1973

Dear '73s -

Three years out. Having practiced my naval terminology this summer with all the Tall Ships goings-on, etc., I am happy to report that nautical nomenclature is yet to fill the spaces between the lines of your class column at least one more year. So buckle me belts me mateys, and cast a sigh of relief (or displeasure, whichever seems to suit your needs at this particular time)...

The months of July and August had their ups and downs. The greatest (and most sudden) shock centered around the recent death of one of Dartmouth's most treasured alumnae "ex officio"... Joan Hier, noted by all class secretaries as a woman of extreme publishing taste and unparalleled wit. Her drastic withdrawal from the Hanover scene will affect us all, for it is to her credit — and her credit alone — that columns like '73 exist. To Joan's family ("Fritz" Hier, '44 class secretary, et al), our heartfelt sympathy at this time of inner contemplation.

Unable to attend Bruce Stuart's gang-plank ceremony to Kathy Shaw on August 21 made the Capt. quite unhospitable for several weeks in that he was unable to brush up on the whereabouts of such notables as GeorgeMiddendorf, John Lyons, Bob Kerwin, and JohnLiebel. I presume at this writing that Bruce passed his California bar exam in great stead (after having just graduated from U.C.L.A. Law School). . . and awaits eagerly the first day of his working career with a firm in Newport Beach: "Ah, how those tales of perpetual bachelorhood (or at least 'til the 5th reunion) soon die out."

Rounding-out the marriage scene is DavidSullivan (now with New England Mutual Life Insurance Company in Boston) .to Alexandra Cumings (presently with Saks Fifth Avenue, alumna of Colby-Sawyer '73) on June 26.

To all you married ragmen, may you have smooth sailing ahead!

"Digger" Donahue writes and informs us that after having just finished Harvard "B" School, life will look better when he and wife Susan (Skidmore '73) are finally settled in the Boston area and on the payroll with Brown, Brothers, Harriman.

Also among the just-finished-grad school-and-now-on-the-job scene is Tom Beckmann. Writing from the world-renowned Broadmoor, Tom assures all of us that his new position in the treasurer's office of Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Mich.) will be most rewarding, particularly in light of the fact that he will now be able to pay back the Cap't. his $10 "miscellaneous" phone bill! Notwithstanding such criticism, he and Carol will be 15 minutes from the University of Michigan, where they will undoubtedly have to tolerate Big Ten football. (T.B.: don't forget the October 15 minireunion at the Harvard/Dartmouth Game. Your faith in small-town politics, but big-time spirits will be re-instituted.) Tom also reports that roommate Martin Buerger is still with Exxon as a human-development employee, and hoping to strike it rich one of these days with an old desolate, forgotten oil refinery.

Another candidate for a Rouse is GeorgeLeach, former captain of track. Seems George has been appointed head track coach at Phillips Exeter. Interestingly, he succeeds a man who has held the post for 40 years, now retiring, and who therefore must have been about George's age when he first took the helm. So, if past is prologue and Leach meets their needs, he could have taken the first step to becoming in time one of the academy's latter-day legends or characters that they treasure so well.

Dateline: June 1, John Burns, now residing in San Francisco, has been promoted to group sales representative in State Mutual Life Assurance Co. of America.

Writing from the American Embassy in Copenhagen, our foreign correspondent, Steve Buckler, relates that Dano-American ties are strong and still holding. Steve can be reached at: APO New York, 09170. Any requests for Tuborg beer will be honored, with discretion though. Steve is also concerned about the whereabouts of Andy Rowe, one-time roommate in Arlington. At last call, Andy was seen departing for California on a Honda 350 by way of Canada, home to La Jolla for "vacation." Sounds a bit dubious to me.

A special note of sincere apology is to be extended to Jim Edgeworth — by no stretch of the imagination is Jim in semi-pro ranks. To the contrary, he plays for the Baltimore Clippers of the AHL, seeing long hours of competition and making quite a name for himself.

Rick Fuscone had a busy summer — so I am told — with his moving into an apartment on Lake Shore Drive (Chicago) and his recent promotion to an associate in the international division of Continental Bank. Also on the promotion list is John Roberts, who is still with General Mills, this time as assistant products manager. John and wife Mardie are also the proud parents of a baby girl, Jessica Forbes, Class of 1997.

Secretary, 6 Glover Square Marblehead, Mass. 01945

Treasurer, 39 Claremont Ave., W. 119th St. New York, N.Y. 10027