1944

I'm writing this March 15, right after the "Storm of the Century," and we thought I we'd find out how it went with some of the troops. George and Bobbie Ives said that Sarasota missed the real brunt of the storm, although lots of trees and boats were bounced around in what was more like a winter hurricane than anything else.

We found John and Irene Bird huddled in front of their fireplace in Mountain Brook, Ala. There were 16 inches of snow, the power had been out for three days, and no relief was in sight. "But we've got food enough, and candles and kerosene lamps, and we're feeling quite pioneerish." John is still arbitrating in labor disputes.

"Nothing like it in Chattanooga's history," says Hardwick Caldwell. "We got between 16 and 25 inches of snow, and I couldn't get home up Lookout Mountain for the first time in 33 years. Nothing but white as far as one can see." Hardwick said that he had a great time a few weeks earlier playing golf in a senior tournament at Sea Island with Bud Coith.

The Bruce Thomsons in Lynchburg said they had up to 18 inches of snow but missed the heavy winds that paralyzed Roanoke 60 miles east of them, and happily they didn't lose power.

Dick and Joan Whiting in Grantham, N.H., were typical of people who got stuck in New York or Boston and couldn't get home for a couple of days. Incidentally, all of you should have received Dick's new Class of 1944 Directory by now, and I can hear huzzahs from all quarters.

Charlie and Fern Schumacher will soon be changing their direction by moving permanently from Wilbraham, Mass., to Stewart, Fla. They've been wintering in Florida for the past nine years. They have a passion for golf and have decided to chip and putt year-round. Charlie's handicap is in the 8-12 range. Two grandchildren.

Ham and Jean Rowan have eight grandkids ranging in age from four to 21 years old. The Rowans are still on Long Island. After 25 years with the American Kennel Club, Ham is retired but still judging field trials, writing articles, and generally being one of the country's leading experts on gun-and-field dogs. The Rowans travel extensively, and Ham says there's hardly a place in the U.S. or Europe they haven't been.

Bill Roberts is most happily retired in Great Falls, Mont., where he and his wife hike, fish, ski, play golf, and garden. "Our weather out here is highly maligned," he says. "Why, we play golf 11 months of the year!" Bill's wife, Mary Agnes, recendy received the Governor's Award for her contribution to the arts.

Alan Rose in Tarzana, Calif., says being a patent attorney is so interesting he just can't give it up, but he does admit to squeezing in more tennis than he used to at least three or four games a week. He and Betty have seven grandchildren in California and Colorado, and that keeps them on the road.

It has been a tough spell: Peter Weston died January 13 Jim Deakins on February 15, Don Smith on March 14, and FredBrandenburg on April 8. Our sympathies.

That's it. Blessings.

Box 24, Lovejoy Hill, Cornish Flat, NH 03746