1923
BIRD CHATTER
Our congratulations to our esteemed contemporary, "Calling All Birds" (formerly "Skiddoo"). We have nothing but praise for the excellent coverage which the forthcoming reunion has been receiving in its recent columns. It would seem as if "The 40th is for the Birds" is really catching on and now that the identity of one big bird has been revealed we are beginning to learn what the little birds think of the class officers.
By actual count 51 Christmas cards came to your secretary from '23ers and thirty of these said they were planning on our 40th.
At various key points where our traveling ambassador, Reunion Chairman CasweJl, has appeared on recent business trips, he finds a great deal of interest among the class-mates he has contacted. It begins to become evident that this may well be the biggest reunion we have ever had. It is time to start planning so put these dates down on your calendar in red ink (or green if you have it) June 17-19.
We will have several "firsts" to brag about such as the gatherings in the new Field House and the first alumni dinner in the new Hopkins Center. A phone call to a class-mate in a nearby city, especially one who might not have been back to a reunion, may prove to be a most rewarding experience. We all remember so many who fail to show up. They may feel that they won't know too many of us old codgers but this should not deter them from attending.
So, we say Big Birds, or little birds, the time of decision is at hand. It will be an event never to be forgotten. We who used to think that the corny phrase, "It's Later than You Think," was for the birds, are beginning to realize that we are the birds for whom the phrase was probably created.
Congratulations, Charlie Rivolre, on your marriage on October 27, to Helen M. Ziegler. Charlie thus gains two more married children and should be soon giving Bill Kimball real competition in the Grandchildren Derby. Here's hoping the Rivoires will be in Hanover June 17-18-19.
Mort Stern, old-time roommate of JoeSchiffenhaus and Clay Goss, got his M.D. at Cornell Medical School, interned at Boston City and Beth Israel Hospitals, instructed at Tufts Medical, and has been practicing as a diagnostician and internist in Boston for many years. Mort sees Fred Clark and the secretary in Salem occasionally. He is a grandpa at last, son Morty's daughter. Both sons are married, one in service and one in college.
Leonard I. (Skinny) Matless has been elected vice-president in charge of Engineering and Design of Kelmore, Inc., the world's largest manu-facturer of explosion-proof refrigerators. The announcement was made by John P. Langan, President and Chairman of the Board, from his offices in Newark, N. J. Skinny, who joined Kelmore in 1955, has a national reputation in the field for the design and engineering of many radically new refrigerating mechanisms. Among his recent projects, he has created special chillers for bombers and for electronic guidance crystals used in rockets and missiles. He is to a great extent responsible for the development of the basic designs that helped make possible explosion-proof refrigeration as we know it today.
He graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1939. He was Chief of subcontracting and engineering assistant to the Director of Purchase of U. S. Steel's Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company for nine years and for more than two years was Top Production Specialist for Region II of the Small Business Administration.
Hart Nay, Roma writes, retired last January first from his position as divisional engineer in the N. H. Highway Department. Hart has had an active life. Graduating from Thayer School he has served on many highway commissions, is a past prexy of the N. H. Good Roads Association, Lancaster Rotary Club, Lancaster Hospital board of directors, White Mts. Region Association and is a 33 Degree Mason (probably the only 1923 to have received this high honor). Roma is still teaching first-grade cherubs.
It has been some time since we have heard from Lyndon Pratt. Lyn lives in Wethersfield, Conn., and commutes every day to Hartford where he is executive secretary of the Conn. Education Association. Before taking on this job in 1954 he taught in various Connecticut high schools - Old Lyme, Torrington, Danbury, Greenwich, and at lowa State and Washington State College. He was also Dean of Hillyer College. Lyn was in Hanover last June with his younger son Michael who is interested in Dartmouth. Ed Chamberlain gave them a very rewarding hour. Let's hope this son of 1923 will be on the Hanover Plains in September 1965.
Tommy Chambers sends greeting from Escondido, Calif., where he lives with wife Gertrude. His home is just ten miles from Bert Teagle. Tommy is a very successful grower of oranges and lemons.
Larry Stone is now assistant town engineer of Agawam, Mass. He took this assignment a year ago and likes the job. He lives at 45 Montrose Street in Springfield.
Richard (Dick) Cushman of Portland, Me., is now able to enjoy the fruits of his labors over the past forty years. Some of us who remember Dick will recall that he joined us sophomore year having transferred from the University of Maine with his high school friend, Jim Broe. Dick has not only been active in the old family business, Cushman Baking Co. of Portland, but also owner and manager of Sebasco Lodge, one of the most attractive summer resorts in New England. Now he has sold the bakery and also the Lodge so that he and his wife, Ruth, can relax. He maintains his picturesque home at Sebasco Estates, Me., during the summer and lives in Portland in the winter.
Secretary, 170 Washington St. Haverhill, Mass.
Treasurer, 960 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, Mass.
