Summer Bulletin 26

38 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | CLASS NOTES lives in Bangor, Maine. Daughter, Sharon, lives in Albuquerque and is a respiratory therapist. So far there are 12 grandchildren and six greats. The greats vary in age from 4 to 18. I formally gave up materials technology and marketing consulting late in 2024 but still seek ways to be involved and useful. Where I live, I have started a Science Club that presents topics of a scientific-bent monthly. I am in three acting groups that present plays and readings of various types. Also extremely fortunate to be president of the Jewish interest group with a membership of over 260. The group conducts services and holiday celebrations, as well as lectures on diverse topics. I also serve as a hospice volunteer. I am on the Community Advisory Board of the Center for Community-Driven Assistive Technologies (CDAT) at Lehigh. I still run four miles every other day when weather permits. Unfortunately, I slipped on a step climbing out of a cave in Israel and fractured two ribs, so running is on hold until the ribs heal. Ed Hatfield wrote in: “Many of you know that Pinky and I have moved to Pawleys Island, S.C. With that move has come the dreaded need for an email address change. My email is now erh21933@gmail.com. Please change your files so we may stay in contact. Your mail means very much to our business interchange or friendship.” I hope my column has encouraged you to write a column. ’56 EDITOR’S NOTE: Bill Burgin passed away on June 22, 2026. He was a natural connector and had filled this column space with his thoughtful words and meaningful friendships for 70 years. We will miss him deeply. He wrote the following column before his passing and we have included it as he wrote it. More information will be included in the Fall Bulletin. It was good to get a catch-up letter from Class Vice President Frank Cafaro. Sadly, Frank’s wife of over 68 years, Tina, died in February 2025. Frank, who lives in Smithtown, N.Y., retired as a senior trial attorney after 60 years and says he misses his firm. He works out at the gym and enjoys walking his English cocker spaniel. Frank is fortunate to have nearby friends and family, including four children and 10 grandchildren. His daughter Lynette Cafaro-Bavaro ’90 visits often. Granddaughter Madelyn Bavaro is a ’26 Lehigh graduate and will attend law school. Frank stays in touch with Bruce Marra and Ed Curran. He would like to hear from other Sigma Nus at fjcafaro@verizon.net. I was happy to receive a Christmas letter from Anne Kime W’56 in Asheville, N.C. Anne, wife of the late Allan B. Kime, and her family planned a trip to Barbados in observance of her ninth-decade birthday. I’m always glad to hear from you. Have a good year! ’57 Jim Watson, The Waterstone, 150 Bloomingdale Rd., Apt 532, White Plains, NY, 10605. 201-803-1307; Lehigh1957@gmail.com Greetings, Class of 1957! My name is Todd Watson, M.D. ’94. I am the son of James Watson. Both my dad and mom are doing well, and they recently moved from Wyckoff, N.J., where they lived for over 50 years, to a senior living community in White Plains, N.Y. As many of you know, my dad has written this column for many years and has absolutely loved doing it. He wants to continue writing the column; however, he has found keeping up with the emails and technical components of writing the column to be challenging of late. Because of this, he and I will be reviewing the submissions and writing the column together going forward. We have created a new email that you can submit updates to. It is Lehigh1957@gmail.com. If you want to send traditional mail updates, you can send them to the address above. Email updates are preferable to traditional mail, but both are fine. Now on to the updates! We did hear from Dick Eckhart. He wrote that he retired from the faculty of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., in 2002 and relocated with his wife to Prescott, Ariz., where he continued to teach (mostly math) for several online schools. His wife of almost 62 years passed away in 2021, and he has relocated back to Southern California (Laguna Niguel) into an assisted living facility in November 2024 to be closer to his children. Fred (Rick) Heath reached out via email and wrote a fond hello to the class. He hopes the Class of ’57 alumni are still moving forward, watching the sunrise every day, hugging the grandkids and taking your medicine! He sends his best wishes and would love to hear from you. That’s all for now. Please reach out with any updates to be included in the next column! ’58 Bill Helfrich, 80 Southwick Drive, Orchard Park, NY 14127. (716) 662-7927 (H); bh7831@aol.com I open with sad news from Fred Smith that his wife, Sharon, of almost 65 years died from kidney failure in October after 15 months of dialysis. Their daughters, Robin and Jennifer, both nurses, were with her constantly. They had a wonderful celebration of her life with over 125 family and friends on Jan. 3. Anne and I have a wonderful picture of the four of us at a Lehigh tailgate against the University of Buffalo when they lived in Buffalo. “Fritz” plans to remain in their Legends Community and have a knee replacement in February while watching the Bills win! Miss you guys! Jim Stone ’88, Gil Stone’s son, got a note to me to remember him and all those fun times at Lehigh on his St. Patrick’s Day farewell. We got a Christmas card from Marianne Bux W’58, not one of her wellness check emails, but a congratulations for the Bills’ win over her Steelers. Next year, who knows? A new stadium and different coaches. Gina and Bob Christie are still hopping between three churches. Anne and I are busy trying to find a new minister. Bob is taking life a lot easier with less travel like the rest of us. Lukie and Jean-Claude Rousseaux settled in their new home in Waxhaw, N.C., 10 minutes from their children and grandchildren in Charlotte, N.C. Can you believe they moved for the 17th time in 66 years from their starter in New Jersey? They are now members in a 55+ community. In the spring, Jean-Claude went through radiation therapy for prostate cancer, and tests now show that it is under control. Fortunately, Lukie’s Parkinson’s is progressing slowly, but she has given up both tennis and pickleball to eliminate those falls. Exercise and great-grandchildren are working! Turning 90 really was fantastic! I’ll call it a cake-tasting week. I don’t think I ever got so many cards, calls and cakes! “Ninety is mighty!” Anne is close at 85 three weeks later! What a party time. I called my fellow correspondent Wes Wardell ’51, who insists I read his Fall/Winter 2025 issue, pages 36-37. Excellent! It was about a lecture given by Lehigh’s Professor Brown in 1925 (his dad was in the Class of 1925), who claims he shot down the Red Baron! Greekers to Sharon Smith, Gil Stone, Anne and Bill Helfrich’s birthdays, and all the classmates enjoying their nineties! ’59 Bob Teufel, 1 Stoklea Drive, Emmaus, PA 18049. (610) 967-2049 (H); (610) 393-0565 (C); rteufel@aol.com Lehigh won the EIWA again this year, but with Cornell leaving to be part of the Ivy League tournament, the competition level is not the same. LU did finish sixth in the NCAA finals, but not the men: the women. In the first-ever women’s NCAA finals, Audrey Jimenez ’28 won not only her 110-pound class but the Outstanding Wrestler award. Back in 1959 who would have dreamed that? Noticed on Facebook that Dick Fiducia had a tumble that he attributed to his Skechers shoes, so I inquired how he turned out. “Totally recovered from the fall. Anyway, still playing golf, getting to the fitness center a few times each week. Margaret and I are doing well for a couple

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