1945

A slip on snow-covered ice (while filling birdfeeders) which sent the secretary to the hospital for surgery followed by a four-week enforced vacation gives plenty of time to write Class Notes, but little news to write about.

Ted Smith who has filled many roles for the class (currently he writes the obituaries and is gearing up activities as treasurer of the 45 th Reunion) reports that he and Pat in the third year of retirement find that "it keeps getting better." He recently helped his mother celebrate her 95 th birthday and looks forward to the 50th reunion of the American Community School of Beirut, Lebanon, at the home of his cousin David Dodge in Princeton, N.J. You may recognize Dodge as the president of American University who was held hostage in Lebanon for a lengthy period.

An excerpt from the Bank of Boston Eagle (thanks to Frank Aldrich) reports on Figgie International and its chairman, Harry E. Figgie Jr.. The corporation has been highly successful and Harry's words summarize the experience: "We've had 26 years of high risks, high adventures, high hopes, and high accomplishments with tremendous work, worry loads, and very little sleep." Congratulations on your accomplishments, Harry, and please join us in Hanover in June of 1991.

Condolences to Scott Parrot, whose wife, Nonie, died in January. The Parrots lost their daughter Heidi two years ago and we extend to Scott and his son Kent our sincere sympathy. All of them had been present at our 40th Reunion.

A number of the class of 1945 were members of a special OCS class established by the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in the summer of 1944. Its specific purpose was to train leaders to take over rifle platoons in the upcoming battles of Iwo jma and Okinawa because so many lieutenants had been lost in earlier battles in the Pacific. I know that Pete Brundage (killed in Okinawa), the late Grif Strasenburgh, BudMorris, and I were in the class but feel sure that there are others. There are several members of the class trying to locate the survivors, both to publish a directory and plan a reunion, and if you were in the class the contact person is John H. Lauck at 3015 Beechwood, Muncie, IN 47304.

See you next when the weather is warming but please keep in touch.

8 Timberlee Lane, Westford, MA 01886