1957

Back by popular demand is more on the importance that classmates are placing on their role as grandparents. Bob Shirley says his grandchildren are spread around a bit. He and Althea have a dinner for each birthday as it comes along. They try to get to as many athletic events as they can where the next generation is participating. The big event for the Shirleys is the family gathering at their 19th-century Shin Pond, Maine, camp in July-August. No electricity, no telephone, an outhouse and canned propane to power the refrigerator, stove and hot-water heater. With no TV, they choose a board game or card game each night. Mountain and river trips keep the teenagers from boredom. Paddling, rowing, sailing, water skiing, swimming and fishing are daily activities. They also pick berries for grandmas blueberry, raspberry or mixleberry pies.

Those of you who still have our 25 th book, take a look at page 163. Frank Mooney is pictured with a recently caught fish. Frank is using his love of fishing as a bond with the next generation. Last year he took Ryan, age 8, for trout on the Deerfield River in Massachusetts (Ryan caught the biggest) and to the Kennebec River in Maine for stripers. So far it's been spin fishing, but now that Zack,age 8, is coming along, he plans to go fly fishing with them.

Bob Mowbray took his grandson crabbing on Assateague Island last June. They caught two, many more got away, and the boy was thrilled. Bob and Sonia rented two townhouses in Chincoteague with a saltwater creek and a pier behind them. The grandchildren tried crabbing from the pier every day with no success. They did get to watch the neighbors catch crabs in their traps. Bob finally gave up trying to assemble the trap that came with their rental and bought a new trap on the last day of their visit. The kids caught one crab, but it was under the limit. Bob is now the owner of a crab trap waiting for the grandchild- ren's next visit.

Last summer Monk Bancroft and Jane invited Monks grandson to Vermont for a weekto attend the Mad River Glen Summer Adventure Camp. The boy went whitewater kayaking, hiking with overnights in the mountains, biking and did some nature study. During the off days, Monk and Jane took him sailing on Lake Champlain, to museums and other sightseeing. Jane has set up college funds for her stepchildren.

Randy Aires and Joe Conley have each decided that 10 years old is the magic age for a special one-on-one trip. Randy and Ginny completed a Harry Potter trip to Oxford, United Kingdom. The Conleys have gone to Alaska and New Zealand. Both say they got as much out of it as their grandchildren. Joe says the Galapagos is ahead when the next one turns 10.

The class was saddened to learn of the passing of Tony Williamson. A special '57 tribute can be obtained at the class Web site: www.alum. dartmouth.org/classes/57.

P.O. Box 3328, Pocasset, MA02559; (508) 564-6484;fphowland@aol.com