1951

Your class secretary has noticed over the years how our Class Notes have evolved. Starting off with marriages, then births (oldfashioned, weren't we?), wartime tours of duty in the military, career choices and promotions, travel and finally, grandchildren, we have come fullcircle. In this year following our 50th reunion you will read, among other things, about your classmates varied ways of celebrating golden wedding anniversaries.

I ordered up Dave Leslie's first year of columns (October '5l to June '52) and found in the first four notice of 38 classmates marrying. By searching through our 50th yearbook, 25th yearbook and making a few discreet phone calls, I found that 18 are still alive and still married to each other. Not wanting their married life stories but only how they celebrated the event, my request elicited very interesting and very amusing answers.

Getting a jump on most of us were Don and Carol Cox, who married New Year's Eve, 1950. Taking sympathy on his new class secretary, he actually mailed to me the following: "With friends and family on December 271 toasted Carol: 'There is no music for my love song to you, no words to bear the burden of my joy at having you as my wife for 50 years.' Apologies to Richard Hovey."

Dave and Ann Sargent, not getting any cooperation from kids and grandkids for a date all would agree to, took friends to Bermuda and celebrated with them. The Sargent offspring may be more flexible the next time. Richard and Susan Ellis (Connecticut) looked ahead at their 50th date in October and moved the party up to June. All of their descendants, 19, showed up at a resort in West Dennis on Cape Cod and had a great time. Sam and Nancy Roberts enjoyed a doubleheader observance of their 50th. First a trip to a resort for all members of the family—a real throng with nine out of 11 grandkids attending plus their parents. That was followed by a surprise party of 150 friends put on (and presumably paid for) by their children. Bravo! Similarly, Jim and Barbara Lowell enjoyed the best of all worlds with their descendants putting on the party. Congratulations.

A classmate whose marriage eluded Dave Leslie's notice was that of your scribe, Peirce McKee. Despite the terminal nature of Rosina's ovarian cancer, she and I went ahead with our 50th, which was celebrated in Orinda the weekend before the official date, June 23. All our extended family was there and Rosina was present for all the events. Two weeks later, with the help of our local hospice, she was able to pass away peace- fully at home. Four hundred-fifty of our friends and relatives, including classmates Tom Barnett and Mike Heyman, attended her memorial service. Write me if you would like a copy of the program.

Write me about what's going on in your life or else you will get more 50th celebrations.

25 Charles Hill Circle, Orinda, CA94563; pmckee@sutro.com