1953

15 Huckleberry Lane Greenwich, CT 06830

Alumni Magazine columns are written two months before publication. Columns authored as the last vestiges of winter disappear are read as the school year ends and during graduation. Thinking of graduation and the events surrounding us, we can anticipate that subject of values will be the central theme of many commencement addresses. The subject of values at Dartmouth is raised when your secretary gathers information for profiles. It is fair to say that there are various levels of disenchantment with the College among the class of 1953. In most instances, fortunately, the underlying loyalty to Dartmouth transcends the issue of the moment.

This discussion was prompted most recently by a call to John Joy, Fredonia, N.Y. John teaches high school English but more importantly, imparts a value system to his students. My call to John continued the profiles of Dartmouth Players. He left Dartmouth before the end of his senior year for the Marines, where he completed flight school. After discharge, he moved to New York and studied at the American Theater Wing before embarking on a 14-year career in theater. Progressing from Off-Off Broadway to Off-Broadway to stardom, he sang and danced through such productions as How Now, Dow Jones and the Ed Sullivan Show. He reached stardom in a CBS musical version of Pinocchio for which he was in the running for an Emmy award. His bright and promising career was curtailed, however, by a motorcycle accident. As an indication of his redoubtable character, he used this time to earn a master's degree in English, followed by a doctorate in theater from Carnegie-Mellon. A career teaching theater followed, first at Texas A & M and then at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, From 1980 to 1983 he managed his own theater in Jacksdnville, Fla. He has returned to his boyhood home in Fredonia to care for an aging family.

Dave Thomas, Weston, Conn., was responsible for the publicity of the Dartmouth Players. He graduated from Tuck School in 1954, was immediately married and started a two-year army tour in. Germany. Upon discharge he joined IBM in marketing. His assignments have been in Bridgeport, Poughkeepsie, Buffalo, and various Westchester County locations. Currently he is in a staff marketing position concentrating on improving IBM's ability to market to large multinational firms. In the 19605, Dave and Buffie bought a second home on Lake Win- nipesaukee, N.H., and with the added incentive of this second home, Dave started flying lessons in 1969 and bought his own plane in 1970. He now has over 1300 hours of flying time and a commercial license. He also uses the plane as the principal transportation for vacations which range from Nova Scotia to the Florida Keys. The Thomases have purchased land at Hilton Head with the thought of retirement later this year, so the plane is extraordinarily useful. Church work has been a priority. Dave and Buffie have a son, David, who graduated from the University of Michigan as an aerospace engineer, earned his wings in the Navy and is now an instructor. Their daughter, Kernice, is finishing up at the University of New Hampshire.

Tom Kohler, New York City, closely follows theater, ballet, and opera. While in the past he attended almost all shows and productions, he now describes himself as being more selective and critical. His interest in the arts has been an enduring one. He was a. stalwart of the Dartmouth Players with leads in the Merchant of Venice and The ShowOff 30-plus years ago. After college he served in the Army in Europe. A french major with proficiency recognized by the Army, he anticipated being an interpreter, only to end up in the Medical Corps. This job, however, gave him an opportunity to travel and to perform in theater. Returning to the U.S. upon discharge, he began an advertising career. This has ranged over a number of firms and two cities, Boston and New York. There was an interlude in the professional food business, including restaurant recommendations for Gourmet magazine. Tom has been involved in planning and programming advertising for such companies as Seagrams, Aetna, and Borg Warner, first for the major advertising firms and now on a freelance basis. Avocation: Tom's with the Theater Development Fund making tickets more affordable. This organization runs the half-price ticket agency in New York.

Note: Tom came to Dartmouth from Ridgefield, N.J., high school with the following classmates: Tom Bagg, Hank Fry, John Kingsland, Jim O'Hara, Andy Sigler, Don Smith, John Van Huyck, and Frank Willard. What a powerhouse class!