Your correspondent reports a smashing 100th birthday celebration given by her son and his wife, Dean and Robin Hanks. Four generations remind us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal relationship has meaning, and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation.
Bob Stone ’70 reported the death of his father, Edward H. Stone II, 1918-2019.
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I received the following letter from Lee Grace, “To help you keep the ’41 column alive: I am soon to be 100, and am vertical and in adequate health. After spending much of my life in Wyoming, I have moved to the Portland, Oregon, area to be near my daughter, Betsy Henningsen. It is impossible to sum up the past 100 years. It has been a helluva trip!”
I have also heard from Marty Welbourn Freeman, who writes the following on behalf of her dad, Ray Welbourn: “He celebrated his 99th birthday in October and still lives in Whitehorse Village in Pennsylvania. He always reads the alumni news.”
I am celebrating my 100th on March 27! I am hoping my son, Dean, and his wife are successful with their plans to celebrate, but I have heard some threats. I give great thanks that I can celebrate with Dean and his wife. It has been a great ride! I’m glad I knew my husband, Don, in his college days because I love Dartmouth and Tuck School, too!
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
Sally Combes Leahey wrote to me of the death of her father, Abbott C. Combes, on October 29. While he was at Dartmouth he was a member of Psi U, Dragon Society, and Green Key and was the executive manager of athletics. Following military service in World War II he and his wife, Mary, settled in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. A couple of days before he died he asked for his Dartmouth cane, to make sure it was in a safe place (it is). A lifelong Red Sox fan, he found out just in time that they won the World Series! I received notice from the College of the death of Bob Feller in October.
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I thought this column was closed because I had no class contact for a few months. Now I have received a fine letter from Elizabeth Bouquet, one of George McCollum’s daughters. She says her dad is now enjoying his 99th summer on the New Jersey shore. He has warm memories of off-campus eating clubs, where comfort foods were served to appreciative Dartmouth students. Sunday dinners at the home of Uncle Jim (a professor of English) were times to connect with family. Skating, running, fishing, studying, and recreational times spent with his friends made a memorable four years for a young man about to go in the Navy and serve his country in World War II. “Dartmouth was a good choice, Dad has said many times, and it has served him well many times,” writes Elizabeth. “If possible, I would like to send our best to Ed Small and Bruce Espey ’40 and their families.”
Sally Combes Leahey wrote to me of the death of her father, Abbott C. Combes, on October 29, 2018. While he was at Dartmouth he was a member of Psi U, Dragon, and Green Key and was the executive manager of athletics. Following military service in World War II, he and his wife, Mary, settled in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. A couple of days before he died he asked for his Dartmouth cane to make sure it was in a safe place. (It is.) A lifelong Red Sox fan, he found out just before he died that they won the World Series!
I received notice from the College of the death of Bob Feller in October.
If anyone else in the class has a thought, do send it to me.
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I feel sad as I write this, for I believe this is the end of my giving information about the class of 1941.
There has not been anything offered by members for the past two issues. I have greatly enjoyed my contacts with you, and should you feel inspired, please send your news, and I will publish it!
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I had an appreciative note from Bob Feller because I have tried to keep ’41 alive in this column! He’s just a kid! He had his 98th birthday last December—as I write this I am already 99 years and 26 days old!
We are still enjoying swimming weather, and that brings the northern family down to visit. Four of them have done their first swimming in my pool and that gives me great pleasure. I got a new black bathing suit for my 99th birthday!
Do you know the game of Rummikub? A friend and I play at least one game a day. We keep a monthly score, and the loser buys two thick milkshakes for the winner. High stakes and great fun. Try it!
This column has lost a fine correspondent, Millie Steel, Bill Steel’s widow. She was so loyal to the class and dear old Dartmouth! I thoroughly enjoyed a visit from Paul Mahoney’s son and wife.
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
Sally Coombs Leahy has written a note about her father, Albert Coombs, who continues to enjoy his residence at Mayo Healthcare in Northfield, Vermont. He finds that there are lots of Dartmouth connections in the area. If he wears his Dartmouth hat, people will approach him, as did the alum in the elevator in a doctor’s office or a Harvard rival in a restaurant. Folks seeing the Dartmouth banner in his room will stop by, such as the recent graduate or the woman whose daughter currently attends the College. She brought him a Dartmouth mug! The Dartmouth camaraderie can’t beat that. I continue to heal from a miserable fall and now am living my normal life of activity. Today I will do chair yoga and tomorrow it will be a “mumba” class. I am living where I belong and hope many of you feel the same!
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
Dear friends, I have done it! In my haste to dispose of some waste, I tripped and fell on a cement floor and smashed my upper waist and broke my left elbow and four ribs. Nieces Bonnie and Barbara have both come to help Aunt Jane and home health aides started in mid October. My son, Dean, and his wife, Robin, will arrive tomorrow for the winter in their Fort Myers, Florida, home. So I am beautifully cared for, just sitting here puckered at what I have done to myself and the inconvenience I have caused for myself and others. Anyone have something more cheerful to think about?
The College reported the death of classmate Merle Perkins, Ph.D., of Madison, Wisconsin, on April 16, 2017.
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
All of my communications for this column were from the College these past two months, notifying me of the demise of several men from ’41: Richard Robert Otter, Ph.D., Notre Dame, Indiana; John D. Bowe, Charleston, South Carolina; George F. Clabaugh, Hanover; and Ronald E. Losee, M.D., Ennis, Montana. And one widow is listed, Jacqueline Bowe. Wish I had a cheerful note to end with!
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
From a letter from Jean Carr, George Clabaugh’s niece: “George is continuing to live at Kendal in Hanover very near the College. Over the years he has greatly enjoyed all the Dartmouth offerings from courses to art and music. While his travel days are over, he is continuing to thrive at Kendal and is grateful for his extended family of nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews! Grateful for your work for the class of ’41!” Thank you, Jean!
Barbara McCallum, daughter of George McCallum, says he still lives on the Jersey shore and has fond memories of his Dartmouth years. “Dad will be 98 in June and is doing well! We all enjoy the Class Notes.” Barbara, you did breathe life into the Class Notes and I appreciate you! I am 98 also!
I want to include a note from classmate Ed Small. Ed says he thought a lot about going to our 75th, but it was too big a hassle—“a three-plus-hour plane ride and three-hour bus ride and then again on Sunday! Even though my health is still pretty good, it didn’t seem worth it!” He can be reached at 6267 South Kearney St., Centennial, CO 80111.
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
What I have feared would happen, has happened! I have not had any communication from a ’41 these past two months. If this thought bothers you, send me something and I will include it in this column, which I have really enjoyed these past three years.
I am still enthusiastic about life here at Shell Point.
I have three bridge games a week and a daily game of Rummikub. (If you don’t know that game, learn it!) You need to buy a set of tiles (it is a Parker game), two to four people can play the numbers game—it’s addicting. I like a game before or after dinner. Simple fun! Isn’t that what we need?
My very best wishes for you all!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
From a note from Millie Steel, Bill Steel’s widow, who lives with a daughter right across the river from Hanover: “Here in New Hampshire it is cold, windy and snowy, with icy roads postponing get-togethers and meetings until safer to travel. I have no Dartmouth local news. I would like to share stories of classmates’ widows and families’ lives today. None of our children went to Dartmouth. Their choices were Stony Brook, Yale, Duke and Cornell, but great-grandson Theo will be 1 year old February 20 and wearing the Dartmouth sweatshirt waiting for him! Looking forward to reading classmates’ family news!”
The College sent news of the death of Henry Gunst, known to most classmates as “Hank.” He was from Richmond, Virginia, and is survived by six loving and admiring children and a longtime companion and Saturday-night date, Ann Levy Bendheim. Hank was the eternal optimist, so on Thursday he made dinner reservations for his weekly date! His passions were the stock market and sports, particularly baseball.
I received a welcome note from Glen Galbraith, son of William C. Galbraith: “My father passed away in 2008 in Asheville, North Carolina. I still remember class reunions in Hanover—those are great childhood memories. My father was very fond of Dartmouth and always spoke very highly of his years there. In remembrance, here are two personal items related to my father [pictures enclosed]: One is his Beta Theta Pi staff (which sits happily in my home here in Knoxville, Tennessee) and another is a photo of him serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.”
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
There is a dearth of news from the class of ’41. I fear we are beginning to fold, and you, reading this, are the only ones who can keep it alive. So you decide: You will contribute or you will pass—and the comments from ’41 will pass also.
I have had one notice from the College, telling me of the death of Alden Boyd on November 8, 2016, in Charles Town, West Virginia.
The College has just issued an up-to-date list of ’41 survivors, which I have just requested from class president Chip Deming. He is on his way to spend Christmas with his daughter, so I will receive the listing when he returns home and then let you know the number of survivors.
Though he is from a much later class, I had a lovely surprise visit from William H. Mitchell ’79. He was staying at his neighboring condo and he got my name and address from this column! He brought his two friendly dog companions for a delightful Dartmouth visit and this gave me great pleasure!
Do you have anything to contribute? I really hate to have to say good-bye!
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I was not at the 75th reunion because I am 97 and no longer travel, but two stalwart members of the class were there and report the College made great effort to give them a fine time. Our president, Chip Deming, and Edward Stone joined the classes of 1946 and 1951 for several events. Ed has a handsome big D address sticker: 37 Morrison Road, West Wakefield, MA 01880-2149. The men watched the Dartmouth-Penn football game and Ed wonders why the black uniforms? What happened to the Big Green?
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I surely hate not being able to attend the 75th reunion! I am not traveling anymore and it is a long way from Florida to Hanover. I have only missed one other reunion since graduation, and that was your fifth in 1946. I was in the hospital having our first son and I asked my doctor if I could leave the baby in the hospital for the weekend so I could attend the reunion. His response was, “Absolutely not!” I still have the picture of that huge reunion I missed in 1946. So this is only the second reunion I have missed. My heart will be there!
I hope Abbott Combes will be there, because his daughter, Sally Lahey, has written me that he has moved nearer Hanover. His new address is 71 Richardson St., Northfield, VT 05663.
Please, will someone who does attend write to tell me all about the reunion and any news for this column. Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I have had an interesting note from Pat Stillman, Don Stillman’s widow. She is living near Orlando, Florida, now (450 Village Place, Longwood, FL 32779). Surely many of us remember Pat because she and Don were very active in class activities. They had retired to a pretty area in Jupiter, Florida. “We were right on the ocean and loved it,” Pat writes, “but Don had a very bad back and could do less and less. This place [in Longwood] has a good repair department. Don actually wound up in the health center for four years. So I, like you, live alone and it is boring! I have never lived anywhere so long, having been born into the Marine Corps and raised all over the world. Guess this is a good solution. I am fine—but bored!” I ache for you, Pat! Five bridge games a week keep me interested and awake. I do not travel anymore, so cannot consider another class of ’41 reunion, but son Peter (now deceased) drove me to Hanover for the 70th and I had a glorious time at the Hanover Inn. I envy anyone who can return for a 75th!
It was just this past month that I learned of Dick Hill’s demise. This is a terrific loss to the class and to Dartmouth. Aren’t we fortunate to have had him!
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 King’s Crown, Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I regret the need to report the death of Richard D. Hill. He gave so much of himself to the class and the College, serving as trustee from 1967 to 1970. The College lists countless offices and committees that he served well. Several of his children and grandchildren graduated from Dartmouth. He was a loyal ’41 to the end, contributing to this column. I am most grateful and will truly miss Dick Hill.
I am quoting now from a letter I received from Jeannie Lee ’99: “I am writing to you because I see you are a contact for the class of ’41 and I am trying to explore ways to give back to that class, whoever is still with us. I only regret that I have not written sooner. When I was a student at Dartmouth I received a scholarship from the class of ’41. The other day, I reflected on that support and I felt an immense sense of gratitude. I recall meeting various alumni at dinners and I had fond memories of my freshman year. Fast forward, I am currently living in N.Y.C. and sometimes visit Dartmouth. I wonder if there are any ’41 alumni I could visit in N.Y.C. or the Dartmouth area? I could bring a celebrity dog (my dog), which has been on TV several times. She does great when meeting seniors in assisted living and patients in hospitals. I basically want to provide some kind gesture to the member of ’41. I hope there are classmates locally or in Hanover so that I may introduce myself.”
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 King’s Crown, Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
A warm and welcomed note from Walter Lipman and wife Doris (3920 Heritage Hills, Somers, NY 10589). He says, “Although Parkinson’s is fairly under control by meds, the computer is harder to use than writing! On August 30 my excellent health ended with a disastrous fall and fractured hip. Four weeks in the hospital and rehab worked pretty well. With Doris’ help we have regained a social life. I am not sure we will get to the Cape Cod house, although my son would come to drive us. I am regaining strength and agility. I am back on the treadmill and lifting small weights.” (Keep up that spirit, Walter.) He can be reached at (914) 277-7512.
I would certainly like to hear from more classmates or wives! Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 King’s Crown, Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
Chester “Chet” S. Williams, Ph.D., is at the Nevada Veterans Home (sailorprof.williams@gmail.com), where he has lived for two years after selling his home in Boulder City, Nevada, after the death of his wife, Beverly. He retired from Texas A&M in 2002. He says he was, “an old-time Big Green Glee Clubber,” and now plays the accordion at the local senior center and harmonica and guitar with the Nevada Old Time Fiddlers on a regular basis! Chet wonders if there are any Theta Delta Chi men still around.
Albert Combes’ daughter, Sally, has written saying her father has moved from Lenox, Massachusetts, to Northfield, Vermont, to be nearer his younger family. She tells me her father once visited Big Green Farms but found no one home. Sorry about that! The farms were sold last year to other good farmers, so the land will still be productive. That pleases me!
Millie Steel, widow of Bill Steel, writes about the bonus of living so near Hanover. She lives with a daughter in Meredith, New Hampshire. She hears many current guest speakers at the College. In October Salman Rushdie was in Sanborn, promoting his new book, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-eight Nights, a retelling of “One Thousand and One Nights” set in contemporary New York City. Meredith is near Plainfield, New Hampshire, and that is the mailing address she uses. Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Shell Point, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
A welcome e-mail from Dick Hill, who lives in a retirement community west of Boston, to thank me for—in his words—“saving our class from total anonymity.” His latest noteworthy news is that he finished last Sunday’s New York Times crossword puzzle! And he has given up driving. Several of us are saying ditto! The Hills have three children (two sons are approaching retirement), eight grandsons (two of whom recently married) and one granddaughter. Dick says he has “a reasonably healthy caregiver whom I married 68 years ago and a comfortable chair surrounded by pill bottles. Exciting! I have great memories of Dartmouth. Thank you , Jane, for keeping us alive.” I thank you, Dick, for your e-mail.
Shirley Hicks has been the companion of George Baine for several years, but, sadly, George died, October 15. Shirley drove George to Hanover for our 70th reunion and we were all grateful for that. Dartmouth was a strong influence in his life. She recalls that when they traveled he always wore his Dartmouth cap because it invoked many happy conversations about Dartmouth with strangers! He loved to reminisce about Dartmouth. I wish I could include the obituary Shirley sent me, but the older classes are limited to number of words. And we are that, an older class! Shirley’s address is 43 Barbarie, Highlands, NJ 07732
I also received from the College a notice of the death of Edward Farmer of Muskegon, Michigan.
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
This is the month I feared would arrive! I have not heard a word from a classmate! I know some of you want these notes to continue so please send me some info! Anything!
I did hear from the College, notifying me of Monk Larson’s death on July 2. I best remember Monk as a great raconteur, especially at reunions, sitting on the lawn telling a story to an enchanted group of classmates. Sweet memories!
Please, friends, send me a note!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Shell Point, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
A note from Walter Lipman reports on himself and good wife Doris. They are still active “but slow.” I know so well what you are saying! They still have a house on Cape Cod (East Orleans, Massachusetts) and spend most of the summer there. Doris is long retired from state and county government through the League of Women Voters. “I fully retired from real-estate investments at the end of 2012. Between exercise and medications I am doing okay. Be well and keep up the good work!”
I heard from Lee Grace in Casper, Wyoming, who still enjoys “good health and adequate mind.” He also is pleased to have ’41 back in Class Notes in DAM. He has lived 60-plus years in Wyoming, living home—now alone—with plans to relocate in a retirement community soon. (Shell Point is great!)
Roy Kinsey ’67 is an air pilot from another class at Dartmouth who wrote, “Thought you might be interested in Dick Pace’s participation in this year’s veteran’s flight for the Pensacola Beach Air Show, representing U.S. Navy veterans. I was honored to have Dick fly with me in last year’s air show and am sending you this clip of the two of us flying happily in the breezes over Pensacola Beach!” I wish you all could see this clip! Congratulations, Dick, for this veteran’s honor!
I close by reporting the deaths of three classmates, all in April: Ed McMillan, James Eckels and William Best. I do appreciate you men of ’41 who take the moment to help me write this column!
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 King’s Crown, Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I had a great letter from Bob Feller! He tells how he “stumbled” into his life’s work, which was doing research to restore art works in museums. His Ph.D. in chemistry qualified him to do this work, which was sponsored by National Gallery of Art, and he worked at the Mellon Institute. Bob did research from 1955 to 1988 on varnishes and other factors that cause fading in art objects. If you do a Google search on Bob Feller and ignore all the references to the Cleveland baseball player of the same name, there is much more data on our classmate’s career. I knew nothing on this topic. It is fascinating! Bob was nationally recognized for his lifetime of achievement in 2011.
Edward McMillan passed away peacefully on April 12 at the age of 95. He was a World War II B17 pilot, prisoner of war for 27 months and the last surviving partner of the original Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith partnership. For the last 15 years of his career he was a professor of business administration at Bunker Hill Community College. He is survived by his four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Ed’s outstanding life experiences will be continued in the next issue.
Dum vivimus vivamus!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 Kings Crown, Shell Point, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
I had a note from Pamela Engle, mother of Xavier Engle ’09, who was a recipient of the class of ’41 endowment, which enabled him to attend Dartmouth: “He loved the Big Green and went on to medical school at the University of Washington. Xavier died in a tragic kayaking accident November 30, 2014, and leaves me with a heavy heart. I know he would want to express his great appreciation to the class of ’41 for its great support.”
On a much happier note is a letter from George F. Baine Jr.: “I am living in a retirement home in Red Bank, New Jersey. There is another ’41 in the area, George McCollum. Harry Douty lived here also, passed away February 25, 2015. I am looking forward to returning to Dartmouth next year for our 76th reunion with my second wife, Shirley. Fifty-five years ago Shirley was my secretary at a small bank in Red Bank (now a branch of Wells Fargo), where I was vice president, trust officer and investment officer. I was the boss and Shirley was my secretary. Now she is the boss and I am the secretary! This spring we will spend two weeks in Cape May, New Jersey, to celebrate my 96th birthday, and in September we will spend a month in a cottage in North Truro, Massachusetts.” Happy days, George and Shirley!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 King’s Crown, Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
Chip Deming, your class president, has asked me to be class secretary. I am the widow of Don Hanks, and I want to see ’41 return to the Class Notes of DAM! There are 67 survivors in the class and many interested widows (I hope)! Please make a small effort to contact me at the addresses below to tell the class about your current thoughts, interests or activities.
Dartmouth has been important in my life. Upon graduation, Don returned to his roots, the family farm in the small town of Salem, New York, on the Vermont border. Fast forward to having three sons who graduated from college and asked to join their father on the farm. It had grown to 1,000 acres and was a family corporation named Big Green Farms Inc. It served us well. Don and two sons have left the earth, and son D. Dean Jr. sold the farm this past year to neighbors.
I received a welcome letter from Dick Hill: “Polly and I are living in a retirement community a few miles west of Boston. She had her 90th birthday last week and a few days before that I suffered my 95th. We are fortunate to have each other and to lick our wounds together. We have three children, eight grandsons and one great-granddaughter. Of the three children, Jody and Dick graduated from Dartmouth. Of the grand-kids, three are Dartmouth grads and the youngest is a freshman at our favorite college. The others chose Bates, Santa Clara, Villanova and Trinity. All are gainfully employed, thank God!”
On a sadder note, I have heard of the death of Don Hagen from his children. Don was an able editor of our Dope from the Duckboards, maybe in the 1960s and 1970s. The young Hagen family used to love visiting our farm, and we, in return took our boys to visit them in Madison, New Jersey, so we could all attend the Dartmouth-Princeton games. A good tradition!
When Vic Schneider and Don Hanks were co-chairing your 55th reunion they signed their information letters to the class, “Dum vivimus viamus!” I translate this as, “While we are living, let us enjoy life!” I can’t think of a more appropriate sign-off!
—Jane Hanks, 2630 King’s Crown, Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, FL 33908; jhanks1@gmail.com
The following class members have passed away since my last notes: Raymond Mumford Seabury Jr., Franklin Eugene Tomlinson, Maurice Amos Warner Jr. Regretfully, I am now obliged to retire as class secretary. As my 93rd birthday draws near, class president Quentin Deming and I would welcome a survivor to replace me. I realize that I am the youngest member of the class of 1941, and since 1937 it has been my pleasure to keep contact with so many of its distinguished members for lo these 76 years.
Ciao!
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
This spring the Dartmouth baseball team made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 22 years. (They ended up losing to North Carolina and then Kansas in the Chapel Hill Regional, May 29 to June 1.) A recap of the team’s record: This was Dartmouth’s sixth appearance in the NCAA, but first since 1987. That Big Green squad defeated Michigan in the first round before faltering the next two games to Fordham and Rider. Back in 1970 Dartmouth won the District I playoff to advance to the College World Series for the only time in the program’s history. All told, the Big Green has a 6-10 record in the NCAA Tournament.
We have the following information from the athletics office, released just before the tournament. Dartmouth earned the Ivy League’s automatic berth in this year’s tournament by defeating Cornell in the Ivy Championship best-of-three series, two games to one. In order to play in the championship series the Big Green outgunned Brown in the Rolfe Division by one game with a league-best 16-4 mark. Since dropping its first eight games of the season Dartmouth has not lost consecutive games. The Big Green also rattled off 13 straight victories, the third longest in school history, with 11 coming against the Ivy League. On 16 occasions the Dartmouth bats have put at least 10 runs on the board, and 15 times in the last 26 contests. The squad set school records with 339 runs, 43 home runs and 19 triples.
On the mound Dartmouth will rarely beat itself by walking opposing hitters—the team has the lowest walks per innings in the country at 2.27. The defense has been stellar of late, committing just three errors over the last eight games for a .990 fielding percentage. Overall Dartmouth has a respectable .962 fielding percentage and has turned a school-record 48 double plays. The Big Green has not allowed an unearned run since April 26 and just two in their last 12 games.
—Dick Jachens, 730 Osprey Ave., Apt. 404, Sarasota, FL 34236; (941) 365-4980
Harry Douty and his wife, Beezy, are doing well up in Red Bank, New Jersey, close to Asbury Park, where he was born and raised. He and Beezy enjoy volunteer work together, donating countless hours supporting the Association of Retarded Citizens of Monmouth County. Harry also plays nine holes of golf every day and keeps busy in his favorite hobby of gardening.
Harry absolutely loves gardening and has a real passion for it. He and Beezy are enjoying their good health and spending family time with their five children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
John Kelley: Sad news comes that this loyal son of Dartmouth passed away on September 30, 2009, of an apparent heart attack. He and Marge were married for 67 years and split their time living between Minnesota and Sarasota, Florida. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps. His ’41 classmates of Dartmouth will sorely miss him.
Leon Cone up in Wolfboro, New Hampshire, is doing extremely well as he still serves as visitation minister for the First Congregational Church of Ossippee. He and his wife, Eleanor, just celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on October 11, 2009, and both are in good health and feeling great. Leon left his business career in 1957 to attend the seminary at Gorton College. He graduated in 1966, but stayed there and worked on the staff for 27 years until he retired in 1987.
—Richard Jachens, 730 S. Osprey Ave., Apt. 404, Sarasota, FL 34236; (941) 365-4980
Dr. Ronald Losee claims he has the best fishing in the world in his back yard in the Madison River. He treated a tennis elbow last week—“Done hundreds of them,” he says—and charged $184. “Worst four years of my life were at Dartmouth” Why? He had to take four years of chemistry—memorizing from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. six days a week—to get into Yale Medical School. Had to work extra hard and did it! He drove a 1942 Ford Jeep across the United States seven times, eventually ending up in Ennis, Montana, 60 years ago. He drove that same Jeep in the 2008 July 4th parade!
Edwin Small’s permanent address is Englewood, Colorado. He served in the Navy in WWII and Korean War as a lieutenant commander. He spent 36 years in the paper mill and corrugated box industry with Packaging Corp. of America in Colorado. He has been retired for six years and has enjoyed many outdoor activities. Unfortunately, Edwin’s wife passed away six years ago.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party. In this case honors belong to Dick and Margaret Hill. They divide their time between Marblehead, Massachusetts, and Fox Hill, a 400-unit residential complex that requires a coat and tie for dining. Dick is chairman of the board.
Stu celebrated his 89th birthday at Spring Hill, Florida. He is active, walking for an hour at dawn three days a week.
Talked to Pete Keir’s wife, Joyce, who said that Pete is doing well and playing a lot of tennis.
—Dick Jachens, 730 Osprey Ave., Apt. 404, Sarasota, FL 34236; (941) 365-4980
Our faithful class secretary Dick Jachens has requested a well-earned rest from his duties over, lo!, these many years. President Chip Deming has asked me to fill in for Dick. After receiving the avalanche of class data from Dick and the alumni office, I realize what a chore he performed and the debt of gratitude the class owes him. So far I have counted 140 survivors out of our class of some 600-plus graduates, with a median survival age of 90 to 91! Considering those we lost in the war the survival rate is phenomenal. It reflects what health statisticians have proved: The No. 1 factor in longevity is social support! How many of you at graduation thought that you’d become nonagenarians? At age 65 I changed my medical specialty to that of an academic geriatrician, but not in enough time to produce sufficient help to care for the onslaught of the baby boomers! In fact, the ranks of geriatricians are shrinking, not growing. High tech pays more. Who will change that if we don’t? So, let me know what you want to see published in the Alumni Magazine Class Notes, where we have been allotted 250 words bimonthly. Be newsy, but brief! Since last report our class has lost the following members: Thomas Jardine, John Kelley, Jack Selby, Andrew “Jack” Waring, John White, Ira Skutch and Stacy Hamilton Hill (see obituaries on the Alumni Magazine website, http://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com.)
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
Jane Hanks sent me a terrific article from her local magazine featuring her and the famous milk farm that Don and she hugely developed, with the help of their sons, into what is now one of the greatest milk farms of New York State, if not the nation. The pictures of her in her garden are beautiful and I urged her to send the piece to Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, where it belongs as a candidate for a full article, a story for all alums to enjoy. Suril Kantaria ’13, our class of ’41 current scholar, and his bright companion, Janine Leger, joined Vita and me for lunch at our congregate housing condo, The Greens. We had a lengthy discussion of the future of the College, now that Jim Yong Kim is gone, but not without his leaving his powerful impact on its international reputation. Walt Lipman writes that he is gallantly fighting Parkinson’s disease and it hasn’t affected his keen critical eye, which pointed out the goofs in our reunion calendar. Our visit to the farm where Millie Steel (Bill’s widow) and their daughter Sandy (an oncology nurse at the Dartmouth/Hitchcock Clinic) now live in Meriden, New Hampshire, delighted us with how “with it” Millie is. She not only diligently minds the farm’s beautiful dogs and horses, but is an active participant in many community projects designed to support others (my first rule for successful aging, one of the seven rules I presented at our 50th reunion, lo 20 years ago). The rules haven’t changed. Finally, the latest sad message I received is the loss of friend Felix Lillienthal, who captained our speed skating team! Keep in touch.
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
As of July we know that 42 of you and your wives (or guests) have already made reservations to attend our class of 1941 big 70th reunion in Hanover from September 30 to October 2. Some 10 more of you indicated that you might possibly come as well! That will make a fine showing of American nonagenarian power! There will be much to tell you and show you of what is going on at the College. It may be hard for some of you to recognize all of the new structures on campus and in town. You won’t believe the rush-hour traffic! Alas, as might be expected, obituaries for the class of 1941 are coming in all too fast. Our latest reported losses are of George Simpson and Ed Tanzi, both at age 92. However, the last census reveals that the present U.S. centenarians (estimated at 70,490 on September 1, 2010) are projected to at least double again by 2020, perhaps even increase seven-fold, according to the Census Bureau. So, stay well!
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
I have been informed that Suril A. Kantaria ’13 has again been selected as our class scholar. You may recall that Suril has already had an outstanding Dartmouth career as class president and as a member of the heavyweight crew. He says he plans to work “in finance or consulting after graduating with degrees in economics and government in 2013. I aspire to pursue some type of public service down the road. Without the support of the class of 1941 these phenomenal opportunities would not have existed for me to seize. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to all those members of the class who have contributed so significantly to my Dartmouth experience.” The class of ’41 scholarship fund currently has a market value of $327,385.86, emanating from a historic book value of $92,905! It sure pays off in every way to contribute to the future of our Dartmouth scholars. It is good to have some news to report other than obits! Let’s hear from our survivors.
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
In my notes reporting our 70th reunion, my list of attendees failed to include good old Ed Stone. He was very much there, but somehow the list I had copied omitted his name.
I was also reminded of this in a note from Walt Lipman and then by telephone from Ed himself. Ed informs us that he had a telephone chat with classmate Francois Boutin, who was unable to make the reunion but who wants it to be recorded that he is still very much with it!
Ed Stone also reported that he had reached John Devaney’s wife, Claire, who asks that she be included among the list of current wives of our classmates, from which she had been omitted. John himself was not available, but Claire conveys his regards. Keep me hearing from any of you who wish to get a message to our doughty survivors. The winter has been too mild for good skiing. I recall that at one Winter Carnival way back in our time we had to have snow delivered to the ski jump by truck!
More serious news is a message to alumni from President Kim. At the December 2011 Dartmouth Alumni Council meeting he challenged the Dartmouth community to chart a bold path toward the College’s 250th anniversary: “If Dartmouth aspires to maintain its reputation as the institution of choice for the best faculty and the strongest students, then it must adapt, innovate and invest in its core strengths of teaching, research and student engagement and strive to become more global in its reach and impact,” he said. “The strategic planning initiative now under way is designed to find a path toward this goal.”
Yes, times are changing for the mission of the old College.
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
For this issue we have, as usual, good and bad news. The good news: On January 25 we received notice from the College that the class of 1941 does not need to pay class dues now or evermore! Our class funds have been placed in an account at the College and, because of our good stewardship through the years, the class is financially sound now and for the future. Patricia Fisher ’81, acting vice president of alumni relations, is now the administrator and treasurer for the class. Whew! What a load off our backs! Remember too that at our 70th reunion next September 30 we are guests of the College at the Hanover Inn. Good to have lived long enough to reap all these benefits. But first, and especially those of us embedded in the granite of New Hampshire, we have to survive this winter’s record-breaking snowfall, great for skiers but a lethal hazard for nonagenarians. Now the bad news: Several more of our doughties are gone: Don Stillman, Robbins Barstow, John Twist, Lee Bye and George Guest. Writing classmates’ obituaries (see online edition of the Alumni Magazine) has given me a gratifying insight to the contributions our class has made to American, and indeed to global, progress and welfare. Class of ’41 out, with glory!
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
I report news of the passing of our classmates Douglas Atwood, Karl Krogh and Dr. Robert Rainie. Other class news is scarce, so send some to me. Having just turned 92 on December 6, I am fully aware of the downside of a very long life. I lost my wife, Vita, near the end of this year (November 28), and I had also lost my eldest daughter, Lee, to cancer last January. The latter was 65. That once seemed like a full life! Nonetheless, a long life brings a long perspective. So I published an account of my professional life last July called Medicine, A Love Story through an Internet publisher (Outskirts Press). It allowed me to trace the amazing medical events of the last century as I lived them. I have also lived through another remodeling of the Hanover Inn. The lobby looks strange to me! Come see for yourselves.
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
Writing the class of ’41 obituaries during the 2011 Veterans Day makes the contribution of our class to winning WW II particularly poignant. I believe it is appropriate to include in the obituaries of the archives of the Alumni Magazine the details of our experience. After all, according to Tom Brokaw, we are “The Greatest Generation!” We are also the parents of the baby boomers. We have been prolific. (God help Social Security!) Make sure you have left a clear account of your war record with your family. I welcome obit information that provides me with enough details to do justice to our historic effort. According to my records, the heroes we have lost whom I haven’t yet reported to you yet in these Class Notes are: James Steele Brown, William Clark, Leon Cone, Alden Hinson, Norman Jones, Richard Krolik, James Morgan, William Mudgett, Maynard Riley, Thomas Trump, Lincoln Wales and Stephen Winship. I vainly hope the death notices will slow down. We need to plan our 75th!
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
President Quentin “Chip” Deming and I spent a couple of entertaining days at the Rauner Library (the old Webster Hall) on campus selecting pictures for a calendar to be given as a gift to each of our class at our upcoming 70th reunion from Friday, September 30, to Sunday, October 2. Jennifer Casey of the alumni office was very adept at helping us to select great photos from the huge file of pictures in the Rauner collection. Each month of the year has a picture remembrance you will like. It is getting lonely now that Chip and I are the only local class survivors. The lively ’41 crowd we found in 1993 when Chip and Vida Deming persuaded us to join them in Hanover for our retirement then included Bill and Jean Hotaling, Art and Libby Hills, Beanie and Babs Nutt, who are all gone, along with Vic Schneider, Bill Steel and Gerrit Collier. But Vic’s Bobbie keeps in touch from her daughter’s place in Centerport, Long Island, New York. Bill Steel’s Millie still visits us from her farm in nearby Plainfield, New Hampshire, and Caryl Collier, who is Chip’s neighbor on Lyme Road in Hanover, remains active in the community. Caryl tells me that their son John Collier ’72, a professor at Thayer Engineering School, recently won the best professor in New Hampshire award! Steve and Lucy Winship are available, too, from their seniors’ condo in Concord, New Hampshire, at least by telephone. Still, it’s getting lonely! Please come up, at least for the reunion! It will be a blast!
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
Hooray! Here are some responses to my plea for news from ’41 survivors!
Henry “Hank” Gunst Jr.: “Gene, please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of your loved ones. My visit to Hanover for our 70th was an unforgettable experience. I am enjoying good health and am active in business (mostly real estate). Harry Douty and I talk regularly. He visited me in Richmond, Virginia, last year.” Hank, thanks for your condolences and good wishes.
Chester “Chet” S. Williams: “Gene, greetings from Boulder City, Nevada! We moved here from Texarkana, Texas, in 2002 to get away from traffic and hay fever! My hobbies are playing the squeezebox at the local veterans’ home and guitar and harmonica with the Nevada Old Time Fiddlers. I have a grandson, Gavin Williams, who just graduated the University of Houston Medical School, and I would like to give him a copy of your book after I have read it. So please let me know the cost and mail it to me at 582 Lake Huron Lane, Boulder City, NV 89005. I really enjoy your column and keep wondering how many of (us) are still standing!” Chet, I’ll know how many of us are left when all survivors write to me! Look on the Internet for Medicine: A Love Story (Outskirts Press); also you can order from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. It’s $22.50 for the softcover.
Don Hagen’s daughter Elizabeth writes to me that Don had a bad fall about two and a half years ago and is recovering slowly in a nursing home. He wants all to know, however, that he is still with it and mad about “the apples of his eyes”—his new great-grandchildren. He can be reached at his nursing home, St. Joseph’s Place, 160 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY 12771; via his daughter at his home at 8 Hagen Road, Sparrow Bush, NY 12780; or by phone at (845) 856-1407. Don, hang in there and thanks for the photo with your son Christopher—I can still recognize you!
Thanks to all. Keep them coming.
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
Maybe if the long snowy winter is really gone, things will become more lively up here and I will have some news to report other than more sad notes of the loss of more classmates. The latest messages I’ve received have noted the passing of Willard Woodrow Wilson, Charles Weisker, Frank Watters and William Aylward Jr. In due course their obits will appear in the online issues of the Alumni Magazine. Chip Deming and I have met with Jennifer Casey of the alumni relations office to finalize the lovely Dartmouth calendar to be presented to attendees at our coming 70th reunion September 30 to October 2. Each month’s calendar page includes a memorable, season-appropriate photograph that will revive great memories! Invitations are on the way! President Jim Yong Kim will address us at dinner at the Inn. I hope he will tell us more about a brand-new undergraduate department just started (I believe it’s a first for a collegiate curriculum) devoted to the study (for all students) of the methods and economics of healthcare delivery. It may help to dispel the appalling (to me) public ignorance being revealed about our convoluted U.S. system of health and human services compared with that of other developed countries!
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
Having just received the class of 1941 list from the alumni magazine, I counted some 61 of us still going strong and almost 300 widows still in touch with the College! So almost 10 percent of our class has made it into the 90s, compared with far less than 1 percent of the U.S. general population of males. All epidemiological population studies agree that the major single factor in human longevity is support—financial, social and spiritual. We Ivy Leaguers should realize the gift of these ingredients. Having little else to have learned from you the past few months, I resort to the medical literature and quote the latest report for nonagenarians like us. From the U.S. Census Bureau: American nonagenarian population to quadruple by 2050: The population of Americans aged 90-plus nearly tripled in the past three decades, reaching 1.9 million in 2010, according to a new report released by the U.S. Census Bureau and supported by the National Institute on Aging. Those in the 90-plus-age range represent 4.7 percent of the 65-and-older population in the United States, according to the report. This is up from 2.8 percent in 1980. By the year 2050 the number of U.S. nonagenarians is expected to more than quadruple to roughly 8.7 million Americans. This age group should account for about 10 percent of all American seniors. I have a birth date December 6, 1920. Any one of you younger? So hang in there, ’41!
I have received belatedly a notice from Gilbert Stokes’ daughter, Stephanie Stokes Leguia, informing the College he died on August 3, 2007, and would very much have wanted his obituary recorded in the alumni magazine. Gil’s grandfather, Dudley Leavitt Stokes, father Leroy Stokes and twin brother Gordon ’40 all graduated from Dartmouth. She feels her father’s devotion to Dartmouth deserves a notice of his death and recognition of his outstanding teaching career (see the online obituary).
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
Our 70th reunion will linger in my memory as long as the latter lasts! It was a thrill for Chip Deming and me, who live here, to greet John Ahlgren, George Baine, Lance Ballou, George Clabaugh, Ab Combes, Dick Cords, Bill English, Lee Grace, Hank Gunst, Pete Keir, Carl Krogh, Walt Lipman, Stu May, Dick Pace, Ray Seabury and class widows Joan Frondorf, Jane Hanks and Valerie Nelson, as well as our guests William Crangle ’36 (at his 75th!) and Phil Hallam ’69. Virtually all of us had wives, children, grandchildren or companions, making a gala crowd of 44 celebrants. We were wined and dined royally at the Hanover Inn. The array of activities was admirably managed by dynamic Jennifer Casey and her able assistants of the College’s alumni staff.
We were greeted by President Jim Yong Kim, who had done his homework, citing our outstanding war effort, career achievements and the Cornell “fifth-down” game! We were serenaded a cappella by the Dartmouth Aires, treated to a Hood Museum visit, a faculty “Chalk Talk” and a bus tour of the campus. The first Dartmouth night football game, against Penn, took place in a heavy rain at 6 p.m., during our Saturday night dinner. Only a few stalwarts opted to attend, while the rest of us feasted and sang in the coziness of the Daniel Webster dining room! Our memorial service honored 96 members who had passed away since our last reunion.
At our class meeting I reported our scholarship fund’s balance of $311,117.54 and read a letter of greeting from our class scholar, Suril Kantaria ’13. He has been in an exchange program in Milan, Italy. Last spring he served as a presidential scholar at the White House. Our class dues fund has a balance of $38,000.We voted to continue to contribute to the memorial book fund that donates a book to the College library, inscribed in the departed alumnus’ name. Five hundred seventy-eight books have been given by the fund to date. Seventy-six survivors will continue to be remembered this way. We also voted to continue subscriptions to the Alumni Magazine and to support the newsletter.
When Bruce Brown retires as editor on December 31, Dope from the Duckboards will continue to be co-edited by Chip Deming and Jane Hanks. Contact Chip at quentin@sover.net; 122 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-5930; Jane at greenhorn1@aol.com; 1702 Junonia Court, Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, FL 33908-1603. Finally, we all promised to do our best to make it to our 75th reunion! Wah-hoo-wah!
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
Our 70th reunion will be held on Friday, September 30, to Sunday, October 2, 2011. We will stay at the Hanover Inn. The College pays for lodging at the Inn for each classmate and a guest (double occupancy) and meals for the weekend! Activities: remarks by President Kim, memorial service, football game (Penn), campus tour and a lecture by a distinguished Dartmouth professor. You will get more instructions.
If you have not read a tribute to the late Dick Jachens in Dope from the Duckboards, a brief obituary will appear online with this issue. Dick was buried in the Arlington Military Cemetery befitting his 30-plus years of distinguished military service.
Chip and Vida Deming and Vita and I attended the annual Class Officers Weekend October meeting. As seniors we were upstaged only by Bob ’39 and Evie Kaiser and, of course, 103-year-old Harold Ripley ’29 and wife Mary! Some 300 participants lined up to shake Jim Yong Kim’s hand and to hear his lively talk. Sitting with Lon Cross ’75 and Pam Smyth ’75, we were treated to Lon’s story about last year’s dinner. As ’75 reunion class president, Lon introduced the new prexy by ending with the Korean word for “welcome.” Kim (American-born) who didn’t seem to catch it, quickly informed the audience, “That means “Go Green”! We have not only a smart but a quick-thinking College president! Now think 70th reunion!
—Gene Stollerman, 53 Lyme Road, Apt. 10, Hanover, NH 03755; gstollerman2@comcast.net
