R Connections

STEPHEN C. SNYDER ’77 of Cameron, Wisconsin, died Jan. 31, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in biology, participated in the Wilder Field Station several times and began an interest in radio work. He received a degree in forestry from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He worked for more than 40 years as a forestry technician for Rusk County and as an announcer for WWIB Radio for 41 years. He enjoyed the outdoors and fishing, racquetball player, his faith, and performing as a keyboardist and singer.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

PATRICK J. TESTER ’81 of Texas died Jan. 29, 2021. He spent a year at Ripon and participated in Theta Sigma Tau. He then joined his family in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended Texas Christian University. He worked in education for more than 25 years in Austin, Denver and, primarily, the Dallas Independent School district, focusing on special education. After retiring from education in 2006, he worked as a Realtor. He was an active member of Lions Club International.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

ERIC R. PILSL ’93 of Wild Rose, Wisconsin, died Feb. 27, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in speech communication and played basketball. He received a master’s degree from Marquette University. He was employed as a pharmaceutical sales representative until his passion for working with youths lead him to his teaching career at Parkside Middle School in Wautoma. He taught math and was a track coach. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, cooking and playing golf. Survivors include his wife, Jennifer; and two stepsons.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fdlreporter/obituary.aspx?n=eric-r-pilsl&pid=197914607&fhid=19842

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

MATTHEW R. “NIGEL” KENNY ’07 of Orland Park, Illinois, died Jan. 29, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in politics and government and participated in Student Senate, football and as president of Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega. He worked at Xtra Lease in Chicago and was a White Sox fan. He enjoyed political debates, yard work and motorcycles. Survivors include his wife, Kate; one son and one daughter.
Full Obituary:
Matthew Reid Kenny, 35, of Orland Park passed away peacefully on January 29, 2021. Matt was born February 28, 1985 in Palos Heights, Illinois to John and Sandra Kenny. Matt was fondly called Mogie by his family and childhood friends and Nigel by his college friends.
Matthew is survived by his wife Kate, children Allison and Robert, his parents John and Sandy, brother Jeff and sister Julie. Brother Steve and wife Laura, niece Cara and nephew Ryan Kenny. He also leaves behind a faithful puggle, Goonie.
Matt graduated from St Laurence High School in 2003 where he was a three sport athlete while also working at Aurelio’s Pizza. He went on to attend Ripon College where he was a kicker on the football team and studied Political Science and Sociology. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity where he served as president and formed many lifelong friendships.
Upon graduation he moved back to Chicago where he met his wife Kate and started his career at Xtra Lease, where he worked until he passed. Matt and Kate had their first child Allison in 2016 and Matt immediately embraced being a “girl dad.” They had their second child in 2020, a son, Robert, who he loved dearly.
Matt was a loyal friend, family man and White Sox fan. He is best described as the friendliest person in the room and goodbyes typically took hours at parties. He finally won his fantasy football team shortly before his passing. Matt enjoyed long political debates and yard work. After he developed several heart issues in 2018 he started new hobbies including motorcycles and drinking non-alcoholic beer. He was an amazing father, son, brother and husband and will be dearly missed by anyone who ever met him.
Services will be private.  Arrangements entrusted to the Becvar & Son Funeral Home, 5539 W. 127th Street, Crestwood.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

NANCY E. CONNER ’58 of Carlsbad, California, formerly a longtime resident of Oceanside, California, died March 3, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in psychology and participated in Alpha Gamma Theta. She received a degree in psychology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She worked as a senior aide to the head of the Art Institute of Chicago, then with Charles F. Murphy, head of a leading Chicago architectural firm. In 1975, she relocated to Oceanside, just north of San Diego. She worked with the president and CEO of Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, one of the largest poinsettia producers worldwide. She finished her career with the North County Transit District. She enjoyed genealogy and travelling to learn about her Irish and French heritage.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

WILL ALDIS ’70, formerly known as William Porter, of Los Angeles, California, died Dec. 3, 2019. At Ripon, he majored in English and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He received a master’s degree in education from the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He was an actor, screenwriter and director, best known for “Back to School” (1986) with Rodney Dangerfield, “Stealing Home” (1988) with Jody Foster and Mark Harmon, “Avenging Angelo” (2002) with Sylvester Stallone and Madeleine Stowe, “Black Cadillac” (2003) with Randy Quaid; and the cult classic “Clifford” (1994) with Martin Short. His novels include Lily Wyatt, The Rascal Prince and Owen Nobody. He taught screenwriting at the Art Institute of Santa Monica and was a passionate Chicago Cubs’ fan. Survivors include his wife, Miriam Flynn; one son and one daughter.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

FRANCES H. HOCKENHULL RALFF ’49 of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, died May 11, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in biology and participated in Alpha Xi Delta/Kappa Theta. She earned a degree in medical technology in Madison. She worked as a medical technician in Madison before becoming a bookkeeper for her husband, Rudy’s, real estate business. She was active in her United Methodist Church and worked as a church secretary until she retired at the age of 85. She enjoyed reading, sewing, needlework, attending church, baking and calligraphy. Survivors include two children.
View the full obituary here: https://www.riponpress.com/obituaries/frances-h-hockenhull-ralff/article_1effbdc2-b4dd-11eb-b7ad-730b92bf1280.html

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

1968 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1968!

No matter where you are, I hope spring has found you and you are now contemplating what you will add to your garden or whether it’s safe to uncover the patio furniture or maybe you will just turn your face to the warm sun and take a deep breath. By the time you read this, it will be spring on the calendar and a spring following a difficult year.
College News:
This year’s Founders’ Day celebration on January 29, 2021, marked the 170th anniversary of Ripon College. This year, Ripon honored the Fond du Lac County Health Department with its Founders’ Day Award. The award recognizes their work with Ripon College and other educational groups, healthcare facilities and businesses throughout the county to ensure they were up to date on COVID-19 information and practices.
Ripon has been working hard through the Reunite Ripon plan and the Campus Community Pledge, to keep Ripon open and safe throughout these challenges to our public health.
The first semester at Ripon this year was accelerated and without a fall break, using both in-person and virtual classes. Student life outside of the classroom continued but in modified form to comply with safety guidelines. The fall semester taught a lot regarding policies and procedures. The capacity for testing members of the school community was increased. Overall, the school is pleased with how their plan worked.
The spring semester opened January 25th following campus-wide testing. Students and faculty continue learning and teaching in-person, online, and in hybrid forms. COVID-19 continues to make planning and hosting regular events difficult. Summer orientations will be virtual using the new virtual tour tool developed by the school.
There is good news. The Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble will go on as scheduled as it is an outside event where precautions can be taken. Additionally, The Midwest Conference announced that it will resume competition for many of the spring sports. Participation will be based upon local realities due to the pandemic.
Alumni Weekend:
Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Support:
A big “Thank You” to all who supported the College this past year through the Ripon Fund and #OneDayRally. Our class was #7 in total giving and #2 in the number of donors. Well done!
#ONEDAYRALLY, 2021 – This year’s fundraising event will be held on Wednesday, April 28th. Please mark your calendars as it has become a big part of the school’s fundraising and adds some real juice to the fundraising totals. I hope we can continue to be one of the top classes in supporting the College.
The Center for Politics and the People: 
The Center for Politics and the People (CPP) at Ripon College sponsors and conducts online webinars on a variety of topics. If you have not logged on to one of these yet, I think you will find them to be highly informative. They also provide an opportunity to submit questions to the guests about that day’s topic. You can find out more about the CPP here: ripon.edu/cpp/.
Classmate News Notes:
VICKI GIESECKE BARBOUR ’68 of Erie, Colorado, writes, she and JIM BARBOUR II ’68 are enjoying their Arizona winter in Sun City Grand. Jim has been teaching “Abstract Photography Using a Cellphone” via Zoom. He also does a follow-up class where participants can show their photos. The classes have been well received.
SCOTT MATHOT ’68 of Loudon, Tennessee, writes, “Dealing with some lung issues which are being treated…successfully! Cannot wait ’til 2021!”
This issue of the Class Letter is short on classmate news. Fellow alumni have told the school they like hearing about fellow classmates so please let us hear from you. Since the last year has limited our ability to get together, we’ve come to rely on various other forms of communication. If you have had more frequent phone calls, Zoom, Facetime, or Skype calls, that, too, will be of interest. If you’ve taken up a new hobby or gone back to that musical instrument from earlier years, let us know. We’ve all looked for and I hope found, creative ways to get through this.
You can send any news, and of course photos, to me at my email ([email protected]) or to the College (JOLENE RUEDEN SCHATZINGER ’07, associate director of engagement, at [email protected]).
Finally, for those who have not been on campus for a while, you can now take a virtual tour by going to: https://tour.ripon.edu/.
While on the virtual tour you will see the familiar sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and, in these trying times, think of one thing he said, “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”
Best wishes,
PETER UHRIG ’68
(512) 762-1479 / [email protected]
Your 1968 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Peter Uhrig

1964 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1964!

Things are opening up slowly here at Stoneridge Creek. Vaccines have been given to 99% of our residents and 85% of our employees. My dear friend, Cleve Beck, whom I met here six years ago died suddenly on March 1. I miss him very much but I am grateful for the time we spent together. We enjoyed four Road Scholar trips, a Crystal Cruise, and a Lewis & Clark Paddleboat trip on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In 2020 we had to cancel a Mississippi River trip from New Orleans to Memphis and a Bourbon Trail trip in Kentucky because of COVID-19. We did enjoy Bourbon on our own – I make excellent Manhattans and Old Fashioneds. Cleve and I usually enjoyed the cocktail of the day before watching the news. I credit my chemistry for becoming a mixologist in my old age. 
Did you read the Ripon Magazine for Winter 2020? I was sad to see an obituary notice for BARBARA BLANK LUECK ’64. The back cover of the Ripon Magazine includes a photo entitled “FlashBack 1962.” My husband, JIM KOHNEN ’64, is playing pick-up football with his Theta Chi brothers. On February 28, I hosted a Zoom visit with three of my Alpha Delta Pi sisters: CAROL RUMMEL DINGMAN ’64 who lives in Texas, JUDY GRUBER SCHRADER ’63 who lives in Illinois, and ELLIE RADER ALCOCK ’63 who lives in Minnesota. Judy was my big sister and Ellie was Carol’s big sister. Both Theta Chi and Alpha Delta Pi still are active at Ripon College.
I explored alumni information on the Ripon website. Do you remember graduation on June 6, 1964? The commencement theme was Shakespeare and the speaker was James G. McManaway, editor of Shakespeare Quarterly. I have enjoyed six trips to the Ashland Shakespeare Festival in Oregon with friends from Stoneridge Creek. There were 127 graduates in our class. I think I remember that our Freshman class was 200 students. Even though HARRISON FORD ’64 did not graduate he has had a wonderful career.
I continue to be grateful for the education I received at Ripon. I sometimes surprise people when I tell them that I have a BA with a major in Chemistry (rather than a BS). The liberal arts classes I took have been valuable to me. At my most recent visit with my financial advisor I designated a donation to Ripon College from my IRA Required Minimum Distribution. I do not pay any taxes on such a donation. Jim and I used to enjoy dining in Green Lake when he had a car our senior year. Do you remember the Heidel House and Ryans? Jim and I honeymooned in Green Lake. 
If any of you participate in Facebook consider asking to be my friend. I have discovered several Alpha Delta Pi sisters on Facebook. Also, I am always interested in hearing your updates to share with classmates so do not hesitate to share those with me at any time. 
I have good news to share regarding this year’s Alumni Weekend. Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations including our Golden R Reunion, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Class Notes:
MARY ANN SIMS TROMBETTA ’64 of East Setauket, New York, writes, “Retired from teaching English and ESL. Always grateful for the fine education I received at Ripon!”
DANIEL SICULAN ’64 of Columbia, South Carolina, writes, “Moved to Dallas metro late Sept. 2020. Leaving beautiful South Carolina to join children and grandkids in Dallas!”
BARBARA BLANK LUECK ’64 of Fort Collins, Colorado, died March 12, 2019. At Ripon, she majored in music and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. She taught music in various locations, including the Virgin Islands; Monona Grove, Wisconsin; Fredonia, New York; Wooster, Ohio; Fullerton, California; and Fort Collins, Colorado. She taught individuals, school choirs and church choirs, directed musical theater productions and led student performance trips around the world. She retired from teaching in 2004. In October 2018, a group of former students arranged for an interview and tribute performance that aired on the national television program “Good Morning, America” from New York. It can be viewed here. She enjoyed planting roses and vegetables. Survivors include her husband, JOHN LUECK ’64; one son and one daughter. A feature was done by Ripon College that can be accessed here. 
Stay Safe,
PAT OSTROM KOHNEN ’64
(925) 201-7377 / [email protected]
Your 1964 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Pat Ostrom Kohnen

1963 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1963!

What a year it’s been. I believe we all feel sorry for today’s high school students, college kids and recent graduates – no doubt some are your grandchildren – whose education, job hunting and maybe even marriage plans have been turned upside down. I imagine, however, that Ripon students today are still managing to enjoy their college days for the same reasons we did; e.g., dormitory bull sessions, meeting new people, and most of all the friendly small school atmosphere. 
Good news regarding this year’s Alumni Weekend. Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Class Notes:
STEVE ASTMANN ’63 of Scotia, New York, ([email protected]) is a featured alumnus in the 2021 winter edition of the Ripon Magazine. The article relates how the Ripon College experience turned his academic life around, to include his earning a Ph.D. in higher education and in 2015 establishing the Juventus Endowed scholarship at Ripon for students who display skills and strengths but who have not excelled academically.
JUDY ELLICSON KOVARIK ’63 of Aurora, Illinois, ([email protected]) writes, “DICK KOVARIK ’64 and I are at our condo in rainy Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Seems like at least an inch each day, and flood warnings are out for all the rivers in the area. But, it is much better than all the snow and freezing temperatures back in Illinois.  
We have been fortunate to get our two Pfizer shots already, now just waiting for the arms to feel normal again. It is quite different here than at home, restaurants are open as are just about all other services. Mask wearing, although required, is not totally followed. 
The biggest disappointment of 2020 was the lack of family get-togethers. With youngsters and college-age grandchildren, we have been very careful, mostly for us, but for them also. Hopefully, we will be able to hug all of them soon.” 
JOHN NEUBAUER ’63 of Solona Beach, California, ([email protected]) writes, “Ripon has always occupied a space in my life after I chose to not attend Albion College in Michigan. It was a great school but Ripon was in my future. I love Ripon and now attribute that to Dr. Messitte. What an incredible college president! 
I had the perspective of returning to Ripon after a year spent in Madrid where I learned a life-long love of the Spanish language and the Europeans’ love and respect for the United States. Friends I made there continue today. President Zach Messitte had the exact same experience in his foreign studies. 
Like all, I have found that COVID-19 changed my life. I choose to currently work, managing a global business in 43 countries that require my language abilities. Do I wish I retired 15 years ago? Of course, but my solace is in that I have made hundreds of friends around the world of different races, religious beliefs, and political choices and see that all have the same desires we have: family. The U.S. is not the center of the universe but is an example of a country that promotes individual growth and exceptionalism as compared to their home countries. They seek my counsel as I run their sites. People of the world are amazingly the same. We love holidays, family, traditions, and the “hope” of things getting better. And there is always much to improve. 
Personally, I have learned to live alone after my wife’s passing, and with memories, go on to whatever my life is becoming. It is uncharted territory for me but one I wholeheartedly embrace. My Ripon community is helping me in this next stage of life. I am beyond grateful.
My twin, DAVID NEUBAUER ’63, our family historian, keeps me aware of our classmates and shares with me his visits.” 
MEREDITH RAPPRICH SPEERS ‘63 of Santa Fe, New Mexico, (m.spears @att.net) writes, “I have been living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the City Different, since 2007 and have never regretted leaving the East Coast or the Midwest. My 51-year-old identical twin sons from my first marriage are both living in the East and we hope to get together when it is safe to travel. New Mexico’s governor has managed the Pandemic very well in my opinion, especially considering the difficulty of dealing with the lack of health care resources in the state’s numerous Native Pueblos and Tribal Lands. It is difficult to “wash your hands” all the time when you don’t have running water where you live. All the stores around here require masks and a limited number of people in the store at a time. Bars and restaurants have been closed until recently when in some counties limited indoor dining is allowed. In our area, I have not seen people refusing to wear masks, but there are some southern parts of the state where it has been an issue and some businesses have refused to close or require face coverings. Cowboys For Trump will ride their horses and carry their long guns where they want to, when they want to, and don’t believe that COVID-19 is anything but a hoax invented by Democrats. 
My partner, Séamus, and I had to cancel a long-planned six-week trip to Spain, Portugal, France, Wales, and Ireland last spring. We thought at the time we would just reschedule it for the spring of 2021, but as time went by we realized that was not feasible. There are many great things about living in Santa Fe other than the amazing scenery and wonderful weather. One of those is the availability of a variety of music. I have been a season’s ticket holder at the Santa Fe Opera since 2007. We were really looking forward to having picnic dinners beforehand in the opera parking lot and then seeing five great operas in July and August 2020. Everything was canceled, as it should have been. The Chamber Music Concerts were canceled in July and August. The special performances that were scheduled throughout the season were canceled. The twice a month year around Jazz Concerts we so enjoy were canceled.  
Instead of going out, we found our entertainment in the house and surrounding area. When the weather was good, we hiked with our standard poodle dame, Cleo. We both read a great deal. We watched lots and lots of sports (I almost understand the game called Football by the rest of the world but still called Soccer here). Our music library got a chance to shine. We were amazed at what we had gathered over the years. And we watched old movies on DVD. I have always loved Jimmy Stewart’s 1950 film Harvey, so we watched it this week. If you have not seen it ever, or not for years, it really is worthwhile taking another look.  
After giving up cruising sailboats in the early 2000s because my second husband was ill, we switched to motor homes. After he died in 2013, I bought a small travel trailer and the pup and three kitties and I traveled back and forth to the East Coast several times a year. Séamus and I upgraded that trailer to a slightly larger, 22 feet, little Airstream trailer a couple of years ago. In early August we felt that the NE corner of New Mexico, which has very few people living there, seemed to be a safe place to visit. We found an open private RV campground (state campgrounds were closed) near the Capulin Volcano National Monument in the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field. We put the pup and kitties in the Jeep, hooked up the trailer, and off we went. Both of us learned a great deal about that part of the state, and were able to stay away from everyone for the five-day trip. It was nice to get out and about. 
In early September, we waved goodbye to the animals and a house sitter and headed off for a four-week road trip. This trip’s ultimate goal was to reach Yellowstone NP before the winter snows started flying and celebrate Séamus’s 80th birthday. We stopped in Moab, Utah, visited Arches NP, then headed north toward Yellowstone. A strong blizzard had come roaring down the Rocky Mountains and had caused some of the roads I had wanted to take near the west side of the Tetons to be closed, so we changed our route a bit to get to West Yellowstone. We spent seven days there. The west coast, Oregon and Washington, was on fire at this time and we had a couple of days where the visibility was less than great, so we visited parts of Yellowstone that did not require being able to see for miles. From there we headed to the south entrance/exit of Yellowstone and into Jackson Hole for four days. As we drove toward the town of Jackson, the Teton range was to the west of us, our right. I pointed the mountains out to Séamus but he could not see them. The smoke was way too bad. Two days later the smoke lifted and there were the Tetons, just where I had promised him they were! What a spectacular sight. We left the Jackson area and headed to Boise, Idaho to see friends, and then started slowly working our way back to Santa Fe. We felt safe during our travels. All but two meals were in our trailer, and the two meals “out” were served on patios at restaurants. I saw no one without a mask at fuel stops or grocery stores. Restrooms were closed at all the campgrounds we visited, but that was fine because we have our own in the trailer. I was able to do laundry at a couple of campgrounds by making a reservation and having the entire place to myself.  
Till the next time Wayne asks for information: Get your COVID-19 vaccine. Wear your Mask. Wash your hands. Stay Safe.  
CLIF RANNEY ’63 of Dallas, Texas, ([email protected]) writes, “Thanks for sharing the passing of JOHN KIRCHGEORG ’63. Really nothing to report from the Ranney household. Travel was seriously curtailed in 2020, after a very busy year of travel and photography in 2019. Wishes for good health and happiness for all.”
ARTHUR SCHARFF ’63 of St. Louis, Missouri, ([email protected]) writes, “My family and I are well. COVID-19 has taught me new ways to be happy, including lots of new cooking recipes, guitar, Master Class (an incredible educational website), and Noom (you may have seen their ads on TV) for a 30 pounds weight loss and more exercise miles logged in six years of keeping track. Not bad for an old fart! I am planning on going to Florida for a couple of weeks in April and a Tauck Tour by riverboat in October, COVID-19 willing. Life is good.”
DAN SCHULTZ ’63 of Silver Spring, Maryland, ([email protected]) writes, “My wife and I have just received our second COVID-19 vaccine shots and we are looking forward to venturing out a bit again with friends to an outdoor restaurant or two here in Palm Beach Gardens where we stay for the winter months. Feel badly for all of those who still have to wait for their vaccine shots, including some of our children, and our hope is that by summertime we will be able to have our children and grands visit us at our lake place in Wisconsin.  
I have been spending a good amount of time these past two years as the curator of the artwork of my deceased sister, DIERDRE SCHULTZ LUZWICK ’67, archiving all of her artwork for long time preservation and attempting to promote her drawings and gain her a wider audience and reputation. If anyone would care to see examples of her artwork, you can visit her website (luzwickart.com) or her Facebook page which I monitor and where I post her drawings on a bi-weekly basis (currently we have over 1,100 followers). A labor of love as they say, but hopefully at some point she will gain the recognition she deserves as one of our country’s most talented artists in modern times. I came within a few strokes of shooting my age in golf earlier this month. Stay safe and well.”  
ROGER WHEELER ’63 of Southbury, Connecticut, ([email protected]) writes, “I just want to say that living through this COVID-19 pandemic was a unique experience for me especially seeing the lockdown in New York, a city that I grew up in and went to school by riding the subways in the 1950s.” 
—————-
Classmates We’ve Lost: 
PATRICIA DRABANT ’63 of Davenport, Florida, died Oct. 23, 2020. She attended Ripon College and studied business administration at Nova Southeastern University. She worked for Dow Chemical in Colorado. She and her husband, Evert Bancker, enjoyed traveling and lived in the south of France throughout the 1960s and 1970s before settling in Florida. She worked in the legal department of Walt Disney World for 20 years and was a key player in managing Disney’s real estate, expansion, infrastructure, and the launch of ESPN Wide World of Sports. Speaking fluent French, she also helped translate and provide guidance for the launch of DisneyLand in Paris, France in 1992. She retired in 2010.
JOHN KIRCHGEORG ’63 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died Jan. 13, 2021. At Ripon he majored in philosophy and participated in student government and Delta Upsilon. He later was a charter member of Partners in the Legacy. He was president and founder of LIFE Corp. in Milwaukee, where he held six patents and trademarks on medical equipment. He also worked in the banking industry. He was a member of several professional organizations and was appointed to the governor’s Wisconsin International Trade Council and the Wisconsin Export Management Company Task Force. He enjoyed classical music, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet, and boating. (I was a roommate of John’s in our Junior year and considered him a good friend — he will be missed.) 
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In closing, I’d like to acknowledge the classmates who have donated to the Ripon Fund and/or to the #OneDayRally. Our class donated a total of $37,425 this last fiscal year. The College thanks you. Please keep Ripon at or near the top of your ever-growing stack of donation requests.
Just think, in two short years in 2023 we will be celebrating our 60th Reunion….By then COVID-19 will be just a bad memory and, hopefully, a lot of us will join our classmates for a big celebration!  
Stay Safe Everyone! 
WAYNE WOLFGRAM ’63
(313) 550-5094 / [email protected] 
Your 1963 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Wayne Wolfgram

1961 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Dear Classmates:
Greetings from southern Oregon, home of the extraordinary Oregon Shakespeare Theatre. It was good to hear from you and allow me to share the class news.
DANIEL BENKA ’61 of Hopewell, Virginia, wrote on July 23, 2020, that during a return home to Virginia after a Packers stock holding meeting he stopped in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, to meet with BILL SOUTHERN ’61, a fellow Merriman fraternity brother. He said it was wonderful to reconnect. Sadly, he said that almost a year to the day of their visit, Bill passed. Dan expressed his wish to attend our 60th Class Reunion celebration. He said to look for a fat grey-headed man with a cane! But, sadly, the following message came recently from JIM KALANGES ’61: “DANIEL BENKA ’61 suddenly passed away on the first of February 2021 while attending a convention in Arizona. Jim reports that Dan’s wife is in the hospital possibly with COVID-19.”
JEANIE VERMILYE JOHNSTON ’61 has lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, since 1967. She has remained in close contact with her freshman roommate, LYNNE JOHNSON CLAFFEY ’61 of Brookfield, Wisconsin. She married SID JOHNSTON ’60 in 1959 and they had two children, a boy and a girl. Jeanie is not only a grandmother but a great-grandmother! She and SID remained friends after their divorce and she reports that he passed in 2017. Jeanie has played tennis for many years four or five days a week, but now plays two days a week. She is happy that she can still play and plans to take pickleball lessons. While employed, Jeanie worked in a Phoenix-area school district. Upon retirement from the school district, she became an administrative assistant in her church. Then, she finally retired! She and Lynne drove up to Ripon a few years ago during the summer but the campus was mostly closed. Her years at Ripon were some of the best of her life. A few years ago, she had lunch with MARY ANN CLAUDER JESSE ’61 of Downers Grove, Illinois who was visiting her sister in Scottsdale, Arizona. 
JACKSON PARKER III ’61 of Kansasville, Wisconsin, says that he hopes to attend our 60th Class Reunion. He is in good health and still pretty active currently involved in Black Lives Matter including both community and school systemic issues, and other related social justice issues in the Burlington and Racine communities. In addition, he is active in Rotary Club. He sings as a tenor in a community choir and serves as its president. Of course, they have now become virtual as they are now performing via Zoom. He reports that he made his first Zoom recording of his tenor part after only about 20 tries! But the group sounded pretty good after ten or so of the other members recorded their parts to cover him! He said it was weird, but rewarding.
Although their home residence is in the Racine/Burlington area of southeast Wisconsin, their Green Lake cottage serves as a haven for the family, including kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews. He reports his kids work from home in either Green Lake or California and hopes the California contingent (oldest daughter and two grandkids) can visit during August. His nieces and nephews live in Minneapolis and he spent early July with them at Green Lake. In his “spare” time, he reads and gardens.     
DARRELL JOHNSON ’61 and BETTY BURMEISTER JOHNSON ’62 of Green Valley, Arizona, have moved to a new home across town. After 19 years living in Green Valley, they are downsizing!
BILL PYE ’61 lives in Excelsior, Minnesota, about 30 miles outside the Twin Cities and on the lake. He reports that he still works with his active brothers of Sigma Chi in Ripon. They had a Sig Reunion Group that met annually in Ripon until COVID-19, so last year they met via Zoom.  Included in the group were DAN BEHRING ’62 and NANCY STEENO BEHRING ’62, GORDY ENK ’62 and ELISE WERNER ENK ’62, HOWIE MYERS ’61, NED PIERRON ’62 and BJ CHRISTENSEN PIERRON ’63, JOHN ROGERS ’62, BOB HAUGOM ’62, KAREN KONRAD ALLAN ’62 (wife of DON ALLAN ’61, deceased), JOHN KORBEL ’60, and others. He reports that has been in contact with LEE JESS ’61 and MARY JO PIEHL JESS ’62 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Bill is semi-retired as a management consultant and banker. Sadly, the pandemic has prevented him and his wife from their annual trek to an island off the coast of Belize. Oh well, perhaps, next year.  
AKIRA TOMITA ’61 sends greetings from Kanagawa-ken, Japan! He reminisced about his freshman year in 1957, and shared these memories: Wearing “beanies”, fresh/sophomore greased-pole fight, polishing shoes for upper-class students and carrying their books, a shaving cream fight in the hallway of Scott Hall ended by the floor supervisor, Nick Whiteman, who yelled, “All right, guys, get quiet and back to your rooms right now!!!”
He has remained in touch with TIM BURR ’61, BILL PYE ’61, and PETER JOCHIMSEN ’61. A few years ago, he and his wife enjoyed their visit at the home of TIM BURR ’61 at Oostburg, Wisconsin, and meeting up with Bill in Ripon. In addition, they saw Peter at his home in Iowa City, and then ALLEN ANGSTEN ’61 in his home several times.  
PHILLIP WATKUS ’61 sends best wishes to us all. He lives in Kohler, Wisconsin, with occasional visits to their summer home in lovely Door County for maintenance. He very much misses dining in Door County, always a prime attraction in better times, which is not possible now, unless you want to do curbside pickup. Somehow, curbside pickup loses something in translation. The area is still pretty, but the County officers have asked folks with summer place there, like him, to stay home. So, they do unless there is something that really needs to be done. 
Photography and nature hikes are still a great get-out-of-the-house cabin fever escape. All of his photo club activities and other hobby group meetings are via Zoom, which at least keeps them in touch with friends. In his spare time, he is catching up with woodworking projects that were put aside for a couple of years. He is almost done with his fancy router table and has been cranking out a few wood-turned pieces for his children and friends as well as for a store at one of his favorite haunts in better times, The Clearing Folk School Bookstore and Gift Shop in Door County. Woodturning is great fun and with all the Ash available these days, thanks to the Emerald Ash Borer, this fine hardwood is free for the asking. In addition, he does computer database programming. He commented that he has remained in touch with MARK CODY ’61 and his wife.
As for me, BARBARA KRIEPS LASKIN ’61, well, upon graduation, I entered a management training program with Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. in Chicago where I was able to move up the ranks in retailing. Then, one day, my husband came home and said pack your bags, I’ve been accepted by the State Department and we are moving to Washington, D.C. What?? After a wonderful year in D.C. working as the assistant to the Director of Public Safety for the D.C. Council of Governments, my husband came home from work to advise me that we had to pack because he had been assigned to Arabic language training in Beirut, Lebanon. “Where’s that?” I said. We spent ten wonderful, exciting, years in the Middle East. I was fortunate to be able to work in the embassies where we were stationed as a reports officer. Our last tour in Beirut was especially a treat as I was able to obtain a master’s degree in English Literature at the American University of Beirut. While we were on leave that summer in Ireland and England, fighting began again in Lebanon and the State Department ordered an evacuation of all non-essential personnel. What does it mean to be non-essential anyway? So, I placed my two daughters on a plane for America to stay with my parents while I returned to Beirut to pack up our household effects. Not to put it too dramatically, but my last night in Beirut was spent watching the red glare of bombs and Katyusha rockets. 
Returning to America was an adjustment, to put it mildly, and after I lost my husband, I was drowning in a sea of grief. A sermon by the priest in church about focusing on what you have and not what you have lost encouraged me to accept a job as the executive director of a private, invitational, bar association, in a far-off galaxy – San Jose, California. It was a good move for me. I was able to become active in the non-profit community serving on several boards, fund-raising for some, active in Rotary, a book club, AAUW, Alpha Chi Omega alumnae group, competing in agility with my two standard poodles who were also therapy dogs, and serving as a lector in my parish. After the association decided to leave California, I accepted a job as a management analyst with the County of Santa Clara and retired three years ago. A theatre friend and I had been visiting Ashland, Oregon, for the past 28 years, to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and other world-class theater the area offered. I knew that when I did retire, it would be southern Oregon. I like to tell everyone that I live between two wineries and a cattle ranch! It’s true! Since moving to Medford, I have once again become active in the community, serving on three City of Medford commissions, Rotary, two book groups, working out at the gym, and taking classes at Southern Oregon University. Oh, and walking my girl standard poodle. Sadly, I lost my older daughter 12 years ago, but she is with me through her two extraordinary children, my grandson and granddaughter, who live in Chicago. My younger daughter lives in Brooklyn, New York. I have been fortunate to stay in touch with JOANNE TOSTRUD JOHNSON ’60, JUDY BROCKEL BAUM ’63, and MAC CLAUDER JESSE ’61.
This summer, we’ll be celebrating our 60th Class Reunion during Alumni Weekend. Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Class of ’61 in Memoriam
JULIE “JUDY” BROCKEL BAUM ’63
DANIEL BENKA ’61 
PATRICIA HORR MATAELE ’62
BILL SOUTHERN ’61
DANIEL L. BENKA ’61 of Prince George, Virginia, died Jan. 26, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in football and Phi Kappa Pi. He was commissioned through ROTC and received the ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate recognition. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1987, including tours in Vietnam, three years in France and two years in South Korea. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1978. While serving, he received his master’s degree in economics from the Florida Institute of Technology. He then worked with the Department of Defense and Dominion Energy. He was a member of several community groups and served numerous high-level posts with the Jaycees. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; one son and one daughter; and a brother, JOHN BENKA ’60.
WILLIAM W. SOUTHERN ’61 of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, died June 12, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in psychology, participated in athletics and Phi Kappa Pi, and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the Army and completed a master’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University. He enjoyed walking his dog, taking trips with his wife, and attending local basketball games, tennis matches, track and cross country meets, and school events. Survivors include his wife, Marie; two sons and one daughter.
That’s about it, folks. Hope to see you at Alumni Weekend and our 60th Reunion this summer on August 7, 2021. Please be there to help us remember those whom we have lost. And, stay well.
BARBARA KRIEPS LASKIN ’61
[email protected]
Your 1961 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Barbara Krieps Laskin

1960 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Hello Everyone:
Hopefully, all of you have gotten your shots and are enjoying good health. For many of us who have been staying home more, it makes hearing from our classmates even more meaningful. There is not a lot of news so this will be a shorter than usual letter. Please, please, write, email, phone, or appear at my front door to let me know what is going on in your lives. In this time of isolation, it is a joy to find out what is going on in the lives of others that we know. Yes, our numbers are diminishing so it is really important to stay in contact.
Class Notes:
JUDITH PELINO BALL ’60 of Brighton, Michigan, sent me STANLEY BALL ’60’s obituary. He passed on Feb. 15, 2020, at the age of 82. He was the father of five and grandfather of four. He got his MBA at Indiana University. At Ripon, he majored in Economics and was a Theta Chi. He worked at Ford Motor Credit Company for 31 years in the Commercial Paper Dept. and retired as Assistant Treasurer. After he retired, Stan and Judy were honored to work at Send International, an international agency, in fundraising for eight years. He also served on the Cornerstone EPC mission committee for 13 years.
BARBARA KOUBA HOFFMAN ’60 of Vernon Hills, Illinois, died Oct. 23, 2020. At Ripon, she was my Alpha Xi Delta sister and roommate. She was a biology major. She had a varied career as a violist, orchestral musician, microbiologist, and a gemstone specialist. She was a member of the University of Chicago Orchestra, North Shore Chamber orchestra, and other classical music groups. She also ran two Chicago marathons. She had one daughter and two grandchildren.
GEORGENE KLANER KOBLENZ ’60 of Sugar Grove, Illinois, died in January 2021. She also was an Alpha Xi sister and a Biology major at Ripon.
Now on to happier news:
JOHN BENKA ’60 of Park Ridge, Illinois, received the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award on February 16, 2020. He has been and is still active in many city and education projects.
DEE GRAY HOLDEN ’60 and DANNY HOLDEN ’60 of Phoenix, Arizona, write that their salvation in Arizona during this nasty COVID-19 time was being able to visit with their son and his family who live nearby. It was a time of cancellation in visiting with the USAF grandson in Maastricht, Belgium, to meet his fiancé. We did visit our USN grandson in Bremerton, Washington. He is a submariner on the USS Kentucky.
DIANE GOTZ RANIERE ’60 of Schaumburg, Illinois, wrote to commiserate with me on the loss of all Yahoo group sites including ours.
Since ED SIEBEL ’60 of Balboa Island, California, has had a home law office for years, the pandemic has not disrupted his routine. Living full time on Balboa Island, 200 feet from the beach reduces the pain of staying “home.” Three of his five kids live close by. Ed and Sue keep busy with parents of developmentally disabled children to obtain the support they need from their governmental districts.
As for myself, I had to purchase a new bookcase as my already large book collection has expanded during the shutdown here in Scottsdale, Arizona. Three cats serve as bookmarks as I read. I also swim daily and walk which gives me the strength to “badger” all of you to give me your news.
Speaking of news, I have good news regarding this year’s Alumni Weekend! Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8 and will focus on alumni awards recognition; 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations including our 60th Class Reunion Golden R Celebration, and will feature other outdoor events like Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for our 60th Reunion celebration on Saturday, August 7, 2021. 
Stay well. Stay happy and bless you all.
Deb
H: (480) 284-5564 / C: (619) 889-5061 / [email protected]

Submitted by: Class Agent: Deborah Johnson Van Slyke

1959 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1959!

It has been an interesting year for my wife, Sandy, and me. We presently live in the very small town of Superior, Montana, with a population of just 800 people. And, I am happy to say that our county has not had one death due to COVID-19. I have been working on the publicity campaign on the Documentary on my life that is presently being accepted into film festivals throughout the United States. And, even one in Italy. The documentary is titled “David Mirisch – The Man Behind the Golden Stars.” The rest of the day I spend time with my daughter and our three grandchildren, watch Netflix movies, read some books, and donate my time to help nonprofits in Montana and Idaho with their future fundraising events. I am so blessed that I am still healthy and strong.
How are you, dear classmates? Please send me any news or updates that I can share in our future Class Letter. 
Here are our most recent class notes: 
RONELL ANDERSON ’59 of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, writes, “Hi Dave, who could have guessed such a thing as being hit with this pandemic? I feel the worst for my two youngest grandchildren who are in college virtually now.  Sadly, they are missing the college experience that we were so fortunate to have…. the inspiring teachers like Dr. Tyree, the fraternity and sorority bonding, the dances, the Spring Sing, the athletics. We had such a great time. As a widow, I have given up our house and moved to an independent living apartment in a complex called Maris Grove. Until the virus hit, the social life was fun and vibrant. A group of ten widows ate together and participated in lots of the 109 different group activities that are offered. Since COVID-19 hit I have been in and out of quarantine as contact has dictated. I have read lots, painted, and connected with others interested in antiques, decorating, and collecting…. especially early valentines from the 1800s. I still work as a consultant and appraiser of antiques. I would love to hear from more fellow Ripon friends. My address is 405 Oakleaf Terrace, Glen Mills, PA 19342.”
DAVID HILL ’59 and his wife of Saint Petersburg, Florida, have been enjoying their time at home reading and watching Italian and French TV programming. Because of COVID-19 they had to cancel two overseas vacations.
Some sad news to share: 
THOMAS E. SHARP ’59 of Ripon, Wisconsin, died Oct. 17, 2020. He was a certified electronic technician and repaired televisions and radios for several area firms, including Johnson’s TV, Ruby’s TV, Paul’s TV and Dan’s Audio Plus. He served on the church council of Our Savior’s United Church of Christ and was treasurer for five years. He also was a member of Investments Unlimited and was an avid reader. Survivors include his wife, Jeanne; and two sons.  
VICTOR G. WOESTE ’59 of Eugene, Oregon, died March 1, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in WRPN radio, football, ROTC and Phi Kappa Pi. He later became a Partner in the Legacy.
I now have information to share regarding Alumni Weekend. Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8 and will focus on alumni awards; 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations including our Golden R Reunion, and will feature other outdoor events like Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

 I look forward to hearing from more of you. Stay happy and healthy!
DAVID MIRISCH ’59
PO Box 793, Superior, Montana 59872
(760) 715-0580 / www.dmirisch.com

Submitted by: Class Agent: David Mirisch

1956 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1956!

Since our numbers seem to be shrinking, it’s best now to keep in touch. That’s why I agreed to become our Class Agent. I enjoyed TOM LINDE ’56’s Class Letters, and I look forward to hearing from the rest of the class! We shared a few years at College and now we can share a few more by email, U.S. mail (called snail mail by many), or even Zoom. If I find someone to set up a Zoom meet-up when would be a good time for everyone? Please reach out to me with ideas of when you could meet virtually.
Class Notes:
EDWIN CROMEY ’56 of Toledo Park, New York, writes, “The General Theological Episcopal Seminary in New York City established a graduation prize in Liturgics in my name to be given annually.” 
KEITH GUISE ’56 of Greensboro, North Carolina, married Elena (from Mexico) 61 years ago. They lived in Venezuela, Mexico, and Milwaukee. He has been in South Carolina since ’86 when he retired to be near their daughter and son. He has had cancer and is now free of it. He likes golf. He has fond memories of RAY VANDE MOORE ’59. 
WOODY MOY ’56 of Topsfield, Massachusetts, says “I watch fake news, 2 naps” and sends his regards. (Not sure what he means by fake news but that’s what he said.) 
BARBARA BAUMAN LACY ’56 of Gainesville, Florida, married BILL WHITTLE ’56 in November ’56. Bill went into the Army. They went to Japan where a son was born. Then they went to Maryland and a daughter was born. Bill went to Vietnam and Thailand. He died at 43 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Barbara had brief stints as a substitute teacher, private investigator, and spent time doing clinic work. Barbara married Major Hal Lacy, a U.S. Congressman worker in Washington D.C. They moved to Texas. Barbara started painting. They retired to Gainesville, Florida. Hal died. Now Barbara volunteers at North Florida Humane Society, plays bridge, and volunteers at art galleries. 
I look forward to hearing from more people but this is still our beginning. 
College News In Brief: 
The entire college community has been tested and classes are back in session. Teaching is in person, online, using videos, Zoom, and the outdoors when possible or any other way faculty might find to use. (Picture students walking between classes with masks.) Summer orientation will be virtual.  
The #OneDayRally for giving is planned for April 28, 2021. Would you be interested in being a Social Media Advocate for that day? Email [email protected] and receive a toolkit of resources. Thank you to all who are able to support the Ripon activities with your donations. We had 15 donors this past year. Not all people in our age group have the income to do this. All donations from our class made before the end of the College’s fiscal year on June 30th will be part of the Golden R Reunion gift presentation during Alumni Weekend. 
Alumni Events: 
Last year’s 2020 class reunions were canceled due to COVID-19 so those who would have come last year are invited this year. Our Class Reunion is now planned for Saturday, August 7. Would you believe it is our 65th Class Reunion? The postponement from June to August was considered because of public health concerns (ours and community), vaccination status, and travel concerns.

Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations including our 65th Class Reunion as part of the Golden R Celebration, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

I have not been to Ripon in many years so it is nice to see changes and scenes that are new. Here is a virtual tour of campus that was especially helpful for prospective students to view who were unable to https://tour.ripon.edu/. I thought it would be fun to take a look at a familiar building from when we were a student to what it looks like now. On the left is a picture from our yearbook where you can see West Hall in the background. On the right is a current picture of West Hall from a similar angle.

Where do you volunteer? I play keyboard at a nursing home service, belong to a senior citizen group that meets Monday through Friday, and volunteer shelving books at the library. Unfortunately, those are all suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions in this state. So now I play piano, read novels (online, or hardback or paperback), go to church, and enjoy my family when they come to visit. I just got a new iPad Max and a new iPhone XR. I had fun putting a new Otterbox and glass protector on the phone. Since my laptop is old and Microsoft Word got deleted when I installed Windows 10, I am now learning how to use Pages on the iPad. Pages is sure different from Microsoft Word! I have yet to start Numbers as an alternative to Excel. It should be interesting. I have been doing lots of searches on how to do this and that. 
I hope you found uplifting ways to enjoy the holidays in these trying times. I wish you all well as you face challenges of all sorts in these trying times – health, financial, distance from family and the “new normal” to name a few. 
If you are on Facebook, how about checking out Ripon College’s Facebook page? And, if you go on YouTube, you can watch previously recorded live events hosted by Ripon College by searching for the “Ripon College Live Events” YouTube channel. 
Your Class of 1956 Class Agent,
GLORIA BERTSCHIE LUDDECKE ’56
7100 Sunset Way, Apt. 308, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 
(813) 468-0997
Your 1956 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Gloria Bertschie Luddecke

1969 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1969!

Hello from Naples, Florida. Getting through the pandemic is a little easier here since you can do things outside year-round. Still, the only trips Cynthia and I take are to the supermarket, pharmacy, doctor, or dentist. Our life is only marginally less boring than yours. We miss getting together with neighbors, friends and family. So far, there have been only two cases of COVID-19 in our little community of 112 homes and the two people had ZERO symptoms. Yep, never knew they had it, never felt sick. Weird. Also weird, the two others living in their house DIDN’T get COVID-19. The least little things become important during the pandemic. The other night, in a phone call to ART SCARLETT ’69, I mentioned my only venture outside for the day was to get the mail from the box at the curb. ART immediately asked me: “What did you wear?”
Ripon College vs. COVID-19 
Ripon College is surviving the pandemic pretty well. For the 2020 Fall semester, about a third of classes were online, another third in person, and the last third were hybrid (some sessions in person, some online). Ripon started the semester two weeks early, eliminated Fall Break, and finished the term two days before Thanksgiving. Less than 5% of the students were infected (in the middle of a state that had >25% infection rates). Each student had to sign a pledge to follow all the protocol (masks, social distancing, limited indoor groups, reporting symptoms immediately). The College had to scramble to find larger rooms for the larger classes in order to maintain distance between students in the classroom.
The second semester started on January 25, with enrollment at just over 800 students. Classes resumed (still one-third, one-third, one-third), the Commons, the Spot, and Starbucks opened for seated (physically distant) dining and the Willmore Center and Lane Library resumed normal hours of operation. However, everyone is asked to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing rules and adhere to proper hygiene regulations. The results of the initial COVID-19 tests for faculty, staff, and students that took place between Friday, Jan. 22 and Sunday, Jan. 24 were less than 1% positivity rate.  
Out of an abundance of caution, Ripon College decided to do a second full campus-wide testing event on Tuesday, Feb. 8. All students, faculty, or staff on campus during the Spring semester had to undergo a second test. Testing took place in the Willmore Center. Results were almost identical to those of the first campus-wide testing. The College then began random weekly surveillance testing, selecting and testing approximately a quarter of students, faculty, and staff each week. The effort by Ripon College to prevent COVID-19 from spreading has been exemplary. Kudos to President Zach Messitte and his staff. Their hard work is producing excellent results.
Pandemic Collateral Damage
Unfortunately, winter sports were canceled for all schools in our athletic conference. Spring sports are taking place but in a limited capacity and with a reduced schedule. The 2021 Commencement ceremony is still scheduled to take place outside on the lawn of Harwood Memorial Union on Sunday, May 16. Because of continued caution related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the status of public health across the country, each graduate will be allowed only two ticketed guests. Masks will be required and social distancing will be enforced.
Good news regarding this year’s Alumni Weekend. Classes that had Reunions canceled last year are celebrating this year, as are those classes that would normally celebrate this year. Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Additional Semesters for COVID-19-affected Students
Ripon created the Ripon Plus Semester(s) Program to help students enrolled during the 2020-2021 school year. Eligible students with academic reasons for returning will have their tuition waived for their ninth semester or fifth year.
Incoming
As of February 25, Ripon College had 142 deposits received from students who would enter as first-years in August. This is the class of 2025. (Yep, 2025.) This number of deposits is significantly ahead of recent years. They are shooting for an entering class of 250+ students.
Dollars and Sense
Ripon is considering another five-seven year capital campaign. Typically, these campaigns raise $50 million or more. No decision yet on what the money would be used for. Some feel it should go to the endowment, which currently stands at around $97 million. (Endowment comp’s: Coe $78M, Knox $170M, Monmouth, $122M, Cornell $82M, Beloit $88M, Lawrence $400M.) Others think the campaign should fund a new science and technology center to replace Farr Hall, a facility that was built in 1962. (Computers and calculators were not even invented then, let alone cell phones and iPads.)
Merriman House
Ripon is trying to figure out what to do with the still-shuttered Merriman House. The building is in very poor shape and requires an investment of significant capital to make it usable.
Zooming
My fraternity, Beta Sigma Pi, has been holding Virtual House Meetings via Zoom once a month. We’ve had as many as 40 guys on at one time. There are about 250 living members for whom we have contact information. I’ve reconnected with some guys I hadn’t seen in 50+ years.
Classmate News – Here’s the news I received from class members. I love hearing from all of you.
FRANK ANDERS ’69 and BOBBI SUESS ANDERS ’69 of Chesterfield, Virginia, send this news: “Bobbi and I are enduring the solitude of a COVID-19 year of discontent punctuated by weekly Zoom meetings both Ripon/fraternity and church-related. Who could have guessed in 1969 that Zoom would one day mean anything other than the speed attained sliding down Upper Sadoff below Bovay Hall in the snow or the roar of Richard Petty’s racing car. There is an ever-evolving dictionary of our language. Remember the Valley Girls and Ebonics? Now we have emojis. Yesterday I woke up and upon reading the New York Times learned that “woke” has somehow added a new meaning that makes no sense. Henceforth I must say that I arose from my nocturnal slumber since “woke” has been usurped. Seemingly educated people continue to follow the herd seeking popularity in catchy new words or uses of existing words. To say that I am mildly perturbed is actually an exaggeration. Who am I to complain or pretend to be an authority, after all, I did not major in English.”
VINCE AYE ’69 of Madison, Alabama, emailed this information: “Glad we had our class Golden R Reunion in 2019 and not 2020! I still have so many great memories from our gathering!! I must have slowed down back in July of 2020 and the COVID-19 virus caught me! First, I was in ICU, under a ventilator for three weeks — the doctors took care of clearing my lungs! I then spent two weeks at Vanderbilt Hospital to rescue my kidney, followed by two weeks at rehab to regain my strength and balance. I’m so very glad to have been delivered from the jaws of COVID-19 without any lingering illness! My new name should be Lazarus! My wife had COVID-19 at the same time also and we were in the same hospital, on different floors! She was in the hospital for only a week! She’s a tougher cookie than I am! I came back home on September 10, after being out of the house for seven weeks. I’m just about back to my pre-COVID-19 health now. 

These days, I’m squeezing blessings out of every minute – reading, writing, cooking, doing fitness, and at times, listening to a whole CD in one sitting! With Alexa I can play music that I don’t have – what a wonderful jukebox! I have this compilation of “1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die” book and I’m enjoying so much variety! Family-wise, my wife and I will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary this coming August. Through mergers and acquisitions, our original family of us two and three daughters have grown pretty big! We now have eight grandchildren and also, 1.7 great-grandchildren! I just sing  “… and I think to myself what a wonderful world…”. My heartfelt thanks to Ripon College for Chapter One of my life in America!”   
MARK BAUER ’69 of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, writes: “I am still enjoying the shuttered life of a poet. Shuttered, yes. Poet, no. With the medical background in our family, we believe in masking outside the home and avoid group gatherings. I am still waiting for a vaccine, either from the health organization of my physician or Meijer’s pharmacy. My wife Cindy, a physician in Urgent Care, has received hers; my son, a pediatrician his. Obviously, I am not traveling by plane until I have the vaccine. Everyone is concerned about the new strains already found in Wisconsin. We have been able to eat outside on warmer days if outdoor seating is available or we get the food curbside and head home. We have had our daughter at home from NYC since last March. She is working for a luggage company “at home” with us. We have frequent FaceTime with “remote” families in New York and Phoenix. We have done puzzles, read books, and retreated to our summer condo in Elkhart Lake (Wisconsin) 60 miles north. I also have a new outdoor sport: live-trapping those rascally squirrels who turn my lawns into practice fairways in the summer with disrupted turf and holes for black walnuts (three holes per nut, two remain empty to confuse competitors). The captured rodent is then introduced to a woody haven five to six miles away. Great sport. Mostly gray squirrels, occasional beautiful reds. And, of course, walking in the neighborhood to complete the activities. Aside from that, watching movies on Amazon Prime and Netflix is almost a nightly group function.”
DON CHESTER ’69 of West Palm Beach, Florida, sent this update: “Greetings from Palm Beach County where on any given day you can walk outside your house and find a python in your yard, an alligator in your pool, and, if it’s cold enough, frozen iguanas falling from your trees. Just another day in paradise. Like the rest of the country, the past twelve months have been dominated by COVID-19. The highlight of last year was driving up to St. Mary’s Hospital and not seeing three medical tents in the parking lot. If you have not already done so, I highly recommend you get vaccinated.”
BRUCE DAVIS ’69 of Naples, Florida, writes: “Not much to report. We are enjoying the weather here in south Florida. I play golf two-three times a week and stay home most of the rest of the time. I still work on learning how to play my guitars and have a couple of buddies that also play so we get together now and then. We had a community open mic night a couple of weeks ago and where ten people performed; it went well and those who attended enjoyed it.”
BOB FERNBACH ’69 of Castle Pines, Colorado, sent this: “Stacy and I have been doing little: no travel, no guests, etc., so we have been following news/politics, watching movies/TV series, reading, playing guitars (trying to learn new skills), upgrading our main audio/video system, taking daily walks, and shoveling snow!”
BILL GEBHARDT ’69 of Portage, Wisconsin, sent this news: “SUE HECHT GEBHARDT ’70 and I have officially become Wisconsin residents. We sold our home in Frankfort, Illinois, and have started building our new home on Swan Lake in Portage, Wisconsin. We’re less than an hour from Ripon. We don’t expect to move in until late spring and we are currently getting away from the cold in our Florida condo. Once the house is done we will be in Wisconsin for seven months and Florida for five months. We can’t wait.” 
ALICE HALL HAYES ’69 of Washington, D.C. sent this: “Since our last updates, we have all become more accustomed to socially distanced living in D.C. with masks, hand sanitizer, etc. Fortunately, my husband, Ed, and I have been able to visit our new granddaughter, Josephine, who was born in May 2020. We flew down to New Orleans to meet her and drove back to D.C. – a good way to see the country and to visit sites along the way. I highly recommend a one-two day driving trip back home whenever possible. We stopped at several locales along the way home. In historic Asheville, North Carolina, we toured the Biltmore Mansion, its gardens, and tasted the Biltmore wines. Somehow, we finished 2020 with totally different celebrations for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. The highlights of 2021 so far have been the Biden/Harris Inauguration and Ed and I getting our COVID-19 vaccine shots. The message for the two of us during these times is patience, appreciation, and valuing family and friends.”
RANDALL KAWAMOTO ’69 of Honolulu, Hawaii, emailed this: “I hope all my classmates are faring well during these difficult times. Although the pandemic has been rough, I recently received an unexpected uplift in spirits by a kind gesture of gratitude. Following graduation from Ripon, I volunteered to serve in the Peace Corps and was assigned to teach English at a girls’ middle school in the port city of Busan in South Korea. I served in Korea from 1970 to 1973. Over 2,000 volunteers served in South Korea as teachers and health care workers between 1966 and 1981. At that time, South Korea was a third-world country stricken by disease​​​ and poverty in the aftermath of the extensive destruction left behind by the Korean War. South Korea is now one of the richest countries in the world. 

 
Recently, as a gesture of gratitude, the government-run Korea Foundation sent COVID-19 ‘Survival Boxes’ to returned Peace Corps volunteers in the United States. The boxes contained quantities of masks and gloves for use in the pandemic, as well as some souvenirs to remind us of our time in Korea. I received my survival box from the Korea Foundation in December. This gracious gesture by the people of South Korea brought back many fond memories. Peace Corps Volunteers received far more than we ever gave in the countries we served during our years of service. It is an honor to be remembered in this way after 50 years.”    
DAVE LEE ’69 and SUE STEGER LEE ’69 Appleton, Wisconsin, write: “We are doing fine. Our second vaccinations are scheduled for March 1st. It’s been a quiet year – normally we screen more than 13,000 kids during the school year through our Lions Club, but nothing yet this year. I am being treated for prostate cancer. I had radiations last spring and two years of quarterly hormone therapy injections – only three more to go. These injections make one tired and fat, but I finally stopped feeling sorry for myself and started running again and working out at a gym. I have been vegan since last July and have sacrificed nothing with the change. I am beginning to feel the best that I have in years. ALERT for all the men: get your PSA checked annually and watch for increases, even if still in the normal area. 
Sue is doing lots of walking, working out, and is a superb handmade card maker. Our twelve grandkids are growing up too fast. Each of them is worthy of a story, but this time we’ll just talk about our grandson, Ian, who is a junior in high school. Ian just took fourth in Division 1 at state in the 500 freestyle swim with a 4:40. He’s the one who did the Alcatraz Sharkfest swim a couple of years ago. He is about to embark on aggressive fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society student of the year campaign. Regarding COVID-19, it’s been tough on everyone, but I really feel sorry for the kids. I guess that we had our world turned upside down in the 60s. There were challenging times for our parents as well. In closing, too many of my friends are dying. Let’s all work at capturing some more good years by controlling our body weight, and being physically and socially active. In the doing more for others category, this is a key time to dig down for more generous contributions to Ripon College. Hopefully, everything will be back to normal soon.”
NANCY OLIVER LEIFHEIT ’69 of Sycamore, Illinois, writes “Here we are in the longest year of our lives! DAVE LEIFHEIT ’67 and I have been very careful, staying socially distant, following all the guidelines, yet trying to keep ourselves busy and healthy throughout it all. Summer was so much easier as we could golf, walk, and see outdoor sights and even head to our Wisconsin cabin bringing all our own supplies so we didn’t have to interact with anyone. When this stay at home ends, we will all have to relearn how to interact with real, living, breathing in our midst humans! We have our first vaccines under our belts and are hoping for the second next week. I have rediscovered jigsaw puzzles, completing about 50 so far! We can Zoom into Zumba, tai chi, meetings and sibling Sunday gatherings!
The highlight of this pandemic has been the chance to meet with my seven brothers (including SCOTT OLIVER ’69) and sisters via Zoom every Sunday since last Easter! This has been amazing and now cousins from Scotland and Australia have joined us! After quarantining for two weeks, we flew to Seattle for the month of December to stay with our daughter and visit with our son and his family! We wore masks and shields on the plane, wore masks inside the house for a week, COVID-19 tested before and after we got there made this possible! Dave cross country skis right in our own neighborhood woods nearby daily in this time of so much snow! I’m more likely to stay warm inside! We were given the gift of Storyworth for Christmas which prompts us to write about memories, many of which include how we met and Ripon College! It’s been a fun trip down memory lane!”
PHIL MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04 of Woodstock, Illinois says: “The COVID-19 situation has made my psychiatry practice busier than ever during the past year. A small group of us purchased a golf course last year and we have been working on improvements and additions.”  
SCOTT NYQUIST ’69 and CYNTHIA SANBORN NYQUIST ’69, of Naples, Florida, want you to know “Scott has a weekly Zoom call with fraternity brothers FRANK ANDERS ’69, RICK BRANDT ’69, ROB HANDEYSIDE ’69, STEVE LEITSCHUH ’69, ART SCARLETT ’69, and MASON SHERWOOD ’68. The group is hoping to resume their annual get-together in October in Siesta Key, Florida. (The one in 2020 had to be canceled.) Scott is looking forward to the start of the 2021 baseball season. Cynthia studies German for two hours each day. She is a constant gardener (you can garden year round in Naples) and also is always knitting and crocheting. In recent months she has been making crocheted or knitted stuffed animals and hats for kids in the cancer ward of the local children’s hospital. We are both enjoying regular video chats with our nine-year-old granddaughter, Emma, who lives in Germany. Some days we each get a dozen texts from her and we are enjoying this while it lasts. We got our first COVID-19 vaccine injections on Feb. 24 and we celebrate 53 years of marriage on Mar. 9.” 
KEN PORTER ’69 and BARB KNIGHTS PORTER ’69 of Killington, Vermont, write: “Barb and I are safe and COVID-19 free. Unfortunately, we have not seen local friends socially since October when we could still meet outside. The Killington Ski Resort has figured out how to keep folks safe so life on the mountain has moved forward with great snow conditions and lots of visitors from out of state. Initially, those visitors seemed a scary thought but the resort has taken precautions, and we are enjoying our winter. We have no plans for travel this next year, but our COVID-19 vaccinations are underway and we have just received our first shots. Hopefully, that will allow us more freedom and we will start to plan at least some road trips. The best part of the winter has been our 15-year-old grandson who has been living with us since Christmas. He is an avid ski racer and his hometown has allowed him to do remote schooling. He is able to do school and then he and “Pops” go to the mountain to make some turns. We love having the company and BARB’s available for help with homework and editing his papers. It’s been a wonderful experience brought on by the pandemic, so we’re seeing positives in what has been a difficult time.” 
CHIP RETSON ’69 of Aiken, South Carolina, wants everyone to know he has a new mailing address. It is: 112 South Park Commons, Aiken, SC 29803-4525.
CYNTHIA KLINGEL SPRING ’69 of Meredith, New Hampshire, sent me this: “I have spent much of the last twelve months learning and unlearning our country’s history. I became the chair of our UU Fellowship’s Black Lives Matter Task Force a few years ago and realized that I would have a steep learning curve to really do justice to the position. So I started reading, watched videos, and attended webinars on racism and dismantling white supremacy. This fall, I began a three-year course (yes, at age 73!) called “Beloved Conversations.” It is a virtual course based in Chicago. Some 1,200 of us signed up! I have become much more aware of the sheltered world I live in and the “safety” my white skin provides. I grew up in a liberal-minded family and attending Ripon certainly helped to keep me open-minded. I was a KD on campus but, because we pledged a black girl and two girls from Hawaii, we went “local” in my Junior year. I was proud of us (still am!) I have also been “puzzling,” watching old Fred Astaire movies and baking. Happy to say that we received our first round of COVID-19 shots!”
OTTO WACHHOLTZ ’69 of Papillion, New England, writes: “Not much change from the last report, though my bride will get her first vaccine shot on February 17th. Maybe we’ll go out to dinner (what we’ve been dying to do) to celebrate after the second shot. We haven’t done that since last March. We have become addicted to jigsaw puzzles, but I think that was also a problem in my last update. I am still playing hockey on the weekends, indoor softball during the week, and I am remaining active in a volunteer emergency services organization. I hope that everyone is staying healthy and sane.”
JOHN WIECHMANN ’69 of Estero, Florida, sends this news: “Just hanging out here in Estero, Florida.”
Sad News
LEE W. MILLS ’69 of Lewes, Delaware, died Aug. 24, 2020. Originally from Hyattsville, Maryland, at Ripon he majored in art and also was on the Crimson yearbook staff for four years, serving as Editor-In-Chief his senior year. He was an art administrator throughout the Washington-Baltimore area, including director of exhibitions at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, assistant director of Montpelier Cultural Art Center in Laurel, Maryland, and interim executive director of the Rehoboth Art League in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He also worked with the architects and City of Gaithersburg to develop the Gaithersburg Art Barn. His work has been shown in galleries around the country, and he was active in amateur and professional theatre in the Washington area. He and his late husband, Donald Gardiner, owned and operated the Coastal Frameshop and Gallery in Rehoboth Beach. He enjoyed cooking and writing poetry.
MELODY MOLAND KANTEN ’69 of Baldwin, Wisconsin, died Jan. 11, 2021. She received a degree in fine arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and was an advertising executive for Colle & McAvoy Advertising Agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She loved animals, living on a farm, downhill and cross country skiing, scuba diving, kayaking and flying. She also enjoyed riding horses, bicycling, walking and creating objects out of wood. Survivors include her husband, Tom.
All You Need is Love
Happy Belated Valentine’s Day to those of you who are still married to someone else in the Class of 1969. There are 13 couples who can claim this status. Best wishes also to the eight people in the class who are still married to a Ripon alum from another class.
Thank You for Your Generosity
A big thank you to all of you who made a financial gift to Ripon College between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. Our class gave a total of $264,830. Only three classes gave more than ours. I hope all of you will consider a gift to Ripon in the period July 2020 – June 2021. A gift of ANY amount is greatly appreciated. Your gift can be given with no restrictions or you can designate where it should be used: Scholarships, Endowment, Faculty, Lane Library, the Arts, Athletics, etc. Your gift can be in memory of a beloved professor or a classmate. Please give what you can.
Three Special Guys
Special thanks to classmates PHIL MCCULLOUGH ’69/P’04, BILL JORDAN ’69, and JOHN WOLFE ’69 who continue to serve on the Ripon College Board of Trustees.
Rally Time
In April every year, Ripon holds its annual #OneDayRally event, kind of similar to PBS pledge night or the old phone-a-thons, only online. This year it will be on April 28th. The goal is to get 2,021 people to make a gift to the College during the Rally. Please consider participating and making a gift that day, even if you already made a gift.
Final Thoughts
Be sure to let Ripon know your new address if you move or if you change email addresses.
Check the Ripon College website for the most up-to-date information on Alumni Weekend 2021 at ripon.edu/alumni-weekend. You can also register online there if/when the event will take place. I want to close by giving you a link to a video FRANK ANDERS ’69 sent to my attention. Please spend 3 minutes and 30 seconds to watch it. You can also find the video by searching “Perspective from someone born in 1900 on Coronavirus and COVID-19” on YouTube.
Keep in touch. Always for Ripon,
SCOTT A. NYQUIST ’69
7747 Martino Circle, Naples, FL 34112
Home: (239) 732-0523 / Cell: (630) 632-1619 / [email protected]
Your 1969 Class Agent
P.S. If you need an email address or street address to reconnect with a roommate, fraternity brother/sorority sister, lab partner, fellow ROTC cadet, contact me.
TRIVIA: Top 10 Majors of the Class of 1969:
History 40
Chemistry 18
Economics 24
French 14
Biology 23
Philosophy 14
Psychology 22
Political Science 10
Mathematics 20
Art 8
Source: Class of 1969 Commencement Program

Submitted by: Class Agent: Scott Nyquist

1970 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1970!

I hope this letter finds you and your family healthy and surviving this strange year. I also hope you are among those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. BILL GEBHARDT ’69 recently got his shots at the V.A. I have yet to get mine, but I will do so when we return to our Wisconsin home. We sold our house in Frankfort, Illinois, in June and thought that construction on our new lake house would begin then. Due to COVID-19 and construction delays on our builder’s other projects, they did not break ground on our house until September. Fortunately, we were able to spend July through October at my family cottage in Portage, Wisconsin, near the construction. November through mid-January we lived at BILL’s brother DAVE GEBHARDT ’66 house, and we will be at our condo in Florida through March. We are really looking forward to having everything finished and beginning this new adventure. Fortunately, with all this time, I know exactly where everything will go in the new house! 
Our older son, Matt, is still living in the Chicago area and is a golf professional at Stonebridge Country Club in Aurora, Illinois. He visited us and played with Bill in the member-guest golf tournament. They didn’t repeat winning their flight but they did come in second in that group. It was nice to have his company and help with projects around the condo.
Will, our younger son, continues with Canadian National Railroad and he and Tera are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their fourth child, finally a boy! Tera is homeschooling the girls again this year and they really enjoy it. They are able to socialize with kids in the neighborhood and participate in limited activities.
Bill continues to improve and his chemo treatments have decreased from once a week to once a month. He is enjoying the warm weather and golfs four to five times a week. I am slowly getting back to golf after my surgery in July, which was necessary to complete the surgery from the previous year. The remainder of my time has been spent planning all the selections for the new house and continuing to work on the Florida condo.
I’m sure you are wondering about our Reunion. The College administration has been evaluating all options and Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special video recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8 and will focus on alumni awards recognition including for our very own JIM DANKY ’70, a 2020 Distinguished Alumni Citation Winner; 2020 and 2021 reunion celebration including our Golden R Club induction, and will feature other outdoor events like Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Please stay safe and try to join us at our Reunion on Saturday, August 7, 2021. And remember to send in your “mini history of your life these past 51 years” if you have not done so. You can use the 50th Reunion Memory Book paper form or complete the form online at www.ripon.edu/50threunion.
If you have questions about how Ripon is dealing with classes you can go to www.ripon.edu/coronavirus-information/.
Also, I really hope someone will volunteer to be our Class Agent. I have enjoyed this, but it is time for me to move on. If you are interested in being a Class Agent, or if you would like additional information, please email Jolene in the Office of Constituent Engagement. 
And now our Class Notes!
JIM DANKY ’70 of Stoughton, Wisconsin, co-curated an exhibit called Wisconsin Funnies that will be on display at the Museum of Wisconsin Art’s “mother ship” in West Bend and MOWA|DTN, located in downtown Milwaukee at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel. Wisconsin Funnies is the first exhibition to present the rich history of comics in Wisconsin. The nearly two hundred works by twenty-five artists will illustrate the major themes, innovations, and publications that characterize the state’s past half-century of comic art. The exhibition pairs hand-drawn original art with printed material such as comic books, alternative weekly newspapers, and other collectibles and ephemera. 
DOUGLAS DEWEY ’70 of Fort Wayne, Indiana, writes, “I retired December 7, 2016, after 40 plus years as a TV Broadcast Engineer at WPTA-TV, the ABC affiliate here in Fort Wayne.”
Please keep in touch! 
Sincerely,
SUSAN HECHT GEBHARDT ’70
(815) 260-1656 / [email protected]
Your 1970 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Susan Hecht Gebhardt

1971 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1971!

Dear Classmates,
Our 50th Class Reunion is this year and one has to wonder where the time has gone. Many successes have happened to us since that special occasion that can be attributed to the education we received so many years ago. Our continued financial support of this vital mission will ensure incoming classes will experience the best quality education possible. Our 50th Class Reunion is scheduled during the new date of Alumni Weekend: August 6 – 8, 2021. 
We will be sharing our Reunion celebration with the Class of 1970 as their Reunion was canceled this past year. The goal is to get as many classmates as possible to celebrate our 50 years of success that started at Ripon College. This will be a great time to come back together as a class to reminisce and catch up on 50 years of experiences. I invite any classmates interested in assisting in the planning of our Reunion to contact me. Areas needing assistance include the Memorabilia Room, Service of Remembrance, and our class memory book. You can use the 50th Reunion Memory Book paper form or complete the form online at www.ripon.edu/50reunion to share your “mini history of your life these past 50 years.” I want to invite all of you to consider spending a weekend at Ripon and enjoy some fellowship with your classmates.
Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special video recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8 and will focus on alumni awards recognition; 2020 and 2021 reunion celebration including our Golden R Club induction, and will feature other outdoor events like Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Campus News
Classes officially started on January 25, 2021, with a mix of in-person, online, and hybrid (part online and part in-person) formats. The weekend before classes started, the entire campus community (all students, faculty, and staff) were required to take a COVID-19 test, which was administered on campus in Great Hall resulting in a less than one percent positivity rate. Beginning on February 1, 2021, the College began random weekly surveillance testing where approximately a quarter of the College community will be tested.
Admission numbers for 2022 are looking up as there is a 30% increase in deposits and a 40% increase in student-athlete applications.
As of March 17, 2021, we had 32 class members donate to the Ripon Fund. This is a great start toward meeting our class goal. I encourage all classmates to support our efforts in making our 50th Class Reunion gift the best in recent years.
As we look back at our experiences at Ripon, we can all see the benefits we derived from that special time. In some way, the Ripon Fund assisted all of us. It underwrites all aspects of yearly operations, including but not limited to laboratory supplies, technological innovations, library resources, faculty support, financial aid and scholarships, athletics, opportunities to study abroad, the arts, and facilities. Thanks to those of you that supported the Ripon this past year. I urge your consideration to increase this year’s gift in recognition of all we have accomplished because of Ripon College. 
I look forward to seeing you at our Class Reunion in August! 
Sincerely,
Jim Beisner ’71
(770) 570-7725 / [email protected]
Your 1971 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Jim Beisner

1972 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1972!

I hope that you and your families are doing well as spring heats up. After the challenges of the past year, I am sure that you are all ready to get outdoors and have some fun. New York is much livelier each day and the signs of spring are everywhere. I am especially happy that tennis will resume in Central Park in mid-April.
The Spring Semester at Ripon College has been active and robust. 

• Classes officially started on January 25 with a mix of in-person, online, and hybrid (part online and part in-person) formats. The weekend before classes started, the entire campus community (all students, faculty, and staff) were required to take a COVID-19 test, which was administered on campus in Great Hall resulting in a less than one percent positivity rate. 

• Beginning on February 1, the College began random weekly surveillance testing where approximately a quarter of the College community will be tested.

As you know Alumni Weekend was suspended last year due to COVID-19 and plans for Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen. There will be two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 

• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 

• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.

• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.
  

Congratulations to GARY LEDERER ’72 and JEAN KIRKPATRICK LEDERER ’73 on the birth of their grandson Daniel Robert. While they have not been able to spend time with family for the holidays, they have continued to play golf and like many of us Zoom with friends and family. Recently, Gary and Jean met up with NITA JACKSON PARKER ’72 in Healdsburg, CA for lunch and a bit of wine tasting!

Next year will be 50 years since we graduated from Ripon College. Over the years we have enjoyed great support from our classmates. I thank you for supporting Ripon College in the past and I encourage your continued support. I hope that we will be able to reunite in Ripon for our Golden R Celebration in 2022. If you would like to help with our Reunion planning, I welcome you to contact me. 
Class Notes:
LYNN SPICER-TUCKER ’72 of Watertown, Wisconsin, writes, “My husband and I had an incredible trip to Australia in January of 2020 and we (finally) met my pen pal Lynne and her family. We became pen pals in 1963!”
NITA JACKSON PARKER ’72 of Healdsburg, California, writes, “I’m managing ‘COVID culture’ by Zooming on Sunday afternoons with SUE MIJANOVICH KEY ’72 of Lake Zurich, Illinois, and KAREN TESCHNER DORN ’72 of Arlington Heights, Illinois, LINDA BRASSINGTON DANIELS ’72 of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and JEAN KIRKPATRICK LEDERER ’73 of Estero, Florida.”
SAMUEL WHYTE ’72 of Honolulu, Hawaii, died Sept. 19, 2019. At Ripon, he majored in history and participated in the Parallax student publication. Survivors include his wife, Cathy.
Sincerely, 
STEPHANIE GREENE ’72
[email protected]
Your 1972 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Stephanie Greene

1973 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1973!

I saw something on Facebook early in January that said: “I have had the seven-day trial of 2021 and I don’t want it.” The first month of this new year was certainly trying.
As I began to write this, GARY LEDERER ’72 and I were completely frustrated trying to sign up to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Hours spent waiting for an on-line appointment to pop up or on the phone waiting for someone to answer so we can sign up. We know we were not alone in our frustrations, but really it seemed appointment sign-ups could have been a lot easier. We did finally get our first vaccines, Gary traveling to Miami and me to Palm Beach Gardens, both trips over two hours each way. We got the shots, that is the important thing. Gary’s second dose is in three weeks and mine in four.
Many of you have been touched by COVID-19. For those of you who have lost loved ones, you have my sympathy. For all of us who have been kept from family, friends, and the business of our normal lives, I hope the vaccine works and life will return to normal. I know it will never be the same as it was, and that is okay. But, like many of you, I want to be able to get on a plane and see my children, cuddle my grandbabies, and travel the country I love. 
I am thankful for Zoom and Facetime. Every Sunday evening, I Zoom with Ripon friends: KAREN TESCHNER DORN ’72, SUE MIJANOVICH KEY ’72, LINDA BRASSINGTON DANIELS ’72, LYNN HORNE GASIOREK ’72, and NITA JACKSON PARKER ’72. We catch up on our weeks, talking about what is happening in our worlds as well as the world as a whole. Gary and I Zoom or Facetime with our children and grandchildren, so at least we can see their faces, even if we cannot give them the hugs we would like to. I am missing hugs so much!
Before I get to the news from classmates, I want to share something that MARIAN “OZ” OSSMAN ’73, wrote: “I’m not alone in turning 70 this year. Generally, I dislike decade birthdays but it occurred to me that I spent four wonderful years at Ripon in the 70s. After graduation, I launched my adult life, traveled, pursued further education, and started new relationships before marrying in ’79. Now, looking forward to the 70s once more, I can’t help anticipate what will come when COVID-19 is under control. More travel, new relationships with grandkids, perhaps learning something new? I’m grateful for my good health and a good life built on my Ripon education that has carried me to this new decade.”
Let’s rock these 70s like we did before!” I agree with her: let’s embrace turning 70 and enjoy the decade with as much enthusiasm and spirit as we had in our Ripon years!
That being said, let’s remember Ripon College when we think about our charitable giving this year! Thanks to each of you who contributed this past year either to the Ripon Fund, #OneDayRally, or both! Our financial support of the College benefits the students attending now, and guarantees that there will be a place for students in the future. Remember to keep up to date through www.Ripon.edu/news. Also, check out feature articles at www.Ripon.edu/publications. 
My plea for news brought in the following responses:
EVELYN COLUCCI SUZDAK ’73 of White Plains, New York: “COVID-19 has taken travel options out of my retirement equation for now. Keeping busy with indoor water aerobics. Taking a Collegium course at the local college on the philosophy of unity. Interesting… I never took a philosophy class as an undergrad.”
MARIAN “OZ” OSSMAN ’73 of Hopkinton, Massachusetts: “Before COVID-19, in the Fall of 2019, I spent three weeks in France exploring Paris, Provence, and sailing the Cote d’Azur. I arrived home the same day that KAREN “MURPH” LOWERY ’73 arrived to spend a long week with me. Once my jet lag abated, we were limited by rainy weather but still hiked Walden Pond, explored the North End, and experienced The Christmas Tree Shop. Murph and I have traveled together before but this was her first visit to Massachusetts. She’ll be back. During COVID-19, I’ve been lucky to continue riding which kept me active and engaged. I even rode in the Champlain Valley Virtual Horse Show, racking up a heap of ribbons! Old dogs and new tricks come to mind. Most recently, I had a total shoulder replacement in early January which was done as a day surgery! Fortunately, I’m healing very well and should be back in business and better than ever soon. While recuperating, I hosted a 70th birthday bash, outdoor around a bonfire, and as well as a Zoom Inaugural Gala with friends from CA, FL, GA, IL, WI, and, of course, Murph in AZ.”
MIKE MIZEN ’73 of Lakewood, Ohio: “We remain guarded but well. Did a 5500+ RV adventure to Idaho last fall taking all the back roads and small state and national park campgrounds. Typically we would be skiing in February but the COVID-19 numbers in Pitkin County are way off scale. Our families are also in good order. Alison, Trip, and Kael welcomed Paisley Joan Gaul last March; on the eve of the state of Ohio shutting down. Jennifer and Joe will be expecting their first child in April. No vaccines for us at this writing but PEGGI SEELBACH MIZEN ’75 remains a licensed RN and is now part of the Ohio Medical Reserve Corps.”
MARTY MORRIS ’73 of Portland, Oregon: “Here’s some input from Oregon….Not doing much. I’m staying at home, minimizing going out in public, wearing a mask, and waiting for my turn for a vaccination, which will be a few more months for my group. The good news is that I discovered a Ripon grad Class of ’02 living two blocks from me in Portland. His Ripon College license plate frame gave him away. We are going to get together when it’s safe. More news like that. I ran into a freshman drinking buddy, DAVE LAPORTE ’73 on the Nextdoor app. He had just moved here. We too will meet when we feel it’s safe to.”
PAT WILKE EPTING ’73 of Aransas Pass, Texas: “2020 started out with a cruise, a quarantine (flu), and a quick trip to see my uncle in Florida before the pandemic hit. In March, LEX ‘72 found out he needed thyroid surgery just as the hospitals in Texas closed for elective surgery. Not wanting to get stuck in Texas for the summer, we decided to head north. Also not wanting to have a mechanical breakdown in the mountains of Oklahoma, we reluctantly traded in our “Hickory Nut” with its 125K miles for a new car, dubbed “The Groot.” Cross country travel in April was surreal. We packed food, Lysol spray, and Clorox Wipes. There were almost no cars on the roads and almost no people in hotels. It was a relief to pull into our driveway in Wisconsin. Lex found one of the nation’s top Thyroid surgeons in Appleton and all went well. The farm was a welcome respite for the summer, and the kids were able to join us for Lex’s 70th birthday (after the obligatory self-quarantine). Now we’re back in Texas, hoping to score a vaccine without spending the night in “The Groot” waiting for a drive through vaccination clinic to open. (Agent Note: She and Lex got their vaccines!!!) Never a dull moment, in spite of the pandemic!”
I will add that Pat has shown her amazing puzzle making skills on Facebook and I am impressed!
MARY-CHRIS “CHRISTMAS” PALINSKI WINN ’73 of Monticello, Wisconsin: “My news that I’m very excited about is that I will be marshaling on Hole #14 at Whistling Straits for the Ryder Cup from 9/21-9/26/21. My shifts are on Tuesday and Saturday. Stop by and say hello – unless I’m holding the “Quiet Please” sign??! I Can’t wait!”
I will definitely keep an eye out for you on TV! What a fun thing to be able to do! Enjoy!!!!
DON DEW ’73 of Eagle Bay, New York: I wrote a long email as Gary and I had not heard from him in ages. I will paraphrase a bit: Don has five grandchildren. His oldest son, Don, and his wife, Anne, live in Big Moose with their three kids. Don works remotely so he can be in the Adirondacks and enjoy living in the mountains. David lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Niki, and two kids. He has his own website business. He writes that, “My legal address and mailing address is Big Moose (Eagle Bay Post Office) but I spend quite a bit of time with my partner, Michele, in Chittenango, New York near Syracuse. I also have a home in Colorado in the mountains. I love to ski and despite COVID-19, I go there on a regular basis to ski with friends.” Don also said he was diagnosed with leukemia seven years ago, but has been in remission for three years. He is closely monitored by his doctor. Don says, “I eat well, exercise a lot, and the drug worked. I am certainly one of the fortunate ones. I still fly and am able to do all of the things I have always enjoyed.” Don also said he had a second career as a seaplane pilot in the Adirondacks. 
JIM STONE ’73 of Brookfield, Wisconsin: “Like all of us, I had a very weird 2020 and it is looking the same for 2021. I started 2021 with getting a new dog since our old Bichon passed. We now have a Teddy Bear puppy. The dog had to have friends, so we got a brother and sister cat- we are very busy at the condo. We started renovating our 1999 ranch condo starting in April and ended in August. We have it the way we want it to be at half the cost. I have been meeting with TIM PETERSIK ’73 every two weeks or so and enjoying lunch and beer together. We have met with JANE RUNKEL FREDERICK ’74 and JOHN FREDERICK ’73 for a few meals and have been staying safe. My son moved to San Diego, California  I drove with him from Ft. Myers, Florida to San Diego in the middle of January. It was a 39 hour drive and I realized that I was way too old for this. If anyone knows people out there, please contact me. Rachal and I just celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary and are staying safe during these trying times.”
SUDY REIGLE ALTHOLZ ’73 of Chicago, Illinois: “TOM ’72 and I hope that everyone is staying healthy and happy during this trying year. We returned from a wonderful 3+ week adventure to Argentina and Chile, including hiking in Patagonia on February 19th, 2020. We were hearing bits about a strange virus, in Spanish of course, but we had no idea that within three weeks the country would be such a different spot. We are lucky we had such a wonderful trip and we have stayed healthy and content throughout this past year. Yes, we know of several people who we have lost due to COVID-19. But our family continues to stay healthy. We have grandchildren in college, high school, primary school and pre-school and they all are doing okay. We hope all our Ripon College friends are doing okay too.
I had a nice long email from DOREEN CONFORTI CHEMEROW ’73. She and David are well, missing family, and travel, but have remained well. David by some fluke got them on the first round of COVID-19 vaccine shots in Palm Beach County so they are feeling very lucky.”
JANE STEFFEN KOLAKOWSKI ’73 of Verona, Wisconsin: “After 47 terrific years living in Virginia, PETER KOLAKOWSKI ’72 and I moved back to Madison, Wisconsin, this past summer to be closer to our kids and other family.”
BOB BRENNAN ’73 of Tomahawk, Wisconsin: “I recently watched The Eagles Farewell Tour #1 on Amazon Video. One of the songs was “Funk #49” (Joe Walsh was in James Gang before he joined The Eagles). Brought back good memories from Ripon in 1971.”
DAVID GROSSMAN ’73 of Centerville, Massachusetts: “Every day is closer to a vaccine! I’ve been playing winter golf, doing some clamming (its oyster season now) and enjoying the Cape life. I’ve read a lot of books on my iPad, taken care of my Havanese dog (picture if you need one LOL), and gone on daily walks around the neighborhood.”
BILL MACLEOD ’73 of Washington D.C.: “It’s tough getting news from 2020. Here’s what I’ve heard: DAVE BUNTEN ’73: still teaching high school and mourning Tom Brady’s drive-by decimation of Green Bay. Me: I finished a year on a task force at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ran the virtual Marine Corp Marathon, and infiltrated the January 6 insurrection. Now I’m a winding up my last year on the Ripon Board of Trustees.
MARY BOESE BOEHNLEIN ’73 of Cedarburg, Wisconsin: “I would just like a Reunion of some sort with the class of 1973. Let’s pick a place when this pandemic is over.”
Great idea Mary, we will have to work on it.
I am sad to report that STEVE ILLICH ’73’s wife, Ginny, recently died from liver cancer. Steve and Ginny were married for 38 years.
PHIL REID ’73 is living in Sarasota, Florida. He is now retired from his position as President of High Yield Productions.
I am sad to write that JOHN WINKLEPLECK ’73 of Naples, Florida, died on February 20, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and was a member of Theta Chi. He later was a member of the 1851 Club. He received a master of business administration degree in finance from Cleveland State University. He spent his entire career in banking in Cleveland, at Central National Bank, Ameritrust, and Key Bank, from which he retired. He was an avid golfer and loved racket sports, especially tennis, squash, and paddle tennis. He was a member of Tavern Club and Mayfield Country Club, serving a term as president. Survivors include his wife, Nancy; and one daughter.
Now for some good news regarding this year’s Alumni Weekend! Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

Please stay healthy!
Cheers, 
JEAN KIRKPATRICK LEDERER ’73
(239) 390-1349 / [email protected]
Your 1973 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Jean Kirkpatrick Lederer

1974 – Spring 2021 Class Letter

Greetings, Class of 1974!

It’s been a wild winter in Chicagoland. Most of our snow arrived all at once, accompanied by frigid temperatures. But, as I write this, we are experiencing mild weather which is melting the ice and starting to make headway on getting rid of the snow. Everyone here is ready for spring. We are also ready for a bit more freedom.
Many of you report having received your first COVID-19 vaccine and are looking forward to the second. By the time you read this, ANDY MACLEOD ’76 and I will have received both our vaccines, as well. Of all the things we look forward to doing, safe stress-free visits with our family tops the list. How about you?
I know many of us can’t wait to travel again, so I wanted to mention that the College has announced plans for this summer’s Alumni Weekend. Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021

• In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. 
• The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25. 

AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.

• Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session. 
• In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
• Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.

I will try to keep you informed as to updates on Alumni Weekend. Also, since many of us have fond memories of the Heidel House, I thought you would enjoy hearing that the new owners have been making extensive renovations and plan to reopen this summer. In addition, the Heidel House yacht was sold to a company that plans to provide sightseeing tours around Green Lake. It will dock at the Heidel House, as well as downtown Green Lake. This is all in the early planning stages but I will try to keep you informed. If you are interested, you can follow the Heidel House’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HeidelHouse2021. Heidel could be an additional gathering spot (and lodging) for our 50th Class Reunion!
A few of you report some pandemic weight gain, and I’m sure you’re not alone. We have been ordering carry-out and delivery from our favorite spots to help them stay afloat, but it soon became apparent we would have to increase our daily exercise. Happy to report we seem to have found a balance, thank goodness!
On that subject, SCOTT DICKS ’74 of Middleton, Wisconsin said, “The pandemic is keeping me very bored. My coffee and Scotch consumption are up, which probably explains my weight gain. However, I have been trying out all kinds of new recipes which hasn’t helped my poundage either!”
SUSAN DELVALLE CARR ’74 of Columbus, Ohio, retired as a Youth Services Librarian at the Westerville Public Library. Congratulations, Susan! Now you will have more time for your own reading and anything else that strikes your fancy!
MARK CHEVALIER ’74 of Annandale, Virginia, writes, “My daughters, Jacqueline and Caroline, delivered two baby boys a week apart!” Wow! Heartiest congratulations, Grand-Dad!
KIM KOBRIGER ’74 of Henderson, Nevada, reports he has bought a condo in Henderson, and now has guardianship of his 16-year-old granddaughter, so now finds himself a parent again. He adds that he is “sad about the state of our country and politics…why people can’t still care for each other and disagree is beyond my ability to comprehend. I fondly remember discussions at Ripon about many things we did not agree on but we still were civil and friends – very, very sad.”
Back before winter really hit hard, CHRIS OVERLY WALLACE ’74 of Homer Glen, Illinois, spent some time working on a house with Habitat for Humanity. Chris likes to keep busy, and Habitat is certainly a worthy endeavor. Hats off to you, Chris!
Thanks to BETH KALMAN KARON ‘74 of Rochester, Minnesota, as well as SCOTT DICKS ’74, who both took the time to notify me of the passing of ROBERT “BARNEY” MERRITT ’74, of Wilmington, Delaware. Barney passed away at home on January 13, 2021, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Maria, his three sons, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Zachary, and his sister, Joan Merritt. Donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you who continue to support Ripon College, especially via the Ripon Fund and #OneDayRally. The Rally is coming up on April 28, and you will be hearing more about it in the coming weeks. 
Meanwhile, stay warm, stay safe, and keep me posted on what you are up to.
Let’s talk soon! We can keep in touch in our Facebook group: Ripon College Class of 1974!
Jan
(630) 920-2450 / [email protected]
Your 1974 Class Agent

Submitted by: Class Agent: Jan Petrovski MacLeod