1955

From Moscow cyberspace comes in e-mail from Will Stratton reporting that the local chapter of the Dartmouth Alumni Club (claiming to be the oldest established college alumni body in Russia) lists two '55s, Jack Hodgson with whom he has never crossed paths! and himself. Will goes on to say that after a year and a half he and Lois are about to return to the USA, leaving behind VINLUND, a Moscow firm owned by two '84s (one the daughter of Norman "Tex" Fridlund '56) and employing Erika Mohahan '96: "An island of green in a sea that still has red tones," concludes Will.

With most '55s too modest to write about themselves, I am happy to have fellow classmates ready to blow their horns for them; otherwise this column would be largely white space! Three came through this month:

1. Alan Murray writes of the pleasure of a long talk with Mo Kaufman at the minireunion dinner last fall and of Mo's fine book, Mountains of Ore and Rivers of Gold:Stories of a Contemporary Prospector. Alan's mini-review, in part: "The book is a marvelous blend of his personal experiences as a prospector, his observations about the business of locating and developing mineral deposits, and his informed commentaries on public policy issues involving mining. Most of all it is an optimistic statement about the value of individual human efforts in a world seemingly dominated by very large organizations." Alan wonders how many other classmates have similar fascinating stories to tell. (And so do I!)

2. Paul Merriken sends a fine article from the Wilton (Conn.) Bulletin about DickBlodgett's first term as president of the trustees of Wilton Library, a resource for him in earlier years that he and wife Ruth (a library volunteer) are now repaying many times over with their time and good works. Paul writes of staying in touch with PhilMayer from his retirement home in Salem, S.C., and he adds a few words about himself: retired from U.S. Steel on January 1, 1997, now in the major role of a health-care provider for his wife.

3. Dick Blodgett in turn sends a nice profile from the Valley News about TomByrne, author of the superbly researched compendium of our years on the Hanover Plain that we all enjoyed and appreciated at our 40th Reunion. After long service to the College in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility, in 1991 Tom became executive director of the Hanover Improvement Society, and while many may think that idyllic place needs little improvement, Tom's good works are everywhere, from four screens at the Nugget to the development of the James Campion Memorial Ice Rink and the Storrs Pond recreational area.

Finally, one important housekeeping item: Dave "Obie" Oberlander reports a new e-mail address: .

Leon Martek,600 West 111 th St., New York, NY 10025; (212) 980-7014 (fax);