1940

The class mini-reunion, held this year prior to the drama-laden Cornell game (which sportswriters had depicted as pitting Bob Blackman against his former Dartmouth protege), was far more than a pleasant social.

Although it was that, too, important class business involving bad news along with the good also had to be handled. The bad news was that John Crandall formally tendered his resignation as class president, explaining that the growing pressures on him as publisher of MoneyMagazine left him too little time to do justice to his class responsibilities.

He had earlier signaled his intent to class ex- ecutive committee members, who constituted themselves an informal nominating cabal, and, after some long-distance telephone deliber- ations, enthusiastically recommended election of Hugh Dryfoos, who has served the class in so many ways, among them as class secretary from 1970 to 1974. The 30 classmates at the business meeting unanimously concurred, and Hugh took over his duties immediately. It was a big Dartmouth weekend for Hugh in more ways than one. He coincidentally had also just accepted appointment as regional director for the New York area of The Campaign for Dart- mouth, the important five-year drive to raise $l6O million to assure Dartmouth the necessary financial base for continued preeminence in higher education during this century.

At the request of Gordon Wentworth, who is chairing the 40th reunion (which is now less than three years away), the group applauded the selection of John Manley, longtime floor trader on the American Stock Exchange, and JohnMoore, New York actuary and former head class agent in the Alumni Fund, to co-chair the major gifts committee for the Class’s 40th reunion gift.

And looking ahead to 40’s Fortieth, Gordie reported that the Fayerweather dorms have been reserved for the Class, and Bill Bumsted was en- couraged to initiate as a regular reunion feature a Jordan van Cleve Memorial Golf Tournament to carry the pleasurable competitive tradition Jordan fostered at reunions until his untimely death last summer.

Underscoring the role of ’4O in efforts to keep Dartmouth financially strong, Gordie was featured in the “1977 Alumni Fund Highlights” as president of the Dartmouth Association of Class Bequest Chairmen during 1976-77 when $3,661,337 was received by Dartmouth through the Bequest and Estate Planning Program.

While those kinds of figures are all good news, they were shadowed by a report that ArtOstrander, who so recently led ’4O to another Green Derby title and once again broke the alumni fund giving record for the class out our number of years, has been hospitalized with a blood clot following a heart attack. By acclama- tion, the Class wished him speedy recovery along with hearty thanks for a job splendidly done as head class agent.

In other action, treasurer Stet Whitcher reported the Class would be solvent, thanks to the increased dues authorized, while the class secretary had to report that apparently the class is nearing the end of its “baby boom,” with only one legacy in the Class of 1981. She is Polly Duncan, daughter of Bill and Lois Duncan, who were one of two couples from Cleveland among the returnees for the mini-reunion. The other pair were Dick Goulder and his wife Zelda, whose cheerful courage made one and all forget she had often to be in a wheelchair.

Finally, it was voted that the Class would hold its 1978 autumn mini-reunion during the weekend of the Yale game on October 14, when it is hoped the number of classmates returning will be double this year’s turnout.

In addition to those already mentioned, those present for the class meeting, game, or the post- game refreshments at the lovely Lyme home of Bob and Crosbie MacMillan were: Ben and Jean Bacon, Chet and Ruthie Berry, Joe and Bertie Bird, Lloyd and Peg Blanchard, Dick and Lee Bowman, Nancy Bumsted with Bill, Bob and Betty Bunker, Joe and Janet Burnett, Betty Crandall with John, Bob and Lili Graham, Cliff and Chris Holmes, Staff and Ruth King, Jack McDonald, Mick and Jo Miller, Jack and Lois Moody, Norma and Bill Reardon, with their young children, A 1 and Barbara Rosenthal, Cal and Joyce Sterling, Dr. Jack and Inez Schleicher, Henry Stokes. Joe and Kay Sudarsky, and Frank and Ruth Whaland.

All in all, it was great fun, and if someone has been missed or a spouse’s name mixed up, please let me know, along with a report of what’s new.

4 Parkhurst Hall Hanover, N.H. 03755