1942

Ed Chalfant retired from teaching in 1988, but has never stopped working. He is professor emeritus of English at Hofstra University, where he was a long-time teacher of courses in Shakespeare and American literature. But his real passion (and career) has been as biographer of Henry Adams, a task that started with a chance conversation on a Hanover side walk in our senior year. His former honors teacher told him he should look into Brooks Adams. Ed started by researching in Baker Library and developed his interest in Brooks' brotherHenry Adams. He has pursued this biography ever since, until the recent publication of his thirdvolume, Improvement of the World, covering "His Last Life, 1891-1918." The previous volumes were: Both Sides of the Ocean, the first, covering the years 1838 to 1862; and Better inDarkness, running from 1862 to 1891. All three total 1,945 pages, a major effort to say the least. Ed said that to do this he had to take as much time as possible off from his teaching and other activities (said it was 12 years net) in order to have the time to research and write this major undertaking. Congratulations, Ed.

A Happy Valentines Day missive from Ginia and Hunt Allison features a photo of the whole family (three children, spouses and nine grandchildren) celebrating the couples 50th wedding anniversary and Hunt's 80th birthday at the Balsams in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire.

The snowbirds in and near Sarasota, Florida, this year included a large contingent of 425, including Millie and John Corwith in nearby Venice. They planned on going east across the state to visit with Dottie and Dutch Schaefer in Stuart. They also were expecting a visit from Maggie and Warren Kreter. Nearby is the winter home of Pat and Art Henderson. We had dinner with Barbara and Wally Farr near their place on Longboat Key. Unfortunately, we missed Peggy Rugen, widow of former class president Dick Rugen. She had a small accident just before our scheduled get-together. She's OK now.

See you at our 60th! Put the dates in your calendar now—June 10-11-12,2002. And to extend your trip, president Dave Heald has arranged for us to invade the Balsams resort immediately following, June 13-14. More details to come.

P.O. Box 1302, Redding, CT06875;(203)938-8485