Class Note 1979
Apparently there’s no escaping this frigid winter. I’m staying warm by thinking about the fun we’ll have when we go “Back to the Green in Twenty-Fifteen” for our 35th reunion. Here are some reunion reflections from several class officers to warm you up for June 18-21 as well.
Jim “Wazoo” Wasz: “I blew off the band Friday night of our 15th reunion and headed to Frat Row. I recall playing beer pong at Alpha Chi until the kegs were kicked around 4 a.m., then weaving my way to Bones Gate in search of more spirited pong with Joe Henley, Steve Franklin and Stanley Weil, among others. To my surprise, the only soul sloshing around the Gate’s lovely basement was Laurie Laidlaw. Several beers later, at sunrise, Laurie and I set out across campus for powdered donuts and screwdrivers at Lou’s Restaurant. The rest is a blur.”
Laurie (Laidlaw) Roulston: “Scott Jr. and Stewart were 8 and 5, respectively, at our 15th reunion. We awoke early Sunday after a great weekend, ate breakfast in the class tent and drove to Logan Airport. Upon arriving in Boston we were horrified to discover that Stewart’s treasured teddy bear, Big Bear, had been left behind. We notified the College and took off with heavy hearts. Several days later I received one of the best voicemails ever saying, ‘Big Bear has been found! He was sitting by himself guarding the ’79 tent. We gave him a hug, boxed him up and shipped him back to Cleveland [Ohio].’ Stewart is 27 now, and timeless Big Bear is still sitting here at home.”
Ben Riley: “My favorite time at reunion is seeing a face that I’m not sure I recognize at first glimpse. I check the nametag and realize I know this person! Then the years melt away and I see my friend clearly, and wonder why I didn’t recognize him/her right away. Within minutes of catching up it’s as if we’re back at Dartmouth and were never really apart. Wonderful! I can’t wait to reconnect with everyone!”
Bill Mitchell: “I have a distinct memory of listening to Gina Barreca recount 1970s horror stories in her fetching New York accent at one of our milestone reunions and praying I wouldn’t surface as the infamous protagonist in any of them. And who can forget Dean Manual at our 25th reunion reminding us that he was younger than we were when he was our ‘Mean Danual.’ Tops, though, was Jerry Jeff Walker at the Bema in 2000 singing ‘L.A. Freeway’ twice, with margaritas and Budweiser on tap. One of my top 10 days ever in Hanover, and that’s saying something.”
The reunion schedule, including a regularly updated attendee list, can be found by clicking on the reunion tab on our stellar new class website, 1979.dartmouth.org, courtesy of webmaster Mark Tomalonis. See you in June, mates!
—Stanley Weil, 15 Peck Road, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549; (917) 428-0852; stanno79@gmail.com
