The Patriarch of a Loyal Line

Dartmouth's oldest living alumnus, Frederick W. Haskell '01, received congratulations from presidents Carter and Kemeny this fall, when he turned 100. Haskell and his wife Christine live in the Shrewsbury Nursing Home in the ancient town of Shrewsbury, Mass. They moved there from their own home when Haskell was 99.

Many of the centenarian's family of three children, nine grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren were on hand for the birthday celebration at the nursing home on September 17. An unexpected well-wisher at the party was the mayor of Shrewsbury, England, who was in Shrewsbury, Mass., for gala events celebrating the American town's 250th birthday.

Warm and affable, Haskell recalled some of the events of a long and varied life - a stint at single-stave barrel-making; a difficult bout with malaria and an invigorating, curative winter in Maine; his involvement in Shrewsbury's bicentennial celebrations in 1927. But the former Dartmouth track star admitted that from this distance it is difficult to recall many of his days at the College. "No girls then," he did say, and when he was asked if he wished there had been some, his eye twinkled and he replied, "Oh, yes!" What Haskell does remember about Dartmouth, he remembers with fondness. His love for his alma mater is obviously great. Time may have chipped away at the memories, but the loyalty remains strong and fresh.