First I would like to extend my condolences to Fred Berthold on the loss of his wife, Laura, in January. It is always sad news with the loss of a mate.


Harry Hampton has generously written about the memory tree, hence I shall report it as he has written it for me, since he has all of the facts. Faithful readers (with eyesight that can read DAM’s tiny type) have inquired how the memorial to the class of 1945 came to be. Here’s how.


Classmates, one on each coast and the third in the Midwest, jawboned about memorials on Dartmouth’s campus. One suggested our class deserved its own memorial, the others agreed. What would be acceptable to the College? At what cost?


Ask and ye shall learn. Jennifer Casey, who works in the alumni relations office, led us to Nancy Bates in gift planning. The latter had straightforward answers and our three ’45s thought a memorial tree with a bronze tablet—on the lawn in front of Gile, Streeter and Lord dormitories (once known as the Gold Coast)—at $5,000 was doable even if they alone paid for it.


One letter to all upstanding classmates and widows with accurate mailing addresses was all it took to elicit 52 checks totaling more than $8,000. The excess donated will be added to the class gift to the Dartmouth College Fund at our 70th reunion, September 25-27 in Hanover. You will please be there to cheer lustily. 


This is a beautiful memorial to our classmates, and we hope you visit the site when you are in Hanover.


We will once again remind you of the upcoming 70th class reunion and hope that you are planning to attend. This will probably be the last one, so widows and all please do try to join in the festivities.


—Rosalie Cutter, 14 Sterling Springs Drive, White River Junction, VT 05001; rosalie.cutter.45@alum.dartmouth.org