Class of 1950

Just in case you don’t know it, we lost our dynamite class leader Bob Kirby January 14. I’m sure his wife, Brownlee, would welcome your letter praising someone who was one hell of a president!

Okay, classmates, it’s official: Our 75th (impressive) reunion is Sunday to Tuesday, September 28-30, and the College is picking up the tab. That’s right: They reserve a bunch of rooms at the Hanover Inn (you just pay for parking)—so start packing!

We got the news from Chicago from Terri Carpenter that she and Bill now have a team of 21 great-grandchildren. I count 26 in their total clan—can any of us better this record? Jilly Harned comes close with 22, not counting herself. I received a note from Joan Willet (Mrs. Wally) saying she has an interesting collection of jewelry. Our money man Doug Smith has been busy this winter building a tiny house on wheels (THOW) that he and Meredith will use “down at the lakefront” so they don’t have to trudge up to the lodge when they are laking it. Okay, so you are asking what the hell is a THOW: It’s a comfortable place at the lakefront (a fair distance from their house) where they can shower, cook, and even sleep! Doug is busy in the barn designing (and building) as we speak.

John Caldwell writes, “I don’t have much to offer. I wish I could say something about my book but it’s stalled.” (We will expect more from John in the next issue—fail me not!)

On a personal note, your scribe is now percussionist for a local glee club—35 strong, with no one under 60—The Golden Tones. The group is fairly well known in the Framingham-Natick, Massachusetts, area and has been at it for more than 35 years. We do gigs about every two weeks. When I’m not drumming with them I am performing with a small group called The Traveling Thespians, a Concord Players group of veterans who do gigs now and then.

With condolences to their families, I am listing the deaths of Arnie Oss and Bob Kirby.

—Tom “Smiley” Ruggles, 8-5 Concord Greene, Concord, MA 01742; (978) 369 5879; smileytmr229@gmail.com