1924
HELP: Even my almost-perfect file lapses occasionally; this time I think I've mis-filed a few names whose birthdays are before March 7. I do find Frank Mandel on March 4; will any others whose birthdays are between March 1 and 7 write me, please? (Will save me much time to check through.)
Coincidence is often strange: in the February issue of this MAGAZINE, page 6, I note that Weston Blake Jr. (born in 1930 to our own Wes Blake and Helen as their first-born) is co-author of one and author of another learned article in his field - Geology. The same day I read this I was talking with one of Wes' friends and former "partner" in a ski-lodge enterprise in Bradford who brought me up-to-date on Wes' current salesman activities — for salesman he was, is and will always be, starting with Kidder, Peabody & Co. in 1927 and currently a manufacturers' representative for imported products such as Taubler chocolates, neckties. Helen and Wes missed the 40th reunion when they were then moving from Weston to their present home in South Pomfret (with 200 acres of good apple-growing land). Join us this fall, both of you.
Same issue, page 14: A Wah-Hoo-Wah is given for "Donald E. Coyle '25 elected executive vice-president of Chemical Bank of New York Trust Co. in charge of international operations." Correction: class of 1924 by entry and every other right. (There are half a dozen "officially 1925" men who are really ours. I've asked each as I come to the birthdays and catch this fact how they choose to be counted; to date all say "prefer to be '24." I'd be glad to have any and all such who read this, including Don, write me again so I may be sure I have our record straight. Joe Egolf; you're one - but I know where you stand; and Fred Shanaman, ditto; and Vaughn Berry; and Phil Morse, Eliot Hall, Bill Gorton, Bob Bragg, Rog Noyes, Maury Ahlquist, Merton Briggs, and Art (Owl) Keyes. That's my list; have I missed anyone? Please help us have our records straight.
Time is too short between notice and publication date to have an adequate obituary for Ken Goss who died January 21. We have only a short note from his widow, Katherine, from their home in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. Our obituary and choice of a suitable Memorial Book will have to be deferred to the May issue — unless I can manage to beat the deadline, and I will try to do so. Meanwhile, we have sent Katherine our sympathy in the name of the Class and invited her - as we do for widows of classmates - to continue to be a part of the Class in some degree as may seem suitable.
Pleasant words from the travelers. (We stay put this spring, but planning for next fall after our usual month in Maine in latesummer.) The Ted Nilsens on a cruise, with a card from Antigua, and that revives my hope to see all those islands leisurely - all the way down to (and especially including) Tobago. The Sew Bowers are on a 3-4 month trip to the Orient. A very nice letter from Japan, where they found many delights. But they were able to stop en route at Green Valley, Ariz., with Jeanette and CharlieFrench (and associates) "have created a haven for retirees in the midst of some of Arizona's choicest scenic countryside"; a social whirl, but also rides on horseback into the desert with Charlie. Doris and Seward enjoyed that greatly; I can only envy them their riding skill. They also found themselves staying with friends living nearby to the Ax Coffins who have found their Shangri La. Sew adds that Doris and he may get back in time to repeat their pleasure in the Alumni College (see his picture in the last Class Letter, used as a Christmas card for Dartmouth friends).
Retirement notes: Cap Whitney (Omaha) hopes I will enjoy retirement as much as he does. "Never a dull moment. Grandchildren, church work, social activities, and as much business activity as we care to handle." That describes what I expect for myself - plus travel plans. Dick Perry, living so near by at Charlestown (N. H.) we never see them except accidentally, is very busy and doesn't expect to retire from his insurance agency and does not want to. The gang is taking sides; several born in 1901 are retiring this year. How about letting me know, for the record?
Bonnie Oaks ... Princeton game... October 8. I have already received several requests for accommodations. I hope to have the promised data in the next class letter, space permitting. Some have seen and like the new (and a bit more expensive) motel units used last year for the first time. I'll have very specific data on all points shortly; only time is against us.
The other Bowers, Mercer, is evidently doing his civic duty as a councilman in his home town, Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island, N. J. Hope he and his wife, Lou Ann, will join Doris and Seward in the Alumni College this summer.... Continuing story: Rollie Gibson, whose Foundation to expand the exhibition of his art collection of contemporary Japanese work was described here earlier, opened a travelling exhibit for the month of February at Wheaton College, outside Boston, with a lecture on "Ten Young Japanese Artists Painting in New York"; the exhibit was to show the work of these same ten artists.... And Penn Hale, "educator, traveller, and lecturer," talked at nearby Woodstock, Vt., to their Historical Society; he told - with appropriate slides - of arriving at Patras just after the earthquake there, of travelling through many parts of Greece but finding Delphi "the most wonderful place of all" and finding the best temples "not in Greece" but in Paestum and Sicily. (Note bene, for many who travel thereabouts - hopefully including myself.) And more travel: Ken and Ina Foley set off in mid-March for Greece and a trip through the Islands.
One more note on retirement: Red Newell plans to start "counting my haircuts leading up to retirement on July 1 after more than forty years abroad." This means a very different pattern of living for me and Clare - "after so many years of servants and other amenities - and the prospect is "really quite frightening." But, as they talk about settling on the west coast, there will be plenty of classmates to make the change easier. Welcome back, and we hope to see you both here in Hanover one day.
Social highlight: Joe and Claire Egolf have now added Mrs. Joseph H. Egolf II to their family on December 18. The bride, a registered nurse, was the former Arlene Miller of Charleroi. This brings weddings to at least a temporary halt, and with several unique-a-la Egolf twists: Joe practiced a year ago when he "gave away" his daughter, Joan Claire; then was best man for his son in this wedding; and then served in his official capacity to perform a marriage, in his unofficial capacity to play the wedding march, and then back to his official "hat" before the champagne and flowers. Son Joe graduated from Norwich University; earned a commission in the Air Force and now is studying hospital management. Some of you saw Joe at the Yale game: Red Maloney,Tim Lyons, Jimmy Reid, at least, who sat nearby. Come join us for the Princeton game, Joe.
Secretary, 2 Brewster Rd., Hanover, N. H.
Class Agent, 5 Deerhill Drive, Ho-Ho-Kus, N. J. 07423
