1953

We're at-less than 90 days and counting. Our reunion will be the biggest 30th in the history of the College more classmates, more family, and more friends than ever before. If you haven't already made plans to attend, it's not too late. The dates are Monday, June 11, to Thursday, June 14. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact chairman Bernie Sudikoff at 617/527-8127.

Gerry and Sue Grady enjoyed the fabulous snow in Aspen during Christmas. Would you believe, a depth of 80 inches? Butch Edgar was there with a friend, as well as Ted andAudrey Spiegel. Grady says that he finds himself warming up with a little grog more frequently and leaving the slopes a little earlier. Speaking Ted and Audrey, they had a fabulous Christmas card showing exciting scenes from the past year. They included sailing the Aegean Sea aboard the tall ship SeaCloud, and helicopter hiking and fishing in British Columbia. Wow!

At the Penn game last fall, Ollie Conover was telling us about the new company of which he is president. It's called Convergent Systems and they're in the exotic software business. With the aid of artificial intelligence software licensed from Yale University and a signed product development and distribution contract with a Denver-based firm, they have mapped out a product line which includes a speech recognition system, a foreign language translator, a mass-memory storage device, and even a portable solar-powered computer. The speech recognition system is perhaps the most remarkable of all of these planned products, because of its 40,000-word vocabulary. The system is constructed as a circuit board which will plug into slots on the back of a personal computer. It will be the first massive vocabulary system on the market. It does have a few limitations, however, which include the inability to distinguish between like-sounding words. That is the focus of major research, though. The goal of Convergent Systems is to remain one step beyond leading-edge technology.

Fred England has been elected presidentelect of the Independent Insurance Agents of America. He will assume the presidency this September. IIAA is the nation's largest producers association, representing more than 220,000 agents and their employees. Members offer all lines of insurance, including property, casualty, life, and health. Fred has devoted much of his energy to that organization over the years. This is a fine tribute. As you know, Fred is also our able class treasurer. If your dues notice is still sitting in the pile of bills, Fred would love to hear from you.

Peter Reich has been appointed an associate vice president of Coldwell Banker Commerical Real Estate Services. They are owned by Sears. Pete has specialized in industrial sales and leasing in the Los Angeles area. Several years ago, he was tapped for management, but declined in order to stay in sales. Pete's new title honors his long-term marketing achievements. Pete and Louise live in Pasadena. He has also served as a Little League coach and manager, as a board member of Big Brothers of America, and as vice president of the board of trustees for the Chandler School in Pasadena. Pete says that his battle-scarred right knee has had cartiledge removed arthoscopically for the second time. Tennis is down to about once a week or less, without much chance for improvement. In addition to coming east this year for two Alumni Council meetings and reunion, Pete will be attending the gala Dartmouth sports banquet in Boston.

Dave Berry was selected by his fellow teachers as "Teacher of Year" in the Sparta, N.J., Township Public Schools. Dave's brother Bob wrote that he was presented with an album of pictures and past awards, including one from a seminar at Princeton which ended by saying, "We have adjudged Mr. Berry a master teacher and, were there more like him, the Republic would be safe." Dave has been a dedicated teacher in that system for almost 25 years.

Don Brown, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington and a professor of biology at the Johns Hopkins University, is one of the foremost investigators. of molecular aspects of biological development processes. He has been at the forefront of research on the isolation and characterization of animal genes and their immediate products, the ribonucleic acids. Using sophisticated methods of modern molecular biology, he has examined important problems concerned with genetic continuity and gene expression. Don is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He recently spoke at the University of Chicago on "Developmental Control of Gene Expression."

Our final class meeting before reunion will be held following the festivities of Class Officers Weekend. It will be in the Conference Room at Blunt Alumni Center at2:15p.m.,On Saturday, May 5. As always, this meeting is open to all members and friends of the class. Bob Simpson promises a thorough agenda, but a swift attack.

One more time: Monday, June 11, to Thursday, June 14, for the 30th reunion. It won't be complete without you.

23749 Stanford Road Shaker Heights, OH 44122

CLASS OF'53 "STILL TOPS IN ESPRIT"