No. 24
March 7, 2007

Welcome to the 24th issue of the Columbia College Class of 1963 eNewsletter.

As I mentioned in the last eNewsletter, the new web site is in its early construction days. I intend to add separate pages for each classmate in the Columbian section. My plan is to add these as I receive a contribution from you (or you attend one of our Class of 1963 lunches). You can always email me at pauln@helpauthors.com.

If this is your first visit here, I've added a link to an archives page, which in turn, will link you to the past issues of the Class of 1963 eNewsletter.

Eric Foner presented with 2007 John Jay Award

On March 1, I attended the John Jay Awards Dinner where Eric Foner was one of the honorees. I saw former John Jay Award winner Phil Satow there, and I shared a table with Jerry Dwyer, his wife Jane, and their son and daughter-in-law. I’m sorry that more of you were not at the dinner to congratulate Eric and enjoy his remarks, so I have posted a video version of his speech, which you can see if you click right here. Please email me if you have any problem viewing this movie, and I will see what I can do. This is the first of what I hope will be many movies contributed by you and posted here.

In reviewing the program at the dinner, I note that our class has had a large number of Awardees. In addition to Eric and Phi, Bob Kraft and Harry J. Saal have been honored in the past.

Next Lunches - Thursday, March 8 and April 12

Every Second Thursday of the Month, 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Columbia College Club - 15 West 43rd Street, NYC

Please join your classmates for an informal lunch at the Columbia Club every second Thursday of the month. It is our hope that these gatherings will renew old friendships and foster improved relationship with our class and the College. I hope you can all join us at the next lunches on Thursday, March 8 and April 11 . Let me know if you will attend so that we can reserve a big enough table; RSVP to Paul Neshamkin (pauln@helpauthors.com).

February Lunch Attended By Seven 63ers

On February 8, 7 classmates gathered at the Columbia Club Gill Room for lunch. The seven who attended: Hank Black, Doron Gopstein, Bruce Kaplan, Paul Neshamkin, Tom O'Connor, Barry Reiss, and Herb Soroca.

(From left to right) Doron Gopstein, Henry Black, Paul Neshamkin. Bruce Kaplan, Herb Soroca, Tom O'Connor, and Barry Reiss.

Click here for some candid shots

Lunch Archives

If you like to see our previous lunches, click on the dates below:

December 9, 2004

January 13, 2005

February 10, 2005

March 10. 2005

For information and inquiries call Paul Neshamkin at 201-714-4881 or email at pauln@helpauthors.com.

Latest News from the Class of 63

As I have done for the last few issues,, I will add notes as they are received, so please send me some. Nothing much here again this month. So come back later this month and visit this page to see if you, or your classmates have sent in some new additions. Please send in your notes and pictures, and I will add them immediately.

Lee Lowenfish writes, "My book BRANCH RICKEY: BASEBALL'S FEROCIOUS GENTLEMAN will be published officially on April 12 by U of Nebraska Press. It is not yet in stores but it is available from the press at 800/755-1105 mention code AS71 and get a 20% discount. I'm reading at Labyrinth on 112th East of Broadway on April 9 at 7 pm. All are welcome. I teach Sport History in the Columbia new program in Sport Management for grads in Continuing Ed - have a class tomorrow but will try to make the lunch."

Paul Gorrin wrote to say he had watched Eric Foner's acceptance speech on the Class of 1963 web site, and was sorry he had not attended. He also passed on the following news: "My wife Ann is starting her twelfth year as Sussex County coordinator for Read Aloud Delaware, a state-wide program that brings volunteers to day cares to read one to one with children there, children whose parents, for various reasons don't read to them. It is the sort of work that is unambiguously blessed.

Our children: I think I let you know you know what they're up to. They're still doing what I related.

Our medical office project has brought doctors in multiple specialties to our somewhat overlooked community. Most recently a pediatric neurologist, the only one between Wilmington and probably Norfolk,VA, signed on with us, part time. We're looking for a dermatologist. to practice in this rural area.
So, classmates, if you or someone you know who is a dermatologist, would like to relocate or cut back on practice in this rural setting while it's still rural, please come down to visit . We're between Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington. It's three and a half to four hours to New York. There's the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Enquirer, NY Times on the news racks. There's beach, wetlands, eagles that nest nearby; tuna fishing off -shore; osprey that dive into the ocean, fly inland with their catch to feed their brood; it's still a place where people you don't know wave a greeting."

David Norris wrote me the following note over a year ago, but I unfortunately lost them. Sorry, David!

"Though I've always made it a point to read the class notes in every issue, this is the first time I'm contributing something, so do forgive me if I give you the longer tour. After graduation I went on to get an M.A. and then a PhD in English & Comparative Lit from Columbia. In the middle of that I spent two years in Berlin on a Fulbright to research my dissertation. The subject was Bertolt Brecht, which meant that 3-4 times a week I went through Checkpoint Charlie to East Berlin where the Brecht Archive was located. I got a deep insight into the mentality behind the "Iron Curtain" in a country that no longer exists. This was the beginning of my appreciation for how culture shapes consciousness.

When I returned to the U.S., I was a preceptor in the College English Department for two years while writing my dissertation. After this I became an Assistant professor at City College of New York. And then things really got interesting. After a couple of years of teaching, I decided that though I loved teaching, academia wasn't where I wanted to do it. I made a big leap into what was then loosely called the Human Potential Movement, becoming an est Trainer (later known as a Landmark Forum Leader). I spent 20 years leading seminars in personal transformation in North America, Europe, India, Australia and the Mid- East. In 1994 at the age of 51 I left that organization and moved to Europe, where I became a free-lance consultant and coach for individuals and companies. Along the way I married, divorced and then married again, this time to Brigitta, with whom I now live in the Black Forest region of Germany (in the southwest, about 20 minutes from France and an hour from Switzerland). Europe is really a collection of tribes and it's been fascinating for me as an American to watch the struggle of so many cultures to become one European Union.

Whether as professor, seminar leader or consultant, I've always considered myself to be an educator and still do. I enjoy very much hearing about your trips through life; thanks for listening to mine."

[Send your notes in and I will add it here.]

When you send your notes in, please indicate if you would like to share your email address(or web site) with your classmates. Always great to hear from you all.

Share your news and views with your classmates. Contact your Class Correspondent, and let him know what you would like posted here or in Columbia College Today (CCT).