Class Notes 1944

Search Class Notes Prior to 2010

May - Jun 2019

I’m writing a short column to inform class members about two subjects.

First, my status. My wife, Betty, has had to go live in North Carolina to be near her daughters because she has macular degeneration. Since my children are both here in New Jersey, I have moved into an assisted living facility. Address info follows at the bottom of this column.

Second, this year is the year for our 75th and most likely last reunion. And I need to know if there are any of you who feel you are able and hope to attend. You can reach me by phone, email, or regular mail.

Best wishes for a great and healthy 2019 to all of you.

—Carlton P. Frost IV, Brighton Gardens, Apt. 363, 5 Boroline Road, Saddle River, NJ 07458; (201) 444-1569; pennfrost@optimum.net

Jan - Feb 2018

It is with great sadness that I begin these notes. I just learned of the death of our class secretary, Betty Munson, on May 11, 2017, in Kittery, Maine. She was an honorary member of our class who did a superb job of writing our meeting notes for our Friday noon executive meetings and Saturday dinner meetings at our reunions and mini-reunions for many years. Another of her contributions was the writing of the Class Notes for DAM. She also played a big part—with Stan Barr—in providing the lobsters for those wonderful Friday dinners. She also carefully kept track of the class members who were deceased. She was more than just a class secretary to me; she was a close friend. I shall sorely miss her.

I also learned of the death of Jim Towsen. He and his wonderful family came from Texas to our reunions and were the stars that made them such fun and enjoyable.

On the brighter side, nearly 10 percent of our class members are still alive. The class of 1944 is a great class that has contributed a great deal to Dartmouth in monies, buildings and activities. It has been and is an honor to serve as its president.

—Carlton P. Frost IV, 721 Warren Ave., Ho Ho Kus, NJ 07423-1521; (201) 444-1569; pennfrost@optimum.net

Jul - Aug 2017

Earth has tipped forward

The white wing of winter lifts

We are spring-loaded.

Charles Martin Secor died on January 23. Born in Yonkers, New York, he grew up in California and returned to the East to attend Dartmouth. The U.S. Navy sent Chuck to Stanford Medical School, and he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in the Korean War as well. During these years he and his first wife, Pauline, raised four children. Chuck began his private practice in orthopedic surgery in 1953 in Marin County, eventually retiring in 2006. Chuck loved the out-of-doors; he spent much of his free time backpacking in the Sierras, beekeeping, raising greenhouse orchids, fishing, and photographing nature. He was an early member of the Squaw Valley ski patrol and sailed his Cal 2-30 to Hawaii with his two sons and a grandson. Long before it was fashionable, Chuck commuted to his medical office and hospital by bicycle. He took up flying, obtaining pilots’ licenses in both glider and power aircraft. He knitted sweaters for all of his family, studied French and read The New Yorker. Upon retirement he took up golf and bridge and with wife Sally delivered Meals on Wheels and managed a menagerie of pets. Sally and four children survive him.

Robert Eugene Rice died February 12 in Houston. Robert came to Dartmouth from Montana. He volunteered for service in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, finishing his studies after his service and graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He attended law school at the University of Michigan and was admitted to the bar in Oklahoma. Robert and his new wife, Mary, moved to Duncan, where he opened his law office. He served as county attorney in Stephens County and then joined the legal department of Halliburton Oil Well Co., now Halliburton Co., where he became vice president of legal services, retiring in 1987. He and Mary moved to Houston, where they lived at the Forum at Memorial Woods. Robert is survived by his wife of 69 years as well as two sons.

We extend our condolences to their families.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No, York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

May - Jun 2017

It was a pleasure to read of the success of the Class of 1944 Place in Penn Frost’s spring newsletter. That project was certainly one of the class’ most ambitious undertakings, and it is rewarding to know that it has fulfilled its promise at Berry Library.

We have been notified of the death of Richard John Allenby on January 11 at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Dick came to Dartmouth from Highland Park, Illinois. His war service was in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, after which he returned to Highland Park to marry Julia. He completed his education with a Ph.D. in geophysics at the University of Toronto, Canada. He then joined Standard Oil, working in the southern United States as well as Medellin and Barranquilla, Colombia. After returning to the United States he joined NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., as director of manned space science for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo lunar programs. This work involved traveling the world, teaching astronauts about the geology they might encounter on the moon. After the Apollo program successfully landed men on the moon and returned them to earth, Dick transitioned to the U.S. Geological Survey, where he specialized in the study of earthquakes. In retirement he continued to consult in earthquake prediction and taught at the University of Maryland. Throughout his life Dick was an avid outdoorsman and spent many weeks at his family’s vacation home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Several years after the death of his wife, Julia, he married Barbara Snobble, widow of his Dartmouth roommate Jack Snobble, and joined her in Colorado. We extend our condolences to her and his family.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Mar - Apr 2017

Our September mini-reunion was very mini, with only 10 of us at the Friday dinner. We did make up for our small numbers in spirit and reminisced of past minis and missing classmates. Any subsequent minis? We will keep you posted.

We have been notified of the deaths of two classmates. Harry Russell Morse died September 26, 2016. Harry came to Dartmouth from Brockton, Massachusetts. He spent much of his childhood at a cottage in Lakeville, Massachusetts, where he learned to sail, fish, skate and iceboat. After graduation he joined the Navy and began his medical education at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, where he met and married Mary Elizabeth Pettit, a romance that lasted 70 years. Harry practiced medicine in his specialties, otorhinolaryngology and bronchoesophagology, in a variety of settings, from the academic Geisinger Medical Center in Pennsylvania to private practice in Falmouth, Massachusetts. He was a gifted teacher and was named a fellow of the Triological Society. In a final career adventure, he joined the U.S. Air Force and he and Mary lived in Bitburg, Germany, for several years. He was a role model for healthy living, playing tennis and skiing into his late 80s. He donated his body to the Geisel School of Medicine.

Alexander Loder Bensinger died October 24, 2016. “Buzz” came to Dartmouth from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and Peddie Preparatory. After graduation he served in the U.S. Army Air Force attached to the medics units. He obtained his law degree from Temple University School of Law and joined his father and brother in their Stroudsburg law firm. He practiced law until retiring in 2012. He was very active in civic groups in Stroudsburg, was Monroe County solicitor and lectured on law at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and Dartmouth, as well as teaching adult classes. Buzz was a cofounder and director of Big Pocono Skiing and Camelback Ski Corp. He was a founder and officer of Stroud Shopping Center and Monroe County and Pocono Mountains industrial developments. Buzz was an active alumnus in many positions in the class, including with the Alumni Fund and on the executive and reunion committees.

We extend our condolences to their families.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road, No., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Jan - Feb 2017

Robert “Bob” DeOrmond McLaughry passed away on September 7 at his home in Hanover, surrounded by his loving family. Bob spent most of his childhood in Providence, Rhode Island, where he attended the Moses Brown School, then Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. As a teenager he and a friend drove a 1936 Packard convertible in a race against The Limited, an overnight train, from New York to Chicago on gravel roads. The Packard arrived first. At Dartmouth Bob majored in political science and played football for his father and coach, “Tuss” McLaughry. His membership in Psi Upsilon, Casque & Gauntlet and Green Key (as president) started him on a path of service to Dartmouth, as class president 1959-69 as well as in advisory positions in the class including as reunion chair and Alumni Fund and class agent. World War II called in 1942, and Bob served as a Marine fighter pilot. In November 1950 his squadron at the Naval Air Station in Squantum, Massachusetts, was called to active duty in the Korean conflict, where he again piloted the Corsair and the new F7F Tigercat. After three campaigns in the Far East he earned the rank of colonel; he remained in the Marine Corps Reserve as air group commander until 1968 and never gave up his love of flying. After eight years in marketing in the oil industry, he returned to Hanover to raise his family. He served as president of the Hanover/Lebanon board of realtors and director and president of the N.H. and national associations of realtors. Bob became active in community planning in Hanover in the 1960s and 1970s. He served for 10 years as town selectman, six years on the planning board, nine years on the board of assessors and in other public service positions. Bob was an avid skier, skiing an average of 35 days a year, and took his last runs at age 91 at the Dartmouth Skiway. He played golf and traveled widely. He and wife Joan were married 24 years and had four children. After her death, he was fortunate to marry Ann DeWolfe, who died in 2013. Their shared commitment to Dartmouth, and Hanover by extension, was evident in their work for the town and the College. At every home football game they provided an elegant tailgate at the Sphinx, Bob in his raccoon coat pouring Bloody Marys for anyone within earshot. He was our Mr. Dartmouth, and unforgettable.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road N, York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944 @gmail.com

Nov - Dec 2016

On the Sunday before I started this column, I read an essay by Bruce Weber, retiring obituary writer for The New York Times. In talking about obituary writing, he commented that the news was, basically, “the same news every time.” That may be true in a strict sense, but the obituary is all about the life. Each passing takes with it a lifetime of experiences, loves, accomplishments and knowledge, an entire world in microcosm. We have been notified of the deaths of the following classmates. Charles McLaury Farley died May 27, William Beacom Hirons died June 25, David Tysen Nutt died May 22 and Gregory Luis Rabassa died June 13. We extend our condolences to their families. Additional obituaries can be found at dartmouthalumnimagazine.com.

Gregory Rabassa, whose masterly English language translations of the works of Gabriel García Márquez, Mario Vargas Llosa and other international authors helped promote a boom in Latin American literature worldwide, was one of the publicly acclaimed members of the class. The family moved to a farm near Hanover when Greg was a young boy, and operated a country inn. Greg went to Hanover High School and began “collecting languages” at Dartmouth: Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and German. During World War II he was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services as a cryptographer and added Italian to his collection. After graduating Dartmouth he received a master’s in Spanish and a doctorate in Portuguese from Columbia University. Greg taught at Columbia from 1948 to 1969, then at Queens College and the graduate school of City University of New York. He was teaching Latin American literature until late in his 80s. He received a National Book Award for his translation of Hopscotch by Argentine writer Julio Cortázar in 1967, an honorary degree from Dartmouth in 1982 and the National Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony in 2006. García Márquez, whose One Hundred Years of Solitude was translated by Greg and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982, called Greg “the best Latin American writer in the English language.” In his career he translated about 60 literary works from Spanish and Portuguese. His 2005 memoir was If This Be Treason: Translation and Its Dyscontents.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Sept - Oct 2016

Wanna buy a bridge? (No, not the Brooklyn Bridge)—with the encouragement of those who relished the many presentations and anecdotes about his career in the lesser-known bridge industry, our classmate Peter Schaub created a 44-page documentary-style storybook of that title, including information and answers to questions he believes people might be afraid to ask. Schaub’s novel is described as “the fascinating story about the financing, building, buying and selling of privately owned toll bridges and the personalities who pioneered this unusual field.”

We have been notified of the following classmates’ deaths.

Donald Allen Campbell died on March 16. After graduating from Dartmouth he received his master’s in English and American literature from Harvard and his Ph.D. from Yale in American studies. Don spent most of his life teaching history and education as a professor at Dartmouth, Middlebury College, Bloomfield College and as dean of education at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. Don’s passion was to help improve inner-city education and he was most proud of his involvement in Head Start in the 1970s. He was an accomplished jazz musician, playing both saxophone and clarinet in the Daytona College Symphony and Daytona Beach Concert Band.

John Springsteed Jenness died on April 8. Jack’s Dartmouth years were interrupted by WW II; he enlisted at the age of 19, then continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel. His enlistment deferred his Dartmouth graduation until 1947. He worked on The Dartmouth Review and as a local news and sports correspondent for the Boston Herald and graduated from Tuck School in 1948. He remained active in Dartmouth activities, serving on the Alumni Council and as head of regional clubs and recruiting. In 1972 he was elected national president and adjunct assistant professor in business administration at Adelphi University. After retiring to New Hampshire in the 1980s, Jack was an adjunct instructor at UNH College for Lifelong Learning until 1997.

Allen Higgins Picard died on May 3; John Russell Blackburn Jr. died on April 4. Their obituaries appear online at dartmouthalumnimagazine.com. We send our condolences to the families.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Jul - Aug 2016

The losses for the class continue to mount. We have been notified of the passing of the following classmates. We extend our condolences to their families and friends.

Benjamin Franklin Jones died January 14. After a successful career in the insurance field, ultimately as president and CEO of Monarch Capital, Ben pursued his interest in becoming a first responder. He and wife Betty were trained as EMTs and he began a second career as a paramedic. He was the oldest attending paramedic at Ground Zero, and spoke movingly of his experience in Manhattan on September 11, 2001. His civic honors included the Pynchon Award for good citizenship and outstanding public service and Boy Scouts of America Citizen of the Year. In 1984 he carried the ceremonial Olympic torch on one leg of its trip to the Los Angeles summer games. As with everything he undertook, Ben was totally involved with the class of ’44, serving as president for eight years, award-winning head agent and Alumni Fund volunteer for 40 years, many stints in various class officer roles and an enthusiastic class supporter and advisor.

James Richard Bodine died February 9. In his service during WW II he received the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He had a long career in the pharmaceutical industry and retired to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he enjoyed golf and was a loyal follower of Dartmouth football, as well as his grandsons’ sports.

John Patrick Riley Jr. died February 3. Jack was a naval aviator during the war, and returned to Dartmouth to establish his fame as the captain of the 1947 hockey team, part of the famous Dartmouth line that won a historic 46 straight games. In 1948 he played on the U.S. Olympic hockey team in St. Moritz. In 1950 he began a 36-year career as the head hockey coach for West Point. In 1960 he coached the U.S. Olympic team to its first gold medal in U.S. hockey history.

Herbert Albert Brandt died November 14, 2015; Perry Parsons Craver died February 12; William Bell Roberts died December 27, 2015; William Cronin Trier, M.D., died February 17, 2016; Harold Salmanowitz died March 11, 2015. For additional obituaries, go to dartmouthalumnimagazine.com.

In the midst of so much loss, a bright note from our president, Penn Frost: He and longtime friend Betty Felldin were married in March. Congratulations and wishes for much happiness.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

May - June 2016

Another lion of the class of ’44 has died: Richard Lee Ranger, 92, passed away on November 12, 2015, after several weeks of illness, at his home in Dana Point, California. Born in Swampscott, Massachusetts, Dick came to Dartmouth at 17. As with so many of that generation, WW II interrupted his college years; he joined the Army Air Corps and saw action in the Pacific. During a bombing run his plane was heavily damaged. Flying on one engine, he bellied in minus landing gear and he and his crew walked away unscathed, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and celebrated his 21st birthday two days later. He returned to Dartmouth and graduated from Tuck School. Having done his pre-flight training in California, he proudly adopted Orange County as his home. Dick spent his working life at Ford Motor Co., during which time he and his wife, Carol, lived in California and Brazil. He was an avid skier and traveler and teller of yarns. His lifelong service to the class included years as regional clubs officer, class agent, reunion committee member and, with Carol, loyal reunion attendee.

As I am writing this in below-freezing February, I offer the following note of hope.

Pockets of bare ground circle the tree trunks,

The sun is doing its best.

Small floes of snow calve into chunks,

Robins hop among the sodden leaves

In hopes of finding the reawakened worm.

The sun is doing its best

To fold the winter’s blanket back.

Air the long-covered beds,

While snowdrops and crocuses wait

Alert to ever-returning spring.

Nature’s cycle, alive and well.

Why are we surprised?

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road N, York, ME, 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Mar - Apr 2016

Sorry to say, the following is the class news: We have been notified of the following five deaths.

Hardy Caldwell Jr. died on October 25, 2015, at his home on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, at age 92. Hardy was a descendant of the Caldwell line there since 1782. After serving as a naval aviator in WWII he returned to his family business, Tennessee Stove Works. He served on the class executive committee and as officer of regional clubs.

James Grafton Gore died on September 10, 2015, at age 94. After serving as a naval flight instructor for three years Jim returned to the family business, the Fairfax Hotel in Washington, D.C. He was a restaurateur and long-time owner of the General Washington Inn in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

William Orr II died on November 9, 2015, at age 94. He came to Dartmouth from Springfield, Massachusetts, and Deerfield Academy. After serving in the Navy in the Pacific he returned to Longmeadow, Massachusetts, where he was president of Orr Cadillac for 40 years. He was active in his community and served as class officer on the Alumni Fund and reunion giving, mini-reunion chair for 13 years and regional clubs officer. Bill sang for years with his church choir and the Springfield Chordsmen barbershop singing group.

Ralph Lester Sitley died on November 1, 2015, at age 92 in Haddonfield, New Jersey. After service in the war he worked in technical sales for M.A.B. Paint Co.

Arthur LeRoy Scharf died on August 7, 2012, at age 90 in Vero Beach, Florida.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME, 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Jan - Feb 2016

On September 25-26 the class celebrated our last mini-reunion. The lunch and class meeting was open to all. Attendees included Penn Frost and son Carleton, Burt and Esther Bickford, Charlie Spallino, Jim Towsen, Fred and Trudy Daley, Richard and Carol Meyer, Joey Tate, Jean Allen, and me. The primary topic was the winding down of class activities. As Burt explained in his August letter, this is the final year for dues payments. Our budgetary fund will be depleted in 2019-20 by ongoing support of our class projects. The estimated 120 remaining classmates will continue to receive the DAM, but funds will not be available to help support reunion costs. In other business, the class officer roster will remain the same, there being no slate of 14 available candidates willing to debate. After a beautiful afternoon of wandering around Hanover, we regrouped for dinner at the Hanover Inn, with the addition of Jim Towsen’s lively family, as well as Ellie Stephenson and Anne Hier. A few hardy fans stayed after brunch on Saturday to have dinner and support Dartmouth’s win over Sacred Heart in a night game.

Those of you who have attended reunions over the last seven years will remember Jennifer Casey, director of class activities, who shepherded us through many events on campus. Jennifer has moved to a new position as director of academic coordination for advancement. We thank her for her cheery and unflappable guidance and wish her every success. It was a pleasure to work with her.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Nov - Dec 2015

Even in a group of highly motivated and carefully selected young men from the 1940s there are a few individuals who stand out: natural leaders, successful businessmen and loyal friends. The class of ’44 has lost one of those members. William Barton “Ezz” Hale died on August 20 at his family camp at Lake Clear in the Adirondacks. Ezz held about every possible executive position in the class, including head agent, president for five years and stand-in president for partial terms, alumni councilor, chairman of several reunion committees, member of the Campaign for Dartmouth—the list goes on. There are no campus buildings with the Hale name prominently displayed, but Ezz was a generous and regular behind-the-scenes donor, not only in the Dartmouth community but also in his hometown of Rochester, New York. His wife, Pat, predeceased him, but for many years they were a power couple before the term was in vogue. A devoted father and community member, he was modest and soft spoken and loved a good joke, although he took forever to deliver one. We were lucky to have him in our ’44 family.

Philip Edward Penberthy died June 23 in his adopted home of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was a 1947 graduate of Tuck School, returning from service as a Navy pilot during the war. He was another active and loyal son of Dartmouth, serving as president of the class from 1969 to 1975 and many years as head agent. Phil spent his career in marketing and sales at Consolidated Cigar Co., where he claimed his hardest job was keeping Edie Adams in line. A prominent community member in Norwalk, Connecticut, he was a Civil War buff.

In addition, we have been advised of the deaths of Kirk Wilcox Bassett, December 24, 2014; Alfred Edward Peterson, M.D., July 20; and Dyer Stuck Talley, March 8. We extend our condolences to their families.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Sept - Oct 2015

Five years ago Stan Barr wrote a recommendation for a young man, John Kidder Marston. On June 14 I was among the thousands of attendees at the 245th Dartmouth graduation ceremony to see him receive his diploma, cum laude. It was a picture-perfect day and Hanover was showing off its greenest finery. There were four valedictorians (only one spoke, thank goodness), eight salutatorians and 1,093 undergraduate degrees conferred. The graduating students came from 47 U.S. states and 32 countries. With all appropriate pageantry and expectation, the Green overflowed with family and friends and members of the class of 1965 celebrating their 50th reunion. I was reminded of ’44’s 50th-year reunion, which was held in Leede Arena due to a rainy, cool day. Old traditions never do grow old, and Dartmouth put on a wonderful show. The speaker was David Brooks, journalist, author and political and cultural commentator, currently at The New York Times. Honorary degrees were awarded to four Dartmouth alumni: Russell Carson ’65, William Neukom ’64, Terry Plank ’85 and Valerie Steele ’78. President Philip Hanlon “got the last word” as he congratulated the class of 2015 and they commenced the next chapter in their lives. It was stirring to see the eager, optimistic young men and women parade to the podium as the day unfurled and watch Dartmouth send a new generation into the wide, wide world. Ave atque vale.

Don’t miss the class mini-reunion September 25 and 26.

We have been notified of the death of Daniel Jackson Donahue on March 20, and extend our sympathies to his family.

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com

Jul - Aug 2015

As I write this column in late April the long, cold winter is finally loosening its tenacious hold on us. Pockets of snow are still visible in the woods, but nature’s eternal cycle will take care of that quickly. In human nature’s eternal cycle, if it is July, I guarantee we are complaining about the heat. Speaking of cycles, we are sneaking up on mini-reunion time once again. The dates are September 25 and 26. As at the 70th reunion last year, activities will be scheduled at the Hanover Inn, with every effort to make getting around as easy as possible. On Friday the executive committee meeting will be at the Norwich Inn. The Friday night dinner will be at the Hanover Inn from 6 to 8 and will include a short class meeting if needed. On Saturday a full breakfast will be available from 8 to 10:30 a.m. in the same room. Dartmouth plays Sacred Heart that weekend. A broadcast of the game will probably be available at the inn. 

Those of you who have tried to contact Penn Frost and not gotten his usual prompt response should be aware that he fell and broke a hip in March. The doctors told him he would be six weeks in rehab, but he is pushing (literally) to free himself in four, and should be back in the swim by the time you are reading this. 

We have been notified of the death of Jack West Landon on February 4. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com 

May - June 2015

On January 29 President Philip Hanlon ’77 addressed the Dartmouth community, presenting some of the conclusions reached by the special committee assembled last spring to explore ways to reduce dangerous behavior on campus. This committee was part of the Moving Dartmouth Forward program. It consisted of students, faculty, staff and alumni working together to address some of the violent incidents occurring on campus caused by high-risk behaviors.  

As of the end of March, when spring term begins, Dartmouth will ban hard alcohol on campus, forbid pledging at fraternities and sororities and initiate a mandatory four-year sexual violence awareness program. Dartmouth will join several New England colleges that currently ban hard liquor on their campuses, including Colby, Bates, Bowdoin and Providence. Other schools, namely Brown and University of Virginia, have imposed restrictions on alcohol possession and consumption. Dartmouth is among 100 campuses facing investigation for its handling of sexual incidents. Another part of this initiative will include the overhaul of the student housing model. The intention is to create communities built around clusters of dorms, so that residents remain part of that community from sophomore year on, even if they move from those dorms, or off campus. At this point the Greek organizations will remain, but they will need to reform their policies in the coming three to five years or their existence will be reconsidered. These procedural recommendations have been developed in reaction to some of the ugly incidents that have received attention on national media and social networks, as well as complaints by students. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road N, York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com 

Mar - Apr 2015

On December 7 the 73rd anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day marked another milestone for the members of the Class of ’44, a day that certainly burns in the memories of all of that generation, and changed the lives of so many thousands. 

Appropriately enough, our classmate Clint Gardner was honored with the James Wright Award for Distinguished Service by the Dartmouth Uniformed Service Alumni for his wartime service, as well as his service to college and country. 

A footnote (but no small accomplishment) to the news of the 70th reunion was the donation of the class gift to Dartmouth. Ben Jones and Penn Frost presented President Hanlon with a check for $262,549, the largest donation by a 70th reunion class. 

We have received notice of the following deaths: Harry Foster Grieger, John Handwerg Jr., Mark Lyons Peisch, George Wright Sawyer, Albert Miller Storrs Jr., M.D., and Harold William Trease. We extend our condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road No., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com 

Jan - Feb 2015

It was an upbeat crowd that gathered at the Hanover Inn on September 19 to celebrate our 70th reunion. In order to get to this point, you have to have a lot of luck and a good dose of pluck, and both were on display. Twenty-one classmates and assorted spouses, friends and relatives enjoyed the renovated spaces of the inn and its excellent food. Burt and Esther Bickford, Fred and Trudy Daley, Penn Frost, Clint and Libby Gardner, Bill Hale, Jim Hardigg, Ben and Betty Jones, Harry and Mary Morse, Richard Meyer, Dave Scotford, Charlie Spallino and Barbara, Joe and Elizabeth Vancisin, and Budd Welsh were among the recurring reuners. They were joined by Jim Towsen and his Texas posse of family members, along with a sizeable number of West Coasters. Dick and Carol Ranger, Chuck and Sally Secor, Richard Sjostedt and daughter Nancy all came from California. Jack and Dianne Shearer made the trip from Colorado. Howard Price journeyed from Ontario, Canada, for the first time in years. Malcolm and Betty Smith and Peter and Myra Schaub from the New York area rounded out the gang.  

The class meeting was held at the end of the Saturday lunch. As soon as the official business was taken care of, the hot topic of having a mini-reunion in 2015 was brought up, and I am sure it will come as no surprise that it was a unanimous vote in favor of one more reunion: September 28. We will keep you posted.  

We have received notice of four deaths in the class: Wendell Harris Clark, Loren Dick Keys, Warren Fuller Kimball Jr. and Nikitas Constantin Manitsas, M.D. We extend our condolences to the families. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com 

Nov - Dec 2014

Back once again to the Hanover Plain, 

Lucky are we who still remain. 

We were pea-green freshmen on Dartmouth Row. 

How could it be so long ago? 

Seventy-four years, “a fair piece,” as Al Foley would say, 

How young we looked back in the day. 

Commons and beanies and snowflakes flying, 

Learning the words to “Dartmouth Undying.” 

December 7: The wide world calls, 

Goodbye to high jinks and carnivals. 

Some left immediately, the rest in stages. 

Newsreels continued to be outrageous. 

Amid the worsening situation, 

No one here for graduation. 

This fragmented group so torn apart 

Returned to Dartmouth full of heart. 

Let’s toast the builders of the class: 

To the men who endowed the halls we pass. 

And to those men who reported class news, 

Who kept us in touch—they were the glue. 

We returned to celebrate lifelong friends, 

To traditions and loyalties that never end. 

To lobster bashes and the Dartmouth refrain, 

And so many tailgates in the rain. 

Here’s to the creators of the ’44 Place, 

To all who helped win the Green Derby race. 

And to the ladies, a round of applause— 

Your time and your energy supported our cause. 

Seventy years of reunions have come and gone. 

The bodies have weakened, but the spirit soars on. 

Let’s “give a rouse for the college on the hill” once more, 

And another for the great class of ’44. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road N, York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com 

Sept - Oct 2014

As of this writing, we are still anticipating the 70th class reunion, September 19-21. I hope to report a long list of attendees in the next column. 

Most of what passes for class news these days consists of death notices. On the lighter side, I received notice of the passing of Greg Rabassa (not through the College), and wrote a note of condolence to his family. I received a very prompt and vigorous note back from Greg, stating that “news of my demise has been somewhat exaggerated,” and, in fact, he intends to attend the 70th reunion. 

We have received notice of the following deaths: Homer Gordon Bogart, John Robert Callow, Ross Harold Higier, John Robert Peacock, William Clive Mussey, M.D., John Commons Bird. We extend our condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road N, York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com 

Jul - Aug 2014

By the time you are reading this you will have received information about our upcoming 70th reunion, scheduled for September 19 through September 20. As soon as you can, pick up the phone and call the Hanover Inn to make your (free) reservation. In addition to rooms, all meals will be provided at no charge by the inn. Every effort has been made to accommodate creaky knees: a bus or “armchair” tour of the campus and a televised option for watching the Saturday night football game against Central Connecticut. A gathering room will be available at the inn, where you can rest or talk or try to figure out where the last 70 years went. Dartmouth’s president, Phil Hanlon ’77, will attend our Friday evening reception. 

If you absolutely cannot attend, please send an email—or even better—a real note to Penn Frost or me. We will have a central posting area for all messages to your classmates. 

Dartmouth College is throwing us this party—come and enjoy. You will have a memorable weekend. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road North, York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com  

Sept - Oct 2009

We are happy to have our president Bill McElnea give us his thoughts on his presidency as we approach our 65th reunion. 

“As I wind down the final months as president of this outstanding class I was delighted to receive an invitation from our longstanding and capable class secretaries Helena Burdge and Betty Musser inviting me to write a guest column for this issue of the Alumni Magazine. 

“As you read this we will be on the threshold of our 65th ‘grand’ reunion, organized and chaired by Eric and Joan Barradale. The turnout prospects indicate that we may break all previous attendance records. If this turns out to be true we can thank the Barradales, who have been immersed in this for more than two years and have done a simply outstanding job putting all the pieces together. 

“My own reactions to my responsibilities as president of the great class of 1944 are ones of satisfaction with and appreciation for the team that has so willingly worked on the assignments I have asked of them. Besides the class secretaries noted above, they are Clint Gardner, vice president; Burt Bickford, treasurer; Ben Jones, head agent; Penn Frost, newsletter editor and Webmaster; and Hope Fead, widows chair. 

“I will recommend and present a new slate of class officers to the executive committee for their approval and announce their decision at the reunion.” 

Our condolences to the families and friends of Melvin A. Friberg, Charles H. Geer, David H. Merrill, M.D., and James E. Rudnick. Obituaries will follow in another issue. 

—Helena Burdge, 121 Mascoma St., Lebanon, NH 03766; (603) 448-5057; Betty Musser, 4 Berrill Farms Lane, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2437; bmusser@mindspring.com 

Jan - Feb 2010

The 65th reunion was a smashing success. One hundred and forty classmates and families converged from many corners of the earth. The Jack Aguirre family set an all-time record, namely 18 family members of several generations from Bolivia, adding an international flair to the reunion. 

Some of the highlights of the weekend included a fascinating presentation by Ric Bradley about his family’s involvement with the state park system and Ken Burns’ new PBS series. The Dartmouth-Penn football game was played in the pouring rain, and although we lost, our team put up a good fight. The Marching Band blew the roof off the Hanover Inn, as they played through the dining room at full blast. 

After the class meeting we had the honor of a private address by President Jim Kim, whose electrifying presence and sense of humor impressed everyone. During his remarks President Kim lauded the “connectedness” of the Dartmouth community and the loyalty of its alums. Which brings us to the topic of the class’ future. The College considers us part of the over-the-hill-gang, but they may have underestimated this class’ cohesiveness. There is a strong and active spirit among these ’44s who refuse to go quietly into that night, and intend to continue to celebrate our remarkable closeness. 

We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge our great debt to Joan and Eric Barradale and the many invisible hands that put this great reunion together. Many thanks for a smooth and memorable weekend. 

Your new class president is Penn Frost, also our Webmaster and newsletter editor. As your new secretary I have been forced to join the 21st century, and you’ll find my e-mail address below, so let me hear from you.  

—Betty Munson, 80 Linscott Road, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Nov - Dec 2009

Since this will be our last column for the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, we wanted to bid you farewell and thank some of the classmates and the people in the alumni office for their help during our tour of duty. While Harry Morse was president we were asked to fill in, temporarily, as secretaries until the class replaced Ezz Hale. Our length of service has given “temporary” a whole new definition. Twenty-three issues later, we are writing our last contribution to DAM. 

Every ’44 we asked for info was more than glad to help, from his memories of times gone by. (In fact, we learned a lot about our husbands’ Dartmouth days that they had never shared with us!) Eric Barradale contributed a large amount of information on many subjects. We tapped Bob McLaughry about freshman football, Jack Riley about ice hockey and Dick Whiting about the ’44 Place. Several ’44s did guest columns for us. Bill McElnea—once on his early presidency and lately on the end of his presidency; Dave Nutt about life’s changes; Penn Frost about his personal history and the Web site; Clint Gardner on the October mini; Ezz Hale about personal giving to the College; and Ben Jones on 100 percent class giving to the Alumni Fund and the job of class agents. 

We have enjoyed working with the classmates of our husbands, Karl Musser and Russ Burdge. We hope whoever replaces us after the 65th reunion will have as much fun as we have remembering all the memories. Now we say goodbye and thank you for a great four years. 

Our condolences to the families and friends of John Gilbert Baker, M.D., and Raymond C. “Buzz” Snell Jr. 

—Helena Burdge, 121 Mascoma St., Lebanon, NH 03766; (603) 448-5057; Betty Musser, 4 Berrill Farms Lane, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-2437; bmusser@mindspring.com 

Mar - Apr 2010

Where, oh where, is the freshman A-team? 

Sixty-nine years ago Dartmouth College assembled one of the greatest freshman football teams in the country. Of the original 30 A-team members only seven are alive today. We decided to run down those remaining seven and ask about their memories of Dartmouth and recent doings. Our first call was to Russ Isner, who now lives in Elkins, West Virginia. Russ completed his education in West Virginia, but his enthusiasm and fond memories of Dartmouth and his “Richardson crowd” of Eric Barradale and Charles “X.” Larrabee and his time in Hanover were infectious. It was such an enjoyable and upbeat chat that we forgot to get any details of his life now, but he sounds great. Our next stop was Binghamton, New York, where we caught up with Al Peterson, retired doctor, who commented that his years at Dartmouth were the “best experience” of his life. Al is enjoying retirement, in spite of having to give up his golf game. He’s a strong Dartmouth supporter and lunches weekly with Mark Peisch. Next whistle stop: Fort Collins, Colorado, where we had another enjoyable chat with John Peacock. John raved about the A-team, recalling that in their sophomore year most of them became the varsity first team. John has spent his life involved with flying, first for the Naval Air Corps, then in establishing various airlines, and ranching, but his current pet project is developing a high-speed railroad line between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, which absorbs a lot of time and energy. 

We have run out of room for this issue, so stay tuned for the next issue, when we interview Bob Petersen, Bud Talley, Ed Roewer and Bob McLaughry. 

Our condolences to the families of George Ives, who died on September 8, and Al Hormel, who died in early December. 

This column was researched, with much enjoyment, by our roving reporter Stan Barr. 

—Elizabeth M. Munson ’A44, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

May - June 2010

In the last column we tracked down half of the remaining freshman A-team. We conclude our road trip in this column with the following contacts. 

From Fort Collins, Colorado, we continued further west to Bob Petersen, another retired doctor, in southern California. We tried calling several times but got only bird tweets from his phone. Bob came to Dartmouth as one of the “Denver Five”: Walter Olin, Frank Ebaugh, John McAllister and Spencer Baird. Spence, a former B-team athlete, became an inventor, and is now a song-and-dance man in Tofino, British Columbia. Back to the East Coast, to Bud Talley in Richmond, Virginia. Bud is an ex-golfer due to a back condition, doing some woodworking and reading. After Dartmouth and four years in the Marine Corps he became involved in home-building materials business up and down the East Coast. He wants to say hello to Bucky Brandt. After being a multi-team athlete at Dartmouth Ed Roewer spent his professional life as a teacher, scholar (of languages) and coach at various New England high schools. He ended his career as vice principal at Gloucester (Massachusetts) High School. Ed has been a loyal member of the class and never missed a reunion. Finally, to our anchor man in Hanover. Bob McLaughry has been prominent on the scene as class president, class tailgater and, with his wife, Ann, top realtor of the Upper Valley. He constantly refers to his former teammates as “the greatest group of guys ever.” Bob recalls that in weekly scrimmages with the varsity, the frosh team never allowed the varsity to score. Bob traded in his cleats for airplanes—flying in two wars—and then his planes for skis. Some people say he’s still flying—downhill. The best thing about being over 80, he claims, is skiing for free. Stay tuned for the next road trip. 

—Betty Munson A’44, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

July - Aug 2010

Since our newsletter editor Penn Frost is doing such a great job of keeping us current on classmates’ doings, it falls to me to give you some historical highlights. The great class of 1944 has loads of talent and brains, but I wonder how many of you are aware that six ’44s have received honorary degrees from Dartmouth. As far as we can determine, that is a Dartmouth class record. In some cases these men have received the same distinction from other institutions as well. The six are Walter Burke, James A. Browning, Gregory Rabassa, John W. Berry, Merlin K. DuVal and Marsh Tenney. These last three classmates are now deceased. 

Surprisingly, Walter Burke, one of our most illustrious degree recipients, with a long and generous history with this college, did not graduate from Dartmouth. After returning from service in the Navy Walter was accepted at Columbia Law School. He then went to Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft Law Firm for four years, at which point he was asked to serve as president and treasurer of the Sherman Fairchild Foundation, positions he held for the rest of his business career. His name is familiar to us all as it appears on the Burke Chemistry Building, but that is just one of many connections. He served as chairman of the board of trustees from 1976 to 1986 and continued to guide Dartmouth’s presidents, learning all of the complexities and nuances of running the College. He has served his class generously as well, as major gift and bequest chair through the 1990s. Today Walter is still active in his many eleemosynary pursuits. He is a golfer who modestly claims his best golf is played at the driving range. 

On a more mundane note, we remind you that the mini-reunion will be October 8 and 9. Details will be available in the next newsletter. 

Our condolences to the families of Dave Ferguson, Robert A. Harris and William Gatlin. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road N, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Sept - Oct 2010

In our second in a series of columns on the distinguished members of the class of ’44 who have received honorary degrees from the College, we feature Gregory Rabassa. Greg grew up in Hanover, citing professors Ramon Guthrie and Stearns Morse as his early mentors. The citation for his honorary degree states that in his field of translating Spanish and Portuguese literary works into English, Greg is “one of the best translators who ever drew breath.” His skills have been recognized and celebrated throughout the world and he has received a long list of degrees and awards. Greg wrote that one of the recent highlights was his visit to the White House when President George W. Bush awarded him the National Medal of Arts in 2008, on which occasion he shared the stage with Cyd Charisse, another honoree. He does not say whether he was more impressed with the award or Ms. Charisse. In 2009 the American Academy of Arts and Letters awarded him the Thornton Wilder Prize in Translation. Before that Brazil gave him the Order of Rio Branco, and Colombia awarded him the Order of San Carlos. Greg is still active in translating, although he says, “a little more slowly than I used to, as the brain limps a little now and then.” A Portuguese Renaissance book that has not yet been completed, by Bernardim Ribeiro, and The Correspondence of Fradique Mendes, a 19th-century Portuguese, will be brought out by UMass Press. And, by the way, UMass also gave him an honorary, as did the University of Hartford awhile back. “I like to keep it in New England,” he explained. Greg says the thing he cherishes about the Dartmouth honorary doctor of letters is that Fritz Hier was active in promoting it, and that his older daughter Kate received her degree the same year, 1982, and he was able to give her a kiss on the platform.  

We have lost more classmates: Alexander Lemon McPherson, William Edward Gatlin, David Ferguson, John Pairman Brown, Robert Dixon Wiley, Charles S. Sporleder Jr., Eben Greenleaf Blackett and John Joseph Lewis. Condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Nov - Dec 2010

In the last in our series on living honorary degree recipients from the class of ’44 we honor Jim Browning. Jim was always a creative and intense type, who channeled his energy and curiosity into engineering. After graduation he became a teaching assistant and then professor at the Thayer School until 1986. It became his obsession of sorts to find a better and more economical way of cutting through rock. He developed and patented “plasma-arc” drilling devices, used for metal cutting, welding and cutting and drilling hard rock, which became a profitable business, Browning Engineering Corp. The highlight of his career was his experience of using a “rocket” drill to pierce through the Ross Ice Shelf for the first time. This project entailed his living, for several months at a time, in the Antarctic. Jim and his wife, Lu, still live in the Hanover area. On a recent visit to Hanover we tracked him down at his remote workshop/laboratory. That day he demonstrated his latest project, which is developing metal coatings and application processes to protect metal devices, such as oil-drilling bits and other specialty metal fittings. It was a truly intriguing and dramatic demonstration, and way beyond our limited scientific abilities. Retirement is not a word in Jim’s vocabulary. 

It is my sad duty to report the deaths of the following classmates: Robert Dixon Wiley, M.D.; Charles Siegfried Sporleder Jr.; Eben Greenleaf Blackett; John Joseph Lewis; Joseph A. Garry Jr.; Junius Hoffman; and W. Dale Brougher.  

We offer our condolences to their families and friends. 

As you may be aware, DAM is no longer printing obituaries in the actual magazine, but rather on the DAM website at www. dartmouthalumnimagazine.com. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Jan - Feb 2011

A sparkling early fall weekend greeted us in Hanover for the mini-reunion weekend, October 8-9. It was a small but enthusiastic group that gathered for dinner Friday night at the Hanover Inn. The list of famous stalwarts included our man in Hanover, Bob McLaughry, Betty and Ben Jones, Ezz Hale and Ruth Schnabel, Libby and Clint Gardner, Mary and Harry Morse, Charlie Spallino and Barbara Bernard, Eric Barradale, Lizanne and Joe Vancisin, Penn Frost and Anne Egner, Stan Barr and myself. Dave Scotford and Eleanor Vail won the prize for long-distance reuning, and Grace and Dave Nutt livened up the company by bringing their daughter Eva. 

After an excellent dinner class president Penn Frost conducted a brief class meeting. One topic that got lots of discussion was a motion to make the wives and widows official members of the class. In the end, it was seconded and adopted by the class members present. 

The final topic was next year’s mini-reunion, to be or not to be? The class of ’44 tent has been prominently erected in front of the Sphinx since the late 1940s and tailgates have been enjoyed there in many forms. After the 65th reunion there was discussion of ending the minis, but a determined group decided to continue. This year the numbers were small, and the question arose again. The class decided to enjoy the tent and tailgate one more year, and review the topic then. So: 2011, same time, same place. Put it on your calendars now and watch for details as we get closer. 

We have lost classmates Archibald H. Rowan and William H. McElnea Jr. Our condolences to their families and friends. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

May - Jun 2014

My apologies for missing the last columns. Penn’s newsletter has been doing a fine job of keeping you current. The mini-reunion was a great success—good weather, terrific meals at the newly renovated Hanover Inn and Dartmouth beat Yale. Next up is the 70th reunion September 19-21. We are hoping to have a record turnout for this momentous occasion. The College is providing free rooms for all classmates and widows and all meals will be provided for the weekend. How can you resist such an invitation? Penn will provide additional details in the next newsletter. 

Sadly, we have lost a long-serving and prominent member of the class, Stanley Barr. Stan served as class agent and treasurer for many years and served as Alumni Council representative. He was also well known for his annual Lobster Bash and for tipping the Marching Band so it would play at our tailgates. Stan enjoyed his involvement with the class, and will be sorely missed. We have also been notified of the deaths of Joseph John Buckley, M.D., who made history in the field of anesthesiology, and Fred Charles Cohn. We extend our condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road North, York, ME 03909; elizmunson1944@gmail.com 

Sept - Oct 2013

Class president Penn Frost is the guest columnist this month: “I am very sorry to report that our outstanding secretary Betty Munson is having a tough time recovering from her operation and could not write this DAM Class Note. Also, I just learned that we have lost three classmates, the Hon. Monte G. Basbas, Ralph Bogan and Charles Larrabee. On a happier note, Becky Richardson sent me an article that appeared in the Florida Indian River Press Journal about Ben Jones and his passion for helping others. In addition to his role as the oldest respondent to 9/11 and his ambulance corps work at Shelter Island, New York, when in Florida he volunteers two 10-hour shifts each week at Station 2 for Stuart Fire Rescue. In March Ben received a lifetime achievement award in Washington, D.C., from the James O. Page Charitable Foundation for his efforts in the past three decades. Congratulations, Ben. 

“Our mini-reunion will be October 11-12 and our 70th next year is September 19-21. Let’s break all attendance records at both.” 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road, North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Sept - Oct 2012

Last call for the September 28 and 29 mini-reunion. The Saturday game against Penn will be a day game, with an elaborate and comfortable tailgate at the Hanover Inn. There is still time to make a reservation. The reservation form was at the back of the spring newsletter and is online in the class of 1944 reunion page.  

Many class members work behind the scenes to keep the news circulating as well as organizing reunions. This includes many of our widows, some of whom are on the spot in Hanover or who simply stay in touch with us. I cannot possibly list them all, and do not want to exclude anyone, but for ear-to-the-ground updates, no one tops Needle Allen’s widow, Jean. She writes in, attends many of the minis and keeps up with many other widows. Jack Stephenson’s widow, Ellie, is another key player—making arrangements for the Tuesday luncheons as well as taking care of other details and attending minis. Betty (Karl) Musser and Helena (Russ) Burdge worked hard for several years bringing you this column and acting as organizers for the reunions. We hear regularly from Dave Patterson’s widow Ann, our former class photographer, who is sorely missed. We spoke to Bud Troxell’s widow, Nancy, who recently took on a golf cart and lost: broken bones, but not spirit. We do appreciate all their contributions; we could not do it without you.  

We have one death to report. Dale R. Sisson died at his home in Northport, Michigan, on April 7. Our condolences go out to his wife, Norma, and their family. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Sept - Oct 2011

Since the news beat has been slow lately, we thought we would go back to the master, Fritz Hier, for inspiration. This short essay was written circa 1996. The more things change…. 

“Is Dartmouth too big? Of course it’s too big. And so is [sic] HEW, General Motors and the AFL/CIO and the Vatican and the NFL and the United Nations and the national debt. 

“And so are Everest and the Grand Canyon and the Amazon and so were Caruso and Chaliapin and Casals, and they make you weep to see or hear them. The whole world’s too big, and how does Dartmouth stop its growth when all around it every manner of things are green-stamping and pop-corning, double-dipping and selling $25 billion and going crazy? Does Dartmouth stop growth and inflation by reducing fees and going bankrupt? Does Dartmouth lower salaries and lose its faculty? Does Dartmouth go back to the abacus while the world figures in BASIC? 

“No, on a relative scale, Dartmouth is still a small college with so many of those who love it. But one so often longs for Walden instead of wall-to-wall, that lovely simple Model A rather than four-on-the-floor, rack and pinion, dual injection. The country store is now a supermarket and the postman a zip code, and the pharmacy a chain. The soda jerk is a dispensing machine, the telephone operator is an area code (or a recording, ‘the number you have dialed…’). Horses are cars and jets, legs are bikes and motorcycles, snowshoes and skis are chairlifts and snowmobiles.”  

We extend our condolences to the families of three of our classmates who have died: David W. Little, Robert “Pete” W. Peterson and Samuel H. Coombs. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Nov - Dec 2011

At the time of this writing (August) we are anticipating a great turnout for the mini-reunion in September. Thanks to Penn Frost and his many reminders, we have 34 people coming back for the Friday night dinner. The usual supportive Hanover area crew, including Bob and Ann McLaughry, Wemo Epply, Clint and Libby Gardner, Jim and Alice Hardigg, Burt and Esther Bickford and Harry and Mary Morse will all be on hand. Joe and Lizanne Vancisin, Ben and Betty Jones, Ezz Hale and Ruth, Charlie Spallino and Barbara and Stan Barr and I never miss a chance to get back. Penn Frost, friend Anne and Penn’s son Carleton P. Frost V ’74 round out the list of regulars. In addition, we have regained Fred and Trudy Daley and Jack Riley and Pauli, who have missed the last couple of minis. The big surprise is the appearance of several familiar faces who have not attended for several years: Jean Allen, June Morgan and Richard Meyer are on that list. Richard is coming north from Virginia for the first time in many years. But the long-distance prize goes to Jim Towsen, all the way from Houston. Jim will be back for the first time since the 6oth reunion, and is bringing his two daughters and son with him.  

Dick and Carol Ranger, who are usually in the New England area this time of year, called with regrets. Dick’s bad knee is causing him some balance problems, which makes traveling uncomfortable. For two people who have kayaked and skied and climbed their way around the world for many years, this is surely a change of pace. Another change of pace: The U Penn football game will be played under the brand-new stadium lights at 6 p.m., so tailgating will start at 4.  

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

May - Jun 2013

Ralph and Sarah Bogan were kind enough to send an e-mail updating us on their activities. They remain active skiers, although not doing the helicopter-drop, deep-powder skiing for which they were famous. They had lunch recently with Dan and Marilyn Donahue and met up with Fritz and Nancy Mills at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ralph reflected on the great pictures of the Dartmouth freshman basketball team and exciting games alongside Joe Vancisin.  

Charlie Spallino has been hard at work coordinating the upcoming mini-reunion on October 11 and 12. Both major events, the Friday night dinner and the Saturday tailgate, will be held in one of the new function rooms at the Hanover Inn, with valet parking and elevator access to the dining room. That is about as easy as it gets. 

We have been notified of two deaths in the class of ’44: Raymond Warren Zrike, December 15, 2012, and Montford H.R. Sayce, July 1, 2012. Our condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road, North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

May - Jun 2012

If you happened to be watching the Nightly News with Brian Williams on February 6, you might have been as surprised as we were to hear “Hanover, New Hampshire” and look up to see our distinguished classmate Clint Gardner being interviewed on TV. Clint has been managing editor for a collection of personal stories about serving in and living through WW II. As you all know too well, that generation is rapidly declining in numbers. Their stories have become fodder not only for Tom Brokaw and various historians, but also clubs and organizations that anthologize those memories. The Kendal group in Hanover has authored 58 individual essays reprising their experiences of war, in the field and at home, in World War II Remembered. In the TV spot Clint read a passage from his contribution, describing the experience of being the liberators of the Buchenwald concentration camp. He remained there in charge of disbanding the operation for many months.  

Clint is the author of four additional books retelling that time as well as philosophy and religion works. When I e-mailed Clint after seeing him on TV, he replied that they had been inundated with 2,000- plus requests for the book within the first 24 hours. There is a link to the article at http://worldwarIIremembered. org. 

To those who fought the “good fight” in WW II and who kept the nation together at home, we salute you. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com  

May - June 2011

Boy, do we have a war story for you. We spoke with Charles McDowell, retired admiral of the Navy, at some length. Charles enlisted in the Army in 1943 and ended up in basic training at Fort Eustis along with a group of six other Dartmouth enlistees. He became a corporal and remained there to train new recruits until November of 1944, when he was sent overseas with the 9th Armored Division Infantry Battalion. On March 7 his division was the first to cross the Rhine. After being wounded he was sent back to England and was recovering there when the war ended in Europe. From there, he served an additional year in the Pacific theater. Charles completed his degree in 1947 and continued his education at UVA Law School, graduating first in his class. He “married a Texan,” he says, and moved to Houston to practice law for an oil company. When the Korean War started he was called back to Army service, which didn’t want lawyers, just infantrymen. Eventually the Army agreed to let him go to the Navy (which wanted lawyers). He and his wife, Carolyn, loved the Navy life. They were stationed on both coasts in addition to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and finally landed in England for three years, with Charles serving as commander-in-chief of the U.S. naval forces of Europe. He retired from the Navy in 1980 and moved to Virginia to become a “country lawyer” from 1992 to 1997. A pretty unusual path for an Army private, first class. Charles says he wore his Army Combat Medal on his Navy uniform all those years. These days he has some breathing problems, but stays busy working for his church in Alexandria, Virginia. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Mar - Apr 2013

Penn Frost here, writing for Betty Munson, who is still recovering from her operation. We had again a most successful mini-reunion September 28-29, 2012, with about 40 attendees. Each year we seem to enjoy the mini-reunions more and more. Jim Towsen brought his delightful family again, and plans to bring even more of them from Texas to next year’s mini, the weekend of October 11 and 12. This will also be Homecoming Weekend, with Yale our football opponent. Hence, Hanover will be crowded. We look forward to having our class secretary back with us again, fully recovered from her major surgery. Make your reservations ASAP. The year 2014 will be our final, formal five-year reunion, and I’m told the College will pick up the tab for our rooms in the newly remodeled Hanover Inn. 

Sadly, we have been notified of the following classmates’ deaths since our last column: Richard Backus, September 15, 2012; Joseph Damman, August 26, 2012; Richard Guthrie, December 25, 2009; Merle E. Hagen, October 4, 2012; John Bodwell Lesher, October 3, 2012. (I have also heard of the death of Montford Sayce, although haven’t yet received official notice from alumni records.) Send me news at pennfrost@verizon.net. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road, North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Mar - Apr 2012

It is always a pleasure to get a note or phone call out of the blue from one of our classmates. Bob Miller called from La Jolla, California, and we reminisced about several class members, including the late Junius Hoffman. 

Jim Towsen, who was back for the last mini after several years of non-attendance, has already made reservations for the next one, adding four to his Texas posse from 2011. 

Hardy Caldwell dropped a note from Key Largo, Florida, saying, “Seems like yesterday when we were way back in the Class Notes section, now we are almost on the first page.” 

The inimitable Charles “X” Larrabee sent us his annual collection of random literary observations and fascinating trivia, which always sends us to the bookshelves to find out what he is talking about.  

Wemo Epply calls every few weeks to bring us up to date on doings in Hanover and to exchange medical news. 

The last time Stan Barr was at his doctor’s office, he commented that he felt that “old age is catching up with me.” His doc replied, “Run a little faster.” If only it were that easy. On a personal note, Stan has decided that this is the winter we will spend in Florida—the warmest fall on record. So we may be in touch with some of you Floridians. 

We have been informed of the deaths of two classmates: John Blasdel Shapleigh, M.D., and Richard Theodore Kanter. We extend our condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Mar - Apr 2011

Because the recent mini-reunion was sparsely attended, we decided to get in touch with some of the classmates who have shown up in the past. Our first call was to Budd Welsh in Vermont. He and wife Carol have bequeathed his motel, the Aspen of Manchester, to his two sons, who run it now. Budd was involved in a major car accident six years ago, which curtailed his skiing and other outdoor activities. Bob Gifford and wife Helen have settled in Sarasota, Florida, after living for 37 years in England, where Bob retired as captain in the Navy. They are both in good health and very happy (I caught them in the midst of cocktail hour). They travel often, spending a month each year in Portugal. Next we chased down and caught Fred Cohn in Fort Pierce, Florida. He lives on a golf course, but does not play. Fred and his wife, Lou, have been in Florida for a few years; he got sick of shoveling snow in Buffalo for six months of every year. They travel all over the states visiting their wide-flung grandchildren. Fritz Witzel and Jamie are in Mobile, Alabama. He had to give up his golf game six years ago due to a back injury acquired during his military service. We spoke at length about our days at Dartmouth and his ability to letter in four different sports after his return to Hanover. Fritz is very involved with his church and spends all of his time taking care of Jamie, who has dementia. As he says, “We enjoy a very quiet life.” That’s a quick update on a few of your classmates. Snail mail or e-mail me with any info on your lives that you would like to share with the class. One death to report: Archibald “Ham” Rowan. Our condolences to his family. 

New Year’s is in the rearview window; hope your 2011 is a happy one. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Jul - Aug 2013

The colorful life of our classmate Joseph Dryer Jr. was the feature article in The Palm Beach Post in February. After having his chest blown open in the fight for Iwo Jima, he spent nine months in hospitals, received last rites several times, but miraculously recovered. He continued his service in the Marines for several more years. In 1950 he moved to Cuba, founded the North Atlantic Kenaf (a hemp-like fiber) Corp. and says, “Cuba was an absolutely wonderful place to live—a bachelor’s paradise.” In Havana he introduced himself to Ernest Hemingway, whose son Jack ’43 was a close friend at Dartmouth. Hemingway Sr. also became “like family,” and was a witness at Joe’s wedding to Cuba-born Nancy Herrera. He and Nancy had three sons born there. The family left Cuba 18 months after Fidel Castro came to power. He continued to farm kenaf in Haiti and Guatemala before tiring of being ousted by revolutions and becoming a consultant to large companies and landowners in South America. In the late 1960s he was a partner in the hotel business and spent some years as a stockbroker. He maintained his involvement with the American Foreign Policy Council and hosted council dinners at his Palm Beach, Florida, home. 

One more reminder: The mini-reunion will be held October 11 and 12. This is also Homecoming Weekend and the Yale game. Friday night dinner and Saturday tailgating have been arranged at the Hanover Inn. Hope to see you there. 

We have been notified of the deaths of classmates Eugene F. Callaghan, William M. Stahl, M.D., Stephen Tate, William W. Warner and John T. Weeks. We extend our condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road, North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Jul - Aug 2012

A little trivia from the class of ’44. 

Tim Gunn from Lakewood, Ohio, came one day to Dartmouth, left the next, was never heard from again. 

Junius Hoffman was at Dartmouth for one week, transferred to Harvard, but returned to Hanover a week later because they housed him over a bowling alley. 

Bud Troxell, elected first class president, as a sophomore halfback ran 94 yards through the whole Princeton team for a touchdown, a record still standing (we think).  

Of the 27 football players on the freshman A squad, only six are still living. 

Six members of the class had the last name of Allen; all passed away early, starting with Arthur Allen in 1978 and ending with Henry Allen in 1997.  

Two classmates, Steve Holmes and Bill Mackoff, both Marines, were killed in the assault on Iwo Jima. 

Our current class president, Penn Frost, is part of a long dynasty of Dartmouth grads: Enoch Charles Woods (son of Elizabeth Frost), class of 1850; Carlton Pennington Frost, first dean of the Medical School, class of 1852; Henry Martyn Frost, class of 1857, and his brother Edwin Brant Frost, class of 1858; Gilman Dubois Frost, class of 1886; Carlton P. Frost III, class of ’18, and his brother Philip Thurston Frost ’21; Carlton P. Frost IV ’44; Carlton P. Frost V ’74; Carlton P. Frost VI ’10. Whew! That must be a record. 

We have two deaths to report: E. Bruce Dean on December 25, 2011, and Robert E. Hirschfield on March 13. We extend our condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Jul - Aug 2011

Since news from classmates has been sparse, we decided to cast a larger net by emailing approximately 30 classmates not heard from recently. We hoped we would land a few live ones, but apparently we need new bait. In the meantime, we went back to the phones. 

We were lucky to catch Gil Gabriel in N.Y.C. Gil doesn’t travel south, since flying has become such a hassle, but he keeps busy playing squash two to three times a week and taking courses at NYU. His interests are Greek mythology, history and literature—all good areas to mine for crossword puzzle answers. In addition, Gil is involved with the Institute for Retired Professionals at the New School. Gil served as editor of their newsletter for eight years, which made him a cooperative interviewee. Bill Hirons returned our call from warm, sunny Florida. He and Marjorie are enjoying fully the good and snowless life down there. We received a very interesting and erudite potpourri from “X” Larrabee. As you may remember, X wrote this column for several issues, and his wit and fluid writing style were lively and funny. Those of you who can still locate the 25th yearbook will get more than a few chuckles from his bio. He was inducted into the UNC Journalism Hall of Fame and his writing career spanned many magazines and companies, from research to bananas. 

Last reminder: Mini-reunion weekend is September 30 and October 1. Dinner Friday catered by the Hanover Inn, Saturday tailgating at the Sphinx and Big Green once again challenges the mighty U Penn. A fall weekend in Hanover—priceless. 

Three deaths to report: Joaquin Aguirre, Ryland Robbins and Ian MacDonald. Our condolences to their families. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road N., York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com  

Jan - Feb 2013

The determined ’44s have celebrated yet another fall mini-reunion, with an amazing 36 attendees at the Friday night dinner. The class is slowly absorbing the next generation as the loyal sons and daughters accompany their fathers. A number of active widows continues to round out the attendance. The class meeting after dinner was brief, with some suggestions to alter the current schedule of the mini, but the vote was unanimous to continue these fall reunions until no one is available to show up. Next year, the date will be the weekend of the Yale game, October 11 and 12! 

Sadly, many of our updates these days come in the form of death notices. We extend our condolences to the families of the following classmates: George Dean Cornell, Thomas Reid Crowder, Elroy Bruce Dean, Daniel Egbert Holley, Jay Latimer McMullen, Arthur Adams Peabody and Edward Emil Rehurek. 

—Betty Munson, 23 Linscott Road, North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 

Jan - Feb 2012

Joe Vancisin, Yale’s all-time winningest men’s basketball coach, has been elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame along with seven other college basketball greats. 

The class of 2011 was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Sunday, November 20, 2011, at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. Joe’s career in basketball covered more than 54 years as a player, coach and administrator. He took over at Yale in 1956, and promptly led the Bulldogs to their first official Ivy League title. He returned the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in 1962, and Yale shared the Ivy title in 1962-63 but fell to Princeton in a playoff game. Vancisin, who had a 206-242 record as the Bulldogs’ head coach, left Yale in 1975 to become the NABC’s executive director for 17 years before his retirement in 1992. Under his leadership, the NABC debuted its college all-star game at the NCAA Final Four. 

At Dartmouth, where he played basketball and baseball, he was a starting guard when Dartmouth was edged in overtime in the NCAA championship game by Utah in 1944. Coach OzzieCowles persuaded Vancisin to remain to coach the freshman team and, after one season, he enlisted in the Air Force.  

Vancisin traveled extensively, giving clinics around the world, and was a member of two U.S. Olympic basketball staffs—on the gold medal-winning team headed by Dean Smith in 1976 and with the 1980 team, coached by Dave Gavitt ’59. In addition to all these feats, Joe is a loyal classmate and regular at all reunions. 

We have been notified that Richard Victor Wilson died on August 1; we extend our condolences to his family. 

—Betty Munson ’44a, 23 Linscott Road North, York, ME 03909; emmunson1944@gmail.com 