1937

Thanks to Tom Nast, for sending us a fantastic Christmas card, we now know that his ancestor Tom Nast made Santa Claus, who had been around for centuries, look the way he does today. From 1863 to 1886, Nast created a series of Christmas drawings for Harper's Weekly in which Santa evolved from a pudgy elf to the fullsize, bearded, pot-bellied character seen in stores and malls across the world today. The cartoonist, who lived at 5th Ave. & 125 th St. also drew the Tammany tiger, the Republican elephant, and the Democratic donkey.

Janet Nast has found the ideal way of entertaining their seven grandchildren. She joined Grand Travel which has unusual entrance requirements. A grandparent must travel with a grandchild. To date, she has traveled to Australia with grandson Craig and last year went rafting in Alaska with a grandchild. This year another grandchild will enjoy a journey to Belgium and Holland.

Pete Folliott remembered the request of your class secretary a few years ago to our classmates to send in a short bio to hold on file for future use. Only BillRotch complied with the request. However, Pete remembered and started writing his autobiography.

When the mailman delivered a large package to me in January, I had no idea what Pete was sending me. Upon opening it, I found his autobiography with the title "An' Pore Little Peter." The cover page is a "a facsimile of my old nemesis— the Final Exam Blue Book." My spouse, Carolyn, found reading it so interesting, I had a difficult time getting my hands on it. The book covers 135 pages of family history, pictures, and the following chapters: 1) From Everett, Wash., to Johnson City, Tenn.; 2) Saint Paul, Minn.; 3) Hanover, N.H.; 4) North Dakota; and an appendix.

The Hanover chapter is a great recollection of our four years in Hanover. Either Pete had a tape recorder or he had the best memory in our class. The picture of Pete and Dave Camerer on skis at Oak hill in 1936 is a classic. If you are interested in seeing it, Pete may have a few extra copies.

A phone call today from MortBerkowitz reported the death of DaveCamerer at home on March 4. Mort delivered an eulogy at the church service.

1415 Parkside Drive North, Wyomissing, PA 19610; or

President James Wright with Charles '37 and Ellen Collis during the unveiling of their portrait, hung in the Collis Center.