1977

We'll look at items in the mailbag from around the world before heading back to the Hanover Plain. JohnJennings sent a card from Chile, where he is executive director of a non-profit environmental concern, Fundacion Lahuen, working to protect the rain forest. They've set up two parks to protect some of the last untouched wilderness in the world. He also recently married his Chilean girlfriend, whom he'd been dating for three years.

Cathy Cook Holmstromm sent a follow-up letter from Japan. When last we heard from her she was locking herself in the bathroom to avoid her three sons. She now locks them out of the house. They mostly communicate with her through the open kitchen window. Who would blame her for being traumatized by the earthquakes, the poison gas, and a husband off at sea? But honestly, her life sounds pretty good. In fact, if you're ever at Yokosuka Naval Base she suggests you don't bother ringing the doorbell, just knock on the window.

Despite the razzing Marian Doorley took for leaving her children for a vacation with her husband in Italy, she has planned another trip, this time to Acapulco. Have you no shame, Marian?

Back to the mainland. Lawyer Bruce Nicholls is running for a seat on the Topsfield, Mass., planning board. Critical to the town are some of the growth initiatives faced by many rural/suburban areas where development interests and open space meet in conflict. At press time the result of the election was unknown. I hope it worked out, Bruce.

Andrew Wallace in Franklin, Mass., recently received a promotion from Baybanks Brokerage, where he manages a team of investment specialists providing financial-planning services to consumers. All the business publications are saying that we're turning from spenders to savers. You've got a built-in client list right here.

In the world of investing, Tom Russo got some serious kudos from Fortune Magazine a while back. In an article profiling the great value investors of this generation, Tom's name came up as one of the bright young stars in the industry. While he credits some previous mentor for his success, I noticed one of his favorite stocks is Heineken. How much research does that take?

I called Tom Barnico after receiving a letter he penned to the editor of Dartmouth Life. He wrote to tell of the successful celebration of Theta Delta Chi's 125th anniversary as a fraternity on the Dartmouth campus. (I couldn't help wondering how many Hums competitions the house has won during that run.) At our reunion last fall more than 130 brothers gathered to commemorate the event. They also raised more than $125,000 to fund the ongoing operation of the Lodge. Having just been to Hanover, Tom said the fraternity system seems fairly healthy and has received some life support from the growing sorority system, which now thrives on campus.

Tom shared news about some Boom Boom Lodge brethren. Here it is in Cliff Notes form. Steve Cordy is still doing his investment-banking thing at Morgan Stanley in New York. Don Thomas is working on a new real-estate development for Disney in Orlando. Maybe they'll call it "Shaqville." Rory Laughna and his wife, Martha, are still living outside Pittsburgh while he toils for Mellon Bank. I hope that Mary and I will see them at our vacation spot on Lake Michigan. BillParker recently established a medical-equipment company in Oklahoma City. KevinCase is in the building-materials business for Trus Joist MacMillan in Atlanta. And Pat lowa. Tom wanted to keep going, but I cut him off. When he started giving me numbers of children and dates of birth, my interest started to wane. Just kidding. Thanks for the news.

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