1940

Elmer Browne and Sam Williams chaired the class of 1940 60th reunion June 2022. It was a wonderful gathering except for the weather—overcast and cool—but Sam and Brownie provided warm Dartmouth jackets, which were envied by all the other classes.

Sam and Lorraine stayed in Hanover, where they live in the summer. Brownie and Joyce returned to Washington, Connecticut, for the summer.

When Brownie arrived home, his doctor prescribed oxygen to ease rheumatoid arthritis. He had made it through the reunion, which was his goal and mine also. During the summer Brownie and I would compare how we were doing with our oxygen. We were an interesting couple of old great-grandfathers toting our supply of oxygen wherever we went.

In October the Brownes and the Williams moved to their winter homes in Vero Beach, Florida. Brownie spent time with his doctors while Sam played golf.

In January I got a call from Sam. He had seen Brownie, who asked him to call me. Sams message was not good. Brownies condition had deteriorated. He was in a hospice. More oxygen was needed. He could not walk. His family was with him. Sam called to give me updates, and I would call Brownie just to say good morning.

Then Brownie called me on a Monday morning. Sam was in hospital just down the street. He had collapsed in the middle of the night and never regained consciousness. He died Thursday of a brain aneurysm in the same hospice with Brownie. I called Brownie to say good morning that day and was informed by his daughter Deborah that her dad was in a coma. Brownie died the next day—Friday. Brownie knew death was coming soon. Sam never recovered.

The class says thank you to two more classmates who have done so much for Dartmouth. A memorial service for Brownie will be June 23, 2 p.m., St.Johns Episcopal Church, Washington, Connecticut.

Colby-Sawyer College recently announced that it had received $4 million to expand and renovate its Health, Exercise and Sports Center and develop the 20-acre Michael DiLorenzo property. Mona and Bill Mercer were one of the four couples participating. A note from Carl Little tells of a visit his father, Jack Little, made to him in France during 1985-86. Lack of space this issue. More next time I hope.

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