1939

The class has suffered four deaths since our last. John McKeever died in Anchorage, Alaska, on November 21; Bob Van Slambrouck passed away on November 25 in Bodega Bay, Calif.; and across the country in Sarasota, Fla., Dick Varey died on December 7. On December 20 Harvey Yorke died of cancer at the Letterman Army Medical Center, San Francisco. (Obits in this or later issues.)

Unfortunately most of our news is on the down side this month. Sam Thurm writes to report the passing of his life-time helpmate, Ruth-Elaine Thurm, after a long bout with cancer. "We had a great life together, starting at Winter Carnival and Green Key in '39." The Thurms have two sons, Andy '65, living in Princeton, N.J., and Allen (UCLA '64) living in L.A., and one daughter. Sam is currently at 2778 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, FL 33480.

Bob Schwartz dropped us a note relating that his wife Jean died in October and reminisces about the good time they had in Charlotte, N.C., at our southern mini in '88. Bob spent some time with Stan and Connie Beskind in Durham, N.C., in December. They were visiting their son, a professor at Duke Law School.

On a more favorable note, Bill Tomkins had a three-week bout in a Cape Cod hospital in November with a pancreas problem, but was well enough to scoop up Robilee and head for Patagonia, visiting Betsy Wyman-Emmons in Naples, Fla., en route. We would be inclined to question their route, but it sounds like fun. This last we gleaned from Jim Corner. Jim and Doris spent a pleasant Christmas in Mississippi with their eldest son.

Wes Goding is also mending after an eye operation for cancer, according to Cornie Miller. Cornie reports that Dick Brooks is making good strides in his recuperation from an early fall stroke.

Jinny Mattlage has been having some health problems but Herb's last report seems quite optimistic. She has been in Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and Herb had been commuting. He says he ran into Ralph Holben while they were both buying the Boston Globe.

Bob Wehmeyer, from whom we hear litde these days, writes a thank you note to Jim Corner in which he reveals he has six grandchildren. Travel, and environmental concerns are on his front burner. "We have become very interested in the Elderhostel program, SERVAS, which is an international program of hosts and travelers with primary emphasis on world peace through better understanding on a personal level."

Your scribe and wife are off to Florida for one of the cold months and expect to make our next report from that balmy state. Stay well!

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