Class Note 1950

It was a perfect Homecoming Weekend October 11-13. We had Joe Medlicott and Stephanie Reininger, Margie Nichols, Jacques Harlow and new bride Rusty, David Taylor (and Karen), Joel Leavitt and Veda Decoff, Doug Smith and Meredith, president Bob Kirby and Brownlee McKee (fresh from their Alaska trip), and yours truly and eldest daughter Rebecca at a gastronomic feed at Ariana’s Restaurant in Lyme, New Hampshire, on Friday night. This was preceded by a delightful meet ’n’ greet at Stephanie’s in Lyme, where we were with Jack Harned, Jilly, and their daughter. Unfortunately, Joel and Veda had a horrendous five-hour trip through Boston traffic from their Cape Cod hideaway to Lyme and were able to join us only at the restaurant.

With no formal business meeting this year on Saturday and no visible pre-game parking lot hoorah, we repaired to the game with dandy 45-yard seats with Jacques, Joel and Veda, Bob and Brownlee, Jack and Jilly and daughter, myself and my daughter, plus Victoria Hicks (daughter of Ort ’49), at the Dartmouth vs. Yale washout suitably attired with Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hats and singing the football song unending! Jacques providing suitable cymbal crashes from time to time.

That evening had another gastronomic delight, this time from Meredith and Doug at their Livingstone Lodge in Enfield, New Hampshire—plus a well-earned award for the prez and an evening of pleasurable conversation. Then the weekend was history. (Joanie McIlwain was in town with her son, David ’85, but we didn’t get to see them.)

Al Harquail and Viv, fresh from a Scandinavian voyage, invited your scribe and Ruffy to their summer digs in Osterville on Cape Cod, where we rode out the Dorian aftermath. Nob Hovde is still enjoying Florida, with a swim every morning, three books a week, a morning snooze, lunch with pals, and an afternoon nap! Sounds like the life of Hovde to me! I received a note from Gerry Breyton, now retired in Osprey, Florida, after a career in military aircraft testing. He and Monique plan to join us for our 70, which we believe to be in September next.

Advice from a polar bear: Live large; be thick-skinned; sniff out opportunities; learn some good icebreakers; be fearless; keep it cool!

—Tom “Smiley” Ruggles, 8 Concord Greene #5, Concord, MA 01742; (978) 369-5879; smileytmr@aol.com