1941

Using the Ameche to scrounge up some news, I found a former class secretary alive and well in Essex, Conn. Bob Harvey proudly announced his new status as a great-grandfather. His son, Michael '69, became a granddad thanks to his daughter delivering a fine little girl on February 12. Any other '41s joining or preceding Bob in this venerable category?

Brigadier General Sol Lifton came through loud and clear from Air Force Village West, a retirement facility in Riverside, Calif. Unfortunately, Sol's wife died suddenly in 1992 and he is handicapped by faulty eyesight, which forced his retirement from the Air Force in 1974 after a long career in medical research. Sol still gets around and was about to make a flying trip to visit his two sons, a Yale professor (M.D. and Ph.D.) and a project manager in Atlanta.

Dick Otter answered the phone in South Bend, Ind., where he was a mathematics professor at the local school from 1947 to 1985. After such a long and distinguished guished career Dick should rate preferential seating at all the home football games. Dick now has plenty of time to enjoy lake sailing in his Thistle craft that requires a two- or three-man crew. Any volunteers?

Another outdoor-active classmate is Bob Lempke in Fort Myers, Fla., who works as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity three days a week.

Bob is in his fourth year building houses for low-income families. His group finished its 17th house in Lee County in March and expects to complete a total of 26 homes by June. As if that isn't enough exercise, Bob also likes to chase a little white ball along Florida fairways.

It was a pleasure for all us Sarasotans to hear Dr. Bob Ferguson speak to the local D. club. He and Louise were winter visitors from the Pittsburgh area, where Bob for many years was chairman of the department of orthopedics at the university. Bob cautioned us all to be aware of the steady down-grading of medical services in this country by the managed-care organizations.

His recently published book, Please Don't Get Sick, enlarges on the theme that the sick are too often at the mercy of unskilled "gatekeepers" who decide the treatment to be provided, perhaps without a proper diagnosis first. So be careful out there!

Dick Jachens, 5975 Camelot Drive North, Sarasota, FL 34233;