Notes from the Class of 1956

After retiring from 30 years of teaching social studies in 1982, Harry Stokes (MEdu’56) has remained extremely busy. He moved to Tennessee and became an archivist at the Tennessee State Library and Archives where he processed manuscript collections and governor’s papers until 2005. During his retirement years, he and his wife have enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad. Harry lives in Old Hickory, Tenn.

A flight test engineer and test pilot for 46 years, James Patton Jr. (Aero’56) retired from NASA in 1987 [see the online September 2011 Coloradanprofiles to read the article on him]. He earned numerous aviation awards, including NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal, the FAA Master Pilot Award and an induction into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame. He lives in Crystal River, Fla.

Former CU football and baseball player Frank Bernardi (Mktg’56) received recognition as part of the 2012 Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class ceremony in November. Frank rushed for 1,235 yards in his career, fifth-most by a Buff at the time, with his 6.33 average per carry still the fifth-best number by any of the school’s 49 players who have gained 1,000 career yards. He resides in Broomfield, Colo.

Frequent Conference on World Affairs participant Dave Grusin (Mus’56) returned to the university in April for the conference. His brother, Don Grusin (Soc’63, MEcon’67), joined him from Los Angeles. Having spent most of his professional life writing film scores, arranging and producing jazz albums and recording, Dave has recently spent more time performing and traveling as a keyboardist, mostly with Lee Ritenour, an old friend and studio mate. He lives in Santa Fe, N.M., with his wife, Nancy Newton.

Linn Long (PE’56, MS’67), who lettered four times in college as a wrestler from 1952-55, was named into the 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame. After college, he coached wrestling at CU-Boulder, leading the Buffs to their best finish in the NCAA Championships, a tie for fourth place in 1964. Linn also won four letters in baseball.

Ten-time Grammy Awardwinner Dave Grusin (Mus) served as an advisory judge for the Six String Theory Competition, the inspiration of Grammy-winning guitarist and producer Lee Ritenour. Dave, who also won an Academy Award in 1988 for his score for “The Milagro Beanfield War,” lives in Santa Fe, N.M. He is a recipient of the Alumni Association’s George Norlin Award, and will be recognized Oct. 13 during Homecoming Weekend.

In November Dan Dillingham (Fin) was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Dan, of Enid, Okla., was one of six inductees this year. While studying at CU, Dick Hueholt (AeroEngr) flew left wing on the Minute Men aerobatic team, which was sponsored by the Colorado Air National Guard. The monthly Air Classics magazine featured the National Minute Men Team in its September 2016 edition, 63 years after the Minute Men team was formed. After graduating, Dick was employed as a jet test pilot for Chance Vought Corp. He is now retired and lives in Argyle, Texas.

Academy Awardwinning composer Dave Grusin (Mus) received the George Norlin Award at the CU Boulder Alumni Association’s 87th Annual Awards Ceremony in October. Dave, who also has won 10 Grammy Awards, is a founding member of the College of Music Advisory Board and has been composing music professionally since the 1960s. He lives in Santa Fe, N.M.

Alan Feuerstein (Mktg) is founder and CEO of Web Editorial & Content Management, Inc. Earlier in life, Alan served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. Alan has lectured at New York University, University of Chicago and elsewhere on the use of the internet in web journalism and business strategy.

For the next 20 years, an annual award funded by William Hopkins (Soc) and life partner Richard Anderson will benefit actors and other Washington D.C. theater community members. The Anderson-Hopkins Award for Excellence in the Theater Arts was presented for the first time on Nov. 20, 2017. William lives in Arlington, Va. 

Oscar and Grammy-winning composer, producer and jazz pianist Dave Grusin (Mus) is the subject of a forthcoming feature-length documentary, Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time. Dave has received eight Oscar nominations, 10 Grammys and another 28 nominations. The film, which is expected to be released later this year, will chronicle his career as a music director, composer, arranger, producer and pianist. 

Bill Cramer (Jour) lives in Bowie, Maryland, and turned 91 in November. Following graduation from CU Boulder, he had a career working as a Russian, German, French and Spanish military translator for the NSA and Naval Intelligence during the Cold War. He and his wife, Virginia, whom he met at a square dance on the patio of the then-new University Memorial Center, have six children and four grandchildren. 

Roseville, California, resident Audrey Nichols Gould (Math) was brought back to her college days after reading the Fall issue of the Coloradan. She wrote, “I loved looking at the scene which I saw on a daily basis from my room in Sewell Hall. I always felt lucky about that perk!” She is still in touch with her freshman roommate. 

In addition to being a retired professor emeritus from San Jose State University, Cal Stevens (Geol; MA’58) is also a writer. He has self-published three novels, including On the Other Side of Brokeback Mountain, about the life of a Wyoming cowboy. 

Grammy-winning composer Dave Grusin (Mus; HonDocMus’89) of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was the subject of a recent documentary, Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time. Director Barbara Bentree (MusEdu’80) has been a fan of Dave’s for 40 years and conducted interviews with Quincy Jones and Tom Brokaw for the film. CU Boulder’s dean of the College of Music, Robert Shay, also makes an appearance in the film.

Walter Kurtzman (PolSci) published his first novel, titled Diamonds in the Rough, in 2019. It is available from Amazon and other major bookstores. 

While studying at CU, Edward F. Altman Jr. (Fin; DistSt’86) was the business school student president and a member of the ROTC. When he graduated, he immediately served in he Korean War. Edward is searching for a former classmate who gave him a bracelet before graduation. If this was you, please email us at editor@colorado.edu so we can put you in touch.

In April, a documentary film about distinguished film and television composer Dave Grusin (Mus’56; HonDocMus’89) played at the Boedecker Theater in Boulder. The film, Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time, was created by Barbara Bentree (MusEdu’80) and has been screened at several film and music festivals. Dave — who has a filmography of nearly 100 titles — is co-founder of jazz record label GRP Records. He has won 10 Grammys out of 38 nominations and one Academy Award out of eight nominations. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.