MIT Class of 1963, Class Notes for February 2004 issue of Technology Review
This is the third column of notes from our 40th Reunion, and there's more to come. If your name doesn't appear this time, I haven't forgotten.
A few months ago I mentioned the Reunion Row. *Jack Lynch kindly sent me more detail on the Sunday, June 8 event that has become an important part of reunion weekends at MIT. "14 oarsmen, two coxswains, and a manager represented the Class of 1963, *Ken Andersen, *Harvey Bines, *Elliott Bird, *Dennis Buss, *Ron Cheek, *Tony Fiory, *Bill Gadzuk, *Bob Johnson, *Bob Kurtz, *Jim Latimer, *Jack Lynch, *Rick Metzinger, *Murray Morton, *Jerry Skinner, *John Wasserlein, *Ron Young, and *Bob Vernon. We were the only class to put two boats on the water, a testament to the enthusiasm our class showed toward crew when we were undergraduates. Our oarsmen came in first and fourth in a field of nine. (Each class received a handicap based on their graduation year.) We competed against the other five-year classes, '98, '93, '88 down to '53, in a 500-meter race from the Harvard Bridge to the boathouse. If a class had extra oarsmen or oarswomen, or needed a few, arrangements were made so everyone had a chance to row. Our class held a practice for both boats at 8 AM on Saturday morning with Gary Zwart, the former lightweight crew coach. The biggest problem was not strength or endurance but set-up – keeping the shell balanced so we could effectively pull the oars through the water. The practice session proved critical to regaining part of our former skill. After the practice the rowers attended the Technology Day Lectures, then convened outside Kresge and taxied to Durgin Park for an Oarsmen’s Lunch. Many were accompanied by significant others, or at least those who could stand to listen to crew guys talk about the only subject they appear to know when they gather in groups of three or more. Twenty-seven people enjoyed a boisterous lunch including favorites from forty years ago such as broiled scrod, roast beef and Indian pudding. The races at 8 AM on Sunday (not easy after going to bed at midnight two nights in a row) were exciting. There were two heats, and it wasn’t clear as the shells finished if '63 would have any boats in the final four. But both boats rowed well; amazing considering that we are over sixty! However, we were happy to accept our age handicap, which placed both ’63 boats in the final. In the finals two boats tied for second and third place while the ’63 boats took first and fourth. Rowers in all the class boats were in great spirits. Rowing was very important to us as undergraduates and having the opportunity to experience that thrill again was a significant experience for us all. Thanks to all the oarsmen, oarswomen, coaches, and staff who made the reunion row a great event."
I spoke with Elaine and *Jeff Friedberg at lunch on Saturday. Jeff finished MIT in the fall semester of 1963, and was officially classified 1964. But most of his friends were class of 1963, so he never attended any '64 reunions. Recently he realized that he could reclassify himself as '63, and here he was, renewing old friendships. After MIT Jeff got a masters in geophysics at Caltech, where he was a classmate of the late Al Ramo, he moved to Houston, where he practiced his craft for a number of years. Then he decided to turn his avocation into his vocation, and in 1979 he started an investment management business. Jeff said he's "still doing it, still loving it" even in today's difficult investment environment.
Notes from our Sunday brunch: Candace Margles and *Peter Van Aken were there, a few weeks before their June 28 wedding. Congratulations! Peter met Candy through their mutual involvement in local government in Winchester, MA. Peter didn't have to go very far when they were dating – Candy lives on the same street. Pete's daughter, Christie flew in from Berkeley for a visit that weekend; she's in a Ph.D. program at UCB. To top off Peter's Reunion weekend, his son David graduated on Monday from MIT. *Martin Schrage and Karen Mathiason Sloan '71 were there too. In addition to being Peter's partner in Xanalog, (Xanalog makes advanced hardware/software simulation systems) Martin is involved in a new venture to make a sonic sensor that will be a part of traffic management systems. The new sensor won't require digging up the streets, and may even warn motorists to slow down. Martin's son, Seth, 13, attended the Camp Tech reunion activities for alumni offspring. Warren Sewall told me he is still practicing medicine in Harrisburg, PA. At MIT he was president of the sports car club. These days Warren drives a more conservative vehicle, but he still enjoys driving it aggressively. At MIT he had a scooter. Over the years his 2 wheeled transportation evolved into a Kawasaki motorcycle that he still rides often and fast. He's been riding over 44 years and doesn't have a limp yet. His last accident was in 1970.
At dinner on Saturday I sat with *Rick Merrill, and his Kappa Sigma fraternity brother *Morgan Elmer. Morgan was on our class's "Missing" list until Rick, in his role as class sleuth, tracked him down. *Alan Bell is still living in New Jersey, and is the proud papa of a 6 year old son. Ellie and *John Graham attended. John practices psychiatry in the San Francisco Bay area. *Steve Ditmeyer is in the Washington DC area, where he occasionally sees *Marvin Singer. Marvin and his wife Karen didn't attend the reunion; they were waiting of the imminent birth of their first grandchild. Samuel Chaim Singer arrived on Saturday, June 7th, during the reunion, born in NYC to Marvin's son Jonathan (VI-A '96) and his wife Tanya. Steve was the subject of a story that *Fred Cunningham told me. Fred attended alone; his wife *Sandy (Lensch) Cunningham was a bit under the weather. Freshman year Fred lived on East Campus. One day while studying, a water balloon came through his window with such force that it made a perfectly circular hole in the glass; its velocity was so great that shards of glass were embedded in the opposite wall. When telling this story at the reunion Fred noticed that Steve's ear's perked up. "Oh," said Steve, "was that YOUR window?" Mystery solved after 44 years.
Ilsa and *Jim Evans moved to Berkeley, CA in April 2000. Jim heads a west coast aviation weather field office for MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory and commutes sporadically from California to Lincoln Labs. Ilsa works in the business school at UC Berkeley. The Evanses have two children, one in Seattle, and one in "the biz" (that's show biz) in Los Angeles. Jim recently won a prestigious award from the FAA for his work in improving weather forecasting for air travel.
More reunion stories next issue. Classmates, I notice that some of my notes about you are very short – perhaps failures of my note-taking or my memory. Help me fill in more detail by telling me what you are up to.
You can reach me at: Mike Bertin, 22 Gillman St, Irvine, CA 92612. E-mail: MCB1@aol.com. If you want to schmooze, call me at (949) 786-9450.