Class Note 1975

Here comes 2020, the real 45th reunion year. Forty-five! Yikes! We have been kicking around a long time, and I was recently reminded that so have many Dartmouth-induced relationships among our classmates. Walter Evans reminds me that his wife, Candy, was Candace Fox, a 1975 exchange student from Wheaton College. In his words, they are closing in on 40 years of marriage. Not to be out done, William Carney has been married to Debbie Martin of Mount Holyoke nearly 41 years. Next comes Tom Hynes and Martha Soyster, an exchange student from Smith, who are nearing 44 years together. Clearly Dartmouth has created some very strong bonds across the class and the years.

An additional scoop on our Facebook page comes, this from Michael Garr (Sundvik), “Got to play with the Dartmouth College Marching Band again after a 45-year hiatus this past weekend, and saw a very solid football team take it to Yale. Nice Homecoming. Any other ’75s there? I was totally taken in by the band. Breakfast, practice, lunch, parade, pregame, stand play, halftime, postgame. Whew! Thanks, Brian Messier, for the lovely day and invite. Gotta do this again next year!”

I was recently contacted by Bill Cahill, who was in search of some photographs of pro cyclists eating pizza on tour. Now, you all may draw your own conclusions about how Bill entertains himself. One way is by occupying the information booth on the Green in the summer. He has been so successful and has had so much fun, I hear his number may be retired and I would not be surprised to see his green-check shirt hanging in the rafters of the Hop at some point.

Finally, I received a very welcome note from Ken Bohlin. I had not heard from Ken or seen him in ages. Here is some of what he had to share (edited to protect the innocent, whoever they are): “Didn’t make it to reunions but thought it was time to come out of the woodwork and send you a note. I have two sons and a daughter; all three children had great college experiences (Boston College, Tufts, UMass Amherst). Update on me is I retired after 30-plus years at London-based Informa Plc., most of it as CEO of the Americas. Small group of us took a tiny British publisher (IBC) and grew it to an $8-billion global information business. Cracked the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 a few years ago and decided that was a good time to walk away.”

Ken and (partner) Pam now split their time between Bonita Springs, Florida, and Massachusetts and New Hampshire when they are not on a boat. I am also happy to report that Ken and John Pittenger are still close pals, getting together several times a year, including an annual golf trip they’ve been doing with other buddies for the past 35-plus years.

Go ahead and send me a similar note—I dare you!

Vox clamantis in Tejas.

—Stephen D. Gray, 3627 Avenue M, Galveston, TX 77550; (650) 302-8739; fratergray@gmail.com