“I went to a marvelous party, I must say the fun was intense” goes the opening line to a Noel Coward song, and I went to a marvelous opening of the Orozco mural project that you’ll recall from a recent column in DAM in this space and was inspired. The officers and men of the class at last fall’s meeting had lavished $15,000 on the art department in order for them to create a digitized (whatever that is) assemblage of Orozco’s efforts. Boy did they. Stop at the reserve book desk in the bowels of Baker, where we toiled at our studies, and collect an iPod to take with you on your mural tour. You’ll see a movie of the artist at work, photos of his life-size cartoons and extraordinary studies of his concepts all brilliantly organized in a way that could not have been created just a few years ago. Our host reported visitors from other universities averred they could not have achieved this elegant a design due to bureaucratic overlay at their places and how lucky Dartmouth is to be so small in size and so big in accomplishment. As NPR says at the end of its programs, “This program was made possible by contributors like you. Thank you.” 


Your correspondent received the following from Pam Lower Bass ’85: “I received my DAM and as I always do I checked the class of ’60 notes. I look to see if there is news about my late father, Marty Lower’s, classmates and it dawned on me that some in the class of ’60 might be interested to know that Marty’s first grandson (my son!) was accepted early decision to Dartmouth’s class of 2016. He will be joining his cousin Janna Wandzilak ’14.” 


Some sad news is on the march: Tom Marx died on March 30; he was highly regarded as a community contributor; Jim Houser died last January 7 and will be missed.


This is offset by some normal news: George Liebman’s new book, The Last American Diplomat, has been published to rave reviews. Jim Burns is organizing a September mini-reunion in Massachusetts for Tri-Kaps to catch up with Tony Rodolakis, who is largely homebound. Frank Bell reports he is glad to see the athletic emphasis from President Kim and hopes it’ll continue under his successor. 


Bob Arkenecht has set up dual living conditions in Massachusetts and Arizona. Your correspondent’s favorite Bob story starts the day he asked if I had a tuxedo in my closet. Indeed I did. Would I come with him to Boston to be a superfluous usher at a ball his current squeeze was going to? Sure, said I. My date was Maria Lope Bello, the daughter of the then-capitalist president of Venezuela. Thanks again, Bob.


It’s okay to correspond with me as well as Denny Goodman. We talk to each other. 


—John M. Mitchell, 300 Grove St., Rutland, VT 05710; (802) 775-3716; jmm00033@comcast.net