Class Notes 1956

In response to my request, Jack Billhardt was kind enough to provide me with a copy of The Wall Street Journal containing the article titled “College Rankings.” I was interested in the standards used to rank Dartmouth at 57th. One of the most significant standards currently used is a measure of how well a college prepares a student for financial success. I did not find any mention of the importance of a liberal arts education. Did the members of our class enjoy the lifelong benefits of a liberal arts education while realizing a reasonably successful career? Send me your thoughts on this issue and I’ll share them with other classmates.

Lacking copy from classmates, I retrieved from my files a reference to a meeting my wife and I had with Charlie Morrissey some years ago at a restaurant in Greensboro, Vermont. The luncheon attendants included Keith Ladd. Charlie was his usual interesting person regaling us with his experience while living in Houston. A Princeton graduate I knew from graduate school left the restaurant before finishing his meal to participate in a tennis doubles match that included William Rehnquist, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, who was a fine doubles player. I warn you that I will continue a report on the tennis game in question unless I receive copy from classmates to fill its place in the next edition. To increase the force of this threat I promise to explain the restrictive covenant that besmirched the real property owned by Rehnquist in Greensboro.

Finally, enjoy the Yuletime poem from Harry Nutting.

Snowflakes and sleigh bells all thru the night.

Christmas Day.

Christmas cookies and candy. Christmas delight.

who’s come to stay.

Children’s presents, opening fun.

The dog’s outside, having a run.

snow.

Snowman tomorrow, a family rite.

every day.

Word of the day: ort (usually “orts”), a scrap or remainder of food from a meal. Should we recognize that orts will be in short supply as their source of creation disappears?

With sadness I report the passing of Williard T. Carleton, Ph.D.

—Chuck Woodhouse, 6 Glen Brook Way, Apt. 159, Medway, MA 02053; (508) 202-2447; kirk8202@gmail.com

Alan Peyser sends the following message: “I have had a wonderful life and accomplished many things. All of them have involved technical and engineering matters. I have written a 20-page document about them. It has ranged from commanding satellites into orbit to selling equipment to 60 or more countries to coordinating the use of the Comsat satellites through big earth stations to eventually starting a company called Cable and Wireless, which grew to more than $1 billion in revenue. We live in Bethesda, Maryland, and spend the winters in Marco Island, Florida.”

Peripatetic Bob Mackay writes that “I am currently in Denmark playing golf and otherwise enjoying a society we could learn a lot from, particularly in how to fairly treat each other in our politics. They decided some time ago to establish a society with few rich citizens and almost no poor or homeless either. Works well for the Danes, it seems to me.”

As a remembrance of things past, Jack Crowley remembers: “Bill Thieme was a freshman year classmate. He played football, sat next to me in Spanish class, and was a good guy. He always wore a U.S. Navy dark blue deck jacket probably because his father was a Navy commander. On a fall morning in 1952 Bill’s seat in the Spanish class was vacant. I learned that when driving back to Hanover from Colby, Bill’s car left the road and he was killed. About six years ago I noticed a replica Navy deck jacket, dark blue, knit cuffs and collar with zip-front, plus-7, galoshes-style-buckles in the Orvis catalogue. Since I had always admired Bill’s jacket, I bought it and now remember the past by wearing it as I write this note. The hill winds know his name.”

Word of the day: Syncretism—the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. Lots of luck!

With sadness I report the passing of Glendon “Glen” E. French.

—Chuck Woodhouse, 29 C Claudette Drive, Milford, MA 01757; (508) 202-2447; kirk8202@gmail.com

Bob Mackay writes from Berlin: “With German unification, the U.S. Army Berlin Brigade left after almost 60 years of defending the ‘Outpost City.’ In 1994 Richard Holbrooke, Henry Kissinger, and other heavyweights in the postwar German American dialogue founded the Berlin American Academy here to maintain the strong cultural ties and common democratic values that had developed between our nations during more than a half century.

“In 2020 Daniel Benjamin, after eight years as director of the John Sloan Dickey Center at Dartmouth, became president of the American Academy. Since then Benjamin, an honorary member of the class of ’57, has energized the recruitment of leading American academics, artists, and other policymakers as working fellows, substantially strengthened its fundraising toward a $50-million endowment, and generally sharpened its profile as the leading American cultural institution in the Federal Republic. For those of us in the 1950 classes, shaped by our President Dickey’s ‘Great Issues’ courses, Daniel Benjamin brought the spirit of Dartmouth’s Dickey Center for International Understanding to Germany while maintaining his own close family and personal friendship ties to Hanover. Give a rouse!”

Charlie Morrissey, admittedly a man without a computer, has again put ink to paper upon learning that Newton-Wellesley Hospital was on my list as a frequently attended source of medical treatment. He discloses that he was born at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital on November 11, 1933, and rode his bike there while growing up in West Newton. No reason for the bike ride is given. He did mention that this hospital is served by a café whose name is the same as one of our classmates. The name will not be disclosed unless approved in writing by that classmate.

Word of the day: roseate. In no way a reference to our esteemed president, it rather designates something rose-colored or one who is optimistic or idealistic. Roseate readers of this column might demonstrate their optimistic state by sending copy for publication that lifts our spirits.

With sadness, I report the passing of Alan R. Booth, Ph.D., Peter A Bernard, and Robert L. Long Jr.

—Chuck Woodhouse, 29 C Claudette Drive, Milford, MA 01757; (508) 202-2447; kirk8202@gmail.com

A message from our co-president, Tom Rosenwald: “Stew Wood passed away in August. He was not only our classmate, but also our spiritual leader. It did not matter what religious denomination you belonged to. He was just Stew, our classmate. He was a wonderful human being. I loved him. He was all that you wanted him to be. He led our class fundraising efforts with fairness and love for Dartmouth College, but he was upset with certain College issues and expressed his displeasure. He was also a devoted husband and cared deeply with love and compassion for his wife. He was the gold standard for our class. We will miss him dearly.”

I attended by Zoom his memorial service at Rollins. His three children spoke of their dad with very meaningful expressions of their love for him.

The word “meh” was offered by another classmate who initially identified himself as “Max” but then wrote, “Max is my alias for Ted Weymouth.It came into being at Dartmouth and has been with me ever since. The public introduction of ‘Meh’ was initially meant to be expressed among only a few cognoscente on campus but John Wetzel ’55 broke the code of silence during a Shakespeare class with Professor Plessy, when I heard John utter a series of mehs (eight of them with growing emphasis) that brought the class to tears, the professor to a profound pause, and a 10-minute pit stop for all who have bloused their trousers since the term was now out in the open and considered a part of Shakespeare’s repertoire. It took on a more historical and universal meaning.”

Word of the Day: meh—expressing a lack of interest or enthusiasm. Please no mehs from classmates who have yet to send me copy for the DAM.

With sadness, I report the passing of Richard D. Burkhart, Ph.D.; George Cohan; Elliot Danforth Jr.,M.D; Robert K. Faulkner, Ph.D.; Donald “Woody” Hereward Gray Jr.; Eric H. Jensen, M.D.; and Peter B. Rosenwald.

—Chuck Woodhouse, 29 C Claudette Drive, Milford, MA 01757; (508) 202-2447; kirk8202@gmail.com

Bob Bransten emails that he visited the new Hood Museum and met with the director, John Stomberg. “I was delighted to tour the new building and see the wonderful permanent collection. Maybe the best takeaway was John’s intent to make the museum important for all Dartmouth students. As he said, ‘A premed student with no prior art interest has to be urged to look carefully.’ ” Bob donated to the Hood a painting by Tsugouharu Foujita, a Japanese painter at the time of Toulouse-Lautrec. “The museum has made huge strides since our time, and we can be proud of the Hood’s impressive contribution to the College.”

From Tucson, Arizona, Peter Hovell sends this message: “We moved from Connecticut to Tucson in 2009. It is a beautiful, friendly, and interesting city. The theater, arts, scenery, people, lack of snow, and desert were very inviting and invigorating. Fraternity brother Bill Carleton twisted our arms at the 50th reunion to visit him in Tucson. Within days we were looking for a real estate broker. We will be seeing Bill tomorrow for his 89th birthday party. We have also visited Bill Behrens up in Phoenix a few times. I believe that we are an extraordinarily fortunate generation in what we have experienced and how we have lived. Our only regret is that we may have contributed to the terrible divisiveness and anger going on around us and that we are now leaving to our kids.”

Word of the day:Hypotaxis, which means “subordination of one clause to another or when the clauses are coordinated or subordinated within sentences. The opposite is parataxis.” There are several examples of the application of hypotaxis contained in this column. Please identify at least one example in the report on your life that you are about to send me.

CPAP users: Medicare and a supplemental health insurance policy probably pay for your use. Remember, your insurance carrier might be listening for each breath registered through your nose only.

With sadness I report the passing of Foster L. Aborn and Dudley Dutton Heath.

—Chuck Woodhouse, 29 C Claudette Drive, Milford, MA 01757; (508) 202-2447; kirk8202@gmail.com

This is my first column as the secretary of our class. You will find my biography in the next class newsletter.

In order to produce the best possible column, I ask that you provide me by email, text, or U.S. Postal Service short articles on your current activities, commentaries on important events in your lives, and even musings with which you are comfortable. Absent regular input as described, I may be forced to use the allotted space to bore you with redundant and uninteresting information.

In order to encourage you to comply with my request, a few lines on your lineage as suggested by Jack Crowley would be in order. During my search of my father’s line, I found one of his sisters who I never knew existed and I also met my fifth cousin, who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Try it out and please your classmates.

The last few editions of this column have featured attempts at poetry. Limit your messages to your favorite word, containing its definition and reason for your offering it. For example, schadenfreude, which means “pleasure derived from another person’s misfortune,” is a favorite word of mine because it is currently appropriate to use in so many situations and may even reduce the level of anxiety that runs amok among some these days.

Absent sufficient commentary from classmates, I may be forced to episodically present chapters of my latest novel, tentatively titled Death By CPAP. Netflix and Simon & Schuster are both currently bidding on the rights to this tome. For those of you who have owned a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for more than seven years but have yet to use it even one night, my book will reinforce your decision to store the machine in your closet and thereby avoid rashes and facial disfigurement, not to mention disputes with your bedmate and an early demise. The salutary effect that the above narrative will have on those who are wedded to their CPAP is obvious.

—Chuck Woodhouse, 29 C Claudette Drive, Milford, MA 01757; (508) 202-2447; kirk8202@gmail.com

Ladies and gentlemen of 1956, having been brought up from age 6 by a widowed mother and a widowed grandmother, having married Beth 64 years ago, and having a daughter, a granddaughter, and female friends, I enthusiastically welcome aboard Sian Leah Beilock with deep respect and appreciation! A talented woman minding the helm, which leads us into our lineage theme for 2023. Expanding on John Cusick’s excellent 1957 Class Notes, “We are all cousins, baby!” But more about me: Ancestors Whitneys and Everetts landed in Massachusetts in 1635 from the United Kingdom and moved to Vermont and upstate New York. Great-grandfather Bartholomew Crowley came from County Cork in 1860, through Canada, marrying Mary Cameron, a Canadian Scot, and dairy farming on the New York-Canada border. Great-grandfather Karl Feichtinger moved from Austria to Fremont, Nebraska, in 1870, tin smithing for a Germanic farming community. His daughter, Bertha, met my grandfather, A.J. Crowley, at the Chicago World’s Fair. They married and went to White Plains, New York. So much for “Go West, young man!” How about you guys—where from and what done?

Ben Taylor checks in from Santa Rosa, California, where he’s rehabbing from back surgery. He has fond fishing memories, was a big game angler, and has New England roots (grandfather founded Union Carbide)!

Doc Eric Jensen’s Danish lineage enhanced the phrase, “ikke nu men lige hella nu” (not now, but right the hell now), when young Eric lagged and doddered.

Rick Worrell, a direct descendant of Rhode Island’s Roger Williams, recalls his Eastern Shore Chesapeake Bay grandfather of Sam Houston lineage leaving for the West, having been “on the outboard edges of polite Southern society and the law.” Go west, young man, indeed!

Co-president Jack Billhardt reminds us that when ascending a two-step stool at home, what goes up must come down! Chuck Woodhouse wonders if anyone has recollections of Dimitri von Mohrenschildt at Dartmouth (Russian literature)? Memories are sought for research. Bob McKay takes issue with the arrogance with which our beloved golf course was dismissed in the July-August DAM. Are we likewise “vestiges”? See you in “The Woods”—the Lone Pine will never die!

—J.W. Crowley, 15612 SE 42nd Place, Bellevue, WA 98006; (425) 746-1824; crowleyjack58@gmail.com

Ladies and gentlemen of 1956, Homecoming is upon us: a splendid October 27-30, hosting Harvard, which seems to be in more politically correct trouble than Dartmouth as of this writing! We don’t need a weathervane, the “woke” winds are blowing, but this college will be stronger and more relevant to humanity as the storm calms and the arc of history continues its inexorable path. And the joy and emotion of hanging out with cats you’ve known forever (and meeting new ones) is one of the special perks of life at this late date, as is enjoying the magnificent Upper Valley! The Rosenwald/Billhardt fish gig promises a neat moment in “The Woods”! We are nearing the end of the poetry year, though Don Sokol writes: “Here is my free-verse poem to honor my friend Joel Ash. (The night before his wedding to Marsha, a number of us sang at least 20 different dirty limericks, of which Doug Keare would have been proud!) ‘Rest easy dear friend/your classmates recognize your poetic contributions to the class and to the College you loved so much./Laughed singing the verses of the non-PC limericks./Sad, when you, the author of most poems in the history of Dartmouth, that were not felt worthy by the College to receive an honorary degree for your monumental effort./Your poems with the Big Green as a subject inspired us and caused us to reflect upon our college days./You are enshrined in our hearts forever./May we all meet in the hereafter and recite limericks together./Rest easy.’ ” And Harry Nutting tosses me a couple crumbs: “Jack issued a call for some rhymes/A splendid idea at the time/Harry Nutting came through/with a poetic line or two/Most others were too damn lazy to be bothered at the time!/Being class scribe ain’t a lark./Not like a walk in the park./So send Jack an email,/Call, or even snail mail./Thanks from us all for doing a great job.”

—J.W. Crowley, 15612 SE 42nd Place, Bellevue, WA 98006; (425) 746-1824; crowleyjack58@gmail.com

Ladies and gentlemen of 1956, “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, old time is still a-flyin’, and this same flower that smiles today, tomorrow will be dying” (Herrick 1648). Now we’re through the short days and wolf moon nights of 2022, the “Year of the Poem” (remembering Joel Ash), and absolutely nothing from various class poets, not even a limerick from noted poetry aficionado Bob Mackay, sequestered in Berlin until October! Was this not a good idea or a lack of one’s confidence or an inappropriate venue? I’ve been told this column is to gather info and activities on 1956 classmates who might contact me—or should I chase them down? Maybe poetry, the weathervane, Indian icons, and fern football helmets are not exciting anymore. Maybe Covid, old age, inflation, electric cars, and political division have exhausted us. Moving on, I’ll commend to you the poetry of war. One Bullet Away by Nate Fick ’99 and New Hampshire-man Robert Olmstead’s Coal Black Horse might make some contemplative beach reading this summer. What say you? The “Silent Generation” seems well-named. Chuck Woodhouse has been the only vocal one recently, with his moral and intellectual position on the use of the word “Indian.” Maybe we move from poetry to what? You guys tell me. Shifting gears, the Rosie-Billhardt administration tells me Homecoming is the last weekend in October: horse wagon, meals, beverages, Harvard game, and a weathervane for admiration. Right around the corner in 2026 comes free rooms in the Hanover Inn at our 70th—the Old Pine will never die! See you in “The Woods.”

And I’m not gonna call you cats—you want to say something, please get back to me.

—J.W. Crowley, 15612 SE 42nd Place, Bellevue, WA 98006; (425) 746-1824; crowleyjack58@gmail.com

Ladies and gentlemen of 1956, the Year of the Poem has arrived, specifically to remember Joel Ash, who wrote this column for 10 years. Having watched Tony Bruscino write poetry on the train back from a freshman football game, I said, “Why not?” And here goes.

“Away in the sky on a mesa high, rocks drop off to a ruin.

The brush is thick, our ponies are quick, we know it’ll take some doin’.

The Ancient Ones have left their home, we stop to wonder why.

Where did they go, who was their foe? Under this cloudless sky

Paul leads the way, thru the bright of day, we scramble up the kiva.

Bugs everywhere and prickle pear! But in our hearts we are believers.

Belief in the land, belief in the sky, belief in the forces that bring

Together, this place, these horses and men and women in loving embrace.

Back to the ranch, down the hill, thru the branch—the mystery seems to unfold.

They’re not gone, they’re still here—in our minds it is clear, their spirits remain in our souls.”

Now, please put pen to paper and send your creation to me! We have a year to remember Joel! Chuck Woodhouse continues: “I suggest that reading an article in the May 2021 edition of The Atlantic by David Treuer, titled ‘Return the National Parks to the Tribes,’ would be helpful for you and any others who share your position to understand the history of the past and the present of the treatment of Native Americans by the government and people of the United States. The plight of the Native Americans is expressed along with that of the other minorities in this country.”

See you in “The Woods!” The Indian will never die (metaphorically).

—J.W. Crowley, 15612 SE 42nd Place, Bellevue, WA 98006; (425) 746-1824; crowleyjack58@gmail.com

Ladies and gentlemen of 1956, as the dust is settling from our 65th reunion, I want to speak of a rising from other dust—the resurrection of the beloved “Animal House,” Alpha Delta Phi, on East Wheelock across from the gym. Linc Spaulding, Glen French, Jack Tamagni, Tony Newey, Dave Perry, Dick McClintock, Dave Whiteford, and I are the surviving beneficiaries of a 175-year-old tradition, knocked down but re-emerged! The special efforts of John Pepper ’91, Bob Downey ’58, and numerous others have created a positive environment of startup entrepreneurship, community service, and hospitality. Imagine a string quartet memorial gathering for Monk Bancroft ’57, yoga classes, and AA meetings where once Mike Zissu, pianist, and Nelson Kilbourne, one-armed piccolo player, mesmerized their audiences! And legend has it that the staircase to the second floor was used for giant slalom practice by said Monk. As the Indian will never die, likewise AD! So “Light a Fire in the Fireplace for Dick,” inscribed on the AD living room mantel in memory of Dick Hall, class of 1915, killed at Alsace in WW I the day after Christmas. And Tag Chapman’s photos on the walls remind us of how we were, and, as Pete Carroll paraphrased one of the more famous lines from the movie Animal House recently regarding the Russell Wilson kerfuffle, “There is nothing to see here—all is well.” And a recollection of our fifth reunion architect Dave Stackpole reprising his New England saga of the cork socker and the sock tucker at work in the Johnson, Vermont, brewery and woolen mill. Awesome! This was done at a mini-reunion in Tucson, Arizona, after which Beth and I and Dave stopped at the Red Rock Tavern to visit with Bobby the bull rider and bartender, all broken up from his last event! “Stack” shared stories with assorted cowboys, sheepherders, miners, and bikers—fascinating. Then to the Ritz Carlton at Dove Mountain for pupus around the firepit with the desert golf elite. “Walk with kings—nor lose the common touch!” You go to Dartmouth for life. See you in “The Woods.”

—J.W. Crowley, 15612 SE 42nd Place, Bellevue, WA 98006; (425) 746-1824; jackcrowley@hotmail.com

Ladies and gentlemen of 1956: Chief Plenty Coups’ plea to his people was to get an education to be the white man’s equal—100 years after Eleazar sought to provide just that. Linc Spaulding continues with part two of the brand. “Through the years Dartmouth has been fortunate to have had gifted presidents who recognized the compounding effect that remote Hanover has on the growth and development of Dartmouth students, enabling our graduates to achieve beyond the sum of their parts. Tucker, Hopkins, Dickey, Kemeny, and Wright fully understood these backwoods synergies. The school thrived on the mix, and it stuck to its motto ‘vox clamantis in deserto’ as evidenced by the adoption of year-round education, a three-subject courseload, and a semester abroad to facilitate the absorption of a 50-50 male-female mix. It also did not toss out the Greek system. So what is our brand now? Are we still doers? How do we capture doing in a logo? And what’s happened to the memory of Eleazar, our original and peerless Dartmouth doer? Have we thrown him under the bus with the weathervane? Here’s a thought: Let’s poll our Native American alumni and see if they would support a search for a new college symbol. Our entire alumni body, unified behind a symbol suggested by our Native American classmates the College was chartered to serve—now we’re talking about a brand with which to be reckoned!”

Tom Gidley, a barrister turned poetry fancier and course leader in Rhode Island, has enlisted Alan Sklar to recite Robert Frost at our 65th reunion in September. And I wish to recognize our class ophthalmologist, Alan Friedman, M.D., whose holistic approach to aging presented at our 55th in Hanover and Stowe, Vermont, I desperately try to follow! Excellent advice from a third-generation Dartmouth gentleman. Finally, my good friend Suzanne Lyons of Manhattanville College and Norwich, Vermont, is pleased and amazed to see the friendship, fellowship, and love we of 1956 have for each other. May it never fade. See you in “The Woods”! The Indian will never die.

—J.W. Crowley, 15612 SE 42nd Place, Bellevue, WA 98006; (425) 746-1824; jackcrowley@hotmail.com

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 1956, the late Joel Ash and I had a reverence for the Indian and the old traditions. Chief Plenty Coups of the Crow people in Montana said in the late 1800s, “With education, you are the white man’s equal; without education, you are his victim.”

So the Baker Tower weathervane issue fans ill winds. Joel eloquently stated the case in his September/October column. I had asked three questions: Who were the 900 people who signed the complaint; what percentage of Dartmouth alumni is 900 (a sliver, perhaps); and how do we know it’s a rum barrel on the weathervane? Could be an apple barrel—Eleazar was from Connecticut! Please let me know your thoughts—and what else is going on!

I want to acknowledge and thank the previous great communicators of the class—Joel Ash, Stew Wood, Ab Oakes, Flint Ranney, Bob Grossman, Tom Harper, Freddie “Pig” Oman, Art Zich, Stew Sanders, et al.—and appreciate being given the stewardship of the “back nine” as we approach our 65th reunion next fall! Hope to have a smooth transition from Joel to myself in this goat roping.

The class executive committee has recently met to plan the 65th reunion and further information will be forthcoming. A startling new concept, a class leadership authors program, was unveiled and you will hear more about it.

Bob McKay writes from Berlin, Germany, that he fondly remembers the hole in one made at No. 4 (the short uphill par 3) on the now-closed golf course. He says he hasn’t hit a good shot since and hopes the course will not be “condominiumised” to house grad school students.

Finally, I must mention our class physician, Dr. Eric Jensen of Mukilteo, Washington. After saving my life twice (three times, he says) he is now happily growing dahlias on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound, Washington.

All best wishes for a neat start to 2021!

The Indian will never die.

—J.W. Crowley, 15612 SE 42nd Place, Bellevue, WA 98006; (425) 746-1824; jackcrowley@ hotmail.com

The first two lines of the second verse of the College alma mater are “Dear old Dartmouth set a watch, Lest the old traditions fail.” Sadly, ever since I graduated, old traditions have been failing. The latest change being the removal of the weathervane from atop Baker Library. For many alums, old traditions are a treasured part of our youth. This particular symbol is of importance to me for the following reason. Back in the 1980s, my wife went to a crafts fair where the person who made the Baker weathervane had a replica on display. She bought a wall-hanging version for my birthday and it has been displayed on the front of my house ever since. I have no plans to remove it. I do not display it to denigrate anyone, since I believe that the Indian symbol in fact honors Native Americans. A survey conducted many years ago indicated that many Indian tribes thought that it was an honor to have such a symbol for a prestigious school such as Dartmouth. I can understand why some might find the proximity of the rum barrel to be offensive, and a move to remove that item makes more sense to me. However, the rum barrel and the Indian are no more related than the pine tree and the rum barrel. Each item stands alone as a historical symbol of the school, and I for one do not hold with tearing down statues and destroying historical symbols.

I received notice of the passing of two classmates—John A. Nicolette and Stephen M. Winslow. They follow the Barbary Coast jazz band as it plays a mournful tune and marches up Main Street. All march three times around the Green as we, the living, bow our heads in silent tribute.

I close with the first stanza of my poem titled “The Dartmouth Indians.”

Dartmouth College beneath the Old Pine,

Begun seventeen-sixty-nine;

The rules guarantee,

Indians can go free,

A brave symbol no way did malign.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

Until recently, I have been reporting two to four classmates passing on. Then, in my last report in December 2019, I sadly reported eight deaths. Now once again I have to report on eight deaths. However, I will not begin this submission with such a downer. Instead, I will report on all the recent contacts I have had with classmates—contacts that show that these folks are still alive and kicking. This includes telephone conversations with Bill Loyer, Phil and Sandra Hinkle, Al and Diane Friedman, Elliott and Alice Weinstein, and Harry Nutting. In addition, I have had written contacts from Mike and Margie Grunebaum, Jack Crowley, Tom Bechler, Tony Carleton, Karen Merrels, Hugh and Lizzie Erwin, and Kevin and Sue Ryan. It is good to know that all of these folks are still with us and we hope we may get to see them at an upcoming class get-together

Now for the sad news. I received notices from the College of the passing of five classmates and word from classmates of the passing of three others: Steve G. Chontos, David H. Dolben, Roger B. Griffin, David E. Klein, M.D., and Dean E. Sheldon Jr. Inaddition, Di Zock reported that Richard Zock passed away of a heart attack, Jack Crowley reported that John L. Wanamaker died suddenly, and Harry Nutting called to let me know that Dave Stackpole passed on. These eight classmates follow the Barbary Coast jazz band as it plays a mournful tune and marches up Main Street led by Samson Occom dressed in buckskins. As they march three times around the Green, we, the living, all bow our heads in silent tribute.

I encourage all classmates that remain vertical to attend Homecoming or our upcoming reunion.

I close with the second stanza of my poem titled “Classmates Forever.”

Faint echoes of library bells,

Winter scenes casting North Country spells;

Feet crunching on snow,

Along paths long ago,

Deep inside the experience dwells.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

At Homecoming Weekend a small but enthusiastic group of 1956 classmates, wives, and other relatives gathered at the Hanover Inn to renew college ties and enjoy the festivities. Among the attendees, in alphabetical order, were Joel Ash and wife Marsha, Jack Crowley and friend Suzanne Lyons, Bob Faulkner and wife Pam, Kirby Fowler and wife Pat, Tom Harper and brother Jigger ’57 as well as niece Barbara, John Higgs and wife Helen as well as granddaughter Emily, Dick Layman and wife Helen, Harry Nutting, Tom Rosenwald andgranddaughter Ali, Rona Schattman and daughter Karin, Linc Spaulding, and Stew Wood and wife Kirsten. Most of this list attended the 63rd class meeting held on Saturday morning along with a lovely breakfast.

Food and drinks were covered by the class and all of the arrangements were first class. Harry Nutting deserves a big round of applause for organizing an excellent weekend. Arrangements were made for a wide screen TV in the class room at the inn and those who chose the indoor option enjoyed a 42-to-10 win by the Big Green over Yale. Our first foreign scholarship student, Tashi Kesang ’70, and his wife, Tse, joined us for dinner on Saturday night.

I received notices from the College of the passing of four classmates: Francis X. Dineen, C. Burton “Burt” Kellog II, Frank G. Leavitt II, and Alan Voulgaris. These four classmates follow the Barbary Coast jazz band as it plays a mournful tune and marches up Main Street led by Samson Occom dressed in buckskins. As they march three times around the Green, we, the living, all bow their heads in silent tribute.

I close with the last stanza of a poem titled “The Green Heart.”

All join in when the Dartmouth songs start,

As alumni we each play our part;

School ties are maintained,

Loyal feelings ingrained,

In each chest you will find a green heart.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

I received a copy of the Maine Pilot newsletter from a classmate who wishes to remain anonymous with a note indicating that many in the class would find the front-page headline story of interest. The headline reads: “After four years in prison, Rusty Brace is released.” Four years following his sentencing in U.S. 1st District Court in Portland, Maine, for mail and tax fraud, former Rockport resident Russell “Rusty” Brace was released April 26 from a federal penitentiary in Rochester, Minnesota, at the age of 85. He looks ahead to two years of supervised release.

I also received a copy of the front page of The Roanoke Times with a headline obituary about Herb West, son of professor Herb West, who taught many of us at Dartmouth. This item was sent in by Darrel Clowes, who wrote: “Herb West Jr. was as unique a student at Dartmouth as his father was a professor. He left junior year after being kicked out for having a woman after hours in his dorm room, but he subsequently enrolled at the University of Chicago and went on to an exotic but successful academic career at Virginia Tech. He retired as the oldest assistant professor at that institution.” The headline of the article reads, “Blacksburg musicians and friends remember the ‘partying professor.’ ”

I received notices from the College of the passing of four classmates, William M. Balliette Jr., Stephen J. Bissell, E. Kent Kane III, and George M. Yeager. I also got an email from Carol Riker indicating that an obituary for Tom Riker recently appeared in The San Diego Union Tribune. All five of these classmates follow the Barbary Coast jazz band as it marches up Main Street and all bow their heads in silent tribute.

I close with the last stanza of a poem titled “A Remembrance of Things Past.”

Reunion’s a time to see friends,

Hoping the day never ends;

Nostalgia and fun,

Laughs one by one,

And a true Dartmouth spirit transcends.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

My column regarding the 10 youngest members of the class generated quite a bit of feedback. Robert Mackay emailed me from Germany (where he resides) that his birthday of December 3, 1934, makes him second youngest in the class after Lincoln Yu. Since Bob was not included on the list of the youngest 10 that I got from the College, I immediately forwarded his email to alumni records for clarification. I was informed that the College does not have official confirmation of his birth date and he would have to contact them personally to update the record. I then forwarded the College’s email address to Bob. Since I assume that Bob knows his own birthday, he unofficially makes the list. There are also individuals who would have made the list if they had gone on to graduate. Finally, it should be noted that the College states that the records are not complete, so there is no definitive list.

Now for some sad news. According to an obit in the Vermont Standard, Robert Walker French passed away November 26, 2018, at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Bob’s wife sent the obit to Robert Faulkner, who forwarded it to me. Next, I received an email from Stacey Keare indicating that his father, Douglas H. Keare, passed away on January 8. As you all know, Doug was very active in college and class affairs and had multiple children and grandkids graduate from Dartmouth—all this is too voluminous to fit into my limited column space but undoubtedly will be covered in the newsletter. Finally, I received an email from Jim Whitney indicating that his father, Dick Whitney, recently passed on. For all three of these newly deceased classmates, we, the surviving, bow our heads in silent tribute.

On the brighter side, I got an email from Andy Hurwitz stating that his father, Roger A. Hurwitz, was alive and well in Indianapolis, Indiana. I also received notice from the College indicating that Everett E. Briggs just published a memoir titled Honor to State: Reflections of a Reagan-Bush Era Ambassador.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

I recently received a call from Lincoln Yu that got me contemplating the very youngest members of the class. For those who do not know it, Lincoln was the youngest person in our class at the time of matriculation. He was born February 1937, and was 15 years old in September 1952. Lincoln was born in China and lived in San Antonio, Texas, since 1973. I have long believed that I was the fifth-youngest in the class at matriculation with a December 1935 birthday, but was not 100-percent certain. This has now been supported by a recent listing from the alumni relations office of those students it believes may be the 10 youngest members of the class (the office reminds me that records can be inaccurate). The list includes No. 2 John K. Van de Kamp (recently deceased), born February 1936; No. 3 Roger Tolins (deceased), born January 1936; No. 4 Dr. Vincent J. Felitti, born January 1936; No. 6 Alan Levenson (deceased), born December 1935; No. 7 Herbert J. Dahl (deceased), born November 1935; No. 8 William E. Loyer, born October 1935; No. 9 Bernard A. Faber (deceased), born October 1935; and No. 10 Frank P. Strong Jr. (deceased), born October 1935. I do not think that the 10 oldest members of the class would like to see that in print, so we’ll skip that.

I received official notification that Donald Francis Hamson and Peter Clinton Lauterbach have passed away. I also got an email from the alumni office that John Koehring has passed and the wife of Frederick S. Lowry informed Bob Faulkner that Fred has passed. As the Barbary Coast jazz band plays a mournful tune and the procession marches up Main Street, we, the living, all bow our heads in silent tribute.

I received a batch of limericks that Pharis Horton penned in honor of the 65th birthday of his brother, Sherm ’51, who served 10 years on the N.H. Supreme Court. I close with one of his poems.

There was a big greener named Hort,

Who would take, time to time, a good snort;

But lordy alive,

He is now 65,

And has found other things better sport.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

I got a lengthy email from Egil Stigum that is of substantial interest. I will try to fit in as much as I can. “Arlene and I moved to Carmel by the Sea, California, in September 2011 and are very happy with the move. Arlene is an artist and writer, and hence we choose to live in a community of people accomplished in many areas, including art. We are still skiing and spent two lovely weeks in Sun Valley, Idaho, during the winter of 2016. Unfortunately, 2017 skiing was canceled because I had a double bypass in April 2017. I’m now a member of the zipper club. And 2018 was also canceled due to medical issues, but we are now making plans for skiing in 2019. We enjoy the climate here, and we both keep very busy. Right now I am making plans to go to the 65th reunion and look forward to seeing many ’56s.”

The sounds of the Barbary Coast jazz band marching up Main Street signal the passing of two classmates, H. Stephen Farmer, M.D., and Stuart Klapper. As the procession marches around the Green, all remaining class members bow their heads in tribute.

I noted a missive from Prentiss Carnell in the latest issue of Dartmouth Engineer and pass along part of it for the benefit of those who do not get the Thayer magazine. “I’ve been retired almost 30 years and am fairly healthy. I feel sorrow at the diminishment of our class size. Have enjoyed interviewing admissions candidates for 40-plus years.”

From “New England”:

New Hampshire my poems glorify,

A place where they live free or die;

White Mountains so green,

Winter sun, snow bright sheen,

Dartmouth College beneath the blue sky.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

In my October 2017 column I indicated enjoyment of thriller novels and encouraged classmates to email me their favorite authors. Larry Seymour responded with “Alan Furst, a writer who lived in Paris for many years and wrote spy-espionage thrillers.” Larry recommended reading these novels in chronological order, and I picked Night Soldiers, written in 1988 and the first of 14 related books. Although Furst is not the page-turner that Lee Child and Vince Flynn are, Night Soldiers is very interesting—great descriptions of Eastern Europe, Moscow, Spain and Paris in the 1934 to 1945 period. He has a unique style of writing that makes one stop and think. It’s wonderful coverage of training to be a Russian spy and living that life. Larry also recommended Olen Steinhauer.

Now, the sounds of the Barbary Coast jazz band marching up Main Street signal the passing of classmates Robert Dilwyn Hall, John Eichholtz Kramer Jr., John Shepard Parke and Bert Robinson Whittemore. All remaining class members bow their heads in silent tribute as the procession marches around the Green. I must mention that Bert Whittemore lived in Pembroke, New Hampshire, and was very active in attending class meetings in Hanover. We spent many pleasant moments chatting about Dartmouth and life in our state.

Sandy and Phil Hinkle visited during February, and we attended a men’s hockey game vs. St. Lawrence. After beating Clarkson the night before, the Dartmouth team was listless for the opening two periods and trailed 1-0. Dartmouth scored early in the third period to tie it up and with one minute to go the home team scored again. The final minute was complete excitement for Big Green fans as Dartmouth scored an empty netter and won 3-1.

Having never visited Moscow, I present the first stanza of a poem titled “Moscow: The Forbidding City,” written in 1999.

In winter this town is the worst,

To come here one must be coerced;

With not much to do,

Summer days are gray too,

Inconvenience and distrust rank first.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

After missing Homecoming Weekend last year, I carefully planned this year’s cruise so that we could attend this time. Unfortunately, the cruise that we planned for an August departure was canceled due to problems with the ship’s engines, and the only viable replacement was a cruise in the opposite direction leaving September 28—so no Homecoming Weekend once again. Fortunately, our 1956 annual get-together with four other couples was graciously moved ahead, so that we did get to see Alan and Diane Friedman, Harold and Joan Gordon, Mike and Marge Grunebaum, and Elliott and Alice Weinstein in New York City on October 22. The Friedmans hosted a lovely dinner and a fine time was had by all. We also were able to welcome Bill Loyer, along with his daughter, Ann, as well as his granddaughter, Emily, to our home for dinner on October 13. Emily was visiting Dartmouth as a prospective student and we wish her the best of luck in future schooling.

Now the sounds of the Barbary Coast jazz band marching up Main Street signals the passing of two classmates, Charlie Honig and Phil James. All remaining class members bow their heads in silent tribute as the procession marches around the Green.

I spent some quality time with Bob Faulkner during Class Officers Weekend and this included a discussion of books recently read. We share the enjoyment of thrillers written by Lee Child and Vince Flynn. Classmates are encouraged to email me about their favorite authors.

I got a nice email from Abner Oakes responding to a previous column about our trip to Montreal. Abner grew up there and held dual citizenship until the age of 18, when he became American all the way.

Now, in honor of the new Ravine Lodge, I include here the final stanza of a six-stanza poem titled Atop Moosilauke, written in 1998.

Culmination atop Moosilauke,

Ravine Lodge up upon the bedrock;

Raucous laughter and song,

All the freshman belong,

How I wish I could turn back the clock.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

Several weeks ago I attended a lecture on the library special collections now housed at Rauner (a separate library from Baker located in the Webster Hall of old). I have long had a warm regard for the special collections—ever since I learned as a freshman of the collection of magic books included therein. On numerous occasions I used these books to do research needed to write various papers for English and other courses as well as to enhance my repertoire of magic tricks.

While there in Rauner I inquired about my two books of poetic limericks that I believed were housed in Baker Library. I was informed that these books were not in Baker but were part of the Rauner collections. This is not because my books are rare or priceless like many books in these collections, it is because all books written by Dartmouth graduates are housed in Rauner. So, for all my classmates who have written books and donated copies to the library or whatever, your book or books are part of the Rauner special collections.

Although the report on the passing of any of our classmates is always sad, this report is particularly so. The sounds of the Barbary Coast jazz band marching up Main Street on this occasion have a baleful overtone. Four newly fallen classmates march behind the band and we bow our heads in silent tribute to honor A.F. “Ted” Bremble Jr., Leo C. McKenna, Howard Sodokoff and John K. Van de Kamp. Because Leo McKenna lived in Hanover at the time of his death, my local newspaper, The Valley News, carried a lengthy obituary. We were reminded that Leo was awarded the Barrett Cup, which was described as “the highest accolade that can be given to a graduating senior.”

From “Death Close By,” last stanza:

How can one come to terms with these things,

The stings that a death always brings;

Wounds sharper and deeper

Cut by the grim reaper,

Inside where our love ever clings.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

My poem-of-the-month email goes to 200-plus friends and poetic limerick lovers. The January poem titled “New” was not reprinted in the recent class newsletter due to political correctness issues. I did receive a nice email comment from Alan Peyser who said, “Thanks greatly. Well said. Have lots of friends who are going to be involved. I don’t think we are in the majority of our class on this.” My response to Alan is, “That may be true, but there are some who may enjoy seeing the first stanza of the poem as shown below. Anyone wishing to see the remainder please contact me and I will add them to my poem of the month listings and send the January opus retroactively.”

On a sadder note, I hear sounds of the Barbary Coast jazz band marching up Main Street. Three newly fallen classmates, Kenneth Harrison Rice Jr., D. Kennedy Fesenmyer and William R. Grigsby, march just behind the band as we bow our heads in silent tribute. I received a nice note from the son of Bill Grigsby, Kendall Grigsby Carbone ’88—same class as that of my son, Deron. Kendall requested that I mention that the family will be doing a celebration of life for Bill on Friday, May 12, in case there are old friends in the Denver area who would like to attend.

Until recently Kirby Fowler had a condo in my community, Eastman. After Kirby’s wife, Pat, became ill, the condo was sold and Kirby returned full time to New Jersey. Packing up, Kirby donated a bunch of books to the local library, including a copy of the class of 1956 reunion volume given to me by the librarian. I now have two, so if anyone would like one just let me know.

“New”—first of five stanzas:

A new poem the appropriate thing,

A new year and new path in full swing;

Discarding old ways

Introducing new days,

The making of great years these bring.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

Marsha and I attended the Dartmouth-Penn football game and there is good news, bad news and interesting news to report. The good news is that it did not rain as it threatened to do. The bad news you know already: Dartmouth played very poorly in the first half and lost 37 to 24. The interesting news is that we saw Doug and Ginger Keare at the game and we were able to chat and enjoy at least that aspect of the evening.

I recently received a nice note from Abner Oakes. He wrote, “I was cleaning out my files and came across some Dartmouth pictures, my 1956 Indian cane and two booklets that I am sending you as a small token of appreciation for your work as class secretary. One is a booklet of poems written by a friend of my son. The second includes two sketches of life in Hanover combining fact and humor, one written by Professor Bartlett in 1872 and the other by Corey Ford. Enjoy.”

I now hear sounds of the Barbary Coast jazz band marching up Main Street. Two newly fallen classmates, John Richard Webb and Donald Oden Ford, march just behind the band as we bow our heads in silent tribute.

The Ashes, the Friedmans, the Gordons and the Weinsteins leave shortly on a 19-day trip to France, including Paris, a river cruise from Lyon to Avignon, tours of Provence and Burgundy, and Nice. Some would call this a terrorism tour, but we intend to ignore tragic events of the past as we eat, drink and make merry. We all look forward to seeing a great deal of French art, and I personally will take in a number of magic venues.

I close with a newly created poetic limerick titled “Cruising and Perusing.”

In France there is so much to see,

For my friends, for my wife and for me;

Including some magic

Ignoring the tragic,

French art in the heart of Pariee

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net
 

During the class of 1956 60th reunion, close to 100 classmates (175 with spouses, etc.) returned to enjoy a variety of enjoyable events and lovely weather in Hanover. Dave Stackpole, the reunion chairman, deserves a rousing cheer for his hard work and excellent planning. Notable moments included an interesting and often funny presentation by Woody Fraser, interesting remarks by John Van de Kamp and the reading of poetic limericks by yours truly. For the first time ever the Dartmouth administration, in the person of President Hanlon, made note of my poetic efforts with some very laudatory remarks.

I interrupt to announce that the Barbary Coast Jazz Band is marching up Main Street and around the Green followed by Berkeley Roth. We all bow our heads in solemn tribute as one more classmate is added to the list of those who have passed on and were called out individually at a memorial service in Rollins Chapel during reunion.

Alan Friedman also deserves recognition for his work in planning an excellent post-reunion program. Eighteen classmates and spouses made the trip to Stowe, Vermont, for a stay at the Stowe Mountain Lodge. This was a superb venue with superior rooms and wonderful service—even better than the Trapp Family Lodge of previous reunion extensions. A magic show and slide presentation titled “My Life in Magic” was enjoyed by all and this was followed by a terrific cruise on Lake Champlain with a most enjoyable lobster dinner.

It was announced during the class meeting that the College will pay for expenses at our 65th reunion in 2021, including a stay at the Hanover Inn. We thus have a tremendous incentive to remain vertical for the next five years and show up for the 65th.

In remembrance of the reunion so enjoyed, I close with the first stanza of “At Reunion.”

Special times when our class will convene,

At reunion—return to the green;

Old friendships renewed,

Dartmouth spirit imbued,

Love surpassing all years in between.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

All classmates received a reunion flyer titled “Attention on Deck!” in which “the following classmates are making plans for our fabulous 60th reunion!” I feel that this listing is worthwhile repeating for those who set the flyer aside with no further action and those who may not even have bothered to read it.

Those coming include Ash, Bechler, Behrens, Billhardt, Bransten, Bremble, Carleton, Carnell, Chapman, Clowes, Crowley, Davidoff, Devorsetz, Driscoll, Dumont, Faulkner, Faulkner, Fellingham, Fraser, Frazier, French, Friedman, Fridlund, Gordon, Grossman, Haight, Harper, Higgs, Kaplan, Keare, Klapper, Kramer, Kuhns, Liebman, Montgomery, Morrissey, Murray, Nutting, Parke, Peyser, Riker, Rosazza, Rosenwald, Schattman, Shore, Slater, Sokol, Spaulding, Stackpole, Stigum, Talmagni, Weinstein, Whitney, Whittemore, Wood, Worrell and Yeager. That’s 57 classmates—56 plus one for good measure. And there are others who have not yet made the list but are definitely coming, such as Bill Loyer. And there are others who have told me in the past that they intend to come, such as Morty Galina, Paul Gingold and Bob Taub. I intend to send an advance copy of this column to those last three via email to remind them that I and many others look forward to seeing them in June.

Happily, there are no deaths in the class to report at this time and thus the potential pool of those who could be coming has not been reduced.

I received a happy New Year email from Don Dillon and looked for his name on the above list. Since it is not there, I urge him to attend. I guess that he also will get an advance copy of this column. To all those who have not been mentioned, I urge you to read my concluding poem and get enthused. Hope to see every one of you very soon. The following is from “At Reunion,” the sixth stanza of a poetic limerick written in 1999.

College setting a scene so serene,

Remembrance of age of 18;

Reminders abound,

Cherished echoes resound,

Dartmouth love, home again on the Green.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

The class of 1956 had a fine turnout for Homecoming Weekend 2015, and the Dartmouth football team’s win over Yale contributed to a rousing good time. Attendees included Joel and Marsha Ash, Bill Behrens, Jack Billhardt, Bob and Pam Faulkner, Harold and Joan Gordon, Tom and Sandy Harper, Doug and Ginger Keare, Harry Nutting, Stephen Osman, Tom and Abbey Rosenwald, Buddy and Rona Shattman, Bill Sherman, Bob and Lynn Slater, Linc Spaulding, Dave Stackpole, Jack and Judy Tamagli, Frank Terihune, Bert Whittemore and Stew and Kristin Wood. A number of 1956 class scholars and Dartmouth Undergraduate Veterans Association members all participated in various events. Harry Nutting did a fine job of organizing a lovely fall weekend and the early October date contributed excellent colors.

Hark! I hear the Barbary Coast Jazz band playing joyous renditions as they march up Main Street and around the Green. The music is particularly joyous at this time because there is not one single passing to report!

I noted a thoughtful letter from Bill Wheeler in the November/December issue of Dartmouth Alumni Magazine within the “Your Turn” section. Bill wrote from Yakima, Washington, recommending the reading of a book by Robert Grenier ’76 titled 88 Days to Kandahar. For those who missed Bill’s letter, you might want to read it in full and perhaps go back to the July/August issue to read the interview with Grenier that is referenced.

The number of words allowed for our Class Notes column has been increased from 300 to 350 and I urge all class members to forward me anything that they deem of interest so that we make full use of allotted space in the DAM. News items from other classes that mention a ’56 and inputs from spouses and offspring are also welcome.

From “Wintergreen,” the fifth of 44 poetic limericks written by yours truly related to Dartmouth:

Winter shadows beneath the green pine,

Snowflakes drifting down crystalline;

A soft cover spread,

College Green white instead,

The woodbine and the snow now combine.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

I received an email from David Hallagan ’85 providing an update on his dad, Richard Hallagan. David reports that his dad is going strong and enjoying retirement activities, including cross-country skiing and sailboat racing. Richard qualified for the world championship regattas in two types of boats and often finishes near the front. He stopped downhill ski racing but still competes in cross country. In February he raced in the Birkebeiner 25-kilometer race in Wisconsin and finished third in the 80-plus group. Richard’s wife passed away more than a decade ago and he has found wonderful companionship with a lovely lady named Sally Hume. They bounce between her homestead in Colorado and his place in Rochester, New York, with trips all over the world. They also compete regularly at bridge. Many thanks to David for this welcome report—I encourage other sons and daughters of my classmates to do the same.

I interrupt to announce that the Barbary Coast Jazz Band is playing a series of joyful tunes in celebration of the fact that there is not one passing to report. Noting a mention of the Sokols’ move to California in a previous issue, John Liebman says that he misses seeing them on a regular basis. Same for the Longs,who left Albuquerque, New Mexico, to move to Phoenix. He does get to see Ed Ross and Trish, who live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. John loves living in New Mexico and says that he does not miss L.A.

In celebration of everywhere we live and travel I offer “Our Homeland.”

Do travel across this great land,

See all of the beauty firsthand;

Go to national parks,

And the U.S. landmarks,

From up north to the grand Rio Grande.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net

I had a conversation with Gene Matusow ’57 recently and Paul Gingold’s name came up. It seems that Paul has been spending lots of time cruising because he finds it cheaper than living on land. This was such an intriguing idea that I had to give Paul a call. Paul and his wife, Kim, have had a travel agency in Lambertville, Pennsylvania, for the past 30 years and this helps them get away often. As we spoke they were planning to leave on another world cruise aboard the Crystal Serenity for 108 days. In 2007 they did a world cruise aboard the Regent Seven Seas Voyager, 2008 was 60 days around South America and 2010 was the Voyager again. He mentioned a number of other shorter trips, but by now you get the idea. Bon voyage to Paul and Kim!


I now interrupt to announce the Barbary Coast Jazz Band playing in honor of three newly fallen classmates. All living 1956s honor the passing of Wesley Hugh Smith, Richard Lewis Gordon and Paul Eli Margulies. We bow our heads in silent tribute.


Had a call from John Yassin seeking contact information for Don Sokol, who recently moved to Chino, California. I was able to help out and would be happy to assist anyone else with similar needs. John lives in Potomac, Maryland—still working two days a week as a consultant at Walter Reed hospital and enjoying his five grandkids. 


I close with the first stanza of a poetic limerick written in 2004, “Pound a Minute.”


Cruise when you are in the food mood,


Large meals with deserts interlude;


Include the buffet,


For a huge stowaway,


Every bite makes your belt-line protrude.


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com 


Eighteen ’56s and 11 wives came to Hanover for Homecoming Weekend and a great time was had by all. Attending were Joel and Marsha Ash, Bill Behrens, Don Dillon and Mary Thormeyer, Bob and Pam Faulkner, Tex Fridlund, Harold and Joan Gordon, Tom and Sandy Harper, Doug and Ginger Keare, Harry Nutting, Buddy Schattman, Bob and Lyn Slater, Linc and Robin Spaulding, Dave Stackpole, Tom and Abby Rosenwald, Jack and Judy Talmagni, Elliott and Alice Weinstein, Bert Whittemore, and Stew and Kristin Wood. Harry Nutting, coordinator for weekend events, did a great job as usual. This plus winning the football game against Holy Cross put everyone in a festive mood.


I was pleased to note that Mort Galina wrote into the DAM indicating that he still follows College affairs with enthusiasm. If I had an email address for Mort I would have dropped him a line directly. I hope he reads this and communicates.


I now interrupt to bring you the Barbary Coast Jazz Band playing in honor of our classmate John Andrew Sears Jr., who joins the funeral procession up Main Street and around the Green. All surviving classmates bow their heads in solemn tribute and remembrance.


Dave Stackpole, coordinator for our 60th reunion, requested an early promotion in this issue. So: Decide early on coming to Hanover in June 2016—’56 out once more! Let’s have a big turnout!


I close with the first stanza of a new poetic limerick written in October 2014, “Homecoming Weekend.”


“Return of the team, hence the name,


Sojourn for much more than the game;


For friendship, for fun,


Love of college, bar none,


School flame making all glad they came.”


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com 


For the past 30 years five 1956 classmates and wives have been getting together each summer with the house venue rotating and food and drinks provided by the hosting pair. The group includes Joel and Marsha Ash, Alan and Diane Friedman, Harold and Joan Gordon, Mike and Margie Grunebaum and Elliott and Alice Weinstein. This year’s get-together took place on June 21 at the Grunebaums’ home in Pound Ridge, New York, and the hosts put out a delicious spread, as usual. For the meeting back in 2001 I presented a poetic limerick created for the occasion titled “Jewish and Green” and I close this column with the last stanza of this four-stanza poem. 


I now interrupt to bring you the Barbary Coast Jazz Band playing in honor of three classmates who have passed. David Livingston Kerr passed away in December 2013. Fenwick Charles Riley Jr. and Roger Arno Schumacher passed in April. Samson Occom dressed in green buckskins leads the funeral procession up Main Street and around the Green. All surviving classmates bow their heads in solemn tribute and remembrance.


For those unaware, Bill Loyer’s beloved wife, Carol, passed away back in November 2013. This summer there was a Carol Ludwig Loyer Memorial Art Show and Sale in memory of Carol and her life in Wyoming. Bill has had a difficult year, what with breaking his hip several months after Carol passed. Bill is finally healthy again and in good spirits, considering. I am sure that he would appreciate hearing from any and all Dartmouth friends.


“Jewish and Green”


“Five couples with background to share,


Star of David and green underwear;


Special minion with wives,


Dartmouth changed all our lives,


Bunch of Jews with true green savoir-faire.”


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com 


Homecoming Weekend was a rousing success in every way possible. Festivities kicked off Friday night with drinks and barbecue at Three Guys restaurant. This was followed by the parade of classes with our traditional 1956 hay wagon. The class meeting on Saturday morning was well attended with Tom Rosenwald, Jack Billhardt, Bob and Pam Faulkner, Joel Ash, Bob Grossman, Buddy Schattman, Darrel Clowes, Linc Spaulding, Harold Gordon, Elliott Weinstein, Doug and Ginger Keare, Jack Talmagni, Bob and Lyn Slater, Stew Wood, Dave Stackpole, Bert Whittemore, Howard Sodokoff, Rick Webb and Bill Behrens participating. Many then attended the Dartmouth vs. Yale football game and watched our team beat previously unbeaten Yale.
I now interrupt these pleasantries to bring you the Barbary Coast Jazz Band playing in honor of Stanford Klapper and William King Howenstein, who passed away this summer. Samson Occom dressed in green buckskins leads the funeral procession and band up Main Street and then three times around the Green. All surviving classmates bow their heads in silent and heartfelt tribute.
The class dinner at the Hanover Inn on Saturday night began with cocktails as we mingled with a half dozen members of Dartmouth Undergraduate Veterans Association and a number of class scholars. Joining the previously mentioned were Roger Benson, Dick and Sally Kurts, Marsha Ash, Joan Gordon and Alice Weinstein. Yours truly recited two poetic limericks—the first titled “A Dartmouth Inaugural,” as recently published in the class newsletter, the second titled “Veneration of Essence,” a New Hampshire poem with a Dartmouth ending. The first stanza of this six-stanza poem follows.
 What makes New Hampshire so great?
This place that we so venerate.
One poet’s perspective,
On essence reflective,
Subjective true view of this state.
—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com



Room 116 of the Hanover Inn was packed with classmates, spouses and friends as we gathered for a light supper before the Dartmouth Night parade, speeches and bonfire on Homecoming weekend this past October. Tiny Strong did a great job of putting it all together, and the spirit in Hanover was contagious. I’ve never seen so many folks on the street to catch the parade. Nor have I heard a college president so gung ho as Jim Kim, who after his very upbeat speech raced down the hill in front of Dartmouth Hall and joined the freshmen running around the bonfire! Our class meeting the following morning was informative, and after a light lunch a group of us seated on the 45-yard line cheered through the torrential rain as the Big Green did in Columbia 28-6. Even suffering the memory losses so many of us are experiencing, our brains were indelibly imprinted by that game! That night the DOC house welcomed us in for a great class dinner with eight veterans and one of our new Class of ’56 Scholars.


During the class meeting Elliott Weinstein encouraged us to go online and pull down the Alumni Council liaison committee’s report, which summarizes members’ responses to hundreds of pieces of feedback they’ve received in the past year and a half from alums. And while you’re there, take a look at the video of President Jim Yong Kim’s inauguration. It’ll make you proud and give you new reason to remain engaged.


Roger Schumacher and Doug Keare are off to Turkey with 11 others in May. Among them are John Allen and Jewell, Buddy Schattman and Lenore, Rona and Ginger.


Brad Leonard has won a big “wha-hoo-wha” for competing in the 2009 International Triathlon Union World Championships in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, September 9-13. “I unexpectedly won the gold medal in my (our) men’s 75-79 age group in the sprint distance triathlon, the bronze medal in the Olympic distance triathlon and the bronze medal in the aquathlon (run-swim-run). Earlier in the summer I won the gold medal in the same age group at the 2009 National Senior Games.” He went on to say, “There were probably other Dartmouth alums there, but the only one I recognized and met was Jarrod Shoemaker ’04, who was racing with the pros/elites and finished 13th, top American, in the pro Olympic distance race. It’s hard to break old habits. I’ve been doing triathlons since 1983; 193 of them to date. Just being at the world championships was an emotional experience.” I’d call that an understatement. Way to go, Brad!


Bob Faulkner, Don Davidoff and I attended Class Officers Weekend in September, yet another chance to be on campus and see what’s happening. The place is humming!


We have two new ’56 scholars, Amanda Lee ’12 and John Biberman ’13. I’ll be introducing them in the March-April issue. 


—R. Stewart Wood Jr., P.O. Box 968, Quechee, VT 05059-0968; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol.com


Word came of the death of two classmates, Ken Wlaschin and George Tracy. Because of budget cuts at the College no obituaries will appear in DAM, but they will be featured on the new DAM Web site. Rather than being limited to 150 words it is now possible for the secretary to post a longer obituary and for classmates and friends to post their own remembrances via an online commenting feature. These classmates were extraordinary in their vocations. Ken served as the program director of the National Film Theater and the London Film Festival for 15 years, the longest tenure of anyone in that job to this day! He wrote or edited some 20 books, mostly on film or music subjects, and was decorated by the governments of France, Italy and Great Britain for his services to the cinema. George began a career in international banking in New York on Wall Street during which he felt called to the Roman Catholic priesthood. Monsignor Tracy served on the faculties of Boston College; the Jesuit Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri; Saint John’s University, New York City; Cambridge University, England; Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio; and Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Emmetsburg, Maryland.


Thanks to Roger Emerson I learned that last October Brown University renamed its former Frederick Fuller House Fiering House after our classmate Norman, “who greatly enhanced Brown’s fellowship program over his 23 years at the helm and conceived the idea of a residence.” Norm greatly “expanded the holdings of this remarkable library. He richly deserved this honor.”


Contributions over the years from members of the class of ’56 have enabled the College to provide scholarships in our name to two students a year. Last year’s sophomore scholar, Hillary Mimnaugh ’11, spent this past fall term as a student intern in the legal department of the California Housing Finance Agency, working on the Public Records Act, a state law giving people open access to government records. She created a training video about the act for state employees, writing the video transcript and creating the PowerPoint slides. Amanda Lee ’12, a class scholar from Great Neck, Long Island, is having a wonderfully packed junior year. A history major with a government modifier, she’s looking forward to a possible career in the Foreign Service after law school. Right now participation in the Tucker Foundation, the College symphony, the Hood Museum, her Kappa Delta sorority, the Taiwanese Association as its vice president, the Aegis as a photographer and the Mentors Against Violence program on the campus keep her hopping. John Biberman ’13, a freshman who was able to be with us at last fall’s Homecoming dinner, is equally engaged. An architecture student, he’s working to start a chapter of Architecture for Humanity on campus. John’s other extracurricular activities include being the publishing manager of the World Outlook Journal, which is published once each term, and continuing his violin study, which began in the fifth grade. He’s studying French in the hope of a summer internship in Tanzania. Wow!


—R. Stewart Wood Jr., P.O. Box 968, Quechee, VT 05059-0968; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol.com


The mailbox was nearly empty, but the contents were very personal. I’ll start with the good news. Susan McRae, a staff writer for the Daily Journal in Los Angeles, did a great story last spring on John Van de Kamp, suggesting with good reason that he’s “a California institution.” John has had a very successful and well documented career in the law, serving as state Bar president, California attorney general, Los Angeles Country district attorney, Los Angeles’ first federal public defender and U.S. attorney for the Central District. What is not so well known is John’s work as an arbitrator for the past 15 years. He’s used his considerable skills to assist contesting entities to find common ground and resolution. He has received rave reviews from lawyers who’ve watched him practice, and “his background in government and public office has given him a vast knowledge and sophistication in how government works and policies are made.” Those who have watched him work are not only struck by his “demeanor as a neutral member of a three-member arbitration board” but his “grasp of the highly complex and technical issues, involving claw-back provisions, redemption and book values.” While reflecting on this new engagement, John said, “I enjoyed this kind of work and thought, ‘This is something I can get into in my old age.’ ”


I’m cautious about writing about my former roommate Bill Hamilton, since I see so much of him now that we’ve moved to Quechee, Vermont. But in his mature years he and his wife, Janet, have taken up croquet and not the typical backyard game one sets up over the 4th of July weekend. Bit by the bug some time ago in Florida, Bill put in a regulation court immediately next to his 18th-century home up in the hills overlooking Piermont, New Hampshire. It serves as a practice facility for the two of them and a tournament setting several times a year for their croquet friends along our two coasts. That’s a good story in itself, but these two have managed to play so well they’re in the championship flight of tournaments on both coasts, competing against our country’s best, most of whom are 45 or 50 years their juniors. 


Our nine classmates who died last year have each been memorialized by the Baker Library with books. These are acquired with funds made available by our class and means that their impact continues for the students who roam Baker 50-some years after we each did.


Painfully I’ve learned recently of the death of the wives of two of our classmates. John Tamagni’s wife of 52 years, Janet, died in early February after “a long and difficult battle.” John Parke wrote of his wife’s death in early April. He and Mary were married for 55 years. Both of these fine women were deeply involved in their communities and will be missed by all who knew them.


—R. Stewart Wood Jr., P.O. Box 968, Quechee, VT 05059-0968; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol.com


You’ll be opening this issue just before Homecoming and our annual battle with Harvard. Tiny Strong has planned this year’s mini-reunion with all the right ingredients: Friday night cocktails and dinner at the Hanover Inn before we climb up on Earl Silloway’s horse-drawn wagon for the parade and bonfire; an 8 o’clock breakfast Saturday before our class meeting that will take us through the morning; a bite at Lou’s or a hot dog on the run; the game; and then the buffet dinner and a chance to get to know our class scholars and a number of the military veterans who’ve made such an impact on the campus. It’s not too late to get on board!


Those of you who frequent our class website have been treated to the reflections of one of our class scholars, John Biberman ’13, in his letters back home while spending last summer working for African Roots in Cameroon. He is the fascinating young man I introduced in a column last spring. He’s a remarkable musician and committed to making a difference, perhaps in the field of international architecture. His mother wrote of the family’s deep gratitude to our class and shared his correspondence so that all of us could know more of this young man. I encourage you to go to www.dartmouth.org/classes/56 and read for yourself of this student’s significant summer overseas.


We’ve had 22 class scholars dating back to the late 1960s, and Buddy Schattman is seeking to reconnect with each of them to find out what life after Dartmouth has been for each of them. He’s had a great letter from Yuan Kit Ha ’73 and his predecessor, Poh Hua Ng ’72. His hope is to find a way to share each of their stories with all of us through the newsletter and this column.


Our 55th reunion is just around the corner: June 13-16, with an after-reunion event crafted after our terrific 50th reunion experience. Classmate authors will gather at the Hop on Tuesday afternoon, June 14, for a book signing and a chance to share something about what they’ve written. The proceeds of sales of those autographed works will go to Project Right Choice, the class-supported College Veterans Association Fund. If you’ve put pen to paper or perhaps published on the Internet, let Tom Harper know about it so we can be in line for your good efforts.


After nine years of trying Bill Hamilton and I finally won our flight in a three-day member-guest golf tournament in Quechee, Vermont, this past summer, not long after Dave Dolben and his wife enjoyed a round on our Highland course over the Memorial Day weekend. 


The online edition of the Alumni Magazine now carries the obituaries you were accustomed to reading in the printed edition. Look for them at www.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/obituaries. Regrettably you will find two for classmates we lost in July: Tony Bruscino and Alan Welty.


—R. Stewart Wood Jr., P.O. Box 968, Quechee, VT 05059-0968; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol.com


In response to my request for an overview of the class scholarship program, Buddy Schattman writes: “This began in the early 1960s through efforts of Doug Keare. Following Doug, George Yeager, Linc Spaulding and I have chaired the program. Originally candidates were from underdeveloped countries, the thought being that these young people would bring something American back to their lands based on experiences here. Subsequently we expanded to include American students. We now support two scholarships annually and alternate selection between foreign and American candidates. Twenty-five students have graduated with class assistance (eight from foreign countries and 17 from the United States). We currently have two class scholars, Sam Winters ’14 from Dover, New Hampshire, and Reem Chamsedine ’17, a young lady from Beirut, Lebanon. If you want to interact with some wonderful Dartmouth students, get to know our class scholars!”


I interrupt to bring you the Barbary Coast Jazz Band playing in honor of three classmates who have passed: William Hamilton Skiff, Nils Henry Larson Jr. and Wilton Sherman Sogg. Samson Occom dressed in green buckskins leads the funeral procession up Main Street and around the Green. All surviving classmates bow their heads.


Leonard E. Giuliani, born March 5,1934, is the first winner of the 1956 birthday random selection and, in his words, “Eighty years and still vertical—by the grace of God I’m still here living an active life in the greatest country in history.” To honor Len and others turning 80, I close with the sixth stanza of a poetic limerick titled “Celebration.”


“Wild party, full blast, under way,


Grand ultimate tribute display;


Observance with zest,


This regalement, the best,


All arranged for your most special day.”


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com 


I received an e-mail from Abner Oakes, who was cleaning out some old Dartmouth books of his grandfather (class of 1883) and his father (class of 1926) when he found four poetry books edited by Longfellow in 1879. Abner requested my assistance (as class poet laureate) in determining the value of these books. In an exchange of e-mails I learned some interesting things that I decided to share with the class. Abner’s grandfather scored the first Dartmouth TD against Amherst circa 1881, and a letter he wrote describing this is in the Football Room at the College. A great-great uncle (class of 1853) was killed in the Civil War and other Dartmouth relatives include a son (class of 1981). While in Hanover Abner was captain of the hockey team and later coached the team to an Ivy League championship. He is a Bruins hockey fan and, like myself, has followed their outstanding playoff run with delight despite a disappointing conclusion.


I now interrupt to bring you the Barbary Coast Jazz Band playing in honor of Peter C. Lauterbach, who recently passed away. We bow our heads in silent tribute.


Since moving to New Hampshire I closely follow the Dartmouth hockey team and attend many games each season with my wife. This year, as in times past, we have been joined by Phil Hinkle and his wife, Sandra. Sandy was my wife’s roommate at Pike House, where the X-ray techs were housed long ago. I now close with a poetic limerick titled “Green on White” created for this column.


Dartmouth hockey is well worth the price,


To see the Big Green fly on ice;


Teams leaner and meaner,


At Thompson Arena,


The action and score often nice.


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com


With this issue of Dartmouth Alumni Magazine our column is reduced from 500 to 350 words. It’s perhaps a sign that fewer of us have news about promotions or awards, but judging from our 55th reunion there’s no sign that things are slowing down for this class as it approaches its 80s. Following our 55th at the Trapp Family Lodge about a dozen of us were able to share an hour or so with Johannes von Trapp ’63, who told us a good bit of the family history behind the movie. Charles Morrissey got some of us thinking about capturing the oral history of our families while there is still time; and Alan Friedman,M.D., provided sound medical counsel for those who want to be around for our 60th in 2016. He’d be delighted to share his handouts with any of you at ajfmdpc@aol.com. Not a soul was acting his or her agewhen Fred Abraham’s 18-piece swing band closed our Friday night’s festivities at the lodge! This reunion set the bar pretty darn high!


Joel Ash will be crafting this columns beginning with the next issue, and he’d welcome news about yourself or some of our classmates at jash_125@comcast.net. He’s a real magician, doing one-man shows and hosting a monthly meeting of the Wizards of the Upper Valley Magic Club, but he’ll not make up news. 


Robert Grossman’s new novel, Another Time/Another Land, is about a Jewish naval officer on a two-year assignment handling court-martial cases at our base in Morocco. While defending an officer accused of a homosexual assault against an influential Arab aide to the monarchy the hero meets and falls in love with a married, Russian Orthodox woman whose family fled St. Petersburg in 1917 and ultimately settled in Tangier. That will keep you up reading into the late hours.


The College has informed me of Jack Welborn’s death on April 27 after a long illness. Look online at the DAM for an obituary.


—R. Stewart Wood Jr., P.O. Box 968, Quechee, VT 05059-0968; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol.com


With this issue of Dartmouth Alumni Magazine I assume the duties of class secretary despite the fact that I have not yet been trained in exactly what to do. I will be attending a training session three weeks from today as part of Class Officers Weekend. Obviously I can use all the help I can get and will appreciate getting class news via my e-mail address, which is joel@poeticlimericks.com. That address provides a good hint that I write poetic limericks, and it is my intention to close each of my columns with a one-stanza (five lines) poem drawn from my large collection, including more than 40 poems written about some aspect of Dartmouth.


I now have the sad mission of reporting news of classmates who have recently passed on and there have been quite a few, including some very active in class affairs and truly beloved. Among those whom I have received such notice about are Dick Groeneveld, Frank “Fritz” Butler Simms, Howard “Howie” Neal Newman, George Warren Haliday, Donald Gregor Purple and Jonathan “Tiny” Strong. In view of the realities of our stage of life I thought that it would be illuminating to provide some statistics for the class. Back in 1952 our class matriculated 742 young men. Of these, 621 graduated in 1956. As of the writing of this column 478 are still among the living. Of these, I look forward to seeing as many as possible at Homecoming Weekend. I will report on these heartwarming sightings in the next column.


Since 2002 I have been living in the Eastman community of Grantham, New Hampshire—roughly 25 minutes from the center of the universe in Hanover. There I run the Dartmouth at Eastman group, including graduates from the classes of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. We will shortly hold our couples cocktail party, with 29 planning to attend, and I look forward to seeing Dick Kurts and his wife, Sally, among the revelers.


And now for my closing poetic limerick (written especially for this column) titled, “Dartmouth Ties.”


I have quite a few Dartmouth ties,


Each ignites a green glow in my eyes;


The old Indian head,


PC seal in its stead,


All engender nostalgia I prize.


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com


During the January 27-29 weekend the class held a mini-reunion in New York City. This began with a class meeting at the Yale (Dartmouth) Club attended by Tom Harper and Tom Rosenwald (co-presidents), Jack Billhardt (vice president), Bob Faulkner (treasurer), Joel Ash (secretary), Flint Ranney (newsletter editor), Buddy Schattman (scholarship chairman), Jack Tamagni, Harold Gordon, Doug Keare, Bert Whittemore, Leo McKenna, Doug Bleiler, Alan Friedman, George Yeager and Dutch Rosenberger. Some wives also sat in—Sandy Harper, Marsha Ash, Joan Gordon and Diane Friedman. A cocktail hour and then buffet dinner followed. The next day a large group visited the 9/11 memorial site at Ground Zero and met for lunch at the Blue Planet Grill. That evening George Yeager hosted a terrific cocktail party at his apartment in midtown and this was followed by a Chinese dinner out. The weekend’s events concluded on Sunday morning with a fabulous brunch hosted by Joan and Harold Gordon.


Hark! I hear the Barbary Coast Jazz Band and see Samuel Occom dressed in green buckskins as he leads the procession toward the Green. The band this time is followed by newly passed-on ’56s Roger A. Tolins and Robert H. Schuh.


I have just enough space to tell you about an unusual event in the life of our esteemed newsletter editor. Residents and visitors to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, thanks to the generosity and effort by Flint Ranney, are experiencing a sound unheard at the island for quite a few years. Flint presented an eight-inch, three-tone brass steam whistle to the local steamship authority for use on the Martha’s Vineyard ferry. He managed to find a whistle similar to one that was retired in 1955, and everyone was delighted to have a whistle like the one used in Nantucket, Massachusetts. This story inspired me to write a poetic limerick titled “Our Man Flint.”


A man from Nantucket—green tint,


His nautical bent gives one hint;


With whistle of steam,


Sending news we esteem,


Three cheers for our classmate named 


Flint.


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com


Many try to do something important in their lives but few achieve their lofty goals. Jack Billhardt and his wife, Patricia, have done so in the world of dog competitions with their boxer named Scarlett. Perhaps I should phrase that differently: Patricia Billhardt, with cheerleading support from Jack, has achieved something outstanding via Scarlett. Their dog, the top bitch in the history of the breed, has become a legend in her own time. Among the awards to Scarlett’s credit are the following: No. 1 boxer in 2009, 2010 and 2011; No. 1 working dog in 2010 and 2011; 88 career Best in Shows; four-time Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club show. I interrupt this paean to Scarlett to honor two classmates who have passed on. 


The Barbary Coast Dixieland Jazz Band can be heard once again marching up Main Street and as always they are led by Samson Occom dressed in green buckskins. Behind the band this time are William Paul Doherty Jr. and Robert McCutcheon Beatty. We bow our heads in silent tribute to these newly fallen classmates.


To put Scarlett’s achievements into perspective I would like to quote some comments from one of the judges at the last Boxer National Show, in May 2011. “What can I say about this dog that hasn’t been said before? She is stunning. I have found her as close to perfection as Mother Nature will allow.” 


I close with a poetic limerick written especially to salute Jack, Patricia and Scarlett. 


“Around the girdled earth they go,


With their boxer named Scarlett in tow;


In dog competitions,


She wins high positions,


A win or a place or a show.”


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com

If you’ve not finished your 55th reunion plans, get on the horse and get it done. June 13-17 will soon be here, and you’ll not want to miss what’s planned for those days in Hanover and at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. Our 50th was great and set College records. This one looks to be even better. The theme is “Thanks for the memories.” Faculty will share time with us, and I would guess President Kim as well. There’s a class regatta planned on the Connecticut River, a book signing for the authors among our class and spouses, as well as the usual memorial service for our deceased classmates. A host of other special events have been designed by the team of Tom Harper and Tom Rosenwald as well as all the gourmet meals and Tanzi Tent drinking to which we’ve become accustomed. If you haven’t alerted Elliott Weinstein with class officer suggestions, get on that one too. Elections will mark our class meeting while there.


Abner Oakes was among 11 persons Gov. M. Jodi Rell inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame last fall. “These men and women are truly community heroes. They are selfless, they are dedicated; they are courageous, kind and caring. They have served our nation…but it is what they have done beyond their military service that truly sets them apart.” After retiring Commander Oakes founded the Hamden Veterans Commission in 2000 and has served as its chairman for the past seven years. He has seen to the memorializing of veterans’ service at a number of community meeting places and established the annual Veterans Awareness Day at Quinnipiac University to expose middle school children to the history, service and lives of veterans. Well done!


The widow of Tom Conlon, Miriam or “Muffie” Conlon, edged out incumbent Michael Zimmerman by almost 1,400 votes and is now serving Washington County, Vermont, as one of its side judges. It’s a judicial position unique to the state. Side judges sit with the judge in superior and family court in each of Vermont’s 14 counties at their “shire town” or county seat, handling civil cases and violations of traffic laws and municipal ordinances. In theory the side judges, who are generally not attorneys, have input only on matters of fact, with legal decisions left to the judge, but the vote of a side judge has the same weight as that of the judge, so two side judges can outvote the judge. The office includes significant administrative duties, such as the appointment of the county clerk, treasurer and auditor, county road commissioners and notaries public. They manage the county courthouse, sheriff’s office and other property and prepare the county budget. As a result side judges receive two types of compensation: a salary for their administrative duties, paid by the county, and a per diem for their judicial duties, paid by the state. Way to go, Muffie!


Mark Mitchell won a third term in the Vermont House of Representatives, where he’s won such respect among the public that he stood unopposed this past fall. Wah-hoo-wah!


—R. Stewart Wood Jr., P.O. Box 968, Quechee, VT 05059-0968; (802) 295-8912; stewwood@aol.com


There has been lots of press coverage of the fraternity hazing issue and calls for abolishing the Greek system at Dartmouth. I for one cherish my days as a member of Tau Epsilon Phi (TEP) and never experienced any vile hazing of the sort reported. I was very active in my house, learned much of great benefit in later life and made many close and lasting friendships. I therefore dedicate this column as a tribute to my fraternity (now defunct on the Dartmouth campus) and to my TEP fraternity brothers. To those whom I see often and with much pleasure: Harold Gordon and his wife, Joan; Alan Friedman and Diane; and Elliott Weinstein and Alice. I must now interrupt this tribute as I see the jazz band approaching. Marching behind the band this time are newly departed classmates Robert A. Krissel and W. Mott Hupfel Jr. Among our many other departed classmates I take special note of TEP brothers who have passed on, in remembrance of Hank Bloom, Al Levenson, Steve Pearlman, Howie Newman and Roger Tolins. Other fraternity brothers still with us—whom I see less frequently, only on special occasions such as reunions—Dick Margolese and Bob Grossman come to mind. The writing of this column has led to recent contacts with fraternity brothers in other classes besides 1956, and this includes Gene Matusow and Mike Sherb, both ’57s. I look forward to other contacts like this in the future. There are many good friends in the class of 1956 who were not in TEP, and since I am out of room I will have to work them into a future column. Lastly, most importantly, I first met my wife at TEP and close with a stanza from a 1996 poem titled “Ode to Marsha.”


“In a crowd at Tau Epsilon Phi,


The girl of my dreams caught my eye;


Her eyes of pale blue,


With hair auburn hue,


Compelling but modestly shy.”


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com


Another enjoyable Homecoming Weekend concluded with many classmates and wives participating—in addition to myself and Marsha, those attending included Tom and Peter Rosenwald, Tom and Sandy Harper, Jack Billhardt, Bob and Pam Faulkner, Buddy and Rona Schattman, Harry Nutting, Bob and Lyn Slater, Stew and Kristin Wood, Doug and Ginger Keare, Jack Tamagni, Tom and Barb Bechler, Dave Stackpole, Darrel and Sharon Clowes, Bert Wittermore, Sonja Strong, Tom and Jane Healy and Roger Benson. At the outstanding luncheon prior to the football game we had a number of guests including some past and present class scholarship recipients (with Kesang Tashi ’70 there as coordinator) and many Dartmouth undergraduate veterans. A good time was had by all. 


It is now time to honor three classmates who have passed on. The Barbary Coast Dixieland Jazz Band returns and can be heard marching up Main Street led by Samson Occom. Behind the band this time are Jim Greene, Bill Tell and Hjalmar Peter Kolar. We bow our heads in silent tribute to these newly fallen classmates as the procession wends its way around the Green.


I received an e-mail from Ted Briggs regarding the difficult circumstances of Peter Kolar’s life and another one from Jack Crowley describing the outpouring of affection for Art Zich at his memorial service. Due to space limitations I must condense these inputs to the following—both of these classmates will be sorely missed. Both led extraordinary lives and will march around the Green forever. 


I close with the first stanza of a poetic limerick titled “Dartmouth Night.”


“Homecoming Weekend we attend,


When alumni descend to unbend;


Sea of green attire,


To see the bonfire,


When friendship and spirit transcend.”


—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; joel@poeticlimericks.com