A Dream Becomes Reality

For Robert Fish '18 of Los Altos, Calif., back in Hanover for his 55th class reunion, the College's 203rd Commencement, June 10, made a dream come true.

Two years ago, when the Trustees of Dartmouth voted approval of co-education, he wrote an eloquent defense of the controversial decision to his class newsletter in which he recalled the important contributions of several great women to civilization.

He cited Shirley MacLaine as an example of the kind of woman he hoped would matriculate at Dartmouth in the future. Mr. Fish, who for several years has been confined to a wheelchair, ended his note wryly saying he could think of no greater honor than to have Shirley MacLaine guide his wheelchair across campus when he returned for his 55th.

As word leaked out on campus that Miss MacLaine was to be an honorary degree recipient, the letter was remembered by Joan Hier, class notes editor for the AlumniMagazine. She sent a copy to President Kemeny who firmly believes that "in the Dartmouth fellowship, nothing is impossible."

He, in turn, passed on the word to Miss MacLaine, and when the Commencement exercises were over, she detoured from the line of march through the crowd of nearly 8000 to go over to Mr. Fish and wheel him all the way across the campus, while they chatted about contemporary attitudes of society.

"A gallant lady," he said in salute as she left him at the Hanover Inn and departed to attend President Kemeny's post-graduation luncheon.