1923

George McKee says he and Loraine arrived in Vero Beach December 2 "to get away from the snowy north and cold weather. We left the snow behind but the cold followed us. We're living in a house next to Dodges Pines Country Club, near the third tee to be exact, but the old man's trouble, arthritis in my fingers, makes me a watcher instead of a player. It is fun sitting in the sun watching the golfers and non-golfers drive off. Makes me think of Bobby Burns's 'If we could see ourselves as others see us.' " George adds the following:

Patient — "Doctor, I think I'm losing my memory."

Doctor — "How long has this been going on, George?"

Patient — "How long has what been going on?"

In case you, too, disremember, George was the College golf champion for his four undergraduate years — a record never equaled.

Chet Bixby's son Ben, 1957 class secretary, has been elected secretary-treasurer of the Bradford College board of trustees. Ben was first elected to the board in 1971 and also serves as chairman of the college's education committee. Ben's wife Betsy is a Bradford alumna, and dad Chet an honorary trustee. Among others on the Bradford board is Mrs. George D. O'Neill, Nelson Rockefeller's niece.

Babe put 1923's billing on the College computer this year for the first time, and several of you report confusion in class dues accounting. Among these is Karl Stadlinger, whose note to Babe brings the sad news of the death of his wife Mildred from a coronary in January 1976. Karl retired from the practice of internal medicine in January 1975.

The Boston papers report Frank Downey's retirement from the practice of medicine. Frank spent most of his adult life in Cambridge, Mass., and prior to retirement in late 1975, he served as Cambridge School Department physician and staff surgeon at Sancta Maria and Mt. Auburn Hospitals. Many of you will recognize Sancta Maria as the hospital where so many Red Sox and other baseball greats have been treated for serious injuries.

Bill Blood and wife Mildred Evelyn (Holt) recently announced the celebration on October 31, 1976, "of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Ella DeBerard writes: "Phil was declared legally blind in June 1976. He sees to get around without help but cannot drive or read. He does so enjoy the 'talking books.' He can water his orchid plants, repot them, and 'feel' the condition of the 1500 plants. I read the tags and describe the color of the blooms.

"We will celebrate our 55th wedding anniver- sary this year on April 13. We have 3 children, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren." (Phil and Babe Miner were classmates at Brooklyn Polytech before coming to Dartmouth.)

Truman makes the following comment re the Dodges' London safari: "I arrived there in 1944, the same day as did the German buzz bombs. I'll never forget the way the British responded. Not even a twitch. I saw Lunt and Fontaine at the theatre while the damn things were hitting all over town. You would never have known a single explosion had occurred in the whole of England."

Eloise Roe writes: "We have been in our new location for a year and three months now and have quite settled in - but it's not exactly as we planned to spend our retirement. Ed's hip replacement, due to a fall, causes him more pain monthly, so we are journeying to Denver, where our doctor son-in-law has found an orthopedic surgeon to redo the hip operation. He's the surgeon for the Denver Broncos so he should know what he is up to."

None of us, of course, is indestructible, but some have always seemed, to me at least, so vital and so strong that they would be with us forever. Pete Howe was one. It was therefore a great personal shock to learn of his death. KipCouch puts it the best way anyone could: "Pete Howe has left us. After a long bout with cancer, he expired on December 31, 1976. His last days were made happier by an enormous outpouring of affection from his classmates, and it is said smiles came over his face.

"Jim Landauer, my wife Helen, and I attended a large service at a beautiful Episcopalian Cathedral. We sang hymns he had selected and were drawn back in memory of his alert, fine mind and friendly interest in so many of his classmates. Editor of The Dartmouth, he carried it off so well. Captain of the tennis team, he was the New England doubles champion.

"Memories of his life turned to all our 1923 activities and so much came back so vividly. So be it."

John Carleton '22

Secretary, Box 2 Francestown, N.H. 03043

Treasurer, 960 Longmeadow St. Longmeadow, Mass. 01106