1963

1963

We celebrated the life of Harry R. Zlokower, our class secretary for the past 43 years. Along with Harry’s family and his friends, Bob and Beth Bysshe, Bill and Pat Russell, Lenore Bowne, Art Williams, Dan Muchinsky, and yours truly gathered one afternoon at Le Zie Trattoria in lower Manhattan to share memories of the diehard Yankee fan who was a consummate organizer and gatherer and a dedicated father and husband.

I told this story: One night about a dozen years ago my daughter Kelsey, an aspiring jazz singer, was performing at a watering hole in lower Manhattan. When I looked around, I was stunned to see Harry and Nicole at a nearby table. During a break, they told me that they’d been going to Kelsey’s gigs for some time and were big fans.

In December we lost Thomas Daniel Bracken, Louis V. Gerstner Jr., and Blair C. Wood.

Dan passed away December 23 in Portland, Oregon. Dan (Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Gamma, and Sphinx) earned his Ph.D. in physics from Stanford, taught at Reed College, worked for the Bonneville Power Administration, and formed a consulting company. He’s survived by three adult children and four grandchildren; his wife, Jeanne, whom he met at Stanford, predeceased him. I learned of Dan’s passing from classmate Tom Carter. Tom and his wife are living in Los Angeles, close to their three children and two grandchildren. He’s cowriting a book with three former colleagues.

Lou (Kappa Sigma, Casque & Gauntlet), who died December 27 in Hobe Sound, Florida, received an honorary degree in 2013. Less well known than his business accomplishments is the Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Scholars program for promising first-generation, STEM college students, which Lou established in 2020. In Who Says Elephants Can t Dance? Lou revealed that his parents refinanced their home to pay for his education.

Blair Wood (Phi Kappa Psi) died at home in Montana on December 28, his daughter, Hilary, reports.

Dan, Lou, and Blair are the 303 rd, 304th, and 305th classmates to leave us. Tread carefully, do your balance exercises, and sing, dance, and laugh as much as possible.

—John Merrow, 201 East 79th St., Apt. 5D, New York City, NY10075; (646) 373-3034; john.merrow@ gmail.com