1937
Chuck Bassett asked to retire last year from the class agent's job due to many pressures but agreed to hang on through to the end of the last campaign. Chuck brought us to startling new heights in both dollars and participation especially during our 35th Reunion special drive. He worked like a dog year round and actually wore himself out with such conscientious pursuit. Fred Asher announces that our ex-treasurer Frank Robin has agreed to take over with all our best wishes for success. The Class owes Chuck a rising vote of thanks not only for his results but for his dedication to the job past.
As usual our vacation period had both good and bad news. We have lost two more of our great '37 group, Les Barrett and Steve Butler. The July issue carried Wayne Ballanlyne's obituary. In the meantime we had word from Mavis helping to clarify matters and we quote. "Although Wayne had been in the hospital briefly last fall he never had a real heart attack before. The angina and accompanying vascular problems had to be controlled but he managed to keep physically active. He died suddenly'apparently peacefully sitting in his arm chair." Mavis also expresses to the Class her appreciation for the book in his name in Baker Library.
We have items left over from last spring plus notes taken in the alumni fund telephone campaign. First the cards.
Dave Rainy moved saying "Sorry for the long silence. We did move into a smaller house all on one floor. Kids all married with three grandchildren. Helen and I took a two week holiday in Mexico. Had a quick drink with Bob Hahn in NYC and we agreed everybody looks older except us."
Jack Young, now living at 2663 Swiss Lane. Birmingham, Ala., says "Another corporate reorganization in Lone Star along with expansion plans furnished me the opportunity to leave staff work (Ugh!) in Richmond for a line command position again (Hooray!). If any of the group get into our area come to see us."
The College has announced that Russ Stearns has heen named Associate Dean, succeeding Dr. Paul Shafer who is on sabbatical leave in Africa. A professor of engineering at Thayer where he has been since 1945, Russ is a specialist in the environmental problems of transportation, pollution, and housing. He helped develop the Army Corps of Engineers snow and ice research branch, worked with the Air Force in setting up the DEW Line, and was project engineer for transportation and housing on the Greenland Ice Cap.
Bill Miller, whose last known connection was in Hartford with Royal Typewriter, writes from Hawaii. "Patty and I just returned from a brief trip to the Orient purchasing for her antique shop in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel called "Antiques Pacifica' as well as business pertaining to my imports company. We came 'home' to Hawaii three vears ago and great to be back. Have a place on the ocean backing up to a lagoon which is delightful. Warmest alohas to all from us both."
Dana Prescott's handwriting is better now that he's retired. Says "Not much room to tell about our thrilling nine day raft trip through the Grand Canyon or our 4,000 mile camping trip through the Northwest and Canadian Rockies landing in Indiana end of June for son Craig's '69 wedding. His brother Dan '71 was best man and ushers all '69 Dekes." (.Ed note: for non-recent Hanover visitors, someone stole the Deke House - it's now a parking lot!)
From the phone campaign a few briefies. Dr. Dex Branch is glowingly proud of the new 12 million dollar New England Memorial Hospital where he is chief anesthetist. Hal Gould whose shoe company in Havethill was forced out of business by foreign competition, has for the last year been running the Bickford Shoe Co. in Milford, Mass., all women's shoes and three plants. Jake Newton spent all summer in California. Dr. Brad and Judith Varnum after a two-year fight finally got an insurance settlement on their home which was burned down by vandals but, she said, it was still very costly for them.
Roy Abbott, director of quality control for Clairol Inc. the past eight years travels overseas much like 3 commuter. Hals and Sally Bullen spent two weeks in England on a special "car buff' safari. Wol Gaines, retired from State Police, now teaching law enforcement at the Southern Maine Vocational Institute. Lu Sclafani prospers in the wholesale grocery business as an importer of Italian products catering to the New York and Conn, trade, also he's a director of the Connecticut National Bank. Bud Griffin nursing great pain from throwing out a disc while putting up the flag last Memorial Day.
Phil Robertson, with help of his three sons, builds stores, barns, and houses in the Franconia area and is still fighting New Hampshire's attempts to run that super highway 1-93 through the notch. Sam Lofman, as for years now, running the family supermarket seven days a week. The store is so well known and liked they have to. Art Ruggles, Mr. Santa of Santaland in Putney, Vt., drove the Santaland van to a Winnebago promotion deal in Myrtle Beach. Miss Myrtle Beach was muchly involved but Rug failed to give any details.
The '37 banner will be floating over the parking lot area at the Harvard game as usual for tailgaters as well as the annual post-game BYOB at the Bankarts at 10 Colby Road, Wellesley.
Secretary, 10 Colby Rd. Wellesley, Mass. 02181
Treasurer, 14 Burling Ave., White Plains, N.Y. 10605
