1939

Dartmouth '39 40th Reunion

It is with regret that we record the death of John Thornton. We received a note from his brother Bob advising that John lost a bout to cancer last October, at the United Hospital in Port Chester, N.Y., where, incidently, he had been active over the years doing volunteer hospital work.

On a happier note, we have some unusual news from our reunion committee. JackCoulson, reunion treasurer, advises that the heretofore published charge of $100 for the four days, June 11-14, has been reduced to $90, if it is anteed up by May 15. Thereafter it remains at an even hundred. The price for children remains $75. Where else can you get a price going down - unless it be in the stock market? The schedule has been set by the committee, and if Walt Darby doesn't include it in its entirety in an upcoming "'39 Out," we will in our next column. Suffice it to say that it includes a round-robin tennis tourney, a golf competition, meals at various interesting points (including Bonnie Oaks), conviviality in a green and white striped tent, a class seminar calculated to show you various ways of retiring, a reception in the garden of President and Mrs. Kemeny, a film and slide show produced by Bill Webster and featuring '39ers exclusively, plays, bus tours, music, and dancing. If you haven't already, be sure to plan a trip to Hanover June 11, and get your word in by May 15. You'll like it! The seminar, incidently, is billed as "What Are You Going To Do With The Rest Of Your Life?" and it will be keynoted by two Alumni College pros, Professor James Epperson of the English Department and Professor Stanley Rosenberg of Psychiatry. Bert MacMannis will serve as moderator, and the panel will include BetsyWyman giving a widow's viewpoint; YvonneDyer, a wife's view of the husband who doesn't want to retire; Bob Bryant, already retired but working in an entirely different field and locale; Bob Cushman, what a major chief executive officer looks forward to; Fred Worden, a busy doctor's outlook; and John Steele, a working journalist's thoughts on his tomorrows - a blue ribbon panel which adds up to an interesting afternoon.

One small correction to a recent column should be noted. We heard from Ned Bayrd that the book of the month selection, The ThinGame, a sensible contribution to the problem of weight loss, was not written by him, but rather by his son, Ned Jr. Ned himself has co-authored one book with the impressive title of TheMonoclonal Gammopathies, Multiple Myeloma and Related Plasma Cell Disorders, which he explains has been overlooked by the book of the month clubs and has had only modest sales.

Just before Christmas, Wells Bates, who is chairing the reunion, his plans for the mighty 40th well in hand, formally announced his retirement from the family business, C.J. Bates & Son, knitting needle manufacturers. A massive party of friends and relatives given by his brother properly dignified his dropping of the knitting needle for a set of graphite-shafted golf clubs. We understand he and Betty are wintering in Naples, Fla. The event was also marked by a special issue of the local press - The Gazette - which in this case was published solely by the Gazette's managing editor, Well's son Chip.

Gus Zitrides will be honored at a testimonial dinner by the AHEPA Society and inducted into that organization's hall of fame, on March 24 in Manchester, N.H. AHEPA is a national Greek organization that has honored a number of All American athletes of Greek descent. All '39ers in the New England area are hereby invited to attend the affair (if this message reaches you in time) and can contact one James Noucas, 273 Blodgett St., Manchester, N.H. 03104 for further details.

And talking about withdrawing from the main stream of day-to-day pressures, your scribe has voted himself a spot in the catbird seat at his radio station, WBEC in Pittsfield. He is now chairing the board and has promoted his son Dick Jr. to the presidency. All the better for writing monthly Alumni notes!

777 West St. Pittsfield, Mass. 01201