River Tragedy

ON Saturday, April 20, the College community was stunned by a canoeing accident on the wind-whipped Connecticut River that took the life of Clifford S. Gurdin '64 of Oceanside, New York.

Gurdin and two close friends, Glen R. Kendall '64 and Charles O. Blaisdell Jr. '65, son of Charles O. Blaisdell '37, had paddled about a mile up the river from the Ledyard Canoe Club when the choppy water swamped their canoe. Wind gusts on the river were reported up to 35 miles an hour.

Kendall and Blaisdell surfaced with Gurdin, but the river current carried Kendall away from his companions. Blaisdell tried hard to support Gurdin, but Gurdin twisted out of his hold. Blaisdell, although exhausted, surface dove to find Gurdin but could not find him in the murky water. Kendall, who was experiencing cramps, managed to make his way to shore with Blaisdell.

College and local authorities were notified immediately, and a water, shore, and air search was underway soon after. Blaisdell and Kendall were brought to Dick's Hall suffering from exposure and shock. A memorial service was conducted in Rollins Chapel by the Rev. Fred Berthold Jr. '45, Dean of the Tucker Foundation, and Gurdin's Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers.