1923
Word of Mox Hubert last appeared in this column in 1949 and in Skiddoo in 1956. I was particularly happy therefore to receive from him the following letter bearing the prestigious C.L.U. of the insurance fraternity:
"You ask for news of me. Nothing exciting. We moved down here from Pelham, N. Y., in '56 and I opened an office here for New England Life. I still get up to my New York office a few times each year and continue to write some business. Expect to retire about age 80.
"My wife Kay and I recently had the pleasure of stopping at Bill Kimball's Island Inn, on Sanibel Island in the Gulf, and heartily recommend it for relaxing, shelling, swimming, wonderful food, and lodging. Beautiful spot! We've camped out at one of the D.O.C. cabins several summers, though not the last four. Am wondering just where Francestown is. Hope to see you for our 50th anyway.
"If ever down this way, be sure to look us up. We have twin beds and bath to spare for any '23ers while our daughter is away at college. She's a soph at Florida State."
Via Babe Miner comes news that GusMeleney's daughter Jane was married on October 28. She had been a Peace Corps executive in Ghana where she met her husband, Bob Coe, who was then with the U. S. State Department. Bob and Deborah Smith attended the wedding. Bob has now retired and moved from Charlotte, N. C., to Catonsville, Md. Bob was best man at Gus and Betty's wedding in 1929.
Joe Lombardi reports that his son Bart '52 (and Thayer '54) is an Electrical Engineer with 1.8.M., is married, and has three children. Daughter Carol, Manhattanville 1963, is married to Charles B. Young, Yale 1962, a banker with First National City. Raffaela has retired from teaching and devotes her time to children and grandchildren. Joe has been in the real estate business in New York for over forty years, specializing mainly in the sale and mortgaging of properties. He still enjoys his work and has no plans to retire.
Bud Freeman reports the disturbing news that Dave Boyle, our 1923 scholarship recipient is retiring from college. This immediately following the sad passing of Dave Clark, another of our proteges, has left Bud wondering about our next move. Currently, together with Bob Hage '35, Director of the Office of Financial Aid, he is examining the records of several promising freshmen.
In the previous issue I mentioned the problems we all have of arranging suitable accommodations in or about Hanover for the home game football weekends. Pem Whitcomb had written of his experiences and knowing that Frank Doten would be as well informed on the subject as anyone could be I forwarded Pem's letter to him. I wish I could quote you Frank's reply in full as it was extremely informative. Briefly the situation is this: Other classes have long since buttoned up apparently in perpetuity the facilities of the better motels. Hanover on fall weekends is about like Cape Cod on the Fourth of July. The College of necessity must reserve accommodations for its legion of invited guests, coaches of the visiting teams, etc. The Hanover Inn absorbs the brunt of this demand. Hence the shortage of rooms at this lodgings mecca.
Frank however offers an alternative in the form of firm reservations at two of the better motels for the weekend of the Princeton game October 11 and 12. Fred Davis will handle the details. Write to him at 17 Gloucester Lane, Gloucester Village, West Hartford, Conn. 06107, but hold off until Fred gets back from Florida about May 1. Frank has also made tentative arrangements for an evening get together on the 11th and for a class dinner on the 12th. More detail on this later.
Francis Donovan's son-in-law Walter R. Peterson '47 has recently announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Governor of New Hampshire. Walter, a prominent Peterborough realtor, is currently Speaker of the New Hampshire House. He is married to Francis' daughter, Dorothy. They have two children, Margaret, 13, and Andrew, 11.
The Ocean Grove, N. J., Times announces the re-election of Joe Millar as a director of the Keystone Savings and Loan Association, a $33 million assets organization with offices in Asbury Park and Neptune, N. J. The same issue of the Times in its "Fifty Years Ago" column reports the election of Joe as captain of the Asbury Park High basketball team.
We well remember how beautifully OwenSmith's camera recorded the Hanover scene for the Aegis and the Bema. Owen took his Master's degree at Harvard Business School in 1925 and spent twelve years in the insurance business in New York. He then returned to his native Portland, Me., and formed his own Owen Smith Agency. All through his business career he was able to apply practically his photography hobby as a sales aid to his highly successful insurance enterprise. Word now comes to us that the business has been purchased by Noyes and Chapman and that Owen will continue with that company in an advisory capacity during the transition period.
Ted Caswell reports sparse 1923 attendance at the annual Dartmouth Club of Boston dinner. Fred Clark, Bill Blake, Nat Harmon, Phil Segal, Jerry Riley, Rusty Sargent, and Bob McMillan represented us. As I recall previous meetings of the Boston Club these faithfuls have almost always been on hand to hold our franchise.
Babe Miner has passed on to me several letters from classmates' widows in which they have expressed their deep appreciation of our remembrance of their husbands through the Memorial Book program. The most recent of these have come from Tess Friedberg, Ruth Doyle, and Jean Fay. Jean's letter which follows is typical: "It is with a grateful heart that I acknowledge ,the gift of a book given by the Class of 1923 to the Dartmouth College Library in Norman's memory. Over a great many years he had a very warm feeling for Dartmouth and it will please his children as it does me that he is remembered there in this way."
Shiner Beggs suffered a sprained tendon in December that necessitated hospital surgery. He is now at home recuperating in a cast and anxious to get back to his Boston office. Frank Downey, our distinguished Cambridge physician, has returned to his practice following surgery. All of Frank's six sons are college graduates. His youngest, Philip, graduated last June from Holy Cross and is a Marine lieutenant in a California training camp.
Lou Wilcox is again swinging into the critical period of his job as Head Class Agent. In a telephone conversation this morning he reports that 1923 has approximately $11,000 in of a 1968 quota of $48,000, somewhat less than our last year's actual. In case you are concerned about the immediate impact of the Third Century Fund drive, there will be no active individual solicitation during 1968. The main thrust of the drive this year will be directed toward corporate and other large givers. Lou's approach in 1968 will be the maintenance of our last year's gift levels.
The 1923 Florida trek is in full swing. Much of my mail now consists of picture post cards of palm trees and sandy beaches, and I can't begin to tell you the number of us who are already there or on their way. The result of all this is that Connie and I find the two feet of snow we have been looking out upon since November 15 has lost some of its appeal. As a consequence we plan to participate in the New Hampshire primary and then take off for somewhere warmer. We'll be back about the time you will be reading this issue.
Secretary, Box 2, Francestown, N. H. 03043
Class Agent, Dogford Rd., Etna, N. H. 03750
