On Associations and Renaming

Paul Firstenberg ’55 wrote in the September 2020 Inbox that he was disturbed at the name change of the Wilson School because he’s been proud of “the association with Wilson.”  To what association is he alluding?  One doesn’t associate with a dead man by coopting his name.  We in New York do not feel associated with the Duke of York — any Duke of York.  Eating a Baby Ruth candy bar will not deceive anybody into thinking you’re a better baseball player — no matter who it’s named after.  Even a Tesla car runs on direct current.  Instead of attempting to bask in another’s reputation for greatness it would be better to achieve some oneself — especially since, as we see, reputation reflects uncertainly.