Class Note 1970

Greetings, fellow ’70s. I attended President Hanlon’s evening with the Dartmouth Club of the Piedmont in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, hoping to catch up with Tom Tiemann, who recently sent me a personal update. Unfortunately a traffic jam delayed my arrival and I missed most of the social hour that preceded the program and couldn’t spot Tom in a crowded room that numbered close to 200 attendees. In any case Tom reports that he has retired from 40 years of university teaching, the last 30 at Elon University, where he chaired the economics department. He’s looking forward to using his expertise in urban economics as a member of the planning board in his hometown of Carrboro, North Carolina.


From academia to the racetrack: I recently learned that Larry DeVan is well into his second year as president of the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen, New York. Larry’s roots in harness racing run deep. His grandfather was a founder of the museum and owner of Hanover Shoe Farm in Pennsylvania, where Larry started jogging horses as a pre-teen. One of his grandfather’s horses won the Hambletonian in 1964 and a 16-year-old DeVan accompanied his family to the winner’s circle. So next time you’re in Goshen take a stroll down Main Street and check out the museum.


Dennis Jolicoeur reports that he is working as the chief financial officer for Kraco Enterprises in Los Angeles and doubts retirement will come soon. He goes on to say that, “My wife, Mirella, and I just bought 43 acres of land in Camden, South Carolina, where we will build a home. We will move from Los Angeles in two years when our 11-year-old is ready for high school. As this is horse country we will stable a few horses and classmates will always be welcome to ride and have a mandatory Dartmouth drink.” (Wine and beer only?) I’ve always wondered what classmate could claim the youngest offspring and unless I hear otherwise the award goes to Dennis, who also shared that his twin brother, Marc Jolicoeur, is officially retired and travels often to China and Chicago to visit his son and daughter, both Dartmouth grads.


Bob Mlakar has completed his three-year term as 1970’s representative to the Dartmouth Alumni Council. Bob has served our class with distinction and taken this ambassadorial role to a new level. On behalf of the class, thanks Bob! The class executive committee unanimously endorsed Tim Welch as our next representative.


If you missed Denis O’Neill ’s letter to the editor of this magazine in the last issue go back and read it. On a related note, Denis’ book, Whiplash: When the Vietnam War Rolled a Hand Grenade into the Animal House, has been named a finalist for the U.S. Regional Excellence Book Award for the Northeast region. Hey, it may not be a Nobel Prize but you’ve got to start somewhere.


Happy summer to all. 


—Bill Wilson, 304 Highlands Bluffs Drive, Cary, NC 27518; wilson8689@aol.com