1967

Oh, what a reunion it was! While my highlights from the weekend are only one man's view, I know that everyone who attended came away with similar memories. I went prepared for a great party and the chance to see some old friends. What caught me by surprise was what a profound experience the whole event was. In the words of Paul Killebrew's special letter of May 11, I found that I really needed to check in with the place where I spent four critical years and to talk of the crazy times we shared together. Walking together with the ghosts of our adolescence and discovering what has become of us all was powerful stuff.

What a joy to see my own sons discover the Glee Club for the first time (and how natural the new lyrics to the alma mater seem now), and what fun to take the Nostalgia Tour of the campus with them and to watch Drew Ley's home movies together. Were we really that young looking? What a special treat to have Thad Seymour with us, sharing his memories and stories. He is still larger than life, just the way I remembered him.

The sense of continuity was everywhere. I found it in the panel of past deans' reflections as they discussed how much the changes at Dartmouth today were a natural evolution from their own work. I found it in the comments of Karl Furstenberg, our newly adopted classmate, as he compared the classes 0f 1967 and 1996. I found it in the spirit of the Dartmouth students who talked with us. I found it in the generous instinct that made us want to give over $1.2 million to keep the place great for those students.

And then there were the little personal epiphanies. Mark Sisitky's son looked so much like Mark did the first day I met him at Thayer, I did a doubletake. There were Denny andAlan Lieberman still dancing like they did in 1963, when they were one of the few real "couples" I knew (and envied). And on and on. And the class of 1967 still enjoys a good party. The special moments and stories would fill volumes.

Twenty-five seems a very good number. I was struck by the mellowness of so many people. There seems to be an acceptance of where we are now and a recognition that there will always be more questions than answers. I loved the appreciation I sensed among classmates for the great diversity among us and our experiences since leaving Dartmouth. And the varied program gave us a chance to share some of this, from Wally Bowman's struggles running a large high school to George andDiane McIlrath's work with the Marriage Encounter movement, to Ned Gillette's fascinating adventures and Don Klein's resolution to outdo Ned by swimming to England.

But there were moments of profound sadness too. From learning of the illness of some friends old and newly made to the moving Memorial Service which Bill Calhoun conducted in Rollins Chapel. How hard it was to read together the names of the 21 who are no longer with us. Several were so special to me.

How proud I was to be a part of such a special group of people. Thanks to everyone who made this incredible event possible. I just wish we could do it all again soon.

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