The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/65892
classnotes George Bingham '40 rode by the campus on June 3, 2008, right after celebrating his 89th birthday in Lunenburg with over 40 relatives. "We were on our way to Mark Twain's house in Hartford. The day before, we visited Gloucester and Rock- port, from the days of my youth. I plan to come back for my 95th in 2014, but my doctor won't guarantee that far ahead." George is still busy with the Global Warming Realists and making progress in defeating the hoax of Anthropogenic Global Warming. Esther and Howard Freeman '40 celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last June and are living in their home of the past 50 years, in Worcester. Bill Walsh '43 is still working at getting his start-up, VGA Nozzle Co., going and says he has no intention of retiring. "As I've had three new patents in the past three years, it looks more promising than ever. One relates to retrofitting of indus- trial power plants for flue gas cleaning; another is for a meth- od and injection nozzle for joint combustion of biomass and fossil fuels. The third, for a method and apparatus for solar greenhouse production and harvesting of micro-algae, has just been allowed and is not yet issued. I'm seeking licensees to whom I can transfer my variable gas atomization technol- ogy." Bill spends his winters in Florida and summers in Con- necticut and New Hampshire. "Good news first," writes Marion Lebourveau, wife of John Lebourveau '44. "We have two great-grandchildren. Bad news: John now lives in a nursing home due to Alzheimer's disease. However, he is remarkably good natured, still plays his cello, and participates in choral groups. We moved to a retirement community 16 years ago and have never looked back. It is excellent, and we are grateful for the care he receives." Ernie Kretzmer '45 writes, "Still hangin' in there in sunny Sarasota at age 87, enjoying our beautiful beaches and countless cultural offerings, including our fabulous opera company, ballet, symphony orchestra, theaters, and more. Unfortunately, I can't attend class reunions and other events at Tech because of my wife's health. But I do follow with interest what's going on up on the Hill. Greetings to all classmates!" 1George Comstock '46 writes, "My wife, Anne Hillman, and I took a long-dreamed-of trip to Rwanda and Tanzania, consorting with a family of Dianne Fossey's gorillas, and learning plenty about genocide. This photo by Anne shows a leopard coming down out of a tree where he'd stashed his dinner. I organized an all-electric "Flight Night" for the town of Portola Valley, Calif., and I'm planning a "second annual" for June. I'm honing my skills in flying these fascinating model 1 planes and helicopters. I also have a part in a local production of "Our Town"—in my 89th year! The sad thing about being the age I am is the increasing tempo of loss of old friends, like classmate Tom Foley and Gordon Gurney '41. But that's one aspect of life, isn't it? Anne and I are involved in an Inter- faith Book Club, which includes Hebrew, Muslim, Christian, and Atheist members, leading to intriguing philosophical churnings. If you ask what my guiding principles are these days, aside from trying to stay healthy, it would be 'Keep involved, learn to love better, and stay in contact with friends old and new!'" John Knibb '46 writes, "Still active at 85; married 61 years. I've been an ordained minister for 60 years and am still preaching. Last July I attended the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nashville." Frederick Kull '46 writes, "I am living alone now in my home of over 35 years, looking to sell and move to a seniors facility where I will have friends and bus service. My wife of 61 years died two years ago. My wonderful WPI education served me well through my working years. That is how I ended up in the Greater Atlanta area working for the Southern Railway Sys- tem, which became Norfolk & Southern Railway. Before that I was in the space program at Patrick AFB in Florida. My three children all live within 50 miles of me. I am sorry that I have missed the last few reunions, with the chance to see some of my classmates. To all of them I send my very best wishes." Richard Lawton '46 reports that he is now a widower, and retired. "My son is running my company, Snell Auto, which I started in 1966." Allen Mintz '48 says, "I am busy in the winter forcing daffo- dils—I have one pot with five blossoms right now. I keep in shape with daily exercises,walking at 5:30 a.m., then some gardening in the condo's beds, and in Reading, where a friend and I have about 50 tomato plants that we've grown from seed. I also grow rhubarb, zucchinis, squash, and pep- pers. I'm enjoying the children and grandchildren—and hope so see great-grandchildren someday." Hal Gruen '49 '65 SIM writes, "I am thoroughly enjoying my retirement with newfound friend Annette, playing golf, travel- ing, and doing lots of volunteer work." Jeremiah O'Neil '50 says, "Still alive and breathing!" He lives in Scotch Plains, N.J., with his wife, Vivian. Victor Chun '51 has published American PT Boats in World War II, Volume II. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Susan. Jack Reid '51 writes, "Bev and I have been in a continuing care facility in Juno Beach, Fla., for the past four years. Don't know how we had time to go to work in our previous life. Always something going on around here. Just came back from a seven-day cruise to the western Caribbean." George Sanderson '52 lives in Staatsburg, N.Y. "Still mov- ing, waiting for the Higgs," he says. Ed Diamond '53 retired in 1977 from a career that included "working, sometimes in a small way, on every major space project from Mercury to the Space Shuttle as part of the cast of thousands. After leaving Aerospace, I managed the design and construction of some very sophisticated laboratories for the USDA. Retirement is great!" 64 Spring 2012