1945

After reading that John Kennedy Jr. took his pilot training in Vero Beach, Fla., I asked Scott Parrot, our resident airman there, for any pertinent local commentary about John and his tragic end. Scott replies as follows:

"John Kennedy lived down die street from us at John's Island while he was taking flight training. One of his instructors, and several others with whom I fly, told me that he was a super young man and a capable pilot. If he had maintained his altitude and held his course until he saw the runway lights, clicked up the lights, and set up his approach, he would have touched down fine. Pilot talk on the island has it that he buzzed the house to signal his late arrival for pickup and lost references over water in a marginal VFR in haze. Who knows? Such a tragedy!"

Scott flies with friend Ed Kohn, and for a program called Young Eagles he takes youngsters for their first flight in a small plane. "They are awesome, and it's a joy to share their enthusiasm," he says.

Shirley and John Robinson's latest annual foreign foray included eastern Germany. John said he always wanted to see Berlin from the ground. His previous view was that of a tail gunner, 8th Air Force, WWII. How many '45s served in the 8th A.F.?

Howard Germain secured Rosanne's assent to his taking a car tour of Germany with a buddy this fall. They will include Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and also Prague. That will give Rosanne a sort of vacation, too.

Three more Theta Chi brethren, in addition to Robinson and Germain, have written all emphasizing the pleasures of family in retirement. Dr. Dave Kirkpatrick, still doing some work at the free clinic of which he was a founder, enjoyed a grandson's graduation and watching a son run the Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati. Dr. Howie Sawyer, completely retired from medicine since 1985, volunteers with the local library and hospice. He comes up from Florida to New England every summer to "check on eight surviving offspring and countless grandchildren." Jack Kugelman (also in Florida) "feels grateful to have a wonderful wife of 52 years, four children, and eight grandchildren." He expects to be in Hanover this fall with a granddaughter prospect for Dartmouth.

Joan (Mrs. Charles) Rowan enjoyed her annual trip to N.Y.C. and the Metropolitan Opera, and has since been in England and on a barge trip in Burgundy. She took exception to my national stereotypical spoof in the May issue, which included, "Hell is where the cooks are British." I do know better, having had some wonderful English culinary experiences.

Moose Rowan's classy Class Notes always concluded with a Thought for the Month. Here's one for this month, courtesy of H. Germain: There is nothing which persevering effort and unceasing and diligent care cannot accomplish—Seneca.

P.O. Box 1317, New London, NH 03257; (603) 526-6749 (h); (603) 526-4292 (fax); Donald.M.Sisson.45@ alum.dartmouth.org