Class Note 1969
Issue
March-April 2020
It’s been a quiet winter in the Upper Valley, but on the banks of Occom Pond our class is in action. Paul Tuhus donned a jacket and tie—we might call it his “class action suit”—representing us as momentum builds for renovation of the DOC House, a gathering place for generations to come, open to all members of the Dartmouth family. He and Andy McLane report that the architects and builders are on schedule and fundraising goes well. Keep this in mind if you want to make a memorial gift. The family of David Foster generously contributed in remembrance of his passing. Bill Stableford, Andy, and Paul will update us heading into the spring.
Important: If you have an IRA, you can make a qualified charitable distribution toward the project, avoiding income tax, and spread that donation across five years. We also have a matching fund that enhances gifts over $5,000. If you have questions, contact Paul (pktuhus@gmail.com) or Andy (pamclane@ta.com) and get on board!
At the end of November Peter Elias sent out an update on “69Cares,” and you can help. Our volunteers will send a brief handwritten note on a custom-designed condolence card, and we will provide contact information so you can add your personal touch based on your connections at Dartmouth or in the decades since. Our initial effort has been rewarding and warmly received. Bruce English writes that through 69Cares he realized a connection with classmate John Kelsey, as they were sons of Marine officers who likely knew each other in the WW II Pacific theater.
Jim Staros and his wife, Alice Harris, represented the class of 1969 at the Charter Day celebration in Cambridge on December 13. The evening was great fun with prominent Dartmouth alumni such as Rachel Dratch ’88 and Jake Tapper ’91 headlining the celebration.
Our work in locating old friends is yielding results as well. Brian Conrad has had a great ride in the Kootenay region of western Canada, where he consults in education, “enjoying the engagement with youth and new technology.” Aldie Caram, undoubtedly the biggest soccer fan in the class (Richard Jenson rates a close second), is tracking Christopher Stillbach, who was last sighted in his cabin on scenic Deer Pond near Nottingham, New Hampshire. We’ve also found Stillbach’s old friend and roommate, John L. Laird, who practices integrative medicine and teaches spiritual healing in St. Helena, California. We’ve also reconnected John with his old freshman hockey teammate, Peter Schaeffer.
Class secretary emeritus Steve Larson sends holiday greetings, encouraging us to reflect upon what it means to make a difference, to recognize the noteworthy nature of service above self. An inspiring example was our classmate, the late Nat Mason, who devoted years to conservation efforts on behalf of the fishing community in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
As we close out another decade, many ’69 writers and poets are stepping forward, and there is lively discussion around assembling Luminous Intervals: Poetry & Essays of the Class of 1969. Phillip Bush, Peter Elias, and your humble secretary are accepting submissions, and I am maintaining the file. Dig through that desk drawer and send some stuff you’ve dashed off through the years.
—John “Tex” Talmadge, 3949 Maple Ave, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75219; johntalmadgemd@gmail.com
Important: If you have an IRA, you can make a qualified charitable distribution toward the project, avoiding income tax, and spread that donation across five years. We also have a matching fund that enhances gifts over $5,000. If you have questions, contact Paul (pktuhus@gmail.com) or Andy (pamclane@ta.com) and get on board!
At the end of November Peter Elias sent out an update on “69Cares,” and you can help. Our volunteers will send a brief handwritten note on a custom-designed condolence card, and we will provide contact information so you can add your personal touch based on your connections at Dartmouth or in the decades since. Our initial effort has been rewarding and warmly received. Bruce English writes that through 69Cares he realized a connection with classmate John Kelsey, as they were sons of Marine officers who likely knew each other in the WW II Pacific theater.
Jim Staros and his wife, Alice Harris, represented the class of 1969 at the Charter Day celebration in Cambridge on December 13. The evening was great fun with prominent Dartmouth alumni such as Rachel Dratch ’88 and Jake Tapper ’91 headlining the celebration.
Our work in locating old friends is yielding results as well. Brian Conrad has had a great ride in the Kootenay region of western Canada, where he consults in education, “enjoying the engagement with youth and new technology.” Aldie Caram, undoubtedly the biggest soccer fan in the class (Richard Jenson rates a close second), is tracking Christopher Stillbach, who was last sighted in his cabin on scenic Deer Pond near Nottingham, New Hampshire. We’ve also found Stillbach’s old friend and roommate, John L. Laird, who practices integrative medicine and teaches spiritual healing in St. Helena, California. We’ve also reconnected John with his old freshman hockey teammate, Peter Schaeffer.
Class secretary emeritus Steve Larson sends holiday greetings, encouraging us to reflect upon what it means to make a difference, to recognize the noteworthy nature of service above self. An inspiring example was our classmate, the late Nat Mason, who devoted years to conservation efforts on behalf of the fishing community in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
As we close out another decade, many ’69 writers and poets are stepping forward, and there is lively discussion around assembling Luminous Intervals: Poetry & Essays of the Class of 1969. Phillip Bush, Peter Elias, and your humble secretary are accepting submissions, and I am maintaining the file. Dig through that desk drawer and send some stuff you’ve dashed off through the years.
—John “Tex” Talmadge, 3949 Maple Ave, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75219; johntalmadgemd@gmail.com