1949

Quite a few of you have returned the questionnaire that Skip Ungar kindly included in recent newsletters. But not everyone—by a long shot. I hope Skip will run it again as space permits. We really need to know what's up with you so we can incorporate as much info as possible in the 50th Reunion bookforjune 1999, 1949's last major event of this millennium. (I know, some people say the twenty-first century starts on January 1, 2001, but I'll be celebrating bigtime on December 31,1999. How about you?)

So far about 100 questionnaires have been returned—which isn't quite 20 percent of the goal. (Actually I've received something like 112, if you include the twotimers, the dozen guys who have responded twice, which is nice but not necessary.) If your name is Ameluxen, Bright, Cort,Day, Eaton, Fox, Gish, Hayes, Ireland,Jacobson, Kopp, Lord, Munson,Nelson, Olson, Pensavalle, Quirk,Reed, Silver, Towler, Urstadt, Valliant,Wheeler, Young, or Zeiser, well, you are among those who have yet to send in your first response, much less your second. Look for the form in a forthcoming newsletter.

Bill Gahagan of Carmel, Calif., originally a '35 who actually got his degree with us '49ers, wrote and asked for a questionnaire. He plans to join us in '99 and celebrate a second 5Oth. In the meantime he is busy playing on the 85-and-over tennis tour.

Others of you have attached nice notes and reminiscences to your responses. There are too many of these to acknowledge individually, but a big thank you to all herewith.

And now the news. In the January Yankee magazine there was a whole half page on Don Durkee and his familyowned Fluff business—a sweet deal. Speaking of that. Bob Alden has opened a new business, the eponymous Alden Marketing Group, which prepares and places radio advertising for most of the multi-starred restaurants in New York: La Cote Basque, Perigord, Le Grenadine, Caravelle, etc. Calories, Bob, calories.

For the Skating Club of Dartmouth Mike McGean directed a super holiday show in Thompson Arena. "We've Got Rhythm," celebrated George Gershwin and featured some Olympic-level international skaters, and dozens of young local kids Mike has taught. But for many the highlight of the program was Mike—partnered by a fellow teacher—ice dancing to "Somebody Loves Me." No double lutzes, just pure grace and glamour. (Incidentally, I used to do a mean double klutz.)

Charlie Fay still stays in touch with old navy contacts and gets to fly to cozy spots like Alaska, where -10° weather reminds him of Hanover winters. A nice contrast was hitchhiking on an LHD—landing helicopter deck—between Long Beach and San Diego.

Crossword puzzles are a major BillBallard avocation and a while ago Bill created one that he says "only a '49er has a chance to fill in—provided he has a decent memory." I'm going to ask Skip to run it in the newsletter and see how many decent memories there are out there. I can't remember how long it took me to complete it.

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