1927

Time magazine started off its weekly essay of February 6 with, "The Weather: Everyone's Favorite Topic," and then went on to say, "Every year brings fresh reminders of the weather's power over human life and events in the form of horrifying tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods." How true this is! Here in the Boston area in late February we are still cleaning up from two bad blizzards within the short space of two weeks. The first, a 20" snowfall, was the largest one-day precipitation ever recorded here. The second, a two-and-a-half day old-fashioned nor' easter, left over 40" of snow in our own back yard and completely wrecked many coastal homes north and south of Boston. In partial retribution, your secretary and his wife Ruth immediately made reservations to spend a week in Spain early in April.

Brad Fuller had a similar idea when he decided to spend a portion of the winter in Hawaii with his daughter and grandchildren. At last count, he had nine grandchildren. Brad, who retired eight years ago from United Shop Machinery Company, is serving his 13th year oh the school committee in Newburyport, Mass., where he lives.

Seth Besse has retired and moved back to New Bedford, Mass., where he plays golf four to five times a week. This, as he says, should surprise no one.

In connection with the 1978 Alumni Fund campaign, soon to begin, our class head agent, Bob Williamson, has surveyed a substantial number of classmates and satisfied himself that his goal, which is only slightly larger than the pre-reunion 1976 figure, is a reasonable one. He says that this will require many to increase their gifts over those of that year, however, to offset the decrease in our ranks. Bob wants you to remember that "the early bird gets the worm," and he wants you to know that he "loves worms, and early birds, too, of course."

We had a long letter from Syd Voice, who said, "I agree with Bill Elliott that the class should use its surplus funds to bring back the Indian symbol, especially now since this is the Year of the Horse." The letter had too much news to repeat here (can you believe it?), but we should note that he and Ev have rented an apartment in Nice for next July and August. Syd keeps busy doing voluntary work one day a week in a hospital for special surgery and teaching remedial reading to ninth-grade slow-learners for two days a week.

Wil Shaw wrote, "Thanks for the birthday card with the attractive design by Gordon Smith. Betty and I are getting ready for our annual trek to Florida... for a month or so, in Englewood on the gulf coast, not far from Sarasota. We keep a small sailing dinghy there which we use when weather and tide permit. On the way down, we always stop off to see Gerry andMiriam Bricket, and on the way back to see Al Chabot. I feel pretty good, and as the old fellow says, 'There may be snow on the roof but there's a fire in the furnace.' I recently became a third-time grandfather."

It was good to hear from Joe Gintzler. He noted that he and his wife Goldie do very little except to try to grow older as gracefully and as painlessly as possible. Several rubbers of bridge is their idea of an exciting evening. Some months ago, Joe enjoyed a luncheon hosted by Sykes Hardy, at which a number of classmates were present. We are saddened to report that after sending our last column to the printer, we learned of the death of Syke's wife Helen on January 6. She had not been well for over a year. A number of classmates attended the funeral services in Del Ray Beach.

We hear that Paul O'Connell takes time away from his duties as class bequest chairman to continue his practice of law in Worcester, Mass. He is one of the more fortunate ones, who was able to arrange a business trip to Miami in January. Paul planned to stay down there for another couple of weeks (why not?). He has been a vice president and trustee of the Peoples' Saving Bank in Worcester for several decades and a member of its board of investment for one decade.

Ed Johnson, true to form, spent Christmas on a Sierra Club camping and hiking trip to Mexico.

Vic Duplin keeps busy on his farm in Lynchburg, Va., where he and Lourrie maintain a large herd of Angus cattle.

Vern Whitney is looking forward to forsaking Walla Walla, Wash., during the early part of 1978 as he makes a swing through Denver, St. Louis, and Florida.

Chuck Field still has his real estate license in Westchester, Ill. He doesn't put much effort into that field now, but does spend considerable time on the Central Committee for the Blind.

We are sorry to report the death of Mike Ketz from a heart attack on February 8. Additional details will appear in another section of this or a later issue.

We hope that you are having a good winter, wherever you are, and, so that we and your other classmates may share it with you, that you will take a minute to write, please.

11 Rolling Lane Wayland, Mass. 01778