1956

The January mini-reunion in New York gets the most ink because it is the largest such event for the class and has been held annually for 24 years. It may soon be rivaled by the "'56 in Southwest Florida" dinner, being held for the third consecutive year in Sarasota on March 16. The class primo gourmet, TonyBruscino, has once again lined up the Cafe Braci for good food, good friends and good cheer. Ted Bremble and Gordie Lenci are assisting in arrangements and Alike Zissu has promised to arrive through the back door. Not trusting any of these remarkables to send me an accurate accounting of the proceedings, Sandra and I regard it our duty to the class to attend this significant event in person. Look for an eyewitness account in this space next month.

We can be proud of our two scholarship students. Soon Ho Lee '02 continues to do well academically, having completed freshman year with a GPA of 3.85. He is involved with the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble, the Dartmouth Wind Symphony and the Korean American Students Association. Lindsay Hirschfeld '03 is our new scholar, the valedictorian from Bexley High School in Ohio. She was a National Merit finalist, in the National Honor Society, captain of the soccer team, president of the Thespian Society and editor-in-chief of Bexley's literary magazine. I speak for the class in welcoming both these outstanding young people to the class of 1956 fellowship.

At this writing the student life initiative is still a topic of intense discussion with alumni. Emerson Houck has written Jim Wright with his thoughts; Em favors the continuance of single-sex houses, does not like the idea of "forced association" of diverse groups, and wants to scrap the Dartmouth Plan. Anybody else have an opinion? To me, the toughest problem is underage and binge drinking, and I see no answers to that problem in anything that I have read.

Boodge Erwin writes that Mark Tobin passed away recently in Philadelphia while awaiting surgery for lung cancer. Mark and Boodge roomed together in the '60s while working in New York. Boodge relates: "Give Mark a microphone and it was instant 'Show Time.' He was very clever and talented, as those who were at our wedding reception can attest when he took over as MC." The class sends condolences to Lois and their children Alison and Dan.

P.O. Box 1031, Burlington, NC 27216; (336) 227-1153; harpoon@netpath.net