1898
When Fletcher H. Swift died in 1947 he had become the greatest authority on the organization of schools and their support by taxation. Professor of Education at the University of California, he had planned and set up the laws for several states of the Union and had researched over the entire world. He and I were classmates in high school and college. It is with deep pleasure that I received the following letter from his daughter, Mary Ruth Swift Clements. "I remember well meeting you and your daughter at the thirty-fifth class reunion in 1933, when Dartmouth chose to honor my father. My mother, when I telephoned her about your letter, was very much interested in what you are doing. My only regret is that I have not replied long before this. My mother is well. She lives in Berkeley not far from the University. Perhaps you remember my sister Julia, who also attended the 1933 reunion. She is married to Mr. George Fekula, a petroleum engineer. They live in Lafayette, only half an hour's ride from Berkeley." The letter describes her sister's travels with her husband to Brazil, New Mexico, and Europe. They have no children. Mrs. Clements continues "My own family consists of three boys. Paul, born in 1947, Robert and Charles (twins born in 1949). The twins are not at all alike. Robert looks much like the Clements while Charles looks quite a bit like one of my father's childhood pictures. My husband is in business in San Francisco while I am on the staff of Alhambra High School, here in Martinez, where I teach French and English." She then commends your secretary for his efforts, his headaches, and rewards and her feeling that it is all worthwhile. Your secretary has had no headaches, but if he did, a letter from the daughter of so dear a classmate, would certainly have banished them.
Your secretary's grandson, Victor E. Odquist, was married to Miss Linda Schmidt on May 30 at Hastings on Hudson, N. Y.
Word has just been received of the death on June 29 of our dear classmate, Rev.Everard W. Snow at Hingham, Mass. Our deep sympathy goes to his widow, and their two daughters. Robert D. Brown, our "Bob," served in the Episcopal ministry and at his death was a leader of the interfaith and interracial movements in Pittsburgh. From his talented daughter, Mrs. Ruth Brown Howard, Wellesley graduate, comes this happy note. "I was so pleased to hear from you and to know about your family '98 project. Father cherished his Dartmouth connections and I recall with great pleasure the reunions I attended with him and the cordial welcome extended to us by all his classmates and their families.
"Now for a brief sketch of what 'Bob's' family has been doing. I had received my M.A. in Latin from Columbia before his death; subsequently I received a Ph.D. in Latin and Greek while I was teaching in Washington, D. C. Two years later I came to California by way of marriage to Andrew Howard III, who is an executive on the staff of Emporium, San Francisco's largest department' store. My mother died of a heart attack when my first child, Mary, was two days old. Our second child, Andrew IV, is now twelve and hopes to become a member of Dartmouth's class of 1972. As soon as the children were in school I went back to my beloved teaching of the classics. Currently I am a member of Gov. Brown's Committee on Educational TV for the state of California and am just retiring as national president of 'Jack and Jill of America, Inc.,' an organization of mothers in 100 cities from coast to coast, who have as their goal the enrichment of the lives of children above and beyond what is offered in public schools." The letter tells of a proposed trip of the family to Europe on her sabbatical year's leave this summer, and ends "We visited the campus in the summer of '60, enjoying strolling around the buildings and spending the night at the Inn. My best regards to you and all the Dartmouth '98 family." '98 is proud of this fine career of a classmate's daughter.
Secretary and Treasurer 50 Court St., Brooklyn 1, N. Y.
