Class of ’59 – July/August 2010

Linda Rogers Cohen (Great Neck, NY) was honored in March at the annual May W. Newburger Women’s Roll of Honor Breakfast for her contributions to the community—service that has included co-president of the Reform Democratic Association, president of her civic association, and positions on the boards of directors of the Great Neck Library and Historical Society. Linda was in Ithaca for several days this spring, caring from grandson Alex while daughter Carrie ’89 lectured in a trial techniques program at the Law School. One day Linda and Alex ran into Dave Dunlop, who agreed that it is “never too early” to give a youngster a campus tour.

Also being instilled with the Cornell spirit are the young grandchildren of Leslie and Barbara Hirsch Kaplan (Gladwyne, PA). “I waited a long time for grandchildren,” says Barbara, “but in just short of five years we have had two weddings (Doug ’88 married Lauren Hyman, and Emily ’91 married Greg Dodge) and four grandchildren. All of the kids sing or respond to ‘Give My Regards to Davy!’” Barbara is stepping down after six years as chair of MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance), a Philadelphia-area organization that prepares and home-delivers more than 80,000 nutritious meals each month to individuals and families living with life-threatening illnesses. In April she and Leslie were on campus to present the 7^th annual Kaplan Awards for Public Service to faculty members. “It’s amazing how many courses there are, across all the colleges, that teach public service and civic involvement, and I hope that someday the University has a public service major.” says Barbara. The recipients of the 2010 awards were Mary Jo Dudley, director of the Cornell Farmworker Program, and Rebecca Stoltfuz MS ’88 PhD ‘92, Director of the Program in International Nutrition.

“At age 71, I have found my calling,” writes Fred Harwood (Bedford, NH; fharwood@comcast.net). “I joined the board of Inti Soccer Academy of Manchester (intisoccer.org) last year and was recently elected vice president and general manager. We serve inner-city children with soccer, an after-school academic program, nutrition and healthy living guidance, mentoring, and field trips. Most of our kids are refugees from Africa and Nepal/Bhutan or immigrants from Hispanic countries. Their passion is soccer. We provide them world-class soccer training and competition. Our co-founder was a member of the Bolivian national team. We have some of the best coaches in New England. Soccer is our connection with the kids, but our crown jewel is the academic program. Since we are less than a year old as an organization, funding and building a non-profit infrastructure is an enormous challenge. That is now my responsibility. Most of the families live below the poverty level. Through the support and love we offer, we have already become an extended family for 60 kids. Our summer soccer camp will attract over 200. There is no limit to what we can achieve. I hope my great '59 classmates will help support me in this vital and most worthy cause.

Fred is a member of CAAAN and an officer in the Cornell Club of New Hampshire. “I meet the best and brightest kids who attend Cornell each year from New Hampshire. And I deal with the heartbreak of the 90% of the well-qualified applicants who are rejected. I also have been proud to serve Cornell and the Class of '59 during its past two reunions and by working with the Greek system as past president of the AIFC (Ron Demer is now the main man from our class engaged with Greek affairs on campus). I am still active in my own fraternity, Delta Upsilon. It doesn't feel like age 71!”

Farmer Joan Harris Riebel of Schuylerville, NY, recently took a Caribbean cruise. CPA and financial planner Ken Rand of Savannah, GA, spent February on Maui. Stuart Alexander of Sarasota, FL, retired from paper industry R&D, has traveled in recent years to Eastern Europe, France, and South America—and to Pittsburgh, PA, and Scottsdale, AZ to visit four wonderful grandchildren (and their parents). He and his wife Cecile (nc) spend three months of each year administering tests in area schools for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (aka The Nation’s Report Card). They also are election poll workers. Ken Riskind of Tucson, AZ is on the boards of the Center for Creative Photography at the U of Arizona and the Friends of Western Art. He’d love to hear from any of his friends at Cornell (kjrjhr@gmail.com).

Eye surgeon Gerald Schultz of Rancho Mirage, CA, was in Kolkata, India this spring, organizing a course on ophthalmic genetics that featured researchers and clinical investigators from the U.S., Britain and India. “Afterwards my wife and I joined an Indian friend for an elephant safari in India’s Kaziranga National Park, which is noted for its one-horned rhinoceroses.” Sue Rollins Fried, NYC, retired from a career in market research, is enjoying traveling to Bulgaria, Turkey, Morocco, and other countries. She takes continuing ed classes at NYU and admits to spending hours playing bridge in her community senior center—“just like I did in the Ivy Room between classes.” * Jenny Tesar, 97A Chestnut Hill Village, Bethel, CT 06801; tel., (203) 792-8237; e-mail, jet24@cornell.edu.