1951

"What is so rare as a day in June?" asks the poet Lowell, rhetorically. Those who attended the June 9-11 35th reunion of the class of 1951 experienced that rarity for two (if not the full two and a half days) of the most perfect late-spring weather anyone, including a poet, could imagine: bright sunshine and clear air. Hanover never looked better how do they keep their elms and most of the 123 classmates there seemed ready to matriculate for another four years.

But what makes reunions memorable is not weather but people, and these we had in plenty 235, counting wives, children, and friends very close to a record, according to Sam Roberts, who has been working for more than a year on the entire reunion program, aided, abetted, and stimulated by a lively bunch of doers, notably his wife Nancy, Bill andSkip Brooks, and Peirce and RosinaMcKee, all of whom made registration seem effortless; Jake and Sue Livingston, who looked after money matters: Dick Ellis (Conn.), who got us our class of '51 polo shirts and tote bags. Together, these and others smoothed our return to the campus and helped most of us get roomed in Massachusetts Row.

Also busy at registration were JoeSpound, Aaron Rausen, and Jack Sutton, who organized golf and tennis tournaments; and the übiquitous A 1 Mori, who as reunion cochairman oversaw (without oversight) all the details of entertainment and refreshment.

Early events on Monday included the luncheon meetings of Thayer and Tuck enthusiasts, bus tours of the campus and Hanover environs, a Hopkins Center panel entitled "Perspective on Dartmouth 1986," and open houses at the DOC and the Career and Employment Services offices. Thereafter in the late afternoon, the classes of 1946, 1950, 1951, and 1952 each had receptions in their class tents, among which much mixing was indulged. In the evening, many walked, some rode through a dusk suffused with golden light to Thompson Arena for an alumni reunion dinner, the highlight of which was a reformation of the Glee Club made up of its reuning members from the four classes as organized by Tom Rowe 'SO, among them Bill Fraser, Sam Chu, Bob Langworthy,Pete Martin, John Hatfield, and Mort Briggs. Whitey Hand not only sang but conducted the group in several of the old, familiar songs we love so well. Afterward, we rode or drifted through the soft night to visit with President and Mrs. McLaughlin in their garden or to attend a Glee Club concert, ending back at the class tent where Red Balaban and his dixieland band played, one of whom was jazz clarinetist and former varsity hockey defenseman Bill Stout, who played long and sweetly into the summer night.

An occasion of significance occurred at mid-morning on Tuesday, when outgoing class president Pete Henderson presided with Carol Morse at the Donal F.Morse Baker Bells Dedication, a brief but moving ceremony which signaled the initiation of a fund in Don's name for the perpetual maintenance of the College bells in Baker Tower. Plaques commemorating the event will shortly be in place, both at the bottom and at the top of the tower.

Tuesday was a busy day with many events to enjoy: golf and tennis tourneys, an Alumni Association meeting, a 1950- 1951 panel discussion entitled "Moral Dilemmas in Modern Life" set up by FrankSmallwood, canoeing courtesy of HowieRead, and a wonderfully leisurely picnic on the bank of the river, with music again provided by Red Balaban and Bill Stout. In the afternoon, Hal Stahmer spoke at Rockefeller Center on "Portrait of a Teacher Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy," Charlie and Judy Hood led a tour of the new Hood Museum, and Frank Gilroy '50 presented The Gig, a touchingly humorous semiautobiographical full-length film which he both wrote and directed.

On Tuesday evening, following a class tent reception and another cross-campus "golden" walk, the class reunion banquet took place in the Bema (whose name, from the Greek, refers to the platform upon which rests a religious altar), where John Gambling presided. A full-course dinner in this sylvan setting was punctuated by five events: a roll call tribute to those 52 classmates who have died; the election of class officers and executive committee (see below); Sam Chu's delightful talk "Adventures of a Hyphenated American"; an Alumni Award presented by President McLaughlin to Berl Bernhard (for more, see Batch's class newsletter and the accompanying excerpt); and awards to those class athletes of course and court. Later, back on Tuck Mall, a "big band sound" issuing from Ted Hebert's band delighted until after midnight a large group of '50, '51, and '52 reuners.

On Wednesday morning, rain was falling hard but appropriately at our farewell brunch. The new class officers and executive committee met to begin planning for the next five years; in attendance were Bob Hopkins, president; Bill Boynton, secretary; Howie Read, treasurer; DaveBatchelder, newsletter editor; Jack Giegerich, mini-reunion chairman; Jake Livingston, Alumni Fund agent; DaveHilton, Alumni Fund bequest chairman; Hank Sanders, Alumni Councillor; and executive committee members: Jack Weingarten,Joe Welch, Carol Morse, JohnClayton, A 1 Mori, Nase Hurowitz, DaveSaxton, Bob Hustek, Dave Hall (Hanover), Bill Brooks, and Pete Henderson.

Some final impressions: Paul Wenger wearing his freshman beanie. Both DickEllises and both Dave Halls. Bill Woolner's Texas drawl. Dick Mason looking very dapper. Reed Badgley's sleight of hand. College students then and now from panty raids to shanty raids.

Classmates will be saddened to hear of Tom Cahoon's death on May 23. An obituary will follow.

Don't overlook mini-reunions: October 3—4, Navy game and Baltimore/Annapolis gala; October 18, Harvard game/Dartmouth Night.

Let us know what you're doing when so much is changing in your life.

Berl Bernhard '5l received the Dart- mouth Alumni Award at his class's 35th reunion in June. After earning an LL.B. at Yale, he has served as director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, special consultant and then senior advisor to the Office of the Secretary of State, National Pres- idential Campaign Manager for Sen- ator Edmund Muskie, principal office and owner of the Washington Federals football team, and partner and chairman of a Washington law firm. For Dartmouth he has been an active Trustee for 10 years, winner of the "Spirit of '5l Award" in 1982, member of the Board of Visitors of the Rockefeller Center, and member of the Board of Overseers of Tuck School. He recently chaired the "Alumni for Dartmouth" election committee in support of the incum- bent Trustees. One of his children is a member of the class of '77.

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