MIT Class of 1963, Class Notes for the September/October
2007 issue of Technology Review
*Jack Solomon retired from Praxair last year after 37 years. (Jack says he's not good at change.) He continues his involvement with Vision2020 for the Chemical Industry, consults for the Department of Energy, serves on the Lake Pocotopaug Commission, and participates on a National Research Council team, so he's not bored. Jan and Jack's middle daughter Lysa, a science teacher, got married in July 2006 and their youngest daughter, Susan, also a science teacher, got married in July 2007. In 2006 Jan and Jack purchased an island in East Hampton, CT and moved there from Rye, NY where they had lived seemingly forever. Check out the island at www.laurelislandct.com or by putting in 06424 into Google Maps. It's 5 acres and has 5 cottages and a lodge and sleeps 30. Jack and Jan would welcome visitors if you're near the Hartford/New Haven area.
*Henry Nau writes these improbable tales about his MIT class ring. He has proudly worn the brass rat (correctly oriented) for 44 years except for two anxious periods. In 2002, his ring disappeared without a trace, shortly after he had it enlarged to slide easily over his knuckle. One morning it was just no longer in the tray on his bed stand. Henry doesn’t sleep with the ring; it's a lethal weapon when worn by a nighttime thrasher. Perhaps it just slid off somewhere; maybe the enlargement made it too big. Henry was devastated. He and his wife, Micki, looked everywhere for months, but found nothing. At our 2003 Class Reunion he stopped at the Coop to look at new rings, but didn't like them. They seemed bulkier, less shiny and definitely too expensive. He became reconciled to an empty finger for the rest of his life. Then, 18 months after the ring disappeared, it suddenly reappeared. Micki was fussing with the beds in the guest room and noticed something flashing in the sunlight. There, tucked against a bedpost, was the ring! Henry has no idea how it got there. Some illicit tryst in that room? He's not going there.
Fast forward to Christmas 2006. Henry, Micki, and their daughter, Kimberly, were relaxing on Poipu Beach in Kauai, HI. Kimberly persuaded him to go snorkeling and he remembers thinking, “Give Micki my rings. ” But he didn't. Henry took a dip in the ocean, but suddenly sensed that his ring was gone … gone, somewhere in a stretch of 50 feet of Pacific Ocean. His daughter dove and searched valiantly, but there was no chance of finding the ring in the churning surf. For several days Henry moped like a kid who lost his favorite toy. Then he said to himself, “Henry, at 65, you're going to lose a lot more in the next 20 years than a class ring. Get over it. ” And he did, sort of. Two weeks later Henry was home, working at his computer. He teaches international studies at George Washington University and writes books that, as far as he can tell, few people read. The phone rang. It was the MIT Alumni Office. “Are you Henry Nau?” “Yeeesss,” he replied warily, expecting another donation request. “We got a call from someone in California who says he has your class ring. Your initials are inside the ring and he asked if we could find you.” “You've got to be kidding,” Henry sputtered, losing his breath. Then he called the nicest man, Mike Mealeu. “Where did you lose the ring?” Mike asked. Henry explained, and Mike replied: “That's just where I found it, 10 feet from shore in 2 feet of water.” (About where Henry took off his flippers.) Mike is an amateur prospector and likes to look for stuff. Henry thought, “He's too modest. He may not walk on water, but he performs miracles underwater!” One week later, Henry received his ring in the mail and put it back on his finger. Now he sleeps with it and pretty much worships it. It's immortal, right? He thinks he should insure it, put it in a safety deposit box, and hire the U.S. Marines to guard it. But that's not going to make his ring happy. It will find some way to break out and get lost again. Stay tuned; if he loses it again, his wife will tell the story. His heart won't survive a third time.
Some months ago I suggested that you send me your Christmas newsletters as a source of material for the Class Notes. Lyla & *David Johnson did just that.
David is deeply into study for ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. He finished his last courses at the Hartford Seminary and now will commute to the Andover Newton Theological School near Boston suburb for his final studies for a Master of Divinity. A big change for David is to be on salary again, working for a company that installs sunrooms and replacement windows. He started part-time in 2005 attending events where appointments are set with homeowners to get proposals. In 2006 he was offered the more-than-full-time position of Marketing Manager, but on terms he could live with, allowing him the flexibility to travel, go to school, and keep his hand in on the credit card services businesses he had been in. David is proud of the company and product and likes the people. Of course he always has time for his monthly card game. Before he started seminary, he began a book about the group that has been playing together for 23 years. The working title is, “Not Really Poker.” It’s his support group.
Lyla “retired” from Yale University 3 years ago, but it’s hard to tell by her activity. She swims 3 times a week at the YMCA, has two part-time jobs in the medical field, organizes the “Angel Appeal” for Christmas gifts for the needy, teaches at a reading program, serves on the parenting board of the social services department, recently completed her second term as chair of her church's “Welcome” committee, and plays in a monthly bridge group. Through all this her loyal dog, Georgia, a “schnoodle” (schnauzer/poodle mix), follows her everywhere and waits patiently in her kennel while Lyla is away.
David says he has no Nobel prizes or esoteric textbooks published, but he has a family in which he is well-pleased, and he loves his best friend more every day (married 47 years, probably longer than anyone in our class except perhaps Pat and *Harley Jordan). Lyla and David are enjoying their quiet little cottage in the Deep River, CT woods. They have 6 grandchildren, ranging from 9 months to 21 years old. David says he never has been rich in money, but is greatly blessed with love, health, and memories still in the making.
The Alumni Association recently reported three deaths to me and I pass the information along to you. *Charles Rodgers, of Long Beach, CA died in 1992. *Krishnadharee Lall died in 2006. And *Billie G. Brown passed away in December 2006. He had been living in Seabrook, TX. Our condolences to the families. I have no details; if you have remembrances of our classmates to share, send them to me.
Regards to all. 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