1934

140 North Broadway, #F-12 Irvington, NY 10522

The Ivy football season will be over when you read this, but the memories of our mini-reunions stay fresh. On the opening Penn game weekend some of us watched the game on public TV while others had the pleasure of watching in person and getting wet. But afterwards in the warmth of the Hanover Inn, those attending met to sip and sup and salute the passing years. Bill Scherman will have told you who was there like JohnMcCoy, who was in Hanover for the first time since graduation. He's now living in Vero Beach, Fla.

Our president, Moe Frankel, presided over the class meeting with these highlights: 1) Our 1986 Alumni Fund set a record for classes 52 years out, thanks to the super efforts of Bob Thompson, StanSmoyer, and the persuasive corps of class agents; 2) Moe was thrilled to report that our total giving of $5 million through bequests, capital gifts, trusts, special fund drives, Tuck School, and Medical School, along with the Alumni Fund, puts us among the top classes; 3) Ed Brown happily reported our class was still solvent (but needs your dues payment to stay that way!); 4) Helen Clark, longtime resident of Hanover and enthusiastic participant at '34 gatherings, was elected as the first widow to be officially a member of the '34 executive committee; 5) An effort has been launched to reinforce the athlete sponsor program. Laurie Herman described how the program has worked by bringing fine scholar-athletes to visit Hanover, and how the campus setting often helps make the final sale. Now the aim is to set up a general endowment fund to support this activity. Bob Griffin, bless him, has agreed to head the '34 effort in this connection.

Then at the dinner, Trustee Bob Fields made an announcement that will be very heartwarming to the '34 family. He announced that Oscar Mandel Cohn had capped his years of generous giving to the College by endowing a chair at the Medical School. Thank you, Oscar, from all of us! Oscar lives in Bloomington, Ill., and over the years has managed family real estate and investments, as well as a farm. His community activities have included being longtime trustee of a center for disturbed adolescents. He has also been active over the years as a major in the army reserve and he has never missed a '34 reunion.

As a sequel to that opening weekend we had a fine mini-reunion for the Dartmouth-Navy game. How was it possible that a 45-0 loss didn't translate into a downbeat? Well, when you have historic and fascinating Annapolis to explore and comrades of so many years gathering from all directions and you are staying at the classic Maryland Inn, right in the center of town, with everything planned and stage managed by Tom Beers, with Mary's assistance, and beginning a year in advance well, the vibes are bound to be super plus.

Besides, we had a forewarning not to expect miracles on the gridiron, and there were some real moments to cheer. Also, we had special shows put on by our hosts the freshmen came out of the stands after every touchdown and did pushups equal to the new score.

At our breakfast meeting, Moe Frankel reviewed the announcements and discussions listed above from the Penn weekend, and various classmates brought us up-to-date on the College scene. An unexpected but appreciated commentary was given by Bob Engelman, who read a reminiscence prepared by a friend for a 50th reunion: a remarkable listing of things the world now takes for granted that we didn't have or hadn't experienced in our undergraduate days. Those present for the game came from all over Billand Mary Wyne from Macomb, Ill., may have come the farthest, but they had the extra incentive of seeing their son before heading for winter quarters in Mexico. Others, like John and Fran Lyle, had a loaded car en route from a summer residence to a winter home in their case, Southern Pines, N.C.

Going back to the address changes, when I checked with Chuck Kehoe about the use of a new P.O. Box in Port Salerno, Fla., he assured me there was no change of address. Not that he is always there he had just returned from ten days of sailing in the Bahamas with his 36-foot trawler (no doubt looking for evidence of Columbus' first landing). I gather he prefers that now to the building contractor jobs he had been pursuing. He also keeps track of his scattered five children and four grandchildren.

And as a final note, Art Leonard reminds us that if we are planning a gift to the College soon, it could well be a tax saving to make it in 1986. Happy New Year!