Hello out there, ’59ers!
How life changes! Little did we know less than a year ago the world would be in
this horrible state of pandemic. As the Grateful Dead song says, “What a long,
strange trip it’s been.” I sincerely hope you have all escaped the virus and are
doing well, considering.
Before the pandemic set in our class executive committee chose “Stay in Touch”
as our class initiative. How appropriate! At this time more than ever we need to
keep contact with others. Look for news about our Zoom project. More info will
be forthcoming.
Our “Stay in Touch” email newsletter continues to go out monthly to 163
classmates. If you are not receiving a copy, and you have an email address,
please let the alumni office know that address. Thank you.
Now for some news — Eric Bolen sent great information about his career. He is
former dean and professor emeritus in the Department of Biology and Marine
Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He has also served on the
faculty of Texas A&M Kingsville and Texas Tech. Publications that he has
authored or co-authored, of which there are over 200, are various topics having
to do with wildlife, wildlife management, ecology, and natural history. He is
currently at work on several other books and has been editor of The Wildlife
Society Bulletin. He holds life memberships in various professional organizations.
In retirement he enjoys woodworking, making replicas of antique furniture and
shorebird decoys. He and wife, Elizabeth, share four children and nine
grandchildren.
Rudy Stocek’s daughter wrote to inform us of his death in late 2018. On campus,
Rudy was on the PRISM staff, belonged to Phi Mu, and earned his degree in
wildlife management. He had a long, illustrious career in wildlife and forest
management and was known as the Eastern Canada Bald Eagle specialist and
the authority on the Eastern cougar and common loon. Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation radio and TV frequently asked him to speak about his areas of
expertise. In 2010, Rudy received the Award for Professional Excellence from
UMaine’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology. Rudy’s
wildlife research focused on the osprey, common loon, cougar, and peregrine
falcon, but his greatest interest was the bald eagle. After Rudy passed away, The
Canadian Field-Naturalist, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, published an article
on him, highlighting his contribution to Canadian natural history and the legacy
he left behind.
Torrey Sylvester writes that after 50 years in Aroostook he and Jennifer have
gone south and moved to Wells near three children and eight grandchildren. He
notes that seeing the ocean reminds him of the 36 months he spent on a Bath-
built destroyer. He is a retired lawyer and says he doesn’t miss it one bit.
Judy Adams Gardiner has recently moved to an adult independent living facility
in Mystic, CT. She is enjoying it there but like all of us in the same situation, the
powers that be are keeping us under some restrictions.
Jean Ulmer Tompkins, also moving south from The County, now lives at Dirigo
Pines in Orono and is also dealing with some pandemic regulations.
Marianne Schmidt Hamlin and husband, Art ‘57, have moved into the Atrium at
The Cedars, a retirement community in Portland.
Two classmates took part in the Senior Alumni Social in September via Zoom.
Patricia Gagnon Bryant of Vero Beach, FL, and Gary Williams of Ashland, VA,
joined the event, and were able to socialize with other alumni during the online
Reunion.
So wear your mask, social distance, and we will all get through this together.