1947
35TH REUNION
This is July 7, we're just coming off some hot weather over the 4th, and it's very comfortable in New Hampshire right now. The deadline for this column is August 1, for publication by mid-September. And the subject matter for this column is, of course, our 35 th class reunion in June. So this effort covers a four-month span and parts of three seasons late spring, summer, and early fall. We'll try to keep this all in perspective.
Our 35th! What more can be said by those of us who experienced it. And those of us who were unable to make it, would they understand? It just means there was a different air about this four days in June 1983. We were all relaxed, that's sure, and all seemed genuinely happy with things, and very pleased to be attending and once more involved closely with Dartmouth. I really believe years slipped away and we were caught up in the flow of things that were Dartmouth. Not swept along, but at our own pace, with time for visiting, time to talk and listen, time to enjoy. There was Dartmouth fellowship there for sure. I can also say there were many, a great many, friendships renewed and reopened and in a lot of cases brand new friendships made. I think, and the several letters I have received bear this out, that this particular year, our vintage now, was a bit more special and memorable than the others. May have been the fine weather; perhaps the really fine food at the Inn, the DOC House, and DDA (yes, great DDA food); it certainly could have been the Glee Club, the seminars, the music, the campus. But I feel it was mostly the people. I've never enjoyed a group of people anywhere so much, and this was echoed many times, by men and women both. Was it that there is no more need for striving ahead, for achieving, for showing we've made it? Amazing the numbers of us who have retired and seem to be enjoying life. Was it the relaxed atmosphere of no children? i think the answer is that these are Dartmouth people who came prepared and wanting to like each other, and so it happened. Congratulations, '47s; it was a grand reunion, and we know greater things are yet to come. Our 40th is in four years, 1987. Plan to be a part of it.
Our mailbag contained several kind notes and good news items. Bob and Pat Teaze, from California, stayed to visit Deerfield (their 40th), as did Dexter and Auddy Brooks and Tom and Barbie Leggat and their three pretty daughters. That must have been quite a week for them. As they wrote, Bob and Pat were preparing for a July 9 wedding for their daughter she by a whirlwind of work, he by using his checkbook. It's wonderful to know Bob and Pat journeyed across the country and had a thoroughly delightful time. Dave Squire sent a nice note, saying he was sorry to have missed reunion; we'll try to find a way of sending him some memento. Townes Harris, our class president-elect, wrote to say that reunion was superb. Townes spent the early part of the summer contacting each of the widows and enclosing a copy of our memorial service. The memorial service was a meaningful one, and we were saddened in thought with Zeke and Gloria Lanzillo, who lost a son in an accident two days before reunion, so couldn't be with us.
We have planned since last October for our fall get-together on September 30 and October 1 and 2. We have reserved the Norwich Inn, and 22 couples will be enjoying the rooms and fine food, as we prepare for Holy Cross football. Good weather seems probable, and this is the height of the foliage season. Join us for the dinner on Saturday evening even if you can't take a room. This weekend is a fine, old '47 tradition now in its first year.
Lastly, we're trying to come up with the most unusual event of the reunion. Was it Al Bildner's donated fruit and cookie basket that was auctioned off three times? Was it the storm which blew over the picnic tent after all had left except Ham Chase and Jack and Betty Zimmerman, who sat inside while it blew over and out? Was it the little white dog joke of Hardie Hendron? Or our group standing by waiting for a bus to pull up for a ride to the picnic, only to see the bus plow into a shiny new car a '48 car, fortunately (class of '4B, that is)?
Whatever it was, there's sure to be more to follow. Keep your eyes on this column. See you next month.
Allen I. Bildner '47 was honored at his class's reunion in June with the Dartmouth Alumni Award. An all-American soccer player at Dartmouth, he went on to Tuck and the leadership of a large food chain. He was cited, as well, for professional service as a board member of the Food Marketing In- stitute and in other ways; for community service, including on the Unitedjewish Ap- peal, on the board of Seton Hall University, and on the advisory board of the First Na- tional Bank of New Jersey; and for service to Dartmouth as class president (and head of the Class Presidents Association), a club president, a class agent, a reunion chairman, and an Alumni Councilor.
Walter Peterson '47 was presented with the Dartmouth Alumni Award at his class's reunion in June. Hailed as having "always served others with distinction," he started his career in teaching, moved to the family's real estate business (serving also as president of the New Hampshire Realtors Association), then entered into the political arena eventually becoming governor of New Hampshire. Now in education, as president of Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, NH, he has also served academe through his alma mater as a trustee during his governorship, as an Alumni Councilor, as a club and his class's president, and as an assistant class agent and an interviewer.
From the first organizational efforts at the 1947 registration table, proceeding above under thewatchful eye of reunion chairman Hamilton Chase, far right, to the last night's dinner at the DOCHouse, below, 1947's 35th was adjudged a rousing success.
63 Maple Avenue Keene, NH 03431
