1944
We suspect that some of you may have slipped in and out of Hanover this past summer without checking with your old class secretary, but you're forgiven. We know how it is when the wives want to shop and the kids have to go potty.
Most permanent summer fixture in town was internist Bob Purnell, who left his stethoscope in Arcadia, Calif., and spent two weeks of his vacation in North Fayerweather while attending Alumni College (theme this year: "Where Have All the Heroes Gone?"). With him at all of the sessions was son Kjell, 18. While on location, they buzzed down to Eastman Pond and bought one of the lots there.
In town for a different reason, but also land hunting, were Harry and Pat Carey. Harry, president of the Bristol County Trust Co. in Seekonk, Mass., was honing up at the annual Bank Administration Institute soiree held at Dartmouth; and Pat was keeping trim peddling her 10-speed over hill and dale. They hadn't made a deposit yet, but were looking for a spot for Harry's retirement, nine years hence. A spot in the hills, that is; their cottage on the Cape provides seasonal sun, sand, and surf.
That smiling perennial, Greg Rabassa, had a wider grin than usual as he perambulated Main Street. Daughter Kate was accepted by Dartmouth, Class of '82, and she'll be on campus, after a Moosilauke freshman trip, by press time.
Wemo Epply, on from Colorado, was in town just one day for a gulp of Hanover air and a respite from Manchester, N.H., where he was visiting.
Andy and Kitty MacDowell, respiting, too, but from their three kids (all under five), cruising, and golfing New England.
Walter and Connie Burke were also in Hanover, but mostly they were more at Dartmouth's Minary Center on Squam Lake where they re-assembled the members of their wedding to celebrate their 35th anniversary.
Looking obscenely young and untarnished as they surveyed the Green from the front porch of the Hanover Inn were George and Nancy Troxell. The New Orleans Troxells are giving up the bayou for a three-year stint in Holland, courtesy of George's oil-drilling firm.
Six-foot-four Budd Welsh ducked through our door, over from his motel in Manchester Center, Vt., with his parents in tow (Ralph '19, no less), and all looking spry and full of it as they climbed the 300 steps to my third floor McNutt office. The Welsh's daughter Debbie finished at the University of Vermont in May, armed with degrees for two careers, in human development and dental hygiene.
The other Welch, the one-d. Yellow Pages Bud Welch, was transferred in July, after 11 years in Milwaukee, down to Bear Bryant country, Birmingham, to be exact. He's general manager of the L. M. Berry Co. (with it 27 years) for southern territory, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He says he enjoys the climate and the 11 months of golf. "Still trying to perfect those things Fred Witzel tried to teach me in 1942," he wrote. He sees John and IreneBird frequently; the Bird's daughter Betsy was married in June. And a Welch daughter, Debbie, walks the aisle in October. She and sister Cynthia both live in Dallas; a third daughter, Kathryn, likes New England and has been there five years as regional director for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
President Carter appointed the other McDowell - Charles E. - the rear admiral one, judge advocate general of the Navy, a post he assumed August 1. Charlie and Carolyn live in Alexandria, Va., and have two daughters - Robin Mathews of Kernersville, N.C., and Pat, a student at High Point College, High Point, N.C.
Thanks to our friendly WATS line we got through to friendly John Conner out there in Phoenix, and we learned that he is still president of his own investment banking firm, Phoenix Capital Corporation. It's a pretty local thing, says John, which is not quite true of his Rotary International interests and obligations. He is past district governor, and four years ago was on Rotary's International Youth Commission. When we caught him, he and wife Barbara were zipping up the two-suiters in preparation for a Rotary meeting in Tokyo. Sons John and Jim are both CPAs in law schools; daughter Bonnie is doing missionary work in Honduras.
Back east, lawyer Steve Tate writes from Westport, Conn., to say that his and Laura's youngest, eight-year-old Stevie, badly damaged an eye via an exploding firecracker, but it doesn't look as though he'll lose sight in it. A Tate daughter, Charlotte, entered Bowdoin this fall and son Mike matriculated at Deerfield.
Yes, of course that was Angus McCraig, alias J. William, our class treasurer, trudging the Scottish golf courses in August, dirk in his sock, mashie niblick at the ready. He was on an eight-day swing with fellow Daytonian, Tom Gillaugh '46. No word on scores - or whether anyone tried to peek under their kilts.
Another sad duty - reporting the death of Willard F. Sporleder, June 30, 1977, in Farmington, Mich. A heart attack after a long bout with cancer. Our sympathies to his wife Frances.
We hope to see bunches of you in Hanover October 13-14. Yale game. Outing Club House post-game for a full-house '44 gathering. Compulsory attendance.
That's it. Blessings.
Barbara Donnelly '77 and Jeff McElnea'71, both '44 offspring, took time out fromAlumni Council meetings this June toclimb Mt. Moosilauke.
311 McNutt Hall Hanover, N.H. 03755
