Carolyn Zachary
P.O. Box 236
Belfast, ME 04915-0236
(207) 342-5565
(908) 625-8980 (mobile)
czachary@fairpoint.net
www.facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1965/
Belfast, ME, native Dave “Zippy” Thompson was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News in August 2017, a month prior to his induction into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame. Dave, now a resident of Wayne, PA, was captain of the Black Bears’ 1964 College World Series (CWS) team.
“Was I surprised? Good Lord …,” Thompson told BDN reporter Larry Mahoney of his induction. “I was very pleased. I was very humbled by it because there were players who were far better than I was. For an old goat like me, it is a terrific honor.”
The third baseman, a left-handed hitter, led the Black Bears to a 3-2 record and a third-place finish at the 1964 series in Omaha. He hit safely in all five games, batting .315 and earning a spot on the all-tourney team. He and Dick Dolloff were the only two seniors on the 1964 team.
Other stars on the CWS team that year included shortstop Dick DeVarney ’66, ’72G, catcher Carl “Stump” Merrill ’66, ’76G, and pitcher and tournament Most Valuable Player Joe Ferris ’66.
Dave majored in education and, following graduation, taught school for three years before joining the Marine Corps. A platoon commander in Vietnam, he attained the rank of captain. He subsequently worked 30-plus years for Abex Corp., which fabricated steel for subway tracks, retiring in his early 70s.
The Rev. Sally Day Brown, in her annual Christmas letter, provided updates on her famly and offered some wisdom from Archbishop Desmond Tutu in The Book of Joy, the product of a week of deep conversation — with lots of laughs — between Tutu and the Dalai Lama.
“Despite their age and physical infirmities,” Sally wrote, “they found much joy in each other and in their relationship with the world.”
According to Archbishop Tutu, she said, “That’s the goal of human life — to live with joy and purpose.”
Sally and husband, Roger, continue to live with joy and purpose, Sally wrote, “in spite of his increasing dementia and our increasing years.” They’re active in their Glastonbury, CT, church, and Sally is also involved in three book groups.
“Basically,” she wrote, “I’m a mostly retired United Church of Christ minister who now does pastoral care for my church.” She sends blessings to all.
Axel Larson called to report he and his wife drove to the Midwest from their Massachusetts home to catch the total solar eclipse as it crossed Nashville, TN, in August. En route, they visited Catherine Ladd Bishop and Axel’s Phi Kappa Sigma brother, Bill Bishop ’63, ’65G, outside Chicago.
After six years in Portland, OR, Richard Bishop (sibling of aforementioned Bill) emailed that he’s starting to miss the Northeast, Maine, and “other eastern things,” including University of Maine friends. “There should be a ‘service-for-fee’ providing contact information for finding long-ago friends,” he suggests.
“Still a pretty good life here with two daughters present, and son now in Orlando,” he said. His family has a summer cottege in Sparta, NJ, where his family gathers for a month each summer.
In recent months I’ve also connected with Carol Farley Hartt, on her way to a windjammer cruise; Jake Jacubowycz Gordon, over lunch in Portland; Nancy Troland and a friend from Camden, who were returning from a vacation on Cape Breton Island; Patricia Sheehan Silva by phone from California, who told of the impact of the northern California fires on her family in Napa; and Bill Waterhouse, on one of his many road trips to these parts.
The news from here is we have moved from Belfast to neighboring Waldo (about 10 minutes closer to hockey games in Orono!). Although our mailing address remains the same, please make note of my new land line number and email address at the beginning of this column. I’ve also included my mobile phone number.
My hope is that, with all these communication channels, you will call, text, or email me about what’s going on in your lives! Without your news, this becomes a very dull column!
Until next time.