The tidal wave of ’76 grandchildren has begun. This month I’m reaching out for good grandparent names. I’m not in need yet myself but want to be ready with ’76-level creativity when the time comes. I’ve invited a few classmates we haven’t heard from in a while to submit Granny-Gramps alternatives they used as kids or are called now. Please email your suggestions for the next issue. Of course, being tradition-defying ’76ers, we have glorious outliers such as Joe Dempsey,whose two adorable children (ages 4 and 7) you may have met at reunion last year. Joe and his wife, Beverly, served as foster parents in the New Jersey child welfare system prior to adopting their two and are a wonderful, enthusiastic resource for those seeking state care adoption information. Caroline Ballard,who with her husband has sold their veterinary practice and retired to Vermont, comes by her quirky humor naturally. Her grandmother was called “Ogie” (short for ogre) and her great-grandmother was “Th’other Nanny.” The ever-effervescent Peter Friedensohn and sparkly wife Pat Hopkins are aptly known as “Poppop” and “Glamma” to grandsons Robby (5) and Cody (3). Steve Bell reports his newest grandchild, Henry, born in Cambodia, will most likely follow the lead of his older cousin, Cara, of Los Angeles, who calls Steve “Papa.” Another “Papa” is the husband of Lori Radke Bessette, whois “Mimi” to their two sons’ kids born within five days of each other last spring. Lori, a former obstetrician-gynecologist, lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband, an orthopedic surgeon. I bet those lucky grandkids will grow up sailing in the Bessette family sailboat on Lake Ontario. Coke McClure is Father McClure to his congregation but Grandpa Coke (or sometimes Pepsi!) to his 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Coke’s thoughtful correspondence detailed his career chapters, including Presbyterian pastor, stockbroker, and Episcopal priest. For the last 10 years he has served congregations in Idaho, California, Kentucky, and Nebraska. Our new mini-reunion chair Jim Beattie (begged, wheedled, whined, and cajoled into service by a cadre of convincers) will be inviting you soon to a mini-reunion not to be missed! Get ready for a fabulous fiesta to welcome the onslaught of 65th birthdays as well as Dartmouth’s 250th. We’re enlisting a whole new crop of bear-huggers (plus some repeat champs) to greet you for a weekend of fun, food, hikes, bikes, shops, spas, and, per your request from the last reunion, more time to just catch up with each other. Meanwhile, treat yourself to our class website updated by tech guru Joe Jasinski. In addition to our Freshman Book and reunion photos, there are links to current Dartmouth news and sports and, my favorite, a webcam on Baker Library (www.1976.dartmouth.org). Huge thanks to Jim Burns, who has graciously agreed to carry on the mighty editorial tradition of Judy Csatari as newsletter editor. We are so lucky to have so many talented and willing classmates!

—Sara Hoagland Hunter, 72 Mount Vernon St., Unit 4B, Boston, MA 02108; sarahunter76@gmail.com