1960

Our San Francisco reunion, '60s turn 60 (years old), was marred by a severe accident when Tom Brock, his wife, Dorla, and Allen Stowe and his wife, Wendy, were rear-ended on a Bay Area freeway while returning by van from a wine tour of the Napa Valley.

Dorla's arms were very seriously injured and Wendy suffered a broken clavicle and ribs. Tom sent me this letter addressed to the class and other Dartmouth friends:

"I'm not much of a correspondent as you know, but there has been such an outpouring of sympathy, concern, and prayers from so many classmates and their wives as a result of Dorla's terrible accident that I wanted to respond in the most universal way I could through the Alumni Magazine. "Hearing from so many of the Dartmouth family, and, in particular, the '6os family via phone, cards, and flowers was really uplifting for both of us in a time of real need.

"At this point I can report that Dorla has come out of her fourth major surgery, and the prognosis is that all reconstructive surgery has been successful. She is mending well although there are many months ahead of rehabilitation to restore what we hope will be 100-percent use of her arms. Our goal is to be skiing next winter and golfing by spring.

"I apologize to all classmates who contacted us for not responding to each of you personally. It was not that I didn't want to; it was simply that I was unable to do so. We want you to know how much we appreciated your thoughts and concerns. I hope we will be able to say 'thank you' personally at an upcoming '60 get-together.

"Thanks to you all for helping us through a really rough time!"

Dorla remained in a San Francisco hospital for a few weeks after the accident, and Tom stayed at the Stanford Court Hotel, before they were able to return in late May to their home in Florida. I also talked to Al, who reports of himself and Wendy:

"We're doing just fine. Afterwards, I felt like I used to Mondays after playing two rugby games in one day. I had many aches and pains.

"Wendy is mending fine and will have no permanent effects. She missed a few months of golf and was wearing a figure-eight brace...lt's terrible to have an accident, but it's wonderful to have 119 classmates around when it happens."

When I reached them before writing this, the Stowes were planning a family sojourn on the New Jersey coast, and the Brocks were heading for New England.

I hope elsewhere in this month's issue there is a report on our otherwise highly successful reunion.

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