1935

As Gertrude Stein would phrase it, "a promise is a promise is a promise." Last month, I offered Rudy Pacht top billing if his "strong letter" ever arrived. It did, 20 pages worth, written in variegated inks (blue, black, green, jet-black, red, blue-black!) with 24c postage on the envelope and still 8c due! When Rudy ends a two-year silence the results are colossal. Even top billing in this column won't begin to fully chronicle his writings.

For openers, Rudy announced that he has remarried. The wedding took place just before Memorial Day, and some three years after Rudy lost his beloved Vita to a brain tumor. His bride is Helen Kobryner, a near neighbor whose husband died a month after Vita and whom Rudy first met when she strolled by with her grandson, while Rudy was gardening. In the process, Rudy acquired two new daughters.

The wedding took place on Rudy's father's 82nd birthday. Rudy's younger brother, a superior court judge, performed the ceremony and the couple left on a migratory honeymoon through the Rockies to the Black Hills. There they visited Skip and Wayne Geib in their lovely home on Rapid Creek on the very afternoon that this stream went on rampage, devastating major areas of Rapid City. Rudy and Helen were at Mt. Rushmore when the storm broke, arid listened in utter shock to radio reports as the disaster hit areas where they had driven only hours before. It was several days before they got through by phone to get reassuring news that the Geibs and their home were safe.

Wedged in with the excitement was brief mention that Wayne is considering giving up his medical practice "to work for some government establishment in Virginia." Apparently, no final decision yet. So, Wayne, we're looking forward to a note stating your plans. Back in California, Rudy continues, "News of classmates? Damn little! Saw Ed Ramsey, now retired, at the Dartmouth Club of Southern California dinner, held on the Queen Mary at Long Beach. George Colton was there and explained why the Indian symbol bugs the native Americans on campus. I'm convinced only insofar as cheer leaders in loin cloths, but I'll be darned if I can see anything wrong with the noble Indian that adorns the belt buckle I purchased in September, 1931." To this, the column adds its own Wah-hoo-wah!!

Continuing with the Pacht epic! "I see HarryAckerman only occasionally. The last time was at the wedding of his son Steve who got married the day before I did. Heard recently that Steve and his' bride will soon make Harry a grandfather. Should mention, Harry's new crop of kids are very handsome—at least the two boys I saw at the wedding.

"Lou Bookheim forwards a little business to me from time to time. Hope he sends more; the last client was a gorgeous female! Over the years, I have corresponded with Bunny Deutsch, and as far as I know he's still practicing law down in Dixie with Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles. Carl Funke and Ted Huck each had a son out here who were active in enrollment work, but both have since left. Real fine young men."

'Lest some of you conclude that Rudy "slighted" you in his chronicle, he didn't. He mentioned literally dozens who have visited L.A. or corresponded with him over the years. But, as editor, 1 must draw the line somewhere. He did enclose a recent letter from Peter Espaillat which revealed:

"I have been in France for some 35 years, and now live at Cannes, almost permanently, except that I move around quite a bit. I am generally here (Cannes) in April and May, and then again in July, August and September. I go back home (Santiago, Dominican Republic) every year at Christmas time to visit family and friends."

One final note from Rudy's tome, and on this we need an expression of views. He asks "Would you care to join me in launching a movement to extend reunion by one full day? I think we could get support from Dave Smith, Fred Haley and others who reside far from Hanover. The expense is disproportionate to the limited duration of the event. Hell, there just isn't time to talk with even half those one would like to." The column commends the subject to our 1975 reunion chairman, Harry Ferries. Now, if we can just find housing...

The holiday mails brought greetings from far and wide. Gene Burnkrant wrote from Baden Wuerttemberg, West Germany, clarifying his recent move there! He is superintendent of U. S. Dependents Schools, Europe, with thousands of youngsters under his jurisdiction. "A wonderful opportunity to combine business with pleasure, and visit areas we have missed in the past. Our son Bob is completing his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, and Dick is a landscape architect in Denver."

A fine promotion for Tom Lane. J. Walter Thompson made him a senior president at year-end. Kelly Hamilton, with the cautious planning of a banker, is maneuvering toward retirement—five years hence. "Have put a two-bedroom, double-wide mobile home on our lot near Gatlinburg, Tenn. If inflation doesn't beat us, hope to build on our lot in Harbour Heights, Fla., for a winter base. My two older children both are in Texas, married, with one child each."

Our new Head Class Agent Jack AuWerter was back in Hanover for indoctrination just before Christmas, and formally took over the mantle from Yank Price, (see picture.) Reporting on the Cleveland gang, Jack writes:

"Hal Klein lives nearby and we play tennis quite regularly. He is in good shape, and we both run around as though we were still in Hanover—on the tennis court, I mean. DanSwander and I get together often, and attended a holiday alumni event at University School."

Jack relayed the disturbing news that Brad Bradshaw was critically ill. No further report, so let's hope no news is good news.

Don Saunders writes from Westbrook, Me., that he is "catching up on many things," after serving four years as mayor. His new-found leisure permitted a trip to Europe to see his grandson in Brussels with sightseeing in Iceland, England, France, Portugal and the Canaries.

"Happy are the people whose annals are meager," writes Bill Kreig, "and mine have been scant since retiring from the Foreign Service in 1970. Most recently, I have been working on a project for the State Department on the outlook for the peaceful settlement of disputes through the Organization of American States. My wife Philinda teaches English to the foreign born. Our son, married, is doing graduate work at U. of Michigan. Both girls are still in college."

The Class of '35 has three sons in the Senior class. In scanning a volume from the College, entitled "Fellowships, Prizes, Honors and Degrees," I found all three accounted for. Lowell Haas' boy Fred is a Senior Fellow and winner of a Marcus Heiman award. Mitch Kroner, Tom's son, won a Public Service Fellowship. Warren Montgomery (guess whose?) is a Rufus Choate Scholar in a double math-engineering major.

Art Holtorff writes from Maitland, Fla., "Can't live in my summer home (Mercer, Wis.,) in winter, so down here to visit my daughter for six months." Another northern Wisconsin resident, Scott McPherson left for Florida right after the holidays "to find a winter place." Scotty ads: "Last spring, after a few days with Liz and JayWolff, went on a freighter trip to the Caribbean, South America and then on to Holland."

Bill Short's wife, Tia, writes "Hope we can make another fall reunion. Best we could do this year was a trip up the Pacific Coast. We continue an active, healthy and happy life. Bill still jogs two miles with not the slightest physical effort." Seem to recall he has had a lot more practice than most of us!

Well, with Rudy Pacht's help, we have overrun our space. See you next month!

Rudy Pacht '35 with his new wife Helen. Hisbeard was started on the honeymoon.

Jack AuWerter '35 (l) receiving the title ofHead Class Agent from Yank Price. Inbackground are Yank's College awards.

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