1920
"June is bustin' out all over" in the words of that good old hit-parade song. It seems a bit strange to be writing this column for the June issue when, hopefully, most all the class will be on hand at the reunion.
The Hanover Gazette ran a headline recently "Foley Announces His Intentions." I expected to read that A 1 had agreed to marry the girl, but no - he was announcing that he is a candidate for representative for Norwich to the Vermont General Assembly. A 1 will have retired about the time you read this, after a fine and colorful career.
Bud Weymouth writes that they've had some snow and cold weather in Hanover this winter past — most unusual!
Mel Merritt waxes emotional oyer a new concoction known as TAB. I've tried to figure out what those initials might mean and the best I can come up with is "Total Abstainers Beverage." Pretty sharp thinking, eh?
Bingo Whitaker spent a good part of the winter at Pompano Beach, about ten miles from where I was holed up, but lacking his address I couldn't get in touch with him.
By the way, Dick Watts and I represented the Class at an alumni luncheon in Fort Lauderdale.
An alumni dinner held late in March in Fort Lauderdale, at which Dean Waldo Chamberlin of the Summer School program was the speaker, turned out a number of classmates, members of contiguous classes and wives. Twenty was represented by Raynor and Ruth Hutchinson, Nate and Mildred Whiteside, Eddie and Virginia Bowen, Leo and Alice Ungar, Charlie McGoughran, Thea Kittle, Warrie Chamberlin, George Loehr and Ed Curtis, joined by Spider and Bea Martin '19 and George and Marion Rand '19.
The long roll lengthens - sadly I report the passing of Scout (Francis H.) Lee. The Class and all of Scout's many friends joim in deepest sympathy to Alice and Scout's sister Kathryn. A quiet soft spoken, seriousminded person, Scout, had a host of friends who respected the man and his fine mind.
To the lengthening roll must now be added the name of John Beranek. John came back last reunion and was always happy that he did. A fine personality, a bright mind, and a wholesome outlook on life marked his days. To his brother and five sisters we send our heartfelt sympathy.
Two more of our top 1920 wives have left us for the land of no return. Ben Potter's charming wife, a list of whose accomplishments, civic and charitable activities would easily fill this column, passed away during the winter. I send the sincere sympathy of the Class to Ben who has suffered more than his share of life's tragedies.
A letter from Duke (Ferd H.) Sabourin, which you will want to read, relates most poignantly the sorrow he has experienced so recently: "On October 1, 1963, I received a call from Lisbon, Portugal, that my brother Charles, who had retired from Creole Petroleum where he was a Coordinator in Caracas and had retired to live in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had suffered a severe coronary on board ship three days out of Lisbon on the start of a tour of Europe. His condition was serious and I immediately flew there via TWA arriving two days before his subsequent death but in time to talk to him at length. Due to Portuguese laws, which forbid cremation, and other insurmountable roadblocks, his wife and I had no choice but to bury him there in the beautiful cemetery within the British Compound. Returning home immediately and being upset, my wife and I drove to Tulsa and Oklahoma City to visit friends; on the return trip home while driving through Wichita, Kan., we were run into at an intersection by another driver who had run a red light. We both had our seat belts on and 1 was uninjured but my wife suffered a fractured vertebra which necessitated her being in the hospital at Great Bend, Kan., where we had formerly lived and where I had her taken from Wichita by ambulance. She was released from there on November 1 at which time we returned to our home in Lakewood, Colo., a suburb west of Denver. She was recovering nicely and, being semi-retired, we were together with the exception of infrequent trips for me away from home until February 2, 1964. At this time an examination having indicated that it was imperative that she enter a hospital for observation, I again took her to the hospital in Great Bend, Kan., where an old friend of mine and his associates are recognized as the best in Kansas. An exploratory operation revealed that she had a malignancy of the pancreas which is inoperable. On February 24 she passed away, having suffered no pain which was an answer to one of my prayers. She was then brought to Denver where I buried her in Crown Hill Cemetery in Lakewood, a very beautiful place with her beloved Rocky Mountains looking down on it." For myself and for the Class I send Duke our deep understanding and sympathy.
Frank Corbin, now retired, summers close to Don and Ruth MacKay near Fish Creek, Wis. As might be expected they see quite a lot of one another and are working on reunion plans.
Ralph Roberts still plays tennis, skis, and indulges in what West-Coasters know as surfing. A while back he traded homes for a couple of months with friends in Hawaii and reports a most interesting experience. Look for Ralph and Dorothy on the Hanover Plain at reunion.
Hank Hayes is now all the way out in the pasture. Here are some quotes from a recent letter: "Life really began for me after I had a coronary in 1952. From then on I had a very legitimate excuse for not doing anything I did not want to do. We sold the old family manse and moved into a small house. Both my girls had married and we had more room than needed and it was too darn much work to keep it up inside and out and I really did have to slow down for a while. You see how the coronary began to work for me immediately.
"Both of my daughters live in Rochester with their families. The older, Barbara, has three boys and a girl, ages from 16 to about 4, and the younger, Jean, has 5 boys from 16 to about 6. With 9 grandchildren you can't expect me to keep track of their exact ages. My other interests are in fishing and hunting (actually I don't do much of either but I like to talk about it), music (I play in an orchestra and a string quartet), farming (my garden produced enough to fill the freezer for the winter). I have a mild interest in mycology and enjoy getting out in the fields and woods looking for mushrooms. For eating purposes, however, I find the well kept lawns along East Avenue much more prolific in the varieties I like best and it is lots less effort. Of course, the people living there think I am slightly off my rocker, but I haven't poisoned myself or Julie, who says she has perfect confidence in my judgment, yet. I have also been experimenting with notable success, if I do say it as I shouldn't, in the realm of wine making which I find a very interesting and satisfying occupation. Aside from mentioning a workshop in the basement where I expect to keep more or less busy this winter, I won't bore you any further with life after 65, or is it 66?"
Up in Rochester, N. Y., where Brownie usually refers to a Kodak product and not a junior-sized Girl Scout, Pete Potter, Eastman Kodak vice president and director of advertising, has retired after more than 40 years of Kodak service. He joined Kodak soon after Tuck graduation as a market analyst in the statistical department, then three years later shifted to advertising - becoming director of advertising operations in 1943. He was elected a vice president in 1958. Pete has served on committees concerned with Kodak exhibits at four World's Fairs, including the current New York one, and has played an active role in the work of a number of national advertising associations.
pre-reunion party in Concord at the Highway Motel last March was quite something. 68 attended from '20 and '21. Ellis Briggs '21 was an excellent speaker. Those present included Dal and Marguerite Dalrymple, John and Helene McAllaster, Mugs and Lucia Morrill, Eben and Ruth Wallace, Lee and Ann Hodgkins, Sam Sampson, Al Foley, Sam and Marion Center, Charles and Elsa Crathern, Hal Bidwell, Paul and Lillian Richter, Hib and Katherine Richter, Bill and Laura Carter, George and Hazel Macomber, Tom and Rita Davidson, others from '21 and one couple from '22.
Colonel Charlie Mills is quite a traveler - a jet to New York - a luxury liner cruise to Bermuda and return - the Princeton game and thus it goes. To get relief from Minnesota's winter cold he spends several weeks in Florida, then a visit to his daughter in Virginia and thence through the Poconos en route home.
Hal and Liz Bernkopf's son Mike has a National Science Foundation fellowship in math. When last word came through he was finishing his thesis for a Ph.D.
The Chicago Tribune carried a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Art Stockdale on the occasion of the 40th performance of the "Til lykke" chorus. The photo shows Art hefting a very sizable flagon. From the expression on his face I can't be sure whether he has just emptied it or is about to.
Well, folks, that's all for now. See you at reunion.
Secretary 350 East 57th St. New York 22, N. Y.
Class Agent, 90 Iron Mine Dr., Staten Island l, N. Y.
