Yale Divinity School

Notes from 2008

Bill Baird’s ’50 B.D. first reaction to the request for news: "I don't have any."  But after reflection, Bill decided that even being able to respond, at he and his wife’s ages (84, 82), is news of some sort. The couple did have a crisis in December, when Shirley had to have emergency abdominal surgery.  After some days in ICU, the hospital and rehab, she regained her health and is back to normal. Bill continues to work on the third volume of his History of New Testament Research (Fortress Press), and believes he is about half way finished.

Jane and Bob Bates ’50 M.Div. “exist with the help of a live-in caretaker.” Jane is confined to a wheel chair. Bob works as a parish-associate at the Old Stone church in Cleveland, OH. He also participates in the Rotary Club, on the Parma community hospital health Care Foundation Board and is on a bowling team. The two attend church on Sunday and remain as active as possible. If you’re in Cleveland, phone: 440.886.2484

Donald Bishop ’50 M.Div. retired form the Washington State University Philosophy Department in 1991. He and his wife are in Phoenix, AZ during the winter. Donald teaches some in a community college. His latest essay, titled “Wars Begin in the Minds of Men,” was published in the journal of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi, India.

After a good recovery from a 2004 heart attack and nearly 5 years of living at a co-housing community in Sacramento, CA, E. Julius Davis ’50 B.D. received an unexpected e-mail from New Zealand in February 2007. The e-mail was from a church choir director, Carolyn, an acquaintance of Davis from the 1970s. The email resulted in their wedding on October 27. Davis now preaches occasionally at the Union Church (Presbyterian/Methodist) in Picton, New Zealand. He shares that the north end of the South Island is truly a garden spot in which to live and that visitors are welcome!

Dodie Younger ’50 M.Div. continues to play an active role in her retirement community, and as a new member of the United Church of Christ. She was thrilled to attend Synod last June. She expects to take off in June 2008 for an Elderhostel trip to Iceland, and then on to Sorrento, ME for the balance of the summer. Younger and Carol Rose Ikeler ’50 B.D., who has been on the Yale Alumni Council these last few years, felt privileged to attend the annual Fall Convocation and hope to be able to do it again. She felt that the worship, the lectures, and the fellowship were immeasurable.

Donald Bishop ’50 M.Div. retired from Washington State Univ. after 31 years teaching philosophy of religion and comparative religions.  His most recent book, Wars Begin in the Minds of Men, came out in Dec. 2006.  He has been married for 56 years, has 3 children and winters in the Phoenix area, gardening, writing letters to newspapers (criticizing the Iraq war), attending church activities and supporting Alternative to Violence groups and Habitat for Humanity.

Alex Harper ’50 B.D., ’60 M.A. was married to Jean Gall on October 21, 2006 at the United Congregational Church in West Norwalk.  Harper is a retired minister of the United Church of Christ, former pastor in Connecticut and Illinois, Navy chaplain and a member of the national staff for the Council of Christian Social Actions of the UCC.  He is a classical musician, playing modern and baroque strings in symphony and chamber music groups.  Gall is originally from Rochester, NY and holds a master’s degree from Geneseo State Teachers College and a sixth year degree from University of Bridgeport.  She is a retired elementary and middle school teacher who taught in Long Island, San Diego, Hawaii and Japan.  She is a prize winning portrait photographer.  The couple resides in Norwalk.

Marge Reid ’50 B.D.  is carrying on after the sudden death of her husband Bill on March 27, 2007.  She keeps very busy with supply preaching and serving on several community and church boards.  This year, the family added two great-grandchildren (the count is now up to six, with the oldest starting kindergarten in September!).

A few months ago George L. Tolman ’50 B.D. finished a 16 month interim ministry with the Community Christian Church of Marana, an agricultural area now becoming a suburb of Tucson.  The congregation was primarily blue collar, with several retirement folds, and a great deal of ethnic diversity.  Tolman notes that their music program was composed of two guitars, a mandolin, and a Steinway grand piano.  Since retiring from Tuscon First Christian Church in 1987, Tolman has served in ten interim ministries, in four western states.  He has made new friends and enjoyed the freedom of status, cleaning up past conflicts, making a few changes and being pretty free from church politics and committee meetings.  Eight months in Kalispell, Montana, was the greatest, joining “The over-the-hill-gang” to top many of the rocky peaks of Glacier National Park. His wife is the organist in a large Methodist church in Tucson, and he sings in a church choir (they are desperate), runs mobile meals, and supports a thriving Habitat for Humanity.  They hike and fly fish and work with the Democrats to bring about badly needed changes.