Class Note 1961

The class annual reports for the fiscal year ended June 30 have been completed and submitted and the evaluations are currently under way for Class of the Year determination. Again, the class of 1961 has done an outstanding job, especially when you consider that we were the smallest entrance class on record for our era and certainly thereafter, when the entering classes were increased substantially as coeducation came into play. Furthermore, because of the inescapable effects of the aging process, our current class count is approximately at only 525 out of the original class count of 721.

Thus, our class’ accomplishments during the past four years—during which period we have won Class of the Year twice and an honorable mention twice—speak highly of our class, leadership and, most importantly, the class itself. Where we will finish in the competition for the current year remains to be seen, but from the statistics that are currently available we appear once again to be the class to beat for Class of the Year.

Current class president Don O’Neill has been an outstanding leader during the past three years and former class president Dennis Denniston was an excellent leader for the period prior to that, both ably assisted each year by 18 other class officers comprised primarily of classmates and including three spouses of classmates.

Mike Murphy, who along with Art Kelton was the driving force behind the implementation and installation of the Robert Frost statue at Dartmouth as a ’61 class project during the mid-1990s, sent in an article stating that George Lundeen, the sculptor of the life-size and lifelike Robert Frost statue at Dartmouth, along with his brother has been selected to create a statue honoring the three Apollo 11 astronauts. It is anticipated that this statue will be dedicated in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the landing on the moon. Some of Lundeen’s prior sculptures of note include the statue of Benjamin Franklin in the center of campus at the University of Pennsylvania and the statue of James Swigert, the Colorado-born U.S. astronaut and later legislator, for the State of Colorado’s placement in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol.

In early July a micro-mini reunion luncheon of ’61 Pi Lams was arranged and hosted by Gerry Kaminsky in Manhattan and attended by Larry Levy, Ron Pickett, Bob Rosier, Bill Kandel, and Vic Rich. Discussion included reminiscing about our days at Dartmouth, the Dartmouth of today, and some current social and political issues. The one point we all agreed on was that it would be far more difficult for any of us to be admitted to Dartmouth College today—and far more costly to attend.

—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516)446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com