Remsens Disclosed as Donors Of Record $1.75 Million Gift
DURING the Commencement Weekend, the donors of an anonymous gift of $1.75 million to the Dartmouth Medical School were identified as Martin J. Remsen '14 of Hartford, Vt., and his wife, Kathleen.
President Dickey made the announcement at the Commencement Luncheon, where Mr. and Mrs. Remsen were present to hear the plaudits of the large audience and the words of Dartmouth's gratitude expressed by the President.
The gift is the largest single donation ever made to the College by a living alumnus. It also eclipses all other contributions, including foundation support, made to the Third Century Fund, which has a goal of $51 million and now stands at a little over $20 million.
President Dickey characterized the Remsens' gift as "a decisive contribution toward the new facilities needed in the next stage of the Medical School's development, which under the leadership of Dean Carleton Chapman will involve extensive revision of the traditional medical program."
Mr. Remsen, brother of Richard Remsen '12 of New York City, uncle of three Dartmouth graduates, and cousin of four others, received the Alumni Council's Dartmouth Alumni Award in 1964 in token of his professional and community achievements and his long years of service to Dartmouth. For the Class of 1914 he was president for six years, head class agent for 15 years, memorial fund chairman for five years, and reunion chairman; and currently he is newsletter editor and bequest chairman, a post filled for 17 years. He was honored as Bequest Chairman of the Year for 1966-67. He is past president of the Association of Class Bequest and Estate Planning Chairmen and past vice-president of the General Association of Dartmouth Alumni.
Mr. Remsen, a graduate of Columbia Law School, was a partner in the New York law firm of Bernard, Remsen, Milham and Bowdish. In 1939 he moved to Etna, N.H., where he engaged in dairy farming until 1947. In Hanover community affairs, Mr. Remsen served on the Town Finance Committee for six years. He also has served as a trustee of Hitchcock Hospital, Red Cross chairman, Rotary president, and as a member of the Town Planning and Zoning Boards, the Ford Sayre Memorial Ski Council, and the Hanover Republican Committee. Before returning to Hanover and then after settling in Etna he was for 12 years a member of Selective Service Committees in New York City and Long Island.
Mrs. Remsen, who shares many of her husband's community service interests, is the former Kathleen McLaughlin of Garden City, N.Y.
Martin J. Remsen '14 and Mrs. Remsen with President Dickey at the CommencementLuncheon in June, when their munificent gift to the College was announced.
