Class Note 1962

Life in the time of coronavirus: Regrettably, our 80th birthday bash in San Antonio, Texas, organized by tripmeister Tom Komarek was canceled. Al Huck compiled a tribute to Tom in a special newsletter edition containing photos of past trips and reminiscences from appreciative classmates. We celebrated our collective 80th birthdays anyway by Zoom, organized from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by Peter Knight. And a good time was had by all.

Magda and Bob Katz in New York City and David Feingold in Thailand survived bouts with the virus. Steve Geller adapted to the new world by teaching four online courses from home in Savannah, Georgia. John Thees and Elyse Taylor hunkered down at home in Tomball, Texas, “completing projects we have procrastinated on.” John Walters (our new Alumni Council member) participates in online council meetings. With Nancy’s gentle prodding, John is finally cleaning out old files, including all of his class notebooks! And from Baltimore, Sandy Apgar wrote a letter published in The Washington Post.

Colin Harley, now 14 years into retirement near Charleston, South Carolina, with Anita, his wife of 42 years, reports: “Living with the virus, we still have 10 miles of pristine beach, 30 miles of good bicycle riding, golf, and a pool on the back deck with a million-dollar-view of the marsh and the river. We have six cats and a dog, and I spend time with all of them every day. I drink a bit more bourbon out on the deck.”

Pat and Gordy McKeon are cooking and delivering meals to friends and supplying excess produce from their garden to various organizations providing food to families in need. Their son, Jim, is recovering from the virus, and three other children are healthcare providers in the thick of it. Other classmates with offspring on the frontlines include Dan Tompkins and Frank Kehl, who keeps us enthralled with accounts of community life in Harlem.

I regret to report the recent deaths of the classmates Harold J. Ousby III on February 3 and Charles R. Schwarz, Ph.D., on January 21. Please send remembrances to Peter Knight (dartmouth62webmaster@gmail.com).

—David L. Smith, RR4 Box 225B4, Galveston, TX 77554; (775) 870-2354; david@davidlsmith.com