1953

Tiny flakes of snow drifted down lazily in the crisp cold air of the Upper Valley; the Glee Club had just finished singing "Dartmouth Undying" and the Green was filled with alums of all ages who had just completed their march from Memorial Stadium to Dartmouth Row.The class of 2006 arrived en masse and joined the upperclassmen on the Green. President Wright, resplendent in his new beard, wearing a baseball cap pulled down tight and huge winter coat reached out as if to envelop the throng, looked up into the deep blue sky and exclaimed, "Gee, I love this place." And so the official Homecoming began. For us the day had already been eventful with a class breakfast, a class meeting, lunch at Nancy and Phil Beekmans home, a tour of the innards of the Hood and a buffet dinner at the Inn prior the parade. Before the weekends conclusion 57 of our classmates and their wives had attended the football game, and 86 of us enjoyed an after-the-game party followed by dinner, again at the Beekmans, on Saturday night. All this was arranged by Bill Chamberlin, Dick Fleming and Put Blodgett. I might add that Ron Lazar, Dick Blum,and Put Blodgett limbered up for the weekend by climbing Mount Moosilauke.

At the dinner, Bob Henderson announced the selection of Fran L'Esperance as Classmate of the Year. Fran's CV is overflowing with citations of his contributions to an understanding and use of laser surgery for the eye. He is a trustee of the Lighthouse in New York City and founder of the Institute for Visual Sciences, a research foundation. In addition he was the founder and principal benefactor of a worldwide group of ophthalmologists who fly around the world in a specially equipped jet to perform eye surgery on destitute people in remote parts of the world.

A pilot himself, Fran is the medical director of Jet Blue Airline. Congratulations, Fran, on your entrance to the class of 1953 select group of Classmates of the Year!

Our great book arrived at my home yesterday foreshadowing our wonderful 50 th, and in truth, it is the greatest! Donald Goss has created a beautiful and brilliant book that looks at our class as it has existed and evolved, personally and collectively during the past 50 years. He has annotated in great detail our historical data, employing a liberal use of pictures, many of them in full color. Reading this wonderful tome has stimulated my interest in attending the great convocation for our 50th. I hope it will inspire many of our classmates to come and reunite with old friends this June. He has woven the history of each of us and of our communal activities into an acknowledgement and understanding of the humanity of our class. A questionnaire to which 382 of our classmates responded yielded some interesting and surprising responses. It is certainly a book of distinction, and sets the standard to which all ensuing 50-year classes can aspire. Congratulations, Donald, and thanks!

Cheers, and start packing your bags. June is not far away now.

4 Schuyler Drive, Jericho, NY 11753;(516) 938-3616; marksmoller@otmail.com

REUNIONJune 6-82003