1918

'18-Up 60th Reunion

Soon after sending in the obituary on TedRichmond, I received the following letter from Janet, which I find interesting.

"It is not surprising that you have been unable to find any information on my husband. He shunned publicity of any kind, and I doubt if he ever answered any class questionnaire. However, we did go back to Hanover for the 50th reunion of the Class of '18.

"Ted was born in Fredonia, N.Y., the son of Dr. Nelson G. and Grace S. Richmond. His father was a country doctor and his mother a popular writer of fiction. He graduated from Lawrenceville School and went on to Dartmouth. He left with many of his classmates in the spring of 1917 and enlisted in the Navy. He attended officer's training school, received his commission, and earned his wings in lighter-than-air craft. He flew dirigibles on submarine patrol and troop ship escort duty out of the naval air station at Rockaway Beach. After his discharge as a lieutenant (jg) in 1919, he went to work for Doubleday Page in their book manufacturing division, Country Life Press. Before he retired he had become a vice president in charge of production.

"We were married in June 1927 and have lived here in Garden City. His death came very suddenly after he had suffered what was thought to be a slight stroke.

"In Fredonia he had been called Guernsey; in Lawrenceville he acquired the nickname Spud, which he had all through Dartmouth; but when he came to Doubleday he was called Ted. Up to the last few years he was a keen golfer and was a member of that all-male club, the Garden City Golf Club as well as the Cherry Valley Club. He maintained a great interest in all phases of aviation and was very proud of his service flying dirigibles."

Right now the big thing in the lives of most '18ers is, of course, the Big One More Time Reunion. Dick White writes: "We have 79 reservations as of today, with two more just for the class dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Fred CarletonJr., who will be with his mother. So we can officially count 81 in attendance if all come through."

I expect to lose from four to six but hope to pick up a few, so our final count should exceed 70.

So let's not let Dick down. Tighten up the old bailing wire and beg, borrow, or steal your way into Hanover.

Preparations are all made for us to have the best time ever. Set your course and come on.

Sewall Strout writes from Tampa: "We have lost a great '18er and a great Dartmouth man in the death of Harvey Hood. He did so much for the College over so many years that I think one way to show our appreciation as classmates would be to give in his memory a little more than we had planned to the Alumni Fund this 60th Reunion Year." I can only say amen to that thought with all my heart.

We '18ers undoubtedly took pride in Harvey Hood's very generous contributions of all sorts to Dartmouth, many of which redounded to the credit of our class. In spite of any plans that he made for the future, Harvey's death is bound to leave a void. As Sewall Strout has suggested above, I want again to emphasize that this is an opportunity for his loyal clasmates to give more to the Alumni Fund than they were planning on in this 60th reunion year, as a memorial to Harvey.

In spite of his great contributions to Dartmouth, Harvey never grew away from the Class of 1918. Those of us who were fortunate enough to attend several Dartmouth-Harvard football games will never forget the delightful class luncheons so graciously hosted by Harvey and Barbara in their home. They were a high point in those very enjoyable weekends. I have already written to Barbara, but I want to express again to her and to her family our sincere sympathy and our own sense of loss.

I talked to Lana Robinson last night down in Lake Wales. He is having health problems so is doubtful for reunion; but I gave him the old pitch.

I also talked to Cort and Marian Horr in Western Springs. Her health problems are still with her. There seems to be very little chance that they will be able to make reunion, but she is still hoping. They think Ed Healey is still in St. Joseph's Hospital in South Bend, where he had some surgery performed about two and a half weeks ago. I know we all wish Ed the best.

Time is getting short, boys; so gird up your loins and get trekkin'. As for me, at this point I have obits to write.

1820 Lewis Lane Joliet, Ill. 60432