1931

As I write these notes it is Easter morning and as New England weather goes it is a very "clousey" day which, of course, will spoil the parading of many people who have waited patiently to show off their new spring finery. Be that as it may the column must go on Oust like the sayings about the mailman and the Canadian Mounties).

In the last two columns I have written about "new frontiers" and have referred to several fellows who have sought them, namely, "Towdy" Snow and "Cub" Miller. Cub's new frontier requires his getting out and around much more now and darned if he didn't give me a pleasant surprise a few days ago by stopping in at my office to say 'hello.'

In a letter dated March 22, Dick Hol-brook announced a "new frontier" as follows, "Your note about Cub Miller and his 'new frontier' prompts me to say that Peg and I are in the process of making a similar change. We decided to make our number one business to rid Peg of her painful arthritis. This requires a dry, even climate. We just returned from an 8,400-mile exploratory car trip to the Southwestern states. We have taken a year's rental in the brand new 'retirement community' at Tucson Green Valley. A three-room apartment will do us just fine. Business prospects have yet to be determined, but several possibilities are there. We have sold our house in Bedford (N. Y.) and are now engaged in the excruciating chore of selling, giving, or packing our 28-year accumulation of 'things.'

"The Class of '31 is well represented in Tucson with Ben McMillan and Bob Hale. Ben helped steer us to our lovely new home. Haven't said 'hi' to Bob yet, but did drop by his house in the foothills of the Catalinas and met Molly . . . and listen to this: The view from our living-room window gives a sweep of the valley floor and beyond, maybe fifteen miles, the towering snow-clad peaks of the Santa Rita mountains. All of which impresses me as the most gorgeous view in all of the 48 out of 50 states I've seen."

What a swell thing to be doing, Dick! I'm certain all your many friends in the Class will be rootin' to have your hopes and expectations behind the move materialize, particularly with respect to Peg's problems. May your "new frontier" be wonderful for both of you!

Dick ends his letter in his customary very thoughtful and considerate manner by saying, "It's distressing to read of the death of one after another of our classmates. HomerMcVean, the latest, makes me promise myself to try extra hard to keep in touch with friends who still share the beauty, excitement, mystery, and challenge of this mortal coil. Come and see us at 444 S. Paseo Quinta, Tucson Green Valley, Ariz., after May 1."

That's a terrific bit of advice, put very nicely into words. No one more so than I realizes the significance of Dick's words since I am the one who has to write the 'ln Memoriams' and it certainly has had a tremendous impact on my thinking, particularly from the point of view that "it's later than you think."

All the following took place some months ago, but nevertheless are of interest - Charlie Dwyer has been elected a director of the Boston Life Underwriters Association, VicKing resigned his post as Treasurer of the Union County (N. J.) Parks Commission after being a commissioner for seventeen years "so he could have more time for his law practice and to participate in the State Bar Association in which he serves as a trustee."

Our Class has been hit hard in the last few months and with no intention of being morbid, because being such is far from my personality, but with due reflection on the matter, particularly since it is the Easter Season, it behooves each one of us to pay plenty of attention to his health and to Dick's words about his promise to himself "to try extra hard to keep in touch with friends who still share the beauty, excitement, mystery, and challenge of this mortal coil."

To drive the message home to all of us it might help by telling you that I have received an announcement from the College about the death of a classmate each month since last September, right up to this month of March when news of Pete Evans was received a few days ago.

To further press the message to you and in due respect to the memory of our classmates at this Easter Season the following is a list of those who have passed on in recent months: "Si" Burge, Charlie Howard, "Wes"Brockway, Dave Casseres, "Teddy" Dabrowski, Harold Andres, Homer McVean, and Pete Evans.

Take good care of yourself, promise yourself "to try extra hard to keep in touch with friends" and start right now for planning to be at our "35th" a year from now - it's not too soon to do so and it's later than you think!

Secretary, 36 Shaw Drive, Wayland, Mass.

Class Agent, Schoharie, N. Y.