The old Dartmouth
spirit was alive and well as a group of 42, which included men, wives and
family members, arrived in Hanover. The weather was obliging, and the cordial
cohesiveness of the group was immediately evident!
Friday: The morning was spent socializing. A lecture was planned for 2 PM, but we were still too busy becoming re-acquainted and
were tardy getting there only to find that the room was empty; the student
lecturers had departed! A bus tour of
the mightily expanding campus followed. Dartmouth
has found the need for more dormitories, a new eating place, and new academic
buildings in order to meet current and anticipated demands. The Alumni Gym is
undergoing massive renovation and Thayer will be renovated. Plans are to raze the current Math building,
and replace it with
a new, interestingly designed Kemeny building with an
octagonal top section.
New academic buildings will house many departments offering
pertinent courses unheard of in our day!
A reception and dinner in the lovely Daniel Webster dining room at the Inn,
with entertainment by the Dartmouth Aires, was enjoyed immensely. It was topped by Bill Mercer’s remarking how
well the group sang, as well as their fine appearance—neatly dressed, no long
shaggy hair etc.!
Saturday: Breakfast in the Hayward Lounge at the Inn
followed by our class meeting. John
Moore, outgoing President, presided. He
thanked members of the class for their support, and then announced a gift to be
presented to Ann Porter Berger for her more than 30 years of contacting class
widows, and keeping them in our family.
Stet Whitcher received a gift as well as a standing ovation for his
impeccable service as class treasurer for these many years. Sue Young, of the Dartmouth Alumni office,
will act as treasurer for our class from now on. Lloyd Blanchard and Ike Weed were commended
for their job well done as reunion chairman, and of course Ike Weed for his
sensational Indian Drum productions!
Noted was our record breaking class participation during the past five years as
well as the award we received in 2002 for being the best class out 25 years or
more. Stet Whitcher announced that we had
outstanding contributing participation, that our memorial book program had
donated sufficiently to cover book donations to the library for all currently
living members of the class, and because the College is assuming partial costs for
the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, our
class expenses will be significantly reduced.
All our project obligations have been met! Stet handed over a healthy balance to the new
treasurer! Donna Faunce gave the
Secretary’s report. Marian Weinberg stressed the importance of
maintaining communication, and requested updated email addresses. Bill Mercer
presented the slate of officers for the next five years: Karl Bruch, president.
Jay Weinberg vice-president, Donna Faunce Secretary, and Sue Young (Alum
office) treasurer. All were elected
unanimously. Bill Mercer presented Karl Bruch with a copy of our 2002 citation.
<>Eating again: Lunch was enjoyed in the Hayward Room, and
then stalwarts departed to attend the football game against Penn. A group of us spent a sunny afternoon at
Hazel and Ike Weed’s beautiful home.
Seeing the gorgeous wooden furniture designed by Ike was treat enough,
but they also arranged perfect weather for us to sit outside and enjoy their
peaceful, natural property with its little nested pond. It was almost warm enough to
go swimming! Back to
the Inn before boarding a bus to take us to the Outing
Club for dinner!
Reception and Dinner
at the DOC House. President James
Wright acknowledged with appreciation our class gifts to the College. $1,646,537
so far to the Capital Campaign, and a record breaking 65th reunion
year gift of $440,850 to the college fund. He especia1ly thanked John Moore, Karl
Bruch, and Bill Mercer for their service to the college. Andy Harvard ’71,
Director of Outdoor Programs, was
the speaker. His topic was about Dartmouth’s
unique approach to teaching community, leadership, and self esteem by means of
outdoor experiences. The “Dartmouth
Experience” starts with a Freshmen orientation trip led by upper classmen. Results,
he believes, are life-long.
Sunday: Breakfast in the Hayward Room. A class photo on the steps of Rollins Chapel,
under a clear, blue sky, preceded Memorial Services . Included in the program was a listing of all
our deceased classmates. John Moore and Jay Weinberg alternated in reading the
names of those who had passed away since our last reunion. A meaningful sermon
was delivered by _____________ . Farewell brunch at the Inn
followed. Karl Bruch thanked Lloyd Blanchard, Ike Weed, Crosbie
MacMillen and other members of the reunion committee for arranging this
meaningful week-end. For of us, he
thanked John Moore in absentia (John left
before the brunch) for all his service.
Many of us will write to him expressing our thanks.
Goodbyes were said with hopes that we shall meet again.
The spirit of the Class of 1940 is alive and well!!
Here we
are on the steps of Rollins Chapel
