In late spring of 1988 PBS education correspondent John Merrow decided to do a piece on our 25th class reunion. As we approach our 50th I recall John with his cameraman asking classmates one question in particular, “Why are you here?” Clearly he was searching for something that would help him tell his story. What I did not realize was that John was probing the essence of what we are about and why, come June 6 through 11, 2013, hundreds of us will converge on Hanover to commemorate 50 years since we left the College to pursue our expectations and the challenges life has posed.


Yes, in a sense reunions are about time, but they also are about creating a fresh perspective of the experiences and relationships we had during a most formative and important period of our lives. I have wonderful memories of past reunions—parties, dinners, sports, speeches, lectures—but what I remember and cherish most are the friendships that were renewed or made anew. There are certain truths about reunions that the most skeptical of critics cannot contest. We are the same age, at the same stage in our lives, and more than 50 years ago shared many of the same experiences. If we did not know each other then, we can meet now and instantly have things in common. Reunions are about remembering the past in a fun setting, but they are also about building on that past to make new friends, to learn things we did not know, to take home an idea, a unique experience that will help sustain us in the years to come. 


Putting together a reunion the size and scope of the 50th is no small feat. While the College provides a structure and backdrop, the real work is done by committed volunteers headed by reunion chair Tom Jester, volunteer chair Tom Perry and reunion book editor Ed Mazer. These guys have been hard at work for at least a year, assembling a team, fundraising, attending to food and lodging and designing a schedule to knock your socks off. The 50th was the focus of our executive committee meeting at our fall mini-reunion, where 42 classmates, wives and friends turned out for post-game festivities at the home of Dan Muchinsky and Mary Barnes. For the latest update on our 50th, go to www.dartmouth.org/classes/63.


In other news Gerry Uram, real estate chair at Davis & Gilbert, New York, was honored by Chambers USA for the third year, and the Best Lawyers in America for a second year. The service of Dave Dawley, Len Levitt, Kevin Lowther, Sam Cabot, Ash Hartwell, Joel August, Dave Boldt, Tim Kraft and Stu Ulman was recognized with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps at Dartmouth. Thomas McInerny became president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics.


I am sad to report the deaths of Fred Doane, Clark Edwards, Rich Evans and Jeff Galper.


—Harry Zlokower, 60 Madison Ave., Suite 910, New York, NY 10010; (212) 447-9292; harry@zlokower.com