1972

Well group, as you read this column, you should realize that we are no longer the youngest alums of Dartmouth College. That distinction now lies with the Class of '73 and our sincere regards go out to them.

A few notes have been deposited in my mailbox lately. Keith Haden dropped a line to inform me that Jim Caplan is a classmate of his at U. Penn Med School. He also had news of other '72s in the Philly area like John Sharer at U. Penn Law. Lance Sweltzer is at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital working as a medic in the psychiatric ward. Keith tells me that they've been letting Lance out at night, but after his reported performance at Jack Sanstead's birthday party, he might be admitted at any time. Jack is first year med at Jefferson Medical College and is doing fine since marrying his honey from Wellesley, Julie Paulson. Julie is finishing her senior year at Wellesley, setting up a home and away series of mandatory roadtrips! Congratulations and best Wishes from the Class. There are also unconfirmed reports that Peter Ickes has been sighted lurking in alleys in Independence City.

Lawrie Lieberman tells me that after marrying his high school honey Moira he headed west in search of gold. After a scrape with the law when he tried to dismantle a bridge outside of San Francisco, the couple got jobs, saved their money, and have departed for an extended camping trip through Mexico and Central America. He plans to attend Stanford Business School next year.

Fred Crossman and Chip Carstensen are living and working in San Francisco and Kirk Andrus visits occasionally in between his studies at Davis Med School. Bruce Loper is studying Tarts (or is that Torts?) at Davis Law. Scotty Snyder is at Missouri Law while his sister is comforting her husband, Gary Smothers, who is a state trooper in Missouri. Sue always was a peacemaker. DaveWright is at Yale Law competing for the coveted "Booking Weenie of the Year" Award with ChrisCarstensen who is at Penn's Wharton School of Finance.

Now seems like as good a time as any to admit that I've blown it again! Lauren Cummings wrote to tell me that he is not, as was viciously implied in this column, engaged to a girl from Transylvania. It's all over. Apparently one day when the two of them took a walk, the direct rays of the sun struck her and ... Actually, aside from my blunder, things are looking bright for Lauren who will be heading for Hanover soon to assume the post of Technical Coordinator at Hopkins Center, a position vacated by another '72, Dave "Mex"Mechlin.

Mark Stitham informs me that Med School at Washington University in St. Louis has not imprisoned him to such an extent that he has lost touch with radio announcing. A WDCR alum, Mark is working for station KADI in St. Louis. It should be noted, however, that his letter came on WDCR stationery - an indication of his allegiance, no doubt.

Ted Swan sent a letter cross-town to let me know that his working career in Boston is drawing quickly to a dramatic end as he will be attending Northwestern Law in the fall. His roommate JohnWheeler has been working at a local hospital and will be going to Med School - Georgetown - in September. Wells "Goose" Martin is getting hitched to a sweet young thing (there aren't many of those left) that he met last year in California. Best wishes to the Cincinnati med student and his wife to be.

Also got a really refreshing letter from ChuckEaton. Chuck is living in Evergreen, Colo., where he has found gainful employment as a bus driver and mail carrier. His letter was extremely relaxed and I sensed that it came from someone who was content - a word not too often mentioned anymore. He also says that Bill Schlesinger is in grad school in Ithaca and that Paul Newman is doing some surveying in Colorado.

Ed Wisneski sent me a short story. Actually, it was an epic - a recreation of his struggles since graduation which I wish I had the space to reprint verbatim. After a semester at Northwestern (journalism) he worked several jobs (none of them lucrative) and dodged bill collectors for a while. He was fired from one job without notice and lost his pay (room and board) immediately. Evicted with no money - "luckily I was able to fit my worldly possessions into my '67 Chevy. It snowed that night." Job applications followed, and soon Ed will become assistant director of sports information at Yale. Ed should be pretty busy 'cause I've heard that even the jocks need sports info at Yale!

Jim King (Fabian Ropogol II) held a small gathering at the home of Tom Stebe in Wayland, Mass. Several bozos attended and were treated to cheese fondue and a slide show.

June, the summer, and my last column for the year. I know you'll all be waiting with impatience for my October '73 reopening. Actually, I would like to express my thanks to those who wrote to give me fuel for the fire. I certainly hope that my jesting didn't offend anyone and that you obtained at least an inkling of what was happening to our classmates. Thanks also to those who took the time to thank this weary scribe.

i would further like to give credit where it is due (as well as blame). My three roommates were big contributors to the column, giving me both information and inspiration(?). Without Bob King, Den"Chromo" Cronin, and Dave "Eagle" Engle the column might have been normal.

Lastly I would like to thank the Alumni Mag for its cooperation (Yay J.H.).

In closing I would like to reprint the following letter:

"'Dear John, "I wrote you several months ago about my present circumstances in order that you would put them in the '72 column of the Alumni Mag, I was under the impression that you are supposed to include all news in your column - and I thought you were really hardpressed for info considering the nature of your "funny" column five or six months ago.

"Perhaps I am mistaken. However, mister, if I don't see the following few lines in the upcoming Alumni Rag, be prepared to lose your job-pronto. I have quite a few friends who read the mag and want to know about me - and I can't write letters to hundred's of people. So, if you're performing a service, perform it!

"Now, put in the column that I have returned from my stay at a Kibbutz in Israel and am enrolled in the University of Illinois in pursuit of my Master's in Teaching. English as a Second Language.' I enjoyed my stay in the Holy Land so much that when I finish my studies at Illinois, I plan to return to Israel to live and teach.

"If I sound a little upset, you read very well. Now, let's get on the stick and make the '72 column the longest and best column in the whole Magazine. 0.K.? Thank You. Gordon S. Wolf '72."

I did misplace Gordon S.'s first letter and for that I apologize. Cringing in fear of losing my job, I also apologize to the multitudes breathlessly awaiting news of Gordon. I only hope that I don't get a pay cut next year! You can't please everyone.

Have a good summer and write to me at Box 74, Hydeville, Vt. 05750. Till the fall ...

Secretary, 3A Ridgemont St. Allston, Mass. 02134

Class Agent, 2228-C Sumter Speedway, Ind. 46224