1950
Summer ended today.
The forests, attesting as much to the heavy summer rains as to the season, are still lush. But telltale signs of aging abound. No longer does the bright green of fresh growth appear. There is only the full green of maturity tinged here and there with streaks of yellow, portents of the turn to come.
A touch of sadness attends this change of seasons. The reason is inexplicable. Perhaps the summer was vibrant with good times and we wanted to preserve its special grace. It may simply reflect the fact that summer began with the joy and comradie of Reunion, and the euphoria persevered. Somehow autumn came too quickly as an intruder, and we were unprepared.
Reunion reflections: others travelled a greater distance, but John Gammie's drive from Oklahoma seems to top the statistics in that category. Coming from Salt Lake City, BobWoody first dropped in to visit Newc Eldredge and the two of them prevailed upon Bob Allcott to drive across the Green Mountains from Rutland.
The regard for form and shape varied, but the Class as a whole logged more than 400 man-hours of tennis per day. That's a lot of energy. Old tennis team stalwarts such as Bob Jordan,Jim Myers, and Bill Dey were unavailable for coaching or competition, but Dick Arnold and younger son Dan were ready to challenge all comers. Parton Keese demonstrated that his job of reporting various sporting events has not dulled his game. On the next court Bob Wilkinson warmed up daughter Karin, who kept insisting she was not Amy '78. Eric Miller executed shots that contributed to his vaulting to class B in squash. And Tom Ruggles dominated the net as he did in volleyball at our 20th.
Throughout registration Gordie and BetsyPinkham manned a desk while waiting (as usual) for Ben and Joy Shaver to fly in. And (as usual) Ben's plane developed weather-phobia that dumped him no closer than Albany after several abortive tries. Man may have been meant to fly, but not Ben over the Vermont mountains. For him (as usual) there is Hanover, but no Lebanon.
Old friends and new faces mingled: alumni dinner with Jim and Peggy Vail and lunch in the Bema with Charlie and Lessie Davison. The old Buffalo crew included Bob and Evie Miller and Woody and Betsy Smith, who lamented with me the fact that Johnny Knapp was elsewhere. DaveTaylor, now transplanted to San Francisco, rounded out the crew (without his delightful Franca '78). A long chat with Jim and SereneFarmer brought up-to-date his practice in Ohio.
Last minute cancellations precluded our seeing Harry and Mary-Lou Van Benschoten, Wesand Betty Carr, and Ken and Ellen Clark. Even the cast was afflicted when toastmaster CliftWhiteman was preempted. His telegram was a nice gesture but a pale shadow of the scheduled attraction.
Kudos: Bob Shnayerson was elected editor-in-chief of Harper's Magazine Company. At the spring awards ceremonies Jack Elliott's son John '75 won the Klinger and Yachtsman trophies.
Tidbits here and there: Gordie Nye's son Gordie '76 plays centerfield for the baseball team as well as hockey. Charles Dewey has changed locales by moving to Virginia to join Miller Ray Department Stores. Howie Lawrence, organizer and impresario of the "Big Band of Westchester," imported a Morristown, N.J., attorney, Tony Ambrose, to lead his trombone section. Tony reports that he has started his own band in N.J. and is enjoying every minute of it. Frank Lion's barbed hat of fishing things takes the prize.
Our progeny may not fully understand what a 25th Reunion means except that it is quite a party. At 3 a.m. Sunday morning one 17-year-old charmer whispered during a dance break, "But, Dad! I can't go in now. We're having a great time, and I won't see these guys again until next year!"
Summer has ended. The promise of autumn beckons. Until then, until next month, peace.
Secretary, 510 Hillcrest Road Ridgewood, N.J. 07450
Treasurer, 19 Claybar Drive, West Hartford, Conn. 06117
