1908

Your editor regrets to report the passing of another loyal and outstanding classmate. Erastus B. Badger II, known to us as "Tat," died February 4, 1964, at the Phillips House in Boston. He was formerly of Winchester but since retirement has been living in Osterville on Cape Cod. Details of his busy life will be found in the In Memoriam section of this or a later MAGAZINE.

This leaves 86 living members of the class plus 4 listed as non-interested. As your editor felt this is somewhat of a record he consulted our "mortality mathematician", Freddie Munkelt, who dug out his slipstick and his tables and reported that, based on 260 living at age 18 and an average age of our class of about 77½ the mortality table indicated we should have 56 now living. So we are more than 50% ahead of the median for our age group. The class of 'OB is still a pretty rugged group.

John "Rosie" Hinman sent your editor a copy of a booklet, "America's Forests and the Public Interests," an address made before the fifth American Congress of the American Forestry Association, Washington, D. C., on October 29, 1963, and which was reprinted in the "Congressional Record." The frontispiece carries a picture of our smiling Rosie in woods garb and the following dedication. "The fact of the matter is that forestry - the broad concept we know today - had to wait the pressure of economics. Such farsighted men as Gifford Pinchot, Theodore Roosevelt, Colonel William B. Greeley, and others were right, of course, when they raised a call for conservation and for forestry practices that would look toward the future. But the time for their great idea did not come until the economic conditions were right. Then and only then could forestry become the dynamic living concept it is today. I believe very firmly and I have said before - economics has done more for forestry and for foresters in the last 50 years than any other influence. John H. Hinman"

Henry Stone mailed a clipping from the Haverhill Gazette of January 10 with a picture of our Henry, retiring as trustee from the Pentucket Five Cents Savings Bank after 33 years of service, being presented a plaque by Henry L. Wallace, president of the bank. President Wallace said "Henry Stone is a real patriarch in the Haverhill banking fraternity and I am sure that his intelligent counsel will continue to be available to me."

Henry wrote: "Under Massachusetts regulations, trustees are not supposed to be reelected after they have become seventy-two. However, in my case the bank allowed me to be a trustee up to now." (Henry will be 79 on March 12.) "We will stay in Haverhill this winter. My right eye was operated on for cataracts in September. For six weeks I have _ struggled with temporary glasses but find it difficult to accommodate my vision successfully.

"All of the Stone families are well at present. Our family is increasing rapidly numerically —we have seven great-grandchildren." Henry must have a running start in the Great-grandfather Derby by this time. If there are any close competitors in the class we would like to hear from them.

Phil Thompson writes as of November 21: "Claire and I expect to be at Treasure Island, St. Petersburg, Fla.. from April 2 to 27. As usual we will visit Vermont this summer. Claire and I keep fairly well. Nothing is the matter with me except that I ran out of gas sometime ago. I can still shovel snow but take it easy."

Earl Wiley wrote that he was called back to Ohio State University in January of this year to fill in a teaching spot. "One of the men on the Speech staff died and I shall take over this work for the year. This will run until fall. I feel equal to the job and like a break in my retirement."

Guy Blodgett wrote in January "Until last year we had spent twelve winters in Florida but this winter Mrs. B. thought she had had enough for some time and we are at home this winter. We both enjoy good health and are active in the church and town affairs. The past year produced our first greatgrandchild, a son."

The Rev. Charles M. Hall, one of the two ordained members of the class, reports. "I am still in process of recovering from a prostate operation, November 8, but doing nicely for a gent of moderately advanced years. As Parish Visitor of the Cathedral Parish of St. John, I spend one day a week taking Holy Communion to sick and aged parishioners, and spend the rest of my time at the disposal of Archdeacon Kite, wherever I am needed. Outside of my church duties I have three apartments besides my own, requiring work occasionally, all of which I do myself and I have over an acre of land, plenty of room for a large garden."

Class Notes Editor R.F.D. 1, Laconia, N. H.

Secretary, 120 Broadway, New York 5, N. Y.

Treasurer, 17 Harland Place, Norwich, Conn.