1940
Dear Class:
September? It can't be! Why, just yesterday it was the Fourth of July. And where are all your postcards? Ah, well. Let us start off with some quickies from the questionnaires. Howard "Howie" Akerley retired in May as assistant vice president, New Hampshire Insurance Company. He and Helen have four children—two Dartmouth and two UNH. Their youngest, Nancy '83, is just back from two-plus years in the Peace Corps in West Africa. John Allen and wife Buzz had a three-week break in Florida this past winter. Their first grandchild was due this past June. Rett Czerny shut down the office (surgery) on December 31, 1986, retiring after 35 years of practice in Tucson. Dave and Carol Davenport are zipping from place to place: Alaska in June, Quebec in July, Cleveland in August, Quebec in September and back home to Florida in October.
Scott Dillingham, has been busy in Warsaw, N.Y., since his 1981 retirement. He's a trustee for the public library, Kiwanis secretary and newsletter editor, a member of Friends of the Library and ex-member of the village planning board. Ken Elliot and wife Jackie alternate between Hancock, Wis., and Wheaton, Ill. He's involved with Boy Scouts, setting up a woodworking shop and just plain setting— watching birds, deer and assorted other fauna.
Dave Fish is doubly retired—once from Monkey Ward (buyer) and once from the u.S.A.F. (colonel). He golfs, swims, gardens and sails (0.P.B.) on a 3800-acre development on an island off the coast of Georgia. Edward "Mac" Gardiner is still at it as engineering manager for Boeing Aerospace in Seattle, Wash.: "Despite physical parts which seem to be wearing out, requiring replacement or rust removal, I enjoy the work I'm doing, which has mostly to do with SDI." Mac offers to hold forth on that at the 50th!
Tom George continues with his painting. He and La Verne were in Norway and in England (Cotswolds) this summer. There will be a retrospective exhibition of his paintings this fall at the New Jersey State Museum. When, Tom, when?
Daid "Pete" Gibson and Margaret ("TA") have been planning a new home and should be in it pretty soon. Still in Coventry, Conn., where he's involved with service club activities, church, and the new home. Alvin "Vene" Gutman continues to run the Pressman-Gutman Company but finds time for community work and the medical transplant area as well as his museum efforts. Al and Mary Bert travel a lot and sent on a photo from their recent trip to Antarctica, for which many thanks.
Bill Hutchinson reports the passing of his wife, Mary, in April 1986. Bill is retired, but devotes time to Literacy Plus along with a new boat. Fred "Johnny" Johnson retired and is working on behalf of the Youth Leadership Foundation and as treasurer for the MOWW department of Florida North. He and Beverly are enjoying traveling. LamKerms likes retirement in Augusta, Ga., and welcomes any classmates as visitors except during the week of the Masters. Apart from traveling, Lam has cars as a hobby and currently has one equipped with a Corvette engine that can run on nitro! His motto is "Porsche shall not Pass."
Harold "Mac" McAllister is busier than ever now that he's retired; Rotary Club, United Way, Voluntary Action Center, and Red Cross are among the reasons. JimMcElroy, though retired, is into the construction business—housing and hotels. Last winter was a record-breaker for his skiing: Lake Tahoe, Zermatt, Villars S. Ollon. John Moore, our class VP, is still going strong as president of Simms and Moore Company (employee benefits consulting and development of related software). Wife Kay is a stockbroker, and the two play tennis often. John is a trustee of the Cleveland Institute of Music. Gil Myers is still selling for Curtis Industries, but on a limited basis, expecting to wind it up by the end of this year. Two daughters and two grandchildren living not too far away are an important part of things for Gil and Franny. RubyRamie Nydegger has been in Ireland, staying in a castle complete with a salmon river and household help! Will and Honey Pitz were just leaving for a "sentimental journey" to the Pacific and Hawaii as they completed the questionnaire. Will is still president of McMullen and Pitz Construction Company.
More quickies next month. Those of you who have lost your questionnaire can reply on plain paper with names, address (indicate principal address and dates there if you have two homes) phone numbers, nicknames, family status.
The closing sermon today is getting back in touch with the class. It is directed to all of you who have been silent since I took over the secretary's chair. Hey, how much can it hurt? The class wants to know that you are somewhere and the closer we get to the 50th, the more we want to know it. Name, rank and serial number, please! See you in October.
P.O. Box 336 Old Lyme, CT 03671
