Greetings, fellow ’70s. By now the mud should be pretty much dried up in Hanover and the black flies about to emerge from their pupae and take flight. As much as I miss the New Hampshire spring I must say that I enjoy the gentler climes of North Carolina.


Another 1970 has thrown his hat into a major political ring. Joe Avellone announced he is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor of Massachusetts in 2014. As both a physician and a businessman, Joe says he is “running on the basis of my private sector experience.” Joe is currently senior vice president at Paraxel, a clinical research firm. While his only previous elected office experience is as a town councilor in his hometown of Wellesley, Joe has long been active in politics, including working on four presidential campaigns ranging from Ted Kennedy in 1980 to John Kerry in 2004. This background information comes to us from Joe’s campaign manager, our own Tom Peisch. Any of you Massachusetts residents wishing to get on the Avellone bandwagon, I’m sure Tom and Joe would love to hear from you. If elected Joe would join Jock McKernan, former governor of Maine, and Gordon Campbell, former premier of British Columbia as 1970’s leading elected statesmen.


Congratulations to Mark Heller, who was awarded the Dartmouth Club President of the Year Award for his work leading the Dartmouth Club of Northeast Ohio. In that role Mark worked diligently to reinvigorate his organization by creating new events and drawing alumni from all age groups. In further recognition from his peers, Mark was elected president of the Club Officers Association executive committee for the upcoming year. He also serves as our class vice president.


During my annual winter pilgrimage to Hanover I randomly bumped into Pam and Carl Andros on Main Street. They happened to be on their way from their home in West Hartford, Connecticut, to visit their son Carl in Rutland, Vermont. Young Carl is an engineering student at Northeastern University and was doing a cooperative education semester working for General Electric in Rutland. Given that he has a few more years of college tuition left to pay, old Carl admitted that he will not be giving up his law practice any time soon.


Sadly I must end with notice of the loss of another 1970. John “J.B.” Howard died unexpectedly at the end of January in Northampton, Massachusetts. Among the 300 or so people attending his memorial service were Carl Andros, Dan Barnett, Josh Fitzhugh, Tom Kenworthy, Rick Ostberg and Tom Peisch. The class extends its deepest sympathies to J.B.’s widow, Susie.


As a reminder, you can read more about what these and other classmates are up to by accessing the 1970 e-newsletter at http://www.dartmouth.org/classes/70.


—Bill Wilson, 304 Highlands Bluffs Drive, Cary, NC 27518; wilson8689@aol.com