1935
Hanover on a crisp, still, winter night has a charm all its own. The floodlights gleaming on Dartmouth Row, with soft reflections glistening on the snow. Warm lights with yellowish cast glowing from Baker, Hopkins Center, and The Inn. A tired, mam- moth snowman, relic of the preceding Carnival weekend, still monarch of all he surveyed, as a full moon shone down on campus.
Such was the nostalgic setting as LowellHaas and I tromped the campus with our sons on freshman father-son weekend. Chuck Drackett was listed among those scheduled to attend, but our paths did not cross.
Returning to the campus in midwinter, the first time since undergraduate days, was a never-to-be-forgotten experience. It brought back memories of nearly 40 years ago, and somehow those bitter, bonechilling nights of winters past were forgotten in the warmth of the moment, and the nostalgic reveries that flooded my mind.
uaryuaryuaryuaryFrankly, I wasn't quite prepared for the changed circumstances of dormitory life. With parietals gone, feminine guests appear to be everywhere, day or night. I'm still a bit bemused by my experience on Saturday morning. As I stood shaving in the first-floor John, there was a hurried patter of something less than masculine feet. A discreet knock on the door. And a hurried retreat, as I boomed out "Come on in." Ah, as that old comic strip so often proclaimed, I fear we were "born 30 years too soon."
Each trip to the campus manages to unearth some new facet of John Dickey's quest for excellence. The Kiewit Computer Center; Dartmouth's unrivalled math and Russian departments, and the ever-impressive work shops and creative centers in Hopkins Center are, by now, known to all. But this trip, in the bowels of Thornton, Fred Haas, Lowell's son, showed us a new one. A fabulous electronic music laboratory, one of the finest in the world, where students (Fred among them) are creating strange but haunting compositions with oscillators, reverbs, and other electronic devices.
The weekend provided a few fleeting moments to touch bases with the Hanover clan. Cocktails with Henrietta and BobHage evoked the news that they'll be flying to Austria in May for a tour of the Rhine country. A mix-up in signals resulted in our failure to attend George Colton's cocktail party for freshman dads. But we did see George and Ruth briefly Sunday, as George chipped away at a winter's accumulation of ice. The way George was relishing his chores, it even looked like fun. So much for a weekend that will be long remembered.
A note from Cramp Carrick reveals he has cut loose from his former insurance agency, and set up shop for himself. Cramp adds: "All three youngsters home for Christmas. Patricia from the coast, where she works for educational TV in San Francisco. Rick at University of Vermont in Burlington should graduate in June. John finishes Tabor this year and has his application in at Hanover. I'm off to Switzerland for a couple of weeks on the boards ... if I don't break my neck."
Also Europe-bound are Babs and RegBankart. With the new restructuring of Reg's agency, he is now the USA head of British-based Lintas, reports directly to the British chairman and has a "hot line" to London. All this, while still occupying the same executive suite at SSC & B, New York.
A Christmas note from Marianne and Al Dodd says "We're back where we started when it was fashionable, and the custom, to say 'I do.' All our birdies have flown the nest, though Steve says he still will visit us on vacations from the University of Florida, where he made the varsity swimming team ... as a freshman! We've sold our house in Devon, taken an apartment in Wayne and bought a seashore home in Avalon, N. J. No more lawn, leaves, and chores! All four girls are married, giving us seven grandchildren and an eighth expected."
Ralph Specht has forwarded a note from Bill Crouse to be shared with the class. Bill writes: "Bea and I have two children. Franny, 32, after holding jobs in Toronto, Hamburg, and Sierra Leone, by-passed the USA and settled out on Vancouver Island, where she married a Finnish lad, name of Robert Helsing. Frank, 30, is six years out of Dartmouth, after taking the combined Tuck-Thayer program along with a Navy commission. He works for Haskins and Sells, and he and his life, Laraine, have given us two grandsons."
As for Ralph and his own family, he reports "Trudie, youngest son Scott and I plan to vacation in Florida the latter part of February. Will visit Marco Island, where I purchased some property last year and spend several days in Key West for some golf and fishing."
George Goodman writes from Palm Beach "On vacation for a few weeks - the first 'time off' since last winter. Before leaving, had a pleasant telephone visit with LoringP. 'Riv' Jordan. He is a very important member of the legal firm of Rackemann, Sawyer and Brewster in Boston."
Bill Clark writes that daughter Ellen is married to a science teacher, and has presented them with one granddaughter. "Son Pete, Cornell '64, after three years in India with the Peace Corps, is teaching math and coaching hockey at Exeter High School. Son, Dave, went into Vista after his junior year at Dartmouth, and may soon return to Hanover. Billy Jr., is 11 years old!"
From Houston, Texas, Chuck Gillsn laments the fact that there are no '35ers in the area. "Exchange Christmas greetings annually with the Al Ritchies and Ernie Hedlers, who at last report are well and prosperous. Our family is somewhat dispersed. Son, Tom, is with Thomas Industries in Chicago. Son, Lex (Charles Jr.) is still a bachelor, currently employed in a Houston bank and also attending law school. Daughter Greta presented us with a granddaughter in December."
In a recent reorganization at Bethlehem Steel Corporation Charlie Ganzel was elected vice president, rolled steel products. He has been with Bethlehem Steel since graduation and advanced through various sales positions. He became assistant general manager of sales in 1963 and was elected assistant vice president, sales, in May 1966. He is a member of the American Iron and Steel Institute and continues to live at 425 Wedgewood Road in Bethlehem, Pa.
Emmy McMullen recently was elected to the board of trustees of Centenary College for Women. Art Allyn was made a director of the Old Orchard Bank and Trust Company, just outside Chicago. Cal Wright was elected second vice president of the corporate secretary's department at John Hancock. And Jim Hughes took over the responsibility as chief executive officer, as well as president, of Diamond Shamrock Company.
Fred Depinet's wife, Nan, writes that she and Fred have taken up organ music, adding "if nothing else we're musical." Bob Richter reports, "Audrey and I have traveled extensively in recent months, primarily to keep our minds from dwelling too hard on our son's presence in Vietnam. With both daughters married, we're free to travel and have covered Hawaii, Mexico City, Bermuda, and a number of the western states."
Bob Narramore forwards a note from Bob Maida's widow, Carolyn Calderwood, with a real estate offer that, should appeal to some '35er. Carolyn asks "Know anyone who'd like to rent my house in Bermuda? Two bedrooms overlooking Two Rock Passage. Maid, Coral Beach Club, Riddell's Bay Golf Club and Mid-Ocean Club go with it." Carolyn is heading for England for the summer to look into schools for 13-year-old daughter, Tina.
A final note from Charlie Sewall, our retired Navy captain living the bucolic life in Brooksville, Me. "Wife Jean was selected for commander in the Naval Reserve, so I've lost half my authority around the house. I keep busy on all sorts of committees. Rus Wiggins, former Ambassador to the U.N. and an ex-employer of Fritz Beebe's (Wiggins was editor of the 'Washington Post'), is my vice chairman on the Hancock County Economic Commission. Off to Florida for a couple of weeks in March, then back to get the crops in."
Secretary 840 Westcliff Deerfield, Ill. 60015
Class Agent, Sero of New Have 1290 Ave. of Americas New York, N.Y. 10019
