1954
In September 1950, 730 '54s came to the Hanover Plain as freshmen—from Abbey to Zweiner. We elected Jay Chandler president, Ray McPhee vice president, John Gillespie secretary, and Ron Pickett treasurer. In June 1954,601 graduated.
This June, 175 '54s came to Hanover to celebrate our 40th Reunion. What a glorious time! A night at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, Maine lobster at Memorial Field, a Mexican fiesta at the riverfront, hamburgers at Heston's, two great dinners in Alumni Gym, and, best of all, a chance to rekindle old friendships and ignite new ones. John Gillespie and his intern, Clark Davis, deserve our applause.
There were many highlights. Foremost was the presentation to the College of a check in the amount of $1,054,054 as our reunion gift. More than 82 percent of the class helped. Our Alumni Fund gift was the largest ever from a 40th Reunion class and third largest this year, after the 25th and 50th Reunion classes. Many records were broken. Kudos to Dick Lewis.
KNOW YOUR OFFICERS. Bob Berry, president: when not on the golf tour in New Jersey, Tennessee, and Florida, Bob is vice president of finance for Thomas & Betts. Bob has been on the class executive committee for 21 years and has served as reunion gifts chairman and reunion major gifts chairman.
Tom Sayles continues as vice president. He is chairman of the board of Summit Bancorporation (retired). Tom has served on the executive committee for five years and has served on the '54 Award committee and reunion gifts committee.
Don Berlin, secretary: he is a fundraiser for Dartmouth '54. In his spare time he is senior partner with the law firm of Berlin, Kaplan, Dembling & Burke. He has served on the executive committee for ten years, serving as head agent and reunion leadership gifts chairman.
Harry Robinson is class treasurer. He has served on the executive committee for five years.
Pete Barker is newsletter editor. He is a consultant to the entertainment industry and one of our class's senior athletes, still competing in senior field athletic events. Pete returns to the executive committee having previously served on several reunion committees.
Dick Lewis is the new head agent. Dick is a retired partner of Ernst and Ernst. Dick just finished a magnificent job as reunion gifts chairman.
Dick Pearl continues as bequest chairman. He is a partner at First Manhattan Company. He has served on the executive committee for ten years.
Another highlight of the reunion was the awarding of four Class of '54 Awards, to BobLevine Don DesCombs, Kevin Sullivan, and Dick Lewis. All well deserved! Our expresident, Captain Jerry Goldstein, became the tenth member of the class to receive an Alumni Award.
George Fitzgerald conducted a memorial service remembering our deceased classmates. Twenty-eight classmates passed away since our last reunion.
Most thought-provoking was the class seminar organized by Dave Mandelbaum "Breaking Patterns: Redesigning your Later Years." The seminar made us aware of the valued resources in our class to help us as we approach our 50th Reunion (more on this subject in next month's notes).
How many of our classmates can be recorded in this column and Pete's newsletter during the next five years? There are more than 500 '54s. We would like to hear from those who have not been heard from lately. We will reach out to you, but make our jobs easier and drop us a note.
7 Hamilton Drive, Washington Valley, Morristown, NJ 07960-3311
If you noticed a bit of haze over the '54 tent, it might have been the cigars everyone was smoking. Newsletter Ed. Pete Barker and former College Pres. David McLaughlin eagerly displayed the goods donated by an "anonymous" classmate who happens to own a tobacco company.
