As I write this Class Note in early December, I’m reflecting on one of the most tumultuous years that many of us have ever experienced. I hope that you and your families are safe and well. Better days are ahead of us next year once Covid is under control and therapeutics are available. Our resilient class has stayed connected throughout these difficult months despite the cancellation of class and College events in the latter part of 2020. Many thanks again to Willis Newton for organizing and hosting his weekly Zoom calls with Sam Cuddleback’s able assistance. Kudos also to Dave Reingold for assembling a group of classmates who’ve been participating in lively and informative email exchanges on a variety of political and social issues. I’ll share some of the many well-written and thoughtful emails in my expanded Class Note that’s published in our class website, 1971.dartmouth.org. Ted Eismeier continues to run the class book club. To date classmates have read and discussed books on the lives of John Ledyard, Samson Occom, and Daniel Webster, along with Clay and Calhoun. Finally, our class is indebted to David Aylward, editor-in-chief of our 50th reunion book; Mark Bellonby, coeditor; and Jim Rager, whose captains reached out and solicited essays with amazing success from classmates in fraternities, teams, clubs, and organizations. Classmates submitted 332 essays to the 50th reunion book (note that our 45th reunion book had only 86 classmate essays). The class reunion book participation rate is more than 51 percent when the number of submitted essays and updated profiles are combined. Our 50th reunion book will be a masterpiece that we’ll cherish with our families. Wah hoo wah to all classmates who contributed essays, remembrances of fallen classmates, photos, and other reflections on College experiences. The reunion book will be three times the size of our 45th. It will be mailed to every classmate. Now some sad news. The pandemic will cause the cancellation of class and College events in the first quarter of 2021, including the Naples, Florida, mini-reunion in February; CarniVail; live Hanover performances of Pilobolus and Momix in late March (these performances will now be streamed); and class dinners in Denver, N.Y.C., and San Francisco. In late November the alumni affairs office notified me to suspend further planning for our 50th reunion in June. The College hasn’t yet made a decision about Commencement in June but I hope it will do so by year’s end. I’m doubtful that our 50th reunion will take place as a potential post-holiday Covid spike may continue to disrupt large campus gatherings in Hanover. Stay in touch with communications in our class website for updates on reunion status and any live or virtual class events to be scheduled in 2021. Finally, in honor of our 50th, the executive committee has set a goal of 100-percent participation in class dues and a contribution in any amount to the Dartmouth College Fund as it’ll support 62 percent of the student body, which is on financial aid.

—Bob Lider, 9225 Veneto Place, Naples, FL 34113; liderbob@yahoo.com