Two thousand eighteen! How far off it seemed to us at the time; a lifetime away! So much has passed through the history books since that time, collectively as well as personally. For us, the hearty group of ’53s who first set foot on Dartmouth soil in the fall of 1949, we are preparing for another trip to the Hanover Plain. We are now a little older, a little wiser, perhaps a little scarred, but just as enthusiastic as we were 65 years ago. Though forewarned and supposedly armed to meet the exigencies of life those 65 years ago, we could never have envisioned the age of the computer and Internet, the Vietnam War, the assassination of a president, the age of electronics, the Dartmouth Plan, coeducation. Our College has changed dramatically and mostly for the better and, I hope, challenged by President Eisenhower at our graduation, we have grown and adapted and fulfilled our potential.

Under the aegis of Put Blodgett and Richard Fleming we will return on September 28 through September 30, 2018, to engage in a celebration of those 65 years and to share our collective experiences with old friends. We look forward to recommitting to our College and to our world. I hope you plan to join us.

Speaking of potential fulfilled, Fran L’Esperance has made many and diverse contributions to ophthalmology. He was a pioneer in laser vision correction developing the first argon laser as well as seven others while serving as a professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgery and as an attending ophthalmologist at Harkness Eye Institute. The Geisel School of Medicine has named the first Francis A. L’Esperance Jr., M.D., Visual Sciences Scholar in his name. Congratulations, Fran!

With sorrow we note the passing of our dear classmates Edward Merritt, Tom Bloomer, Fred England and Roger Longabaugh. We shall miss them as we gather next year. We offer our sincere condolences to their families.

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