I was glad to read your article in the most recent PAW about John McPhee ’53, one of Princeton’s genuine treasures. It’s embarrassing to note that he is still spry at 93 while I am slowing to a crawl at a mere 89.
No, I never took one of Mr. McPhee’s writing courses, but I wish I had.
We have had numerous exchanges covering everything from athletics to academia, and he has always been accessible, responsive, and kind. I did challenge one statement he made concerning the acumen of Princeton’s three-time All-American and NCAA player of the year Bill Bradley ’65. Mr. McPhee thought that it was unusual, to the extent that anything might’ve been unusual with Bill Bradley, that he was able to demonstrate that a basket he was practicing that was one inch off the correct 10 feet height. I mentioned that any basketball junkie like myself would know when a basket is off to any extent. Like everything else John does, he accepted it with grace.
Over the years we have had several exchanges, and if anything stands out in all of them, it is his helpfulness and humility. Keep on keepin’ on, John.
I was glad to read your article in the most recent PAW about John McPhee ’53, one of Princeton’s genuine treasures. It’s embarrassing to note that he is still spry at 93 while I am slowing to a crawl at a mere 89.
No, I never took one of Mr. McPhee’s writing courses, but I wish I had.
We have had numerous exchanges covering everything from athletics to academia, and he has always been accessible, responsive, and kind. I did challenge one statement he made concerning the acumen of Princeton’s three-time All-American and NCAA player of the year Bill Bradley ’65. Mr. McPhee thought that it was unusual, to the extent that anything might’ve been unusual with Bill Bradley, that he was able to demonstrate that a basket he was practicing that was one inch off the correct 10 feet height. I mentioned that any basketball junkie like myself would know when a basket is off to any extent. Like everything else John does, he accepted it with grace.
Over the years we have had several exchanges, and if anything stands out in all of them, it is his helpfulness and humility. Keep on keepin’ on, John.