Our mantra today remains unchanged. It is and has always been to offer our best to our society, to create, produce, engender, launch, institute, design, devise—you get it—provide leadership in every sphere. In that regard president Allen Collins offers congratulations to the entire class for our performance in the 2011 Dartmouth College Fund. Our participation at 72.1 percent was a new non-reunion record for our class. Although we concentrated on performance this year, our dollar achievement was the highest since our last reunion. Our success this year came not only from the consistent supporters of more than five decades, but many of you stepped back into the fold to help us achieve our personal goal. Thanks to all of you and welcome back to many of you. The class and the College appreciate your involvement.


He continues. In late July Bob Simpson and I toured the nearly completed 1953 Commons. It is spectacular. A far cry from the tin trays and the occasional food fights of more than 50 years ago. By the time you read this article we will have enjoyed the dedication on September 9 and the class reception and banquet following the ceremonies. The main theme was profuse and ongoing thanks to the class of 1953 for its vision and resourcefulness in making the transformation of Thayer Hall possible.


Speaking of leadership Brock Brower, a leading intellectual and author since his college days, continues to add to the treasury of American literature. He has been working on two new novels. Overbrook Press is republishing his 1972 novel, The Late Great Creature, which was originally published in 1971 and was nominated for the National Book Award. His novella, Blue Dog, Green River, was published just a couple of years ago. We look forward to those two new ones, Brock!


Very sadly I must announce our classmates who left us this past month, and for whom we unabashedly mourn. We offer our sincere condolences to the families of Peter Wagner, John Thim, Stanley Jackson and Donald Bacher and acknowledge their contribution to the rich history of our class.


—Mark H. Smoller, 4 Schuyler Drive, Jericho, NY 11753; (516) 938-3616; dartmark@gmail.com