Class Note 1958
Thirty-sevenclassmates and partners had a marvelous time at the sunny, eightyish March 14-15 mini-reunion in Lakeland, Florida. But it’s a tossup which was the chief attraction—the superbly funny Thad Seymour, who was in his best form speaking at the concluding banquet, or Faith the Wonder Dog, a waddling, adorable, almost beatific therapy pooch that accompanied Marty and Larry Weltin everywhere at the elegant old Lakeland Terrace Hotel. For story-telling humor, though, Larry momentarily upstaged Thad in introducing him as speaker—recalling how he visited Thad’s office to thank him for the D on his senior thesis (on 18th-century English satirists) because it ensured he would graduate.
Lakeland highlights included a well-attended tour of the dozen Frank Lloyd Wright buildings at nearby Florida Southern College, built in part by students between classes. The Tigers-Red Sox game was great fun too, with Mary Ann and me (in my Sox cap) sitting next to Sally and Ralph Manuel (in his Tigers cap) in front row seats. (Sox 2-1 in the 10th!) For October mini regulars Gersh Abraham, Roger Bruttomesso, Peter Herman, Don McCree, John Murphy, Norm Sylvester and Otto Wagenbach we saw the fresh faces of Alan Baker, Bryant Barnard, Bob Gilges, Vince Hovanec, Jake Jacobus, Paul Jameson, Glower Jones, Hank Milton, Charlie Pierce and Herb Swarzman.
Thad, who began at Dartmouth with us in 1954, had us in stitches for 45 minutes at the banquet. Later he wrote Larry: “It was such a treat to be with you nice guys. I can’t get over the way you made me feel that 1954 just wasn’t that long ago. Only 57 years and suddenly we’re all the same age!” He told of being asked to leave Princeton because he was married to Polly, of finishing at the more broad-minded Berkeley before coming to Hanover, of becoming dean in 1959 just after we graduated and later president of Rollins College in Florida—with multi anecdotes in between.
Our on-the-spot host Larry was ably assisted by Sam Smith and Bob Eleveld (who got the great ballgame seats). As for his amazing dog Faith, she’s bred from French bassets and Irish terriers to produce a wide-bodied, short-legged, shaggy-haired Glen of Imaal terrier, now AKC certified. With her patient, friendly disposition, Faith goes with Larry thrice weekly to visit a children’s orthopedic hospital, a memory-care center for Alzheimer sufferers and a remedial middle school reading program. She works a room like a politician, snagging every vote. As often happens, Larry’s good deeds in Lakeland will not go unpunished: Gersh has asked him to co-chair, with Ray Robbins, our 55th reunion in June 2013.
Quick closing note from Andy Thomas about an April phone call from Hanover: “ ‘Hello, Andy, this is Buddy Teevens. I’d like to talk to you about Hunter O., who is wait-listed for class of ’15.’ I was floored. I had written to Buddy about this kid who’s a natural for Dartmouth and a great football player. Having the head coach call about a prospect shows the intimate relationships we enjoy in the Dartmouth community.”
—Steve Quickel, 65 Chapel Road, New Hope, PA 18938; squickel@usinvestmentreport.com
