1969

I realize how many months it has been since our celebrated 40th reunion, but space did not allow me to describe enough. Following our grand street dance with Flash Cadillac, where the ever-active Jo Larson taught several of the student support staff moves from the 1960s and 1970s, we rose early the next morning to attend seminars. Peter Lawrence, attending with Karen, led an informative medical session on “Gray Anatomy: What Ails Ya and Why.” The discussion was very well attended, including Bill Kneisel and Anne, Allen Denison with Martha, Fred Klein with Pru, and a mostly filled Silsby classroom.

Later that day Rick Willets did a terrific job at a memorial service for our departed classmates with his music and some memorable words. We lit candles for each of them and after the ceremony in a particularly poignant moment for me Rick handed me a candle in memory of my brother, Myrus B. Larson ’65, who died of cancer his senior year. We ended the day with an excellent Thayer dinner, where we were serenaded by the Aires and thoroughly entertained by Rick’s presentation of the results of our survey in a slide show obviously heavily aided by Joan Willets, who was unable to attend. We are all sorry to have missed those of you who were not there but we now move to our next gathering opportunity in October: Homecoming. The schedule for this has been e-mailed to all and is on the Web site so check it out and attend.

Jim Staros’ summer has been active besides the reunion. He is packing to move from a seven-year stint as a dean at Stony Brook to become provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Not to be left behind, wife Alice Harris has been appointed to a position in U Mass’ nationally ranked linguistics department. Jim told me after interviewing Alice they hired him to ensure they would be able to get her!

We hear from Jack Basset’s wife, Carla Stone, that Jack is in the 10th year of fighting early onset Alzheimer’s disease and had hoped to attend our reunion as he can still recall the College and friends from our Hanover days. Unfortunately, she reports, he entered Hospice and is now in a hospital. Carla is making a memory book for Jack and would appreciate any photos, letters, anecdotes you might be able to contribute. Please check the class Web site for contact information.

John Mathias, who was at the reunion with Julie, has been appointed chairman of the American Bar Association’s Death Penalty Representation Project. A longtime anti-death-penalty advocate, John’s one year term will be used to expand the pool of lawyers willing to serve pro bono for death row inmates as well as educate the public and the bar about the crisis of counsel for indigent defendants. John is a founder of the Dartmouth Lawyers Association and serves on its board.

Finally, please note my new address.

9101 W. 146th St., Overland Park, KS 66221; (360) 770-4388; wheat69@earthlink. net