1941

The most difficult part of the job of being class secretary is having to deal with death and dying. That is my bag, incidentally, as president of the Memorial Society of Long Island, but I'd rather be writing about life and living. When I learned that I'd be handling the 1941 obits, it was my hope that I could focus on getting my own in presentable shape. No way. Elsewhere in this issue, or later on, you'll be reading about Hy Jones, who died last March, and Joe Griffith, whose turn it was last year in November. I am also informed, although still awaiting confirmation, of the death of NorbertGillem, with whom class and College have long been out of touch. Let's hope the report on Norbie is greatly exaggerated, to paraphrase Twain, but wherever the class has survivors, there go our sympathies. In the Dartmouth College Library, at the same time, a memorial book, gift of the class, is plated with the name of the deceased.

Still around and going strong, GeneStollerman has been honored by the American College of Physicians for his contributions to the field of epidemiology. Currently a professor at BU's school of medicine, Gene is noted particularly for his work in the prevention of rheumatic fever. Also comes word via Dick Krolik that John Twist's efforts have been de- voted to farm conservation in the U.S. Profiled in The New Haven Register not long ago, Roger Epply had his wartime watercolors on display at the Acton Public Library (Conn.) for the month of August. The article highlighted Rog's experiences as a combat cameraman in the Philippines. His paintings were done on the side, so to speak, and Bob Harvey, who sent me the clip, gives the show a rave review. Bob writes that Rog "is primarily famed as a maritime artist." Good stuff about Gene and John and Rog.

Since reunion I've also heard from LucyWinship and from Shirley Coombs. Lucy's card (picture Lisboa, postmark Manchester, N.H.) was a promo for the mini; too late now, and I'll bet we all had a great time (especially if the Green prevailed over the Blue). Shirley, penning her note from "Lake Wobegone" (i.e., Vergennes,. Vt.), said she wouldn't be able to hook up at Quechee because of family just back from two years in Guam.

I'm looking for more class mail now that my colors are flying on the masthead. And there should be news filtering in with payments of class dues. If you haven't yet, pay up and sound off.

In between the maxi and the mini, if you'll pardon the reunion jargon, Dickie and I slipped quietly into Hanover for a couple of quiet days in mid-August. We took in the lectures at Alumni College ("Myths and Legends" this year), lined up a good game of doubles, browsed around a bit, and just had a lovely summertime in a very beautiful place.

In another kind of place, New York City, Dartmouth turned up as a speaker, in the person of Edward Luck '70, at the annual United Nations conference of NGOs, (the reps of nongovernmental organizations). The conference theme was "United Nations for a Better World: Forty and Beyond," and Luck took part as president, United Nations Association of the USA. His presentation was first-rate, and so, too, I'm sure, was that of Javier Perez de Cuellar, UN Secretary-General. As an NGO observer, I've been much impressed by this SG. I didn't hear his talk this year, but I came away with an advance of his annual report. Here is a little bit of it from his opening and closing comments: "We face today a world of almost infinite promise which is also a world of potentially terminal disaster. The choice between these alternatives is ours. The question is whether the governments and peoples of the world are" capable, without the spur of further disasters, of together making the right choice; for the choice and its implementation will, in many important ways, have to be collective. I believe that the United Nations and the way its members decide to use it is - and will be - an essential element in this historic choice. Let us above all, on this occasion, look at the United Nations as its founders looked,at it, as the practical hope for the future and not merely as the unhappy bearer of the burdens of the past. We must be realistic about our difficulties and the dangers that we face. But let us also resolve to find the way by which, together, we can surmount them."

That's a heavy trip to close on, but I hope you agree with the SG, as I do, and that you'll strike a blow for the UN when you have a chance. Until next time, Peace and Joy.

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