1953

June 9 to 12—days to be remembered fondly, as the class of 1953 came together once more for a record-breaking, most enjoyable 55th reunion. Chuck Reilly expects our Dartmouth Fund to hit $1 million this year, a record for a 55th-year class. Bob Simpson turned over $12,001,953 to Dartmouth at a lovely dedication ceremony for the soon-to-be built 1953 Commons.

A beautiful new Dartmouth song, the first since 1928, commissioned by Fred Whittemore was sung by the Aires at the dedication and was warmly and enthusiastically received. One hundred fifteen alumni and a total attendance of 229, including six widows, helped set records.

Who can forget the wonderful talks by President Wright, Professors Rassias and Pease and Coaches Teevens '79 and Wielgus and "Great Issues" redux? The beautiful ceremony at Aquinas House, at which the picture of Father Ed Boyle was unveiled, and the first showing of the bust of Paul Paganucci, which will grace the 1953 Commons? Once more the memorial service, conceived of, moderated and directed by Donald Carpenter Goss, was a beautiful and upliftingevent. Our singers were absolutely wonderful. Their musicality and blend were rapturous and they showed their range and flexibility performing songs from Broadway, Hollywood and classical works with equal aplomb. "Three Bells" brought us back to Green Key 1952, with John Kennedy adding the perfect touch on the bells. And who will ever forget Bonnie's buses, which saved us time and again when the heat threatened to consume us or when our legs indicated we had had enough? Bravo, Bonnie Siegel!

And bravo to the committee that worked so hard to make this such a wonderful eventpresident Phil Beekman, Donna and Chuck Reilly, Donald Carpenter Goss, Marilyn Paganucci, Harlan Fair, Dave Donovan, Bonnie and Dave Siegal, Al Collins, Maureen and Karl Friedmann, Bob Simpson, Put Blodgett, Dave Halloran, Jack Zimmermann, Dick O'Connor and Marita and Leonard Gochman—and to everyone who enjoyed revisiting with new and old buddies. It was a blast!

Sadly I must conclude with the sad news of the deaths of Edward T. Rockwell, E. Boyer Chrisman and Alan Kent Robinson. Our sincere condolences go to their families.