Class Note 1938
Issue
November-December 2020
I received a list from the alumni relations office of the remaining active members of the class of ’38. It breaks my heart to say that we are down to the “Fabulous Five”: Eric W. Davidson, M.D., Louis M. Freedman Jr., Yokichi Fujelyama, John R. McGreevy, M.D., and Charles B. Wiggin Jr. If memory serves me correctly, I believe they matriculated in September 1934 with 588, which was the largest class at that time. Now understand that I also am getting up there in years, so please forgive me if I am incorrect. I’m going to say that the average age is approximately 104 years—a good number indeed. So to the remaining members of “my class,” I say a very heartfelt thank you—I’ve never been in such extraordinary company.
This issue brings to mind the beginning of winter in Hanover; God only knows if we will even have a winter with global warming running amok. It was November 3, 1938, and a freshman sent a letter home, part of which follows. “I’ve just been through a siege of hour exams. What a workout! The trees now are bare of leaves and the weather is damp and cold—everything is sort of gray and hard. I would appreciate it if you could send me an extra blanket—my roommate is a madman for fresh air. The feel of winter is in the air and so is the talk of it. Talk of snow and ski trails is incessant and weird, plaintive sounds known locally as yodeling float over the campus. The ski squad is seen almost every day running up and down the hills, leaping fences and streams, and plowing through the forests. They don’t seem quite normal—there is something decidedly abnormal in these guys.” I’m pretty sure the words “global warming” were not even mentioned 82 years ago in Hanover—but you never know, maybe it should have been.
When my Richard Francis was writing the columns, we began writing them together in 1980—so I’ve been involved for a total 40 years; he provided the words and I the warmth. I’ve been flying solo since 2005 (15 years), always wondering what I would discuss. Back then I would hear from my classmates with news of what they were involved with—their families, their losses, reveling in memories, and walking down memory lane—and they contributed quite handsomely. I now wonder what more can I say or do. Perhaps after 40 years it is time to put the pen down and walk down those memory lanes as well. It’s funny, Richard always said that I’d be attending the celebration of the100th anniversary/reunion of the class of ’38 in 2038—18 years is a long way off and these are truly unsettling times.
Have a blessed and happy holiday season. You are always in my thoughts and prayers—“talk” to you in December for the Jan./Feb. 2021 issue.
—Jean M. Francis, 2205 Boston Road, O-139, Wilbraham, MA 01095; jmfcarmel@charter.net
This issue brings to mind the beginning of winter in Hanover; God only knows if we will even have a winter with global warming running amok. It was November 3, 1938, and a freshman sent a letter home, part of which follows. “I’ve just been through a siege of hour exams. What a workout! The trees now are bare of leaves and the weather is damp and cold—everything is sort of gray and hard. I would appreciate it if you could send me an extra blanket—my roommate is a madman for fresh air. The feel of winter is in the air and so is the talk of it. Talk of snow and ski trails is incessant and weird, plaintive sounds known locally as yodeling float over the campus. The ski squad is seen almost every day running up and down the hills, leaping fences and streams, and plowing through the forests. They don’t seem quite normal—there is something decidedly abnormal in these guys.” I’m pretty sure the words “global warming” were not even mentioned 82 years ago in Hanover—but you never know, maybe it should have been.
When my Richard Francis was writing the columns, we began writing them together in 1980—so I’ve been involved for a total 40 years; he provided the words and I the warmth. I’ve been flying solo since 2005 (15 years), always wondering what I would discuss. Back then I would hear from my classmates with news of what they were involved with—their families, their losses, reveling in memories, and walking down memory lane—and they contributed quite handsomely. I now wonder what more can I say or do. Perhaps after 40 years it is time to put the pen down and walk down those memory lanes as well. It’s funny, Richard always said that I’d be attending the celebration of the100th anniversary/reunion of the class of ’38 in 2038—18 years is a long way off and these are truly unsettling times.
Have a blessed and happy holiday season. You are always in my thoughts and prayers—“talk” to you in December for the Jan./Feb. 2021 issue.
—Jean M. Francis, 2205 Boston Road, O-139, Wilbraham, MA 01095; jmfcarmel@charter.net