1949

The '49ers began an innovative new mini-reunion program this year since so many classmates preferred to-avoid the Northern climate and meet in Florida rather than the Hanover Plain.

All who did attend agreed that the idea was great and should be encouraged with hope for greater attendance in 1994. No doubt this will be discussed by the class officers, and maybe with more advance notice the attendance can be expanded.

The Greenlefe Resort is in the center of the state between Tampa and Orlando, and it proved to be a great meeting place. Events included a welcoming party, dinners, tennis and golf, plus some sightseeing.

Those in attendance were John and ViAdler, Deke and Nadine Jackson, Bud andJune Hughes, John and Susan Everatt,John and Joan Sweedand, Jack and Peg KiJmartin, Punchy and Doris Thomas, Herband Ann Gransdorf, Lorraine Parsons,Cathy Erwin, Bess Griffiths, Ted Krug, and Skip Unger.

Deke introduced all to a bean bag contest in which Kilmartin and Sweetland took the honors and Punchy was selected as the worst player. As usual, Skip provided music and humor for all.

A letter from Dudley Bursch seemed interesting enough to quote verbatim:

"Betsy and I have some fairly unique news for the class of '49. Our youngest son, Commander Dan Bursch, is scheduled to go up in the shuttle Discovery in the middle of July. He is the lead mission specialist in a crew of five. One other mission specialist is Jim Newman, Dartmouth '78. They will be in orbit for nine days, launching an advanced communications satellite into a geosynchronous orbit, putting a German sponsored ultraviolet spectrometer astrophysical data gathering device in its own nearby orbit and retrieving it before descending back to earth, and doing some EVA (spacesuit) functions that are a precursor to repair of the Hubble telescope later this year. Dan will be operating the robotic arm. All the family and a number of friends will be at Cape Canaveral for the launch. We hope it is on time, but mostly we hope for a safe and successful mission and would appreciate everyone's best wishes and prayers for this flight. [Unfortunately, the launch was delayed, but the shuttle finally lifted off successfully in mid-Septemtner.]

"I have been fully retired going on five years. Enjoying it even though I seem to be as busy or short of time as I ever was. We live in the same house in Charlotte, N.C., that has been our home for the past 15 years. We are spending more time now at our place in Nantucket. We do not bump into any '49ers and have not been able to attend any '49 events in quite a while. I hope this changes soon."

The above, like others of us retired types, should be able to plan ahead and attend the 45th. How about putting it on your calendar for '94?

3414 Highlands Bridge Road, Sarasota, FL 342351