Yale Divinity School

Notes from 2008

Harvey N. Chinn ’47 Div. and his wife have lived in the same home in Sacramento, CA for fifty years. Chinn devoted 22 years as pastor for a congregation near the state capital, and the next 25 years as an advocate for faith-based causes before the California legislature before retiring in 2005. The pastorate fulfilled God's calling to influence families through several generations. Lobbying meant research, writing, and public relations, working with church executives, debating, testifying before legislative committees and counting votes. 

Frank Doty ’47 B.D. and his wife, Kathy, are living in Mankato, MN and are in reasonable health. Kathy has written three books in her 80s: A Long Year of Silence (Edinborough Press, 2001), finalist for the Minnesota Book Award; The Wild Orphan (Edinborough Press, 2006); and Becoming the Mother of Me: a Memoir (Edinborough Press, 2008). Frank has a book coming off the press in a few weeks entitled A Ministry Remembered, a story of his life and ministry.

In 1947 Arthur Eikamp ’47 B.D married Norma from New York, and they spent two years ministering to agricultural migrants. The two then went to Japan as missionaries for 35 years, establishing two churches and a mission school. They were ushered in to see Emperor Hirohito and given a medal by the Japanese government. Arthur and Norma returned to the US and did all the carpentry work on their new home near the Oregon coast. Arthur published Sensei (Xlibris Corp., 2001) as an autobiography, and the couple adopted two sons in Japan.

After serving as a prep school chaplain and serving in the parish ministry and then a career as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy, Don Fitzsimmons ’47 B.D. ’55 S.T.M. realizes how fortunate he has been to experience the learning of the lessons of faith from able professors and good classmates. The one thought connected to all the positive influence is gratitude to God, teachers, classmates, and family.

After serving seventeen years in churches and twenty-four years in college teaching, Richard Hudson ’47 B.D., ’50 S.T.M returned to Connecticut. In his retirement he has been doing research on the life of a 19th century clergyman, missionary and educator, John Dempster. Unfortunately, he has been temporarily sidelined by blood clots in both legs. Research will continue as soon as his physicians permit. “May the blessing of our Master be with you all.”

Albert Kean ’47 M.Div. is a “pretty happy fellow,” celebrating 59 years of marriage, two fine daughters, one a paralegal and the other a special education teacher, and a grandson attending Vanderbilt Law School. He enjoys reading about 100 books a year, 98% of them are non-fiction in all fields of study. He just finished a John Collins book replete with familiar YDS names like Bainton, Childs, and Lindbeck.

John Powell ’47 B.D. lives a pleasant and easy life in the independence that Creekside Oaks offers him and his wife of 60 years, Shirley. John’s vision is poor, and Shirley’s hearing is limited, but they are able to drive to the local doctor and shops. John writes, “We make a great pair.”

With theological degrees from YDS and BU, John J. Shepard ’47 B.D. began parish ministry and chaplaincy in North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio, for a total of 37 years. Clinical Pastoral Education has been his focus for the last 22 years. John’s family retired to a new home in Arkansas in 1982. In 2001 he and his wife, Rose, entered a retirement facility in Lexington, KY. Rose died there in 2007 after a short illness. At 91, John continues to be active in his community and local church, as well as playing tuba in a local concert band.

Carolyn Flinn Swearingen ’47 Div. arrived by train, at 21, from the University of Texas, with a B.A and a commitment to the YM-YWCA student Christian movement during the earliest of exchanges between the black and white colleges of Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. She attended the first interracial conference at Hollister, MO campground in 1944 just out side of Little Rock, complete with released Japanese American, Neisei college students from internment camps just to be with attendees. No police or protestors present - all was carefully secluded and as students they had no awareness of this being a danger – so it was well handled. She met Fred Swearingen ’46 B.D. that first week in his senior year, and they were married that June entering 45 years of parish ministry together. Carolyn was the professional volunteer in the church and community advancing to the National YWCA board for 12 years. Carolyn chaired the citywide committee for peaceful integration of Corpus Christi, Texas public schools in the 1970s. Fred died in 2004 of prostate cancer. Carolyn is in a retirement center in Santa Fe having survived 10 years of leukemia (chronic), but is still able to walk with a walker and live independently in her apartment in Santa Fe at 84 years. Her memories at YDS are life changing. She was able to be present for possible "redemption "of the issues all were challenged with, leaning on the wisdom of Professors Pope, Niebuhr and especially Bainton.

C. Edward Weber ’47 B.D. has helped his church over the past 18 months in the resettlement of a Sudanese refugee family. He also serves as worship committee chairman, leading the singing. Weber has the wonderful job of transporting his grandchildren to their various actives, and he still preaches occasionally. He and his wife, Alice, traveled to the Gulf Coast and helped a with the Katrina rehab. Ed reads a book a week (about half of them are non-fiction).

Notes from 2007

Clyde Flannery ’47 M.Div. lives with his wife Virginia in Robin Run Retirement Community in Indianapolis.  They are in good health, have season tickets to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and attend the monthly meeting of UCC pastors and spouses.  Virginia retired as a public school teacher.  Clyde retired as Indiana Kentucky UCC Conference Minister.  Their eldest daughter, Maureen, is an M.D. in Berea, KY, their middle daughter, Jennifer, lives in Los Angeles, and their youngest daughter, Maudeline, teaches at Hazard Community College in Hazard, KY.

Albert Kean ’47 M.Div. has celebrated 58 years with his wife Beverly, 49 ½ of which were lived in their current home.  He still preaches and reads an average of 100 books annually, 98% non-fiction, in all fields of study.  He reports Wendell Berry is his odds-on favorite. Cataract surgery has aided his vision and glucosomine helps achy joints.

Connie (Cronon) Thurber ’47 M.Div. is living happily and busily at Pennswood Village, a Quaker retirement community in Newtown, PA.  Husband Newt ’44 B.A., ’47 M.Div. moved there with her, but died in 1998.  This past June, she enjoyed a reunion with special YDS friends who served with Connie and Newt as they taught at Doshisha School of Theology in Kyoto, Japan.  Connie’s last 17 years before retirement were spent working in New York City for the UCC and Disciples as Mission Divisions Associate, especially related to S. Asia.  She and Newt’s 3 sons, David, John and Mark (and their families) add joy to her life.  She visited Dave, the eldest, in Thailand each of the last two years.  Sundays, she attends church in Princeton, NJ with John.  Mondays she assists in second grade at Newtown Friends School.  She is in a fitness program and is thankful for good health and the privilege of serving God and the Church her entire career.