1888
Additional facts received concerning LeonViau '88 should be recorded. He married Naomi Williams of Paterson, N. J., August 4, 1898. She died in 1917. Leon died at Hope Dell Sanitorium, Preakness, N. J., and is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery. Surviving is one sister, Emma Viau, of West Brighton, Staten Island.
It was evident, when plans were presented to the surviving members of the Class of '88, that time and the vicissitudes of health had not been as lenient with our men as with our contemporaries. Out of the sixty-four students, who survived the heated exercises in the Old White Church in June 1888, clutched their genuine sheepskins and went out of the window into the street, waving the coveted parchment and yelling, "Four years for this!"—seven are now living. They are Avery in Connecticut, Clark and Keay in New Hampshire, Ela,Lougee and Williams in Massachusetts, and Paul, the only non-graduate, in Minnesota. Paul was a loss to the Class when he left at the end of freshman year, and seized opportunities in St. Paul that his ability developed to merited success in these six decades. To these seven men, letters were sent concerning plans for a sixtieth reunion, but the responses were discouraging. What could be done without our President Pattee, the enlivening soul of all reunions? He had just had his eightyfifth birthday but could not come north this summer, nor could Dunlap make the trip from St. Petersburg. Rooms at Hanover Inn were reserved for a time, but were finally handed over to 'B9 who plan to meet yearly.
Finally Wendell Williams invited the New Hampshire and Massachusetts men to be his dinner guests at Exeter Inn, Exeter, N. H. (which is the home town of Rev. John LewClark) for Friday evening, Apr. 16. Keay, Clark and Williams, who brought along your secretary, made the party. To the regret of all, DickEla could not come from his home in West Townsend, Mass. When on the scene of action it was learned that Mrs. Clark had recovered her health and could also attend the dinner; she was included as well as the daughter, Miss Helen Clark and her house guest, Miss Ruth Sparks of Arlington, Mass. Another most welcome guest was Daniel W. Hardy, a student of Exeter '48, and grandson of our George F.Hardy '88, who died Oct. 8, 1947. Daniel had previously photographed the four old grads 1 John Lew s lawn. A certain tree was agreed upon by the ladies for a background, and the big four were carefully inspected for any substandards of dress or evidences of deterioration. Long years of experience by Mrs. Clark in enforcing that perfection "the cloth" should attain in the pulpit, made her and the other ladies put on their glasses to examine a lawyer and two doctors, representing professions that are notoriously bad dressers. The result was that '88 got the green light , with no evidences of senility except a few wrinkles and a battered old cane.
At 6:30 the dinner was served in a most attractive, special dining room at the Inn. Nothing was lacking in viands or service, as Williams, who is a noted bon vivant, had attended to everything. The table was decorated with beautiful roses, the surprise gift of Mrs. Williams. After the dinner we adjourned to the home of John Lew nearby, where the film made in 1938 of the fiftieth reunion of the Class was shown. Seventeen men were at Hanover and walked before the camera at that reunion, which was voted one of the best of the eleven reunions held to that date. Ten of that number have passed on and are now treasured in memories. Another film put on the screen showed Gove, Lougee, Mrs. Gove and Mrs. Lougee in California in 1936.
After good-nights were said, Keay headed for home in Rochester, twenty-eight miles distant. In College he was given the honor of being the best all-round athlete. At this date he still holds the honor, and even now is Medical Examiner for Strafford County, N. H., and attends to medical practice daily. This delightful evening, for which we are grateful to Wendell Williams, will doubtless end the cycle of '88 as an organization. It was agreed that no reunion could be attempted at Hanover in June.
Secretary, 135 Summer St., Maiden, Mass. Class Agent, 32 Chaflin St., Milford, Mass.
