I received a copy of the Maine Pilot newsletter from a classmate who wishes to remain anonymous with a note indicating that many in the class would find the front-page headline story of interest. The headline reads: “After four years in prison, Rusty Brace is released.” Four years following his sentencing in U.S. 1st District Court in Portland, Maine, for mail and tax fraud, former Rockport resident Russell “Rusty” Brace was released April 26 from a federal penitentiary in Rochester, Minnesota, at the age of 85. He looks ahead to two years of supervised release.

I also received a copy of the front page of The Roanoke Times with a headline obituary about Herb West, son of professor Herb West, who taught many of us at Dartmouth. This item was sent in by Darrel Clowes, who wrote: “Herb West Jr. was as unique a student at Dartmouth as his father was a professor. He left junior year after being kicked out for having a woman after hours in his dorm room, but he subsequently enrolled at the University of Chicago and went on to an exotic but successful academic career at Virginia Tech. He retired as the oldest assistant professor at that institution.” The headline of the article reads, “Blacksburg musicians and friends remember the ‘partying professor.’ ”

I received notices from the College of the passing of four classmates, William M. Balliette Jr., Stephen J. Bissell, E. Kent Kane III, and George M. Yeager. I also got an email from Carol Riker indicating that an obituary for Tom Riker recently appeared in The San Diego Union Tribune. All five of these classmates follow the Barbary Coast jazz band as it marches up Main Street and all bow their heads in silent tribute.

I close with the last stanza of a poem titled “A Remembrance of Things Past.”

Reunion’s a time to see friends,

Hoping the day never ends;

Nostalgia and fun,

Laughs one by one,

And a true Dartmouth spirit transcends.

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