P.A. 1964
Tom Seligson
15 Bradley Street
Westport, Ct. 06880
November, 2001

The World Trade Center trauma of September 11th provided one more example of our continued class solidarity and affection. Within minutes of the horrifying news, our class listserve was filled with postings inquiring about the welfare of Didi Pei, Eric Chase yours truly, and other New York metropolitan residents. I'm pleased to report that none of our classmates were lost in the tragedy (unlike other PA classes), although a few family members experienced close calls. Jim Lockhart's son, J.B. (P.A. '95) worked in a building near the World Trade Center, and was walking by one of the towers when the first plane hit. He escaped the falling debris, and though emotionally shaken, is now fine. My own twin brother had been scheduled for a 9:00 meeting on the 102nd floor of one of the towers. Thankfully, the meeting had been rescheduled at the last minute for the next day. I'm proud of how we as a class reach out to one another in such tragedies. And the way our President reacted in those devastating early days is also reason for pride. Seeing him at Ground Zero, bullhorn in hand, rallying the recovery workers, George was as natural as if he were in front of Commons, the night before an Exeter game. His having been a cheerleader was once considered a political liability. Not in the time of war.

I recently tracked down Bob Kelley who's been missing in action since graduation. An article in the San Jose Mercury News profiled Bob's work as founder and now artistic director of TheatreWorks, a well-respected regional theater company in Palo Alto. Bob started the company in 1970, paying the bills out of his own pocket. The company now has a $5 million budget, and produces eight shows a year, ranging from classics and contemporary Off-Broadway dramas to Broadway-bound musicals. The article described Bob as a cheerful "ponytailed impresario," "equal parts easygoing and driven." In addition to overseeing the company, he directs two or three shows himself, and was currently immersed in the scenery and swordsmanship on display in the Stephen Sondheim musical "Pacific Palisades." In a phone call, Bob explained that he's been interested in music and drama since he was a kid. After Andover, where he acted in "Julius Caesar," and was in what he calls "that rival band," (the Apostles), Bob studied creative writing at Stanford, then returned to P.A. as a teaching fellow in English. "What an honor that was," he said. Bob's enthusiasm for what he now does is apparent. "It's very consuming," he said. "I work night and day. But I love it." Though he's never married, he and his lady friend "partner" have been together for 22 years. He invites all classmates to the bay area to come see a show. Another classmate who remains invigorated by the arts is our former class secretary Bob Marshall You probably know that Bob now lives in Minneapolis, where wife Siri is a top honcho with General Mills. But you might not know that Bob's become a docent at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Bob gives tours to all parts of the museum and can now dazzle you with his knowledge of everything from Kwakiutl transformation masks, and Ife shrine heads, to Picasso sculptures and Mississippi River paintings. I saw Bob for lunch some months ago, and the long time bird lover and Yankee hater is obviously thriving as an art buff. He's as boyishly engaging as ever.

Bob Greenberg, who was last seen at our 25th, is living in Newton, Mass, where he's an internist, specializing in infectious diseases. He's been in the same medical practice since he finished his training, more than 25 years ago. "When we started, I was one of 5 doctors. Now there are about 60 in the group," he said. "It's been an interesting ride. Bob has a son who just graduated from Penn, another son at Sarah Lawrence, a daughter at Wesleyan, and a daughter in high school. Jeff Wright who lives outside of Rochester, has been with the same law firm - Nixon Peabody - since he graduated from Cornell Law School. But Jeff spent almost ten years in between Harvard and settling on a legal career, during which time he led quite a colorful life. He worked in a factory, as an overhead crane operator. He was a traveling salesman, and he also put in time as a bank teller. "I was kind of immature, and looking for myself," Jeff said. "It took me a lot longer than most classmates to decide what I wanted to do." Jeff now represents hospitals and nursing homes in developing senior living and assisted living facilities. He's been married 16 years, and has a 14-year-old daughter, and a nine-year-old son. I've never seen a prouder father than Paul Gallagher at the wedding of his daughter Sarah (P.A. '91). Sarah and Chris Smeenk (both physics whiz kids) were married at Yale. Witnessing the exuberant father of the bride dance even more wildly than normal were Pat and Fran Crowley and Cricket and Juice Lockhart. It was a memorable event.