48 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | CLASS NOTES hem Steel’s demise I spent 10 years at Morgan State University in Baltimore helping with their construction program.” Currently, he is still assisting a local private school, founded in Waldorf, Germany, with their maintenance and construction programs. It’s wonderful that Hank can keep so active at 95. Hank has an adopted son, Novoa Champion, who will graduate in December from Towson University as an “A student” in computer science. Novoa plans to get advanced degrees in the future. He is an excellent flute player too, having gone to the Academy of the Arts in Baltimore. I also spoke with Robert Hoyt ’52, who I ran track with. Bob was in a five-year program where he received two degrees, one in arts and one in engineering. He started with the ’51 class, graduated with ’52 and has attended both ’51 and ’52 reunions in the past. When we spoke, he was getting ready to go to Nantucket, where he has a home. Bob took Army ROTC and spent much of his service as a maintenance officer in Korea. He has a large family with six children (four boys, two girls), 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren as of November 2024. Despite being an engineer, Bob acquired a franchise payroll-preparing business. His business continues and is now run by one of his sons. Bob was active in Lehigh athletics, track, cross country, swimming and wrestling. Other activities included president of his dorm section in Dravo House, Society of American Military Engineers and commodore of the Lehigh Sailing Club. Healthwise, at 94 Bob recently had a pacemaker installed but, in general, is as healthy as can be expected at our ages. Let us hear from you. We want to keep Bill Erdman’s ’52 column continually behind ours. To do that, we will need your information or else we will have to talk about Lehigh wrestling for the last 70 years or so! ’52 Bill Erdman, (407) 644-0391; 1171 Willa Vista Trail, Maitland, Fla., 32751 wce96@seeoursite.org; seeoursite.org/lehigh Received sad news about two of our classmates, Bob Lebo and John Seville. Bob, a Marine and a member of the Tower Society, died November 19, 2023. He worked for Bethlehem Steel, Martin Marietta, Shockey Brothers and Washington Gas Light. John died October 21, 2023. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta, a wrestler and a U.S. Army vet serving in Korea. He worked as a building and remodeling contractor. In April, Bill Skillman happily emailed me that he and his new bride celebrated five years of wedded bliss. Bob Reisman’s son, Larry ’82, is planning on sending me some news, but unfortunately I didn’t receive it by deadline for this issue. Wally Field updated his page: “I’ll be 93 this September, and I’m pretty sure I was the youngest in our class. Hard to believe I walked into Lehigh as a 16-year-old! My current health is excellent. I’ve had my share of maladies, but I am single, I live alone in a two-bed, two-bath apartment in Quakertown. I became a ballroom dancer 20 years ago, and I’m still doing it 2-4 hours per week. Picture a 93-yearold dancing with pretty 70-year-old ladies! It is tons of fun! I’ve been singing with the Grace Church of Bethlehem choir for the past 40 years. I have three grandchildren. One just got her Ph.D. in biology from Penn State. She will be working for the CDC in Omaha. The other two are boys, 6 and 7. Their mother, Corinne, also went to Lehigh.” Bob Arndt sent this nonsensical note as filler: “Twenty years ago, I read a biography about Warren Buffett. Turns out his birthday is the same as mine—August 30, 1930. So, I sent him a birthday card. I told him a little bit about myself and ended with, ‘We were both born on the same day, wouldn’t it be something if we both died on the same day.’ He sent the card back to me with his note across the top, ‘Bob, this sounds like a good idea, but let’s wait until we’re both 100.’ We have six more years to go. I still feel pretty good. I send him reminder cards every five years. Maybe I’ll get some Class A shares of Berkshire Hathaway.” Jim Lovell sent a note via wife Martha: “I’m almost 96 and still hanging in. Most of my family is nearby. I have five great-grandchildren and one more on the way.” My stuff: I’m still pedaling my bike, but I can’t walk anymore—it is a balance thing. Sitting on a bike seat changes my center of balance enough to allow me to ride. According to my count we are down to 38 active classmates whom I have heard from in the past 15 years and 260 “lost” classmates whom I have not heard from or about them in over 15 years. Statistically I must assume that a large percentage, if not all, are gone. I don’t mean to be morbid, but I’ve followed you guys via our website for almost 25 years, and it still brings tears to my eyes when I have to move a friend from “active” to “deceased.” To all you guys who are reading this: You are among a blessed few—reach out and hug someone and celebrate your long life. Be sure and thank those who loved you along the way. ’53 Herb Roemmele, 12133 Plantation Way, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 33418; (732) 796-3013; herbertroemmele@gmail.com After waiting 70 years, Ernie Sponzilli decided to respond to my urgent request for class news. Ernie had a distinguished career as a doctor in California. Believe it or not, he lived in Lafayette, Calif. Who would ever want to live in a town called Lafayette? Ernie got to know my high school friend and freshman roommate, Dr. Dick Witzig. They would meet at Lehigh California functions. They were also both born in East Rutherford, N.J. Dick passed away several years ago, as well as his wife, Carolyn Bracken, who was the daughter of the famous comedian Eddie Bracken. Dr. Sponzilli also knew a lot about my activities with the University of Medicine and Dentistry for eight years. A big job, 13,000 employees and 7,000 students. Now mostly part of Rutgers. Let’s hope Ernie’s example of sending a letter will inspire the remaining members to also respond. Bob Guilda phoned to report that he is also doing well. My old high school and Lehigh friend, Myles Adelman, sadly lost his wife, Liz, after 65 years of wedded bliss. Myles returned to the campus at one of our recent reunions to meet up with his college roommate, Joe Morgenstern. Joe—when is that book coming out? Over the years, our class has always had well-prepared reunions thanks to a loyal group of our graduates who lived in the Bethlehem area. When we lost Joe Workman, we lost our leader. Before him, we lost Bob Littner, Tip Mowrer, Bill Latshaw, plus several more. We thank them and remember them. We have a real challenge ahead. Let me hear from you with news and ideas. ’54 Mark Davis, 302-422-1861; 18655 Piper Lane, Ellendale, DE 19941; markLdavis@verizon.net Editor’s note: Mark Davis, who stepped into the correspondent role in 2023 and loved every minute of reconnecting with his classmates, passed away after a short illness on July 2, 2024. He was honored with the Alumni Award at Reunion in
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