One hundred ninety classmates and 90 guests attended our 40th reunion in June. Many proclaimed it to be the best ever because of the official dedication of the class of 1974 bunkhouse at Moosilauke, strong classmate attendance, clustering with the ’73s and ’75s again and a wonderful memorial service organized by Walt Singletary in honor of our 55 deceased classmates. Walt drafted speakers, enlisted and rehearsed a volunteer choir and provided musical accompaniment on the organ for the service. Rocky Whitaker ably conducted the volunteer choir. Walt’s daughter Lauren sang in the choir and was also a vocal soloist. Walt is a financial advisor in Reading, Pennsylvania, but his musical talents that reach back to his days in high school band, orchestra and chorus were still very much in evidence at the service.


At our class meeting on Saturday morning of reunion weekend we elected Jerry Bowe as our new class president. Classmates at the meeting thankfully acknowledged the superb job that Jerry and his wife, Eleanor, had done as reunion co-chairs. Rick Ranger, long-time newsletter editor and class president for the past five years, relinquished the responsibilities of president with the gratitude of the class but kindly consented to remain in service as newsletter editor for another term. 


Paula Penn-Nabrit, widow of Charles Madison Nabrit, wrote with news that friends, family, church and community members in Columbus, Ohio, have created a memorial garden in honor of Charles, who passed away in May 2013. The garden covers an area 50 feet by 75 feet, includes more than 30 raised beds and produces a cornucopia of flowers, fruits, berries and vegetables. Charles and Paula’s sons Damon and Charles and four nephews were instrumental in making the memorial garden a reality. The garden will be a teaching tool for local children and a self-sustaining source of accessible and affordable organic food for a community underserved by grocery stores. For further information and to support the memorial garden, go to www.telosinc.org. Please see Charles’ obituary at www.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com.


Be safe and send news.


—Rick Sample, Retreat Farm, 1137 Manakin Road, Manakin Sabot, VA 23103; samplejr@msn.com