A Passion for Science - Columbia College - Columbia University

CLASS NOTES Columbia CollEgE Today
Kluge ’37, will release the $150,000,
allowing us to fund a class scholarship,
which we would like to name
the alan M. Miller Scholarship
Matching Fund. It is urgent, if you
are so inclined, to both honor Alan’s
memory and add to our class’
support of Columbia scholarships,
that you make the largest contribution
you can for this worthwhile
program. You can mail a check to
Columbia College Fund, Columbia
Alumni Center, 622 W. 113th St.,
MC 4530, 3rd Fl., New York, NY
10025, or give online at college.
columbia.edu/giveonline. I thank
you for your participation.
I am again asking all class members
who want to keep in touch to
update their e-mail addresses by
contacting lou hemmerdinger, our
class correspondent: lhemmer@aol.
com. This seems to be the best way
to stay in touch with the majority of
our class members. Please keep in
contact with Columbia in whatever
ways you feel appropriate, as I
believe that it has been a force and
power in our lives.
If you have news to share, please
e-mail me at tball8000@earthlink.
net, and I will make sure it gets in a
future Class Notes.
Wishing that the next few months
are as exciting in your lives as they
are to the graduating Class of 2011.
57
herman levy
7322 Rockford Dr.
Falls Church, VA 22043
hdlleditor@aol.com
John “sparky” breeskin: “I have
good news to pass along to you.
roy wolff is out of the hospital
(see November/December) and
slowly recovering at home. Because
we have the kind of relationship
that we do, I asked him how his
perspective has changed as a result
of his stroke. He quickly replied
that now he appreciates being out
of the rehab hospital and being able
to sit in the sun in his own house
with his angelic partner, Monique,
by his side.
“I hasten to add that what has
happened to him has not impaired
his colorful speech.”
Sparky then provided some reminisces
of his days at alma mater: “I
find that after more than two score
and 10 years, certain impressions
are indelibly imprinted into my
memory, and I would like to share
them with you as one person’s perception
of an experience we all have
in common.
“First, among the faculty, how can
I go wrong by nominating Dustin
Rice (‘C- Rice’) at the head of the
queue? James Shenton ’49, of course,
follows, with Ralph Hefferline and
the inestimable Fred Keller among
this company. This list could never
be complete without Lou Little, who
will always be ‘my coach.’
“alan gottdenker and roy
wolff stand at the front of the line.
Their deep and abiding love for
me is something that is always
with me.
“In somewhat alphabetical order,
pasquale caputo shared his
great love of opera with me. charlie
catania was my always helpful
rat lab partner. claude benham
struck me with the noble way he
carried himself. roy altman’s
charming smile will always shine
in my memory. ted dwyer was
my roommate during our freshman
year, and I had the great pleasure
of introducing him to some of
my favorite places in NYC.
“dick Eberl inspired me with his
courage. billy friedman delighted
me with his creative mischief. sherril
fischer was a rewarding part
of my AFROTC experience, and
stan luftschein was grace under
pressure. harry Marks and I were
not close, but I always admired
the quiet way in which he carried
himself. I will always remember
Murray May’s infectious laugh. I
am proud to call John wellington
my friend; we dressed for football
in adjoining lockers and that is all
that it took for us to find each other.
I looked up to art wilson for his
values, and I totally understand
why he was chosen as captain of
our football team.
“Now the inescapable question
is, what do all of these classmates
have in common? I will call the
entity a ‘largeness of spirit.’ The
demonstrated details are, of course,
completely idiosyncratic, but to me,
the similarities are compelling.”
Mac gimse: “Thank you for
your thoughtful mail containing
the article on Mr. Chris Sharp (The
Washington Post, January 16) and
his project to cast 19 statues of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. I am happy
to see a sculptor devoted to such
a worthy cause and admire his
commitment to the Civil Rights
Movement.
“I have written about Dr. King
and cast a sculpture to honor his
work, although it is a very different
style, showing the brutality of racism.
It has been called, ‘Not suitable
for children to view,’ and I agree.
Mr. Sharp’s project is a focus on
King and his cause. I appreciate his
work.”
Mac continues from the previous
CCT on his New York exhibit
(November) at KGB Gallery:
“Joe diamond appeared later,
and it was the occasion for the only
photo of the day. We are looking at
Bearing The Burden Of Peace, created
for David Trimble and John Hume
of Northern Ireland, co-laureates
for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998.
The bronze sculpture was pre-
MAY/JUNE 2011
50
sented to them in March 2000 at St.
Olaf College in Minnesota.
“It was inspiring to bridge the
years with ’57 classmates to our
time of passing between Butler
Library and Hamilton Hall. Our
discourse moved from current
events to great issues in philosophy
and history with the help of
impromptu lectures by Professor
Bernard Wishy ’48, ’58 GSAS, class
valedictorian. We had Erich gruen
and a host of bright and willing
young minds ready to debate any
issue. It was somewhere on the
quad that I lost my intellectual
innocence. The magic of Columbia
was to bring everything into question.
I am grateful.”
carlos Muñoz: “Just received
CCT, and it reminded me that,
while I was in California preparing
to take our grandchildren on
a cruise, I missed the regular ’57
lunch by two days. I had lunch with
John taussig. gene wagner was
to join us, but the horrendous rains
in December blocked roads and
prevented his trip. We survived the
rains and had a delightful cruise to
Mexico with our family group of 12,
including six grandchildren.
“The cruise left from the Port of
Los Angeles December 26, comprising
eight days to Cabo San Lucas,
Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.
The ship included a full basketball
and soccer court for the four teenage
boys (who almost beat the
ship’s crew team in soccer), an ice
skating rink and a climbing wall,
and the kids kayaked in Cabo,
parasailed in Mazatlan and swam
with dolphins in Puerto Vallarta.”
Martin brothers: “At this first
classmates’ conversation of its
kind, held at the Columbia Alumni
Center on March 3, 14 of us were
present (including our Alumni
Office liaison, Paul Staller, director
of class giving): bob lipsyte,
sal franchino, stanley barnett,
paul Zola, art Meyerson, Martin
brothers, Joseph diamond, carlos
Muñoz, robert Klipstein, Mark
stanton, al fierro, david Kinne
and Joseph feldschuh.
“Twelve others would have attended
if they were not out of town
or obliged to attend to compelling
personal matters: alvin Kass, alan
rosen, Jonathan lubin, steve
ronai, phil olick, Edward weinstein,
Marty fisher, alan brown,
Mike lipper, bob flescher, larry
boes and Ken bodenstein.
“The conference room at the
Center was commodious enough to
seat 22 on comfortable leather chairs
around a substantial oblong conference
table equipped with audiovisual
adaptors, with an adjoining
kitchen where coffee had been
prepared by the staff and a refrigerator
where we chilled wine that
was served over lunch delivered
by Nussbaum & Wu, a nearby deli.
Although not on the level of the
culinary or ambient splendor of The
University Club, the situation was
cozy, informal and made for easy
communication among all present.
“bob lipsyte moderated the
conversation, which went on for
about two hours and might have
lasted longer. Not only was he engaging
but also he was interesting,
amusing, candid, controversial and
personable, and everyone present
had something to say that all others
heard and found interesting. He
had stories to tell and anecdotes
that were at times surprising and
moving, regarding his own life and
the lives of celebrities, mentors and
others who had impressed him.
“I hope he’ll return for an
encore. Here’s an idea for you,
Bob. Why not collar some athlete
or journalist you’ve known and
interview him or her on or off
the record, where we could ask
questions and make comments
during or after your interview?
It wouldn’t have to be someone
famous: say, a boxer or a baseball
or football or tennis player. Surely,
Pete Rose would be interesting, but
a lesser known or even unknown
player with a story of interest
might do as well or better. Please
give this some thought.
“The prospect of organizing a
similar luncheon is one that any one
or more of you can do, either individually
or as a team, whether the
luncheon centers around a theme,
topic or moderator, or you aim at a
get-together without more, a causerie,
chat or symposium. Any format
of interest might work, and the
resources of the University in the
City of New York offer too many
possibilities to list here.
“I’d be happy for your input on
the luncheon we had and would
organize another if enough of you
wish, but would be just as pleased
(if not more pleased) to defer to or
assist anyone else who has an idea
for a project.
“My impression is that at our
age the collective knowledge, experience
and wisdom around the
table was remarkable if not daunting
and should make for many
more interesting conversations
where we can feel connected and
involved in the event.
“Listen, there were guys there
who have a great deal they could
say to engage us for hours. Frankly,
any one of us could, if we wanted,
delve into our own lives for material
that might interest others. Quick
examples: art Meyerson (psychiatry),
paul Zola (psychology), david
Kinne (medicine) and stan barnett
(scientist, engineer), among others,
all others in fact.
“So, if this was something that
you enjoyed, let us all know and