1936

A letter from Oceanside, Calif., brings us up to date on Ray Dorsey. Ray retired in October 1971 after many years on the staff of The Cleveland Plain Dealer as reported in the Marc 1972 column. In September 1973 he had open heart surgery for a coronary artery bypass at Cleveland Clinic. Because his doctors told him afterwards that he could do most anything - swim, bike, hike, etc., he and Bettie decided to move to a climate where they could be outside most of the year so they went to the area of the West Coast where they had some friends, rented for awhile, then sold their home in Bay Villa? Ohio, and moved last August to their new home. Ray reports he's been feeling so well since they moved that he may try some free-lance writing once they are completely settled.

Another new resident of California is Sey Vass who moved to La Jolla when he retired managing director from Ford Motor Co. in Mexico City. Sev and Marian had spent many vacations in Mexico before they moved there seven years ago, and have been actively studying the Maya culture and archeology in Yucatan. They expect to divide their time between LaJolla and Mexico to continue their studies. They have not seen many of the Class recently but did spend an Easter week with Pete and Jeanne Wright at their home in Antigua, Guatemala, and then a few days on an island off Honduras. Sev says the Wrights are fine, happy, and looking great. He also talked to Niels Nielsen by phone in Mexico City before he left there but they couldn't arrange to get-together.

I noted in my last month's column that I could use some news from the Far West, Southwest, and Midwest and for some reason, I have three letters from that area. It would be Helpful if some more of you would take time to bring us up to date on your "life at sixty."

The third letter is from Paul Zens from Williamsburg, N.M. I actually had Paul's letter during the summer but wrote back to him before using it here because I was curious about the letterhead he used, "The Brothers Three of Moriarty" and under this in small letters "A Scion Society of the Baker Street Irregulars." There was also a brand consisting of three letters, all J, joined by a bar at the top and the middle letter being slightly crooked. Paul explained in some detail that this is an off-shoot society of the New York City fraternity of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts. Moriarty is a town near Williamsburg, N.M., where Paul's group holds their annual meeting in the Frontier Saloon.

Paul and Susan have recently moved from Santa Fe and are presently busy fixing up their new home. He reports that Williamsburg and its neighbor, Truth or Consequences, are towns with no traffic lights, no parking meters, no bookstore, but two newspapers. The chief business is tourism based on hot springs. They do go to a cabin in the Black Range about 40 miles away for relief from the heat and a change of pace. Paul claims this life suits him fine just now after 25 years in small college administration.

For those of you living in the lower Michigan area such as Detroit, Saginaw, and Battle Creek I'll suggest you consider "supporting your local rose grower" by giving your wife roses occasionally. They were probably grown by Fred Weiss who owns the Mount Clemens Rose Gardens in Mount Clemens, Mich., and, according to a little daily reminder advertising booklet he sent to Ed Higbee along with his class dues, he distributes in all of the areas mentioned.

The list of those retiring continues to grow as does the number of the members of the Class who are in Florida for either full or part time. F.Allan Williams retired as president of Fairplay Caramels in Binghamton, N.Y. to become chairman of the board. Allan and his wife Gisela spend their winters in Bay Harbor Islands, Fla., and their summers in Europe. They have an apartment in West Berlin which they use as a base for their travels. Gisela's mother, son, and is family live in Berlin. Allan still spends a amount of time in Binghamton checking on the business.

Among the clippings I've received recently is a picture from a paper of Art Maine and others at the conclusion of the annual Maine Senior Golfers tournament. Art, as a Former winner, is helping helping the current winner with his jacket. From Advertising Age I have a picture Prentice who is one of the opening day speaKers at an Account Management Workshop being held by the paper in Chicago in November. Lastly, our architect and Olympic swimming judge, R. Jackson Smith has proved persistence pays off. Jack is the designer of Columbia University's new gym, "Physical Fitness Center," to be opened this fall. This is the sixth gymnasium Jack has designed for Columbia beginning in 1946. Previous plans fell through due to various problems - cost, community, and student protests, etc.

Dr. Chick Koop '37 gives post-operative care to two of his more famous patients, Claraand Alta Rodriguez, Siamese twin girls separated in a 10½ hour operation at Children'sHospital in Philadelphia. Chick headed the 23-man surgical team.

Secretary, 174 Turtleback Rd. New Canaan, Conn. 06840

Treasurer, 317 East St., Hingham, Mass. 02043