Class Notes

Richard David Brewster

I spent a most challenging and exciting career with Westinghouse, beginning in Annapolis, Md., as an engineer on the design team for a research submersible. I finished as QA engineer on the Temelin Nuclear Power Station in The Czech Republic! In between, nuclear design work took me to England, Korea, and Japan, living by the Japan Sea for two years. I was unexpectedly retired in 1995. That year Susan and I moved to Eastern Long Island and began to settle down. That didn’t last. In 1998 we spent five months in England, Turkey, and Uzbekistan preparing to work with the NGO, Mercy Ships (www.mercyships.org). In the spring of 1999, we flew to South Africa where we joined the 12,000 ton M/V Anastasis, serving as volunteers on the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship. We stayed two years, with Susan as Crew Nurse and I, Head Electronics Technician. We have returned several times more, spending over three years in various West African countries. In the summer months, we made visits with the ship to Norway, Germany, Holland, Spain, and England. Oh yes, we both joined Rotary International, and had great experiences delivering wheelchairs purchased with funds raised by our local Greenport, NY, Rotary Club. Over 500 wheelchairs were sent to very needy folks in Sierra Leone! The summer of 2004 found us visiting Rotary Clubs all over Scotland, drumming up support for the planned visit of the Anastasis to Dundee. As this is written, we are back on the ship, docked in Monrovia, Liberia, where ship’s volunteer crew are preparing new water wells with funds raised by – you guessed it - our Greenport Rotary Club. Talk about excitement: I had the privilege of attending (along with Condi Rice and Laura Bush!) the inauguration of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the new President of Liberia!! After we leave the ship in Ghana, we will fly to Sweden, to take part in the International Rotary Convention in Malmo. Who knows what God has for us next? Of course, I must mention that we recently celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary here on the ship by purchasing ice cream for the almost 400-member crew. And our three daughters have blessed us with 5 grandchildren! Retirement has been the most exciting and fulfilling time of my life! -March 09, 2006

Jacob N. (Jesse) Erlich

JACOB N. (JESSE) ERLICH RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP 5% OF THE LAWYERS IN MASSACHUSETTS Jacob N. (Jesse) Erlich, partner with the Boston law firm of Perkins Smith & Cohen LLP, has been recognized by his peers, for the second year in a row, as one of the top 5% of the lawyers in Massachusetts. Jesse specializes in the practice of intellectual property law and was a former President of the Boston Patent Law Association. He also has been appointed to the United States - Israel Science and Technology Commission Task Force, serves on the Board of Directors of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), New England Chapter and is on the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Justice. In addition, this year, Jesse and his wife, Laura, became the proud grandparents of grandson, Max Myers. -November 29, 2005

Andrew Terwilleger

After 28 years with our local city-county merged government in Lexington, KY, I have retired as a traffic engineering manager. Besides continuing with church work and some engineering consulting, I plan to be more active with Kiwanis, Habitat and other volunteer groups. -November 18, 2004

Tom Pease

After WPI, I gained an MS and PhD from NYU, School of Engineering and Science, with some engineering and oceanography. I joined Lawler Matusky and Skelly Engineers, in 1972 and became a partner in the firm in 1990. We have now merged into HDR Inc, a large national engineering, architecture and planning firm, where I am honored to be a Senior Professional Associate. -June 06, 2005

Frank (Czybulka) Rainer

I retired from Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) last July after 36 years as a laser physicist, having worked on each of all nine large-scale laser systems dedicated to laser-fusion research. I still consult as a certified laser safety officer (CLSO), do research on laser-induced optical damage, and am active on four ANSI committees for laser safety. In between I have traveled with my wife, Sigrid, to almost 200 countries and foreign territories. My daughter, Amanda, is a sophomore engineering major at Harvey Mudd College where former WPI president, Jon Strauss, is currently president. -January 16, 2004

PETER R. PICARD

Pete retired after a 32 year career with the Federal Highway Adminstration in 1998 and was immediately hired as the new Executive Director of the Nebraska Concrete Paving Association in Lincoln, Nebraska. He retired from this position in July 2001, and has moved back home in New England. He's now doing a few fun retirement tasks and some consulting, but primarily assisting his wife, Nancy, with her in-home antiques and collectibles business. -October 24, 2005

Mahendra B. Patel

I am currently working as a Project Manager for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston. After 31 years of career in electric power utility, in December '99, I was fortunate to take a good early retirement offer and then worked @ 3-4 years as a consultant for my previous employer, Boston Edison, now Nstar, followed by working for Honeywell in the Big Dig project. The current work for the transportation industry is interesting and challenging. I also enjoyed my active participation in ASME for the past 30 years in the Boston Section, Region I, as its VP and in some national committees. I never missed any opportunity of attending Regional ASME meetings at WPI or in the Worcester area during my term. It was like homecoming. My wife and I are also activelly involved in Asian Indian culture, particularly the ethnic "Patel" community in New England area. Currently I serve as its President and help promote culture and heritage of the unique ethnic Patel community in the US. I welcome correspondence from my good old friends from WPI. -December 04, 2006

Joel Cehn

I've just returned from Kuwait, where I'm involved in an environmental project. Uranium ordnance served the U.S. military well in Gulf War I, but littered the country. The Kuwaitis are cleaning it up with U.S. help. I'm finding the work personnally satisfying. -October 25, 2006

Dennis Murphy

On Labor Day weekend a mini-reunion of friends from the class of 1969 was held in Mystic, CT. In attendance were George Banks, Jeff Bernard, Harold & Mrs. Hemond, Gordon & Carol Miller, Ed and Aline Mierzejewski,Dennis Murphy & Diane Young, Bob & Denise Scott, Don and Sheila Sharp, Bob & Joan Smith, and David & Nancy Zlotek. The good news was that none of us had changed a bit since 1969! -September 21, 2005

Ed Mierzejewski

Labor Day weekend saw a gathering of Class of '69 friends in Mytic, Connecticut. Organized by Dennis Murphy and wife Diane Young, attendees included Jeff Bernard, George Banks, Harold & Carol Hemond, Ed & Aline Mierzejewski, Gordon and Carol Miller, Bob & Denise Scott, Don and Sheila Sharp, Bob and Joan Smith, and David & Nancy Zlotek. The weekend included visits to Mystic Seaport, the Mystic Aquarium, some great food, and best of all some laughs and reminiscences. -September 07, 2005

David Johnson

After retiring from Lucent Technologies in 2000, I have been teaching business classes at the local Community College. Living in the Beaufort, SC/Hilton Head area provides great opportunities for golf and water sports. -February 02, 2005

Ed Mierzejewski

For the last three years I have been serving as Director of the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida, after 13 years as Deputy Director. Recently elected to the International Board of Directors of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Still happily married (34 years) to Aline. Actively involved in marriage preparation ministry. -November 15, 2004