1953's Advanced Fifth

FIFTY-THREE'S fabulous Fifth is now only a memory but what a happy one!!! Over 150 classmates and some 100 guests made this the 2nd largest turn-out (both numerically and percentage-wise), for a Fifth Reunion in Dartmouth history; a particularly impressive statistic when one considers our reunion was advanced a year, while a large percentage of the class is still not settled. Fred Stephens, grabbing a MATS flight from his Army finance post in Germany, won the distance cup hands down, although such efforts as Jack Cunningham's cross-country drive from Arizona merits recognition.

Reunion activities officially commenced with registration at Topliff Dorm Friday P.M., but a glance at the number of '53's wandering around Hanover Friday morning might further the impression that it had started a day or two earlier. Reunion chairman Tom Bloomer was up from Ft. Knox Tuesday checking on last-minute details, and by Thursday night the basic core of his fine committee (Charles Buchanan, Smiley Schoder, Bill Vi talis, Bud Cherry, Ted Spiegel, Bob Henderson, Don Smith and Paul Paganucci) were aboard for work and then a little play at the '32 tent. Classmates at the '32 tent Thursday night observed getting a head start on the weekend included Don and Dottie Bigham, Chuck and Elsa Luker, and Marty and Sally DeGennaro. Don, along with another recent Navy dischargee and reuner, John Sargent, will enter Harvard Business School this fall, while Chuck will enroll at Columbia Business School upon completing his Army career; Marty is still happilly ensconced in the investment business in New Haven. Referring back to the Reunion Committee both Charlie and Smiley were up sans wives. Charlie is expecting to become a papa shortly while Smiley's Ginger was needed at home to nurse their 6-week-old boy. Charlie just received his MBA from Harvard last week, and now heads back to Appleton, Wise., to enter the family business. Pag just earned his LL.B. from Harvard and will join W. R. Grace Co. after 6 months of Army duty. "Vite" has decided to return to N.Y.C., this time with Morgan Stanley after a year teaching at Deerfield. As all who were fortunate enough to get up to Hanover can attest, the Reunion Committee did a splendid job, and deserve the Class's most sincere thanks. They even managed to have cold beer on tap simultaneously at three different places Saturday P.M.

Briefly, the weekend festivities went as follows: Registration at Topliff and small informal gathering Friday P.M., followed by a mighty successful 5-8 cocktail party (guests included President and Mrs. Dickey, Judge Blandin, several faculty members and College administrators), and some vital sustenance in the form of a buffet supper and finally 5-6 hours of hep Dixieland music and freely flowing beer all in the class tent. And for those confident of their ability to navigate across the campus after the cocktails, there was the President's Reception and the Alumni Dance.

Saturday morning, coffee, doughnuts, and more coffee; class meeting and official picture; and another revivifying meal - this time a bounteous chicken luncheon at the Gym similar to that enjoyed each year at graduation. The afternoon activity was left up to the individual. Beer could be enjoyed at the tent by sustaining the permanent tentdwellers, who forayed out from its confines only for tooth-brushing ceremonies, as well as at the finish line of the MIT-Dartmouth crew race on the banks of the Connecticut, and at the intra-class Softball contest (the outcome of which was never to our knowl- edge announced) at the baseball diamond. In addition, there was the golf tournament organized and won by one Ward Hamm now of Ditto Inc., Buffalo (although we understand the AAU has been called in to investigate the charges of Messrs. Douglas and O'Connor of golf professionalism and other nefarious activities by said winner). If none of these satisfied, one could have joined Bill King, Chad Day and Ed Knapp climbing and beer drinking at Hinman's cabin or the big swimming group at Storrs Pond which included the IBM team of Bob Henderson and date Carol Traylor, head agent Johnny Corcoran, Lane and Phil Fenton (2nd year Stetson Law School student) and recent Tufts M.D. Degree recipients, Sam Franz, Ossie Sherman and Dick Lena (the former two with dates while Dick was escorting his new bride, Jean). Late Saturday afternoon was reserved by many for small informal cocktail parties at various fraternities and clubs and then the entire class retreated down to the Canoe Club on the Connecticut for a delightful Ross McKenny bean-hole feed. With our stomachs again well lined, we returned to another wonderful, hectic evening of tent-hopping, storing up the enjoyment of the Dixieland music, beer, and camaraderie for future memories. Sunday morning a beautiful memorial service, commemorating among others our deceased classmates, Bob Cowan and Tom Frenzel, was held at the Bema under clear blue sky with Tom Fraser, Union Theological School graduate and MST Degree recipient from Harvard but three days earlier, representing the Class. And then of necessity came the parting milk-punch party, handshakes, and best wishes. By 2:00 P.M. Hanover had regained her summer peace while Routes 4 and 5 were heavy with tired but happy re uners.

With the exception of a brief thundershower Friday night the entire weekend was blessed with bright, sunny weather. To further enhance the weekend's enjoyment, commencing with the first parties Friday afternoon, there was a continual stream of traffic between the '51, '52 and '53 tents - particularly the latter two, located but 50 yds. apart in front of Woodward and Topliff respectively. This enabled all to renew old friendships in other classes. Moreover, this practice served a second, if not originally anticipated, need; namely, the means of escape at some good bird-watching prospects from their doting wives about 3:00 a.m. It seems that some wives didn't wholeheartedly approve of their mates' desire to stand around the tent tilting the bowl and swapping stories with their old Dartmouth cronies. It was indeed amusing and informative for the secure bachelors to eavesdrop on some of the conversations (or contests) between Mary and Frank Casalviers (proud parents of a 6-week-old girl), Dorsey and George Davies, Denny and Jack Sackett (2 kids), Pat and Al Ives (2 boys), Dave and Sue Berry (3 kids), Cinny and "Oke" O'Connor (3+ kids), Carol and Rog Warner, Connie and Howie Clery, Lisa and Dave Stanley, Judy and Tim Thomas (1 baby girl)... We never did keep official tally of the winners but in most cases it appeared the distaff side decided to weather the storm and stay up, keeping a sharp eye on their "popas". In a few instances, we're forced to admit that the missus was still going long after the big man "crumped."

Of course, there was the expected group of colorful bachelor bird-watchers whose nucleus included: "Bomber" Jack Patten (on his way to Denver to set up a district sales office for McGraw-Hill), "Zules" Kingsland (investment banking, N. Y. C.), Phil Fast (investment broker, N. Y. C.), Bob Douglas (2nd-yr. Cornell grad student), Dave Florence (back to N. Y. C. from S. F. for IBM), bass player Tom Wilson (student we believe at U. of Pa.). Sam O'Shea... ad nauseam. And with all this fun, beer, gin, scotch, we're happy to report not one unpleasant, rowdy incident all weekend. Yes, truly, it was a perfect three days; we only hope that come 1963 we'll see all those who missed in 1957. Just ask a man who came!!!

A complete report of the class meeting including names and addresses of the reuners will be distributed soon. By an amendment passed at the meeting the membership of the Executive Committee has been increased to 15 and includes: Bloomer, Boyle, Buchanan, Calkins, Clery, Cobb, Corcoran, Hall, Henderson, Leavens, Reich, Rice, D. Smith, Speigel, and Stephens. Have a fine summer!!

1953 joined '51 and '52 for the June Reunion Weekend.

CLASS SECRETARY