1954

I had lunch with Jim Davidson in May and learned all about the apprehension that he and Jane went through during the Gulf War. Their son Peter has been working in Israel for eight years as a manufacturer's representative in the electronics field. Peter's wife, Mira, gave birth to a granddaughter for the Davidsons on January 15, just before the start of Desert Storm. The Davidsons visited newly arrived Dana in April and everyone is well. In normal times, they divide their time between Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., and Boca Raton, Fla.

My daughter Carol gave birth to our second grandchild in May. Jacob Marshall Roper weighed in at 8 lbs., 8 oz. and is already known as Jake to Phyllis and me and to his cousin Jocylen.

Tom Corcoran is in the news. At its annual convention in May, the U.S. Ski Association presented its highest individual award, the Julius Blegan Award, to Tom for "his extraordinary lifetime contribution to skiing." He is a former member of the U.S. Ski Team and was a member of the 1956 and 1960 Olympic teams. As most of us know, Tom is president of the Waterville Valley Ski Area in New Hampshire, a venture that he has spent many years developing and nurturing into one of New England's finest skiing sites.

John Heston reported on Steve Mullins' activities by inserting Steve's long letter in the class newsletter, but I think that part of it is appropriate for this venue to pass on news of our South American classmates: "AndyGuilliano is still slaving away in the import/export business in Caracas, while trying to survive in the embattled Venezuelan economy. Francisco "Pacco" Garcia is a big rancher in the interior of Venezuela, and JaimePradilla runs a famous restaurant/resort about 30 miles outside of Bogota, Columbia." Steve closed his letter with, "I'll look forward to seeing many of our classmates at our second annual barn dance in October."

Jerry Goldstein had dinner recently with Dave McLaughlin. Dave reported that his special gift of this past Father's Day was his andjudy's seventh grandchild! Is that a record among our classmates? Anyone who cares to upstage Dave as recordholder, please write to me with your challenge . ..

I agree with Fred Alpert—we have heard enough over the years about George Graboy's successful banking career; how about his wife Lois? Fred sent me a column from the Providence, R.I., Sunday Journal describing her founding and long tenure as president of Volunteer Services for Animals. Lois has fought long and tenaciously for humane treatment of animals in the municipal pounds which house the strays of 16 communities in Rhode Island. Stepping down as president of VSA "She leaves an incredible legacy of love and devotion to animals and the people who cherish them. She has created an organization that runs more smoothly than General Motors, an assembly whose numbers have included more than 1,000 volunteers and 5,000 contributors; a group that publishes a newsletter, offers counseling, helps the needy pay vet bills and searches like Sherlock Holmes to find lost pets and reunite them with worried owners."

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