1948

This issue of DAM focuses on anecdotes about professors. I can think of one such story which may bear repeating again. The tale arose some years after our time and concerns thoroughly nearsighted and somewhat absent-minded Professor Chauncy Allen '24. When Spalding pool in the gym was replaced by a bigger pool elsewhere, Spalding continued to be used by various town-and-gown groups, this strictly on a scheduled basis as nakedness was required of all swimmers for reasons of health. College faculty and administration men had the pool from noon to three o'clock Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while the women had these hours on Tuesday and Thursday. One Thursday the said Professor Allen, without glasses, marched into the pool hall in his wherewithal, strode the length of the pool deck before all eyes, climbed the low diving board, and dove in. No sound or motion disturbed the absolute silence as Allen came to the surface. Unseeing but definitely seen, he swam to the side and held on as he wiped the water away to focus his eyes. At this prolonged moment a lady in the corner finally broke the awesome silence. "Nice dive, Chinee."

Dr. Bill Pace phoned from the Houston airport on a trip through these parts. Said he and Joann had recently visited Dr. Bill andJan Coleman in Wolfeboro, N.H., where the latter have retired. Our reminiscing reminded Pace that the two couples had been neighbors and close friends in Sachem Village down by the high school when the two men were in Doc Syvertsen's DMS. There was peeping-Tom trouble, so Pace rigged a flash camera out back with a trip line to a window. Sure enough, the bulb popped a few nights later and Bill was sure the camera held the culprit's identity. But it was Bill Coleman who rapped on the front door a few minutes later and redfacedly explained that he had taken a shortcut behind the Pace apartment. The Paces and Colemans have laughed many times over this one—but Pace says he's still not sure.

Dick and Dot Dahl had Don and SallyDrescher, the Bob Reynoldses and the JimSchaefers at their tailgate at the Princeton game, but Dick was disappointed that more '48s didn't show. He had particularly hoped that Bill Campbell of Springfield, Va., would be there so that he could sell Bill another "Dahlburger" like those he made in South Mass Hall not so long ago. I passed Dick's phone number to Bill and was also able to pass Bill's to his old roommate, Roy Wilson, now retired in the sand-hills country around Pinehurst, N.C., known in the area as the golf capital of the world. Roy is retired now, having earned a captaincy during his 28 years in the navy, this followed by ten years in the National Archives in Washington, where his analytical work for federal agencies was often fascinating from the historical standpoint. Roy sends greetings to another old roommate, BobNeuburg, whose address neither of us had. A further short-time resident of that famous S. Mass room mentioned by Bill was LionelBeck, who moved out to get married.

As this was written in December, six '48 couples were planning a wintertime reunion in the Upper Valley February 6-8. They planned to stay at the Dowds' place in Lyme. Included were the Dahls, the Bob Fosters, the FoxyParkers, the Bill Scotts, the Joe Smiths, the Sam Wilkinsons, and perhaps others. We assume a fine white time was had by all.

I failed to mention before that Dick Donahue in Portland, Ore., hoped he'd have a chance to contact Dr. Dave Miller before going home to Lowell. And please don't forget that any approaches made to you by AxAxelrod or Jim McLaughlin or their minions are not for the fan of it. They and their cause deserve your support.

It is with deep regret and sadness that we report the recent deaths of Don Kuhn in Grosse Pointe, Mich., and Bill Wright in Bradenton, Fla. Condolences to the families of these good men and true from their '48 classmates.

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