1923
A telephone call and a good letter from JimBroe who is back on the jobagain at 53 State St., Boston, and sounds just as optimistic and energetic as ever. Jim says that Bill Welch and Stuie Knight made their 15th annual marlin fishing trip in January to LaPax on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
John Coonley adds the following in a January letter from Honolulu: "What with Thanksgiving and Christmas we have been inundated. My granddaughter is here and friends by the thousand. There's very little to report. I retired in '63 after a heart attack. Then I created at the University a group called "Friends of the East-West Center." I was there for three years. The work is still going on and well.
"I .do little outside work - not in the best of health but with no fear! I also worked for Big Brother for four years and that was fun. They retired me three years ago."
Tom Burch who hasn't been reported here in a long time writes Babe: - "Well I finally retired - officially from; full time work and business travel. I do continue as treasurer of United Student Aid Funds.
"I had planned to put down a list of things I want to do in retirement. After almost four months of it I haven't even got around to think of what goes on the list, let alone making it or doing any of the things to be included. Perhaps I've read a little more of the Sunday paper than before but otherwise busy, busy, busy. Is this a general situation among our retired brethren?
"Don't yet know about the Reunion. Likely to be in annual meetings of some California outfits."
Along with Tom's note comes the following "Word of Gratitude" from the President of United Student Aid Funds:
"Thomas L. Burch, a United Student Aid Funds Special Representative since 1962 and Vice President since 1969, retired in August 1972. A walking encyclopedia of facts and figures on every aspect of guaranteed loans, Mr. Burch ably represented United Student Aid Funds in our dealings with banks, colleges, state agencies, and the U.S. Office of Education. I am glad to report that in retirement he has agreed to act as Treasurer and will be available for special assignments."
I've had several letters about Johnny Allen recently - all saying he is convalescing from a heart attack. John's own letter of January 9 to Clarence Goss is the most specific information I have. John says: "Your letter of January 3 reached me at Lake Shore Convalescent Hospital where I have been since the first of the year. Heart attack #3 put me in Merritt Hospital November 21 then after 3 or 4 weeks transferred to convalescent hospital."
John's letter sounds optimistic but needless to say letters or cards from any of you would do a lot to keep up his courage. 4366 Edgewood Ave., Oakland, Calif. 94602 should reach him.
Dick Kershaw and Ruel Smith got together the other day for lunch and Dick agreed to contribute a batch of reminiscences for the final Golden Review. Dick says he heard from George Plant recently and Win Weser phones him every week.
A fine personal letter from Hocky Hockenson which I deeply appreciate.
And a happy note from Bett and Fred Davis who were in Florida in November and December and then moved on to Wisconsin and upper New York State for the holidays. The note accompanied a much desired 1973 Travelers Calendar which seems to be one of Fred's retirement fringe benefits.
While I was composing these notes BobMcMillan called to kick around some of the details of the reunion program, etc. - says he's officially and completely retired as of last December. Bob recently sent me a note from LuluAllen telling about a recent cataract operation, thanking him for information about the 50th, and saying she's going to do her best to be in Hanover come next June.
Ed and Ruby Snyder have decided to go back to Hialeah, Fla., for the next six months. Ruby organized a church school there some time ago which has been having some administrative difficulties. The Snyders are going to try to get it on an even keel again. They'll be at 70 E. 8th Hialeah, Fla. 33010.
A nice note from Jane Vanderbilt to Babe thanking the Class for the memorial book for George. Jane writes "I have had two dreadful months but am now peacefully settled on Siesta Key."
Ruel Smith reminds me that he and I and Metz and Bob McMillan have spent a lot of time on the Golden Review during the past two years and are probably going to miss our interchange of serious effort and no small amount of banter. Indeed we will! We have all tried to make the seven issues both readable and useful. During the early period of policy discussions we even thought of intraducing to you a phantom classmate whose accomplishments or lack of them would, I am sure have confounded you all. Needless to say we didn't do it and it's probably just as well. I suppose the idea germinated from the discovery that an occasional reunioning class had tried this kind of light deception or it may have resulted from a dim remembrance of that legendary character Lafayette Mulligan whom the old Boston Post created to needle the politicians of the James Michael Curley era. Ah me! We might have had a little fun!
Cap Palmer writes from his Parthenon Pictures in Hollywood that he's up to his neck in getting a new project started and doubts that he'll make it to Hanover in June. I suppose its too early to expect firm commitments from some of you but I do hope that as we get out of these winter months the urge to see Hanover once again will overtake you.
And unfortunately to end on a sad note. From Jim Smead '21 we learn that Bill Gates' son died of a heart attack in early January at Buffalo, N.Y. while playing tennis. The deepest sympathy of the Class goes to Bill and Catherine at this sad time in their lives.
Word also comes to us of the sudden death last December 23 of Aubrey Miller. Aub had been eating a segment of an orange on which he choked and died before help could come to him. His wife Katherine was with him at the time. Our sympathy goes out to Kay and to their son John in their great loss. An obituary will appear in this or a later issue of the Alumni Magazine.
In honor of Professor Emeritus Herbert J. West '22 (r) on his 75 th birthday, Baker Libraryreceived a gift of a manuscript of Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, Scottish writerand adventurer, whom Mr. West knew and wrote about. College Librarian Edward C.La them '51 holds the gift manuscript.
Secretary, Box 2, Francestown, N.H. 03043
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