Class Note 1971
Issue
Sept - Oct 2016
This will be my last column as class secretary—it’s been a blast, not much work and a wonderful experience reconnecting with so many classmates through the notes I’ve been mailed. I pass along the position to our most recent reunion chair, Bob Lider of Naples, Florida (who, by all accounts, just choreographed one of the greatest reunions), with the hope that you will continue sending him information about yourselves and fellow classmates. This column is only as good as you all make it.
This column will focus primarily on one remarkable classmate, a world-class mountaineer who led or participated in four Everest expeditions, founded a business in Kathmandu, was an experienced filmmaker, managed to obtain a law degree along the way and represent a Paris-based company. In May of 2004 Andy Harvard was hired by the College to head up the DOC as the director of outdoor programs. He arrived in Hanover amid great fanfare and anticipation, with his wife, Kathy, and three young children, and built their dream house along the Connecticut River.
In 2008 Andy was terminated by the College for job performance issues. There was a huge public outcry over this move, and more than three-quarters of the DOC leadership wrote letters of support for Andy. Nine months later Andy was diagnosed with younger-age-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and the medical specialists at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center confirmed to the College that changes in Andy’s behavior and performance were the result of his illness. Nevertheless, the College denied the family the disability support that is part of Dartmouth’s disability policy for College employees. In 2015 Andy moved into an assisted-living facility in Hanover. During the past seven years the family has appealed to the College to reconsider its decision, to no avail.
Recently, classmates Tom Loucks (who gave Andy his first climbing instruction in the fall of 1967), Michael Maynard and I arranged a conference call with three senior administrators at the College, executive vice president Rick Mills, the head of human resources and an attorney from the counsel’s office. They, along with board of trustees chair Bill Helman ’80 and President Phil Hanlon ’77, had been sent an extensive history of Andy’s situation. Due to a number of changes in the administration during the past eight years, we felt they needed to know all the pertinent facts and give the issue serious reconsideration. We had a respectful and civil discussion, but the College’s leadership will not change their position with respect to provision of disability insurance coverage for the Harvard family. Our class executive committee has thus far taken no vote to support our classmate, although great sympathy has been voiced by all.
Many have contacted me in my role as class secretary, asking what they could do to help. For a much more detailed history of Andy’s situation and information on how you can help, go to andyharvard.org.
Thanks, Andy, for all the lives you have touched and all the students you have inspired and mentored. And thanks also for showing us the next challenge as you bravely confront the challenges of this terrible disease.
—Pete Webster, 9 River Birch Way, Plymouth, MA 02360; weebs71@gmail.com
This column will focus primarily on one remarkable classmate, a world-class mountaineer who led or participated in four Everest expeditions, founded a business in Kathmandu, was an experienced filmmaker, managed to obtain a law degree along the way and represent a Paris-based company. In May of 2004 Andy Harvard was hired by the College to head up the DOC as the director of outdoor programs. He arrived in Hanover amid great fanfare and anticipation, with his wife, Kathy, and three young children, and built their dream house along the Connecticut River.
In 2008 Andy was terminated by the College for job performance issues. There was a huge public outcry over this move, and more than three-quarters of the DOC leadership wrote letters of support for Andy. Nine months later Andy was diagnosed with younger-age-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and the medical specialists at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center confirmed to the College that changes in Andy’s behavior and performance were the result of his illness. Nevertheless, the College denied the family the disability support that is part of Dartmouth’s disability policy for College employees. In 2015 Andy moved into an assisted-living facility in Hanover. During the past seven years the family has appealed to the College to reconsider its decision, to no avail.
Recently, classmates Tom Loucks (who gave Andy his first climbing instruction in the fall of 1967), Michael Maynard and I arranged a conference call with three senior administrators at the College, executive vice president Rick Mills, the head of human resources and an attorney from the counsel’s office. They, along with board of trustees chair Bill Helman ’80 and President Phil Hanlon ’77, had been sent an extensive history of Andy’s situation. Due to a number of changes in the administration during the past eight years, we felt they needed to know all the pertinent facts and give the issue serious reconsideration. We had a respectful and civil discussion, but the College’s leadership will not change their position with respect to provision of disability insurance coverage for the Harvard family. Our class executive committee has thus far taken no vote to support our classmate, although great sympathy has been voiced by all.
Many have contacted me in my role as class secretary, asking what they could do to help. For a much more detailed history of Andy’s situation and information on how you can help, go to andyharvard.org.
Thanks, Andy, for all the lives you have touched and all the students you have inspired and mentored. And thanks also for showing us the next challenge as you bravely confront the challenges of this terrible disease.
—Pete Webster, 9 River Birch Way, Plymouth, MA 02360; weebs71@gmail.com