I write this as the last vestiges of snow are rapidly receding into the ground, knowing that it will be read after the blaze of summer has already softened spring’s soft glow. Tempus fugit!


For the record, our annual ’53 ski day at Sunapee, New Hampshire, was its usual success. Five downhill skiers enjoyed the day as two others skied cross-country. The après ski at the Donovan condo was followed by dinner at the Lake Sunapee Country Club with the Blodgetts, Carletons, Cooks, Donovans, Fairs, Kennedys, Newtons, Siegals, Lillian Goss and Dick O’Connor participating.


Neil Isaacs writes, “Hey, Mark! Just a note to let you know that I’m still kicking around. I’ve seen a dozen books of mine made available as e-books in the last 12 months; six from Amazon. The other half dozen from Smashwords.com. Most are reprints of old works, but the latter include four original works: a novel, a collection of stories, a work of literature and film critique and a study of comparative mythology. Otherwise, tennis, poker and family with 12 rising-star grandchildren keep me occupied.”


Dave Godschalk has written a new book, Sustainable Development Metrics. The book describes how to assess project feasibility with design, development and regulation in mind, discussing the challenges of urban development that he describes as breaking through the separate professional silos and finding ways to balance the trade-offs so that the resulting mix contributes to a sustainable city. Sounds wonderful, Dave!


I spoke to and corresponded with the late Brock Brower a month or so ago. He was upbeat and optimistic, and subsequently wrote that Amazon had a full list of his books, which included The Late Great Creature, now appearing in Germany as Der Letzte Grosse Schrecken, a revival from the first publication nearly a half century ago in 1972. He wrote that he still had two manuscripts of unpublished novels plus much miscellany, including verse. I hope we have an opportunity to see them in print.


I conclude sadly with the announcement of the deaths of our beloved classmates David King, Richard Collins, Tom Croft and Brock Brower. Our most sincere condolences to their families.


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