Class Note 1949
Issue
November-December 2020
In what passes for good news, classmates whom I spoke to recently are all keeping their heads above water: Ray Truncellito and Tom Towler are in assisted living, while Deke Jackson, Richie Wolff, new bridegroom Skip Ungar, and Joel Berson are still thriving (almost) independently. Sadly, two of my closest friends in the class—Bruce Crawford and Slade Gorton—unexpectedly passed away not long after I had lengthy chats with each of them. Together with Tommy Swartz and Jay Urstadt, that is four good pals lost since our 70th reunion last year.
Bruce Boyd Crawford died on July 27 in Sarasota, Florida, where he lived. Bruce managed the 1948 Dartmouth football team which won all but two games and featured ’49s Ray Truncellito and the late Joe Sullivan, Jon Jenkins, and Carll Tracy. After graduating from Tuck Bruce spent his career with State Mutual Life Insurance Co. (Massachusetts), retiring as VP of marketing and sales. He moved to Sarasota in 1989 and was very active in the local Dartmouth club. Bruce, Tom Towler, and I have been a close triumvirate ever since. He is survived by his partner, Joan Sheil, sons Dana, Keith, and Scott, and daughter Carolyn.
Thomas Slade Gorton III died on August 19 in Clyde Hill, Washington, where he lived. Slade received his law degree from Columbia, served five terms in the Washington State Legislature, 12 years as the state’s attorney general, and three terms as a U.S. senator. Later Slade served on the 9/11 Commission and wrote most of its report. Unquestionably Slade, a moderate Republican, was the leading political light in our class. He holds another travel record, bicycling 3,300 miles with his family from Olympia, Washington, to Hanover and then Boston in 1973. Slade is survived by son Thomas and daughters Sarah and Rebecca.
Matthew Clark Fenton III died on April 28 in Lutherville, Maryland, where he lived. After Dartmouth Matt served five years as a Marine Corps pilot, then spent his career with his family-owned Cadillac-Jaguar company, retiring as president. He flew his own planes as a hobby and was deeply involved in Dartmouth alumni activities. Matt leaves his wife, Mary Louise (“Pud”), son Matthew, and daughter Sally.
—John Adler, 1623 Pelican Cove Road, BA123, Sarasota, FL 34231; (203) 622-9069; (941) 966-2943 (fax)
Bruce Boyd Crawford died on July 27 in Sarasota, Florida, where he lived. Bruce managed the 1948 Dartmouth football team which won all but two games and featured ’49s Ray Truncellito and the late Joe Sullivan, Jon Jenkins, and Carll Tracy. After graduating from Tuck Bruce spent his career with State Mutual Life Insurance Co. (Massachusetts), retiring as VP of marketing and sales. He moved to Sarasota in 1989 and was very active in the local Dartmouth club. Bruce, Tom Towler, and I have been a close triumvirate ever since. He is survived by his partner, Joan Sheil, sons Dana, Keith, and Scott, and daughter Carolyn.
Thomas Slade Gorton III died on August 19 in Clyde Hill, Washington, where he lived. Slade received his law degree from Columbia, served five terms in the Washington State Legislature, 12 years as the state’s attorney general, and three terms as a U.S. senator. Later Slade served on the 9/11 Commission and wrote most of its report. Unquestionably Slade, a moderate Republican, was the leading political light in our class. He holds another travel record, bicycling 3,300 miles with his family from Olympia, Washington, to Hanover and then Boston in 1973. Slade is survived by son Thomas and daughters Sarah and Rebecca.
Matthew Clark Fenton III died on April 28 in Lutherville, Maryland, where he lived. After Dartmouth Matt served five years as a Marine Corps pilot, then spent his career with his family-owned Cadillac-Jaguar company, retiring as president. He flew his own planes as a hobby and was deeply involved in Dartmouth alumni activities. Matt leaves his wife, Mary Louise (“Pud”), son Matthew, and daughter Sally.
—John Adler, 1623 Pelican Cove Road, BA123, Sarasota, FL 34231; (203) 622-9069; (941) 966-2943 (fax)