1937
We do not normally try to involve ourselves in this column unless we have special news. We do. Last June Katie and I drove to Virginia Beach for our younger son's wedding. Bill is Navy Air RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) flying TomMcIntyre's (Armed Services Committee) F-14 jet on the carrier J. F. Kennedy. The bride, Joyce Lester, was a divorcee with a cute ten-year-old daughter who of course was the junior attendant. We spent a week at the Marjac Motel overlooking the beach during which short time we met the bride, her parents, the new granddaughter, gave a bridal party dinner at the Little Creek Officer's Club, sat in the front row in the new Little Creek Chapel for the nuptual ceremonies, attended the reception following, and as fast as that it was over, with the happy couple heading for Williamsburg. We knew no one at the wedding except, bless their hearts, Jean and daughter Marcia Breitinger, who drove down from Wyomissing, getting caught in a speed trap en route for 35 bucks, and her son Tom who flew up from Panama City. It was so great to have close friends to be with us we shall be eternally grateful. Bill Breitinger had planned to come but bone degeneration in his skull creating headaches made another operation immediately necessary. They put in a plate and the most recent news is he and Jean will be at fall reunion in Hanover. He is much better now and we look forward to reporting first hand on him next month. Jean will drive him to New Jersey where Marj and Ben Doran will bring them both north.
Our only other news of Virginia Beach was a delightful afternoon with Whitey Fuller. Virge was visiting in New England but Whitey was very busy managing a Bronco League team with daily practise and games. We were lucky to catch him home entertaining two of his baseball protegees with ice cream and cookies. Since his medical discharge three years ago from the Navy he has been teaching a Navy Command and Control Study Group that delves into comparisons of our Navy versus potential adversaries. Up at 5:30 a.m. and home at 5:30 p.m. He retired completely last June. He looks great, trim, and enthusiastic, and it was a welcome break for us to get together with him. He is only a short distance from the Chesapeake Bay bridge and wants anyone to stop to see him at any time.
We spent two days in Wyomissing with Jean and visited Bill recovering from surgery. Then over to Metedeconk, N.J., for a night with Frank Robin and Howard Ross. We had read via the Mint Bag about Rob's English countryside home on Barnegat Bay, an old former part of an estate which he has made into a delightful abode - covered with ivy and surrounded with garens. They showed us around town, including dinner at a quaint restaurant where one could have many free choices of hors d'ouvres including cherrystone clams on the half shell. Katie had two dozen, thank you very much. The dinner was superb. Then to Heritage Village, Conn., to spend the final weekend of our wedding-vacation with brother Reg and Babs. Boston and reality came last.
Our Memorial Book Program for deceased classmates has been one of our most meaningful efforts as a class function. Our dues (among other things) buys a book of Baker Library's choice each of which carries a plate in the name of our classmate. A card is sent to each widow and the response from them is most heartwarming. We wish to share the sincere thanks we have had from Michele Jacks, Nancy Hahn,Margot Stinson, and others before them. So keep your dues paid to Tom Nast, your 15 bucks does a lot of work.
In that area we had a letter from the financial aid department of the College reporting that our 1937 on-campus scholarship recipient, Bill Klupchak, is an outstanding scholar achieving an A minus grade point in both freshman and sophomore years (summa cum laude standing). He is majoring in mathematics and plans on graduate school after Dartmouth. He was rather obscure on the football field last year compared to his illustrious brother but we hear he is getting more action this season. Besides being engaged in intra-mural sports he is working part-time as a computer assistant to help pay his way.
Secretary, 10 Colby Road Wellesley, Mass. 02181
Treasurer, 14 Burling Av., White Plains, N.Y. 10605
