1947

THIRTIETH REUNION

Phil Segal has been elected class secretary and will take over this space next month, but I agreed to make one more appearance with a report on our great 30th Reunion in June. This will be my pleasure; despite some uncooperative weather, our 30th was a memorable, fun event.

It got off on the right track Monday afternoon with the smiling faces of Dick Hollerith and George Bingham at the welcoming table outside Russell Sage Hall. From the beginning there was a happy mixture of classmates one sees all too seldom and familiar friends.

The Alan Epsteins were outside the dorm, as were the Frank Webers. Newspaper tycoon Dexter Brooks checked into the dorm; so did the Burt Zuckerniks. And one of those I spotted soon after arrival was John Tower, whom I hadn't seen since graduation and who easily took honors as the '47 who came the longest distance - from Anchorage, Alaska.

One of the pleasures of this reunion was getting reacquainted with people I hadn't seen since undergraduate days. Bill Hallager, for example. And Hank Brezinski. And Joe Eisaman, who was one of a number of Californians to make the trip to Hanover.

The class tent was the place to hoist a few and exchange greetings before supper. There were the beaming Ed Scullys of the California brigade, the Dick Nickelsens up from Pennsylvania, Fred Frassinelli, the imposing presence of LeRoy Davis, and some of the "regulars" - Townes and Joan Harris and Hugh and Joan Chapin, and Norm and HelenFink.

It was before the alumni dinner that we first saw Walt Peterson, the prexy of Franklin Pierce College. And there, too, I had the good fortune to meet two old fraternity pals and favorite friends in the Class of '48, Jim Nicholson and Phil Viereck.

After dinner, a number of alumni attended a garden reception at President Kemeny's home. Later, the Dartmouth Glee Club sang the old familiar songs in a concert at Spaulding Auditorium, touching the heart strings of Dartmouth couples, who have come to expect stirring concerts from the undergraduates.

Back to the tent where Charlie Breed's Mink Brook Six played for dancing and more socializing. Among the many circulating were Al Bildner, "Wink" Crosen (who seemed to be the center of attraction), Bob Huffman, BobMortimer, and Kirt McCaleb (yet another Californian).

I am told a dozen or so '47s and some wives actually showed up Tuesday morning about half past seven for a jolly run around campus. (Sandy Adelman made it, but George didn't). I remember vaguely hearing Ham Chase's splendiferous tones echoing through the dorm, "Everybody out for jogging!" I rolled over and tried to get back to sleep. John Tower sparkled in the jogging department, and this was attributed to his rugged Alaskan lifestyle and his big feet.

After breakfast at Thayer Hall, it was off to the steps of Dartmouth Hall for the class picture. Unfortunately, a few classmates arrived after the camera lens had snapped, but it didn't really matter. They were there in spirit.

President Kemeny greeted alumni at Spaulding Auditorium and in an interesting talk outlined the problems that he anticipated that colleges in general, and Dartmouth in particular, would be facing 25 years hence.

Outgoing class president Frank Weber presided at the class meeting where a new slate of officers was elected to carry the banner for the next five years. We have a great group to run the show, with Walt Peterson as president, Jim Shanahan treasurer, Phil Segal secretary, outgoing president Weber as class agent, HughChapin and Townes Harris continuing as bequest chairman and newsletter editor, respectively, and Al Epstein named to the new position of class campaign coordinator.

A long list of '47s were named to the executive committee, but someone forgot ZekeLanzillo, so he was added to the committee by acclamation. Special votes of appreciation were recorded for Ham Chase for the terrific job he had done chairing the reunion (he's agreed to take over the 35th, too) and class agent Epstein for a super effort every year on the fund drive.

The rain forced us to shift the afternoon picnic to Thompson Arena. Later in the afternoon, a number of '47s were among the alumni who attended a seminar entitled "Turning 50, Turning Off, Turning On," of which our incoming president, as moderator, and our resident psychiatrist, George Cohn, a panelist, were the stars.

Tuesday night's banquet was shifted to Thayer Hall from the D.O.C. House because of the weather. It, too, was fun and the food was good. Outgoing officers received some lovely gifts (thanks to all for the stunning pewter plate and the photo of Dartmouth Hall).

Golf tournament chairman Lansing Reed reported that golfers were greeted at the Hanover Country Club by fair skies and a strenuous course requiring as much vertical as horizontal traverse. Ruth and Joe Hayes proved the class of the Class, between them walking off with most of the prizes. Frank Weber and DonArmitstead also achieved distinction, and Lansing Reed achieved more notoriety than distinction by engineering a prize for himself. All achieved aching backs and happy memories.

Some of us had tickets to the Dartmouth Players' production of That ChampionshipSeason, had to leave early, thus missing speaker Dennis Meadows of Thayer School. Rube Samuels, Don Evans, David Stahl, and wives were among those at the play.

The class tent was jumping Tuesday night to the music of two bands, one from Connecticut and the other made up of former members of the Barbary Coast band, including our own Dick Lezius, who was playing a mean piano.

Joe Hayes served as auctioneer for some special items. Dottie Chase's Dartmouth needlepoint was purchased by Harley Timbers, and a gorgeous poncho knitted by MikePender's wife Fran was grabbed by Helen Fink.

Although the music continued into the small hours, the indefatigable joggers were out again the next morning. Then breakfast at Thayer Hall, a memorial service at Rollins Chapel, and a seminar, "Turning Toward a 50th Reunion - World Crises Before 1999" in which SheldonSegal was a participant. Lunch at the tent, and then most classmates were on the road toward home.

I've been name-dropping, but there were so many others - the Ken Coynes (who were on a fabulous cross-country trip from California in a trailer with their boys), the Bob Keanes, and the Dick Shribmans, the Frank Wuerfels (back from Texas), and many more.

It was a fine, well-organized, rewarding reunion. And it doesn't seem possible that it has been 30 years since graduation.

As a closing note, the next class get-together will be Oct. 6-8 at the Boston University football game in Hanover. Details are in the class newsletter.

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