1927

Greetings: We are a bit puzzled, but happily so, in trying to figure out what metamorphic or other changes occur when a man reaches the mature age of 80: whether he likes to share his accomplishment with others, whether after a long period of silence his conscience finally directs him to write, or whether he simply has more spare time. In any case, almost all of this month's communications were from octogenarians. For instance:

Merritt Joslyn wrote that reaching 80 is no big deal, according to a widow in his home city of Chicago who has just reached 104.

Chuck Brewster ushered in his 80th at his summer home in Georgetown, Maine, with a party attended by his wife, Frances, a son, a daughter, and three grandchildren. Chuck and Frances planned to return to their home in Tennessee in September and so expected to miss the fall reunion in Hanover October 12-13.

Jack Draper on reaching his 80th finally retired from his 51 years of practice as a surgeon in New York City, but he expects to continue doing some laboratory work at Cornell Medical School and also to do some writing.

On passing his milestone, Brugy Brugierre happily reported that he is in good health even though his wife, Kathleen, is less fortunate. Brugy shares the distinction of being one of four classmate who have the same birthday, the only natal day which is shared by more than two '27s.

Ding Heap celebrated his anniversary quietly in Yarmouthport, Mass., where his wife, Lou, is not well. We are indebted to Ding for sending in the information for the obituary of Francis Cloran which appeared in the September issue of this magazine.

Another who has made it successfully through eight decades is Al Lawrence. He still resides in Key West, Fla., where he was commander of the U.S. Coast Guard installation for 24 years. To celebrate his event, just another 24 years after his retirement, Al's wife, Jean, staged a surprise party which was attended by a large group of friends and retired Coast Guard officers.

In Concord, Mass., in July, MarshallCleaves spent his birthday with a surgeon who performed a double hernia operation. After some complications, Mish is recovering well and is already looking forward to his 90th.

For his 80th, Doc Harvey also went under the surgeon's knife. He had a cataract operation and a lens implant. When he wrote a few weeks ago, he was happy to report that he was already back to his golf and tennis.

Brad Fuller, too, is pretty much recovered from a long recuperation following a serious throat operation last May.

Not so good is the news that Carl Lindenmeyr is suffering from advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease and Has been in a nursing home since the death of his wife, Elizabeth, last January.

Curt Wright's family never fails to dream up some spectacular event for his birthday, often having something to do with aeronautics, and 1985 was no exception. This year, relatives whisked him from his home in Ambler, Pa., to an airport in New Jersey where they ushered him into a two-seater Bellanca Citabria plane. By following instructions in the cockpit, he maneuvered it through a series of loops and rolls before bringing it safely to terra firma. Curt also wrote that the only other noteworthy event in his 1985 was his decision to give up long-distance running in favor of speed-walking.

The class extends its sincerest sympathies to Rog Bury, whose wife, Marion, died August 28 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for more than five years.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

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