DECEMBER 2003

Click here for:

DECEMBER 2003

THUNDERING HOOVES ...

The sounds remembered, or perhaps, re-imagined. The livestock grow uneasy, the wind rustles the leaves in ways not in keeping with the season. Chefs select and whet their cutlery and serving wenches search for their finest skirts in preparation for the Return of the 54s. The word has spread quickly through this bucolic landscape and there is a discernible, but indistinct sense of joy beginning to build as the citizenry anticipates the spirited celebrations in store in the month of June.

Let’s talk a little 50th reunion, okay? At mid-November, 250 Classmates had given an early indication of attendance with 177 saying Yes!, 40 saying Maybe! and 33 regretting with No. With 285 “active” Class members yet to be heard from, the potential for a challenge to 1952’s 260 and 1953’s 278 looks good. A gratifying aspect is the number of ‘54s coming who have attended only a few, if any of the nine reunions in our history.

For those of you thinking of coming to the Early Bird cocktail party on the Thursday evening preceding the official kick-off, the College dorm rooms will not be made available until Friday. Keep in mind the rooms available at The Comfort Inn in White River Junction (call 802-295-3051, ask for Penny and mention Dartmouth 1954.)

Regardless of what time you plan to arrive, there are a growing number of fascinating activities planned, ranging from a multiplicity of tours, spectacular meals, music, a memorial service conducted by several clergy from within the Class, a Moosilauke climb led by the indefatigable RANSOMs, speeches (including the 50th Reunion Speech by your newsletter editor and Saturday night comments by DAVE MCLAUGHLIN) and an intriguing presentation by Dr. Edward Hallowell entitled “A Celebration of Connection: Why your attendance at this reunion will add years to your life and joy to your heart.”

STEVE and CAROL MULLINS had generously offered their spread in Norwich for the Early Bird function, but with the large number now expected, it was decided to gather in front of the gym at our tent rather than try to manage an exodus-sized move across the river to Norwich .

President DICK LEWIS has sent a note to the widows of Classmates, encouraging them to join us. DOTTIE FITCH is helping to boost the enthusiasm. A good number of widows attended the ‘52 and ‘53 reunions, participated in the memorial services and enjoyed the warmth of the weekend. Ours is going to be friendlier and more meaningful.

A host of ‘54s are scurrying around, finding a wide variety of reasons to contact you. PETE KENYON and HERB HILLMAN have enlisted the communications skills of WAYNE WEIL to contact those with email (in 21-man hunks) in regard to the reunion extension at the Basin Harbor Club. Pete and Herb have gone out on a limb here with an optimistic estimate in order to derive several “extras” in the all-inclusive price, so they are looking for some support for their numbers. Keep in mind that the 50th is a short, tight reunion - particularly if you are coming a long distance. The extension is the perfect way to embellish the “vacation” aspect of the trip and to do it in high style in the company of intelligent, fun-loving folks. Many non-golf, non-tennis friends are coming just for that reason.

Then there’s The 50th Book. BILL WHITE has garnered the services of a fine corps of ‘54s who have agreed to use whatever means necessary to generate submissions from the many recalcitrants. If you are still out, you have likely had such a conversation. Pleasant, yes. Persistent - you bet! Let’s get ‘em in! Added note- if something changes (like a new grandchild), let Bill know - they have the flexibility to add things right up until the Book goes to the printers.

BOB BERRY and DICK PAGE co-chair the effort to raise a 50th gift to the College of which we can all be proud. While it is traditional to complain about the assault on our wallets, it’s probably time to acknowledge that the guys asking are Big Hitters themselves and volunteers to boot. And, the reason for the effort is oft covered in the dust of irritation - the reason being the sustained prominence of Dartmouth College and the benefits to be derived by present and future students. It’s the reason we are returning to campus next June, for Eleazer’s sake! - our pride in the institution and our pride in the difference it has made in each of our lives.

Lastly, the enthusiasm for carrying our senior canes in the graduation processional is growing. One practical ‘54, however, pointed out that we would be burdened with the non-PC implements for the rest of the day. But canes are “jaunty”, aren’t they? The idea still lives.

Newsletter editors are often inclined to prepare obscure analyses of the Class. It’s an occupational affliction. Try this one. During our freshman orientation, Stearns Morse directed us to look to our right and to our left. He then predicted that only two of each three would be around in June of 1954. Assuming that we were seated alphabetically in the usual ordered style of the ‘50s, both SKIP ABBEY and KEN ZWIENER had only one direction to look, increasing the negative odds substantially. However, with credit to the grit and determination of our Class, both SABE ABELL and GARY ZWART were there! It was just all those guys in between ....

I tell you this story because Skip and Ken have submitted their sketches for the 50th Book to BILL WHITE and WAYNE WEIL - it’s just all those men in between that are holding up the process ... What kind of goofy name is “Stearns” anyway? Well ...... except when it comes before MARTIN and after STEWART - and, oh yeah, it nestles within the boughs of my own family tree, so scratch the “goofy” comment.

Another regular n-letter editor activity is the reading and scanning of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine for mentions of the Class. In that regard, Dallas-ite JOEL LASKY has claimed the Class record for published Letters to the Editors. There is no question - as the self-appointed guardian of public trust, gadfly Lasky has made the column at least five times. In the Sept/Oct issue, Joel takes on Professor Marcelo Gleiser on the subject of the Big Bang theory of creation. His last line: “The inability to prove or disprove a theory does not deny its possibility” gives one pause. Local Dallas newspapers also receive his constant comments on current topics, the latest being “the ‘God’ issue.”

It appears that advancing age imbues us with pride as we set records in events and activities in which we engage. DON AUSTERMANN, for instance, wants to be acknowledged for the most email messages in one’s in-box upon return from somewhere - 234.

Don also commented on the bit about TONY MIGLIACCIO in the last newsletter. Don, Tony, JOHN MODERWELL and RICH (never “Dick”) ROGIN lived in Brewster Hall, former housing for Hanover Inn female help that had been converted into a dorm. Don and BARRY LEVIN, both senior managers of The Dartmouth (never the “Daily D”) discovered the Rudofker Clothes “Mr. Formal” contest and entered. It entailed being photographed wearing a white dinner jacket and the usual accouterments. Tony also donned a jacket and won the thing hands-down. But for some stud from the U. of Texas , he would have been Mister Formal for the whole U.S. of A!

Directed Gifts

SEAVER PETERS has raised up in response to the suggestion that Classmates consider directing their gifts to Dartmouth to the Sanborn House Fund and to the College’s efforts to combat alcohol abuse on campus. As a former Director of Athletics, he offered: “May I suggest consideration of inter-collegiate programs for giving? The need is great, the cause is good and the reward and satisfaction second to none. In my opinion, the inter-collegiate program is seriously under-funded related to other programs at Dartmouth and compared to prior years. Personally, my gift has been 100% directed to the DCAD and within that framework, to The Sponsors, football, and mens/womens hockey and golf.” Good idea. Tell ‘em where you want then to spend it.

Photos

I am awash in ‘54 photographs. The pickup in Class gatherings - intellectual, sporting and traditional - and people visiting HUGH and PHYLLIS ROBERTS presents me with the quandary of what to print. Logic says that the participants (1) were there and (2) likely have copies of the snapshots, ergo, the determining factor should be the interest and stimulation of other ‘54s - right? If your photo doesn’t make it, rest assured that it rests in a large shoebox for future use. The TOFIAS wedding shot was selected for the back page because of the elegant outfits and postures of the ‘54 attendees.

Politics

In the recent election for First Selectman in Greenwich , CT (our version of mayor), the winning Republican was accused of “push-polling”, a technique whereby the hired pollster poses rigged questions to citizens, e.g., wife-beating, etc. Former town Democratic chairman BARRY NOVA was cited as the source of an invitation to the press for a “sudden” meeting in the incumbent’s office. Barry was identified as being present at the meeting and the author of a two-page excoriating press release on the subject. Somewhat puzzling, he was not quoted, nor was his press release printed. Digging for “color”, the local newspaper mentioned that Barry had worked for a tea company and also an ad agency that had been involved in election campaigns. At reunion, get Barry to tell you the story of his first client lunch after entering the advertising business.

ED QUINN determined to run for the town council of Easthampton , MA . He made his own signs and buttons and counted on his past presidency of the local retirement community to help sweep him into office. The lack of name recognition, the bugaboo of new politicians, brought him in third, with the winner garnering more votes than Ed and the number two combined. Learning quickly from the experience, Ed got himself picked up by a suspicious cop for being an “unfamiliar person”in a neighborhood. While he was merely checking out some areas in his role as a Governor’s representative for the Conservation and Preservation Act, the newspaper coverage of his apprehension put him well on his way to name recognition. In this year’s Massachusetts Senior Games, Ed came in fifth in the pistol competition and blamed it entirely on the weapon.

War Zones

Globe-trotting STEVE and CAROL MULLINS encountered: “... a mini-revolution in Bolivia . The farmers and Indians (sic) are in revolt over numerous administration policies, including teachers’ salaries, natural gas distribution and prices and a clampdown on coca leaf production. There were roadblocks that kept us from entering the capital; up to 60 military and civilians were killed. Our van was stoned (broken windows, etc.), we spent one night sleeping impromptu on a catamaran on Lake Titicaca, were promised, then reneged on, a military escort into La Paz. I suspect the government may be overthrown. We finally traveled over back roads for two days back into Peru (walked across the border), caught a plane out of Puno , Peru ’s southernmost airport, to Lima and made it home. Exciting to say the least!”

Then there’s DAVE MARTIN. For his third stint as a volunteer election observer with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , he went to Baku , Azerbaijan : “This election was, by all accounts, thoroughly corrupt, rigged and intimidating. I personally witnessed a whole gamut of the fraud, from ballot box stuffing to duplicate ballots to intimidation by having a tv camera at every polling station (no-one behind a camera would show me identification.) We operated in two-person teams, each team with a driver and a translator. As soon as the polls closed, the cops and the army were unleashed against the opposition. By daylight, the main opposition candidate was under house arrest, his party headquarters and newspaper were surrounded and shut down and a full-fledged cop riot was underway. Last I heard, 13 people had been killed, many more injured and who knows how many imprisoned.” In an email to CRISTA from Baku , Dave described some of the violence he came close to, then finished with: “This is a marvelous experience. It makes me feel like there is still hope if people will continue to resist. Problem more and more is that the media doesn't report things and the media today determine what is important and, therefore, what will be tomorrow’s history.”

Okay ...come on guys ... you’re in your eighth decade!

Penpals

Survey time. With the wide variations in experience with the program for connecting with the ‘04s, it has been decided to take its measure. Please drop me a short note about your experience with it and your opinion about it. Mssrs FENN, GROVER, HALL, R. WHITE and MULLINS are already in and need not reply.

Rockefeller

SASCHA ROCKEFELLER has made an initial donation of two million dollars to underwrite the establishment of the RODMAN C. ROCKEFELLER Initiative in Cancer Biology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. With an emphasis on work with implications for renal cancer, the Initiative will support Rodman C. Rockefeller Fellowships and an annual symposium that will exert a significant impact in the field, along with funds for continuing research. An enduring tribute to Rod.

PETER KENYON has been informed that our Rockefeller intern for the winter term will be Matthew Winter ‘05 who will study rural and small-school education policies at the University of Washington . He will work with an innovative magnet school to generate internships within the City of Seattle for high school juniors and seniors. Matt will report to us regularly.

Dues

Good time to bring up Class dues. HARRY ROBINSON has mailed to each of you a uniquely well-written dues notice with compelling reasons for support of each of the Class cost categories. The aforementioned Rockefeller intern program is one ($20), mini-reunions ($15) and the balance of $50 goes for the newsletter, class-wide mailings, the Alumni Magazine, etc. Typically, a goodly percentage of the Class chips in, but there is a hard-to-understand number of Classmates who free-ride and don’t contribute. This year, there are two important reasons for everyone to pick up their fair share - the cost of the Alumni Magazine is going up and, in a budget-cutting move, the Alumni Relations office will support (compose and produce) only three newsletters per year (four for reunion classes). Since this newsletter is #4 and several more are planned, the Class treasury will be sorely tried to keep up, so in order to stay on the mailing list, it would be a good idea to write the check. Forewarned is ....

Homecoming

The usual, taken to a higher level. More participants (33), an active Class meeting, the DOC House for dinner and we actually won the game over Columbia ! Specifics from the Saturday morning meeting:

-376 Classmates and 12 widows (of 535 “actives”) paid Class dues for the year ended last June 30th.

-69% participation in the Alumni Fund, raising $295,000. Missed $ goal, but participation up.

-increasing demands on the Class treasury

-through the Dickey Foundation, Great Issues is rising from the ashes - in a different form. A series of lectures open to the public, not a graded course. Warren Rudman is the first speaker.

-at the 50th reunion memorial service, all deceased Classmates’ names will be read, 15 at a time, by 54s who span the country.

-the 50th Gift to Dartmouth stands at $5 million toward a goal of eight to ten million. BOB CLEMENTS has committed $2.5 million for a Professorship of Democracy and Politics.

- JERRY GOLDSTEIN was named the Chair of the Nominating Committee for the period following the reunion. See the masthead for the various offices and forward your ideas to Jerry.

- LYON GREENBERG was awarded the Class of 1954 Award and commented: “ Dartmouth is a disease and when we are pricked, the blood runs Green.”

-Next year’s post-game gathering and dinner will be in the Hayward Lounge at the Hanover Inn - another Gillespie triumph!

-to commemorate the completion of the Glover Fund (swim team financing), a ‘54 relay squad of COFFIN, HEYN, MULLINS and KELSEY were to take on other classes in late November.

Classmate News

Dr. ROSS TUCKER, still practitioner of international medicine at the Mayo Clinic, hit the 45th McGill Medical reunion recently - didn’t spot any ‘54s. The Tuckers have a place at Mount Tremblant and have yet to run into the TOM CORCORANs. In a note to Bill White: “On returning from Spain, Portugal, Las Palmas and Tenerife, Casablanca, Agadir and Marrakech, Morocco, I have only one thing to say. Do not ever go to the souks in Marrakech. That was the most dismal, scary, dirty and disorganized marketplace I have ever seen. Your introduction to the place is to have a snake draped around your neck and a monkey attached to your shoulder while the owner is screaming that you must take a picture, which will cost 5 to 10 euros at the least. I felt very fortunate to have found my way out of the place without being attacked or run down by the motorbikes which the locals drive all over the pedestrian venues. The Canary Islands made up for the place by being beautiful and orderly, albeit perched on top of a few overdue volcanoes. It was an interesting trip, combined as it was with an excellent cardiovascular symposium. Glad we went.” We shall see the Tuckers in Hanover next June.

ROGER GILMORE: Enjoyed some Outing Club-type experiences this fall (benefit of retirement). Made another solo climb of Mt. Katahdin Sept 8th, including Mt. Pamola , the Knife Edge and Mt. Hamlin in my eleven mile loop - exhausting and exhilarating. Had a two-day hiking reunion with my three children and son-in-law in the Franconias two weeks later, staying in AMC huts. Then BILL BRYAN and I spent two nights at the DOC’s Hinman Cabin October 5-6, canoeing and hiking up Holt’s Ledge. Beautiful weather and scenery on all trips!

AL DONAHOWER:: “Same old, same old. ANN and I married 45 years. Three sons, three grandchildren (one each.)”

From Colorado Springs , JACK SMITH: “After a 12 year hiatus, I finally returned to Hanover in mid-September after a swing through new England. only the frosh were on campus and the sight of an “07” sweatshirt made me suddenly feel a lot older, although I still jog regularly. When I told one of the young guys that I was Class of 1954, he offered to help me across the street. Looking forward to the mini in Aspen , the Big One in June and the cruise in September.”

NEAL SIBLEY: “A warm greeting from Palm Beach County , Florida .... boring, but beautiful weather ... 85 to 90 daily under bright sunshine; delightful evenings, making the Marlins play like ‘Steinbrenner Millionaires.’ For the record: weekend of Oct 17-19 gathering at the Mohonk Lodge in New Paltz, NY to celebrate ARTHUR RAUCH’s (brother-in-law) 70th birthday. Of the 18 adults present, 6 were Dartmouth alums and many of the nine kids certainly have the potential. A fabulous time was had by all - golfing, rock-climbing, jogging, croquet and, more importantly, wine-tasting at two wineries. See you in June.”

Alpharetta Georgia ’s LARRY RUSSELL: “Tremendous idea, the canes! I’ll bring mine as well as my Dad’s (‘11) and son Gregg’s (‘85). Let’s push the idea!”

Bill White forwarded a note from TOM TYLER about his winning fight against an encroaching cancer: “I’m doing fine now. My chemo is finished and I’m throwing off the side effects. Next week (early September) I have scans to see if I’m in remission. The doctor is optimistic. The little grandchildren will be 4, 5, 6 and 7 at the time of our reunion. Jenny earned 2 separate degrees over 3 years at the University of Michigan , a Master of Science in Engineering and an MBA. She is currently working for Steelcase in Grand Rapids and is a major advocate of women in manufacturing.” Good news.

BILL BULLEN’s commentary for the 50th Book: “I am always saddened when I read of the loss of a classmate and we have lost several, including some very good friends. I am constantly reminded of my own mortality. What scares me a little are the Class Notes. My Dad’s class was 1922 and I always read their Notes. The Class of ‘22 was among the first classes in the Notes section, while the Class of 1954 was near the end. Now I notice that ‘22 doesn’t report anymore and many subsequent classes are missing. Each year, our class edges closer and closer to the beginning of the section. I wish I could return to Dartmouth and relive those formative years. We would undoubtedly make the same mistakes again, but, at least, we would be together again.” Reflective comments to ponder.

RAY ROWLAND: “Retired. Everything great on this end. We spend a lot of time traveling, golfing and fishing in retirement. Time is split between Florida , Michigan and Missouri .”

DON SIMONDS is a most constant correspondent: “Just got back from 12 days in Japan . One of the Amerasian girls I had sponsored through the Pearl Buck Foundation when she was in school, now grown and teaching, sent me a wedding invitation and I just had to go. Flew to Tokyo on 22 July, then to Okinawa where I attended the wedding and spent a few days with friends and the newlyweds before flying back to Tokyo for several more days, seeing friends. Tested my minimal Japanese which I haven’t studied since 1998 and have mostly forgotten, but I managed passably.”

DON MARTIN reports: “Retired in 1989. Enjoying life in the Redlands , studying California history (Gold Rush, San Francisco , etc.)”

PETE GEITHNER gets an occasional mention here, but his son, Tim ‘83, has generated far more ink. Tim’s being named the president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was front page news in all business venues and was forwarded to the newsletter by countless ‘54s. Of personal importance to each of us, Tim will be the vice-chair of the Federal Open Market Committee where interest rate decisions are reached. Many in the profession regard his role as a crisis manager as the most important. Peter Peterson, chairman of New York Fed’s board was quoted: “Tim Geithner is admirably equipped to confront the unique domestic and international challenges that will face our financial system over the coming years.” His father wasn’t mentioned in the article.

Midwest Weekend (Sept 11/16)

The heavy advertising paid off with 44 Classmates and wives joining in the tours and festivities of the weekend hosted by TOM and KATIE TYLER and STEVE and CAROL MULLINS. Almost everyone listed in a prior newsletter showed up, including the “rarely seen” HUGH and DEBBIE NOLIN, JOE and DONNA MIGELY and BOB and VIRGINIA COLLIMORE. The ‘54s converging from all points of the country enjoyed a variety of gustatory experiences at their hosts many homes and local constabularies. Two cruises with made-to-order sunsets. Tours of everything tourable, including the vaunted Toby Jug museum. Above all, just joining together for good-natured sharing of life’s experiences and blessings with the ‘54 family will prompt the crowd to show up the next one, wherever it is held. Think about joining them!

College Announcement

The Board of Trustees, in their cumulative wisdom, have determined to increase the size of the board from its current 16 members to 22. The additional six seats will consist of three “alumni” trustees nominated by the alumni body and three “charter” trustees appointed by the board. Board chair Susan Dentzer ‘77 commented: “Ours is an increasingly complex institution and the Board’s ability to govern it well requires the addition of members with specific skills, capacities and expertise. In addition, we have long sought to have a balanced Board in terms of the different professions of our members as well as their gender, age, race, ethnicity and state or country of residence. This modest expansion will better enable us to achieve all our goals in these regards.” The size of the Board has been increased only twice in the 234-year history of the College. From the original 12 to 16 in 1961 and this current change. When asked his opinion of the move, former Trustee JOHN STEEL, in San Diego , was uncharacteristically cautious in his reply and posited that he was “mulling it over.” Watch these pages for further developments.

Calendar

You probably have your 2004 date book on hand somewhere, so dig it out and start writing:

-Skiing (Jay Davis - jdmd@valley.net)

January 25-27 at Mount Snow , VT

March 1-5 at Aspen , March 7-9 at Vail

-Golf (Jim Tofias - jimtofias@charter.net)

February 22-26 at the Plantation Inn and Golf Resort in Crystal River , FL

-50th Reunion

June 11-13 in Hanover

- Reunion Extension (PeterMKenyon@aol.com)

June 13-15 at Basin Harbor Club

- Dalmatian Coast Cruise

(Berlin1954@aol.com)

September 28 - October 6 - waiting list

-Homecoming

October 29-30 in Hanover

PGBarker54@aol.com

(203) 661-7611