OUR 50TH REUNION CELEBRATION MAY BE OVER,
BUT WE ARE STILL IN OUR 50TH YEAR SINCE GRADUATION.
HERE ARE SOME MEMORIES.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL PHOTOS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE ON THIS WEBSITE
GOLDEN GRADUATION INVITATION
THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, 2023
DAY I: PRE-MEETING VISIT TO THE HEART TRANSPLANT MUSEUM
DAY 1: THE DEAN'S COCKTAIL PARTY
WELCOME SPEECH BY TREVOR KAYE
Dean Green-Thompson and fellow members of the class of 1973:
As we gather here today to celebrate our 50th medical school reunion, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and nostalgia.
It has been an honor and a privilege to have shared this journey with you and to have made lasting friendships and connections that have continued for half a century.
We have all come a long way since our days as medical students.
We have faced challenges, overcome obstacles, and many of us have achieved great things in our careers and in our personal lives.
As we look back over the past 50 years, it is incredible to think about the advancements and changes in the field of medicine that we have seen during our careers.
We have witnessed the development of groundbreaking treatments and technologies and have been a part of the progress that has led to improved patient outcomes and saved countless lives.
But as we reflect on our time in medical school, and our careers as medical professionals, let us also remember the bonds of friendship and camaraderie that we formed during those years.
The friendships and connections that we made during our time here have been invaluable and have sustained us through the years
So welcome and thank you and your significant others for making the effort and coming together to celebrate this milestone event.
In 1973 we had a class of 155, 148 passed their final year. Seven failed. Sadly 20 have passed away.
We remain in contact with 94, of which 49 are here celebrating our golden anniversary since graduation. This is an impressive turnout.
I want to take this time to remember those classmates who have passed away.
Please bow your head while I read their names in alphabetical order:
May they rest in peace and may their memories be a blessing.
They shall grow not old,
as we, that are left, grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
I have learned over the years that you can’t please everyone and during the planning of this reunion, I am sure that I have irked a few folks, and I know that there are some who would have preferred this reunion at the more traditional end of the year timeframe.
I’m sorry that we could not accommodate everyone’s wishes,
but here we are in beautiful Cape Town, at a great time of the year, with a reunion that will be casual and relaxed and give folks time to catch up.
Class reunions can be enjoyable, or stressful, depending on how you look at them.
They create an opportunity to connect with people from our past, relive memories, and catch up with people we haven’t spoken to in years.
We have all aged and while some have retained their youthful looks, others are a little more difficult to identify through our current lenses.
It is great to see familiar faces with wrinkles, but please wear the name tags you all received.
They will save you the embarrassment of forgetting a classmate’s name!
Remember we’re all still just kids, but with gray or a little less hair.
The tote bags for those who signed up for the events, contain some “survival” items to get you through this, as well as information regarding the various events and the bus meeting spots. Please give yourselves adequate time for travel and parking. The bus will leave at the time scheduled, so if you miss the bus, you miss out on a fun time.
Thank you again Lionel for hosting this evening’s meet and greet cocktail party.
Remember the cynically humorous expression: “no good deed goes unpunished”?
Well, I also want to thank John Cowlin and Lance Michell for going the extra mile to make this reunion possible. There is only so much one can do from a distance of over 7,700 miles, but Google and the internet have certainly made things a lot easier.
I want to remind us all that our connection as alumni of this medical school will always remain strong. We will always be part of a community of professionals who are dedicated to improving the lives of others and we should continue to support each other in that endeavor.
Thank you for the memories and for being a part of this special evening.
So let’s figuratively raise a glass to the memories of those who are no longer with us, and to the enduring friendships that we have built. Let’s also renew our commitment to the ideals that brought us to this profession in the first place: to serve others, to improve lives and to make the world a better place.
I now call on Lance Michell to introduce our host Dean Lionel Green-Thompson who some of you met last March on a class reunion Zoom call.
THANK YOU NOTE TO THE DEAN SENT AFTER THE EVENT:
Dear Lionel,
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to you and your team of the medical school for hosting our 50th reunion. The event was a huge success, and I can say with confidence that everyone who attended had a wonderful time.
As we all gathered together, it was clear that our medical school had played a significant role in shaping our lives and careers. We were all grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, reminisce about our experiences, and share our achievements since graduating.
I must commend the medical school for putting together such a remarkable event. The venue was perfect, the food was excellent, and the program was well-planned and executed flawlessly, especially the audio visual technology! We were all impressed by the attention to detail and the warmth of the welcome that we received.
It was a fitting celebration of our achievements and a reminder of the lifelong bonds that we formed during our time at the medical school.
Once again, thank you for your efforts, and I look forward to future opportunities to reconnect with our alma mater.
Photos from all our events are posted on our class website and as an honorary member of the class of 1973, you are most welcome to check them out.
Wishing you good health and success going forward.
Trevor
THANK YOU TO HUGH AMOORE by Trevor Kaye
The late Professor Stuart Saunders, described Hugh Amoore as his “secret weapon“ during his tenure as Vice Chancellor. He said: “I never took a decision of any importance without consulting Hugh. He gave me superb advice based upon a profound knowledge of a subject and its history. He never let me down.“
Because of his long history of wearing bowties, on his retirement, they presented him with a special gift made by members of the art department at Michaelis in the form of eight bowties, entitled “The Eighth Day Collection", housed in a handcrafted wooden box.
It was said this marked the symbolic seven days he had contributed to the creation of UCT, and the eighth day in which he would make his beginning as registrar emeritus.
I would now like to present him with a token of our appreciation [a baseball bowtie] for coming on as a “pinch-hitter“ [which is a baseball term].
THANK YOU FROM THE DEAN TO THE CLASS OF 1973
I was delighted that you returned to your alma mater to celebrate your 50th reunion on 20 February 2023. It was an impressive class attendance for this special milestone, particularly for those travelling from overseas.
I am sure you rekindled many memories and friendships over the days you spent together. I observed that there remains a strong bond within the class, not only amongst one another, but also for the university which you hold so dearly in your hearts. It was an honour to welcome you and your partners and to acknowledge the contribution that your stories have made to the rich legacy of this institution.
We spoke about the many resource challenges that higher education institutions face in this country and beyond. I was particularly encouraged by the expressions of interest in contributing to the wellbeing of this Faculty – offers to mentor our students and contribute time and experience to our teaching and learning activities are deeply appreciated and will always be considered. It struck me how this ethos of ‘paying it forward’ resonates with our values of promoting a culture of care and compassion in our teaching and learning. Our students can only benefit from having our alumni as role models and mentors. Please use this form to indicate the support you wish to give.
I appreciate your initiative to make a class contribution to SHAWCO to support the work of this much-loved UCT student health and welfare organisation - many of you would have fond memories of early community-based clinical experience under the guidance of qualified volunteering colleagues. For those who still wish to contribute, you can make payment via this link.
There are several more needs that require attention to ensure that the Faculty can continue its great legacy as one of the top health sciences institutions in Africa. I invite you to share any suggestions or initiatives that you believe would support this journey.
I look forward to hearing further from you and wish you all well, and a safe trip to those who are still travelling back home.
Kaise ke gangans
Associate Professor Lionel Green-Thompson
Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences
WELCOME SPEECH BY TREVOR KAYE
Dean Green-Thompson and fellow members of the class of 1973:
As we gather here today to celebrate our 50th medical school reunion, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and nostalgia.
It has been an honor and a privilege to have shared this journey with you and to have made lasting friendships and connections that have continued for half a century.
We have all come a long way since our days as medical students.
We have faced challenges, overcome obstacles, and many of us have achieved great things in our careers and in our personal lives.
As we look back over the past 50 years, it is incredible to think about the advancements and changes in the field of medicine that we have seen during our careers.
We have witnessed the development of groundbreaking treatments and technologies and have been a part of the progress that has led to improved patient outcomes and saved countless lives.
But as we reflect on our time in medical school, and our careers as medical professionals, let us also remember the bonds of friendship and camaraderie that we formed during those years.
The friendships and connections that we made during our time here have been invaluable and have sustained us through the years
So welcome and thank you and your significant others for making the effort and coming together to celebrate this milestone event.
In 1973 we had a class of 155, 148 passed their final year. Seven failed. Sadly 20 have passed away.
We remain in contact with 94, of which 49 are here celebrating our golden anniversary since graduation. This is an impressive turnout.
I want to take this time to remember those classmates who have passed away.
Please bow your head while I read their names in alphabetical order:
- John Badenhorst
- Rashid Bhayat
- Terry Blumenthal
- George Dommisse
- Vincent Fisher
- Richard Godden
- Glynn Hermanus
- Ismail Jakoet
- Neville Pasvolsky
- Steven Perl
- Juanita Permuy
- Eliot Resnekov
- Malcolm Sandler
- Bruce Sapsford
- Brahm Shapiro
- Colin Sparg
- Daniel van Breda
- Vernon van Loon
- Robin Waspe
- Raymond Zetler
May they rest in peace and may their memories be a blessing.
They shall grow not old,
as we, that are left, grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
I have learned over the years that you can’t please everyone and during the planning of this reunion, I am sure that I have irked a few folks, and I know that there are some who would have preferred this reunion at the more traditional end of the year timeframe.
I’m sorry that we could not accommodate everyone’s wishes,
but here we are in beautiful Cape Town, at a great time of the year, with a reunion that will be casual and relaxed and give folks time to catch up.
Class reunions can be enjoyable, or stressful, depending on how you look at them.
They create an opportunity to connect with people from our past, relive memories, and catch up with people we haven’t spoken to in years.
We have all aged and while some have retained their youthful looks, others are a little more difficult to identify through our current lenses.
It is great to see familiar faces with wrinkles, but please wear the name tags you all received.
They will save you the embarrassment of forgetting a classmate’s name!
Remember we’re all still just kids, but with gray or a little less hair.
The tote bags for those who signed up for the events, contain some “survival” items to get you through this, as well as information regarding the various events and the bus meeting spots. Please give yourselves adequate time for travel and parking. The bus will leave at the time scheduled, so if you miss the bus, you miss out on a fun time.
Thank you again Lionel for hosting this evening’s meet and greet cocktail party.
Remember the cynically humorous expression: “no good deed goes unpunished”?
Well, I also want to thank John Cowlin and Lance Michell for going the extra mile to make this reunion possible. There is only so much one can do from a distance of over 7,700 miles, but Google and the internet have certainly made things a lot easier.
I want to remind us all that our connection as alumni of this medical school will always remain strong. We will always be part of a community of professionals who are dedicated to improving the lives of others and we should continue to support each other in that endeavor.
Thank you for the memories and for being a part of this special evening.
So let’s figuratively raise a glass to the memories of those who are no longer with us, and to the enduring friendships that we have built. Let’s also renew our commitment to the ideals that brought us to this profession in the first place: to serve others, to improve lives and to make the world a better place.
I now call on Lance Michell to introduce our host Dean Lionel Green-Thompson who some of you met last March on a class reunion Zoom call.
THANK YOU NOTE TO THE DEAN SENT AFTER THE EVENT:
Dear Lionel,
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to you and your team of the medical school for hosting our 50th reunion. The event was a huge success, and I can say with confidence that everyone who attended had a wonderful time.
As we all gathered together, it was clear that our medical school had played a significant role in shaping our lives and careers. We were all grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, reminisce about our experiences, and share our achievements since graduating.
I must commend the medical school for putting together such a remarkable event. The venue was perfect, the food was excellent, and the program was well-planned and executed flawlessly, especially the audio visual technology! We were all impressed by the attention to detail and the warmth of the welcome that we received.
It was a fitting celebration of our achievements and a reminder of the lifelong bonds that we formed during our time at the medical school.
Once again, thank you for your efforts, and I look forward to future opportunities to reconnect with our alma mater.
Photos from all our events are posted on our class website and as an honorary member of the class of 1973, you are most welcome to check them out.
Wishing you good health and success going forward.
Trevor
THANK YOU TO HUGH AMOORE by Trevor Kaye
The late Professor Stuart Saunders, described Hugh Amoore as his “secret weapon“ during his tenure as Vice Chancellor. He said: “I never took a decision of any importance without consulting Hugh. He gave me superb advice based upon a profound knowledge of a subject and its history. He never let me down.“
Because of his long history of wearing bowties, on his retirement, they presented him with a special gift made by members of the art department at Michaelis in the form of eight bowties, entitled “The Eighth Day Collection", housed in a handcrafted wooden box.
It was said this marked the symbolic seven days he had contributed to the creation of UCT, and the eighth day in which he would make his beginning as registrar emeritus.
I would now like to present him with a token of our appreciation [a baseball bowtie] for coming on as a “pinch-hitter“ [which is a baseball term].
THANK YOU FROM THE DEAN TO THE CLASS OF 1973
I was delighted that you returned to your alma mater to celebrate your 50th reunion on 20 February 2023. It was an impressive class attendance for this special milestone, particularly for those travelling from overseas.
I am sure you rekindled many memories and friendships over the days you spent together. I observed that there remains a strong bond within the class, not only amongst one another, but also for the university which you hold so dearly in your hearts. It was an honour to welcome you and your partners and to acknowledge the contribution that your stories have made to the rich legacy of this institution.
We spoke about the many resource challenges that higher education institutions face in this country and beyond. I was particularly encouraged by the expressions of interest in contributing to the wellbeing of this Faculty – offers to mentor our students and contribute time and experience to our teaching and learning activities are deeply appreciated and will always be considered. It struck me how this ethos of ‘paying it forward’ resonates with our values of promoting a culture of care and compassion in our teaching and learning. Our students can only benefit from having our alumni as role models and mentors. Please use this form to indicate the support you wish to give.
I appreciate your initiative to make a class contribution to SHAWCO to support the work of this much-loved UCT student health and welfare organisation - many of you would have fond memories of early community-based clinical experience under the guidance of qualified volunteering colleagues. For those who still wish to contribute, you can make payment via this link.
There are several more needs that require attention to ensure that the Faculty can continue its great legacy as one of the top health sciences institutions in Africa. I invite you to share any suggestions or initiatives that you believe would support this journey.
I look forward to hearing further from you and wish you all well, and a safe trip to those who are still travelling back home.
Kaise ke gangans
Associate Professor Lionel Green-Thompson
Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences
The late Prof. Stuart Saunders with Registrar Hugh Amoore
Registrar emeritus Hugh Amoore and Martin Jaffe
"Bosie" Bosenberg and "Flossie" Floyd
Martin Jaffe on left; Charlie Croft on right; In the background John Cowlin, head of Bosie, Alan Atherstone, Margie Stanford
Ian McCallum with Jack and Sue Goldblatt
Ann and Sam Moore
Gerhardt Serapins, John Cowlin, Walter Leventhal, Mary Ann Fitzcharles and Mike Madden
Leonie (Gordon) Leventhal with Sandi and Vince Duffy
Helen and Rob Dyer with Trevor Kaye
DAY 2: CLUVER VINEYARD
WELCOME SPEECH by Trevor Kaye:
I want to welcome you all to this beautiful Vineyard. We are here to taste some of the Cluver family's fine wines and to enjoy a delicious lunch together. I also want to thank John Cowlin for being so instrumental in putting this particular event together.
Thank you John. You were a pleasure to work with!
Friends, I stand before you today, to share with you, the truth that has been known for centuries: the healing power of wine. Wine is not just a beverage, it is a miracle elixer. It has the power to heal broken hearts, soothe frayed nerves, and make even the worst day a little bit better.
I know that we are in the Elgin valley, which is famous for its apples, but despite what they say about “an apple of day“, if you ask any wine connoisseur, they’ll tell you that a glass of wine a day can keep the doctor away. And let’s face it, who wants to see a doctor when you can have a glass of wine instead?
Wine also has the power to bring people together. It is the social lubricant that makes even the most introverted person come out of their shell. And let’s be real, what is a celebration without a bottle of wine?
So, my friends, raise your glasses and join me in toasting to the healing power of wine. May it bring happiness, health, and joy to our lives for many years to come. Cheers!
I now want to welcome any or all of you to say a few words about yourself, or share an anecdote or a joke. We will start with our class representative Bosie, who I have known since our SACS days in 1956.
Adrian "Bosie" Bosenberg
Gordon Lennox and Vic Gardiner
Rob Dyer (standing) and Erroll and Helen Simpson
Selig Leyser
Leonie Gordon
Sue Comay and Maurice Bloch
Flossie Floyd, Jack Goldblatt and Angus MacClennan
Jenny and Martin Jaffe
Vince Duffy, Chris Lewis and David Stern
Sue Comay, Margie (Anderson) Stanford, Linda (Meyerowitz) Kantor, Jenny (Hurley) Fraser, Ann (Hofmeyr) Moore, Louise (Berkowicz) Irving, Mary Ann (Fitzcharles) Serapins and Leonie (Gordon) Leventhal.
Trevor Kaye and Abbie Celniker
Robert and Charmaine Benfield
Joan and Peter Berning
Karen and Leonard Miller
Ian McCallum
Dave and Sally Gordon
Ann (Hofmeyr) and Sam Moore
Margie (Anderson) Stanford
Gordon and Louise (Berkowicz) Irving
Jenny (Hurley) Fraser
Beryl and Chris Winearls
Michael and Beth Nochomovitz
Alan and Rosemary Silbert and Linda (Meyerowitz) Kantor
Arlene and Alan Atherstone
"Bosie"
Shelly Furman with Beth and Michael Nochomovitz
Trevor Kaye
Walter Leventhal, Leonie Gordon, Selig Leyser and Michael Nochomovitz
Louise (Berkowicz) Irving, Saville Furman, John Cowlin and Abbie Celniker
Two grey beards: Martin Jaffe and John Cowlin
Martin and Jenny Jaffe and Ian McCallum
Chris and Pam Lewis
Pam and Chris Lewis with Karen and Gordon Lennox
Alex Moll, Chris Lewis, Dave Stern and Vince Duffy
DAY 3: moyo/KIRSTENBOSCH
Sally and David Gordon, Robert and Charmaine Benfield and Leonie Gordon
Martin and Jenny Jaffe, Mike du Toit and Mike Madden
Alan Silbert, David Stern and Chris Lewis
Gerhardt Serapins, Mary Ann Fitzcharles, Malcolm and Cherry Cunard.
On the right is Chris Winearls' brother
Mike du Toit, Mary Ann Fitzcharles and Mike Madden
Mike du Toit, Chris Winearls and Mike Madden
Pete Berning
Sandi and Vince Duffy
Dave and Jenny Stern
DAY 4: FAREWELL DINNER AT "ON THE ROCKS" IN BLOUBERGSTRAND
Trevor Kaye and Ian McCallum
Jenny (Hurley) Fraser, Louise (Berkowicz) Irving, Chris Winearls and Mike du Toit (in background) with Mike Madden (front right)
Martin Jaffe and Selig Leyser, with Floss Floyd in the background on the left
Martin Jaffe and Alan Atherstone
Trevor Kaye and Abbie Celniker
Martin Jaffe and Lance Michell
Ann (Hofmeyr) Moore, Charmaine and Robert Benfield
Ian McCallum delivering his thank you speech.
Walter Leventhal, Trevor Kaye and Rob Benfield visible to the right.
Mike Madden
Trevor Kaye, Chris Lewis and Abbie Celniker
