1939
Summer has taken its toll! Harry E. Goodman died in his hometown of Lowell, Mass., on June 4. Harry, a graduate of the University of Michigan was a charter member of our Class, having started at Dartmouth before transferring. And in the appalling crash of a Delta jet airliner at Logan Airport, Boston, on July 31. Chet Wiggin lost his life while enroute back to his post as an ICC commissioner in Washington D.C. (See obituary section.)
On a considerably brighter note, we genuflect in the direction of Robb DeGrafT and his team of class agents who accomplished the impossible, - first place in our Green Derby race for the first time in the history of the Class. We topped our dollar objective by some 16.2%, although we remained near the bottom in terms of class participation leveling off at 93.2%. Still it was enough for a wire finish in the top spot. As a matter of interest the Class stood 7th in terms of the % of the dollar objective out of the entire alumni list, which is moving in fast company. Sad to note though that when we translate this into terms of class participation in the drive, we do no better than 51 st of a total list of 73 classes. Closing the books on the campaign, DeGraff took on a new bride on August 14, Mrs. Patricia McCuliough Wenk of Darien. Both Mrs. DeGrafT and Robb had been previously married and divorced. They now live at 115 Meriden Dr., Canterbury Hills, Hockessin, Del. 19707, for those who wish to send down felicitations.
More sobering news. Junie Merriam underwent a tough operation for the removal of a portion of a lung at the Yale Memorial Hospital in early August. Reports at press time suggest that he is making a good recovery, and if he adheres to schedule, should be back at work by the time you read this piece. Junie is with Peat, Marwick & Mitchell & Co., top accountants, and lives in Darien. Junie and wife Marty came through Pittsfield in June to witness the graduation of their daughter from Miss Hall's School; the same daughter, might we add, who in company with her headmaster Don Oakes (Dartmouth '59) gave our masculine doubles partner and your scribe a goodly tussle on the tennis court a week or so earlier.
Now with your indulgence we'd like to put our last column (June 1973) in a better perspective. You might have wondered, as we did, what in hell the last item, which seemed to refer rather loosely to Kenny MacDonald, was all about. It appeared that the printer did a job on us, which we sincerely regret. Here is (hopefully) what it should have said. "In our last column we also mentioned a pending trip for your scribe, his spouse, and daughter to the great Northwest, culminating in a swing through Seattle to reintroduce our daughter to the land of her birth. Much of our stay in Seattle was spent under the tutelage of Kenny MacDonald, the legal eagle of the tall pine country. He, with wife Elinor, led us in a refreshing jog from one point of interest to another. Kenny kept running into acquaintances and clients from TV personalities to leading journalists, from legal secretaries to satisfied customers. Having packed up bag and baggage, wife, and son. Ken had headed for the Puget Sound area directly following World War II without job or friends, with only his talents and verve to buoy his contemplated existence. He has lost neither talent nor enthusiasm just a bit of hair on the top of his head, while gaining an appealing and maturing scruff around the ears and down the back of his neck. With a fellow Bostonian he heads a law firm that devotes most of its energies to defending those who most need a helping hand. This includes a covy of Dartmouth students ensnared in the Parkhurst Hall imbroglio of some years back.
As we dined in Seattle's top eateries we relived old times, tangled a bit about the Parkhurst affair, and for our part, simply tried to keep up with the sudden changes in subject that burst from the active and enquiring mind of the high-flying eagle. We extracted a promise that he would pen a letter in regard to some of our differences which impinge on matters of Class and College, and we guaranteed publication in this column.
We learned that his oldest son Doug is a lawyer in Cambridge, Mass., planning a research trip to Africa. Garth, son number two, has multiple interests, one recent one being ballet; Daughter Lindsay lives in San Francisco and works with a dancing group in that city, and daughter Leslie lives in a northern suburb of Seattle and works on a farm. If, perchance, Ken keeps his promise (and now he's getting a second reminder) and writes the letter, we'll have a second chapter in a subsequent piece."
Back to a somber note. Walt Darby suffered a serious stroke in July, but reports at this writing are that his recovery has been good, and we shall look for him at the fall reunion, taking his usual copious notes for an upcoming Class Newsletter.
We shall close this first edition with a last minute reminder (if the publisher gets the Magazine in your hands on time) that October 13 - the Penn game - is the date for the fall reunion at Bonnie Oaks. Hope to see you there.
And finally, we confess to having some more items in our mail bag, but these must wait for the November issue, at which time, we'll fill you in on the usual changes of address that accumulate over the summer months.
Secretary, 777 West St. Pittsfield, Mass. 01201
Treasurer, 390 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022
