1936

Welcome to springtime!

For those who for one reason or another had to stay put in the land of ice, snow, and cold, it is time to consolidate those little blue circles in the seed catalogues and to embark on the quest of the world's greatest garden.

For those well-tanned snowbirds it is about time to pack up, head north, and show the folks back home what a good job the warm winter has done to your golf handicap. And for your class secretary, it's time to tidy up on some editorial gremlins.

In the January/February issue I reported Fred Babcock's concern over my misspelling "Punta Gorda." In the November column I mentioned post-50th plans to carry on the reunion euphoria at a charming old New England inn in Whitefield, N.H. Then I received the following: "Sorry to pick up a very minor error in your excellent '36 column, but there is no 'u' in SPALDING INN, and I could see one and a half years of this use of the common spelling of the name, such as in sports equipment." (Courtesy of Daniel Doan of Jefferson, N.H.) So let us repeat the report correctly, in part: "But for now the dates to remember are June 6, 7, and 8, 1986, in Hanover, N.H., followed possibly by several days at the SPALDING INN in Whitefield."

And a paragraph in the December issue mentioned Art Appleton's stables in Florida only it didn't come out that way. It did bring forth a letter from Fred Weiss, the eminent rose grower from Mt. Clemens, Mich. He writes: "We continue to enjoy your class notes. Keep up the good work. Only regret no exciting news from the Weiss's. This family flower farm gives me a place to appear almost daily, While younger hands do the real work. At current prices, rose growing would be the pot of gold were it not for the cost of fuel in this climate. One of the largest rose greenhouses on the East Coast is situated in Dover, N.H., but that operation is experiencing the same difficulties.

"The purpose of this letter is to suggest that you check out the report which appears in the current Alumni Magazine, in which Tony Muello reported Art Atkinson in the breeding of thoroughbred race horses; if so, we have two Arthurs in that act, since ArthurAppleton has stables in Florida. I'm sure each would want all of us to know which is who. (Will the real horse breeder please stand up?!

"Thanks to "Tithe's" pictorial section in the December 15, 1984, edition, I'll be able to recognize you if I can make it to our 50th. Thought at first it was myself, since I've the same thatch of totally white hair."

My sincere apologies to the two Arthurs Appleton and Atkinson. Come spring, perhaps I will hear from both.

In addition to the seed catalogues, the improved handicaps, and crow-eating, lights have been burning bright and late in the Alumni Fund offices high in the quiet of Hanover, N.H., and in the busy bustle of New York City. Joel Portugal '58, 1985 Alumni Fund chairman, unveiled the goals for this year $12,000,000 and 70 percent participation. This is an increase of 15 percent in dollars over last year and three percent in participation. Joel urges early pledges or gifts but I suspect that we all will be hearing further from Norb Hofman, his cohorts, BobFernald, and others.

My predecessor, who carried the class of 1936 secretarial torch for nearly six years, Paul B. Lynch, was recently honored by the Exchange Club of Greenwich, Conn., as an Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Kudos to Paul for 24 years of service with the planning board and zoning board of appeals and for spending long hours striving to make his hometown a better place in which to live. Congratulations, Paul, from all of us.

One day last fall in the quiet little cranberry capital of Carver, Mass., I stopped in to chat with Bryce McClellan and his wife. Bryce still goes to his jewelry shop in Brockton a couple of days a week, but the rest of the time he spends making his little place on the lake a mecca for his grandchildren. At his suggestion, several months later, when I was in Stuart, Fla., I called on Arthur Greene, who seems to be enjoying the best of two worlds. From his condo overlooking a busy marina on the St. Lucie River, he can jump into his Boston whaler and go fishing or just cruising off Sailfish Point, as the spirit moves. When it gets too warm in Florida, he heads up to the Lake Winnipesaukee area. Art still keeps in touch with his law office in New Hampshire, but the pace is more relaxing.

12 Godfrey Road Mashpee, MA 02649