By Gregory A. Weiss
The biggest news, of course, is the 50th reunion. Just in case we haven’t drilled this into you by now, the dates are June 2–5 in Davenport College. The excitement is building! You will be receiving in mid-March a mailing with detailed information and signup materials. Make sure you register (preferably online) as soon as you can; it will make the planning process a lot easier if you do. And you should be receiving within the next month our massive 50th reunion class book. We’re sure you will find it fascinating! As one of the most exciting events planned for the reunion, two of our classmates, Bill Hannay and Damon Baker, have written a musical specifically for the occasion which will have its world premiere as a matinee performance on reunion Saturday afternoon. Featuring a small group of other classmates, the play is a send-up of the Naked Lunch obscenity trial in the early 1960s. The writing is clever, and the music is catchy. Don’t miss it!
Peter Lownds, one of our key actors, is “looking forward to the reunion (my first) and to playing Norman Mailer in the [Naked Lunch musical]. Busy with things domestic, social, and theatrical. Trying to simplify my life so my wife, Teresa, and I can start to travel—Istanbul and Cuba call.” Ben Liptzin “stepped down as department chair June 30, 2015. Stayed on full time but will be transitioning to per diem coverage in January so will have time to attend Winterfest in Aspen. Also honored to represent our class at the AYA assembly in November.”
Peter Stambler writes: “I seem to be spending much more Yale time these days, and it pleases me. I’m interviewing applicants here in Charleston, and I’ve just become the South Carolina delegate to the AYA. Last summer (2014), I took my granddaughter to India on a Yale Alumni Service Corps trip.”
Breaking News: We have seen reports in the recent press (early January) that David Milch has committed to write a movie script for HBO as a follow-up to his successful Deadwood TV series. David reportedly will begin writing “when he finishes work on his current project.” We sure hope this will not interfere with a trip to New Haven in early June!
Day Patterson “regrets to report that our classmate and my former roommate John G. Kneen died of stomach cancer on November 13. John, who moved to Corrales, New Mexico, when he retired, is survived by his wife, the former Pat Haley. A resident and citizen of South Africa when Yale awarded him a full scholarship, John graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale and earned a full scholarship to Columbia Business School, following which he had a very successful career in management consulting at Towers Perrin in New York City.”