1953

"And the smoke wraiths are drifting, curling, r-r-r-reeling" memorable lyrics which encapsulate an impression of the 40th. It whizzed by so fast. Fond memories, fun times, all now but a blur! The Moosilauke trip, in which some 30 classmates participated, tested our stamina during the climb, our memory during the square dancing, and our capacity for laughter during a Ross McKenny impersonation which captivated all with memories of that Dartmouth woodsman extraordinaire. Put and Marion Blodgett organized the outing, and David Hooke 'B4, Dick Hooke's son who manages the Lodge, provided for our every need.

The gathering Monday afternoon made us realize that yet another Dartmouth College record was in the making by the Great Class of 1953. One hundred and eighty-seven classmates and a total of 348 members of the Dartmouth 1953 family came to the tent, or breakfasts at Brace Commons, or luncheon at Storrs Pond, or the dinners in the Alumni Gym, or all. Don Gross will have the full roster in his newsletter. Suffice here to point out some who came under very special circumstances, including Suzanne Berry, Rachel Senne, and Elena Kingsland it was great to see them.

With our reunion dedicated to John Sloan

Dickey, it was fitting that the early seminar touch on his legacy to Dartmouth. Jere Daniell '55 treated that fond subject with depth, sensitivity, and the wonderful humor that was characteristic of Dickey. The last-minute adjustments that coupled 1953's own Dr. Buzz D'Avanzo with Dartmouth's noted Frost scholar Professor Don Pease provided a searching, brilliant examination of Robert Frost. Applause was sustained for ten minutes as these two scholars overflowed the banks of our expectations with "Robert Frost: A Momentary Stay Against Confusion."

Reverend Boyd Johnson and Don Goss reached out and brought back into our ranks those who have gone beyond, some 66 during these 40 years. With renditions of "The Three Bells," which our believed Charlie Fleet rendered so beautifully in the Hum, and the Dvorak Largo (better known as "Goin' Home," sung by our Theta Delt comrades) we suddenly recaptured the Spring Hum days in front of Dartmouth Hall, when we were all together beginning what has become a four-decade journey of friendship and purpose. With Stu Fordyce providing a virtuoso performance on the trumpet, as he did 40-plus years ago, somehow the memory of yesterday became today's reality as well. Such is the stuff that makes reunions.

An auction for the hospital with superauctioneer Al Collins, wonderful music and magic entertainment for the Dinner Dance, and all kinds of smaller gatherings in the fraternities and organizations provided for a supersonic "memory laner" of 44 years in three days. Only Fred Hitt could pull that off, and he and his corps of helpers did it with a dedication that is unprecedented. Thank you, Fred and team, you made this simply Dartmouth's best-ever reunion.

Lest it not be forgotten, Dartmouth College received a record gift from this, its Greatest Class, for S1,001,953.53, with some carry-over that will be applied to next year's fund, or to the 50th Trust Fund—which this scribe has dubbed "2003: 1953's Odyssey." It is 1953's legacy of leadership to share some of what God and this life have chosen to give, and without seeking the headlines. We like that, very much.

"And the cup is at the lip/In the pledge of fellowship.../Of fe-ell-ow-ship."

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