Class Note 1951

Don O’Dowd is the 2017 recipient of our Spirit of ’51 Award, the 34th member of our class to be so honored. Don was recognized for his “extraordinary impact as a leader of four institutions of higher education.” Don and his wife, Jan, have also devoted themselves to the arts and the environment. The full citation accompanying Don’s award will be carried in ’51 Fables, our class newsletter.

Thirty-one classmates, spouses and widows were on hand to salute Don and enjoy our annual mini-reunion in Hanover. They included Nat and Howie Allen, Joan and Al Brout, Don Dworken and guest, Carole and Jack Giegerich, Barbara Hall, Pete Henderson, Bob Hopkins, Ki and Bill Leffler, Lu and Pete Martin, JoAnn and Peirce McKee (all the way from California), Loye Miller, Dotty Mori and daughter Nina, Amy and Henry Nachman, Peggy Read, Charlie Russell, Connie and Jack Skewes, Liz and Jack Weingarten, and Joe Welch and his guest.

Weekend highlights included a delicious dinner at Barbara Hall’s delightful Hanover home, a tour of Al Brout’s remarkable orchid collection (which underpins Dartmouth’s expanded course offerings and research in botany), dinner at Three Tomatoes in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and a thrilling overtime victory by the football team over heavily favored Holy Cross.

Our class executive committee met to discuss, among other topics, our year-old ’51 Cares initiative, which fosters outreach to classmates, especially those experiencing illness or loss. A concerted effort was made to reach out to ’51s living in Texas and Florida following last summer’s devastating hurricanes. All participants valued these reconnections among members of the ’51 family. I reached Tom Trolle in Vero Beach, Florida, following the Florida storms. “Are you in one piece, Tom?” I asked. “Yes,” he responded. “In fact, a few extra pieces floated over to our place from our neighbors!” Dick Bergman (Bradenton), Gay Cummings (Key Largo), Carl Glassberg (Sarasota) and Helene Berger (Miami) were all safe but experienced extended loss of power or water during those scary days.

We have learned of the recent deaths of four members of our class: Francis Burns, Joe Caldwell, Wilson Cross, Al Katz and Ev Odell.

—Pete Henderson, 450 Davis St., Evanston, IL 60201; (847) 905-0635; pandjhenderson@gmail.com