No.4
May 1, 2005
Welcome to the fourth issue of the Columbia College Class of 1963 eNewsletter.
Things have starting to slow down in the notes department, but
here is a sampling of what's new. I've also included news of
last month's Class Lunch, which was very well attended. There
is also a brief update on our proposed mini-reunion for the
Fall Homecoming game weekend.
If any of you would like to send a longer format article for
inclusion here, send me an email (pauln@helpauthors.com). I
would like to see if we could expand the scope of this eNewsletter
to give the class a fuller forum for communication. I also have
talked to Columbia about setting up a Class of 1963 site within
their eCommunity structure, and would welcome your ideas on
what could/should be included there.
Although I have a large backlog of notes that were in the last eNewsletter
to include in the next (July) issue of Columbia College Today
(CTT), please send me more news. It's great to hear from you,
and although they may not get in print right away, they can
be shared through these eNewsletters every month.
So as always, keep those cards, letters, and emails coming!
Table of Contents:
Every Second Thursday, 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.
The next lunch will be on May 12, 2005.
April Lunch Well Attended
The fifth Second Saturday Class of 1963 lunch almost
set a new record, but even with three last minute cancellations,
9 of us made it back. Joining us were two representatives from
the Columbia: Sharon Medrano, who is assigned to our class by
the Office of Alumni Affairs, and Vanessa Rosado, who handles
our class for the College Fund. We talked about various ways
that we could become more involved with the College, and started
discussion about a mini-reunion in the Fall (see below).
Here is the happy group.
(From left to right) Phil Satow, Bob Heller, Paul
Neshamkin, Frank Sypher, Jeff Thompson, Vanessa Rosado, Tom
O'Connor, Bruce Kaplan, Larry Apple, Bill Goebel, and Sharen
Medrano
So far, our various Class lunches have been attended
by the following 15 stalwart classmates (at least 5 others had
to cancel at the last minute):
David Alpern
Larry Apple
Steve Barcan
Bill Goebel
Doron Gopstein
Gil Einstein
Bob Heller
Bruce Kaplan
Paul Neshamkin
Larry Neuman
Tom O'Connor
Barry Reiss
Phil Satow
Frank Sypher
Jeff Thompson
A great group, but over 550 of you haven't shown
up. So, please join us at the next lunch on Thursday,
May 12. Please let me know if you will attend so that
we can reserve a big enough table; RSVP to Paul Neshamkin (pauln@helpauthors.com).
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.
I continue to receive many emails from our classmates
in response to the eNewsletter. Here are a selection of notes
and news that you have sent in.
Sherwood R. Spelke
"In speaking to my one and only roomie for four year,
Bob Peters, we reminisced about my experiences playing baseball...including
having to take the subway way up to Dyckman Street for practice
and games...Teammate Howie Kitt being signed by the Yankees
for $75,000.00 and promising Bob and me tickets if he made the
parent club...He didn't, but in '61 it came down to either him
or Rollie Sheldon...Hitting one on the nose in a game vs. Fairleigh
Dickinson, hearing the catcher say "its gone", only
to kick the dust at second base ala Joe D. as I saw the centerfielder
catch the ball at the fence...Still hoping to make one of your
lunches..."
Armin Buchter wrote in response to the March
CCT Notes where I admitted to a lack of memory of a crew race
Frank Partel said we were in on the Schuylkill:
"I just picked up my latest CCToday and saw what you and
Frank Partel had to say about racing in Philadelphia 45 years
ago. I remember that there was a race and I remember I had the
shirts, but I sure don’t remember much else.
Subsequently, I rowed down there in club rowing while I was
still in New York, and it all blends into one blur. So, maybe
you’re not the only one losing it.
I do remember feeling really good about winning that race and
I think back on you and Partel doing an excellent job."
Speaking of Frank, I just got the following missive.
Frank J. Partel, Jr.
"Paul et al... Sorry that I won't be with you. I've been
called out of retirement to do a strategic study on payment
systems for the global leader in ATM/debit transaction processing
software located in Omaha.
May I suggest that you consider an informal discussion about
the class taking a leadership position and stretching to raise
$3 million dollars as our 50th reunion gift. It is disappointing
to me that a class which sent 92% to graduate and professional
schools --about 1/4 to medical school, another quarter to law
school--can't seem to make a really meaningful contribution
to the College. I think that if C'63 could take the lead and
establish a new high water mark, it might provide a proof statement
to better performance and give the development office leverage
to inspire subsequent classes to raise their aim.
It strikes me as entirely appropriate to work with the Dean's
office to focus this goal against a commemorative gift such
as endowing a chair (the Class of 1963 naturally) in the College
or some similarly worthy effort that is consonant with needs
identified by the College Dean. I would also suggest that all
donations for the five year period terminating in our reunion
year be applied against the 3mm goal for score-keeping. Wouldn't
it be just grand if an angel or two with means could put down
a $1mm marker or two to kick things off!
May I quote Robert Browning, 'One's reach should extend beyond
one's grasp.'"
Well, Frank, at first I thought you might be rushing our 50th
a bit, but then I realized we better get cracking if we are
going to set our goal so high. I brought it up at the last class
lunch, and several of us think that it would be great if our
class was able to come up with a gift to initiate an endowment
for Columbia College scholarships -- believe it or not, the
College has no such endowment, and all College Fund monies are
paid out directly each year towards scholarships. Lots of thought
and planning is needed, but if any of you would like to join
the discussion, let me know.
On a final sad note, I have just heard of the death of our classmate,
Alan R. Wolfson. If any of you knew Alan or
knows more of his life after Columbia, would you please share
your memories with us?
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).
For information
and inquiries call Paul Neshamkin at 201-714-4881 or email at
pauln@helpauthors.com.
.
Mini-reunion Planned for Homecoming Weekend
Plans to center mini-reunion events around the Homecoming Game
on October 15 proceed. Start with lunch with your classmates
on Friday, the 14th, and then some socializing that evening.
On Saturday, we will get together at the Homecoming tent in
the morning at Baker Field, and then watch Columbia beat Penn
at the Homecoming game that afternoon. We then will then probably
have another gathering on Saturday afternoon/evening to be determined.
For those of you who missed the last real reunion (and most
of you did) this is a great opportunity to meet old friends
and acquaintances, and have some fun. Watch this space for more
news as we firm this up, but save the dates, October
14-15, 2005.
For information
and inquiries call Paul Neshamkin at 201-714-4881 or email at
pauln@helpauthors.com.
.
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