1982
I hope by the time you read this you will have recovered from June's reunion "ceremonies," the likes of which the College has never seen. Thanks to you, it will be five long, news-filled years before I recover. Remind me to gain my revenge on our tenth anniversary.
Before I go on, allow me to give special thanks to my predecessor, Emily Bakemeier, who graciously handed over to me five slips of paper with which to do my first notes column. I'll just have to make things up the way Emily did for the past five years.
About that 48-hour dance-a-thon we called a reunion. Jenny Chandler Hauge,Rob Olsson, and Mary Thomson should consider changing their professions and forming their own party-giving corporation. Everything from the weather to the food to the music to the beer was perfect. And what a thrill to be back in the dorms!
A number of early arrivals managed to hit the links at Hanover Country Club Friday afternoon under beautiful sunny skies. Those spotted hammering the little white pill included Rand Stephens, Steve Chandless, Ted Trabue, John Strawn, Mike Donaghue and Andy Sanford. My foursome included Olsson, Tom Shanahan and ToddMarkman. Shanny played the game of his life with a little help from a Hanover town worker whose drive on the 11th hole was Tom's best of the day.
One interesting eightsome included Johnand Cindy Funk, Jeff Bechler and new wife Mary, newlyweds V.J. and Jennifer Dowling, and Brett Homovec and girlfriend. All they needed was Bob Eubanks and a matching washer-dryer/bedroom set and they could have played the Newlywed Game. Friday night's banquet at the Bema started the true reuniting festivities as old friends gathered to compare notes on the last five years. From there it was off to outgoing President McLaughlin's for a reception and then back east for a D.J. at Heorot, where mere fools discovered they were still dancing fools.
Saturday dawned bright and beautiful on the Hanover Plain as scores of '82s headed for the river and parts well-known to catch some rays. Even Thayer food couldn't spoil the revelry as hundreds of burgers and gallons of lemonade were quickly consumed before Bernie Thompson and Glenn Grube wowed the crowd with some jazz as hot as the sun.
Meanwhile, the more athletic and/or adventurous members of the class went at it on the courts in the first '"82 Reunion Tennis Tournament," organized by WoodyKingman. Colin McNay and Stacey Taylor emerged as co-champions along with Libette Waterman's husband, Robert McKeon, and Angela Santini.
A cocktail party in the beautiful Hood Museum courtyard was followed by an excellent dinner upstairs in Alumni Hall with remarks by "our" President, Dave McLaughlin. Class historian Tom Burack emceed the evening which moved down to Alumni Hall for the remainder of the program. Class fund-raisers were recognized along with the reunion organizing committee before Ralph Manual made a few remarks. The program closed with a wellreceived slide presentation put together by Robert Nachman.
For some the evening was winding to a close but for others it was just beginning. At the class tent "Live at Five," led by Alan Golub '87, was warming up and the dancing shoes were being put back on. When the Hanover Po shut the bash down at one, the band picked up and moved to Alpha Chi, where they kept banging it out until 7:00 A.M. with at least 50 crazies still shaking their booties! Ending the evening/morning with breakfast at EBA's were Emily Bakemeier, Dave Conard, Jim Coulter, Rob Ford, Abby Kurr, Tim May, JonMerriman, and Rob Olsson. If I've left anyone out, blame it on that last pong game at Alpha Chi.
The third beautiful day closed the weekend out in fine style with a brunch at the DOC House. Those who could make it enjoyed it. Those who couldn't slept.
Well, that was reunion. So what else is going on? Let's take a look at the wedding circuit. Gray Reisfield married Rich Horan '76 in April and is setting up shop in New Jersey. Mike and Betsy Kremer also got hitched in April at their wedding in Binghamton, N.Y.
Jeff Bechler's wedding brought a large Dartmouth group together in California. Tom Shanahan went early and spent some time with Kent and Sheila (Kay) Cooper at UCLA Business School before pointing his rented '66 Mustang convertible south for the wedding. The wedding party included best man Scott Bechler '80, Rob Olsson and John Funk. Also in attendance were BenTongue, Rand Stephens, Mike Donaghue,V.J. Dowling, Andy Sanford, Brian Cusack '81 and Chris Morrison '81.
Also tying the knot in May were Sam andKim Laurin, who then headed for Bermuda before settling in Indianapolis. V.J. andJennifer Dowling made May the marriage month as they got hitched on the 30th and then took off for Italy.
Space restrictions force me to end here, but I'm out of lies anyway. Please fill my mailbox with news so I don't have to fib for the next five years.
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