May 2019 in London: How does that sound to the members of the class of 1961? It started out as a passing comment and photo by Oscar Arslanian, relating to his and Nyla’s very pleasant visit with longtime London residents and classmate Frank Stephens and his wife, Dawn, while Oscar and Nyla were traveling around England during September 2017. Then came independent recommendations from Maynard Wheeler and Vic Rich to hold our class’ first-ever out-of-the-country mini-reunion in London. Oscar offered to contact Frank to see if he would chair a London mini-reunion. His appeal was apparently successful, as Frank and Dawn agreed to set up the three-day-plus event and be our on-site hosts. As 2019 coincided with our 80th year on this planet, Don O’Neill,class president, and the rest of the 18 class officers unanimously agreed to an 80th birthday celebration to be held in London during May 2019. As our class held the very first Dartmouth off-campus mini-reunion in Washington, D.C., in May of 1989, to celebrate our 50th birthday celebration, it seemed only fitting that our 13th significant off-campus mini-reunion should be held in some far-off but highly accessible location, such as London, to celebrate our 80th birthday celebration. All we have to worry about between now and then is remaining alive and reasonably healthy.

A note received from Bob Naegele Jr. indicates that he is involved in trying to improve what he and others, including other Dartmouth alumni, deem to be “the failing public schools in Florida as well as the rest of the country.” It is quite an undertaking to pinpoint the problems and then to find workable solutions!

Harris McKee and wife Mary have now completed their first full winter as residents of Chicago, after having moved from “tropical” Arkansas. This may seem strange, when so many other classmates are moving to the warmer South after retiring. However, the magnetic pull of being closer to children and grandchildren apparently was just too strong.

By popular demand, I will again be concluding our class column with an interesting quote, but no room remains for this issue.

—Victor S. Rich, 94 Dove Hill Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030; (516) 446-3977; richwind13@gmail.com