1940
The bombshell that is about to be exploded needs careful preparation. So just pour yourself a strong highball, sit in a comfortable chair, take a large gulp and then - but only then — read on! Improbable things happen often, but seldom the impossible. Bill Bumsted is engaged! In his own words, Bill says, "At the last reunion several well-intentioned '40 wives told me to hold off until our next reunion —by which time, they claimed, their daughters would be marriageable. The thought, however, of having a 1940 as a fatherin-law was too much to bear and I think helped make my mind up to its present state of complete happiness." The young lady, who has agreed to take her chances with this old man is Nancy Jane Hillman, who graduated from Duke in 1953. The wedding is scheduled for February after which it is presumed that she will be spirited off to Venezuela where Bill is toiling for the insurance firm of Johnson and Higgins. At any rate, until we come face to face with her, an element of doubt will remain in our minds as to whether or not it really happened.
And speaking of engagements, another bachelor is about to bite the dust. Bill Holman has succumbed to the charms of Emily Laighton and they will be married on February 9. We wonder if this is the "good looking chick" that Jim Tredup reported seeing Bill squiring in Vancouver and which was reported in last month's column? Bill is with the law firm of Holman, Mickelwait, Marion, Black and Perkins in Seattle.
Gordon Wentworth has just been made a vice-president of Boston's largest bank, the First National Bank of Boston. His elevated capacity will no doubt entitle him to more time to pursue the elusive white pellet on the neighboring fairways and thereby make him even more unbearable when negotiating for strokes on the first tee. And speaking of promotions, yours truly has been made a general partner of the investment banking firm of Hemphill, Noyes & Co. An embarrassing sidelight to being processed for this new position occurred. Before being admitted to partnership in a New York Stock Exchange Member firm, you must go before the admissions committee of that exchange for approval. This applicant appeared on his glorious day with a magnificent black eye, result of misjudging a door at night, a fact believed by no one!
The Dartmouth College Skiway opened at Holt's Ledge in Lyme Center on January 10. This development, with its 3,600 foot Pomalift, offers skiers trails of all degrees of difficulty varying in length from 3,900 to 4,700 feet. It is a great honor to Don F. Worden that the expert racing trail bears his name. Don was killed in an automobile accident in California last year.
Joe Dunford was encountered on trie train the other evening, the first time we have seen him since college. He has been living in Norwalk, Conn., for the past ten years. He is in business in New York making animated films for TV commercials. His business comes from the large advertising firms and includes films for such national organizations as Robert Hall Clothes, major cigarette companies, etc. Joe, former ski team member, reports that he has given up skiing since the war and that he will probably not take it up again until it comes time to teach his grandchildren the art. Joe has two boys, the eldest of which is thirteen, so it will probably be some time before he takes to the boards again. Joe had seen Dick Durrance recently on his way to Europe to take ski movies for an advertising assignment.
Also on the ski front, Joe Adams and family spent some time over the holidays in the area of Manchester, Vt. Joe expresses alarm at the fact that his two boys, aged fourteen and thirteen, are approaching the point where they will very soon be able to outdo him. He confesses he is still able to keep ahead of them where pure skill is required, but he finds them far ahead of him when the criterion is sheer nerve getting through icy and hazardous spots. Guess we are all getting older, and the day is not far off when our offspring will be able to outdo us in all things athletic. At Big Bromley, Joe saw Bob and Didi Gensel and Ben andGene Bacon. It's remarkable how many '40's still take to the hills in winter, Joe Dunford, notwithstanding.
Our new head agent, Jack Little, is busy making plans for the coming Alumni Fund Drive. He reports that he is receiving excellent cooperation from classmates asked to assist him as assistant class agents. The job of organizing a campaign starts many months before the kick-off. and its ultimate success depends on this preliminary organization. We feel certain that from the looks of things now, Jack's organization will take up where Hugh Schwarz and his amazing assistants left off. Nothing short of our third Green Derby in a row will be good enough.
Bill Hutchinson has come out of Collier's folding smelling like a rose. All employees of this formerly revered publication were sent telegrams at home on Saturday informing them that as of Friday, 24 hours before, their jobs had terminated. But, as Hutch put it, "as the ship went down I had my water wings on." Result: a much better advertising job with the Saturday Evening Post covering some of their most important national accounts and acting as liaison man between the magazine and some of the largest advertising agencies.
For all of you who are planning vacations, a good word is certainly in order for Varadero Beach, Cuba, where the Elmer Brownes and ourselves spent a glorious two weeks in December. The revolution deterred us not at all, the rum suited us better than it should have, the beach was like no other beach we have ever seen, and Havana was intriguing. The only dark spot was where discretion won out. Brownie, the superlative shot, was invited by some Cubans to go duck hunting. The ducks in Cuba are not only prolific, but there is no limit. For once Brownie was prepared to go to bed early in preparation. The day would dawn bright, as all days do there. Suddenly, our Cuban friends, who happily hadn't invited me knowing I couldn't hit the side of a barn door, decided that in view of the revolution it would be unwise to roam the countryside carrying guns. Result: no hunting and poor old chubber Brownie was reduced to spending another day on the beach. Hard luck!
The Laconia department store mogul, Jack O'Shea, must have part interest in a local newspaper. Every month we receive another clipping. This time he is pictured with Monseigneur John W. Sliney, formerly pastor of St. Denis's Church in Hanover and now pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Laconia. Jack is parish drive chairman in Laconia's effort to raise $150,000 to enlarge St. John's School.
Bill Mercer reports that in the past two years he has spent a year at M.I.T. on a Sloan Fellowship where he got his M.S. Last June he was assigned by his company, Western Electric, to the North Andover, Mass., plant as comptroller. He says, "I have yet to move the family up into that area as Wellesley is really not too far away and the drive every day is not bad. This, of course, is just rationalizing on my part - the real reason is that Mona and our four boys are happy where we are, and so figure why should we move?" Well, why should you? It's five against one.
A hilarious self-written article from Sid Phillips came to us. Space limitations preclude its quotation in full, but briefly, after dedicating it to his wife and crediting his three children's destructive activities which delayed completion of the ms., he tells the tale of his migration to his new home at 1906 Lincoln St., Evanston, Ill., where he is on the faculty of Northwestern University. The family went by station wagon while the furniture went by an old established moving van company. The houseful of furniture in New Jersey and the large houseful of furniture in Connecticut were moved into an "itsey-bitsey" house in Illinois. The radio-phonograph is now in the playpen; the fishes are fed by climbing over the dining room serving table and excess furniture was left on the lawn. Sid hopes for visitors in his new home. He resides with Carl, "Gerald McBoing-Boing" (seven and a half), Patty "Dreamboat" (two), Scott "Dennis-the-Menace" (three months) and Mom (Jane) who now has a fatalistic philosophy about "home being where the hat is hung."
And so farewell for another month with hopes that Christmas brought us all we desired and that 1957 will make us enjoy it.
Bob Tepper '41 with his wife, the former Winnie Horton, at their home in Deal, N. J. They were married on September 20.
Secretary, 177 Leroy Ave., Darien, Conn.
Treasurer, 88 North Main St., Concord, N. H.
