YAM Notes: July/August 2025
By John D. Hatch III for the Communications Team. YAM@Yale62.org
At the end of March, Class Secretary John Stewart spoke with Dick Riseling and shares the following report: “Dick recently began treatment for two cancers, both with radiation and chemo! He has also received a new heart valve. Arguments continue with insurers about monies to further refurbish his and Sonja’s tornado-demolished farm. Good news is that he has a constant string of visitors who bring food, and he is working on a couple of essays, one political and the other anti-religion. I urged him to share them with us when he’s completed them. He is indomitable!” Let’s hope that by the time you read this, Dick’s physical problems are resolved positively, and that the essays are nearing completion.
John also chatted with Louis Mackall, resulting in an interview that is available on the front page of our class website, Yale62.org.
Expanding our communications team options, we are joining in some discussion Zooms developed by Y’60 and also including Y’61. The first discussion was one of a planned series on the challenges of rebuilding Los Angeles in the aftermath of last winter’s wildfires. Yale professor Kai Chen described many of the health risks associated with wildfires, heat, cold, and smoke. The other cooperative talk, held in mid-May (and not part of the L.A. series), was by Prof. Jason Stanley about the dangers of authoritarianism.
The regular “First Thursday” Coffee Hour (1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern) for the month of April showcased the kind of leadership teaching Lee Bolman has been doing for most of his professional life. He explored briefly what factors enabled Donald Trump to become president and Elon Musk the world’s richest man, and then what enabled them to become allies and an almost unstoppable force with DOGE, among the plethora of remarkable, if not unprecedented features of the second Trump administration. As both men are dramatically unconventional and polarizing figures, questions such as how did they get where they are, and where might they be headed were addressed, as well as how long might this tandem hold together. With comments and questions from classmates, the session easily held our attention and filled the allotted time.
May’s Coffee Hour featured classmate Jeffrey Loria, who led a lively discussion around his recent autobiography, From the Front Row: Reflections from a Major League Baseball Owner and Modern Art Dealer. Jeff described his experiences as a Major League Baseball team owner following an initial career as a modern art dealer. A very easy and entertaining conversation covered both topics in the book, from his friendships with some of the greatest artists of the twentieth century to his pennant-winning ownership of the Miami Marlins. He spoke about the impact Yale has had on his life, and his lifelong friendship with the ever-charismatic, legendary professor Vincent Scully.
Like all Coffee Hours and all Y62 video interviews, the recordings of both Coffee Hours mentioned in this column are available for you to watch at your convenience on our class website.
For Yale alumni who signed the petition to encourage Yale President Maurie McInnis and Provost Scott Strobel to stand in support of Harvard’s strong resistance against President’s Trump’s request to change their curriculum and methods of administration, as of this early May writing, over 6,000 signatures have joined yours. In recognizing the cuts that are likely to come to the university (if they haven’t by the time you read this), the Yale Daily News reports (May 3) that Yale is contemplating raising funds by converting its private equity assets into liquid assets that are more readily spendable. In addition, the university has announced cuts to spending on faculty raises, faculty and staff hiring, campus construction, and other non-salary expenditures.
Sadly, we learned of the death of Ward Watt and will post his obituary on Yale62.org in due course. During this period, we added the obituary of Eli Newberger, and also a loving remembrance of him by his wife, Carolyn, as well.