Class of 1956

Bob Mackay writes from Berlin: “With German unification, the U.S. Army Berlin Brigade left after almost 60 years of defending the ‘Outpost City.’ In 1994 Richard Holbrooke, Henry Kissinger, and other heavyweights in the postwar German American dialogue founded the Berlin American Academy here to maintain the strong cultural ties and common democratic values that had developed between our nations during more than a half century.

“In 2020 Daniel Benjamin, after eight years as director of the John Sloan Dickey Center at Dartmouth, became president of the American Academy. Since then Benjamin, an honorary member of the class of ’57, has energized the recruitment of leading American academics, artists, and other policymakers as working fellows, substantially strengthened its fundraising toward a $50-million endowment, and generally sharpened its profile as the leading American cultural institution in the Federal Republic. For those of us in the 1950 classes, shaped by our President Dickey’s ‘Great Issues’ courses, Daniel Benjamin brought the spirit of Dartmouth’s Dickey Center for International Understanding to Germany while maintaining his own close family and personal friendship ties to Hanover. Give a rouse!”

Charlie Morrissey, admittedly a man without a computer, has again put ink to paper upon learning that Newton-Wellesley Hospital was on my list as a frequently attended source of medical treatment. He discloses that he was born at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital on November 11, 1933, and rode his bike there while growing up in West Newton. No reason for the bike ride is given. He did mention that this hospital is served by a café whose name is the same as one of our classmates. The name will not be disclosed unless approved in writing by that classmate.

Word of the day: roseate. In no way a reference to our esteemed president, it rather designates something rose-colored or one who is optimistic or idealistic. Roseate readers of this column might demonstrate their optimistic state by sending copy for publication that lifts our spirits.

With sadness, I report the passing of Alan R. Booth, Ph.D., Peter A Bernard, and Robert L. Long Jr.

—Chuck Woodhouse, 29 C Claudette Drive, Milford, MA 01757; (508) 202-2447; kirk8202@gmail.com