1938

Itis with sadness that I report the loss of two classmates, Robert Erving Atkin- son and Lewis Gildersleeve Harriman Jr.

Bob, ofWest Hartford, Connecticut, is sur- vived by his wife, Marjorie, son Gregory, daughter Sandra, four stepchildren, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Bob retired from United Technologies in East Hartford and retired in 1994 to the Chatfield community in West Hart- ford, where he enjoyed the facility’s amenities and the companionship of the residents. Our deepest sympathy to Bob’s family.

Lew from 1919 until 1994 lived in Buffalo, New York, then moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Lew was drafted into the Army as a private in 1941 and in 1945 ended his military career as a major, commanding coastal artillery units in Hawaii. With his dear wife of 51 years, Helen, he worked joyfully and tirelessly to make their community a better place. Our deepest sympathy to his family.

In this unknown and whirlwind of a world we live in, where the biggest problem is the easiest to fix and I speak of communicating with each other, I would like to quote from Lew’s obitu- ary a profound statement from which many who make decisions for the residents of the United States might learn something: “Lew was a lifelong Republican, and his best friends and closest col- laborators were far-left Democrats and leaders of minority communities, with whom he shared annoyance and impatience with those in power who failed to notice and act to meet the needs of their community and of those who were less for- tunate in the lottery of their birth circumstances.” This profound feeling from a gentle man who lived to be 99 years of age—will we ever learn and take heed from those individuals who have seen, learned and lived for and through almost a century of change(s) that we need to go back to the basics of what is truly important?

Thank you to Phil Thompson for his “best wishes to the ’38 survivors!” Know that I think of you often!

2205 Boston Road O139, Wilbra- ham, MA 01095