Class Notes
The 1950s and ’60s featured a Winter Weekend hosted by the junior class, which included all sorts of winter fun.
1950
Engineering
When members of the Crusader Club see the words “Last Charlie” in the subject line of the club e-newsletter, they know that they have lost yet another member. Crusader Club? Primarily naval aviators who have flown the Supersonic F8U (later F-8) single place, single engine jet fighter (not fighter-jet!) stemming from the mid-1950s.
This Last Charlie was for fellow RPI NROTC Midshipman Pete Easterling ’51 (Elec.Eng.), more formally, VADM Crawford Alan Easterling Jr. USN (ret). Pete died at age 91 on Oct. 19, 2019. Easterling stood out as a midshipman and was battalion commander during his senior year.
Following an initial assignment to a destroyer, Pete commenced flight training in January 1952. He was designated a naval aviator, joined a fighter squadron, and a year later he did what most NROTC grads did and left active duty. He continued flying at NAS Jacksonville as a Reserve Weekend Warrior.
Returning to active duty in October 1957, Pete started flying the F8U Crusader. He advanced to lieutenant commander, then earned degrees at the Naval Post Graduate School and MIT. Easterling continued to advance through the ranks until he became commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and was designated a vice admiral in December 1982. He retired to Jacksonville, Fla., in August 1985.
This March is the 10th anniversary of my multiple myeloma diagnosis. With an initial regimen of chemotherapy of one and a half years, a break of six and a half years, I now have been back on that for two years. It has been fairly easy, pills which slow the development of cancer cells in the blood stream.
Posted 2020-05-13
Science
At my Rochester Wilmot Cancer Center oncology clinic last July, I was cleared to mix with people rather than leave wearing a mask. Taking advantage of that, I was able to spend four hours with Bill Goffe (Physics) and his wife, Bernie, at their retirement village cottage in nearby Webster. Bernie does their local driving; distant family visit to help with stays at their lake cottage. We all adjust.
Posted 2020-05-13
Engineering
Also in July, Jack Haefeli (CivilEng) gave up his apartment and automobile to take up residence in an assisted living facility.
Posted 2020-05-13
Engineering
Alpha Chi Rho Brother Bill Statesir (ChemE) was among the youngest members of our class. He reports that he was feted by 27 family and friends on his March 28 90th birthday. He and Helen live in Portland, Texas, just across the bay from Corpus Christi. Bill and roommate Dick Moshier (MechE), two months younger, were prime movers in the 1948 formation of the RPI chapter of AXP. Dick died in June 2016.
Our four years at RPI were neatly sandwiched between the demobilization following WWII and the onset of the Korean conflict. Like Victor Mellen, many classmates suffered interruptions or delays of their education. Following graduation there were military recalls, ROTC obligated service, the draft, and volunteering resulting in delayed career starts. Posted 2019-10-01
Our four years at RPI were neatly sandwiched between the demobilization following WWII and the onset of the Korean conflict. Like Victor Mellen, many classmates suffered interruptions or delays of their education. Following graduation there were military recalls, ROTC obligated service, the draft, and volunteering resulting in delayed career starts. Posted 2019-10-01
Engineering
Irma (Shaler) Cohan (ME) has called our attention to an article in The Spirit, a local newspaper serving her Upper West Side New York City neighborhood. In it Irma is dubbed a “Globe-trotting Golden Girl.” This in recognition of her world travel as a member of organized tours such as those offered by Road Scholar. She has enjoyed 50 such tours over a period of 30 years, and plans to continue traveling, focusing on following the footsteps of favorite classical composers through the concert halls of Europe.
The article quotes Irma’s observations on unexpected similarities in disparate cultures. Then, at home, of finding previously unrecognized ethnic entities in the city mirroring those first seen on foreign tours.
A 5,500-mile Trans-Siberian Railroad tour from Moscow to Vladivostok disabused her of the notion that Siberia was just a cold, barren wasteland. Not only was it well settled, it boasted of such western amenities as IKEA stores. Irma demonstrates that at age 90, such group tours are still accessible to our generation and provide opportunities for friendly sharing with other like-minded individuals. Posted 2019-10-01
The article quotes Irma’s observations on unexpected similarities in disparate cultures. Then, at home, of finding previously unrecognized ethnic entities in the city mirroring those first seen on foreign tours.
A 5,500-mile Trans-Siberian Railroad tour from Moscow to Vladivostok disabused her of the notion that Siberia was just a cold, barren wasteland. Not only was it well settled, it boasted of such western amenities as IKEA stores. Irma demonstrates that at age 90, such group tours are still accessible to our generation and provide opportunities for friendly sharing with other like-minded individuals. Posted 2019-10-01
Architecture
What follows about Victor Mellen is edited from an email and an obituary sent by Victor’s granddaughter, Caitrin Facini ’08. Victor passed away at age 94 in December. “Like many of his year, he lived an amazing life. He had an architectural career in Rochester, and was an avid supporter of RPI. He was so proud that I was also an RPI graduate.
“Victor’s college studies at Rensselaer were temporarily interrupted by his active military service from 1943 to 1946 in the WWII Pacific- Asian theatre as a first lieutenant and navigator of a B-24 bomber in the Army Air Force. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1950 and a Master of Architecture in 1951. Victor earned his architectural license in 1955.
“Victor first joined the design firm of A. Charles Pioch as a draftsman and subsequently became partner. He primarily designed retail plazas and buildings, with a mix of more commercial buildings and a couple of homes in the Rochester area. Most notable are those for Wegmans Enterprises and Food Markets, including Chase Pitkin, and the iconic round branches for Columbia Banking. Victor retired from commercial work in 1981.
"In 1951 he designed a family summer home on Canandaigua Lake. He enjoyed sailing, collecting interesting small trees, cedar ‘driftwood’ from nearby shores and cliffs, and unusual rocks and concretions from the shores and the lakebed.
“Throughout his life, Victor showed a love of the outdoors and natural environment. He procured land in Victor, N.Y., where he designed and built another residence, planted many thousands of trees, and developed and maintained trails.
“Victor had an interest in Suiseki viewing stones and was a member of California Aiseki Kai. He became internationally known for his Suiseki stones. He also enjoyed nurturing his bonsai, being at one time president of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York.”
Although I do not remember Victor, his Transit entry includes Camera Club membership. We may have had a fleeting acquaintanceship. If he had used the club darkroom in the bowels of the dorms, we would have had a unique shared experience. Posted 2019-10-01
“Victor’s college studies at Rensselaer were temporarily interrupted by his active military service from 1943 to 1946 in the WWII Pacific- Asian theatre as a first lieutenant and navigator of a B-24 bomber in the Army Air Force. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1950 and a Master of Architecture in 1951. Victor earned his architectural license in 1955.
“Victor first joined the design firm of A. Charles Pioch as a draftsman and subsequently became partner. He primarily designed retail plazas and buildings, with a mix of more commercial buildings and a couple of homes in the Rochester area. Most notable are those for Wegmans Enterprises and Food Markets, including Chase Pitkin, and the iconic round branches for Columbia Banking. Victor retired from commercial work in 1981.
"In 1951 he designed a family summer home on Canandaigua Lake. He enjoyed sailing, collecting interesting small trees, cedar ‘driftwood’ from nearby shores and cliffs, and unusual rocks and concretions from the shores and the lakebed.
“Throughout his life, Victor showed a love of the outdoors and natural environment. He procured land in Victor, N.Y., where he designed and built another residence, planted many thousands of trees, and developed and maintained trails.
“Victor had an interest in Suiseki viewing stones and was a member of California Aiseki Kai. He became internationally known for his Suiseki stones. He also enjoyed nurturing his bonsai, being at one time president of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York.”
Although I do not remember Victor, his Transit entry includes Camera Club membership. We may have had a fleeting acquaintanceship. If he had used the club darkroom in the bowels of the dorms, we would have had a unique shared experience. Posted 2019-10-01
Alpha Chi Rho fraternity at RPI was chartered in October 1948. Its 70th anniversary was celebrated a month early to coincide with Reunion & Homecoming Weekend. Staged at The Desmond Hotel Albany, in excess of 100 attended. Of 26 charter brothers, three survive, Bill Statesir (B.Ch.E.), charter president, Bill Goffe (B.Physics), and me. Both Bills live in retirement communities with their wives; Statesir in Portland, Texas, and Goffe in Webster, N.Y.
It was my good fortune to be able to represent the founders and I enjoyed the support of Alan McKersie ’52 and his wife, Jane (Russell Sage). Alan lives in Chelmsford, Mass., and was a member of our first pledge class. The next oldest attendee was from the Class of 1965
I left Seneca Falls early enough to meet freshman roommate Jack Haefeli (B.C.E.) for lunch after which I visited Susan, the widow of fraternity roommate Frank Kolesinskas ’51 (B.Ch.E.). Frank died in 1994.
We had lost charter brother Tom Donnelly (B.Chem.) in April 2018 a week after his 90th birthday and two weeks after our last personal exchanges. Tom was NROTC, and earned his chemistry Ph.D. at Cornell in 1955. Tom’s career included research and management at Swift & Co. In 1979 he turned to teaching at Loyola University, Chicago, and Mundelein College. A holder of patents in his field, he served as a member of a food enzymology delegation to China People to People in 1985.
Tom was a founder of the St. John of the Cross Parish, Western Springs, Ill., where he served in several capacities including cantor, member of two choirs, and a chorale. He was known at RPI for his singing, especially in quartets. He was a dedicated family genealogist, publishing his research. He and Jean had three daughters and one son along with a large and close set of relatives.
Another AXP brother, first pledge class, Tom Bent, now 93, is going strong in Florida. An Air Force aviator at the end of WWII, his “retirement” career was as advanced flight instructor offering experience in a Pitts and a Decathlon. Now 93, Tom decided at 90 that time for that was past. He lost his wife, Ellie, in 2016 but is supported by the Port Saint Lucie aviation community in which he has been living and by nearby family. Posted 2019-03-10
It was my good fortune to be able to represent the founders and I enjoyed the support of Alan McKersie ’52 and his wife, Jane (Russell Sage). Alan lives in Chelmsford, Mass., and was a member of our first pledge class. The next oldest attendee was from the Class of 1965
I left Seneca Falls early enough to meet freshman roommate Jack Haefeli (B.C.E.) for lunch after which I visited Susan, the widow of fraternity roommate Frank Kolesinskas ’51 (B.Ch.E.). Frank died in 1994.
We had lost charter brother Tom Donnelly (B.Chem.) in April 2018 a week after his 90th birthday and two weeks after our last personal exchanges. Tom was NROTC, and earned his chemistry Ph.D. at Cornell in 1955. Tom’s career included research and management at Swift & Co. In 1979 he turned to teaching at Loyola University, Chicago, and Mundelein College. A holder of patents in his field, he served as a member of a food enzymology delegation to China People to People in 1985.
Tom was a founder of the St. John of the Cross Parish, Western Springs, Ill., where he served in several capacities including cantor, member of two choirs, and a chorale. He was known at RPI for his singing, especially in quartets. He was a dedicated family genealogist, publishing his research. He and Jean had three daughters and one son along with a large and close set of relatives.
Another AXP brother, first pledge class, Tom Bent, now 93, is going strong in Florida. An Air Force aviator at the end of WWII, his “retirement” career was as advanced flight instructor offering experience in a Pitts and a Decathlon. Now 93, Tom decided at 90 that time for that was past. He lost his wife, Ellie, in 2016 but is supported by the Port Saint Lucie aviation community in which he has been living and by nearby family. Posted 2019-03-10
Engineering
Burl Wilder (B.M.E.) was interviewed on the June 25, 2018, anniversary of the Korean War on which date he turned 90 years. The Citrus County Chronicle, Crystal River, Fla., newspaper coverage contains his reflections on choosing enlistment over the draft upon RPI graduation. His service did not take him to the war zone but provided contrasting adventures out of Key West and Norfolk. He tells of making a winter icebreaker trip supplying bases in Greenland. This in seas full of ice sometimes occupied by polar bears.
“Wilder moved to Crystal River in 1970 and is a former owner of Twin Rivers Marina. He and his wife, Nancy, enjoy the quiet living but Burl says he’s feeling a little old — he no longer has the physical ability to take out the sailboat. ‘I think it is amazing that I got this far,’ he said. ‘I have no regrets.’ ”
Posted 2019-03-10
Engineering
I received clippings about two of our class members. The first provides insights into the saga of Max Bleck (B.M.E.) and his career of musical chairs in the aviation industry. For 30 years Max provided executive leadership and engineering expertise to the general aviation industry. At various times in his career he served as president of Cessna, Beechcraft, and Learjet in Wichita, Kan., as well as Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, Fla. He also served as chairman of the Aviation Manufacturer’s Association and as president of Raytheon Corp. during the time Beechcraft was a Raytheon subsidiary. In 1992 he was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame.
Entering RPI at age 16, his tenure was interrupted in 1945 by service in the U.S. Navy as a radar technician.
Max was a licensed 1,300-hour private pilot with single engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings. He flew an experimental biplane of his own design which he constructed in his Wichita basement and garage. He was an avid tennis player and, in retirement, returned to his youthful fascination with golf.
Max received honorary doctorate degrees from Daniel Webster College in 1992 and Rensselaer in 1993. Max died on Sept. 2, 2018.
Posted 2019-03-10
Our previous (2002-2016) class correspondent, Herbert Kee (B.Met.E) died at age 88, March 15 of this year, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Herb was a beloved pillar of New York’s Chinatown community. Entering RPI from Brooklyn Technical High School as one of the youngest members of our class, he went on to earn a master’s degree from Penn State. He first worked as an engineer and editor at McGraw-Hill but, following a visit to the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti, was inspired at age 36 to enter medical school.
Herb graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1970 and established a private practice in the heart of Chinatown, where he treated patients regardless of their ability to pay. He was a physician at Gouverneur Hospital, which awarded him for his contributions to Lower East Side patients. He was also recognized for his contributions and leadership involving youth, Head Start, and the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, where he volunteered after his own office hours, as well as by other health organizations.
He was active as a Presbyterian Church elder, and Democratic District Leader, and as a board member of Hong Ning Housing for the Elderly, and the Senior Citizen Advisory Board. The Kees’ prominence in politics is attested to by two quotations from his memorial service: “The Kees are to Chinatown politics what the Kennedys are to American politics,” and “Everyone’s here. It’s wall-to-wall judges.”
That April 7 service was attended by more than 300 distinguished guests and described: “All of Chinatown was here. A lot of people knew each other for 40 years.”
Among these numerous recognitions was one, in 1999, from The United Jewish Council for building relations between the Jewish and Chinese-American communities.
Herb and Virginia (Hunter College) married young (21 and 19), enjoying 66 years together. They had no children but were dedicated to youth issues. Five high-achieving godchildren are cited in his obituary. Other sources suggest very close relationships with these and other young people. They established scholarships at Brooklyn Tech and RPI as well as endowments to other organizations. Herb was a member of the Patroon Society of RPI and the Dean’s Club of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Not to slight Virginia, she had been a co-protagonist in many of these endeavors and a leader in her own right.
Among all of these distractions, Herb found time for introducing city children to the wonders of beach nature, doing sculpture and ceramics, specialty cooking, carpentry, and gardening. Known as a storyteller, he also took up the ukulele late in life. He and Virginia found time to travel widely across the world, often with godchildren and their families, well into his last years.
This inspiring, commendable life story is burnished by descriptions of Herb as a quiet, humble person.If you would like to learn more, an internet search would be rewarding. Posted 2018-10-10
Herb was a beloved pillar of New York’s Chinatown community. Entering RPI from Brooklyn Technical High School as one of the youngest members of our class, he went on to earn a master’s degree from Penn State. He first worked as an engineer and editor at McGraw-Hill but, following a visit to the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti, was inspired at age 36 to enter medical school.
Herb graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1970 and established a private practice in the heart of Chinatown, where he treated patients regardless of their ability to pay. He was a physician at Gouverneur Hospital, which awarded him for his contributions to Lower East Side patients. He was also recognized for his contributions and leadership involving youth, Head Start, and the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, where he volunteered after his own office hours, as well as by other health organizations.
He was active as a Presbyterian Church elder, and Democratic District Leader, and as a board member of Hong Ning Housing for the Elderly, and the Senior Citizen Advisory Board. The Kees’ prominence in politics is attested to by two quotations from his memorial service: “The Kees are to Chinatown politics what the Kennedys are to American politics,” and “Everyone’s here. It’s wall-to-wall judges.”
That April 7 service was attended by more than 300 distinguished guests and described: “All of Chinatown was here. A lot of people knew each other for 40 years.”
Among these numerous recognitions was one, in 1999, from The United Jewish Council for building relations between the Jewish and Chinese-American communities.
Herb and Virginia (Hunter College) married young (21 and 19), enjoying 66 years together. They had no children but were dedicated to youth issues. Five high-achieving godchildren are cited in his obituary. Other sources suggest very close relationships with these and other young people. They established scholarships at Brooklyn Tech and RPI as well as endowments to other organizations. Herb was a member of the Patroon Society of RPI and the Dean’s Club of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Not to slight Virginia, she had been a co-protagonist in many of these endeavors and a leader in her own right.
Among all of these distractions, Herb found time for introducing city children to the wonders of beach nature, doing sculpture and ceramics, specialty cooking, carpentry, and gardening. Known as a storyteller, he also took up the ukulele late in life. He and Virginia found time to travel widely across the world, often with godchildren and their families, well into his last years.
This inspiring, commendable life story is burnished by descriptions of Herb as a quiet, humble person.If you would like to learn more, an internet search would be rewarding. Posted 2018-10-10
Engineering
Bill Statesir (ChE) had a 35-year DuPont career with assignments in New Jersey and Texas. In 1985 he retired in Texas and worked in realty until 1991. He moved into a retirement complex in Portland near Corpus Christi with his wheelchair-bound wife, Helen, five years ago, and sent this Hurricane Harvey report:
“...thank you for thinking of us. We evacuated to San Antonio to our son’s home for five days. Then we came back to Portland and stayed with our daughter for four weeks when they got power. Our retirement home had quite a lot of water damage and a lot of the roof blown off. They installed a new roof on the whole place and installed a lot of new flooring and rugs. Also a lot of Sheetrock that had to be replaced. We have been back two weeks and had to put all the furniture back in place and put everything away that was piled in a heap in the middle of the floor while they painted the walls. No losses of anything, thank goodness. It was like moving into a new cottage. Our health seems to be about the same. Hope that you are fine. See you at the 70th Reunion?”
Bill’s reunion reference is to the October 2018 celebration of the 1948 charter of the Delta Phi Chapter of Alpha Chi Rho of which Bill was charter president. He and freshman Church II roommate Dick Moshier (ME) (d. 2016) were prime movers in the formation of a local fraternity, Phi Delta Rho, which went national with AXP. Starting in 1988, 10-year celebrations of the charter have been held with very high attendance from all years and especially by charter brothers. Out of 26 charter brothers, only five survive as of Oct. 2017.
The 1988 gathering resulted in the formation of what became known as The Vintage Crows, which included all brothers as of June 1950, totaling 50. Varying numbers from this group enjoyed intermediate reunions every two years at locations conducive to golf at first and history/culture later. The wives were included, of course, and many good friendships were established. Snail and email newsletters kept everyone up-to-date. Biographies were shared before the 1988 meeting and updated as a booklet in 2002.
This association has been especially rewarding to me as I have had the pleasure of visiting 24 of these brothers at their homes during my travels by car, my airplane, or RV. Many of these visits involved multiple times as well as multiple days. They included meeting children, grandchildren, siblings, and friends. This activity encompassed 12 states or provinces from Nova Scotia to Florida, California, and Alaska. Eleven bothers, mostly with wives, have visited our home, some with overnight stays. Posted 2018-03-15
“...thank you for thinking of us. We evacuated to San Antonio to our son’s home for five days. Then we came back to Portland and stayed with our daughter for four weeks when they got power. Our retirement home had quite a lot of water damage and a lot of the roof blown off. They installed a new roof on the whole place and installed a lot of new flooring and rugs. Also a lot of Sheetrock that had to be replaced. We have been back two weeks and had to put all the furniture back in place and put everything away that was piled in a heap in the middle of the floor while they painted the walls. No losses of anything, thank goodness. It was like moving into a new cottage. Our health seems to be about the same. Hope that you are fine. See you at the 70th Reunion?”
Bill’s reunion reference is to the October 2018 celebration of the 1948 charter of the Delta Phi Chapter of Alpha Chi Rho of which Bill was charter president. He and freshman Church II roommate Dick Moshier (ME) (d. 2016) were prime movers in the formation of a local fraternity, Phi Delta Rho, which went national with AXP. Starting in 1988, 10-year celebrations of the charter have been held with very high attendance from all years and especially by charter brothers. Out of 26 charter brothers, only five survive as of Oct. 2017.
The 1988 gathering resulted in the formation of what became known as The Vintage Crows, which included all brothers as of June 1950, totaling 50. Varying numbers from this group enjoyed intermediate reunions every two years at locations conducive to golf at first and history/culture later. The wives were included, of course, and many good friendships were established. Snail and email newsletters kept everyone up-to-date. Biographies were shared before the 1988 meeting and updated as a booklet in 2002.
This association has been especially rewarding to me as I have had the pleasure of visiting 24 of these brothers at their homes during my travels by car, my airplane, or RV. Many of these visits involved multiple times as well as multiple days. They included meeting children, grandchildren, siblings, and friends. This activity encompassed 12 states or provinces from Nova Scotia to Florida, California, and Alaska. Eleven bothers, mostly with wives, have visited our home, some with overnight stays. Posted 2018-03-15
