1951

A eulogy of sorts for the New Hampshire's Old Man of the Mountains arrived in my mailbox last month. Its author is Andy Pincus and I hope that classmates will see it in Batch's '51 Fables. It originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle. The fall mini-reunion will have come and gone by the time you read this but another mini is only six months away. Chicago will be the attraction along with a host of classmates April 22-25,2004. Come to The City That Knows How! Speaking of who knows how, Hank Moyer keeps track of three residences: the family home in Scarsdale, a condo in Manhattan (nearwhere both he and his wife, Nancy, work) and a newly purchased place in Jupiter, Florida. Hank's favorite place while an undergraduate was Rahar's Tavern in Northampton and the Beta house was a close second. Turning this subject to something more scholarly, AldonMarkson claims the Tower Room, where he did both study and sleep, this is. Time spent in the squash courts was also fondly remembered.

Speaking of courts and a ball, Julian Olney complains of being sidelined from his beloved handball courts. A rare infection called pseudomonas invaded Julie's body and caused bronchiectasis. He assures me it is as bad as it sounds. Very intensive medication and follow-up treatments since last December have made 2003 a challenging year. When asked about his favorite place in Hanover, the answer came quickly—the soccer field. Another classmate who has kept the medical profession afloat recently is Joe O'Conner. Diagnosed with bladder cancer late last year, Joe has successfully undergone surgery and treatments and calls himself recovered. The Phi Psi house remains his sentimental hot spot.

Calling Bill Michener to learn his favorite place (Baker Library, its stacks and Tower Room), I also learned about his favorite "experience" while in Hanover. After doing well in Al Foley's History 64, the professor invited him to dinner and asked if he would like to grade student papers. Flattered, Bill said he would and then found out that only non-history majors were eligible. Aside from the extra income, the pleasure was in the frequent contact with Foley. As proof that the old rocking chair doesn't have him yet, Bill came out well in a fishing contest recently. He landed a 35-inch, 3 6-pound permit as in a fish specie) on an 8-pound line in 45 minutes. Bill can still be called an active M.D., volunteering one day a week at a nearby indigent clinic. Finally, a morning telephone call from my Oakland office went all the way to a Maine porch and was picked up by Bobby Matthews. He and Pat were enjoying a cup of coffee when I interrupted them with the inevitable question about his favorite place. The Deke house came to mind as well as two of its denizens, Dick Price and Gerry Shaw.

Go online for more news about your class: www.alum.dartmouth.org/classes/51.

P.O. Box 848, Orintda, CA 94563;peine.mckee@rbcdam.com