1934
First of all, may I say, very humbly, "Thank you for electing me secretary of the Class." Our outgoing President Tom Beers said at the banquet that the reasons for the slate of officers will never be known. Now I can understand that in my own case, but with the other officers who were elected, I'm sure they were nominated because of the great job they will do for our class. Frank Heath, the new president; Al Jacobson, head class agent; Ed Brown, treasurer (he's kept our class in the black in spite of inflation); Art Leonard, our continuing bequest chairman; and the incomparable Bill Scherman, as class newsletter editor - no one does or ever will do as fine a job as Bill.
You'll have to admit there were sound reasons for this slate!
I'll try to cover a few highlights of the fantastic 40th that haven't already been covered in the newsletter.
Henry Werner conducted the memorial service for our departed classmates - 129 - and I am printing this remarks so that those who were not able to attend Reunion and the widows of our classmates can experience the same feelings we who were in attendance had during our memorial service.
In Memoriam - We come to praise - not to mourn.
The truly wise mourn neither for the living nor for the dead.
There was never a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor any of our classmates. Nor is there any future in which we shall cease to be.
Just as the dweller in this body passes through childhood, youth, and old age, so at death he merely passes into another kind of body.
Feelings of heat and cold, pleasure and pain, are caused by the contact of the senses with their objects. They come and they go, never lasting long. You must accept them.
A serene spirit accepts pleasure and pain with an even mind and is unmoved by either. He alone is worthy of immortality.
That which is non-existent can never come into being and that which is, can never cease to be. Those who have known the inmost reality know also the nature of is and is not.
That Reality which pervades the Universe is indestructible. No one has power to change the changeless.
Bodies are said to die, but that which possesses the body is eternal. It cannot be limited or destroyed.
Our great pianist and entertainer, Jack Gilbert, has already been heralded in the newsletter, but he wrote me following the Reunion and pointed out there were 12 Zeta Psi's back for our 40th and I'll challenge any other group to list more. Here they are: Don Allen, Bam Brennan, Bill Cummings, Em Day, Jack Gilbert, Art Grimes, Stu Barber, Dick Houck, Bob King, Ray Vickland, Bud Yallalee, and yours truly. Not bad - anyone care to challenge?
Two letters forwarded to me by Bill Scherman bear editorializing. They were written jointly to Bill Wilson and Harry Gilmore, expressing deep appreciation for the job they did for all of us at Reunion. Dick Gruen pointed out that there were 38 at Reunion who had not attended our 25th. and that there were 14 more in attendance than had been at the 21st, with, (and I quote) "98 fewer of us to draw from." Not a pleasant thought, I agree, but it goes to point up that we should all go to every Reunion while we're still able to meander about. The other letter came from Charlie Levesque to the same two gentlemen and was. full of praise, even quoting a young lady attending the '31 Reunion with her husband. (Again I quote.) "This was her fourth reunion and the first where the 'intellectual context exceeded the conviviality and it is a long drive from West Virginia for a three day party' and thanked us." Just more and more bouquets for the two guys who probably ought to be elected permanent chairmen of all our reunions!
That about does it. If Stan Silverman reads this, I hope he will send me his files!
Secretary, 1046 Pawnee Road Wilmette, Ill. 60091
Treasurer, 17 North Balch St. Hanover, N.H. 03755
