1961

We are developing into an out- standing class over the decades since graduation. Some classes grow and improve, some classes remain static and some classes appear to wither as they become older. Based on the recent spontaneous assistance to a classmate in need of financial assistance to replace a necessary medical device, Tom Hickey and his wife, Isabel, came up with the idea, John Wilkins assumed responsibility for its implementation and within approximately two to three weeks raised the necessary $4,500 from 42 classmates. What an outstanding effort! Congratulations and thanks to Tom, Isabel andjohn and to all those who contributed to this worthy project. You have made the class proud.

Classmate Jack McCarthy has come home. Most of you probably do not even remember him, which is not surprising. Jack dropped out in the middle of our sophomore year and "didn't come back sober till '64, graduating with the class of'67. Anyone in the class of'61 who remembers me saw me at my worst." For those reasons Jack has "stayed pretty much away from the class of '61" for approximately 48 years, although he has stayed friendly with Maynard Wheeler, whom he has known since Exeter Prep school. Jack has now been remarried for approximately 12 years and lives in Washington north of Seattle, and is an accomplished and published poet. I recently con- tacted Jack after receiving his e-mail and had lunch with him in New York, at which time he donated an autographed book of his poetry to the class of 1961. Rob Rosier, the highest bidder at our 45 th reunion auction for the entire package of autographed books written and published by our classmates, is the primary beneficiary.

This project of collecting autographed books written and published by our classmates is still progressing, resulting in the receipt of approximately two to three autographed books per month since the reunion. In fact, I just received two autographed books from Tom Conger, including his famous Banana Moon. Perhaps Rosie will set up a display of all of these autographed books at our 50th reunion.

John "Jack" Penn was recently honored as one of the five top board members of various Minnesota companies for the year 2006. The selection of Jack as one of the 2006 outstanding directors is a culmination of his successful career in the business world. Jack obviously learned something at Dartmouth and at Tuck School!

Finally, but not of least significance, our class' artistic bent and perseverance has finally paid off with proper recognition. The Dartmouth College alumni calendar for 2007 shows the life-size Robert Frost statue donated by our class to the College a decade ago as the highlight campus location for the month of December 2007. Our thanks and congratulations go out to George Lundeen, the artist selected by our class to create the sculpture, and to Mike Murphy who, alongwith several others in the class, including Art Kelton, our then class president, stood fast to get the College to accept this unique class gift and to place the statue on campus at an appropriate and acceptable site.

5 Red Ground Road, Old Westbury,NYn568;victor.rich@rsmi.com