1935

The Class of 1935 is nothing if not contrary. Under ideal circumstances mail dribbles in. However, cripple the country with postal strikes, air controller sick-ins and trucking tie-ups and '35 rises to the challenge. This month's mail-bag is pretty well filled with newsy acknowledgements of birthday greetings ... many from classmates we haven't heard from in some time.

Mike Ritter writes: "It's been an eventful 35 years, 25 with my lovely wife, Doris, rearing three pretty good kids. Paula, my oldest, has graduated from college. Steve, just turned 19, is in college and our youngest, Lyle, is a freshman at Haverhill (Mass.) High where I've been teaching for the last 35 years. I'm looking forward to retirement from teaching in about three years, and the possibility of more travel."

Also from the Boston area, Newk Stainsby summarizes his 35 years in the general insurance business with the comment: "Some- times, the way business is, I wish I were selling apples; or maybe, working as a plumber!" Newk is vice president of Northeast Insurance agency in Boston. Both daughters are now married and, of his son, Mike, Newk reports: "He's a sophomore in high school and quite an athlete, particularly at golf. I have visions of retiring when he hits the pro tour!"

Newk also reports that he sees Fred O'Brien and George Goodman frequently in Lawrence, Mass. Dave Buxbaum has a life insurance business in the same building.

Win Garth writes: "Saw Bucks Weil in Montgomery (Ala.) about Christmas time, where my daughter Emily was presented at one of the many balls they have in that gay town. He looked great — oh, about 44 I'd say." As for the rest of his own family, Win reports that his #2 boy, Bob, is graduating from Wharton this spring and will be married in Bedford, Mass., in June and adds, "All of us will descend on brother Bill in Concord about a week before the wedding — our seven, one wife and two grandchildren. That'll teach him a lesson!"

From Bucks himself comes this note about the Weil clan. "My family is growing up. Oldest daughter, 20, a sophomore at Smith, my younger daughter goes away to college next year, and my son into 8th grade. I am still in the family business of Weil Brothers — Cotton, Inc., but don't take as many trips as I used to."

In reporting on the Freshman Fathers' weekend, I overlooked Tom Kroner, whom I didn't see at the time but who has now filled me in by letter. He was there to visit with his boy, and was impressed by the strong agitation to make Dartmouth co-educational. While his son favors the issue (as most sons do), Tom comments: "I'm opposed to it, since Dartmouth would lose some of its uniqueness and strength." Amen! Besides, with Boston and Smith only two hours' distant, or less, by 80 m.p.h. interstate highways, today's Dartmouth undergraduate is closer to girls than most of us commuters are to our daily jobs! Or, inversely to those girls we live with!!!"

In acknowledging my birthday note, Tom comments rather pointedly, "Who is getting younger? As part of my aging syndrome, I suffered a heart attack in November. Fortunately, there were no serious side effects and the watchword is moderation ... in all activities!!!"

Several members of the class have called my attention to the sorrowful news about Jim Oughton's daughter. She was one of the young radicals killed in the "bomb factory" explosion that devastated a fashionable Greenwich Village town house. Our sympathy goes to Jim and Jane in these difficult hours.

I had the great good fortune to go to Paris on business in early March. While my plotting to arrange a European conclave of '35ers didn't quite work out, several of us did get together... sequentially. Babs andReg Bankart and Alice and Bill Hands did the town in London, while I was visiting with Peg and Ed Mitchell in Paris. Then Bill and Alice joined us the following night at Peg and Ed's new apartment, which is just a few steps from the Place Victor Hugo and a quarter-mile from the Arc de Triomphe. A lovely, spacious residence, which was most comfortable despite lack of drapes, carpets, etc. (They'd moved in only two days before!) From the Handses, we learned that son Jeff (now in Australia) has a new daughter, Elizabeth Victoria.

Bill Fitzhugh was in Chicago for a meeting of his Pre-Print, Inc., Board of Directors, newspaper publishers from various sections of the country. Among them was Laury Herman '34, now advertising director of the "St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times & Independent." Bill's group is crusading for wider use of magazine-quality, four-color advertising in newspapers.

Lowell Haas' boy, Fred, is certainly following pappy's musical bent. During spring holidays he played in a major Boston concert with Don Cherry, Dartmouth music instructor and a leading avant garde composer. Also he was cited for excellence by Professor Jon Appleton in these words "Mr. Haas is a gifted composer who has made the progress in one year that one usually expects in four."

From George Hoke comes news of several classmates. "Have just returned from Hawaii (where I shot a 90-1b wild boar). Saw Pug Atherton who recently retired as publisher of the 'Honolulu Star-Bulletin.' The scoop I get (not from Pug himself) is that Pug spends much of his time in Africa on safari. Visited one evening with Buck Ewing '37, who sells hospital supplies on Oahu and lives the life of Riley. Bill Mathers' son, Mike, visited me here in the Twin Cities recently."

Derek Lee, in addition to his textile business, is putting in time as president of the British American Chamber of Commerce. "I find myself making frequent visits to Washington to fight Buy American and protectionist legislation. Along the way, however, I have met many interesting people who give back a little bit of faith in some of the men who run our government."

From Harry Ferries comes news that he and Anne are grandparents for the sixth time. "It's a reminder of impending old age, I suppose. Unfortunately, the grandchildren are scattered all over, with the nearest some 500 miles from Toronto."

Secretary 840 Westcliff Deerfield, Ill. 60015

Class Agent, Sero of New Haven 1290 Ave. of the Americas New York, N. Y. 10019