1947
Early June in Hanover! Truly a glorious time. Final exams over and the pressure off. Packing, goodbyes for the summer, for the seniors a long last look and a goodbye for longer and finally graduation weekend. As some of us prepare now for the graduation of our own children and for summer vacation we can easily recall the feeling of June in Hanover. A pleasant memory.
Would you believe that between the College and the Class there are only two news items to report this month? Congratulations to James Lynch who was recently engaged to Gail Dugan. In the Dartmouth tradition, Gail is a Smith College graduate and lives in New Hartford, N.Y. This article is reported in the Utica newspaper and indicates that Jim is associated with Naftone Inc. Congratulations and best wishes to you, Jim. The second bit of news was from Dick Johnson who is a professor at Syracuse University in New York. Dick has four children, the oldest who will be entering college in 1969 and the others not far behind. Unfortunately Dick reports that he is ill with multiple sclerosis and not in the best of shape. Anybody caring to drop a note to him, he is living at 323 Kimber Road, Syracuse 3, N.Y. Best wishes to you for improved health, Dick.
Well that's it as far as news and we could close now. However, we would be embarrassed to have such a short column in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE and so we must continue. In talking with a Yale friend of mine, he reported that once a year his class secretary brought the class up-to-date on himself and his family in the class column. Because it's your fault that there is nothing else to write about if you continue reading you will have to suffer with news of the Kirsch family.
Some of you may remember that in 1948 Al Bildner and I sold senior class jackets. The buttons fell off, the sleeves were different lengths and fitting was a matter of luck. This discouraged Al to go to a safer venture such as the grocery business and he withdrew and left the venture to me. This experience coupled with a thesis that I did for Al Frey '20 at the Tuck School on an imaginary business resulted in my founding Robert Rollins Blazers, Inc. Twenty years later I am still in the same business with offices and shipping facilities in New York and a factory in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Those of you involved in parochial or public education, who serve on school boards or who have children in bands and choral groups or private schools may have made out a check to us. If you have occasion to in the future, please write and you will be entitled to a class discount. At any rate we are now making complete blazer uniforms for colleges, preparatory schools, high school bands and choral groups, Catholic school uniforms, career suits for White Collar women workers and blazer suits for sales and service personnel. We have managed to feed the family, have the usual amount of headaches but at least have job security. We are so loyal to classmates that we buy most of our fabric from Ed Senghas at J. P. Stevens. Ed personally guarantees that the cloth won't fade, shrink or fall apart (for at least one wearing). Incidentally we are in need of an administrative executive with a heavy background in paper work production systems etc. If any '47 would like to join a small Dartmouth firm so that we can have daily reunions, please write.
" Four years ago we moved from New York City as the rat race was just too much. We now live in Chappaqua, N.Y., which is in Northern Westchester. My wife Abby, who attended Hood College and graduated from Adelphi College, runs a Gourmet cooking school. She's pretty good and her practise dishes, which she forces me to eat, accounts for my rather pudgy profile. In addition to this and managing our family of four, she is active in community affairs and is the world's prettiest full-time chauffeur. Incidentally she has vounteered to do the cooking for the 25th reunion.
Richard is my oldest son, 15 years and going into his junior year at the local high school. He is a top honor student (unlike his father), in the school band (which wears Robert Rollins uniforms), JV soccer and active in United Synagogue youth affairs on a regional basis. My second son, Jim is the biggest 11-year-old in captivity. He is the only boy in Chappaqua who managed to be on three championship little league teams in baseball, football, and basketball in one season. He loves skiing and girls and already has told me he is going to the University of Colorado which has both.
Our third son, Billy is 10 years old and is getting ready to support the family. He sells seed packages, started his own sign making business, folds paper boxes for the florists and washes cars on the side. I am already busy encouraging him to leave school after the 8th Grade and come to work, as I am afraid further education will only dull his initiative. Last but not least, to the joy of my wife and relief to me when she arrived, is our 7-year-old daughter Jo Ellen. As you would expect with three older brothers, she is a beautiful blend of fight and femininity. She is obviously the apple of Abby's eye and I must admit she pleases me as well.
That's the family and it keeps us pretty busy. Between business, Dartmouth, tennis and family skiing there isn't much time left. If you have read this far I promise you no more Kirsch news unless you fail me again.
As you read this article the Alumni Fund Drive is in its closing stage. If you are reading this MAGAZINE, it indicates that you still have an interest in Dartmouth and a feeling for the College. For that reason, in addition to the needs so eloquently put before you these past months, you surely want to contribute. If you have not already done so, use this as a last reminder and send your contribution into the Alumni Fund immediately.
Summer time is upon us and it is generally a more varied and interesting experience for most of us. Please make some notes and sometime in August write us a letter to tell us any of the interesting things you have done during the summer and fill us in on yourself and your family. To paraphrase a Dartmouth father, Lowell Thomas - "And so long until September. Have a wonderful summer with health and happiness in abundance."
Secretary, 23 Whippoorwill Rd. Chappaqua, N.Y. 10514
Class Agent, 46 Avondale Rd., White Plains, N.Y. 10605
