Ties knotted, collars buttoned we ascended the Hill
share photos of grandchildren and catch up on much more. Ellen Smith is busier than ever, including active participation in her grandchildren’s lives. She says, “This year was the first year in decades I didn’t do any political calling or work! So much else going on!” In New York, Meg Bluhm Carey worked hard to get the vote out. She writes, “We have an outstanding Democratic Committee in Ulster County, New York. With excellent leadership and ground organization, we had very high turnout for the midterms and won all our races except for one, which was very close. For a break in September, Tobe and I enjoyed a trip to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. As a teenager, I had hiked the Presidential Range, but for this trip, we had fun riding the cog railroad to the top of Mount Washington. Unfortunately, we were too early for fall colors there, but back in the Catskill Mountains, we had glorious reds and oranges a few weeks later.” Our 60th reunion is coming up on Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3. Do try to attend. Getting together again will be great fun! 1964 HGS
(which wasn’t particularly big). Another Hopkins connection: I’ve known Rosemary Benedict for several years now, but recently came to find out that she taught math at Hopkins. Add her to my list: Kevin Hart (still teaching math), Jon Clark, Alan Milstone ’65 hgs .” Bill Sarris : “Fourteen of us—my three children and six grand- children ages 7 months to 12 years—all went to Greece and Crete. It was so special, in that my son, Jonpatrick, was able to join us with his family. Jonpatrick is a Green Beret and has not been able to vacation with the rest of our family for about seven years. We all connected and embraced our Greekness, hiked gorges, Greek danced many evenings. My wife, Lisa, has had several health challenges but we motor on. Bonita Springs, Florida, is now our legal residence. We completely dodged a bullet with the most recent hurricane disaster.” Chris Fenger : “Am continuing to settle into my new home in Old Lyme, Connecticut, after moving down from Maine last year. Had some great visits with John Braman ’65 hgs , Jim Seymour , Deke Bowerman , Steve Barrett , Bearcat Walker, and Mark Blumenthal, and then pulled off a long- discussed trip to Hawaii to visit one of my oldest friends (5th grade at the Putnam Avenue School in Hamden, where I also befriended Neil Hiltunen !). I finally got to see all the legendary breaks on the North Shore I’d dreamed about for five decades. At 76, surfing those breaks was no longer an option for me, but I did manage a paddle out at Waikiki.” John Morgan : “From San Jose, California: My throat cancer was addressed with surgery, chemo, and radiation back in 2021. I no longer have a decent voice box and I probably glow in the dark, but otherwise I am still chugging along.” Fred Smith, Jr. : Why no earth-shaking news class of H64? Too many trips to the bathroom at night? Some think it’s misfortune, their attitude dour: Getting old does incredibly bite! Gilded youth has dissolved like a 401K When the money is looted too soon. What was supposed to have been our halcyon days Leaves us barking like dogs at the moon!??
Not to summarily give up the ghost?? And incessantly rail it’s the bitterest pill For us soon to be heavenly host Send Mike pictures of grandkids, Or how you in your haste left your wallet inside, And how family and friends found the key?? you had hid. Changing speed bumps into a smooth ride. Bill Ablondi requested interpretation of the first three lines. Fred : “I just meant, Bill, that the immediate lack of responsiveness felt like resignation to an insular existence leading to demise. I am experiencing more and more pain from knee (both) and back pain from my 12 years as a firefighter. Prostate cancer has already come back once. But I choose to celebrate life, not for what it was, but for the possibilities of what it still can be.” John Walker : “From San Diego, California: Highlights for the year include a trip East and a very nice lunch of good ol’ New Haven ah beetz with Chris Fenger and Mark Blumenthal and his lovely wife. We also got to see Chris’ new house in Old Lyme. Chris drove us to the Hopkins campus coincidentally on the day reunions were starting—lots of changes since ’64.” Fred Southwick : “I miss my brother Steve every day and cherish our years at Hopkins together. His emotional intelligence was off the map. He always helped me to navigate interpersonal challenges. At his urging and with my sister Marcia’s help (she taught creative writing at the University of Nebraska), I have started writing about my journey trying to improve health care. The title is Playing With Bees . As the title may suggest I have been frequently stung along the way. The overwhelming resistance to change will be a major theme. As you might guess, I haven’t given up and for the last three years have actually made some progress after 10 years of minimal change.” Neil Hiltunen : “Emerging from our COVID shelters (masks, homes, isolations, social distancing, anxiety), I find it easy to be blinded by recent concerns: inflation, political distrust, falling markets, and Russian aggression and atrocities. I’m blessed with a wonderful
Michael Adelberg mga@aya.yale.edu
Paul Thim, Sr. : “I am still doing 30-mile bike rides twice a week, and since retiring in 2019 have been studying German, which began for me at Hopkins in classes with Mr. Raynor. One of my most fun memories from my years at Hopkins: Mr. Raynor and I often argued over politics. I don’t remember having clear political views of my own at that time, except to oppose his very conservative views, and he was quite happy to take up the challenge. One day our argument went into class time until he said it was time to teach German.” Steve Barrett : “Too many trips to the body shop. Fourth for the left hip: now have a constrained acetabular liner [keeps artificial hip joint in socket]. Back to skiing this winter, I hope!” Mark Blumenthal : “The big reveal at Hopkins is a new building for performing arts to replace what exists in Lovell Hall. Breaking ground in March 2023 for use in fall of 2024. Irene and I have now moved into our new place in Trumbull. Our back yard isn’t much bigger than the deck on our previous house
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2023 • ISSUE 1 | VIEWS FROM THE HILL
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