1923

By the time you read these notes you will long since have been updated with specific individual reunion news, including a firm schedule of events, head tax, etc. December and January were very busy months for Herb Home and Chet Bixby. All of the preliminaries for June 13-15 are on schedule, however. Herb even found time to get out a January issue of "Skiddoo" in the absence of Ike Phillips, who paid an unexpected visit to Mary Hitchcock. Ike is feeling better now and expects to be back on the job with the next issue.

Charlie Zimmerman has had a very complimentary letter from Henry Eberhardt, Alumni Fund director, congratulating him and 1923 for already surpassing the record of giving by 60th reunion classes. As of January 10, 1923 class contributions totaled $90,450.

Once again "In Memoriam" booklets have been distributed, listing all Dartmouth alumni who have been remembered by memorial gifts from classmates, widows, and other friends and relatives during 1982. Our list, which is the longest of any class, includes the names of 497 classmates and that of Ellie Lyon Baldwin, who was Sherm Baldwin's wife.

In the previous issue we reported the shocking news of the disastrous fire at Bernice and Pem Whitcomb's home in Cotuit, Mass. That report indicated that Pem suffered principally from smoke inhalation. The fact is that he also suffered severe burns. As of mid-January, nearly two months after the fire, Pem was still confined to the burn section, White Building, of Massachusetts General Hospital.

During the past week or so I have talked by telephone with the following classmates:

For one who has had as many problems as he has during recent years, Dick Kershaw was remarkably cheerful and, if I may say so, reconciled to the present. He carries on a "desultory correspondence" with Monk Keith; his friends gave him three parties on his 80th birthday; he goes to bed "about three in the morning and gets up about three in the afternoon"; and he follows the fortunes of the Boston Red Sox. Dolly died in 1971 and Dick moved to their previously winterized summer home in Old Lyme in 1974.

Phil Weinseimer Jr. and his wife Dorothy are still living at Ocean City, N.J. Both are in good health. At last report Phil was senior vice president of American Phillips Inc. He retired in 1967.

George Craemer's name appeared last in these notes in 1954. In 1973, in the "Golden Review," he modestly reported that he and Rose had two sons. He tells me that they now also have 11 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. The Craemers live quietly in West Hartford, "taking life easy mostly near home." They are planning on being at our 60th.

In our class directory George Gibson is classified as a physician. This is incorrect. George is a graduate of Harvard Dental School and has practiced dentistry during his entire professional life. He was unavailable at the time I called but I had a pleasant conversation with his wife.

Ruel Smith reversed the order by calling me. We have kept in quite frequent touch, usually by phone, and enjoy recalling the time ten years ago when we and Truman Metzel labored so happily on the "Golden Review." Ruel is not in the best of health and as of now doubts he will make our 60th.

I found Howie and Helen Bartlett at their home in South Harpswell, Maine, both in good health and spirits with only the "usual minor health problems." The Bartletts have a substantial sized place to care for, which means a large garden and a sustaining woodlot that Howie works on. The Bartletts' daughter Linda is married to Elliott Hersey '55.

I am sad to tell you of the recent deaths of three classmates - Winfield Scott Weser, Alson Proctor Taylor, and Robert Coventry Woodruff - as well as that of Kathryn (Hotchkiss) Fenn, wife of Robert C. Fenn.

'23 IN

Box 2 Francestown, N.H. 03043