1895

I recently received a letter from Willard G. Aborn '93. He and Mrs. Aborn have been wintering in St. Petersburg, Fla. In the letter he enclosed a clipping from the St. PetersburgTimes which I quote in full herein. It has keen interest for us '95 survivors.

RETIRED DOCTOR NEVER FORGOT WEATHER OFAREA; BUYS BAHAMA SHORES HOME

St. Petersburg looked like a frontier town when Dr. H. Sheridan Baketel first saw it in 1905. Arriving in Tampa by boat from Cuba, he found he had several days to spare and came across the Bay to have a look at the Sunshine City. He put up at the Detroit Hotel.

'I don't remember much about the town, but I never forgot the weather," says the doctor. Now retired after 43 years of specializing in urology, he and Mrs. Baketel have finally settled down to enjoy their winters in the home they bought in Bahama Shores in 1949.

Dr. Baketel has had a rich and varied career. For many years he combined his practice with teaching preventive medicine at the College of Medicine, State University of New York, Brooklyn, where he is professor emeritus.

He gave the first lecture course on medical economics ever given in a medical school, and is still editor-in-chief of Medical Economics, a publication dealing with the business end of medicine. He is former national trustee and vice-president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, a retired colonel in the Army Medical Corps, a Life Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the World Medical Organization, as well as a member of the New York Academy of Medicine, the American Medical Association and other medical organizations.

At Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in 1895, he paid his way by doing newspaper work for the Boston Globe and Manchester Union, and later became an editor for the Associated Press in New York for several years.

With all of this, Dr. Baketel has found time to make ten trips to Europe, the first one as surgeon on a British White Star Liner.

Born in Hopedale, 0., the son of a Methodist minister, he grew up in New Hampshire where his father, as presiding elder, had charge of about 50 churches. He attended high school in Portsmouth, took his preparatory work at Phillips-Exeter Academy, and post-graduate work at Harvard University.

Early practice in a small town failed to suit his ambitions, so he moved on to New York for his job with the AP. He also bought a medical journal and published it. As soon as he could take the state board examinations, he began practicing medicine in New York.

In 1912 he was commissioned a first lieutenant in the newly-organized Medical Reserve Corps, and in 1915 was made professor of preventative medicine at what was then the Long Island College of Medicine. In 1916, ordered to active duty, he was assigned to New York's medical supply depot, from which supplies were sent all over the country.

Here he was assistant to the commandant, in charge of enlisting personnel. He became a major in 1917; a colonel in 1924. He is now one of the oldest members of Washington's Army and Navy Club, with a 40-year old membership.

The idea for Medical Economics came to him when he discovered that many members of his classes lacked business experience. In 1915 he began lectures on the economics of medicine and in 1923 incorporated the subject into a pocket-sized magazine. The publication now has 130,000 circulation and goes to every doctor in general practice in the U. S.

In 1915, also, Dr. Baketel married Corinne Sellers of Philadelphia who had studied art in Paris, and subsequently they often vacationed abroad. They began coming to Florida winters after their tenth trip to Europe in 1931. They tried the East Coast once or twice, but found they preferred the West Coast's climate. Before buying a home, they spent four seasons in Pass-a-Grille and one in Clearwater.

The Baketels spend their summers at St. Davids, near Philadelphia, where they also have a home. Their son, H. Sheridan Baketel Jr., is general manager of the Union Central Life Insurance Company in Philadelphia. They have a grand-daughter living in Devon, and three great-grandchildren."

The following is a letter from Classmate Dr. A. D. West, dated January 14, 1953.

"Most Honorable Sir: "I have considered shooting Stalin, running off with an heiress, hitch-hiking a ride on an airplane as stowaway - anything to get my name and face into Life and now you have gone and done it! Does not your action border on treason? I want to come back to Vermont and find it intact.

"We are getting along with complaints that due to age do not get better as they used to but office hours are still observed often without much use except to read and work crosswords, etc. We go to the bimonthly games at contract at the Elks and Margaret goes to her clubs, guilds, etc.

"We are looking forward to our 24th trip East in June. Keep well and don't forget your old chum."

Secretary, White River Junction, Vt. Treasurer, Eagle Hotel, Concord, N. H.