Even though we’re now at year’s end I would be remiss not to follow up on our wildly successful Homecoming mini-reunion in October. On Friday night our class led the parade up Main Street, following the steady drumbeat of the Marching Band, cheered on by the very young-looking students on the sidewalks, most of whom seemed inspired by the fact that so many ’62s were still walking. Only 50 years ago we too had lined the parade route and cheered the old grads on with the same sense of bemused wonder. Now only the cast of characters had changed.


There was globetrotting Charlie Balch carrying the ’62 placard, plus Gordy McKean, fresh from the Cape, and Al Rapoport, just back from China, and Irwin Kramer, just back from Israel. Class artist Bob Aiken and Lynette marched too, as did Bob Andrew, Tom Cutter and John Walters. Oli Larmi danced his way up the street and Al Huck coolly worked the crowd, snapping candid photos for his upcoming celebrated newsletter. Gene Gasbarro and Sandy were there too, and Denny Barnes and Ingrid, who recently celebrated their own 50th anniversary, and Charlie Giersch and Mary Vic. All of these ’mates, and many others too numerous to mention, marched in homage to Prometheus, bringer of fire, and to the traditional flames that, once lit by the freshman class, leapt hundreds of feet into the air, pushed back the autumn night in a blaze of light and showered the Upper Valley in sparkling fallout. The ancient ritual, bolstered by speeches and song on the steps of Dartmouth Hall, and by President Jim Kim’s annual run around the bonfire with the students, sealed the deal. Columbia never had a chance. The next day the Lions went down to ignominious defeat, 37-0. Dartmouth Night incantations had worked their magic once again.


Following the bonfire we made our way to the DOC house for pizza and libation, one of several opportunities for sustenance and convivial conversation, masterfully arranged by Woody Chittick and Mike Schaefer.Another was the pregame tailgating on the Alpha Delta lawn on Saturday morning after the class meeting. This was topped on Saturday night by the class dinner at Dowds’ Country Inn, to which Dan Tompkins invited past ’62 Faculty Fellowship recipients, all of whom answered questions related to how the economic recession was impacting the College community. In all 32 of our classmates returned to Homecoming. Spouses and friends brought the total number in attendance to 57. Everyone seemed to get plenty to eat and drink, find much to talk about and thoroughly enjoy each other’s company.


At the class dinner I visited with Jeff Urstadt, who said he regularly attends a monthly luncheon group with Wouter Goedkoop, Gordy Aydelott, Brock Saxe, Tom Davies, Jim Biggs, John Knight and Carl Funke. It sounds like a great opportunity for interested classmates in the vicinity of New Canaan, Connecticut, to meet, greet and eat. Also Tom Komarek reports he is researching another class trip for 2013. All excellent Big Green ways—together with our 50th in June—to keep in constant touch.


—Jim Haines, 307 Sewickley Ridge Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143; (412) 741-9088; jbhaines@comcast.net