An Evening With the Wabash Club of Chicago
Thursday, December 4, 2025
The Wabash Club of Chicago holiday gathering turned out to be one of the most quietly remarkable evenings I’ve experienced in some time. The warmth of the room, the easy conversation among generations of alumni, and the small surprises that come with gatherings like this all made it worth writing about—and photographing.
I brought back 24 images from the evening, each one a small window into what makes Wabash men such a durable and fascinating tribe. You’ll see them throughout this post.
The heart of the night were the alumni.
The People of the Evening
My Own Vintage
One of the highlights was meeting Richard Rose, Wabash Class of 1954. Yes—older than I am, which is saying something these days. Richard’s life story is astonishing, humbling, and inspiring. His career as a US Army German linguist, financial advisor rising to the position of First Vice President of a major investment firm, television and radio stock market announcer and reporter, and screen and fiction writer is a testament to the power of a classical liberal-arts education. His personal website is worth your time:
➡️ Richard Rose, Author: Website
He enjoys his semi-retirement with his wife Kay and cat Scooter.
Richard Rose, Wabash Class of 1954
I even ran into a member of my own class, '66. John Flanagan and his wife attended.
John Flannagan class of 1966
Looking to the Future
Several men were identified as parents of current undergraduates, whose sons belong to classes not yet graduated. The Classes of 2028 and 2029 lie just ahead, and in due course, they too will experience the satisfaction of watching their sons receive the baccalaureate on the Wabash Mall at Commencement.
Parents of future Wabash Alumni.
Here's my own photo, from 1966. Theirs will probably be similar, except in blazing digital color.
The author receiving his degree from Acting President Warren "Butch" Shearer in 1966.
Advancement and Development
No alumni gathering would be complete without the presence of Advancement and Development. Here are a couple of faces and names that are probably well-known by many alumni.
Steve Hoffman, '85 and Joe Pieters, '89 along with alumnus Ben Berringer, '87
Spanning Generations
The event attracted its share of younger alums, some of whom I know from prior contacts but most of whom were strangers to me, having attended Wabash following my own tenure. Here's a sample.
The Main Attraction
Besides enjoying the fellowship of the evening and reconnecting with old classmates and friends, attendance was given the added attraction of a presentation by Wabash President, Scott Feller. The room grew silent as Feller was introduced, then following his remarks with rapt attention. Wabash men care about the institution, and are eager to learn about current campus activity and student involvement.
Wabash President Scott Feller addresses the gathering but also spent time in individual conversation as shown here with alumnus Michael Zubeck, '21.
Photographer's Notes
Accessing the Photos
The entire set of 24 photos I took can be accessed at the following link:
Open the folder 2025-12-04 Chicago Club Xmas. It contains three subfolders. Each of the subfolders contains the same photos, with only the size differing. Choose the folder that suits your requirements.
All photos are free for viewing, downloading, sharing or other purposes, by Wabash College, Wabash alumni, family and friends. If you have special requirements, such as RAW files, or formats not at the download site, feel free to contact me at
Telling a Visual Story
The evening had its own character—warm lighting, close conversation, a sense of tradition mixed with anticipation for the year ahead.
Shooting with just a fast zoom and an external flash allowed me to stay fast, unobtrusive, and connected to the scene.
I hope the photos reflect that ambiance and camaraderie that make Wabash such a unique and valuable experience in the lives of its alumni. These aren’t staged portraits or technical demonstrations—they’re moments. Fleeting, genuine, meaningful
From the Hills of Maine to the Western Plain, Wabash is unique in its approach and outcomes for her students.
A Minimalist Kit—That Didn’t Feel Minimal
This outing was something of a field test for a simplified version of my usual photography kit. I brought only:
- Nikon Z-7
- Nikor 28–75mm f/2.8 (my everyday, go-to glass)
- External flash mounted to the hot shoe
- SmallRig cage and handle for secure, stable shooting
- My small camera backpack which had space for a few small items like extra SD cards, spare batteries, etc.
No camera strap.
No heavy bag.
No lighting stands.
No gear sprawl.
And you know what? It was more than enough.
The Z-7’s famous low-light sensitivity meant the flash became almost invisible—an ultra-short pop that illuminated without intruding or flattening the scene. Battery life was excellent; instead of replacing batteries as a matter of routine, it became something I simply kept in mind. The SmallRig cage and handle made the camera feel secure, balanced, and fast to operate. For events like this, that alone changes the entire experience.
This is the lightest I’ve traveled for an event in some time, but at no point did I feel under-equipped.
Sometimes the stripped-down kit yields the richest results. This event reminded me that the real skill lies not in lugging every piece of equipment you own, but in knowing what you don’t need—and then paying attention to the people in front of you.
A Note on Sound—Future Options
I could have turned the Z-7 into a great video camera at the flick of a switch, and added a Rode transmitter and receiver to the rig thereby turning it into a fast and portable video camera. There was plenty of room in the back pack for these small items, and the entire audio rig would have barely increased the weight. With the handheld converter, the Rode transmitter becomes a “man-on-the-street” mic.
But sound and motion wasn’t part of my plan for this evening, and using it requires one extra person plus a bit more setup. For now, that remains an option for future events where interviews or ambient audio might be a storytelling essential.
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