1931
The news stopped pouring in — stopped short. I am changing my tactics, for my optimistic opening paragraphs of past columns apparently have lulled everyone into a state of inertia (don't write to Rog for he's got a basketful of letters and won't have room for anything I might say).
As a result of my oversell I received only three hand-written communications this month. John Benson says Bill Steck is having the same problem. Correspondence should increase as the Alumni Fund campaign progresses. Let's hope so.
Ed Gruen came through with a fine letter which I quote in full: "To pile right into my given subject, I last wrote the Class (Shep) from Manila, Philippines just two years ago. I said then, and repeat now with even greater fervor, if you want to be '31 from the inside out, go overseas for at least a year on a job you know a fair bit about. Berta and I stayed a year and a half, all but a month of it in the Philippines, and re- turned during the winter a year ago feeling invigorated. It's not just the extra pay and prestige but the opportunity to take a fresh evaluation of yourself, your own values, your country's - not to mention the new sights, people, and experiences. The highlight, for me, was my four weeks TDY in Bangkok helping the Thai set up their first industrial census.
"Since our return the assignments for both of us have taken a new twist. For Berta, it has been the much-too-long-post-poned pleasure of fixing up a home of our own —in Chevy Chase, just across the Maryland line at 3303 Turner Lane. For me it has been a whole run of special jobs drawing on my economics training, including some international training work and even 'ghost-writing.' And for our daughter Margery, it has been the undeniable pleasure of getting through college (Radcliffe) creditably last June and then the great thrill of being accepted by Dartmouth as one of the four girls in this year's new class at Medical School. Our Ralph Hunter, as acting Dean of the Medical School last September, had his picture taken with her to commemorate another first for '31! I hear it appeared in the Medical School Quarterly.
"I'm afraid this isn't as brief as I intended, so let me move to the second half of the topic I assigned myself. It occurs to me that a sequel - or, more precisely, a 10th year supplement to our 25-year book might prove of more than passing interest to the Class. Beside just bringing our stories up-to-date, e.g. when and where do you plan to retire now (if different from your answer to Dick Holbrook in '56, why?), etc. I think it might lend some spice if we would all try the motivational bit in depth. To give you at least a glimmer of what's in my mind, I have resorted to the old census demographer's gambit of sketching out a questionnaire, attached.
" After you've looked it over and done some soul-searching, let me know whether you see here the germ of an idea that one such as the peripatetic and nonpareil (sic!) Holbrook would carry to fruition from his new base in Arizona. As bait I will volunteer to start the confessions with a minimum of three entries under each mam heading. Best possible wishes for the good work you are doins. My contribution to the College this winter just ended has been to head up the interviewing for County, MH. - 54 candidates."
Shep Wolff, who always comes through with information, wrote the following newsy bit just last week: "Len and Dotty Clark were in Newton visiting Len's brother Russ '26. They were nice enough to stop by and spend several very pleasant hours at our home with Harriet and me. Both of the kids looked wonderful and are really more than holding their own with old man time.
"Last Wednesday on a very quickie trip to Dallas and return, while getting on the plane to return to Boston someone grasped my arm and to my surprise and pleasure it was Rose and Hank McCarthy and son, Steve. They had been doing some visiting out west. We had several opportunities for pleasant quickie conversations. As usual the McCarthys were good company. I never noticed before that Hank was a trifocal eyeglass wearer which puts him in my class or vice-versa. For any other blind old bats I can say trifocals are really the cats and have helped me considerably." Shep, I have to say at this point that I have been wearing trifocals for three years and enjoy them except when I have to step on an escalator.
John Benson sent a great letter commenting on the renewed and growing interest of the Class. I quote: "For 1965 our Class contributed $49,822 to the Alumni Fund to win that second-in-a-row Green Derby. Our 1966 goal is about the same, but I am sure we can beat that and get at least to the $51,200 we raised in 1964. Let's raise our sights, get into realistic giving levels and add to the members of our growing Century Club ($100 and over).
"And let me tell you one last thing. JimSwift, our 1966 Class Agent, is a tiger - Dartmouth style. His enthusiasm has me going all over again. I'm sure you who are his assistant agents can't help but feel his infectious enthusiasm. I say, let's back Jim and set a new record for '31 this year."
John, there's nothing to be added to what you say, except that you looked real great at the head table at the Boston Alumni Fund Class. Agent dinner March 24. Bunce Clarkson, Bob Dickey, Dave Borkum, Charlie Dwyer, John Boermeester, Jim Godfrey, and yours truly represented '31 at the dinner. We all met Jack Reno Jr. '61 who lives in Winchester. Bunce had some disturbing news about a large fire in his lumber yard, promised to write details, but they haven't arrived yet.
Joe Esersky, at the annual meeting of the Dartmouth Club of the Hanover Area, April 15, was elected to the Executive Committee of that organization. Congratulations, Joe!
Eddie Jeremiah took his classmates downmemory lane and regaled them with talesof his undergraduate days and his threedecades as Big Green hockey cuach.
Secretary, 23 Coughlin Rd. North Easton, Mass. 02356
Class Agent, Apt. 2800, 777 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, Ill. 60611
