1940

Ancient history blended with history-in-the-making for a foursome of venturesome 40's and three spouses who late this past winter joined the Dartmouth Alumni College's learning tour to Egypt.

Bob and Crosby MacMillan, Bill and Nancy Bumsted, Gordie Wentworth, and C. C. "Carp"Batchelder, and Nancy, Don Fox's wife, saw the sights of Cairo and voyaged up the storied Nile. They viewed the pyramids and the Sphinx, ancient Egypt's awesome legacies from dim and distant civilizations, while Matthew Wiencke, professor of classics and academic guide, put the past in perspective for them.

The ancient also became contemporary when a short time later President Carter stopped off in Egypt with Anwar Sadat immediately after the ceremonial signing of the Egyptian-Israeli treaty, which, it is hoped, will bring peace to the two peoples linked since the dawn of history.

Climbing closer to the top of the ladder at Bridgeport Brass Company is Bill Sides of Southport, Conn., whose promotion to vice president for manufacturing and brass mill products was announced this spring. Bill joined Bridgeport Brass in 1941 as an industrial engineer and has steadily advanced through the production management ranks.

Another classmate contributing to the GNP as a production vice president is Jim Kuhns. He wrote from California to treasurer StetWhitcher that he's with the Garrett Corporation as vice president and manager of the Airesearch Casting Company. The firm makes castings for jet engines and turbo chargers, and apparently the demand is high. New foundries are under construction in California and also in Ireland. Jim reported he has recently bought a house in Blue Hill, Me., for vacations now and residence four months a year after retirement. He says he trusts Blue Hill will be "a little more peaceful than Los Angeles for those Golden Years when it is no longer as much fun to dodge motorcycles with your car." Another factor is family - one daughter is in New York City, another is in Lincoln, Mass., and a son and four grandchildren are in Greenfield, Ind.

And speaking of children and vice presidents, Ernie Lendier's son, Gene '68, was recently promoted, according to a news report, to vice president and manager of corporate services for Hartford (Conn.) National Bank.

Don McCaffrey hasn't lost the romantic touch. In a note from Bradford, Mass., he happily reports that his wife Priscilla (University of New Hampshire '41) "is lovely as ever, a beautiful grandmother" for their four grandchildren, stairstepping in ages 7, 9, 11, and 13. Priscilla is busy in admissions at Bradford College.

Jim Tredup reports he is convalescing from a heart attack experienced earlier this year; but he's thankful, he says, that he's on Molokai in the Hawaiian Islands and did not have to fight snow and ice while doing his rehabilitation exercises.

From his vantage point in Romance languages at Franklin College in Franklin, Ind., Gardiner Ashley still keeps a scout's eye out for good material for Dartmouth. He said a neighbor's son who is now in the Class of 1982 at Dartmouth "is wild about the place," and he's been working on the son of a colleague who is both a top student and excellent swimmer.

In the best tradition of the busman on a bustour holiday, Gardiner audited Alumni College last summer when he came east and his professional verdict was, "Excellent lectures."

A reminder to any who've missed past notices: the mini-reunion next fall (the warm-up for '40's fabulous 40th next June 9-10) is a bit earlier than in recent years. It will be September 21-22, when Dartmouth opens its defense of the Ivy championship against Princeton and when the weather will be congenial for the golfers among us.

A gala weekend is being arranged by Bob MacMillan, who has a block of 25 rooms sequestered at the new Sheraton in West Lebanon. Anyone wanting to be sure of a room should make his or her own reservation directly with the Sheraton (603/298-5906) prior to July 1, referring to the Class of 1940 block. His tentative schedule calls for a Friday evening reception and dinner at the Sheraton, a Class meeting Saturday morning, and the game in the afternoon, all capped by a reception and dinner at the Dartmouth Outing Clubhouse on Occum Pond Saturday evening.

Between then and now, there's still the Green Derby. Art Ostrander and his gang have moved '40 out front, according to the last progress report (early April) to cross my desk before deadline. I'm sure that's heartening to Art as he seeks to put the Class in the record books again while convalescing from his siege of afflictions; but the Class banner will lead the pack at the end of the race only if everyone who can participates and if most double last year's gift our testimony to our belief in the championship calibre of Class and College.

Cruising the Red Sea on the good ship Argonaut in February with a Dartmouth groupwere seven of 1940's fellowship: top, Crosby McMillan, Nancy Fox, and Carp Batchelder; bottom, Bob McMillan, Gordon Wentworth, and Nancy and Bill Bumsted.

303 McNutt Hall Hanover, N.H. 03755