JOHN NEWMANN

Comments? Here is more than a handful. Hosteled around Europe and the Middle East on $5 most days with Harry O. in '63-'64. Then received the chance to live in Kyoto for a year with 20 Japanese university students on a fellowship - which greatly influenced the next 15 years of life. Married 1967. PhD from Fletcher School at Tufts 1974 [economic development & international economics]. Worked in Indonesia and throughout Southeast Asia for the Ford Foundation, 1967-1979. Took a rather dim view of my kidneys failing in 1971, but was able to return to Southeast Asia and kept working for Ford F. - dialyzing in capital cities[safe, but no small trouble arranging]. Learned Japanese finger pressure massage [Shiatsu], taught it gave it professionally in Boston and around US. Also taught Introductory Economics in at Tufts Univ.; continued drumming in small jazz bands, and playing tennis. In 1975, assisted bringing freedom to some British and Indonesian political prisoners, with the help of Amnesty International. Left Ford F. in '79 which was made quite easy as received a Ford F. fellowship to get a Masters in Public Health in 1980. Began consulting for private and public clients by successfully convincing them to buy my brand of snake oil mostly dealing with kidney failure, dialysis and transplantation. Often asked to write and speak on these issues, bringing in both my personal and professional experience. Have spent much time and effort on Boards and Committees of non-profit organizations involved in educating and improving lives of kidney patients [and prospective patients], their families. and professional staff from technicians, nurses to doctors, medical clinic directors.
Perhaps my most meaningful, personal experiences and memories occurred in 1952 and 1954 - when my parents took me to The Blue Note in downtown Chicago on my birthdays to see Louis Armstrong and his All Stars. He asked me to sit in on piano, briefly replacing Earl "Fatha" Hines and what fun I had! This was the beginning of a most remarkable friendship and set of experiences [these can wait until our 55th]! Very much enjoy listening and paying close attention to jazz and classical music in a variety of styles and venues. My kidney failure did much to increase appreciation when experiencing music, the outdoors, forests, seas/lakes, human creativity, moods, and ICE CREAM. [just checking if you're still reading]
More recently getting great joy and inspiration from my daughters, their men, and granddaughters. Also reconnecting with old friends and classmates brings back important and wonderful memories. I'm very much looking forward to our reunion!

At the end of the last school assembly in 1959, my last responsibility as President of the Student Council was to simply say: "Please return to your 2nd period classes." Wanting to make an everlasting, memory for the class, I said: "Please disembark to your 2nd period classes." When Deac Walters saw the utter confusion of nearly everyone walking out in no recognizable order, after giving me a look suggesting "Why did you do this?", he raised both arms and failed in attempting to have everyone walk out in single file. I smiled inside, falsely thinking I clearly and permanently erased the "goody-goody" image many had of me. Naturally, all of you who now read this [50 years later]have no memory whatsoever of this unusual leadership example.

I guess I was quite naive at times when Carol Johnson gave me a ride home, drove directly in the garage, turned off the motor - and I attempted to make conversation, rather than anything else. Or when April Clements wanted to and did share my locker - and I never suggested we share more than my locker... Quite easy to write nearly 50 years later!

Les Libakken for his memorable deep effective oratory and guidance with Student Council became a friend and introduced me to his fine collection of fore-edgings,and the impressive dark stained carpentry his father did in his home. Einbecker, Don Davis were a few of the professional staff who made important impressions for me.