1916

John Alden Pelletier

Johnny Pell, loyal son of Sixteen and Dartmouth fine athlete and great competitor, is dead. His obituary is recorded in In Memoriam in this or a subsequent issue of the MAGAZINE.

Although he loved all sports basketball was his forte, and Cap Williams recently told me that he was one of the best basketball players he had ever seen and had the pleasure of playing with. Johnny Pell served overseas for two years in World War I, and after the Armistice remained in the Army to play with the United States team which won the championship in a league comprised of military teams representing the Allied Nations. I believe, too, that he did a bit of coaching at Hanover.

Johnny Pell had more than his share of problems and vicissitudes in his lifetime, but, characteristically, rose above them with magnificent courage. For the last fifteen years he had worked with his brother, Dan, his superior in the firm of Sanderson and Porter Engineers. Dan is very proud of the great character Johnny Pell had shown in all his troubles.

Your Secretary wrote to Dan in behalf of the Class and received a fine letter in reply, from which he quotes: "I can't tell you how much I appreciate the way Dartmouth 1916 rallied around on news of John's illness, and are continuing now that he has gone. It gives the family a great lift, and we certainly needed it. Personally I will miss him, for even when he was quite ill he remained cheerful, and that is the way he will be remembered." Then Dan tells of the nature of his illness, the inevitability of his death at this time, and concludes, "My respects to the Class as a whole, and many thanks to you."

The deep sympathy of the Class is expressed to the members of Johnny Pell's family and Nineteen Sixteen pays tribute to a completely wonderful guy.

We had a most pleasant visit from Jimand Ruth Coffin, and their friends, Jim and Marty Buss, of Toronto, who spent the night with us on their way up from Florida. Next morning I was off to Bryn Mawr Hospital where I am now incarcerated as these notes are being written. Any "similarity" between their visit and the slight coronary I had was purely coincidental - the Busses were charming folk, the eating and the drinking were moderate, and we all retired early because they had driven a long distance that day. We had hoped that Cliff and Sally Gammons could dine with us, but it happened to be the final concert of the season of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra of which Cliff is a director, and they had invited friends to the concert. Next morning our visitors went down to see the duPont Gardens at Longwood. Cliff and Sally met them there; later they had lunch together, and Cliff steered them in the direction of Nashua, N. H., their home port.

The coronary I had appears to be a mild one, as was the one I had about four years ago. Nevertheless, a month to six weeks of rest in the hospital is indicated. If I emerge from this jail sentence as completely a new man, as I did on the former occasion, all will be A-OK.

Because of my sojourn these notes will be shortened. This, I know, will please Senor Carlos Widmayer, editor of this distinguished journal, who, on occasion, is wont to beat us about the ears if we bray too loud and long in these columns. And so as I say farewell to my avid (??) readers for the summer and wish them pleasant holidays, I .-want to thank those in the Class, and others, who have given me the news for these columns - they know in their hearts of whom I am speaking. ,

And a final word, dear Classmates: don't forget to do your full duty by the Alumni Fund.

Secretary, 7 Swarthmore Pl., Swarthmore, Pa.

Class Agent. 4l1 Lafayette St., Salem, Mass.