1961

The class of 1961 has finally received some definitive well-deserved recognition from the College. We were the only class rated “excellent” by an alumni office metrics report for the fiscal year ending in 2008. There were 11 variables considered and the class of 1961 received the highest points. We wanted our class to stand out among all classes and we have now accomplished that goal. Congratulations go out to our class officers (especially Roger McArt, Mike Murphy and Don O’Neill), our executive committee and all of our classmates who in some way or other helped to contribute to this achievement.

Another recognition, this time to a longtime valued member of our class, occurred earlier in the year, when Al Rozycki was inducted into the Dartmouth Wearers of the Green athletic hall of fame as a result of his outstanding football prowess while an undergraduate. Al was one of six football players inducted during 2009, four of whom were awarded the prestigious Alfred E. Watson Trophy and two of whom went on to play major league professional football after graduation. As articulated so pointedly by John Wilkens, “What took them so long?”

Recently heard that Tom Conger, longtime editor of our class newsletter, was moving to the West Coast (Portland, Oregon). Tom, there are some definite benefits to being on the mainland!

David Birney, our class thespian extraordinaire, last year published A Christmas Pudding, which is a “Christmas celebration in song, story, poems, humor, etc.,” written, adapted, directed and performed by David for some 14 years. This year David’s Mark Twain’s “The Diaries of Adam and Eve,” an adaptation of two of Mark Twain’s short stories, was also published professionally by a well-known publisher of dramatic and musical works. At times David performs with his daughter Mollie.

The class of 1961 Arts Initiative Fund Award winner was announced. She is Olivia Snyder-Spak ’10, who will produce her short script, “The Day of the Rice Cake Coupon,” which won the 2008 Laing Scriptwriting Competition, into a film. The professional-level film will be shot during the course of three to four days and, after editing, will be submitted to film festivals nationwide. Academy Awards here we come!

Finally, our class’ fall mini-reunion will be held this year October 2-4 in Hanover. Maynard Wheeler, mini-reunion chair for our class, has based the class at the Lyme Inn, where we will have class dinners on both Friday evening (with students from the class of 2011 as part of our Connections Program) and Saturday evening (with a prominent speaker from the College). On Saturday morning the students whom we assist financially will present their areas of study prior to a box lunch and the football game. Now for the personal guarantee: Maynard is promises a win by Dartmouth over Penn at the varsity football game that Saturday. What could be better than that? If any questions, contact Maynard at mbwheeler61@alum.dartmouth.org. Hope to see you there.

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