Class Note 1976
Issue
September-October 2026
Class Note 1976. I’m coming back down to earth after a simply spectacular milestone 50th reunion that was energizing, reaffirming, and heartwarming! There were so many joyous memories connecting with classmates and reminiscing about experiences on the Hanover Plain!
Special kudos to the dynamic duo of Fern Bennett and Kipp Barker. The entire Reunion Committee deserves our thanks and praise for its extraordinary dedication that was key to success. We had the largest 50th reunion attendance of all time with 352 classmates—congrats to all!
Sara Hoagland Hunter organized a riveting class panel—some memorable quotes on “What advice would you give to yourself in 1976?”
John Sherman says, “Invest in Microsoft not Blockbuster.”
Stephen Parker-Feld, quoting Vernon Law, says “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first and the lesson afterward.”
Bert Ifill, quoting his late sister and PBS journalist Gwen Ifill, says, “We cannot expect the world to get better by itself; we have to create something we can leave for the next generation.”
I had a wonderful conversation with a ’26er at lunch organized by Judy Burrows Csatari, the indefatigable leader of the “ ’76-’26 Connections” program. His most memorable lesson was from a music professor: “Lean into your superpower.” In response to a difficult assignment for which the students had no prior experience, the professor encouraged them by saying that they got into Dartmouth because they could do something really well and that they could always tap their superpower.
At Commencement, we all cheered proudly for classmates Gary Love and Karen Evans, who received honorary degrees.
The 50th reunion memorial service was attended by almost 300 as we honored the 97 classmates who have passed. Rob Erickson’s homily was deeply moving and inspiring. It is definitely worth a listen if you missed the service.
We had remarkable fun in the class tent enjoying the great music of Parker MacDonell, GuyVan Syckle,Jamey Hampton, and Mark Weisbard.
Special thanks to Martha (Johnson) and Jim Beattie and David Spalding for leadership of all the class agents responsible for soliciting classmates to contribute to Dartmouth College Fund. Our great class raised an astounding third-largest 50th reunion gift of all time at $3.62 million and shattered the original goal of $2.5 million. No Top 10 class has ever gotten there without large gifts of $250,000 or more, and we accomplished this incredible feat with a remarkable 40-percent participation rate and by building brick by brick.
We will share individual stories that are beautifully chronicled in the 50th reunion yearbook (which remains open if you want to add your page) championed by Steve Bell. The first recognition has to go to our sisters, the groundbreaking women of the class of 1976 who were the first group of four-year women to matriculate at Dartmouth. They shared many stories of how their experiences fueled growth and success. It was simply thrilling to see how our class forever changed the storied history of Dartmouth College.
Please share your reunion stories and we will print the most memorable!
—Spencer Kubo, 3827 Zenith Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55410; (612) 867-7203; spencer.h.kubo@gmail.com
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More of 1976 Class Notes
Special kudos to the dynamic duo of Fern Bennett and Kipp Barker. The entire Reunion Committee deserves our thanks and praise for its extraordinary dedication that was key to success. We had the largest 50th reunion attendance of all time with 352 classmates—congrats to all!
Sara Hoagland Hunter organized a riveting class panel—some memorable quotes on “What advice would you give to yourself in 1976?”
John Sherman says, “Invest in Microsoft not Blockbuster.”
Stephen Parker-Feld, quoting Vernon Law, says “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first and the lesson afterward.”
Bert Ifill, quoting his late sister and PBS journalist Gwen Ifill, says, “We cannot expect the world to get better by itself; we have to create something we can leave for the next generation.”
I had a wonderful conversation with a ’26er at lunch organized by Judy Burrows Csatari, the indefatigable leader of the “ ’76-’26 Connections” program. His most memorable lesson was from a music professor: “Lean into your superpower.” In response to a difficult assignment for which the students had no prior experience, the professor encouraged them by saying that they got into Dartmouth because they could do something really well and that they could always tap their superpower.
At Commencement, we all cheered proudly for classmates Gary Love and Karen Evans, who received honorary degrees.
The 50th reunion memorial service was attended by almost 300 as we honored the 97 classmates who have passed. Rob Erickson’s homily was deeply moving and inspiring. It is definitely worth a listen if you missed the service.
We had remarkable fun in the class tent enjoying the great music of Parker MacDonell, GuyVan Syckle,Jamey Hampton, and Mark Weisbard.
Special thanks to Martha (Johnson) and Jim Beattie and David Spalding for leadership of all the class agents responsible for soliciting classmates to contribute to Dartmouth College Fund. Our great class raised an astounding third-largest 50th reunion gift of all time at $3.62 million and shattered the original goal of $2.5 million. No Top 10 class has ever gotten there without large gifts of $250,000 or more, and we accomplished this incredible feat with a remarkable 40-percent participation rate and by building brick by brick.
We will share individual stories that are beautifully chronicled in the 50th reunion yearbook (which remains open if you want to add your page) championed by Steve Bell. The first recognition has to go to our sisters, the groundbreaking women of the class of 1976 who were the first group of four-year women to matriculate at Dartmouth. They shared many stories of how their experiences fueled growth and success. It was simply thrilling to see how our class forever changed the storied history of Dartmouth College.
Please share your reunion stories and we will print the most memorable!
—Spencer Kubo, 3827 Zenith Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55410; (612) 867-7203; spencer.h.kubo@gmail.com