Sunday, April 5, 2015
The most pivotal event of my life was my admission to Yale, Class of '66, as notified by a "thick" envelope with the cover letter signed by Arthur Howe, Jr. I was from a tiny public high school in a remote corner of northern Arizona and of modest means. Why he accepted me I really don't know--"geographic distribution" I suppose as much as anything. However, I graduated first in my class, became an ophthalmic surgeon, also attended Yale Graduate School in English and wrote a book on modern American poetry, and have over a lifetime tried to give back to Yale and to my fellow human beings. I must be one of thousands of such folks admitted by Mr. Howe, and I shall be forever grateful. When I saw the announcement of his death in the Yale Alumni Magazine, I recognized the name immediately. My condolences to the family but my eternal thanks to your patriarch.
