Class Note 1948
Bob Eckerson tells an interesting story about his relationship with our late classmate Lou Springsteen,who became a minister and presided over several of our reunion ceremonies in Rollins Chapel. His wife, Ellen, attended our 70th reunion. Bob writes: “I grew up in Old Tappan, New Jersey, a farm town for New York City. Within one month of my 17th birthday I was sworn into the Navy V-5 program, was sent to Dartmouth, and eventually learned to fly. After discharge I returned to Dartmouth in the engineering program (A.B. and master’s from Thayer) and had little contact with other undergraduates. After World War II it was decided to subdivide the Eckerson farm into pieces for the four children. When my sister received her piece, she chose to subdivide it for a church. The officers of the church realized they needed space for a manse and parking and contacted me for my adjacent piece of land. An agreement was reached and the land belonged to the church, which built a home for the minister. The church had several ministers as the years went by and in 1958 there was a call for a new minister. Who was knocking at the door but Lou Springsteen. He was accepted and was its minister for 35 years until he retired. In this way, I had contact with Lou each time there was a baptism, wedding, or funeral in my family.”
Sissi Shattuck advised that that she and Gil are both active, he with the Manahan photo collection and research of his family history and she with painting. She has sent several images of her recent work, from portraits to landscapes, reflecting a distinct and interesting style. Bud Munson thoroughly enjoyed a river cruise down the Rhine last summer. Rather than it being sedentary, he said that he had more than enough exercise walking through the villages and castles every day. Hugh Ettinger is still working regularly as a “jack of all trades” for a New Orleans private company owning thousands of apartment units in several states. More information on his doings in my next notes.
—Dave Kurr, 4281 Indian Field Road, Clinton, NY 13323; (781) 801-6716; djkurr@verizon.net
