Class Note 1961
Issue
January-February 2021
On October 2-3, 2020, the class of 1961 once again made Dartmouth history, as it became the first class to hold a successful two-day virtual mini-reunion. After our regular annual fall on-campus mini-reunion had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus, several class officers—led by on-campus mini-reunion chair Maynard Wheeler and assisted primarily by class president Don O’Neill, class digital content manager Harris McKee, and class 60th reunion chair Pete Bleyler—in less than a month redesigned and converted it into a virtual mini-reunion. It ranged from a diverse seven-session agenda beginning mid-Friday and ending Saturday evening to a technically perfect Zoom setup that encouraged classmate participation. It even included small breakout sessions following each of the six faculty- or college administrator-led sessions and discussions from three students in diverse areas of study who were recipients of annual grants awarded by our class. In all, 81 classmates, spouses, widows, and others attended at least one of the two days’ sessions, a very good turnout from our small class base.
One highlight of the event was the filmed broadcast of the recent original musical piece, “Symphony for Winds ‘Dartmouth,’ ” a 250th anniversary composition composed by Oliver Caplan ’04. It includes the second of its three movements as a tribute to the increasing significance of the Robert Frost statue contributed by the class of 1961 to the College during the mid-1990s. Another highlight was the formal adoption into the class of 1961 of Vince Wilson, a Dartmouth College Fund (DCF) administrator working primarily with our class’ DCF efforts for several years. The final highlight was the presentation of two 1961 special recognition awards by Vic Rich to David and Joan Prewitt and Maynard Wheeler for outstanding long-term service contributions to the class, the College, and society in general, in that order. The two awards were primarily for providing most of our on-campus and off-campus successful mini-reunions during the entire 21st century to date. All three award recipients were completely surprised.
To conclude, the class of 1961 continues to carry its weight in College affairs!
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com
One highlight of the event was the filmed broadcast of the recent original musical piece, “Symphony for Winds ‘Dartmouth,’ ” a 250th anniversary composition composed by Oliver Caplan ’04. It includes the second of its three movements as a tribute to the increasing significance of the Robert Frost statue contributed by the class of 1961 to the College during the mid-1990s. Another highlight was the formal adoption into the class of 1961 of Vince Wilson, a Dartmouth College Fund (DCF) administrator working primarily with our class’ DCF efforts for several years. The final highlight was the presentation of two 1961 special recognition awards by Vic Rich to David and Joan Prewitt and Maynard Wheeler for outstanding long-term service contributions to the class, the College, and society in general, in that order. The two awards were primarily for providing most of our on-campus and off-campus successful mini-reunions during the entire 21st century to date. All three award recipients were completely surprised.
To conclude, the class of 1961 continues to carry its weight in College affairs!
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com