1956

Michael Zissu reported to those still communicating on our class e-mail list that Bob Mackay "has written a fantastic book about Truman in Potsdam and about the house he stayed in." The book, written in English and German, has extraordinary photos and can be ordered viae-mail at tad@usa.fnst.org through the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for $22, which includes shipping. Wah who wah for Bob! Bill Grigsby and his wife, Barbara, wrote to let us all know they've moved from Coralville, lowa, after almost 30 years there practicing and teaching dentistry. They're now in Denver, near their Dartmouth daughter, Kendall, and enjoying being grandparents up close and personal. He gives thanks for school friendships like his with Noel Sankey, a retired urologist who helped him connect with an excellent group of physicians that successfully treated him for prostate cancer. The move enabled his reconnection with Bob Montgomery, Jim Groebe and John Chafee in the class of'55.

Alan Friedman reported in his Dartmouth MedicalSchool Alumni News & Notes that Tom Kuhns continues to hold down the fort at the office while periodically traveling to places like the South Pacific. Alan also noted that Kevin Ryan and his wife have moved from California to Port Ludlow, Washington, enabling Kevin to get now and again to Seattle for its Dartmouth club meetings. On one such visit focused on past and future campus architecture he ran into classmate Sam Fry. It was noted that Gerry Finkels continues to work in pathology there in Seattle. Like this secretary, Alan would treasure notes from classmates of DMS.

We're all of an age where our vulnerabilities are all too apparent, and news from friends is frequently the disturbing reminder of our frailty. I remember my folks reporting that to be the hardest part of retiring. This past two months has brought more sad news than its predecessors; an unwanted omen I hope will not be repeated soon. Richard Benoit's wife, Judith, reported to the College that he has recently been placed in a nursing home due to severe Parkinsons disease. Since the last column I've been notified of the deaths of three more of our classmates: Thomas Frederick Burris this past April, Alan Levenson in early May and Edward Francis Hennessey later that month. Obituaries will appear in this or later issues, but it is appropriate to acknowledge here that we are all the poorer for their deaths. Each contributed to our class and the experience that was ours 50 years ago.

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