Greetings fellow ’70s. Whether or not you are fans of a cappella singing I hope you followed the Dartmouth Aires on NBC’s Monday night series The Sing-Off as they progressed to the finals where they were outvoted and finished second. 


Speaking of the Aires, former (Injun)Aire Don MacMannis reports that he and his spouse/business partner, Debra, recently had their book on parenting, How’s Your Family Really Doing? published. According to Don the book “highlights the 10 essential keys that define successful families beginning with an assessment to determine family strengths and areas for growth. It provides tons of tips and tools about all the stuff we wish we had learned growing up—how to be in a relationship and bring out the best in each other.” Lest any of us who are beyond parenting days think this book does not apply, heed the words of one reviewer who writes that the book “is a resource that will be of lasting value to parents, prospective parents, grandparents and clinicians. It is welcoming, warm and wise.” Don and Debra serve as co-directors of the Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara, California, and publish a popular blog. Check it out at HowsYourFamily.com (very well, thanks for asking). Their son Sean ’05, like his father a former Aire, recently married and is described by Don as a “Silicon Valley maven,” whatever that might be.


I got an update from the irrepressible Dr. John Chittick, who writes, “I moved to Norfolk, Virginia, in May 2010 with my nonprofit Teen-AIDS-PeerCorps. This summer my 20-year series of global walks continued with work in Haiti and Dominican Republic. I brought two college students as trainees, one a Dartmouth ’10, Samantha Monkman. In Haiti we worked extensively in the tent cities and poorest areas educating teens. I previously brought Jimmy Kircher ’10 to Africa (Sudan, Congo and Rwanda). It is a joy to work with these dedicated volunteers—today’s Dartmouth students are the best! If any of the class has grandchildren looking for a truly unique experience, let me know.”


John is active in the Dartmouth Club of Hampton Roads, Virginia, as its district enrollment director and is also an adjunct faculty member at Cambridge College.


Sadly, I have received word, somewhat belatedly, of the passing of two of our classmates. Mark Hebenstreit died in May 2009 in Merrimac, Massachusetts. And in July 2010 Gary Ellsworth succumbed to esophageal cancer in Arlington, Virginia. Gary will forever be remembered as “The Eggman” for his hardboiled egg-eating prowess inspired by the movie Cool Hand Luke. Our sincerest condolences to the families of both Mark and Gary. Obituaries can be found in the online edition of the Alumni Magazine. And finally the class extends its sympathies to Jim Decker and his wife, Faffy, on the death of Jim’s stepson Peter Thomas.


That’s all for now, folks. Spring is just around the corner—make it a good one.


—Bill Wilson, 304 Highlands Bluffs Drive, Cary, NC 27518; wilson8689@aol.com