1970

Achievements come in various forms. Certainly one of the most remarkable and fascinating that I have come across in the five years of writing this column is the recent triumph of Doug "Mad Dog" Fox. Each year at Kapiolani Park, outside Honolulu, tree trimmers from the Hawaiian Islands compete in the Annual Arbor Day Tree Jamboree. This past year the barefoot coconut-tree-climbing championship of Hawaii was wrested back from Samoan and Tongan tree trimmers by our classmate, Doug Fox. He climbed a 15-foot coconut palm in his bare feet in exactly nine seconds, beating a Tongan, who had started climbing coconut trees at the age of eight, by three-tenths of a second. Doug apparently had never climbed a tree barefoot before, but does climb the trees with spikes six days a week as a tree trimmer. Doug explained that much of the tree trimming is artistic, giving trees shape, and falls within the realm of ornamental pruning.

There is also good news from Vermont and England. I received an anonymous note reporting the social event of the summer season in Landgrove, Vt., which I am informed has a population of 120, more or less. The event was the wedding of Pamela A. Newhouse and William C. Badger. The honors were performed by none other than the Rev. John Merriam. Other classmates who were on hand included Joe Schwartzman, Bob Jorgensen, and SparkyMillikan. I am told that the newlyweds have moved into the "old" Newhouse Estate (ca. 1978) in Manchester Center, Vt. Caboose No. 1 of what is apparently their private railroad, the Landgrove and Northern Railway, formerly Central Vermont Railway caboose No. 4008, has been relegated to the position of their country home.

From England comes the news that on December 20, 1980 Geoffrey Scott and Caroline John Rushbrooke were married at All Saints Church. The reception which followed was held at Popley Fields House in Basingstoke, England. I gather that Geoff is already off to Cairo for better than a year's stay. He certainly has some fascinating tours of duty as a banker.

News also comes from the Big Apple. Grace Glueck, noted art critic of the New York Times, as part of a "Saturday Guide for Art Lovers," reviewed "The Scene from SoHo to TriBeca," two emerging downtown art meccas. At the Robert Freidus Gallery in SoHo, Stephan McKeown had an exhibit this January of painted wood sculptures. Ms. Glueck was struck by their simultaneous spacial and linear reading. Obviously impressed, she noted that each of the structures had what she called "a complex, pleasing rhythm" revealing a "sure hand."

I also had a great note from our class presid ent, Pete Geary. I don't know where he gets the time to handle the newsletter, as well aother duties, much less. stay in contact with those involved in class activities, what with having to spend about three hours a day coaching a JV basketball team. Pete currently is having an enviable 9-2 record. Anyway, Pete wanted to make sure that I reminded all of you of our upcoming reunion in June, June 19-21. Those of you who read this column with interest must realize that seeing each other will be a lot more satisfactory than just looking for news in each ALUMNI MAGAZINE. So set aside the time now and plan to be in Hanover with the rest of us.

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