1969

Once again we must tap into the vast reservoir that is the talent and energy of our class to ask some of you to step forward and become more active participants in the College. Our president has asked me to alert you to the amended Alumni Council constitution, which now calls for one class representative from each class. We ask any of you interested in representing us and able to attend one or two meetings a year in Hanover, to please raise your hands by submitting your name to Dudley Kay or any of the other class officers. Check the Web site for details on this position.

Speaking of the prez, Dud and Jill Ford went on the cruise of a lifetime in early February. Dubbed "Cayamo: A Journey Through Song," the chartered 2,700-passenger Carnival ship carried 26 singer-songwriter acts headlined by Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris. Dudley describes it as a floating music festival. The young talent and scores of passengers also with considerable talent never let up on the six-day journey through perfect weather. Apparently it was so successful that the organizers are already planning next years event, and Dudley urges music lovers to go to www.cayamo.com to see the pictures and learn more about the cruise.

Two '69s have risen to the very top of their field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. Richard Feins and Craig Miller are leaders in an effort to radically re-engineer this country's cardiothoracic surgical residency education structure. Craig is president of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery and Rick is the chairman of the American Board of Thoracic Surgeons. One of the primary roles of their boards is to examine and recertify all heart and lung surgeons in the United States. The need to constantly certify and assure ongoing competency in their field has brought Rick and Craig together some 42 years after they were both members of the 1966 heavyweight freshman crew.

Following graduation and medical school Rick spent the next 30 years working at the University of Rochester Medical Center. A few years ago he moved to the University of North Carolina Medical School, where he is professor of surgery and head of general thoracic surgery. Rick and his wife, Ceil, have two sons, one finishing Harvard Medical School in May and the other receiving his wings from the Navy this spring to fly helicopters.

Craig is the Doelger Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at Stanford, where he attended medical school and did his residency. Craig's primary professional interest (dear to my bovinevalved heart) is valvular surgery. From "The Book" I find his non-professional interests include flying, hunting, skiing and trying to get home before midnight each day. I imagine he is still finding that difficult to accomplish. An interesting aside, Craig reports Peter Lawrence, who is currently chief of vascular surgery at UCLA, was also a part of that freshman crew.

Please, please check the Web site and see the many changes our Webmaster has created for us. And don't forget to contact Allen Denison and me with news.

P.O. Box 1447; Anacortes, WA98221; (360) 588-8852; wheat69@earthlink.net