1945

Every so often George Barr has the cards enclosed in the newsletter mailed to me rather than him. A few of them are returned to me with news or a new address, and, interestingly enough, quite often the salutation is "Dear George." In contrast, one of the cards returned in 1989 started "Dear John You're great to keep the Mail Call going." Many of you still have the cards and I don't care how you address me but please use the card preferably with more information than an address change.

More classmates are retiring, but a large number are still in the workforce. Dr. Hank Blansfield says he works part-time but it sounds like a full-time job. He works at a drug abuse rehab unit and feels very strongly that drug abuse is a medical problem and should be so treated. He is also involved in advocacy for addicts as well as a pilot project for needle exchange emphasizing clean needles.

Dave McAuliffe is also on the job. Unfortunately he finds himself embroiled in one of the real injustices of new laws on hazardous waste; some real estate he purchased before there were any laws on the subject is contaminated and it has cost Dave a lot of effort and money to correct the problem and to try to locate the original culprit. His wife, Hazel, a nurse, is working in a weight-loss clinic and perhaps could give a lecture (for classmates only) at reunion.

Ted Smith and Pat delivered some class secretary materials to me and reported that as of July 17 there were 45 deposits towards reunion. Both of them have spent countless hours on class matters and are currently putting together an accurate activity count for all '45s who matriculated in the fall of 1941.

John Brandt spent a lot of time traveling along the coasts of California and Oregon, and across Oregon to Idaho; he commented that he has seen a lot of the world, from the Far East to Europe, and nothing beats the beauty and grandeur of the U.S.A.

Another traveler and a retiree is Chan Stein who has been on the move since July of 1989. He traveled to France and Belgium last fall and then spent three months in Vero Beach, Fla., "to escape the snow, sleet, rain and freezing rain which I find less and less appealing." This past spring he was in England, one week each in Devon, Cornwall, and the Cotswolds. Chan sees Earl Gallup and Harry Judge and they all live in the Albany, N.Y., area.

Charlie Youmans continues to use his RV for travels around the country. He missed Tim Lewis at his summer Nantucket home but was on his way to Seattle to visit with his college roommate George Rice.

That wipes out the news supply. It should be replenished at mini-reunion, which starts about a month prior to the time you read this. More fodder is needed for the winter months so keep in touch. Happy Halloween.

8 Timberlee Lane, Westford, MA 01886