Class Note 1980
While waiting for a flight from O’Hare this past summer, I approached a young woman wearing a Dartmouth sweatshirt. She identified herself as Hannah, class of 2020. When I introduced myself as a proud member of Dartmouth’s class of 1980, she replied, “Wow! That was an incredibly long time ago. Congratulations!”
Huh? I did the math and determined that I probably seem as ancient and fossilized to Hannah as some guy named Harold from the class of 1940 would have seemed to the 1979 version of me. I suddenly understood why Rob Speidel used to bristle at the nickname “Gramps.” And what was Hannah congratulating me for? Not riding in the terminal’s motorized cart? Not drooling on my shirt? Bravely facing the modern world with an antiquated first name? To her, we represent a distant moment in time. Not a single member of our class is named either Hannah or Harold!
But we should be proud that our music transcends generations. Glenn Miller and The Ink Spots were two of the most popular artists in 1939, but the only way you might have heard them in 1979 was if Tony Furnary had blasted their songs out Phi Delt’s front window. But Tony gave us “Barracuda” instead…endlessly. Hannah knows “Barracuda.” And 40 years later, Hannah and her friends also know songs from The Clash, Tom Petty, The Police, and Led Zeppelin.
I frequently run into non-Dartmouth people who inevitably ask me if I know many of you. After I nod, they tell me how awesome you are. With a nod to Fleetwood Mac’s undergraduate-era song, “Second Hand News,” I will now share a few of their backhanded compliments. “Way smarter than a bonefish (Dan Berry).” “It took me years to realize how funny he is (Mark Alperin).” “If you’re impressed with him, you should meet his wife (Harry Shulman).” “Have you read his books? I read one from beginning to end. And it was pretty funny in a twisted kind of way (Bill Goodspeed).” “He sometimes comes up with really good ideas (Scott Osman).”
Antiquated-namesake Frank Vecella correctly identified the names in April’s column as classmates who have spent considerable time living abroad. Frank is our first two-time winner. So here’s another chance to win. What is the common thread that ties this group of classmates together: Albert Ellis, Barksdale Penick, Blake Kerr, Casey Giles, Chick Woodward, Chip Everett, Don Sparks, Sandy Koonce, Buddy Ide, Andy Bill, Kit Gorton, Bart Littlefield, Ty Anderson, and Scott Bechler?
The first reader to send an email with the correct answer will win a gift certificate. We will close with another tribute to the stages of life, presented in limerick form:
I can’t listen to hip hop or rap
K-Pop, J-Pop, or any such crap
All new music is junk
Worse than new wave or punk
Perhaps I should just take a nap.
—Frank Fesnak, 242 River Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035; (408) 859-9652; ffesnak@gmail.com; Wade Herring, P.O. Box 9848, Savannah, GA 31412, (912) 944-1639; wherring@huntermaclean.com; Rob Daisley, 3201 W. Knights Ave., Tampa, FL 33611; (813) 300-7954; robdaisley@me.com
