1944

Secretary, 1105 Center St., Milford, O.

Treasurer, Ballwood Rd., Old Greenwich, Conn.

Phil Penberthy and his tribe of ACA's turned in a magnificent performance on the Alumni Fund drive this year, and established a hatful of new records for the class of '44. He set a new high in dollar contributions ($9,080) and in contributors (438) . . . all in his first outing! Congratulations to all of you!

I've been scribbling these notes for about ten years and after having reported four or five weddings a month during that period it's only reasonable to assume mathematically that the well should be running dry. But, by George, it's still gushing, and we've had a particularly splendid summer season for it. I guess I should start with one that took place last Dec. 27 but which I didn't learn of until June. The setting was Hong Kong, the happy groom Shih Yueh Wang. His lovely wife is the former Carol Wei of Shanghai.

I believe I reported that Sherm Davis was about to be married. It's now official. On May 30 Sherm led the attractive former Sally Gibson of Scranton down the aisle and off to Bermuda. They're now living in Levittown, Pa., and Sherm is slaving for the big 3M. Onward to June 15 when hardware mogul Fred Page and Elinor Emanuelson trod the carpet in New Haven. Which brings us to June 29 and the wedding of George Pert and the former Florence Wates of Birmingham, Ala. Wonderful newspaper picture of the newlyweds. They honeymooned in Nassau before returning to their home in Jackson Heights. George is with the Dan River Mills Co. Then on to August 10 when Win Turner and Gloria Deak of Forest Hills, N. Y., exchanged vows at St. Bartholomews Church. The bride who picked up a Phi Bete key at Hunter was Art Director for Erwin Wasey Associates in London. Win's going to have to cancel that subscription to Playboy and get down to some light reading with the Saturday Review of Literature. And then on August 22 Ted Monro and Marjorie Chase of Boston were married at Trinity Church and fled for Bermuda. They'll make their home in the Hub. Congratulations and best wishes to all.

And now . . . back to the work-a-day affairs of the settled ones. Snook Hughes grabbed a little free publicity when some of the New England newspapers ran a good picture of him instructing Melrose YMCA youngsters in the art of pitching, and then went on to extol the prowess of our great athlete. I still think his best talent is lifting pomegranates. And speaking about the athletes, the Yale and Dartmouth alumni of Bridgeport got together to organize a testimonial dinner for Joe Vancisin earlier in the summer. . . . the Yale boys because he gave them an Ivy League championship, and the Dartmouth lads (forgetting the pastings he gave us) because we produced him.

In the field of accomplishments, George Springstein received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Tufts last June; Claude Shuchter has been appointed to position of Assistant Vice President of the United States Trust Co. in NYC; and Dick Mayberry has been transferred by Haloid to Chicago to assist in the management of their central zone branches. He will become central zone manager in charge of midwest branches on Jan. 1; Art Allen was named Kiwanian of the week last June. He was president of the Norwood, Mass., chapter in 1955 and has been nominated for Lieutenant Governor in District 5; Dr. Gordie Van den Noort has been named a member of the consulting staff at the Pottstown, Pa., Hospital in the field of neurosurgery; and Bird Partridge has been named assistant manager of the Boston brokerage agency for Connecticut General Life.

I can't recall how or why I did it, but I've become hopelessly involved in memorabilia of the Civil War and have proceeded to spend unreasonable amounts of time and cash (books, battle flags, minie balls and other worthwhile items) to a point where the domestic tranquility could hardly be called that. The breaking point came when I suggested we vacation this year visiting the Virginia battlefields. Naturally I didn't win, but did score a mild compromise, and to give the story a happy ending my sparring partner had a wonderful time because on the way to Appomattox we visited with Bruce and Puss Thomson and Earl and Betsy Owen in Lynchburg. And, brother, do those Lynchburgians know how to live. That southern hospitality that the Rebs used to speak about up on the Plains was strictly understatement. After an entertaining evening at the CC with the "Judge," we luxuriated at Puss and Bruce's home in the foothills of the Blue Mountains and then had a splendid brunch with the Owens and their three lovely daughters, whom even the best of the Langhorns couldn't approach. Then after jazzing through a few more battlefields and historical museums, we strained the hospitality point and sacked in again with the Thomsons, this time at their cottage in Nag's Head. Again a splendid time and particularly with their two live-wire sons, Tommy and Don. Had the pleasure of seeing the BobOwens '38 there. If the ALUMNI MAG is good enough you'll see a shot we took of the Thomsons as we left. That's why they're smiling.

And speaking about being a pest, we spent last weekend in Louisville with Sperk and Helen Welch and their three tigers. We have a good picture of Mom and Dad and the '57 vintage Gibson girls but I'm going to have to save that for another issue. Ye gods, you should see how those little elves swim . . . to a point where the old man and I foundering like bilious skates refused competition.

Claude F. Shuchter '44, Secretary of the U. S. Trust Co. of New York, has been named to the added post of Assistant Vice President.