Terrific Tenth for '48
Of course I know that all of you who were unable to attend our 10th Reunion are anxious to hear about all the activities back at Hanover. However, before describing some of the myriad activities which made our reunion such a memorable one, I want to take this opportunity as your new class secretary to thank, on the behalf of the class, Bob Herrick and his industrious wife Jimmy, for the terrific job they have done in keeping us informed of '48's scattered far and wide throughout the world. Bob filled the position admirably for seven of the ten years since we left Hanover ... which is certainly long enough for anyone!
Now, returning to Reunion. Rick Landon and his committee made sure of a successful reunion by having a constant flow of beer, liquor, and sea breezes available. All deserve our praise for the many hours of labors they spent planning the varied program, menus, and housing for all '48's who returned. Only one thing did they fail to provide, and that unfortunately was completely beyond their control... June weather! It seemed as though the March winds were blowing much of the time, and there was no sign of summer. Luckily there was no shortage of blankets and a few Southern wives sat huddled in them throughout the festivities.
There were 65 '48's back with a total of 114 persons at our tent, including men, women, and children. Those present were:
John Alden; Bob Arnold and wife; Norm and Buzzy Axelrod; Dick and Jane Barlow; Don Briggs; Walt Cairns; Herb Call; Bill Campbell and his spouse; Russ Carlson; Ed Curtis with his wife and two sons; Dick Dahl and wife; Dick and Nancy Donahue; Bud Elliot and wife; Alan and Sally Epstein; "Red" Evans, Pete Foster, Bob Foster all with wives; Dick Greene with his date; Ed Gingrich with his wife and daughter; John and Pat Hathaway; Bob and Jimmy Herrick; Charlie Herterich and Joe Hickman and wives; Bill and Liz Ivins; all the Johnsons in the class, Jim, Phil and Shorty; Larry Kepnes and his wife; Milt and Dedie Kurtz; Dick Kuzmier; Johnny Lanzetta; Rick and Mary Landon; Beech and Cindy Lockwood; Al McKee; Bob Mohrbacher and Bob Munson and their wives; Nat Merrill; Jack Ma- honey; and Lou Perry, Dave Packard, Johnny Parks and wives; Bill and Liz Pettit; Finn and Helen Sitteri; Larry Pederson and wife; Dick Ruggles; Bob and Barbara Russell; Mort and Nan Smith; Summner Sollitt and Eric Swanson and their wives; Bud and Jayne Thorne; John and Barbara Van Raalte; Bob Tracy, Sam Wilkinson and Roy Wilson with wives; Harry Wood and his date Janice; Jim Schaefer; Colin and Ann Stewart; Ted and Jeanette Thornton; Dick and Pat Leggat; Lloyd Krumm and his wife; Joe and Helen Smith; Bill Maloney; Phil Viereck; and Warren Daniel and his wife.
Reunion started early for a few early birds who arrived Thursday evening. We checked in at the tent and were greeted by the Landons, Russells, and Hathaways who already had a keg of beer flowing. Much had happened in five years! Many of us had been married, families had grown by leaps and bounds well substantiating all reports of an upsurge in the birthrate. Many of us had changed jobs or had advanced in old ones ... addresses were hard to keep up with. '48's came from far and wide, though the award for longest trek should be presented to Ed Curtis who came with his wife and boys all the way from Florida. On Friday the majority of '48's arrived and renewed friendships at the tent over many a cocktail. We gathered at the Inn for a delicious steak or lobster dinner where Rick Landon, our Reunion chairman and Dick Greene, Class Chairman welcomed all of us to Hanover. Our speaker, Dean Mac Donald, amused us with anecdotes concerning student life at Hanover today. As Dean of the college, he sees the boys in all aspects of their college life, and often knows their problems better than the boys themselves do.
Because of the cold, rainy weather the customary President's reception was held this year in the main hall of Baker Library. Later we returned to the tent to watch our class movies. Amazingly, most of us had changed little in the past ten years. With some it was a matter of a little less hair, with others a few added pounds. At any rate, the movies were exceedingly well done, and brought back memories of carefree college days. The films did a great job of documenting our life from the days when we entered college and the Navy was camping on the campus till our graduation.
Saturday morning we managed to get out of bed with much difficulty and were greeted by a welcome burst of sunlight though it was still quite cold and windy. Breakfast was provided at the tent and following this the class picture was taken. We then held our class meeting in Baker Library with Chairman Dick Greene presiding. The report of the treasurer was read by Bobo Russell in the absence of John Fenno. Then the nominating committee presented its slate of officers and the executive committee who will hold office for a term of four years with the exception of Class Secretary. Because of the amount of time required to fill this position, the nominating committee decided that the job should be held for one year, and at the end of that time should either the executive committee or the individual holding the job desire a change, another appointment could be made. The new officers are as follows: Chairman, Bob Russell; Secretary, John Van Raalte; Treasurer, John Fenno; Class Agent, Russ Carlson; Newsletter Editor, Jack Taylor. The new executive committee was selected with the objective of trying to have those living in all parts of the county who share an interest in the class represented. They are: Lou Aronowitz, Marv Azelrod, Dick Barlow, Walt Cairns, Carlton "Red" Evans, Julian Grow, Charlie Herterick, Bob Jeavons, Milton Kurtz, Don Kuhn, Dick Landon, Bob Munson, Dick Ruggles, Jay Rutledge, Bill Pettit, Lou Perry, and Summner Sollitt.
The next item on the agenda was discussion of our 25th Reunion Memorial Fund. It was felt that we should commence this project a bit earlier than the 15th Reunion and therefore a committee was appointed consisting of Dick Greene, John Hathaway, Jim Schaefer, Russell Carlson and Bob Russell. Everyone agreed that any money remaining from the reunion should revert to this fund. Following this was a discussion on whether a collection should be made from those attending reunions with which to start a fund and provide additional money for mailing, etc. It was finally determined that any voluntary contributions that class members wanted to make would be accepted by Dick Greene and that all decisions and policy would be determined by the committee.
The next event was the buffet given by the college in the gym for all the alumni and their families, followed by the presentation of Reunion awards and the Alumni Association meetings.
The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing at the tent, watching the crew races or any other sport one desired to pursue such as tennis or golf. The '48's provided a stalwart boat for the crew races with Bobo Russell, Dick Greene, Dick Ruggles, and Phil Johnson among others in our shell. We were just nosed out at the finish line by '33 who undoubtedly had been practicing for quite a few months. After the afternoon activities the last scheduled event of our reunion was a picnic supper near Storrs Pond at Oak Hill. Although the College provided a tent, the weather proceeded to get cooler by the minute, and nearly as soon as supper was finished and the outcome of the baseball game had been decided, the wind drove everyone back to Hanover. Rick Landon, who was attired in a strange combination of sunglasses and bare feet, nevertheless assured us of continous entertainment by providing a jazz band. The wind failed to subside, however, and we were driven from the tent into Middle Mass, our dorm headquarters. When this proved unsatisfactory everyone moved to the Deke house where the gathering turned into a terrific party with music provided by several students who played banjos.
For those who awakened early on Sunday morning, Dick Ruggles conducted Memorial Services in Rollins Chapel. After some excellent milk punch most of the bleary-eyed '48's departed. It was unanimously agreed that everyone had a great time in Hanover and that Rick and Mary Landon did a sensational job for which the class presented Mary with a small gift.
I want to conclude by saying that I hope that those who were unable to make our 10th will start planning now for our 15th in 1962. I am sure that our reunions will always be successful if Rick Landon is elected chairman for life. Preliminary plans were initiated for a '48 lunch in the parking lot before the Yale game. More details about this will appear in our next issue. Have a pleasant summer and keep the news rolling in!
Reunion Weekend found 1948 decked out in smiles and tam o' shanters.
CLASS SECRETARY
