1963's 5th
From the time that an advance party arrived in Hanover on Thursday, June 19 to the time stragglers left town on Sunday, June 22, the "Fifth" Reunion of the Class of '63 was a non-stop blast. Don and KayWertz hosted the Thursday evening envelopestuffing party led by Bob and Kathy Finney and Denny and Hennie Eagle. Don, who was assisted with the swimming team during the past year, will return to the student life at Tuck School next year; Bob continues with the Development Office at the College, If you return to Hanover in the next few years look them up. Art Williams, who arrived on Friday, is the father of a new son which prevented his earlier arrival and Cookie's participation in the reunion). He had things smoothly running throughout the weekend and handled a minor crisis on Saturday evening with real style. (More about that later.)
Panel discussions, golf, revisiting old haunts registration and greetings occupied Friday' The Fayerweather Row, which along with North Topliff (yes, they split Topliff in half), was a really ear-splitting site Friday evening when the loudest, wildest, most blasting band ever seen and heard in Hanover kept things moving until 2:00 or 3:00 Saturday morning. Lil and I gave up at about 2:00. .
Earlier Friday evening an informal dinner for all reuning classes at Leverone was surprisingly good; dinner was followed by football flicks which made the Green seem to have a 9-0 season and by hilarious talks by Whitey Burnham, Ab Oakes '56, Jake Crouthamel '60 and sports information officials about the past season's efforts and a look ahead at next year. About half the class was entertained on Friday evening by the Glee Club in a special Bicentennial concert complete with slides and narrative quotes. The other half of the class had an opportunity to see the same concert on Saturday evening and I think that just about everyone heard it.
Miraculously everyone dragged himself and herself out of those "comfortable" dorm beds on Saturday morning in time to have a tent breakfast, and hear a stimulating panel discussion led by Thad Seymour and panelist Lou Gerstner on "The Conflict in Generations." It was the last opportunity for most of us to hear Thad in action for he'll assume the presidency of Wabash College in July. It was an odd sensation to think about his departure for he was a very real part of our lives while we were at college and provided a sincere, frank and concerned sounding board for our problems and complaints. He, as we all will agree, is a very unusual guy and is sincerely interested in the student as a person and in the College as a place designed for that person. At any rate, both during the panel discussion and later Saturday at our picnic at Storrs Pond (with huge swimming pool), Thad was warm and frank as ever.
Much to Art and Denny's horror over fifty classmates and spouses showed up on Saturday who had not previously sent notice that they were coming to Reunion, so that the Hanover Inn, which had prepared for about 240 diners, was suddenly confronted with 297 (or so) hungry '63s. The second largest crowd for a "Fifth" Reunion in the College's history, reported Bob Finney, managed with only small delay to enjoy a roast beef dinner, to be thoroughly entertained by the Injunaires, and see prizes awarded to the alumni who came the furthest distances for reunion - a three-way tie among Dick Sweet, Steve Anderson (who flew his own plane to Leb), and Jim Libbey - all from San Francisco. DavePabst came from Yugoslavia, but by way of Washington where he's preparing for the Foreign Service. Bill Gerchick and his wife were brave enough to come East from Tucson, Ariz., with a seven-week-old baby but also had, thankfully, stopped in New York.
Saturday morning, Bill Subin held the class meeting and, aided by Barry Elson, introduced a new class executive committee those, which after unanimous approval by those in attendance (a surprisingly large number), selected Lou Gerstner as our president until the next reunion, four years hence; Dave Schaefer, secretary (I say with gratitude); Denny Eagle, treasurer; RogerParkinson, newsletter editor; and Bill Russell for another series as class agent.
It's impossible to recite all those who attended the Reunion. Denny and Henny, Berky and Carol, Mules and Marilyn, Steve and Joan, and Steve and Susan made my reunion a really wonderful one. Wish that all of you could have been there, but I'm sure that no one will miss our 10th. See you there.
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
