Dear Class of 1959,
This will be our COVID-19 class agent letter for 2020. We hope you are safely sheltering in place and finding interesting things to do as you watch the confluence of medicine, public health, economics and politics play out in America.
Corona virus infection rates are reported in the press to be above average for the 61 plus age group and nobody even mentions rates for our 82+ age group.
In a recent class letter, Dr. John Helgeland '62 quoted a 1527 letter written by Martin Luther- “Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague”- as the Black Death passed through his home town of Wittenberg. The following quote from Martin Luther is definitely timeless. “I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to be contaminated and thus per chance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.”
You might find the book
Deadliest Enemy, Our War Against Killer Germs
by Luther graduate, Michael Osterholm '75 to be interesting. Michael is a Regents professor at the University of Minnesota and currently serves on the Luther Board of Regents. He correctly predicted an upcoming world pandemic in this 2017 book.
For updated information about Luther's response to the pandemic, visit
luther.edu
.
These are times of exceptional challenges for Luther in the areas of enrollment and finance. We hope you will consider a gift to the college in 2020.
Almost 30 classmates returned for our 60-year class reunion last October. Fran Odden welcomed us with very special words and our 1959 class president, Ron Calgaard, inspired us with his words of wisdom for classmates. We are sad to report that Ron passed away on Good Friday. We extend our sympathy to Ron’s family and to the families of all our beloved classmates listed below.
Your class agents are working on what to do and how to communicate with classmates after our 60-year reunion. Will you share an email address with
walterrugland@gmail.com
or
dj1218roslien@yahoo.com
. We have a number of questions for you. Your answers will help us serve you better.
#1. Is it OK if we communicated to you by email rather than US mail?
#2 Do you have offspring who need to know about Luther—Grand Kids or Great Grand kids or other?
#3. Are you a viable prospect for additional giving to Luther annually or with a bequest?
#4. Have you looked at Luther’s website for campus news and/or sports results?
#5/ Can we help you get in touch with your old Luther connections?
#6. Do you have more to say? If so, say it in your email.
Hunker down and stay well until times return to the new normal.
