1956

Reunion is just around the corner, a matter of days before many of us will converge on Hanover, taste a bit of what Dartmouth has become and rehearse as much as our memories will allow of what it was and has been to us over these past 50 years. Joel Ash, Richard Groeneveld, Bill Hamilton, Leo McKenna, Ed Scovner and I get to do this monthly as we participate in the activities of the Dartmouth Club of the Upper Valley. Ken Bridge was numbered among us until just a few months ago, when he moved south. The meetings frequently feature faculty or coaches alerting us to what's new in their part of this campus' life, an experience I wish all of you could share. Then there are the special events the club puts on for the local community, the Special Olympics each January being the most important. As you've likely read elsewhere, the alumni association meeting Winter Carnival weekend brought some alumni back, but I didn't spot any of our regulars apart from Joel Ash.

Alan Friedman has done his typically superb job of staying connected with his Dartmouth Med School classmates, and reports that Laurie and Ray Austin have moved into a new home in Glen Allen, Virginia, with plenty of guest space and no lawn to care for. Joan and Larry Seymour had a reunion in Wichita with Jan and FredChang and a chance to celebrate Freds awards for medical student and surgical resident training. Indeed, an outpatient building has been named for him. Wah,who,wah! In addition, Alan's had word from Kathy and Don Dillon, Joe Gonnella, Elisabeth and Howie Green, Janet and Bill Hansen, Sally and Ken Herrmann, Kitch and Dave Klein and Ken Thomas' widow, Sara. They'll all be in Hanover for reunion!

Reunion will give us a chance to see just how well Art Zich and Dick Scobies class listserv predictions for 2006 are coming along.They're an important part of the continuing dialogue, to which we're all invited every day of the week. Bill Barrett contributed his appreciation to Russ Cooper-Mead for the "wonderful compilation of memories and life stories" in our book and shared his pride in being numbered among you all. Will Sogg's piece on the anti-Semitism of our days on campus stirred a number of classmates to wonder to what we may be as blind or unresponsive today.

We're still trying to make space for a cocktail party that will give '56ers', '06ers and the class of '81 a chance to connect and celebrate. I'm really impressed with the seniors I've gotten to knowin this effort to build connections. They're a sign of the school's vitality and all-around excellence I've been privileged to get to know a bit.

As many of you already know, James Flynn and Richard Benoit died since DAM'S last publication. Their obituaries appear elsewhere in this issue. No one of us is an island.

P.O.Box 968, Quechee,VT 05059; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol. com

REUNION June 9-11 2006