1978
It finally happened. The long-awaited, long-planned ninth year-Tenth Reunion (or was it the tenth year-Ninth Reunion?) came off without a hitch over the weekend of June 19-21. By most accounts, it was a memorable and successful weekend of acquainting, re-acquainting, catching-up, and just plain old getting out of the normal routinei Nearly 300 '78s plus 150 family members and friends came to Hanover for the three-day celebration. Some, like CharlieWise and family, came from as far away as Tokyo. Others, like John Lee and NickScheu, have remained in or returned to the Upper Valley, and did not travel far at all.
For those who had not been in Hanover since graduation, many changes in the physical plant of the College were evident. Most obvious were the Rockefeller Center complex, a completed Blunt Alumni Center, the Hood Museum, a large brand-new addition to the gym, and several new dormitory clusters. We were housed in the newest of the dorms, located across from the gym (campus is expanding quickly!). And for all of us who remembered how beautiful a New England summer can be, we were treated to three days of warm sunshine and low humidity, as well as green lawns and trees and bright flowers. And X Delta no longer cluttered the front lawn of Baker Library!
Planned activities started Friday afternoon and continued through Sunday brunch at the Bema with the '76s and '77s. Some of the "planned" activities continued for many hours on all three days around the kegs at the class tent in front of the gym. And when things quieted down at our tent, it was quickly noted that there were other kegs strategically located throughout campus. Fine planning! Official functions included a tenth-year dinner and Glee Club presentation at Thompson Arena, a picnic at Storrs Pond, dinner at the terraces behind the D.O.C. House at Occom Pond, dancing at the Top of the Hop, and the final brunch at the Bema. Other activities included hiking at Moosilauke, golf and tennis, a Glee Club performance, a truly impressive Hood Museum, cocktail parties at the varioiis departments and for several organizations, and checking out the continuous gridlock on Main Street. Some of us left New York and Los Angeles for this? Several brave adventurers clambered down to the Green early Sunday morning for a 10k race around town. Since I was not among the brave, awake, or foolish, I cannot report the official results, though I suspect that Dean Stephens severly crushed rumored challenges from 1977's Barry Harwick and Alan Muir.
A bit of official class business was taken care of during the weekend, as well. Most important was the naming of the new class officers for the next five-year term. They are: Jim Bullion, Bill McLaughlin, and JayBrown, as president, treasurer, and head agent, respectively. Cathy Cates and I will be handling the secretary duties, while DonPerkins and Kent Pierce will continue as newsletter editors. Todd Anderson is the alumni councilor and Steve Adnopoz is the mini-reunion chairman. For all of you who served for the past five years as officers, many thanks for your time and efforts on behalf of the class. In other good news, almost 55 percent of the class contributed a total of $100,000 to annual giving this year. The College appreciates your generosity and also Wishes to thank all of you who helped solicit the contributions. I believe that both numbers were records for our class!
Some impressions of the event: Overall an enjoyable, sometimes even relaxing weekend. Three days together with people with whom I spent an important part of my adult life. Time enough to share the memories, to find out how the College shaped our lives, to resolidify slightly rusty friendships, to make new friendships, and to reiterate what a vibrant, thoughtful group of people move on to the wide world from the Hanover Plain. Yet not too much time to really feel the enforced superficiality of a large group of people in an enclosed arena trying to make up for ten years (or was it nine?) in just a few hours. Many thanks to everyone who helped put together the whole show, but particlarly to Scott Brown and Dave Corey, who were the masterminds of all the planning.
One interesting note to report in the "small world" category was a chance meeting I had with Hans Sheline, his wife, Diane, and son, Eric, about a week after the reunions. While studying and sampling a rock outcrop in an old gold district in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico, Hans and family drove up! Jaws sagging to our chest in surprise, in this, our first meeting in nine years, we "caught up" for about an hour in the early morning sun. Hans had just moved to Hobbs, N.M., where he continues to work as a geophysicist for Conoco, Inc. He recently discovered a two million barrel oilfield for his company.
I have other news of many people who could not make it to Hanover in June, but it looks like I am at my limit. However, in this, my only plea for news (I promise!), please feel free to let me know what's happening in your world (to quote Willard of television weather fame). I am not often home, but my mail gets to me eventually, and my answering machine seems to answer farily regularly. The number is 509/455-9254.
Upcoming news of the two "mini-reunions" scheduled for August 8 will be highlighted in my next installment. Details forthcoming. Cheers and best wishes to all!
P.O. Box 1911 Spokane, WA 99210
