1940
Dear Class: Welcome to summer and all those things we were going to do as soon as summer arrived. Good luck and God bless! Most of our mail came in during March with a few April showings. Let us begin with Howie Wriggins, He sent on an end-of-the-year "wrap note," written by wife Sally. Last year (1984) to Sri Lanka, then an educational consultation in New Delhi. Then his sabbatical from Columbia, which saw the two of them in Asia for two months (Ford Foundation study on regional politics and superpower intervention). Back along the Northern Silk route. A lot more warm news about family which space does not allow. Howie is back at Columbia, so the rest of the world can relax.
Another interruption to pass along the sad news that Alexander Clark passed away in August 1985. Our information came from his bank, so if any of you have news of his family, please let me know. An obituary will appear in a subsequent issue of the magazine.
A very welcome letter from overseas-returnee Nick Turkevich, who promises to swap advertising agency "war stories" with your class secretary. Nick and Elisabeth have taken up residence in Fairlee, VT 05083 (Box 135) after 14 years in Europe, eight of which were in Paris. Apart from fixing up their house, Nick reports: "I see my brother-in-law and former roommate, Bill Cleaves. He's living in Rockport and is very involved in coaching the high school tennis team, summer tennis program, and staying busy in his fifth year of retirement. Our three girls are coast to coast: Concord, Mass., LaCrosse, Wis., and Portland, Ore. Three grandchildren." Nick's phone number is 802/3339369.
This column is being written two weeks before the class officers' meeting in Hanover on May 2-3. Because of the long lead time of the Alumni Magazine, we'll ask drumbeater Bob Austin to keep you informed as to the happenings there.
Who's next? Why, it's Lloyd Blanchard, busy refitting the old 1792 Westford Academy Building as a museum. Lloyd notes: "From Superintendent of Schools to museum custodian - a significant reduction in pressures. Peg and I have enjoyed some great trips to Iceland, the Faroes, Scotland, and Scandinavia. I am still much involved in local Rotary and Trout Unlimited and looking forward to spring fishing, golf, and gardening." Gad I'm exhausted just reading about all that activity!
Busy Jerry Schnitzer is at it again. He has left his creative post at the advertising agency for Jerry Schnitzer Productions, Inc., no less! He's designing and producing documentaries and television commercials, and it's already a success. Jerry will be on his way to the 50th reunion of his class at the Peddie School where he hopes to see Chud Bensinger.
On a scale of busy, though, the ones who have to break the dial are head agent Ted Miller and his crew of helpers (Cheers!). They have, I hope, been successful in putting the squeeze on us for the Alumni Fund. It's no easy task in this year of campus and college upheaval. But I trust that most of us are able to have faith in the future and send in that check. The College is strong enough to overcome. By the time this comes out, you will know how we've done. And, hey, there's still time for a last-minute helping hand. Ted's note expressed gratitude for our Green Derby standing (first as of March) but worries that we have a long way to go. And, on a personal note, he tells us that wife Tweedy is recovering from a hip replacement operation. Best wishes for a speedy Tweedy recovery!
Bob Armstrong breaks the silence with a nifty letter from down Charlotte, N.C., way. Here are excerpts: "Since I retired for the second time in 1984, I've spent more time with members of the medical profession than I wanted: mild heart failure, two cataract operations, and knee surgery. I think the damage may have been more psychological than physical. Before retirement I spent several summers in crafts schools here and in Snow Mass, learning how to make good things out of wood. Learned a lot, met some wonderful people, including Sam Maloof, the great California woodworker, renewed my friendship with Ike Weed. Mary and I have two grandchildren four-year-old Erin here in Charlotte and a new baby girl in Short Hills, N.J., born to daughter Patience. I did enjoy the 45th reunion - it was fun to get to know people all over again. I'm now looking forward to the 50th, at which I hope there will be an even bigger crowd."(Hear! Hear! D.B.) Thanks, Bob. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Didi and Bob Gensel ferried over from Southold, L.I., to join Lee and me in a Dartmouth Club-sponsored seminar, at Mystic Seaport, "Ships and the Sea," led by professors Jere Daniell and Robert McGrath from Dartmouth. Bob and Didi were fresh from Florida where they visited with Gene and Ben Bacon. Ben and Gene are busy studying French in preparation for their six-week stay in France this summer. Talked with prexy Jack Little about various class matters and in the process learned that a poem of his had been a big factor in a fund-raiser for public TV. Well done, sir!
Now, please watch the shiny object and relax . . . relax . . . reach for your pen and write, write, write.
P.O. Box 336 Old Lyme, CT 06371
