An avalanche of news and cheers smothered this month’s mailbox, so if you don’t see yourself mentioned here, Allen Denison is working overtime on the next ’69 Times newsletter. Check there for more names and news. The Class of ’69 Outstanding Service Awards for 2023, presented by Jim Staros, honored Paul Tuhus and Dudley Kay as part of the October “ComingHome.” The awards committee (chair Greg Lau, Rick Willets, and Peter Elias) did the hard work of sifting through an impressive set of nominations. Our first awards, presented at our 75th birthday celebration, recognized Rick Willets and David Prentice. At Homecoming 2022 we honored Norman Jacobs and Peter Elias. The award recognizes classmates whose contributions have been sustained during a long period of time, measured in decades. Dudley is a former class president, current vice president, and served on the committee that created this award and chose the inaugural recipients. He labored with David Prentice on our monumental 50th reunion book, and Dud knows more about the class of ’69 as a whole than any other living person. Paul played a critical role in the renovation of the DOC House as our 50th reunion project, served on the fundraising committee, and shepherded the project to its glorious completion. Prior to service on the DOC project, Paul was a longtime class treasurer and co-chair (with Rick Willets) of a string of Homecomings and reunions, spanning decades. Beyond class duties Paul has also been our font of reliable travel information, especially for travel off the beaten path. Wait, there’s more! The Dartmouth Class Officers Association honored our class for “robust Zoom programming and consistent meetups year-round, with more than 150 classmates engaged consistently across 100 touchpoints.” Accepting the award on our behalf was Arthur Fergenson, who developed many of the programs and worked tirelessly to bring us together virtually since our 50th. The Zoom events include “Casual Conversations,” celebrated seminars, social hours, weekly 12-step meetings, innumerable play and poetry readings, and the Jewish culture group chaired by Bruce Alpert. Phil Bush now leads our special projects committee, and as a class we help support the Dartmouth EMS, a student-run, non-transport, basic life support squad (see its impressive website). A few of the many who attended the “ComingHome” class meeting included Larry Ebner, Peter Lawrence, Richard Saunders, David Strife, Loren Lortscher, Jay Glaser, Bill Coulson, Chip Elitzer, Peter Scheck, Roy Banks, the usual suspects from the executive committee, and many more. Dona Heller and Norm produced a marvelous, memorable couple of days, and folks praised Sue Leavitt’s ethereal, brilliant gift of her piano music. We also heard from Jeff Burnett, and he’s sending reflections for our next issue. Also, check our website! If you have been busy and disconnected, this is the time to come home. If not now, when?

—John “Tex” Talmadge, 3519 Brookline Lane, Farmers Branch, TX 75234; (214) 673-9250; johntalmadgemd@gmail.com