1940
Dear Class: It must be March, my pulse just turned on. Spring is all coiled up, ready to bust out, the wood pile is dwind ling, and the mail box gapes open awaitin your offerings.
Let's begin with Joe Armanini. He has written his first letter to a class secretary thanking me for all previous occupants of this chair for the past 46 birthday greetings. He continues: "At age 64, finally retired from the auto import business (it gets tiresome, driving Rollses, MGBs, Jensen Healey, Jaguars, Maseratis, etc.). Retirement is boring by comparison . . . taking care of my 96-year-old mother, trying to manage so my children will be able to make it, keep my weight around 200 by running five days a week, gourmet cooking practice, revising my golf game after a ten-year lapse. My daughter is married to a potential rock band star, but she still works as a secretary-receptionist. Son Scott unmarried, a computer division sales and service consultant for AT & T for the state of Nevada. Went to England for the 100 th Bombardment group reunion in September, kind of sad and nostalgic. Wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year. Joe and Vicky." Thanks for breaking the ice, Joe keep it UP- ...
Our annual communique from MacCross: "Never made our planned trip to Europe. Terrorist activity plus bombing of Libya. Decided to cruise the Mississippi instead on the theory that if the ship was attacked, we could walk to shore. Rode the Mississippi Queen from St. Louis to St. Paul. It was interesting, relaxing, and fattening. In February 1987 we hope to make a camera safari to Kenya. Our Columbia Zoo director will be the leader. Have already taken our shots, so nothing will stop us this time." Watch out for them white hunters, Mac.
A pre-Thanksgiving note from BillWotherspoon brings the news that he has remarried, to Mary Ruth Swigart of Toledo, acquiring NINE grandchildren by simply saying, "I do." congratulations and all best wishes to the whole crowd. Bill and Mary Ruth had just returned from a European trip that included sailing at Cowes, no less, with an English companion from World War II days. Thanks for the news, Bill, and welcome to Mary Ruth.
Not all of the mail was happy news. We are sorry to report that Dr. Bill Martin passed away last November and George Burleigh was called away in October. Our sympathies go out to their families and friends. Obituaries will be appearing.
Larry Cate sent in a card, issuing a golt challenge to Jim Scott. Both will be visiting the San Diego area at the same time on R and R. Larry and wife Genie cruised to Panama City last winter. Last summer they joined Ben and Harriet Webb on the Dartmouth Rhone trip to Avalon and Cannes.
Well; the next thing you know, Jackand Lois Moody turned up in our neck of the woods last November and we had a pleasant dinner with some older (yes, there are some) Dartmouth friends in Essex, Conn. John and Lois are looking great and very much full of it. Took us but two hours to settle the problems of ■the world and the College.
I talked with class president Jack Little just before this column went off to Hanov er. He is fine, has a new phone number, 515/726-6585, and is busy. But the phone call was to tell me that Ann Porter Berger had accepted the offer to come on board as a member of the class's executive committee. This is really good news. As many of you may not know, Anne has been a worker in the class vineyard for many years; responsible for our growing collection of photographs and memorabilia, working with Ted and others on memorial giving, and very active with our own class widows, among other things. Because of all this, it was decided in our fall class officers' meeting to invite her on board, officially. Welcome, Anne.
A December letter from Bob Weil reminds that my freshman year nickname was indeed "Deac" (for Deacon) as the result of portraying Eleazar during halftime antics. Bob is as busy as ever, but will tear himself away from Alabama and cotton long enough for our 50th. Good!
Two high school reunioners have reported in: Gar Ashley flew to his 50th at Kings Grant Inn in Danvers to find 164 others back. De Jones's 50th was at New Trier High last September. It was fun, says De, but there were a lot of old people there! From Steve Robinson, a nice note commenting that "Few of us in the Los Angeles area have been back to Hanover . . . and, while we have not lost our interest, we have lost touch . . . difficult to understand what is going on in Hanover." Steve is married to a professor of law (he's a lawyer, too), has two grown stepsons. His wife has never seen New England, so Steve is counting on showing her Hanover and the surround. Good idea!
You will soon receive (if you haven't already) an Indian Drum from Bob Austin containing a plea to send in updated personal information so that we can put out a new class directory. Please watch for it and follow through on the information when you do receive it. It's a first step towards organizing a fabulous fiftieth for Forty. And, hey, listen ... I really won't get upset if you write the class a letter. Happy March!
P.O. Box 336 Old Lyme, CT 06371
