Class Notes November 2004

Millicent Kondracke, the beloved wife of our classmate MORT KONDRACKE, is dead at 64 after her long, valiant fight with Parkinson's disease. A Washington Post obituary paid tribute to her, not only as a psychotherapist, but for her tireless efforts to raise money and enlist official backing for Parkinson's research.

In his book about her, Mort wrote, "I want a medical miracle to save her. But even if there is none, our story will not end...I will keep working to end Parkinson's disease on her behalf, and I will hug her in my heart forever."

Mort and Milly were married 36 years and had two daughters. Thinking about her, I also reflected that many exceptional, dauntless women are affiliated with our class. Let me mention a few, all still living. Excuse me for not having the space to make this a more complete list.

Carol Nicklaus, wife of BRUCE CLARK, is a noted illustrator of children's books. Titles include "Happy Birthday," "Cookie Monster," "The Sesame Street Coloring Book," and 11 books featuring her character, Lewis the Lion. Her latest book, on St. Vincent & the Grenadines, by the time this is published, will be on her website, www.carolnicklaus.com.

Deborah Goldman, wife of SID GOLDMAN, an artist of 35 years standing with many special shows and exhibits, often in her home Detroit area, but in Key West, Eastern cities and other locales as well, is presently to be found on this website: www.districtarts.com. It is a gallery where she has a distinctive "real life"
exhibition, but she has had more than a dozen just since 2001.

Barbara Rouse, wife of TOM TRIMARCO, has been a judge on the Massachusetts Superior Court for 19 years, hearing both criminal and civil cases. Like so many of the wives, she had a marvelous education, doing her undergraduate work at Smith, getting an M.A. at Columbia and then her law degree at Boston College.

Gretchen Hannon, wife of JOHN HANNON, had such varied careers as a private chartered airplane pilot and the founder of international theatres while her husband pursued his career in American diplomacy in such countries as Kenya, Tanzania, the Soviet Union, Belgium and Norway.

Karen Harrison, wife of WALTER FREEDMAN, a middle school teacher of 25 years, later opened the first regional office of Facing History and Ourselves, a teacher training organization which can also be found on a website: facinghistory.org. She also is an author and a leader of the Children's Museum of Chicago, where she now heads a $41 million fundraising campaign. All this, and she and Walter are building a new vacation home in Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Arlene Davidson, wife of DICK DAVIDSON, is retired now as CEO and CFO of an apparel firm which had manufacturing facilities in Guatemala. She used to begin work at 6 a.m. each morning, and, her husband says, felt a 12-hour day was routine.

The women affiliated with the Class of 1960 are a proud story. And I haven't even mentioned the daughters and granddaughters.

--KEN REICH, 5522 Nagle Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401;
(818) 994-9231; kennethireich@yahoo.com