1918
After our April column had gone to press, more letters came in from last June's graduates saying thanks for "The College on the Hill." These I mean to turn over to the editors of our Newsletter so that you all may share them.
About how the gift was made to 1968 I know no more than that its 1918 volunteer donor or donors agreed to finance it only upon being assured that two stipulated conditions would be met: (1) that it be given in the name of the entire Class of 1918; (2) that the identity of the donor or donors be not revealed. So, out of respect for the generosity that inspired this not inconsiderable gift, as well as for the modesty that prompted its being kept anonymous, I have asked no questions, have uttered not a guess. With complete sincerity I can therefore say that I know no more than I have told you.
You will be amused to know, I may add, that so well had the College kept its secret, my first intimation that our class was being credited by '68 with any gift whatever I gained when early in February the first thank-you letter - that from Eric Hatch '68 - mystified and then stunned me with delighted surprise. I fancy that you, my classmates, were similarly affected when you read our April column. All classmates, that is, except the unknown donor or donors of our 1918 gift. May he or they gain from the episode the largest possible measure of well-deserved enjoyment.
Imagine here, please, a row of asterisks indicating the lapse of an hour, during which I left my Norwich typewriter, crossed the Connecticut, invaded Crosby Hall, and laid before the Secretary of the College, Michael McGean, the three paragraphs above. He read them smilingly - not grimly, as I'd feared he might. To him I then put a question that had begun to trouble me: "In what I've said there, have I said too much? May not the donor or donors object to my revealing that the gift was financed by an individual or a group, even though bestowed in the name of our entire class?" Mike thought a while, then answered, "No, I don't think so." He continued, "Where were you last June during the commencement luncheon at Leverone House? It was then announced to the seniors that the Fifty-Year class was going to present to them this gift. David Peter Hofman their president made a nice little speech of appreciation. Don't you remember?" I shook my head, groaning. Mike went on, "I guess you didn't hear it. Well, of course, lots of your classmates didn't hear it either, the ones who didn't make your reunion. And a number of seniors, I'm afraid, ducked the luncheon. So plenty of people are going to be surprised, and I'm pretty sure your classmate or classmates who gave the gift won't be annoyed by your saying what you do. Run your story as it is. lust make clear, though, that it didn't actually break as late as February, that quite a few knew it last June - even if you didn't!" Mike was grinning, and I was embarrassed, but mainly I was relieved. As you, my fellow Eighteeners, doubtless are relieved to have me now turn to another topic.
To you all, a letter about a mid-March event, signed with the initials of the able fellow who ran it, C.L.D.
Gentlemen:
The buck has landed in my lap, so here is a report on the 1969 (5th) POWWOW, held in Fort Lauderdale on March 11 and 12.
The count given me by the money-changers who manned the door came to 19 classmates, who were — Mort and Gertrude Coon, Cliff and Adeline Daniels, John Donahue, Dwight Edson, Al Gottschaldt, Ed and Luke Healey, Russ and Gene Howard, Jasper and Ann Johnston, Tom and Martha Jones, Steve and Dot Mahoney, Paul and Helen Miner, Syl and Minetta Morey, Howie and Ann Park, Tom and Elizabeth Robbins, Jack and Doris Rosnell, Neil and Lenah Sheldon, Julius Van Raalte, George von Kapff, Hugh Whipple.
Welcome were a number from other classes. Bud Hoban '12 came to the dinner with Barbara for the express purpose of playing the piano for us, and he did a bang-up job. Also joining us were Milford Streeter '16 and his wife Josephine; Charley Warner '19; Leo Ungar '20 and Alice; Charley McGoughran '20, who thus maintained his perfect attendance record, being present with us for the fifth consecutive year.
Next year there'll be another POWWOW, on an as yet undetermined date. At it we hope to see others, besides having everyone from this year come back. Many, such as Steve Mahoney and Tom Robbins, have been with us every year. We much regretted the absence of Gene Markey, who was laid up with arthritis. Alex Proctor we had looked forward to having with us, but he was incapacitated with a bad heart attack. We'll see them next year.
Thank you, Cliff Daniels, for your report and for submitting it promptly. Our entire class owes you gratitude for carrying on the 1918 POWWOW. Your account of this, the latest, the class might have had earlier via the April "Roar," but when I offered it to the Binghams, I was told that those far travellers had writ their April copy, sent it to Crosby, and planned to head for California ere April began. As a down-east expression puts it, "They've got 'go' tied to 'em."
So have other New Englanders. Georgeand Pat Stoddard, weary of the Hanover deep freeze, made for Boston's Logan Airport only to find it buried under two feet of snow. But a morning or two later they were able to take off, and by sunset were in Palo Alto, house guests of the Wallicks. Thence a while later via southern California and way-stations in Arizona and New Mexico to see Ed and Clara Felt and their new home in San Antonio, Texas. I've just tried (April 4) to 'phone the Stoddards to see if they're back. No answer. Well, here there's still plenty of snow, if that's what they want to escape. The ice did go out on the Connecticut a few days since. But this morning the radio weather man promised that in northern Vermont and New Hampshire we'd have superb Easter skiing.
By the time you read this, the 1969 Alumni Fund drive will be in full swing. Let's make special effort this year, because George von Kopff is having his first go as our Head Agent. And because when we went to Dartmouth every one of us was on a scholarship of sorts. The low tuition didn't begin to pay costs. There are only so many years in which we can pay.
Now, sad news: the death of our classmate Wilbur F. Kurtz in Cleveland some months ago — on 7 November, to be exact. Besides our sorrow over his passing, we feel chagrin at the tardiness of this announcement and keen regret that owing to the unaccountable mischance of the word's having failed to reach and be promptly reported by our alumni recorders, Bill's surviving family and his Cleveland friends have had this gratuitous distress added to the sadness of their bereavement. An obituary will appear later.
On 24 March Richard T. Sisk died in Chelsea after a brief illness. About Dick a fuller notice will later be published. To his surviving brother and two sisters the class extends sympathy.
And now we can only mention our having had word within the hour that FlorimondDuke died suddenly in Scottsdale, Ariz., today Friday, 4 April. A full obituary in our In Memoriam section will of course subsequently appear.
Secretary, Elm St., Norwich, Vt. 05055
Class Agent, Lower Troy Rd., Fitzwilliam, N. H. 03447
