From the March/April 2008 Issue

Claude Raymond has been living an action-packed life. He has five daughters, one son, and eleven grandchildren ranging in ages from 2 to 21. Contact Claude at 2396 Riverside Ter., Manasquan, N.J. 08736; (206) 999-2603; This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

From the November / December 2007 Issue

Paula Jespersen Diehl ’54 AM is still actively involved in the arts. She writes that she was honored to be selected as one of four composers for this year’s music improvisation event, SoundExchange 2007. The American Composers Forum in Philadelphia and Ars Nova Workshop had announced that the event represented distinctive stylistic schools of composition. Ten musicians were selected to perform the music prepared for the April 22 concert. Paula writes: “I selected seven, including—for the first time and with some trepidation—the use of electronic sound in her ensemble. It worked!” The venue was the Studio Theatre of Annenberg Center, Philadelphia.

From the September / October 2007 Issue

Class secretary Irene Margolis Backalenick reports: “The Class of ’47 met for its 60th reunion at the 2007 Commencement with a good number on hand to celebrate the event. Class luncheons were a time for recalling the past and sharing the present. Dinner was given over to further college reminiscences and an election of new officers presided over by class president June Miller Wilbur. With the new election, Irving Berstein and Gerald Tucci were named copresidents, Irene Margolis Backalenick secretary, and Elizabeth Reilly Socha and Joseph Dowling reunion cochairmen. The $101,000 class gift to the Brown Annual Fund was the second highest amount ever for a 60th anniversary class. Class members who could not attend the reunion shared their own post-college memories by mail.

“Class members enjoyed the forums and appreciated the baccalaureate ceremony highlighted by the deeply moving speech of Nobel Prize–winner Craig Mello ’82. The next day the ’47ers walked through the Van Wickle Gates with the procession, exuberantly saluted by onlookers. One of the oldest classes at the Commencement weekend, we were hailed, apparently, for having weathered the sixty years. Leading the class down the hill were class marshals Irving Berstein, June Miller Wilbur, and Natalie Brush Lewis. Also at the forefront were trustees Joyce Wetherald Fairchild and Joseph Dowling.

“Of the surviving class members (328 men and 90 women), these attended the reunion: Robert Abel, Irene Margolis Backalenick, Irving Berstein, Stanley P. Blacher, Edwin Bliss, Frances Richardson Brautigam, John F. Brown Jr., Hope Finley Boole, Doris Cooney Davis, Joseph Dowling, Joyce Wetherald Fairchild, Avis Goldstein Feldman, Anthony Flack, George Gordon, William Hoverman, Elizabeth Van Egmond Husung, William Kaplan, John Lawlor, Natalie Brush Lewis, Joseph Matarazzo, Winifred Porter McGillivray, Gerard Ruflin, Eleanor Nadler Schwartz, Howard Smith, Elizabeth Reilly Socha, Gerald Tucci, June Miller Wilbur, Roger D. Williams, and Anne Renzi Wright.

“Several alumni suggested more frequent mini-reunions for the class, possibly joining forces with the classes of ’46 and ’48. The next reunion, it was suggested, could be 2009. Reunion cochairs Elizabeth Reilly Socha and Joseph Dowling will be in contact as plans develop.”

Robert Abel writes: “My last reunion was preempted by my oldest grandson’s Bar Mitzvah. At my previous reunion, I was still president of the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. I semi-retired to the Stevens Institute of Technology, bringing with me the Cooperative Marine Technology Program for the Middle East, which I had inaugurated. I received my tenth three-year contract from the U.S. Department of State to maintain the program. I have been working with the Egyptians, Israelis, and Jordanians, and started recruitment of the Saudis. More recently, the Moroccans, Tunisians, Palestinians, and Lebanese have joined the program with colleagues in other universities. I’m in the process of stepping down from the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council, but also serve on the Board of the Jersey Shore Partnership as a Congregation Trustee and on committees of the Cosmos Club.”

Norman Brooks was honored in June 2006 at the annual meeting of the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ, on the 60th anniversary of his ordination. He has been retired since 1986 and a resident of Lincoln, Neb.

Richard H. Bube, who was a professor of material science and electrical engineering at Stanford until he retired in 1997, continues to live on the Stanford campus. His wife, Betty Meeker ’48, died in 1997, and he has since remarried. For many years Richard has been an active member of the American Scientific Affiliation and has authored thirteen books. He has four children.

Rena Benson Burstein writes: “This year I became an honorary member of the American Association of University Women after fifty years of active membership, primarily in the Philadelphia branch. I had a wonderful ‘hen’ party (women only) for my 80th birthday in July. Now husband Eli and I are getting ready to move into a retirement community. Daughters Joanna ’71, Sara, Miriam, and twin grandchildren Susanna and Graham are the delights of our lives.”

Burton Fain writes: “I established Burton Industries, an industrial electronics manufacturing facility, in Rhode Island in 1970. Although it was sold to an English company in 1986, I continued with them in an advisory capacity for two years. I retired for four weeks in 1988, then began working part-time in the industrial electric business, which I continue to do today. I am married to Lois Jagolinzer Fain ’49, and we celebrated our 57th anniversary at this year’s reunion weekend! Our winter residence has been in Jupiter, Fla., since 1988. I keep active playing golf and bridge, and attend fall and winter courses at Florida Atlantic University with Lois. We enjoy attending alumni get-togethers in Palm Beach.”

Joan Van Raalte Hellinger writes: “I’m still enjoying practicing psychoanalysis and am sorry to have missed my 60th, as the 50th was so memorable. We visit our two sons and their families in Boston and Santa Cruz, Calif., and I am still in frequent contact with Barbara Solomon Spitz ’48 in Newport Beach. My best to everyone.”

John Thorne writes: “I’m sorry to have missed our 60th reunion, but just returned from China and couldn’t fit it all in. I had an exciting entrepreneurial and venture capital career, in Los Angeles until 1972, and then in the Pittsburgh area. I recently retired as Morgenthaler Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon and have had more time to travel and catch up with other activities. My three children went to Brown, so I guess some of its great education rubbed off! I’d be glad to hear from any of you.” John can be reached at 137 Furnace Run Ln., Laughlintown, Pa. 15655; thorne @andrew.cmu.edu.

June Miller Wilbur writes: “Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge is Northwest grandeur at its best. The Oregon coast is pretty nice too! Living here has been an adventure, topped off by being close to my kids and grandkids.” June can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

From the March / April 2007 Issue

Irene Margolis Backalenick writes: “I continue to work as a theater critic covering shows in New York City and Connecticut, writing for several publications and Web sites. My son Paul ’72 is a Web site designer who designed my Web site. I would like to hear from my old Brown/Pembroke buddies.” Irene can be reached at 537 Mohave Cir., Shelton, Conn. 06484; This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

From the January / February 2007 Issue

Domenic C. Canna, of Bristol, R.I., retired in 1990 from Allstate Insurance as a general agent. He has been married to Yola for fifty-nine years and has four children. He has held many municipal positions in Bristol and is presently vice chair of the Bristol Housing Authority. He has also chaired many fund-raising events in Bristol County. He is presently fishing, hunting, and spending time with his ten grandchildren. He can be reached at 117 Beach Rd., Bristol, R.I. 02809.

From the September / October 2006 Issue

Nat Brush Lewis writes: “I have decided to sell my house in New Jersey and move full-time to my home in Port Clyde, Maine. I am still painting full-time (at least when I accomplish this transfer).” Nat can be reached at P.O. Box 187, Port Clyde 04855.

Anne Renzi Wright (see Eunice Bugbee Manchester ’52).

From the September / October 2004 Issue

Richard Lukin reports that his daughter Melissa C. Lukin ’82 now heads an organization dealing with domestic abuse and that Kenneth Crowe ’48 has retired as head of the physics department at UC Berkeley. Richard says Kenneth “is still doing interesting international things.”

June Miller Wilbur has moved from Hingham, Mass., to a retirement community in Tigard, Ore. “ I am enjoying the Northwest, as well as the closeness to my kids and grandkids,” June writes. She can be reached at 15280 S.W. 94th Ave., Tigard, Ore. 97224; This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

From the May / June 2004 Issue

Robert Anderson and Joan Fitzgerald Golrick (see Nancy Schuleen Helle ’55).

Robert Elsner was belatedly presented with the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the POW Medal for his service in World War II.

From the January / February 2004 Issue

Jack Thorne writes: “I finally retired from my second career, as professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University’s Business School, after some entrepreneurial ventures in the Los Angeles area. My three children are also Brown graduates. We are now enjoying life in the country about fifty miles east of Pittsburgh.” John can be reached at 137 Furnace Run Lane, Laughlintown, Pa. 15655.

Anne Renzi Wright (see Eunice Bugbee Manchester ’52).

From the March / April 2003 Issue

Ramon J. Elias writes: “Margery ’48 and I live on forty-five acres without fax, computer, cell phone, or cable. Our foundation comes from the great liberal curriculum that allowed me to have two majors and four minors with the distribution requirements that existed long before Ira Magaziner ’69 mesmerized the faculty into the Alice in Wonderland fantasy that still seems to be proving itself. Now small freshman seminars are the answer to higher education. Despite the system, the mind still triumphs.” Ramon and Margery celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary late last year by taking a 7,000-mile transatlantic cruise to Europe. The couple can be reached at P.O. Box 188, Jefferson, Ohio 44047.

From the November / December 2002 Issue

Charles W.D. "Chick" Gayley writes: "Amazingly, I'm still alive, kicking, and reasonably healthy. I retired from Lucent Technologies after thirty years as itinerant journeyman manager since 1984. I still build models. My wife, Denny, and I also enjoy traveling in the United States and Canada and chasing down buildings that were once one-room schools." Charles can be reached at 1323 Sumac Ct., Carmel, Ind. 46033.

Anne Renzi Wright has been named treasurer of the Brown Alumnae Club of Kent County.

From the July / August 2002 Issue

Hope Finley Boole wrote in March: "I'm looking forward to seeing old friends at our 55th in May. Life is sweet and full of grandchildren - eight in all, ranging in age from 2 to 22."

Winifred Porter McGillivray wrote in March: "I'm looking forward to our reunion in May. My husband, Gordon, and I are always glad to welcome any friends and classmates to Edinburgh." Winifred can be reached at 7 Greenfield Crescent, Balerno, EH147HD, Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.

From the May / June 2002 Issue

Report from reunion headquarters: "Reunion plans are complete. We hope to see you at Brown for a great weekend, May 24-27. Join us at your class events, Campus Dance, the Pops Concert, and the Commencement March. Register at alumni. brown.edu. If you haven't received your reunion mailing, please contact (401) 863-1947; This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it "

From the November / December 2000 Issue

Hank Greenberg (see Michael Greenberg ’86).

From the September / October 2000 Issue

Joan Fitzgerald Golrick (see Hank Vandersip ’56).

From the July / August 2000 Issue

Ed Fitzgibbons, of El Cajon, Calif., writes: "I’m still flying my home-built experimental airplane (an N800EF). I am on the board of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s chapter 14 in San Diego and am membership chairman for the San Diego Ultralight Association. My wife of fifty-two years, Dorothy, and I have two sons, one daughter, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter."

Elizabeth Reilly Socha, a retired clinical psychologist who lives in East Providence, and her husband, Ernest, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Betty and Ernie write that they are cherished by many friends and family members, including five children and ten grandchildren. Spotted shedding a tear of joy at the anniversary celebration was their son, Steve ’76.

From the March / April 2000 Issue

Gordon L. Stuart, of Corrales, N.Mex., writes: “Nineteen ninety-nine was an interesting year. I did 4,000 miles with a sidecar, visiting grandchildren in Oklahoma and relatives and high-school classmates in Michigan. I traveled five days by car in Luxembourg and eleven days with a motorcycle tour in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. Then I spent four days river-boating on the Rhine with friends. In the fall I visited friends in Palm Springs, Canoga Park, and Newport Beach, California. I slowed down for the last part of the year ­ only a Thanksgiving trip to Oklahoma.”

From the January / February 1999 Issue

Richard H. Bube, Stanford, Calif., has been an emeritus professor of materials science and electrical engineering at Stanford University for six years, remaining active in the department. His thirteenth book, Photovoltaic Materials, was published in June (Imperial College Press, London, and World Scientific Publication, Singapore). He also continues to write and teach on topics related to the interaction between science and Christianity. He served as university chair on a number of Ph.D. exams in engineering, and once again edited the Materials Science Alumni Newsletter, which he founded twenty-two years ago. Since the death of his wife, Betty, in April 1997, his four children have visited regularly.

Gordon Stuart, Corrales, N.Mex., writes: "I last reported that Mrs. Stuart and I were scheduled to do a motorcycle trip to Europe. We had to cancel it. She got quite ill and passed away July 16."

From the July / August 1998 Issue

Gordon L. Stuart writes: "Our health is back and we will take our ninth motorcycle tour of the Alps, Dolomites, etc. The weather is good enough here in Corrales, N. Mex., that I get to ride one of my four motorcycles almost every day, even in the winter. Sometimes I resort to the side car."