1940

To set a mood, I am sitting before my trusty Royal sipping from a glass of apple cider, while outside the window, rain is making a shambles of the last of fall's colorful mantle. It might have the flavor of a Hanover scene except for the fact that the cider came from the fridge rather than a jug dangling out the window and I don't have the record player grinding out a Goodman, Dorsey, or Shaw rendition.

Regardless of the season, Hanover is a great gathering place for '40s. "Joe" Burnett finally heeded the urgings of Stet Whitcher and attended this past summer's Alumni College. The score is now one for Joe and 16 for Stet. Writes Joe, "It was great fun the lectures were stimulating, the people we met were interesting, learning for its own sake is enjoyable, and observing the beautiful campus and environs for an extended period is an experience!

"Of the 260 participants, 180 had attended previous Alumni Colleges, many for five or more sessions and some for more than ten. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of this imaginative undertaking, sparked by John Sloan Dickey, who, sadly, cannot participate owing to illness.

"Forties in attendance included Stet, Rudy and Barbara Horky (back for their second D.A.C.), Howie and Beverly Zagor, Al and Mary Beth Gutman, Betty Cleaves (without tennising husband Bill), and myself. Bob MacMillen was present and Nick Turkevich put in a brief appearance while on a U.S. trip from his Paris headquarters. Everyone in the '40s group was a previous participant except me.

"This year's subject was 'The Renaissance Forms, Reforms and Revolutions,' a natural follow-on of last year's 'A Modern Pilgrimage through the Middle Ages.' Directed overall by Stephen Calvert '68, it featured dynamic lectures on Shakespeare, on Rabelais and Montaigne, on Leonardo and Michelangelo, and on Machiavelli and the power and politics of the era . . . during which great changes took place in man's perceptions of himself and his world, changes which underlie our modern world.

"The lecturers conveyed a great feeling of excitement during two one-hour lectures each morning, which carried on through interesting discussion groups of 15 to 18 people. Afternoons were free to enjoy all the outdoor beauty and athletic facilities. Evenings included a social hour, dinner, and a movie, play, or musical event related to the theme.

"We left Hanover with regret that the two weeks had disappeared so fast, but with the satisfaction of having explored a fascinating period under the leadership of inspired experts and in the company of a diverse and thoroughly enjoyable group of people." Joe concludes his great report with cheers for a job well done and the statement that he, for one, is "hooked."

From Bob MacMillen comes a report of the doings and undoings at the time of the class mini-reunion last September 17-19. The undoing was the Penn-Dartmouth football game, described both as disappointing and dull. The smailer-than-usual group convened at Mac and Crosbie's after the game included Jack and Lois Moody; Lois and Bill Duncan and daughter Jane; Joe Burnett; Stet Whitcher; Gordie Wentworth (newly-elected president of the Eastward Ho Country Club at Chatham on Cape Cod); the Holmeses, Cliff and Christine; Frank Whaland and wife Ruth; Elmer and Joyce Browne; Jack Little; Hugh and Joan Dryfoos; Scotty Rogers, with birthdaying wife Loomie; first-time-back-in-42-years Bill Rothermel with wife Peg (make it twice in 43, Bill!); and Dick and Betty Babcock (Dick's teaching urban studies classes during the fall term at Dartmouth). The transition from elbow-bending to dining was accomplished without relocating the troops, the MacMillens having arranged a catered dinner on-site.

"At the Leverone lunch before the game," Mac adds, "we also had Bob Austin, and Bob and Mary Lou Reid, who were house guests of Bill and Gina Risley '39. At the Inn Friday night for dinner there were most of the above plus Jack and Inez Schleicher and Dink and Dolly Weiner. It was fun to see some of the new faces who don't make the scene on a regular basis." Bob Graham did attend the class meeting held Saturday morning. You know, if you count noses, that smaller-than-usual gathering of '40s was a darned good turn-out, and the others reading this and saying, "I wish ..." should start planning now for next fall.

For the Williamsburg report, tune in next month. In the meantime, it is with regret that I pass on news of the deaths of Charlie Tuck in October of 1981 from a heart ailment, and of Jack Hartwell, whose death was sudden in late September. To Henrietta Tuck and to Mary Hartwell, the classmates of your husbands extend their heartfelt condolences.

F. Warren Miller Jr. '40 was presented with an Alumni Award in October for his "special interest and work for the welfare of Dartmouth." Mentioned in the citation were his long career with Aetna Life and Casualty Company; his community service with the Springfield, Mass., Hospital, a Springfield-area health insurance council, Community Chest, P.T.A., Cub Scouts, and Little League; and his considerable work on behalf of the College especially in enrollment activities, and also as secretary and president of the Dartmouth Club of Springfield, a member of the Alumni Council, and a Springfield-area executive committee member for the Third Century Fund.

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