1959

Marty Sherwin recently authored American Prometheus: The Triumph andTragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer and received a very positive review from The New York Times. "American Prometheus is a work of voluminous scholarship and lucid insight," raved the Times. Marty is currently history professor at Tufts.

Another author, Doug Wheeler, recently wrote an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on an historical detective story, the great air mystery of World War 11, the loss of celebrated anti-Nazi stage and film star Leslie Howard and others who were flying in a scheduled civil airliner. It was shot down in June of 1943 by eight German fighters while enroute to England from neutral Portugal. Along with Howard, the plane carried a Winston Churchill lookalike and the English prime minister was traveling over the same route at about the same time. Was Churchill or Howard the intended target? Or both? And did the British secret service deliberately let the plane be shot down? Why? Doug's article is gripping so contact him or me (paul_stein@msn.com) for a copy if you are interested.

About 15 classmates and their spouses converged on Brussels in May for a wonderful vacation trip led by Jim Mueller, who has lived there 30 years or more with wife Sylvia. The trip receives rave reviews from those who participated, with special accolades going to Jims on-site description of the Battle of Waterloo. Our classmate led the group around the Waterloo battleground, described Napoleon's and Wellingtons activities almost minute by minute and mesmerized all with his knowledge of the event.

Retired from the business of building cola bottling plants all over Europe Jim now speaks Dutch, German and Spanish along with English. And is he a great tour leader!

Everyone should put aside time next spring for another class trip to be announced shortly. Also retired, Ashville physician John Russell was on the trip with wife Connie. He reports that retirement is great, he finds much to do and the grandkids are a big part of it. John has taken up magic, which he says is a lot of fun.

We hear from Wally Meissner up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota: "I have slowed considerably my piano-tuning business and sold some of it but plan to continue some tuning when Lois and I are not traveling. We are enjoying life!"

Chuck Donovan claims to be "semi-retired" but continues his very successful tax return business. It is a pick-up and delivery service with Chuck going to the client's home for needed consultations and delivering the final product to them throughout Palm Beach County and elsewhere in Florida.

Scott Palmer observes, "We are all retiring in different ways. I, for instance, am now teaching every other semester. On the 'off terms' I'll be writing two books, one to go to the publisher this fall and one next year. I'm feeling my way into other retirement activities and know that I need some."

On October 5-9 our fall mini-reunion and class meeting in Hanover will be enjoyable and relaxing. See Jim Bybee's class newsletter for details.

172 Oenoke Lane, New Canaan, CT06840; (203) 966-1252; paul_stein@msn.com