1961

This column is making president Pete Bleyler very happy. After two mis-starts as your incoming class co-secretary (along with Dave Armstrong), the first because of the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster and the second because of a mis communication as to the articles due date, we are finally on time and on track. Class articles are due approximately two months priorto the magazines issue date. Who can think that far in advance? Bob Conn was a marvel as class secretary—we probably never fully appreciated him for all those 20-plus years.

As a result of being co-chairman of my high school's 45th reunion in 2002, I got to speak to Jim "Bwana" Nova, living in Phoenix, Arizona, and Dick Sandler, living in Scarsdale, New York. Both went to my high school, along with other luminaries as Chuck Kaufman '60 and Bobby Brower '62.

Alumni Council held its semi-annual meeting in early December in Hanover. As the class Alumni Council representative, I can report briefly on the three most significant issues to occur that weekend. First, there was the attempted takeover of the Alumni Association by a write-in candidate for president from the class of '92, which is my daughters (Melissa Rich) class. Although the debate between the two sides prior to the written vote became quite heated at times, the result was a clear victory for the candidate nominated by the association's nominating committee. Debate and vote on several proposed amendments to the associations constitution had to be postponed until next May because time ran out. The second significant issue was the announcement of the retirement of Dick jaeger '59 as the longtime and popular head of Dartmouth athletics. The final significant issue to occur was the partial closing and significant cutback by the privately owned Dartmouth Co-op, which will henceforth operate out of much smaller retail space and will concentrate exclusively on Dartmouth related logo merchandise. Is this shrinkage a result of the economic turndown in general or site specific to Hanover in particular? Probably only Gene Kohn and Al Stowe, co-owners from the class of '60 along with other investors, know for sure.

Pete Bleyler says that the class' proposed bench near the Robert Frost statue is slowly moving forward in discussions with the College. During the Alumni Council meeting weekend Hank Eberhart, Bob Conn and I, as a self-appointed committee of three, reviewed the area and unanimously agreed that the bench should face Robert rather than the Bema or the woods. What do you think? Let Pete know.

Well, that's it for now. Let me hear from you so that you can hear from me with something meaningful to write.

5 Red Ground Road, Old Westbury,NY 11568; victor rich@rsmi.com;strong, 1201 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach, FL33483; (561) 272-1225; darmstrong@chapin-law.com