1931

I bring you greetings from St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands - a topsyturvy place where vodka costs 850 per 28 oz. fifth and Windex costs per 20 oz. bottle; therefore the people who live here who have glass in their windows wash their windows with vodka. It costs 130 to get a first class letter out of here by jet plane to anywhere in the United States, which is the same cost as a letter travelling from one end of Chebeague Island, Me. to the other (five miles). Trudy and I will be back in Maine by the time you read this, well broiled.

This year, the 45th since we graduated, is turning out to be a banner year for '31 in many, many ways. Reservations are pouring in to Doug Woodring for our great Reunion on June 14-16. Shep Wolff reports that 324 classmates sent their dues to him after the first mailing - a new record. Of the 324, 109 sent news, which Shep distributed to Bill Wendell and myself. I personnally am in a space bind with the Magazine, so if your note doesn't reach print at this reading it only is because I have run out of type again and have had to hold it over until next time. This is the first time in 12 years that this has happened.

Bill Minehan, Si Leach, and John Cogswell report, as you know, that the Reunion Giving Program recently stood at $148,000 from 56 responses both large and small. It does indeed look as if '3l will crack the $200,000 barrier by June 30. After all, didn't we show the whole pack the way five years ago?

Will Light's stepdaughter Colleen Cornell is now a junior at Dartmouth, won the womens' squash championship on campus last spring, and presently is in Florence (Italy?) in the "D" art study program. Will has no plans to give up the daily grind and is looking forward to the 45th, as is Jack Leuthner. Jim Laughton is hoping the medical "ifs" don't keep him away. DaveLarrabbee was hospitalized three times last year and had one more operation to go at the last writing. Art Kyle thought himself semi-retired but suddenly found himself commuting from Tequista, Fla., twice a week to Syracuse where he just acquired an FM radio station to operate in conjunction with his AM outlet.

Dutch Holland from Hilton Head, N.C., says that things were much better in 1975 than 1974, when he spent six weeks in the hospital. PhilHolden puts in a plug for the restaurant in White River where we all bibbed up after the Penn game. (It was indeed good.) Bill Hayden still manages to put in 12 hours a day seven days a week managing his five stores in Oregon; can't make it to the 45th. Cliff Harris now is senior V.P. of Federal Pacific Electric (Illinois) and has travelled to Mexico and South America recently.

It's doubtful if Bob Hale will make it to the 45th, he says. Ed and Berta Gruen recently were in Switzerland with its wonderful and exciting boats and trains, then to Greece, Crete, and Santorini Island for a large number of weeks. Harold Glickman says his wife Ruth has finished her college credits - sounds like at Radcliffe but your reporter can't be sure. They sat next to Hal Seder in a classroom "in Cambridge." Harold G. says it's great taking courses for the fun of it, without exams. Hart Gilchrist swims a quarter of a mile each day before lunch and counts his blessings: three children, six grandchildren, and a law office. Tom Gafford reported that his wife of 42 years died in September. George Frankel in Sarasota, Fla., for the winter. Walter Farley, retired from Eastman Kodak for over five years, saw Sam Groves in September at an Andover Alumni meeting - says Sam looks fine, and is retired to Delray Beach, Fla.

Last fall Don Ewing was a candidate for the Fairfax County (Va.) Board of Supervisors; said he was working every minute day and night seven days a week on the campaign, but we haven't yet heard how he made out. Ed Elmer says probably not, re the 45th. Wes Dingman retired last May but still doesn't have time to mow the lawn (matter of habit? - Ed.). After a trip to northern Europe settled down to his extra-curricular chores of Building Commissioner for Princeton, Mass., and also as a member of the State Housing Appeals Committee (Mass.)

Vance Dickerman making tentative plans to attend the 45th all the way from San Diego, Calif. Dan Denham writes: "Enjoying retirement and our location down here on Longboat Key (Sarasota, Fla.). Went north last August and spent some time with our two sons, one in Rochester (N.Y.) and one in Harrisburg (Pa.), with their wives and children." He hopes to get to 45th.

From Bunce Clarkson: "Had a quiet but comparatively good summer in Maine. The only hitch was that they burglarized our home in Worcester. Broad daylight and no one saw a thing. Alarm called police but they must have delayed too long. Net loss - heirloom silver, TV's and a few odds and ends. Shakes one up a bit." John Clarke writes: "since retiring in 1971 to live here at the edge of the Atlantic on this east-west beach (Holden Beach, Supply, N.C.) I have worked harder than I ever did for money; for nigh unto three years I have been writing a column entitled 'Sound of Surf carried in the county's two weekly papers and presently am serving as secretary (I know speed-writing and can type!) for the Shallotte Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Holden Beach Property Owner Association (90 per cent of whom live up country) and the Access-Way Committee; and, despite having been badly beaten by the natives a couple of years ago, I am running for Commissioner in the November (1975) election." (Wish these office seekers would let us know the election results!)

So - this dynamic Class of '31, aging gracefully, is fully active whether or not retired. Alive, aggressively seeking opportunites to help, wherever they may be. Some Class. Some 45th coming up.

Secretary, R.F.D. Box 15 Chebeague Island, Me. 04017

Class Agent, 2705 East Newberry Blvd. Milwaukee, Wis. 53211