1981

Let me briefly start with a thanks to Stephen Godchaux and Abner Oakes for a job well done over the past five years. I'm already realizing what a tough task I have ahead.

If you listen to National Public Radio, you maybe familiar with an occasional feature, "Lost and Found Sound." Hearing an episode during the week after reunion, I reflected on the weekend before, crammed with catching-up and renewing old friendships. But in addition to the rediscovered acquaintances, I found myself contemplating those "lost" classmates, who didn't make it to Hanover.

For example, it's been years since I last saw Ted Morgan, a fellow Mainz-LSA'er, now in Wisconsin directing a theater group. It was great to see Ted and hear about his activities. And it was fun to see Betsy Brew, Ellen Brout, Paul Becker, Dave Focardi, Linda Gundal, Liz Krahmer Keating. But I was reminded of a few others from our LSA group who weren't at the reunion—Chris Cannon, Carl Baum, Susan Chess. The last time I saw Carl was in a Mexican restaurant on Mass. Ave. in Cambridge, and I think he was still in his residency. Carlwhere are you? Chris? Sue? Ted Buiting? Sue Merchant? I know I'm missing others.

And then there are the guys from my pledge class in Zeta Psi, present in abundance: Steve Anderson, Tom Booher, Paul Feinman, Gino Gabianelli, Jake Gehret, Glenn Havlicek, Steve Kroll, Frank Merrill, Chris Mullery, Barney Oldfield, Tom Ryan, John Sconzo, Greg Slayton, Lindsey Tweed. I may have overlooked one or two. Gordy Davenport wasn't there, but I've seen him at previous reunions, and I think he still joins a few of the guys for a golf game now and then. But what ever happened to Arthur Hutton and Ben Knox? I think that Ben is a physician somewhere, and I don't think I've seen Arthur since "hell night." And I think Van Spurgeon and Bruce Keyser were fellow pledges. You guys out there reading this?

There was a frightening moment when Greg Clow, Martin Weinstein and I converged in the tent. We were freshman roommates. I haven't seen Martin since graduation, and I was certain that if the three of us ever met up again, it would be like matter-antimatter—the end of the universe. Turns out, we all survived the meeting, along with fellow Hitchcockers in the freshman wing, Andy Churchill, Matt Shannon, and Vince Pollard. Missing were Chris Badger, Jeff Gundlach and Greg Fossedal.

It's interesting to look at these groups of classmates, thrown into bunches through acts of fate, or maybe common interests or talents. Groups like the Aires, perhaps one of the most meaningful activities in which I was engaged at Dartmouth. In 1997 a reunion of the Aires drew more than 100 singers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the group, and it was decided then to gather every three years for a similar event. Subsequently, in April of this year, a group just as large and enthusiastic converged on the steps of Dartmouth Hall to sing away an afternoon. Missing were '81s Hugh Martinez, Bruce Davidson, Brian Hussey, and most prominently in my mind, Fred Schroeder, who led the group senior year, but has more recently disappeared from the face of the earth.

I look back at what I've written, and it seems so heavily weighted toward men that I knew at Dartmouth. I guess in my next column, I could focus on the women in our class that I dated...but that would make for a pretty short column. Maybe the ones about whom I had impure thoughts....

197 8th St., #626, Charlestown, MA 02129-4233; ricks@lcix.net; 10 Quail Drive, Etna, NH 03750-4405