1944

I've let things go again. Just like that pile of "I'll-get-to-it" that you leave on the right side of your desk. So, at deadline, with the help of a few coins from the Fine Arts Fund Collection and the Ameche, I called the president of Royal Worcester Porcelain Co., Ray Zrike, for some news. "No," he assured me, "I haven't done anything important and I don't know that any of our boys have. Oh, yes, I had lunch with John Eaton at the China and Glass Convention in Atlantic City. Is that important?" (Ed. Note: No, not really; but vital to filling a column.) Of importance, however, is that Ray had just called Eddie Chamberlain for advice on the top high school in N.Y.C. where his heir would have the best chance of getting into dad's alma mater; and that his bag was packed for a flight to Jamaica to inspect the new Royal Worcester plant, the first china plant in the Indies. Reflecting for a moment on his son's preparation for college, Ray concluded, "My, we are getting old, but at least we'll have fun with the kids at reunion."

I tinkled around with some more long distance dialing only to find that no one was really doing anything important, that they just "lucked" into their market position, had no tips; that Jack Grimm was wintering in Florida, but went skiing in Sugar Bush, Vt., when he was north; that two of the guys who share John Eaton's ski lodge in Mad River were laid up with broken legs and that all John broke was the seal; that NeedleAllen and his boards got to Hanover, but couldn't find Wemo Epply; that Carol andDick Ranger boomed east for a weekend at Stowe; and that, believe it or not, PinkyCorroon has been weekending at Big Bromley. "Skiing? Don't be ridiculous," he told me, "I skied only once, on a mad night, down main street to Tanzis for a case of beer! I send my kids up the trails."

You will be saddened to know that Bill Maguire passed on last month after a difficult illness. The entire class extends its deepest sympathy to Virginia and their six children and to Bill's brother, Jack Maguire who was associated with Bill in the John P. Maguire & Co., N.Y.C.

It is equally difficult to tell you that Bob Colwell's attractive wife, Ginger, died three weeks ago, at the age of 32. I'm sure most of you recall seeing Ginger on the cover of "Life" with their son Bill when he was a baby a few years ago. Ginger was the granddaughter of John Whelan, founder of the United Cigar Co. and Whelan Drug Stores. I spoke with Bob today on the phone to express our condolences and I know you will all be interested to know of his warm, mature, and intelligent acceptance of this tragic event.

Just in case you've been worrying about Blanche and Swampy Marsh, they're 0.K., according to the neighbors with whom RO and Pink Corroon had dinner a few nights ago. Gus Pratt has picked up stakes in St. Louis and is now back in Hingham, Mass. Dick Berlin, however, now has a new home in St. Louis. Charlie Wilder is now a full professor at the University of Puerto Rico and living where we long to go in this "duck board" weather. That great end, Rog Arnold is in Buffalo, N.Y. (wishing he were with Charlie), and associated with the Buffalo Rubber & Supply Co.

Wiley Hitchcock is giving the Hunter College (New York City) Music Department a new look, or should we say sound? Appointed last fall to the post of Chairman of the Music Department, Wiley has set out to revamp the college's music program. Alover of serious jazz as well as classical works, he is currently engaged in compiling a history of American music, to include scores and records, and is also working on a book for the nine-volume series on American music which he is editing. Wiley went to Hunter from a teaching position at the University of Michigan.

Let's just speak about some of our athletes for a minute. After 20 years, you d be sure they were forgotten. Well, I was m Boston last week with some fellows, who once they knew I went to Dartmouth exclaimed. "Hey, did you know Jack Riley and Billy? Bill coaches my boy! And that Jack Riley! There was the best! And did you know Walter Hughes? There's an outstanding fella! Why, do you know ... etc.... etc " I was so impressed, I decided to call Snooky. There are 27 Walter Hughes in the phone book and I tried them all, asking each wife, "Did your husband pitch a nohit, no-run game for Melrose?' And, with all nays, concluded that he's got an unlisted number. And how about Joe Vancisin. His Yale team went down to -the wire with Princeton for a berth in the NCAA. (I hate to report it, but Joe is now also a lecturer and after-dinner speaker.)

It's been some time since we wrote about Maurice Park. Remember when attorney Park married Dorcas, who was a better lawyer than he? Well, it's a man s world, Bird is doing splendidly, is now running for public office, and Dorcas is staying home taking care of their two lovely daughters. Even though I'm trying for space, I haven't the fortitude to list all of his offices,

Democrat Stan Zarod and loyal Americana notwithstanding, one of the pleasant pastimes in life is finding fault with the administration. But you get a jolt when you hear about a gentleman like our Victor Morgan who has spent over 12 years with our foreign aid program, five of them in overseas posts. Vic's job for the last two years has been as program officer for the Agency for International Development in Nepal. His job was to work out with the Government of Nepal the channels in which our assistance were to be directed for the substained economic growth of the nation. At our club and business meetings, we seem to have very simple answers to our foreign problems, but it is the men like Vic who have to get down to the grass-roots fundamentals like transpbrtation and communication facilities, academic and vocational education, financial institutions, small industry and farm credit, timber and mineral resources, the eradication of malaria, development of hydroelectric power, etc. Considering some of these questions makes our luncheon conversation solutions seem quite hollow, but at the same time makes us feel more secure that there are specialists like Vic and other classmates in government service who help make the right decisions for us.

Of course, it would be terrible to find out that Vic is a registered Democrat.

Secretary, 1105 Center St., Milford, O.

Class Agent, 67 Highland Ave., Rowayton, Conn.