1924
Elsewhere in this or a subsequent issue you will find three brief commentaries on the lives of three very-well-known classmates, Al Burke, Charlie Kearns, and FrankTurner and the sudden ending to each. It has been the thought of more than one of us that the obituaries do scant justice to the lives or to the memories we have of them over the past 47 years. To single out one of the three, only because I happened to know him best of the three when we were undergraduates, who can forget Genesis in Commons but who appears elsewhere as a very different man from the boy we knew? How do you, all of you, want to add to the formal obituaries? One of you suggests using the News Letter for more personal comments, and I know I speak for Butts Lamson to welcome any such first attempts. Let the "spirit move," any of you who will. In addition to usual news channels, I learned of the death of two of the three first from other classmates - for which I am grateful. One was a roommate for three years, with many memories deserving to be shared. Shall we try it?
The help from you on the above reminds me to again say my thanks for those who: send me (every year) a St. Patrick's Day card; a birthday card at any odd time in reply to one I've been sending many years; notes and even pictures of you and you in action; even (but rarely) send in an item about their own selves and families. They are appreciated; more would be very welcome — especially some lean months, newswise. I need ore pictures to make up another News Letter page. I have a good start.
Coming up shortly: ground will be broken "this spring" for a four million dollar building for downtown Worcester, for the Paul Revere Life Insurance Company as a wing to the present office building (where currently two Commerce High School buildings stand), to house about 700 more persons including '24 grandson, Frank L. HarringtonJr., '50. Business and the professions are increasingly together in the news. The National Fund for Medical Education has a NEWS paper, with pictures showing several industrial leaders being indoctrinated - including our Jim Wheaton, public relations manager of A.T.&T. ... And twice I've been "seen" in ads and reported; look-alikes, but no more.
Friends of Art Graham may want to write him to help with his ills; a friend in class of '10 sent me his address for those concerned about him. He's in Georgia. He retired just about two years ago; Alyce died last fall.
Journeyers: Ted and Harriet Nilsen off again for a sea trip; this time the card comes from Dutch West Indies. Off the other side of the world, the Ted Lambs are finding out first hand (including military action in Vietnam, what is happening there in affirmative, civic and community developments — as well as the more-publicized activities. ... And sort of in between, comes a Christmas "card," delayed to be a Valentine, of "Arizona Highways," from Walt Larkin, osteopath-ophthalmologist in Phoenix since he escaped from Philadelphia in 1944; plans to retire "soon," but spent the past summer in Europe and wants to travel more.
Just to remind some of you that the birthdays are increasingly #65, and that the address changes tell part of what's happening in retirement: Emilio Lanier, for many years in Japan, now a professor at Texas Southern University (Houston); George Anderson, long a part of Indiana, now in Naples, Fla.; Sam Ellis, from Kansas to Barboursville, Va.; Phil Rochford, from Minnesota to Phoenix (Walt Larkin please note); Ed Owen, from Stonington, Conn., to Tavernier, Fla.; Frank Tanis, from Darien, Conn., to Rye Beach, N. H. (permanently, Frank? Change was made last November); Solly Thurston, from Maine to Rockport, Mass.; Merritt Smith, long traveling as a manufacturers representative, based out on Long Island, is down in New Bern, N. C.; and Win Nazro moves once again (or have I got the sequence wrong?) from Columbus, Ohio, to Green Valley, Ariz, (another for Walt to look up). I know there are more, but these came up the other day when I was trying to make order out of the '24 drawer in my desk, especially when the decision had been un-made to go to South Carolina for March and April, where Margaret and I would work with another Peace Corps group and enjoy the beaches and wild life there. Instead, it's snowing today (March 7) while New York and Boston get washed out in a tropical storm. Said a com- mentator today: "... A crazy way to end a drought."
Just thought of another retired guy who has moved: Jerry Glauber has come up from the south to live in New York City, with Central Park as his "back yard" ... been there since last April. And no regrets for having left the lumber business. ... Speaking of New York reminds me of many classmates who live in and nearby, but I don't recall having mentioned my pleasure at hearing from Brad Walker, now senior v.p. of the Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (Market Planning Corporation). Invitations to visit you, and you, and you in the Metropolitan area are appreciated, but family priorities always have us going and coming with regret at not having leisure time to accept your kindnesses; come see us in Hanover; it's easier for all of us. We were delighted to have Stan Chittick stay with us while here for the freshman fathers-sons weekend; son Johnnie is a red-hot politician and secretary of the freshman class; an older son out of the Navy and in Harvard Business School, and a younger son at Deerfield; Janie married and living in France.
Glancing over Christmas cards from youall, I note that George and Betty Anderson have indeed left Elkhart, Ind., but they now divide the year: May through September in Chipita Park, Colo.; and then to Naples, Fla. (as above), October through April ... and Red Newell retired to Berkeley, Calif., and "savoring it" even without the amenities of Oriental living; Vaughn Berry managing housing projects, and finding himself a psychologist-of-sorts in dealing with people.
... The Arn Georges back from a cruise with fellow College of Surgeons to Caracas, Curacao, Aruba, Jamaica, etc. - with their professional meetings on board. How about that? ... Ced Foster, "for 27 years a top commentator for the Mutual Network," joins staff at KTLN, Denver, just about as I'm writing these notes. (This move is instead of a shift to"" London to head up the European Bureau, and his preference to live in Denver and the States.)
Many of you are generous with gifts to the College. Dick Morin tells me of a pleasant pair sent in by Butts Lamson: A program of a Jenny Lind concert in Boston, 1850; and a note from Whistler to his London agent bidding him to "Get up and go at once". . . to do his bidding. Check your own attic and share with many what you probably rarely look at; these were in such family papers. And appreciated. Enjoy Spain and Portugal come April; the Morins will have been in Mexico just ahead of you.
Secretary, 2 Brewster Rd., Hanover, N. H.
Class Agent, 5 Deerhill Drive, Ho-Ho-Kus, N. J. 07423
