Class Note 1970
Issue
May-June 2021
By the time this column reaches you, spring will have sprung and we should all have had our Covid-19 vaccine shots. Although we won’t be able to join each other en masse on campus for another attempt at our 50th reunion, I hope we will be able to meet in smaller groups in regional settings. The executive and reunion committees are meeting regularly to explore other options. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated, especially if you would like to host or sponsor a mini-reunion event in your corner of the world in person or virtually.
Carl Strathmeyer added one more “thank you” for reminding us of Wallace Ford and Herschel Johnson’s contributions to our Commencement. Carl says he never was much of a social animal, so although he lived in Brown Hall just a couple of rooms away, he didn’t have much interaction with Herschel but does recall Herschel’s life-size standup cutout of Nancy Wilson. Carl was also a Nancy Wilson fan. In fact, he still has the Nancy Wilson records from his Brown Hall days. The irony is that Herschel and he were neighbors, had at least one common interest, but never connected. A lost opportunity for sure.
Perhaps unlike a lot of us who are retired at this point, Don MacMannis is still working half-time as a child and family psychologist and the other half writing songs that are typically geared toward younger kids to help them boost their social and emotional skills. In his efforts to help families, he was recently inspired to write and produce a song that has been dubbed “The Family Pandemic Dance Song” (www.happykidsvideos.com). Free to all, it has become a national hit as it helps to instill hope, normalize family feelings about the situation, and provides a fun outlet and vehicle for expression through singing. He says, “Hope to see you all at the reunion, if we ever have one!”
Jim Aukerman shared that Preston and Brenda Conklin are still at it. Jim reminds us that they skillfully edited and produced our class of 1970 25th reunion book. A section in the newest Waterville Valley Guidebook contains two history hikes authored by Preston.
Jim and Karin now live at Eastman in Grantham, New Hampshire. They moved there last spring, just as the College and everything else was locking down. Jim is still working remotely for his Rhode Island law firm.
Jim also reports that R. Demarest “Demmie” Duckworth III has just retired from a successful trust and estates law practice in N.Y.C. Dick Whitney has retired from his cardiology practice in the Boston area and is wintering in Naples, Florida, and summering in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Get out and enjoy the spring and hopefully more freedom to move about and hug your loved ones and friends once again. Don’t forget to share your comments and updates.
—Gary Miller, 7 E Hill Road, Canton, CT 06019; garettmiller@mac.com
Carl Strathmeyer added one more “thank you” for reminding us of Wallace Ford and Herschel Johnson’s contributions to our Commencement. Carl says he never was much of a social animal, so although he lived in Brown Hall just a couple of rooms away, he didn’t have much interaction with Herschel but does recall Herschel’s life-size standup cutout of Nancy Wilson. Carl was also a Nancy Wilson fan. In fact, he still has the Nancy Wilson records from his Brown Hall days. The irony is that Herschel and he were neighbors, had at least one common interest, but never connected. A lost opportunity for sure.
Perhaps unlike a lot of us who are retired at this point, Don MacMannis is still working half-time as a child and family psychologist and the other half writing songs that are typically geared toward younger kids to help them boost their social and emotional skills. In his efforts to help families, he was recently inspired to write and produce a song that has been dubbed “The Family Pandemic Dance Song” (www.happykidsvideos.com). Free to all, it has become a national hit as it helps to instill hope, normalize family feelings about the situation, and provides a fun outlet and vehicle for expression through singing. He says, “Hope to see you all at the reunion, if we ever have one!”
Jim Aukerman shared that Preston and Brenda Conklin are still at it. Jim reminds us that they skillfully edited and produced our class of 1970 25th reunion book. A section in the newest Waterville Valley Guidebook contains two history hikes authored by Preston.
Jim and Karin now live at Eastman in Grantham, New Hampshire. They moved there last spring, just as the College and everything else was locking down. Jim is still working remotely for his Rhode Island law firm.
Jim also reports that R. Demarest “Demmie” Duckworth III has just retired from a successful trust and estates law practice in N.Y.C. Dick Whitney has retired from his cardiology practice in the Boston area and is wintering in Naples, Florida, and summering in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Get out and enjoy the spring and hopefully more freedom to move about and hug your loved ones and friends once again. Don’t forget to share your comments and updates.
—Gary Miller, 7 E Hill Road, Canton, CT 06019; garettmiller@mac.com