Class Note 1968

Tough and sad news for this column: The last Indian has died. Frank Couper, who was the Indian mascot for our years, passed away after a long illness. A gymnast in superb condition, he was a model Indian representative of Dartmouth during our football seasons. Who can forget all of the Marine pushups he had to do when we beat Harvard 48-0. An era has past. And the news gets no better: Gary Blaich also has died. First time on my watch to lose two classmates in one column. Watch for the obituaries on the magazine’s and class websites and in our newsletter. Norm Silverman wrote a long and newsy note: He’s been retired from cardiac surgery for three years, but not completely out of the business, as he serves as an ombudsman on a website for patients facing heart surgery. He loves spending time with three grown children and six grandchildren, all of whom get their good looks and intelligence from him. He happily sold a boat just before the financial tsunami (and last divorce), but still enjoys sailing without the attendant costs of owning a boat and covering bar tabs for his crew. His parents live in Hanover, so he gets back fairly often. Open invitation to classmates to come visit the Detroit area anytime, with promises of good conversations and a few adult beverages. Frequent correspondent Gary Hobin reports from Kansas that Carol and Jim Donnelly visited recently (they met in Kansas City) and that Gary continues as both a teacher (international political economy at Webster University’s Fort Leavenworth campus) and student, pursuing (will he ever catch?) a Ph.D. at Kansas State. David Soren is aiming to become the world’s oldest documentary filmmaker: He’s just signed up for eight movies with the Oxford University Press. He also reflected sadly on the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, which happened just a few miles from his home in Tucson, Arizona. I was corrected by Bob Thomas: His work at Bucknell should be noted in the past tense—he retired in June of 2010 (news got to me late). He and Barb would welcome classmates to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, for a visit, as he notes there are more Bucknell and Dartmouth athletic events there. Good excuse for a get-together! As will a party at the Tupelo Music Hall in White River Junction, Vermont, 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 27, to celebrate the release of Pete Wonson’s new book Old Times, Good Times: A Rock and Roll Story. Don Marcus wrote to share news that his short film Patrimony was selected to open the 2011 Boston International Film Festival in April. Filmed entirely on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Don wrote, directed and produced the short film. Final call for the Alumni Fund this year. Let’s make it a good one! And remember our 65th birthday party/mini-reunion to be held in Williamsburg, Virginia, over the weekend of September 15 through 18. Plan ahead, and hope you can make it.


—David Peck, 157 Sandwich Road, Plymouth, MA 02360-2503; (508) 746-5894; david.peck@ childrens.harvard.edu