S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 4 9 N O T E S The endowment is used to support Lehigh ROTC students. The current recipient is Spencer Howard ’22. Spencer reports that “after losing my father because of cancer during my sophomore year, I struggled to find my path, especially in regard to my academic career. My mother was unable to fund my wish to attend Lehigh. Receiving these scholarships has allowed me to continue my dreams. This year I will be instructing freshmen and sophomores in ROTC in basic skills in army leadership. I will be commissioned in the United States Army inMay and perhaps returning to Lehigh to receive mymaster’s degree.” Our 60th Reunion is June 9-12, 2022. A block of rooms is reserved at the Hyatt Place Bethlehem. Since the 2021 Reunion event was canceled, there will be three times as many alumni returning to the 2022 reunion. There will be a greater demand for hotel accommodations. ’63Dr. Robert C. Elser, navman9@ comcast.net; and James NewtonWilson, 959 Tree Tops, Wharton, NJ 07885, (973) LEhigh7-6516 (H), (862) 243-0864 (C), newt14@optimum.net ’64David A. Riemondy, 774Malibu Lane, Indialantic, FL 32903. (321) 777-9659 (home); (321) 506-7302 (cell); malibu4u@cfl.rr.com (email) First, I would like to thank my Gryphon friend Jack Holt for carrying our class flag during the 2021 Freshman Rally. And to note with pride that Joseph J. Helble, our 15th president, is a Class of ’82 Gryphon. It turns out that in addition to the call fromBrett’s son, Littleson, I did get a note from Mel Snyder last summer, but it arrived too late for my column. Mel says he was preparing in 2020 to retire from his 40-year pharma marketing-consulting business when he fired up again to support a COVID vaccine manufacturer—and still goes on. But most of the time, he says he is spending time on his ham radio hobby and editing the tens of thousands of travel images taken over more than a decade of travel in North America, the EU, former USSR, the Middle East and Latin America. Mel stays in touch with Lehigh’s department of journalism. In April 2021 he taught a Zoom class on “entrepreneurial journalism.” The students loved it, and Lehigh journalism professor Jack Lule and Mel are exploring how it might be continued. After 49 years as a sailboat owner, he sold “Mel’s Angel,” an Ericson 38, in mid-2019, and for 2020, spent the pandemic puttering around Boston area harbors in an 8-foot Avon inflatable, and power walking through historic cemeteries. It saddened me to hear from Dave Salerno that his best friend, Theta Delta Chi brother and my Dravo D-2 section mate Dave Lyons, passed away on August 2, 2021, after a long illness. He was preceded in death in 2004 by his first wife of 39 years, Joanne Fay Lyons. Dave and Joanne are survived by three children and seven grandchildren. Dave remarried in 2011 to Jeanne Marie Lyons. Three bonus children and eight more grandchildren came as a gift with his second marriage. Many of you, especially his Theta Delta Chi brothers and freshman section mates, will remember Dave, as I do, as an all-around great guy. Dave Lyons had a summer house inWellfleet, Mass., on Cape Cod for almost 50 years. Dave Salerno writes that after they both had retired, “they would get together to chase striped bass and enjoyed Cape Summer League baseball games and Boston Red Sox games, both preseason in Ft. Myers, Fla., and at Fenway Park.” Dave Lyons’ wife Jeannie and Dave Salerno’s wife Julie became very close friends. “We shall all miss him.” I was also saddened to read in our Fall Bulletin that we also lost Phi Gamma Delta brother L. Michael Rayeur and Gary Metzger earlier this year. Our condolences to all their families and friends. Gary earned a bachelor’s degree in business then began his career at National Machinery in Tiffin, Ohio. After several years, he joined his brothers in the family business, Multi-Cast Corporation inWauseon, Ohio. Gary was known for his kindness and generosity. He was a lover of the arts and a supporter of the underdog. While he had no immediate family of his own, he helped many friends and family pursue their dreams and educations. Michael worked for the Pennsylvania assistant controller for audits. He is survived by his wife, Marion, and children, L. Michael Rayeur III, Janet Beaver and Scott Rayeur. Dave Salerno gave me a brief update. Rather than paraphrase, I’ll quote parts of his note: “We usually spend the winter months in Venice, Fla., so we are getting ready to migrate south at the end of October. Last year we did not return to Chatham for the holidays because of COVID, but this year we will probably come back north for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our daughter lives outside of Boston, and our son is in Alexandria, Va., with his wife and our three grandchildren. We were all together here for 10 days in August. The grand kiddies are 10, 8 and 4 1/2. My daughter has a consulting business serving the nonprofit arena, andmy son is in financial services. No, the engineer did not produce any new engineers. Then again, I never practiced as an engineer a day inmy life. Julie and I keep busy with gardening and golf, although the improvement in golf equipment is barely offsetting the decline in our natural abilities as we age. I amback to counting half birthdays!” Finally, several of you have asked about Rhett Smith. He continues to thrive in the Arctic north. He has taken up snowmobile racing. Rhett is the favorite to win the senior class in the “Over the Top” race next year. ’65Ronald L. Workman, 1981 Berrel Court, Yardley, PA 19067-7225. (215) 808-0809 (H); ron_workman@ prodigy.net Thanks to JimMartin for filling my column this time with news fromTheta Xi. “In October, the Class of 1965 members of Theta Xi fraternity held our sixth reunion, this year inMarco Island, Fla. Seven of our members and their spouses attended. “Gretchen and Jim Ruhl flew down from their home in Ballston Lake, N.Y. Jim is our group’s avid sportsman. He participates in skiing, biking, and his true love of fishing and hunting. “Barbara and Paul Doxey flew from their home inMahwah, N.J. This past year they visited their daughter in Colorado and used the opportunity to ski, which they continue to enjoy. Paul is still running and hopes to improve his record when he ages up next year to the over-80 division. “Bonnie and Frank Pratt also flew from their Manhattan home. They spent most of the past year in Connecticut with their son and his family during COVID. Frank still enjoys golf and Bonnie remains active in charitable causes. “Gerrie and JimMartin live in Charlotte, N.C., in the home
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