1962

We returned to snowbound Boston blissed out again after a warm and mellow class birthday celebration in New Orleans this February. The weather prediction had been for rain followed by cloudy weather, but trip-meister Tom Komarek collaborated with New Orleans host Henry Sarpy to deliver warmth and sunshine throughout our visit. We gathered in the gracious Hotel Monteleone on a Thursday and signed in as Tom presented each of us with a grab-bag of prizes: museum tickets, a days pass on street cars and buses, an introductory drink coupon for the Carousel Lounge, pralines, hot nuts and much more. A special addition was a music CD compilation, Louisiana Roux, that had cuts from superb New Orleans groups performing Cajun, jazz and blues. Classmates wandered the French Quarter that evening, enjoying some of the excellent New Orleans restaurants and whooping it up with the street musicans and dancers.

After chicory coffee and beignets on Friday morning most of the 70 participants split into three "groups for a fine guided walking tour of the French Quarter. The charm and history of this part of the world captivated us. The midday culinary offerings were pure New Orleans: muffulettas and po' boy sandwiches. In the afternoon some went off to the New Orleans Country Club for golf or tennis (Von Beebe and Judy Aydelott are no tennis slouches, believe me) and others explored the city. Classmates, wives, significant others and children gathered in the Carousel- Lounge while president John (Napoleon) and Nancy (Josephine) Walters dressed in costume, marshaled the troops behind a vibrant jazz band in the lobby of the Monteleone and marched us through the streets of the French Quarter and into the Napoleon House! It was a fantastic spectacle much appreciated by hotel guests, passersby and other restaurant patrons. Our special guests, Dean Thad Seymour and his wife, Polly, had joined us for the celebration.

Good weather persisted for the Saturday trip down the Mississippi River on the sternwheeler Creole Queen, providing an excellent chance to visit and talk with new and old friends. We stopped at the site of the battle of New Orleans for an informative narration of this important battle by a park ranger and then re-embarked for lunch and the return trip. In the evening there was a gala dinner at Antoine's. President John Walters set the nostalgic tone of the evening as he reviewed the life and academic career of Dean Thad Seymour. The man we knew as dean of the College (before he became president of two other colleges) recalled some of the humorous events of our college years. Later, classmates recalled their contributions to color and mayhem at Dartmouth College.

At the farewell brunch Sunday morning in the River Room atop of the Monteleone David (Bags) Bergman introduced four exotic dancers: Gretchen Bergman, Karen Ackland, Marianne Davies and Leslie Schaefer. The crowd was delighted. A rousing rendition of the alma mater sent us on our way, grateful for good times and grateful to organizer Tom Komarekand host Henry (Bonaparte) Sarpy.

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