1965

Our class has been faithful in making annual return pilgrimages to Dartmouth, mainly in the fall, and then every five years in June for the more formal reunions. Our tradition of doing so in the fall—usually Homecoming Weekend for our annual mini-reunion has extended to 25 straight years.. .and counting. This year, on the first weekend of August, we added one by holding our first ever mid-summer class mini-reunion in Hanover. The "reason" for the gathering was to celebrate our collective 60th birthdays. The mini-reunion included work on a construction project for COVER, the Corps of Volunteers Effecting Repair, a class executive committee meeting, a lot of sports activity including golf and tennis, a barbecue at the home of Jim and Debby Griffiths, and just plain good times together enjoying the warmth and lushness of Hanover in mid-summer. Well done to co-chairs Mike Bettman, Ted Atkinson Jim Griffiths and Hank Amon for organizing this out-of-cycle event. More on the details of our adventures and results of the meeting in my next column.

Inevitably, and regrettably, one of the subjects of conversation during our gathering was the passing on of several of our classmates. While we have been relatively fortunate over the years, we have lost a number of classmates recently. They include Paul Sowa, Al Hotchkin, John Howard Bell and Tom Marks. Our heartfelt regrets go out to the families and friends of these fine men. Obituaries appear elsewhere in this edition of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine.

Mike Gonnerman, with the help of John Sottile '64, has dramatically overhauled and updated our class Web site. Check it out at www.dartmouth.org/classes/65/ and give Mike the benefit of your comments, corrections and suggestions. Some of the pages you might find interesting include an upcoming events calendar, up-to-the minute news about the 40th reunion, a class memoriam, back issues of the class newsletter and lots of class and Dartmouth photos. There are also links to Dartmouth (and other) Web cams.

Time to make plans now to join us for our 26th Homecoming mini-reunion. It will be a bit earlier this fall, over the weekend of October 24 to 26. Pierces Inn will again be mini-reunion headquarters, and the normal activities of hayrides, Dartmouth Night festivities, cocktail parties, long quiet evenings by the fireplace at Pierces, tailgating, golf (if the weather cooperates), football (we hope a victory this year for a pleasant change), drinks and a delicious dinner at Pierces, and a class meeting after Sunday breakfast will fill the agenda. But you know what? It isn't the football results or the weather or the festivities—as those of us know who have attended these now-traditional autumn eventsit is the pleasure of each others company, warmth of memories and even making "new" old acquaintances. So plan to join your class in Hanover in October, most especially if you have never taken the time or trouble or expense of having done so before.

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