1949

That 1997 Annual Report of Philanthropy at Dartmouth which you got in the mail a couple of months back—if you bothered to do a little analysis-revealed that our class ranked fourth in total class giving for the year, with a not-to-be- sneezed-at $2.9 million. (The '37s 1ld with $18 million, the '44s were second, and the '78s were third with $4.4 million.) Few others were close. A Rooke family bequest and another from Roger Sheldon helped 1949 substantially. What gave us the biggest boost, however, was $2.5 million given to the College by our adopted classmate George F. Baker HI, who actually graduated from a university in, I believe, Cambridge, Mass. The gift was earmarked for the bigger and better Berry-Baker book building. Thank you, George, and thank you everyone else who saw fit to support the College on the Hill last year. Education is surely the key to unlocking everyone's door to a better future.

A reminiscence from John Stockwell of Melvin Village, N.H.: "The class newsletter logo reminds me that Nick Sandoe '45 and I originated the 'Forty-Niner' and pickaxe at graduation when he was helping me organize for our first Alumni Fund. I was also billing and collecting (as V.P.) the senior tax, since the treasurer went to Japan. It was just the other day! Of course I will attend the 50th Reunion. Yes, I'd like to be in the reunion book, but I can't find the form. Please send another." Done.

And if anyone else needs one, well, get in touch, John went on to volunteer his services for the 50th (barely a year away now, on June 11-13, 1999), as has Senator Q. Kopp and others.

Someone certain to attend the 50th: George and Anne Hartmann, who have recently relocated from Rhode Island to Lyme, N.H., which seems a bit landlocked for an international sailor of George's caliber. Well, they can canoe down the Connecticut for the event.

The word from Boston is that the Jack English Trio is packing them in at the Ritz-Carlton Friday and Saturday nights through March. As someone once said, don't miss it if you can. Somebody said that Jack supposedly defected to the class of '50, but didn't

somebody else say music crosses all boundaries?

It is with deep sadness that we report—to those who haven't already heard that Doris Thomas died last December 2 after a short illness that she bore with all the grace and character you would expect. Certainly no other '49 partner has contributed more over the years to the strength and joie de vivre of our class, hosting with Gordon innumerable mini-reunions, get-togethers, and spontaneous parties, whether it was for a handful of classmates or a hundred. She applied that same gregariousness and hospitality and industry to Dartmouth's Friends of the Hopkins Center/Hood Museum and to Hanover's Hospice. Along with the many far-flung beneficiaries of her endeavors, Doris leaves Gordon, Krista '86, and Alix, to whom the class tenders its sympathies and its gratitude for having shared this grand lady with us.

RR #1, Box 215 A, Fairlee, VT 05045;