1947

Gleanings from our class survey continue to enrich our column. We are only a brief year away from the time you'll be hearing about bid planning for our 50th Reunion celebration. That's 50 years (give or take one or two) since we left the togetherness of the campus for whatever we planned or hoped to do with the rest of our lives. We all enjoy hearing news of those who shared college days with us. June 6-8, 1997, we'll have the opportunity to visit with friends both old and new. Now is the time to plan on attending, and to start getting in touch with a few of those you'd like to see. Our reunion will be what we make of it.

One of the key players in making it go well is Reunion Treasurer Joe Kurey. His survey is easy to read, in an accountant's neat style. Joe moved fast during the WW II and college years, seeing service in the Big One and in Korea. He came to Hanover in late 1943, after terms at CCNY and NYU. After graduation in 1947, he went on to Tuck School ('48) and then began a public accounting career. He married Stella (Powlow), and settled in Madison, N.J. By the time of our 25th Reunion in 1972, their family included Patricia, Suzanne, Joseph, and Peter, and Dad was a sales director for Warner Lambert. Joe writes that most of his career had to do with military sales and marketing for exchange and commissary stores, for Benrus Watch, Warner Lambert, and Seiko American Corp. In 1965, after 22 years of service, 17 in naval reserve, Joe retired from the navy as a lieutenant commander.

He and Stella operated a craft store for 17 years. Joe was a founding trustee and held many offices for the Madison Community Pool Corp. He also served as cubmaster for Boy Scouts in Madison. Joe doesn't mention retirement from the store, but adds that travel is a continuing activity: Europe, Far East, Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and most of the 48. Lie enjoys playing the guitar, fooling around with his computer, and photography, plus keeping busy around the house. This sounds like a man who can handle our money modest amounts of it come reunion time.

Under "observations on life," Joe ends his survey with the oxymoron of the day: "I try to keep a positive attitude, when at times it seems futile." Ya gotta luv the guy.

H. Gerard Bissinger II writes in bold felt marker, not so much about his very successful investment career in municipal bonds (he retired in 1986), but about what he likes best: using his computer, woodworking, and horseback riding. And, primarily, of his son's achievements: "Buzz" (H.G.B. Ill) won a Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting. Plus, there is H.G.B. IV. Big congratulations. Look for Gerry in Nantucket during the summers. He'll be.with us at Reunion.

Keep those letters and surveys coming, and ask me if you need a replacement survey sheet.

See you soon.