1944

It was a busy '44 summer in Hanover and environs and all one had to do was peek out the window and sniff around some to find all manner of froth about the Forty-four Faithful.

No peeking necessary, of course, to spot Walter Burke and Connie, in town for the dedication of the splendid new Sherman Fairchild Physical Sciences Center, a stately edifice rising between and tying together the old Steele Chemistry and Wilder Physics buildings. Walter is president of the Fairchild Foundation and chairman of the board of Fairchild Camera and Investment Corp.

With Walter was his old prep school buddy, Dartmouth roommate, fellow barrister, and Greenwich neighbor, Alex Gillespie with wife Betty. Alex is a general counsel for American Smelting and Refining Co.

The fellow who logged the most time in Hanover had to be Brand Beacham. He and wife Bessie were the sole '44 representatives at this year's Alumni College, theme: "Man Versus Nature: Who's Ahead?" B and BB commuted from their land in Eastman Pond, renting a nearby house while they puzzled about mortgage money for building their own place.

Barristers? Yup, there was also Dick Whiting, out of Washington, D.C., wandering around old Hanover haunts and dropping over to see undergraduate Conn, colleague and fellow trackster Fred Daley.

And then Lem Arnold, on at the end of June to go to class with summer term Barry '75 (who was working afternoons as a surveyor's helper on his grandma's land in Woodstock) and escorting daughter Carolyn with whom he flew to Bermuda in order to crew a Bermuda-race yacht back to Newport, R.I.

And then Greg Rabassa, not translating another book for the past 15 minutes, in town for relaxation while Ph.D. wife Clem was delving into the Stacks.

And then slim, trim John Beckwith and Nancy (hospital administrator in Pa.) chugging down Main St. hauling a six-wheel camper, a canoe on the roof, two bikes roped on front, and daughter Heather, 13, in the back keeping the Golden Retriever "Ham" company. They had been on a 2½ week camping trip to the Cape, Maine, and N.H., and were heading back to Pa.

On Martha's Vineyard they had run into Rog Feldman (freakishly, at a roadside bicycle accident) and Rog, it seems, is retired from his Servair company (which serviced airplanes between flights at airports) and doing a lot of sailing to South America and wintering in Mexico. Rog, himself writes: "We sold our business to a conglomerate and started off for S. America in a 50-foot ketch last November. We ran into a severe storm and lost our ship below Bermuda ... brought to Puerto Rico by freighter ... we sold our home in Weston and will live on Martha's Vineyard from May till October and winter in Mexico."

And then Twitch and Sheila Miller, accompanied by golf bags (they each have disgusting handicaps like three or four or something) en route back to Cincinnati via Quebec and Bonnie Oaks and every course between.

And then Don Evans, insurance in Atlanta, showing his new Marilyn, the sights and sounds of Dartmouth from the vantage point of a rocker on the front porch of the Inn.

And then, Bud Park, Springfield, Mass., taking a 2½ day vacation from his law practice with wife Dorcas at that very same Hanover Inn. "Some theater and just lolling about," as he put it. They had in tow a young daughter who is eyeing Dartmouth; an older daughter is at Purdue,

And then Cy Schutz, L.I. realtor and developer, bringing along son Jed for a Dartmouth interview and four days of "relaxation and tennis." The word is that Rod Laver is worried ...

And speaking of Rod Laver, the Hiers spent a most pleasant couple of days at the Mt. Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods, N.H., where George Cummings (with wife Laura) is the manager. He is also a member of the Mt. Washington Development Corp. which is putting in ski areas, chalets, condominiums, etc. on the 10,000 acres of land owned by the hotel. Oh, yes, Rod Laver won the Volvo tennis tournament during our stay.

And two others in town with their sons for interviews: Dick Pleasants, manufacturers agent in McLean, Va., with son Russ; and Joaquin Aguirre, also with son. I missed seeing them but hope to report more next time. At the moment I can only say that he has moved from Bolivia to Colombia and his new address is Carrera 11 A - No. 93462, Bogota.

And the second generation was in town, too: Noel Thompson '74 popped in from London in June to watch some of his old chums graduate; Bill Fead '70 swinging through enroute back to his N.J. law practice; Bob Averill '72, between Tufts Med School semesters, repairing the Appalachian Trail north of Hanover for the N.H. Park Service; Needle Allen's Sarah landing a teaching job in Woodstock elementary school; Rit Ranger '74, as former manager, back to watch opening football practice; and, while not quite in Hanover, Steve Zrike '71 made the NY Times August 4 as a result of his marriage to Sara Docal in Woodbridge, Conn.

That's it. Hope to see lots of you at the Princeton and Harvard games. Blessings.

Secretary, 309 Crosby Hall Hanover, N.H. 03755

Treasurer, 815 E. Schantz Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45419