Alumni Class Notes
Class of 1963
ROB PETERS continues to consult with two congregational capital campaigns and to volunteer with the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ. His remaining time is devoted to his woodshop, reading, and exploring family history...
Class of 1962
GEORGE DELLBRUEGGE reports that after three years of college teaching in the U.S., he returned to Germany where he served as a pastor, then as a theology professor, including two years in Tanzania. He and Sybille live in Neuendettelsau....
BILL GODDARD reports, “I am retired, living in Florida after 57 years in the pastorate. I have published three books: Wonderful Words of Life by Hope Publishing Co., The Seven Voices of God and Just Say The Words...
ALLEN HOLT and his wife, Katherine, live in Canby, OR. “We have three each, of offspring, in-laws, and grandchildren. We attend the church I served from 1962 to 1966 and are looking forward to our 50th anniversary in 2013.”
DAVID KOEHLER writes that he and Mary Beth are turning their 50th wedding anniversary celebration into a “Jubilee Year” of mini-celebrations before, and six months after, their wedding anniversary. Both plan to attend the class’s 50th year...
DON SALIERS writes, “My wife, Jane, died in March after a four-year illness. Though emeritus, I have been back teaching and lecturing, writing and playing chamber music. Daughter Emily joined me in France following a Societas Liturgica Congress...
We note with sorrow the death last April of our classmate ANDREW SORENSEN. He had retired from the presidency of the University of South Carolina and was about to become president of the Ohio State University Foundation. Our sympathy to Donna...
REG STACKHOUSE still teaches part-time at Wycliffe College in the Toronto School of Theology and for the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. His number one activity is to be a caregiver for his wife of 60 years, Margaret, who...
JIM WHITE of Colorado Springs joined KENT KELLER of Estes Park for backpacking and fly-fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park in August. Jim caught two trout, while Kent scaled two summits. Spouses Patti and Janet enjoyed lunch with other backpackers’ wives.
LARRY YOUNG continues to enjoy international builds with Habitat for Humanity, most recently in Guatemala. After a lifetime of mental exertion he finds physical activity refreshing and values the camaraderie of these builds. Locally he...
Class of 1961
JIM DAVIS worked at an historically black college, Wilberforce University, after two years as a UCC minister. He has served the University of Denver for 40 years as administrator, professor, and, now, dean of University College, the college of...
RICHARD L. DODDS continues a busy and exciting life in “retirement.” He just completed his 14th season since retirement as a National Park Ranger at the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA. He is now serving a four-year term on...
CHARLES H. HARPER retired in 2000, after 39 years of pastoral ministry. This year he celebrated his 53rd anniversary with wife, Pat. Charles has a new book out (see Alumni Books section).
BILL HUNTLEY has been the chaplain and professor of religion at Westminster College in Fulton, MO. He is now professor of religion at the University of Redlands (CA), still teaching full-time: Old Testament, Hebrew (language), Asian Religions,...
REID HUNTLEY has integrated four “callings” (a la Richard Niebuhr’s definition of a call) in his career, including: (1) campus minister—special training at YDS; Danforth Foundation campus minister intern, University of Denver (one year);...
ELDON L. IRVING served in the local church for 45 years, the last 28 years as senior minister of First Christian Church in Duncanville, TX, a suburb of Dallas, before retiring in 2004. In 2011, he was awarded “The Distinguished Minister’s Award...
GAVIN MUNRO worked for many years in higher education after returning to New Zealand in 1961. He taught New Testament at the College at Glen Leith and at Knox Theological Hall serving as principal of the college for 10 years until the college...
Class of 1959
RALPH BARLOW responded to Yale President Levin’s invitation to address the search committee looking for a new Divinity School dean. He recommended that the new dean build on Dean Harry Attridge’s contributions and move in the direction of...
In retirement, BOB GARTMAN and his wife, Patty, report that their children and their families are doing well. Both have now been retired for 12-15 years. Bob writes, “It’s been a good time of life. We’ve traveled much, enjoyed having our...
Peter Hodgson and Eva continue to enjoy class reunions. After their YDS 50th reunion in 2009, they attended Eva’s 50th at Wellesley in early June. Both were splendid events with an enormous turnout and enthusiasm to match. Extending all these 50th reunion...
PETER C. HODGSON and wife Eva attended Peter’s 55th reunion at Princeton on May 26-29. It was his first college reunion in 55 years and a very rewarding experience to see old friends and meet new ones. In April they participated in a Road...
KYOKO KOMATSU ISHIKURE had a very successful charity art auction for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Kyoko is very grateful for all the artists who donated their works of art, 20 from Switzerland, eight from the UK, two from the USA...
KEN KUNTZ and Ruth keep busy with reading, travel, committee assignments, and coping with their inbox of emails. Also in their retirement residence (Oaknoll) they take part in a water aerobics class thrice weekly, and Ken enjoys playing the...
ROY NYERE continues to be involved in the local church and especially in interfaith activities. Roy calls himself a “progressive Christian,” as over against the Republican Party approach that Roy claims “wants to take us back to medieval times...
GRAHAM RIGHTS has been facing the move of his wife, Sybil, who has Alzheimer’s Disease, to the Special Care Unit at Salemtowne (a Moravian retirement facility in Winston-Salem). She adjusted to her new location the very first day and has gained...
DON SKINNER spent the summer globe-hopping and church-salvaging. His local church, a small UCC congregation, verges on coronary arrest, and he’s been engaged in the ecclesiastical version of CPR. Don writes, “Sadly, the 800-pound gorilla in the...
ANNE WIRE and husband Hugh were in Korea and China this summer, giving some lectures and teaching rural teachers oral English, respectively. Anne has a new book out. (see Alumni Books section). They still live in Berkeley just north of the...
Class of 1958
JUSTO GONZALES has a new book out (see Alumni Books section). The Asociación para la Educación Teológica Hispana (AETH) has just opened a Justo L. González Center for Latino/a Ministries, now being housed at the Orlando Campus of Asbury...
TED KLEIN retired in 2001 after 38 years teaching philosophy at TCU. He moved from a fairly large home near TCU to a condo in downtown Ft. Worth. It is in the block just north of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in which Ted...
Class of 1957
HAROLD C. DOSTER has completed a power-point presentation on the Brush Run Church, first church of the Disciples of Christ (site between Bethany, WV and Washington, PA). A voice narrative will soon be with these pictures and captions. He is...
RICHARD HIERS has written an article, “Ancient, Yet Strangely Modern Laws: Biblical Contract and Tort Jurisprudence,” that is to be published this fall in the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review. The article is a revised version of a chapter...
Class of 1956
VERLYN L. BARKER lives in Denver, CO, and keeps active in a local UCC congregation, the Westar Institute and Center for Progressive Christianity, Democratic politics, and support for President Obama. She enjoyed a week in Denver with ...
DAVID E. DURHAM has been a pastor for two years and parts of two others in Great Britain. This past year, he and wife Kathy were in England again when a colleague there died and David stepped into the breech as pastor of a Methodist...
MATTHEW FONG is on the fundraising committee of the San Francisco Chinatown YMCA and is an advisor for the Fong Family Association. His son, two daughters and their families, including five granddaughters, all live in San Francisco and are all...
ROBERT GENTRY died August 2, 2011, in Sugarland, TX. He had a long record helping the weak and oppressed in his ministry as a United Methodist minister in Texas. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, and their three children: Felicia Gentry...
JOHN GORSUCH, after years as a parish priest, teamed with wife, Bev, a psychotherapist, to found an ecumenical spiritual center in Seattle. They then spent eight years at the East-West ashram in California before moving to Bellingham, WA. They...
TED HALSTED helped dedicate a retreat lodge in memory of his parents, Rev. Alfred and Florence Halsted, at a United Methodist camp and retreat center in northern Michigan. He plays violin in a community orchestra and lives in Richmond, IN. Ted...
RUTH FERGUSON HOOKE received the Amherst, MA, Human Rights Commission award for “a lifetime of working for peace and social justice.” Ruth was cited, along with all the 1950s YDS women graduates, as “a woman of courage . . . a pioneer . . . a...
FREDERICK F. JOHNSON and his wife, Joan, live at the World Tennis Center in Naples, FL, and participate in the local Episcopal church.
BOARDMAN W. KATHAN served since 1986 as archivist of the Religious Education Association, with four collections at the YDS library; presented a paper on “Horace Bushnell and the RE Movement” for the R.E.A.; completed three entries for the...
HENRY J. KEATING lives in Winston-Salem, NC. Hank says he has had “more good years with eight grands and six super adult brothers’ and sisters’ children.” Hank is engaged internationally.
WILLIAM R. MARLOW and wife, Betty, live in Riverwoods, a United Methodist retirement community in Lewisburg, PA. They are active in the local UM church, and Bill keeps in shape with water volleyball. He participated in a volunteer mission...
GEORGE MITCHELL and wife, Genia, wish she didn’t have progressive cerebellar ataxia and that four-year-old grandson Isaac didn’t have Prader-Willi Syndrome but are thankful they can do genealogy, enjoy Brit comedies, read P.G. Wodehouse, work...
FRANK MULLEN, former class agent, now has an assisted living apartment in Friends Fellowship Community, a Quaker retirement community in Richmond, IN. Frank continues to be his cheerful self and sends classmates greetings. Frank and fellow FFC...
ROBERT W. NORTHRUP writes, “After my work in Japan for 10 years and 20 years as executive for the Japan North American Commission on Cooperative Mission, I was the director of Sendai Student Center for a year.” Bob and Shio live in Chapel Hill...
JOHN NUTTING has a new address and lives in Ormond Beach, FL.
ALBERT PENNYBACKER recently relocated to Richmond Place in Lexington, KY, a multi-level independent living retirement community, which provides added care for Martha. He continues to direct the summer New Clergy Program at Chautauqua...
JIM PHILLIPS is fortunate enough to live in Hamden, CT, not far from YDS. Reports Jim, “I head over there from time-to-time to find out what’s going on. In that way, I keep from becoming (I hope!) a dinosaur.”
NICHOLAS PIEDISCALZI lives in Aptos, CA. “We enjoy our new community, being close to children and grandchildren, and being members of a vibrant, open and affirming congregation that works continuously for peace and justice. Nicholas does some...
DON PRESLAN has resigned as class agent after five years of faithful service in which the Class of 1956 posted an outstanding record of Annual Fund support. Don and wife, Jean, enjoy two months each summer at their cabin (which they built in...
