1953

From June 5 through June 8 a wonderful reunion occurred. The great class of 1953 reconvened once more for the celebration of the 50th year anniversary of its graduation from Dartmouth. Charged by President Eisenhower at that Commencement in June 1953 to assume the legacy of leadership of our society, the class has collectively been in the forefront of almost every segment of our life during the past five decades. One of the all-time most generous classes in Dartmouth's history, the class once more raised the bar by doubling the previous high gift to Dartmouth, presenting to President James Wright a check in the amount of $12,553,000. It is the first class in the history of the College after which a building, soon to be erected, will be named: The 1953 Commons. Records were toppled as 278 alumni attended, with a total participation of 536.

But this story is not one of just numbers or money. This is a storyofa class whose members enjoy being together, a class that cares for one another. This reunion was the epitome of .that communion. Presaged by the Great Book, the reunion took off and soared under the aegis of chairman Allen Collins. It began with a hardy band of 30 climbing Mount Moosilauke, followed by a lobster bake at the boathouse at which 390 ate and enjoyed the music of the fabulous Sultans. There followed in rapid order: registration, a symposium on "The '53 Commons Building," a fully-packed class meeting, bus tours of the campus and some of the buildings, other interesting symposia, dinners and banquets, a trip to beautiful St. Gaudens, golf, tennis, bicycling, a Glee Club concert and a lovely reception hosted by President and Susan Wright. It also included a most moving and beautiful memorial service created by Donald Carpenter Goss that consisted of a harmonious blend of beautiful music and wonderful sentiments, a placing of a rose for each classmate who has left us since the last reunion as well as by each of the widows who attended, and a meaningful innovation—the silent ovation—all of which made this a memorable and emotional experience. We wore name tags, another Goss innovation, on which we placed the names of departed classmates whom each of us wished to remember this weekend.

Magnificent oil portraits, commissioned by an anonymous classmate, were unveiled and presented to recipients Phil Beekman, Dick Blum, Bob Douglas, Donald Goss, Bob Henderson, Dick Lombard, Bob Malin, Paul Paganucci, Chuck Reilly, Andy Sigler and Fred Whittemore. These portraits will grace the walls of The '53 Commons.

I am certain that as we marched slowly into our seats for Commencement, more than one person reflected on a time 50 years ago when he first made that walk, and seized the opportunity to reflect and consider the experiences of his lifetime. On this beautiful New England spring morning, we were treated to a colorful and poignant pageant as the faculty, resplendent in their robes, followed by the senior class, paraded to their seats. The sight of two of our classmates, Bob Henderson and Fred Whittemore, as members of the procession to the dais where they would receive well-deserved honorary degrees, was a proud moment for all of us. David McCullough delivered a literate and profound speech followed by a most eloquent, lyrical, almost most poetic valedictory. Then it was off to the Bema for a class picnic, and, for many, a trip to the Trapp Family Lodge at Stowe. To our class president Chuck Reilly, reunion chairman Allen Collins and his hard-working committee, we owe a huge collective thank you. It was wonderful!

On a very personal note and on behalf of the class, I offer our condolences to Bobbie Cochran and her children, Lindsay, Alexander and John on the passing of our dear classmate, George Van Brunt Cochran, a person of integrity, who, by his mere presence, inspired in me a faith in the goodness of the human existence.

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