CLASS NOTES | FALL 2024 | 51 Class of 1954 who joined us, we had enough participants to make noise. Reunion weekend started with Brown and White Night with cocktails and dinner recognizing the alumni and friends who have made significant contributions to Lehigh’s progress and mission. Paul Prestia was presented with our reunion class award. We gathered Friday at the STEPS Building for our reception and presentation from Prof. Matt Veto of the Department of Journalism and Communications on the changing face of media and how Lehigh provides a facts-first environment. As I was one of only five journalism majors in our class, which was then a division of the English Department, it was astounding how media has grown in majors, faculty and scope. Veto’s lively and provocative presentation brought scores of animated questions, so much so that members of other classes with functions in the building stopped by to listen and join in packing the hall. We had only to move a few steps from STEPS to the courtyard for ReunionFest, which included a buffet dinner, open wine and beer bar, and music provided by the Lehigh Alumni Big Band Swing Thing, followed by a late-night DJ, all under a huge tent. We had class reserved tables, which made it even more pleasant. (Was this a gesture of Lehigh respecting our age or tenure?) Those who have attended reunions in our past golden years may recall the elaborate staging, themes and costumes remarkably produced by our departed and sorely missed Fred Feus. Who can forget the Dancing Raisins, Raceway 59, and the Lehigh Strut with a hired Philadelphia string band? Well, we could have used Fred this year. While we picked a lively theme for the Historic Parade of Classes—still rocking after all these years— and our theme music played by the alumni band “Rock Around the Clock” was lively enough, only Ed and Judy Hamer and Paul and Joanne Prestia managed to jitterbug. Dinner and cocktails in the Linderman Library was a special treat as we were honored to have Dean Elizabeth Dolan from the new College of Health as our speaker. She focused on why there is a need for this college, how it blends and supports the other colleges, and where in the job market graduates will place. The evening ended with a stirring singing of the alma mater. Fortunately, Don Foster used his Glee Club experience and Judy Hamer her beautiful voice to lead us through the entire song. Gene Chew vowed he would once again fly up from Houston for our 70th and when could he register? Trust Gene will be there along with the rest of us. ’60 Williams E. Millsom, 67 Mystic Road, North Stonington, CT 06359, (860) 235-3618 (C); bill.millsom@gmail.com Hello, classmates. Imagine my surprise when I opened a recent issue of my local Connecticut newspaper to find a major story on the life of my fraternity brother Jerry LeVasseur. It was a review of the Hartford circus fire of 1944, when Jerry’s life was saved when his mother lay on top of him, but he was left badly scarred and with the loss of most of the fingers on his left hand. Despite the loss of the fingers and the scarring, Jerry played sports at the Gunnery School and earned a degree in accounting at Lehigh. After Lehigh he was employed by a firm in Connecticut, where he became chief financial officer. Jerry has always kept a positive outlook on life. He and his wife, Arden, have four daughters and three grandchildren. He lives in Brunswick, Maine, and is still very active, especially in running. He is a member of many running clubs, competes on a national level and is in several Halls of Fame. In the past he has raced dog teams. Dave Eyer wrote that he has purchased his usual season Lehigh football tickets and hopes to make a few games. He and his wife, Irene, were heading to an off-the-grid fishing camp in western Quebec where they will spend close to a month fishing, etc., but with no cell phone service or roads. He has recently been in touch with John Hackworth, Jim Long and George Burrell. Wighty Martingdale wrote that he is still doing well, just walking and not running. His 13-year-old talented, mercurial granddaughter, Anne, keeps him hopping. He gets together with John Cunningham on a regular basis. Wighty has been teaching the honors program at Drexel University and self-published an American history textbook that he is trying to sell to the charter schools and homeschoolers. I spoke with Ira Friedman and learned he is still active in the business world as a consultant to the company to which he sold his company, mainly advising on acquisitions. He had a new heart valve put in this April. Editor’s note: In the Summer 2024 issue, Alan Segal’s son’s name was reported as Chris. His name is Sam Segal ’24. Our apologies for the error. ’61 Ken Weaver, 13 Coachman Drive, Egg Harbor Township, N.J 08234, kenweaver78@gmail.com, (609) 788-4897 (H) John Dobrota writes that one week after graduation he married his high school sweetheart, Gloria. Together they went to medical school at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. During four years of med school, they had two daughters, Susan and Deborah ’86. Their third daughter, Jennifer, was born during his internship at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem. Then back to Philadelphia for three years of internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship. John was drafted into the military, as were all doctors during the Vietnam era. He was stationed at Fifth General Hospital, Bad Cannstatt (near Stuttgart), Germany, for three years. Next back to Pennsylvania, where he practiced gastroenterology for 40 years at Grand View Hospital in Sellersville, Pa. John retired in 2010 and lives in Coopersburg, Pa., where he follows Lehigh wrestling and football (he has not missed the Easterns in 30 years). Still golfing, he had his third hole-in-one last year at Saucon Valley CC! He enjoyed following his twin grandsons’ basketball careers. After graduating in engineering physics, Joe Bartish spent the next 40 years with various U.S. aerospace corporations that provided support to the Department of Defense’s military systems, primarily the U.S. Navy. From 1963 to 1966, Joe was a civilian ship rider with a courtesy officer rank of lieutenant. He visited China, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Japan, Okinawa and other places. He was assigned to numerous U.S. bases to assist with various DOD projects. During this period, he met celebrities such as Casius Clay, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Hope and Wayne Newton. While residing in Trevose, Pa., he went to Penn State and graduated with an M.S. in engineering science. In 2001, Joe relocated to Las Vegas, Nev., continuing his employment with aerospace corporations assessing foreign military systems for the DOD. He spent five years developing processes for the operation and maintenance of unmanned aerial vehicles. He retired in 2012. In Vegas, he has attended the annual watch party for the Lehigh-Lafayette game. He is the BSA’s Eagle Scout adviser/coordinator, assisting scouts
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