Class Notes
The 1950s and ’60s featured a Winter Weekend hosted by the junior class, which included all sorts of winter fun.
1957
J.R. “Buzz” Campbell shared that the Class of 1957 is still a very active class, having set a record for their 60th Reunion. Doug Hasbrouck reminds classmates about Spectrum, “the endowed prize fund established by our class prior to our 60th reunion. Five outstanding students have earned cash awards from Spectrum. We hope to reach $200,000 in total gifts from our class to help assure that the annual student prize will survive for many years. Please do what you can to help us become the only class to ever achieve this goal. Gifts to the Fund to date total about $163,000. To donate or learn more, see the Spectrum web page at impact.rpi.edu/project/3034.” Contact Doug at ezpar57@gmail. com. Doug also reports that Lisa Sulmasy ’21, B.S. in mechanical engineering, is the 2021 winner of the ’57 Spectrum Award. Lisa has a stellar record of RPI accomplishments and community service typical of our four previous winners. Details on Lisa are on our Spectrum web page. “Buzz” participated in a terrific “mini reunion” organized by Jack Bluestein in September that included Paul Ballora, Paul Bogdon, Dave Brunell, John Fisher, Chuck Gould, Dick Gustafson, and Rex Krueger. “It was so engaging that it lasted an hour and a half with all sharing interesting highlights of their lives since our 60th Reunion. We hear that mini ’57 reunions happen occasionally but are not aware of details unless we are advised of same.”
Posted 2023-02-27
Doug Hasbrouck, our ’57 Networking Chair, shared news that our 2020 ’57 Spectrum award winner is Ana Gabriella Duque-Schumacher (Ana Duque), a remarkable young lady from Naples, Fla.
Posted 2021-02-26
Engineering
Just got a book from Dave Brunell, written by his wife, Pam, titled Beloving. It’s unique, being written in a combination of poetry and prose about the Brunell family’s journey from the U.S. to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Vietnam, then back home to their farm in Maryland with many adventures in those venues and many other places ... just what you’d expect of this adventurous ’57er. Its title effectively reflects Dave and Pam’s very positive experiences in and outlooks on life, living, and loving from their wide-angle view.
Posted 2020-05-18
Engineering
Buzz Campbell wrote: Am wondering if you all read the Fall 2019 issue of Rensselaer with Dr. Shirley Jackson on the cover and celebrating her 20 years of leadership, quite a story in itself.
Another piece which caught my attention was titled “An Anchor and a Compass.” As one of the many in ’57 who spent time in the military after graduation (in my case as a Navy Airdale), I was very interested in the coverage of RPI’s position in U.S. naval history, which began in 1860 and has resulted in 80 RPI grads achieving flag rank, including two who gained two stars during 2019. Also catching some of ’57’s attention was the photo of RPI Middies on page 20 together with a photo of our highly recognized professor of civil engineering, Rear Admiral Lewis Combs, Class of ’16. I got some phone calls wondering if some from our class might be in the photo. Chuck Gould wondered if the photo was of ’57 Middies, possibly including Dick “Gus” Gustafson, Jack Bluestein, and himself. Some research determined that the photo was of the Rensselaer NROTC Unit of 1965.
Chuck also recalled that “upon our graduation, Adm. Combs offered Gus a commission in the Civil Engineer Corps, to which Gus politely said he was ‘joining the Marines.’” Chuck then explained that “... the next guy through Adm. Combs’ door was me.” When Combs asked him, “Gould! Do you want to be in the Civil Engineer Corps?” his response was, “What’s that?” ... to which Combs responded, “It’s the Seabees.” Chuck quickly said, “Yes, Sir!!!” Chuck then added that he “spent four years with world-class folks and doing some very challenging work!”
Posted 2020-05-18
Engineering
Well, that led me to a call with Gus, whom I hadn’t seen since June ’57. Gus noted that he and Gloria married right after graduation, have five kids, 13 grandkids, and five great-grandkids, and served 33 years in the Marine Corps. He flew A-4s (Skyhawks) and AV-8s (Harriers) in Vietnam, flying off the attack carriers Coral Sea and Midway. His tours included commands of a squadron, air group, and a wing and he put two stars on as Major General. Gus, we salute you, your family, and your remarkable career of service!
Posted 2020-05-18
Architecture
And finally, from our steadfast classmate Doug Hasbrouck: Please check out the latest updates to our Class of 1957 Spectrum Award webpage, at impact.rpi.edu/project/3034. As of December, 77 classmates have contributed nearly $134,000 to Spectrum, with gifts ranging from $100 to $25,000. Starting with our 60th Reunion in 2017, three outstanding engineering students have received unconditional prizes of $2,500 each. The value of the endowed fund varies with the markets, but new money into the fund comes entirely from members of our class. Once our class is gone, the fund’s future will depend entirely on growth from its investments. It has always been our ambition to grow the fund sufficiently to assure that it survives our class, and benefits future students for many years to come. Please join us in taking pride from the fact that ’57 is one of only two classes that have been able to generate such a “living class gift.” Your contribution can help us assure that the ’57 Spectrum Award will endure.
Posted 2020-05-18
We recently read about our ’57 classmate, Col. Dick Kibbey, who was shot down and killed in Vietnam in 1967. His remains were recently identified and returned to the U.S. for burial in March with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Dick was a helicopter rescue pilot and had just retrieved a downed pilot in the Mu Gia Pass valley of North Vietnam when his chopper was hit and crashed. We’re very happy for his family, and salute Dick and his family for their service and sacrifice!
Posted 2019-10-01
On Horace Pops, we read that he has been again recognized by ASTM International’s committee on copper and copper alloys with its top Award of Merit. You may recall Horace has garnered much recognition and other top awards since the early ’90s. He is still active with Horace Pops Consulting Inc. of Fort Wayne, Ind.
Posted 2019-10-01
Engineering
Doug Hasbrouck reports that Rex Krueger signed the certificate for our third Spectrum Award winner. Bud Lindner and Carl Thurnau joined Doug and Stephanie in May to present the certificate to Parth Bhide, a local boy who graduated with a B.S. in chemical engineering. He had a 3.94 QPA and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science. Parth held leadership roles in Rensselaer’s Engineering Ambassadors Program, which works with local school children from grades 4 through 12. He was also involved with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and served as treasurer of the executive board. You can read more on Parth, the Spectrum Award, and funding on our ’57 Spectrum webpage at https://impact.rpi.edu/project/3034.
Posted 2019-10-01
From Lydia, Dick Kaeyer’s wife, we hear that he has had some serious health issues with surgery in Sarasota, and is now recovering well following treatment at their local hospital in Maine. Lydia notes, “We came back from Florida in early May. En route Dick was honored at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, N.Y., for which he was architect 50 years ago with an addition which put it in ‘major museum’ category. Before we left Sarasota, we had an ‘always fun’ visit from Jackie and Bruce Collopy. And we thank guys from RPI and PiKA who sent best wishes to Dick.”
Posted 2019-10-01
From Rex Krueger we heard that he was in Nairobi, Kenya, in January visiting old friends who included the founder and chairman of Daystar University and the founder and president of the Karen Hospital. Rex notes, “I have been involved with Daystar University for over 40 years, meeting the founding directors (Dr. Don and Faye Smith) in Oregon when we moved there in 1974. They returned in 2014 to Nairobi to live on the Daystar campus. Karin and I had made several trips to Africa, with this one scheduled to celebrate Faye’s 90th birthday and to meet the new leadership of the university. Unluckily, my hosts and I were involved in a bad car accident on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. I was well treated at Karen Hospital and flew home with a very bad back, and X-rays revealed a compressed vertebra. Am now wearing a waist/back belt/brace. All of this made moving into our new house in Redmond, Ore., a bit more complicated. I’m still upright, working up to playing golf soon…and am still accused of being as feisty as ever!”
Posted 2019-10-01
In mid-July, Dave Brunell notes that he and Pam hosted a Class of ’57 — Five Guys Mini Reunion with Chuck Gould, Dick Kaeyer, Bogie Bogdonavic, and Jack Bluestein for two days at his Bass & Bee Farm, near the Appalachian Trail in western Maryland…“It was a real blast and hell of a lot of fun exceeding even our elevated fantasies…indoors and outdoors, swapping all kinds of stories, heart/mind/spirit sharings, and belly laughter galore…a group favorite was a ‘Yin’ Yoga session with a master teacher, regenerating body parts/connections long forgotten (e.g., lower back and joints), discovering others never known, and re-inflating athletic exploits of yesteryear.
We were stunned how instantly our separate 61-year life journeys re-merged and melted into common themes of exploration, transformation, challenges, stumbles, learnings, conscious/unconscious choices, epiphanies, revelations of faith, meaning…and brotherhood…And how little of that was planned or could have been predicted back in 1957. Everyone’s enthusiastic about another in 2019. Welcome to others interested (Gus/Dick Gustafson already in!).” Well done, Dave! Posted 2019-03-10
We were stunned how instantly our separate 61-year life journeys re-merged and melted into common themes of exploration, transformation, challenges, stumbles, learnings, conscious/unconscious choices, epiphanies, revelations of faith, meaning…and brotherhood…And how little of that was planned or could have been predicted back in 1957. Everyone’s enthusiastic about another in 2019. Welcome to others interested (Gus/Dick Gustafson already in!).” Well done, Dave! Posted 2019-03-10
We also regret, from an all-points message from Doug Hasbrouck at the end of October, the passing of Don Howey, our football co-captain and lacrosse defenseman. That email was followed within the hour by Dave Murphy noting the passing of his Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers Paul Presta and Charles Carter Rich. Doug also mentioned that he’d like to be made aware of these happenings to keep his class records up to date, as he works closely with RPI to help keep those records straight. I should add that it would be good to keep this scribe copied on those class alerts, not just for ’57 but for others who read these class columns.
On a lighter note, Doug mentioned our winning football team, with a 7-0 record and ranked 14th in the nation, as of October 29 and with the St. Lawrence and Union games remaining. At Thanksgiving, and not knowing how things had turned out, I mentioned this to my granddaughter who is a senior at Union. With a broad smile she quickly told me that “Union had just beaten RPI”…oh, my!…to which I quickly whispered to Taylor that “RPI was RPI when Union was a Pup” (as I recalled it)…to which she responded, “No, Papa Buzz. Union was started in 1795 and was older than RPI.” A bit of fun with a millennial! Posted 2019-03-10
On a lighter note, Doug mentioned our winning football team, with a 7-0 record and ranked 14th in the nation, as of October 29 and with the St. Lawrence and Union games remaining. At Thanksgiving, and not knowing how things had turned out, I mentioned this to my granddaughter who is a senior at Union. With a broad smile she quickly told me that “Union had just beaten RPI”…oh, my!…to which I quickly whispered to Taylor that “RPI was RPI when Union was a Pup” (as I recalled it)…to which she responded, “No, Papa Buzz. Union was started in 1795 and was older than RPI.” A bit of fun with a millennial! Posted 2019-03-10
It is with great regret that I note the passing of Bob Aldrich this fall. Bob will be remembered by all for his very active support for our ’57 Reunion activities, including the acquisition for our class. The last was for our 60th, our red vest as our ’57 uniform. It was only in mid-year thinking about this column that while rummaging through my ’57 column file I ran across Bob’s “Slim-Ericks—Light Limericks for Well- Versed Dieters.” Finding it, I had spent some time smiling and chuckling with his limericks…including one written on the inside cover to me and our years of the ’57 column.
Posted 2019-03-10
On a sad note, we heard of the passing of Walt Dartland, who passed away in early March. Walt was renowned as “the man behind Florida’s Lemon Law—and the champion of the little guy.” Noteworthy was the decision to run at 81 as a congressional candidate in a deeply red district as a Tallahassee Democrat, “the longest of longshots.” Walt will be greatly missed!
Posted 2018-10-10
We trust that if you attended our 60th last October, you warmly remember that occasion of ’57 comradery and good cheer. In that spirit, we who attended our class dinner that Saturday night in Albany will recall David Brunell’s inspiring toast to our class and to RPI. I’ve asked Dave to retell a shortened version of his toast for the benefit of our whole class:
“Why are we here? Not for ourselves, but for, and because of, each other, –For all the shoulders we’ve been standing on over the years, –For those whose footsteps that were beside us, even as we stumbled, –For the countless people we’ve learned from over the last 60 years—beginning at RPI,
–For those unable to travel here, whose Spirit was wanting, but flesh weak, –For our gallant classmates who finished their race all too early, and –For those new generation of Rensselaerians who grasp our extended batons as they whip-lash into the 21st century.
We have so many to celebrate, myriad blessings to be grateful for, and the precious gift of continuing our journeys in the months and years ahead.
Suddenly, 60 years later, in the blink of an eye we’re back where we started together—to know RPI and ourselves again as if for the first time. But we are the lucky ones—still entrusted with more time, ongoing missions, and purpose—carrying the torch for all those others we love, owe, and honor.
Let us raise our glasses to those who inspire and make our presence possible tonight. And for our vintage Class of ’57 —whose combined Soul is far greater than our individual parts.”
On a personal note, David reports going head-to-head with a 30-pound snapping turtle, averting disaster dragging it out of his farm-pond drainpipe. Following his mantra “anything worth doing is worth overdoing,” David is transforming the farm into an ultimate nature sanctuary, reforesting 2,000 trees, and planting 40 tomato plants and 60 blackberry vines. David and Pam warmly welcome ’57 classmate visits whenever in the Washington/Baltimore area. Posted 2018-10-10
“Why are we here? Not for ourselves, but for, and because of, each other, –For all the shoulders we’ve been standing on over the years, –For those whose footsteps that were beside us, even as we stumbled, –For the countless people we’ve learned from over the last 60 years—beginning at RPI,
–For those unable to travel here, whose Spirit was wanting, but flesh weak, –For our gallant classmates who finished their race all too early, and –For those new generation of Rensselaerians who grasp our extended batons as they whip-lash into the 21st century.
We have so many to celebrate, myriad blessings to be grateful for, and the precious gift of continuing our journeys in the months and years ahead.
Suddenly, 60 years later, in the blink of an eye we’re back where we started together—to know RPI and ourselves again as if for the first time. But we are the lucky ones—still entrusted with more time, ongoing missions, and purpose—carrying the torch for all those others we love, owe, and honor.
Let us raise our glasses to those who inspire and make our presence possible tonight. And for our vintage Class of ’57 —whose combined Soul is far greater than our individual parts.”
On a personal note, David reports going head-to-head with a 30-pound snapping turtle, averting disaster dragging it out of his farm-pond drainpipe. Following his mantra “anything worth doing is worth overdoing,” David is transforming the farm into an ultimate nature sanctuary, reforesting 2,000 trees, and planting 40 tomato plants and 60 blackberry vines. David and Pam warmly welcome ’57 classmate visits whenever in the Washington/Baltimore area. Posted 2018-10-10
J.R. “Buzz” Campbell shared many of his thoughts and reflections on the Class of 1957's reunion: "Our 60th is over, but we’ve already started planning our 65th with our first committee conference call on November 17. We had 62 classmates and 40 wives and special others for '57's 60th events, Thursday, Oct. 12, to Sunday, Oct. 15. Many stayed in the block of rooms reserved for '57 by Kaitlyn Lounsbury, our most helpful class adviser, for networking on activities since '57. A key event of the weekend was the award of the Albert Fox Demers Medal to our Class Pres, Rex Krueger, at Thursday evening's RAA Awards Dinner. Of special note: Rex is the eighth member of the Class of '57 to receive that meritorious alumni service award."
"The highlight of the four days was the ’57 Class Dinner at the Albany Marriott, Saturday night. After opening remarks by Rex and Carl Thurnau and a prayer by Bud Lindner, Dave Brunell gave a toast that was warm, insightful, and a great reminder of what the four years at RPI represented and how that has influenced our journeys of the past 60 years. Toward dinner’s end, Doug Hasbrouck described our new Class of '57 Spectrum Award, and presented the inaugural certificate to our first winner, Ryan Touzjian '19, an Aero/ME student (see photo). Ryan had received his check for $2,500 at the end of the spring semester."
"Our class again demonstrated its generous support for RPI through both the Annual Fund, Spectrum, and other special gifts. For the 16-month class gift period that ended in October, 173 donors from our class gave a total of $1,099,250. As of mid-November, the Spectrum fund stood at $114,150, with 72 donors. In November, the committee voted to increase the target for Spectrum, setting the new goal at $150,000 by Dec. 31, 2018. Your continued support will be deeply appreciated by the committee, and by future student awardees."
"The first of two special guests was Glenn Brown '54, our 1953-54 Grand Marshal, who reminisced about our class, reminding us of our antics at Freshman Camp at Lake George in September of that year. The second special guest was Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer’s president, who gave our '57 gathering and its class a very warm welcome, noting what we had accomplished since '57. She congratulated us on our 60th Reunion and on the obvious pride we have shown as RPI alums. John Fisher, on behalf of the class, then recognized Buzz Campbell for his many years of writing the '57 class column, and Doug Hasbrouck for his very vigorous and unstinting work in much of the organizing for our 60th Reunion and for the many years of his efforts on behalf of our class and the Institute."
"Our signature event was a "Conversation with RPI's Student Pioneers About RPI & Tomorrow With '57." It was a panel of four student leaders from Red & White, the RPI student ambassadors group. The panel included Gavin Allcorn '19, Laurel Dean '18, Hannah Dean ’18, and Ryan Kirk ’19, with the assistance of Kailah Borchers, the R&W adviser, and Buzz Campbell, as moderator. All agreed that this event was an excellent exchange of student views on their RPI experiences, and from us as we looked back on our own RPI and life experiences. It also generated some lively ’57 advice as we looked back through our own “rearview mirrors.” At the end of the panel discussion, Laurel Dean presented a special plaque to Margie and Bud Lindner in recognition of their long-term support and guidance to the Red & White."
"At the end of the evening we were treated to some rousing music by Partial Credit, one of Rensselaer’s wonderful a cappella groups, ending with the traditional singing of the alma mater, joined by the class. A very memorable moment."
"We finish this with some words of greeting and thanks from Rex: “Great to see my fellow classmates and to catch up on their life adventures. Thanks to the Alumni Office support provided by Kaitlyn, Stephanie, and others in planning and implementing our Reunion. I understand that we have had the largest turnout of any 60th in the history of the Institute. Many of those who attended gave the Reunion Committee lots of encouragement to have a 65th…so plans are being made.” Posted 2018-03-15
"The highlight of the four days was the ’57 Class Dinner at the Albany Marriott, Saturday night. After opening remarks by Rex and Carl Thurnau and a prayer by Bud Lindner, Dave Brunell gave a toast that was warm, insightful, and a great reminder of what the four years at RPI represented and how that has influenced our journeys of the past 60 years. Toward dinner’s end, Doug Hasbrouck described our new Class of '57 Spectrum Award, and presented the inaugural certificate to our first winner, Ryan Touzjian '19, an Aero/ME student (see photo). Ryan had received his check for $2,500 at the end of the spring semester."
"Our class again demonstrated its generous support for RPI through both the Annual Fund, Spectrum, and other special gifts. For the 16-month class gift period that ended in October, 173 donors from our class gave a total of $1,099,250. As of mid-November, the Spectrum fund stood at $114,150, with 72 donors. In November, the committee voted to increase the target for Spectrum, setting the new goal at $150,000 by Dec. 31, 2018. Your continued support will be deeply appreciated by the committee, and by future student awardees."
"The first of two special guests was Glenn Brown '54, our 1953-54 Grand Marshal, who reminisced about our class, reminding us of our antics at Freshman Camp at Lake George in September of that year. The second special guest was Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer’s president, who gave our '57 gathering and its class a very warm welcome, noting what we had accomplished since '57. She congratulated us on our 60th Reunion and on the obvious pride we have shown as RPI alums. John Fisher, on behalf of the class, then recognized Buzz Campbell for his many years of writing the '57 class column, and Doug Hasbrouck for his very vigorous and unstinting work in much of the organizing for our 60th Reunion and for the many years of his efforts on behalf of our class and the Institute."
"Our signature event was a "Conversation with RPI's Student Pioneers About RPI & Tomorrow With '57." It was a panel of four student leaders from Red & White, the RPI student ambassadors group. The panel included Gavin Allcorn '19, Laurel Dean '18, Hannah Dean ’18, and Ryan Kirk ’19, with the assistance of Kailah Borchers, the R&W adviser, and Buzz Campbell, as moderator. All agreed that this event was an excellent exchange of student views on their RPI experiences, and from us as we looked back on our own RPI and life experiences. It also generated some lively ’57 advice as we looked back through our own “rearview mirrors.” At the end of the panel discussion, Laurel Dean presented a special plaque to Margie and Bud Lindner in recognition of their long-term support and guidance to the Red & White."
"At the end of the evening we were treated to some rousing music by Partial Credit, one of Rensselaer’s wonderful a cappella groups, ending with the traditional singing of the alma mater, joined by the class. A very memorable moment."
"We finish this with some words of greeting and thanks from Rex: “Great to see my fellow classmates and to catch up on their life adventures. Thanks to the Alumni Office support provided by Kaitlyn, Stephanie, and others in planning and implementing our Reunion. I understand that we have had the largest turnout of any 60th in the history of the Institute. Many of those who attended gave the Reunion Committee lots of encouragement to have a 65th…so plans are being made.” Posted 2018-03-15
