Class sports maven Bill White’s recent prognostication relative to football is that 2012 will be a year of rebuilding following Dartmouth’s first winning season in 13 years. Much press has been devoted lately to dangerous drinking habits on campus. The College has initiated a peak performance program aimed at getting athletes to kick unhealthy habits. Looking back to the 1950s, Bill suggests that the many of us who had peak performances on the playing field seldom had problems with large quantities of beer. Perhaps the difference is in perception. 


Bob Woodberry has accumulated a packet of material about the life of our departed classmate Joe Mesics. It includes the remarks by friends and relatives made at his well-attended funeral in Healdsburg, California. A unique individual whose on-campus persona belied his softer and creative side, Joe emerged in his adult years as one with a wide variety of interests, including flying, growing grapes and writing poetry. Five songs were suggested as being special to Joe: “Don’t Fence Me In,” “Marines’ Hymn,” “My Way,” “Stardust” and “As the Backs Go Tearing By.” To request the Joe packet, call Bob Woodberry at (925) 933-2451. 


To correct the situation of the newsletter lying fallow, Pete Barker has re-entered the lists and will endeavor to publish the next issue prior to your reading this column. Send stuff to pgbarker54@aol.com or 111 Parsonage Road, Greenwich, CT 06830. 


Head agent Shelly Woolf has outdone himself in getting us to outdo ourselves in contributing to the College. Our 90.4-percent participation exceeded our goal, broke the 57-years-out record and outdid all classes in non-reunion-year participation. There is much to celebrate about today’s Dartmouth, so let’s start sending checks now to give Shel a head start. 


Dana Low retired as board chairman of Saint Luke’s LifeWorks, a civic organization in Stamford, Connecticut, that deals with the problems of homeless families. Under Dana’s leadership LifeWorks regained fiscal strength, clarified its role in the community and vastly improved its effectiveness. 


Condolences to Ron Lehrman on the loss of his wife, Carol Simkin. 


—Pete Barker, 111 Parsonage Road, Greenwich, CT 06830; (203) 661-7611; pgbarker54@aol.com