1939

Jim Sampson passed on after an extended illness on October 17 in Lancaster, Pa., where he'd spent the better part of his life since graduation. Condolences have been sent to Ellie and the family.

This was the same weekend in which some 37 '39ers convened at Bonnie Oaks - most with their wives in attendance, and some with friends - to renew old times, and to see the Big Green lose by a yard or two to the John Harvards on Memorial Field. Following is a list, as we jotted them down more or less in the order of appearance: Jack and Lois Kuhkle, Doc and Chip Tower, Bob Loughry and his friend Bill Hart, Jack & Kay Haverfield, Cornie and Janet Miller, Endy and Georgette Smith, Jay and Carolyn Diffenbaugh, who along with Harry and Kay Edmondson and Bill and Peg Parkhill had come all the way from California for the festivities. Jay and Bill are both retired and their trips east were leisurely affairs with many stops en route. Harry came on with some close friends and was planning to scurry back to pick up his labors. Others in attendance were Sam and Happy Hird, Lou and Peg Highmark, Hugh and Trudy McLaren, George and Shirley Hanna, Jack and Ruth Cathcart, Ted Wolfe sans Betty, who was ill, Bob and Bunny Richman, Jack and Lil Gumming, Howie and Betsy Johnston, their son and his fiancee, Jim and Doris Corner, Skip and Penny Morse, Bill and Bunny Webster, Tom and Liz Burrell, Bill and Kay McCarthy and friends, Wells and Betty Bates, Dick Brooks and his intended, Jan Forshay, Walt and Mary Darby, John and Peg Steele, Moose and Priscilla Dudis, Bob and Evie Kaiser, Howie and Jane Chivers, Dusty and Happy Rohde, Baxter and Ellie Prescott and son Tom, and Rog and Patty Harrison. Seen at the football game but not at Bonnie Oaks: Jim and Lydia Anderson, George McIlroy, Bob Dickgiesser, Joe Urban, Dune Farr, Hank Britton, Hank Bagg, Bill Mason, Ed Wells, Otie Mudge and Larry and Jane Vulte. There were probably more, and most mentioned probably were accompanied by wives, but the business of seeing the game limited our contact.

The weekend officially started with the usual fall executive committee meeting. Your scribe presided in the absence of prexy Bert MacMannis, who was bedside with wife Sally, who, we are happy to report, is making a good recovery after a serious operation. Our treasurer, CornieMiller, reported a bumper year for collecting dues, ending up with 350 paid versus 316 -the previous year. Surplus for the year was $5,185.91, which sum is earning interest toward our 40-year gift to the College. George Hanna, as chairman of the gift committee, solicited ideas for the form of this gift, and the Committee did a "while the cats away, the mice will play" act by turning down a long-standing suggestion of president MacMannis to consider funding some paddle tennis courts. Too temporal, thought the group, reaching for something more enduring, such as an annual scholarship or a building. Bob Kaiser's bequest report suggests that the Class has four life-trusts, a bit better than average for our age bracket, and three possibilities in the wings. Wells Bates, without getting into details, advises that plans for our 40th reunion are incubating and are on target. A large "well done" was accorded Jim Corner and Bob Howe for their superlative efforts in last year's Alumni Fund, to which 304 men contributed a tidy $63,498, up from $52,227 and 285 contributors the previous year. Some 51 major givers participated 100 per cent, accounting for 68 per cent of the total, or $43,052. We discussed ways of broadening our participation base, which is the lowest for classes of our vintage.

Although O'Brien Boldt could not be on hand, he was there in print, having penned a letter asking for ideas on his 40th-year book, cut back from an all-out effort along the lines of our 25th to a directory giving current home and work address, phone, vital family statistics, etc. But Obie would like to spice up the listing with some pieces of prose orbiting around some theme of our common experience and what it has meant to our diverse lives. He expects to call on some of our professional writers for this bit, and is reaching for some viable theme around which to build. He asks for suggestions from one and all. He can be reached at 178 Sherwood PL, Englewood, N.J. 07631. Incidently, BillTompkins reports that he noticed in the Cape Cod press a great letter to the editor authored by Obie, thanking his neighbors for their help at a fire that the Boldts experienced on Sipson's Island last summer.

Moose Wyman died on Saturday, November 6, after a long illness. Regulars Moose and Betsy were sorely missed at the Harvard game festivities, and the '39ers gathered for- lunch before the game at Bob Kaiser's home inscribed a large poster and sent it to Moose at the Newton-Wellesley hospital, where he was a patient. We are happy to know from a letter sent by Betsy that before his death Moose was cheered by the poster.

We have some news in the old mail bag, but we are plumb out of space for this last month of the bicentennial year. Hastily we sign off with a Merry Christmas to all and a wish for a healthy and happy 1977. We hate to end this piece on the down beat, but do you realize we lost 16 men during 1976 - an inordinate number for such a young class. . . .

Secretary,777 West St. Pittsfield, Mass. 01201

Treasurer, 34 Prospect St. Essex, Conn. 06426