Editor’s Traveling Visits With The Brothers

The year 2011 found the editor on travels from Ohio to the east coast and the New England states (Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont) with stops on the way to visit some of the brothers. Here is an update of some dear friends from your OWU days.

MARCH 2011
W. Dan Rich ’55 In March, Jan and I were saddened to learn of the death of Dan’s wife Lee. We traveled to Salisbury, Maryland for the memorial service and a visit with Dan and his daughter Rebecca. Dan, a retired Methodist minister, now spends his retirement energy on special assignments for his church in and around the area of Salisbury.

MAY 2011
J. Davies ’56 In May, we traveled to the east coast for a long planned stay with Jim and Jean Davies. The Davies live in New Providence, New Jersey where they have lived during Jim’s years with his very successful insurance agency and their children and grandchildren.We were joined for our 3 day stay by Dan Rich. Jim and Jean were wonderful hosts, highlighted by their taking us on a 45 minute drive into NY City for lunch at Sardi’s and a Broadway show.

O. J. Stephens III ’56 Not having had our fill of NY City, we left the Davies, taking the local train back into the city for a 3 day stay in an Irish Inn with a perfect tourist location next to Grand Central Station. We were met by Olin and Carol Stephens who had traveled 4-5 hours to the city from their home in Newfane, Vermont. Olin had grown up in and around the city and hosted our stay by showing us the sights, visiting his old “haunts”, boating to Ellis Island and seeing another Broadway show. We also found his father’s name, Olin J. Stephens II, where it had been etched into the sidewalk next to Wall Street in 1932 along with many other “ticker tape notables”. Olin II was recognized with a ticker tape parade for his part in sailing his “Dorade” and winning the Transatlantic Race to England and then the Fastnet Race in 1931. Surprisingly, Olin III had never seen nor heard of this recognition for his father.

JULY 2011
The end of July found us on our way to Maine, and on the way a visit with two great Betas……Paul Kisseberth ’54 and Mike Schwartz ’54. Paul and Annie Kisseberth have moved to 40 Fieldstone Lane, Beacon Falls, Ct. 06403 and can be reached at 203-209-9895. Their email is “pbk1932@gmail.com”

On our way to lunch, Paul enjoyed singing the old Beta tunes while listening to a CD featuring 43 of the old songs. The following day, we traveled to Bristol, RI for a noontime visit and lunch with Mike and Mary Schwartz. They enjoy Mike’s retirement at 485 Poppasquash Rd., Bristol, RI 02809. They can be reached at 401-253-2900. Their home, about 30 minutes south of Providence, is on a jut of land with a breathtaking view of the Narrgansett Bay. Mary prepared a lovely lunch and we enjoyed an hour’s visit sitting under the trees while viewing the Bay. Their hospitality was warmly welcomed before our start northward to the Camden, Maine area.

AUGUST 2011
While in Liberty, Maine on Lake St. George, we were visited by Betas Olin ’56, (and Carol) Stephens for a week of boating and eating a lot of lobster. Later we enjoyed a day with Jim ’54 (and Jan) Meredith who drove 1.5 hours from their summer home in Maine. Visiting with us at the time were Jim’s sister Barb and her husband Ralph from Lima, Ohio. Jim looked better than ever and reported he felt great and enjoying his annual stay in Maine.

BACK IN OHIO
SEPTEMBER 2011
Our return to Ohio in September found us enjoying an Ohio State U football afternoon with Al (Marty) Vlerebomes ’55 and their daughter Kathy of Lancaster, Ohio. Frequent visits by phone and in person with Dan (Sarah) Wright ’56 in Eaton, Ohio. An occasional phone visit with Dick (Nita) DeVos ’54 always includes an update of their family and contacts with other brothers. On one of my frequent visits to Dayton for visits with my children, I often enjoy running into Bob Neff ’53 who continues to enjoy his retirement and winter skiing trips to Colorado. More than enough for another year!!

Barry (Marilyn) Haas
’59…… From the editor…..
Moved to Columbus, Ohio from Boulder, Colorado in 2010. Marilyn is the editor’s sister-in-law and Barry, of course, is a Beta brother from the class of 1959. They enjoy their semi-retirement as well as reacquainting with family, friends, OWU and Ohio roots. Marilyn (Ellis) ’61, is the Archivist for Delta Gamma Hq here in Columbus and Barry stays busy with some part-time work at Port Columbus. They have sons Doug, high school football coach, Dave, a US Naval Academy graduate and Captain in the Navy, Dan, manages large construction projects around the world, and a daughter, Chris, a teacher in Wyoming. They have 4 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. They can be reached at 4439 Masters Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43220, 614-732-4802 or email marilyn.e.haas@gmail.com

Dan Rich ’55, Jim Davies ’56,
Jean Davies and Jan Tatham