1952

It's always seemed to me that January is a lousy month for being born (or anything else), and I speak frbm first-hand experience. Two Blakemores, your correspondent and his son, Chip, celebrate natal anniversaries on the very same day in this, the dreariest month of the year. It's a bad month for a kid's birthday party, and believe me it gets no easier to take as the years fly by.

This being my general attitude, I was telling myself the other day, "What a time of year to be lying on the beach in Pago Pago, Samoa," when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a post card, the last of those far-traveling cards I sent out back in October, with a bona fide postmark reading: Pago Pago, Samoa. On it, in firm, suntanned hand, was the following legend: Dr. William (Bill) McAndrew; employer, Governor of American Samoa: nature of work, surgeon; courtesy of U.S. Navy. Starting date, October 9, 1962. Doctor Bill's still a bachelor - and with all those saronged Samoan girls lying await under low hanging banyan trees! Makes a feller fairly faint with the injustice of the civilized married life. But, alas, back to the news at hand.

Cards, cards, cards! I could write a whole year's worth of columns from the cards I have. So in order to make it easy on myself, this month I'm culling from the stack before me cards of those classmates in the field of education. Such a noble calling deserves a full column anyway.

First, there's John Ballard who should be back at U.C.L.A. as Assistant Professor of political science after a semester of work with the Binswanger Brigade of the Peace Corps in Nigeria.

Out at the University of Chicago, teaching full time in the Medical School, is Dr.Kenneth Barton, who says his other interests include skiing but that it stinks out there. This leads to my suggestion that he switch jobs with another teaching physician, Dr. David Baum, who's at the College of Medicine, University of Washington. Dave says nothing about skiing, and we know it's good out thataway, so maybe the two of them could work something out.

Down South, at Mercer University, '52 is represented by Alpha Bond, Assistant Professor of sociology. And another of the teaching doctors of '52 is, or was, Dr. Malcolm Brochin, who, up until January 1 of this year, was on the faculty at Yale Medical School. First of the year Mai hung up his own shingle in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology in New Haven, and he hopes to deliver many heirs to proud '52s. (Take special note. Jack Boyle!)

' This fall, Elmira College in Elmira, N. Y., got a new Assistant Professor of history in Gene Cesari. When he's not getting Napoleon out of Russia, Gene is rebuilding Bugatti racing cars or rusticating at his Chelsea Vt., farm.

I Then there's Francis Chisdes, who teaches Latin and English in Allentown (N. J.) High School, and whose wife, Carol, also teaches Latin and English but in another nearby high school. The Chisdes took up boating last summer in their cabin cruiser called "Aquila," which, Mme. Chisdes informs me, is Latin for "eagle."

Back to Chicago we go to unearth PercyCrosby, Professor of Geology at Chicago Teachers College, who also likes to ski but apparently doesn't feel as strongly about the poor skiing in the Midwest as Doc Barton. And while we're back on skiing, who better to mention than '52's ace, Herb Drury. Herb is 8th grade science teacher in Melrose, Mass.

Up in New Haven again there's RogerHarrison, Assistant Professor of psychology at a little-known college where they wear a lot of blue. And in Plymouth, N. H., Holderness School employs Bob Linscott as an instructor - of what, I don't know.

Then, down in Morgantown, W. Va., we find Dick Little teaching geography at the University of West Virginia; Neil McMahon is instructor of English at The Hill School; and right up the road a piece from me, Garry Meyers is teaching advance placement English in Westport, Conn.

At Lexington (Mass.) High, William(Nick) Nichols handles a variety of chores. He not only teaches English, he's assistant coach of football and track and director of dramatics. And at Fair Haven, Vt. (the home of Farmer Bryant) Gib Noble is principal of the high school.

Of all the positions held in halls of learning by our classmates, I guess I'll have to look with most envy on that of Paul Taylor. Paul, who is not married, is instructor in history at Yassar. What's that old saying about keeping a cow in town when milk's so ... oh, I am a mean old wicked man!

Out on the West Coast, at the University of California, Ted Stampfer works as a chemist. On the East Coast, at Columbia, Larry Stern teaches English to foreign students. And at Suffolk University, up Boston way, Donald Unger is Professor of education and chairman of the department.

To close out our list of educators, for the time being, there is Sandy Wiper, who hangs his hat every morning at Newton (Mass.) High School where he runs the biology program and coaches 10th grade football and baseball.

As a post script to last month's baby talk, I must report one birth I missed. On November 11, 1962, Ed Oberndorf's wife, Caroline, brought forth their second son, Michael Edward.

I'm also happy to report that one more bachelor bit the dust and another will before long. Joe Keener got tossed last October 13 by Miss Virginia Hornbaker in Abington, Pa., and for Al Acker the noose tightens some time next summer when he walks the aisle with Miss Judith Hartt of Fairfield, Conn.

Now I guess I've bored you long enough for this month. Maybe, if my winter blues clear up, I can find some really spicy stuff for March. Tally-ho, and all that!

Secretary, 168 Riverside Ave. Riverside, Conn.

Treasurer, 221 Maxson Rd., Lancaster, Pa.