1953

'53 out! And the class of 1953 is out again. This time the occasions were the holiday luncheons. Each of the chairmen—Bob Callender in New York, Dick Fleming in Boston and Donald Goss in Hanover—characterized his event as very successful, ranging from great to spectacular.

All told, about 70 members of the class participated in one of the luncheons, the commonality of the three being that both the food and the company were great, and that they should be repeated annually. Bob Callender hoped that another could be arranged in Florida next year. Our Hanover contingent was thrilled by a piano concert played by David Thron son of our classmate DennisThron. In addition, this group collected a substantial number of cans of food that were donated to the Haven.

Donald Goss just informed me that he has booked the same room at the same time for next year.

The Valley News published a superb article on N.H. Supreme Court Justice William Johnson, who is retiring this June after serving 30 years on the bench, 15 of them in the Supreme Court of New Hampshire. In the article the writer spoke of some of the most controversial and important decisions of which Bill was a part during his tenure, including that which declared unconstitutional the state's system of funding public schools.

Professor Richard Hesse of the Franklin Pierce Law Center characterized Bill's rulings as, "generally centrist. He has not had a bias or predisposed disposition. He has served the courts and the state well." The ultimate gentleman, Bill has made it a point never to embarrass a lawyer or a client. "You don't have to pound the table," he said. "I've never had a gavel in my life. You just simply, quietly say, 'knock it off.' " Bill plans to spend some time traveling with his wife, Nancy, though he could return to the Supreme Court next year to help out. So, congratulations, Bill, for a most productive and distinguished career.

Vivian and Dick Cahn were delighted to find themselves traveling with Janie and Bernie Sudikoff on their Alumni College Abroad trip to China under the aegis of professors Rassias and High. Dick indicated that Professor High delivered two wonderful lectures on air pollution and on the environmental implications of the Three Gorges Dam which, when completed in 2003, will produce a lake 175 meters deep and 360 miles long.

I'm pleased to report that Bob Malin has been elected to the Alumni Council, representing the Tuck School. He is the 28th member of our class to have served on the council, and I can assure you that he will be an imposing presence there. He has already demonstrated that he will be a constructive force there, a conclusion I have reached after seeing his responses during and after the last council meeting in December. Congratulations, Bob! Please keep sending me your news. Thanks, and cheers!

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