1911

For the edification of those who live in warmer climes, the month of January in the Boston area was the coldest in 61 years.

Ihe following address changes have been reported: Mrs. Laurence A. Odlin, 2144 New York Drive, Altadena, Calif. 91001; Mrs. Charles W. Bowker Jr., 370 Main Street, Room 1250, Worcester, Mass. 01608. Mrs. Troy L. Parker, c/o Hill, 800 Houston Road, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514.

A circular of the Dartmouth Club of Central Florida announcing its annual Christmas luncheon on December 19 stated, "We will pay special tribute to our founding and most loyal member, Don Cheney, who again this year will contribute his famous homemade grapefruit wine as his gift to you. Nice guy!" Incidentally, Don became 92 on January 23. And while we are on the subject of ages, Ed Poole reached 91 on January 27.

On November 21, 1980, the Long IslandMagazine carried an article entitled "Over 90, Going Like 60." It pertained to five selected individuals, ranging in age from 90 to 104, who still perform active lives far beyond the usual retirement age. Of those chosen for coverage in the article, two came from the same household: Dr. Benjamin R. Allison, known to his classmates as Hopper, and his wife, Ruth Hovey Allison. Hopper and Ruth first met on a troopship en route to France in World War I, from which they both returned with honors.

They were married in 1921 and settled in Hewlett, Long Island. Hopper became a family physician and has served as a leading figure in the medical development of Nassau County ' for over 50 years. He says, "I decided at 90 it was time to quit. But I'm finding it a lot harder to get out of medicine than it was to get into it." A recent incident is typical. Returning from his vacation home in New Hampshire, he was weary from the long trip and retired for the night. The telephone rang and, responding to an emergency call, he pulled his trousers over his pyjamas and grabbed his black bag, while Ruth called a taxi. He still pursues his outdoor hobby of planting ferns and his indoor hobby of collecting stamps. Hopper will be 92 on March 19. His prescription for long life is, "Keep in touch with life keep going as long as you can."

Ruth Allison gave up her nursing career when she married. She is now 90 years old. She works every day in her upstairs workshop stenciling metal trays. She says, "It takes at least two weeks to do a tray properly." One completed recently was sold for $125. Besides her work, Ruth takes care of the big house, cooks for Hopper and herself, and continues her community activities. A salute to this courageous couple and their determination to carry on.

In the meanwhile, keep in mind our 70th reunion coming up June 12-14, 1981.

43 Deering Street Reading, Mass. 01867