1935

Although a full tribute appears in the obituary section, the status of Ralph I Lazarus as one of our truly outstanding alumni requires mention here as well. Although it would be both presumptuous and inappropriate to define his rank among the eight or ten classmates who, in time and/or money, have done the most for both class and College, there can be no doubt that he belongs in that group.

Ralph was a sociology major, and those of us fortunate enough to have enjoyed that major with its outstanding faculty of Mecklin, deGrange, Truxall, Choukas, at al have no doubt that much of his love of the College, as well as his outstanding career in the world of responsible citizenship, sprang from that experience. A member of the board of governors of the Junto and the business board of the Daily Dartmouth, he went on after graduation to an immensely successful business career that among other things, enabled him to repay many times over what he presumably saw as his debt to the College. May he rest in peace.

Getting on to the original plan for this column, I have had some very interesting (and, in several instances, heartwarming) responses to my most recent "random survey." The question was "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the overall performance ofHopkins, Dickey, Kemeny, and McLaughlin?" What made it interesting, on the one hand, was the wide disparity of opinion, particularly with respect to two of the presidents (one ranged from a 10 and two 9s at one end to a 1 and a 0 at the other) and, on the other hand, the near unanimous "aura of reverence," as one respondent put it, which surrounds most of the recollections of President Hopkins. One feels, "We have not had an adequate president since Hopkins," whereas another says, "I am proud of the accomplishments of all four."

Assessments of Dickey ranged from "continued the Hopkins tradition" to "at best, average"; of Kemeny from "most innovative ... a true teacher" to "did more damage than good"; and of McLaughlin from "a good job of raising money" to "just not a leader." Average ratings overall ranged from 9.0 to 5.2. "Hoppy" obviously had the top rating; you'll have to guess the rest.

The heartwarming part was the number, length, and content of the responses. One, from A1 Dodd, told of a restaurant encounter with a waitress who had been born in Mary Hitchcock Hospital and whose grandmother, still living in Norwich, is a granddaughter of President Tucker. Al is going to look her up.

Maury Rapf wrote of a seven-week European hegira without benefit of air travel the Atlantic crossings having been made by freighter. Maury says the virtue of travel, with its new experiences every day, is that "it stretches time ... turns days into weeks, weeks into months," whereas seven weeks at home "can pass like the blink of an eye." Notes from Dan Cotton, Bill Gahagan and Ted Harbaugh will be covered in the next column.

One other item that requires mention here, however, is news of Don Radasch's nomination to a second term as the Athletic Council rep on the Alumni Council. Which reminds me have you signed up for The Sponsor Program yet? Uncle Eleazar needs YOU!

And with that, peace and love to youall y'all.

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