Class Note 1962
Issue
November-December 2026
Class Note 1962. Here are responses to the question: Which class or extracurricular activity had a lasting impact on life choices? (My thanks to all who responded.)
From Newport, Kentucky, Jim Sammarco replied: “Skiing, without question. The golf course rope tow and ski run, and then the Dartmouth Skyway, turned me on. I loved it, lessons and free skiing as often as possible! Some years later, I was asked to be one of several volunteer physicians for the U.S. alpine ski team from 1976 to 1980. The women’s team trained for the World Cup and ultimately the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.”
From Atherton, California, Barbara Preuss sends the following update on her husband, Chuck Preuss: “Chuck was diagnosed with early symptoms of Lewy body dementia about nine years ago. Although the disease has progressed tremendously, he is very much ‘in the moment’ with appropriate comments and humorous quips and never complains about his situation. Chuck is very grateful to his devoted Dartmouth roommate Phil Meyer, who comes every Thursday for lunch and a visit. For anyone else with this disease, I highly recommend the drug rivastigmine, which has been a miracle for Chuck in terms of cognition.
“A lasting impact from Chuck’s experience at Dartmouth was his enrollment in the Navy ROTC program and its leadership training. His infantry regiment of Marines was one of the first to go into Vietnam in 1965, where he was a company commander and received a Bronze Star with combat V, leading to other leadership roles as the managing partner in his law firm and president of the International Association of Defense Counsel. Best wishes to all.” (Secretary’s note: Coincidentally, I was helicoptered in from Danang to provide naval gunfire support—not needed, thankfully—for Chuck’s amphibious landing at Chu Lai, South Vietnam, in May 1965.)
Arja and Alan Rapoport joined Rog Usborne with his three sons at the Dodgers vs. Padres game on July 3.
I regret to inform you of the deaths of Sumner Kabler of Houston, Texas, on May 7; and George B. Billings of Manchester, New Hampshire, on May 21.
—David L. Smith, 1810 Columbine Pl., Sun City Center, FL 33573; (775) 870-2354; david@davidlsmith.com
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More of 1962 Class Notes
From Newport, Kentucky, Jim Sammarco replied: “Skiing, without question. The golf course rope tow and ski run, and then the Dartmouth Skyway, turned me on. I loved it, lessons and free skiing as often as possible! Some years later, I was asked to be one of several volunteer physicians for the U.S. alpine ski team from 1976 to 1980. The women’s team trained for the World Cup and ultimately the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.”
From Atherton, California, Barbara Preuss sends the following update on her husband, Chuck Preuss: “Chuck was diagnosed with early symptoms of Lewy body dementia about nine years ago. Although the disease has progressed tremendously, he is very much ‘in the moment’ with appropriate comments and humorous quips and never complains about his situation. Chuck is very grateful to his devoted Dartmouth roommate Phil Meyer, who comes every Thursday for lunch and a visit. For anyone else with this disease, I highly recommend the drug rivastigmine, which has been a miracle for Chuck in terms of cognition.
“A lasting impact from Chuck’s experience at Dartmouth was his enrollment in the Navy ROTC program and its leadership training. His infantry regiment of Marines was one of the first to go into Vietnam in 1965, where he was a company commander and received a Bronze Star with combat V, leading to other leadership roles as the managing partner in his law firm and president of the International Association of Defense Counsel. Best wishes to all.” (Secretary’s note: Coincidentally, I was helicoptered in from Danang to provide naval gunfire support—not needed, thankfully—for Chuck’s amphibious landing at Chu Lai, South Vietnam, in May 1965.)
Arja and Alan Rapoport joined Rog Usborne with his three sons at the Dodgers vs. Padres game on July 3.
I regret to inform you of the deaths of Sumner Kabler of Houston, Texas, on May 7; and George B. Billings of Manchester, New Hampshire, on May 21.
—David L. Smith, 1810 Columbine Pl., Sun City Center, FL 33573; (775) 870-2354; david@davidlsmith.com