CLASS NOTES | SPRING 2024 | 53 lege of Naval Warfare, graduating with honors. After 18 months in Washington, where our son was born, we went through Norwegian language training prior to my assignment in Oslo as the press attaché at the American Embassy. The major professional challenge was to gain popular support for the prepositioning of American Marine Corps equipment in north Norway in the event of a Soviet invasion and their effort to block the supply routes between Europe and the United States. “After my tour in Norway, we returned to Washington, D.C., where I studied the Dutch and French languages consecutively before being assigned to Brussels, Belgium, as press attaché at the bilateral U.S. Embassy (there were also the U.S. Missions to NATO, where Kathy worked, and the European Union) in Brussels. I received both the State Department and U.S. Information Agency’s Meritorious Honor awards while there. “I retired in Brussels and worked several years for Price Waterhouse in the European Community Affairs Office before returning to the States and starting a second career in New Bern, N.C., the colonial capital of the state and a truly charming town. After kicking around some time trying to figure out what to do, I became a financial adviser and stockbroker. Later, I earned my certified financial planner designation. I was elected to the town council in my community of River Bend, N.C., and was elected mayor for two terms. I became involved in Rotary and was elected district governor for 40-plus clubs located in northeastern North Carolina. “In 2018, we lost our home to Hurricane Florence. So, the last several years have been devoted to not only Rotary and my church, but also to ‘nesting’ in our new home. Our daughter graduated from Lehigh in 1995 and is the office manager for a group of attorneys in Rapid City, S.D. Our son received his Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a personnel manager for a large manufacturing company. “I remain in contact with Fred Hansen, Rick Coulston and Bob Nunemacher from Lehigh. The four of us have taken on challenges and responsibilities we never thought of in college—all of them interesting.” ’68 George Klacik, 27 Oak Forest Lane, Summit, NJ 07901, gklacikjr@ aol.com, (908) 273-7850. Mike Cooper called. He said that his Delta Chi fraternity brothers had been keeping in touch via Zoom. Mike had dinner with Mike Madigan, who is still living in Connecticut. Jim Shields sent an email. He is living in Houston and wrote about his military experience after graduating. “I was finishing my senior year at Lehigh. In February, I took my first airplane ride and went to Cleveland for a job interview with the Warner & Swasey Company. They told me to come back after I got out of the military. This was before the lottery, and I was prime to be drafted when I graduated. “The war in Vietnam was raging. I went down to South Bethlehem and walked into the Army recruiting office. On this day, I raised my hand and took the oath, and my six-year obligation to the Army began. I was able to graduate from Lehigh, then basic, then AIT, and then I was promised Officer Candidate School. “The recruiting office was very close to the Tally Ho and I went there to let it all sink in with a Ho burger, a dozen steamers and a beer or two. “This was the day the world stood on its head. MLK was murdered. It got worse. On June 6, RFK was murdered. My graduation was delayed because of the funeral. “I entered basic training at Fort Dix in July while our country was being set on fire. In September, I went to Fort Leonard Wood for combat engineer training. In December, I went to Fort Belvoir in Arlington, Va., for OCS. “On May 23, 1969, I again raised my hand and took the oath to protect and defend our Constitution, when I received my commission. In 1971, I was sent to Vietnam as a new captain. I received the Bronze Star for my service.” Jim also wrote that he “heard from Jim Mirenda that he and three Phi Gam buddies—Doug Breen, Bob Dixon and Tom Spencer ’69 —recently played a round of golf at Donald Trump’s club at Bedminster. Details of the scores are sketchy, but The Dixman won and Bubba almost broke 100 ... sort of.” I attended the Lehigh Athletic Department golf outing in September at Saucon Valley Country Club. To my surprise, the foursome I was placed in included Marc Particelli and his wife, Kaye. It was a great day and a well-run event. I got my money’s worth, dividing the cost over a lot of strokes. If you have the opportunity, you should attend next year. Terry Hart, professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics at Lehigh, gave a presentation at the Senior Alumni Back to the Classroom event in October. People have dreamed of flying ever higher and faster, from Leonardo to the Wright brothers to our missions to the moon. Terry highlighted that history and shared some of his personal experiences in aviation and in space. He also brought along students from the Lehigh University Space Initiative Club. The students approached Terry with the idea of forming the club, and he has helped them get it established. It is amazing what they have accomplished. They built a Mars Rover, getting assistance from industry to solve problems. For example, the students got help from a rubber company to supply rubber that could be used in a 3-D printer to build tires that could function on Mars. Things have come a long way from when I was a Lehigh, preoccupied with putting the right amount of detergent in the machines at the laundromat. Please send me an email or give me a call, so we have something for the next Bulletin. MMXXIV ’69 Guest Correspondent: Bob Kirchberger, bobkirchberger@ yahoo.com Our 55th reunion will be celebrated June 6-9, 2024. The reunion committee has been working on preparations with LU staff. The committee includes Hal Fittapaldi, Rich Bond, Peter Dane, George Ikeda, Bob Kirchberger and parade consultant Bob Frawley. As you may know, our one and only class correspondent, Ray Schmaltz, passed away in June 2023. Ray produced countless updates on the Class of ’69 over the years. We thank him for his longtime work. May he rest in peace. George Ikeda indicated that he is trying to get a large group of Theta Chis to come back for a reunion. At this point, he had interest from 11 brothers. At our 50th reunion, we had 78 class members participate. We hope to have a large turnout in June. On other class news, a group of Betas (myself included) and wives gathered for an annual football tailgate at the Georgetown game. While the day was rainy and Lehigh lost, we had a great time at the tailgate and, after the game, at our home in Easton. The group included Bonnie and Jim Huston, Sandy and Ray Snyder, Bob Frawley, Minouche Robinson, wife of the late Sandy Robinson, and Suellen and Bob Kirchberger. We were also joined by Genie and Hart Roper ’70 and Mary and D’Arcy
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