1941

A Christmas message from George Simpson and Dee West deserves mention here, although tardy and necessarily abbreviated. From Asheville, North Carolina, he reports: "We're settling in nicely in a small cottage right in the trees of the Appalachian forest. It's a half-mile walk to the meal we get each day, a real luxury." George has some health problems, but his wry musings about life, past and present, are a treat to read. He should expand the distribution of his next newsletter.

Another writer and North Carolinian is Tim Takaro, who collected and edited a cache of letters written 150 years ago by a fellow Dartmouth Medical School alumnus, Dr. John Baker. Tims paper was published in its entirety in the winter 2001 issue of Dartmouth Medicine. It paints a fascinating picture of America in the mid-1800s.

Plans for the fourth mini-reunion in Florida awakened memories of classmates who planned to attend the last reunion but have since passed away. May these faithful '41s rest in peace: Gus Broberg, Dr. John Reed, Chuck Reed, Bob Lemke, Warner Bishop, Don Hanks and Phil Hall. But life goes on and 15 or 20 men have signed up for the mini get-together to be held in beautiful Sarasota on March 13 and 14.

Phone calls to several more distant classmates found these hardies enjoying their golden years. Line Morton reported from Selma, North Carolina, that he and Judy were happily attending to their 2-acre yard and 2-acre pond. They also do volunteer work in a rape crisis center, their church and library, and also find time for golf. Line retired in 1988 after many years in accounting work at the University of North Carolina.

Harry Douty and Helen will soon be celebrating 55 years of togetherness in Red Bank, New Jersey. Harry worked for R.H. Macy for several years after his Navy service, then operated a children's clothing manufacturing business for 24 years until his retirement in 1988. They both enjoy golf on a course out their front door and Harry was selected Volunteer of the Year in his county. His two knee replacements and one hip replacement apparently haven't slowed him down.

A little closer to home, Larry Barnett in Tarpon Springs, Florida, reported his good health and happiness after taking early retirement from dentistry. Now he and Pat both practice filling cavities on the golf course. Ouch!

5975 Camelot Drive North, Sarasota, FL 34233; jachensr@aol.com