CLASS NOTES
FALL 2012 | St. Lawrence University Magazine 31
For information about becoming a
reporter for any class prior to 1940, please
contact Kim Hissong, 315-229-5837 or
khissong@stlawu.edu
.
1940
Nathan O. Niles ’40
222
Wardour Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401-1255
410-263-2858
noniles@verizon.net
Next Reunion: 75
th
, 2015
As your new class reporter, I ask that you keep
me informed on events in your life.
I received a note from
Alma Lasher Fick
: “
I am
writing between preparing for a luncheon and an
afternoon knitting meeting! I am still able to live
independently inmy apartment. Al now has been
gone two and a half years. I am still adjusting to
the loss. Shortly after taking up residence here
back in 1995, I read about the ‘Guideposts Knit
for Kids’project. A group formed, and recently we
were told we were tops in total number of volun-
teer hours!”
Alma continued that on Mother’s Day Week-
end last May she was part of a mini-family re-
union with four mothers present—her daughter,
daughter-in-law, sister and herself—along well
her son and son-in-law. “It looked like a florist
shop with an arrangement for each of the moth-
ers, delivered by an amazed floral deliveryman!”
she said.
I was also glad to hear from
Jane White Water-
house
,
who wrote, “Although I didn’t graduate,
I appreciate my years at St. Lawrence. I went to
Clark University in Worcester, Mass., and became
a middle-school teacher, and later a school librar-
ian, retiring in 1982. Although my son has died,
I’m blessed with two loving daughters and good
health. I enjoy travel, researching family history,
four grandchildren and five greats, and spending
time with the new friends I’ve made since moving
to North Brookfield, Mass., seven years ago.”
Mary Jane Chilton
wrote in June, “I will be 94
in September. I live alone, but do hire people to
help with flowers, weeds, lawn mowing, and that
type of activity. I attend New York United Teach-
ers monthly meetings. I also belong to the North-
eastern Zone Retired Teachers and attend their
meetings. I am the remaining charter member of
Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International
Education Society.” Her son lives in Versailles, Ky.,
and she spends November to March with them.
He is retired from the military, where he was an
auditor. “I do not have any grandchildren,” she
said.
She is involved politically, as a New York State
Committeewoman for the Republican Party. “This
involves meetings in Albany with representatives
from all 62 counties,” she explained. “I also attend
meetings of School Library Media Specialists--we
have an active retired group.
“
It sure was special to be the only Class of ’40
member at the 70
th
Reunion,” she continued. “My
son and daughter-in-law accompanied me. One
of my closest alumni friends is Jean Clifford Cree ’41,
who was a Pi Beta Phi member. We haven’t seen
each other but spend many hours on the phone.”
As for myself, I retired in 1981, after teaching col-
lege math for 40 years, the first three at St. Law-
rence and then 34 at the U.S. Naval Academy. I am
still living in the house I built on the shore of the
Severn River in 1950. My wife of 53 years passed
away 11 years ago. Living alone has its drawbacks.
My daughter lives near Chicago and my son lives
nearby. Seven grandchildren, five in the area, are
a constant delight. The youngest just graduated
from college.
Two years ago I sold the last of my boats. It was
tough after 70 years of power boating, but my
balance is not the greatest and you have to fall
overboard only once.
Four years ago, two valves in my heart were re-
paired. Since then I go three days a week to the
cardiac rehab gym at the local hospital and work
out for an hour or so.
I have been quite active in the local Rotary Club
for 49 years. I do a lot of computer work with the
records, and for the last several years I have been
the editor of its weekly newsletter,“Crablines.”
1941
Ray Lewis‘41
609
N. Ohio Ave.
Roswell, NM 88201-2129
575-208-9542
Next Reunion: 75th, 2016
I have received no news from the Class of 1941.
I have compiled 11 pages of anecdotes from my
World War II experiences and will provide a copy
to anyone who is interested. Here is a brief ex-
cerpt, from my time at Camp Gruber, near Musk-
ogee, Okla.
“
The dominant viewwas a vast plain full of sandy
soil in all directions. There was a post exchange
on the edge of camp, our favorite place to visit
when off duty. In the PX was a juke box on which
we could tune in the Andrews sisters singing
'
Rum and Coca Cola,' along with other popular
musical recordings of the early 1940s. Soft drinks
as well as most things available in today’s Wal-
green stores were available in the PX.
“
There was also a moving picture theater. Mov-
ies were changed every three days. I saw every
one of them during my three months at Camp
Gruber. A movie cost 10 cents, so my entertain-
ment cost me approximately three dollars during
the three-month period.”
1942
Bill Buschmann‘42
27580
Canal Road, #1409
Orange Beach, AL 36561-4022
251-980-5700
ext. 1409 (home)
251-923-6691 (
cell)
Next Reunion: 75
th
, 2017
1943
Richard C. Austin ’43
3119
Wake Robin Drive
Shelburne, VT 05482
802-985-5710
rca33@aol.com
Next Reunion: 70th, May 30-June 2, 2013
Dick Austin
,
the new reporter for the class,
writes that he is a contributor to a book onWorld
War II reminiscences. He lives at Wake Robin, a
continuing care residential community in Shel-
burne, Vt., and says, “The book was published
by our Wake Robin Residents Association and is
called
Our Great War
.
My chapter is one of many
written by men and women who are residents
here.” Dick, a retired physician, writes about his
dramatic experiences as a Navy pilot in the Pacific
Theater.
The book was published in 2008 and is now in its
second edition and, he says, is being used in his-
tory classes in several Vermont high schools. Any-
one interested in reading Dick’s writing can find
the book at Amazon.com or
www.WakeRobin.
com.
“
I’mhoping to come back for my reunion in 2013,
my 70
th
,”
Dick adds. Please send him your news.
1944
Elizabeth Dietrich Ackerley ’44
42
Cedar Lane
Scotia, NY 12302-5524
518-384-0021
Next Reunion: 70
th
, 2014
1945
Helen Aitchison Ellison ’45
1405
Greenbriar Lane
West Grove, PA 19390
610-345-0908
hhellison@aol.com
Next Reunion: 70th, 2015
As this issue was in production, I learned of the
passing of
MarilynMerrillWheeler
.
See In Mem-
ory for details, and I will havemore about her next
time.
When we graduated (and there were about
three each year), Dean Harold E.B. Speight was
acting president. On our Commencement Day in
June, Eugene G. Bewkes was inaugurated. I had
an email from his son, Garry, who tells me that
he has a granddaughter, Caroline, in the Class of
2016.
Several grandchildren of the Bewkes family
have graduated from St. Lawrence, but this might
be the first great-grandchild to attend.
Seventy-one years ago, September 15, 1941,
we were the entering freshman class. Do you re-
member? The women wore arm bands and the
men wore traditional hats. Maybe you can add
more nostalgia to this. Email is at top of column.
Meanwhile, I hope you had a good summer.
NAVY NOTES: Congratulations to the Navy
men who assembled for their 65th reunion! Bell
Herndon ’47 and Fred Zito ’47 chaired the event,
which also included Carl Peter ’47, Tom Ridenour
’48,
John Nill ’47 and Eugene Darrow ’47. Some
wives accompanied the men and one V-12er