1958
TWENTIETH REUNION
The 20th reunion was a delight. We all relaxed, enjoyed each other, mingled, met some handsome children, and renewed our love affair with each other and the College. Along the way, the class set records for reunion attendance and Alumni Fund contributions, but much more significant was the prevailing atmosphere of comradeship and high spirits. No amount of thanks will ever be enough for Herb Swarzman, who put together the reunion team, or for WaltVail and Ted Harris, who did a superb job cochairing the reunion.
Some personal recollections may give perspective to the weekend for those who did not attend. Saturday morning, I ran some laps on the new Dartmouth all-weather track. Jogging back toward Fayerweather, I was passed at the Topliff corner by a group of runners in a 10- mile race. Someone called out, "Hi, Skip." The youthful figure floating past was Don Moday. Later, the results of the race came in, and MikeWelch, the lawyer from San Diego, led all our classmates. Close behind him were Allen Baker,Jim Fannin, and Don Moday. Henry Crawford and Phil Colla, sons of Jim Crawford and Coleman Colla, finished second and third respectively in the under-22 group in the 2.3- mile run, and Si Handelsman's son finished first! In that run, Ray Hilsinger's wife came in first in the women's over-22 group. From the appearance of these runners they will still be jogging at the 50th reunion.
Saturday evening, Larry Weltin performed an almost impossible task. He masterfully moved the class dinner through jokes, awards, speeches, and drawings in such a smooth fashion that everyone left smiling after two and a half hours. One woman told me she was reluc- tant to go to the powder room for fear of missing one of Weltin's jokes.
Sunday morning, Reverend Warner Traynham delivered in the Bema a moving tribute to our deceased classmates. The shafts of sunlight filtered through the leaves as silent prayers were offered for honored friends who reunite no more.
Sunday afternoon, my nine-year-old daughter joined the crowd at the computer center. When I located her, she was listening with fascination as Jack Stromberg's son explained the mysteries of the keyboard. Soon Hoby Van Deusen's son took over her instruction. It was very hard for my daughter to leave.
Many classmates responded to a questionnaire I circulated after reunion to those who attended. Those gems will appear in the next few columns. For example, as slim and elegant as ever, Rob Goodell tells me he has moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he has taken over as vice president of marketing for Huffy. With the gas crunch putting all of us on bicycles, this looks like a well-planned move. Rob enjoyed visiting with his old pal Bob Clothier, who wrote, "I thought it was a perfect weekend." Bob is a vice president of Thompson McKinnon Securities, Inc., in downtown Philadelphia. He has taken up squash for exercise and certainly looks it.
Many traveled a long way to be in Hanover in June. Wally Smith brought his wife and three children east from Boise, Idaho. They toured New England and New York. Wally is with Boise Cascade. He and the family take advantage of their location to go backpacking and skiing and are active in community politics, education, and music. Wally also mentioned seeing Steve Spafford, who lives in Caldwell, Idaho, ranches, and does admissions work for Boise State University.
John Whiteley took time to write a generous note. John is vice president of York Laboratory Associates, York, Pa. This is a group of pathologists and other laboratory professionals who serve the York hospitals. John has a son in the class of 1982. He wrote as follows: "Looking forward to our 25th, I wonder if anyone else in the class still plays a band instrument. I have kept up on trumpet and baritone horn all these years. I play in the community band every Saturday night in the summer and I have a physicians' German band going at the hospital. I wonder if anyone else would be interested in a '58 band leading the parade in 1983. I would be delighted to contact people, distribute music, etc. Let me know. John Kavanagh said he'd lead the band on the street. He was student director our senior year."
This sounds like a great idea to me. Write John P. Whiteley, 1116 Detwiler Drive, York, PA 17404, or call 717-764-6313. You've only got four years to get organized.
Reunion fun includes meeting interesting people you did not know in college. My opportunity to chat with Clark Bittner was a good example. Over lobster newburg outside the Thompson Arena, I learned that he is senior vice president and director of marketing for United Penn Bank in Wilkes-Barre. His activities include identifying and recruiting those rugged Pennsylvania boys to play football for the Big Green.
Joel Portugal, our new class president, has arranged a mini-reunion in Hanover for the Dartmouth-Brown weekend this fall. On Saturday, November 10, there will be a pre-game keg at Dave Bradley's law office and a post-game cocktail party at the home of Dean RalphManuel. Hope to see you there.
2301 Ash Lane Northbrook, Ill. 60062
