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It was almost 40 years ago, probably February or March of 1959. Our family had been in Santa Barbara less than a year.
A tiny news item in the News-Press caught my eye, announcing that there would be a dinner meeting of the Yale Club of Santa Barbara at the University Club the following week.
Needless to say, I was delighted to find that the blue flame was burning brightly even three thousand miles from Woodbridge Hall and the Yale Bowl.
Nevertheless, this turned out to be a most congenial and interesting group, almost all of whom I found to be good friends over the years that followed: Arthur Bissell, M.D, ’30; Al Conrad ‘32 E; Ed Flynn, ‘30, Fred Green, ’36S; Nelson Howard, ‘29; Robert Hoyt, ‘39 Arch; Bob Hunter, ‘26; Jay Sholes, ‘33; and Bill Wheeler, ‘33.
The only untoward note during the evening was the bitter lament delivered by Al Conrad, who believed that his departure from Yale was arranged by Whitney Griswold, then president of Yale, who, Al said, seemed determined to destroy the Yale Engineering Department. (Al went on to do a distinguished job in creating the UCSB School of Engineering.)
My call to thank Bob Hoyt, who conducted the meeting, and offer a few comments, was returned two days later to inform me that the “Executive Committee” had named me president of the club; little did I know that they had been looking for a pigeon for some time.
While we didn’t exactly fly with the eagles for the next 34 years, we received generous and loyal support from a host of local Elis (We go from Oxnard to Arroyo Grande). It was always a rewarding, if sometime hectic, experience.
We will forever be in debt to Phil Moncharsh, ‘70, for finally relieving me as club president four years ago. The prospects of a fun ride in such a position were dim, to say the least.
In spite of Phil ’s professional and family commitments, he did a masterful job in keeping up the momentum and managing a number of entertaining and worthwhile programs during his tenure; we are all deeply grateful to him for his efforts.
Special thanks and warmest congratulations are due for the long and valuable service that we hope will continue, provided by two other faithful alums: Clifford Wright, ‘49, and Michael Lejeune, ‘40. (We don’t just get older, we get better!)
Cliff has been our bookkeeping wizard and membership secretary for more years than I can recall. And Mike has done a super job for a number of years as as chairman of our Alumni Schools Committee, the most active program we sponsor, arranging and following up on 35 to 40 interviews each year for area high school applicants to Yale.
We are certainly fortunate now to look forward to a new era for the club. Those of us who have become acquainted with John Lincoln, ‘68, have been impressed with the quiet but effective way that he has made his presence felt in support of the program.
John and his wife Charlotte hosted a most successful reception honoring Gisele Ben-Dor, a graduate of the Yale School of Music who is Music Director of the Santa Barbara Symphony. In several other ways, John has indicated that he has a great deal to offer as our next leader. The club directors have promised him their support, and I hope the entire membership will join in this effort.
We have pledged to give particular attention to strengthening the club’s treasury through a revitalized membership campaign. In an effort to sponsor attractive club events, our resources have been eroded, and in turn we have not been able to maintain the level of scholarship support for local students attending Yale that we had provided formerly. We feel that this is a prime commitment.
As we keep you informed of the club’s progress and program, we urge you to join in its support.