Remembering Adam Gordon, again, and again
The Adam Gordon Freshman Poetry Prize and the Winning Poem-----Kurt Waldheim, Hamas, and Hamilton College Trustees' Retaliation (updated January 31, 2025 from August 2024)
Reading time: About 2 minutes (unless you read past the request for update, then add 12 minutes, but I read fast)
Dear Ms. Gederos and Dick:
I still have not received the poem that won the Adam Gordon Poetry Prize from the college, the Prize that I established in 1976 after my friend Adam's tragic death. I have many of the receding winners and also “thank you” notes from the winners that they also wrote to the Gordon family.
What is the status? What’s up, Dick?
If it will help, you can call me “Walter.”
A letter addressed to my alma mater’s “Communications and Development Office.” re: The Adam Gordon Freshman Poetry Prize:
Dear Ms Gederos and Dick:
With certainty, here are my thoughts for whoever you take direction from.
However, first, Julie, let me say I am "Mr. Kass, " because I have earned it and that is what my three sons' friends call me until they graduate to my nickname. Indeed, Ms. Gedaros, someone I have not met, especially an employee of our mutual ex-employer, the College's Development Office, whose executives have animosity toward the Kass Family, calls me Walter seems Trojanesque.
Having not heard from you for 72 hours, Ms. Gederos, I will assume your silence is my answer to my Friday email below, instead of a civil answer that will somehow offer a contrived rationale for your email below, which implies that all alumni equally do not receive winning entries, as I have for decades, having established an endowed writing Prize. Unlike in the past few decades, we are not offered a copy of the poem or essay. Correct?
However, in the last 72 hours, I have learned that the new policy is unequally applied. Remember, the Hill you work on, or the Hill that you may live on, is a postage stamp, and I refer not to just its size.
"No, I can't accept that right now, but let me know if something else comes up,” ought to be my best response if this poor choice persists from the Hill that your colleagues wish to live on. But, wrong Jew, here.
While both JD Vance and RFK Jr. only make me sad, I feel differently about your newest diminution of the four Kass boys' decades-long relationship with Hamilton College.
I always have believed Hanlon's Razor might be wrong some day, but I confess your email raises your colleagues' in C&D to a new level of malice if you, Dick Tantillo, and the Trustees of the College, seriously believe the founder of any Poetry Prize ought to be sequestered from the scholar/poet's winning poem as you state, on behalf of the Trustees of the College:
"Ms. Gedaros: Are you serious? "
(((Walter Kass))) H'78 P'16
M: 917.941.3400 (WhatsApp)
"Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire."
On Fri, Aug 23, 2024 at 9:53 AM Julie Gederos <jgederos@hamilton.edu> wrote:
Walter,
You are most welcome.
Unfortunately, the winning poem is not publically available to share. However, I have located last year's financial report for the fund. A new report will be prepared this fall. I will ensure it is emailed to you.
Best,
Julie
You misspelled “publically” which now, I publicly correct.
Most of all, I resent having to break my silence, in anticipation of our sons, daughters, and cousins entering into battle with Hezbollah, and now, probably their masters, to stoop down into the College's muck and dredge a canal to scratch the latest mosquito bite on my tiny mutant Jewish ass. I am sorry that your boss has adopted Hamas' tactic of hiding behind an innocent, as you are, but no one ought to be shocked. You should assume I view this weak move resembles an upstate version of what Hezbollah attempted; and, you should assume it is too little, and too late, as a way to counter the inevitable unmasking of your colleagues' history.
Needless to say I paused for Shabbat in order to fathom, and ponder, Hamilton College's new, and unique, approach to my concerns about antisemitism: canceling this Jewish Alum who founded a Poetry Prize in memory of Adam Gordon, his young Jewish friend who died tragically in the summer of 1976, while I was a summer employee of the college department you now work for, ostensibly helping Frank Lorenz edit the Alumni Review, because Frank really needed no help but Fred Wagner knew that I needed a way to eat while writing my first novel in his house.
At best, this redefines the word "sophomoric." Or, "little." However, no surprise.
Is this the College's best foot forward?
More correctly, is it your masters' idea? What stands out is that Trustee Emeritus Joe Anderson, a Hamilton legend, was my boss, and whoever instructed you not to share the name of the Gordon Poetry Prize with me would have been tossed out of a window by Joe Anderson, except for the fact, as I recall, that our office was in the Dunham freshman basement.
Is this a new policy, uniformly applied across all Writing Prizes? No.
Is it only on the Gordon Prize because of my position on the Kurt Waldheim honorary degree?
Or, is the timing a coincidence because of my position on the anti semitism issue at Hamilton before, and after October 7th?
Coincidences happen.
Is this the Hamilton (Hill) your colleagues (1) want to live on? Does Chair David Solomon even know of this stupidity? I hope not. Why would he bother?
I wonder if Anika Amann H'27, this year's outstanding Poet/Scholar, would care that you are not sharing her work with me? Would she share it with anyone?
It is ludicrous, and sophomoric, not sharing with me, and the Gordon Family, the winning poem of the Adam Gordon Poetry Prize that I established with Trustee Emeritus, and College VP, Joe Anderson's assistance in 1976.
Joe even contributed because he was my boss for that horrible summer when Adam died tragically. As the person who founded the Prize, I used to quietly, and anonymously, for decades, receive the winning poem every year. I have kept all the copies of the past winners and, indeed, used to receive unneeded "thank you" notes from the winner(s). Ben Madonia and I even agreed, in writing, to modify the Prize to allow for two winners. As the person to establish the Prize, Ben sought my written approval as to its terms' modification. Before his retirement, Ben did not notify me of any further changes.
Joe Anderson was a mensch. You can model mensch. Joe just was. It is too bad he is not alive.
I am sorry that Mr.Tantillo, who I can see that you have communicated with, and President Tepper, who has not knowingly participated, have cowered behind you in order to escalate our discord to the public, or establish deniability, a discussion in which, unlike others, I have been temperate. I will ask that you extricate yourself from this silliness because you are obviously a very kind person and I appreciate your unfortunate position. Thank you for the attached Financial Summary which discloses that the College awards about $3,600 to a Freshman poet annually, or to two winners, as I agreed to with Ben Madonia.
Adam would smile at that award, and would roll his eyes at me. I am glad to have had an opportunity to encourage poetry writing, and this year's outstanding winner, Anika Amann H'27, a Chemistry major, who has not even taken a creative writing class at Hamilton. I attach her comments that you sent me, but you are not permitting me to read her poem? I would like to hear her voice.
When Adam died tragically during that Summer I stayed at Hamilton, I was caretaking English Chair Fred Wagner's house while writing my first novel. I did not meet Prof. Wagner's standards for tidiness, but I was a writer, writing. And, I know he liked the output.
That summer I worked for your department, Communications and Development, then run by Joe Anderson. Joe Anderson was my boss, and then, a friend to me. And Joe, and his successors, including Ben Madonia, sent me, and the Gordon Family, the winning poem every year, when I chose to be anonymous. My name, and my role in establishing the Prize, has been public since a year before Ethan Kass applied to Hamilton, and Ethan was admitted to the College in 2009. Jed Kass graduated from Hamilton in 2016. The Kass Family is embedded, some might say besotted, with Hamilton College. And, I know my late father would have loved to have attended, because he told me so. That affection was not a two way street as Dick and former President Joan Hinde Stewart know.
Even my classmates, and my fraternity brothers who most all disagree with me, and even the very many of them who do not like me, remember my affection for Adam, and the trauma triggered by his sudden death. Only one fraternity brother knows that Adam's death was only a short time after I lost two dozen buddies in the Yom Kippur War. I had briefly attended Hebrew University, with Israelis, in the summer of 1973, earning multiple college credits that are on my Hamilton transcript, and I had returned to Israel in 1975, with my father, who had insisted that I make bereavement visits to the parents of the fallen. He went with me to their homes while my mother went--shopping.
Adam loved poetry. I love poetry; and, I have made poor attempts to write poems, as Philippe du Col, here on Philippeducol.substack.com:
A few poems, that my "classmate" poet, and Red Weather founder, Jo Pitkin K'78, might laugh at, might even be published.
My memory may be incorrect, but I recall that Trustee Rob Morris and I were on the Publications Board that approved Jo's proposal to start Red Weather. My lifetime preoccupation with poets is not in question. Neither is my lifetime feeling of loss.
"Je crois que l'on sent la poésie comme la musique, comme l'amour, ou comme l'amitié, ou toutes les choses du monde.
L'explication vient après". ---Jorge Luis Borges, né le 24 août 1899
("I believe that one feels poetry like music, like love, or like friendship, or all the things in the world.
The explanation comes later")
Adam would have disdained your choices. Or, maybe he would have smiled knowingly. Did you know that Adam was a graduate of a Christian Brothers high school and, like me, he too saddled two worlds?
I am grateful for the opportunity you have afforded me to educate you; and, I remind you that you speak for the Trustees of the College, listed below, who are the addressees of my Essays on Waldheim and Ezra Pound's antisemitism, and also the palpable antisemitism in the College's pre-October 7th policy, and its limp reaction to that "Black Sabbath"
Your revised "policy" has redefined "doubling down, " which is something Joe Anderson knew, and my three sons know, not to do with me. Or, even place a bet.
Julie, again, thank you for your kindness.
My hope for civility remains invincible, because I remember well when Joseph Anderson said to me, not with that Cheshire grin, in the library of the University Club: "I am sorry;" when he took personal responsibility for a breach of confidence.
That is מענטש, "mensch"-adik which, those who are not, cannot comprehend because they never learned it at home.
Please restore civility and send me Annika's poem by this coming Shabbat because "Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire;" and, "I am not going anywhere but I gotta get going."
Or, please accept and expect a lack of civility.
Be assured that this feckless, despicable action I would expect of a mean high school girl (not you) that shames the name Alexander Hamilton, will not rob me of my fond memory of my friend Adam Gordon, nor erase our shared fondness for good poets, which helps guide my choice of reading and also my life companions. Nor will it deter my narcissistic attempt to be one. Your office's sudden shift in policy points firmly to the north star for this harebrained notion, who likely has his foreskin intact and may be suffering from issues associated with his parents' microphallic choice.
If the objective of your office is to establish greater distance with your Jewish alumni and Jewish high school prospects then you have already achieved then stay your course. From now on, until the last of the Nova survivors exit the scene in 80 years, many of us will inform the others where our sons and daughters will feel safe. Clinton, New York will not be in the upper quadrant.
Over my last five decades, I have learned two core lessons:
we cannot control who we lose. And we cannot spare ourselves the pain of it. I hope you, and none of your masters ever learn this the way I did, and will continue to do, as a Jew with my DNA embedded in the Homeland, and on your tiny Hill.
Second: I will give up when my mule foals.
Shavua tov (have a good week),
(((Walter Kass))) H'78 P'16 WG'86
"Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire."
"Tâchez de garder toujours un morceau de ciel au-dessus de votre vie"
""I am not going anywhere but I gotta get going."
Tuchus oyfn tish:Put your ass on the Table
("TOOK-us OY-f'n tish": College Trustees at four Colleges(1) on Kurt Waldheim Honorary Degrees remain in hiding)
or in this one?
Blue & White lights on my College Chapel; Kurt Waldheim, the Grand Mufti, the Farhud, Hamas and amends.
Hamilton College Chapel, au crépuscule, crédit: Hamilton College.
On Fri, Aug 23, 2024 at 9:53 AM Julie Gederos <jgederos@hamilton.edu> wrote:
Walter,
You are most welcome.
Unfortunately, the winning poem is not public[ally] available to share. However, I have located last year's financial report for the fund. A new report will be prepared this fall. I will ensure it is emailed to you.
Best,
Julie
On Thu, Aug 22, 2024 at 4:34 PM curators52 <curators52@gmail.com> wrote:
Ms Gederos:
If it is not too much trouble, please also send me the Updated accounting of the Prize's Book and Market Value.
The last account I received was in 2021 which is attached. I apologize in advance for the dormant finance woink in me.
Cordially,
(((Walter Kass))) H'78 P'16 WG'86
"Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire."
"Tâchez de garder toujours un morceau de ciel au-dessus de votre vie"
""I am not going anywhere but I gotta get going."
On Thu, Aug 22, 2024 at 4:02 PM curators52 <curators52@gmail.com> wrote:
Ms. Gederos:
Thank you for the information. I greatly enjoyed the interview. What a nice presentation!
Kindly send me the winning poem.
(((Walter Kass))) H'78 P'16
"Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire."
"Tâchez de garder toujours un morceau de ciel au-dessus de votre vie"
""I am not going anywhere but I gotta get going."
On Thu, Aug 22, 2024 at 3:36 PM Julie Gederos <jgederos@hamilton.edu> wrote:
Walter,
Attached is an update regarding The Adam Gordon Poetry Prize.
Kindly,
Julie
On Wed, Jan 24, 2024 at 1:36 PM curators52 <curators52@gmail.com> wrote:
Thank you for letting me know. I have no questions. I am completely in your hands.
(((Walter Kass))) H'78 P'16
"Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire."
"Tâchez de garder toujours un morceau de ciel au-dessus de votre vie"
On Wed, Jan 24, 2024 at 1:28 PM Julie Gederos <jgederos@hamilton.edu> wrote:
Walter,
Leslie Rioux no longer works for Hamilton College. Feel free to reach out to me regarding any questions you may have pertaining to the Adam Gordon Poetry Prize.
Kindly,
Julie
--
Julie Gederos
Sr. Associate Director, Advancement Promotion Strategy
Office of Advancement
Hamilton College
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323
(315) 859-4691
--
Julie Gederos
Sr. Associate Director, Advancement Promotion Strategy
Office of Advancement
Hamilton College
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323
(315) 859-4691
--
Julie Gederos
Sr. Associate Director, Advancement Promotion Strategy
Office of Advancement
Hamilton College
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323
(315) 859-4691
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: curators52 <curators52@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 6:28 PM
Subject: Hamilton College Trustees: Tuchus oyfn tish: Put your ass on the Table &
To:
Tuchus oyfn tish:Put your ass on the Table
("TOOK-us OY-f'n tish": College Trustees at four Colleges(1) on Kurt Waldheim Honorary Degrees remain in hiding)
(((Walter Kass))) H'78 P'16
Philippe du Col © 2025
Nota Bene:
1. Hamilton College Trustees:
David M.Solomon, Chair, New York, NY
Robert V. Delaney, Jr, Vice Chair, Summit NJ
Linda E.Johnson, Vice Chair, New York, NY
Eugenie Havemweyer, New York, NY
Donald R.Osborn Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Gerald V. Dirvin, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Christina E.Carroll, San Francisco, CA
Kevin W. Kennedy, Gulf Stream, FL
Charles O. Svenson, New York, NY
Susan Valentine, Santa Fe, NM
Lee C.Garcia, Scottsdale, AZ
Nancy Seeley, Naples, FL
Chester A.Siuda, Santa Fe, NM
Howard J.Schneider, MD, Palm Beach, FL
Thomas J. Schwarz, Lambertville,NJ
Mary Burke Partridge, Basking Ridge, NJ
A. Barrett Seaman, Tarrytown, NY
A.G. Laffey, Sarasota, FL
Arthur Massolo, Hollywood, FL
Joel W. Johnson, Scottsdale, AZ
Henry Bedford, London, England
Sean K. Fitzpatrick, Williamsburg, VA
David W.Blood, Vero Beach, FL
John G. Rice, Atlanta, GA
Thomas J. Tull, Pittsburgh, PA
George F. Little II, New York, NY
Jack Withiam, Jr., Greenwich, CT
Brian T. Bristol, Vineyard Haven, MA
Susan E.Skerritt, Brooklyn, NY
Stephen Sadove, New York, NY
Sri Zaheer, PhD, Minneapolis, MN
Harold Bogle, Bronxville, NY
Amy Owns Goodfriend, Greenwich, CT
Richard Bernstein, New York, NY
Robert S. Morris, Riverside, CT
Ronald R. Pressman, Portsmouth, NH
Gregory T. Hoogkamp, New York, NY
Alexander C. Sacerdote, Brookline, MA
R. Christopher Regan, Katonah, NY
Nancy Roob, Sag Harbor, NY
Julia K. Cowles, Portola Valley, CA
Aron J.Ain, Naples, FL
Lee Haber Kuck,New York, NY
David J. Wippman, Clinton, NY
Daniel T. Nye, San Francisco, CA
Philip L. Hawkins, Evergreen, CO
Jack Selby, Teton Village, WY
David Hess, Simsbury, CT
Imad Qasim, Chicago, IL
Carol Friscia, New York, NY
Montgomery G.Pooley, Bedford, NH
Christopher P. Marshall, Bellevue ID
Mason Ashe, Vineyard Haven, MA
Peter Coffin, Chestnut Hill, MA
Sharon D.Madison, New York, NY
Daniel Fielding, New York, NY
Mark T. Fedorcik, New York, NY