1949

We have indeed been fortunate to have Punchy Thomas as our mini-reunion chairman, for without his resourcefulness when our 40-year use of the Holiday Inn was interrupted this year, the October gathering would have suffered. Happily, Punchy was able to secure lodging for us at the Lake Morey Inn. For many this will bring back memories of the summer of 1945 and trips to the lake. Due to early deadline for the column, events from this weekend won't be reported until the Winter issue.

John Waugh, a professor at M.1.T., has received the 1992 Theodore William Richards Medal for his pioneering work in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This award is given every two years for outstanding achievements in physical chemistry. His work has made possible the use of magnetic resonance for applications in optics, biology, and medicine.

John must need a big room with lots of wall space to hang the various awards received for his work: in 1976 he received the American Chemical Society's Irving Langmuire Award, in 1979 the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh Award, and recently the James K. Killiam Jr. Faculty Achievement Award. This series of awards will be better understood by all of you scientific types than the business tycoons in the clan. Congratulations, John!

The DAM editor asked for stories on longtime relationships. For example, I am sure others like Leigh and I and my old roommate Pete and his wife, Anne, have experienced each being in each others' wedding parties, traveling together, sailing, and attending children's weddings. But the story I just received unsolicited from a friend of Chris Bugge, entitled "The Tie that Binds," demonstrates the effect of the Dartmouth experience.

Chris Bugge and Doug Mott were roommates and each turned 65 in 1990. They kept their Dartmouth friendship alive through correspondence between Oslo, Norway, and Chicago until 1980 when Chris visited Doug in Chicago. Early in 1990 Doug wrote Chris and said he and wife Barbara were about to visit. Chris set them up with neatly furnished accommodations in downtown Oslo.

In March Chris discovered he had cancer in the large intestine, and his health failed rapidly thereafter. Chris asked Doug to postpone his trip until conditions might be better. Doug, however, replied he had to travel to Oslo to share tales of family and friends and talk about their super years in Hanover. Chris's wife Inger phoned the Motts and reported that maybe they shouldn't come since Chris was not improving and was going downhill.

Late in September the Motts arrived in Oslo to be told tht Chris had been hospitalized with no visitors allowed. Nevertheless, Doug went to the hospital and spent 20 minutes of happy conversation with Chris that seemed to miraculously revive him and his spirits. The Motts returned to Chicago on September 29, and Chris died on October IS. Only several weeks later Doug Mott died of a brain tumor.

Who can ever deny that the Dartmouth experience provides meaning for a lifetime.

May all of you survive the caloric day of turkey, yams, stuffing and plum pudding.

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