1936

Pictured with these notes are Yumi and Jack Smith in their swimming pool in Old Greenwich, Conn., in the heart of winter. Since this picture was taken, Jack and Yumi no longer have to be polar bears or risk pneumonia during the cold months as Jack designed and installed a removable shelter for his pool. Lightweight plastic Kalwall panels, designed and built by classmate Bob Keller at his plant in Manchester, Vt., supported by light wood trusses, provide a garden pool enclosure. Dow Chemical styrofoam panels resting on the water (see picture) help to keep the water at a comfortable temperature. Your correspondent, having swum in the enclosed pool every week during the coldest winter months, attest to the efficacy of the enclosure. If any energy-conscious classmates are concerned about heating the pool, it should be pointed out that the Kalwall panels provide solar radiation and the styrofoam panels are excellent insulation against heat loss to the air and shelter. The lowprofile design creates a potting shed appearance which minimizes backyard esthetic intrusion and eliminates storm/wind damage. Yumi has given the shelter her usual superlative artistic touch by decorating the room connecting the enclosed pool with the house, which room is called the Japanese Room.

So much interest has been shown in this pool enclosure that Jack may be tempted to retire from the distinguished architectural firm now known as Eggers Group, P.C., and devote his time to building "pools for all seasons." Incidentally, the pool is set in solid granite, so Jack had to build a pool only 4' deep, which meant he had to risk offending his many international and Olympic diving friends by finessing a diving board. However, the pool shelter or enclosure can be designed to cover any type pool. And Jack, with the aid of his gardener, was able to put up the enclosure structure this year in four hours' time.

Jack, a diver on and captain of the 1936 swimming team, has even increased his interest in aquatic sports since our college days. He served as a referee in the Olympic Games in Rome, Tokyo, Mexico, and Munich and was chairman of the International Diving Committee from 1964 to 1972. More recently, he has been involved in the organization of the A.A.U. International Diving Committee, which with very limited funds arranged for U.S. Olympic diving contenders to compete in major international diving meets. As a result, our divers did very well at last year's Olympic games in Montreal. In order to send a strong team to Moscow in 1980, it is necessary to start preparing now with a diving program, which requires financial support. Jack would welcome the opportunity to discuss this in detail with any classmates or other Dartmouth alumni whose company would be interested in helping sponsor the U.S.A. international program. It could be a rewarding experience for the sponsor, the divers, and the U.S.A.

News of classmates entering the ranks of the retired continues to come in. Bill Foster of Trumball, Conn., called it quits at the end of 1976 after more than 40 years as assistant to the vice president and director of marketing of Remington Arms Company. Bill's entire work- ing career was spent with Remington. This is matched by Dick Allen of Montpelier, Vt., who plans, after 40 years with National Life Insurance Company, to retire next July. Dorothy and Dick, in their annual informative letter, report they will seek a warmer climate, since Vermont winters are becoming too much to take. They plan an exploratory trip to New Mexico in the spring. This year's winter should be the clincher in firming their resolve to move to a less rigorous climate.

Herb Beskind advises that he has become a Florida resident and will be spending progressively more time at Longboat Keys, Fla., and Bob Bullock writes that Carmelita and he left in December for a year or so in Spain. Let's hope that the current internal disorders in Spain will not interfere with Carm and Bob's spending a pleasant time there. Reversing the trend southwards, Chape Leinback reports that he spent a weekend recently in Hanover and that Thomas Wolfe was wrong: "You can go homeagain."

At a recent party given by Nancy and John Sawyer at their home in Darien, Conn., I ran into, among others, the following: Jerri and Ray Builter, Pic and Norb Hofman, Marjie and MiltJohnston and Theo and Bob Prentice. I am glad to report all seemed in good health. Incidentally, all but one of the aforesaid classmates has served as class secretary.

A note of sadness: On January 7 Bill Sicher died at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. After Dartmouth, Bill got his M.D. from the University of Chicago Medical School in 1940. He specialized in internal medicine and was long associated with Lenox Hill Hospital. The Class extends its deepest sympathy to Bill's wife Ann and their sons, David and Steven.

Secretary, 2 Center Rd. Old Greenwich, Conn. 06870

Treasurer, Box 487, Straw Point, Rye, N.H. 03870