1940

Following graduation in 1940, Cleveland's Jack Ingersoll became an educator, a vocation he pursued for many years until his retirement. This course evolved after a stint in the Navy and graduation from law school. If memory serves me correctly, he breezed through Ohio's state bar exam, ranking second or third among those tested. However, teaching at the secondary school level offered a greater challenge than the more lucrative field of law. To him, the molding of a young person's mind and character had far greater purpose, and to this end he succeeded dramatically. At the University School, where his career began and ended, he was a Mecklin (to whom our Aegis was dedicated) of sorts, much sought after year after year by students who wanted to be in his class in government. And at retirement a few years ago, Jack's unflagging efforts were rewarded by a resounding send-off by students and faculty alike.

However, the end of one career signaled the start of another or is it a few. Now, he devotes himself to community theater as a performer (and stagehand, and ticket taker, etc., etc.). Jack shies away from directing, but has written three musical shows with a collaborator, and two of them have been produced. The fourth, If God Had Wanted Women, has just been wrapped up and he and his collaborator hope it has sufficient appeal to catch on with a producer, local or otherwise. The musical is about Susan B. Anthony, pioneer crusader for women's rights, and they hope it will be more acceptable to the public than the silver dollar named for her.

"The title of the musical comes from a statement made by a sin-burning minister in the play who states that 'lf God had wanted women to vote, he would have made them men," says Jack. This statement was made at the time of Anthony's trial for having voted illegally as a woman in the election of 1872 in which President Grant defeated Horace Greeley for the presidency. Of Anthony, Jack further states that she had a brilliant mind, "an acid tongue that could cut through baloney," and a courage that commanded respect.

To round out this not-so-leisurely retirement, Jack began taking music lessons. He has learned to play the piano; now spends an hour, two, and often more each day playing and singing; and has given programs playing and singing at clubs, parties, and dances in the area. Jack and his wife Kay live comfortably on a promontory with a breath-taking view of the Chagrin Valley. Their brood of four have married and left the nest.

Jack McDonald forwarded a recent article that appeared in Advertising Age, and it was followed closely by another, carried by the New York Times, clipped and transmitted by Bud Hewitt. Both clippings acclaimed the publisher of Money, John Crandell, pictured at the side. Johnnie will have retired April 1 when he reached 65 only after piloting Money from its birth in 1972 through the rocky middle years to its current level of success as a moneymaker with a circulation of 1,000,000 in the stable of Time Inc. John's career with Time Inc. began in advertising sales for Life, and by the time the weekly shut down in December 1972, he was its ad director.

Two envelopes, received days apart from a mysterious sender, contained the continuing saga of Mel Wax. In the first, the former press secretary to San Francisco's Mayor Dianne Feinstein was a top contender for the Port of Oakland's public relations job. Port of Oakland claims to be the largest container port on the West Coast. The second contained the article announcing Mel's appointment, his photo (with that pixy-like smile), and the exclamation along the margin, "Eureka!" Good luck to you, Mel.

A few days ago, a request of a special nature was received. Dick Jackson, '39 class secretary, has occasion to use the 1940 Aegis when doing research for some of his articles. In a nutshell, the college has not one extra copy available. Anyone who has no further use for their copy and who would like to help Dick out, please contact him directly at 777 West Street, Pittsfield, Mass. 01201; or, if you prefer, through me.

A letter from John Bertrand asks for information on the whereabouts of one Ken Curtis, remembered as a friend of Jack Mathieson and Dean Hanscom. There is no listing for a Ken Curtis in the directory of living alums. Could it possibly be Edgar A. Curtis Jr., who lives in Falmouth Foreside, Maine?

Once again, the letter carrier has not brought all good tidings. Notification of Bob Draper's death January 6 has been received, as well as word of the loss of Bob Niss February 10. Both men had experienced long-term illnesses. To their families, their classmates express sincere thoughts of sympathy. (Obits will be in this or a later issue.)

As a final note, let me remind those who are interested to send in their registration form by the May 1 deadline for Alumni College. The date: August 8-19- The subject: The Renaissance Forms, Reforms, and Revolutions. Did you notice the bonus? Maybe you, too, can have your image grace next year's flyer as did Stet Whicher's and Lloyd Blanchard's in this year's.

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