Paul Field  writes:  “As a lifelong history buff, thanks significantly to my years at Yale, I have been deep in history projects.  After retiring, I spent six months researching and writing a 50-page history of my family in the 20th century and distributing printed copies to all family members across the country.  Recently I have been researching my father, a 1916 Yale graduate and one of the founders of Yale ROTC.  He was an artillery officer in France in World War I.  He passed away when I was 15 and I did not get to learn anything about his war experience from him, other than he was somewhat involved in saving the Lost Battalion.  Recently I found a picture of my father right there in the Argonne Forest in 1918 – What a treasure!”

             John Rogers  writes:  “85 years old, still working 30+ hours per week.  I think I may be the only living Yale-educated Registered Civil Engineer in the whole State of California.  My wife Anne passed away in 2018 after 54 years of marriage, so with some very capable and loving help from care provider Christine and my daughters Laurie and Jennifer, we provide full- time care for my 57-year-old severely handicapped son Ian.  Here I am, 85 years old, still changing diapers.  My work at Inland Empire Survey and Engineering is my mainstay.  I have three partners in our business, all of them younger than my own kids, and all of them much smarter than me.  We enjoy a good reputation as the go-to people to solve difficult engineering and surveying problems.  I’m on the California Board of Governors of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a Trustee of the national Foundation.”

             Ed Shapiro  recounts:  “After 20 years as the Medical Director/CEO of the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, MA, I retired and expanded my consulting work with families and organizations while I wrote a book on the psychological and developmental steps toward taking up the role of active citizen (Finding a Place to Stand. Phoenix, 2020). In January of this year, the Board of Trustees asked me to come back into the leadership role while they searched for a new CEO. How could I refuse?”

             Charles Edward Brinley II  died peacefully on April 2, 2025.  Charlie graduated from Yale University in 1963 with a degree in History.  At Yale, Charlie was a member of the Zeta Psi Fraternity and Mace and Chain, and served as the Hockey Manager.  Charlie and his wife Nicoll met in Philadelphia, PA and soon became a devoted couple, creating a welcoming home wherever they lived, surrounded by a wide circle of friends.  In 1970, Charlie and Nicoll welcomed their son, Charles Edward Brinley III.  From 1972-1978 Charlie worked for Westmoreland Resources in Billings, MT, ultimately serving as CEO.  Charlie then headed operations at Westmoreland Coal in Kingsport, TN, followed by senior officer roles from 1981-1990 in Philadelphia, PA.  From 1991-2009 Charlie was CEO of Dominion Terminal Associates in Newport News, VA.  In 2009 Charlie and Nicoll moved to Old Lyme, CT., where Charlie served as CEO of CETOA, an international consortium of coal terminal businesses, until his retirement in 2022.  Throughout his life, Charlie was committed to civic engagement and community building.  One of his favorite pastimes was cheering on his son and grandchildren in their various athletic endeavors.  Charlie is survived by his wife, Margaret Nicoll Cadwalader Brinley; his son Charles Edward Brinley III; and three grandchildren.

             Dave Culver  recalls:  “Charlie was always the voice and conscience of our Spook and continued to be a wonderful friend and the ‘North Star’ of Mace and Chain.”   Eben Ludlow  writes:  “At Mace and Chain Charlie was our mainstay, our organizer-in-chief, and our cheerleader.  Through the years Charlie’s humor, warmth, optimism, and selflessness inspired us and, in his very challenging last years, his courage.”   Gardner Mundy  shares:  “Charlie and I achieved the unusual feat of being roommates all four of our years at Yale.  Charlie was ever-thoughtful and considerate toward other people, and he placed an especially high value on friendship and loyalty.”   Woody Woodroofe  recalls:  “Moving to Connecticut in retirement, I welcomed seeing more of Charlie.  Unfortunately, for him this more recent period seemed booby-trapped with health issues.  Yet he was a marvel of resilience and bonhomie, quick to inquire after my own health and activities.  What a gutsy witness!”

             Ronald Lynn Crawford  died from acute leukemia on November 22, 2024 at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT.  Ron earned a four-year scholarship to Yale University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1963, followed by a Master’s and Ph.D. in Sociology.  While at Yale, he was involved in the Yale Band, the Yale Sports Car Club, and the Yale Swim Team.  Ron taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia before securing a long-term position as Professor of Management at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec.  Ron’s lifelong love of military scale models began in early childhood.  His personal collection of models expanded for more than 80 years, and his website served as a gathering place for model aficionados.  Ron had many other passions, from cars to history.  His ever-changing collection of vehicles, from practical family wagons to sporty coupes and convertibles, reflected his deep love for cars.  Ron shared over six decades of love and adventure with his wife Louise K. (née Kirschner).  Following the loss of their respective spouses, Ron and Donna Marie found each other and a deep, joyful bond quickly formed.  Ron is survived by his widow, Donna Marie Crawford; his children Mark Crawford and Louise Blair-Morice and three grandchildren; Donna’s children Jason DeWitt, Jordan DeWitt, and Mara Thomas; and their children.              Mike Koenig  recalls:  “Ron was a remarkable combination of energy and enthusiasm.  What impressed me most was the way he bounced back after having his chest wall completely rebuilt after infection set in following his quadruple bypass surgery.  He promptly joined his volunteer fire company, quickly becoming an eager stalwart.  After more than a decade of firefighting, he ‘retired’ to simply becoming the fire company’s chief organizer, planner, and spokesperson.  In addition to that, he was the ‘go to person’ in the community of one to two hundred scale model aviation enthusiasts, with a collection of hundreds of models, many of which he had crafted or commissioned.  For example, he  created for the U. S. Air Force models of the latest Chinese tactical and strategic aircraft, aircraft that were still publicly unannounced.”   Tex Hull  adds:  “I remember Ron as a generous guy with a great sense of humor.  He always found time to attend reunions and for impromptu get togethers of those who lived together in J.E.”   Jeff Peierls  writes:  “Ron and I seemed to have to put in a lot of hours studying in order to do well.  It was, therefore, wonderful to see how well he did with his Masters and Ph.D., and his very successful academic career in the years after Yale.  When I speak with inner city kids who are facing challenges in college, I often cite Ron as an example of how perseverance can bring great results.”

             Rudolph Valentine “Val” Dusek  died on May 7, 2025 in Portland, ME after a short illness.  Val attended Yale University, where he was a Zoology major and then graduated with a degree in Philosophy.  He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Texas, then was hired at age 24 at the University of New Hampshire, where he taught from 1966 to 2018.  Val’s main area was the philosophy of science and technology.  He published several books and many articles on the philosophy of biology, mathematics, and physics, and was known as an intellectual critic of sociobiology.   Val’s first book, The Holistic Inspirations of Physics:  The Underground History of Electromagnetic Theory, explored the influence of Chinese traditional thought and holistic Western thought on the development of electromagnetic field theory.  Val co-authored two textbooks:  a reader in the philosophy of technology and a 200-page Philosophy of Technology:  An Introduction.  Many colleagues and students considered Val’s broad intelligence, memory, and analytical thinking to be without compare.  Val retorted that he merely lived in the library and remembered everything he read.  Val was an early member of Science for the People, and participated in years of the Scientist as Humanist Project helping high school teachers bring the humanities and sciences together.  Val leaves his wife, Christy Hammer, and daughter, Lela Dusek.  He was predeceased by their first daughter, Athena Pearl.      

        Jim Courtright  recalls:  “I still recall the Val Dusek of fall 1959 reciting Wordsworth, with bombast.   This last year, his mind and memory remained as extraordinarily complete as any of us might think possible.  His interests ranged from watercolor paintings to the psychology of color perception and the deep importance of scientific concepts, and all of these with his creative and inimitable good humor.  He left us with vivid memories of his unique personality and left many students with an enhanced appreciation of the beauty of great ideas.”   Tom Hartch  writes:  “It seems as recently as a few months ago that we saw Val and his family at our 60th Reunion.  We need to treasure these happy interludes.  They end all too swiftly.”   Dick Heppner  adds:  “Val has been a scholarly role model for me since we first met more than 65 years ago.  Polymath and Renaissance man does not adequately describe his intellectual and scholastic capabilities.  In my imagination, I can still see him ‘air conducting’ a symphony in our suite in Calhoun.  Val taught me the few elements of formal logic and philosophy that I acquired at Yale.  I was awed by the intellectual curiosity that led him to explore several disciplines.”

             William David Jack II, MD  died suddenly on May 24, 2025.  He was a 1963 graduate of Yale University, where he was a member of the Glee Club.  As he was ranked first in his Biology major after a comprehensive exam, he was admitted to Johns Hopkins University Medical School (where he met his wife).  After graduating in 1967, he trained in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Hospital for three years of internship and residency, interrupted by service in the United States Navy from 1969-1971, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  In 1974, after a cardiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, he moved with his wife and daughter to Corpus Christi, TX, where he first established a solo practice in cardiology and later was a co- founder of Cardiology Associates.  David was a Chief of Medicine at Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi.  He is remembered by his friends and family as a loving, kind, and brilliant man as well as a caring physician who never stopped learning.  He is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, the Honorable Janis Graham Jack; his daughter, Dr. Katherine Graham Jack; and two grandsons, Jaden and Skylar Lambert.              Richard Friedlander  writes:  “Dave and I shared a third- floor ‘suite’ in the Silliman tower during our Junior Year.  I can’t remember a cross word ever coming between us, and many were the evenings we spent together over a nocturnal snack at George and Harry’s.  Talking about what?  It didn’t matter.  The renowned conversationalist, Samuel Johnson, said he rarely remembered the subject of a talk with friends – just the warm atmosphere that their friendship created.  Although it means leaping over some 60 years, I think the same could be said for those pleasurable evenings I shared with Dave.”   Geoff Noyes  adds:  “I knew David well at Lawrenceville.  We took classes together, which gave me a chance to study with him for a quiz and then ace the quiz.  Great sense of humor.”

             Stephen Vincent McDonald  of Metairie, LA passed away on April 15, 2025.   After graduation from Yale University, with a degree in Engineering, in 1963, Steve started his career at Sikorsky Aviation Corporation in Stratford, CT.  He later earned his Master's Degree in Business from UCLA.  Steve transitioned to the Bendix Corporation in Los Angeles, which later became Allied Signal and eventually was bought by Honeywell.  Throughout his career, Steve held many Director positions in Engineering, Marketing, Production, and Program Management where he was responsible for creating and building military systems.  He traveled the world with members of the U.S. Navy developing sonar applications for anti-submarine warfare and was granted patents for some of his inventions.  Upon retirement, Steve’s passion for horse racing and everything about race horses was the inspiration for him to purchase and develop a handicapping publishing service covering Southern California racetracks, Handicapper’s Report, which utilized his keen skills and intellect to create a popular site for trainers, handicappers and horse race lovers everywhere.  He owned over 40 winning race horses.  Steve was always up for a good time and especially loved a great horse race or a trip to New Orleans or Las Vegas to gamble and play craps.  Steve is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Teresa McDonald; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

             Bob Dickie  recalls:  “Steve McDonald was an extremely bright, able guy.  Those of us who were at Hopkins with him starting in the Seventh Grade knew right off the bat that he had an exceptional mind in every field.  He listened intently and asked great questions, and one could watch him registering and absorbing what he was hearing.  Plus he was just a fabulous guy, fun to be with, active in sports both at Hopkins and in Davenport College, and magnanimous.”   Willie Dow  remembers:  “I knew Steve my entire life:  from Stony Creek grammar school; altar boys at St Therese in Stony Creek; and classmates through Hopkins (to which we traveled by train, two bus rides leading to a four-block walk and a hill climb while dressed in coat and tie, carrying briefcases).  At Hopkins Steve was our valedictorian, played baseball, sang, and did all the other things that kids from the sticks learn when they got to a prep school.  It didn’t take long for Steve’s brilliance to become obvious but, as one of our classmates noted when advised of his death, he wore it lightly.  Then on to Yale and a career in very sophisticated engineering which required highest clearance and for which he was extremely highly regarded.  And for all this he had an abiding and contagious love of horse racing as an owner, spectator, and very skillful bettor. When all was said and done he relished most of all his family and, as well, returning to reunions at Hopkins  and to Stony Creek, now no longer quite ‘the sticks’ we both came from.  He was a wonderful guy.”  

Guy Miller Struve, Secretary
1280 Fifth Avenue, Apt. 14-EF         
New York, NY 10029
E-Mail:  guy.struve@davispolk.com
Class Website:  www.yale63.org