Responses
to the Summer 1996 IssueWE LOST THE KIDS
Thank you for the article recognizing my all-time-favorite UMass coach,
Dick Bergquist [Epilogue, Summer 1996]. Isn't it true, though, that
Dick and Sonya have a fourth grown child, in addition to the three
named in the article? I hope so. Certain lake-cottage privileges may depend
on your answer.
Anxiously,
Erica Bergquist `79
Amherst
Apologies to the Bergqists' firstborn child,
who teaches science at Holyoke Community College. And all rise to acknowledge
Northampton Superior Court judge Judd Carhart `71, who gives the lie to
our statement that friend-of- crew Tom Carhart ["Portrait of a Pal,"
Summer 1996] "is not a UMass graduate, nor are his children. "
AND MISLAID THE MINUTEMAN
Well! Now we know why the Minutemen lost their final game this season. If
Sports Illustrated writer Leigh Montville took his family to Lexington
to touch the Minuteman statue for luck ["You Went a Little Crazy, Didn't
You?" Summer 1996], then we can place the blame on him.
Every true Minuteman fan knows that "our" Minuteman is in Concord.
The Concord statue was dedicated by none lesser than Ralph Waldo Emerson
-- who was a real person and not just a dorm in Southwest.
Karen Hastie-Wilson `77
(formerly of Concord)
Whitinsville
AND MISSED THEIR 55TH
Enjoyed your latest issue, which arrived today. However, not a mention
of our 55th reunion [Mass Gatherings, Summer 1996], lunch at the
Top of the Campus, more than 75 people still in more or less good health.
We had a great get-together.
Art and Kay Foley `41
Agawam
FREE P.R.
My husband, Don, and I just returned from Reunion Weekend -- a well-planned,
gala, and at the same time mellow affair. Congratulations to all who made
it so -- especially the committee from the class of `46 and the friendly
drivers, guides, bellhops, and others who miraculously appeared when we
needed help.
A suggestion: As we finish reading each issue of Massachusetts, how
about "recycling" it in a local physician's waiting room? It has
better articles than most of the reading material found there, and provides
free P.R. for UMass!
Shirley (Spring) Crandall `46
Bradenton, FL
HORSEPOWER
In "Coaching the Rythym," team captain Karen Hancock is quoted
as stating that "The team hadn't been to a national in 20 years."
As a member of the UMass equestrian team from 1980-82, I placed sixth at
nationals in 1981 and competed in 1982. Although our entire team didn't
qualify for nationals, some individuals did qualify, complete, and place,
and I think your statement is somewhat misleading.
Early in the article you state, "The team started winning competitions
at the end of Cicciu's first year, their first wins in more than two decades."
Again, our team was high-point college at shows during the early 1980s.
Our coaches during those years were Patti (Carbone) Coffin, Laura Beetle
and Susan Blinks. I have wonderful memories of my equestrian team experience
and am proud of our performances during those years.
Karen (Lynch) Brusie `82
Woodbridge, VA
Yes - riding is a sport! I was so pleased to read your latest issue -- what
a fantastic article on the equestrians ["Coaching the Rythym,"
Summer 1996]. Wendy and her team deserve the recognition.
Anyone who has ever had anything to do with riding and showing horses can
appreciate what these girls have done. Also, many of the schools they compete
against have funded programs and actively recruit riders. Wendy has
done this on next to nothing -- her love of the sport and dedication to
coaching these girls far surpasses anything I've seen lately. My daughter
-- class of `99 -- has personally benefitted from Wendy's knowledge and
expertise, and although she's not a team member yet, she is a strong supporter.
As we all should be. UMass has a great history in the equine world. What
a long way we've come -- from showing Morgans "in hand" to national
riding competition. Those of us who enjoyed the horses at UMass in the past
should find a way to help support this program -- it's long overdue.
Any other "older" equestrians out there?
Pat Fielding Jaouen `63
Lenox
WELCOME ADDITIONS
Thank you for your recent article about UMass alumni playing in the minors
["Boys of Springtime," Summer 1996]. I found it particularly interesting
because I collect baseball cards as a hobby, and part of my collection consists
of people who attended UMass. Because of the article I was able to add a
couple of alumni I had not known about before.
But the most interesting thing about the article is that it indicates there
have been 50 alumni who have played professional baseball. In my collection
have only 23, five in the major leagues and 18 in the minors. While most
of the minor leaguers are players, some are coaches, staff, or interns.
Can I get a list of alumni who have played professionally, either from you
or from the author of the aritlce? And if you know of a list that includes
alumni who have played professionally in any sport, please send me the whole
list. My collection includes seven alumni who have played basketball (including
recent additions Marcus and Donta!) six who have been in the NFL, a former
UMass football coach who coached in the NFL and four who have played in
the Canadian Football League. And if I can find alumni who have played other
sports, I'll include them too.
Roger Barnes `73
St. Louis, MO
rogbarn@mo.net
We've passed Roger Barnes' letter along to
several people who may be able to help him, and publish it here for other
readers' interest and possible response.
DISTURBING WORDS
I found it disturbing to discover that my alumni magazine chose to feature
a black athlete in an article titled "Boys of Springtime." In
this more "enlightened" time I never imagined anyone would use
the word "boy" in reference to an African-American. In the future
I pray that my alumni magazine will show much better taste in choosing the
titles for their articles.
John Mascitelli `85
Pinole, CA
The title of our piece on minor-league players
Nelson Ubaldo, Glenn DiSarcina and Jim Telgeheder was meant as a play on
"boys of summer" and "spring training."
DISTINGUISHED DAD
I enjoyed reading about the recent retirement of Dick Bergquist and Dan
Melley [Epilogue and First Impressions, Summer 1996]. It brought
to mind a distinguished faculty member and graduate alumnus who retired
earlier this year after 43 years of service.
Edward L. Davis `52 MS received his BA from Harvard in 1951 and his Ph.D.
from Washington University, St. Louis, in 1956; he began his career as a
member of the UMass botany department in 1953. His research interests ranged
from flowering plants and ferns to ethnobotany. His field work included
ethnobotany studies in Chiapas, Mexico, and more recently in the Caribbean,
where he focused on the medicinal copies of plants and the role of dooryard
gardens in economic life.
Professor Davis was botany department head for 11 years, but students will
probably remember him from his many years of teachthe General Education
class, Botany 101. His enthusiasm for the topic enabled him to reach out
to many students over the years and teach them more about plants than they
ever thought possible.
Sarah Davis `91
College Park, Maryland
The writer is Professor Davis' daughter and
a fund-raiser at the American Physical Society. As a result of this letter
and others, we've realized that we should at least announce faculty retirements;
see page 52 for retirements announced this fall.
DISTINGUISHED CLASSMATE
The last issue of Massachusetts reported the death of Alvan S. Ryan `34
and his teaching career at UMass Boston. It did not mention the many activities
he was involved in during his undergraduate days. He was treasurer of his
class, a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, played varisity football for four years,
was on the track team his sophomore and junior years, and held the pole
vault record. His sophomore year he was a member of Maroon Key. In his senior
year he was on the Student Senate, the Senior Honor Society, the Honor Council,
and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi.
Al received his MA from Harvard in 1938, his Ph.D. from the University of
Iowa in 1941. He taught at Notre Dame for many years, serving as chairman
of the English Department from 1962 to '65. In 1965 he left Nortre Dame
to help establish UMass Boston, where he was chairman of humanities for
several years, then professor of English until his retirement in 1978. He
received an honorary degree from UMass Boston in 1985.
Mary (Ryan) Barnard `34
Amherst
DISGUSTING ACTIONS
I do not usually write to complain, knowing full well that society is made
up of many views. However, the last set of letters concerning the naming
of the library for W.E.B. DuBois, especially Mr. Talmage's letter, finally
triggered me.
I too, am disgusted with the actions of UMass students and the administration.
A university should be a place to teach students to use tools and methodologies
to perform deeper analysis and reach a better understanding so they can
make inofrmed decisions. Instead, you have turned schools into dens of left-wing
extremist proselytzing and training camps for the avante-garde. Any view
remotely resembling tradional wisdom is harassed and belittled as unworthy
of any serious respect. Only wild new views are worthy, since traditional
views are, well, you know, old! . . . .
I, too, am so disgusted with activities at UMass [that] I will refuse to
contribute financially. Instead of wasting energy on UMass credit cards,
spend the energy on providing students the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey
says. Or are we afraid they might just draw a conclusion that does not fall
in lockstep with avant-garde leftist thinking?
Thomas Mazzone `76
Somerville NJ
WRITE TO US
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magazine receive priority; comments on more general campus matters will
appear as space allows. We may need to edit for style, length, or clarity.
Write Letters, UMass Magazine, Munson Hall, UMass, Amherst, MA 01003; fax
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