Spring term 1975: This time 50 years ago we were all recovered (I hope) from our first Winter Carnival and were busy filling out our first Dartmouth Plans, eyeing those off-campus programs and figuring out how to work them in around our soon-to-be-declared majors and other important stuff. It was good preparation for life, when so many of us would choose careers and passions that involved that most difficult of organizational challenges: managing volunteers.
Case in point: Nick Sakhnovsky writes from Florida that he has been elected chair of the Volusia County (Daytona Beach area) Democratic Party to a four-year term that began in December 2024. He will be “leading about 130,000 party members in these challenging times! The area will already be having a special primary election in January and special election in March to replace the incoming president’s selection of our current congressman as national security advisor.” Congratulations, Nick!
Congratulations are also in order for our copresident David Dietze, who received the 2024 Alumni Award from the College. “Jody” was honored for his long and valiant volunteer service to Dartmouth. Well deserved, Jody!
And while we’re handing out kudos, all of us in the generous and accomplished class of ’78 can take a bow: Dartmouth recognized our class in 2024 for leadership and “continued passion in its support of the life sciences, as evidenced by their varied class projects.” These include “providing STEM research support to first-generation students and those with financial need through its Class of ’78 Life Sciences Center.” But that’s not all: We “also offer cultural enrichment excursions through the Guarini Institute for International Education by providing funding for the non-academic components of study-abroad programs. Both projects allow students to focus on the critical aspects of their experiences without worrying about expenses.” The class is also involved with the environment with our contribution toward the reforestation of Pine Park, a 100-acre riverfront, woodland, and open area preserve in Hanover.
The class projects committee is led by Bob Gray and includes Rick Beyer, Chris Simpson Brent, John Jordan, and yours truly. We are thrilled by the citation and even more thrilled with the feedback we have received from the recipients of the class’s generosity. Please check out the class website for photos and testimonials and watch that space for more news about the projects.
Also check the class website and social media feeds for more news about another exciting initiative: the 2028 Connections project to establish links between our class and the class of 2028, led by John Jordan and off to a rousing start.
And sincere condolences to the loved ones of our classmate Laurel Bates Preston, who passed away on April 19, 2024, at home in Medina, Washington.
I’ll close by hoping that we all had a festive and convivial 78th night 2024 and that photos and memories will be winging their way to Helen Lukash for the next newsletter.
Send news!
—Anne Bagamery, 13 rue de Presles, 75015 Paris, France; abagamery78@gmail.com; Rick Beyer, 1305 S. Michigan Ave., #1104, Chicago, IL 60605; rickbeyer78@gmail.com