Bostonia: The Alumni Magazine of Boston University

I’m glad to read Bostonia and be reminded of my days at BU. Not knowing what else to do, I attended BU under the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor’s in English and a B average. If I’d had more confidence, I’d have graduated with a degree in news reporting. After years of struggle, I became the news reporter for the Press-Journal in the small town of Louisiana, Missouri. I married a wonderful friend, Gloria. We adopted three children. We have a happy and successful life.

Looking back, I remember with gladness my friends at BU. The names I remember are Jim Randall, Joe Downey, Gerry Moloney, Eileen O’Brien, and Arthur Littlefield. They were as much a part of my education as the classes I took. At BU I received a full education in reading, writing, thinking, and love that has sustained me for fifty-five years. I would have loved to have attended the class reunion in May and perhaps have met again the friends of my college years. Certainly, I am glad to express my thank you for my professors and instructors. They did good things.

John Gillis (CAS’50)
Louisiana, Missouri

Thank you very much for sending us Bostonia all the way down to our home in Lima, Peru. I am Peruvian and my husband, Ricardo Escobar (LAW’92), is from Venezuela. We met years ago studying at Boston University. We lived in Venezuela for six years, and our issue of Bostonia made us feel in touch with Boston and BU. When we moved to Lima, Bostonia also came with us and is delivered to our home. It is very special for us to receive the magazine, and we enjoy the excellent articles as well as “Class Notes.” Thank you very much and congratulations for such a good magazine.

Madeleine Marion (LAW’92)
Lima, Peru

Your magazine is a delightful taste of home and I really enjoy it, since I have not lived in the area since 1968. The only thing I miss more than the fried clams is lilacs — so I loved Paul Cary Goldberg’s iris print in the fall issue (“Class Notes”). Keep up that fine magazine!

Bonni Weinstein (CAS’64)
Carmel, California

I’m a relatively new guitar player and owner of a Martin guitar, so I enjoyed reading about BU alum Chris Martin and the Martin Guitar Company (“Guitar Man,” Fall 2005). I’d recommend the factory tour to corporate executives to demonstrate how a mutual commitment between workers and employers can lead to both financial success and unparalleled stature.

One correction, though. As the author of obituaries for singing cowboys Gene Autry and Roy Rogers for Broadcasting & Cable magazine in 1998, I can state with certainty that Trigger was Roy’s horse. Gene rode Champion.

Dan Trigoboff (COM’75)
Fayetteville, North Carolina

The article by Tricia Brick on Chris Martin of Martin guitars was accurate about Martins being “the best guitars in the world,” but it lacked horse sense.
Gene Autry’s horse was named Champion. Roy Rogers, who I met as a child, rode the horse Trigger.

If Martin wishes to make an exception to his policy of not giving away guitars to musicians, I will gladly approve.

Karl Schweitzer (COM’78)
Bakersfield, California

I was excited to read about Chris Martin in Bostonia. Several years ago I had the opportunity to meet his father when I was teaching music in Worcester, Massachusetts, and working for a music retailer and manufacturer in that area, Walberg & Auge. I own one of the small Martin guitars, which I bought when working there. It is precious to me.

Connie Brown Dumas (CFA’56)
Orlando, Florida

I was dismayed to read “Feng Shui 101” (“Common Wealth,” Fall 2005). While both feng shui and dowsing are indeed “becoming more mainstream,” controlled tests have consistently failed to provide any evidence that either practice actually works. As a research university, Boston University should encourage the critical examination of such dubious claims instead of promoting them.

Michael Feldman (LAW’03)
New York, New York