Class Notes
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We are very pleased that Ralph Kohl will be our Reunion Chairman. Ralph has begun organizing the Reunion Committee for another splendid class event.
Please save the dates. You will be hearing further from the Reunion Committee as the schedule is developed. If you would like to serve on the Committee or add a comment, please let Ralph know by phone (617-332-2622) or by email (ralph.kohl@comcast.net).
The Class of 1956 set a record for attendees in 2006 and we look forward to doing it again.”
Phil Trussell writes: “The student who won the Trussell Prize in 2007 is Jimmy Bartolotta. We've been close to Jimmy- having him for dinner, with our family for Thanksgiving last year, and having a big send off for him and our grandson, Matt Duggan-2009 Roger Williams, who are both college All-Americans, Matt in sailing. Jimmy was leaving for Italy to try out for a European basketball team and Matt for England and Ireland representing the US Intercollegiate Sailing Assn against the British University Sailing Assn.
Our esteemed Webmaster, Guy Spencer wrote: “We are back from the British Isles which we enjoyed greatly, especially since we never had to unfurl our bumbershoots even once. Scotland, without fog, is beautiful. I escaped without developing a full-blown addiction to "single malts." As for the Isle of Skye, we still don't know why Ann's ancestors left, except that the word skye does mean "cloudy." I guess we were just lucky. London is a great city, and we left knowing that we only scratched the surface.”
David Goldman sent an email stating: “We spend a lot of time traveling and have been to Africa, Russia, China, Europe and taken many cruises in the past few years. We usually spend a few months in the winter on the East coast of Florida. Maybe this year we will see some MIT alumni there. My retirement job is as a Technology Coach helping people keep their computers running and teaching them how to make the best use of modern technology. A thoroughly enjoyable business for a techie!”
Luis Franceschi sent a note: “I am fine and active simply doing consulting in hydraulics, nothing extraordinary.
Both my wife and I still do some traveling. We went to California on March
and last June visited the Vermont stopping in Boston for a few days. Expect
to go to New York this next fall. As you can see there is not too much that I can write about.” We wish you continued good health, Luis.
Marilyn Gulotta Wrote: “After school, I worked for Pratt & Whitney, Research and Development Division, for two years. During this time, I found myself at what then was computer technology (I.e., we were using computer software for stress analysis on missile cases). I figured I was more creative at software than I was at engineering, so I made a career shift. It turned out for the best as that technology was essentially ground floor then. Therefore, I remained in systems software and applications software for the rest of my professional life (off and on, some 40+ years).
Most of this was in the commercial arena, for Metropolitan Life and then for Prudential Financial. I retired in 2005.
Both John Stelling and Ted Korelitz reported: “Attending various sessions of the 2009 Alumni Officers Conference were Beryl and Walter Frey, Margie Gilson, Marcia and Ralph Kohl, Diane and Ted Korelitz, Mabel and Jim Nevins, and Valerie and John Stelling. We particularly enjoyed the faculty presentations on MIT's Global Initiatives. The session to encourage classes and classmates to communicate using the new social media twittered right over our heads. We recovered, however, when we joined the others for lively conversation at the final reception and awards dinner. Ted had reserved a table for our class and it was full.
Don’t forget to mark up your calendar for June 2 – 4, 2011 for our 55th Reunion.
Lloyd Beckett, Secretary
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a happy and healthy 2010. Now that the new year is upon us it’s time to look forward to our 55th reunion in 2011. Our Class President, John Stelling recently sent out a letter to all on our email list. “Three years have passed since the conclusion of our hugely successful 50th Reunion. The re- connections, wonderful stories, photographs and memories still remain with us. We are now gearing up for our 55th Reunion in 2011 to take place in the midst of MIT’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations and Exhibitions.
Tech Night at the Pops will lead off the festivities on Thursday evening. Ted Korelitz, the new President of the MIT Cardinal and Gray Society, promises that the Friday program, which will include the Cardinal and Gray Academy and the Cardinal and Gray Dinner Dance, will be outstanding. Technology Day will take place on Saturday. Class events around these activities, as well as a pre- or post-reunion class gathering at a resort hotel are being planned.
We play lots of golf here and in Sarasota. In September we are going on a cruise with friends to Athens with stops along the way ending up in Istanbul.”
During this time, I married a mathematician who also started, ground floor, in computer technology. We have a physical chemist daughter (amazing, since the two of us hate Chemistry) who is currently teaching at the college level.
We moved to Westfield, New Jersey, circa 1970, from New York City. I got heavily involved in community work here, first at the PTA level, then winning elections to the Westfield Board of Education. I was first female President of the Board.
I was on the MIT Educational Council for 25 years. When the parents of my student applicants became younger than I, I figured it was time to step down. It was a wonderful experience and, according to my "grades," I guess I did a good job!
I was a member of the Westfield Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors for 5 years and have remained an active supporter for the past 25 years. Our orchestra is essentially number 2 in the state. I was also a member of our local United Way Board of Trustees for some 13 years. Currently I am active in church business activities, so I keep my old self busy.
I maintain friendships with several of my MIT classmates and near-classmates and have done so for decades, so we have followed our lives rather nicely along the way. It's been a grand journey, all told.”
PO Box 1082
North Falmouth, MA 02556
eMail: papa[at]alum.mit.edu
Happy Holiday Season,
Ted Korelitz reported: "Diane and I attended most of the Cardinal & Gray Society (C&GS) events during Alumni Week at MIT. Actually, as President, I was the "official" host of a few of them and made a short welcoming speech. If I wasn't President, under the present economic circumstances, I wouldn't have attended as many events as I did.
Tech Night at Pops was really great. A Bioengineering sophomore named Jennifer Lai (from Honolulu) played Rhapsody in Blue on the piano, accompanied by the full Pops Orchestra. She was terrific - played with deep feeling. Copeland would have been proud of her!
At the Tech Day Luncheon, when all of the major Reunion Classes had announced their Class Gifts to MIT, a total of $150 million was announced. Everyone was awestruck by this huge amount.
Since it wasn't a major reunion for '56 and because of economic uncertainties, not too many of our classmates attended the various functions. I did sit with Beryl and Walter Frey at Pops. Also saw Marcia and Ralph Kohl and Margie Gilson."
The day before Commencement, Val and John Stelling got a few of us together to congratulate and to say goodbye to our three graduating Class of 1956 Scholars. Ruth and I, Diane and Ted Korelitz and Val and John had lunch with Boris Rasin, Abigail Clark and Samuel Clark. They were all graduating the following day and all three will be attending graduate schools with Doctoral degrees as a goal (Boris in Materials Science and Abby and Sam in Medicine.) Abby received the Nauta Award for Outstanding Research in Brain and Cognitive Science and the Hans-Lukas Teuber Award for Outstanding Academics representing a perfect GPA for four years of study at MIT. By way of this column, I want to thank all you classmates for supporting the Class of 1956 Scholarship Fund which enabled three amazing young people get a great jumpstart toward helping humanity with their research.
Bernardo Blaschitz writes: "I am doing fine and trying hard to (really) retire. Venezuela continues to be in a political turmoil and it does not look as if it is going to end soon. I hope to see you in Florida, although I have not been there since last October. One of these days, when I have more time available, I will send you some remarks for your class notes."
Our esteemed Webmaster, Guy Spencer writes that his wife, Ann, is doing well after her shoulder surgery and "We are now looking forward to a couple of weeks in the British isles the last half of June, including a day in Skye where Ann's ancestors lived. Perhaps we'll find out why they left. In August, we'll head for Colorado -- our "humidity break" from the Florida steam bath. I did indeed take on the presidency of Pelican Cove, and it's an interesting, sometimes fun, ride. As the largest condo under one board in the state, we have a $5 million budget and more than 40 employees. During the "season" we have close to 1500 residents, so it's a bit like being mayor of a small town."
I'm saddened to report the death of Suzanne Eddy Teare, 75, of Naples, FL and Manchester-By-The-Sea, MA, on Saturday, June 6, 2009. Born in Boston, MA in March 24, 1934. Suzanne was the first woman elected to serve on the Board of
Selectman in Manchester, MA in 1985. She was an avid bridge player and was awarded the Bronze Life Master Award from the American Contract Bridge League. Sue was an avid nature lover and shell collector. She is survived by
her husband, Rollin Teare and children, R. Gil McKee and Jack Noble.
Our sympathies go out to her family.
That's it for now, folks. If you want to see a longer and more interesting column, please send some information to me.
Have a good Holiday Season and winter and stay warm.
Lloyd Beckett, Secretary
PO Box 1082
North Falmouth, MA 02556
eMail: papa[at]alum.mit.edu