1935
It was the best ever, but only the foretaste of more to come. That was the concensus, as a record 117 classmates, wives, and college-age kids gathered for fall reunion. Even a rainy, dismal day, as Dartmouth lost to Massachusetts 14 to 0, hardly marred the occasion. Talk everywhere was of our upcoming 40th, June 9-12.
Harry Ferries, our reunion chairman, met with his committee on Friday, before the crowd assembled. Believe me, their plans are well advanced and it will be an exciting program. Each day has a different format. We'll be head-quartered on Fairweather Row, now handsomely refurbished since our undergraduate days and central to everything. I can't tell you more, 'lest I upset the publicity applecart. But do make your plans now for this never-to-be-forgotten gala.
As usual, the highlight of fall reunion was a chance to visit with old friends. Most of the regulars were back, and we had six on deck for the very first time - Fitz Donnell, Harry Ackerman, Wayne Geib, Jim Boldt, Bill Feingold, andDick Carpenter, all with wives. Fitz and Mimi won long-distance honors hands down, coming 5,600 miles from Hawaii.
At the class meeting, on Saturday morning, tribute was paid to Bob Hage for his great job in producing our new directory. Jack AuWerter got plaudits for his record-breaking effort as class agent, as "The Great Class of 1935" (that's our official monicker, now) set another new mark for a non-reunion class. Len Bryant, our reunion giving chairman, urged us to set our sights at triple this year's total, in planning for next year's 40th Reunion gift to The College.
No official awards were bestowed, and RegBankart announced he's saving them for next June. Another reason you must be there. Who knows, you might get one!
I goofed badly last year, forecasting a dismal season after watching our football opener against New Hampshire. While we lost again, this year's team shows great promise. Both Mass touchdowns came on flukes - the first on an unbelievable breakdown of our pass defenses, the second following a close-in Dartmouth fumble. We fumbled away three touchdown drives inside the 10-yard line, demonstrated an exciting running attack and good pass capability but just couldn't score. Blame it on the weather, which ranged from a steady drizzle to a tropical down-pour. Balch Hill was invisible throughout!
Regrettably, there wasn't time to visit with all, but we did glean these tid-bits. Ed Neff's younger daughter Carola has just married and is living in Charlottesville, where her husband is a chemist at the University of Virginia Hospital. Older daughter Alice continues her career as a TV newsgal, and now is at WKYC in Cleveland.
Dero Saunders celebrated his 61st birthday during the weekend - quietly, considering his age. Len Bryant reported that Freida and HobeGriffin recently spent a night with them, enroute to England. There, they join up with Lee andJohnny Howe for a charter-boat cruise through the Grand Union Canal system. Len adds that the syndicated news column, "Staying Ahead," which appears in many metropolitan newspapers, is written by his oldest daughter, Jane Bryant Quinn.
Sandy Brown expects to retire as associate dean of the M.I.T. graduate school next year, and begin serious writing. Meantime, the University Press of New England has just published a book in which Sandy collaborated with Leonard Rieser '44, Dean of Faculty of the College. It's entitled Natural Philosophy atDartmouth and, while concerned with the development of the Physics Department at Hanover, is a very readable history of an unique aspect of the College.
The irrepressible Bob Naramore (after my consistently spelling his name with an extra "r," he signs his latest postcard Narrrrrrramore!) reports that he and Corinne are sailing for Bermuda October 5. They'll look up CarolynCalderwood, Bob Maida's widow. They'll return to New York just in time for a party for the late Bud Steinle's daughter Chris who was just married in California.
Ed Ofiutt couldn't make the fall trek, because he was wrapping things up to retire from government service. "Finish my 20 years October 4, and expect to retire almost any after that. My wife thinks I'm a little crazy but she's lived with me for 33 years and thinks it's only a little." Also retiring is Fred Depinet, who has now moved to Westminster, Mass.
A brief card from Harry Reynolds announce that he remarried last December. His bride is Barbara N. Roby of Newton, Mass., a widow with three grown daughters. The late Bo Kreer's son, Tom, was married to Susan Lee Wells in September, and they'll be living in Del Rio, Texas, where Tom is getting his Air Force wings
It is my sad duty to report three deaths this month. Phil Scully, a teacher at Somervii (Mass.) High School died August 7. HenryMuller, a member of the Board of Overseers of Thayer School from 1953 to 1961 and one of the country's most prominent engineering ex- ecutives, died August 29. Ed Elsenhans, an engineer with Martin-Marietta, was stricken suddenly September 13. More complete details are in the obituary section.
Ed and B.J. Freeman and Frank and Lila Wright hosted a splendid get-together of Chicago-area classmates in mid-September. Several played golf at nearby Geneva Club, where Frank Wright spread-eagled the field and then joined the others at Ed and B.J.'s lovely home for cocktails, dinner, and good corersation.
The group included Herb and Bernyce Knowles, Jim and Jane Oughton, Don and Dot tie Koehler, Bob and Ibb Morris, Herb Ostrow, Jack Egan, Hall Colton, Paul Van Antwerper. Dick and Betty Montgomery. The two lovely daughters, Buffie and Susie, helped us bridge the generation gap, and Buffie gave us a most expert performance on the piano. Ed's son Joe, incidentally, has enrolled at Texas Christian as a freshman.
The group joined in sending a card to Frank Elliott, who is fighting a desperate battle with cancer. A doctor himself, Frank was on the star of Northwestern Medical School until his illness, and has been extremely active in cancer research programs.
Well, I've overrun my allotted space, and wil have to save the other goodies until next month
Secy, 840 Westcliff Lane, Deerfield, Ill. 60015
Treasurer, Apt. 323, 9820 Crawford Ave Oak Lawn, 111. 60453
