1947

Happy May to all! I'm writing amidst our prolonged wet and cloudy spell of mid-April, hoping May will bring forth bright flowers, as well as my column. Here in New Hampshire, our southern end at least, we have bluebells and bright crocuses of purple, white, and yellow and daffodil buds are fully formed. Tulips are green, but a long way off yet. Maple buds are soft and springy, and best of all, our lilac buds are full and light green. This means a good season for the whites, blues, and deeppurple deeply-scented French clusters. Remember the lilacs behind Crosby, and up the hill past the Fayerweather dorms, towards the physics lab? And the sparse forsythia along Tuck Drive? May was the month we'd take a ride with Professor "Tiger" Lyons, to see the maidenhair fern, Solomon's seal and dainty anemone in the Mink Brook area. Tiger had an old wooden station wagon, and I remember a yellow convertible with Jim Osborne riding in (not driving) it on those flower walks. I wonder if this type of education is still available to students today, or do they prowl through a computer building? I think we had it a lot better. Any comments?

I received a brief note from Joe Elsaman, from deep in Los Angeles. Joe has a good system. When something crosses his mind he sends it my way not a long note requiring time, effort, and planning, but a comment or two, and it gets the job done. He must be an entrepreneur, because he reads Venture magazine. He enclosed a lead article about our classmate Fred Frassinelli. Fred operates a construction company in Bridgeport, Conn. Fred and a partner have won approval for a $700-million project, to revitalize 135 acres on Bridgeport's east side, or waterfront. This will include housing, shopping, and an arena, plus a factory where residents can work. The first product to be manufactured in the factory will be pre-fab sections of housing. The project provides a "work and live" plan for the displaced residents. This is entrepreneuring at its best. I've written Fred, hoping he'll respond with more details and his own outlook concerning this mammoth undertaking. And, with this column always in mind, I'm launching a "corner" in our column to be devoted to entrepreneurship wherever it may be among classmates. At our stage in life there are many who are engaging in entrepreneuring, and I know that cross-pollination of notes will be both useful and quite interesting. So, you folks out there, please think to send me your notes or thoughts on what you're into, or perhaps you'd like a piece of some action. There are limitless possibilities. For example, Doug Burch and Elton seem to have a close handle on Nantucket, so anyone wanting to buy or sell or establish something there could drop them a line on 16 Lily Lane. Take a look at another entrepreneur, FrankWeber, who phoned recently to say he was still traveling, centered in Houston, but attending a convention on the East Coast. He is still a commuter, too, as Urs is still teaching second grade in Ridgefield. Frank's business is starting to roll, and he talks of some large orders about ready to pop.

And there's Jim Osborne, he who rode around in yellow convertibles as a student. Our sturdy class agent has his gnomes (our classmates) circulating over' all of us ready to grasp that Alumni Fund check and see that it gets into the proper Dartmouth hands. Please think of Jim and his workers, avoid their wrath, send in your alumni gift early, and for goodness' sake, those of you whose firms match funds, please take note: you must initiate their participation. We, and Dartmouth, lost several thousands of dollars by some startling oversights not by the College but' by ourselves. If your firm will match, please tell them when you give, and they'll follow through.

This is the last column until the September 1 deadline for the October issue (the September issue being reserved for reunion reports). So we're even now having to think "minireunion" September 22 and 23. Please take a moment to write Doug Tidd at the Norwich Inn to hold your place for this bright fall weekend.

Dottie and I are off to Abaco in the Bahamas, flying there in our Cessna 210 to a business convention and a week of bareboating May 5-12. After that, it's our own small sailboat at Martha's Vineyard. We've secured our mooring and can hardly wait for sailing in Vineyard Haven.

Now a belated postscript: We mentioned John Trethaway, whose wife Joy has Alzheimer's disease. John told me of the much appreciated supportive letters he has received from friends and classmates. We even received a long letter from Bob Thompson '50 (who reads our column too!) telling of Bob's own trial by the same disease. What a wonderful outpouring of hope from the Dartmouth family, as John puts it. It really is a "family" with the caring that goes with it.

The "family" idea has been expressed by Cotton Johnson's wife Vera many times as she and Cotton struggle on against multiple sclerosis. Cotton was hospitalized in April, and it looked like the end of the struggle. However, Vera has informed us that Cotton has rallied, and she plans to take him to Brewster (Cape Cod), Mass., for the summer. She hopes Cotton will be able to appreciate daughter Karen's wedding to Tim Hilton in September. We pray for things to work out for the best. Vera is strong on courage and love.

John Trethaway's letter concludes that Joy is now in full-time nursing care. John relaxed for a week of powder skiing and is back in shape, putting things together, and moving on. He needs your notes for him to continue his good start on his newsletter.

So, friends, plant your gardens, plan and enjoy your vacations, send me news, and, above all, have a fine summer. Hopefully, Hanover will be a stop for many of us.

63 Maple Avenue Keene, NH 03431