1947

A few tidbits of news have drifted in. Bob Bach, renowned Traveler to all points of the globe, has put on another club seminar, this one for the D Club of Suburban N.J. Featured speaker was Prof. John Rassias, demonstrating "The Power of Language," done on the Princeton campus, in January. Bob has done many such seminars, and he expected to see more than 200 attendees, among whom were Jack Young, Harley Timbers, Norm Sissman, Dick Small.

Joe Eisamen writes that his daughter Kari announced a fall marriage planned to a fellow whom Joe and Karren really like. Joe also passes on notes from others, as news comes in. Remember the hold-up man in the Jack Benny radio skit, who demanded of Jack, "your money or your life"? And Jack's delayed response, "I'm thinking, I'm thinking." Well, this one was coined by Russ Pfaff, referring to our coming 50th. He, Joe, and others are thinking. It's a long travel, but I'm sure the event will be made well worth the effort by our planners, led by Bob Kirsch.

Norm and Helen Fink spent part of the winter snowbound in the hills of Brevard, N.C. He could have done all that in his native New England, but he loved the isolation. Norm finds time to consult in the fundraising arena for a few select southern colleges. Norm is greatly concerned that there will be large gaps in the public safety net, which is being dismantled by the Newties. He hopes some of the gaps can be filled in for the public good.

Birthday greetings to all of us turning 70 these days. Verah Johnson, widow of Cotton Johnson, of football, hockey, and Crosby Hall fame, now in Syracuse, was honored in January by friends and family at her 70th. Frank and Urs Weber drove over to be part of the celebration. Your scribe wanted to attend, but had to settle for a February 2 date with a surgeon on a left hip replacement. Note: I'm doing just fine at this writing (March 1).

Bob Motlong phoned from Phoenix, Ariz., to say he and Nancy have a condo for two months. Maybe some swimming, golf, and perhaps a bit of Pat Buchanan politicking.

Bill Buckingham turned 70 in Seattle...but who wouldn't with all that rain? He and Maureen will be putting on their final wedding this fall, for Kathleen, their youngest. No more colleges either. But, about grandchildren, they are popping out all over out there, and maybe Buck will find a helper or two to revamp old cars with him.

Howard Doolittle has been "Active," as in Active Realty, his firm. Howie graciously responded to my query with a 1943 thru 1996 briefing. He came to Hanover, to V-12 directly from the Marine enlisted ranks, made it to officer, and served in the Pacific and in China, then back to Hanover to finish up. He took a GE Business Planning program, and stayed 27 years with GE. They put him to work in sunny California, until he retired in 1974. He and his bride Alice (Stocksdale) raised two boys and two girls, who are now out of the nest and in professions and families of their own. He says that all came about from a blind date at a D-Cornell football game in 1948. Howard loves his work, and "who needs retirement?"

With this column, your favorite scribe completes 16 years of columns, nine per year. I'll be carrying on in this fun job (really), until next year's 50th, but we're looking for some real intelligencia to come forward, and keep this ball bouncing. It keeps one well in touch, and should be just the write (right) job for one of you out there.

See your soon,

63 Maple Ave., Keene, NH 03431-1629