Class Note 1969
Issue
Jan - Feb 2019
We will take another look at the status of our upcoming 50th, reminding you to go to our website, www.dartmouth69.org, see who has committed to join the festivities, and sign up if you haven’t already. We still show about 300 classmates who have responded, but some of them are saying “maybe” and we would really like to change those to a solid “yes” so there will be more friends with whom we can reconnect. Some of them will be friends from long ago. Remember there is more going on than just our reunion: Our Class Connections program with the ’19s will allow us to be there for their graduation, and the College is celebrating Dartmouth’s 250th anniversary with events and exhibits we can all enjoy.
Dimitri Gerakaris, our class blacksmith and finder of worthwhile student-driven projectsto support, this year proposed the Dartmouth ski patrol, a student organization that has been allied with the College longer than ourselves. Both Dimitri and Andy McLane were members of this organization and can attest to the value it provides. It patrols all hours of operation, trains year-round to maintain medical skills, and does its own fundraising for medical equipment, updated medical handbooks, and supplies. Upon Dimitri’s recommendation, the executive committee unanimously agreed and committed to a $10,000 contribution. As the ski patrol was having its intense two-day refresher session, Dimitri attended the lunch break and, after being given the floor by the Skiway manager, announced our donation to the group. After a stunned silence they erupted into a burst of gratitude. He then asked for ’19s to raise their hands, reminded them we would be marching before them at Commencement, and noted it is comforting to know the ski patrol would be behind us to tend to any who dropped.
Look for a recap of Homecoming activities in the next edition; however, as a preview we have learned the town of Hanover is allowing a bonfire this year. Rick Willets reports we will have more than two dozen attendees and a new post-bonfire gathering spot provided, thanks to the efforts of Paul Tuhus.
The November mini-reunion in Charleston, South Carolina, attracted several classmates from the area and there will be a report on attendees and activities in the next column.
Work on the reunion book continues, and it was gratifying to receive remembrances of departed classmates to be included with their names in that book. Answering that call to speak up with memories of friends, roommates, or just classmates were several ’69s, including Dan Cooperman, Alan Lake (who sent memories of four men), Ted Baehr, Dave Wakelin, Stevan Naylor, Tim Greist, Dona Heller, Bill Berentsen, and several others. We are grateful for all the contributions made on behalf of our fallen classmates and for those of you who have stepped up to add to their stories.
Please continue to send your stories about happenings in your lives to Allen Denison for inclusion in our newsletter and to me.
—Steve Larson, 837 Wildcat Trail, 10328 Big Canoe, Big Canoe, GA 30143; (360) 770-4388; wheat69@outlook.com
Dimitri Gerakaris, our class blacksmith and finder of worthwhile student-driven projectsto support, this year proposed the Dartmouth ski patrol, a student organization that has been allied with the College longer than ourselves. Both Dimitri and Andy McLane were members of this organization and can attest to the value it provides. It patrols all hours of operation, trains year-round to maintain medical skills, and does its own fundraising for medical equipment, updated medical handbooks, and supplies. Upon Dimitri’s recommendation, the executive committee unanimously agreed and committed to a $10,000 contribution. As the ski patrol was having its intense two-day refresher session, Dimitri attended the lunch break and, after being given the floor by the Skiway manager, announced our donation to the group. After a stunned silence they erupted into a burst of gratitude. He then asked for ’19s to raise their hands, reminded them we would be marching before them at Commencement, and noted it is comforting to know the ski patrol would be behind us to tend to any who dropped.
Look for a recap of Homecoming activities in the next edition; however, as a preview we have learned the town of Hanover is allowing a bonfire this year. Rick Willets reports we will have more than two dozen attendees and a new post-bonfire gathering spot provided, thanks to the efforts of Paul Tuhus.
The November mini-reunion in Charleston, South Carolina, attracted several classmates from the area and there will be a report on attendees and activities in the next column.
Work on the reunion book continues, and it was gratifying to receive remembrances of departed classmates to be included with their names in that book. Answering that call to speak up with memories of friends, roommates, or just classmates were several ’69s, including Dan Cooperman, Alan Lake (who sent memories of four men), Ted Baehr, Dave Wakelin, Stevan Naylor, Tim Greist, Dona Heller, Bill Berentsen, and several others. We are grateful for all the contributions made on behalf of our fallen classmates and for those of you who have stepped up to add to their stories.
Please continue to send your stories about happenings in your lives to Allen Denison for inclusion in our newsletter and to me.
—Steve Larson, 837 Wildcat Trail, 10328 Big Canoe, Big Canoe, GA 30143; (360) 770-4388; wheat69@outlook.com