1958
The start of another academic year, this one a big one for the class of '58 as we approach our big 15th reunion. Fifteen years (actually sixteen) hardly seems possible. I can still handle three or four Sets of Singles so I guess the aging hasn't hurt too much. This year marks the last of your having to read some my idle prattle. I hope you haven't been too bored. I've tried to report on as many of you as possible and it has been fun keeping in touch.
I hope you have all had a good summer. The Yusens have enjoyed theirs with triPS to Virginia Beach and weekend pilgrimages up to Stowe where Jane ane I spent a lot of time on the tennis court. My lawn here in Wellesley went steadily downhill, but my net game improved immeasurably. Now we are all excited about an event many of you have already lived through. Tomorrow is Sandy's first day of kindergarten. I am sure I will be very up tight as that school bus pulls up.
I listened to Ralph Manual, Dartmouth Dean of Freshman, lecture to incoming freshmen and freshwomen today at the Boston Club luncheon. Ralph was great as usual and I wished I was heading back up to Hanover myself. These entering students are bright, interesting, and the girls are very attractive. You might be interested to know that the freshman trip now attracts 500. You have your choice of easy, medium and difficult trips.
I make my annual plea for some mail from you. My mail bag is very limited so unless I hear soon you can expect some very short columns.
Congratulations to Bob Eleveld, our Head Class Agent who ran such a successful alumni fund campaign. We had total contributions of $29,481 $4,632 more than last year, well over our goal of $28,000 and a new class dollar record. A total of 413 classmates contributed, 14 more than in 1972. The average gift was $71, an increase of $9 over last year. As we have always said, " '58 is really great."
... and now to the news accumulated over the summer ...
I received a letter from Don Viny just before the summer: "My wife says I should write because I like reading all the choice items about '58s and there might be someone similarly interested in us. I can't imagine who would be interested in knowing that we left Greece for a 3 year tour in Virginia where I got 30 hours in how to teach kids to read. So now we are slaving for the DOD schools in Germany. We are located in a 72 year old house where my 4 year old son enjoys hearing the cows call each other from a barn not far enough away. They clean the streets every Saturday from tractor, car, and animal debris. We are 20 minutes from the Moselle and Rhine rivers so the wine is OK. However, as I speak, French, Spanish, Greek, but no German, I feel culturally out-of-it. Big excitement is a Dracula movie at the Air Base flick. We are in process of buying an old fishing hut somewhere in Greece as my wife likes this island we have visited, while I prefer the mainland.... Will return to Germany in September."
It takes a while for some news to get to me. Last March the Eugene, Oregon, Register-Guard sport section headlined, "You Can Become a Coach Without Competing" the true life story of Dan Andretta. "A funny thing happened to Dan Andretta on his way to a career in geology. He became a basketball coach. Andretta coaches the Henley High School team. It's his first year of varsity coaching and every game is a new learning experience. You see, Andretta's background isn't steeped in basketball. He never played at Dartmouth. Matter of fact, his high school experience was precious little. 'I played two JV games at a little bitty high school in New Jersey ... I stunk ... I played a little more in college. I learned the jump shot and other things. But defense just escaped me. I fooled around with it when I was a graduate student. My kids really get a kick out of it, how bad I looked. I say, Don't do as I do, do as I say! . . . Andretta's major at Dartmouth was geology. A job with the U.S. Geological Survey convinced him he was in the wrong business. 'I got sick of that, so I went to Montana State and got my teaching certificate.' His first teaching job was at a junior high in Casper, Wyo. It was also there that the administration dumped the ninth-grade basketball coaching job in his lap. 'I still remember our first game ... In the first half we were ahead. Really playing well. Then in the second half, the other team switched to a zone. I had never seen one. I didn't know what to do. We got shut out in the third quarter and lost. I found out it wasn't as easy as it looks.' ... His coaching knowledge isn't infinite now, but he says he's come a long way from those first bewildering days in Casper. Coaching, he maintains 'is 70% psychological - keeping the kids happy, keeping them active in the program ... when you look at this, it beats field geology and you know, I gave up a lot of money to become a teacher'." We'll probably see Dan coaching the Lakers pretty soon.
It looks like Jeff and Sally Strayer are now going to have to go out and buy those Fisher-Price toys for their kids. Jeff has left Fisher-Price to become special products sales manager for Lustro-Ware division of Borden Chemical. Jeff will be responsible for developing premium sales and new marketing concepts. The Strayers will locate in the Columbus, Ohio, area.
Don't forget those cards and letters.
Secretary, 43 Cornell Rd. Wellesley, Mass. 02181
Treasurer, 503 South Mattis, Champaign, Ill. 61820
