1947

In the heat of summer (August), we writers have to think of fall (October). So far, it's been a great summer for Chases. Our son Robert and wife Kathy delivered Jennifer on June 14, in time to attend the Chase family gathering on Martha's Vineyard in mid-July for a week. During that memorable week, Dottie and Ham got to know our four rapidly-growing grandchildren. Then as the week drew to a close, son David and Callie delivered Amanda - such an exciting weekend - and an Island baby, at that. And there are still two more "grands" on the way. So far all our boys have had girls, our girls have had boys, and so far the Chase name is not continuing on in history. I gave Dorothy warning that we may have to start another generation of boys to prolong the name. Her response can't be printed here, but believe me, the idea is thought-provoking, as well as wife-provoking.

We are in the midst of sailing weekends and plodding through work during the summer weekdays. Some news of classmates has come in, and more will be generated, I hope.

Bill Kennedy, one of the more active lawyers and right here in Keene, was honored during June by election to the New Hampshire Bar Association's board of governors. Bill has his own law practice, Kennedy and Braun, and has previously served as president of the Cheshire County Bar Association.

Dr. Charlie Schofield is back at the office again after a brief operation and somewhat longer recoup period for a bothersome blood vessel in his nose, which has been remedied. Nothing critical, but bothersome. He looked weird in a beard but is back to his clean-cut self again. I enjoyed talking with Charlie (also my own nose doctor) and seeing Joan's clever and beautiful work in their gardens and their yard landscaping.

Talking of gardens, we do have real talent in the class. We returned a visit to Dick and Alice Leary in New London, and their newly-planted landscaping front and back is set off beautifully with a postcard view of the Mount Sunapee ski area. (The expert slope, Dick says.)

Joe Flounders took occasion to respond from his and Lila May's new Sarasota, Fla., home. Joe has tapered down in his duties with Lindenmayr Paper Company. Last I heard Joe was senior VP and probably took the next higher step. He spent last May out of the country but has effectively stepped down from all administrative duties. He continues as a consultant, working on special projects that need doing. He keeps their Rutherford, N.J., address for this work and is starting to spend well over half his time in Florida.

Dave Squire, a consultant, was named a director of Epsilon Data Management, Inc., in Burlington, Mass., a data-base marketing firm. Dave spent all of August at his Martha's Vineyard home. Dave thoroughly enjoyed a morning of sailing with Ham Chase, followed by a refreshing swim in the Vineyard Haven Harbor.

Bob Snedaker Jr. was elected a director of United Telecommunications, Inc., Kansas City, Mo. Bob already is vice chairman of the firm.

The class will be pleased to know there is truly a Doug Burch on Nantucket Island. He and Elton hosted Ham and Dottie Chase on a lovely Island day in early August. Doug is rebuilding a marketing business and "does it all" in his island community. He served as sandwich man at the church bazaar (a sandwich man, Harley, wears the signs, nothing to do with food). Elton meanwhile works with the Island Conservation Group. They have adapted Doug's slogan: "The land is not a gift from our forefathers: it is a loan from our grandchildren." I like that.

Doug has a lot more where these came from. He and Elton really do have the mat out to all who make the trip from America across the water to Nantucket.

Jerry Bissinger also has a summer place on Nantucket but was away that day. George and Sally Cohn spent most of August on Martha's Vineyard. Plans are for the Cohns and Chases to enjoy a fine meal together, but at press time, it hasn't yet happened.

So long 'til next month.

63 Maple Avenue Keene, NH 03431