Class of 1979

John Gilbertson and wife Kathryn Harper went with Dartmouth alumni travel to Cuba: “Travelers included Karen Thompson Dale and Meg Morrow Clayton. Tuck professor Ramon Lecuona contextualized Cuba’s economic situation. We met performing and visual artists and entrepreneurs; toured Revolution Square, Old Havana, and Hemingway’s home; drove the Malecon in vintage Chevys; had drinks at Hotel Nacional (Godfather, Part II); and watched cabaret at Tropicana Club. We walked western Cuban hills, pausing for the eclipse (using Meg’s glasses) before touring a tobacco hacienda.”

Karen adds, “What a wonderful opportunity to explore this country we grew up hearing about and to learn its history, culture, and politics, in particular how Cuban and American policies affected the individual dramatically. Yet, joyfulness fills their music, singing, and hospitality. Connecting with Meg, Kathryn, and John was an added bonus. One day an interesting older traveler who had attended Tuck and had worked for the World Bank said, ‘Your class of ’79 must have been a fabulous class,’ a nice reflection to hear and very true.”

Doug Arion and Tim Sykes, Motor Lodge residents freshman year, reconnected when both ended up just north of Franconia Notch, New Hampshire. Sykes and wife Judy joined Doug’s “Texas Totality” viewing trip: “Two other ’79s, Tim Gent and Joe Giammarco, neither of whom I remember meeting in Hanover (different from saying I did not meet them!), came. We only briefly reminisced, sharing experiences, some parts similar, some not. Likely, we agreed that attending during the transition to a balanced male-female population was uncomfortable, odd. Non-eclipse trip highlights included UT Austin’s LBJ Library. Politics aside, revisiting that era was fascinating and unexpectedly emotional. Climbing, then circumnavigating Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, Texas, reminded us that we’re not young anymore and that early-April Texas heat is hard for us Northerners—but we prevailed! My favorite moment at Waco’s Homestead Craft Village was when the miller finished his prepared discussion and asked for questions—every hand in our group went up! In Killeen, Doug gave informative presentations on light pollution, solar physics, and what to expect during the eclipse. Afterwards, we remarked how different our discussions were from much that goes on today: ‘We don’t understand all of it, but we trust the science and the scientist’ vs. ‘I don’t understand it, so it must be a lie.’ The eclipse itself was the coolest thing ever. Minutes shy of totality a black cloud moved over the mostly obscured sun; we were stressing, but it moved quickly and cheers erupted! We saw the full corona and visible orange-red prominence—amazing! Over and above the jaw-dropping solar display was the reaction of the crowd, especially the kids. Doug elucidated how observing the universe gives one a perspective on things that tend to bring us together as humans—he’s not wrong!” Doug adds, “What a pleasure to share this unique phenomenon—especially as it will be long before another eclipse in America. There was a lot of discussion about an Iceland or Spain 2026 total eclipse trip!”

—Janie Simms Hamner, 7327 Centenary Ave., Dallas, TX 75225; jshandkids@aol.com