1941

Spring has sprung and flowers are in bloom, I hope, wherever you are. Here in Florida they have a year- round growing season, the permanent residents tell me. Growing tan, growing wrinkled, growing old.

But some of our classmates apparently are beating the aging process. A Christmas photo attests to the robust health of Stace and KayHill. They moved from the Chicago area in January 1990 to Charbonneau, Ore., and have fallen in love with their new surroundings. They particularly like the music and art offerings in their Portland suburb, and Stace and Kay are also regular golf and tennis players, Stace just having won a local doubles tourney

Les and Linda Davis were also the picture of health at last June's 50th Reunion. Later in the fall their Cimarron Ranch was the site of visits by such eastern tenderfeet as Bill andMarie Cashel, with their daughter Cris, and golf pro John and Marge Kelley en route to their winter quarters in Florida. Earlier in the year Hugh and Miggie Kenworthy rode into town (pop. 800) and enjoyed more of the Davis hospitality. An update on Davis doings reveals that Linda was pictured on the cover of New Mexico Catdeman magazine when she was chosen Catdeman of the Year (no sex discrimination in them thar parts).

Another energetic classmate is Hank Palmer, who was elected county commissioner in Rowan County, N.C., in 1990. His father, a D '23, reports that Hank apparently doesn't know when to quit, as the job is an active one in a large county. Perhaps Hank and Petie will give us an update on regional politicking.

Borrowing an item from Dr. Tim Takaro's notes in Dartmouth Medicine, Brigadier General Sol Lifton wrote that he couldn't make the 50th because his travel is restricted by retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Sol retired to California in 1974 after a rewarding career as one of the top medical men in the U.S. Air Force. He was heavily involved in medical research including the biological effects of nuclear weapons. Sol's RP doesn't stop him from playing golf with the help of his foursome partners. Now that's what I call (gold) medal play. Hang in there, Sol.

Less fortunate is Mary Courter, who lost Sandy to a rare virus in December 1991. In acknowledging the class memorial book purchase in Sandys name, Mary relates that the odds were one in two million of the good doctor being stricken by this fatal virus.

The class can also share with the families of Bill Banford and Paul Badger the sorrow of their recent losses in Venice, Fla., and Winnisquam, N.H., respectively. Adding these names to the ever-lengthening list of departed classmates is a sad event.

And finally, on a more cheerful note, the Sarasota Dartmouth Club heard a fine talk in January by the knowledgeable and personable Dean of Thayer School, Charles Hutchinson. Class of '41 regulars were there in force. I thought the College showed special sensitivity in sending one of only three Republicans registered in Hanover to address this basically conservative group. Peace and good health!

5975 Camelot Drive North, Sarasota, FL 34233