1921

Hurrah for the wives of some of our hesitant never delinquent classmates. My letter to Andy Valentine brought a quick response from Harriet. She had no doubt that Andrus Andy to his classmates would reply, but he'd probably put it off until "later." (Don't we all?)

It's interesting to know that Andy "continues his historical research and writing for the Long Island Forum, which he has done for 30 years."

In addition, he is still active in the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, the Suffolk County Marine Museum, and several historical societies. Young people continue to ring their doorbell looking for answers or references to historical questions. Even the town historian keeps both Harriet and Andy busy doing research for them, so that they have very little time for their own projects, one of which has been "the collecting of sea lore and language of the sea."

Both give lectures on "salt in our speech or sea language come ashore." So far the years have resulted in three books on local history ColdSprings Sounding, An Islands People, and TheWindow to the Street. Andrus and Harriet are loved by three sons and their wives, together with 11 grandchildren.

Harriet tells me in closing her enchanting tale, covering a lifetime interest in every aspect of Suffolk County, that she signs her letter with "pride as the wife of Andrus." Indeed, Harriet, how could it have been otherwise? I am certain Andy's classmates will be as pleased to read of his accomplishments as I have been.

Ralph Baker writes that every misfortune has its rewards. Ralph had his car stolen from a parking meter in downtown Hartford. Police reported a week later that it was completely stripped 100 per cent including $600 of golf equipment. Consolation came with the purchase of a new set of golf woods. He is hitting the ball an extra 30 yards. My comment: "That should shave four strokes off your score, Ralph."

In West Hartford live Ralph's daughter Barbara Ide and her husband Dick, which means frequent get-togethers on all holidays and birthdays. There are three grandchildren either out of college or about to enter.

In January they flew to Tucson for a month's vacation, which they have been doing for the last six years. Ralph's comment is that "most of the senior citizens in Tucson live for golf and bridge." Don't they everywhere?

From Fred Weiss '38 comes a note that our own Joe Vance's wife Ruth was on a tour with Detroit's economic club in Egypt at the time of Sadat s assassination. More recently she was pictured in the Detroit Free Press while in a hospital, directing from her bed a charitable endeavor which she was chairing.

1 am sad to have to report that we have lost our dedicated bequest chairman, Jim Wicker. Jim died on March 22 of a heart attack, and his obituary appeared in the May issue of the MAGINE. Jim had just completed another non to our bequest program, as was reported in Russ Bailey's "Smoker." His loss to our class.

The Corbin Story (third chapter): To summarize, the Corbins flew back from Texas and continued on to our 60th reunion Then they hopped on another plane to go visit fore finally settling down at home.

Olive also wrote: "Our son Albert is an actor by profession. At present he is In Alaska, where he is appearing in a product of The Man Who Came To Dinner (which star Alexander Woollcott in the original) It is an excellent play.

"We have a great-grandson, who is now a year and a half old, born to our granddaughter "But, oh yes," Olive continued, think that she had finished writing just one more little thing, "the present Ormond Beach. Fla was once called New Britain, Fla., and the reason was that Philip Corbin, an ancestor of Emory's, who controlled Corbin Industries in New Britain, Conn., established a rest area Florida for his employees. In 1975 we were invited to be guests of the city while they celebrated their centennial. We were entertained by different groups from breakfast to dinner for a week, no less!. We were younger, so it didn't kill us. We couldn't do it now! So, greetings to all 1921. (Signed) Olive."

With this installment, I close the saga of the Corbins.

Have a happy summer!

3575 S. Ocean Blvd., #304 South Palm Beach, Fla. 33480