1950
The latest winter's storm has passed, leaving in its wake here an icy sheath, crisp scrubbed air bereft of cosmopolitan gunk, and temperatures flirting with zero. Ordinarily it would suffice to marvel at the landscape as the sun glints piercingly from the unfamiliar mantle. But in this year of carefully nurtured fuel supplies, the zero reading, along with lengthening gas lines, is the primary topic.
Let's talk about fuel a minute, even though only a short months ago the subject would hardly have stirred your interest or mine. We are all concerned as gauges dip, prices rise, and prospects for respite dim. Yet our relative situations could be worse.
Consider the College. Like fuel, the massive facility behind New Hampshire and Topliff was simply there. It functioned unobtrusively, powering and heating all campus buildings. Years ago its burners had been converted to oil for the practical reason that costs were less. As an expense item fuel oil was given, component, necessary and unquestioned, causing neither concern nor alarm.
Now, suddenly since November, the power and heating plant has become the dominant college building. Its oil is imported, a fact concomitant with New England's geography. Costs are skyrocketing, reflecting crude oil prices in foreign markets. This one item has completely distorted the annual budget. Red ink will flow with no way to stem its course. Unlike many sister colleges during the last decade, Dartmouth avoided the shoals of unbalanced budgets. Today there is no escaping one for a reason that was unanticipated and uncontrollable.
The cost impact is clear and challenging. For the students, the impact is simple: cold, despite nominally comfortable temperature. If you have read Joe Medlicott's latest Newsletter, you know of another: a quiet, bleak, dark campus. Baker Tower no longer sends its welcoming beacon along the interstate highway.
There is still another challenge. That one is yours. Next month the 1974 Alumni Fund officially begins. The usual gift will not suffice. Your generosity multiplied by the same generosity from all of our classmates can help to close the budget gap. More simply, your generosity can help Dartmouth. So dig, and dig deep.
President John Kemeny spoke to the alumni in New York in January. Nev Chamberlain and Jack Harned joined Siobán, a fledgling '78, and me listening to him in Lincoln Center. His subject was the College's innovative program for student loans. His message was oil.
San Francisco is glorious in the spring. On May 17, 18, and 19, Dartmouth will be in San Francisco. Dave Taylor and Pete Bogardus '51 are represented on the organizing committee for a party that includes luncheon at the St. Francis, a wine gala at the 1886 Haas-Lilienthal mansion, a banquet in Chinatown's Asia Garden featuring an address by President Kemeny, and a grand tour of the bay by charter ferry. The Saturday seminar on "Critical Choices for America" will feature Jim Strichler in a lecture on "Future Trends in Medicine." Write Derek Knudson '65 or Dave Taylor, Suite 2424, One California Street, San Francisco 94111 for details. My secretary is checking my calendar, but you California residents should have no trouble.
Too few of us realize that Dean Jim Strickler is one of the chief architects of the medical school in its current form. After his apprenticeship at the old men school, Jim received his degree from Cornell, interned in New York, and served the Navy in the Pacific. After a stint at Cornell in the departments of physiology and medicine, Jim became assistant to the president of the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center in 1965. Two years later he returned to Hanover as professor of medicine and associate dean to supervise the expansion of the two-year curriculum into a three-year program offering an MD. Jim, his wife Pegge, and their five children live in Norwich.
Izzy Stahl has been too long neglected. His long and interesting letter warranted better attention than the cutting shears enforced indirectly by the fuel shortage. Izzy built a dream house for Isa and their two boys in a secluded area entered only through grounds of the Guatemala Country Club. The whole area is surrounded by a deep ravine but his house faces the mountains and volcanoes. It is pure paradise, and only a 20-minute ride from the office.
Izzy owned and managed a movie house, the Teatro Capitol. In 1968 he rented it so that he could channel his energies into other activities. Most of his time is spent as executive director of Amigo del Pais, a group of business and professional leaders that is quite important to the community as a force in getting thingsdone that long since should have been done.
For Izzy, the constant interaction with business executives, union leaders, politicians, the army, and social welfare groups is both enjoyable and interesting. The real reason- he has a free hand to play golf (no mention of tennis). As he puts it, he lives a privileged life of ease, work, relaxation, and debt.
Since the good news of the fall of '73 had not reached Guatemala, Izzy was concerned about the stability of U.S. campuses. Dartmouth meant a lot to him for what is was (and still is), especially for the fine friendships he made with so many great guys. Those friendships remain, since he reported a call from Chink Parr and a visit by Parton Keese. Izzy still calls Ozzie Osborn and John Piane when he is in Miami. Dave Beeman has visited Guatemala city several times. As the friendships hold, Izzy, so does the College, perhaps not quite as you remember her but with minor differences that vanish with the mists and the warmth of mingling again.
Perhaps the closest we could get to a class boy, the first son born to a classmate after graduation, is Peter E. Noyes, son of Ed and Audrey Noyes. Pete was born in July 1950; he died in August 1973 in an accident.
Tidbits here and there: The news in Heidelberg is that Col. Sam Jefferson is now stationed at one of the Army's hospitals in Texas. Twenty years may be bringing thoughts of retirement. Officially, Vermont has had more people than cows since '65. The Worcester Controls Corp. elected Frank Harrington to its board of directors. Chuck Solberg's son Chuck Jr., is an effective wing on the hockey team. The ski team boasts four '50-ite progeny: John Caldwell's son Sverre follows Dad in the nordic events; Newc Eldredge's John, GeorgeSinger's Bob, and Bill Stark's Pete ski the alpine events. Dave Davis revels in son Adam, age one year in April. Boynton Merrill's frosh son represents the third generation in Hanover starting in 1911. Phil and Shorty Chase moved to the Catskills to live, relax, and revitalize; Phil maintains small digs in Bronxville a block from Howie and Cynthia Watts.
If you have yet to experience the gas line blues, may you never. Even at 6 a.m. the queues are endless. April's coining. And spring. And warmer days with, hopefully, a lull in fuel worries. Remember to dig deep.
Secretary, 510 Hilicrest Rd. Ridgewood, N.J. 07450
Treasurer, Oppenheimer & Co. One New York Plaza New York, N.Y. 10004
