1949

Charlie Russell, down in Nassau Bay, Texas, has a new book out in trade paperback, hardback and e-book. Called Confessionof 'Faith, the subject is a Norwegian-Texas woman who emigrated to Texas in 1847, and describes her religious beliefs on a wide assortment of subjects in those pre-Civil War days. Available from both Xlibras and Amazon.com.

BJ and I had a nice dinner in Woodstock with Dean Merrill and Lorrie just before Christmas. They are busy planning another reunion in Woodstock this summer for Deans Marine basic class of long ago, which includes Matt Fenton and Charley Fay. The suspicion, of course, is that Lorrie does all the hard work while Dean goes out in the field and discusses important events with his Black Angus herd.

As I write this, I have to report that Mike McGean had a moderate heart attack while on the Campion ice rink. We hope that by now he is up and going again with his usual great energy. The College, the class and the kids learning to skate in the Hanover area need him. Right after the first of the year, Ted Krug and Shirl made their move from Florida to Hanover. Ted, of course, is another flying ace from World War 11, doing his good deeds as a naval aviator.

A report from Clemson, South Carolina, tells me that Peter Kapeluck has been hospitalized after developing Alzheimer's disease. And, sadly, I must report that Bill Haughey died last August from lymphoma. Bill had a long career with NASA and was involved in a number of our important space efforts. And Nathan Gottschalk, a truly talented musician, died last September.

Warren Ornstein is still working fulltime as associate general counsel of a real estate company in Cleveland. I won't bedevil him with any claims of how pleasant retirement can be. Bob Bellemare has turned 80 and is in good health, spending summer months not too far from Hanover, in Ludlow, Vermont. I suspect we all have been asked what we were doing on September 11. I was waiting in a golf course parking lot for Bob Nutt, hoping to relieve him of a few bucks. Not to be. In December Bob came down with some health problems and an e-mail or letter to him would be appropriate.

And we will miss Bud Hughes's lovely wife, June, who did not get the opportunity to hear our cheers and applause when she was given the Doris Thomas Award at the fall mini-reunion.

P.O. Box 1194, Grantham, NH 03753; bjndougtoo@aol.com