Letters to the Editor

What About Chet?

Chet Forte ’57 dribbles past Penn during the 1955–56 season.

COURTESY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

I enjoyed the “Roar, Lion, Roar” article “Memorable Moments in Lions Basketball” by Alex Sachare ’71 [Winter 2021–22], but I was surprised that the 1956–57 season was not included. Guard Chet Forte ’57 averaged 28.9 ppg, was first team All-America, UPI Player of the Year (beating out Wilt Chamberlain), first team All-Ivy and the Haggerty Award winner that season. His Columbia number, 40, is retired. He and Ted Dwyer ’57, PS’61 forged a scoring duo, coached by the beloved Lou Rossini, that our class will never forget.

Michael J. Messer ’59
Lafayette, Calif.


Omitting the life and times of Chet Forte ’57 from “Memorable Moments in Lions Basketball” is unforgivable! I was in high school when Forte played for Columbia and, largely due to him, the games were televised.

Matt Chamlin ’61, BUS’64
New York City


I enjoyed immensely the trip down basketball memory lane, courtesy of “Memorable Moments in Lions Basketball.” Reminiscent of the March 1968 victory over Princeton, another win of much more intensity occurred on January 18, 1964, in University Gym. The visiting Tigers, led by Bill Bradley, the best college basketball player I ever saw in person, never led the game. Despite Bradley’s 36 points, Lion defenders put the lid on the rest of the opponent’s players. Final score: Columbia 69, Princeton 66. Kudos to Coach Jack Rohan ’53 and that wonderful squad of hoopsters! Meanwhile, Jim Larson ’66 (ahem!) never made varsity but started one game on the Columbia frosh team in 1962–63. Fouled out early . . . scored 0 points.

Jim Larson ’66
Seaford, Del.

Art Hum Envy

As an irregular reader of Columbia College Today, I start but often don’t finish the articles. Please accept my praise for the last issue [Winter 2021–22]. It was a pleasure to read and see the artwork in the article referring to the Core Curriculum [“What’s New, Art Hum?”]. You managed to make me jealous of the new students, some of whom I am interviewing by phone through the Alumni Representative Committee for the Class of 2026.

The only bummer: I am forced to purchase Roosevelt Montás ’95, GSAS’04’s memoir, Rescuing Socrates: How the Great Books Changed My Life and Why They Matter for a New Generation, from Princeton University Press. OMG!

Keep up the good work and good reporting for our school.

Bob Gabel ’69
Little Silver, N.J.

Must-See (College!) TV

Thank you very much for the Amanda Peet ’94 cover story [“Twice the Talent,” Winter 2021–22]; it is always great to hear about prominent alumni. My wife, Randy Lara Sargent Lee NRS’82, and I loved the episodes of The Chair on Netflix! Thank goodness CCT provided us with the entertainment alert. Please keep up the good work. I always look forward to the latest issue.

William Lee ’79
Valhalla, N.Y.

Wondrous Columbia

I just finished reading the CC’52 Class Notes column in the Winter 2021–22 issue. Wow! It is 70 years since I left the Columbia University campus but I have not forgotten the many memories of friends both in class and at extracurricular activities. It was at least in the 1970s, when out of the Navy and working, that I fully realized the wondrous education I had received at Columbia College. Now, at 91, I know how privileged I was to attend the College and then P&S. From the 17-year- old with a beanie in 1948 to 2022, I have been blessed, and I am thankful for my years at Columbia. Roar, Lion, Roar!

Carl Meier ’52, PS’56
Fort Meyers, Fla.