Class Notes 1943

While in the Army, I spent four Christmases in uniform. I shared the first two in the last column and share the second two here—though the fourth Christmas was the best of all.

Christmas 1944 I was at the Allied Translators Interpreters Section just outside Brisbane, Australia. One day later, four of us sergeants were ordered to fly to the Philippines as “replacements.” Two of us joined the 8th Army, the other two went on to Luzon. The first three Christmases were easy to take. During wartime, everything is uncertain. There is no light at the end of the tunnel; no one knows what lies ahead. Rumors indicated that October 1, 1945, would be D-Day, the invasion of Japan’s homeland. No outfit could survive that. D-Day Normandy on June 6, 1944, involved 156,000 troops; in comparison, D-Day Japan involved 300,000 U.S. and Allied forces. We were winning the war in the Pacific. The future looked precarious.

That’s why my fourth Christmas in the Army will always be my favorite. Our 8th Army comprised the 24th, 41st, and 93rd divisions. Our convoy landed on Mindanao in the southern Philippines in mid-February 1945. We were the lucky ones. After two weeks of heavy fighting, the enemy soldiers disappeared into the higher mountains. A month later we went by Landing Craft Infantry to the beaches south of Davao. We began staging for the invasion of Japan. Then on August 15, 1945, Armed Forces Radio blared out, “Japan surrenders—war’s over!” There was not a dry eye in the outfit! Even the grumpiest fellows gave up a wry smile. And thanks to Little Boy and Fat Man—those two atomic bombs did it!—every one of us slept soundly. What a relief; no more worries. Then, in early September, I got sick and the 24th Division Hospital sent me by hospital plane to a huge Army General Hospital on Leyte Gulf. I was in the intensive care unit for 105 consecutive days. In December I was discharged from the hospital and returned to my old outfit. All my buddies had left for home. I went to the Replacement Depot and MS President Monroe glided into the harbor. Four thousand happy GIs boarded and that afternoon the Monroe set sail for San Francisco and home. Christmas 1945 was spent on the high seas. What a great bunch of guys.

One fellow said, “I’m a farmer. I went through basic training at Fort Ord. I was born in Idaho but plan to move to California.” Another chimed in, “I’m from Oklahoma and a really good truck mechanic. I want to work at a new car dealership. My family is looking forward to life in California.” It seems to me that California is truly the Golden State. My best buddy, Sam from Jersey, readily agreed when I said, “Let’s count our blessings!”

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

June 24 dawned dark and overcast with a brisk breeze, cold. It was Saturday—my 103rd birthday! I never believed I would make this date. People would later tell me that very few persons reach this age. I am cautiously living on borrowed time. I moved to Milpitas, California, on March 4, 2020. Living with children Carol and Tommy gives me a nice sense of security and well-being. And I received more than 150 “Happy Birthday” greetings. I appreciate all those cards, with comments such as “Amazing,” “Inspiring,” “You’re the first 103-year-old I know,” and “Thank you for your service.” I stopped driving at 99 and have played no golf since 2019. I know I’m slowing down. In the past three months I’ve felt weaker and weaker. I rarely leave the house nowadays and lead a very quiet and lethargic life. It takes me all morning to read the daily newspaper (San Jose Mercury News), then the afternoon mail arrives, and lo and behold it is time for dinner before you know it. After chow, it’s time for the Giants, 49ers, Warriors, and lights out. My favorite TV show is Blue Bloods on Friday night. A VIP in my life wrote: “We are looking forward to celebrating your 104th next year!” Well, thank you and we’ll see. Life is good.

Many thanks for all those wonderful 103rd birthday cards. About a dozen of them were from alumni relations and the Ripley ’29 Society. The class of ’79 chipped in with about 20 greetings. I thank everyone for their kind, heart-warming words. And receiving coveted congratulations from the White House was a pleasant surprise.

It appears there will be zero attendees for our 80th class reunion in September. My travel days are over. I was lucky enough to make our 55th, 60th, and 70th reunions. I remember Ed Bock and Bob Lappin arriving in Hanover for our 75th. They set a record for class with the lowest attendance. I recently received a roster of living ’43s. There are 15 of us left out of the original 651 frosh, who, for the first time, trod on the Big Green and had all meals in Freshman Commons in 1939. Nobu Mitsui and I were in 109 Middle Mass. Do you recall your room number?

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

It is still true: Since five-score years ago, America is still the melting pot of the world. Everyone everywhere wanted to come to the United States of America! And the Statue of Liberty, bearing a torch aloft in New York harbor, beckons with open arms in a warm welcome to the land of the free and the home of the brave.

In all those years, we became a nation of immigrants. My friend John W. Cusick ’57, class secretary, discussed the “roots” of some of the ’57 family. It was of great interest to me as I thought of my mom and dad and their pioneer spirits. At the age of 20, on his own, Dad went to Hawaii and worked in the sugarcane fields and pineapple plantations. He also learned pidgin English! When he returned to Japan, my parents got married—and both decided their next trip would be to America, especially California. As a kid, during family dinners, Dad would smile and reminisce, “WE didn’t want to grow rice all our lives in that hamlet in Hiroshima.” Sao Paulo, in Brazil, was the destination for thousands of Japanese. My mom and dad arrived in San Francisco. Their dream came true. It was year 1908.

It took them more than two months to reach Los Angeles. My folks would stay with farmer friends who lived near dirt roads that would later become U.S. Highway 101. Dad would help in the fields and Mom would help in the kitchen. Fortunately, they had friends who had settled in Moneta, close to Wilmington. They said many Japanese families lived and worked on the hillside in Long Beach. A number of years later, a flat field area known as the Santa Fe district became available. Almost all the Japanese families moved there. Our family was unable to move. I was born on that lot and in 1923 we moved to a nice house on Nebraska Avenue. I went to Burbank Elementary School and was the only Nisei in school. And in the fifth and sixth grades I was the marbles champion! Then I attended Franklin Junior High School and played on the Peewee basketball and baseball teams. Then boom—on March 10, 1933, a huge earthquake devastated Long Beach and Compton. I recall terrible looting caused an uproar, and the U.S. Navy provided short patrols at many intersections. Contractors and builders were arrested for using far too little cement—homes and buildings had moved off their foundations and roofs had collapsed. We were lucky the earthquake hit at 6 p.m. and not during school hours. In September 1933, our family moved to Los Angeles so my sisters could enter the University of Southern California. I went to Foshay High School and graduated in June 1935. Our family finally moved to Japan in August 1935. I was age 15—and the rest is history!

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

Happy days are here again! I was asked recently, “What was the happiest day of your life?” Well, read on…. Year 2023 means all surviving classmates are now centenarians. I will attain the age of 103 on June 24. I believe I’m at least one year older than most of you. When my family moved from Los Angeles to Tokyo in September 1935, I was accepted at The American School in Japan. I was asked to take my ninth grade over again. There, the class of 1938 had 19 students; the class of 1939 had five. In my senior year we had seven graduates. Later on, I told my kids: “Daddy ranked No. 7 in his high school class.” And woe the next question: “How many kids in your class, Dad?”

I’ve always been an easygoing fellow. I was an eternal optimist, good at taking things in stride. The glass was always half-full. It’s easy to be separated by business, a mission, or vacation. But being separated by war is the worst feeling of all. Anything can happen— a stray bullet, a sniper, friendly fire, a booby trap, a sudden explosion, a vehicle accident. That’s why, with sound recollections, I know the happiest day of my life was the morning of January 14, 1946, when I finally returned to my wife, Mary, in Los Angeles after a 24-month separation—January 1944 to January 1946. We were never apart again due to war. We were married for more than 57 years when she died on May 30, 2000, due to a heart condition. Mary was the nicest and best thing ever to happen to me in my entire life. It’s true: Happy wife, happy life!

Wartime is difficult. It is the unknown that haunts you. The words “for the duration plus six months” are hard to take. No one can predict the future. Rumors were heard about several “Dear John” letters received by good-natured G.I.s; one took it with a grin and said, “I feel sorry for the new guy!” Others became sullen, depressed, and demoralized. With so many weapons available in every tent, a quiet remark to the brass was inevitable. The “DeeJays” would wind up at a nearby hospital for observation. We later learned that some were flown back stateside for greater professional help. I personally felt much sadness and compassion for the DeeJays. People say that war brings out the best in humankind. Sometimes it doesn’t.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

Hither and yon, happy days are here again! Our U.S. 8th Army was on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines in the waning years of World War II. To the best of my memory, August 15, 1945, when Japan surrendered, has to be one of the happiest days of my life. I was 25 years old. Staging for the invasion of Japan came to a stunning halt. D-Day Japan was scheduled for October 1, 1945, and would involve 300,000 U.S. and Allied troops. (Note: D-Day Normandy on June 6, 1944, involved 156,000 troops.) Nisei linguists became go-betweens. In two days stockades were set up by combat engineers; the boundaries were two sets of barbed wire. If a prisoner wanted to escape it would have been easy, but where would he go? Every GI gave up a set of khakis and a blanket and we went on short rations—that happens when there are 13,000 extra mouths to feed and bodies to clothe. Among them were about a thousand Japanese army civilian employees and their families of young kids and babies. “War is over” leaflets were dropped by low-flying B-25 bombers; the Philippine Scouts knew exactly where every large Japanese camp was located. It seems that it was easy for the enemy to surrender. They had no air force or navy, no mail in months and months, were low on food, medical supplies, and ammo. We found out that the city-bred soldiers were quick to accept defeat. The country-bred soldiers, with zero contact with any Americans, were more gung-ho and prone to resist but they quickly changed their attitude and realized how lucky they were to surrender to American forces in the Philippines. There was mutual respect from both sides.

There were mixed emotions for several older Japanese businessmen. They had met and married younger Filipino women; now had children. They had heard rumors of a devastated Japan—no economy, cities and villages in ruins. They had nothing to return to, and if they did return, knew they would be just another mouth to feed. Some businessmen appealed to American officials as they desired to remain in the Philippines. Their wishes were granted. Then there was another problem: More than 60,000 Japanese soldiers were still on bypassed islands in the Southwest Pacific. They had to be rounded up and returned to Japan. Lo and behold, mission accomplished.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

Disappointments? I’ve had several in my 101 years of life. It was in January 1946, 76 years ago, at Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg, California, in the Bay Area.

Earlier in the day our troop ship, MS President Monroe, had finally docked in San Francisco Bay. Four thousand gleeful soldiers had boarded the ship in Leyte Gulf in the central Philippines. World War II had ended on August 15, 1945. Scuttlebutt was that our ship might be one of the last to “bring the boys home”! I had been counting the days as the ship neared the Golden Gate. What an emotional and precious moment it would be to hear Mary’s voice again! It had been two long years of separation. Those were exciting years—going from Australia up through the various islands; from Leyte, our outfit went south to the island of Mindanao, where we were when the war ended. Just the mere thought of being with Mary again gave me the strength and spirit to overcome those days and nights. In retrospect, I think I was the only Nisei linguist on the ship. I heard later that more than 600 Nisei linguists, the majority of them from relocation centers, were awarded battlefield commissions to second lieutenant in Manila. They became an important and vital cog in the Army of Occupation and the democratization of Japan. Why and because? Well, those linguists had no home to return to. Their families were still behind barbed-wire fences back in the States. Many linguists would become career military, some would marry native-born Japanese gals and would retire as officers. Through the years I met many linguists and their war brides and welcomed them heartily. During WW II Japan was our worst enemy. Today Japan is our staunchest ally in the Pacific—no doubt about it!

“Sorry, soldier, I know where you are calling from. There is no listed telephone number at that address on 27th Street in Los Angeles.” I thanked the phone operator as my heart sank. Oh, what a big disappointment! (Note: A home telephone was impossible to get during wartime and shortly thereafter.) Suddenly, I reconciled myself, knowing that I would see my Mary in four days in person! Then I thought of my best friend of 18 days, good Sam of New Jersey. Thanks for the memories!

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

January 1, 1946: Happy New Year! Heartfelt salutations and greetings echoed from bow to stern on board the MS President Monroe. For the first time in 10 years no shots were fired in anger, no bombs were dropped, no torpedoes were launched. There was world peace on earth—finally! My thoughts were on buddies who gave up their lives in World War II. They will be forever young. Our ship kept plodding through the high seas, heading for landfall at the Golden Gate of San Francisco. All 4,000 troops were counting our blessings. We were the lucky ones, heading to be home forever.

It was the first morning after debarking from Leyte Gulf. I had just finished washing up when I heard a voice, “Want to go to chow together?” We were the earliest risers. I replied, “Sure, let’s go.” We introduced ourselves. His name was Sam, and he came from a small town on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, 25 miles from Times Square. Sam’s dad had gone to Fordham, but he was choosing Rutgers and wanted to become a certified public accountant under the G.I. Bill. He was three years older than me. In the next 18 days Sam became one of my all-time favorite fun guys. Our bunks were close together, we ate meals together, and we had so much in common. A super buddy!

It was smooth sailing. What a bunch of slap-happy men. One morning Sam told me, “George, I think you’re on the wrong ship heading in the wrong direction.” “No, Sam,” I answered, “I was born in Long Beach, California. My wife is waiting for me in Los Angeles. I’m going home to Mary.” A few days later Sam said, “You know, George, I was wrong. You have a Japanese face. You have an American heart—and a big, genuine smile.” Nearing the Golden Gate, rumors were rife that a big card shark had won more than $10,000 in a high-stakes poker game. Gads, you could buy three houses for that kind of money. Were the losers set up? No one could guess. More later….

Attention fellow classmates: Please drop me a line on how you’re doing—or a member of your family can do the same, okay? Hope you enjoyed the past holidays. Have a healthy 2022. Take care, stay safe, and wear a mask.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

It is 1945—the new scenario is “What if….”

What if there was no mushroom cloud over the city of Hiroshima on August 6 or the seaport of Nagasaki on August 9 or Tokyo was mum, with zero announcements over its NHK radio network on August 15?

And what if President Harry S. Truman had replied “No” to the continuance of the Manhattan Project directed by Maj. Gen. Leslie Groves? President F.D.R. never told his vice president about the Manhattan Project; incoming President Truman had not been in the loop! Upon review it appears most high-ranking officers were for using the atom bombs. It seems Gen. MacArthur voted no to the nuclear use. Gen MacArthur felt Japan was on its last legs—without air power or navy and on the home front little food and no steel or oil—and fighting a losing battle on all fronts. What if a miffed President Truman said no to Maj. Gen. Groves—and the top-secret Manhattan Project came to a sudden and inglorious halt?!

None of the thousands of U.S. troops had any knowledge of the Manhattan Project. We just went on as usual, staging for the invasion of Japan slated for October 1, 1945. All in the war zones felt the extra pressure and anxiety. We understood surviving overseas was a question mark—anything could happen, and would, in the long run!

Experts were saying that an invasion of Japan would extend the war another 12 months. The cost in lives would be a million soldiers—and millions of Japanese civilians would die, fighting to save their way of life and their homeland. We were constantly reminded to be prepared, be alert, trust no one, avoid fraternizing with the enemy—as it would cost you your life! Rumors were rife that 75- and 80-year-old men and women were waiting for us with wooden spears and hand grenades, 5- and 6-year-olds would throw hand grenades to disable tank tracks, weapon carriers, and trucks. And we worried how our M-4 Sherman tanks would manage to travel on narrow dirt trails and whether they would lose their maneuverability in the water-filled rice paddies.

Luzon was practically secure in June and the battle in Okinawa ended in July. On March 9, 1945, more than 300 B-29 Super Fortresses dropped 200 tons of incendiary bombs that destroyed 16 square miles of Tokyo and more than 100,000 lives. My family home in Shibuya Ward was lost in this attack—more on this later.

Our class sends heartfelt condolences to the family of the Rev. Benedict Reid, who died on March 13 in Palm Desert, California.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulvida Ave., Milpitas, CA 94595; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

Back to circa 1941: Dick’s House finally released me on December 11. The surprise and stunning news of Pearl Harbor was still in the air. After I returned to 109 Middle Mass, my roommate Nobu Mitsui and I walked to Thayer Hall for an early lunch. I asked how he was faring and he said, “I’m all right. Things could be worse. But that Pearl Harbor was a complete shocker!” I readily agreed and cautioned Nobu to be extra patient and resilient. I heard later that Nobu had been taunted and heckled, mostly by younger rednecks. I immediately imagined that Nobu was probably quite adept in martial arts (judo). Nearly all the youth in Japan take judo training in their early school days. A close dorm friend told me that two upperclassmen from North Mass Hall had prevented an altercation by shouting, “Hey, stop it! We don’t need that kind of talk here in Hanover.” The younger students sheepishly walked away. Nobu never mentioned it to me.

Several months later I heard that President Hopkins, a good friend of F.D.R., had vouched for Nobu’s conduct while he was in Hanover. At about the same time I was having lunch with buddies on Main Street. A waitress told me “George, those two fellows want to talk to you.” I went outside and found two FBI agents. They asked, “What do you think of Takanobu Mitsui?” I instantly replied, “He’s harmless.” And, you know what, those same FBI fellows came by about 10 days before graduation (December 12, 1942) and, in the parking area outside, told me, “This is just a personal visit to wish you good luck. We know you’re going into the Army’s Military Intelligence Service on December 15, three days after graduation.” I would be just one of the 91 percent of our class who served in the armed forces in World War II. It is sad to remember that we lost 23 classmates in WW II. They will be forever young.

Our generation came through WW II. We were all born in the early 1920s. (I turned 100 last year.) At the time, serving in the military was the right thing to do. When we graduated, the U.S. and Allied forces were losing on all battlefronts. A total of 16 million soldiers were in uniform.

Our class sends heartfelt condolences to the families of John M. Jenkins, who died on November 23, 2020, in Hanover, and John W. Reps, who died on November 12, 2020, in Ithaca, New York.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 94595; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

It was the year 1945. World War II officially ended on the deck of the USS Missouri, where the peace treaty was signed on Sunday, September 2, in Tokyo Bay. I was one of thousands of U.S. troops on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. All the G.I.s were so happy. We were heading for home and we were on the winning side! “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” did the trick! Those two bombs forced Japan’s surrender—what a huge relief. No more fears, nightmares, and worrying about D-Day Japan, rumored to be October 1, 1945. That was the target date for our 8th Army, under Lt. Gen. Robert Eichelberger, to land on the beaches 50 miles north of Tokyo. (The landing ship tanks that were supposed to take us on that perilous two-week voyage to the shores of Japan instead performed a herculean humanitarian effort: They transported the thousands of Japanese soldiers and civilians back to their homeland. According to reports, the food was “excellent.”)

Then it happened. One morning after breakfast I didn’t feel well. I went to a nearby combat engineers’ sick call and the medic on duty said, “Hey, Sarge, you’ve got a 103.8 temperature. You’ve got to go to the division hospital in Davao.” I was admitted into the 24th Division Hospital. Three days later a major said, “George, we’ve been treating you for malaria, which you’ve had before. But you don’t have malaria, you have infectious hepatitis. You’re too sick for us to handle. Tomorrow morning we’re sending you by hospital plane to a big Army general hospital on Leyte” about 500 miles away. There were six stretchers being loaded, and as mine was being moved onto the converted C-47, I heard an airman’s voice ring out: “Hey, who’s the V.I.P. prisoner of war? That’s a first for this plane.” A buddy of mine hollered out: “That’s no POW, that’s George Shimizu. He’s a sergeant in the U.S. Army. He’s one of us. He’s one of the good guys!” Several hours later we landed at Tacloban Airport on Leyte. Ambulances took us to a huge Army hospital and I was immediately admitted into the intensive care unit. I wondered, Am I going to make it? I didn’t want to die on this lonely island in the Philippines, so far from home. I was in the ICU for three and a half months. After two months I was feeling better, but the doctors would not release me, saying, “Not yet, George, not yet.” More later.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035-6142; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

Coronavirus, shelter-at-home, social distancing—never in my lifetime (I just turned 100) did I dream we, as a nation, would be capitulating to an invisible disease. Education is at a standstill, bar exams have been postponed, first-responders are in need of personal protective gear, and face masks are required when outside. As one wag pointed out: “It’s better six feet apart than six feet under!”

Rewind to the summer of 1942. As seniors we all knew we were old enough to serve. After graduation on December 12, 1942, we scattered to all corners of the United States. We were worried and wondered what was in our future. WW II was No. 1 on everyone’s to-do list. No one knew where we would be next year or in two or three years.

In the summer of 1943, about 200 Nisei were ordered to Camp Shelby in Mississippi for three months basic training with the recently formed 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This was composed of Japanese American troops whose families, for the most part, were behind barbed wire in 10 isolated internment camps due to the executive order signed by FDR. I was one of six GIs who qualified as “expert” with the M1 Garand rifle.

In the summer of 1944 I was an interrogator of Japanese prisoners of war at the Allied Translators Interpreters Section just outside of Brisbane, Australia. The section was later awarded the prestigious Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding services rendered from 1942 to September 3, 1945.

In the summer of 1945 I was on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. WW II ended on August 15, 1945. More than 12,000 POWs and Japanese civilians were in stockades and ready to return to Japan. The landing ship tanks that we were to board for the invasion of Japan on October 1, 1945, were instead returning the Japanese to their homeland. Then, in early September, I got sick with a fever of 103.8. I was in the 24th Division hospital when a major told me, “George, you’re too sick for us to handle. We’re sending you by hospital plane to a huge Army hospital on Leyte.” I was admitted to the intensive care unit in the hospital on Leyte, another island in the Philippines, for 105 days. I really thought I was a goner. I was only 25, and I only wanted to see my Mary back in Los Angeles. More later.

Our class sends heartfelt condolences to the family of Robert “Bob” Bowman, who died on April 18 in Vero Beach, Florida.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035-6142; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net

It was January 6 as I wrote this, and I was watching the Golf Channel. My phone rang and I saw the name “Doc” Fielding on the screen. He was calling to wish me a happy New Year and I reciprocated. He sounded just fine in Massachusetts, and I told him, “It’s 60 degrees here in sunny northern California.” According to the San Francisco Chronicle that day, it was 37 degrees in Boston.

What a joy it was to hear from a favorite ’43. We reminisced about bygone days. I reminded Doc about our first dinner at our 70th reunion at the Hanover Inn: At our table were Doc and his date; my daughter, Carol, and her husband, Tommy; Bob Ehinger; Henry Keck and his significant other; and myself. Henry regaled us with his inventive stories, pure genius at our table. One story led to another, and who there will ever forget variety night and jam sessions in front of Robinson Hall and Webster Hall? Who was the talkative master of ceremonies? You’re right, our own Doc Fielding! One wag lately told Doc, “Thanks for a great show. We ran out of gas ration coupons so had to settle for your act.”

Doc and I reflected on our 55th reunion (or was it our 60th?), when Doc and his Suzie mesmerized everyone (including those in the classes of ’38 and ’48) with their song and dance, corny stories, and wonderful entertainment in the Hopkins Center. Then two banjo-playing ’38s brought down the house by leading us all in singing golden oldies from the 1930s and 1940s. What a night for all the old-timers!

We were seniors during the summer of 1942, when the College instituted classes so we could graduate six months early, in December 1942. They were accelerated programs due to WW II. The U.S. and Allied forces were losing on all fronts. Gas ration coupons were impossible to get. Hanover became a Navy town as 900 midshipmen arrived—90 days later to become ensigns bound for wartime duty. President Hopkins announced that the total student body was 1,984, the lowest in 20 years. Dartmouth’s newest objective: Prepare students for service in the nation’s armed forces.

Thanks for your phone call, Doc. You made my day!

Our class sends heartfelt condolences to the family of Oliver “Ollie” Lazare, who died on December 12, 2019, in Scarsdale, New York.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulveda Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035-6142; (925) 937-2504; marymariko@comcast.net

We were sophomores! It was the middle of November 1940—exactly 79 years ago this month. It was just another football weekend in Hanover, and 15,000 fans witnessed one of the most heralded and memorable games in NCAA gridiron history! How can a team lose 7-3 on Saturday and then become victorious 48 hours later by a score of 3-0? The game was in an era before TV and instant replay.

In 1940 Cornell’s Big Red was ranked No. 2 in the nation and a 24-point favorite to demolish our varsity. Starring for the home team were classmates Harry Gerber and Remsen Crego as stalwart linemen and Bud Kast and Ray Wolfe in the backfield. Left end Bob Krieger ’41 kicked a 17-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give us a 3-point lead. But all Big Green hopefuls in the stands were merely waiting for the opponents to begin their onslaught. It was just a matter of time before Cornell came to life…. They did—on the final snap of the game! They scored their winning touchdown on a short pass play. Dartmouth lost, 7-3! The four of us—Bill Moseley, John Milburn, Nobu Mitsui, and I—sadly trudged to Thayer Hall for an early dinner. Bill, with dessert in hand, returned to our table, saying, “Hey, there’s a rumor going on that Cornell scored on an illegal extra down!” John piped up, “Bill, sit down! You’re dreamin’! Nobody’s going to change the score. We still lose!” But somebody did change the score. It was referee William “Red” Friesell, who sent a Western Union telegram to captain Lou Young ’41 confessing he allowed an illegal fifth down to Cornell. Referee Friesell admitted the final score should be Dartmouth 3, Cornell zero! Both college presidents agreed within hours. We won!

The 1940 fifth-down game still registers as one of the all-time greatest goofs in NCAA football history. It still ranks highly as an example of great sportsmanship and integrity for the good of the game! And to top it off, we were there.

Our class extends heartfelt condolences to the families of John Hyde, who died August 6, 2019; Palmer Wright, Ph.D., who died May 16, 2019; and David Bortz, who died in 2012, we have just learned.

—George Shimizu, 2642 Saklan Indian Drive, Apt. 2, Walnut Creek, CA 94595; (925) 937-2504; marymariko@comcast.net

As I write I am feeling nostalgia for my freshman year in 1939, with New England foliage, cooler nights, and brilliant days. Six of us from Middle Mass were having a late-night snack on Main Street. A waitress walked by and Nobu Mitsui blurts out, “That gal is built!” Bill Ahern and Bob Purdy are stunned. I am speechless. And then Howie Thomas taps Nobu on the shoulder and says, “Welcome to America!”

Nobu was quiet and reserved but not secretive. He said he had always had a tutor in English during his youth. He knew words from Webster’s Dictionary that I had never heard of. And he readily admitted that American slang and idioms confused him. Nobu was also highly intelligent—even majoring in physics!—and for much of his time at Dartmouth he surrounded himself with like-minded students.

Middle Mass—perfectly placed equidistant to Main Street, classrooms, and Baker Library—was also home then to 96 students. Other ’43s included Bill Whitmarsh, Henry Inge, Hud Wilson, Will Gray, Earl Harris, Martin Kane, Bill Glovsky, Stan Sandberg, Gardner Colson, Harold Fuller, Varnum Mead, Roy Collingswood, Herb Harrigan, George Burke, and John Hatheway.

Our class sends heartfelt condolences to the family of Chester Solez, M.D., who died on January 30 in Guilford, Connecticut. He was the youngest member of the class, born on May 6, 1923, in Brooklyn. Chet was an early selectee for Phi Beta Kappa.

—George Shimizu, 2642 Saklan Indian Drive, Apt. 2, Walnut Creek, CA 94595; (925) 937-2504; marymariko@comcast.net

In mid-September 1939 Nobu Mitsui and I enjoyed the sights and sounds of the World’s Fair in New York City. Two days later we were in Hanover.

I took the train up, along with hundreds of other undergraduates, to White River Junction, Vermont, five miles from campus. Nobu had driven up the day before with friends who lived in Connecticut. Waiting to greet me was Larry Durgin ’40, who spotted me instantly when I stepped off the train; I was the only American of Japanese ancestry on the platform!

Larry was such a dear friend and mentor, and he truly looked out for Nobu and me. During Freshman Week he came by every night to 109 Middle Mass. He had earlier bought refurbished furniture for our room: two desks, two chairs, a sofa and easy chair, two rugs, and several lamps. The cost: $102. I paid Larry $51 in cash and Nobu said his father’s company would send a check. We would have been lost without Larry’s help and know-how. Later, when I would see him at Baker Library or on Main Street, he always had time for a short conversation. Larry went on to become a well-known and beloved pastor of an elite church on Riverside Drive in New York City.

I knew Larry because his father, Russell Durgin, headed the YMCA in the Kanda District of Tokyo. I also knew Larry’s siblings, Helen and Russell Jr. ’47, who were several classes behind me at the American School in Japan.

My kids and I had a wonderful dinner with Patty and Rob Lynn ’68 last month. Patty’s dad, Bob Ohama, and I were on the same WW II interrogation team that questioned POWs in the Allied Translators and Interpreters Section just outside of Brisbane, Australia, in 1944. We met Patty and Rob, a retired attorney, for the first time at the Congressional Gold Medal awards ceremony in November 2011 in Washington, D.C.

I write this column on Groundhog Day—and he did not see his shadow, so it will be an early spring! The paper shows the temperatures in Concord, New Hampshire, are a high of 20 and a low of minus 6. The high-low here in Walnut Creek, California, is 57-47. An acute deep freeze has sent temperatures plunging to minus 34 in the Midwest and Eastern regions of the country. Our class spent 40 months (September 1939 to December 1942) in Hanover. Never, to the best of my memory, did we endure this polar vortex of minus degrees.

—George Shimizu, 2642 Saklan Indian Drive, Apt. 2, Walnut Creek, CA 94595

Just two classmates made it to Hanover to set a dubious record for all-time low attendance for a 75th class reunion. I was not one of them! Well, two is better than one, and far better than zero. They were Ed Bock of Syracuse, New York, and Bob Lappin of Swamscott, Massachusetts.

Ed was editor-in-chief of The Dartmouth during our final days on campus. Both were members of Palaeopitus.

And many thanks to the class of 1948 for welcoming Ed and Bob and their families to their two dinner receptions. It was much appreciated.

Imagine—75 years ago our Commencement date was listed as January 1, 1943. Our “last supper” date was actually December 12, 1942. It was in Thayer Hall’s main dining room. President Hopkins and Arthur Hayes Sulzberger, president and publisher of The New York Times, were the keynote speakers. No pomp, no valedictorian, no Bema, no honorary degrees, no cap and gown, no family. The dinner ended with hugs and teary eyes. We scattered in different directions the next morning. We were facing World War II in its darkest moments.

Ninety-one percent of the class was headed for the armed forces. The other 9 percent went to medical school, dental college, or divinity school or were unable to serve. I was in the U.S. Army three days later. I enlisted on December 15, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. The Army had recruited me in April 1942 to attend its military intelligence service language school (for Japanese language instruction). Three days later I was at Camp Savage, Minnesota, where non-stop education in Japanese language, military terms, and customs were drummed into about 200 niseis.

Would we see each other ever again? We lost 23 classmates in WW II. Our class was destined early on to travel, courtesy of Uncle Sam, over the girdled earth. WW II ended on September 3, 1945.

—George Shimizu, 2642 Saklan Indian Drive, Apt. 2, Walnut Creek, CA 94595-3052; (925) 937-2504; marymariko@comcast.net

Should Dartmouth expand its number of undergraduates? A task force has been appointed to study the possibility of expanding the number of students from 10 to 25 percent; from the present 4,300 undergraduates, the smallest in the Ivy League, to as many as 5,400. New dorms would be required—one possible location might be College Park, near the observatory. Would this change affect the College’s identity? A report from the task force is expected by mid-March. “A larger student body would lead to more graduates, which would amplify our impact on the world,” says President Hanlon.

Congratulations: Tuck School is ranked No. 5 in Forbes’ list of the best business schools in the country. Dartmouth is one of the top 10 “Best Value Schools in America” (determined by academic quality and cost) in a list released by U.S. News & World Report. Former New Jersey Congressman Frank J. Guarini ’46 has doubled his original gift of $10 million to promote foreign study in hopes of improving students’ understanding of the world. Thayer School professor Eric Fossum received the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering—presented to him by Prince Charles. The Economist lists Professor Douglas Irwin’s book, Clashing Over Commerce, as one of the best books of 2017—it “sets the record straight and in the process elegantly debunks a host of trade policy myths.”

We should all be congratulating ourselves over the good help our 1943 class fund provides for needy students. This year three students, from California, Oregon and Virginia, were the beneficiaries.

We are sad to report the deaths of Allen W. Phillips, Harry C. Sayre Jr. and Roy Watson. Our condolences to their families.

This is my last issue as your class secretary; late middle age is catching up with me. I hope another classmate, or the wife or widow of a classmate, will take over our column so we don’t lose our place in DAM’s Class Notes. Please contact me if you’re interested in the job—it’s not a hard one and is a wonderful way to keep up with college news.

Thanks for your support and kind words through the years. God bless!

—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org

Is bigger better? Dartmouth, currently the smallest college in the Ivy League, is evaluating whether it should increase the present number of undergraduates. Princeton is slightly larger than Dartmouth, while Cornell, the largest, has 14,000 students, a 66-percent increase in the last 15 years. During that same period all Ivy League schools have increased the number of their undergraduates, but Dartmouth’s increases have been small. A task force has been appointed, co-chaired by the dean of the College and the dean of the faculty of arts and sciences. The charge is to come up with a financially feasible plan that could increase the student body between 10 and 25 percent. There are currently 4,310 undergraduates; a maximum increase would take the number to 5,300. Concerns include housing, maintaining an acceptable faculty-student ratio and maintaining the vitality of student life. A report is expected by March 2018.

Dartmouth’s campus was voted the fifth loveliest in a list of the country’s 24 most beautiful college campuses. Its citation read, “an Ivy League university and it looks the part.” (Bard was No. 1.)

This spring Dartmouth celebrated its 45th Pow Wow on the Green featuring traditional dancing, drummers and crafts from all over the country. There are 75 Native American tribal nations represented in the current student body.

A letter from classmate Henry Keck reports that he’s still working and has just published a book titled How Design Changed America, about success and failure in the marketplace. Our congratulations!

As of June 2, 48, or 7.3 percent, of us remain from our original class of 659.

Something to think about—a quote from Dartmouth professor of physics and astronomy Marcelo Gleiser: “What’s fascinating is that consciousness is what makes the universe exist.”

—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org

Jake Tapper ’91, CNN chief Washington, D.C., correspondent, was the featured speaker at this June’s Commencement. His theme was “The real adventure starts now—persevere.” He wove together many references to Dr. Seuss ’25 before an audience of 10,000 in addition to 1,500 degree recipients.

President Hanlon ’77 marked his fourth year as Dartmouth’s president by acknowledging that “there is more to do,” despite substantial improvements such as the independent graduate school, the student cluster housing program and a $160 million energy studies institute.

In general college news, donations to the Dartmouth College Fund are down slightly, general gifts are up and applications are down 3.1 percent (20,675 to 20,034). But 61 percent of those accepted by Dartmouth, decided to attend—the highest percentage ever.

James Weinstein, CEO of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, has left and was be replaced by Dr. Joanne Mather Conroy ’77, who is currently CEO of the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, a Tuft’s School of Medicine affiliate in Burlington, Massachusetts. She has also served in Washington, D.C., as chief healthcare officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Bob Ehinger reports that our class will continue to provide $2,000 a year for the Henry Eagle Internship. This is our 25th year supporting this program that assists Native American students at Dartmouth.

A recently published children’s book, Skyward Bound, about hot-air ballooning by Morton Pechter and his wife, Alese, has received Mom’s Choice Award for 2017 as best family-friendly book. Alese says that the profit from any sales that come through her will be donated to the class or Dartmouth. The book costs $24.95. Reach them at 1730 S. Federal Highway, Suite 398, Delray Beach, FL 33483.

Again, no obits to report! Keep up the good news!

—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to give Dartmouth $800,000 to finance studies that will advise communities on ways to improve water quality and help them develop plans to make their water cleaner and safer.

Baker Library tower renovations have been completed. The $4-million project refurbished the tower and its spire and replaced the copper roofing. Contributions are still coming in to pay for the replacement of the old 1938 Moosilauke Lodge. We hope it will be finished in time for the traditional DOC gathering of the class of 2021. Dartmouth aims to increase faculty salaries to bring them in line with its Ivy League counterparts. Currently Dartmouth pays a full professor an average of $177,000 a year in salary and benefits. This is roughly $15,000 less than the Ivy League average. A dorm on East Wheelock Street had to be evacuated after a fire on the roof caused by students forgetting about a lit hibachi they had used earlier. The damage was severe enough to make the building uninhabitable for a term.

Dartmouth has named Mary Lou Aleskie as the new director of the Hopkins Center, effective this spring. The Hop has a $7.8-million operating budget and presents more than 500 programs a year. For the last 11 years Mary Lou has run the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven, Connecticut. The 79th Dartmouth student to become a Rhodes scholar is Sarah Waltcher ’16. She is one of 32 students, chosen worldwide, who will study at Oxford University next fall.

Cornell’s new president will be Martha Pollack ’76, who is currently provost at the University of Michigan. Did you realize that the lead-off pitcher for the victorious Cubs in the World Series was a Dartmouth grad—Kyle Hendricks ’12? He had the lowest ERA in the Major League this year.

We are sorry to report the deaths of Robert C. Barnum Jr., William T. Doer Jr., Daniel J. Hurley and William T. Wolf. Our condolences to their families.

—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org

Dartmouth has recently completed an action plan for inclusive excellence containing more than three dozen new initiatives as well as enhancements of existing programs. Its aim is to increase diversity and inclusion. The plan, through time, will add 50 new faculty members to the College’s undergraduate and graduate faculties. In addition the plan will work to implement training programs and outreach to combat bias in the workplace and among students.

Of interest: Dartmouth’s President Hanlon has been named to the advisory board of the Guggenheim fellowships. The advisory board reviews fellowship applications. Last spring Provost Carolyn Dever traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to see first-hand the work of a global health project developed by Dartmouth and Muhinbili University of Health of Allied Science. For the first time there were more females than males graduating from Thayer School of Engineering—54 percent. At the same time Dartmouth set a U.S. record as the first national research university to have more women than men receiving engineering degrees.

Nine Dartmouth graduates participated in the Olympics in Rio. Six on U.S. teams, one represented Greece, one represented Canada, another South Korea. One of the eight was Abbey D’Agostino ’14, seven-time NCAA champion. Inadvertently during a 5,000-meter qualifying heat, Abbey clipped New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin. They both fell down. Rather than immediately continuing the race, Abbey stopped and helped Nikki to her feet. They both finished the race, though Abbey suffered a fairly severe knee injury. The media celebrated the incident as a fine example of the Olympic spirit.

Last summer Dartmouth hosted a group of African leaders—Mandela African Fellows—for the third year. The summer program empowers young leaders through academic courses, leadership training, mentoring, networking and professional opportunities and supports activities after they return home. The group at Dartmouth was part of the 1,000-member Mandela Washington Fellows that was hosted across the country in June and July. The program ended with a town hall in Washington, D.C., featuring President Obama.

We sadly report the death of Warren B. Thompson. Our condolences to his family.

—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org

The only advantage of being my age that I can think of is that I’m not applying to Dartmouth now. Look at these frightening statistics for the class of 2020: Of the 20,675 applicants, 10.5 percent were accepted; 94 percent come from the top 10 percent of their classes; 37.1 percent are valedictorians; the mean SAT scores are 737 (critical reading), 741 (math) and 741 (writing).

Additional interesting statistics: 51.6 percent are students of color; 63 percent come from public schools; 8.2 percent come from 60 foreign countries; 8.1 percent are children of alumni; 48 percent qualify for financial aid ($40.2 million total scholarships offered).

In a recent survey of more than 13,000 current and former business school students, Tuck ranked No. 1 for best value among the top 25 business schools in the world—students felt they earned the best education for the price.

Student activists at Dartmouth have persuaded the U.S. Library of Congress that the phrase “illegal alien” should no longer be used to describe non-citizens who lack legal residency status. Beginning in May or June all catalogs using English language headings worldwide will replace the word “alien” with “non-citizen.” The word “alien” is outmoded and prone to misunderstanding.

A new, $20 million, 70,000-square-foot field house is planned for a site near Thompson Arena. It will be an indoor facility to allow student athletes a longer window to practice in cold weather. It will particularly help athletes involved with spring sports. The College hopes to start construction in November, with completion in November 2017.

Former Dartmouth President Jim Wright, a former Marine, is slated to join the board of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Founded in 2004, the nonprofit organization has provided more than 1.2 million veterans with resources and access to a community of their peers and given at least 5,000 former soldiers support from the group’s social workers.

We sadly report the deaths of Seth J. Washburn, Roy H. Kirch Jr., Joseph G. Hirschberg and James B. Malley—who led so many of our reunion memorial services. Our condolences to their families.

—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org

The recent unrest in American colleges and universities includes Dartmouth where, on November 12 some 250 members of Black Lives Matter marched through Baker Library, floor by floor, chanting slogans, shouting vulgar epithets and abusive personal insults at studying students. No injuries reported. President Hanlon emailed the student body that appropriate actions would be applied to guilty parties since such behavior is antithetical to Dartmouth’s values and goals. Later, in a letter to the Dartmouth community, Hanlon stressed that the College strives to balance freedom of speech with strong community values of civil discourse, always keeping in mind that college is a place where open inquiry and free debate about difficult and sometimes uncomfortable ideas must thrive.

Dartmouth is considering administrative changes to create a school of graduate and advanced studies that would align the College’s research capabilities with its Ivy League peers. It would serve approximately 1,000 master’s and doctorate students and would not include Tuck, Thayer and Geisel. Dartmouth has long ranked first or second nationally in undergraduate teaching and this new plan will not diminish that strength.

Twenty million dollars has recently been received to establish two more interdisciplinary groups, called academic clusters: Digital humanities (what it means to be a human in the digital age) and neuroscience will join the existing clusters computation science, decision science, healthcare delivery and globalization and society. Each endows three professorships and provides funds for research.

In October Dartmouth received a $925,000 grant as part of a $28.1 million national effort to create and foster cyberattack-resistant systems for electric power and the oil and gas industries.

Tuck School reports that in 2015 the median salary for graduates was $125,000, up 8 percent, and that 99 percent of graduates had jobs within three month of receiving their diplomas. Both are new records.

We sadly report the deaths of classmates Martin Borofsky, Allan R. Hardie, Frank C. Myers and Joaquin J. Vallarino Jr. Our condolences to their families. We are also sad to report the death of professor John Rassias, Dartmouth’s famed language teacher.

—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org
 

Dartmouth set a donation record, $325 million, in the year ending June 30—27 percent more than a year ago. College officials call this “a powerful affirmation of Dartmouth’s academic vision.”

Some statistics on the 1,115 members of the incoming class of 2019: 9 percent are the first in their families to attend college; 19 percent are legacies; 26 percent are students of color; 8 percent are citizens of foreign countries; 90 percent were in the top 10 percent of their class. The mean SAT score was 2,145 (out of 2,400).

Dartmouth rates No. 2 nationally, behind Princeton, in the latest Forbes magazine’s “Grateful Grads Index” (GGI). As one measure of a college’s return on investment from a student point of view, Forbes established the GGI: gifts received from grads across 10 years, divided by the total number of full-time students. The assumption is that the donations indicate the success of the alumni and their gratefulness to their alma mater.

The Dickey Center Institute for Arctic Studies has just received a three-year, $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The institute offers an Arctic field experience to high school students and their teachers from Denmark, Greenland and the United States as well as to graduate students from Dartmouth.

Dartmouth is one of a handful of institutions partnering with the Franklin Project, which offers an opportunity for accepted students to take a gap year to engage in civil service before coming to Dartmouth. The program helps to create more mature undergraduates.

Remember the old Moosilauke Lodge from your DOC days? The College plans to replace the 77-year-old building, promising to retain the original spirit. The hope is that private donations will pick up part of the cost. Construction will begin in the fall of 2016.

We regret to report the deaths of Burrows Barstow Jr. and Calvin S. Osberg. Our condolences to their families.

—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org

Applications for the class of 2019 were up by more than 6 percent, totaling just under 20,500. More than 10 percent designated Dartmouth as their first choice and an increased number of those accepted are the first in their families to attend college.


The remodeling of the football stadium, which we discussed earlier, will feature wider aisles and concourses, hand rails and modern restrooms. It will also include a premium chair-back section on the 50-yard line and accessible seating on three levels connected by an elevator. The press box, also accessible by elevator, will have all the latest technology. Work will be finished in early fall, before the start of the football season.


New scholastic ventures: Dartmouth recently introduced its first online course, “An Introduction to Environmental Science.” Off-campus this fall Dartmouth will offer a program in Santa Fe, New Mexico, focusing on Native American art, tribal law and government. This first-time off-campus Native American program will make it possible for students to see an actual tribal conference or tribal court in action.


DHMC was given a 90.89-percent efficiency rating, which placed it No. 4 among hospitals in the United States, according to the University Health System Consortium.


Are you one of the 7,000 who visit the Dartmouth website each day? Favorite sections are those for current or prospective students, then the sections on academics and research.


We regret to report the deaths of classmates Derek Van Quackenbush and Philip Preston Brooks Jr., our class president for many years. Our condolences to their families. 


—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org


Dartmouth is alive and healthy. Early decision applicants are up 10 percent to 1,859; the College is honoring students: Miriam Kilimo ’14 (from Kenya), Colin Walmsby ’15 (Alberta, Canada) and Ridwan Hassen ’15 (Marietta, Georgia), who have been named Rhodes scholars; U.S. News & World Report recognizes Dartmouth for the exceptional value of its education and the low debt load carried by undergraduates—fifth lowest among national universities.


Yes, Dartmouth still has sexual assault problems—along with the rest of U.S. schools—but our college is attacking them head-on. After a faculty vote urging the elimination of fraternities and sororities on campus, a group of fraternity and sorority leaders, besides eliminating hazing during fraternity initiations, created a new social contract aimed at reducing binge drinking, sexual assault and exclusivity. It included restrictions on hard liquor and recommended harsher penalties for sex offenders, better risk-education for students and the appointment of male and female faculty advisors in every house.


I think we can all agree that the football team had an outstanding year—second in the Ivy League after Harvard. Seeking further superior athletic performances, Dartmouth has added six new coaches in various sports.


Dartmouth’s 91-year-old football stadium is receiving a $12.5 million renovation. The structurally sound brick facade will be preserved—ivy and all. When renovations are completed, Memorial Field seating will drop from 13,000 to 11,000, smallest capacity in the Ivy League.


Tuition for the incoming class of 2018 is up 2.9 percent, the lowest increase since 1977. Although tuition covers less than half the cost of a year at Dartmouth, 46 percent of the class of ’18 will receive scholarship aid, averaging $44,235 per student.


Dartmouth and the University of Alaska have been asked by the U.S. State Department to help lead a new initiative to address problems faced by Arctic governments and people. The 18-month Fulbright project will fund 16 scholars from the eight countries that make up the Arctic Council.


We regret to report the deaths of Ernest Elijah Ball II, John William Gant, Herbert Hess Schaffner and Ellis Smedley Ward Jr. Our condolences to their families.


—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org


In the last issue we mentioned that Dartmouth would be hosting a national summit on sexual assault. It took place in July. There were 270 participants from more than 60 colleges and universities. A host of distinguished speakers included David Lisak, who has spent 27 years studying interpersonal violence and has been a consultant to universities, law enforcement agencies and the U.S. military. U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster ’78 opened the meeting. Speakers emphasized that progress has been made; the conference itself demonstrated that the issue is being taken seriously. One helpful suggestion, which President Hanlon strongly endorses, is the creation of a house system, similar to those in place in other Ivy League colleges, that would create a more stable undergraduate environment in residence halls with faculty present.


There has been concern about the shortage of college students studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). There is no question that STEM has its place, but let’s not under-value liberal arts. To quote Joseph Helble, dean of Thayer School, “Liberal arts really teaches us to question, to explore broadly, to not accept a particular truth as a given.”


Dartmouth has just received an anonymous $10 million to help with the renovation of the Hood Museum. The Hood will close in the spring of 2016, reopening scheduled for 2018. The museum now has $28 million toward its goal of $50 million to be used to add 15,000 square feet to better accommodate its 65,000 works of art.


Forbes magazine has ranked Dartmouth 10th in a list of the country’s most entrepreneurial institutions.


Despite adverse media publicity, the Dartmouth Alumni Fund raised $51.9 million in 2012-13, for a fifth consecutive dollar record.


We regret to report the deaths of Dick Handrahan, Bob Bradford, Dick G. Kelly, Mike Diaz Jr. and Harry Semmes Jr. Our condolences to their families.


—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org


On April 10 Dartmouth announced it had received the largest single donation in its history—$100 million—given anonymously. It comes at a time when Dartmouth is under attack in many areas, as are many other colleges and universities, and gives a wonderful psychological boost to the College. Half is earmarked to support President Hanlon’s recently announced cluster initiative: 30 to 40 new professors, brought to Dartmouth during the next 10 years to head multi-disciplinary clusters that will study national and international problems such as healthcare, education, the world economy, energy and the environment. The hope is that the breath of the new approach will contribute to a better understanding of the world’s problems and will advance some solutions. The other half will support other academic programs, such as a society of fellows for postdoctoral students to bring new ideas to world and national problems, and a significant expansion of Thayer School. The gift also includes a two-to-one challenge to increase the investment size to $200 million by the end of 2015.


President Hanlon has called for an end to the high-risk, harmful behavior now on campus. He proposes a new sexual assault program that includes mandatory expulsion, an external investigatory process, a new center focused on violence prevention, student training to recognize potential problems, and the continuation of a successful high-risk drinking initiative. He has met with students, faculty and trustees and says, “This is not a mandate from the top. To be successful every member of the community—especially the students—must be part of the solution.” President Hanlon was one of nine college and university presidents recently invited to the White House to discuss campus sexual assault problems. 


Dartmouth undergraduate costs will rise 2.9 percent to $61,947 for the 2014-15 year—the lowest increase since 1977. Thayer School will see the same increase, Tuck is up 4.5 percent to $61,605 and the Geisel School of Medicine is up 5 percent to $56,104. Financial aid will increase to $85 million; since 2007 Dartmouth has increased scholarship awards by more than 50 percent.


I’m sorry to report the death of David C. “Bing” Donaldson, our wonderful head agent. Bing was a true Dartmouth loyalist and an enthusiastic supporter of our class. Condolences to his family.


—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.org


Pres Brooks reports that he and Louise have just completed a fascinating trip to the Grand, Bryce and Zion canyons—and their grandson’s graduation from college.


Kendal was recently visited by members of the Hill Winds Society, a student group that works with the alumni office to further understanding of today’s Dartmouth by meeting with alumni throughout the Northeast. They’re an impressive group of young people with high ideals and a clear love of Dartmouth. 


Dartmouth cheers for: Our classmate Stan Skaug, former Dartmouth All-American basketball player, upon joining the Wearers of the Green. He was honored at a ceremonial dinner in Boston on May 16.


More cheers for the Big Green baseball team for winning its first Ivy League Championship in 22 years. And for Dartmouth alumni, No. 1 in total income 10 to 20 years after graduation among graduates of the Ivy League and 300 other colleges, says Forbes magazine. 


June 14 was President Wright’s last Commencement; Dr. Kim takes over on July 1. During Wright’s presidency (1999-2009) undergraduate faculty increased from 380 to 439; acceptance rate decreased from 21 to 12 percent; financial aid availability rose from $24.5 million to $65 million; percentage of students receiving financial aid rose from 42 to 45; percentage of students of color rose from 24 to 36; and cost to attend Dartmouth increased from $30,822 to $49,974. Congratulations to Dr. Wright for his great contributions to Dartmouth.


I’m sorry to report the deaths of L. William Seidman, Dr. Harry C. Bishop and Joseph “Bud” Miskell Jr. Our condolences to their wives and children.


—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 371, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@valley.net


In the fall of 2007 Mary Donin of Rauner, Dartmouth’s special collections library, started interviewing Dartmouth graduates to record their descriptions of college life after Pearl Harbor as well as their war experiences. To date more than 100 men have been interviewed, and Mary would be delighted to interview others. If you’re going to be in Hanover and would like to participate, call Mary at (603) 646-9268 or e-mail: mary.donin@dartmouth.edu. If you would like to listen to some of the interviews already completed, go to www.dartmouth.edu/~library/rauner/archives/oral_history/worldwar2.


Dartmouth recently received an anonymous $50 million gift, the largest in the College’s history, toward the building of the new visual arts center to be located on Lebanon Street, in back of the Hood Museum. It will be the home of the departments of studio art and film and media studies. Another $15.5 million has been given by other donors to create the James and Susan Wright Scholarship for Undergraduates and a James Wright professorship.


The New Yorker recently featured a story on how DHMC’s program of “comparative effectiveness research continue[s] to help shape the national healthcare agenda.” A recent visitor to Dartmouth, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, said, “I don’t think I’ve given a speech on the floor of the Senate on healthcare without mentioning Dartmouth.”


What’s going on in your life—how about bringing your classmates up to date?


I’m sorry to report the death of another classmate, Tom Schroth. Our condolences to his wife and children.


—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 371, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@valley.net


Dartmouth responded to the Haitian disaster in a big way. Students raised $185,000 for Partners in Health (PIH), the medical group founded in 1987 by Dartmouth President Kim and Paul Farmer that has 11 clinics in the Haitian countryside. PIH became vitally important after the earthquake because its units were largely untouched and the medical centers in the city were almost all destroyed. The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center sent more than 20 medical personnel and more than $200,000 in medical supplies and equipment. Further, an undetermined number of Haitian students will be coming, free, to Dartmouth.


The Winter Olympics had nine Dartmouth participants representing Canada, Bermuda and New Zealand as well as the USA. The College has been represented in every Winter Olympics since 1924.


A total of 65,174 contributors—among them about 70 percent of alumni—raised $1.3 billion in seven years. Much of that money—like most of the endowment itself—was earmarked for specific uses such as College facilities or to increase the endowment, thus making it illegal for Dartmouth to invade principal for operating expenses.


The snowless Dartmouth Carnival took place as scheduled, but skiing events were moved to Stowe. The interesting “Coliseum” in the center of the Green looked weird surrounded by brown grass. Hanover’s snow is now 17 inches below last year’s snowfall.


I’m sorry to report the deaths of Russ Smith and Bob Fuiks. You doubtless noticed the new obituary policy in the last and this current DAM. From now on full obituaries will not appear in the magazine but will be available at www.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com. You can also call the magazine at (603) 646-2256 and request a paper copy of the online obituary.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 371, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@valley.net


In a fitting tribute to President Kim’s first year on the job, The New York Times as well as other media have announced Dartmouth’s new Center for Health Care Delivery Science, which addresses the need to improve the quality of healthcare while lowering costs. The $35 million donated anonymously to this new center is being described as seed money. (Never did I think of $35 million as seed money, but what do I know.) The federal government has appropriated $10 billion for this type of research in the next decade and, to quote The Valley News, “If the stars are aligned as they appear to be a large influx of federal dollars [from the $10 billion] could be in the offing [for Dartmouth].”


Did you know that The Daily Beast, an online publication co-founded by editor-in-chief and former Vanity Fair and New Yorker editor Tina Brown, has recently rated Dartmouth No. 1 as doing the best job in crafting technology leaders?


Times are tough, so how has Dartmouth weathered the economic storm compared with some of its peers? The Dartmouth endowment is down 19.6 percent, Princeton down 23 percent, Yale down 24 percent and Harvard 27 percent—with the S&P down 28 percent.


Dartmouth football: It was reported on May 14 that the Big Green was feeling optimistic after a productive spring season. Coach Teevens is, “Very excited about where this whole thing is going.” How good a prognosticator is he? You’ll be reading this in the early football season. Good luck to the team!


I’m sorry to report the deaths of John R. Burleigh, Walter R. Daggatt, James D. Elleman, Charles W. Holsworth, David A. Schirmer and Conrad S. Young.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 371, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@valley.net


Seventeen of us enjoyed a great mini-reunion, thanks to Ali Field. As usual one of the highlights was the Friday night dinner with a dozen or so Dartmouth Native American students. There were several speakers. Of special interest was the talk by undergraduate Nacole Walker ’11—recipient of the ’43 summer internship—about her efforts last summer to design a program to teach young Dakota Indians their native language.


And we finally have a football team!


Did you see the September 18 issue of The Economist? They listed the 10 best business schools in the world—Tuck was No. 2, behind the Booth School at the University of Chicago. (Tuck was No. 6 last year) 


Congratulations to Howie Leavitt on the publication of his book, First Encounters: Native Voices on the Coming of the Europeans, 42 first-hand accounts of the culture clashes from natives from the Azores to Japan. Google “firstencountersleavitt.”


Some interesting figures: Dartmouth had 18,778 applicants for the class of 2014; 2,165 were admitted; 1,800 were put on the waiting list (19 of these were ultimately accepted). A far cry from our day.


Sorry to report the death of Nancy Elliot, an honorary member of our class and the class of ’34. Some of you may have known her—she was director of alumni records and of special alumni services. The Dartmouth flag on the Green flew at half staff for two days in her honor.


A reminder: Obits now appear only online (there is just a name-only listing in the Alumni Magazine). You can read them at www.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 371, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@valley.net


In September a crowd of about 2,800 celebrated the inauguration of Philip Hanlon ’77 as Dartmouth’s 18th president and the convocation of Dartmouth’s 244th year. Dr. Hanlon, in his address, outlined two new initiatives: a society of fellows program and an innovation center and new venture incubator. The plan is to expand graduate programs, as Dartmouth currently lags behind its Ivy League peers in its number of graduate students and postdocs. Dartmouth is renowned for its undergraduate programs and there is no thought of graduate students replacing faculty to teach undergraduates, as is a common practice in many other universities.


For the fifth year in a row Dartmouth was ranked No. 1 for its “strong commitment to teaching” and ranked 10th overall in the U.S News & World Report list of the best national colleges and universities.


There has been much media attention given to the future of liberal arts in an increasingly technological world. However, Joseph Helble, dean of Thayer School, recently said, “Liberal arts really teaches us to question, to explore broadly, to not accept a particular truth as a given.”


Congratulations to Dartmouth for having more tenured women on its faculty than any other Ivy League school and for receiving an $18 million grant from the National Institute of Health to develop ways to bring scientific discoveries out of the research labs and into clinical practice. The grant will be matched by a $20 million grant from the Geisel School of Medicine and the DHMC health system.


Though Dartmouth was one of the four Ivies to post deficits in 2013, its deficit was the smallest at $1.8 million (Harvard $33.7 million; Yale $39.2). Dartmouth’s comment: “[The College] is committed to a cultural shift [based on the expectation that] federal funds for education will diminish, endowment growth will slow and the cost of tuition must stabilize.” In reference to tuition, President Hanlon has said, “Tuition rates will remain flat in real terms, being pegged to the overall rate of inflation.”


In the future Howie Leavitt’s newsletters may include excerpts from classmate obituaries that appear online. I’m happy to send hard copies of the complete obits to those who don’t want to check the website, www.dartmouthalumnimagazine. com.


I am sorry to report the death of Scott H. Mitchell. Condolences to his family.


—John M. Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.kendal.org


The class of 2013 now faces the “real world.” Commencement speaker Geoffrey Canada, speaking to a crowd of more than 10,000, told the graduates that our generation “has left you a real mess,” and that they should “finish what we have begun.” There were five valedictorians—all of whom had a 4.0 average for their four college years. One thousand, eight hundred ninety-four degrees were awarded, 1,059 of them to undergraduates. 


Regarding all the discussion about the value of a liberal arts education, it’s worth quoting Kevin Hand ’97 (Stanford Ph.D.), planetary astronomer: “One of my most important science teachers was my English teacher. If you don’t know how to coherently articulate an idea or hypothesis, you’ll never be able to publish, get a grant—or communicate across disciplines” (Alumni Magazine, July-August 2013).


Interim president, Carol L. Folt, is on her way to her new position as chancellor of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as Phil Hanlon ’77 on June 10 became Dartmouth’s 18th president. He is the 10th Dartmouth alumnus to serve as president and will formally be inaugurated on September 20. Among the many important statements made on his first day as president, Hanlon said, “Dartmouth must offer a campus climate that all students experience as welcoming and respectful. Consequently, I will place a high priority on fostering an environment that is positive, healthy and conducive to open dialogue, debate and learning.” This statement is welcome in view of the problems on campus this spring, when a group of students protested instances of racism, sexual assault and homophobia at Dartmouth. Following the protest classes were cancelled for a day of reflection and alternative educational programming.


Our 70th reunion looks promising: 21 classmates plus guests are expected as of June 25. It’s too bad Joaquin Vallarino can’t make it—he would surely win first prize for traveling the longest distance to join us. Bob Fieldsteel is a top contender for the shortest distance. 


We regret to report the deaths of Powell C. Groner Jr., George W. Benz and Jeremy Blanchet. Our condolences to their families.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.kendal.org


Fast Company magazine recently named President Kim one of its 100 most creative people in business for launching the Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science. The center will bring together the best thinkers across disciplines, connecting them with the best business activists to find ways to improve healthcare delivery. The center will also offer the nation’s first master’s in this specialty. 


Dartmouth will lead a nationwide initiative to combat college binge drinking using a strategy that’s been successful in public health campaigns in Peru and Rwanda. More than 30 colleges have signed on to take part in the 18-month program. Nationally 2,000 students die each year from alcohol related injuries and close to 40 percent of college students engage in binge drinking (five or more drinks for a man at one sitting; four or more for a woman).


At Commencement, under threatening skies, a large audience heard talk show host Conan O’Brien in a mostly humorous address, urge the new graduates to turn misfortune into opportunity and disappointments into determination. George H.W. Bush was among those receiving an honorary degree.


This year the average salary for full-time Dartmouth professors is $157,657, placing them 17th among all U.S. colleges and universities. Factor in healthcare benefits, retirement, etc., and compensation rises to $203,140.


We had our wild days back in the 1940s, but I don’t think any of us could tie the antics of two students who recently fell 44 feet from the roof of the Alpha Delta house at 3 a.m. They survived.


I’m sorry to report the deaths of Forbes Delany, Ray Funk, Bob Gray, Herb Marx, Don McCorkindale and Harry Sayre.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.kendal.org


In the last decade the College has increased the number of faculty members by 18 percent; reduced the student-faculty ratio from 9-1 to 8-1; brought faculty compensation to the level of our peers; and increased minority and international student enrollments to 45 percent. Dartmouth’s fall term has been changed to end at Thanksgiving, a week earlier than in the past so students can be home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.


Professor Kirk Vandewalle, Dartmouth’s Libya specialist, has been named political advisor to the United Nations special advisor, Ian Martin, who is coordinating the UN planning for Libya once the fighting there subsides.


Eighteen more colleges and universities have joined the original 14 in the fight against binge drinking. The drive, started by President Kim last May, will bring together teams from each campus three times in 18 months to share their experiences and develop strategies.


Two hundred fifty years ago a small party of surveyors and laborers traveled north from Connecticut into a wilderness that became Hanover. Starting in early July the town’s anniversary celebrations have included fireworks, entertainment on the Green and lectures about Hanover’s early history.


The Big Green, mired near or at the bottom of the football poll, has now moved up to fifth place and opened the season with its first night game in Hanover against Penn on October 1.


I regret to report the death of John F. Harvey.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.kendal.org


What a non-winter! Hanover has had 25 inches of snow vs. the normal 55 inches. Many Carnival events were canceled. Imported snow created the sculpture on the Green; cross country was moved to Stowe, Vermont; and only slalom races took place at the Dartmouth Skiway—largely on man-made snow. Dartmouth lost first place to the University of Vermont. Hanover’s party at Occom Pond on Saturday was a great success, as was the polar bear swim.


We have received a wonderful letter from Bay Lauris ByrneSim ’15 thanking our class for our financial aid. Bay is enthusiastic about all Dartmouth offers and has become active in many areas of campus life.


An interesting recent graph showed the vital importance of the Dartmouth College Fund alumni contributions, which cover 12 percent annually of the Dartmouth budget, thus helping to bridge the gap between what each student pays (44 percent) and the actual yearly cost ($101,890) of his/her education.


Big excitement at Kendal at Hanover! On February 6 the recently published collection of the WW II memories of 56 residents, World War II Remembered (managing editor, Clint Gardner ’44; with Mary Jenkins, wife of John, one of the editors), had a three-minute spot on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Subsequently there were 200,000 hits about the book on the NBC website from some of the viewing audience of 10 million. All this generated a tremendous boost in sales! 


I regret to report the death of Edward Clarke Ingraham Jr. Our condolences to his family.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.kendal.org


Congratulations to Dr. Philip J. Hanlon! Currently provost at the University of Michigan, he will become Dartmouth’s next president on July 1. The search committee did a superb job in making this selection. Dr. Hanlon, who will be Dartmouth’s 18th president, is a member of the class of 1977 and will be the 10th Dartmouth alumnus to assume the presidency. He earned his doctorate at Cal Tech and spent two years in postdoctoral study at MIT. He taught freshman calculus at Michigan and plans to do the same at Dartmouth.


Dartmouth is indebted to Carol Folt for her leadership during this transitional year; effective July 1 she will resume her role as College provost.


Dartmouth received a record $171.5 million in gifts during 2012 and set four individual fund records as well. Way to go!


Officials at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center plan a new six-story, 158,000-square-foot research facility that will border the main hospital entrance. At the moment progress has been slowed by the Lebanon, New Hampshire, planning commission, which is concerned about generating more traffic on Route 120. We hope the problem will soon be resolved.


More kudos: Two Tuck School professors, Vijay Govindarajan and Earl Daum, are on Fortune’s list of the world’s top business school professors. Dartmouth grad Louise Erdrich ’76 has just won the prestigious National Book Award for her novel The Round House.


I’m sorry to report the deaths of William R. Osmun and James H. Gilbert. Our condolences to their families.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.kendal.org


Have you ever realized how small our prestigious graduate schools are? Total enrollments in 2909: Tuck, 532; Thayer, 234; Medical School, 411.


And another interesting figure: In 2009 there were 4,196 undergraduates. Total students studying here in 2009: 5,987 (which includes 614 graduate students getting M.A.s and Ph.D.s and not mentioned above). This includes 3,168 men and 2,819 women. Of these 1,657 were African American, Asian American, Hispanic or Native American; 3,051 were caucasian; 817 were international students; and 462 did not specify race.


Dartmouth, like lots of other colleges, is increasing its efforts to combat excessive and underage drinking. There has been an ongoing conflict with the Hanover police—the College feeling that arrests decrease the chances of students calling for medical help when it is seriously needed. President Kim says the goal is not to eradicate drinking on campus but to limit and monitor consumption and encourage intervention by bystanders when it’s needed as a way to emphasize student safety above all else. Combined with this the College is adding staff to the existing sexual abuse awareness program to increase its efforts to combat sexual assaults.


Were any of you lucky enough to have attended a meeting at Dartmouth’s Minary Center, used as an executive retreat and for strategy sessions, on beautiful Squam Lake? If not, it’s now too late. The College has sold it for almost $6.8 million and plans to use part of the proceeds to modernize and expand the Hanover Inn.


Sorry to report the deaths of Albert Coons Jr., Gail Cornwell Smith and James MacKenzie Stewart. Our condolences to their families. 


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 371, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@valley.net


You know—the whole world knows—that Dartmouth’s president, Jim Yong Kim, is the newly elected president of the World Bank. Our congratulations to him even as our thoughts now turn to the quest for a new president. The search committee will be led by Bill Helman ’80 and Diana Taylor’ 77 as chair and vice chair. In the meantime the College is in the good hands of the experienced, talented and highly regarded Dartmouth Provost Carol Folt.


The Dartmouth Medical School has been renamed the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in honor of Audrey and Theodore Geisel. Ted Geisel ’25 is, of course, the famous Dr. Seuss. The Geisel family has long been one of Dartmouth’s most significant philanthropists.


The board of trustees announced an undergraduate tuition increase of 5 percent for 2012-13, up about $2,000. Including room, board and fees the total is about $58,000. (Were we here at the right time or what?!) Tuition at the med school is up 6 percent to $50,600; Tuck is up 5 percent to a total of $56,000. Fifty-four percent of all students receive financial aid, averaging about $38,000 per year. The financial aid benchmark for family income, which was $75,000, will be raised to $100,000 next year.


The new 105,000-square-foot visual arts center on Lebanon Street has been named the Black Family Visual Arts Center in honor of Leon Black ’73. President Kim called this $50 million gift “visionary.” The center is expected to open this fall.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.kendal.org


Testing your Dartmouth knowledge: Is the movie Animal House really based on Dartmouth’s Alpha Delta? Yes and no. Chris Miller ’63, author of the stories that originally appeared in National Lampoon and were later the source for the movie, says most of the crazy pranks never took place during his years at Dartmouth. No horse was put in the office of a Dartmouth dean; no parade destruction; no pot smoking with a professor, but “the whole premise was based on my fraternity’s exploits.”


How about the return on Dartmouth’s investments? The 5.8-percent return, highest in the Ivy League, yielded $197 million. Dartmouth investments now total $3.49 billion, up 2.1 percent from a year ago.


Hope you’re watching the senatorial contest in New York State as two Dartmouth women vie with one another. Kirsten Rutnik Gillibrand ’88 is the Democratic incumbent, having been named by New York Gov. David Patterson in 2009 to complete an unexpired term. Wendy Long ’82 is the Republican candidate. Kirsten was an honor student and athlete, Wendy was an editor of The Dartmouth Review and active in Aquinas House. Two of Wendy’s ardent supporters are Dartmouth alums, Dinesh D’Souza ’83 and Laura Ingraham ’85.


U.S. News & World Report, in its rating of U.S. colleges and universities, has again named Dartmouth No. 1 in undergraduate teaching “for its strong commitment to teaching.” Dartmouth is listed as one of the top 10 universities in the country.


I’m sorry to report the death of Harry H. Townshend Jr. Our condolences to his family.


—John Jenkins, 80 Lyme Road, Apt. 304, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2757; mmjenkins@kahres.kendal.org