1934
To the best of my recollection - and, remember, I made no notes at that point in time - 1934 was a very good year, within its particular time frame (1930-34), if for no reason other than that it marked our entry, in Ernest Martin Hopkins' phrase, into the society of educated men. And that society, as we now know, was to lead our nation, and indeed the world, to dizzying heights in the next 39 years.
But, as John Spiegel once said - for all its failings, for all its bright promises that could never, perhaps, have been kept - 1934 still strikes me as a year worth commemorating, and sometime soon. Say, about nine months from now. And, would you believe it, that's just what we're going to do - June 10-13, 1974 - at the Fabulous Fortieth Reunion of the Class of 1934!
Details on the get-together will be forthcoming, in their own sweet time, from reunion co-chairmen Harry Gilmore and Luke Wilson. Those of us who are still working for a living (as opposed to the spivs and layabeds who took early retirement) should start now to butter-up their respective office managers to see if maybe they can't be allowed a few days' off at half-pay, maybe to attend this Hanover happening. "Chee, Mister Ponsonby," you might say, if that's his moniker, it's just this oncet. I won't ast you again till 2114!"
What prompts this helpful advice is a news release on Gus Gussenhoven, appointed in June of this year to the newly created post of general director. Middleeast and Africa, of General Motors Overseas Operations, a division of GMC. The release stated bluntly that Gus had joined the outfit as a supply clerk in the New York office in September, 1934! After all the traveling he's done or GMOO throughout Latin America, Gus is entitled to a few days' off if anyone is - and Ponsonby better forget that half-pay jazz.
We'll be looking forward also to seeing John J.Kneisel, M.D., who took offices this year in Colebròk, Conn., and joined the surgical staff of the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital. The newspaper story reporting his appointment said that John and his Ann are residing in Lemington, Vt. ("A quiet man of few words, the Doctor said, 'We like it here.'") and that one of four children, Pam, is a sophomore at Dartmouth.
And then there's that expatriate banker. DaveHedges, living it up in London as European Representative of Houston's First National City Bank. We re hoping to see Dave, too, here in the States at reunion time, if only to get further details on the wonderful letter he sent me in May. Dave said he'd like to share it with the Class - so here goes:
Last Wednesday. 16th May. we had lunch at the home of Lord and Lady Dartmouth, only ten people present: Ethelyn and I, Frank and Ruth Cornwell '35. Jack and Carolyn Patten '53, President Kemeny and wife Jean, and the Earl and Countess of Dartmouth (as they are also known). It was a great privilege. Their home in the Mayfair section of London, back of the Dorchester, is absolutely beautiful. Three stories high, filled with Gainsborough and Romney family portraits, lovely furniture and oriental rugs. Wow! Lord Dartmouth is a rather shy chap, but certainly anything but boring. I got him "out of range" and found him to be an articulate and intelligent guy.
Friday evening. 18th May, we had dinner at the Goldsmiths' Hall attended by 240 Dartmouth men and wives, most of them (174) from the Boston Dartmouth Club. Again it was moderately informal (for London), but Lord Dartmouth, Frank Cornwell, and John Kemeny made fine talks. I saw many old friends from Boston and it was a great evening.
My football teammates will get a laugh out of the fact that I was introduced as "All-Ivy League fullback in college and All-American international banker in London." As befits my age, I accepted both statements without protest. The passage of time dims memories on your old performances (which is just as well), and since there are damned few other compensations for age there is no point in "setting the record straight."
True, Dave, true, but I'd still give a pretty for a re-run of your old performance in "Brown of Harvard."
Time now, for a word on a few of those who have abandoned the marts of trade for greener pastures. Jim Dunn of Edgeworth and Pittsburgh, Pa., "who rose from a draftsman [the release says] to become general manager-manufacturing operations for U.S. Steel's American Bridge Division," retired June 30 "after a 36-year career." Jim and his Antonette plan to make their retirement home in Sarasota.
Mike Menchel of Huntingdon Valley, Pa. also retired this past summer as president of Amsco Industries, a subsidiary of the Milton Bradley Company of Springfield, Mass. Mike joined Amsco in 1957, after distinguished service with John Wannamaker. No information about his retirement plans, but hopefully they'll include a reunion visit (to. Dartmouth) next June.
And there is much more to feel good about - like the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. BillEmerson's Judith Lee to Donald Everette Johnson in Virginia Beach on the Fourth of July ... and the nuptials of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Gruen's son, Dietrich R., to Constance M. Ericson in Evanston, Ill., June 23.
That's good news, and there'll be more to come as 1973 gives way as it must to our Fabulous Fortieth Reunion Year (1974). OK, Jake? Jake, please - say something! Better still, put it in writing. This column eats news like there's no tomorrow at all.
Secretary, 340 East 51st St. (14-A) New York, N.Y. 10022
Treasurer, Box 867, Hanover, N.H. 03755
