Class Note 1948
Issue
November-December 2021
I was able to reach John VanRaalte at the Becher Nursing Home in Ossining, New York (914-941-730), where he is recovering from a broken hip. He is doing well but will be there for some time. John’s probably our most versatile athlete lettering in squash and tennis at Dartmouth, best golfer at our reunions, and most remarkably an accomplished polo player. Bobo Russell’swidow, Barbara, called to send the class a film she had just found of our 10th reunion that she had been asked for years ago. She is still living in the same old house and enjoying the view over the Hudson River. Her daughter lives nearby and does all her shopping and her two sons visit occasionally. She is doing well and walks every day.
Bud Munson, Ellie Huke, and Judy Cross, who was John Hatheway’scompanion for a number of years, are the last Hanover area residents involved with our class and still get together for an occasional monthly lunch. Judy broke her hip this year but sounds fine and is handling this and her balance problem with “lots of physical therapy.” The best way to reach her is using Kendal’s base number, 603-643-8900.
Ronald I. Spiers died June 24 in Exeter, New Hampshire. He was a distinguished career diplomat who had a long involvement with the Dickey Center. He retired in 1992 with two Presidential Distinguished Executive Service awards and the honorary rank of career ambassador awarded by the president and the U.S. Senate that is reserved for a small number of career officers who have served with distinction in the highest positions of the foreign service. He was the highest-ranking American citizen in the UN secretariat. I covered his remarkable career in more detail in recent Class Notes.
Gordon K. Mann died July 1 in Meredith, New Hampshire. He graduated from Milton (New Hampshire) High School, received an A.B. from Dartmouth and an M.Ed. from Boston University. He also studied mathematics at the University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, and Louisiana State University. He served in the U.S. Army in 1945 and 1946. Gordon came to Conway, New Hampshire, in 1950 and taught mathematics at Kennett High School for some 30 years. He also coached baseball, football, basketball, and softball and was inducted into the N.H. Coaching Hall of Fame. Hiking, travel, and photography became his hobbies and during his lifetime he visited 73 countries.
—Dave Kurr, 603 Mountain Ave., Apt. 331, New Providence, NJ 07974; (781) 801-6716; djkurr@verizon.net
Bud Munson, Ellie Huke, and Judy Cross, who was John Hatheway’scompanion for a number of years, are the last Hanover area residents involved with our class and still get together for an occasional monthly lunch. Judy broke her hip this year but sounds fine and is handling this and her balance problem with “lots of physical therapy.” The best way to reach her is using Kendal’s base number, 603-643-8900.
Ronald I. Spiers died June 24 in Exeter, New Hampshire. He was a distinguished career diplomat who had a long involvement with the Dickey Center. He retired in 1992 with two Presidential Distinguished Executive Service awards and the honorary rank of career ambassador awarded by the president and the U.S. Senate that is reserved for a small number of career officers who have served with distinction in the highest positions of the foreign service. He was the highest-ranking American citizen in the UN secretariat. I covered his remarkable career in more detail in recent Class Notes.
Gordon K. Mann died July 1 in Meredith, New Hampshire. He graduated from Milton (New Hampshire) High School, received an A.B. from Dartmouth and an M.Ed. from Boston University. He also studied mathematics at the University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, and Louisiana State University. He served in the U.S. Army in 1945 and 1946. Gordon came to Conway, New Hampshire, in 1950 and taught mathematics at Kennett High School for some 30 years. He also coached baseball, football, basketball, and softball and was inducted into the N.H. Coaching Hall of Fame. Hiking, travel, and photography became his hobbies and during his lifetime he visited 73 countries.
—Dave Kurr, 603 Mountain Ave., Apt. 331, New Providence, NJ 07974; (781) 801-6716; djkurr@verizon.net