Class Notes, September/October 2005

I recently received an e-mail from our effervescent, peripatetic web master, Dave Halloran which piqued my interest. He talked about escorting the Army NCO of the year at the annual Army Ball this summer. I asked for some clarification and received a lengthy letter, enthusiastically written, exuding the energy for which David is noted. A naval aviator himself, he had become involved almost forty years ago with the Association of the US Army at the behest of his boss. Through the years, and through his travels, David has supported this group enthusiastically in its effort to promote the army itself as well as its men and women. Finally settling in Florida, David founded another chapter of this group, and has become its chairman. He has enlisted support from big-time stars and from all the Disney characters, radiating pride as he writes of his army kids. He and Joanne were honored to escort the NCO of the year and his wife to their table at the Army Ball once again this year.

Peter Bridges wrote a lovely article which appeared in the April 30. 2005 issue of the Washington Times. In it he reported on his experiences during a trek he an Mary Jane made to Italy's South Tyrol or Alto Adige. They took the time to enjoy the beauty of countryside and its culture, and shared their sentiments and sensibilities in this account. Peter writes of participating in a beer fest and dancing to an oompah band, five minutes for $2.50 showers, Alpine pastures with dwarf rhododendrons, orchids, gentians and edelweiss, and picturesque little towns upon which they looked as they ascended from 6500 feet to their ultimate height of 9700 feet. There were some steep climbs which were sufficiently exposed to make looking down uncomfortable. There were occasional fixed cables and good rock for gripping and footholds and lovely meadows. And then there was the nostalgia of their previous visit 30 years before when he carried their 7-month old son Andrew in a back pack.

Lucy and Ron Scheman have relocated from Washington DC to the very congenial, comfortable, and elegant city of Lucy's youth, Charleston, South Carolina. Ron continues his work with Kissinger, McLarty Associates as Senior Adviser working mainly in international finance.

Chuck Reilly reports, "A brief note on our two very important Class fund raising efforts. The DCF drive closes June 30th. Class results so far look like we will just make our goal of $350,000, but the participation rate looks disappointing. Contributions continue to come in for our Class Trust effort and we now have over $7 million, but still need another $3 million to get our Class name on the proposed new Commons Building on the north campus. Stay tuned in!"

Sadly, I must report the recent deaths of four of our classmates; Frank O'Reilly, Bob Lonsbory, Paul Supovitz, and Jay Hague. We'll miss them, and offer our sincere condolences to their families.

Mark H. Smoller, 4 Schuyler Drive, Jericho, NY 11753; (516) 938-3616; dartmark@optonline.net