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115th Column

I overlooked wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 114th which arrived a few days ago. A little late now, but best wishes for a wonderful 2000 to all you faithful readers. A purist, I will save my millennium wishes until closer to 1 Jan 01…

This one begins with sad news. Jane Evans, wife of Sandy died on 10 Dec of a heart attack. As most of you know, Jane had been ill several years with diabetes and complications resulting from diabetes. On 13 Dec there was a graveside service for her at the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA. Classmates who attended included Bob Melott, Tom Looney, Jerry Mitchell, Bob & Judy Moore, George Lawton, Butch & Nancy Ordway, Will & Sandy Roosma, Mel & Jane Drisko, Tony & Billie Nadal and Phil Pryor. Following the service there was a reception at the Evans’ home near Richmond. I find it hard to find words to convey to Sandy and family our admiration for a gallant lady who fought her illness courageously for a long, long time. Jane and Sandy are in our hearts and prayers.

For the record, C1 does things right. Back in the winter of 1987/88 before our 30th Reunion, while looking for lost company-mates, they located Kevin Brown in Pittsburgh. Finding Kevin was good news; learning that he was bed-ridden and terminally ill with cancer was tragic. Forthwith many C1 files (and others) in DC area drove to Pittsburgh to see Kevin before he died. Many will remember that Gay Brown had the courage to attend our 30th about six months after Kevin’s death.

And now 11 years later C1 comes through again. Because of Jane’s diabetes, she had not been able to attend reunions, so C1 had a reunion in Richmond for her. Their company gathering for Jane & Sandy was 13-14 Nov. No one could predict Jane’s heart attack, but seeing her in Nov was providential. The photo from the company formation shows Bond, Mitchell, Moore, Looney Melott and Evans. Contributions in memory of Jane can be sent to the American Diabetes Association, 2800 Parham Rd., Richmond VA 23294.

Back to Gay Brown, she called me recently for some ’58 addresses. She is still in Calif; therefore, I encouraged her to attend the Portland Mini. Quoting from Gay’s email response: "I am, indeed, hoping to go to the mini reunion. I need to sign up. Think it would be nice to combine that with a trip to British Columbia. I have recently taken up fly-fishing. I am off on the grandchildren tour starting Sunday and don't return until Jan 8."

Our class sleuth and former chairman (name withheld to protect his identity) was recently in touch with another of our widows, Stella Smith. A TROA locator plea by someone looking for Stella prompted his call. "She was thrilled that this couple was looking for her and will contact them immediately." The spot report continues, "She is living with one of her daughters and son-in-law in Folsom, CA. She sees Sam & Joan Collins from time to time. She comes back to the DC area (annually) to spend a month with another daughter who lives in the Centreville area. She greatly appreciated Dick Price's efforts on Ted's obit for ASSEMBLY."

I am blessed with a number of photos; therefore, you are spared too many words. Good thing because 114th was too long. Now on 4 Jan I am reducing 115th because it was rejected by my Editor yesterday—too long. Marvels of email communications.

June Ladies. Two more per May email from Jack Downing, "George, you have really started something now with your Ladies who came up in June. My wife Margie and I dated from Cow year on. We were introduced by Ed Linkiewicz. Margie was a blind date for Denny Sharon who couldn't make it and I filled in at the last minute. Fate. I just talked to Dan Charlton. Dan said his wife Pat was there in June 1958 also."

First-time reunion attendees. I sent an email to class net seeking information after the 40th on either first-time-ever reunion attendees or first-time at West Point having attended a prior mini. My memory had Dick Smith F1, Paul Vanture B2 (now Paul is super coordinator and communicator for Portland Mini), John Soper H2 and Stan Snipes L2 as first-ever attendees. And Lou Prime H2 (Palm Springs 1989 and Carmel 1996) and Mike Luck G1 (Charleston 1995) as first-timers at a West Point reunion.

Email additions to the first-time-ever-reunion category: Fred Mayer A1, Curt Stender D1, John Schaefer D1 and Charley Glover I2 (new CCQ for his company). Added to the category of prior mini-reunion, but first-time at West Point TK & Catherine Smith I2 (Bar Harbor 1990) and JoAnne & Jude Theibert M1 (Hershey 1997).

An email correction from Stan Snipes, "My son, daughter and I really enjoyed the 40th. It was really very well done. To answer some of your requests, my late wife Carol and I attended the 10th reunion of the great class of ‘58, so this was my second one. I plan on subscribing to the ASSEMBLY." Words your Scribe loves to read.

An exchange of email messages with John Sutherland ended with my remark, "One day I hope to report that John Sutherland attended his first-ever reunion!" His next opportunity will be Portland 7-10 Sep 00. Be there John! K2 needs you because so far only your CCQ Art & Sue Meyer are signed up. The reunion body count on 1 Jan was 127 classmates and 253 total. The lead company (data is two-months old) was/is M1 (10) followed by A1 and A2 (8 each), H2, I2, K1, L1 and M2 (7 each). Really good news is that no company is AWOL.

More old information cut from 114th. Pete Kusek wrote (Sep 98), "On a business trip to Hawaii last month I had an opportunity to spend some quality time with Nat Crow, an old E2 roommate, whom I hadn't seen since the artillery basic course. I am happy to report that Nat is alive and well, living in a penthouse condo in Waikiki, retired, and travelling as much as he can (85 different countries at last count). Nat was a gracious host and showed me all of the highlights of Oahu (in) the limited time I had. He has lived in Waikiki for a long time and really knows the history, culture and geography of Hawaii." Thanks, Pete, sorry for the delay mentioning Nat in "despataches" (British spelling courtesy of my employer, Rolls-Royce plc).

My mailbag looks like Santa’s gift bag. I will try to hit some highlights. Paul & Patty Ruud hosted a gathering in Auburn, CA over Thanksgiving weekend. He sent two photos. One this time and one for 116th. Dick & Sylvia Schonberger provided a photo from Taprohm Wat, Angor, Cambodia. From another unusual and exotic spot--the Jersey Shore--is a photo of Alan Salisbury, Branch Worsham and Bill Giallourakis. For Branch & Nancy "the event of the year (1999) was the birth of Sarah, our second grandchild." And the event of next year (2000) is celebrating their 40th anniversary. When they were married on 2 Jan 60 the 40th in 2000 and Y2K were not considered. They have delayed the party until 15 Jan at the Officers Club at US Merchant Marine Academy, King’s Point, NY to be followed with a celebratory trip to England.

Elizabeth Madigan wrote to let us know the awards for Army War College annual writing competitions have been renamed "Colonel John J Madigan III Staff and Faculty Writing Awards." The Madigan Awards are a great way to memorialize Jack, Editor of Parameters magazine at the time of his death in Jan 99. Elizabeth also said there is a display honoring Jack in the War College library. Most of their family attended the awards ceremony and opening of the library display.

Reported in an earlier column was the story of Pat Johnson’s rare lung problem, emergency treatment on Hamlet, NC and subsequent medevac flight to UVA Med Center. Good news from Don: they celebrated their 40th in Nov.

A too-long-delayed report which cannot wait for 116th covers Joe & Kathy Schwar’s 1998 wedding. I more-or-less recently saw them on a mobile lounge at Dulles. Joe asked if I had reported their news. He confessed his ASSEMBLY subscription had lapsed and thought he might have missed it. Good news, Joe has corrected his gross negligence re ASSEMBLY. Bad news, I cannot find any mention of this happy event in an earlier column. Offered as matters in extenuation and mitigation by your Scribe, the photographic evidence arrived in late Nov 99. Great place to end this edition of the continuing saga of ’58.

Next time I should have news of the Austrian Ski Mini, grandparents with photographic evidence cut from 115th and a new category, classmates who own airplanes. I have a photo of Bob McCann and Mark Sigurski at Bob’s plane. Meanwhile, get your travel and hotel reservations for Portland!

PS. Dave Coury died of an apparent heart attack on 1 Jan 00 in Guadalajara, Mexico. We were informed by his son-in-law LTC Scott Miller '83. Dave will be buried in Torrington, CT on 8 Jan. He is survived by his mother and eight children. A2 company-mates are involved for flowers and services. Our condolences to Dave's family.

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