1927

Stu Ensinger wrote from Madison, N.J., that, after breaking an ankle last summer, he has now graduated from a walker to a cane. He and Helen were looking forward to taking a trip to visit relatives in Arizona in February or March.

Gordon Colby's pleasure on receiving his annual class birthday card was dampened only by his disappointment at not seeing any '27ers at last fall's Yale game in New Haven. He must have missed Jack and Nancy Andrews, who were somewhere in the crowd.

Jack Andrews's annual letter reported that all is fairly well with him in Springfield, Mass., except for some bothersome back problems which are raising cain with his skiing. He and Nancy had two long visits in Colorado in 1984, one in February and the other in September. They have finally sold their lakefront summer cottages in South Hero, Vt., since the care and maintenance of them was becoming too burdensome.

Wil Shaw wrote in January that he and Betty went to Camden, Maine, last summer for the wedding of a granddaughter. He kept busy for most of the rest of the summer in Woodcliffe Lake, N.J., with his gardens, which provide fresh vegetables for his table.

And speaking of vegetables, here's a gem for you other backyard gardeners: last month we received an envelope, mailed by a Texan classmate. It was marked "Do Not Crunch/' and inside, wrapped in a piece of crumpledup paper towel, were eight small bean seeds. They were labeled "pole beans" and, purportedly, not only bear daily from July 1 to the first freeze in November but actually produce fruit as long as 30 inches, that have to be cut on a board with a carving knife. Now, we love pole beans and are familiar with the variety called Kentucky Wonder, but we've never seen any that were more than eight inches or nine inches long. So, some skepticism on our part appears justified, and for that reason we withhold the name of the donor until next July, when we can personally verify the merits of this fantastic seed. We will, though, furnish his name privately to any who request it.

Chuck Field's latest letter from Westchester, 111., was chock full of news, as usual. He and his wife, Jo, continue to be active in the affairs of their church. Chuck is also involved in Kiwanis and, for more than ten years, has kept the records of every blood donor in his town.

Art Segal is still practicing law in New York City. He wrote recently, "I am still in there pitching, albeit with a somewhat slower fastball."

Dick Stowe is well and happy in Spring Hill, Fla., where he recently moved to 5550 Ashland Drive from 772 Ashland Drive. He celebrated his 80th birthday quietly and without fanfare. Last summer, he and Kay took a pleasant cruise of several days up and down Florida's west coast with Rog Bury, in the latter's recently-acquired 40-foot yacht. Dick still loves to putter around in his workshop, doing restoration work on old-model auto- mobiles.

Gordon Hope wrote from Redington Beach, Fla., that he, too, "made it to 80" quietly and is now looking forward to his 90th. His first priority, though, is to get through March, when he has his 55th wedding anniversary and also expects the arrival of a great-grandchild. He plans to water-ski in Maine again next summer.

We are sorry to have to end this pleasant piece on a sad note. Only a few hours before getting the column off to the editor, we received word of the death of William Jamieson in July 1983.

11 Rolling Lane Wayland, MA 01778