Class Note 1975
Issue
From the top of Mt. Sunapee, New Hampshire, there’s no doubt that fall is in the air. Cody (our 4-year-old golden retriever) and I have just hiked one of the most dog-friendly trails in New England—the Andrew Brook Trail—and now sit at the top of Sunapee looking over one of the best vistas around. Below us, Lake Sunapee surrounds our view with a cool, gentle breeze moving its waters from cove to cove. The leaves on the trees on the surrounding hills have just the faintest hint of the color change soon to arrive and the crisp air is a relief from the August heat we have had.
As we settle back in the car on our way to Hanover, I’m reminded of a similar drive some 38 years ago as I drove up to Hanover on my way to the DOC for my freshman trip. It’s hard to fathom that 38 years has gone by in what seems like a snap of the fingers, but a quick look in the mirror confirms at least a majority of those years. I could go on—and will in the next column—unless the mail volume starts to pick up. So, fair warning: Send updates or I will continue on the next great American novel.
In any event, life on campus has begun as it always does, with new faces, new parents and perhaps uniquely now, a new president. Our upcoming reunion in June of 2010 will be a great opportunity to see how much progress has been made since your last visit.
On the happy side, I have two pieces of news to report. Matt “Matty” Dwyer will receive the Dartmouth Alumni Award for a lifetime of service to the College and his community, something he has earned and which many of us “locals” have seen firsthand. Congratulations, Matt. We’re all very proud of you.
On the truly remarkable side, I have had the pleasure of being asked to write a story for the Dartmouth alumni Web site about our own classmate Tom Nicholson, who died much too early, in 1993, at the age of 40 from a battle with cancer. While Tom’s life in and of itself was remarkable, his legacy is all the more so because Tom’s four sons—Matt ’05, Sean ’08, Garrett ’11 and now Alex ’13—will be the first four brothers of a single generation to have attended Dartmouth. These young men are incredible, as is the story of how their father’s love of place—this place we call Dartmouth—lived on in his sons’ lives. It is also a testament to the best of Dartmouth as Tom’s classmates (“uncles,” according to the boys) watched over them through all these many years. For those who want to learn more, the story will likely be posted on the College Web site by the time you read this.
Finally, I learned that Philip Leslie Meyercord died of a heart attack this past February at his home in Allen, Texas. Phillip lived most of his life in Dallas where he served in a number of positions in the construction industry. He came from a large Dartmouth family including his father Ken ’27, brothers Ken ’66, David ’69, Andrew ’71 and niece Rebecca ’93. Our thoughts go out to his family.
Send those cards and e-mails in. Nancy sends her best, as do I.
—Jim Bildner, 5 Boardman Ave., Manchester, MA 01944; (617) 737-1100; jbildner@tpi.org
Nov - Dec 2009
From the top of Mt. Sunapee, New Hampshire, there’s no doubt that fall is in the air. Cody (our 4-year-old golden retriever) and I have just hiked one of the most dog-friendly trails in New England—the Andrew Brook Trail—and now sit at the top of Sunapee looking over one of the best vistas around. Below us, Lake Sunapee surrounds our view with a cool, gentle breeze moving its waters from cove to cove. The leaves on the trees on the surrounding hills have just the faintest hint of the color change soon to arrive and the crisp air is a relief from the August heat we have had.
As we settle back in the car on our way to Hanover, I’m reminded of a similar drive some 38 years ago as I drove up to Hanover on my way to the DOC for my freshman trip. It’s hard to fathom that 38 years has gone by in what seems like a snap of the fingers, but a quick look in the mirror confirms at least a majority of those years. I could go on—and will in the next column—unless the mail volume starts to pick up. So, fair warning: Send updates or I will continue on the next great American novel.
In any event, life on campus has begun as it always does, with new faces, new parents and perhaps uniquely now, a new president. Our upcoming reunion in June of 2010 will be a great opportunity to see how much progress has been made since your last visit.
On the happy side, I have two pieces of news to report. Matt “Matty” Dwyer will receive the Dartmouth Alumni Award for a lifetime of service to the College and his community, something he has earned and which many of us “locals” have seen firsthand. Congratulations, Matt. We’re all very proud of you.
On the truly remarkable side, I have had the pleasure of being asked to write a story for the Dartmouth alumni Web site about our own classmate Tom Nicholson, who died much too early, in 1993, at the age of 40 from a battle with cancer. While Tom’s life in and of itself was remarkable, his legacy is all the more so because Tom’s four sons—Matt ’05, Sean ’08, Garrett ’11 and now Alex ’13—will be the first four brothers of a single generation to have attended Dartmouth. These young men are incredible, as is the story of how their father’s love of place—this place we call Dartmouth—lived on in his sons’ lives. It is also a testament to the best of Dartmouth as Tom’s classmates (“uncles,” according to the boys) watched over them through all these many years. For those who want to learn more, the story will likely be posted on the College Web site by the time you read this.
Finally, I learned that Philip Leslie Meyercord died of a heart attack this past February at his home in Allen, Texas. Phillip lived most of his life in Dallas where he served in a number of positions in the construction industry. He came from a large Dartmouth family including his father Ken ’27, brothers Ken ’66, David ’69, Andrew ’71 and niece Rebecca ’93. Our thoughts go out to his family.
Send those cards and e-mails in. Nancy sends her best, as do I.
—Jim Bildner, 5 Boardman Ave., Manchester, MA 01944; (617) 737-1100; jbildner@tpi.org