In musing about the topic of “Things to Love about Dartmouth” for this issue, top of mind for me are the traditions associated with Commencement. Our class had a large contingent present in Hanover in June honoring the class of 2023. Jon Grussing, Kara Rillings Morgan, Laura Hicks Roberts, Mark Inkster, Joe Riley, Jeff Johnson, Brook Parker, Bill Tyree, and I were on campus to witness our children walk in graduation and close the chapter of their pandemic-impacted unique college experience. I’m guessing there may have been other ’85 parents there sharing in the festivities that weekend. Jon writes, “My wife and I ran into Mark on Main Street the day we arrived, and he joined us for a late breakfast at Lou’s.” Two friends meeting serendipitously in Hanover might not be particularly noteworthy, except that Jon and Mark travelled from their respective homes in London and Singapore only to bump into each other in small town New Hampshire. Mark writes, “We came around 10,000 miles from Singapore for the event and turned it into a week-long visit. We stopped in New York on our way and I caught up with Rick Joyce before taking the Dartmouth Coach up to Hanover and meeting Viva Hardigg ’84 and her husband for dinner. The next day I ran into Jon and Kate Grussing in line for a table at Lou’s, where we shared a very filling breakfast and stories about our daughters, who rowed on the crew team together. We briefly got to see Kara Rillings Morgan and her daughter, Annika, but missed the other ’85s in town. On Monday, the day after graduation, we decided to have a drink on the patio of the Hanover Inn and much to our mutual surprise were seated next to Aaron Hill, who was visiting Hanover to drop off his daughter.” Our class also had significant presence in the dignitaries who played a role in the Commencement proceedings. The Rev. Nancy A.G. Vogele, chaplain and director of the William Jewett Tucker Center, gave a moving welcome message and blessing for the class of 2023 and their families and friends. Sue Finegan and Joyce A. Sackey serve as College trustees and were present for the 1,200 undergraduates who walked across the platform as they heard their names read aloud. The undergraduates processing onto the Green led by a bagpiper, the speeches from the Lone Pine tree trunk, the honoring of the 50th reunion class and the singing of “Dartmouth Undying” are some of the notable traditions and things to love about Dartmouth. Congratulations to all our classmates who had a child graduate from college this year!

—Rebecca Blake Osborne, 42 Olive St., Newburyport, MA 01950; (603) 381-4164; rosborne29@comcast.net; John MacManus, 188 Ringwood Road, Rosemont, PA 19010; (610) 525-4541; slampong@aol.com