1932's 40th
The great Class of 1932's Grand and Glorious Fortieth was all of that. Reunion chairman Paul Fox, ably partnered by his June, had planned and organized well. Rolling along merrily without hitch or dull moment, the occasion made short shrift of the three days that encompassed an ongoing program of fun-and-frolic nicely salted with cerebral exposure and endeavor.
Reunion treasurer Bob Fendrich gives us a count of 98 classmates registered—at least half a dozen others having had to make late cancellations due to untoward circumstance. This was 26% of the living members of the Class, up from 23% four years ago. Wives (81), widows (2), offspring (6) and grandchildren (1) brought the total to 188.
By late Monday afternoon Fayerweather Row was in full '32 swing. The gang that gathered in mounting numbers in and about the Class tent were loath to leave the gayety of that place, and it took a band of pied bagpipers skirling by to gather us up and lead us down to Leverone Field House for the opening reception and dinner, along with our fellow reuning classes of '41, '42, and '43. The gayety, carried forward, was in no wise diminished by the smiling service accorded by all those attractive young people—especially the girls who addressed you by name when you went back for seconds.
Just about everybody then strolled over to the Kemenys' pleasant open house. Afterward, maybe you went to the splendid Glee Club concert, or looked up a computer terminal and did your homework for your computer course, and probably wound up at the tent, where there was a lot of good piano, with song and dance, and the beer flowed well into the night.
Tuesday morning an all-class gathering heard President Kemeny report on the state of the College. His format was recollection of a highlight from each of the preceding 10 months, followed by a question period. The strength and length of the ovation that his audience gave the President when he finished was noteworthy.
At the Class meeting that followed leader Howdy Pierpont led us through a brisk agenda. Jack Pyles reported a healthy treasury, with some $5,000 drawing interest toward the day when the Class decides to invest it in a gift to the College. Head Class Agent Bob Ackerberg reported contributions and pledges totaling $86,000 toward our $100,000 objective. (Subsequently additional pledges by some who had already given generously, conditional on others doing their part, made realization of the goal a highly hopeful possibility. We hope there will be good news by the time you read this.) Bequest Chairman Art Allen reported good progress in his department.
The nominating committee (Howie Sargeant, chairman, with Ackerberg, Allen, and Bo Wentworth) presented, and the Class voted, the following slate of officers to serve for the next five years: president, Tom Curtis; secretary, Joe Boldt; executive committee, Alex Christie, Ben Drew,Bill Gerstley, Morry Hubbard, MikeIsaacs, Bill Kendall, Jim North, NatePearson, Red Tucker, Carl Ward, MaxWolff, John Zimmerman. In addition, all former officers are life members of the executive committee.
In indicating his willingness to serve, Curtis had expressed a desire that the other current officers continue with him. Ackerberg, Allen, and Mark Short as newsletter editor accordingly agreed to carry on in their posts. Pyles asked to be relieved of the treasurer's job, and Tom appointed Ev Hokanson in his place. Then came the picnic at Storrs Pond. Superbly catered by the Hanover Inn, it was another happy time. The weather man, who never really let us down, was especially kind through the afternoon. The wives looked great.
Tuesday evening brought us together for a cocktail party at the Top of the Hop, followed by the Class dinner, with Dr. and Mrs. Kemeny as guests of honor. David Orr, representing the College, presented us with the Class of 1894 Commencement Cup, awarded to that class having the highest percentage of living alumni back for the mid-week reunion period.
Tom Curtis, the dinner speaker, drawing on his experience both in the U. S. Congress and as a Trustee of the College, addressed himself to the knowledge explosion and its implications for change in educational processes and institutions. He made a special point of the desirability of "debriefing" members of the Class as they move into retirement, as a means of further utilizing their knowledge and experience.
Each of us had our special disappointments in the way of friends who did not make it back. All of us were conscious of those we would not see again. Twenty-two '32's had died since our 1968 reunion. At the memorial service Wednesday morning the Reverend E. H. MacBurney '49 gave the memorial address. Dobbie Allen was at the organ and played her own Chorale Prelude on "Dartmouth Undying," dedicated to our departed classmates.
Toward the end of the morning the cars began to take off, one by one. But a goodly number stayed for a farewell lunch together at the D.O.C. Clubhouse. They were the last to watch as the great Class of 1932's Grand and Glorious Fortieth headed out into the Land of Happy Memory.
Paul Fox (at left) 1932's Reunion Chairman, received the 1894 Cup for a record30th Reunion attendance from the College's Dave Orr.
CLASS SECRETARY
