1926

The 24th annual ’26 Dartraouth-Harvard luncheon and boat ride to the Harvard stadium featured 70 at lunch, a bit of New England mist, the absence of one of our two boats due to motor failure (wet spark plugs?), and a score that pleased no one but the Harvards. However, there were many plus factors Hub Harwood attended his first event since his hospitalization; Charlie and Mary Starrett and Hal and AnneRosenberg, all the way from California, tied for the longest distance travel award; during a morning shower we heard from TubbaWeymouth phoning from Illinois to suggest that all should “have a good day”; and Ollie Kobisk took cane in hand and came on from Aurora, 111., to enjoy ’26 fellowship. After the game and following a trail of bread crumbs, 52 successfully groped their way to far-off 9 Gam- mons Road, Waban, where Paul and Mary Newhall and Don and Libby Norstrand had open house for all the courageous voyagers who had risked local water-ways and by-ways. “Smoke Signals” has the wrap-up of the slightly damp details of the weekend, with names and numbers of all the viewers. (P.S. The former commodore of the ’26 fleet minus one boat is now known as Ensign Norstrand.)

The roll call at the Yale game is always hard to come by, chiefly because of the vast area over which 1926 is spread and the difficulty of finding a rallying spot for pre-game activities. It is safe to say that much better than a baker’s dozen witnessed the change in tide of Dartmouth’s for- tune in the Bowl. Bob Blackman’s Cornell eleven did not attract too large a ’26 audience. A reliable source observed Charlie Abbott, EdEmerson (whose antique Cadillac with a ’26 banner and Ed and Stew Orr aboard was part of the Dartmouth Night parade), John Manser,Charlie Macdonald, and Paul Newhall. In the October class notes we referred to the card of thanks received from Gladys Tally for George’s class birthday card. At time of writing we did not know that she had suddenly died of a heart attack. George has the sincere sympathy of the Class. Gladys devoted years of loving care to George, winning the admiration of all who knew her. George is now at Anna Maria Rest Home, 1398 Main Street South, Worcester, Mass. 01609, and now his greatest joy will come from letters from 1926 classmates or from his many other Dartmouth friends.

Class birthday greetings were acknowledged by Ward Benton, Edina, Minn., who last June traveled to Connecticut for his 55th reunion at Hotchkiss School in Lakeville and then on to Guilford to trace ancestors.

A very special surprise 75th birthday party was given our Hanover frater in urbe, JohnManser, on November 13 at Landers Restaurant by some of his many friends in the College athletic fellowship, his golfing associates, and all his other town and gown companions. Such regard derives from John’s great interest, in support of, and presence at all Dartmouth athletic activities. 1926 joins in all good wishes for John at this three-quarters of a century milestone and is proud to count him as one of its own.

Stanley Van den Noort ’5l, dean of Califor- nia College of Medicine at University of California at Irving sent us a copy of his very fine letter of congratulations to Hal Rosenberg on his retirement as executive director of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation (California chapter), citing his leadership in providing an excellent program of care, education, and research, which caused Stan, as a doctor and as a fellow Dartmouth alumnus to join with him in support of the foundation. Classmates at the Harvard game had the pleasant surprise of see- ing Hal and Anne, who had arrived unex- pectedly.

Still keeping reasonably active in the brokerage business with E. F. Hutton Cos., Riverhead, N.Y., George Starke reports en- joyable year-around living in East Hampton, Long Island.

Ralph Bristol writes that the class birthday card brings back many memories and notes that while it is good fortune for us to be here to celebrate the passage of time, still the things we can do seem to be narrowing down. One possible remedy, Ralph: revisit Hanover to recharge the battery.

Two postcards last summer kept us posted on the activities of Reg and Samie Hanson. One was of Dartmouth Row and thanked ’26 for birthday greetings, and the other was of QueenElizabeth 11, which took them for a vacation in England.

Larry Scoville was puzzled by the North Hero, Vt., postmark on his August class birth- day card. Reason: secretary on vacation. He also was interested to learn that there is a predominance of those born under Leo in the present number of 1926 classmates. His thought is that in and around New England, December was a pretty cold month, and in those days there were no electric blankets.

The Schipper family, Carl and his sister Anne, have taken up travel in a big way. In May they visited Morocco, the Canary Islands, and the Madeiras, and then in October it was a month- long trip to India, Nepal, and Ceylon.

As we finish these notes late on a chill Halloween evening, there is now silence in the house save for the ticking of the grandfather clock. What better moment then, before putting the cat in the basement and heading for the sack to wish all in the 1926 family a very merry Christmas and happy holidays.

9 Gammons Rd. Waban, Mass. 02168