1956

Recently received the good news that Dr. Joseph S.Gonnella has been promoted to senior vice president of Thomas Jefferson University. The University rioted that Joe was promoted "in recognition of his 22 years of distinguished service to Jefferson, his admirable stewardship of academic affairs, and his fundamental research contributions to medical education."

Joe earned his medical degree at Harvard and joined the faculty of Jefferson Medical College in 1967. Having directed the academic programs of the college from 1974 until 1984, he was named vice president and dean of the college. Congratulations on the latest honor in an outstanding career.

On a less happy note, it's a shame that it often takes tragedy to bring people closer together. After Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston in late September, we had the pleasure of hearing from a number of classmates and other Dartmouth alums, as well as from many friends around the country from whom we'd not heard in many moons. Coincidentally, Josh Hill and Clem Malin called on the same day, just one week after the catastrophe, to see how things were here. Josh recalled a hurricane in the thirties that traveled the Connecticut River Valley, seriously affecting Hanover, and was concerned about his friends on Wadmalaw Island and in Charleston. It was good to hear from both Josh and Clem and to be able to report that we had been very fortunate.

Many friends were far less fortunate: Betty and Blake Hughes '36 returned to their lovely home on the Isle of Palms to find little more than one dinner plate where their house once stood. Henry Terrie, recently retired from the English faculty, and his wife, Jeanne, had a beautiful home at Yeaman's Hall, just north of Charleston. Latest word from the Terries is that they may have little there that is worth salvaging. Those are just two of the countless examples of the destruction wrought by Hugo.

The good news is that others were far luckier. Murray Kaplan, like the Olsens, seems to have escaped unharmed. Jim Decker' 54 hardly lost phone service or electricity, and his summer house on the Isle of Palms was one of the few spared by the storm. And Seabrook Island, which might easily have been ravaged, caught a break, sparing Dick Maxwell '42, Jack Bowe '41, and Doug Frandsen '51 the kind of devastation that struck only a few miles farther north.

Time for birthdays again, as '56 continues to turn 56: Bob Castles and Dick Hlavac celebrated on the first of the month, followed by Pete Kolar on the sth, Chuck Beard on the 6th, and Jim Nelson on the 7th. Dave Whiteford checks in on the 11th, followed closely by Gordie Lenci on the 12th and Chuck Crane on the 15th. The 16th is the big day for Len Neely, Al Peyser, and Dick McClintock, with ToddDriscoll coming through on the 17th and Harry Petter on the 22nd. That's it for this month. Happy Birthday to the above and a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season to all. Till next time.

51 Tradd Street, Charleston, SC 29401