Class Note 1961
Issue
May-June 2022
On February 10 the class of 1961 held its second virtual mini-reunion during the current fiscal year ending on June 30. The cost-free event, led by Pete Bleyler, lasted four-plus hours and was another resounding success.
The interesting program had 123 classmates, spouses, and widows sign up for the event and as many as 91 people watching and participating at any one time. The panel discussions were all interesting and informative, and in some cases even provocative. Classmate panelists and moderators included Hop Holmberg, Charlie Buffon, Jim Richards, Tom Conger, Doug Zipes, Dave Milne, and John White. One highlight of the program was an interesting discussion with the coach and two players from the current NCAA national championship women’s rugby team.
Another highlight of the program was the presentation by Vic Rich of a 1961 Special Classmate Award to David Birney. Unfortunately, due to a deteriorating medical situation, David was unable to attend the presentation personally. As a result, his long-term significant other and primary caretaker, Michele Roberge, accepted the award and gave a wonderful acceptance speech on his behalf. Finally, the technical aspects of the entire Zoom program were again handled expertly by Harris McKee, Maynard Wheeler, and Ron Wybranowski.
The class was recently informed by Zhuoman Gardner, a former Dartmouth College Fund (DCF) employee and a formally adopted classmate for nearly a decade, that she was moving to Worcester, Massachusetts, to begin a new job as the associate director of the Holy Cross fund. We congratulated her and wished her well in her new position. She said that she would miss us and working with us with respect to our DCF efforts each year.
As a final matter, Don O’Neill and Vic Rich were recently appointed by Maynard Wheeler, class president, to represent the class of 1961 in interfacing with the trustee members and cochairs of the Dartmouth presidential search committee, which was formed to search for President Hanlon’s successor.
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com
The interesting program had 123 classmates, spouses, and widows sign up for the event and as many as 91 people watching and participating at any one time. The panel discussions were all interesting and informative, and in some cases even provocative. Classmate panelists and moderators included Hop Holmberg, Charlie Buffon, Jim Richards, Tom Conger, Doug Zipes, Dave Milne, and John White. One highlight of the program was an interesting discussion with the coach and two players from the current NCAA national championship women’s rugby team.
Another highlight of the program was the presentation by Vic Rich of a 1961 Special Classmate Award to David Birney. Unfortunately, due to a deteriorating medical situation, David was unable to attend the presentation personally. As a result, his long-term significant other and primary caretaker, Michele Roberge, accepted the award and gave a wonderful acceptance speech on his behalf. Finally, the technical aspects of the entire Zoom program were again handled expertly by Harris McKee, Maynard Wheeler, and Ron Wybranowski.
The class was recently informed by Zhuoman Gardner, a former Dartmouth College Fund (DCF) employee and a formally adopted classmate for nearly a decade, that she was moving to Worcester, Massachusetts, to begin a new job as the associate director of the Holy Cross fund. We congratulated her and wished her well in her new position. She said that she would miss us and working with us with respect to our DCF efforts each year.
As a final matter, Don O’Neill and Vic Rich were recently appointed by Maynard Wheeler, class president, to represent the class of 1961 in interfacing with the trustee members and cochairs of the Dartmouth presidential search committee, which was formed to search for President Hanlon’s successor.
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com