The class of 1956 is the first class of Dartmouth to be headed by a presidential triumvirate. Before this, Tom Rosenwald and Tom Harper were co-presidents for five great years. At the 60th reunion meeting, the “Poon” (Harper) and the “Rose” (Rosenwald) tried to get out of the job but no one would volunteer to take their place. A deal was struck with Jack Billhardt,who had been class vice president for the previous administration—thus the three-headed presidency was born, with a jack of hearts added to the class logo. All three are practiced delegators, with Rosie as spokesman, Jack as organizer and Poon producing the newsletter.

I now hear sounds of the Barbary Coast Jazz band marching up Main Street. Two newly fallen classmates, William Frank Benson,M.D.,and Robert John Gilmore, march just behind the band as we bow our heads in silent tribute.

I recently attended a Bartlett Tower Society dinner and spent many pleasant moments chatting with Bert Whittemore and his longtime companion, Holly Van Leuven. Bert reported on Sam and Joan Hull, who have a busy year planned—in addition to hiking around the Maine coast from their home in Arundel, they will also trek Spain on the Camino Del Santiago and tour the Cotswolds in the United Kingdom. Bert also reported that Alan and Peggy Booth traveled from their Ohio home to attend the annual Gardner Cup rowing event in Hanover during early November. Whittemore and Rosenwald also attended.

I received a lovely email from Don Dillon, who says that he forwarded my “December” poem of the month to his seven kids, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Since this column will be published in February—circa Winter Carnival—I honor the snow sculptures of old with a stanza from a poetic limerick written in 2001 titled “Snow Goddess.”

White statue created from snow,

Bright snow permeated with glow;

My heart oddly warmed

By the snow lady formed,

Contemplation of night mistletoe.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net