Class Note 1957
The May-June DAM article about Delta Upsilon’s successful struggle to pledge Ray Johnson ’59 (led by Tom Herlihy, Tom Macy, Bob Caldwell and Shelly Kjellenberg) led to email exchanges about how fraternities fared in those days when the civil rights movement was just beginning to catch the nation’s attention. Everybody who had anything to say about their national fraternity affirmed their commitments to College, class and fraternity in that order, but had, at best, a dismissive attitude toward the various nationals.
Charlie Sellman, looking back to the Naples, Florida, mini last March, wrote that its highlight was Bob Vostal’s “supreme effort to come down from Missouri and say goodbye to his pals. He was terribly frail but had the same old warm smile and care for his buddies.” Bob died a few weeks later, but as Charlie noted, “Now that’s dedicated fellowship—College and class!”
There may be other untold stories about Dartmouth fraternities that were confronting discriminatory clauses or simply trying to diversify their memberships; change was in the air. I think it would be instructive to tell those stories even at this late date. Please send them for future columns.
Shelly and Tom Keller ran into one another on the Twin Cities Dartmouth club’s tour of the King Tut exhibit at the Minnesota Museum of Science. Shelley reports that Tom is a prominent (and still active) attorney in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Archbishop Sergius, whom we knew as Al Burnes, sent a lengthy summary of his commitment to study and the religious life. Since 1998, when “he chose to live and work in semi-reclusion,” he has lived at Holy Transfiguration Skete in southwestern Idaho’s mountain-desert but continues his “advocacy, writing and teaching activities.”
Having forsaken the North Country for Pinehurst, North Carolina, Joe Stevenson is a new board member for the North Carolina Symphony, “a wonderful orchestra” based in Raleigh.
The New York Times bureau chief in Cairo from 1977-1980, Chris Wren spoke recently in South Royalton, Vermont, on “The Rule of Law and the Arab Revolt: A Journalist’s Perspective.”
Clark Griffiths sends an update on the 55th, just under a year from now. He reminds us to gather in Hanover on June 11-14, and promises detailed information before much longer. “Key activities include campus tours, a panel discussion, a reception and barbecue at the Bema, a reception and dinner at the DOC House on Occom Pond, a lunch down by the river, a final banquet, and we are planning to honor Erich Kunzel.” He and the other planners are also considering a post-reunion continuation for two nights, probably at the Woodside Inn, and for the hardier souls among us, a possible pre-reunion trek up the mountain from the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge.
Allan Vendeland sends a reminder to check the class website (www.dartmouth57.com) for upcoming reunions, events, obituaries, memorials and photographs. Allan has also added “listserv bios” of frequent contributors but welcomes corrections. A link to the bios is on the “Classmate” tab. Most of these brief comments came unsolicited (but not unwelcome) from Bob Copeland.
—Michael Lasser, 164 New Wickham Dr., Penfield, NY 14526; mlasser@rocheseter.rr.com
