1970

The passing of our classmate Mark Werre on September 2 was indeed unexpected. Mark died at the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis following some three weeks of intensive treatment in the care of blastomycosis, an uncommon fungal disease characterized by bronchopneumonia and other associated life threatening disabilities. The sudden on- set of Mark's disease was the tragic ending for what was to have been a happy family weekend of windsurfing at a favorite lake in northern Minnesota.

Mark was born May 19, 1948, in Wahpeton, N.D., a small town in the southeastern part of the state. He grew up there attending local schools. At Dartmouth he was regularly on the dean's list, an enthusiastic participant in crew, and a member of Alpha Chi Alpha. Mark's close friend JohnStern remembers Mark as "simply a great guy. I rarely saw him angry. He was full of life, always ready for kidding around. He was a person who inspired confidence." Indeed Mark was known by all especially for his consistently uplifting temperament.

Mark stayed on in Hanover for a final year at the Thayer School of Engineering, receiving his degree in 1971. He then went on the Montana State University, Bozeman, where he received a master's in environmental engineering in 1974. He was at school during this period with Andreen Hubble, who became his wife on November 30, 1974.

Mark entered the U.S. Public Health Service while at Dartmouth and spent his entire professional career with that agency. He was primarily involved with projects related to sanitation facilities and environmental health improvements, often on Indian reservations. Mark was recognized for the high degree of motivation he exhibited towards his life work and he advanced quickly with die Health Service. His assignments included stints in remote areas of Montana, Oklahoma, and Washington state during which the family sometimes was forced to endure trying circumstances. In March 1987 he was sent to Bemidji, Minn., a happy placement since there he was only about 150 miles from family and friends in his hometown for what were to be his last few months. At the time of his death he was a senior engineer officer (commander/lieutenant colonel) serving as the associate director for environmental health and engineering in Bemidji.

Mark's funeral was particularly impressive as a final tribute in the display of respect and recognition shown by over 30 fellow officers in the Public Health Service who came to act as honor guards. Above all Mark was the epitomy of a family man, and as such he has left behind his greatest legacy. His premature passing leaves a void which can never be filled. The class extends its sincere condolences to his widow, Andreen; his three children, Clarissa, Christina, and Edward Hubble, aged 10, 8, and 5 respectively at the time of their father's death; his parents, Edward and Frances Werre; and brothers Jim and Joel.

P.O. Box 3934, Modesto, CA 95352-3934