1957

Our classmate Tom Hazen was front-page news in The Wall Streetjournal. It wasn't a happy situation, however. The Supreme Court was about to hear the case of the Hazen Paper Company vs. Biggins, and, as Tom was quoted, "This has been a big part of my life for ten years. It's been very emotionally upsetting." The case has been brought before the Supreme Court as a vehicle for clarification of the age-discrimination issue. Did the Hazens fire Biggins because he was about to qualify for his pension, or did they fire him because he was moonlighting as. a consultant for competitors? The Supreme Court is asked to hear more than 5,000 cases per year, and last year it heard 108 cases. I'm sure no one ever expected this one to go all the way. But the court decided it was time to address age discrimination. The issue is "willfulness," and court decisions to date have ranged broadly as to the definition and actions required for an employer to be subject to penalty. In any event, the Hazens have already spent well over half a million dollars on legal fees and $600,000 on damages related to issues not appealed. Tom might well want to tell us more since it's an issue facing folks our age.

Michael C. Matzkin, D.D.S., of Water- bury, Conn., has completed his year as president of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Michael was smart enough to run the organization's 74th annual meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. Michael has won all the honors of his chosen profession, is a diplomat of the American Board, holds fellowships in the International Association, etc.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery, for those who are wondering, is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth and jaw. That's a mouthful.

H. Grenelle Bunker made the news running for a council seat as a retirement project. His platform focuses on planning issues; he feels die need to define a Watchung Village Center, make lake improvements, and uphold current zoning laws in his suburban New Jersey community.

One evening in January 18 inches of snow fell on Mad River Glen, Vt., the site of our next mini reunion, and I was there to witness it. I hope you saw Monk and MarshaBancroft's announcement for the weekend of March 27. If the snow holds it should be great. Call Monk at (201) 226-1568.

Please be in touch.

333 Red Acre Road, Stow, MA 01775-1185