1940
FORTIETH REUNION
Three hundred '40s and their families missed four wonderfully rewarding and fulfilling days when our class convened at Hanover for the well-advertised and long-awaited Fortieth Reunion on June 9. As we learned at the class dinner, '40 had the highest percentage ever of returning alums for a 40th no less than 26 per cent, a real expression of devotion and fellowship.
Such was the atmosphere that prevailed throughout nearly four days of celebration. The chill of cool June days was warmed rapidly by the ingathering of classmates at the tent in front of the Fayerweathers, beginning early on Monday, June 9. Bob MacMillen ran a smooth registration operation and, by day's end, nearly 250 members of the class, their spouses, children, and close friends had been checked in, outfitted with too big, too small, and just right class shirts, and provided with name tags in case anyone became lost. The bar at the tent was an accessory to the occasion, not the necessity it had been at the 25th or the 10th. The day was one devoted to a happy renewal of close and even casual friendships made so many years ago as undergraduates.
To this writer's knowledge it was not determined who had traveled the greatest distance, but no fewer than 19 made the scene all the way from California, including the Beldings, Coulsons, Fulds, Hotalings, Kochs, Kuhns, Cec Moores, Stevensons, Chap Wentworths, and Ostrander. A few had imminent dates with their surgeons, postponed to insure being present for the festivities. Such was a prospect for Beezie Smallwood, who underwent open heart surgery following reunion, and for Cliff Falkenau, who had a hip replaced, and Bill Rearden, who had a hernia repaired. We hope to report a speedy and complete recovery for Beezie and Cliff. Unfortunately, Bill was stricken with a thrombosis during surgery and did not recover.
Thompson Arena became a favorite dining place for our class. Following cocktails at the tent Monday evening, all reunion classes convened for a buffet. How small our world is became obvious when Herb Porter (to be congratulated on becoming a bridegroom ten days following reunion), walking to the arena with the Les Nicholses, learned that his late wife Gita and Edie Nichols were from the same town in England. For them, reminiscing came in bunches. And so it was for the rest of the congregants who filtered back to the tent to converse casually with dear friends. It was an early evening for most. As Cliff Holmes and his wife Christine observed not long past midnight from his South Fayer vantage, the loneliest person on campus had to be the undergrad assigned to "guard" '40's tent.
More '40s made it to breakfast at Thayer than at any time in their undergraduate careers. There was good reason, for very few wanted to miss the memorial service for departed friends and the encouraging keynote sermon given by Larry Durgin on "The '40s in the '80s in their 60s The Best Years of Our Lives."
Following an all-class gathering with President Kemeny, during which his tenure was reviewed and he fielded his audience's questions, '40 held its class meeting, at which the current officers were re-elected. The class project of providing the equipment and power for lighting Baker Library and the function of the memorial book fund were serious subjects aired in 105 Dartmouth. It was determined that Art Ostrander is to have an assistant appointed to share his immense fundraising effort for the class. In a much lighter vein, Scotty Rogers detailed the tennis tournament scheduled for the following day. That he embellished the narration would be a gross understatement. Bill Bumsted described the golf classic to be run concurrently at Quechee, a memorial to Jordan Van Cleve. Then an attempt to give directions to the Lake Morey Inn was made by Mac Millen, who was heckled unmercifully by Vermonter Jack Schleicher.
Because the weather was cool and threatening, the picnic at Lake Morey Inn became an indoor buffet. Attendance did not suffer; in fact, several faces that had not been seen earlier appeared, among them the Vene Gutmans, ChalCarothers, and, alas, Roy Merchant, who made his reunion debut.
Following cocktails at the tent and dinner (again forced inside by the unseasonal weather), many accepted the invitation of President and Mrs. Kemeny to meet them, to enjoy cakes and punch served in their garden, and to tour their lovely home. Then it was back to the tent for the raffle to benefit the Alumni Fund. Winners collected an array of donated prizes that included antique cannisters, wall plaques, bric-a-brac, wall plaques, jewelry, wall plaques, prints, wall plaques, paintings, and even wall plaques. Then to bed early to recuperate for the next big day.
Wednesday was a day at leisure for some. Two, namely Bob Williams and Henry Stokes, proved that almost-senior-citizens can keep up with younger reunion chubbers on a climb of Mt. Moosilauke. Equally eager were the golfers. The ultimate winner of the Van Cleve Memorial Trophy (presented personally to the winner by Jean Van Cleve after reunion) for low gross and title of Class Champ Pro-Tem was John Crandall. Low net honors went to Jack Little. The best ball foursome winners were Joe Rinehart, Mickey Scott, Jim Scott and Larry Cate. Only one person was a double winner, Staff King, for both high gross and high net. Fred Eaton took the prize in the nearest-to- the-pin competition.
Twenty-seven competed for the tennis laurels at Leverone Field House. In this tourney no- one had a spouse or the same partner more than once, a problem in logistics successfully overcome without benefit of a computer by Loomie Rogers, herself sidelined by a mean fall at her quarters. Taking individual top honors were Al Gutman and his talented wife Mary Bert. Nosing out Bob Dibble for the men's runner-up award was Herb Porter. Ann Porter Berger's steady game earned for her runner-up laurels in the women's category. Scot Rogers collected his own double chocolate sundae award at a Main Street emporium. He needed that.
The panel Wednesday afternoon, "After Retirement: Then What?" was moderated by Dave Dance and played to a full house. Professor Stanley Rosenberg theorized on the aging process prior to dissertations by classmates. Ostrander spoke on communal living and how as a bachelor he barely manages to keep out of trouble, Jack Little on developing hobbies and expanding one's latent talents, and John Willetts on how one may be fulfilled by serving community and fellows. Well done, men!
Our final evening began with a social hour at the Top of the Hop, followed by dinner in Alumni Hall. Art Ostrander announced and presented to President Kemeny four $100,000 gold bars, symbolic of '40's record-shattering 40th reunion contribution to Dartmouth. (Would you believe our class, since graduation, has donated nearly $2,750,000?) Then came the trophy award for the highest percentage attendance by a 40th reunion class, this to be followed by the signal honor of a Dartmouth Alumni Award bestowed on Sey Wheelock by the president of the Dartmouth Alumni Council. President Kemeny enriched us with a review of his years as an educator and a forecast of how he plans to utilize the years ahead. To wind up the dinner program, a color television set was presented to Bob MacMillen, recently retired from the College, and to his wife Crosbie; a gift from many friends whose lives they have touched by opening their home and hearts to them.
Until past the witching hour, '40s mingled and danced to wonderful music reminiscent of our college era provided by the Ted Hebert Orchestra. As a proud husband, I report that no one danced up a greater storm than my own wife Zel a gutsy gal.
Thursday dawned bright and cheerful finally, filling us with natural warmth on which goodbyes were said. Bloody Marys and brunch at the DOC House preceded the end that was inevitable, the good wishes, and the hopes that one day soon we would be together again to replenish our store of beautiful memories.
Seymour E. Wheelock '40, director of the Children's Hospital Ambulatory Services in Denver and director of the Community Pediatric Program there, was given a Dartmouth Alumni Award at his class's 40th reunion banquet in June. A former member of the Hitchcock Clinic in Hanover, where he was assistant clinical professor of pediatrics, Seymour has been active in Dartmouth alumni, class, and club activities both here and in Denver. "Sey, you may not be a direct descendant from Eleazar," his citation read, "but your great, great, great grandfather was a first cousin and that is close enough'."
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