1923
The #1 news item for this May issue is the news release of the naming of Charlie Zimmerman as the" 11th President of Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co. This appointment becomes effective as of July first and restores a relationship that began in 1926 when Charlie joined the Frazer Agency of Connecticut Mutual in New York City. The head of the agency was Mr. Frazer, now the company's chairman. Their association lasted two years, then Charlie's record led to his appointment as head of a new Connecticut Mutual Agency in Bridgeport where he made an exceptional record. Quoting the Hartford Times: "Leaving Bridgeport he was sent to Newark in 1931. By 1937, despite the depression, he had built the agency from $500,000 to $7,000,000 annually..."
We think it most appropriate to includewith this announcement an editorial whichappeared in the Hartford Times on March 22.
When the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co. directors named Charles J. Zimmerman to head their company they chose a seasoned executive of amply proven abilities.
While not connected with the company at present, Mr. Zimmerman is scarcely a newcomer since he served it in New York, Chicago and elsewhere for fifteen years, or until he entered the U.S. Navy in 1942. .
Upon completion of his war service, from which he was discharged a captain, Mr. Zimmerman joined the Life Insurance Agency Management Association where he distinguished himself in life insurance circles throughout the nation.
The designation of Mr. Zimmerman for the post he is about to assume should come as no surprise to his friends or business associates. After all, the shadow of coming events was cast almost two decades ago when the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce selected him as one of America's outstanding young men.
Mr. Zimmerman, a native of New York City, is 54 years old. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1923 and first joined the company he now heads thirty years ago. 'Despite an active business life, he has found time to give generously of his talents in civic and educational organizations.
The Connecticut Mutual is in good hands. It may look to the future with confidence and certainty that he has found an able executive to guide it in the highly competitive field in which it operates.
Many '23 men have written in about thisappointment and each letter has commentedon the importance of this job. Bob Maxwellsummed it all up when he wrote as follows."Charlie's appointment was no surprise. Itwas just a question of which company wouldbe lucky enough to get him."
Sam Home is our traveling ambassador. He and Mim are now on a tour of the Pacific Coast. They write that they have seen everything from Palm Springs to Santa Catalina Island, that they had lunch with Cap Palmer of Parthenon Picture fame and that they were headed for San Francisco where Mini's brother and brand-new wife, the Edward McKays, reside.
One of the best correspondents for your secretary is Ralph Staley of Long Beach, Calif. Some time ago a very newsy letter came in from Ralph and was immediately lost. The letter has just come to light and we quote as follows:
"Regarding your request, I've seen none of our classmates since my return from the reunion in June '54. I did talk to Chick Obermeyer over the phone. He lives in South Gate, a stone's throw from Firestone where he is in personnel.
"In 1949 my wife and I used to see quite a bit of Tommy and Gertrude Chambers. They have an avocado ranch in Escondido and a lovely daughter Pat. My wife and son Larry and I dropped down there some time ago en route from San Diego, They told me their daughter Pat was going steadily with a lad going to Dartmouth, or maybe he was the son of a Dartmouth man.
"Cap Palmer is probably the most active classmate in this section. He is a writer and director for M.G.M. Tom McKnight is a producer, too. My wife and I had dinner with him and his attractive wife at Walt Disney's studio a few years back. He seldom turns up at the regular functions, however. Hi Streight is the attorney for the Rolling Hills real estate project. Bevo Beveridge is in the revenue department, Pasadena.
"Karl Stadlinger is a successful doctor in Burbank; Karl Lundberg, a date grower in Indio and investment banker. The two Karls met by accident in Amsterdam while touring Europe not too long ago. Red Hoag and Connie Conrad attended a class dinner at the University Club in Los Angeles a few years back. Stu Summers used to live at Palos Verdes when I would see him from time to time. He has remarried and sojourned to Florida, according to Art Everit from whom I hear occasionally. I used to see quite a little of Dick Towns end when I lived in San Francisco, but like all the despicable San Franciscans, he writes now only to pressure us on the Alumni Fund.
"About the only class distinction I can conjure, if you can call it that, is being the father of the next-to-the-youngest child in our Class. I understand Walt Rahmanop has a four-months-old daughter, making him the father of 1923's youngest offspring. Mine's name is Ralph Darrell—age 3 years. My only other child is Lawrence (Larry) Eugene approaching 4½ years. A late start, eh? And I'm suffering all the trials and tribulations for my folly. I have been with Encyclopedia Americana for nine years—at present manager of the Long Beach sales unit. I nearly murdered Obermeyer when I saw a set in his apartment. He said he bought it from someone else because he did not know I was with Americana.
"This information has been pretty sketchy, Chet - not exactly what you want, I know. However, the '23 group here is not too well organized. Distances are great between the various homes and traffic is worse than Paris. If I can help you m my modest way, I'll be glad to oblige any time."
The Saturday before Easter Barbara and I were invited to Walt and Martha Rahmanop's home in Bedford, N.H., a suburb of Manchester, to attend the christening party of their daughter, Wallis Garnet, born November 14 of last year. Your secretary was the godfather in the ceremony and solemnly took the customary vows. This baby is undoubtedly the youngest offspring of 1923 and it is the consensus around these parts that Wallis is just about "tops." Walt and Martha invited a large group of friends to their home after the baptism. A ferry service was inaugurated from the highway to their house as the fourfoot snow drifts had just begun to melt. Seldom have we enjoyed such a well-planned party and such a banquet as was served at the Country Club. Lew and Doris Ross were at the ceremony and reception. Doris, by the way, is a member of the national board of directors of Girls' Clubs of America. She left Walt and Martha's party early to take a plane to New York City to attend a meeting of this board. The Rosses leave for Europe this month for a trip to "out-of-the-way" places. We are extremely happy to include in our Class Notes for this May issue a snapshot of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pick and party taken on the verandah of the American Ambassador s residence in San Jose, Costa Rica, after a luncheon in their honor. When Ida mailed the picture she wrote:
"Joe looks well and happy here, don't you think? He was having a wonderful time, until about the middle of August, in Mexico City. Some of the highlights of our trip were a reception given for us by Mr. Money, of the Point Four Program; Jose Figueres came backstage to meet us, with his entourage, plus a few left-over Ambassadors. All this in Costa Rica. In Guatemala, my appearance with the Orquesta Nacional was the first concert for which the public was asked to buy tickets after ten years of communistic influence, during which they were admitted gratis to all concerts. In Mexico City I played a recital, under the patronage of the Canadian Ambassador, and, of course, we were entertained at his residence. Then I played with the Xalapa Orquesta, at the Palacio de Bellas Artes."
Some of the Class of 1923's better correspondents are wives. A letter from Ruth Billings brings us up to date on the Roger Billings:
"As you know, Rog is no correspondent. However, he did appreciate the birthday greetings and I thank you in his behalf.
"We've had a hectic year. Flew to California tor a vacation trip in the fall, but stopped off to officiate, or at least help to, with the birth of Marcia's son, Mark Billings Diliveg. They were at Corpus Christi, Texas, at the time. We brought them home with us for the holidays and now they are at Pensacola again where Jon is instructing. In January we went South - Roger played all the golf courses and we ended up buying a small house on St. Armand's Key at Sarasota. After three years of staying there a month, and looking over every other place on both coasts, we decided it was the place for us.
"Stanley, the younger boy, has another daughter born in July, Susan. This makes my pappy grandfather of five now! ! Time marches on, and all too quickly, I'm afraid. It's rather an end of one era and the beginning of another - in some ways sad and in others, tranquil."
From Charlie Rice comes word that he is now back from a Florida vacation which took him away just in time to miss the series of snow storms which plagued New England in March. Ted and Olive Caswell joined the Rices for their last week and had a fine time with them.
Bob Maxwell writes that he, Butch Kimball and Bill Juergens represented the Class at the Chicago kick-off dinner of the Alumni Fund on March 20. Continuing his remarks, he says that Sum Sollitt is erecting two large apartnient ment houses within a block on either side of Boh. Bob was in Cuba in early March looking into oil exploration there.
Shiner Beggs, writing on the stationery of M.S. Beggs Company, 203 Park Square Building, Boston, brings us all up to date on his activities:
"As you know, I now represent five different magazines and there is quite a confusing of names involved. Maybe this will serve to keep the record straight.
"I still work for Hearst and House Beautiful magazine. However, they have been developing the Building Manual (a bi-annual), the Guide ForThe Bride (a quarterly) and the Practical Gardener (an annual). All of them are slick-paper publications which sell at from 500 to $1 per copy, so they offer various and sundry manufacturers an unusual means of advertising approach to three different markets.
"I've been representing the above magazines in New England, New York State and Canada ever since March 1954. The beauty of it from my standpoint is that it has been possible for me to maintain my own office, be in business for myself and thus my own boss.
"Last June turned out to be a most important month for me. First of all I married Edith Merrill on June 25 and moved from River House to 180 Sherman Road, Brookline. Almost at once I added another publisher and two more magazines - Interiors and Industrial Design to my list. These are ultra-slick-paper books which inspire interior decorators, architects and designers to greater creative heights. Simultaneously, my first salesman was added to my staff, so, as you can see, we're making progress."
Alvin H. Pianca '55, son of Al Pianca, has been awarded the Charles O. Miller Jr. Memorial Fellowship at Dartmouth for further study. Al's son was selected on a basis similar to that on which the Rhodes Scholarships are awarded, viz.: qualities of manhood, force of character and leadership; literary and scholastic ability and attainments; physical vigor, as shown by participation in outdoor sports or in other ways. Alvin, son of Prof, and Mrs. Alvin L. Pianca, is a graduate of Hanover High School. During his four years at college he was active in WDBS, the Human Rights Society and the Spanish Club. He majored in Spanish and was alumni chairman of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Following a luncheon in their honor, the JoePicks ('23) are photographed at the residenceof the American Ambassador, in San Jose,Costa Rica. Front row (l to r): Ida Pick, concert pianist, Anna Keith and the late JoePick. Back row, Dr. Agrait, former Vice President of Puerto Rico; Julian Weston, International News Service; and Monk Keith '23.
Secretary, 170 Washington St., Haverhill, Mass.
Class Agent, 79 Spring Glen Terrace, Hamden, Conn.
