1959's 15th
Well, we REALLY did it! It was the most phenomenal Reunion that our class has ever had. Celoos really got the best talent that was on the campus ("The Endless Knights"). In fact, Saturday night, we had the entire campus in our tent! Even a couple of streakers from the Class of '60. And Celoos' selection of umbrellas as class favors (as opposed to the traditional hats) caused the Gods in the Upper Valley to vent their spleens upon the Hanover Plain . . . making the Class favor the most sought after item next to booze from the new state liquor store in Norwich! Celoos, our deepest thanks.
First, let me introduce you to the members of the new leadership of the Class as unanimously elected in a refurbished 105 Dartmouth Hall: President Mike Hurd (Norfolk, Va.) has every intention of making this class and its activities more than just a "see you in five years" plan. Believe it — he's gonna be a helluva a leader; Barry (Tippy) Blake (Wayland, Mass.) is the new money man. He has quite an act to follow since Bill Duggan was voted the "Class Treasurer of the Year." However, Tippy has already shown us how he can pick up the ball (as he did when Celoos had to bow out for health reasons; he's fine now) and really run with it...
because he really made this past weekend happen; and, as you can see by dint of this bit of verbiage that you're reading, I'll be serving as secretary. In addition, a 15-man Executive Committee was elected which represents a tremendous cross-section of geography and interests: Dave Allen, Tippy Blake, Bill Colehower, Dave Gavitt, Bob Filderman, Bob Halbert, Mike Hurd, Ron Kabot, Bill Long (middle initial - G.), Charlie Pinkerton, Art Quirk, Mike Tighe, Fred Webster and yours truly. Each and every one has personally committed themselves to more active involvement in class activities. And finally, Mike Hellman (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) has agreed to be our new head agent for the Alumni Fund.
Now . . . what did you miss this past weekend. Well, there was our Master of Ceremonies at the class dinner in the Hanover Inn - DaveGavitt - who is so frustrated by the fact that the last three players to leave his Providence basketball team have signed aggregate contracts in the area of $5,000,000. It appears as if he's looking for similar compensation as a comedian . . . and fails dismally! Seriously, he was superb. There was John Ferries (and Donna) demonstrating that the fine art of frisbee is not lost. There was a nice telegram from Mel Swenson who couldn't make it. There was Butch Priest (with wife Clee) trying to look like Danny Kaye. There was JoeKoucky who added a significant amount of weight to his charm and personal wit. There was Pete Barber who is still trying to convince us all that he is married to that beautiful girl named Jane. There was Moose Morton: well... there always was Moose Morton! There was DaveRobinson who was displaying a beautiful friend; a bushy beard; and brazen bachelorhood. There were Rennie and Lois Drew telling us of the trials and tribulations in being a farmer in today's America (would you believe 500 acres!). There was Bob and Ann Monahan from British Columbia. And speaking of distances, PabloLozano (and two boys) from Lima, Peru!!! PeteO'Neill and troupe from Boise, Idaho; the Kabots and the Sweets from California; the Fildermans from Houston; and the Dick Presses from the garment district!
It is not my intention to try to list all of the 75 classmates and their families. To those who I omitted: my apologies. You're probably better off!! More than anything, I want to reflect the kind of fun that we had. Sure, Mike Tighe and Van Pine can!t hold their booze. But we won't hold that against them. The key to the weekend was the fact that everyone felt that there are more classmates than ever who are really interested in doing some fun things for the Class. And we intend to enlist alot of your support as well. This ain't gonna be a class of people waiting to see things happen. We're all gonna do it together.
As an example of the standard of involvement that your new officers feel, they have already established a first - not only for the Class, but for the College as well. We held the first meeting ever of class officers in Vermont! The scene was the White River Junction Bus Station at six in the morning after long hours of deliberation, over-indulgence, and no sleep. Suffice it to say that the breakfast meeting was a roaring success as we were able to enlist a local wino and a hitch-hiking female Alpine climber in assisting us in recruiting fellow classmates for participation.
There was a serious side to the weekend. We heard a man whose name we only read about prior - Dean of the College Carroll Brewster. Let me tell you - the school really has a winner. We saw President Emeritus Dickey and President Kemeny on several panel discussions - continuing to impress us with the kinds of leadership qualities that are hard to find.
But, most importantly, we heard a bunch of some 75 guys telling each other that we can have a lot of fun ... all we have to do is pitch in. Not just those guys that were in Hanover for the 15th. But everyone. And you can start in in the simplest way: drop me a note and tell me what's goin' on. Here's to the next five years!
CLASS SECRETARY
