Atlantic to the Azoreson a friend’s yacht, a trip to theAmazon, bicycling in Ireland,and horseback riding in Spain.Francis was a tireless storytellerand active in both the WestonForest and Trail Association andthe Weston Housing Committee.He was a dependable, thoughtful,friendly and dignified manwith legendary good looks. Hehad a twinkle in his eye andloved sharing a good laugh.1951Joanna Fischer writes, “I havejust published a small book entitledBest Foot Forward. It is thestory of Jon and Vivian Williamsand the series of cotillions theycreated first at the BroadmoorHotel and then eventually in51 cities across the country. Indoing so, they met many famouspeople, including Ava Gardner,Elizabeth Arden, Claire BoothLuce, the famous Hildegarde,Jack Benny and Edgar Bergen,among others. Small worlddepartment: Although Jon andVivian have passed, their sonJon Williams is based in Denver,Colorado, and conducts aWilliams Cotillion at the MiltonHoosic Club!”Rebecca Faxon Knowles reports,“There are two Faxon siblingsremaining: sister Sally, six and ahalf years my junior, and me. Welost Blue, two years behind usat Milton, to breast cancer, andour baby brother, Bob, to braincancer last year. ‘Ma Fax’ held onuntil the ripe old age of 89 withall her marbles intact. She hadbeen a widow for many years.“With my husband, Bob, wehave seven combined children,16 grandchildren and twin greatgrandsons.We love Naples! Wedon’t miss ice, snow, slush orany of that dreary, wintery stuff.After two new hips and one newknee, I am back on the tenniscourts three times per week,including play in an inter-clubleague. You can also find mebasking by the pool, walking thebeach, enjoying fabulous NaplesPhilharmonic and teaching ESLto a darling woman originallyfrom Costa Rica.”Bickley Flower Simpson says, “Iam living in South Miami nearthe University of Miami and itsmarvelous music school andFairchild Tropical Garden, whereI spend time watching butterflies.I have three granddaughtershere and I enjoy babysitting,although that term is hardlyaccurate. The rest of my days arein the Dependency Court, workingwith a nonprofit that supportsresearch and reform. Twomore grandsons are in New YorkCity where my M.D. daughteris head of the Anxiety DisordersClinic at Columbia University.Two adopted siblings are in SanFrancisco, where my engineeringdaughter is working forVerigy. They are all nice placesto visit, and I get to see them allfrequently.”1952Emery Bradley Goff writes,“Sorry I missed our 55th—I willtry to make the 60th! I havehad a difficult spring; I’ve beenlame and aching since January,and the consensus is almost inon Lyme disease. Symptomsare atypical, so it’s been a realpuzzle. I’m still hoping to beFrancis Harrington Brooks ’33—a family man, outdoorsman and adventurer—passed away on March 15, 2008. As described by his family, “He was a dependable,thoughtful, friendly and dignified man with legendary good looks. He hada twinkle in his eye and loved sharing a good laugh.”active in the antiques businessthis summer, and DorothyNewbegin Davis and I are stilltrying to get together! Husband,kids and fabulous grandkidsare all blooming, and so are mygardens without much help fromme. Miss you all.”1953Frederick A.O. Schwarz Jr. cowroteUnchecked and Unbalanced:Presidential Power in a Time ofTerror.1954This past August, David Ehrlichand his wife, Barbara, traveledto western Montana for a familycelebration, stopping en routein Salt Lake and Yellowstone.On the way east, David droveacross North Dakota heading forMinneapolis, where he enjoyedthree magnificent days with KitBingham and his wife, Carolyn.Kit has just completed the fiveyearprocess of fully retiringfrom his Statistics professorshipat the University of Minnesota,where he’s been the past 36years.Milton Magazine 83