1939
Well now, it is a wonderous pleasure to spew out uncontrolled congratulations to RobbDeGraff our class agent par excellence, and his army of merry men for a superlative contributory accomplishment which saw the Class of '39 top its ambitious goal of 150 G's. And lest we forget additional credits due, we hasten to include the special reuning fund raisers, Messrs Bob Howe, Al Tishman, and Ed Oppenheim who played such a magnificent role in the triumph. Naturally we reserve the deepest kudos to the hundreds of classmates who know how to respond. T'was a fine effort for what we have long considered a worthy and enduring cause ... and it makes a mighty pleasant way to start off a new year in the column.
News has been scarcer this summer than we recall in the past. No matter! We have a few choice tidbits to pass along that will do just fine. F'rinstance, Dave Lilly was named a director of the First Bank System Inc. of Minneapolis. Dick Brooks made a triumphant entry into York Harbor, Me., this September, (fresh from Bermuda shores) where he had a private showing of his latest "gig," personalized pen and ink renderings of one's home. As busy as the proverbial cat on the hot tin roof, he took orders, viewed new sites, snapped polaroid shots, sketched with the speed of light, and confided that his Labor Day pilgrimage had been a smashing success. For those lovers of the "Jackson Twins," don't despair. He promises to keep those two lovelies as active in your local paper as in the past.
On the subject of art, we received a lengthy letter from Whit Cushing who confides that it is the multiplicity of the condominiums which are swallowing up Palm Beach, shutting off afternoon sun and dwarfing the architectural masterpieces of Flagler, Mizner, Fatio, Wyeth, and Urban, which have prompted him to plan a visit to native Vermont and its rusts this fall. Also scheduled are a couple of months out west to look over horses and ranches with a friend. Whether Palm Beach will reclaim our dauber, only time will tell. In the meantime he says that if he missed anyone on that "free sketch" raffle over Reunion, such claimants may send snapshots to his studios and he'll return a genuine Cushing original. And to any '39er who gets to Palm Beach (after he returns of course) he promises a free sketch, a bottle of beer or wine, and a guided bicycle tour all for the same price.
Meanwhile, the sharp eye of Bozo Noland prompted a lovely summer correspondence to which we were privy. Seems Bozo spotted a story and picture of a pretty 20-year older named Katie Hanna in a July issue of the national Parade Supplement. You guessed it. It was George and Shirley Hanna's daughter, the youngest delegate to the New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention who personally swayed the assemblage to lower the age of candidates for governor of that fine state to 18. In the correspondence viewed, however, father George confesses to Bozo that he is not at all sure that he shares Katie's view on the matter of a qualified age for New Hampshire's top executive. Bob Thomas, a professor of English at Atlantic Community Dollege, Atlantic City, N.J., has just reentered the Episcopal ministry after some years absence and is now combining it with his campus duties. "It's a natural kind of thing because you're working with youth, although at a community college you're also working with a great number of older people as well" said Bob. He had been dean of students at ACC formerly, and was also a dean at Mac Murray College in Jacksonville, Ill., jobs which made it impossible for him to continue his ministerial work. After suffering a heart attack, Bob gave up the more arduous tasks of dean, and finds teaching leaves him time to double his efforts with the cloth.
Dr. Eddy Palmer, gastroenterologist, has opened a practice in Hackettstown, N.J. Eddy is hardly resting on a busy and distinguished past which has included authorship of 14 books, and 500 professional articles in his specialty. For the past two years he has been chairman of the Department of Medicine of Morristown Memorial Hospital and acting director of the gastroenterology section of the Vets Hospital in East Orange, as well as a professor of medicine at the N.J. College of Medicine in Newark. The Palmers have developed a small farm on top of Schooley's Mountain, a spot which must on occasion bring together their three children and two grandchildren in happy assemblage.
In our next, we'll fill you in on the changes of summer addresses, and so too, we hope on the events that transpire at our annual fall reunion. Stay glued ... you've got me for another five years, and then the lowest bidder gets the job.
Moreau Brown '39, appointed to the N. Y.Bicentennial Commission by fellow-retiredNelson Rockefeller '30, deliversto the Vice Presidential designate a set ofthe State's official Bicentennial medals.
Secretary, 777 West St. Pittsfield, Mass. 01201
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