1935
Since the May 1 deadline for my last column, I have received and appreciated many cards and short communications from you. Here are some excerpts.
We were pleased to note that last May Plymouth State College awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters to Don Hagerman. You'll recall that Don retired in June of 1977 as headmaster of Holderness School after 26 years on the job. Prior to that he had taught at Tabor Academy and Deerfield Academy. (Late news flash! Don has accepted an appointment as interim head of the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Conn. After 41 years with boys!!??)
And, while in the field of academics, we report the retirement of Ted Everhart from an eight-year term on the board and two years as rector of Old Dominion University amid high praise for his dedication to academic excellence.
Space limitations prevent my recounting more than a hint of the praise given Don King on his retirement as academic dean of St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wise. Don was called upon to give the commencement address, and received the degree of Doctor of Letters. After a sabbatical semester this fall at Baker Library, he'll return to St. Norbert to teach in the humanities division. After receiving a Ph.D. in classics from Princeton, Don taught at Dartmouth and Penn State before serving in the U.S. Naval Air Force. Then he returned to teaching at Beloit and Mt. St. Joseph-on-the-Ohio before going to St. Norbert in 1967. Congratulations to Don as he continues a career of distinguished service in education!
Retirements seem to make up a large part of the news.
Al Brush has retired as executive vice president from G.M.A.C. and is now living part of the year in New London, N.H. Charlie Ganzel has left his post as a senior vice president and director of Bethlehem Steel. Charlie had been employed by Bethlehem ever since graduation. Bob McLellan has moved to South Yarmouth on Cape Cod and will cease serving as second vice president and assistant treasurer .'of New England Life in November. Don Koehljer leaves Conde Nast, except for a little part-tirpe work, and will move to Cape Coral in Florida this fall. Hopefully he'll join Ralph Specht, wfro thinks you happy fellas down there should have a 1935 winter reunion. Great idea! John Thomas retired in March and took off in the other sunny direction. He has joined Bill Walrath as a resident of Sun City, Ariz. Ted Harbaugh retired a year ago from making those class glasses but the big excitement in his family was that son Ross was selected for the Tchaikovsky Competition for cello in Moscow with his wife as his accompanist. Ross was not the final winner, but the fact that he was in the running is recognition of virtuoso talent.
Many of us, however, are not retired. MelMandigo is a candidate for the Vermont senate, is active in cattle insemination, and raises registered Morgan horses. Hal Orenstein is enjoying his medical practice too much to quit, and Bill Kuhn has just bought a house for retirement but doesn't plan to live in it while working for the next five years. Gardner Cushman is cutting back gradually, looking toward retirement at 72. In spite of a couple of slipped discs, MercCurtis plans to stay in his shoes until 1980. FritzHormel will do better. After April 1, 1979, he and Madeline hope to travel to all those places they've never seen - if "inflation doesn't blow it." Rem Ryder is "still working but not so hard or long," and Jack Egan is not retired but manages golf three times a week and counts on someday shooting his age. Bill Jacoby classifies himself as still unretired.
Two social events of what might be called the "'35 Club of the Upper Valley" should be recounted here. Early in May a group of 15 or so locals, plus wives, where appropriate, gathered for a delightful party at the home of John and Barbara Gilbert in Thetford, Vt. That was followed late in the month by the same group's attending dinner and the presentation of the opera, The Merry Wives of Windsor, partially sponsored by our Class Memorial Fund. This was a major first-time event at the Hopkins Center and a widely-acclaimed sellout performance.
By the time you read this I hope you will have joined us at our fall reunion, which, because of publication dates, I'm at some disadvantage in reporting. Reg Bankart in the "Tear Bag" will have told you all about it.
Plan now on our 45th in June '79!
High Wood Way, Eastman Box 87, Grantham, N.H. 03753
