1965's 10th

"Where have all the young men gone, long time passing ... ?" Far away in many cases but, surprisingly enough, many of them did find their way back to the timeless Hanover spawning ground. Ten years out from their alma mater through grad school and law boards, war and peace corps, through marriage and childbirth, greying and balding, through first jobs and second jobs, internship and residency ... most seemed to have landed "... safe at last in the rich, rich world. And once the initial conversational thrusts and parries were successfully put to rest by accounting for the who what where when why and how of the past ten years. Class of '65 10th Reunion got down to the basic good time we had hoped for.

Over 115 classmates plus an almost equal number of wives or friends and even 23 children stopped in out of the rain long enough to be counted. Those classmates who were unable to attend might be interested to learn that 20 per cent of those in attendence came from west of the Mississippi including 12 from the Coast. On the other hand, the Brackens, Corbetts,Murphys, Beams, and Keillers had only to cross the street and they were on the scene.

We should wonder if the assemblage all noticed how Dartmouth has changed since we graduated. Did they notice how the. food in Thayer had improved (wine with steak dinners), or that you could park on the grass behind Dartmouth Hall (no ticket), or keep a woman in your dorm room all night (no hassle), or stop off at any time of day or night for a free brew (in those cute striped tents), or learn computer sciences in half an hour? And whatever happened to all those guys in ROTC uniforms and Indian sweatshirts? Maybe they got swallowed up by the Big Man in the little car labelled Dartmouth Parking Authority. Some things had not changed much at all: the Rat Ladies have the ol'conveyor moving smoothly, endlessly; the Tower Room remains somnolent; the Hop teems with displays of geometric creativity; a new athletic building has just been completed; the Polka Dot still beckons at 2 a.m.; Rollins Chapel has not quite sunk out of sight; and a coxswain's mouthful of Connecticut River water still tastes yukky!

For me Reunion was a chance to reestablish contact with those of you who had gradually slipped from view in the intervening years. Since our earlier contacts in classrooms or on the green or in the snow or around the pong table did in many small ways help mold me into who I am and how I think, it was intriguing to get back together for a recharge and potentially a further molding. Seems that many of the successes and failures experienced by any one of us were likewise experienced by others miles away in different circumstances. Perhaps the value of sharing an experience called Dartmouth comes in being able years later to share other experiences that foster mutual growth and encouragement..

Ok, enough on the general theory of reunions! Now for the specifics. First of all if you had a good time the man to thank is Rich Beams, our Reunion Committee Chairman. If you had a lousy time, blame Ted Bracken, the assistant chairman. Between them and the committee of Jim Scott, Hank Amon, Rick Mahoney, LarryDuffy, and Judy Beams a smooth running weekend was developed, executed, and paid for within a very reasonable expense budget of $95 per couple. For the price we got everything promised beforehand except the 4:01 a.m. showing of an obscure anatomical flick in Bartlett Tower. You expect to get fed and beered at these affairs - we did; you expect a Storrs Pond picnic - pulled off without rain; you expect a few panel discussions to gain insights on "Dartmouth Today" - we listened; you expect to meet the President - he was there; you expect to hear Mood Indigo at least once - delivered by the Aires; you expect a few after dinner comments from the head table - but Rich, where did you come up with this latent Groucho named Perinchief? ! Fantastic, and such an overwhelming rebuttal to Jeffrey Hart '51 (guest speaker at Saturday's class dinner). After said dinner, a Herb West original painting graciously donated to the '65 class by his widow was sold at auction along with other lesser art treasures. Steve Waterhouse, who entered the auction proceeds into our Alumni Fund account, must have hired Roger Rines as a shill to drive the bidding higher and higher before ducking out. An unexpected bonus that perhaps will serve to be the best overall, take home trinket was a special historical composite edition of The Dartmouth. Although limited to eight pages including advertising, it miraculously contained all the highlights of our undergraduate years covering the infamous '67 tug-of-war loss, an undefeated football team, Herb West's Farewell Address, Hanover's first traffic lights, Malcom X's visit, and the outlawing of waterfights by Dean Thaddeus S.

Somehow in spite of the committee's efforts to provide entertainment hourly, there was time to slip away for a visit to "the house", or the old dorm, or the reserve desk at Baker, or a nostalgic crew race on the Connecticut, or an ice cream cone on Main Street. Some of you were so successful at this escape routine that we missed you all weekend. Please fill us in on what happened from your perspective.

In summary, the joy of Reunion was to find so many friends and other faces back under a green tent. The sadness came only from missing those of you who didn't get back. There will be other times to gather and we hope you can join.

CLASS SECRETARY