I have been concerned that until recently, U.S. support for the Ukrainians has been anemic. Our slow response to Russian aggression has led to horrific consequences for Ukraine and its people. I have written the following note to explain my concerns and pose questions that I haven’t heard addressed in mainstream media.

In 2005, Vladimir Putin revealed his intentions toward countries that had left the Soviet Union.

In an address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian… Read Bill’s full Op-Ed here.

9/30/22
My Work with the ADA
By Jim Lewis

Abraham Lincoln’s Home in Springfield, IL, shown here not compliant with ADA

In 1991, Congress passed and President George H. W. Bush was glad to sign the ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act. This legislation changed the existing expectations for the many millions of people with physical and mental limitations, and brought them more fully into our communities, to benefit the individuals as well as the communities.

How would this be implemented? Good question. Someone had to do something.

After the passage of the ADA, the United States Department of Justice invited Assistant United States Attorneys – like me – to one-day regional ADA training. Jaci, a paralegal in our office, came with me. We learned about the law and checked out an ADA-compliant… Read Jim’s full account here.

9/30/22
Bits & Pieces for a Good Life
By Lee V. Bakunin

Welcome, Yale Class of 2062!

You are the 358th Class to receive opening remarks as you embark on your journey to shape your world of tomorrow.

The legacy you will leave starts now.

Memories, experiences, successes and failures.

I’ve shied away from pontificating or providing you with a list of do’s and don’ts for success. Because… you will do it your way and far be it from me to tell you to change what you believe works or doesn’t work for you. Still working on my stuff. I’m not there yet. You are probably in a better position to offer a suggestion or two to me than the other way… Read Lee’s full essay here.

9/20/22
One Photographer’s View

Classmate and Communications Team member Gary Richardson recently closed a show of his photos in his longtime hometown of Boise, Idaho, and has sent us a sampling of his keen-eyed, amazing work. Please visit his online gallery he has shared with us here.

9/20/22
Seeking Asphaleia (ἀσφάλεια)
By Charles Valier

Tennis Court Hill

Taffy, my Golden Retriever puppy and I ascend “tennis court hill.” As a young boy, I strained to pedal my bike up that same hill. Now, after traversing the surrounding grounds, my immediate neighborhood and descending the hill created many thousands of years ago by a receding glacier, I have to climb again to return to my home firmly planted at the crest. I struggle under the weight of 82 years. The sound of my shuffling and banter with Taffy is drowned out by the hum… CLICK TO READ THE FULL ESSAY

9/20/22
Yale School of Architecture Plans Celebration of Alex Garvin’s Life, Work

Classmate Steve Rose sent in the following news: “I thought the class would be interested in this multi-event occasion regarding our classmate, Alex. It would be nice if we sent a classmate to some of the events (two in New Haven, three in NYC) to bring back a report.” Full info is available at the link at the bottom labeled “Click here to receive detailed invitations and information.” If anyone is interested in attending, and then sending us a few words about the events – one or more – please let us know at YAM@yale62.org. Thanks!

9/06/22
Our Sept. ‘First Thursday’ Coffee Hour. “Midterm Elections: Fateful for Democracy?”

On Thursday, September 1, we had a lively discussion about a few of the upcoming midterm political races, starting off with updates by classmate residents of Arizona (Bob Breault), Georgia (Rod Hunter, Roscoe Sandlin) and Pennsylvania (Jack Merrick). Ably moderated by Communications Team member Lee Bolman and brought into sharp focus by our newsman classmate Al Chambers, the 90-minute meeting was enlightening, engaging and fun. Enjoy the recording, and be sure to leave your own comments on the comments page.

8/23/22
Y62 Interview: Bob Stokstad

A few days back, Communications Team member Bill Weber was able to sit down with classmate Bob Stokstad. Because of the joyful, adventurous mix of science and outdoorsmanship in Bob’s life, Bill refers to him as “the Enrico Fermi of ’62.” Enjoy this lively chat!

Additionally, Bob sent us a few links to provide more information on a few of the topics covered in the interview.

• The IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole
• Bob’s South Pole Travel, Photography, Moto-Journalism
• Bob’s Metal Working

Click here to leave comments on the interview.

8/23/22
How Secure is China’s Leadership? Part Three
By Bill Stork

This fall’s 20th National Party Congress will be the most significant in forty years. While I expect that Xi Jinping will again be elected president for a third term, I also expect it will be with drastic and perhaps dramatic limitations.

China is exceedingly history-conscious, and precedents are important. No one since Mao Tse-tung has served for more than two terms… CLICK HERE TO READ BILL’S COMPLETE ESSAY

8/23/22
A Letter from Tanglewood
By John Stewart

Nestled in the verdant rolling Berkshire hills. Tanglewood is the 500-acre park-like summer home of the Boston Symphony. There is a large amphitheater and when it’s not raining, before the concerts there are many hundreds of visitors picnicking on the grass around it, or around the Ozawa theater, with its perfect acoustics. Since we moved east in 2011 we’ve attended at least a half dozen concerts every summer (except 2020) frequently in the company of classmates Lew and Melinda Spratlan, Carl and Liz Kaestle and Peter and Margaret Sipple, with a Lenox dinner… CLICK HERE TO READ JOHN’S LETTER IN ITS ENTIRETY

8/09/22
Y62: Our August ‘First Thursday’ Coffee Hour on “Surviving Yale”

On August 4, we held our “First Thursday’ Coffee Hour. Small group chat is not shown in the recording (not possible in the software we use), but everything from the large group is here. Enjoy the recording!

CLICK HERE TO COMMENT ON THE COFFEE HOUR

8/09/22
How Secure is China’s Leadership? Part Two
By Bill Stork

In the U.S., the political parties and media have their focus on the mid-term elections, and perhaps there is too much to cover and too much coverage. In China, the Chinese Communist Party has its Party Congress every five years, with the next one scheduled for this fall (date not yet revealed). At the last Party Congress, President Xi Jinping had enough power to scrap term limits on his presidency. But has his power slipped? Will the Party Congress vote to restore those term limits? Will they move forward on any other limitations?

Part Two of this three-part article will take a look at Xi’s standing within the Chinese Communist… CLICK HERE TO READ BILL’S COMPLETE ESSAY

8/01/22
Y62 Interview: Breaux Castleman, Jack Merrick

Last week, Communications Team member Bill Weber had the good chance to sit down with classmates Breaux Castleman and Jack Merrick, both of whom have ties to the oil industry, to talk about the fossil fuels pricing we’ve seen over the past few months. Enjoy this enlightening talk!

CLICK HERE TO COMMENT ON THE INTERVIEW

8/01/22
You Can Ignore Reality Only by Ignoring the Risk of Unacceptable Outcomes
By Anthony Carbone

Let’s start on the above theme with a capsule summary of the Biden administration’s energy policy. In the short term, the intent is to restrict the supply of fossil fuels, thereby driving up prices relative to renewable energy sources. Longer term, the objective is ultimately to deconstruct the oil and gas industry and limit production to approved, hard-to-decarbonize applications. The “forcing functions” that underpin this… CLICK HERE TO READ ANTHONY’S COMPLETE COMMENTARY

8/01/22
Legacy admits, affirmative action and college rankings: NOT All Quiet on the Admissions Front
By Lee Bolman

With the odds of admission steeper than ever, should legacy applicants still get an edge? Should Yale still consider race in admissions decisions? Will race and legacy status both disappear in the wake of a Supreme Court decision next year? Should Yale continue to participate in the US News annual college rankings when other schools may be gaming the numbers?  All these questions have been in the news recently…. CLICK HERE TO READ LEE’S COMPLETE ESSAY

7/22/22
Y62 Interview: Joe Holmes

Last week, John Stewart had the fun opportunity to sit down with the masterful musician Joe Holmes to talk about music in his life, and how it all began. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO COMMENT ON THE INTERVIEW

7/22/22
How Secure is China’s Leadership? Part One
By Bill Stork

In the U.S., the political parties and media have their focus on the mid-term elections, and perhaps there is too much to cover and too much coverage. In China, the Chinese Communist Party has its Party Congress every five years, with the next one scheduled for this fall (date not yet revealed!). At the last Party Congress, President Xi Jinping had enough power to have scrapped all… CLICK HERE TO READ BILL’S COMPLETE ESSAY

7/22/22
Calling All Podcasters!

Are you a podcaster? Do you listen to podcasts, and maybe find a few to recommend? We want to hear from you! Please drop a line to YAM@Yale62.org and tell us about your involvement with this new medium. Thanks!

7/12/22
Our Y62 Coffee Hour: July 7, 2022. Taking Apart The News

Comments? Please make them here.

7/12/22
Dark Review of a Wine Book — Rejected by the Journal of Wine Economics

By Roman Weil

Roman Weil

I had a ball writing this review for reasons you’ll see in a moment. The editor, after consulting with his co-editors rejected my first version because, they said, my review was more about what the book did not contain than what it did. Get rid of the stuff about its omissions and tell us its inclusions. So, I obeyed and did a boring review, which I’ll not give away anything about here. Instead I’ll show you what I wrote, which the editors rejected. All the following was in the first draft; none of this will appear in the Journal.

I’ll start by disabusing you of the notion this review is about Kevin Zraly’s book alone. You know him, sommelier at Windows on the World until its untimely demise on 9/11, but not me, so I’ll start with … READ ROMAN’S REVIEW HERE

7/07/22
Y62 Interview: David Finkle

Last week, John Stewart sat down via Zoom with David Finkle to chat about what’s kept David busy recently, and it’s a potpourri of endeavors! Please enjoy this charming chat between two longtime friends.

For more about David, you’re invited to go to his website, DavidFinkle.com, where you can hear an interview, read some of his stories and reviews, and even purchase a book or two, if you like.

Further, here’s that link to “Democracy, It’s the Best Thing Yet” – the latest Finkle and Weeden ode to our dear country.

7/07/22
Adventures with Cars
By Bill Weber of the Y62 Communications Team

1989 Jaguar, from my current collection

Back in high school I became fascinated with cars, and my first one, I recall, was a 1949 Packard that eventually ended up with me in New Haven during my Sophomore or Junior year; I sold it to Orin Towner, a fifth-year engineering/Navy fellow who roomed with Giamei, Post and me. Sometime before that, in my high school years, I bought a 1948 Lincoln V-12 Zephyr… CLICK TO READ BILL’S ADVENTURES

7/05/22
How Did You Survive Yale?

Did you have an unusual or especially interesting experiences in your adjustment to Yale, particularly involving money, grades, and financial aid? Did you have a scholarship and a bursary or off-campus job? Were they ever in jeopardy for any reason? Or a specific academic survival experience that you’d like to share? And what impact, if any, did this experience have on the rest of your Yale experience and your later life?

If you’d like to contribute to next month’s Coffee Hour discussion on Yale survival and adaptation experiences, write to the Coffee Hour team c/o Tim Hall at dthall@bu.edu.

6/21/22
Our 60th Reunion Materials – The Whole Package!
We now have the Reunion Report, courtesy of Reunion Chair, Dan Koenigsberg, videos for your viewing pleasure, the ‘Litany of Thanksgiving and Remembrance’ from our Memorial Service, and over 80 photos for you to enjoy. We hope it all brings a smile to your face!

6/06/22
Our Y62 Coffee Hour, June 1, 2022

Comments? Please make them here.

6/06/22
Memorial Day Celebration at the Town of Pulteney, NY
By Bill Weber

[Ed. Note: Former Town Supervisor of Pulteney, NY, Bill has been involved in civic activities there for many years. His Memorial Day speech is his latest service to the town.]

Welcome to the Town of Pulteney’s Memorial Day celebration. We are here today to honor the fallen soldiers of America’s wars and conflicts. On this day in 1868, General John Logan issued a proclamation commemorating the sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War. He called it Decoration Day, later to be termed Memorial Day. Over 600,000 men died in the battles and I am sad to say the United States has lost over 1 million men and women soldiers to date in a variety of wars and conflicts. The Town of Pulteney has contributed brave men and women to virtually all the conflicts and suffered loss… READ BILL’S COMPLETE ADDRESS HERE

6/03/22
Reunion Reflections of a Trailing Spouse
By Tim Hall

This is a report from the firing line, reflecting on yesterday’s experiences of being a nonessential participant in the ancient ritual, the Big Decade Reunion (for ancient alums). My wife, Marcy Crary, is a member of the Radcliffe/Harvard Class of 1972, was on the Reunion Planning Committee and chaired one of their class panels. So, she was a central member of the class gathering – and I was anything but. And this distance provided some useful… READ TIM’S COMPLETE ESSAY HERE

6/03/22
Y62 Interview: Art Mann & The Hourglass Foundation

Last month, Y62 Communications Team member Bill Weber sat down with classmate Art Mann to chat about the remarkable community development initiative in which Art’s been involved for well over two decades. Please enjoy the interview.

Comments? Please make them here.

6/03/22
The Yale Russian Chorus faces a difficult challenge.
By John Stewart

YRC in Russia, 2019

At the height of the cold war in the ’50s, a club began at Yale, to understand and learn more about Russia and the Soviet Union. Denis Mickewicz, studying in the Dept of Slavic Languages and the Yale School of Music, was invited to lead some Russian songs, and in a short time by virtue of his great charisma, musical and compositional gifts, and knowledge of sacred and secular Slavic choral literature, had attracted good enough voices to perform really challenging… READ JOHN’S COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

The Listing of Front Page Stories for the Past Year or So Continues Here…