Yale Divinity School

Notes from 2008

In March 2008, Robert Cuttino ’52 B.D. had the pleasure of helping constitute Sea Island Chapel of Hilton Head; his tenth new church start. Eight of these were while serving as pastor of a mother church and the last two the results of post retirement efforts. All ten are still functioning in Williston, Lake City and Beaufort, SC. Last year in Beaufort, Hillary Barnwell, beloved and highly respected director of Beaufort County (and Hilton Head) libraries, died after setting up one of the state’s best library systems. She was assistant librarian at Yale Divinity School under Dr. Morris years. The visionary who launched Hilton Head as one of the world’s great resorts was a Yale graduate, Charles Frasier. There are three YDS grads in Beaufort-Hilton Head that Robert’s been able to locate.

Billye and Joe Elmore ’52 B.D. sold their home in San Diego in November 2007 and moved to a retirement facility, The Kenwood, in Minneapolis, just 20 minutes from their daughter and family in Saint Paul. The two are enjoying the art and music and drama in the Twin Cities – Joe won't mention or write of the weather, especially compared to San Diego. 

Dewitt Farabee ’52 B.D., ’64 S.T.M. attended January Adventure at St. Simons Island., GA and heard Barbara Brown Taylor and Walter Brueggemann speak. Dewitt will attend Stetson Pastors’ School to hear Charles Kimball, David Bartlett, Mary Katherine Cunningham, and Brian Wren and attended Brevard Musical performances and theatre performance at Flat Rock Theatre in North Carolina. Dewitt sings with a group of men called “Great Expectations” for Elderhostels at Stetson University and other places when a good program is needed.
   

Esther and Paul Hammer ’52 B.D. celebrated Paul’s 60 years in ministry with musical events in Germany, Austria, and Hungary from Munich to Budapest: organs, solo trumpet, brass choir, chorus, ballet, opera, and the World Choir Games in Graz, Austria with 450 choirs from 93 countries. A special treat was the reunion with his 1952-53 Heidelberg University roommate, who became the Lutheran Bishop of Austria. Paul’s ministry began in Beaver Crossing, NE in 1948.

In July, Henry ‘Hank’ Harman ’52 M.Div. hiked more of the Tuscarora Trail in Pennsylvania with his son and daughter. Nights were spent in a cabin but hiking included some very rough, rocky trail. Later, his other daughter and one granddaughter went to wedding of a grandnephew in the Berkshires. June had included Exeter '42 "mini-reunion" at Williamsburg, UCC Conference annual meeting, and the Kirby (Peene's) family reunion in Georgia. Peene is still on her Alzheimer's "plateau" and Hank works some for St. John's UCC.

In December Alan Inglis ’52 B.D. sang in the Civic Theater musical “Home for the Holidays.” This April he was sent to Iran, by his Quaker Meeting, with his family and 19 other Quakers sponsored by “Neighbors East and West”. They went to do what they could to counter the rhetoric of President Bush. They were wonderfully received and discovered that not all Iranians are radical Muslims. At one lunch the group even held hands and had a few moments of “Quaker” silence before eating. Alan prays that we do not bomb any of these wonderful, friendly people.

Jack Kingsbury ’52 B.D. is living in a retirement village in Connecticut, providing unlimited cultural opportunities, he also serves the village as a volunteer. Jack is considered an adjunct minister of the First Congregational Church in Wallingford, as such he coordinates their worship services, organizes church picnics among church members within the village, visits new residents, and calls on village folks who are hospitalized. This summer Jack’s family spent a week at an Episcopal retreat center in Wyoming.

Philip Krug ’52 B.D spent five years as priest associate at Christ Church, Hackensack. For eight years the chaplain visits twice monthly at Plaza (assisted living) in Park Ridge, with nursing, rehab, and Alzheimer’s care. Philip’s wonderful wife, Lee, continues as therapist, with 16 or so patients. Their four children and nine grandchildren get visits. The two traveled to Vermont for regional theatre and took a 12-day Danube cruise in September. He was co-class agent with Hal Shorrock ’52 B.D. for 2006-07.

William May ’52 B.D. held the Chair in American History and Ethics at the Library of Congress (Fall, 2007), concluding with a public lecture there on "Containing Runaway Fear in American Foreign Policy." Professor Mario del Pero (University of Bologna) has prepared it for publication in Italian. William lectured at SMU, Texas A&M, and Samford University (Pellagrino Medal), Spring, 2008, and gave the address for the Memorial Service, Princeton University, Class of ’48, 60th Reunion, on "The Courage of Attack and the Courage of Endurance."

This has been the year to handle some medical matters for Chester Miller ’52 B.D. Pat had breast cancer surgery, fortunately in the earliest stages. Progress is good. There will come radiation therapy. Chester had a toe removed which over the years had become warped by a “hammer toe” and have recovered from that and some further minor surgery. Twenty of Chester’s relatives from around the country helped him celebrate his 80th birthday in December. A real high point!

Anne Austin Murphy ’52 B.D. now lives at Westminster Shores continuing care retirement community on Tampa Bay in St Petersburg, FL. She is still independent. Anne volunteers primarily as an Elder at her Presbyterian congregation, and also serves on the Board of Directors of Beth El Farmworker Ministry and represents that board on the Council of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay. Because she is a theologically-educated layperson, not a minister, she has had many fascinating assignments over 30 years at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (USA). As for political science, Anne can focus on policies and systems, but that doesn't distract her dismay about current governing and her apprehension about the future.

Benn and Beth Owens ’52 B.D. celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary in July 2008.

Since retiring from the national staff of the United Church of Christ, James Smith Jr. ’52 B.D. has completed interim pastorates at six different UCC churches, the most recent being in Woodstock, VA. James was at YDS this past summer for the first time in many years for one of the excellent weeklong courses.

Richard Stazesky ’52 B.D. was part of an Association of Yale Alumni (AYA) group that traveled to Australia August 2-17 to meet with staff and alumni of Australian National University in regard to alumni relations. Many Australian colleges and universities do not have well developed alumni relations programs as Yale does. This inaugural Alumni Leadership Exchange Program exchange was entitled Sharing Traditions 2008. In April 2008 Dick was named pastor emeritus by his home church, which he served in 2002-03. In January 2008 he published the 55th consecutive YDS ’52 Annual Class Letter.

Health this year took a great deal of my time and energy for Barbara and Sterling Whitener ’45 M.Div., ’52 S.T.M. Sterling’s PSA rose during the past year so he undertook the drastic steps of preparing for radiation. The two have enjoyed several other trips during the year. They managed to get to Raleigh, Wilmington, Athens, GA, and New York to visit their busy offspring. Immediately after the reunion at YDS, at the invitation of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, they attended a gathering in Boston of about 40 missionaries who had served on the island since WWII. Barbara and Sterling had been asked to help the Tainan Theological College in 1984-1986. She taught English while he set in place a Social Work curriculum, teaching a variety of subjects. Sterling also traveled several hours by train once a week to teach a graduate course in Gerontology at the School of Social Work at Tunghai University in Taichung. Both are determined to use their mountain cabin for as long as they are physically able, but they do know they will need to take the three hour bus ride when they no longer drive the hundred miles each way. The cabin provides the opportunity to have a good long visit on the vacation schedules of their family members. Now that the grandchildren are growing up, this does seem a bit easier to do.

Notes from 2007

Twenty-five members of the class and seven surviving spouses and YDS friends plus seventeen spouses/friends enjoyed the 55th class reunion held during the 2007 Annual YDS Alumni Convocation. A highlight at the Gala Monday Night Banquet was the choral and instrumental presentation by YDS students. The cohesiveness of the class has been maintained over the years through an Annual YDS ’52 Class Letter that its secretary has published. Letter #55, Part I, mailed early before the convocation, contained up to 10 1949-52 memories from each of 26 class members. These sparked much discussion and emotion during the 55th reunion. Part II will be published after the reunion and its theme will be “How my mind has changed in 55 years and what difference has this made.”

Ray Brewster ’52 B.D., an old, weary and worn-out octogenarian, still managed to stumble aboard a River Boat in July 2007 and cruise the rivers Danube, Main, and Rhein from Vienna to the village of Amersterdam. There he found a museum with a replica of the ear Van Gogh shaved off for a friend. The tour guide was unsure whether this was Vincent’s response to Mark Anthony’s speech in Julius Caesar.

Charles Brown ’52 B.D. after three months of retirement, accepted an assignment in December 2006 to serve as chaplain at St. James House, a residential nursing center in Baytown, TX, owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of TX. Since Bettye and he are very involved in aging issues, it seemed appropriate to take this additional journey to concentrate on pastoral care, teaching and celebrating weekly Eucharist. In short, they are again enjoying the opportunities of ministry. After 35 years in Ardmore, OK, where he served in mental health and aging care administration and development for the OK Diocese, they are now back in TX and close to Houston. They greatly enjoyed the 55th class reunion.

Robert Bunch ’52 M.Div. began chemotherapy on August 2, 2007 for multiple myeloma (a form of bone cancer).

Marshall Campbell ’52 S.T.M. was in Costa Rica in September 2007 on his 34th Elderhostel program.  Earlier Elderhostel travels have taken him to New Zealand, France, Italy, Russia, Canada and Mexico, as well as into National Parks in the United States.

Will Campbell ’52 B.D. received the prestigious William Sloan Coffin Award at the Alumni Awards Banquet held during the 2007 YDS Convocation in recognition of his ministry in the causes of justice, peace, and love.

Gerald Cooke ’52 B.D., ’58 Ph.D. continues as clerk of Lewisburg Friends Meeting (unprogrammed), joining in peace and non-violence and prison groups, and assisting in sons’ home care for former wife (Brigitte) in her struggle with losses brought on by dementia.  Gerry maintains a home, adding on a sun porch this summer to maximize access to winter sun. His own weakening of memory capacity reduces his attachment to Japanese and Chinese to enjoyment of calligraphy.  When he can no longer get to the golf course, he can call Hebrew and Sanskrit characters into service as well to grace his waking hours!

Dewitt Farabee ’52 B.D., ’64 S.T.M. sings with 25 other men for an Elderhostel at Stetson University in Deland, FL and other groups; teaches a Sunday School class; plays tennis at Beach Mountain, NC, and Brevard, NC; spends a week at Sanibel Island, FL with good  fishing and a week at George Island, FL; and life moves on at 81.

Warren Groff ’52 B.D., ’55 Ph.D. and his wife Ruth celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in Aug highlighted with a reception at the York Center Church in Lombard, IL, the congregation where they have been active members since 1960.

Paul Hammer ’52 B.D. was awarded the 2006 Metropolitan Faith in Action Award by the Greater Rochester, NY Community Council of Churches.

Henry V. Harman ’52 M.Div. and elder son Pete have not stopped after each completing traverse of entire 2,175 mile long Appalachian Trail (AT). They are now hiking the Tuscarora Trail in sections. That 250 mile long trail runs roughly parallel to the AT between Northern Virginia and Central Pennsylvania.

Canby Jones ’52 B.D., ’56, Ph.D. gave two endowed lectures at Union College, in Barbourville, KY last November. One was entitled “George Fox; the Man and His Message” the other “Lamb’s War.” He has recently written two articles for Wilmington Yearly Meeting’s Witness on “The Biblical Basis of Peacemaking.” In September 2007 he saw the dedication of the new Quaker Meetinghouse on the Wilmington College campus in Ohio as: The T. Canby Jones Meetinghouse, quite an honor. With dizziness problems he now gets around with a cane.  

Philip Krug ’52 M.Div. has seen lots of theater recently. He made two summer trips of three days each to Vermont.  In May, he took an eleven-day Greek-Turkey cruise, spending two nights each in Athens and Istanbul. A stomach bug, three-fourths through trip, was countered by ship's nurse in a rump shot although Phil said he was on coumadin.  The event ruined him for a month, but he has since recovered.  Their four children decided to visit in September - alone - to just be the six again.

Sam Langley ’52 B.D. died on July 14, 2007 in Columbia, MO, according to his son Stan. Sam was the beloved pastor there of First Christian Church from 1970-91. He had recently endowed at YDS the Sam and Ima Lou Scholarship Fund. During their YDS years Ima Lou served as Dean Liston Pope’s secretary.    

Bob Loughborough ’49 B.A., ’52 B.D. assigns 40% of the profit from his book, Love Without Walls, to Habitat for Humanity to help get the homeless off the streets.

Bill May ’52 B.D., ’62 Ph.D. finished teaching for the Department of Religious Studies at University of Virginia in the spring of 2007. He holds the Maguire Chair in American History and Ethics, Library of Congress, for the fall of 2007. In 2009 he will give the Stone Lectures at Princeton Theological Seminary. This past spring he lectured at Harvard Law School on Professor Michael Sandel’s The Case Against Perfection and at Duke University on “Aging:  From Fate to Calling.”

Michael McGiffert ’52 B.D., ’58 Ph.D. is nearing completion of a long-in the-works book on puritan covenant theology, 24 chapters in draft and counting. His wife Genevieve died in March 2007. The last lines of her obituary were, “Genevieve loved light. She waited for the morning, and she died with her face to the rising sun.”

Donell Miller '52 M.Div. married to Marjorie 56 years, with seven surviving children, ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren, including Sarah, a fellow student of piano.  He spent 45 years as a part & full-time pastor, 23 as a professor, 39 as a therapist. He’s written 26 books including four novels. Currently, he is CA MFT, sings in the choir, and does Bibliodrama for University United Methodist Church. 

Roger Nicholson ’52 M.Div. wrote a book several years ago, Temporary Shepherds (Alban Institute, 1998), on the interim ministry for congregations in transition. The publisher for his 36 years (1958-94) teaching at YDS Club in CT and his present one in PA have both recently honored him with Paul Harris Fellowship awards ($1,000 each). These have been used by Rotary International for worldwide programs, such as, combating AIDS and polio.

Gaylord Noyce ’52 M.Div. was honored for his 36 years (1958-94) teaching at YDS by his classmates at their 55th Reunion celebrated during the 2007 YDS Convocation. He was lauded for his impact on the pastoral ministry through his teaching and his 12 books. 

Jack Peatling ’52 B.D. died on May 15, 2007, according to his daughter Jane. He was a cited authority on cognitive development and was the author of numerous articles and published several books in the field of Christian education. His two daughters made a generous contribution to the YDS ’52 Scholarship Fund in his memory.  

Ed Powers ’52 B.D. enjoyed an Elderhostel in Turkey in June 2007. He serves on the faculty of the New School – Milano, the New School for Management and Urban Policy, NY, NY and on the Faculty Senate.     

Hal Shorrock ’52 B.D. was honored in November 2006 at the 100th anniversary celebration of Seigakuin, Japan Boys Junior and Senior High School. He was the first newly appointed Disciples missionary to Japan after World War II. He was thanked by a group of the 1947-48 students for introducing them to American football. One of these boys became one of Japan’s best-known television and radio sports announcers.

Dick Stazesky ’52 B.D., ’53 S.T.M., ’54 M.A. in August 2007 renewed his appreciation for his Methodist heritage on a Wesleyan Heritage Tour in England in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley. In May he participated in an Art and Spirituality Tour in Spain.

Bob Ziegler ’52 B.D. serves as volunteer coordinator for the 35 persons who present several Horizons Unlimited cognitive stimulation programs monthly in the health facilities at Cornwall Manor, a United Methodist retirement community.  His wife Harriet, when employed, wrote the scripts and created the program kits on more than 150 subjects. Bob and Harriett moved to Cornwall Manor, Cornwall, PA, in 2001.