Alumni continue friendship across two continents
It looks like a typical tourist photo – four smiling faces in front of the Emperor’s Palace in Tokyo. But, there is much more tell about these fathers and sons – a story of a friendship across two cultures born at a small private college in East Tennessee.
Nobuyuki “Nobi” Makabe ’93 and Ben Kalny ’90 met as students at Tusculum College and became friends. After leaving Tusculum, the two stayed in touch and remained close friends although living on different continents. Ben and Nobi were even in each other’s weddings – Ben’s in Kansas City and Nobi’s in Yokohama.
Eli Kalny, left, and Keita Makabe enjoy time together at the Emperor's Palace.
Over the years, both Ben and Nobi have been able to visit each other. Ben recently visited Japan for the fourth time, and Nobi has been back to the United States multiple times over the years.
In a trip last summer, Nobi visited Ben with his son Keita, who is close in age to one of Ben’s sons, Eli. Keita and Eli became friends during the visit.
“Nobi and I recognize the value of experiencing other cultures through our friendships and we want the same for our children,” Ben says. “We see tremendous value in having our sons grow their friendship.”
Eli was able to travel with Ben recently to stay a week in Japan to visit Keita and experience Japanese culture and daily life. Ben says that Eli enjoyed very much his visit and their focus was more on life in everyday Japan and less on tourist-type outings. Some of the highlights for them were visiting Keita’s school and going to “real ramen” shops in Yokohama, which feature something much different than the instant version of ramen popular in the U.S.
While Ben’s and Nobi’s friendship has remained strong over the years and distance, they also want to help their children form similar friendships and already planning their next visit.
’30s
Ralph Johnston ’39 of Greeneville, TN, celebrated his 100th birthday on October 11. A feature about Johnston appeared recently in The Greeneville Sun. It highlighted his long career in the hyrdroelectric energy. After earning a degree in mathematics from Tusculum, Johnston went to work as a generator operator at the Nolichucky Hydroelectric Plant in Greene County for the East Tennessee Light & Power Company. From the Nolichucky plant, Johnston went to Johnson City to work at the Watauga steam plant. From there, he worked at the Kentucky Dam for two years and then returned to East Tennessee to work at the Watauga Hyrdroelectric Plant. He eventually was promoted to serve as superintendent over six hydroelectric plants for the Tennessee Valley Authority. It also told about his love of travel and his visiting 36 foreign countries.
’10s
J.C. Drewery ’15 is now a field engineer at Utilis Engineering, P.A. in Charlotte, N.C.
Samantha Eldridge ’16 has taken the position of Visitor Services Coordinator at the Morton Museum of Collierville History.
Judith “Jena” G. Breckendridge ’08 and Timothy J Smith were married on September 3, 2016, in Greeneville, TN. Members of the Tusculum College Jazz Band played favorites of the bride and groom for an hour prior to the ceremony. Following a honeymoon to the Bahamas, the couple is living in Montgomery, AL. Jena is a self-employed, registered diagnostic medical sonographer.
Brad E. Cox ’11 and Hannah Hsu were married July 31, 2016, in Zhong Li City, Taiwan. Best man was his brother James Cox ’13. Brad is a kindergarten teacher at Frontier International Preschool in Zhong Li City.
Ann Harold Jones ’51 of Morristown, TN, passed away July 12, 2016. Mrs. Jones taught in the Morristown School System and finished her career as a typing and accounting instructor at Morristown Vocational Technical School. She also served as bookkeeper for the school. Mrs. Jones was a member of First United Methodist Church of Morristown. She was an avid bridge player and was an active member of the Ladies Reading Circle.
Kyle Dwight Morrell ’56 of Greeneville, TN, passed away October 5, 2016, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Mr. Morrell was a career educator who also positively impacted many young lives through coaching various athletic teams over the years. He began his teaching and coaching career at Mosheim High School in 1956 before moving to the newly opened West Greene High School in 1966. At West Greene, Mr. Morrell coached girls’ basketball, girls’ and boys’ cross-country, and started the track program in which the 1972 and 1973 girls’ track team won the state championship. In 1975, he made a move to Morristown West High School, where he continued coaching track and cross country, as well as girls’ basketball after 1985. Over the course of his career, his basketball teams amassed more than 550 victories. After his retirement in 1992, Mr. Morrell was a volunteer assistant for the Glenwood Elementary varsity basketball teams, the Greeneville High cross-country team and the West Greene girls’ basketball and track teams. He led numerous track and cross-country teams to conference and regional championships, and many of his track and cross-country athletes were also individual state champions Mr. Morrell was named TSAA Regional Track Coach of the Year on several occasions; the track at West Greene was named in his honor; and he was inducted into the Morristown West Hall of Fame. He was a faithful member of Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church for more than 60 years, where he enjoyed singing in the choir and serving as an ordained elder and Sunday school leader. Mr. Morrell was also a longtime member of the Glenwood Ruritan Club and was the recipient of the club’s Community Jewel Award. For most of his life, he was an avid quail hunter. Mr. Morrell also enjoyed spending time with his family at their cabin at Paint Creek and raising beef cattle on his farm. His survivors include sons and Tusculum alumni John Morrell ’93 and Bart Morrell ’94.
Rev. Gary H. Meier ’62 of Lancaster, PA, passed away on October 13, 2016. He and his wife Muriel (Hunter) ’65 had celebrated their 50th anniversary in July. Rev. Meier served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years. After graduating from Tusculum, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Rev. Meier ministered at Otisco Presbyterian Church in Otisco, NY, for six years and then served Leacock Presbyterian Church of Paradise, PA, for 34 years, retiring in 2005. He was a member of Donegal Presbytery, having served as Chair of the Mission and Camp and Conference Committees and Presbytery Council. Rev. Meier served as Vice Moderator and Moderator of Donegal Presbytery and was attending the First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster. He loved all of God’s creation, gardening and summer vacations in Ocean City, NJ. Most of all he loved his God, his church, and his family.
Barbara Marcella Fox ’66 of Greeneville, TN, passed away September 23, 2016. Mrs. Fox was retired from Weavexx and sold Mary Kay products for 28 years. Her passion was gardening, caring for her flowers and nature. Mrs. Fox attended Burnett’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and served as secretary for several years. She had been among the members of the Class of 1966 who celebrated their 50th reunion in May on campus, participating in a variety of Golden Pioneer activities.
Martha Ann Harrison Snelson ’73 of Bulls Gap, TN, passed away on October 18, 2016, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Mrs. Snelson was a career educator, having taught at Bulls Gap School for 34 years. Her passions in life were her family and teaching. It was of the utmost importance to her to help each of her students succeed. Mrs. Snelson served for a number of years as president of the Tennessee Education Association, working to ensure teachers’ rights and for better salaries for educators. Politics were also a big part of her life. She was a long-time strong southern Democrat. Mrs. Snelson served several terms on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Bulls Gap to help make her town a better place. Another passion in her life was following and cheering on the University of Tennessee athletic teams, along with the Boston Celtics, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Braves. She was a member of Bulls Gap First United Methodist Church and the Rebekah and Ruth Women’s Circles. Mrs. Snelson was also a member of the Bulls Gap Lions Club, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Bulls Gap Railroad Museum.