1923

Letters from class widows are particularly welcome. Some come to me, others to Connie. Bettye Sollitt writes: "I do see and have contact with various members of the class. The Metzels are specially close to us and are also my Betsy's godparents. Shall hope to make a trip to Hanover and see you all again." Holiday greetings from Catherine Gates come with a thank-you for the list of classmate memorial fund gifts, Greetings also from Mim Home, who is now in Ocean Ridge, Fla., for the winter. Jean Rice in a long letter brings us up to date on many things including the good news that she is comfortable in the Rice's old home in West Hartford and well looked after by son Ted and his fine family; and from Dyna Palmer come greetings with a lovely colored picture of herself, daughter, and son-in-law.

From Dorothy, the head of the healthcareoriented Hopkins clan, comes a note and a news report of the dedication of the Nashoba Community Hospital Emergency Department honoring the Hopkins family's service to Ayer, Mass., and its surrounding communities. The first Dr. Hopkins came to Ayer in 1899. Today his grandsons Dr. Bertrand and Dr. David serve the areas' medical and dental needs. A third grandson practices surgery in Kansas City. Our classmate, Dr. Ed Hopkins, their father, began his practice in Ayer in 1929. Shortly afterward he and Dorothy, who was a nurse, were married. Ed died in 1968.

I wish I had the space also to tell you about Chet and Barbara Bixby's long letter updating me on their visit with the Dotehs, talks with Truman Metzel, news of Elinor Martin, GlenElliott, the Rusty Sargents and their own family. More about this later.

I must admit I anticipated the following from the ever-generous and modest Jules Rippel. It speaks for itself:

"In the Dartmouth ALUMNI MAGAZINE of November, 1980, on page 57, there was, as you know, a very nice box next to your class notes regarding the Dartmouth Alumni Award I received last June.

"I think I should, through you, disclaim that I am a physician, to say nothing of an 'internationally known physician.' Furthermore, I have never been a professional singer. In fact, my singing career was entirely with the wonderful bunch of guys who made up the Glee Club. It was with the Club that I did sing from Town Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the old Metropolitan Opera stages. However, as far as the now Avery Fisher Hall is concerned, I did sing an Eleazar Wheelock solo, although, I must add, to a dark auditorium without an audience. However, the stage was lit up with a lot of people, including Sig Larman, who was aware that I had done honor to Eleazar. I feel it necessary to make these two disclaimers lest my classmates get a wrong impression."

Alumni Fund award winners for 1980 were recognized at our Head Agents Weekend November 22. Charlie Zimmerman received the Class of 1926 Award to the class as head agent achieving special distinction through participation 100 per cent.

Babe Miner sent me a note to his Brother Stan '22 from a friend of Louise and Pete Home, saying that he had established a prize in journalism in Pete's honor at the Garden City, N.Y., high school. This was done just prior to Pete's death and was deeply appreciated by Louise.

Thanks to Charlie and Catherine Bishop for the funeral service program of Al Merritt's funeral and the picture of the beautiful United Methodist Church of Cleveland. Al's obituary will appear in this or a later issue.

Phil Leighton is now pretty well recovered from his stroke. He and Rella celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last August with all their children and grandchildren. Just after Christmas they left for San Miquel and Allende, Mexico, for two months.

Al Pierce reports that he and Nancy are "holding" their own. Nancy continues to transcribe textbooks into Braille for the Red Cross and Al still serves as a volunteer at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville.

Box 2 Francestown, N.H. 03043