1943 s Friendly Fifteenth
Swan Song of a Class Secretary
What could be more pleasant than an attempted word picture of one's 15th Class Reunion - a mixture, a blend of old friendships, close relationships, new acquaintances and missed opportunities to know old classmates better, stirred all together in a large highball glass with the Hanover scene as a perimeter; the conviviality of one's classmates as the sparkle, the old and new objectives as the substance; and a little beer, gin, or whiskey sprinkled on top for the seasoning.
It seems a shame to have it come and go so fast when all of us who were fortunate enough to be there were just beginning to relax and enjoy the old familiar things as a group once again. I can speak as a committee of one — it sure was hard to drag myself away and I'm sure my fair wife, Ardelle, was beginning to think that I was planted there - right in front of good old Wheeler Hall amongst the "Gin and Tonic" trees. Ah - how pleasant of a Sunday afternoon!!! Alas, I must hasten to carry on because, despite the fair warning I received from the ever hard working editor of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE some three weeks before this gala affair, I failed to take any notes or pass this recording chore on to our incoming secretary, so I must get it on paper before it all escapes my mind. Heaven knows, it will be sketchy enough as it is.
The time, the place you must all remember (it was published often enough in my monthly column) but just in case you remain a little hazy, I will save you the effort of referring to past issues or reunion schedules and refresh your minds with the highlights as seen through my two pairs of eyes - one red and one blue - you think I am unusual or something!!
The clouds and rain that had been hanging over New England for approximately eight days started to break on the eve of June 19th as Yours Truly and spouse hove onto the Hanover scene - late as usual - 6:45 the evening of the aforementioned. The schedule - oh, I forgot the schedule - registration - noon on, cocktails at 4:00 or 5:00 or there-abouts and dinner at 6:30 somewhere around the campus - (First at the D.O.C. House, then the Inn, then, I believe, the final schedule read at the D.O.C. House if clear or Thayer Hall if rain). The latter won out.
Fortunately, we were rescued in three ways: one, the Varnum Meads pulled us in off the hot highway for a drink immediately upon our arrival; two, the person responsible for registering details, one charming Mr. Burns, Class of '59 (you're to hear more of him later) returned from dinner in time to give us a few clues; and third, the 6:30 dinner was still being served at 8:30.
This first event was a great affair, and an indication of things to come - Long Cocktail Hours — Late Dinners. Pat and Bus Mosbacher were guarding the stairs leading to the '43 Bar; Maurice Dampier (acting bachelor) and "Popular" Bob Clark, one of the last remaining bonafide bachelors, were buying drinks - the former with the latter's tickets; Rod Wolbarst was promoting a substitute for gin; Dick Lansburg was giving up Father's Day business, a second Christmas in the retail game, and enjoying it; Jim McNamara, another bonafide bachelor, was trying to keep his date and Doc Dan Winters was standing by in case of casualties which might befall the rest. Some of the more sensible, or possibly more hungry, members of the class had already begun to eat. They were, to mention just a few, Bob and Ann Pelren, Ralph and Ruth Ellen Dushame, Andy and Claire Caffrey, Don and Anne Miller, Tony and Cathy Farrell, Kelly and Jane Coffin, Fred and Marge Stockwell. I could go on but I was too hungry to note, any more. Thus, as anyone can plainly see, was a wonderful send off to an evening, night and morning of "light entertainment." The President's reception followed and after that a dance in the old freshman commons (I believe they call it College Hall now), where the orchestra was kind enough to remember that there were a few present who remember such tunes as: "Tea for Two," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Night and Day," and the like. Then on to the tents!! No further comment. Space won't permit nor probably will the censor.
Some of us older members of the Class, strangely enough the ones producing children, sought quieter places to retire for the evening other than the dorms, and Yours Truly and Dr. Glen Behringer both with wives suffering from the same malady, sought the restful atmosphere of the Lyme Inn - along with Bus and Pat Mosbacher and children, Robert and Marion Barnum and children, Bill and Mary Chilcote, John and Ann Keefe, Bud and Gloria Lasser, and the late arrivals, George & Helen Munroe.
I'm not saying this group was quite ready for the grave and if it hadn't been for the chaperoning of Marion Barnum and "Proprietor" Craven of The Lyme Inn, who knows what might have happened (or was it because of them)? The Class Picture which you will undoubtedly see for yourselves in this issue, was a success or failure all depending on how you look at it.
The class meeting that followed, I believe all will agree was a great success. It was well attended, short and to the point and we were all privileged to hear a very sincere and well thought out address by Mr. Burns, Class Orator for his Class of '59. Many said that they were sure they weren't as mature as that when they were in college and they weren't so sure they were now - I sincerely hope that our new Newsletter Editor "Farmer" Mead had his wife, Jan, taking notes on this address because it is well worth repeating and space will not allow me to do so here.
Topping off this meeting, the old guard stepped down giving their final reports. Special praise should go to Kelley Coffin and Bud Silverstein, the two hardest working officers in the Class, year in and year out, as well as to the remaining officers who did a swell job. Bus Mosbacher our new chairman, then stepped forward to take the helm of the ship for what I'm sure promises to be a great and glorious voyage. His mates are as follows:
Class Secretary, Charlie Donovan; Class Agent, George Munroe; Class Treasurer, DonReich; Class Newsletter Editor, VarnumMead; Class Memorial Fund Chairman, Kevin Kenny.
Executive Committee: (past officers) Kelly Coffin, Stan Priddy, Bud Silverstein, Bob Craig.
Reunion Chairmen: Kent Hutchinson, Walt Powers, Paul Young. Other Suggestions: Bob Krumm, Bud Hall, Jim Elleman, Ducky Drake, George Mason.
The meeting was followed by the Alumni Luncheon at the Gym for all classes. Dick and Hazel Bugbee joined us for a very delightful quiet hour of relaxing and lunch. The Class Picnic at Bonnie Oaks featured the outstanding athletic prowess of Bobby Mosenthal, who continually outshone her once athletic husband, the piano playing of Chick Webb, the singing of Fred and Marge Stockwell, Jane Wells, Bud Silverstein and many others, the drinking (while it lasted) and eating of all.
Ardelle and I were very fortunate to have very pleasant chats with Joan and Glen Behringer, Bob and Marion Barnum, Helen and George Munroe on Sunday morning and we finished off strong in the Gin and Tonic Patch on Sunday afternoon with such stalwarts as: Farmer and Jan Mead, Tony & Cathy Farrell, Jim and Jane Wells, Bob Craig, John and Jenny McBean, Jim McNamara and date, probably left out others but the fog was setting in fast by then. Oops - naturally "Popular" Bob Clarke.
Confused, well don't worry. This is just the way that Yours Truly lived it. Thanks for staying with me all these months. Best of luck.
A list of those who I think attended, and maybe were just as confused, follows:
Mr. & Mrs. George H. Barlow, Dr. & Mrs. Harry C Bishop, Mr. & Mrs. Carl J. Batter Jr. & son, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur S. Bolster Jr., Mr. & Mrs. R. M. Bugbee, Mr. & Mrs. George H. Burke, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew A. Caffrey, Charles M. Cahn Jr., Mr. & Mrs. William A. Chilcote, Dr. 8c Mrs. Charles W. Clarke, Mr. & Mrs. C. Carlton Coffin Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Bradford D. Cole, Mr. & Mrs. John W. Conn, Mr. & Mrs. David A. Cooper, Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Conroy, Dr. Robert L. Craig & son, Mr. & Mrs. James D. Crawford, Mr. & Mrs. James Cruickshank, Maurice S. Dampier, Manuel Diaz Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Does, Mr. & Mrs. David C. Donaldson, Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Donovan, Mr. & Mrs. James A. Doucette, Mr. & Mrs. N. Drake, Mr. & Mrs. Thaddeus G. Driscoll, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph H. Dushame, Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin L. Edmonds, Mr. & Mrs. Lewis O. English, Mr. & Mrs. P. J. Fieldsteel & children, Mr. & Mrs. Frederick S. Geller, Mr. & Mrs. Harry L. Gustafson Jr., Mr. & Mrs. P. R. Hachstedde & son, Mr. & Mrs. H. Brereton Hall, Mr. & Mrs. Philip M. Harmon, Mr. & Mrs. David L. Hoffman, Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Hooker, Mr. & Mrs. J. Kent Hutchinson, John L. Hutchinson Jr., Mr. & Mrs. John L. Hyde, Mr. & Mrs. Lewis P. Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. W. M. Jones, Mr. & Mrs. Charles F. Kane, Dr. & Mrs. P. J. Costello, Mr. & Mrs. Martin T. Kane Jr., Mr. & Mrs. W. Douglas Kipp, Mr. & Mrs. Henry P. Kidder, Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Krumm, Richard M. Lansburgh, Mr. & Mrs. Miles L. Lasser, Dr. & Mrs. Hugh F. Lena & son, Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Leonard & children, Dr. & Mrs. Robert Liming, Mr. & Mrs. R. D. Livingston & children, Mr. & Mrs. A. J. McBean Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Varnum R. Mead, Mr. & Mrs. John C. Meleney, Mr. & Mrs. John L. Muchemore, Mr. & Mrs. John W. O'Connor, Mr. & Mrs. Calvin J. Osberg, Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Pelren, Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Power, Mr. & Mrs. W. Powers Jr. & children, Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Proctor, Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Rill, Mr. & Mrs. Leo Silverstein Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth E. Sorlien, Mr. & Mrs. A. W. Stedman & children, Mr. & Mrs. Elmer G. Stevens Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Fred F. Stockwell, Mr. & Mrs. Donald H. Taylor, Dr. Warren J. Taylor & son, Mr. & Mrs. Murray W. Thurston, John G. Troster, Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Webb 11, Mr. & Mrs. James B. Wells, Mr. & Mrs. William T. Wolf, Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Wood, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Woythaler, Mr. & Mrs. John F. Wynne, Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Barnum Jr. & children, Dr. & Mrs. Glenn E. Behringer, Mr. & Mrs. Roy Coningswood, Mr. Robert M. Clark Jr., Mr. George Cady, Mr. & Mrs. Anthony B. Farrell Jr., Mr. & Mrs. William M. Glovsky, Phillip R. Jackson, Mr. & Mrs. John M. Keefe, Mr. & Mrs. Kevin R. Kenney, Mr. James L. McNamara, Mr. & Mrs. George Mason, Mr. & Mrs. Donald L. Miller, Mr. & Mrs. Emil Mosbacher Jr. and children, Mr. & Mrs. Andreae W. Mosenthal and children, Mr. & Mrs. George Munroe, Mr. & Mrs. Stanton B. Priddy, Mr. & Mrs. Richard B. Tower, Dr. & Mrs. David M. Winters, Mr. & Mrs. Roger K. Wolbarst, Mr. & Mrs. Paul F. Young and children.
Sunshine at last: 1943 turns out for the traditional reunion picture on Saturday morning.
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
