1953

There is a bit of magic in all our lives, electrifying moments that stay with us forever. Afterwards, their remembrance brings a tear, a smile or an inward glow. The performance of Mr. Roberts in the spring of 1953 by Bill Beutel, Len Gochman and Dave Replogle (profiled in last month's column), was such a moment. It was relived at our 30th reunion by Bill, Len, and Dave with many a tear and smiles. Both Bill and Len have successful careers and both have spent their lives on a stage Len in the theater and in voice-overs for advertising; and Bill as anchorman on ABC's EyewitnessNews.

Bill Beutel, New York City, started his career 30 years ago with WGAR radio in Cleveland, Ohio, close to his hometown of Shaker Heights. He had just spent a year at Michigan Law School and had done an army tour. There has been a constancy since that beginning: news broadcasting and documentaries which have increased his knowledge of world affairs and history. Before leaving Cleveland for CBS radio in 1960, he added TV reporting to his skills. In 1962, Bill joined his present employer, WABC. For ABC he has covered political conventions, served as bureau chief in London, reported on the internal strife in Africa and nothern Ireland, traveled with popes, visited Russia and covered the return of the Sinai from Israel to Egypt. He has also done many documentaries, including an Emmy Award-winning study on Vietnam in 1965, a report of Japanese productivity in 1987 entitled Made in Japan, and a 1983 treatise on the events preceding World War II The Path to War which was made on the 50th anniversary of Hitler's ascension to power and Franklin Roosevelt's election. The making of documentaries requires indepth fact gathering and analysis and results in at least two hours of broadcast time. The work is invigorating and stimulating. Spouse Adair is part of the team producing the documentaries and thus accompanies Bill on his travels. They also share a commitment to the Easter Seal program for New York and New Jersey.

Bill has children from his first marriage. Peter, a Dartmouth graduate, is a widelyquoted energy analyst. Daughters Robin and Colby are both artists and Heather is finishing college.

The past 30 years have been called the glory years of broadcasting. The growth of television, the historical events that have occurred and the leadership of the industry have nurtured that glory. Bill feels fortunate to have been a part of it.

Len Gochman, Bedford Village, N.Y., has a career with two facets the theater and advertising. All of us have been hearing his voice for 23 years, yet many of us were unaware of it. It's Len who says, for example, "Be all that you can be," in ads for the army. His has also been the voice in ads for Delta Airlines, Dannon Yogurt, Jaguar cars and hundreds of other products you might recognize. His role as the voice in the ads has complemented his other facet, the theater. Following Dartmouth, an army tour and a public relations position with Pat Boone, he played understudy for the lead in How to Succeed in Business Without ReallyTrying. His first lead was for an Australian company, resulting in a glorious year in that country. Returning to Broadway, he played in the revival of Finian's Rainbow, Woody Allen's Don't Drink the Water, Dear Oscar, ALittle Night Music and Tuscaloos' Calling Me, an award-winning, off-Broadway musical. Eight performances a week were a trying regimen. Consequently, he changed his theatrical focus while maintaining his voiceover promotional work. He and his second wife, Marita, from Sweden, are promoting and co-producing contemporary Scandinavian theater in the U.S. with the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven. From previous marriages, Marita has two children and Len, three. Tod, ten, is an offspring of their marriage. They own a second home in Florida, which is a joy to them.

For these two classmates who have literally been in the public eye, there has been a lot of magic. Still, ask them how they felt while re-enacting Mr. Roberts at the 30th reunion.

SEEN AND HEARD: Bob Callender is back in New York after having commuted between Little Rock, Ark., and New York for years. He's doing some real estate consulting and syndications. Jack Amerman, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., is at the top of Mattel, one of the largest toy companies in the world.

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