Class Note 1966
Issue
Jul - Aug 2016
We are caught in a space-time dilemma. As you read this you may still be unpacking from our fabulous 50th reunion that brought 250 or so ’66ers back to campus in early June. And you rightfully expect to be treated here to a vivid account of what went down and who did what. Unfortunately, no can do. Full disclosure: The exigencies of the alumni magazine printing schedule require submission of this column five weeks before reunion. So it’s still April, don’t you know!
Undaunted, we’ll start off with another unique and successful class get-together event—the 66th night of the year. That fell on March 6, but being a flexible and creative lot, celebrations actually occurred from late February to early April. Who’s counting?
Eighty-seven classmates (more than 10 percent of our class) gathered in 17 locations around the country—from hockey-playing Jim Yarmon in Anchorage, Alaska, to Lee Sandler, Jeff Tew, Bill Wilson and Mayor Jim Cason in Coral Gables, Florida. One of the largest contingents was in San Francisco, where Bob Dowrie, Clarke Gentry, Steve Givant, Fred Hoffman, Walt Knoepfel, Bill Ramos, Dave Spring and Hal Stoddard held forth. Best wardrobe? The “1966” letter sweater that Mike Diracles wore at the Minnesota gathering with Peter Dorsen, John LeFevre and Jim Lenfestey.
Budge Gere and wife Anne joined with classmates Tom Brady and Frank Opashar and spouses and Saleh Jabarin in Toledo on 66th night. After more than 40 years serving as a pastor of Presbyterian churches in Michigan, Seattle, St. Louis, Missouri, and then back to Michigan, Budge reports that he has “found something called weekends.” Retirement has given him a chance to be more involved in Dartmouth activities and reconnect with classmates. To wit, Budge is our class representative on the Alumni Council.
Greg Eden has plenty to celebrate—the arrival of his third grandchild, Lucas, and the upcoming weddings this fall of daughters Carlyle and Mariah. Greg continues to be involved in public-private partnerships. He has been selected by Texas A&M to structure and finance a $366-million, 3,400-bed series of student housing facilities on 50 acres next to the Bush library. Go Aggies!
George Emlen was honored in late April in Boston for his 32 years as music director of Revels, a performing arts organization best known for its annual productions of The Christmas Revels. A highlight of the evening was a performance of “Before a Common Soil,” a work for chorus and brass ensemble he composed for the occasion. As George wraps us his tenure with Revels he looks forward to devoting more time to his composing work.
It’s no surprise that Tom Behling’s career has been a well-kept secret. Tom (our sources tell us) has spent 40 years in intelligence work with the CIA and the National Reconnaissance Office (which builds and flies our nation’s spy satellites). He also served four years as deputy under-secretary of defense for intelligence (preparation and warning). Now, as executive director of Centra Technologies, Tom reportedly consults with the U.S. Defense Department, the National Defense University and other government entities. Just don’t tell anybody.
Look for reunion news in the class newsletter and right here next time. Enjoy the summer.
—Larry Geiger, 93 Greenridge Ave., White Plains, NY 10605; (914) 860-4945; lgeiger@aol.com
Undaunted, we’ll start off with another unique and successful class get-together event—the 66th night of the year. That fell on March 6, but being a flexible and creative lot, celebrations actually occurred from late February to early April. Who’s counting?
Eighty-seven classmates (more than 10 percent of our class) gathered in 17 locations around the country—from hockey-playing Jim Yarmon in Anchorage, Alaska, to Lee Sandler, Jeff Tew, Bill Wilson and Mayor Jim Cason in Coral Gables, Florida. One of the largest contingents was in San Francisco, where Bob Dowrie, Clarke Gentry, Steve Givant, Fred Hoffman, Walt Knoepfel, Bill Ramos, Dave Spring and Hal Stoddard held forth. Best wardrobe? The “1966” letter sweater that Mike Diracles wore at the Minnesota gathering with Peter Dorsen, John LeFevre and Jim Lenfestey.
Budge Gere and wife Anne joined with classmates Tom Brady and Frank Opashar and spouses and Saleh Jabarin in Toledo on 66th night. After more than 40 years serving as a pastor of Presbyterian churches in Michigan, Seattle, St. Louis, Missouri, and then back to Michigan, Budge reports that he has “found something called weekends.” Retirement has given him a chance to be more involved in Dartmouth activities and reconnect with classmates. To wit, Budge is our class representative on the Alumni Council.
Greg Eden has plenty to celebrate—the arrival of his third grandchild, Lucas, and the upcoming weddings this fall of daughters Carlyle and Mariah. Greg continues to be involved in public-private partnerships. He has been selected by Texas A&M to structure and finance a $366-million, 3,400-bed series of student housing facilities on 50 acres next to the Bush library. Go Aggies!
George Emlen was honored in late April in Boston for his 32 years as music director of Revels, a performing arts organization best known for its annual productions of The Christmas Revels. A highlight of the evening was a performance of “Before a Common Soil,” a work for chorus and brass ensemble he composed for the occasion. As George wraps us his tenure with Revels he looks forward to devoting more time to his composing work.
It’s no surprise that Tom Behling’s career has been a well-kept secret. Tom (our sources tell us) has spent 40 years in intelligence work with the CIA and the National Reconnaissance Office (which builds and flies our nation’s spy satellites). He also served four years as deputy under-secretary of defense for intelligence (preparation and warning). Now, as executive director of Centra Technologies, Tom reportedly consults with the U.S. Defense Department, the National Defense University and other government entities. Just don’t tell anybody.
Look for reunion news in the class newsletter and right here next time. Enjoy the summer.
—Larry Geiger, 93 Greenridge Ave., White Plains, NY 10605; (914) 860-4945; lgeiger@aol.com