1955
It has been a busy fall, with classmates popping up on campus for various reasons and events.The fall reunion, associated with Dartmouth Night and the Columbia football game, was held on October 24-25.
After opening remarks by Woody Goss, the executives received various reports by committee chairmen at the usual Saturday breakfast. Twenty- one '55s heard Ralph Sautter state that a surplus, of as yet an undetermined amount, was forth- coming from the Portland mini-reunion. Again, thanks were expressed to John Braestrup, Justie, his wife, and crew for a wonderful time. At this point, may I confirm the next mini-reunion will be hosted by Harry Lewis in Denver, and held May 19-22. If all the accolades received in the past concerning Harry and Denver are true, the mayor will probably be at the hotel with the keys to the city. (No pressure, Harry.)
More mundane news from the executive meeting: Dues and gifts kept at present levels; John French reporting newsletter production beyond three a year are "expensiv-o" and Harry co- chair of the 50th thinking in terms of $9 million for a goal. You can see it's all relative.
John Dinan, recently retired captain of the U.S. Navy Medical Corp, was one of the recipients of our class annual awards for contributions to Dartmouth and humanity. At the dinner Saturday night Jack Cogswell and Stan Bergman were also applauded for their lifetime efforts. In the last edition, Dick Blodgett and Frank Carlton received similar awards in Portland. Dinan also received the R. Hastings award of a fine old military breakfast (S.O.S.).
The better half Chef Jill, provided a much better fare for Dan Nixon and Tamara and Jere Daniell and Elena a few days later. Even Ed Willi and Cecilia, who arrived prior to Princeton weekend, were welcome guests of Chef Jill. Ed was here to discuss the college abuse program with College and hospital personnel. Next years funding is assured but the future is still in doubt. You can see, '55s, it pays to let us know when you are in the area.
A reception for the John Glover Fund was held by the College on November 22 on the gym level overlooking the pool. M.C.ing the affair was John Ballard, whose contribution, not only in donor solicitation but evolving the whole idea, was immense. In congratulating him after a splendid job, I remarked that in thanking fellow graduates, secretaries, etc., and introducing several speakers, including President Wright, he didn't seem to use a note. His answer: "Notes make me nervous." If the check presented to the College is indicative of Johns work, we have nothing to worry about, come our 50th.
Who should be at the Inn on a snowy afternoon in December but Californian Gene Elsbree, attending the Alumni Association/Council battle, Gene confirmed what I said in Nov/Dec issue: that his son was definitely more handsome. It was a good chat.
My roommate for three years, Gene Givens, resides in a nursing home in Alameda, California. Jill and I visited him, a victim of chronic Parkinsons disease, in late September after the Portland reunion. Mike Gorton saw him in late October still being able to get via wheelchair to a veranda. Our best to Gene.
Doug and Diana Melville provide the basic ingredients foe the after-football games get-to- gethers at the tent in front of the old gym. It's a minimal ingestion of ingredients until the football players arrive with their enormous appetites. A Valley News item recorded 24 dozen Krispy Kremes imbibed by one offensive lineman in 24 hours. "They are mostly air," he claimed.
Lest we forget, the returns for our 50th reunion book are needed. A blank space behind one's name is worse than an expanded version of our life's endeavors. If we have helped even one individual to a better life it is worth hearing about. Joe Kagle would be the first to agree that we do not have to travel to Georgia to make a difference.
The next message is a downer. After a courageous and long battle against melanoma (cancer), Ace Hall, forever the optimist, succumbed to its onslaught on December 7. A memorial will be held in Elmira, New York, sometime in the spring. Our heartfelt sympathy to Carole and the Hall family—Jon, Beth, Chris and Jen.
As one generation passes another arises. Our last edition informed Larry Pilchman and Kathleen that their daughter was surpassed by Geoff Snow's 4-year-old. A recent e-mail from Mo Kaufman informs us that a set of twins arrived last February 24 to Geoff and Leslie Snow. Congratulations from all of us septuagenarians.
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