Class Notes 1955

It has been said that “April is the cruellest month” (T.S. Eliot, “The Waste Land”), and it has been, with disturbing events throughout the month. I’ll not do a list since that might take the entire column. I’m sure we each have an event that set us on edge. On a positive note, however, we have President Beilock’s letter to us of April 23, “Standing up for Higher Education and Our Values.” I’ll not attempt a summary but advise you go back and read it again if you have not already.

The DAM feature on Joe Okimoto ’60 about the World War II internment of Japanese brought to mind the experience of Bruce Newman. During the war the family lived in Granada, Colorado, near Camp Amache. He interacted with a number of the internees who harvested crops in the fields. His experience was recorded in an interview on local public TV and is listed in citations for the area. More recently Amache has been declared the newest national park thanks to the efforts of a local high school history class that thoroughly documented the history of the area and the wartime experience.

Bob Fanger joined the 92 club with a nice gathering that included family, Marilyn and Jack Doyle, and Karen and Mike Gorton, plus their dog Oudie. Bob’s wife, Iris, baked a cake for all to enjoy. “Reflections” posted by Joe Mathewson in our class newsletter have been refreshing as well as interesting. I would cite the contributions of Norm Fine and Roy Nyren as especially worthwhile.

The unexpected passing of Bill Cassell at the end of April marks another significant loss for the class. Bill did an exceptional job of writing the obituaries for the newsletter and the online DAM. He most recently wrote about surviving the wildfires in California.

Sadly, we also report the passing of George Every, Henry Fuller Jr., M.D., Paul Hollenbeck, Jack Kimberly, Jonathon Malev, Barton Udell, Allen Walker.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; ken lundstrom@yahoo.com

We write these notes at year end during the holiday season with so many thoughts of jingle bells and snow present. We had a great start here at the retirement home with a concert from one of the famous Philadelphia string bands known to march on New Year’s Day down Broad Street. It will not be difficult to bid goodbye to 2024 with its many tensions of war and death in the Mideast and the Ukraine. We experienced deadly storms, floods, and tornadoes (Helene, Milton) in the United States, including in the North Carolina mountains and both coasts of Florida. Add to that the political events with the outcome of a new president in office now as you read this.

News from Hanover included we have another three-way Ivy championship in football for the Big Green. In addition, the College reported a groundswell of giving to support various initiatives for the heritage of Buddy Teevens ’79. The contribution from the class to the scholarship portion has been reported previously in the newsletter,

As in past years, a Christmas card from Dick Aberle was the first to arrive in the mailbox. He is doing well in his retirement home in Freedom Village, Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

George Fenzl reports that he and Judy flew in from Hawaii to attend the memorial service for Bill Browning and his wife, Sako, at Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, at the end of November. It was a full military service that included a two-jet flyover to honor Bill, a naval aviator.

The passing of Tom Byrne in November marked a distinctive loss for the class, Dartmouth, and Hanover community. Tom had been a class officer, executive committee member, and the first manager of the computer center on campus. He later served the town of Hanover and was instrumental in placing our class bench on the Hanover Inn corner. He also coordinated the transportation for our 60th reunion. In addition, he was an outstanding advocate for Dartmouth Uniformed Services Alumni.

Sadly, we also report the passing of Ken Harvey, James Hillis, and James Morrisey.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; ken lundstrom@yahoo.com

It has been said that April is the cruelest month, but August, when this is written, has been no bed of roses, with fires, floods, high heat, and tropical storms, not to mention the political and international turmoil. By the time you read this in November, we should have a new president, likely an historic event. I hope everyone has cast their vote. In Hanover all has been underway since September. Football, although ranked as mid-league pre-season, seeks to repeat as Ivy champions and has played several games on the newly dedicated Buddy Teevens ’78 Field at Memorial Stadium. Women’s golf won its first Ivy championship last spring, making it the first time since 2017-18 we have had two championships the same year. The unsettled conditions on a number of campuses this spring resulted in the resignation of three Ivy presidents. However, this past week, in an op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal, President Beilock was cited and praised for the manner in which she managed the situation and created a learning environment.

Also by the time you read this, we will have had a rousing mini-reunion August 28 in New London, New Hampshire, with close to 30 classmate attendees, plus wives, children, and grandchildren. The event was sponsored by Joe Mathewson. Betty Brady notably oversaw the details and reservations.

On another note, the final details of the annual Dartmouth College Fund are in, and we did only 44 percent, a record low. We can do better, so get ready for 2025 and our 70th reunion!

Column is a little lean this month due to an absence of news from all you good people out there.

I saw that this is the 85th anniversary of Gone with the Wind. There are at least six notable quotes from the movie. You trivia guys send your choices to me, and I’ll publish them next issue.

Sadly, we report the passing of William “Bill” Browning, Lester K. “Pete” Henderson, and Robert Wool.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

By the time you read these notes, Dartmouth will have had graduation on what we hope continues as a relatively quiet campus, unlike the turmoil evidenced at other institutions nationwide. The difference at Dartmouth has been noted in a national media headline found on the Internet, “As colleges fumble…Dartmouth gets it right” (Forward, April), an obvious reference to the successful public forums instituted by President Beilock and faculty from the Jewish studies and the Middle Eastern studies departments.

“Books” is thethemeof the July/August DAM. I am mindful of our classmate authors, be they academic, fiction, personal events, or world history, some of which are given below. First to mind is Lyn Brock’s In This Hospitable Land, a true story of the escape of his wife’s family in 1940-44 from the Holocaust to be sheltered by protestant Huguenots in southern France. An inspiring tale of universal brotherhood—especially meaningful these days. Skip Pessl’s Barren Grounds is a page-turning personal story of a fateful canoe trip through the Inuit lands of Nunavut, Canada. Norman Fine relates how the technological development and implementation of microwave radar turned the tide of WWII in his Blind Bombing.

Jere Daniell had the masterful Colonial New Hampshire: A History. Newell Stultz in his academic career authored four books. Joe Mathewson’sThe Supreme Court and the Press has done quite well. His most recent, Ethical Journalism, is worth a look. Charlie Warner’s Media Selling is now in its fifth edition.

Marty Aronson gave us a trial lawyer look in a who-done-it-type fiction, Full Court Press. Meanwhile, Bill Lenderking produced a true murder mystery based on a real murder at an American embassy in his The Soul Murderer. Termed in reviews as “Lenderking gets it right,” it has thrills and chills and accurate portrayals of offices in Washington, D.C., overseas, and the courtroom. Bill also contributed an interesting account as a foreign service officer in Korea and Vietnam.

Sadly, we report the passing of Alan Anderson, Gerald Berstein, Pete Buhler, Tom Calloway, Theodore Chadbourne, Ian Duncan, Paul Forester, Philip Reilly, and Charles Warner.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; ken lundstrom@yahoo.com

President Sian Leah Beilock continues to impress as our president. Dartmouth has achieved acclaim in the national media on her leadership in turning the Gaza dispute into an on-campus (later opened to the public) learning experience—with no hateful threats as at other Ivy campuses—led by professors and providing discussions on both sides of the issues. Remember John Sloan Dickey telling us, “Our business here is learning”?

Football finished the season with a return to winning ways and another Ivy championship, shared with Harvard and Yale in a first-ever three-way tie. Sammy McCorkle, Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach, was named coach of the year.

Dick Aberle once again was first in the mailbox with his Christmas card and a delightful run-down of the four grandchildren from university student to physician’s assistant at a spinal clinic. His daughters had a 90-year birthday party for him and the family and friends in September. Welcome to the club, Dick! Checked in with Tom Calloway at a retirement facility in Augusta, Georgia. He is cheerful and doing well with due attention from doctors as the rest of us. He also joined the 90-year club this year. Also joining the 90-year club we have Alan Anderson, John French, Joe Mathewson, Mike Gorton.

Sadly, we report the passing of John Bryan Jr., Leon Martel, Gordon Russell, Harry Teder, and Donald Wright.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; ken lundstrom@yahoo.com

The famous dog days of August are upon us as this is written with horrendous wildfires, tornados, and flooding from storms; but you will not get to see these notes until the November/December issue. We are told the College is doing well, with graduation and reunions taking place as regularly planned.

Charles Williams checks in with a nice, long letter. His roommates at Wheeler Hall were Frank Tepper and Dick Bueschel. Senior year he resided at Gamma Delt. Following four years in the Air Force as a B-47 navigator, he went to Cornell law school and then practiced law in his hometown of New Britain, Connecticut, for 46 years. He now resides in Southington, Connecticut, with his second wife, Dorothy. They have their own pool and enjoy the summertime visits from their five children and nine grandchildren. In the winter he skis regularly on the nearby slopes.

Harlan Jessup’s 90th came and went with family members gathered in Topsham, Maine, where he now lives, writes his daughter, Susan Caldwell. Although he has memory loss, which limits his email or phone engagements, he maintains fond recall of his Dartmouth days, particularly the Outing Club and wonderful outings in the woods. He was able to reconnect with Jim McKendry, Manchester, Maine, who visited, complete with his senior cane and great stories to share.

Don Charbonnier reports that he enjoys the scenic seaside views daily from his front porch in Stonington, Connecticut.

Extended cheers to Jon Braestrup for the outstanding efforts in this year’s Dartmouth College Fund. The class finished at 50-percent participation, in the top 10 among non-reunion classes. He’s had some health problems, including eyesight, but retains his positive demeanor and love for the class.

Sadly, we report the passing of Paul Merriken.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; ken lundstrom@yahoo.com

Class of 1955 joined with the entire Dartmouth community in the “incredible outpouring of love and support for Buddy,” as stated by Kristen Teevens following the serious injuries to Coach Buddy Teevens ’79 in a bicycle crash in Florida. His recovery continues in a rehab facility.

Mabel and Hod Symes are St. Joseph, Missouri, people who winter in Florida and thus missed the tornadoes that hit in that area. They drove back to Missouri in April, when they will meet up with their first great grandchild—a boy—and then it will be on to Vermont for June to October. Hod is still active in Rotary and is the oldest and longest serving in his club. No more golf due to mobility issues; walking any distance is out of the question, as it is with me and no doubt some of the rest of us.

A celebration of the life of Dick Mount was held Saturday, April 1, at Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The class was represented by Bruce Alexander, Marilyn and Jack Doyle, Karen and Mike Gorton, and Betty Brady. A dozen members of the tennis community shared stories of Dick’s adventures and successes coaching young tennis players as well as climbing mountains and playing tennis in the lower 48 to raise money for youth tennis programs. Dick will always be remembered for coaching and mentoring young tennis players to love the game while teaching them to respect the rules of the game. Murmurings from the greater Boston suburbs are that Bob Fanger joined the 90-year-old club in April.

As noted below Irvin “Bubba” Levy died this spring. Bubba, known then as “Tex” when we sat next to each other in freshman English, had a stellar business career plus significant community involvements. Also, with no previous experience in sports management, Bubba took over marketing for the new Houston Texan NFL franchise and created a season sellout in two years.

Sadly, we report the passing of Hi Allman, John B. Hunt, E. Swift “Swifty” Lawrence, Irvin “Bubba” Levy. Obituaries will be found in the class newsletter.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

The holiday spirit continues to fill us as these notes are written the end of December for you to read them in the March/April issue of DAM—Happy New Year! Jingle bells and baseball spring training is here or the season may already be open. No subway series last year. Try again this year? The Phillies should be back in the picture, but these things are hard to judge with all the signing of free agents for huge amounts.

A nice note was received from Howie Howland ’57 regarding a Dartmouth Green bench the alumni of Falmouth, Massachusetts, had dedicated to Lou Turner and installed on the edge of the Coonamessett River, where Lou had headed up the yearly herring run. In November John French, as chair of the Salzburg Festival Society, led the annual New York City gala and began the celebrations by honoring Peter Gelb, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera. Paul Zimmerman’s son, Jon, recently wrote in Liberties of the importance of his late father’s service and leadership in the Peace Corps. Paul, as you may recall, entered the Peace Corps after graduation and provided significant contributions as director in South India and Iran. Dick Aberle in his delightful annual Christmas note reported that he meets each morning with a small group of coffee-drinking male friends at his retirement village to review and solve without success the world’s problems.

A recent mosey through the pages of June’s issue of Yankee Magazine revealed the Mount Monadnock Mega Ice Cream Sundae. The most-climbed peak in North America serves as the inspiration for this creation at Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates in nearby Peterborough, New Hampshire. In brief and not to spoil your fun to search it out yourself this spring, it consists of, among other goodies, 35 scoops of ice cream. Also, we were delighted to note Jud Hale as senior editor emeritus on the listing of all the staff.

Sadly, we report the passing of Preston B. “Mike” Fletcher, Frederick Lione, Richard Mount, Peter von S. Stevens.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; ken lundstrom@yahoo.com

It’s the end of a hot, dry August as we write this and yet you will be reading it as the holiday season approaches with thoughts of joyful family gatherings and celebrations in mind. Maybe even a little World Series memory plus the Harvard game at Homecoming is present too. But the big story from Hanover is the announcement of the 19th president in the Wheelock succession, Sian Beilock, Ph.D. President-elect Beilock, currently president of Barnard College, will join Dartmouth as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of coeducation and will be the first woman to lead Dartmouth when she succeeds Philip J. Hanlon ’77 on July 1, 2023. I wonder if she will reinstitute Convocation.

Marty Aronson and Ellen Sax traveled this summer to our Western states and on into the west coast of Canada. Marty has also authored a legal genre novel, Full Courtroom Press, a spicey, fast-paced tale about multiple challenges facing a young trial lawyer and Dartmouth basketball player. Marty had a long career as both a trial lawyer in Boston and adjunct faculty member at Boston College Law School. Traveling in August also were John French and Carole to Austria and the annual Salzburg Festival. John is chairman of the U.S.-based Salzburg Festival Society and had a lot of things to do at the festival, including a reception in honor of the outgoing director, at which he presented her with a Simon Pearce bowl, and a gala benefit the society he chaired attended by 140 guests.

Congratulations to John Braestrup and his agents team of 1955 classmates for contributions of 51.6 percent to the Dartmouth College Fund, an especially notable achievement in that only six other classes had a better result. Post-campaign John had gastroenterology surgery, his recovery enhanced by wife Justi reading to him Bill Barr’s book, One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General. Perhaps not a tummy soother, but one he recommends nonetheless.

Sadly, we report the passing of Herbert W. Chandler, Thomas T. “Tuck” Creamer, David Q. Moore, Jay R. Olson, and Barry Tolman.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

April with its richness is here even though the world and national scene seem possibly more discordant than they did two months ago. We also feel the sad impact of our diminished numbers as listed below. The Vermont Country Store catalog reminds us that springtime is slow to arrive in Vermont so one watches closely for signs it is near, such as plumes of steam rising from the sugarhouses. (Remember how it was not until May the trees would burst green in Hanover?) “It is a time when our spirit is renewed, our troubles seem smaller and our faith that goodness will prevail is restored.” Signs—budding, blooming trees and flowers—are evident now in Delaware as is the arrival of the migrating birds plus nesting activity. Anglers crowd the heavily stocked trout streams here. (Pete Henderson: Were you able to get in your annual salmon fishing trip?) Baseball is back too, with the Mets in first place. Think that will last?

April 23 was a highlight day as Boston area classmates gathered for the annual spring luncheon hosted by Jack Doyle and Betty Brady. Dick Mount regaled the group telling of his cross-country quest to play a set of tennis in the capital city of every state to raise money for youth tennis. He told also of hiking 26 mountains in New England, A to Z, as a fundraiser. Dick donated 150 racquets to youth tennis plus some equipment. Attendees were M.J. and Bruce Alexander, Karen and Mike Gorton, Iris and Bob Fanger, Marilyn and Jack Doyle, and Stan Bergman.

Dick Aberle continues to do well recovering from back surgery at his retirement village in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. It has been a concerning, caregiving six months now for John Levitas, whose wife, June, is in a care facility due to strokes.

Bill Cassell proudly reports that daughter Samantha ran the Boston marathon in 3:27.

Sadly, we report the passing of Neal M. Allen, John D. Bassette Jr., Louis Bierly II, Weston Bruner, Elias “Mike” Ellovich, Scott Gerrish, Frederick Hawkins, Thomas Hughson, James Magavern, and Alvan R. Schwartz, M.D.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1912 Marsh Road, IL Apt. 132, Wilmington, DE 19810; (919) 641-5219; ken lundstrom@yahoo.com

We write these notes well before the end-of-month deadline because we will be away with family in Wilmington, Delaware.

We lead with the happy news of which you should already be aware: The football team is co-Ivy League champs with Princeton. Beyond that, the ladies came through also and won the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association championship.

We caught up with Dick Barr in early November. He is happily working on his to-be-published photo album, gleaned from his voluminous collection of marvelous photos through the years. He also spends time reading and re-reading your contributions in his memory book of fellow classmates collected at our reunions. I had a delightful call with Dick Aberle, who had a difficult year with the passing of a son-in-law and serious back surgery, from which he continues in therapy and the use of his rollator to get around. However, some high spots were experienced also, in the achievements of his grandchildren in their academic pursuits in college and post-graduate studies. In addition, he attended a large family gathering for the interment of the ashes of cousin Gus Aberle in the family plot in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

On a personal note, Kathryn and I joyfully report the arrival in October of our first great-grandchild, a flicka, Hollie Brooke. We are proud of her parents, as you have been in similar circumstances, for their faithful optimism in bringing a new life into this world at this time.

I report also that we will have relocated back to Wilmington the end of January to be close to our children. Our new address will be communicated later when settled. For now, the information below will do.

John Braestrup is hard at work for the Dartmouth College Fund and has set a goal of 60-percent participation for us this year. You will be hearing from the assistant agents soon. Let’s all support John and the College in this effort.

Sadly, we report the passing of Gene Elsbree, Thornton “Tim” Jenkins II, Richard E. “Dick” Johnson, and Ralph Miller.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

World events plus the surge in Covid-19 cases, turmoil over masks and vaccinations, and even a hurricane in New England have made August a more uncomfortable month beyond the traditional “dog days” sobriquet. However, as we write this column, the College intends to open on schedule, with a mask requirement for indoor gatherings. Also, by the time you see this in print, we will have had our end of September mini-reunion in Hanover—all subject to the above noted turbulence.

Ed Wilson sets a refreshing tone advising that at age 88 he has enjoyed his 80th year of downhill skiing—23 times this past year! He intends to keep going until 90 and beyond. He claims to be semi-retired but quickly adds that most of his time is occupied with the LightGard product he invented for Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in 1986 to monitor computer lab equipment in answer to an equipment loss problem. Result: 10 U.S. patents; more than 100 devices in use on campus; labs now open all day, every day; and a savings to CMU of $12 million a year. A Thayer grad, Ed actually started his career as an insurance salesman when he was newly married to Carol, his wife of 61 years, now deceased, after his military service. During this time he worked with an inventor on a wireless microphone that Ed had to redesign to make it work. From that success, he created his Minatronics Co. Ed developed a reputation for problem-solving, figuring out how things work. He had a series of other inventions, such as an endless loop recording and timing device. His LightGard wifi fiber optic security system has a patented battery operating system and can be used anywhere to monitor potential theft of valuable equipment, from nuclear material (in use at Sandia National Laboratories) to personal possessions. He continues to bring his newly patented security alarm systems to market worldwide, such as in Vietnam. More recently, Ed spent a week with fraternity brother Dave Flitner at Dave’s ranch in Greybull, Wyoming.

Sadly, we report the passing of Bill Chapin, Bill Slater, Bob Stanford, and John “Pete” Wheeler.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

Here at the end of April, Covid events are tending better overall but with some unsettling eruptions in some states. However, the class is moving ahead with plans for a mini-reunion in September at the Hanover Inn, which was announced to you in the April newsletter. If you have not followed-up yet, I urge you to do so.

Sixty-five years ago, Tom Byrne’s Class Notes for Dartmouth Alumni Magazine reported we “showed our stuff” as a class with the initiation of the Tim Ellis Award at Wet-down. Another highlight was a Green Key party by our Michigan ’55 contingent hosted out there by John Dinan and Skip Pessl.

Dick Barr, Londonderry, Vermont, called in with the news that he is now a great-grandfather with the arrival of Hudson Harriss Barr last October. Dick continues work on his photo album book—a compilation of his life’s work and memories with publication not too far distant. He also had to shovel his way to his driveway after a mid-April heavy snowfall.

We were able to touch base with Janet and Herb Chandler, Endwell, New York. He has been retired 30-plus years from a civil service position. They have found that area a great place to live and raise their family. Janet advised that right after our chat they would have their weekly Zoom call with family. Joan and Bob Hayes are living their retirement years in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and doing well following his career in the investments field. John Levitas, Whitesboro, New York, has been active with yard work and his garden. He is looking forward to resuming volunteering at the local hospital, this time at the injection center.

Carolyn and Bill Chapin checked in from Milwaukee, retired after a long career with Milwaukee Malt. They will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in August. Bill served in the Air Force as an F-86 interceptor pilot after graduation and continued in the reserves on weekends. He has been active in recruiting for Dartmouth in the Milwaukee area.

Sadly, we report the passing of Stuart Krueger.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

As this is being written, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being distributed to local hospitals and the first shots are being given. A welcome positive change in the news for sure. Optimistically, let’s be thinking that we’ll soon be getting out and visiting again.

The Olympics article in the most recent issue of Dartmouth Alumni Magazine led me to think of our Olympic skier, Ralph Miller, who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, February 6, 1956. In August 1955 in Portillo, Chile, while serving in the Army, he was the first to ski more than 100 mph. In 1957 he was the first NCAA skimeister. He graduated from Dartmouth Medical School in 1959 and received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1961. He had a 39-year career with the University of Kentucky hospital and medical school. He and Pam are retired in Lexington, Massachusetts. In a jolly Christmas card Dick Mount notes that he has four to go on his solo youth tennis fundraising climb of the alphabet of New England mountains. John LeFever and his partner have relocated from Kingston, New York, to the warmer climes of Pompano Beach, Florida, nearer to family. John Barker and Barbara are now comfortably set up in a Kendal retirement center in Mitchellville, Maryland. John golfs frequently, is active in the community, and serves as chair of the association. Their Dartmouth family includes son John ’83, daughter Julie ’86, and granddaughter Elizabeth ’24.

I had a good series of emails with Magne Johnsrud, Horby, Sweden. After Tuck he worked for a few years at J.P. Morgan in New York City. City life was unappealing, and he became a professional horseman based in France, Norway, and the United Kingdom. He sold his horses and farm in Normandie and retired to Horby, Skåne County, about an hour north of Malmo. His hometown is Oslo, Norway, but Skåne is more central for him. He has positive memories of his happy years in Hanover.

Sadly, we report the passing of Doug Archibald, John Baldwin, Jed Isaacs, Harry Lewis,and Richard Swenson.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

No 65th reunion this fall and no makeup in 2021! The executive committee has been working on a plan to bring us together in 2021 and most certainly in 2022. Details will be carried in the newsletter and individual mailings.

The August newsletter reported that we held new officer elections via the executive committee; the slate was 100-percent approved. Mike Gorton is our new class president. Congratulations, Mike!

Nancy and Frank Carlton celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a family dinner at Cascade Manor, Eugene, Oregon, in June. A photo of them holding their newest great-grandson was posted on Facebook in August.

Bonnie MacAdam, Hood Museum curator of American Art, announced her retirement. Bonnie has been a key factor in the selection of the class’s three major gift acquisitions, starting with Abbott Thayer’s Below Mount Monadnock in 1997. We thank her and wish her well.

Al Van Huyck provided a thoughtful recollection in the newsletter about Professor Eldredge ’31, whose exploits in WWII were featured in the July/August alumni magazine. Described as “my mentor and most influential professor while at Dartmouth and beyond,” he had a major impact on Al’s noteworthy career in urban planning.

Dick Mount continues to raise money for youth tennis in New England. He completed his tour of a match in 48 states and is in the process of climbing, solo, 26 mountains in New England—one for each letter of the alphabet—and trying to find one that begins with an “X.” The funds he raised enabled purchases of equipment for inner-city youth programs and to build a backboard practice facility.

Mabel and Hod Symes summered as usual in Wells River, Vermont, and even had a social distance lunch at Lou’s! Shirley Tenney, Paul Merriken’s wife, emailed from their retirement facility in Asheville, North Carolina, that she is recovering successfully from hip replacement even with all the Covid isolation requirements. Paul, who turned 87 this summer, does well, but is limited by macular degeneration. “Dartmouth is still prominent in his prideful reflections—a most special part of his life,” she stated.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

As we read these notes in the July/August issue of the alumni magazine, one hopes we can be looking back and saying that we sure are glad the experiences of March, April, and perhaps May are behind us now. Grandchildren have been able to graduate (even though delayed) from high school or college, children and grandchildren are back at work, those in the family who were at risk (adult and infant) are less so, those in the family who are healthcare workers or first responders are no longer on the firing line—one hopes. This is Ken Lundstrom pinch-hitting for secretary John Dinan, who is in the Maine Veterans’ Homes in Scarborough, Maine, at this writing, rehabbing from a stroke he experienced on March 1. We wish John a full and rapid recovery.

We sadly add that our “Treasurer for Life” Ralph Sautter passed away on March 28. A memorial to Ralph was featured by Joe Mathewson in a special issue of our class newsletter.

I believe that most of us stayed all hunkered down. Harry Weil checked in from Silver Springs, Maryland, where he and Nancy are apartment bound, so to speak, with meals delivered by their retirement home. Delivery of the daily papers has helped ease boredom, as does some other activities. Similarly, Sharon and Tom McGreevey and Coyla and Ed Barry are locked down with meals delivered at their retirement condos in Durham, North Carolina. There are others, I am sure. Some have been aided, as we have, by thoughtful neighbors who did grocery shopping for us. Bless them one and all.

Ellen and Marty Aronson have distanced themselves on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Carol and John French also at their home in Sharon, Connecticut.

Of note is the Hood exhibition in May of Dartmouth faculty studio art supported by the Bernard R. Siskind Fund.

The April mailing about the 65th did not go as planned. The 65th remains on schedule. You should get the registration forms in July.

Sadly, we report the passing of Bill Foggle, Don Hummel, Nick Kotz, Jack Krumpe,and Peter Teal, M.D.

—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com

Let’s gather! Our 65th on October 30-November 1 is on the horizon! You should have received a “Save the Date” mailing in December to be followed by an “Intentions” mailing in March with a yes, no, maybe return card. The full registration packet will be mailed in July. Please note the registration deadline! It is critical to register promptly, since room assignments are based on the completed registrations! The reunion will be centered at the Hanover Inn; all arrangements including lodging are being made by the College.

Ken Lundstrom is pinch-hitting for John Dinan this month. It’s our 250th and Bill Cassell advises that he and Ilse enjoyed watching Los Angeles city hall turn green for Dartmouth with a “Wah hoo wah!”

Nancy and Frank Carlton touch base from their retirement home at Cascades Manor in Eugene, Oregon. Frank reports a grand family reunion this past summer on the Oregon coast complete with grands and great-grands. Their time at Cascade Manor continues to be eventful with a book group, pool exercise, bridge, movies, evening programs, Very Little Theater, the Eugene Symphony, and music lovers’ nights. A health issue had Frank in hospital, but he is doing much better.

Norm Fine has delivered up a needed addition to the history of WW II with his book about the discovery, development, and implementation of a radar enhancement device known as the resonant cavity magnetron. Blind Bombing tells how this microwave radar enabled the Allies to overcome the two obstacles to D-Day: German U-boats and the European weather. “By sunset of D-Day, the conclusion of WW II was a given.” His fast-moving narrative has the added twist that his uncle was the first to use and prove the success of the device in bombing raids. “A spell-binding narrative,” according to Nick Kotz.

From Hanover comes news that Hellgate Gorge Cabin burned to the ground the night of November 15.

Sadly, we report the passing of William Benton, Art Boudreau, Otis Carney, George Chesel, Mark Cowdery, Thomas Jones, Gregory Knowles, Cyril Muromcew, William Pattison, Martin Ranta, George Schmitt, Eliot Smith, and Stuart Yunis, M.D.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

Not a mini-reunion, but a micro. Stephen and Carolyn Wilson, Ken Harvey, and Kilt Andrew invited your scribe to join them for lunch in Falmouth, Maine. The Wilsons make an annual trip to see relatives in Brooklin, Maine. Steve brought each of us a pint of his superb honey. Carolyn’s family ran Camp Katahdin down east. Ken talked of a visit some years ago to our recently deceased classmate, Phil Mayer, in South Carolina and recalled that Phil had diary entries for every day in Hanover. The entries explained Ken’s near flunking out freshman year, noting the huge number of movies they attended. Kilt is just back from one of many trips to Castellabate, Italy, where the famous Mozarella di Bufala is produced. He says watching the sun rise behind the mountains and spread out toward Capri is beyond description. You may recall that Steve and I both rode the USS Glacier to the Antarctic, though at different times. Admiral Byrd was aboard on Steve’s last voyage, which brought up a recent book, Find Me a Hero, mainly about Byrd’s Achilles’ heel. Read it!

Dr. Jim Wiggins says he retired in 1995 at 62. He joined the Navy after his internship and, in spite of not liking foxholes, was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force. He deployed to the Mediterranean on the USS Chilton. He recalls his first need for dress whites, when he had to borrow a uniform for the “Hail and Farewell” dinner before departing the States. Jim has been a widower twice and lives in Sarasota, Florida, where he can watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico with a new friend.

A stay at Hellgate Gorge in the Grant prior to July 4 treated us to bald eagles, deer in the Dead Diamond, and Canadian jays eating from our hand.

Ralph Sautter writes that our memorial book contributions to Baker sadly continue to grow.

Sadly we report that our dear friends, Alexander Clark, Bob Cleveland, David Corderman, Marty Friedman, Joe Kagle, and Web Wilde, have all gone to a better place.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

On the occasion of the pending reunion of the Old Antarctic Explorers Society, I called Steve Wilson. Steve has significant renown as a beekeeper and was Beekeeper of the Year in 2016, as noted in the class newsletter last year. At the other end of the earth, Steve, as a Navy lieutenant, j.g., went to the ice aboard icebreaker USS Glacier in 1956 to 1958 Operation Deep Freeze. He worked on the Glacier to document the Van Allen radiation belt. Peter Fleming ’54 was the medical officer. Steve’s experience with the DOC and in classes with such greats as Vilhjalmur Stefansson and aboard the Blue Dolphin with Cmdr. David “Beaney” Nutt ’41 certainly left their mark. “Dudley Halligan ’62 went to the Antarctic ice cap with me on Glacier in 1963. I hope more Big Greens will show themselves at the Old Antarctic Explorers reunion,” he said. Steve mentioned that the United States has only one old breaker in service, The Polar Star. He added that with climate changes, the Russians have significant continued interests in the polar seas and the riches of oil and fish they contain.

I met up with Ross Robbins and his wife, Irene, who live near my brother, Dennis ’61, on Boca Grande, a spot of lovely delight on the Florida west coast. They were married at the end of our junior year. Following his service in the Air Force, they were Chicago residents and frequently met with Joe Mathewson. Ross’s great-grandfather was in the circus business, which the family continued until they sold to Ringling Brothers. Ross went into the outdoor advertising business in 1958. He recognized the great capabilities of billboard promotion and after different positions started his own company, Robbinswood Inc., in the 1960s. Thus, his experiences went from circus to sign painter—a great and interesting life.

Plan ahead: Homecoming is October 11-12, with the game vs. Yale, class dinners Friday and Saturday nights, Friday afternoon seminar with faculty speaker, and the class meeting Saturday morning. Watch the class newsletter for details.

Sadly, we report the passing of Bill Kofoed, Jim Perkins, and Will Stratton.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

We write our notes at the winter solstice and also during the holiday period with visions of sugar plums abounding if not for us, for the grands and great-grands. This is Ken Lundstrom, sitting in for secretary John Dinan.

The new year will herald in Dartmouth’s 250th anniversary of its founding throughout 2019 with a slate of celebrations, academic and arts programming, and an unprecedented service opportunity for the entire global community. Activities for the sestercentennial anniversary began in January with the theme “Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future.” By the time you see this, Dartmouth will already have had a celebration in New York City and a scheduled re-enactment of the Dartmouth College Case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Frank Carlton’s robust and cheerful annual letter reported two hospitalizations and good recoveries. He and Nancy continue a full schedule of activities and involvement in their Eugene, Oregon, retirement community plus concerts and plays and lectures.

Bonnie and Joe Herring, Alpharetta, Georgia, also reported a full year of activities. Joe continues his applicant interviewing for Dartmouth. He also provides Sunday “supply” for many parishes in the Diocese of Atlanta and has served 27 parishes since they moved from Connecticut. In addition, he serves the class as member of the ’55 Cares committee. Dick Aberle’s card this year featured a photo of him in his Sunday best in front of their home in 1939, an interesting change from the usual photo cards we also see. He does well at his retirement community in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

The Dartmouth College Athletic Committee has already notified us about our football game vs. Princeton November 9 at Yankee Stadium, with information on getting tickets. While you plan ahead, please give serious thought to joining with the class at Homecoming, October 11-12 as our part of the 250th. The weather will be great, the foliage fantastic, and the fellowship outstanding. With our 65th coming up in the fall of 2020, the 2019 Homecoming may well be our last big one—be there!

Sadly, we report the passing of Eric Bergstrom and Don Kurth.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

Shortly after our stay at the Trapp Family Lodge, we spent four days in the College Grant. July Fourth saw fireworks by heat lightning and fireflies. Hellgate Gorge has swift water for Brook Trout. We kept a 17- and a 14-incher for breakfast. We also had a good pool both above and below the rapids for day and private night swims—and should you choose, it’s a good canoe day trip down the Dead Diamond. All the cabins, managed by outdoor affairs, are well-stocked and comfortable, with good access, but Hellgate is the best summer spot.

Bob Fanger, Ted Ely, Jere Daniell, and I helped celebrate the 100th anniversary of the DOC there in 2009. Not many of us can still do Tuckerman’s or climb Moosilauke, but the Grant still awaits your visit.

Taro Shindo of Takarazuka, Japan, one of 11 classmates and widows who reside overseas or in Canada, sends greetings to the class in a recent email. He spends his days quietly, and, like many of us, is slowing down in activity. He adds, importantly, “It is my constant hope that America continues to be a symbol of fairness and justice and keeps the strong leadership over the world.”

News from Gere Coffey is that he will be the keynote speaker at the 30th anniversary celebration of HABCore, a support program for homeless individuals and families. Founded by his late wife, Margaret, and a small working group, HABCore started with one group home that Gere and Marge obtained and called John’s House, named for their late son. It housed five men. Today HABCore has grown to support approximately 300 homeless and low-income families, individuals, and those with special needs in Monmouth and Ocean counties in New Jersey.

John Baldwin arranged a special visit for Bill Cassell’s granddaughter, Semantha Collins, to the Military Medical College in Bethesda, Maryland, where John taught for many years. Semantha is completing premed courses at Tufts University and is enrolled in Air Force ROTC. She hopes to follow in John’s footsteps as an emergency physician.

Sadly, we report the passing of John Cornman, Bob Perkins, Robert Taylor, Ed Willi, and Roger Young.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

Thanks to the good works of Jack Doyle, Ralph Sautter, and especially Betty Brady, 33 ’55s, spouses, widows, and guests gathered for a luncheon at Weston Country Club April 21, which seemed like the first day of spring. The greens were just the right green. Betty said the yellow roses on each table were for friendship, and everyone was young and handsome. Jack hosted and chaired the program. Attendees included Ellen Sax and Marty Aronson, Betty and Pete Buhler, Karen and Mike Gorton, Patty and Larry Veator, Pam and Ralph Miller, Barbara and Jim Morrissey, Kilt Andrew, Herb Gramm, Ken Harvey, Gale and Brooks Parker, Sandra Carpenter, and Lou Hance.

Featured speaker Dick Page ’54 talked of his multi-year experiences as an alumni volunteer in a multitude of positions, including trustee. He covered topics such as the complicated trustee selection process and several serious issues. Of particular interest was the debate about ROTC. He said that after a long period of discussion, the College asked the federal government to renew the programs. However, the request was not approved. (Army ROTC is available presently on campus.) Fraternities and drinking were next. Page said President Freedman treated this like the proverbial tar baby, and didn’t want to deal with it, especially since the fraternities own their properties. The partnerships between the College, the Medical School, the VA Hospital, and Mary Hitchcock Hospital were tough and complicated. He noted that President Kemeny’s capital campaign in the 1970s started at $450 million, then was upped to $578 million. It was just announced that the current campaign targets $3 billion. Page said he made 60 trips to Hanover as trustee.

Bonnie MacAdam, Jonathan L. Cohen Curator of American Art, gave a superb summary of all Hood Museum happenings with photos. Her presentation confirmed the value of our annual contributions and the significant purchases that we enabled at past reunions. Continued or increased support by 1955 would be of high value.

Sadly, we report the passing of Carl Weisenfeld.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

I found Sigma Nu brother Larry Freier and Elizabeth in Lexington, Massachusetts, in the same house for 50 years. Larry went through the Marine platoon leaders program at Dartmouth and served in the Mediterranean. Following his service, he returned to Thayer for his M.S. in electrical engineering in 1958. For several years he worked at MIT. The department spun off a unit which became the Charles Draper Lab, where Larry was involved in the Air Force missile guidance system development. In retirement he goes to the gym six days a week and is active in the Lexington Community Center. He and Norm Fine, who moved from Concord, Massachusetts, to Virginia to pursue his equestrian dream, keep in close touch.

Bruce Alexander and M.J. claim they live in Milton, Massachusetts, but often liven up the Hanover scene from their hideaway in Eastman. Though a private, first class, having enlisted after Dartmouth, Bruce became editor of the Fort Monmouth Military News. He attributes his two years in the Army as giving tremendous insight into how lucky we all were to have the parents and the support system that allowed us to go to Dartmouth. During a long career in insurance, he served for 41 years on the hospital board at Beth Israel. Bruce now is volunteer director of Milton’s 110-acre park system, which includes the largest swimming pool east of the Mississippi. It holds 1.2 million gallons, with its own dock, and had to be declared a pond to comply with zoning.

Had a good chat with Tom McGreevey. He and Sharon are building a new home in the same community as Betsey and David Miller and Coyla and Ed Barry. Tom has an article in the Foundation journal of the Naval Aviation Museum about the USS Langley (CV-1) and 1924 “Fleet Problem IV” (and continuing exercises), when four aircraft launched from Langley marked the introduction of carrier operations to the Navy. Tom is awaiting acceptance and publication of his book, Preparing for Victory: U.S. Carrier Operations in the Era of Isolationism.

Sadly, we report the passing of Bill Wilbur and Paul Zimmerman.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

Lou Hance will be in the midst of ramrodding through our great Homecoming when this reaches the printed page. She also will have details of our 2018 mini at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, June 19-21, 2018, in a forthcoming newsletter.

Join ’55s the weekend of November 10: Dartmouth-Brown football at Fenway Friday and the Dartmouth Uniformed Services Alumni Veteran’s Day Celebration on Saturday at the Langham.

Spoke with President Lundstrom and reinforced thoughts about class memories and family stories. Ken recalled when they had to move in with the grandparents in the Depression. Their big garden helped keep them (and others) fed during the war. Write this stuff down. Kotz and Lenderking and Pessl have done so with great success.

Don Kurth is rich with just such tales. He became a navigator on an Air Force EC-121C Warning Star airborne early-warning radar surveillance aircraft. Don had met Paul Tiemer while they were both in junior year summer training and also shared duties with Dave Walton, Paul Finegan and Ray Woolson at Otis Air Base on Cape Cod. Now jump ahead many years. Don is manager of Simsbury Light Summer Theatre and by this time widowed. He becomes friends with a delightful widow who turns out to be Paul Tiemer’s little sister, Jane. Because Paul went to Deerfield it turns out that she knew more from our class than did Don, including Peter Gulick. Don and Jane have been engaged for 18 years.

Bob Perkins reports that he and Kay continue to have splendid days and nights on the bank of San Domingo creek in St. Michael’s, Maryland. Bob has just finished his memoir, though it’s only 100 pages so it must be just the outline.

John Baldwin writes that Don Charbonnier joined his annual group fishing trip out of Sitka, Alaska, in June. There was classic weather of alternating sun and rain; they fished 10 hours each day, had great bonding and brought home 120 pounds of salmon, halibut and rockfish each, all flash frozen and table ready.

Sadly, we report the passing of Miles Garrod, Sterling Klinck and Glen Wathen.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

Are you ready for some football? Lou Hance has firmed up plans for Homecoming, October 7-8. Friday afternoon President Emeritus Jim Wright will speak to the class and be available for a book signing. Buffet dinner will follow at Rockefeller. Our class meeting will be Saturday morning, football vs. Yale that afternoon and cocktails and dinner at The Fireside after the game. Dartmouth-Brown football is at Fenway Friday night, November 10; Dartmouth Uniformed Services Alumni Veteran’s Day dinner and Jim Wright Award is the next night at the Langham Boston.

Tom McGreevey has a superb mini-reunion plan for September 7-8 at the Staunton, Virginia, Shakespeare Festival, plus visits to a local winery and Montpelier, President Madison’s home.

Tom Byrne, our man in Hanover wearing many hats, reported on his final Alumni Council meeting: Dartmouth had the strongest response to the offer of admission in 25 years at 61 percent; Laurel Ritchie ’81, new trustee chair who was president of the Women’s National Basketball Association, noted that the class of 2021 will receive $26 million in financial aid during its four years. Dartmouth is ranked seventh in U.S. News & World Report in best-value schools and undergraduate teaching. The executive committee voted a strong “well done” to Tom for his outstanding service to the College and class all these years.

Ellen and Marty Aronson have just returned from a grand adventure—“One fascinating day after another”—which included Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Philadelphia. We had a nice chat with Ron Campion recently. He and Connie moved to Vero Beach, Florida, many years ago for tennis and the good life. Ron is getting along since Connie’s passing in April and is unlikely to return to Hanover. Jake Stewart, another Hanover lad, stayed close however. He and Priscilla raised four daughters and live on a 100-acre Vermont farm, although he says 100-acre farms are a bit much in your 80s. Many of you will recall that he skied on Walter Prager’s powerhouse teams with Olympian Ralph Miller. Ralph and Pam have now relocated to the Brookhaven retirement community in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Sadly, we report the passing of Ted Storrs.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

Having just returned from a nearly annual trip to the College Grant, I was delighted to open a copy of The Confluence, put together by a close-knit group of the class of 1979 and a few others. It is “a collection of essays, art and tall tales.” For those of you who have experienced the place it will make you smile, and for the rest it will encourage you to call the Dartmouth Outing Club in early spring to make reservations. The authors say, “We dedicate this book to our parents who nurtured us with the values and interests reflected in this book and who gave us the opportunity to attend Dartmouth.” The majority of us who love the College will find shared thoughts and moments in this delightful tome.

Homecoming remains a rekindling. Lou Hance continues as the delightful hostess of social events. Jill Hastings journeyed from Woodstock, Vermont, through six inches of new snow to share her ever-present smile at our pre-parade dinner and Ann and Pete Henderson make Hanover seem like home. Tommy Byrne reports throwing off condo living to take back his original house in Hanover. Lois and Bill Stratton reported their respite from D.C. to Holderness, New Hampshire. Marta and Buck Kuttner were delightful dinner companions. Mike Gorton shared tickets with your scribe to Big Green hockey and watched us overcome heralded Michigan 3-2. Just about the same time Dartmouth pitcher Kyle Hendricks ’12 helped the Cubs beat Cleveland for an historic World Series title. Half a century ago, headlines in The Daily Dartmouth might have read, “Former Indian beats Indians.” Ralph Sautter says the class is solvent, but that dues are coming in more slowly than usual. “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” Make Ralph’s life easier with your dues payment. He recently heard from Larry Veator, who is slowly but nicely recovering from back surgery.

The Rev. Joe Herring advises that he still interviews applicants to Dartmouth and does Sunday supply work.

Sadly, we report the loss in recent weeks of classmates Jon “Tim” Anderson, Joe Donovan and Roger W. Block.

—John Dinan, 20 Gardiner St., Richmond, ME 04357; (207) 252-7442; captdinan@yahoo.com

That it will be the November-December issue of the magazine when you read these notes seems almost refreshing as we write them in the dog days of August.

Congratulations to Eliot Smith and his DCF team for the great results this year: We met the 55-percent participation goal, and the $337K contributions were a near record for 61 years out. In addition, Eliot has agreed to continue on as our new head class agent for the DCF and was heartily endorsed by the executive committee.

Congratulations are in order also to John Barlow, M.D., who was recently inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. He was cited for his leadership in the field of medical pathology. He helped establish the Sioux Falls Community Blood Bank and build Sioux Valley Hospital into a leader in regional medicine. John is also a former recipient of the Governor’s Award for Support of the Arts. Now retired, he and Ann live in Rapid City.

John Levitas called the other day and advised he had bypass surgery a year and a half ago. His recovery has gone very well, and he is back volunteering regularly at the local hospital, which he has done for a number of years now.

North Carolina classmates and spouses Coyla and Ed Barry, Sharon and Tom McGreevey, Betsey and David Miller and Kathy and Ken Lundstrom met for a mini-reunion lunch in Durham in late July.

Dave Anderson and Roy Nyren have a regular monthly lunch date in Boca Raton, Florida, in the winter months and invite other local classmates to join them. Roy continues his ministry with United Church of Christ and has shared some of his thoughtful sermons via email. Dave is a dedicated blogger and is working on his fourth book. One blog spot is Countercurrents.org. Also, he speaks locally in South Florida and gives a yearly lecture at Florida International University. He and Linda spend their summers in the cool mountains of Robbinsville in western North Carolina.

Sadly, we report the passing of Fred Ceres, John Chafee, James Lauber and John Reynolds.

—Gale Roberson, 3140 Sprucewood Road, Wilmette, IL 60091; (847) 251-3125; galeroberson@sbcglobal.net

One way to wring news from our classmates is the old-fashioned telephone. So here’s a report on conversations with four of them.

Eric Bergstrom, our former Falstaff impersonator, is peacefully enjoying rural life in horse country west of Fort Pierce, Florida. Eric’s wife, Nancy, an accomplished horsewoman, cares for a rescued Arabian. Eric has volunteered with nearby Stuart’s police department for some nine years, doing vehicle patrolling and relieving sworn officers of time-consuming duties such as home-checks. He serves unarmed in a different-style uniform and calls for the real police if trouble looms. Eric’s five children all live and work in Grand Cayman, where Eric had run a resort and later served as a government tourist official.

Frank Carleton is recuperating from back surgery last August and lives with wife Nancy in a retirement home in Eugene, Oregon. They celebrated 60 years of marriage in June 2015 and are busy with water aerobics and bridge. After Frank’s peripatetic educational career around the country, they moved to the Northwest to be near family. Two grandsons keep the Carletons engaged, both in college in Oregon and one to be married during Labor Day in Louisville, Kentucky, an event Frank and Nancy plan to attend.

Jack Cogswell has broadened his civic duties in Needham, Massachusetts, from his earlier selectman post to positions on various community boards. He serves as a commissioner of trust funds, overseeing town investments of some $6.5 million in municipal uses such as the library, ensuring funds are disbursed as organizational trust instruments require. As a commissioner for tax assistance, Jack works to provide funds to residents for real estate tax bills.

Gordie Russell, wife Tina and two others absorbed today’s Cuba on a private, early spring visit. I hope later to provide more on Gordie’s experience and reaction to personal meetings there.

We mourn the passing of three ’55s: Richard T. Bueschel Jr., James W. Hall III, M.D., and Nelson C. Nicholson. A classmate’s expertise in side activities sometimes surfaces only after he is gone. How many knew, as Nelson’s obituary recounted, that he was an accomplished magician?

—Gale Roberson, 3140 Sprucewood Road, Wilmette, IL 60091; (847) 251-3125; galeroberson@sbcglobal.net

A keynote of Joe Mathewson’snewsletter of last November was a two-page spread on the Boston-area reception where Jack Doyle formally received the Class of 1955 Award. In reading the award, two among the many tributes stood out for me. First, “Jack served as our class president for two terms—10 years—longer than any other classmate in that office.” And second, Jack noting that “he has ‘continued to be influenced by John Dickey’s teachings and has made time for community and civic activities.’ ” Amen to that.

That newsletter included a photo of Trumbull Nelson’s 1931 pickup truck that Tom Byrne organized as a “chariot” to carry classmates to the Homecoming parade on a rainy night. Traditions begin in little events, and this could be the start of a new (and needed) one.

Ken Lundstrom reported on a North Carolina mini-reunion that Dave Miller organized in Durham last October. Besides Ken and his wife, Kathy, attendees were Betsey Miller, Coyla and Ed Barry, David Conlan, Tom McGreevey and Aaron Simon. Separately, Tom is lobbying for more classmate get-togethers, say, for lunch, in locales with enough ’55s to support them, such as Boston, Hanover, N.Y.C., northern New Jersey, perhaps other places.

More on McGreevey: He has completed a work on naval history that covers what I believe is a mostly unexplored period. Titled Preparing for Victory: U.S. Carrier Operations in an Era of Isolationism, Tom’s book explores naval aviation’s efforts to integrate aircraft carriers into fleet operations during the 1920s and 1930s in the face of resistance from a parsimonious Congress and the Navy itself. All he needs is a publisher. Anyone?

Our mini-reunion in New York City that John French is organizing is almost upon us. With sadness, we report the passing of classmates Moises A. Alvarez, Stephen B. Davis, Charles L. Greenebaum, Peter J. Knoke, Patrick E McCarthy, Thomas H. Roulston II and Lionel Schlank. We offer a separate memorial for the late Thomas S. Marvel, class of 1956. Why? Our 1955 Carnival poster bears his name as its creator.

—Gale Roberson, 3140 Sprucewood Road, Wilmette, IL 60091; (847) 251-3125; galeroberson@sbcglobal.net

Here are further notes on our glorious 60th reunion.

Monday afternoon Joe Kagle entertained with his poem centering on Robert Frost and football. Jud Hale offered details on his expulsion at the hands of Dean McDonald and later explained how the dean helped him re-enter. Jere Daniell described his journey from northernmost Maine to a Harvard postgraduate degree, for which he thanks Dartmouth. Nick Kotz and Lynmar Brock read, with emotions only the writer can muster, excerpts from their recent publications.

Tuesday brought a symposium, moderated by Leon Martel, on a potpourri of “Great Issues”: Bill Lenderking on security threats, Alan Murray on income inequality andNick Kotz on seemingly everything else. Nick illustrated his point that “progress comes in spurts, spurred by events” with the spurt of 1960s-era anti-discrimination laws, and looks for an event to revolutionize education. Alan’s slide presentation helped his pitch for Thomas Piketty’s book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century. At that evening’s dinner Marty Aronson stole the show with his remarks as the self-styled “reliever from the bullpen,” subbing for Jud Hale, who was unavoidably absent.

Wednesday’s sunshine made the DOC House a perfect spot for outdoor lunch. Then indoors for a healthcare symposium overseen by Dick Hastings and presented by Peter Fishbein, Dick Roberts and Gordie Russell.A handout set forth a recommended adult immunization schedule that, if followed appropriately, may get some of us back for our 65th.

Rauner Library displayed ’55 memorabilia. One of the items shown was a classmate’s “Strong” aptitude test results. Who among us remembers taking such a test (much less the results) as part of our initiation to the College?

At Betty Brady’srequest, I phoned my brother Phi Delts to see who was coming. Only Hod Symes, with his wife, Mabel, made it, but the phone calls caught me up with Dean Allard, Tom Calloway, Bob Lenker, Lou Miano, Jay Olson, Roy Pfeil, Jack Porvasnik and Jud Snyder.

Sadly, we report the deaths of William R. Carter Jr., Theodore Ely Jr. and Milo R. White Jr.

—Gale Roberson, 3140 Sprucewood Road, Wilmette, IL 60091; (847) 251-3125; galeroberson@sbcglobal.net

“Time begins on opening day,” according to Thomas Boswell, so we decided to check in with perennial Brooklyn fan Dick Barr about the upcoming season. Dick, naturally, tabbed the Dodgers to win it all. “We have a great all-star roster with Campy, Duke, Pewee and Jackie; expect young lefty Johnny Podres to have a good season; 2015 will be Brooklyn’s year,” he opined. Since 2015 is our year, too, we’ll see from the wide, wide world in October how it all turns out. Doug Melville got a jump on the season when he and Diana traveled from frozen Old Saybrook, Connecticut, to visit Jim Wiggin in Sarasota, Florida, where they enjoyed the warm sun at a Red Sox spring training game.


We received a delightful email from Ryutaro Shindo, Takarazka, Japan, that his wife and he “are so far fairly well.” They enjoy living in a quiet, small town, do not move around a lot, but try to keep themselves busy for social activities and contribute to the local needs as much as possible. As with a number of us, his hearing and vision sensitivity is a little by little declining with age, which he takes as a matter of course. Ryutaro states that he always remembers Dartmouth with pleasure, pride and gratitude. Sometimes he enjoys walking around the campus on Google Maps.


The North Carolina ’55s had their spring mini in Statesville on April 16 hosted once again by Mary and Jon Anderson, who are planning to travel to Seattle this summer to visit family. The group included Dave Conlan, Kathy and Ken Lundstrom, Betsey and Dave Miller, and Shirley and Paul Merriken.


Gus Aberle proudly reported that his granddaughter, Meredith, has been named a Phi Beta Kappa at Southern Methodist University.


Tom McGreevey, Aaron Simon and your secretary represented 1955 for the conversation with President Hanlon ’77 at his visit to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, March 18. Aaron recently moved from snowy Connecticut to the milder climes of Raleigh, North Carolina.


Sadly, we report the deaths of Neale Clapp, Bernie Fulton and Robert Saidel. 


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


We have a new classmate! Barbara J. (Bonnie) MacAdam, Hood Museum Jonathan L. Cohen Curator of North American Art, has accepted our invitation to be an adopted classmate. Bonnie has been a strong friend of 1955 for more than 20 years since we began our relationship with the Hood through our dues check-off program. During the past 10 years she advised us in the selection of three major acquisitions to coincide with our reunions. She is currently guiding us in another key acquisition for our 60th. Welcome, Bonnie! 


We had a nice long telephone chat last fall with Carter White. He and Carol have resided in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, for more than 25 years. Earlier, Carter had several positions in the corporate world, including General Motors, AT&T, the design and manufacture of women’s clothing and a consulting business. He has been very active in their community as a trustee of nonprofits plus service on several boards (the Edith Wharton Home, the Gould Farm, Miss Hall’s School). He served for several years as the CEO of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, which grew during his tenure to more than $100 million in assets. Somewhat retired now, he has slowed down only slightly with a strong involvement in local historical societies. 


Tom McGreevey spent a significant part of the fall at the National Archives researching his book on the history of naval aviation between the world wars. He foresees publication in mid to late 2015. During this time he was able to visit with Evelyn and Bob Comer in New Jersey and take in with daughter Alison the football team’s great win at Princeton. 


Sadly we report the passing of James Donohue, John Meyer and Ray Woolson.


Sixtieth reunion June 15-18! Bob Fanger and his committee have put together a strong program: two symposia organized by Leon Martel (“Great Issues Today,” “Health Issues in Later Life”), exhibitions (writing, painting, sculpture, photography), golf, tennis, parties and dinners in great venues, memorial service (Joe Herring, Roy Nyren, Pete Greenfield). Jud Hale is in charge of the weather—a Yankee guarantee that it will be good! 


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


We write this column in late summer knowing that it will be the November/December issue when you shall see it amidst the thoughts and plans for the coming holidays. November, after the bright colors and changes of October, can be dreary, but, as Robert Frost reminds us in “My November Guest”:


“…I learned to know


The love of bare November days


Before the coming of the snow….”


The mini-reunion in Asheville, North Carolina, hosted by Paul Merriken and Shirley Tenny, was attended by 55 classmates, spouses and widows. Distance travelers included Frances and Joe Bachman, Nancy and Frank Carlton, G. and Bob Edwards, Dave Heegard, Betty Jo and Jim Nelsen and Jim Wiggin.


The Class of 1955 Award was presented to Eliot Smith to recognize his career achievements and dedicated service to the community, the College and the class. He has received several awards for his significant leadership contributions in community service: e.g., Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society Man to Man (prostrate cancer) and the Jacksonville, Florida, Good Neighbor Award. Eliot has served Dartmouth faithfully since graduation: interviewer, club officer, alumni councilor, Thayer School executive committee member and Agent of the Decade, and Dartmouth College Fund class agent for fraternities. 


Justin and John Braestrup traveled to Mystic, Connecticut, for a massive family reunion September 5-7 (40 to 50 from here and abroad), when they celebrated his Danish grandfather’s command of the sailing ship Georg Stage, which is now berthed at Mystic as the Joseph Conrad.


Nick Kotz continues in demand to discuss his book, The Harness Maker’s Dream. He was a presenter at the National Book Festival, Washington, D.C., August 30, then the Jewish Literary Festival, also in D.C., October 24, followed by events in Houston and Dallas in October and November. 


We had a nice chat with Dick Barr recently in which he advised us that he is now a designated “soccer grandpa,” driving granddaughter Paisley back and forth to her practices in Londonderry, Vermont.


My best wishes for a joyous and fulfilling holiday season.


Sadly we report the passing of Tom Fulton, Robert Hadley, Tim Hutchinson, Bob Keane, Dave Page and Richard Snell.


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


The ides of April brought not only April showers and taxes, but also a sit-in of President Hanlon’s office by student protestors. One result has correctly been a call to action by President Hanlon in “moving Dartmouth forward” to end sexual assault and attitudes that foster extreme behavior on campus. A series of “campus conversations” is under way to address these matters. One hopes this will not result in endless committee meetings and pious pronouncements but with substantive action and strict penalties. 


We traveled to Arizona in March and were able to spend a delightful afternoon with George Snelson in Prescott. George is mostly retired now. He attends to some family business matters after taking care of the super sudoku every morning. We lunched at a cool Arizona watering hole with appropriate beverages. George asks to be remembered to all you classmates out there. Also traveling was Bob Fanger, for some skiing in Vermont. He visited with Ruth and Dick Blodgett in Hanover and dined with the Kathy and Larry Pilchman at their new home in Grantham, New Hampshire, on the way back to Boston. He then made a trek down to New York City and visited with Pat and Bernie Siskind. 


The North Carolina ’55s had their spring mini in Statesville, North Carolina, on April 11, hosted once again by Mary and Jon Anderson, who will be doing some extensive traveling this summer for weddings of grandchildren. The group included Dave and Jane Conlan, Ken and Kathy Lundstrom, Tom and Sharon McGreevey, Dave and Betsey Miller.


The memorial service for Harry Ambrose on March 26 at a packed church in Williamsburg, Virginia, was at once caring, thoughtful and uplifting—a true celebration of Harry’s life. Poignant memories were shared by Harry’s brother and his and Margey’s three daughters. A special, touching memory for us all was the organ softly playing “God Bless America” at the recessional and everyone quietly, spontaneously singing along. The class was represented by John Ballard, Dave Conlan, Jack Doyle, Colin Hunt, Swifty Lawrence and Ken Lundstrom. 


Sadly we report the passing Tim Hutchinson.


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


Al Anderson lives most of the year in Dallas with his wife, Nancy Lee. He grew up in Garden City, New York, and spends three weeks each summer on Shelter Island (near the end of Long Island) in a home built in the 1970s and inherited from his mother. In 1956 he went to the draft board and wanted to join the Air Force. He met a “base guy” who immediately called a general when he learned that Al was a par golfer. He spent the next four of his eight years in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and learned to fly B47s. I believe he met and married Nancy Lee there. After the Air Force he joined American Airlines and flew planes to Frankfurt, Paris, London, Aruba and the Dominican Republic until he retired at age 60. At our 25th Al climbed Mt. Moosilauke with his son Scott, who is a “scratch” golfer. Scott has a successful dental practice and raises funds for a dental clinic for the poor he initiated in Mexico.


Swift and Kit Lawrence spent a couple days recently with Hart and Jill Perry. Hart is headed to the Henley Royal Regatta as a steward of the event. Swift states that Hart is the only American who has been accorded such an honor. The Henley is the oldest sporting event in the competitive boating arena. Hart has been the driving force in the establishment of a rowing museum at the Mystic Seaport that is a re-creation of an 1800s seaport. The seaport outgrew its library and a new one was built. Hart convinced the port to utilize the old library to present exhibits and house the history of crew and boating. Hart lives in Stonington, Connecticut. Go to www.mysticseaport.org and learn about the re-creation of the 19th-century village.


Swift and Kit’s daughter Marsha ’80 is married to Scott Somerville ’79. They have six children, all home schooled, and have created a curriculum that Marsha turned into a book about home schooling. The book is used internationally. Marsha and Scott have established a business setting curriculum, winning many awards in the process. Marsha attributes her success to her liberal arts education at Dartmouth.


Al Murray has accepted an appointment to the National Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. They are a group of 100 volunteers whose mission is listening to taxpayers, identifying issues regarding implementation of tax laws and making recommendations to the IRS on ways to deal with those issues. While they cannot do anything about the laws that impose the taxes, they “can help make compliance less burdensome.” He would be glad to hear from any classmate who has any issue to raise about IRS procedures, notices, forms, etc. His e-mail address is apage116@aol.com. This generous offer comes from our classmate, who earned a Ph.D in economics, taught at Lafayette College, worked on tax legislation at the U.S. Treasury and served on two congressional staffs.


—Bob Fanger, 24 Commonwealth Ave., Apt. 3, Boston, MA 02116; (617) 266-2735; rfanger1@msn.com


Wedding bells rang for Dick DuBoff and Barbara Rose at their marriage on Sunday, June 7, in an outdoor ceremony on the banks of the Hudson River. DuBoff, a widower since 2007, is a retired economic historian who taught at Bryn Mawr College for more than 30 years. Among the wedding guests were Dick and Jean Brief; this writer and wife Iris; and Andy DuBoff ’59 and his wife, Arlene. The Fangers and the DuBoffs also attended the wedding of Kristen Brief ’05, Dick and Jean’s daughter, in March at the Boathouse in Central Park. The DuBoffs will be living in New York City and Rhinebeck, New York, as well as Madrid, where Barbara, a noted art historian and critic, has a home.


Summertime at Cape Cod finds Bob Bagdasarian, Lou Turner, Lou Weintraub and the Fangers in Falmouth. Lou and Lee Turner are year-round residents. Bob Wool, who recently moved back to New York, was a visitor in August. Leon and Marilee Martel spent two summer months in South Orleans, Massachusetts, and managed a day trip to Falmouth for lunch with the Fangers.


News of other ’55s around the country: Earl Fain, who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, flies gliders launched by Aero-Tow, aircraft tugs and tow bars. His current vehicle of choice is a 25-year-old German glider, a No. 103 twin Grob. Earl skis around 28 days a year at Santa Fe; Alta, Utah; Sun Valley, California; and Vail, Colorado.


John Kimberly of Arlington, Massachusetts, retired in 1992 after 25 years as CEO of the Citizens National Bank in Malone, New York, near the Canadian border. His first wife, Cindy, passed away in 2000 and he married Mary Lou in 2003. They spend summers on Martha’s Vineyard, where Mary Lou has been a visiting nurse for the past nine years. John volunteers for Trustees of Reservations as a gatekeeper. He also fishes commercially, selling bluefish and stripers to restaurants.


Phil Mayer sold his metal stamping and punch press business on the outskirts of Milwaukee and now divides his time between summers near Madison, Wisconsin, and winters in the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina. He owns land north of Milwaukee where he enjoys making firewood. He also cuts trails with a tractor and improves a timber stand of 300 acres. In early August he attended an antique outdoor motor and boat show at Tomahawk, Wisconsin, where our classmate Tom Evinrude was keynote speaker. Tom has been giving talks to a number of organizations about his grandfather, Ole, the inventor of the outboard motor and founder of the company that became Outdoor Marine. Tom and Phil became friends in eighth grade and later roomed together in Topliff Hall.


The class convenes at Homecoming in Hanover, October 23 and 24, with the Saturday a.m. meeting in advance of our 55th reunion in June. Hope to see all ’55s and their significant others in attendance.


—Bob Fanger, 24 Commonwealth Ave., Apt. 3, Boston, MA 02116; (617) 266-2735; rfanger1@msn.com


The 1955 nominating committee met on February 13 at Ralph Sautter’s home and then adjourned to the home of Brooks and Gale Parker for dinner. Joe Mathewson, Dick Blodgett, Woody Goss also attended. The recommended slate of officers will be presented at our 55th reunion in June.


Joe Mathewson continues to teach graduate classes at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. He has a high percentage of international students who will become leaders in information distribution, writing for the international press. The students are smart and hard working. He spends Friday afternoons reviewing every sentence they write. A lawyer as well as a journalist he is well equipped to advise his students on legal matters, including the handling of material from interviews. Joe is the only member of our class to have served as a Dartmouth trustee.


During the 1960s, an era of great Dartmouth football teams—with players such as Bill King, Tom Spangenberg and Mickey Beard—Hank “Red” Maretz and I were in the stands each year at the Harvard-Dartmouth games. One year we proved that believing in superstition helps. After Hank and I asked the 25 fans in our row to move three seats to the right Dartmouth proceeded to win the game. I am sad to report that Hank passed away on January 11 at his home in Goodyear, Arizona, after a game of golf. His widow, Jane, told me that after his family, Hank loved Dartmouth. Jane is planning a gift to the Dartmouth Athletic Scholarship Fund in his memory. Classmates who wish to remember Hank are invited to contribute to the fund.


Ryutaro “Taro” Shindo wrote a letter to Ralph Sautter from 1-5-23, Nigawa-Takadai, Takarazuka 665-0062, Japan. He and his wife are in good health. He plays golf once a month, driving to the mountains as there is no golf course in the crowded city. A golf game is expensive and makes for long day. I am sure he would appreciate letters from classmates. Be sure to encourage him to attend our 55th.


Neal Allen lives in Marietta, Georgia, with his wife, Joan, a pediatric nurse. They have two daughters, Tracy Lynn Allen and Elena Allen Cass, and two grandchildren, McKala and Cameron. Neil has been retired for 20 years and stays close to home because Joan has health issues. Neal is a wonderful classmate and has always been a faithful donor to the College.


Paul and Margot Zimmerman recently returned from a trip to Mexico, including the Baja Peninsula. They will leave the snow and cold of Chevy Chase, Maryland, in April for a trip to Japan. We remember the successful events they helped organize for the Washington, D.C., mini last spring. 


Spring is coming with a wonderful 55th Dartmouth reunion, June 14-16. Call Betty Brady at her office at (781) 444-0781 or e-mail doverhugh@comcast.net. See the familiar and the new. 


—Bob Fanger, 1010 Memorial Drive, Apt. 3G, Cambridge, MA 02138; (617) 354-2735; (617) 354-3330 (fax); rfanger1@msn.com


Class of ’55’s 55th! A gathering of 193 classmates, spouses and guests spent three days touring the campus, listening to faculty lectures, viewing an exhibit of works by our artists and visiting a display of memorabilia highlighted by Lou Miano’s sketches for the Jacko and the Carnival ice sculpture at the Rauner archives. Reunion chair John French’s team consisted of Dick Blodgett, Betty Brady, Tom Byrne and Larry Pilchman,


Festivities began Monday evening when class president Jack Doyle welcomed everyone to dinner at Thayer, followed by a concert of Dartmouth songs performed by Dick Blodgett, Lynmar Brock, Woody Goss, Joe Herring and Al Keith, directed by John Bassett. 


Joe Herring led the Rollins Chapel memorial service Tuesday morning in a moving remembrance of our deceased classmates, followed by a talk with President Jim Yong Kim.


We lunched on Baker lawn, where Dartmouth College Fund chair Woody Goss, John Ballard, Harry Lewis, Paul Merriken and Bob Perkins presented President Kim with checks for $360,555 for the reunion campaign and $13,848,000 representing class giving since 2002.


President Doyle began the Wednesday class meeting by providing a summary of the activities and accomplishments of the class during the past five years: contributions of classmates to their communities, scholarship awardees including our first James and Susan Wright scholarship student, student-athletes, and the Hood Museum acquisition. Brooks Parker, chair of the nominating committee, offered the slate for the next five years: Jack Doyle, president; Dick Blodgett, vice president; Ken Lundstrom, secretary; Ralph Sautter, treasurer. John French presented proposed changes to the class constitution for governance in our later years. These motions were approved.


John Ballard was awarded the prestigious Dartmouth Alumni Award at the class banquet. The citation noted John’s significant contributions to entrepreneurial business developments through Thayer inventions, as a benefactor and leader in his community, at Dartmouth and as Thayer School board chairman. Jud Hale’s talk about New England humor with a touch of Yankee philosophy ended the evening.


The class art exhibit at the Hopkins Center presented works by Joe Kagle, Howie Zelikow, Dick Barr, Lynn Foggle, Gale Parker, Karen Gorton, Pat Woolson. Gale and Karen planned the layout. Al Keith, Buck Kuttner, Brooks Parker, Joe Mathewson and Woody Goss served as crew.


Looking ahead, Homecoming, October 29-30, and a mini-reunion announced for Mackinac Island (owned by Dan Musser), June 11-14, 2011.


—Bob Fanger, 1010 Commonwealth Ave., #3G, Cambridge, MA 02138; (617) 354-2735; rfanger1@msn.com


It’s official! Class of the Year 1955 will lead the Homecoming Parade Friday night, October 17. Plan now to attend what will be a memorable weekend for the class. Also, there is still time to make reservations for the Asheville, North Carolina, mini September 15-18 hosted by Paul Merriken and Shirley Tenney. Full details are in the class newsletters.


Although you will read this in April, these notes are written with the February storms only recently past. Walt Boden was sheltered at home in Atlanta and missed all the tie-ups. With the next storm looming, they were about to head for the coastal climes of Hilton Head, South Carolina, when we caught up with him. Walt is still working in commercial and industrial real estate, which has been in a long downtrend, but he feels is now on the upswing. Neal Allen stayed close to home and did just fine in Marietta, Georgia. He has been retired so long he refers to himself as a “professional retiree.” Neal also shared the sad news that Joan, his wife of 54 years, passed away in January.


Bob Brown had no storm problems in Torrance, California. Retired, he is active in several volunteer roles: mentor for middle school children whose parents are not fluent in English, volunteer for several years at the Huntington Gardens, assistant in the J. Paul Getty Museum children’s programs, guide for school groups at the local zoo. Beyond this Bob is an avid collector of clocks, including one dating to the 1830s.


No snow and ice either for Barbara and Matt Weinberg, San Francisco, on a cruise to Central America where they viewed the Mayan ruins. Matt is retired but consults with his former law firm and also does pro bono work. A key interest is his Napa Valley winery for which they use drip irrigation. The Weinbergs are planning a “roots” trip to Lithuania and neighboring countries in June.


Remember to support Woody Goss’ team with your checks to the Dartmouth College Fund.


Sadly we report the passing of Harry Ambrose, Dick Forsberg, John Johnson and Gordie Zacks.


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


August and it is time to engage Dick Barr once again in our annual summer session on the baseball season. We both feel that the way Brooklyn is playing they will win more than 100 games. Campy is a shoe in for MVP. They will probably play the Yanks again who could win 100 also. With Erskine on the mound, Gil and the Duke, 1953 could be the next year we’ve all been waiting for! 


We had a nice long phone call and e-mails recently with John LeFever. He is primarily retired but still does a few acting and radio spots in and around Rhinebeck, New York, and some writing. (He really liked Al Uris’ short story.) John was in the Army in Germany about the same time as Jud Hale but drove a truck instead of a tank. He was also in an acting troupe. John later drove an 18-wheeler for eight years coast-to-coast, which also provided good raw material for his writing plus adding to our reliving the good ol’ days.


Roger Dolliver, also retired now, called in from their cabin near Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, where he and Martha and family spend summers away from the west Texas heat in San Angelo. Roger remains active in Kiwanis and other community service organizations, He is really looking forward to attending the Asheville, North Carolina, mini in September 2014—and we hope many others of you are too. 


We started with baseball, but by the time you read this, football will be well underway and we will have had the Yale game at Homecoming. We’ve checked frequently with Doug Melville, our lead fan and prognosticator. His fearless forecast is that this will be a really good year for the Big Green. You’ll have a better idea of his crystal ball as you read this now, the season half over. Go Big Green!


Sadly we report the passing of Lew Weintraub. Three years ago Lew was paralyzed after back surgery but was courageously able to resume his medical practice until he was hospitalized shortly before his death. He never lost his cheerful attitude amid these setbacks. 


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


Congratulations to Lynmar Brock whose book, In This Hospitable Land, has been honored as a finalist in the historical fiction category of the 2012 International Books Awards. Lynmar is currently working on a sequel to his first book, Must Thee Fight. Also on the book front, Hod Symes is in the final stages of publication of Cross Roads: A History of Wells River, Vermont. Hod is also chairman of the 250th anniversary celebration of Wells River and Haverhill, New Hampshire, in May 2013. Residents of St. Joseph, Missouri, Hod and Mabel spend each summer at his boyhood home in Wells River.


Hod also had two grandfathers who served with the Union in the Civil War, one with the New Hampshire militia and one with the 45th Massachusetts Volunteers. In this sesquicentennial time we invite other classmates who have a family or other association with the Civil War to share your recollections with us. 


It has just been announced that the 3,500-member Essex County Bar Association will present its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awardto Buck Kuttner in October. Congratulations to Buck on his outstanding career, significant community service and contributions to his profession.


Congratulations are also in order to Paul Mannes, whose grandson Phillip was accepted to the class of 2016. One of his classmates will be Joe Mathewson’s granddaughter Elizabeth. In addition, Joe had the honor to present granddaughter Emily her diploma at the 2012 Commencement.


The Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Massachusetts, in early June was the site of an antique car show where Joe Donovan drove and exhibited his three glorious cars—all woodies: 1937 Ford, 1944 Mercury and 1948 Chrysler Town & Country. Be sure to see Joe’s newsletter for the photos. 


Dick Cooper retired from a successful oncology practice in upstate New York to West Palm Beach, Florida, where he claims his golf game is his only source of steady income. 


I have been reading Jim Wright’s new book, Those Who Have Borne the Battle. It is much more than a military history and well worth your time.


Our next mini-reunion is Homecoming, October 26-27, vs. Harvard. 


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom @yahoo.com


As we write these notes, we are at the last of the “dog days of August,” which the ancients thought to cause man hysterics among other maladies. This would probably fit with the election cycle; but these seers did not mention baseball, some of which “is the fate of us all” (Frost). We examined the pennant races at this point and noted the improbable probability that Baltimore and Washington could face each other in the World Series. It was timely then for a long phone call with Dick Barr to compare Brooklyn recollections. Dick loved Goody Rosen and Dolph Camelli. I tended toward PeeWee and Reiser and Campy. Dick, however, would not lay claim to one Bob Barr, who pitched two innings in 1935; ERA 3.86—not in his DNA. 


Kilt and Jeannie Andrew (Scarborough, Maine) hosted their annual reunion with Steve Wilson and Ken Harvey. Kilt does some maple sugaring and also maintains a certified woodlot. For Kilt happiness is two chainsaws and a brush-hook. 


Bill Lenderking provided a concise history of his ancestors’ service for the Union in the Civil War: Five brothers enlisted, two were killed; his great-grandfather was wounded at Antietam, recovered, served again, was captured and imprisoned at Andersonville, Georgia. Bill is compiling a memoir based on their letters from those years. We would appreciate hearing from others with family recollections of the war. 


Sadly, we report the passing of Bill Bronk, Bob Garvey, Bris Lang and John Rocray. Also, we just learned that Elliott Hersey passed away on August 30 after a long and courageous battle with inclusion body myositis, a degenerative, inflammatory muscle disease.


Now would be a good time to send a year-end check to support the Dartmouth College Fund and Woody Goss and his team. 


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


Recent communications from the College about Winter Carnival had us looking back 60 years to the 1953 Carnival even though you will be reading this in April. The statue was “Skigo”—a take off on Pogo (Walt Kelly had recently visited campus). Chi Phi won the fraternity competition with “Pogo Button,” which correctly predicted Dick Button’s tumble at Outdoor Evening. Ralph Miller was named skimeister, and then followed up as skimeister at the Williams and Middlebury carnivals for a trifecta. Ralph is now retired from his medical practice at University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington, where he and Pam reside. He stays active however as a provider of volunteer medical services to the working poor through the mission clinic there.


Eliot Smith called from Lake Keowee, South Carolina, in the Piedmont foothills, where he and Elaine now live. Eliot is careful not to get his retirement plate too full but is able to devote significant time to his dedicated efforts for the Dartmouth College Fund (DCF). He also allows time to pursue his woodworking hobby, bridge and church involvement. 


Sophomore year roommate Dave Page still practices law at his firm in Detroit, where I caught up with him the other day.He and Andrea have family close by and are also able to enjoy annual gatherings with classmates Paul Zimmerman, Bernie Siskin, Barry Reubens and spouses. Dave has been a strong driving force for the redevelopment of the Detroit waterfront. He has a positive outlook for Detroit’s future, primarily due to the private sector investments under way downtown.


Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin inserted a poignant tribute to deceased classmate Frank Chase in the January 23 Congressional Record.We believe that Frank is the only ’55 ever to have had a citation in the Congressional Record.


A number of us this year have or will hit the 80-mile marker. If you wish to share your celebratory event, Joe Mathewson or I would love to hear about it to pass on to the class.


Save the date: Homecoming October 11-12 (Yale).


Remember to support the DCF and Woody Goss and his team.


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom @yahoo.com


Class of 1955—an excellent class! We are pleased to report that the College’s ranking of 71 classes placed us among only 12 classes ranked excellent for 2009-10—and only five classes scored higher than ’55. President Jack Doyle thanks all our classmates for their continued support of class projects, programs and reunions.


Speaking of reunions, you still have time to join classmates at the June 11-14 mini at Mackinac Island, Michigan, hosted by Dan Musser. Just a few rooms remain; contact Betty Brady at (508) 785-0790 or doverhugh@comcast.net.


Frank Carlton’s (and Nancy’s) list of activities and community involvement at their Eugene, Oregon, retirement village plus travel is staggering. Frank detailed in their Christmas note the various committees they chair plus outings to plays and operas and even some snow shoveling. Not only did they get to our 55th last year, but also toured New Mexico on an Elderhostel in March. Post-reunion they spent a week near Mont Tremblant, Quebec, in the Laurentian Mountains. 


Tom Calloway (Porterville, California) told us of his and Carol’s travels throughout California (Pebble Beach, Carmel) during the summer to dodge the high temperatures all the while wondering why California wants to build a high-speed line from nowhere to nowhere. Dick Gardner and Audrey (Dover, Delaware) had a good ski trip to Colorado and will do a river cruise this summer in the Ukraine, where Dick will do genealogical research on his grandmother.


We sadly note the passing of Hart Perry in early February. As many of you know, Hart had dedicated his life’s work and interests to rowing. He was executive director of the National Rowing Association and was known as the “godfather” of his sport. Hart had just returned from London, where he had received the 2010 World Distinguished Service to Rowing Award. A special memorial service is scheduled for April 16 at Kent School. 


Dartmouth College Fund: Please remember to support the hard work of chairman Woody Goss and his team in this important annual giving effort for the College and the class. 


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom


@yahoo.com


As we write these notes just before Christmas we recall the heavy snows in the South and Northeast a year ago that had us snowbound in Connecticut. The forecast this year is milder. By the time you read this in mid-February we shall know how it all turned out this time.


November was 1955 mini-reunion month. To start, our North Carolina classmates had their semiannual gathering on the 11th in Statesville hosted by Jon and Mary Anderson. They were joined by Ed and Coyla Barry, Dave Conlan, Ken Lundstrom, Tom and Sharon McGreevey, Paul and Shirley Merriken and Dave and Betsey Miller. The group now refers to itself as the ’55 Antiques Road Show to reference the road trips involved—and, well, the attendees. 


November 19 featured two mini-reunions—Washington, D.C., and Hanover. In Washington Joe Mathewson was interviewed at the Newseum by Greg Stohr, the Supreme Court reporter for Bloomberg News, concerning Joe’s book, The Supreme Court and the Press, before a large and engaged audience. Arrangements had been made by Nick and Mary Lynn Kotz. Dinner with classmates Paul and Margot Zimmerman, Harry Weil, Bob and Kay Perkins, Jim and Judy Perkins, Paul and Karen Mannes, Lew Wolfson and Ron Muller at a nearby restaurant followed with continued lively discussions.


In Hanover ’55s gathered for a Hopkins Center showing of the Nuremburg Trials documentary, which had been brought to Dartmouth by donations from the class of 1955 under the leadership of Buck Kuttner. The showing in Hanover was the first at an undergraduate Ivy institution. Present were Buck and Marta, Larry and Kathy Pilchman, Ralph and Carol Sautter, Jud Hale, John and Betty Wetzel, Jack and Marilyn Doyle.


Lynmar Brock has announced the publication of Genevieve, about a young ensign on sea duty in the Mediterranean who meets Genevieve on liberty, a collision at sea and the unexpected outcome for Ensign Karnin.


Make your reservations now for our September 6-10 mini-reunion at Flathead Lake Lodge, Big Fork, Montana, hosted by Pete and Annie Teal.


Also, please remember to support the hard work of Team Goss for the Dartmouth College Fund. 


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


The end of April is the deadline for these notes—the month T.S. Eliot has called “the cruelest month,” brought harshly into perspective by the events in Boston. Thoughts immediately turned to our many classmates in the Boston community and their extended families with the hope that none were in harm’s way—and also the greater Dartmouth community, be they runners, responders or personnel in the hospitals. It touches us all. Waco, Texas, where Joe Kagle lived for so many years, touches us. Newtown, Connecticut, where our son and his family and also Harlan Jessup live, still touches us all, too. If any of this has caused you to think of a classmate either recently in contact or not, go ahead and give him a call; it is timely and good. 


We had a nice update from Tom Wittenberg, who is retired from the Chamber of Commerce in Athens, Georgia, where he and Madeline have lived the last 25 years. Tom has a thriving third career as a tai chi instructor to fellow seniors in a lifelong learning program there. Tom entered the army after his sophomore year and graduated with the class of 1958. Tom Januzzi is also retired in a university town—Blacksburg, Virginia. Tom had a distinguished academic career and was chair of the India, China, Southeast Asia and Africa economic studies program at the University of Texas. He and Barbara moved in 1998 to the Appalachian Mountains, where he is active in the greater Blacksburg community. Dick Aberle is in a comfortable retirement community in West Brandywine, Pennsylvania, close to his grandchildren’s school. He is able to see them every day at athletic events and transporting to their home. 


Sadly we report the passing of Buck Frisch and Dan Musser. Dan was chairman emeritus of the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan, where he and Amelia graciously hosted our marvelous mini-reunion in 2011. Dan was a noted leader in the hospitality industry in Michigan and nationally. He was chair of the public works commission for more than 30 years to ensure the island’s environmental sustainability


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com


We were relieved and heartened to learn that classmate Taro Shindo and his wife, Setsuko, are safe and suffered no immediate aftereffects from the tsunami and earthquake in their home city of Takarazka, Japan, 350 miles from the center of the disaster. Taro has expressed high appreciation for the assistance Japan has received as quoted below from his email:


“Forty days swiftly passed since the disaster. Japan has been given tremendous help from many countries. We realize the strong ties with the world outside Japan and are deeply moved by their cooperation. I should pass on to the American people the strong support in many aspects from the U.S. military with 16,000 soldiers, 13 naval vessels, 133 aircrafts and 8,000 tons of relief materials. The paratroops from the air and the landing operation from the sea reached Sendai Airport, which was all buried in heavy debris by the tsunami. Owing to their engagement in relief operations, after a few days the airport miraculously restored its partial carrying power. It’s incredible that now it is functioning almost as it used to be. 


“For the Fukushima nuclear radius accident, the United States provided experts and equipment support, dispatching the very specialized Marine Corps chemical-biological incident response force of 150 men who are ready to act at any time. On the top of this the pilotless photo-reconnaissance Global Hawk plane continues watching the plant. Our defense minister stressed that we have been most impressed and overwhelmed by the generosity, vitality and vigor of the American people through the crisis of this time. Now we have switched our actions from emergency toward reconstruction.”


John Baldwin reported a record, drought-ending 60-inch snow accumulation at his home in Twain Harte, California. It was still snowing on Palm Sunday in Rapid City, South Dakota, when we reached John Barlow. He and Anne had an excellent vacation in Scotland this year including a stop at St. Andrews. John Levitas (Whitesboro, New York) is the winter winner with 120 inches. 


Dartmouth College Fund: Please remember to support the hard work of chairman Woody Goss and his team.


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom @yahoo.com


Homecoming: Forty-seven classmates, wives and widows returned to Hanover for our annual class festivities and to celebrate the leadership of the great class of 1955. Three weeks earlier at Class Officers Weekend, Jack Doyle was named class president of the year (recognized for his stalwart dedication and diplomatic leadership) and Ralph Sautter Class Treasurer of the Year (cited as “treasurer extraordinaire”). In addition, our class received runner-up distinction for Class of the Year (“Performance exemplary across the board. The class of ’55 abounds with passion.”) Distance travelers with us included John Ballard, Harry Lewis and Dave Conlan. John continues his service to the College on the Thayer School board of visitors. As in years past, motel, meeting room and dining arrangements were made by Larry Pilchman. 


Class of 1955 Awards were presented to Dick Roberts and Stephen Wilson for significant contributions to their professions, community and Dartmouth. Dick has been recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in research and medical education in the study of infectious diseases. His work continues as adjunct professor at Rockefeller University and dean emeritus of Trinity School of Medicine, St. Vincent. Stephen was recognized for his lifelong career as an environmentalist and dedication to preserving “our sacred trust”: educator (e.g., new academic programs at SUNY-Albany and Empire State); power plant and low-level radioactive waste siting committees for New York State; Hudson River cleanup as a plank owner of the sloop, Clearwater. A beekeeper, Stephen seeks to initiate a foundation to study the decline of bee populations due to viruses.


The football team had a dominant win over Columbia. Doug and Diana Melville, Ward and Thelma Rowley, Tom Byrne, Don Charbonnier, John and Carole French andyour scribe were among those to take in the game. Ward is active in the Friends of Football and serves on the executive committee.


Make your reservations now for our September 6-10 mini-reunion at Flathead Lake Lodge, Big Fork, Montana, hosted by Pete and Annie Teal.


Sadly, we report the passing of Bernie Carpenter, Fred Crocker and John Demas. Obituaries will be found at the DAM website.


—Ken Lundstrom, 1101 Exchange Place, #1106, Durham, NC 27713; (919) 206-4639; kenlundstrom@yahoo.com