1962

1962

I’m delighted to receive news from our favorite screenwriter and novelist, Steve Geller, who is “still teaching Shakespeare, satire, and the personal essay at Savannah College of Art and Design and writing novels daily” (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_ Geller lists his mind-boggling accomplishments). He also blogs: www.upwriteonthedownbeat.com. A proud papa, he cites the accomplishments of daughters Florrie (“After an intense 13 years of study at prestigious schools, accepted at the age of 18 to be an apprentice at the Cincinnati Ballet, starting professionally this coming season”), Polly ’90 (“teaching at Los Angeles Art Center and writing poetry”), and Hillary (“a graphic designer in Chicago”). Steve wrote a touching memory of Al Houser, posted on the class website at 1962. dartmouth.org.

We’re saddened by news of the recent deaths of Jim Owings Jr., Ph.D., of Riderwood, Maryland, on January 12; Fred Cook of Courtland Manor, New York, on April 4; and Gordy Williamson of Hanover on February 15. Future Class Notes will list the deaths of classmates, while posting obituaries on the class website and the online DAM. I make a final exception for Gordy after talking to his daughter, Lianna, who said he would have valued an obituary in the DAM more highly than in any newspaper.

Gordon “Gordy” R. Williamson of Hanover died on February 15. He was predeceased in 2015 by his wife of 37 years, Virginia (nee Lodner, an adopted member of our class), and is survived by his brother, Allan; daughter Lianna Williamson Dunten; son Derek; stepdaughter Tully Green MacAlpin; and three grandchildren. Gordy was a working-class kid from inner-city Chicago with no collegiate ambitions until Bob Blackmun recruited him for football. Majoring in physics, Gordy received his master’s in physics from Brown and LL.B. from Harvard. His career spanned the practice of intellectual property law and publishing with Byte Publications (with Virginia) acquired by McGraw-Hill. In retirement he founded a nonprofit organization supporting artisans in Rwanda, authored a career guide for young lawyers, and volunteered his time with the Dartmouth athletics department. Legendary Dartmouth football writer Bruce Wood described Gordy as “a brilliant, eccentric man, a very dedicated Dartmouth fan and friend.”

—David L. Smith, RR4 Box 225B4, Galveston, TX 77554; (775) 870-2354; david@davidlsmith.com