1954

45th Reunion, and what a reunion it was. One hundred fifty classmates and a total attendance of 260. Festivities opened on Monday with a "welcome back cocktail party" in the Rockefeller Center courtyard. Thanks to Clark Davis the name tags were large enough that even our 66-yearold eyes could read the names. The cocktail party was followed by a New England shore dinner in the class tent. After dinner the University Chorus of the Upper Valley supplemented by LukeCase, Lo-Yi Chan, Don Belcher, HankGrebe, John Reed, Bill Grover, Ben Gilson,John Cunningham, Mead Metcalf Jim Stead, and Larry Taylor entertained us with an oldfashioned Glee Club concert. (If I left any '54s out, I apologize.)

As we drove up to Hanover, the weather prediction was for showers on Monday night continuing on Tuesday. But John Gillespie arranged for one storm between midnight and dawn which shut down the electricity in Hanover for one hour and the weather during the remainder of the Reunion was great. (Who says John cannot move mountains?)

On Tuesday Lo-Yi Chan, the College master planner, spoke to the class on the history of building at the College, past and present. The class was then addressed by President James Wright, who in your secretary's opinion, did a magnificent job of defusing some of the current controversies.

The President's talk was followed by a luncheon on the Connecticut River at the boathouse.

Dave Martin was master of ceremonies at the Tuesday night dinner when we honored the '54 Wearers of the Green: John Heyn,Jerry Evans, Steve Mullins, Peter Kirby,Tom Corcoran, Dune Roberts, and JonMoore. These are class athletes who continued their athletic endeavors after graduation. Also honored was Rick Hartman, who received the Class of 1954 Award.

A few arose at sunrise on Wednesday to accompany Mike Choukas '51, former alumni director, on a bird walk. The Rev. Dr. Dave Ransom conducted the class memorial service in Rollins Chapel. Since our last reunion Bruce Adamson, Dean Berry, BillDonovan, Jim Grady, Dave Grogan, JimHoeven, Mas Itabashi, Dwight Ketelhut,Tom Kong, Bruce Mac Ivor, AaronMargolis, Larry McCurdy, ChuckMyserian, Reg Post, John Scoville, SteveSmith, and George Swatek passed on. We have lost 107 classmates since graduation.

Class president Bob Berry conducted our Reunion class meeting. New officers are president, Dick Lewis; vice president, JayDavis; secretary, Don Berlin; treasurer, Harry Robinson; newsletter editor, PeteBarker; head agent, Rick Hartman; bequest chairman, Bob Osmond; reunion chairmen, John Gillespie and John Heston; class awards, Bob Adnopoz; class projects coordinator, Pete Kenyon; and web. site master, Perry Davis. The officers were sworn in by Chief Justice Norm Veasey.

The final events were "Hamburgers at Hestons" at the home of Betty and John Heston, where we were able to admire Betty's gardens and the 1954 closing banquet with Dick Page acting as master of ceremonies. Bob Berry and Dick Lewis presented President Jim Wright with a check for $1,054,000 representing our class gift. This was a record for 45th reunions. Trustee David M. Shribman '76 was the speaker.

Thus ended our 45th Reunion. Many thanks go to John Gillespie, Dick Page, Pete Barker, Dick Barker and Pete Kenyon, all of whom contributed to the Reunion's success.

We are now counting down to our 50th Reunion in 2004. Those of you who were here for the 45th will return. Those of you who did not join us, start making plans now for our glorious 50th.

7 Hamilton Drive, Washington Valley, Morristown, NJ 07960;

Richard Deaner '54's roommate, p.36