1946

Winter it is and I suspect many of you are enjoying some warm place. Going myself, next week, to St. Bart's and after that to Boca Grande, Florida. Hope to hook up with Buol Hinman, who is wintering in Venice, Florida. I had a great talk with Bob Stevenson. He's in Glendale, California, and has a sizable ranch (1,400 acres) at Santa Barbara. Bob celebrated his 80th birthday last year and had Bob Jones and Doug Leigh and their spouses as guests. Jim Lynch was supposed to be there, but a little surgery interfered. Ralph Smith was invited but didn't make it. Too busy, he told me. The guest of honor at this bash was talk show host Jay Leno. Bob Stevenson raises avocados, interalia (look that one up), so I'd guess he parted with mucho avocados to get Leno. Doug filled me in on the party. Said it was wonderful. Doug's about to take his annual trip to Arizona. I had told you about Doug a while back, and particularly about the World War II paintings he did. They will eventually go to the National Infantry Museum, Ft. Benning, Georgia. I have copies of the paintings. If you're interested call Cecelia Barnett, curator, Carriage Barn Arts Center (203-969-7048). And Cecelia is no relation to our Jim Barnet, who was kind enough to write me with news of himself. He moved to a retirement community in S. Yarmouth, Cape Cod. One assumes he is retired. Says he keeps busy playing bridge, using his computer and trying to do The New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle. Keeps in touch with Earle Angstadt in Florida and Rex Sleighter in Nashville, Tennessee. Lowell Thomas wrote to me at Christ- mas, enclosed a yearly update on all his family activity. I assume wife Tay composed it. He does biking when there's no snow, and skiing when there is—and still flies around in his plane! Good to hear from you. I mentioned Ralph Smith above, and will again because he has graciously agreed to take over as bequest chairman for our class. I had told you in my last letter that Frank Ettari, our previous chair, had died. He did a magnificent job and I know Ralph will also. I regret to inform you that our classmates Glenn L. Haynes (on August 9,2004), Herman A. Lambert (on November 30, 2004) and Richard C. Shambroom (on October 17, 2004) have also passed away. We extend our deepest sympathy to their families.

578 Navesink River Road,Red Bank, NJ 07701