1955

This month's column concludes Ken Lundstrom's outstanding account of the recent Chicago mini-reunion: "Friday morning our group moved in two directions: one to the Marva Collins Prep School (arranged by former trustee Mike Gorton). the other to the Chicago Board of Trade the first of our rides on those wonderful rubber-wheeled 'trolleys.' Our guide at the CBOT, Sheila Kush provided an excellent introduction to what happens on the trading floor. She carefully explained the four basic hand signals used by the traders and then gave us a pop quiz, which Gus Aberle took for the class. Friday dinner was at the Women's Athletic Club, where we again had the chance to mingle and dine with classmates and catch up on the various happenings. Of our school teachers, Gwyn Givens is now in real estate, but more importantly has been a source of strength to Gene Givens in his battle with Parkinson's. Gene, incidentally, is doing quite well. After dinner Jere Daniell presented the life, times, and Chicago connection of Long John Went worth, New Hampshireman, class of 1836, editor, congressman (six terms), and mayor (twice). He was a direct descendant of Governor Hentworth. who chartered Dartmouth College. He was a frontiersman and had a certain rough and courageous character. In fact, he was referred to as the Jud Hale of the class of 1836.

"Saturday morning we rode to the Art Institute of Chicago, where we had a superb introduction by Miranda Holfeldt Our 'trolleys' then took us to the Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River, where we boarded Chicago's First Lady for the Chicago Architecture Foundation boat tour of downtown Chicago architecture.

"Dinner Saturday evening at the Fortnightly of Chicago, founded by the wife of a Dartmouth graduate (and, with Mary Mathewson and Jane Conlan on the board), featured a talk by Dartmouth Trustee Barry Mac Lean '60, brother of our deceased classmate, John Mac Lean. Barry presented an upbeat picture of Dartmouth and her new president, Jim Wright.

"In recognition of their magnificent efforts for this most successful weekend, Brooks Parker presented Mary and Joe Mathewson a framed Dartmouth print on behalf of the class. A special card with all our signatures was affixed to the back of the frame. Brooks closed by reading the poem Classmates Forever by Joel Ash '56 (DAM, June 1998, '56 Class Notes). In an especially poignant and moving closing: '...Every one of us classmates forever.'"

Thanks again, Ken, for a great write-up!

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