1947

Reunions are wonderful times! Our class manages to have a small but friendly reunion each fall. At this writing, our family is looking towards a Thanksgiving reunion a few days hence. Some will cook, some will play and keep kids occupied, and we'll all visit. Our group has "mini-reunions" through the year; that's how we keep up with the new faces which keep showing up these years.

And as we read this our class is heading for a reunion commemorating the passage of 45 years since our exodus from Hanover, give or take two or three years. Early responses from the initial mailing show positive attendees pushing into the 50's and 60's, with 30 more hopeful that they can work out the logistics and timing.

One of the fun parts of reunion planning is checking out the response cards. Some are newsy, and here are tidbits gleaned from a few of them:

Norm and Helen Fink have returned to New York after a time in Chicago. Norm continues his work fundraising for non-profit organizations all over the country. We wonder if Helen continues to work magic in her design specialty.

Irwin "Puss" Weinstein, has not retired from medicine; in fact, he serves the American College of Physicians as governor of its Southern California branch.

Fran and Anne O'Brien in Modesto, Calif., write that their youngest, John, is now married—must be a lonely house now. But we can be sure there will be frequent visitors, as they boast of 22 "grands" 13 boys and nine girls. And, to show they haven't slowed down yet, they have two great-grandchildren. (I can't believe I'm writing this of people our age.) Obie is still teaching and coaching, and is probably a mentor emeritus to two generations of California highschool students. They'll be in Hanover, if all plans work out well, for our 45th in June.

A note from Bourke Welch, in Santa Maria, Calif. He and Ruth returned in early October from a wonderful trip through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where, he says, they saw every old church or castle there was open. He is a history buff, so it was particularly rewarding; and the scenery, especially in Bavaria and in the Alps, was outstanding. Bourke has retired from selling radio time, and, like many of us, doesn't know where the time came from to permit "working." He still raises and shows English setters, writes magazine articles—for a fee even—and serves as a director for the local humane society, and handles their publicity. Some of us old duffs are really useful. Bourke closes with "whatever happened to Jiggs Fuller?" (Answer: Bedford, N.Y. get in touch!)

Next time you're in Thompson Arena, take a look at the big green banners commemorating winning hockey teams, either Ivy Champs or—as in 1947, 48, and 49 participants in the National playoffs. Our class contributed the one for our year the year of the unforgettable three: Bruce Mather,Bruce Cunliffe, and Ralph Warburton.

Isn't it nice to be associated with winning teams? It's a tradition again.

See you soon,

63 Maple Avenue, Keene, NH 03431