1938
These notes should appear just in time to speed you on your way to Hanover and the Fifteenth Reunion. If you have not already planned on making the trek, there is still time, and we shall all be looking forward to seeing you on the 19th.
Although the main purpose of the get-together is social, there remains some business to be transacted at the Class Meeting; every five years, the Class as a whole must make its decisions for its Executive Committee and Secretary for the ensuing period before the next reunion. The agenda for this year includes, besides the election of officers: plans for the Memorial Fund, investment of funds for the same, the possibility of off-year reunions in the future, and such other business as members of the Class-at-large may desire to bring before the meeting. If you are unable to attend reunion and yet desire to express some ideas on these or other subjects, just drop me a line before that date, and I shall be glad to present your views to the meeting. It is somewhat unfair, but only practical, that discussion be limited to those present except for such written suggestions as may come in from non-attenders.
Among the promotions announced recently by the Aetna Life Insurance Co. was our old compatriot Carl von Pechmann, moved up now to the position of assistant secretary, marine department, Automobile. He joined Aetna in 1938, and, after special agency work in the field, was brought to the home office and became superintendent of the Eastern marine department in 1950.
Still moving in the business, or non-cultural, world, Royce Randlett has joined the staff of Draper, Sears Co., in the investment office. After working for Pennsylvania-Dixie Portland Cement Corp. for about two years, Royce joined the U. S. Naval Reserve in 1941 and served almost four years on sea and foreign duty in the North and South Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the South-Western Pacific. Although now inactive, in the Reserve, Randlett was recently promoted to Lt. Commander.
After the war Randlett. with another man, formed the Wakefield Ready-Mixed Concrete Co. and commenced production in Wakefield, Mass; Royce was President, Director and Sales Manager of the firm in addition to having charge of construction and operation of their Limestone, Me., plant, which has supplied a large share of the concrete on the huge intercontinental jet bomber base in Northern Aroostook County.
The New Hampshire political pot continues to boil, as Atty. John R. McLane Jr. was chosen recently to act as temporary chairman of the board of trustees of the State Hospital, following disagreement between the former incumbent and the Governor. McLane will serve until a new permanent chairman is appointed who, to quote the Manchester UnionLeader can stay within the budget. Things political move, too, in the sovereign state of Vermont, where one Richard Sherwin is running for Selectman of Brattleboro. Dick's major point in his platform is the support in that city of a City-Manager type of administration. as well as certain miscellaneous important matters having to do with domestic matters such as brooks, sewers and bond issues the lifeblood of community concerns. Still on the political, and back again to New Hampshire, John Nassikas, who was recently given a temporary appointment as second-incommand of the State's legal machinery, has now been nominated for a full five-year term in that capacity. The official title is Deputy Attorney-General.
Turning to the cultural at last, ClemensSandresky, head of the Salem College (N. C.) Music Department will be a guest at the Salem College Alumnae Association meeting, joining forces on the program with Miss North Carolina of 1951.
Mr. Sandresky, son of a Lutheran clergyman, fell in love with North Carolina while serving in the armed forces and in 1949 established a private studio in Asheville, for teaching music. He taught and directed the glee club at Asheville-Biltmore College and was organist and choir director at All Souls Episcopal Church in Biltmore. For three summers he was on the faculty of Transylvania Music Camp at Brevard, following two years of concert work as a pianist.
After graduating from Dartmouth, Clem did graduate work at Harvard, the Longy, and Juilliard Schools. He did private study under Dr. Oswald Jonas, formerly of Schenker Institute of Vienna, Mme. Lydia HoffmanBehrendt, and others, and toured as piano soloist and accompanist with Frederick Balazs, violinist, and Stephen Kennedy, baritone.
Speaking of Alumnae meetings, Attorney Al Pettoruto is slated to be graduation speaker when the Lawrence (Mass.) evening high school awards diplomas. An alumnus of that august institution, Pettoruto is prominent, as previously mentioned in this column, in civic affairs in Lawrence.
I don't think that in the course of this year I have received more than five or six letters from members of the Class; so a big, fat bouquet goes this month to W. Atherton FullerJr., via Charley Hathaway. It's an interesting note that this communique from Ellsworth, Me., comes to Pawling, N. Y., by the way of Alaska, but probably as fast a way as the U. S. mail is now doing direct. Says the Ellsworth attorney:
Here I am and have been for over four years and probably will be from now on. We have a farm house and 40 acres more or less' a couple of miles out of town between Boggy Brook Road and Reeds Brook Road. My activities are numerous and mostly enjoyable - County Attorney of Hancock County (second term-Republican); Secy- Treas. County Bar Association; Treas. First Congregational Church; Secretary Ellsworth Rotary Club, etc., etc. I love the work and if a tew will pay what is owed to me, could make a living at it.
Just now we are seeking - apparently successtully a new industry to augment our economy or tourists, sardines, blueberries, pulpwood, and unemployment insurance. The standard of living is scandalous by comparison with suburban Boston, but that s relative - and the life is better - fine people who still value conversation above TV."
Athy then goes on to describe family life in Maine with five children, graying but still plentiful hair, and a brief glimpse of '39er Remington 'between trials.' To conclude, states Fuller, with poignant truth, "Pass along to Class Sec'y if you like. I never write to John either."
From the local Tri-Town (Hanover, Leb., White River) sheet, the Valley News, comes a human-interest tale of classmate John Hirst, slated for a two-year appointment at the University of Rangoon, in Burma, now stranded without plans following the cancellation of that appointment by the Burmese government. All of the Hirst family belongings were, at the moment the article was written, at dockside in Boston, a successor to fill the temporary vacancy at Dartmouth had been appointed, and the Hirsts now await the inter-governmental decision which will decide their fate.
Roland Moody, circulation librarian of the Lamont Library at Harvard, will move August to Northeastern where he will be Director of the university's new §1,500,000 library. He received the degree of bachelor of library science from Columbia in 1941 and joined the Harvard staff that year. He earlier worked at Dartmouth, Middlebury and Queens College. After military service from 1942 to 1946, Roland became keeper of collections at Harvard and in 1948 advanced to the position of circulation librarian.
This winds up this column for the year, except for the special write-up of Reunion. Before closing up shop, the secretary would like to express his appreciation for the very prompt response to the questionnaire, which should provide in the future many interesting columns, replete with information about persons heretofore neglected because they didn't break into print or, like Fuller, "never write to John either." In spite of skeptical advice to the effect that members of the Class couldn't be bothered with filling out the forms, the flow of completed questionnaires has been excellent. Thanks again, and see you in a week or so in Hanover.
Secretary, Trinity-Pawling School Pawling, N. Y.
Class Agent, 12 White Oak Shade Rd., New Canaan, Conn
