1935
Just back home from our fall reunion after three days of the nicest foliage viewing weather you could possibly imagine and another delightful assembly of some of the finest people you know!
Friday night, October 3, we met at the Norwich Inn. Attendance, a little off from last year, probably because this gathering followed so closely on our 40th, was about eighty, including classmates, wives, widows, and children.
On Saturday morning, President Harry Ferries banged the "Class of the Year" gavel before an almost 100% turn out from the local inns and motels. Committee reports, discussions of future plans, assignments of projects took up the next hour or so, liberally interspersed with the Naramorisms we have come to expect and enjoy.
The football game, after a rather depressing first half, developed into convincing proof that we have a pretty strong, skillful bunch who, after beating Holy Cross 28-7, will really be heard from in the Ivy League. (Wonder what I'll think by the time you read this in November.)
The Saturday night cocktail party and dinner was another fine opportunity to visit and to get up-dated on the latest news with friends. Prof. Al Foley regaled us with some Vermont stories, but the highlight of the meeting was the formal presentation of our Class Memorial gift to the Hopkins Center. Committee Chairman John Wallace unveiled the sculpture and Hopkins Center Director Peter Smith, h '35, accepted. The miniature, terra cotta figure of Professor Emeritus Jerry Lathrop is a remarkable likeness of the real man. He and Mrs. Lathrop were with us for a memorable evening.
One of the obvious things to be observed at the class gathering was the growing number of retirements and imminent retirements. Don and Margaret Radasch both finished their careers at the same time, last June, and, while still living in Lincoln, Mass., spend a good deal of time at their son's place in Maine, as Margaret says "splitting wood, fishing, etc., a great life!" Sandy Brown and Lois enjoy his retirement from the faculty of M.I.T. Sandy says he has six books in various stages of completion! Ed and Alice Neff were up from Washington. Ed has left his work with the Republican National Committee and, while planning to-remain in Washington for a couple of years, took time to visit and plan about their house lot at the Eastman development in Grantham, N.H. Doc Beach has retired from Pratt and Whitney but seems to have almost established a new career in the field of professional photography. Bob Hage is back in Hanover after a six month stint in Washington. Bob is now on a partial retirement status under which he devotes 40 per cent of his time to Dartmouth College leaving the remainder for individual activity in consulting or, we may assume, just taking it easy after such an outstanding career in the field of financial aid.
At the time these notes are being written Bud Cahoon is at Massachusetts General Hospital having just gone through a major operation of open heart surgery. This was a sudden and sad change from his and Eileen's plans to be at the fall reunion.
Word from Art Somers is that he has recovered nicely from a very serious operation. He is back at work but he and Thelma thought it best not to make the effort to go to Hanover this fall.
A short note on one of my reply cards comes from Russ Field. He is suffering from Parkinson's Disease and now lives in Albany, N.Y., at the Child's Nursing Home (25 Hackett Blvd.).
John Gregory joined those of us with hip problems. Last April he had a replacement and says he's now better than he has been in years, even plays a bit of tennis. John and Barbara had a busy time this summer when she came down with mono and hepatitis just as daughter Hannah was to be married. Wedding went off without the mother of the bride but all are doing fine now.
Bill Gahagan writes that he is active in Palo Alto in the C.Y.0., a Big Brother program, a Youth Tennis Foundation and is very proud of a recent citation from the San Francisco Public Library naming him honorary curator of its Robert Frost Collection. Congratulations, Bill!
Lowie Haas reports that son Fred '73, whom those of us who were there at Reunion remember playing for us, has joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra playing sax, of course, heredity being what it is! At the time of this writing he is on tour in the East and Midwest with a stop scheduled in Concord in October.
A note from Willard Heckel tells us he is starting his thirtieth year as a faculty member of Rutgers Law School. He has just recently retired as dean and, as part of a one-year leave, has been four times to Europe.
Win Garth was one of those who missed our 40th. Daughter Emily was married at the same time. The Garth clan already boasts four grandsons and a granddaughter so, as Win says, "is coming along nicely." Son John in Hawaii works for Fitz Donnell. What better reason to visit there in November!
Harry Knott also didn't make it to Hanover in June. Beverly was still teaching school at the time. She recently got her Master's Degree at Ohio State at an age most of us know well! Four daughters and a son "all healthy and well situated job-wise" make up a great family. Harry manages a furniture store and keeps very busy with long hours. He and Beverly look forward to retirement on Cape Cod some day and promises to put on a clam bake that will eclipse the one he put on for 1935 in Bridgewater years ago!
A classmate already on Cape Cod is CharlieFrench. He's "semi-retired and so damn busy I don't know where I ever found time to work."
Well that's about it for this month. Keep the news coming and we'll get it out to all of you along with those great editions of the Tear Bag from Reg Bankart and Dero Saunders.
Secretary, 22 Woodridge Road Wellesley, Mass. 02181
Treasurer, Apt. 323, 9820 Crawford Ave. Oak Lawn, Ill. 60453
