1965

3610 Oriole Drive Columbus, IN 47203

I've heard it said that class of '65 minireunions are a little like potato chips: once you've had a first taste, passing up future ones becomes difficult. Certainly such a comparison is supported by the strong showing of returnees to Pierce's Inn over Harvard weekend, and the parting words of our first-time participants are an indication they too have now become "hooked."

The weekend officially started when we joined with our families in the Dartmouth Night parade up Main Street and around the Green to Dartmouth Row. Carrying our banner were our class president and first lady, newly weds Bill and Sue Webster. Along the route, many of us were honored by the number of students openly cheering for "1965." Only toward the end of the parade did we become aware our admirers were simply Dartmouth seniors proudly acknowledging the year of their birth. The bonfire was as spectacular as any in our memory, and certainly the crowd of more than 10,000 was proof a strong Dartmouth spirit exists even in difficult times.

Later on during the evening a vigil was established to await the arrival of MikeBuckley and his family, who were driving from western New York. During this long gathering at Pierce's bar, Ken McGruther explained he was "saving himself" for an alumni-varsity baseball game on Sunday. Ken and his family have just returned from a naval assignment in the Far East and Ken expects life at his new station at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., to be a timely experience for his children. Charlie and Marion Strauss were encouraged by their listeners to begin a book about the struggles of renovating a home in Connecticut. The suggestion was made that with their current progress a new chapter could be written for each mini-reunion. Mike Orr reported he is still following the golf ball industry, but is now with Dunlop in South Carolina. TomMeacham claimed, without challenge, to have made the longest journey to our gathering from his home in Anchorage, Alaska.

Saturday morning, a brave band of early risers attended a class meeting to discuss issues and concerns facing us as a group. We learned that planning is already under way for our 25th reunion. Individuals with the professional experience to develop an exciting audio/visual "spectacular" on the history of our class were encouraged to make themselves known to our class officers. Jack Heidbrink, our 25th reunion book chairman, sent word he needs a recent photograph of each of us as soon as possible. He also asks that we search our personal archives for any interesting photos we have from our years in Hanover. Jack's address is: 6 Town Line Road, Burlington, MA 01803. Ted Atkinson indicated there would be additional 25th reunion information appearing soon in our class newletter.

The afternoon proved to be unspectacular for football watching, but ideal for those interested in stadium climbing. Steve Waterhouse showed how fit an executive recruiter can be when he led his family to row BBB, which, if not among the highest points in New Hampshire, is certainly Memorial Field's answer to the Goodyear blimp. Punch Lochridge, now president of his own firm, proved that strategic consultants can also reach great heights when he found our class section high in the east stands. Mo Harvey seemed to have found a less strenuous solution since his only confirmed sighting was on the field after the game ended.

Our Saturday evening cocktail party and dinner saw the arrival of Roger Hansen, an orthopedic surgeon in Keene, N.H.; Rich Beams, in Hanover to visit his daughter, Kathryn Beams '88; LarryDuffy, director of development at Trinity College; and Larry Hunt, who made the short drive from Quechee Lakes, Vt. Brian Porzak was seen autographing his new novel, The One, published by Copy and Concepts, Ltd., and mention was made that Chris Knight's wife, Kathy, has also written an excellent novel, TraceElements (W.W. Norton and Company), that combines mystery with anthropology. We were especially pleased that Sara, the widow of Barry Gross, was able to be with us and that her daughter, Miriam Gross '90, was one of the "legacies" accepting our invitation for dinner. A segment of our class was lodged at the Sunset Motel (Jim Broselow, Dick Finnerty,Hugh McGee, Mike Messina, and JeffNewton) and was rumored to have developed some late night activity of its own. For the crowd staying at the Pierces', John Ferdico, our official class pianist, arrived in time to introduce his new group featuring Reg Pierce '43 on the drums and Sean Buckley as guitarist.

Sunday morning we had an after-breakfast opportunity to discuss the current state of the College with Mike Choukas '51, director of alumni affairs. As our families once more reassembled for the trip home, strong compliments were extended to Jim Griffiths, our mini-reunion chairman, for an extremely well-organized and pleasant weekend. I personally left Hanover with the feeling I had spent time among interesting friends, both new and old, and look forward to our next mini-reunion on October 10.