Welcome, Yale Class of '58!

August 17, 2026

Our July Zoom

’58 Zoom, July, 2026. Top row L to R: Tom Swidler, Bob Morgan, Basil Carmody, Thomas Hahn, Peter Pool. 2nd row: Neil Kaminsky, Arthur Bober, Bill Becklean, David Waterbury, Ron Levin. 3rd row: Elwood Bracey, Harvey Sloane, Mike Schoettle, Susan Ness, John Fiske. 4th row: Don Frank, Tim Hogen, Joseph Gastwirth, Bibb Latané, Tom Schoenemann.

---

Our ’58 Whiffenpoofs

Peter Wallace Arnold John Austin Cassel Royden Keith Cullinan Sherman Brayton Durfee Robert Bennett Eppes Augustus Frederick Kinzel Barton Huntington Miller

William Gerald Opsahl ’58E Russell Lee Post, Jr. Alexander Purves Christopher Mead Smith Linus Travers Walter Hart West III

---

---

From ’58 Classmate Neil Kaminsky: “Fun getting this one in. And it’s cold and rainy. Character building. Fly-fishing in Chilean Patagonia. Beyond beautiful!”

More from Neil: “Here are 2 pictures of Dorothy and me on the Wind River in Wyoming. These are big rainbows, larger than 20”! A challenge to get them in. We use barbless hooks and get them back into the water as soon as the photos are taken.

“As an aside, we had a sensational trip into both the western & eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies — breathtaking mountains & rivers and absolute terrific dry fly fishing. Good thing for octogenarians to do!”

---

Class of ’58 Musical Memories

Listen to this medley of his historic recordings with The Yale Banjo Band (YBB) at Woolsey Hall, playing old-time music at his night clubs cleverly called Your Father’s Mustache (YFM) including their performance at the White House, plus strumming and singing with the Galvanized Jazz Band (GJB). He’s Plucking Wonderful!

Down the Field – YBB • The World is Waiting for the Sunrise – YBB • Down Yonder – YFM • Nobody’s Sweetheart Now – GJB • Radio (Joel Vocal) – GJB • April Showers – GJB • Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet – YFM • Tiger Rag – YFM at the White House • My Gal Sal – YFM • Heart of My Heart – YFM • In the Good Old Summertime – YFM • China Town – GJB • Shine – GJB

BONUS: CLICK on the image below to see and hear Joel with his many-banjos band, Your Father’s Mustache, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show of January 29, 1967.

---

’58 Classmate
DAVID EHRLICH Playing Piano
with the Southwest Chamber Players
in Washington, D.C. on November 26, 2023
Featured Performers: Sophie Shao ’00, cello and Luke Wedge, violin
Program: Schubert trio: “Serenade” • Schubert Arpeggione Sonata • Brahms violin sonata, op. 78 • Brahms violin sonata • Franck violin sonata • Franck sonata

---

---

’58 Classmate retired neurosurgeon Don Frank takes us into his world of recognizing and treating cancerous brain tumors.

Tip: Don’s slides were shown on a cell phone, so to make them larger, you may wish to enlarge the video by clicking in the little square that will appear, once the video starts playing, in the bottom right, black area of the recording. You’ll be able to exit the enlarged screen by clicking in the lower right again, when you wish to return it to regular size.

---

’58 Brother Bill Becklean speedily rowing in the Head Of The Charles regatta!

For the complete story, please visit this link.

---

Our September 14, 2023 Zoom

45 of our East Coast & West Coast Zooming ’58 Classmates gathered together on a single Zoom on September 14 to hear our ‘58 Classmate Linden Blue speak on:

---

Our 65th Reunion!

We all had a terrific time at our 65th Reunion! Click on either of the photos above or on this link to view the rest of the wonderful array of photos, taken by our own Ceci Morgan and Alan Davidson.

---

Class of ’58 Musical Memories

Here are recordings made in the Fifties (60 + or – years ago) of beloved traditional Yale songs by:

We Meet Again Tonight Boys • Mothers Of Men • Wake Freshmen Wake • Football Medley – Bingo, That’s The Lingo – Whoop It Up – Goodnight Poor Harvard – Bulldog • Eli Yale • Here’s To Good Old Yale • ‘Neath The Elms • Amici • Bright College Years

---

We had a grand time in Cleveland!
Click here to view our wonderful photos.

---

Even More Class of ’58 Musical Memories

Back Issues – Listen again to these Good Old Medleys

And more good old music will be coming! Don’t miss it!

We Listened To These Top Of The Charts Hit Songs On Our Radios While We Studied, Moaned and Looked For Love and Adventure From January to June.

McGuire Sisters – Sincerely • Les Baxter – Unchained Melody • Perez Prado – Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White • Ames Brothers – Naughty Lady of Shady Lane • Joan Weber – Let Me Go Lover • Fontane Sisters – Hearts Of Stone • Four Aces – Melody Of Love • Penguins – Earth Angel • Ames Brothers – Melodie d’Amour • Nat Cole – Darling Je Vous Aime • Georgia Gibbs – Tweedle Dee • Eddie Fisher – Heart

---

Just after our graduation, ’58 Classmate Peter Duchin joined the Army and won a talent contest playing piano that led to a national Ed Sullivan TV appearance on which Peter played a tribute to his famous father, pianist Eddy Duchin. (Click here to see NY Times review.) This led to a contract to record for Decca Records and many years of bringing music to glittering social events all over the world.

Piano performance live on The Ed Sullivan Show August 31, 1959
To Love Again (based on Chopin’s Nocturne in E flat) • Summertime
From the LP “His Piano & Orchestra at the St. Regis” December 1962
I Left My Heart In San Francisco • This Could Be The Start Of Something • A Fine Romance • I Concentrate On You • Whispering • Something’s Gotta Give • It Had To Be You • The Way You Look Tonight • What Kind Of Fool Am I • From This Moment On

---

I had been hoping to add ’58 Classmate Chris Porterfield’s modern jazz music to our website. He phoned me last summer to tell me that some tapes from our college days had been found in the back of a closet, that his son Kevin was digitizing them, and that he would send me a copy. Sadly, Chris died on October 22, 2021. I reached out to Kevin who sent me several recordings. Here is a very special one. – Bob M

1. Loose Walk (Sonny Stitt)
Roz Rudd ’58 & Hank Bredenberg trombone soloists
2. Walkin’ Shoes (Gerry Mulligan)
3. What’s New (Bob Haggart)
Bob Morgan ‘58 on vibes
4. A Happy One (Chris Porterfield)

Arrangements and sax solos by Chris Porterfield
MC: Eddie Condon

---

Music Medley #5 is a Tribute to our much beloved and extra special ’58 Classmate Linus Travers, who passed away in November 2020. Here are recordings of songs that were among his favorites as he sang with The Duke’s Men, The Whiffenpoofs and The Yale Glee Club throughout our Yale years. Thanks to his singing partners from those golden days, Fritz Kinzel, Ben Eppes, and Jeff Freeman, for suggesting these 10 song titles to salute him. Linus was known for his good taste, rich bass voice and his poker-faced sense of humor (hence his nickname “Poke”), which always served him well, especially here on “Johnny One Note,” “Istanbul” and “Robinson Crusoe.”

The Whiffenpoofs – Strike Up The Band • Johnny One Note • Eduard Mon Amour (Eddie My Love) • The Duke’s Men – Sunnyside Of The Street • The Yale Glee Club – Bandoleros • Ride The Chariot • The Duke’s Men – Istanbul • The Whiffenpoofs – Miss Otis Regrets • The Duke’s Men – Robinson Crusoe • The Whiffenpoofs – The Whiffenpoof Song

---

Medley #4 Hit Records of Fall 1954
Bill Haley & His Comets – Rock Around the Clock • Crew Cuts – Sh-Boom • Chordettes – Mr. Sandman • Four Aces – Three Coins In The Fountain • Perry Como – Wanted • Rosemary Clooney – Hey There • Kitty Kallen – Little Things Mean A Lot • Nat King Cole – Answer Me, My Love • Archie Bleyer – Hernando’s Hideaway • Four Knights – I Get So Lonely • Doris Day – Secret Love • Dean Martin – That’s Amore • Bill Haley & His Comets – Shake, Rattle And Roll

Medley #3 A College Weekend Romance, A Cappella
Whiffenpoofs – My Cutie’s Due • Bachelors – Long Ago and Far Away • Duke’s Men – Tea for Two • Alley Cats – Dreams • Orpheus and Bacchus – Passing By • Spizzwinks (?) – I Don’t Know Why / I May Be Wrong • Augmented Seven – That’s All • Spizzwinks (?) – Polka Dots and Moonbeams • Baker’s Dozen – Mean to Me • Whiffenpoofs – We’re Saving Ourselves for Yale

Medley #2 Bright College Years
Harkness Chimes – Bright College Years • Bachelors – Halls of Ivy • Yale Glee Club – A Song for Old Yale • Whiffenpoofs – Aj Lucka Lucka • Augmented Seven – Man, Man • Yale Banjo Band – Down the Field • Alley Cats – Evaline • Eli’s Chosen Six – Basin Street Blues • Whiffenpoofs – Scarlet Ribbons • Yale Glee Club – Bright College Years

Medley #1 Music of Our Time at Yale
Duke’s Men – Jeepers Creepers / Istanbul • Yale Banjo Band in Woolsey Hall – Yale Songs Medley • Spizzwinks (?) – Blue Skies / Imagination • Eli’s Chosen Six – Bulldog Medley • Whiffenpoofs – Eduard “Mon Amour” (Eddie My Love) / Whiffenpoof Song

---

See & Hear our ’58 Classmate BILL BECKLEAN speak about “My Life With Rickover,” with tales of 8 years working for Admiral Hyman Rickover on the development of the atomic submarine and nuclear power.

---

Our combined East Coast & West Coast Zoom Meeting to hear
Bill Becklean: September 15, 2021

’58 Zoom, Sept. 15, 2021. Top row L to R: David Ehrlich, Anson Beard, Bill Fitgerald, Jon Jaspan, Bob Morgan, Gil Shelton. 2nd row: Lee Ault, Richard Collins, Gordon Gerson, Dave Waterbury, Steve Riker, Bibb Latané. 3rd row: Tom Schoenemann, Alan Davidson, Tom Kwei, Tim Hogen, Linden Blue, Art Bober. 4th row: Ron Sohigian, Ken McAdams, Don Frank, Steve Feinstein, Basil Carmody, Pete Spelman, Georg Roth. 5th row: Jon Turner, Mike Schoettle, Joe Gastwirth, Bill Becklean, Casey Bensinger, Jean McKillop, John Jones. 6th row: Jonathan Barnett, John Fiske, Al Ferguson, Bob Ellis, Woody Bracey, Malcolm McDonald, Ed Silberstein.

---

Class Notes

January/February Class Notes, by Alan C. Davidson, M.D..

On Thursday, October 23, with Bob Morgan playing “Bulldog” on the piano at the Yale Club NYC, our seventh minireunion opened with a bang! Actually, we started earlier with a fabulous tour of the backstage of the Metropolitan Opera arranged by Victor Kovner. Who knew that 800 people were involved in putting together one performance! The next day the gods were kind and gave us a glorious sunny day to circumnavigate Manhattan Island on the yacht Manhattan with an outstanding architectural guide on board. Then to Victor Kovner’s house for cocktails and a catered dinner. Saturday, off to the Guggenheim Museum, again arranged through Victor, followed by dinner at the University Club. The committee composed of Bob Morgan, Victor Kovner, Steve Riker, and Alan Davidson had superb support from Heather Corbett from the YAA and Kate Taylor of Kate Taylor Events. For the attendance list and many photographs, please go to our website, Yale1958.org.

Jonathan Barnett’s latest book, Redesigning Urban Centers, Adapting to Changing Real Estate Markets, has just been published by Routledge, an international publisher based in the UK, and is available on Amazon. Jonathan is writing about current real-estate trends towards compact, walkable, diverse urban centers, which he says planners and designers have been advocating for years but were for a long time dismissed as impractical. Jonathan is a professor emeritus of practice in city and regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been an urban design advisor to federal government agencies and … (continues in Class News & Notes) READ THE FULL COLUMN HERE