Class Notes 1953

As many of you know, we lost Mark Smoller in October 2024. We all looked up to Mark, not only as class secretary but also as a dear friend—a friend who cared deeply about the class and was able to express himself more succinctly than most. Now, as Chuck’s widow, and VP of the class of 1953, I’m honored to follow Mark’s lead. The document below was found on Mark’s computer after his death. There’s no better way to begin my association with Class Notes.

“This is my last column after more than 25 years as secretary of the great class of 1953. I appreciate the honor that was accorded to me by my class and my college, an honor that has enabled me to write of my class and classmates in the DAM for all those years. I can think of nothing that can be more inspiring than to write about my classmates, who have accomplished wondrous things in their lives and continue to do so even in the ninth decade of life on this planet. I can think of nothing more satisfying than reporting on the various activities of classmates whom I admire and love. Where else other than in a marriage do you find best friends still your best friends after 70-plus years? Where else can you return to a time 70 years before and find the template for your life indelibly stamped with a proviso that you continue to learn and grow and use that base as a steppingstone for good? Where else can you go to find rejuvenation and renewal simply by meeting and interacting with the current group of Dartmouth kids? Where else can you feel invigorated and comfortable with the idea of passing along the mantle of our society than by meeting the present classes at Dartmouth?

“So, thank you, Dartmouth, for my time with you. Thank you for my classmates and for the privilege of reporting to the Dartmouth world the doings of the great class of 1953.”

—Donna Grant Reilly, 32 Penn Road, Apt. 418, Hanover, NH 03755; reillys5357@gmail.com

I was pleased to read that Dartmouth has made a dream come alive by hosting the first meeting of the Tribal Leadership Academy, at which tribal leaders from all around the nation have come to Hanover to attend workshops given by experts in their field. At our 70th reunion the class recognized the value of this program when it was only a germ of an idea and voted to add its financial support to the program. And what a wonderful way this is to help fulfill the initial purpose of Dartmouth’s creation. Ron Lazar has informed me that we came in 10 percent above our assigned Dartmouth College Fund goal and created a new participation record of 59 percent for our 71st year. Congratulations to Ron and his team, who have continued all these years to make the class of 1953 such a strong supporter of the fund. Dave Halloran writes that he has created the Halloran Award, which for many years he has presented annually at the U.S. Army Ball to the business that has done the most for soldiers or veterans. Sadly, I report the death of our dear classmate Kenneth Sewall and offer the condolences of our class to his family.

—Mark H. Smoller, Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (516) 526-9130; dartmark@gmail.com

This month I, Ron Lazar, am temporarily replacing Mark Smoller, our long-time devoted class secretary, whose wife, Bobby, passed away in April. They had been married for 68 years and were friends for 15 years before that. We pray for Mark and his family.

In the mid-1980s Don Goss had an idea to memorialize each deceased class member with a book to be purchased by the class and held at Baker Library. He asked John Kennedy if he’d be the point person for the project, which he wholeheartedly accepted and has been doing so ever since. Once he receives the name of the classmate from Mark, John then notifies librarian Tim Wolfe, who records that name on the inside cover of the chosen book and then relays the title back to John for documentation.

John has diligently recorded this information during the last 40 years, now with a total of almost 550 classmates and book titles. He has taken great pride in handling the memorial books project with great care and attention, as it has been a very meaningful way for him to give back to his class and the College. Thank you, John, for your many years of devoted service.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Here Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

Ron Lazar, president of the class of 1953, is delighted to announce the class’ support in the form of a $75,000 grant for a wonderful new institution, the Tribal Academy, to be established by the College as announced by President Sian Leah Beilock in her inaugural address. This academy, meeting annually, will provide a place for newly elected Indigenous tribal leaders to convene to share best practices, discuss opportunities and challenges facing tribal nations, and work together to overcome persistent societal issues. Our grant will be a part of the College’s initiative to raise $500,000 for the Tribal Academy. We are fortunate to have some alums living in Hanover who keep us updated on all things Dartmouth. Vice president Donna Reilly, our sole representative at this affair, sent me the following. On Monday evening, December 4, 2023, Hanover had its first chance to meet President Beilock. A gala reception was held in the grand ballroom of the Hanover Inn, where she spoke to an audience of nearly 600 who welcomed the opportunity to meet her. The audience was impressed with the enthusiasm and forward thinking of the first female president of the College. She outlined her hopes and plans for the future and promised to bring a fresh breath of leadership to Dartmouth. I must sadly report the deaths of the following classmates and offer our condolences to their families: Mark Hanson, Leonard Johnson, John Joy, Larry Marvin, H. Stewart Thompson, Ben Potter, Paul Dillingham, and David Cost.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Here Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

Seventy years ago, June 14, 1953, the sun shone brightly on campus, which was astir preparing for Commencement that day. Commencement exercises would be moved from its beautiful venue, the Bema, to the Green in front of Baker to accommodate the huge number spectators expected to attend because President Eisenhower was to be there to receive an honorary degree and be the main speaker. At breakfast that morning at Dartmouth President John Sloan Dickey’s home the honorees discussed the destructiveness of Senator McCarthy’s aggressive advocacy of burning books he personally deemed un-American. Inspired by this conversation, President Eisenhower ditched his prepared speech and, speaking extemporaneously and with the emotions of a man who understood the profound importance of his words, delivered what was arguably the most important speech of his presidency, the famous “Book Burner” speech. He admonished us and the nation not to join the book burners. This speech proved to be the beginning of the end of the McCarthy era, an unhappy period of our history. In honor of that occasion the class of 1953 has arranged for a plaque and a tree to be planted at Baker that reads, “Dedicated to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who near this spot on June 14, 1953, admonished us and the nation ‘Don’t join the book burners.’ Dartmouth Class of 1953.” Those words reverberate loudly and serve as a beacon of light for all time. As we look forward to our 70th reunion, we are anticipating attendance of 24 classmates, 20 guests, and five widows. I end this sadly by announcing the deaths of our dear classmates Donald Brown, William Friedman, and Lawrence Garvin and offer their families our sincere sympathy.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (834) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

As we approach our 70th and last formal class reunion, it is difficult to grasp that it was 74 years ago that we gathered on the Green for the first time to begin our great Dartmouth College adventure, the memories of which are still emblazoned in our heads as if they occurred yesterday. Gone are the freshman beanies, the duckboards, wet down, the tug of war, the football rush and hums, Davis Hockey Rink, and Freshman Commons. In their stead are the dynamics of coeducation, the Dartmouth Plan, the Hop, The Black Family Arts Building, new dormitories, the Hood, and many other new and improved buildings and facilities. And yet, so many years later, Dartmouth evokes a certain comfort as one roams the beautiful campus untarnished by the years—in fact, even more beautiful today. There abounds the same sense of belonging coupled with the energy of the place that made it such a wonderful experience then. We absorbed the strength of the New England winters and the joy of learning from caring professors and from our peers. We matured and were inspired to think and to learn. Four years later we left this place with the hope and energy of youth, with President Eisenhower’s words encouraging us to go forward: “Don’t be a crocodile and lie in the sun. Make each day count.” Now, 70 years later, as we look back, we take in the broad breadth of our classmates’ activities and experiences, the stuff accomplished and the examples we set, and we hope that we have made use of the bounties offered to us and have fulfilled our promise. We continue to contribute—each in his own way—and look forward to seeing friends made before most of the readers of these notes were even born. We who are here to partake in this important reunion pay homage to Dartmouth by our presence, we hope, and by the way we have comported through those many years.

Once again, I am saddened to report the loss of our dear classmates and offer our condolences to the families of John Cernius, Albert Krause, William Burns, Ed Parsons, William Brown, H. Elton Clarke, and Sherwood Salitsky.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (834) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

We set out for Homecoming Weekend in high spirits, looking forward to a lovely weekend. Our hopes were fulfilled. Dartmouth looked beautiful. Spirits were high. We sensed the excitement of the big weekend as we crossed the bridge and drove slowly up Wheelock Street. Hanover was alive with alums, students, and parents all going somewhere, walking animatedly with a joyous bounce to each step. The shops along Main Street were busy as the weekenders purchased tangible reminders of a happy weekend in Hanover.

That evening the parade was fun. The recently redesigned bonfire did not suppress the joy of the ’26s as they formally proclaimed their entrance into Dartmouth’s lore and introduced themselves to the alums. On Saturday morning we had an enjoyable class meeting in the Paganucci Room of the ’53 Commons. Present at the meeting were Vivian and Richard Kahn, Richard Fleming, Deb and David Horlacher,Jane Lattes and Ron Lazar, Cynthia and Richard O’Connor, Donna Reilly, Bobby and Mark Smoller, Ross McIntyre,and Granthia Preston and Harlan Fair, who had just flown in from a family wedding. More joined us via Zoom and were easily assimilated into the meeting. After the meeting we enjoyed lunch at the ’53 Commons. A screen was set up for us in the Paganucci Room so those who did not attend the game in person could watch it on television. Dinner at the Commons was lovely. Once again we were able to enjoy the amazing array of different offerings of Dartmouth dining services. We left for home on Sunday morning looking forward to our next get-together, the big 70th reunion September 10-12. Please make plans to join us for this event. We shall all be staying at the Hanover Inn as guests of the College. Plans are being formulated to make all of our events accessible to everyone.

Sadly, I must announce the loss of our dear classmate Harlan Fair and offer our condolences to Granthia and his children.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

With thanks to Granthia Preston, who was kind enough to keep me up to date on the following, I can report that on Sunday, August 22, classmates and friends gathered at Moosilauke Lodge to celebrate the life of our past president, Put Blodgett. The setting for the gathering could not have been more fitting, as Put lived a life of service to Dartmouth and to the forests of Vermont. He has bestowed thousands of acres of his own forests to Vermont as grants to be protected and allowed to remain natural, as well as being instrumental in the building of this beautiful new lodge, providing the lumber as well as his expertise. It was a time to honor this self-effacing, altruistic ’53 Classmate of the Year. It was his wish that his son, Peter, host this happy event. There were many loving toasts to Put during the cocktail hour with stories about his exploits. Eighty-five people were on hand for the lobster and steak dinner, including Granthia and Harlan Fair, Cynthia and Dave Donovan, Dick O’Connor and his son, Helen Whyte and Ross McIntrye, Seth Carpenter, Marge Cooke, Marion Blodgett, Put’s five children, and Roger Gilmore ’54. For the past month I have had the pleasure of reading some books of professor emeritus Neil Isaacs. He has written a passel of books addressing serious academic subjects as well as whimsical musings, from books about sports and sport figures to a study of Tolkien. Two of his books which I have read to date are One Thing and Another Stories and Other Stories and Flirtations with Fame. I commend both to you for some fun reading. I look forward to reading another of his books, Innocence and Wonder: Baseball Through the Eyes of Bat Boys. Sadly, I end this column with condolences to the families of our dear classmates who have departed: William Wolff, Bruce Sherman, Juraj L.J. Slavic, Paul Corcoran, William Teare, Eugene Gabianelli, Phil Parshley, and Peter Bridges.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

Dave Halloran, erstwhile editor of ’53 Out, and I have pooled resources in our quest for news of our classmates and we have come up with a treasure trove this month. Your scribe will be running in the New York City Marathon, for which he is training by climbing Bartlett Tower surreptitiously. An anonymous source in Hanover has told us on the sly that our veep, Donna Reilly, longtime docent at the Hood, is first in line for consideration as its chief executive. Lots of luck, Donna. Dick Cahn will be running for governor of New York State. His expertise in constitutional law and experience as a trustee of Adelphi University makes him uniquely qualified for the position. Jet pilot Dave Halloran has scheduled a launch of his glider this coming fall on the back of a Space X missile. He will attempt to fly from Cape Canaveral to Bloomington, Indiana, and land at Indiana University Memorial Stadium at half time of the Indiana vs. Michigan football game, and by so doing insert himself into the Guinness Book of Records for powerless flight. It is comforting to know that ambassador Peter Bridges has been recalled to duty by the U.S. State Department to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. It will be a difficult job, but we know that Peter can handle it. I can report that Ron Lazar and Dick Fleming, the yin and yang of our class funds, will be taking on an additional task as co-comptrollers of the College. Ron brings in the money; Dick oversees it going out. Watch that endowment grow. Finally, there is a rumor that the periodicals room in Baker will be renamed the John Kennedy Reading Room. It will house exclusively all of the books that our class has donated to the library through the years. Should you be thinking that this column was written on April Fool’s Day, you are correct, but frankly, it is the only news we have. Please send us your latest doings or risk another. Thanks! On the serious side we must report the deaths of our dear classmates and offer our condolences to their families. They are Sherwood Salitsky, Sidney Woodrow, H. Elton Clarke, Harold Presson, Warren Fisher, Richard Blum, Fran L’Esperasnce, Edwin Grant, Wayne Hansen, Michael Zarin, John Horne Jr., and Phil Beekman.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (603) 845-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

Can it already be the holiday season as I write this? The temperature is 60 degrees, and we have only had one little whiff of snow so far. Dartmouth has enjoyed another huge and outstanding early-decision pool and has put in place virtually one half of the class of 2026, which when they matriculate will mark 68 years since we had the good fortune to form the class of 1953 at Dartmouth. Those years have seen us fulfill the sunny prophesy ordained by President Eisenhower at our graduation. We remain active and productive in many ways. Bruce Sherman has just published his second book dealing with bullying; this one is named Surviving Workplace Bullying: Strategies for Victims. In this book he addresses 13 different categories of bullying, offering articles by various experts he has researched and grouped in 13 different categories to help the reader find ways to cope with bullying at the workplace. Bruce was inspired after observing the tragic conclusion of such bullying of a friend.

Donna Reilly reports on the completion and the dedication of a wonderful new space, Put’s Path, that took place on October 29. Skiers can now ski right up to and from the Moosilauke Lodge using this path. In attendance from our class at the dedication were Granthia and Harlan Fair, Dick O’Connor, Ross McIntyre, Seth Carpenter, and Dave Donovan. The plaque, embedded in a boulder at the entrance to the path, commemorates the event and reads, “This path is given in memory of Put Blodgett, 1931-2020, Builder of Endless Trails, Runner of Swift Rivers, Steward of Fine Wood, Mentor of Generations on Moosilauke. By His Dartmouth Class of 1953 and Friends, 2021.”

I wish everyone a wonderful and fulfilling year in 2022 and offer our class’ condolences to the families of George Krall and Jack Zimmermann. They will be missed.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

I was asked by some of the members of our class to voice their concerns regarding the removal of the weathervane from Baker Library and the erection of a plaza in the forefront of Dartmouth Row. Though they disagree with these decisions by the College, their continued love for Dartmouth prevails. A measure of this is evidenced in part by their response to the Dartmouth College Fund this year. Our class had the highest percentage of donors of any class outside of a reunion class. In addition, we were No. 2 in participation all told. Many kudos to Ron Lazar and his committee for another grand year. As if this were not enough, our class has contracted to build Put’s Path, about which I wrote earlier. As of this writing, it is almost complete and should be ready for the skiers this winter. I was delighted to receive two letters from classmates from whom we have not heard in years. Dan Boyd writes from his farm south of Ashland, Oregon, that he, having purchased it in 1983 after he retired, lives there now with his able assistant and “significant other” Max the dog. The original farm stock, which consisted of cattle, horses, ducks, geese, dogs, and goats, has dwindled to just Max and a horse. Dan’s health is good except for a few small affronts that don’t seem to impede him at all. Len Johnson writes that, after completing a senior fellowship at Dartmouth, he proceeded on to Harvard for his Ph.D. and then to University of California, Berkeley, where he spent his entire career. He continues, “I now realize more and more how very much Dartmouth still means to me; it gave me the extraordinary solid foundation on which all the rest still stands.” It was great hearing from you guys. Let’s stay in touch. I would love to hear from you with news of your present doings, so please do not hesitate to write or call. Sadly, I report the deaths of Thomas Dewey, Andrew Sigler, and Ralph “Skip” Adams. I offer the sincere condolences of the class. Many thanks.

—Mark Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

Our head agent, Ron Lazar,whose efforts on behalf of the Dartmouth College Fund are epic, finds some time to engage in other activities. He writes, “Last fall I was a cofacilitator on a course on Native Americans for the Institute for Retired Professionals at the New School in New York City. Knowing nothing about the subject, I spent a few hundred hours of research and came away with new respect for our Native American citizens and a greater understanding of how incredibly badly they were, and still are in some respects. treated. I highly recommend reading The Round House by Dartmouth’s own Louise Erdrich ’76 to better understand life on the reservations as it exists today.” Richard Cahn’s daughter, Lisa, has just produced an audiobook of his Making Law: A Memory of Good Times. Richard narrated it himself, adding another dimension to the book by providing the subtle nuances of the author’s intent in his own voice. Our class vice president, Donna Reilly, has written an important book, Defined by Disease. Its subject is Alzheimer’s. It is both a primer on the disease and a profound book about empathy, realism, and action. In it she discusses the problems for each party to the disease and how best to deal with them. Every page has something of value. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in what to do when responsible for the care of a loved one. Bruce Sherman has produced another book, Covid 19: How to Overcome the Stress, Anxiety, and Depression. Its purpose is to place at the reader’s fingertips an easy reference of written resources available to those seeking help and guidance in dealing with the psychological and financial issues generated by the virus. And, last but not least, Nancy Campbell Stone has written an award-winning book, Buck Hill: A History, abouther and Chuck Stone’s very successful careers in the ski industry. Many Dartmouth skiers appear in the book, as well as a number of Olympians they have helped train. Chuck was out front in using energy-saving and ecology-friendly equipment. Our class offers its sympathies to the families of Donald Perkins and Grafton Sieber.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

As I sit here at my window, I am looking out onto a panorama of huge trees emerging from a bed of white snow. Within those woods runs the Appalachian Trail on which, should I be able, which I am not, I could hike right up to Hanover. It is quiet. The inhabitants of that wood are silent; some are happily hibernating; others amble through the woods making nary a sound. It rekindles my memories of another time in Hanover in the evening when the snow is upon the ground, the Christmas tree is lighted in the center of the Green, and all is serene. And that is a very good feeling in this time of the pandemic.

I received a lovely letter from John Kennedy.In it he included an article which appeared in the Westerly Sun, his local newspaper. The subject of this newspaper article was his daughter, Linda, who, having morphed from a dance career on Broadway to a physical trainer, has added a certificate for massage therapy to her job description and has taken it all back to Mystic, Connecticut, so she can be of help to John and Barbara. Lucky Kennedys.

Once again, I have the pleasure of reporting of a new book written by Peter Bridges. This one, Woods, Waters, Peaks: A Diplomat Outdoors, is a beautifully written memoir. In it Peter relates a lifetime of adventures he and Jane have enjoyed as they traversed the various mountains and trails of each of the places in which he was stationed as a diplomat. They have hiked from the endangered forest in Somalia to the Corsican maquis to the Caucasus to the highest peaks in Italy’s Apennines to the Dolomites, through the Czech woods. In addition, they have canoed through the wilderness in Panama and met a wolf on a ridge in Mongolia. This firsthand account of his adventures is inspiring and seductive as you are taken on the trails with him.

I am saddened to report the loss of another dear classmate, Arthur Frank Amick. I offer our condolences to his family.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

The good news in this time of the horrific pandemic is brought to us by Ron Lazar, head agent of our Dartmouth College Fund. “We’ve done it again! Our loyal agent team of Dick O’Connor, Phil Beekman, Dick Loewenthal, Fred Stephens, John Avril, John Cernius, Tom Duke, Carl England, Bill Friedman, Dave Halloran, Don McMichael, George Sarner, Bob Simpson, Bernie Sudikoff, and Tim Thomas, along with 161 generous donor classmates—of whom 60 have given every year since graduation or missed only one year—raised $183,000. The great class of 1953 had the third highest participation of 74 classes, 72 percent compared to the collegewide participation of 37 percent. We were also one of three classes to establish a year-out participation record. Fantastic! Thanks to all of the above.”

Happily, here are some new books authored by our classmates. Best Practices in Construction Safety by Harlan Fair is for construction professionals. It is written in three parts; the first covers his observations and experience of 68 years in the construction business; the second is a standalone manual of best practices in construction safety; and the third is a look to the future. Bruce Sherman has written three books. Bullycide: Death at Playtime is loaded with information on child bullying and bullying at school. Another, What Grandparents Must Know About Grandkids’ Issues, is a timely book as grandparents are assuming an increasing role in grandchildren’s lives following divorce. The third is The Boy Who Loved to Climb Trees, a charming collection of poems and memories from the author’s childhood during pleasant and simple times. I am the third author this month. Mark My Words is a sometimes whimsical, sometimes pithy collection of reflections, reminiscences, and recollections of a life well lived. It will transport you from the steamy summer streets of Brooklyn of the 1930s to the sunny slopes of New England on a journey along my own yellow brick road. All of the above books may be found on Amazon.

Sadly I must announce the deaths of James Cartmell, Ken Johnson, John Rice, and Maurice Schonfeld and offer our condolences to their families.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066

I write this as the hideous pandemic rages on. I hope that when you read this, we have survived this holocaust with a more humane sense of our fellow worldly tenants and a renewed zest for life itself rather a search for its frills. Once again, in a time of crisis, I am heartened by the efforts on the part of our classmates to check on each other’s well-being.

Admissions admitted the class of 2024 this month, which caused me to think of 71 years ago, when we were in the same position as the class of 2024. I think of what might await them as they begin their Dartmouth experience and subsequent journey. From the perspective of a lifetime of those 71 years, I remember the many successes and the failures and the joys and the sorrows.

I see the continuing evolution and contributions of my classmates to the world and to Dartmouth. They were wonderful as classmates, they are even better as alumni. I think of the energy and exuberance of a group of incoming freshmen and a continued zest for life so long after, and I know that these ’24s have all of this to look forward to. Welcome! As promised earlier, Richard Cahn’s book, Making Law: A Memoir of Good Times, is now published and can be bought in various forms from Amazon. My critique of this book, which appeared from the DAM, is available at Amazon. Two giants of the class fell this past month. Bob Malin, one of the stalwarts of the class who kept everyone in touch with one another, passed away after a long illness. And, Put Blodgett, only a few weeks after his ascendancy to the presidency of our class, also succumbed. Put was a treasure for the State of Vermont as a donor of forest lands to the Conservancy as well as for Dartmouth and the class, having been a major contributor, both in material and creativity, to the new Moosilauke Lodge. In addition to these classmates, we are very saddened to announce the demise of Robert Nicholson, Bruce Gilmore, Robert Foster, and Alan Sessler and offer our condolences to their families.

—Mark Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; marksmoller@gmail.com

Dear Dartmouth! How wondrous is it to be celebrating your 250th anniversary with you. You were a mere 180 years old when you warmly welcomed us into your loving arms way back then. And how you have matured since those special times. Yes, the elm trees along Main Street are gone, and so is freshman hazing.

But in their place has been the advent of women and with them a delightful and positive transformation in the dynamics of each and every aspect of the College. Gone is Freshman Commons, with its metal trays, and in its place is the glorious Class of 1953 Commons. Gone too is Robinson theater, and in its place are the wonderful Hopkins Center and the Nugget. Webster Hall and memories of its boisterous evenings of movies have morphed into the stately but accessible Rauner Library and its amazing collection of rare books. Upstairs Carpenter is now the Hood Museum and the Black arts building.

The frozen, unheated, natural ice Davis hockey rink is now the beautiful Thompson hockey arena, where you can enjoy a hockey game without fortifying yourself with layers of clothing and a spiked thermos of coffee. And baseball, football, lacrosse, as well as softball venues have become models for others to emulate. Dormitories are now clustered, and the September to June year has been replaced by that ingeniously created Dartmouth Plan.

And yet, through all of this growth, you have in a sense remained the same place of yore. Your professors, though scholars now, are still wonderful mentors. Your philosophy for living, learning through life, and giving to your community remains true and steady. You’re imbuing a sense of our place in nature’s home and of camaraderie and that continues to flourish. Above all, a desire to seek truth and knowledge remains the ultimate goal. Being a part of this small slice of 70 years out of your 250 years has been a privilege for our class.

It is our absolute trust that you will continue to grow and thrive as your current and future students and faculty join their not unimposing talents and energy. Happy anniversary!

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gamil.com

It is time to congratulate Ron Lazar and his crew for their efforts and success on behalf of our class for the Dartmouth College Fund. Ron writes, “I am delighted to report that, with the outstanding support of the class, we achieved the participation of 73.6 percent of our classmates, the third-highest of Dartmouth’s 73 reporting classes. The loyal team that made this possible was Al Collins, Phil Beekman, Dick Blum, Dick Loewenthal, Bob Malin, Fred Stephens, John Avril, John Cernius, Tom Duke, Carl England, Bill Friedman, Dave Halloran, Bob Henderson, Don McMichael, Dick O’Connor, George Sarner, Bernie Sudikoff, and Tim Thomas. We collected $193,391, just one year after our super 65th reunion total of $476,496.” Well done! On the subject of kudos, Dave Halloran produces our outstanding web page, which is a living documentary of our class from its inception. As if this were not enough, David continues the work of Donald Goss and writes and edits our award-winning ’53 Out. Just remarkable!

Speaking of writing, our most prolific author, Peter Bridges, has written two delightful short works. They may be found in Eclectica, the oldest U.S. online journal. The first, “The Reward,” is fiction and is drawn from real happenings during his years in the foreign service. Peter provides firsthand insight into international intrigue once again. The second, “Dingo and Fair Game,” is nonfiction and is a memoir of his dog, Dingo, which appeared one day, starving and wretched and looking for a home. Peter was serving at that time in Italy and took him in. They became running companions and, when the Bridges familymoved on to the Czech Republic, Dingo moved with them, ultimately emigrating to Virginia with them when they returned home. Sadly, I offer the condolences of our class to the families of our dear departed classmates John Rogers, Ed Okum, and Paul Emery as well as to the Goss family on the loss of its matriarch, Donald’s wife, Lillian Goss. They will all be missed.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

A wedding and a memorial service on the same day: two important events, each of which was defined by three generations of family participating. Harlan Fair married Granthia Preston at Kendal in Hanover. Jimmy Fair ’18 was the best man for his grandfather. The children and grandchildren of both the bride and the groom abounded and participated in the simple and elegant ceremony, after which we enjoyed a lovely reception. Allen Collins, Put Blodgett, Barbara and John Kennedy, and Bobby and Mark Smoller attended from the class, along with Brooks Preston ’90, the bride’s son, and many of Granthia’s Middlebury classmates. We then repaired with the other wedding guests to Dowds’ Country Inn for a joyful dinner.

While in New York City at the same time, Len Gochman, Vivian and Richard Cahn, Nate Burkan, Mike Zarin, Charlie Buchanan, and Emily and Herb Klagsbrun attended the memorial service for Liliane Lazar. Liliane, a Holocaust survivor, left her home in Paris to marry Ron Lazar. She bore three children, two of whom are Dartmouth alums, while becoming a shining star as a teacher, writer, and world-renowned expert on Simone de Beauvoir. She taught French at Dartmouth for a few summers for professor John Rassias. Richard Cahn reports that their children and grandchildren contributed heartfelt stories as those present rejoiced in the wonderful life which Liliane had lived.

A third event, our ’53 Ski Day, was held on March 14. Dave Donovan writes that they have had 19 very good years, but the old legs are not as strong as they used to be; so, perhaps this is the last Ski Day. The skiers were Put Blodgett, Dave Donovan, Harlan Fair, Granthia Preston, Dick O’Connor, and Allen Newton. After skiing they were joined for après-ski cocktails and then dinner by Cynthia Donovan, Marge Cook, Donna Reilly, Barbara Newton, and Allen Collins. A good time was had by all.

I am sorry to report the deaths of Leo Clancy, John Cunningham, William Dolan, and Martin Gold and offer the heartfelt sympathy of our classmates to their families.

—Mark H. Smoller, 410 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

The year 2018 was a singular one for our class, the crowning point of which was our wonderful 65th reunion. We have followed that up with two holiday luncheons. On December 11 the class met at the Dartmouth Club of New York for its annual party. Ron Lazar reports, “The party was hosted, as always, by Cathy Callender in her gracious and inimitable fashion. It included Marita and Len Gochman, Vivian and Dick Cahn, Phil Beekman and Judy Wilson, Ed Wood and April Copper, plus Ed’s son. Also present were Bill Friedman, Nathan Burkan, Charley Buchanan (with lots of photos for viewing), Dave Florence, Jack Morris, Fred Whittemore’s son Laurence, Ron Lazar, and Gail and Bob Malin. Two days later in Hanover we enjoyed our second luncheon, arranged by Put Blodgett and Harlan Fair. Put reports the following attended: Donna and Chuck Reilly, Marilyn Paganucci, Margie and Russ Cook, Al Collins and Sue Schlott, Seth Carpenter, Lois and Sam Franz, Ross McIntyre and Helen Whyte, Mitzi Carleton and Dave Colt, Bobby and Mark Smoller, Liz King, Cynthia and Dave Donovan, Elsa Luker, Harlan Fair and Granthia Preston, Put Blodgett, Joe Stevens, Herb Hillman ’54, Betty and Roger Gilmore ’54, and Sarah and Ben Gilson ’54. We now look forward to celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of Dartmouth this year. As we do so, we think back to the celebration of the bicentennial and of what has transpired for the College during these past 50 years. The advent of women on campus was a few years away. The Dartmouth Plan was not in operation. The Hop was in its infancy and there was no Hood or Black Family Visual Arts Center. Looking forward at that time, and dreaming of what lay ahead for Dartmouth, could we have expected what would come to pass? After such dramatic advances, what lies ahead for Dartmouth in the next 50 years? I wonder.

We pause to reflect on the privilege of participating in the wonderful 250th, and to send our condolences to the families of our dear classmates Alan Ives and John Cogswell.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5066; dartmark@gmail.com

When you read this, our sensational 65th reunion will be a pleasant memory. But as I sit here writing this, excitement is building as classmates contact each other to ascertain whether they will be attending. Put Blodgett and his committee have worked hard to make this reunion unforgettable. They have planned super events allowing time to rest and sit and enjoy each other as well as our wonderful College. Ron Lazar writes that his report on this year’s Dartmouth College fund for the class of 1953 is a happy one, worthy of our class of 1953 legacy of leadership. His committee of Bob Henderson, Phil Beekman, Dick Blum, Bob Malin, George Sarner, Bob Simpson, Allen Collins, Dick Loewenthal, Fred Stephens, Jack Avril, John Cernius, Tom Duke, Carl England, Bill Friedman, Dave Halloran, Don McMichael, Dick O’Connor, Dave Stowe, Bernie Sudikoff, Tim Thomas, and Ed Weltman did an admirable job. Our class gift of $476,456 is the second-largest 65th reunion gift the College has received, and our 72.4-percent participation is a new record. The generous and some incredibly generous gifts were received from 202 classmates joined by many widows and friends. Kudos to all!

Once again, our most prolific writer, ambassador Peter Bridges is busy. He has just completed a second memoir, Woods, Lakes, Waters, Peaks: A Diplomat Outdoors. (Read an excerpt at the DAM website.) I have read the book and enjoyed following Peter and Mary Jane on their adventures as they climbed some of the highest mountains of the world. I would call this an ode to the natural world by a man and his wife who have taken the time and expended the energy to see it in its unfettered beauty. In addition, Copperfield Review, which publishes historical fiction and poetry, has just published Peter’s latest poem, “Mount Hope,” about what the New England colonists of the 1600s called King Philip’s War. “King Philip” was really the great Wampanoag chief Metacomet, and this is the story as he might have told it.

With sadness, I offer the condolences of our class to the families of our dear classmates Bryon Menides, James Steubner, Scribner Fauver, and Norman Carpenter. We shall miss them.

—Mark H. Smoller, 401 Lake Shore Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579; (845) 603-5660

The calendar said spring; my eyes saw winter. Dartmouth looked pristine awash in its light coat of snow, a goodbye salute to another winter. And the ’53s bade winter a fond farewell with our 18th annual ski day event. Cynthia and Dave Donovan, the originators and only hosts of this signature event, write that our numbers have dwindled. Only four—Put Blodgett, Dave Donovan, Harlan Fair, and Dick O’Connor—made it down the “soft corduroy” blanket of fresh snow in the South Peak area of Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire, in the morning and ventured down into the Sun Bowl in the afternoon. Cynthia Donovan and Marge and Russ Cook joined the intrepid skiers for après ski cocktails and an early dinner at the New London Inn, vowing to return next year.

But, before then, there is another huge event coming up rapidly: our 65th reunion. Put Blodgett and Angela Stafford ’91 have been hard at work to make this an unforgettable event, so please mark September 28 through September 30 on your calendars and plan to come to Hanover and join in the festivities. The College is underwriting a sizeable portion of the costs of the weekend. They have put together a package of accommodations, meals, and events for $275 per person, which includes lodging for Friday and Saturday nights, meals (Friday’s reception through Sunday morning’s farewell breakfast), fantastic College-planned programming, entertainment, and more. Even more special is a trip September 27 to the new Ravine Lodge. A chartered bus will take us there and back. We will tour the bunkhouses and magnificent new lodge, where we will enjoy a reception and dinner, the cost of which will be $26.75 per person. Drinks and transportation are additional costs. Put is offering for anyone interested a climb up the mountain on the 26th. Please look to the ’53 Out for a more complete prospectus of the event. I hope to see you there!

We offer our condolences to the families of our dear classmates Emil Schnell, William Nichols, William Alley, and David Goldschalk. They will be missed.

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

With the usual end of the year frenetic energy, 2017 has rushed to its conclusion. Hanover is quiet. The air is clear and crisp, adding a calm to the stillness of the place. The tone is set for family gatherings, class reunions and Christmas parties. We have reached the conclusion of another year, and it is a time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the next. It’s a time for reminiscing and for winding down and for enjoying the company of our friends and family. In the mid 1960s Bob Callender, John Kingsland, Paul Paganucci and Fred Whittemore organized our first Christmas luncheon in New York City, with the one in Hanover following later. Under the aegis of Cathy Callender and Bob Malin we met as usual at the Yale Club for lunch last week. In attendance were Cathy Callender, Jean Vitalis, Liliane and Ron Lazar,Vivian and Dick Cahn, Sue Corcoran, Dick Blum, Lu and Jack Morris, Charlie Buchanan, Shirley Cobb and Tracey Cobb Sheppard, Connie and Ben Clery, Dave Florence, Ed Wood and April Cooper, Mabel and Gus Allen, Marilyn Paganucci, Marita and Len Gochman, Phil Beekman, Renee and Michael Zarin, Bill Freedman, and Gail and Bob Malin.

An equally enthusiastic group enjoyed a luncheon at Kendal of Hanover. Those who attended were Harlan Fair and Granthia Preston, Cynthia and Dave Donovan, Ross McIntyre and Helen Whyce, Marilyn Paganucci, Mitzi Carleton and Dave Colt, Seth Carpenter, Allen Collins, Drewry and Frank Logan ’52, Chuck Reilly, Lois and Adolph Franz, Marjorie and Russ Cook, Anne and Dana Low ’54, Betty and Roger Gilmore ’54, Liz King, Herb Hillman ’54, Put Blodgett, Elsa Lukin, Ben Gilson ’54, Deb and Dave Horlacher, and Lillian Goss. Both luncheons were successful and enjoyed by all who attended.

With sadness I announce the loss of our dear classmates Charles Jacob, David Lewis and John Dodge. We offer our condolences to their families.

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is June. It is sunny and hot today and Dartmouth has just completed its Commencement exercises as I write this. The Green was awash with more colors and pageantry this year than ever, as many of the graduates wore colorful, knitted scarves over their black robes, signifying their new house community allegiances. Three of those graduates owe their origins to ’53s. George Sarner’s, Richard Greene’s and Fred Whittemore’s grandchildren marched proudly down the aisle to receive their diplomas, binding our class to yet another class by their graduation. Congratulations to all! Our most prolific writer, Peter Bridges has written a lovely memoir and paean to the beauties of nature that have not been devoured by thoughtless human omnivores. He traces his deep love for our natural world as he moved from country to country throughout his career. Though he was generally stationed in large cities, he managed to seek out and enjoy the natural beauty of each area. He enthusiastically tipped his cap to Dartmouth and the joy of climbing Mount Moosilauke, even replicating it at our 60th reunion. Peter, can you do it again at our 65th? President Collins writes that it is not too early to plan to join our classmates at our special 65th reunion. It will take place in Hanover September 28–30, 2018. There will be a home game and our accommodations will be provided by the College either at the Hanover Inn or another premier spot, depending on the numbers. Put Blodgett is chairing the event and Dick Fleming is at work boosting attendance. The College is absorbing most of the cost for our 65th, so individual charges will be modest, but are yet to be determined. So put it on your calendar and join us for what looks like a wonderful weekend. With sadness I offer our class’ condolences to the families of our departed classmates: Jackson Hall, John Harris, David Folger, George High, Mayo Johnson, Harry Walburgh Jr., Kelly McBride and Roger Warner.

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

’Tis the season, our first snow has fallen and our class has responded in kind. On December 7, 33 classmates, wives and widows of classmates enjoyed lunch at the Yale Club. All were delighted to see Fred Whittemore,who with son Ted read his poem, “On Turning 80.” Len Gochman sang and was joined in two verses of “Men of Dartmouth” by the group. Many thanks to Cathy Callender for arranging the event with help from Bob Malin. Not to be outdone, our group in Hanover, 36 in all, gathered on December 16 at Kendal under the aegis of Put Blodgett and Harlan Fair. They included some members of the classes of 1952 and 1954. As usual, good feelings prevailed, lunch was delicious and everyone returned home happy. Though we surely enjoy a good party, we are still busy with other things. Peter Bridges, our prodigious writer of essays and books, has alerted me to classmate Dan Ernst’s new book., The Diplomat and his Daughter. The subjects of the book are Alfred Pearson, U.S. minister to Poland and Finland in the 1920s, and his daughter, Thea Elaine Pearson Ernst, who at 20 went to Europe and served as his diplomatic hostess. Minister Pearson incidentally was Dan’s grandfather. What makes the book unique is that Dan has drawn upon the diaries of both Alfred and Thea in documenting and describing Europe after World War I. Allen Collins, in announcing Dave Siegal’s demise, wrote, “There is no one in the class of 1953 who committed more time, effort and devoted excellence to the chore of ensuring that the rest of us were well informed, organized at our many reunions and well fed and cared for at dozens of Hanover mini-reunions. The absence of David’s indomitable presence and spirit will leave a huge hole in the fabric of the class of 1953.”

Unhappily, I must end this by recognizing and announcing the loss of the following dear classmates Donald Bigham, Robert Douglass and David Siegal. On behalf of our class, I offer our most profound condolences.

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

A personal word, please! The star of the 2016 Olympics for me was Abbey D’Agostino ’14. Her display of sportsmanship, character, decency and grit made me so proud of her and proud that she wears the green of Dartmouth. Her act of humanity at a critical moment in her young life set an example for which the Olympics purports to strive and which it seldom achieves. Bravo!

A love affair that began 67 years ago in the fall of 1949 continues to blossom as Ron Lazar and his team of agents set out to work for the Dartmouth College Fund—and encouraged 77 percent of our class to participate this year. We are just one of six classes who surpassed the 60-percent-participation mark. Congratulations to all!

This year’s maxi-mini reunion will take place beginning October 3 in New York City. The event opens with a dinner at the Yale-Dartmouth Club. On Tuesday we’ll visit the Frick Museum and in the evening take a dinner cruise around Manhattan Island on the private yacht Manhattan. Wednesday we’ll visit the Morgan Library and take in a Broadway play in the afternoon. Dinner that evening is set at the historic Union League Club. Finally, on Thursday we’ll visit the new Whitney Museum, then lunch and, for those with enough energy left, a walk along the High Line.

Those already signed up are Phil Beekman and Judy Wilson, Charlotte and Charlie Buchanan, Roberta and Nate Burkan, Cathy Callender, Jackie Fleet, Elena Kingsland, Dick Fleming, Jean Vitalis, Al Collins and Suzanne, Helga and Phil Fast, Marita and Len Gochman, Carol and Bob Henderson, Vivian and Dick Cahn, Liliane and Ron Lazar, Ellen and Fran L’Esperance, Gail and Bob Malin and Frima and Gil Shapiro. Many thanks to Charlie Buchanan for planning and making the arrangements for this wonderful event. And, finally, and with sadness at their loss, I offer the class’ sincere sympathy to the families of Robert Poor, Richard Confair, John Wortley and Harry Bennett. They will be missed.

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

Like the trick candles that relight every time you blow them out, our classmates show their resiliency as they continue to keep old traditions alive. Put Blodgett writes, “For at least 10 years Cynthia and Dave Donovan have been hosting a ’53 ski day at Sunapee, New Hampshire, for cocktails at their home afterwards, when non-skiers joined for comradeship and then dinner arrangements for the group. Questionable conditions due to lack of snow resulted in cancellation of the skiing this year, but the Donovans traveled to Hanover for ’53 cocktails at Harlan Fair’sand dinner at Kendal at Hanover afterwards. Also attending were Harlan’s friend Granthia Preston, Donna and Chuck Reilly, Marjorie and Russ Cook, Marion and Put Blodgett, Liz King, Elsa Luker, Mitzi Carleton and friend and Harlan’s grandson, Jim ’18.” We are delighted to announce the return of another old tradition, another fabulous maxi-mini, which will take place on October 2 through October 6 in New York City under the aegis of Charlie Buchanan. It will include among other events, dinner at the Yale Club on Monday night. On Tuesday morning after breakfast, also at the Yale Club, we are off to the Whitney Museum for a tour and lunch, followed by a walk on the High Line and a dinner cruise. Wednesday begins with lunch at the Yale Club and then off to the Morgan Museum, followed by a theater visit of your choice, which can be purchased through the Yale Club, and then dinner at the Lamb’s Club. This is just a broad outline of the event. There is much more that you can learn from our ’53 Out or by contacting Charlie Buchanan at charlesbuchanan53@gmail.com.

This month was a particularly painful one for our class, as I must report the loss of John Dickason, Robert T. Pierce, Mitchell Strickler, William H. Baughman, Richard Nunley, Arthur Little and Frank Mulcahy. On behalf of the class I offer our heartfelt condolences to their families. They will be missed.

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

It is not often that a ship is named after one of our classmates, so it is with awe and admiration that I salute David Folger. David taught geology at Middlebury College and was beloved by his students. He ultimately moved on to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. There he retained his relationship with Middlebury as he brought students there each January term for a hands-on learning experience. When Middlebury was going to replace its well-worn vessel with a new one, they named their new 45-foot ship the RN David Folger. The twin-hulled catamaran plying the waters of Lake Champlain is equipped with six computer work stations, a new navigational system, smart classrooms, a system that enables bottom bathymetric mapping and a remotely operated vehicle that can take up-close underwater photos of the lake. It has been described as a wonderful education platform. Congratulations, David!

I am delighted to report two wonderful class Christmas parties. The first, under the aegis of Cathy Callender with an assist from Bob Malin, took place on December 10 at the Yale Club. In attendance were Gus Allen, Larry Barnett, Phil Beekman, Holly Goss Betts (Don’s daughter), Charlie Buchanan, Nathan Burkan, Cathy Callender, Al Collins, Sue Corcoran, Dave Florence, Bill Friedman,Lillian Goss, Fran L’Esperance, Gail and Bob Malin, Lu and Jack Morris, Marilyn Paganucci, Hilton Rosen, Ginger Schoder and Michael Zarin.The second, organized by Put Blodgett,was held at Kendal of Hanover. The attendees were Harlan Fair and Granthia Preston, Cynthia and Dave Donovan, Margie and Russ Cook, Donna and Chuck Reilly, Dave Horlacher and new wife Deb Kalikow, Mitzi Carleton and Princeton friend Dave Colt, Liz King, Elsa Luker, Ross McIntyre, Al Collins, Nancy Johnson, Marion andPut Blodgett, Jane and Joe Stevens and Ginger and Max Culpepper. Both were, I understand, very successful.

Unfortunately, I must report the loss of beloved classmates Richard Beatty, Lawrence Kabat, James Kiley, J. Stuart Fordyce, Richard Goodman, Fred Carleton, Charles Odams, Neil Bersch, Edmund Knapp, George Stanley and Everett Haggett. I offer the profound sympathy of our class to their families.

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

It was not “So long!” but “See ya later!” at a sendoff gathering for Bonnie and Dave Siegal. Thirty-three classmates and their wives and widows gathered at Kendal to wish the Siegals well. After many years of on-the-scene service to the class and the College, Bonnie and Dave are leaving for Tulsa, Oklahoma, and will be missed in Hanover. We look forward to seeing them as they return for various events and wish them good luck in their new digs.

I am pleased to report that Dave Godschalk, Stephen Baxter Professor Emeritus in the University of North Carolina department of city and regional planning, has received the 2015 President’s Award from the American Planning Association. Dave was recognized for his recent Sustaining Places publications: The Role of the Comprehensive Plan (2012) and Best Practices in Comprehensive Planning (2015), along with his lifetime of advancing the best ideas in planning. Created to honor extraordinary achievements in the field of planning, the award is given every two years. He is the third recipient. The previous recipient was the former ambassador of the Netherlands to the United States.

President Al Collins reported that the final figures for the 2015 Dartmouth College Fund are just in and our class can be very proud of itself. Thanks to Ron Lazar and his diligent use of the telephone, combined with his ability and willingness to discuss the fund with any classmate regardless of his involvement, we have reached new heights. We have set many dollar records in the past, but at this stage of our lives that role has been taken over by younger classes. However, our legacy of leadership marches on as we completed this year’s initiative with an incredible 80-percent participation level. A new record for 1953 by a wide margin. A great statement reflecting the cohesiveness of our class and the great work done by Ron and his agents.

And now, sadly, we say goodbye to our beloved classmates Cyrus S. Radford Jr., Gardner T. Brookings and George E. Cull and offer our sincere condolences to their families.

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

Our classmates enjoy spending time together, so whenever there is an occasion, or even if there is no occasion, it becomes time for another gathering or two. In that regard, we came together to salute winter’s joys and woes and to welcome another spring with two of our annual parties. In the North Country Cynthia and Dave Donovan hosted their 15th annual Ski ’53 Day at Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire. Put Blodgett, Harlan Fair, Grantia Preston, Dick O’Connor and Alan Newton arrived early to join Dave for a day at the slopes. At about 4 p.m. they adjourned to Cynthia and Dave’s condo for an après ski gathering, where they were joined by Marion Blodgett, Mitzi Carleton, Al Collins, Marge and Russ Cook, Barbara Newton and Bonnie and Dave Siegal. The group then moved on to a private dining room at the Sunapee Country Club. Seated by a roaring fire, everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner with stories and smiles in abundance. It was a perfect way to say goodbye to a very challenging winter.


Our Southern contingent continued a long-standing tradition as it celebrated the end of the snowbird season at Harbour Ridge, Florida. The party was originated by Bob Callendar and has been continued enthusiastically by Dick Fleming for all ’53s in the area. Joining Dick for this event were our ubiquitous president Al Collins, Dolores and Leo Clancy, Lore and John Dodge, Gail and Bob Malin, Deborah and Howie Pitts, Patty and George Sarner, Ginger Schoder, Anne and Bob Simpson, Jane Springer, Jane and Joe Stevens, and Judy and Sherm Tratten. The word up north is that a good time was had by all.


Once again, as I end this Class Notes column, I sadly note the passing of beloved classmates: Richard A. Giesser, Abdul S. Bahrani, William L. Chamberlin and Thomas W. Wilson Jr. On behalf of each member of the class of 1953 I offer our sincere condolences to their families. We are happy to have shared so much with them and will miss them all.


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


In our Dartmouth world a reason for convening is a reason to rejoice. So when Bruce Sherman arrived from Alta, Utah, for Homecoming Weekend we were delighted to see him. He has organized a club, the Dartmouth Alumni Ski Club, whose objective is to allow alums to identify one another at ski venues, ski together and meet for après ski activities. The cost is a modest contribution to the Friends of Dartmouth Skiing, sent to alumni affairs in Hanover, all on the honor system. You can obtain a patch that identifies you at ski.patch@dartmouth.edu.


After a busy social-filled fall with our successful maxi-mini in Philadelphia and Homecoming plus minis at all the home football games, we moved on to December and its two wonderful holiday parties. Under the aegis of Kathy Callender, with a large assist from Bob Malin, our holiday luncheon at the Yale Club was a huge success. Nineteen of us took part, with Larry Barnett winning the award for distance traveled, arriving from Spain for the event. Each attendee spoke and Fred Whittemore read a poem he wrote for the occasion.


Meanwhile in Hanover, Bonnie and Dave Siegal arranged our holiday luncheon at the Parker House, at which 18 attended and, as has been the custom, contributed many bags of groceries to be distributed to needy families.


Connie Clery, widow of Howard Clery, will be receiving Dartmouth’s social justice award, the Lester B. Granger ’18 Award for Lifetime Achievement, which recognizes Dartmouth alumni and friends who have exhibited leadership and innovation while meeting community needs and benefiting an underserved population. Connie and Howard invested a large part of their lives in having the Clery Act enacted into law. The act requires colleges to report and make available to the public details of all criminal violations that have occurred on their campuses. When the act needed more teeth to be effective, they went back to work and fought for this.


With sadness I end these notes with the sincere and most profound sympathies to the families of our deceased loving classmates: William King, Dow Drukker III, Gerald Sorkin, Ralph Tozier, Ed Johnson and Sherman Horton.


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


Visit the 1953 memorial cabinet in the Class of 1953 Commons, which president Allen Collins tells me is now in place. It is filled with mementos and artifacts of our time at Dartmouth. With a little imagination you can get the sense of a bygone era in the ever-morphing life at our College. The class, which gathered on the plain in 1949, grew up and coalesced in the ensuing four years and is still vitally engaged with each other and with the College.


By the time you read this 39 classmates and their wives will have been welcomed at the Union League in Philadelphia with a tour and dinner and were entertained by the performance of an all-Gershwin evening by the Six of Clubs under the direction of John Hargraves ’66; all of this as part of the wonderful maxi-mini reunion organized by Charlie Buchanan and Phil Beekman.


Bonnie and Dave Siegal have put together a full program of activities for the fall. Mini-reunions September 20 and October 4 will be held at Kendal at Hanover, fast becoming a new hub for activities of the class with such class stalwarts as Marian and Put Blodgett, Mimi and Fred Carleton, Ann and Harlan Fair, Liz and Peter King and Donna and Chuck Reilly now residing therein. On October 19 a class meeting and class dinner have been planned at the Paganucci Lounge in the ’53 Commons.


December finds the class meeting on two different occasions. The first, on the 15th at noon at the Yale Club in New York City for a luncheon organized by Cathy Callendar with the able assistance of Bob Malin. The second, to be held on December 17 at noon at the Parker House in Quechee, Vermont, has been organized and arranged for by Bonnie and Dave Siegal. We expect a large turnout for both.


Unfortunately, I must end this by reporting the death of our dear and beloved classmate Richard D. Ledbetter. I offer the sincere and profound condolences of our class to his family.


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


I write this as the last vestiges of snow are rapidly receding into the ground, knowing that it will be read after the blaze of summer has already softened spring’s soft glow. Tempus fugit!


For the record, our annual ’53 ski day at Sunapee, New Hampshire, was its usual success. Five downhill skiers enjoyed the day as two others skied cross-country. The après ski at the Donovan condo was followed by dinner at the Lake Sunapee Country Club with the Blodgetts, Carletons, Cooks, Donovans, Fairs, Kennedys, Newtons, Siegals, Lillian Goss and Dick O’Connor participating.


Neil Isaacs writes, “Hey, Mark! Just a note to let you know that I’m still kicking around. I’ve seen a dozen books of mine made available as e-books in the last 12 months; six from Amazon. The other half dozen from Smashwords.com. Most are reprints of old works, but the latter include four original works: a novel, a collection of stories, a work of literature and film critique and a study of comparative mythology. Otherwise, tennis, poker and family with 12 rising-star grandchildren keep me occupied.”


Dave Godschalk has written a new book, Sustainable Development Metrics. The book describes how to assess project feasibility with design, development and regulation in mind, discussing the challenges of urban development that he describes as breaking through the separate professional silos and finding ways to balance the trade-offs so that the resulting mix contributes to a sustainable city. Sounds wonderful, Dave!


I spoke to and corresponded with the late Brock Brower a month or so ago. He was upbeat and optimistic, and subsequently wrote that Amazon had a full list of his books, which included The Late Great Creature, now appearing in Germany as Der Letzte Grosse Schrecken, a revival from the first publication nearly a half century ago in 1972. He wrote that he still had two manuscripts of unpublished novels plus much miscellany, including verse. I hope we have an opportunity to see them in print.


I conclude sadly with the announcement of the deaths of our beloved classmates David King, Richard Collins, Tom Croft and Brock Brower. Our most sincere condolences to their families.


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


Max Culpepper, director of band and wind symphony at Dartmouth, became the newest member of our class at a recent event celebrating the occasion of his retirement. He has taught for 25 years at Dartmouth. John Kennedy presented a pin to Ginger Culpepper, after which class president John Springer welcomed Max into our class and presented him with a lovely citation. Donald Carpenter Goss then presented classmate Max Culpepper ’53A with a personal gift. Welcome, Max! We are honored to have you as our classmate, joining just five illustrious honorees previously honored in our 60 years of existence.


Speaking of honors, Robert Derzon was able to attend and enjoy an event at which he was recently honored by NYU and the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service for “his vision, his passion, his generosity and his commitment to public service.” Having dedicated most of his life to creating and shaping some of the most significant institutions and policies in U.S. health care, Bob was honored with the creation of the Robert Derzon Chair in Health and Public Service. “His extraordinary leadership is matched by his humanity and integrity. The example he has set will continue to inspire our faculty and students,” they proclaimed. Sadly, I must report that he died shortly thereafter.


Under a beautiful sky and with idyllic weather conditions, the Dartmouth Wind Symphony serenaded students, faculty and guests with its annual concert on the Green. Marine Reserve 1st Lt. Bob Simpson presented a beautiful citation written by the director of the Marine Band in Washington, D.C., the U.S. president’s band, to President James Wright in recognition of his efforts in support of all veterans. President Wright’s visits to Washington to encourage marine veterans as well as others to continue their education are legendary. We all concur and join in thanking you, President Wright. This has been a most difficult two months for our class, as we have lost five of our outstanding members: Richard Buell, Bob Derzon, Burt Dorsett, the Hon. William Johnson and David Siddall. They will be sorely missed by us all. On behalf of our classmates, I offer to their families our sincere condolences and profound regrets at their passing.


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


Congratulations to Put Blodgett, who has just been named a recipient of the Alumni Award given by the Alumni Council for a lifetime of service dedicated to both the College and to his community. Put has been successful as a farmer, a builder, a sculptor, a camp director, a track setter for Dartmouth ski racing, chief of course for national and Olympic competitions and chair of the Olympic biathlon events. In addition he has served on the Dartmouth Outward Bound safety committee, as Woodsmen’s Weekend canoeing coach, on the Moosilauke advisory committee and as Vermont environmental commissioner. He is the 13th member of our class to receive this distinguished award. 


Donald Goss has stepped down after many years of service as a member of the Dartmouth athletic sponsor advisory board. Our class has been privileged to have had two members of the 10-person board, Donald and the late Dick Dunham. Both contributed mightily to the sponsors program, which has been very successful in bringing outstanding athletes from all over the country to Dartmouth. Many thanks, Donald!


By the time this reaches you, the lovely little white booth that is placed on the Green each summer will have been removed. Bill Chamberlain has operated daily from it during the summer as the purveyor of directions to anywhere in the College. He had also been very busy answering all questions regarding Dartmouth that the multitude of visitors threw at him. The larger the crowd, the happier he appeared to be. Great work, Bill!


Chairpersons Bonnie and David Siegal have announced the schedule for our mini-reunions this fall. They will take place on September 19, after the Colgate game, at Jane and John Springer’s; October 3, after the Pennsylvania game, at Donna and Chuck Reilly’s; October 24, after the Columbia game (Homecoming weekend), at Phil Beekman’s; November 7, after the Cornell game, at Bonnie and David Siegal’s; and November 21, after the Princeton game, at Jodie and John Zimmermann’s. Many thanks to Bonnie and David and to our most generous hosts.


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


“Here it is! Our 18-year effort has finally come to fruition!” So began an e-mail from Bob Simpson, president of the class of 1953 trust, as he exuberantly relayed the exciting news of the creation of the 1953 Commons. In a later e-mail he wrote, “ ‘Her sparkling noons, the crowding into commons’—these words from the second verse of the song ‘Dartmouth Undying’ will soon have new relevance on the Dartmouth campus when the Class of 1953 Commons becomes a reality in 2011. Our unique class effort, started in 1992 to support Dartmouth through a charitable trust, allowed us to present $12 million to the College at our 55th reunion in 2008. These funds will help pay in part for the badly needed renovation and modernization of the Thayer dining hall while also providing expanded social space for student activities and the Paul D. Paganucci Conference Room. This building will then be named the Class of 1953 Commons, thereby ensuring that our presence on the Hanover Plain will be long remembered. Many, many thanks to President Jim Kim for making this happen!” Congratulations to all!


Our class president John Kelley Springer died February 4. His daughter Kelley posted the following note on their blog.


“The American flag at Hartford Hospital was ordered to half mast a little before midnight last night. Dad died surrounded by his five women—his wife, Jane, and daughters Kelley, Dana, Susie and Nellie—and his brother Bill. Dad’s last loving gift was a day to spend surrounding him with prayer, tears, well wishes from friends and messages from all 10 grandchildren.


“Safe journey, John, Dad and Mr. Springer! Thank you for your clear guidance. Thank you for the passion you have put into your family, friends and work. Dad’s heart and soul is in Hartford Hospital. He has so much pride for what it has become and will continue to be. It has been so beautiful to see the hospital that Dad cares so much about take care of him with so much love and respect!”


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


May 25 was a bittersweet day for the class of 1953. We learned and reflected. We remembered and rejoiced, and after 17 years of planning our class saw its longtime vision of a permanent, physical on-campus legacy fulfilled with the dedication of the Class of 1953 Commons, forever symbolizing our lifelong dedication to Dartmouth.


From the first edgy moments we felt as freshmen, hearing cries of “’53 out!” our class has collectively joined in a unique bond. This undeniable and inscrutable bond between classmates is no longer so much a mystery thanks to the efforts of Tom Bloomer and Bonnie Siegal, whose survey and subsequent analysis has provided rich material for us and for future classes to use to understand the etiology of this relationship.


The sun shone brightly through the stained-glass windows into Rollins Chapel in the afternoon as more than 200 guests gathered there to share the joyous celebration of the life of our late president, John Springer. Emotions flowed easily and copiously as Alan Shumway and Joanne Whiting gave moving renditions of “The Three Bells,” “Sanctus” and “On Eagle’s Wings.” We joined in singing the Lord’s Prayer and sang out heartily in “Men of Dartmouth.” There were various presentations to the family by Allen Collins, Robert Simpson and Dr. Joseph Stevens (a family friend) and through it all came the reassuring, dulcet and inspirational tones of Donald Carpenter Goss, who orchestrated and presided over the entire program. There was even a letter of thanks and condolence to Jane Springer and their daughters from President Obama.


As if these were not sufficient activities and emotional gymnastics, we adjourned to what was arguably the day’s most climactic event. After a highly laudatory talk by Provost Carol Folt in which she detailed how our $12 million gift to the College would modernize and improve the former Thayer Hall, the building’s new name was unveiled to great cheers and delight from the assembled classmates. The Class of 1953 Commons was now, finally, a permanent fixture on campus. And so we headed to Collis for a reception, a celebration never more in order than on this Tuesday.


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


The class of 1953 is on the move again. Under the aegis of Chuck Buchanan and Phil Beekman a wonderful maxi-mini-reunion in Philadelphia has been planned for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 7-9. Members of the senior staffs at these cultural institutions will accompany each visit: the Barnes Foundation, City Tavern, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Carpenter’s Hall, the Second Bank of the United States, Franklin Court, the Free Quaker Meeting House, Christ Church, Elfreth’s Alley National Constitution Center, the Historical Society of Philadelphia, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, National Museum of Jewish History, Brandywine River Museum, the Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum and the Eastern State Penitentiary. Wow!


Many accolades to Anne and Harlan Fair for their generous gift to the College’s new center for surgical innovation, a partnership between Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Geisel School of Medicine and Thayer School of Engineering. In addition, Dick Fleming has made a major contribution to the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Richard Peck, director of gift planning at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, stated it best: “These fine individuals exemplify what appears to be the ’53 class ethos, ‘Give back in a big way and lead by example.’ ” 


I happily mention that Dr. Gil Shapiro has been awarded the Trustee’s Medal of Outstanding Service to the Southcoast Health System. For almost 50 years and still going strong Gil has been an orthopedic surgeon whose contributions to the healthcare of his region and beyond are many and varied. Congratulations.


One of the great perks of this job is that every now and then I receive a copy of a book written by a classmate. This month I had the pleasure of reading Musts, Maybes and Nevers: A Book About the Movies by David Picker. Born into the movie industry, Dave relates a fascinating story about his successes and failures with humor and the deep insight, which a lifetime as head of three major studios provides. It is a must-read for movie fans and aficionados.


It is with sadness that I report the deaths of Owen Cote and Denny Speidel and send our profound condolences to their families.


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


One month after the last ’53 cars left Hanover carrying their tired but exhilarated reunion participants and our local alums retreated to their homes, we are still basking in the glow of our sensational 60th. Our peerless scribe Dave Halloran outdid himself producing a sensational ’53 Out, our class newsletter. There are 49 pages of pictures, reminiscences and stories that, in fact, are a quick glimpse into the heart and soul of the class during the past 60 years. It is beautifully produced in exquisite color and printed on lovely stock. I heartily commend future classes to refer to this as the template for future 60ths. And while I am still on the subject of the reunion, I would like to mention once again that the addition of Sarner Underground to our beautiful 1953 Commons is the perfect compliment to the commons. Patty and George Sarner have provided a magnificent facility in which students can gather and relax.


Our peripatetic ambassador, the Hon. Peter Bridges, is at it again. In May he and Mary Jane visited Pavia, which Peter describes as a peaceful old Italian university town 20 miles from over-sized Milan. Peter gave two talks at the university, one to graduate students on his experiences as a diplomat in the Cold War and the other on the development of links between Italy and America in the 1800s.


For those of you who remember the trial of Capt. Jeffrey MacDonald, the Green Beret doctor who was convicted of killing his wife and two children, I recommend that you watch Dick Cahn as a guest panelist discussing that case for the law students at Touro Law School this past spring. Dick was the attorney for the parents of Mrs. MacDonald and was intimately involved in the bringing of the case to trial in the federal courts after the military tribunal declined to try Capt. MacDonald. Dick presents a fascinating look into one of the most sensational trials of its day.


Once more I close with the sad news of the passing of a classmate, Deane Hillsman. On behalf of our class, I offer our condolences to his family.


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


As we approach our sensational 60th reunion accolades continue to pour in to our classmates for their various accomplishments. The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth established the O. Ross McIntyre Professorship in the field of oncology, and in doing so honored our classmateO. Ross McIntyre. Mark A. Israel, director of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, acknowledged Ross’ contribution thus: “As a founding member of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center and its director from 1974 until 1992, O. Ross McIntyre, M.D., made extraordinary contributions as a scientist, mentor, clinician and leader. Through his vision and commitment to providing innovative, compassionate care for patients, Dr. McIntyre led Norris Cotton Cancer Center to become one of the nation’s premier comprehensive cancer centers for treatment, research and training.” Congratulations and thanks, Ross!


Once again Marion and Put Blodgett have left a legacy for future generations to enjoy. They have ensured that the beauty, serenity and pristine nature of the piece of land in Vermont on which they live and into which they have given years of thoughtful stewardship will remain in that pristine condition in perpetuity. They signed a permanent conservation agreement to protect their 295 acres of Pout Pond property with the Vermont Land Trust. Pout Pond is one of a few large ponds that are relatively untouched by and hidden away from civilization. With all the land that the Blodgetts have donated to the trust, I would expect that a park should be named in their honor. Thank you, Marion and Put.


Harlan Fair reports that our sensational 60th reunion committee, while planning many interesting events, is allowing quality time for meeting and talking with classmates. Please advise Bonnie Siegal or me of any handicap requirements you may have. Bonnie will arrange for bus transportation with sufficient handicap capability. We will also advise on special facilities at the local hotels and at New Hampshire Hall. We are just nine months away. See you then!


Unhappily I must report the demise of Robert L. Core, William T. Smith and Richard L. Glissman. I send the condolences of our entire class to their families.


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


With a little more than six months to go till our sensational 60th reunion, plans are coming together promising to make it one of our most interesting and fulfilling. Harlan Fair reports that Donna Reilly, Chuck’s wife, who is a docent at the Hood Museum, has arranged two special events for us. The first will be a firsthand description by Michael Taylor, director of the Hood Museum, of the plans that have been formulated for the extensive addition and renovation of the Hood, which will be undertaken shortly. In addition Donna has arranged for docent Roland Kuchel to revisit with us the exhibit of the Orozco murals, which are presently undergoing an upgrade and improvement scheduled for completion by June of 2013. It will be fun to return to these wonderful murals now and have the opportunity, perhaps unfulfilled 60 years ago, to more fully understand Orozco’s work. Put Blodgett is organizing a full mountain hike up Mount Moosilauke, a first for 60th reunion classes. The sign-up, however, will include the scheduled option of returning from a point determined by Put about halfway up. Look for more news about the reunion in future notes and in our ’53 Out. Dave Siegal reports that with 75 already signed up for the reunion as I write this in August, we are off to a great start.


Ron Lazar and his agents were brilliant once again, as the class raised $252,000 for the Dartmouth College Fund against our goal set at $200,000. Ron suggests that with the assistance of participation chair, president Allen Collins, and the response of our classmates in honoring our beloved Donald Carpenter Goss we came within 1 percent of our participation goal of 68 percent. Two-thirds of donors responded to the Goss initiative, which essentially added an additional $50,000. Congratulations to all!


Sadly I report the death of Richard H. Dudley and offer our condolences to his wife, Susan, and their children.


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


With the sensational 60th four months away, I write this already presuming outstanding attendance. So far David Siegal reports that 120 alums have indicated that they are planning to attend, accompanied by 87 wives and friends and seven widows. According to president Allen Collins, it appears that another record-setting group is in the offing this year. He adds, “Interestingly, most reunion records are broken almost every year by the next class. However, 1953 still holds the records for the 55th reunion, with 124 classmates (11 more than the nearest class), and the 45th reunion record with 198 classmates (47 more than the nearest class). We are encouraging all classmates to attend the 60th to make it another 1953 record that will stand for many years to come.” Incidentally, it promises to be a wonderful event. Harlan Fair has scheduled many interesting and enjoyable programs along with some down time for savoring the moment.


I have just finished reading a marvelous book, Donn Piatt: Gadfly of the Guilded Age, the work of the Hon. Peter Bridges. What a prodigious piece of research! I am shocked that I knew nothing of this man before reading the book, as Mr. Piatt situated in Ohio, intersected with more people of note and import than one could ever imagine. He was a friend of Garfield, Hayes, Lowell and Twain, and Lincoln at times. He is a wonderful character complete with warts, but definitely admirable. He thought little of Grant or Sherman and spoke his mind. I found the book exhilarating and enjoyable, though exhausting because of the scope of Piatt’s activities—bang, bam, bang and off to the next without pause or rest. I loved every second of it, and am very admiring of the scholarship and energy with which it was created. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in a man who was at the same time a farmer, a soldier, a poet, a muckraker and above all a conscience for our government. Wonderful, Peter!


Sadly I report the demise of Pierce Law, Albert Murphy and Robert Yates, and offer the sympathy of our class to their wives and children.


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


For this year in which many of our classmates are celebrating their 80th birthdays, Fred Whittemore offered the following poem at our annual New York Christmas party.


Today, dear Lord, I’m 80, and there’s much 


I haven’t done.


I hope, dear Lord, you’ll let me live ’til 81.


But then if I haven’t finished all I want


to do,


Would You please let me stay awhile,


’til I’m 82?


So many places I want to go, so very much 


to see,


Do You think that You could let me trek 


’til 83?


The world is changing very fast, there is so 


much in store,


I’d like it very much to live ’til 84.


And if by then I’m still alive I’d like to stay 


’til 85!


More things happen every year that really 


need a fix,


I’d like to see what really works ’til I’m 86.


Of course, dear Lord, it’s nice to know it 


must be great in heaven,


So I’d really like to stay ’til I’m 87.


I know by then I won’t be fast and some


times will be late,


But I’d really like to stay ’til I’m 88.


I have seen so many things, and had a real 


nice time,


So, I’m sure that I’ll be willing to leave at 


89.


But one more thing I’d like to thank you 


for—you’re so high and mighty,


If it’s okay with You, I’d like to see our class 


at 90.


Cynthia and Dave Donovan concurred by hosting their 11th consecutive Ski ’53 Day at Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire, on February 17. They report that seven stalwart skiers showed up at the mountain for a terrific day of skiing in superb snow conditions. The entourage was led by Put Blodgett. Dave Donovan, Harlan Fair, Dick O’Connor, Chuck Reilly, Liz King (Bill King’s wife) and Alan Newtonchallenged their 80-year-old legs. John Kennedy skied cross-country at Woodstock, Vermont. Spouses and non-skiers Cynthia Donovan, Marion Blodgett, Mitzi and Fred Carleton,Barbara Newton, Cynthia O’Connor, Donna Reilly and Bonnie and Dave Siegal joined them for après-ski cocktails and conversation by the fire followed by dinner at Lake Sunapee Country Club. Class camaraderie was in abundance.


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


These past two months have been a period of highs and lows for the class. On the plus side was the Hudson Valley, New York, 80th birthday maxi, which Charlie Buchanan and Phil Beekman organized. Twenty-eight classmates and 25 wives and widows enjoyed a wonderful three-day adventure in the Hudson Valley visiting West Point, Hyde Park, the Vanderbilt home, Val-kill, and the Boscobel house and gardens. They stayed at the famed Thayer Hotel at West Point and sailed the Hudson on a cruise. Thanks to Charlie and Phil for a wonderful trip!


Homecoming Weekend with its big win over Columbia was the setting for the Friday gathering at Zimmermann Lounge, hosted by Bonnie and Dave Siegal, with food, drinks and snacks and where marchers joined their classmates before and after the bonfire. This was followed by the class meeting on Saturday morning at which 28 classmates convened and carried out class business for the coming year.


President Allen Collins presented a Legacy of Leadership Award to Phil Beekman, Bonnie and David Siegal, Bill Chamberlain and Bob Simpson. Then followed the Columbia football game with dinner at the Inn that evening. There was more football and friendship at Dave and Bonnie Siegal’s home after the Cornell game and then, following the Princeton game, at the home of Marilyn Paganucci. Many thanks to all our hosts.


As if all of this were not sufficient for our active octogenarians, there followed the dedication of the magnificent 1953 Commons at which 67 classmates proudly toured the new facility. Sadly, our next event was the memorial service for Donald Carpenter Goss,at which President Emeritus James Wright extolled Donald’s character and contributions to Dartmouth, Len Gochman delivered a touching eulogy, and Allen Collins spoke for the class. A reception followed for the participants and guests.


And then there were the holiday gatherings. Twenty-two members of the class met at the Yale Club for a luncheon organized by Cathy Callendar and Bob Malin while the Hanover contingent of 26 dined and enjoyed the music of Dennis Thron at their luncheon. Donna and Chuck Reilly made the arrangements for this festive event.


We wish you all a healthy and fulfilling 2012.


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


Sixty years back was a


wonderful day!


A charge from the president signaled our


way.


A group of young men, awash with great


verve


Went out from our school a-fired to serve.


The verdict is booked, to be written anon.


It’s now in perspective, these 60 years on.


We’ve made our mark in all ways of living.


We subscribed ourselves to all ways of


giving.


And so, though our record’s not complete


at this time,


It’s still to behold, an exemplar sublime.


So let us rejoice, at this date anon,


Sixty years later, 60 years on.


And so it is fitting that as we enter our seventh post-Dartmouth decade, once again one of our classmates is being honored by Dartmouth. Joseph J. Helble, dean of Thayer School, in his citation to Harlan Fair said in part, “On behalf of the overseers and chair Terry McGuire, it is my honor to inform you that at their February meeting in Houston, Texas, the board elected you to be the 2013 recipient of the Sylvanus Thayer Fellows award in recognition of all you have done for Thayer School. Not only do you serve actively as an agent for the Thayer School Annual Fund, you have served as president of the Dartmouth Society of Engineers and continue to serve as a member-at-large. You also devoted your time and expertise in support of engineering students in their project work and you serve the College as well, most recently as chair of your 60th reunion.”


It is also in our class’ character that 15 hearty classmates and wives enjoyed a marvelous ski day at Cynthia and Dave Donovan’s house at Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire, at almost the same time as Dick Fleming hosted a group of 20 classmates and wives at Harbour Ridge, Florida.


Unfortunately, a consequence of time is the inexorable loss of our esteemed classmates. I am saddened to announce the deaths of Eric Van Schaack, Barron W. Schoder and Ronald Scheman, and offer the sincere condolences of our entire class to their families.


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


An annual rite of spring is perpetuated as admissions has issued its long-awaited decisions for the class of 2015. It reminded me that 167 of our classmates have produced 236 children who attended Dartmouth. With that in mind I decided to check on the next generation of 1953 legacies who will carry our lineage and continue our traditions to the end of this century. Not including the incoming members of class of 2015, 21 of us have produced 27 grandchildren who have joined classes 2005 through 2014.Those are amazing numbers. We have classmates whose fathers and grandfathers attended Dartmouth, so for some their family relationship to Dartmouth will stretch for two centuries or more. The grandchildren and grandfathers are Kelly C. Bloomer ’14, Bloomer; Ross Collins ’14 and Katelyn Parizeau ’10, Collins; Dylan Conn ’09, Conn; John Gehret ’11 and Robert Henley’09, Donovan; Mark Bigor Jr. ’12, Franz; Eugene Gabianelli ’14, Gabianelli; James Kordahl ’10 and John Kordahl ’12, Jacobus; Alexander Kettering ’12, Kettering; Ada Graham ’08 and Rachel Lambert ’08, Lambert; Daniel Dittrick ’08, Lawrence; William McCarthy ’09, McCarthy; John Morris ’11 and Lucy Morris ’14, Morris; David Okun ’09, Okun; Eugene Clement ’10, Pierson; Eric Robinson ’05, E. Robinson; Edward Reed ’13, Rockwell; Lauren Sarner ’14, Sarner; Elise Lewyckyi ’10 and Jonathan Lewyckyi ’14, Shapiro; Elizabeth Sigler ’08, Sigler; Matthew Stoff ’07, Smoller; Daniel Weisman ’08 and Leah Weisman ’10, Sudikoff.


Chuck Reilly has asked, “If you have not yet contributed to the Dartmouth College Fund, we need you to do so now. Remember, we have two goals this year—raising $250,000 and high participation. So far, our results are about average, but we are not an average class! So participate generously. We could have a great year—as the great class of 1953 should. Be there!”


Sadly I must acknowledge the deaths of classmates James D. Decker and Robert G. Newsom. I offer the condolences of our Class to their families.


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


The sun shone bright on September 9 as it has on the class of 1953 for 62 years since we first ventured into the Dartmouth continuum. Glistening brightly on this lustrous afternoon and welcoming its benefactors stood the rebuilt, refurbished, reborn Class of 1953 Commons, the latest jewel in the Dartmouth community. Seventy-five classmates and 40 wives and eight widows of our classmates convened to celebrate the dedication of this beautiful new facility. Taking a tour of the building we entered through the imposing entrance, which took us to the magnificent Paul Donnelly Paganucci conference room with its superb leather tapestries and warm woods. To the right is the cozy Donald Carpenter Goss nook. Between them and upstairs expand numerous dining rooms, their varied ambiance decorated in accordance with student suggestions. Together with a dazzling array of food stations this wonderful new facility provides for the enrichment of student life and cultural enlightenment, a far cry from the metal tray, one-choice-fits-all dining which greeted us in 1949.


President Jim Kim, Dean Charlotte Johnson and Steve Mandel ’78 enthusiastically accepted the facility for the College with thanks to the class, especially singling out Bob Simpson, Donald Carpenter Goss, Phil Beekman, Bob Henderson, Bob Malin, Chuck Reilly, Andy Sigler and Fred Whittemore in addition to Marilyn and Paul Paganucci. Priyva Krishna ’13 thanked the class on behalf of the Dartmouth students. President Kim presented a metal tray salvaged from our days in Freshman Commons to Allen Collins as well as to other members of the charitable trust’s board of trustees. After a lovely reception, during which we had the opportunity to visit the various food stations, we enjoyed a delightful dinner.


As we departed after dinner, the sun had already set on September 9 but will shine for generations to come on the Class of 1953 Commons.


I close this joyous column once again on a very sad note. The heart and soul of our class, Donald Carpenter Goss, a man who reached out to everyone in our class, the beacon which guided our class, succumbed after a 30-year battle with health problems. Our most sincere empathy and sympathy goes out to Lillian and their children and grandchildren.


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