1961

Bench or no bench, and I don't mean Johnny Bench! In this case the class executive committee heatedly debated whether a granite/stone bench (preferred by the class) or a teak bench (preferred by the College's campus planning and design committee) should be placed near the Robert Frost statue. After much discussion, the executive committee voted its heart and decided to remain without any bench, at least for the time being until we can address the granite/stone bench further with the College.

Finally there are people outside of our class who are recognizing and articulating the beauty of the Frost statue and its location in the woods. Tracy Kim '02 stated in the March/April issue of the Alumni Mag that this was her favorite place on campus. The right bench would only enhance this perception and feeling.

We were recently informed that after many years, the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine was forced to increase its subscription rates, by approximately 40 percent, effective in July 2002. The class executive committee has discussed how the class should pay for this. The alternatives included increasing the annual class dues, eating into the class treasury reserve for emergencies and special matters, eliminating non-dues-paying classmates and widows from receiving the magazine, increasing the number of dues-paying classmates or some combination of the above. After much debate, it was agreed that the class would first attempt to increase the number of dues-paying classmates, we hope by enough to offset the magazine rate increase, before exploring other alternatives. Nearly all executive committee members were in favor of retaining a full mailing list for the magazine, to be sent to all classmates and widows, whether or not they were active dues payers. To this end the entire executive committee will make a concerted effort to contact other classmates to increase dues participation.

Under the leadership of Peter Bleyler and others, our class executive committee has been able to utilize e-mail via the Dartmouth and class Web site to communicate rapidly and effectively, in order to discuss, debate and decide on issues much more quickly than during previous class administrations, including mine. Thank you Ron Wybranowski, our class Webmaster extraordinaire.

Well, the time finally came, and went. After winning cross-country vacations in California at the '6l class reunion auction last year, both Vic Rich and Gerry Kaminsky claimed their prizes. They arranged with the California homeowners and gracious donors, Dave and Mary Blake (Newport Beach) and Mike and Diana Hecht (Laguna Beach), respectively, to use their homes during the same week in early May. Larry and Stephanie Levy joined Gerry and Jackie and Vic and Pat, and all had a good time. Thank you, Dave and Mike, for a great week's vacation at two great locations only 10 miles apart.

To close, I received an e-mail from former classmate Robert "Tex" Lieblich, who left Dartmouth after his sophomore year and graduated from U-Cal, Berkeley, in '61, and then Harvard Law School in '67. Married with two children, Bob now lives Arlington, Virginia. Bob recently had a virulent form of prostate cancer, but after an operation followed by radiation and chemo, he now appears to be in recovery. Bob recommends that every classmate have a PSA test every three months or so. Those wanting to get in touch with Tex can reach him by e-mail at robert.lieblich@verizon.net.

5 Red Ground Road, Old Westbury,NY 11568; victor_rich@rsmi.com