1970

It seems timely this month to present you a column with a presidential theme. Fortunately, there are a lot more presidents (and vice presi dents) these days than there used to be, so sooner or later even most Big Greeners get to be head honcho of something. At least it's reassuring to know that when a Dartmouth graduate has, fought his way to the top he can spell "potatoe."

First on the block is Tom Peisch, who has time to do something real these days since stepping down as our own class president. Deep down Tom must really love the glory of the spotlight because he has just been elected president of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association. Predictably, the MDLA concerns itself with the interests of attorneys whose practices are substantially devoted to the defense of damage suits on behalf of individuals, insurance companies, and corporations. Tom received his law degree in 1974 from Boston College Law School and never went any further. That is, he stayed on right there in Boston, where he's a founding partner of the firm Conn, Kavanaugh, Rosenthal & Peisch.

Next up is Phil Robertson, who has been named vice president of administration at B-Line Systems Inc. in Highland Park, Ill. He's responsible for the company's accounting, financial services, credit and receivables, accounts payable, internal auditing, data processing, and inventory control. Phil used to work in financial services for Union Pacific. B-Line is a leading manufacturer and fabricator of metal support systems and products, with five manufacturing facilities throughout the country. Call Phil the next time you need any extra cable tray, pipe hanger, strut, or electric fasteners.

Alan Tuck has been named not only president, but also chief executive officer of T Cell Sciences Inc. in Cambridge, Mass. T Cell Sciences is in the forefront of its field; namely, utilizing proprietary T-cell receptor and soluble-receptor technology to develop pharmaceutical products for the treatment of heart disease, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. A subsidiary, T Cell Diagnostics, develops, manufactures, and markets products for monitoring immune system disorders. Alan arrives just as the company has joined with AB Astra in a venture to bring new T-cell antigen-receptor projects closer to the market and the first complement blocker product closer to the clinic.

Alan finished at Tuck School in 1971 and then spent some 13 years with Cummins Engine Company. He was a management consultant for Brim & Company in the mid 1980s and then vice president, marketing and business development, for Biogen Inc. from 1987 to 1991. All success, Alan, with you company's terribly important work.

Next month s column will be devoted to an obituary for Kevin Cunningham. BillFlaherty has written a beautiful memorial for his former roommate (with help from John Bacon 71), and it would be a shame to edit it down to conform with the space limitation in the obituary section. Kevin was unquestionably one of the most well-known of our classmates, and his passing is felt deeply by many of us.