Class Notes

1939

APRIL 1986 Richard S. Jackson
Class Notes
1939
APRIL 1986 Richard S. Jackson

Following is a column contributed by Bob Bryant. We have better than 30 men who list New Hampshire as their home, albeit many seem to flee to warmer climes for the winter. Nonetheless, Bob managed to come up with a goodly number who remain in residence during the snow months and recounts their cold weather activities. Here's Bob's report:

Dick Jackson asked me to contact '39s in New Hampshire for the April class notes. My efforts to reach classmates weren't always successful, and I now understand even better the task Dick faces each month.

A call to Herb Mattlage in Center Harbor was rewarding. His wife, Ginny (Kim Ayers' sister), answered and said Herb was out cross-country skiing; he has been using a cane when otherwise moving about, but on snow the two poles do the job and he moves about in great style. Herb called back with more news. First of all, he has come through this third hip replacement and is recovering speedily, thus the skiing. He is also serving his community as treasurer of the town library. As part of his fund-raising for Casque and Gauntlet, he received some items on other '39s. Jim Brigdon lives in Indian Shores, Fla., and reported that he had withstood two hurricanes which whipped through his area. It's nice to hear from these survivors. John "Nat"Blandy retired after 27 years with Lufthansa, and Rog Harrison retired last June.

Had an interesting conversation with Roy Hassrick, who has lived in Walpole for the last five or six years. Before that he ran "some" cattle ranches and was the assistant director of an art museum in Colorado. Roy said he had moved to New Hampshire because he has retired and enjoys restoring old houses. The present one in Walpole was built in 1833, a typical cape, located 200 yards from the Connecticut River. I'll bet it's a real beauty. He also had done one in Virginia, built in 1660. Roy also mentioned that he writes some and has just completed a work on the Plains Indians for the University of Vermont, working from an 1880 collection of a Captain Reed. Roy sounded rather modest about his interests and accomplishments.

Bill Hurley and his wife, Barbara, retired in 1979 to Burkehaven on Lake Sunapee. He had been in charge of marketing special accounts for American Mutual Insurance. He had been in the Air Force, was called back for the Berlin crisis in 1961-1962, and retired as. a lieutenant colonel. He also retired as full colonel from the National Guard. In addition to these activities, Bill currently enjoys tennis, cross-country skiing, and boats.

I did reach Monte Gray's wife in Portsmouth. Sadly, she said that Monte was extremely ill and had been in a nursing home for some time. Unfortunately, I have no further details.

Bill Russell in New Ipswich pointed out that the New Hampshire House of Representatives is the third largest legislative body in the English-speaking world. Bill served two terms, from 1981 to 1984, and was assistant majority whip. He didn't run for a third term but does keep up with some of the House and Senate activities. He then added that he puts most of his effort in financial matters as it is most beneficial to keep on top of things. I'm not sure whether he meant personal or New Hampshire finances. Either way, it's a good idea. For recrea- tion, Bill runs his snow blower, X-C skis, and snowshoes. He allowed that his wife, Carol, an alumna of Colby-Sawyer in New London, takes good care of him, but "I kick up my heels now and then," he says. These New Hampshire legislators do have a nice approach.

Dune and Rhoda Farr and the Bryants attend most of the Dartmouth hockey home games and think they see significant improvement in the team. The Farrs lead very active lives up here, including splitting and hauling firewood, crosscountry skiing (Dune takes his dog out every afternoon), gardening,and helping other people. Dune is chairman of the regional school system long-range planning committee, a very trying job. He is currently finishing the trim on the second floor which will complete their house in Orange which they started to build five years ago.

Bob and Dale Bryant are still booming about the boondocks. It continues great, beautiful, and challenging. Dale, at least, doesn't slow down. She has been in an aerobic swimming group in the Dartmouth pool for the last year. She also seems to do most of our X-C skiing. Our oldest granddaughter, Brown '86, was with us for a few days, skiing Waterville Valley and Loon Mountain. She was also here most of the summer, working in Hanover and Lebanon. By the time this appears in print we'll be in Atlanta, Ga., seeing our youngest granddaughter, and in the Tidewater area of Virginia where we'll do some sailing and see Ralph andCharlotte Champney, who saw their new great-granddaughter at Christmas. BoB BRYANT

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