Class Note 1981
Issue
March-April 2026
Class Note 1981. First up, Phil Gibbs invites interested classmates to the Dartmouth College Grant for a weekend in mid-May. He says you’re welcome to join him and other alums in the North Woods for the Grant Cabin work weekend, promising a bit of light maintenance, trail work, fellowship, and fun. Contact Phil for more information at graycenphil@yahoo.com.
The work weekend is an extension of an annual tradition begun in 1981, when Phil, Bill Crowe, and Cam Schaeffer ’84 ventured to the Grant. A group has returned every year, with participants including Jack Krusche, Mike Hogarty, Pete Maginot ’80, Chuck Muenzen ’80, Don Austen ’79, Phil’s daughter Grayce ’22, and many of Grayce’s classmates. Phil boasts a 44-year streak, but he points out, “Grayce has been coming since she was 2 years old, so I think she has a chance of one day celebrating a 75th trip.” Their love for the place inspired them to start organizing Grant work weekends.
In cabin-related alumni news from another continent, Tom McGonagle writes that in August he enjoyed a hut-to-hut trip in Norway with Anne Hallagher McGonagle, Bob VanWetter, Betsy Brew, Gay Macomber Bird, Jerry Bird ’80, and Rosi Dupre Littlefield ’82. They also visited Norwegian cities Oslo and Bergen. Sounds like a fabulous micro-reunion!
Rob Corell reports that he remains happily married to Henny Graff Corell ’82. They live north of Boston. After a series of tech layoffs, Rob recently returned to school for a medical assisting degree to prepare for work in direct patient care. On the family front, he says the last of their seven children finished college and is employed, and they have five grandchildren. Also, he’s “keeping several dozen chickens for eggs—always good to learn a new skill.”
If you’re seeking another chance to gather with ’81s in a beautiful spot, the Orcas Island, Washington, mini-reunion is planned for August 6-9. Robin Smoller Sullivan, who lives there, is providing the inside scoop on what to see and do. For details, contact Elizabeth Wang, elizabethwang99@gmail.com, or Bob Dale, bob@daledevco.com.
Is anyone else making (early) retirement plans to move back to the Upper Valley? Phil Gibbs says he’s contemplating it, having lived in New York and Connecticut since graduation. As he puts it, “Hanover sure is nice.”
Finally, we’re grateful to Peter Bogin for sharing the sad news of the October 2025 death of our classmate Lloyd Widom. Peter’s personal remembrance of Lloyd appeared in the December class newsletter. Look for a full obituary to be published on the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine website, dartmouthalumnimagazine.com. Our sympathies go out to Lloyd’s family and friends.
Please keep your news coming, whether of joys or sorrows. As many of us face unaccustomed blank spaces on our schedules and planners, now might be a good time to re-connect with classmates. We appreciate your updates.
—Christy Hunter Mihaly, P.O. Box 119, East Calais, VT 05650; christymihaly@gmail.com;Howard Morse, 1836 Milvale Road, Annapolis, MD 21409; m.howard.morse@gmail.com
Back to 1981 Class Year
More of 1981 Class Notes
The work weekend is an extension of an annual tradition begun in 1981, when Phil, Bill Crowe, and Cam Schaeffer ’84 ventured to the Grant. A group has returned every year, with participants including Jack Krusche, Mike Hogarty, Pete Maginot ’80, Chuck Muenzen ’80, Don Austen ’79, Phil’s daughter Grayce ’22, and many of Grayce’s classmates. Phil boasts a 44-year streak, but he points out, “Grayce has been coming since she was 2 years old, so I think she has a chance of one day celebrating a 75th trip.” Their love for the place inspired them to start organizing Grant work weekends.
In cabin-related alumni news from another continent, Tom McGonagle writes that in August he enjoyed a hut-to-hut trip in Norway with Anne Hallagher McGonagle, Bob VanWetter, Betsy Brew, Gay Macomber Bird, Jerry Bird ’80, and Rosi Dupre Littlefield ’82. They also visited Norwegian cities Oslo and Bergen. Sounds like a fabulous micro-reunion!
Rob Corell reports that he remains happily married to Henny Graff Corell ’82. They live north of Boston. After a series of tech layoffs, Rob recently returned to school for a medical assisting degree to prepare for work in direct patient care. On the family front, he says the last of their seven children finished college and is employed, and they have five grandchildren. Also, he’s “keeping several dozen chickens for eggs—always good to learn a new skill.”
If you’re seeking another chance to gather with ’81s in a beautiful spot, the Orcas Island, Washington, mini-reunion is planned for August 6-9. Robin Smoller Sullivan, who lives there, is providing the inside scoop on what to see and do. For details, contact Elizabeth Wang, elizabethwang99@gmail.com, or Bob Dale, bob@daledevco.com.
Is anyone else making (early) retirement plans to move back to the Upper Valley? Phil Gibbs says he’s contemplating it, having lived in New York and Connecticut since graduation. As he puts it, “Hanover sure is nice.”
Finally, we’re grateful to Peter Bogin for sharing the sad news of the October 2025 death of our classmate Lloyd Widom. Peter’s personal remembrance of Lloyd appeared in the December class newsletter. Look for a full obituary to be published on the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine website, dartmouthalumnimagazine.com. Our sympathies go out to Lloyd’s family and friends.
Please keep your news coming, whether of joys or sorrows. As many of us face unaccustomed blank spaces on our schedules and planners, now might be a good time to re-connect with classmates. We appreciate your updates.
—Christy Hunter Mihaly, P.O. Box 119, East Calais, VT 05650; christymihaly@gmail.com;Howard Morse, 1836 Milvale Road, Annapolis, MD 21409; m.howard.morse@gmail.com