Class Note 1961
Issue
January-February 2023
As another fall season winds down and the winter season approaches, the warmth of the fireside causes those classmates near the Dartmouth campus and those far from the Hanover area to pause and reflect upon the class of 1961’s past and emerging future. The past fiscal year once again showed the class of 1961 to be a group of high achieving alumni dedicated each year to helping make Dartmouth one of the world’s premier undergraduate institutions, as well as to enjoy the ride along the way as a closely knit group of classmates dating back to the matriculation in the early fall of 1957.
One of our achievements year after year is the class’ ability to achieve the Dartmouth College Fund highest class participation rates, on a regular basis in the 70th percentile and with a high in excess of 75 percent. With the onset of the pandemic the class of 1961 established virtual Zoom reunions and mini-reunions lasting one to three days, which are always interesting and technically near flawless in execution. Earlier this fall the class once again was able to be live on campus and so created a successful three-day fall mini-reunion, both on campus and virtual for those unable to attend in person. In addition, the class recently has undertaken a significant class project to renovate and expand the area surrounding the popular Robert Frost statue, donated by the class of 1961 to the College in 1996. There is also the class’ well-funded performing arts legacy program, established by the class several decades ago to bring well-known performing artists to Dartmouth for two to three days to perform at the Hop and meet with performing arts students and faculty to discuss common interests. There have been many other class projects, including pre-pandemic off-campus mini-reunions since May 1989 hosted by local classmates throughout the world. The aforementioned have brought the class together, encouraged friendships among classmates, and impacted the College in a positive way directly and indirectly.
It has been a great ride to date from and with the class of 1961. To name all of those classmates involved through the decades would have taken up all of our allotted space. Therefore, for the first time, no individual classmates have been named. The unified class of 1961 has been the sole entity mentioned.
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com
One of our achievements year after year is the class’ ability to achieve the Dartmouth College Fund highest class participation rates, on a regular basis in the 70th percentile and with a high in excess of 75 percent. With the onset of the pandemic the class of 1961 established virtual Zoom reunions and mini-reunions lasting one to three days, which are always interesting and technically near flawless in execution. Earlier this fall the class once again was able to be live on campus and so created a successful three-day fall mini-reunion, both on campus and virtual for those unable to attend in person. In addition, the class recently has undertaken a significant class project to renovate and expand the area surrounding the popular Robert Frost statue, donated by the class of 1961 to the College in 1996. There is also the class’ well-funded performing arts legacy program, established by the class several decades ago to bring well-known performing artists to Dartmouth for two to three days to perform at the Hop and meet with performing arts students and faculty to discuss common interests. There have been many other class projects, including pre-pandemic off-campus mini-reunions since May 1989 hosted by local classmates throughout the world. The aforementioned have brought the class together, encouraged friendships among classmates, and impacted the College in a positive way directly and indirectly.
It has been a great ride to date from and with the class of 1961. To name all of those classmates involved through the decades would have taken up all of our allotted space. Therefore, for the first time, no individual classmates have been named. The unified class of 1961 has been the sole entity mentioned.
—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com