Secretary Andy Kaufman writes:

By the time you read this column, which I am writing in mid-May, our on-campus “50+1” Reunion weekend will have come and gone.  Given the YAM publication deadlines, there was not time to include a report on our Reunion in this edition, but I will include the Reunion report in the September/October YAM.  Here’s some news in the meantime.

Karl Fields continues working full time as a professor of medicine for UNC.  In addition, he is an editor in chief for “UpTo Date” (providing evidence-based clinical decision support for healthcare professionals), and he continues to teach, see patients and particularly to train people in using diagnostic ultrasound in clinical care.  Karl says that what keeps him from retiring are the young doctors who are such enthusiastic learners.  He also enjoys teaching internationally, and with COVID waning he has a couple of international visiting professor trips scheduled.  Karl’s children are bicoastal, in Wilmington NC and Portland OR, and he and Deb try to travel to both coasts as often as time allows.

 

Alexis Krasilovsky has recently published a new book, “Watermelon Linguistics: New and Selected Poems,” and released a new film, “The Parking Lot of Dreams.”  Her film won the Outstanding Achievement Award in Experimental Film at the Tagore International Film Festival in March of this year and has been named an Official Selection at several upcoming festivals.  Alexis retired in May from her position as Professor of Screenwriting at California State University, Northridge, after teaching there for 35 years.

 

Catherine Ross reports that her latest book — “A Right to Lie: Presidents, Other Liars, and the First Amendment” (University of Pennsylvania Press) — was published at the end of 2021.  It’s written for non-lawyers and lawyers alike and available at the usual places. Last year she was appointed Lyle T. Alverson Professor of Law at George Washington University where she has been teaching since 1996, while still living in Larchmont NY.

 

On May 17, as part of the run-up to our Reunion, the Class hosted a well-attended webinar addressing “Meritocracy:  The Debate Over Its Role in Education, Careers and Modern Life.”  In an hour-long session, Yale Law Professors Tony Kronman and Daniel Markovits — who have each written and spoken extensively on the subject — explored the impact that meritocracy has had on Yale and similar institutions and on our culture and society more generally.  Kurt Schmoke masterfully moderated the discussion.  We recorded the webinar, and classmates who were unable to join the live program may view the recording on the class website (yale71.org).  Thanks to Kurt and to Bob Bruner for organizing this fascinating and provocative event.

 

In preparing material for our Reunion Memorial Service, we learned that Mark Kreitman died on August 30, 2018, after a long illness.  After Yale, Mark graduated from Harvard Law School and worked as a federal prosecutor with the Securities and Exchange Commission for more than 35 years.  Mark was survived by his sister Lenore, to whom we send our condolences.

 

Geoff Provo died on September 26, 2021, after an 18-month battle with cancer.  Geoff graduated from Yale with a degree in economics, intending to become a stockbroker.  However, he shifted gears during a post-graduation summer job at a Lamborghini dealership.  After several years working as a mechanic and semi-professional race car driver, Geoff founded GP Enterprises in Redwood City, CA, in the 1980s, and he spent the next 40 years servicing, repairing and restoring Ferraris and Lamborghinis, specializing in older models.  Geoff built a national and international reputation for his work.  His obituary notes that he regularly traveled to work with restoration specialists in Italy and that vehicles came to his shop from all over the country.  Geoff enjoyed go-kart racing at Sonoma Raceway and was a loyal San Jose Sharks ice hockey season-ticket holder for more than twenty years.  He was devoted to his daughter, Alexandra, coaching her soccer teams, supporting her in her competitive figure skating career, and encouraging her in her academic pursuits and professional endeavors.  We send our condolences to Alexandra and to Geoff’s fiancée, Helen Sirica, and to his extended family.

 

We have also learned that Bryce Ahlstrom died on October 23, 2021.  On-line searches indicate that Bryce had been living for many years in British Columbia, where he was involved in the construction industry and achieved acclaim as a bee-keeper, but we otherwise have been unable to learn more about Bryce’s life after Yale.  If you have information to share, please let me know and I will update this memorial to Bryce in a future column.

 

Have a good summer,

AMK

5-18-22