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From my Facebook page, a note from Bob Iverson, “The current issue of the Alumni magazine has an article about orientation of the incoming freshmen class. There is an indoor photo showing a sign 'ID Card pickup' (p18). I don't recall we had student ID cards- did we? How did we check books out of the library if we didn't? (I didn't even have a driver's license since I wasn't 18 (NYC req.). I do remember Freshmen Camp as part of my orientation where we learned Cornell Songs and traditions. 'Oh, to be 20...'” This note triggered several other responses from classmates as follows. Bill Onorato. “The honor system worked then. Alternatively, you could keep your registration stub in your wallet. I still have my last one - Spring ‘61. Tuition was $1,200/year back then!” David Kessler, “For the record, all those enrolled in the 5-year Engineering Program paid $1400 tuition in our Fifth Year, 1961-62.” Bob Everson again  “Hello Bill Onorato, I was a '57 grad of Curtis H.S. on Staten Island and Barb a '57 grad of Jamaica HS in Queens.” Bill Onorato  to Bob Everson, “Fortunately I had won a NY State Regents Scholarship which paid half my tuition annually. It would have been hard otherwise for my Dad, a NYC HS teacher, to have seen me through.” Again from Bob Everson, “When I started graduate studies at Purdue in the fall of 1963, the starting salary you were hoping for with a PhD was $10,000 a year.” And finally Larry Wheeler  chimed in. “When I graduated in 1962, my starting salary with Shell Chemical was $7,680 per year. Big bucks in those days and well on my way to my career goal of $10,000 per year, just like Bob.”  So, we have our 60 year class time capsule. I’m still shaking me head. $10K a year was the big bucks and tuition of $1400 (or so) was a daunting commitment. Let’s not forget.

And, a lengthy note from Jeaniene Alice Comfort Eisenberg. “About the time of our last '61 reunion I learned that I had chronic lymphedema and started treatment, what little is available for it, and continuing now to this time.  Apparently, it is not taught in medical school, there are some therapists trained and certified in treatment, mainly wearing compression stockings, but which pretty much terminates when the hose becomes worn out in roughly six months when you are left to fend for yourself. In my case I have some other issues with neuropathy in upper and lower parts of my body and also post-polio syndrome which also does not have anyone treating the problems of fatigue and muscle weakness resulting from destruction of the myelin sheath on your nerves by the polio virus which remains present and at work in your body without treatment possibility. Am hopeful to be able to attend reunion next time we convene. We plan to attend Bennett's class reunion at his college's 250th reunion this June. Give my regards also to Davy and to T. F. Crane who survived that first run down the Toboggan Lodge sled run all those years ago below Martha Van and Baker Hall, do I have my history correct? I have seen an account of the event in a recent clipping discovered in a box of nostalgia.  Is my toboggan still in our garage? All the best to everyone” Bennett and Jeaniene C. Eisenberg

From recent Class Notes, Lola Cohen Green writes that she and her husband Walter are building a college of Hospitality and Tourism in Kenya for young women who aspire to a college degree. She enjoys travelling the world with her husband Walter and spending time with her twin sons and families. Lola is engaged in philanthropic works in San Diego and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Also, writing in from Laguna Woods, CA, May Lee Ling has recently returned from Mongolia, Taiwan and Singapore and comments on enjoying good health and the opportunity to serve others. “My best day at Cornell was the first day and the excitement of making new friends.”

Preston Shimer is living in my old hometown of Mt. Lebanon, PA, outside of Pittsburgh with wife Annette Gates Shimer (’62). In addition to continuing his oboe playing in two groups he is on the board of four different organizations. Preston describes this as full-time work as a volunteer in retirement. He and Annette are very active in the Episcopal Church and continue their foreign travel. He allows his best days at Cornell were as president of Acacia Fraternity.

Joan Ware Meade writes, “After retiring from my architectural career, I became serious about landscape painting. I have received national recognition for my paintings inspired by nature’s wonders. I use sculptural acrylics to convey my passion for water, rocks and trees in all their spectacular variety, and to evoke the third dimension. My works are in public and private collections throughout the US and abroad. Visit my website www.joanmeade.com  Meanwhile, my husband and I are about to move to a nearby retirement community, where I will continue to have a studio. Our two sons live in the vicinity.”

That’s a wrap for this column. Please remember to send your news to Susan Williams Stevens at sastevens61@gmail.com and Doug Fuss at dougout@attglobal.net

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