1937
We have just returned from Class Officers Weekend, where we had the largest contingent ever - 13, including widows PollyMcLane and Pat Olson. The format was somewhat changed, but all were very busy in separate meetings.
It started off for us on a bum note. The car broke down ten miles from home on busy Route 128 in a driving rainstorm, resulting in a wet, four-hour delay while we arranged towing and car swap, which brought us into the Chieftain in time to meet the returning executive committee as they arrived to change clothes for the evening events. Fortunately, Ben Doran and Fran Fenn covered the secretary reports, old and new, for which we are grateful.
Suffice to say the town remains unchanged except for the near completion of the Hood Museum between Hopkins Center and the old Wilson Museum. The new, large copper spire awaited on the ground covering Ma Smalley's old yard.
Due to various price increases the cost of the Magazine should go up, but our dues have sufficient elasticity to cover the increase. The main complaint is the lateness in getting the magazine out, the goal being the month on the cover! It is hoped delay with the publisher in Burlington, Vt., is one problem, and it is hoped another season will see that straightened out. Obviously lateness is annoying to all, including advertisers, so it is important to correct. Incidentally, there has been a 17 percent increase in advertising revenues, which is not only pleasing to the Magazine but to Mort Berkowitz, whose agency handles all Ivy League magazines.
Don Otis will be happy to hear that ROTC (army) is returning to campus next fall.
The Saturday evening get-together was hosted by Russ Steams and his son Jon's wife, Marion, as Lee had again rushed to Florida to be with her ailing mother. The usual Kentucky Derby euphoria came and went with the Alumni Fund the usual winner! The group was augmented by locals Bethand Jud Smith, Libby and Frank Irwin, Hopkins Center PR director Marion Bratesman and our very delightful and pretty scholarship student on campus, Lynn Tracy '86, who joined right in with great poise. The main course was Katie Bankart's famous goulash from a bottomless pot; if you want the recipe, write to Katie's Kitchens! Salads and finger desserts were supplied by other excellent cooks to round out the dinner.
This year we welcomed Rog Allen's cohort on "The Mint Bag," Mort Berkowitz, with Marg; Frank Robin, once again back on the financial job as bequest chairman, replacing Fran Fenn, who is now reunion giving chairman and roving money gatherer with CharlieCollis.
It was great too to welcome Don and HelenMcKinlay to Class Officers Weekend. As you know, Don retired from his Trustee position but is unable ever to slow down as far as Dartmouth is concerned. He now has a new job as the Trustee representative to the Editorial Board of the Alumni Magazine.
Rachel Laughton decided on an impulse to join the class trip on the Rhine September 10- 19 with Barb> and Hank Pierce in charge. At last count there were 32 signed up. A note from Cel Barrett says, "My lack of participation in '37 activities does not mean I'm not interested. My cousin's boy graduates in June, and I hope to attend. Son Bill is very busy refereeing both hockey and football."
A nice note came from Jean Latchis, thanking the class for John's memorial book and noting that her 93-year-old mother had died in her Naples, Fla., home last summer.
We left out a Christmas note about Sherryand Al Bryant's storybook year (1984) and their odyssey in a single-engine, four-passenger plane over the Bermuda Triangle through a blinding thundersorm, which included an emergency landing on a Bahamian Island private landing strip. They really lucked out in a very serious situation.
Art Ekrich was honored with the publication of a "Festschrift," a collection of essays dedicated to him by his former students. The privately printed book includes nine scholarly essays and nine reminiscences of his years of graduate teaching at American University in Washington, D.C., and at the University of Albany. Art has written ten books, more than two dozen articles,, and 75 book reviews. He joined the Albany faculty in 1965 after 18 years of teaching at American University. The picture accompanying the news clipping showed a very relaxed and very pleased Art looking at his new acquisition.
Art's note with the clipping implies that he seldom had much news for us but was quite overwhelmed by this "evidence of what happens to old professors." He will teach for another year and will retire before our 50th, thus joining the "majority."
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