1918

Report of the 1965 Pow Wow in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., prepared by Allan C.Gottschaldt.

The first annual Pow Wow of the Class of Eighteen to be held in Florida - and the word "annual" is used advisedly - was staged at the new Sheraton Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach, March 16 and 17. From every angle, it was a resounding success and it was unanimously voted to make the spring event an annual affair. Forty-six turned out for the dinner the first evening; there were 43 on hand for the luncheon the following noon. Thirty of the party were Eighteeners and their wives; the balance were welcome members of the Classes of '17, '19, '20 - and one '22 representative.

Due great credit for the success of the Pow Wow is Howie (does he, or doesn't he?) Park, chairman. Howie and his charming Ann were very much in evidence, making everybody feel at home, and the youngish lad did a good job master-of-ceremonizing the informal program and impromptu speeches. When you consider the total number of living alumni we now have (not getting morbid, but facts are facts) the turnout was quite impressive. Gabfests were the order of the day; the setting, overlooking the beach and broad Atlantic, could hardly have been improved on. A number of the lads and lassies who had not been to recent reunions were in attendance — to the joy of the rest of us, as well as themselves. We'll append a list of the Eighteeners, but will leave it to the good secretaries of the other classes to chronicle their attendees.

Gene Markey was in rare form and spirits and carried many of us back to the days of the freshman smoker, the class plays, and all that. George Stoddard recalled that he and Gene were cartoonists together on the old "Jacko." Said George: "I always thought that Gene would have amounted to something had he stuck to his Cartooning!" George and Pat joined the Ed Felts after the shindig broke up and headed for the Keys, where they took in (of all things) a guided bird-watching tour.

Ed Felt and Clara plan to head to Monterey, Calif., shortly to visit their daughter, then they trek to Alaska and plan to cover every corner of that vast land before returning to their Buffalo habitat. At the dinner attempts were made to have one of the wives make a talk on how it feels to be married to an Eighteen man. However, Ethel Barr ended any such plans by simply responding: "It leaves us speechless." Looking hale and hearty Stump and Ethel paid their first visit to the Sunshine State, but promised it will not be their last. They are still living in Hanover, but Stump has now retired so has no excuse not helping Ethel with her garden, around the house, etc.

That stalwart representative of Darien, Conn., Curt Glover, was very much present along with delightful Ruth. As class treasurer Curt made a brief report showing the amazing (financial) solvency of the Class, Howie Park immediately wondered if some of the excess funds couldn't be siphoned into the spring reunion in Florida next year. Beeand Al Gottschaldt get a real kick out of seeing the old gang; Al was recently out of the hospital after a bout with pneumonia. His hangout is now Hollywood, Fla., but he still maintains an office in Coral Gables, as well.

Believe it or not, we had two honeymooning classmates on hand. George Arnold and John Rosnell - both recent grooms - were proudly introducing their wives to the gang; quite obviously these new brides are going to be welcome additions to the Eighteen family! As you peruse these garbled notes, you gather (correctly) that the assemblage included year 'round residents of God's country as well as visiting Yankees. From Florida's west coast (Largo) came Paul andHelen Miner - cheerful as ever and always a contribution to any party. From Miami Beach appeared the indefatigable DannyShea - full of reminiscences and ably acting straight man to Admiral Markey's jibes. From up the road a piece (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) came Cliff Daniels, another good committeeman and his pleasant wife. Also one of the pre-Pow Wow workers on hand was George von Kapff - winter vacationing in the Miami area. Cort Horr couldn't make it from his Chicago wilds but thoughtfully sent along some neat leatherette mem books (large ones for the men, small ones for the gals) appropriately emblazoned " '18 Up."

Telegrams were received and read-from three of our classmates. Excerpts follows: From Jack Slabaugh up Akron way, "Best Wishes to wealthy retirees of 1918 for successful Pow Wow. Sorry cannot be with you." From Harvey and Barbara Hood in their Boston habitat: "We few Eighteeners left in the North still have to work for a living except when we are skiing, but we join in sending best wishes to all members of 1918 assembled at Fort Lauderdale. We hope to be with you in another ten years." And from Cort Horr of Western Springs, Ill., "Sincerely regret unable to be with you but am long way from my first million, so can't join the fine guys who already have theirs."

Ed Felt, who now runs his successful upstate advertising agency by remote control, contributes these observations: "New Yorkers who enjoyed the 50$ tour of Park's converted shrimp boat were convinced that it offers the best escape yet from Nelson Rockefeller's taxes." The Sheraton dining room, scene of the Wednesday luncheon, overlooked the waters where Admiral PaulMather played tag with the enemy submarines in 1942.... Especially missed were the Tom Robbinses and the Lou Cousens, who were confidently expected up to the last minute. Following Bee Gottschaldt's inspired handicapping, the Barrs, Stoddards, and Felts made the party's expenses at the Miami Jai-Alai front on Wednesday evening."

And here's the promised list: Stump and Ethel Barr, Mandy and Ruth Crothers, Cliff and Helen Daniels, Dwight Edson, Ed and Clara Felt, Harold Glendening, Curt and Ruth Glover, Al and Bee Gottschaldt, Tom and Marty Jones, Stefe and Dot Mahoney, Gene Markey, Paul and Helen Miner, Howard and Ann Park, John and Doris Rosnell, Andy and Virginia Ross, Dan Shea, George and Pat Stoddard, George von Kapff, Hugh Whipple, George and Louise Arnold, and Ernie and Mary Ellen Earley.

Now that Ernie Earley has gained "grand old man" status, all got a big belt out of seeing him at the luncheon. Mary Ellen simply must have been a child bride! DwightEdson, ex-Alumni Council member, may be awarded the trophy for having come the farthest distance — from the oil fields of Texas. Steve and Dot Mahoney planned their Florida trek entirely around our get-together. Exploits of still others deserve a paragraph or two, but some of your reporter's notes seem to have vanished, and further, there is a limit to the amount of space we are permitted to plug Eighteen's annual Pow Wow.

We are greatly indebted to the group headed by Howie Parks, who organized and ran the Florida Pow Wow for 1918 on March 18 and 19. They made this a very attractive, delightful event for our classmates. We are particularly indebted to AllanGottschaldt for the report of this get-together.

It is with regret that we announce the death of two more classmates and two wives of classmates. Emerson Morse passed away at Dick's House on March 14. Sidney Holbrook died in the Elliott Community Hospital in Keene on March 17. Funeral services were held for Harriet Lane Granger, wife of Lester Granger, at Christ Chapel, Riverside Church, New York, on Thursday, March 11. Margaret Stillman Rood, widow of Kingsland T. Rood, died at her home at 37 Broadway, New York, on March 20. We are sure that intimate friends of these classmates will wish to communicate with their families. So far as we know, Mrs. Holbrook will continue to live at her present address. Lois Morse plans to continue to live in their new home in Lyme. She has asked me to urge all classmates to visit her when they are in or around Hanover. She is very appreciative of the fact that so many classmates attended the funeral services held in Bigelow Chapel, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass., and special memorial services held the next day at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover.

Guy Cogswell '19 and his Class Secretarytry to pick a winner at Hialeah.

Secretary, 137 Anawan Rd., Waban, Mass.

Class Agent, Apt. 2, 95 North Lansdowne Ave. Lansdowne, Pa.