1917

Anyone who has taught for 43 years has done a lot of teaching! But that is just what Ev Robie has done! Now he is retiring and in recognition of his long service as a teacher of both youngsters and oldsters, Ev was given a testimonial dinner on April 27, at Hugo's Restaurant at Stamford, Conn. To quote from the dinner program, "Everett E. Robie, a man with a great zest for life, may best be described as an active leader, a great organizer, a kindly family man, a helpful friend, an enthusiastic educator, a successful administrator and one with the great ability to use the whole of himself for the good of others."

Perhaps Gene Towler's report on the dinner, contained in a recent letter, will give you a better picture of the affair than any words of mine, so here is what Gene said, "Over four hundred people gathered at a dinner in Stamford April 27 to honor Ev Robie of Darien, retiring in June as Principal of Glenbrook and Julia A. Stark Schools of Stamford. Speaker after speaker extolled Ev's leadership, devotion, and kindness to others, in the teaching of children and adults, instrumental and vocal music, boys' camps, Kiwanis and other community groups, and Dartmouth alumni activities. John P. Keating '30, Judge of Probate Court, reviewed Ev's 26 years as Chairman of the Committee on Admissions for the College, and read a touching tribute from Secretary Hayward written in Sid's most gracious language. The dinner was a deeply affectionate tribute to a great friend of all concerned, and it was a pleasure for Lucile and me to realize all over again how many community leaders are benefiting by association with this Seventeener."

Here is something special for those of you from the vicinity of Cleveland. On a card mailed from Barcelona by Bob andGail Boynton the following message appears: "Met a good-looking widow today of our vintage from Cleveland who knows a lot of '17's from that area. In fact, she was a guest of one of them in 1917 at Winter Carnival. Further details will be furnished if any of our group are interested." Anyone interested in learning more? If so, contact Bob at 6 Dorrance Place, Hanover.

Those of you particularly interested in track should note the following quote from the March 28 issue of the Boston Herald: "The oldest track record in Exeter Academy annals is a 23-5% broad jump effort by H. T. Worthington in 1913. Worthington's mark appears safe for the balance of 1963."

The annual meetings for class officers were held at Hanover May 3 and 4, and it is good to be able to report that all six of our officers were on hand. Present were Gil Swett, Vic Smith, Jack Saladine, Mose Hutchins, Bill Eaton and the writer. Also present for the weekend were three of the wives - Irene Smith, Pauline Hutchins, and Helen Brooks. A fine program had been arranged by the College, and the several meetings provided much food for thought.

The fact that all of our officers were present at the meetings gave us a good chance to review the progress we are making in the current Alumni Fund Campaign. One fact stood out all too clearly, namely, that we are woefully weak in participation. In plain language, many of you have made no contribution at all. Some of you seem to be holding back - at least, we have not heard from you yet, presumably because you are reluctant to make a modest contribution. If that is the case, we have failed miserably in our effort to convince you that a dollar or five dollars, if that is your limit, counts as much participation-wise as a much larger contribution. So we appeal to you who have not yet contributed, to dig as deep as you can and come up with a contribution which will at least count in the participation index, vitally important when our final standing in the Green Derby - classes of our vintage — is reckoned.

Back in February 1960, I reported that Gene Towler had retired after having spent 25 years with Curtis Publishing Company. Then in December 1961, I reported that he had resumed business activities, having joined Wildrick & Miller as Executive Director of Marketing. Now I can report that Gene has again retired, having completed for the firm in 16 months the project it had been anticipated would take 36 months to complete. In Gene's own words, "I quit a few weeks ago and once again I'm a loafer most of the time, enjoying sleeping until eight!" While we are on the subject of the Towlers, let me tell you about Lucile and the duo piano group she organized a few years ago. Recently the group gave a twelve-piano symphony concert with all twelve of the pianos playing in unison, a most unusual feat. One final note, Gene is the proud owner of a handsome portrait of Princess Grace of Monaco, the portrait having been sent to him by the Princess because of her great interest in a two-page color spread of Monaco taken by Gene and published in the April 1962 issue of Town & Country.

A good letter from Heinie Wacker, mostly concerned with his winter's activities, advised that his son, David, is a freshman at the University of Vermont where he is majoring in, as Heinie put it, "Tech-engineering."

During the latter part of April Helen and the writer drove to Boston where I was to attend a meeting of Newton High School's 50th reunion committee. While there we contacted Spique and Ruby Maclntyre in the hope of seeing them, but found that Ruby was out of circulation due to a back injury. Leaving Boston for home, we stopped in Newton where we ended up by spending the night with Pete and Lucy Olds and had a fine opportunity to catch up on family gossip.

Let's make next year a "Be Kind To Brooks" year and keep family news for this column flowing in each month! Our postman has a new Jeep and a strong back, and will gladly deliver your letters.

A nice summer to you all! Any of you passing through Vermont this summer, or at any other time, will find the "Welcome" mat out at the Brooks' home on the South Pomfret Road, just two miles from the Woodstock Village Green.

Secretary, South Pomfret Rd. Woodstock, Vt.

Class Agent, 337 N. Steele Rd., West Hartford, Conn.