1945

Three days into 1988, the year in which most of us will reach the social security age of 65, and the first item of the year concerns a happy event for the secretary and for EliotMover. For over 25 years my law practice has included finalizing adoptions for a local agency and recently I had the joy of processing the adoption of Eliot's granddaughter, the daughter of Heidi Mover and her husband. The grandparents were not present but Eliot and I have had several conversations recently and he promises to be in court the next time. After I explained how I knew Eliot, Heidi said "Everyone knows my father."

Another chance meeting was a late October golf game with Nelson Craver's brother Perry in Kennebunkport, Maine. Nelson is retired and living in East Falmouth, Mass., where he is working on his golf. If he plays like his brother and shows up for the next Johnny Brooks Tournament he should win the trophy.

Among '4ss still working, Fletch McDowell was elected president of the Dartmouth Medical School Alumni Council in October.

A note from Ted Smith pointed out that our deceased classmate named Elliott Goldstein in the November issue was really David Goldstein. (To correct other errata, Sylvia Read is Sylvia Reed, Bob Reese is Bob Pease, and Don and Rosalie Cutter were omitted from the list of those present at the mini-reunion.) Returning to the Smiths, he and Pat retired as of the end of the year and after selling their home in Reading (once 30 years of accumulations have been disposed of) they will be moving to the Upper Valley either to buy a new home or to build on land they own in West Lebanon.

Don's retirement activities include farming on his land in Lyme and he particularly enjoys raising hogs. Even though he only has about 40 he has become so involved that he serves on the National Hog Farmers Association board, which includes members who have several thousand hogs at a time. Don would like to repeat the pig roast that was a high point of the 1986 fall reunion.

A second response to my request for thoughts on retirement came from BobCate, who retired from NASA in July 1986 and moved from San Francisco to a seaside condo in La Jolla. He and Kitty both are able to pursue their interests, with Bob maintaining an office within walking distance which "functions as study, retreat, ivory tower, etc." Kitty is president of the San Diego Bibliophile Society and also devotes time to studies in -anthropology folklore and international affairs. A lot of tennis is included in their weekly schedule and the biannual plans include travel in Spain and Portugal. Bob says, "We are never bored and the stress factor is minimal." The pressure must come from his service as treasurer of their 22-unit condo association.

Time has passed and today's mail brought the sad news of the death of Ralph"Bud" Blackburn on December 15. Bud had attended the last two reunions and had donated one of the oils that he painted for the auction at the 35th. This item produced the most spirited bidding in the history of class auctions. He was deeply interested in Dartmouth and our personal and class sympathies are extended to his family.

Peace, health, and happiness to everybody as spring 1988 approaches.

8 Timberlee Lane Westford, MA 01886