1940

March seems to be "clean-up" month, for each year I go through my open files just about this time and pick up little tid-bits from notes sent to Don Rainie along with annual dues payments. The prime frustration in this job is in not knowing whether or not I'm giving you news in which you're interested—or am I just beating my gums? Let me know!

Ed Banta checks in from Red Band, N. J., that he's still occupied as a medical general practitioner. He doesn't say what his children are doing other than that daughters Barbara and Lynn graduated from Skidmore in '67 and '70 respectively, son Ned's in the class of '75 Middlebury while youngest David still has three years to go before entering college. Ed's extended an invitation for skiiers stranded in south central Vermont to stop off at his "lodge" on Route 100, south of Ludlow.

Dick Handy reports that he and Connie missed the football season 'cause at the crack of dawn on Sunday, September 26, Kristin Handy came into the world weighing just five pounds. Now that six months have passed we trust a good night's sleep is being had by all.

The purveyor of all things practical and exotic, Ernie Lendler spent the fall months climbing the walls 'cause of both the West and East coast dock strikes. What started out as a "fantastic year" ended happily, but almost disastrously for this purveyor of imported knick-knacks. Ernie reports running into various and sundry '40's at various trade shows he attends-ye scribe being one who sees him at least twice each year.

Ted Miller spent the fall months touring Italy, Switzerland and Germany along with his son Don (D '65) and daughter-in-law He doesn't tell us the reason Don's living in Naples, but it doen't matter when it provides the opportunity for a good European vacation! Another traveller, but this time strictly on business, has been Charlie Power. As president of his own travel agency, Charlie took a month away from the office this fall to check out Australia and the Orient. A brief note from our Coke king, Hugh Schwarz, refers to Don Ramie's annual statement of '40s finances and remarks that it's nice to see such a solvent organization with a ridiculous ratio of funds on hand vs. operating costs. Hugh, remember this always builds up disproportionately between reunions. From the distaff side a note about Joe Sudarsky from his wife Gay. She says that "all's well and we're enjoying having daughter Betty Lee, Smith "73, spending her junior year at Dartmouth". Has anyone else in the class got a female exchange student on the Hanover campus? Would sure appreciate anything on the subject 'cause I think it might make a future interesting column.

Bill Mercer, recently elected president, chief operations officer, and director of New England Telephone, has been elected to the board of directors of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. He began his Bell System career in 1947, after serving as a captain in the Army Air Corps during World War 11. Bill and Mona have four sons: Lee '65 and John '68; Ray, Colgate '67, and Robert, a student at Ohio Weslyan. Bill has served as a member of the President's Task Force on Women's Rights and Responsibilities and is a member of the Board of Overseers of Crotched Mountain Rehabilitiation Center.

I must remind you that this is being written pre-winter Olympics, but we hope Ike Weed's son did well. He is (was) a member of the Nordic Combined Olympic Team (5 man team) and after the Olympics they'll continue to tour and compete throughout Europe before returning home sometime in April. Hope we'll have seen the name Walker Ten Eyck Weed III in print many times.

We'll close this column, as we have for the past several years, with a plug for ArtOstrander and his superb team of assistant class agents who'll be kicking off the annual Alumni Fund drive on April Ist. If you're invited to one of the numerous get-togethers around the. country during late March or early April try to make the one in your locale . . . they're fun and make a nice small (except in NY and Boston) informal reunion.

Secretary, 200 sth Ave. New York, N. Y. 10010

Treasurer, 64 North Main St., Concord, N. H. 03301