MAY 2005
PGBarker54@aol.com
(203) 661-7611
EVERY
WHICH WAY...
And
now - an adventure tale from TOM CORCORAN: “My transition into retirement,
after sailing the Maine coast for 30+ years, was to buy a used 55-foot
cutter-rigged sloop capable of crossing oceans safely and comfortably. For four
years, 1999-2002, DAPHNE and I, with an Irish seaman to fix things that broke,
circumnavigated the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, traveling 20,000 nautical
miles via the Azores, reaching Venice, Dubrovnik, the southern coast of Turkey
and Cyprus. On the way home, we had stops in the Aegean islands, including
Crete
,
Malta
,
Sicily
, the
Balearic Islands
,
Gibraltar
,
Madeira
and the Canaries. After
crossing back across the Atlantic from Las Palmas to Saint Lucia (17 days, 2800
miles), we spent the winter in the Windward and and Leeward Islands,
island-hopping from Grenada to Anguilla before heading north to Bermuda, the
Bras D’or Lakes in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Sold the boat in
Newport
,
RI
. Out of boats in 2003,
then bought a used 45-foot motorboat/trawler in January 2004 and traveled
2800 miles up the
Intracoastal Waterway
from the
Florida Keys
to the
Ottawa River
and
Quebec
. Going to
Georgian Bay
off
Lake Huron
this summer before returning
to
Newport
. Dined with PETE CALDWELL when
we were on the
Hudson River
last summer and we’ll see
PETE KIRBY on the boat in the
Thousand Islands
this summer. We see GEORGE and
IRENE HASKINS frequently here at
Seabrook
Island
where they have a home. Our
golf handicaps are similar and too high to mention!” Tom’s address and
phone/email specs are as published in the Class Directory.
One of two Masters of the
Appalachian Trail
in the Class, DANA LOW has
increased his level of challenge. In June, he and 16-year-old grandson Ben will
set out on a 12-day “hut to hut” trek in
France
. The adventure consists of
daily hikes, five to eight hours in length, from designated points to designated
points - small hotels, hostels and an occasional home. Breakfast and dinner is
supplied, but lunch must be scrounged. One of the stopping places has a famous
70-foot bed .... interesting. Dana
posits that the trek is less demanding than the AT in that they don’t have to
carry heavy packs with bedding and shelter. On the other hand, the days are
classified as “strenuous” and “very strenuous.” The total lack of
English along the way has its own pitfalls. For those of you who might have
interest in such an undertaking, let’s wait for the post-trek report. In
addition to being a grampa-pusher, Ben is a medal-winning jazz musician,
doubling on piano and trombone.
We are obviously an energetic bunch of septuagenarians and our many
organizers have (lately) met the need for physical outlet through ski outings
and a highly popular golf gathering in
Florida
. First, the skiing. Following
a warm-up in
Vermont
, the group came together in
pieces, JAY DAVIS: “March 2, PETE ANKENY joined STEVE MULLINS, TOM TYLER and
me to ski
Aspen
’s
Highlands
after which we gathered at the
Ankeny
’s Snowmass house with MARGIE
ANKENY and CAROL MULLINS, then dinner in downtown
Aspen
. The following Saturday, we
had the official ‘54 ski kickoff party in the Mullins condo at which there
were 15 Dartmouth-related people, including 9 ‘54s - BOB ADNOPOZ and daughter
SALLY ‘82, Pete and Margie Ankeny, CLIFF EVANS, DICK GORSEY, Tom Tyler, BILL
and ROSEMARIE MURANE, JACK CHRISTY, Steve and Carol Mullins, STEPHANIE MULLINS
‘87, RIAN MULLINS ‘93 and myself. By
Wednesday, we were down to Steve, Jack and myself, so we drove over to Steamboat
for some last runs - appropriate in that Steve’s high school swimming nickname
had been ‘Steamboat’, based on his recovery stroke which reminded his coach
of the paddlewheel on a steamboat.” Cliff Evans added that there were no bad
accidents, although Steve was knocked out of his skis by a collision. Apres-ski,
Cliff visited his orthopaedic doctor friend about his knees and was told that he
“didn’t do knee replacements for recreational purposes.” Various skiers
have emailed photos to the newsletter, but unfortunately, I need originals to
meet the publishing requirements. The guys all look like they did at the 50th
reunion, just pumped up by the exertions on the slopes.
MORT GALPER led a sellout golf bacchanalia in
Fort Myers
, FL. Forty-seven Classmates,
wives and children attended and, in spite of two rained-out days, a memorable
time was had by all. Doctor TONY MIGLIACCIO brightened a rainy day with a
well-attended lecture on establishing a progressive exercise program to nurture
good health and extended longevity. JIM TOFIAS stepped in on the golf
arrangements when DICK LEWIS was sidetracked. HARRY ROBINSON and ALEC GRAY kept
the cash in balance and JOAN TOFIAS arranged for non-golfers’ gifts. JUDY
GALPER worked the food sphere and advised Mort of potential pitfalls before he
dropped into them. SUSIE and JOHN FREUND graciously hosted a cocktail party and
sunset viewing at their place on
Captiva
Island
. This particular event has
been attracting “new” ‘54s each year and demonstrating the value of
re-connecting. “Newbies” this year included PHIL ANDERSON, JOHN/NATALIE
FENN, JOHN/SUSIE FREUND, BOB/BARBARA LEVINE, KEN MEYER and TONY / PAULA
MIGLIACCIO. Next year’s affair will be chaired by SHELLY WOOLF with
BILL GARLAND and Tony Migliaccio assisting. The Freunds will scout out other
golf venues in order to expand the depth of challenge for the linksters.
ED SCOTT and DON BELCHER have developed an under-structure for a
potential mini-reunion to be held in the Northwest - Seattle/Vancouver and
surrounding areas. While several
‘54s indicated an interest in such a happening on the earlier questionnaire,
we have learned that it is important to determine hard interest before going too
far into making commitments and planning events. Therefore, please consider the
opportunity being
put forth
and notify Golfers Dougherty,
Meyer, either John Fenn (jefenn@aol.com) or the newsletter editor if you would
definitely attend if the mini is scheduled. Initial thoughts are that a late
September happening would begin in
Seattle
, then move to
Victoria
,
BC
, then on to
Vancouver
. Attractions could include
quite a bit of sight-seeing (ala the
Chicago
mini), shopping, harbor
cruises,
Whistler
Village
, etc.
Bottom line, here is a chance to visit one of the most beautiful areas of
our country in the company of extraordinarily interesting people. Think about it
and let us know.
Continuing the Connecting theme, dig out your datebook and note that the
2005 Homecoming mini will be October 21-23 in Hanover - the Columbia game under
the tutelage of Coach Buddy Teevens. Pre-parade cocktails/buffet on Friday, Exec
Committee meeting Saturday morning and Saturday night dinner at the Hanover Inn.
Dougherty,
Meyer, Page and Hartman
Photo courtesy of “Doc” Click
photo or here for an enlargement
Now, the piece de resistance from John Fenn: “Another travel adventure
for the Class of ‘54 is being planned by Don Berlin and John Fenn for the
spring of 2006, this time to the
Dordogne
and
Provence
in
France
. In contrast to previous trips
that have involved chartering ships, this event will be strictly land-based,
excepting air travel across the pond. Preliminary plans call for a four or five
day stay in each locale with an added day to travel between the two sites. Only
two hotels will be involved so that packing and unpacking will not be
burdensome. Roberta Moore,
Dartmouth
’s Director of Alumni
Continuing Education and Travel, is organizing the arrangements and will recruit
appropriate professors to accompany the group. Those interested in joining an
already seasoned cadre of ‘54 travelers should let Don Berlin (berlin1954@aol.com)
or John Fenn (jefenn@aol.com) know as soon as possible since capacity is
limited.”
With the tremendous breadth and depth of ‘54 Connecting, there is
likely a television or film script in here someplace. Start thinking about what
Hollywood
star would be right to play you.
JOE MESICS remembers: “The misery of a 50s
Dartmouth
education - we all recall
something. I remember kindly Professor Booth saying: ‘Mesics, never, never
write on the other hand unless you’ve previously written on the one hand.’
This lesson has resulted in years of frustration since whenever I’m reading
and the other hand stands naked and alone, a common error, I must stop reading,
think about Booth, the snow drifts, the mud and the beer. Booth changed my
reading life that day 50 years ago!”
RALPH DESTINO’s plate continues to get fuller. Recently, he agreed to
become the non-executive chairman of the board of Rideau, Inc., a Montreal-based
provider of out-sourced human resources. At the same time, he re-upped as
chairman of the Gemological Institute of America and of the Fifth Avenue
Association. Nice to be needed.
“Dabo” DABNEY, following the payment of his 2004 Federal income tax,
invoked a curse upon the Alternative Minimum Tax and invites all Classmates to
join in the damning.
Dr. DON BELCHER is part of a 4-person medical team going to the
post-tsunami area (Aceh,
Sumatra
,
Indonesia
) for four weeks. A local
hospital was badly damaged and many staff personnel were lost. “This will be a
difficult, but worthwhile experience. We hope to work effectively as a team and
encourage local health workers.”
DAISY HEISLER, lifemate to our deceased classmate, KEN SCHRAMM, is
writing a screenplay based on his life entitled “dr. ken”, subtitled “a
man who lived and died for the Hippocratic Oath.” She is also preparing a
memorial book for family members - especially his grandchildren.
On the subject of cruises, YNGVAR HVISTENDAHL has the thought to organize
a Norwegian event which he could “make far more interesting, scenically,
historically and culturally at 2/3rds the price.” It seems that the older we
grow, the greater the opportunities.
In Westport, CT, JOHN (DUTCH) OUDHEUSDEN sold his Pronto Printer business
last year and is now retired (on Fridays) and helps his Sign Shop business
during the week in Wethersfield, CT. Dutch continues to be active with The
Gideons.
Buddy Teevens, the returned football coach has been getting rave reviews
everywhere he has visited, giving presentations. CHARLIE MORRISON joined 60
others at Harbour Ridge to listen and declared Buddy “awesome” in his
discussion of the difference between
big-time college athletes and the goals he has for his players - being good
students, responsible members of the community and committed team players.
Try to catch him when he visits your area.
During the
Vietnam
conflict, certain Air Force
officers volunteered for the “Steve Canyon Program” and joined the “secret
war in
Laos
.” BOB DRAWBAUGH
was one who participated. The men wore civilian clothes, flew light
aircraft, smoke-marked targets for fighters and bombers and were under the
jurisdiction of the American ambassador and the CIA. They were nicknamed RAVENS,
based on their call-codes. Bob is mentioned in the book “The Ravens”, but
only as a member of the elite group. Also involved was JOHN PRATT, who was in
Laos
as a military historian with
the responsibility of recording the details of combat operations.
While on active duty (108 combat missions), John wrote an intriguing
novel, Laotian Fragments about the Ravens which was classified Top Secret until
after his discharge and the U.S. exit from that part of the world. I have been
admitted into a support organization associated with the Ravens alumni, a
“last man” group. The alumni association is called The Edgar Allen Poe
Literary Society and all communications end with the word “nevermore.” When
queried about his CIA work, DON SIMONDS responded: “As a part of a three-man
team, I worked on records and information systems supporting clandestine
operations in stations from
Tokyo
around to
Rangoon
. Being on the periphery of
Laos, many of those installations, particularly Saigon, were supporting the
small Vientiane station in political, economic, counterinsurgency and air
operations, so I was somewhat knowledgeable of some of things going on at that
time.” Fascinating what one comes across when researching the lives of our
Classmates.
Changes
Dave
Dame
dadame@ufl.edu
Norm
Ross
3170 Eagles Landing Cir. W.
Clearwater
,
FL
33761
(727) 723-3252 ; email OK
Ralph
Destino RalphDestino@Rideau.com
Dick
Shelley
307 “A” Middle Street
New Bern
,
NC
28560
Jim
Adams
jjadams21@cox.net
George
Kingsley 11858 Paseo
Lucido #1090
San Diego
,
CA
92128
No
change:in phone or email
Ron
Dunton
cell: 831-239-0711
Dick
Page
dart1954@comcast.net
George
Haskins Jan-Apr
address:
104 High Hammock Villas
Seabrook
Island
Johns
Island
,
SC
29455
Jack
Shenefield
jackarch@sbcglobal.net
George
Fitzgerald
cell: 805-403-9802
From the above, the Kingsleys comment that they are “downsizing for the
last time.” And numerous emails were received from the Pages and the
Adams
from locales in
Vietnam
,
Thailand
and points southeast (
Asia
).
PETE KENYON’s son, Peter, won a
Peabody
! Somewhat edited, here is the
scoop: “Peter W. Kenyon ‘80 has just been honored with a Peabody Award as a
part of The National Public Radio team reporting on the situation in Iraq since
May 2003 (the George Bush declared “end of the war”). There were 32
peabody
Awards given this year - the
highest distinction to be earned in the field of broadcasting. Following
graduation from
Dartmouth
, Peter moved to
Alaska
. He started his career with
NPR in
Juneau
, reporting on the governor and
the legislature. He then moved to
Anchorage
where he was the host for the
nightly news program carried by the 27 stations comprising the statewide
network. His next move was to
Washington
DC
, covering the Senate. His
first overseas posting began four years ago with his move to
Jerusalem
. From there, he has been doing
the local situation as well as several tours to
Iraq
as part of the NPR team. He
will be in
Baghdad
for May, then move to his new
base in
Cairo
.”
Based on the above, the newsletter editor is considering a regular column
entitled “Pete’s Kids.” In addition to the Kenyon star, there’s the
Geithner stalwart in the Treasury Department, my son’s a senior executive with
the Gatorade Division of Pepsi, I sat across from an
Ankeny
in a negotiation years ago and
there was a great photo of the Bullis daughter with Dave McLaughlin - a
veritable treasure trove of newsworthy progeny. Other Petes are invited to join
in.
Tuck Today editor CHARLIE MORRISON spotted a great JON MOORE story in the
Daily D, but since Jon didn’t go to Tuck, he generously passed it to the
newsletter: “Both the men's heavyweight
crew experienced stiff competition this weekend. With a home meet on the
Connecticut River
, they
sought the Cochrane Cup for the first time since 2000. However, MIT and
Wisconsin
tried everything in their
powers to prevent
Dartmouth
from claiming the title. Christening its new shell, The
Jonathan Moore ‘54,
Dartmouth
was poised and ready to race
well. However, the Badgers took the early lead in the varsity eight race. They
eventually let the lead slip away at the 800 meter point. With MIT never in
serious contention, the Big Green made its move at the halfway mark and spurted
ahead with 400 meters to go. Posting an impressive 5:13.4,
Dartmouth
out-rowed both
Wisconsin
and MIT and claimed the
Cochran.” Sly KATIE, backed by the four
Moore
children arranged the whole
thing, presenting the shell to
Dartmouth
while Jon was out of the
country. The Cox Emeritus and family watched the win from honored positions in
the launch.
The April New York luncheon blossomed to 15, including President JAY
DAVIS. A private room was necessitated. Remember - the first Thursday of the
month.
TED EVERETT noted the passing of JOHN MELANSON (see below) and said that
he was spending some temporary (hopefully) time in a nursing home.
DICK SHELLEY is dealing with developing a new life without his beloved
JILL: “.... given up home ownership, kicked the mortgage and moved into
vibrant downtown
New Bern
NC
. Moving was the pits (!),
giving me an unpleasant stay in the hospital with pneumonia - keep forgetting
I’m not only a senior, but elderly. Still, some travel plans out there with
the promise of some good life before I start drooling.”
Hunter ED HOBBIE is still at it: “I changed from Alberta to New
Brunswick this fall, 580 miles far less daunting than 3200 and wanted to be back
to help drive a stake through Kerry’s black heart. Saw many old friends, new
woodcock covers, moose, a bear, deer and FISH. Before I started competitive
shooting, did a lot of fly fishing. The sight of all those Atlantic salmon
heading up streams which barely covered their backs was awesome. The fact that
my buddy from
Alberta
has returned to
New Brunswick
and has a lodge on the
southwest branch of Minimachi at Boiestown adds to the mix. Coming in one
afternoon with four geese, two woodcock and a clean left barrel only added to
the fun. Chance at a spring try for big Sea Run brook trout after (unreadable)
run.”
Energetic DOTTIE FITCH and
Harold Blood enjoyed a “wonderful, delightful, relaxing” dinner with TOM
and LIZ KELSEY in
Naples
,
FL
in late February.
JOHN and SANDY GILLESPIE have
ventured into print advertising! A quarter-page ad for St. Andrews Village in
Boothbay Harbor, ME features a photo of a grinning, seated John being tended to
by Sandy with the quote: “Moving to St. Andrews Village was the best thing we
ever did. We shouldn’t have waited so long!” Never too late to be going
after those residual checks.
ART and TOBY GELLER sent
three sons through
Dartmouth
, classes of ‘82, ‘84 and
‘86. Son Mark ‘84 graduated posthumously, Phi Beta Kappa and is memorialized
by a kiosk near the courtyard to Thayer. Look for it when you are there next.
Mike Biggs, Mike Payson and Jack Shenefield
Half of the old Climax Six and one-third of the old Sultans
Photo courtesy of Ginny Biggs
Click here
or on the photo for an enlargement
===========================================================
IN
MEMORIAM
GEORGE
A. McLAUGHLIN
George passed away April 6th in
Boston
after a long, valiant battle
with multiple myeloma. He and BETTY
had attended our 50th reunion last June and his classmates and DKE brothers had
the opportunity to catch up on what had been an extraordinary life story. After
Belmont
High School
and
Dartmouth
, George put his head down and
made his way through BU Law School, then joined his father’s firm, McLaughlin
Brothers. Betty, who met George when they were both 4, was along for the whole
law school grind, having become Mrs. McLaughlin soon after June of 1954.
The Boston Globe headlined George as the “dean of eminent domain cases
in
Massachusetts
” in its lengthy review of
his career. Quotes from senior judicial folk included: “a legend has
passed”, “..marveled at his
preparation and work ethic - tough and relentless”, “..came at you hot and
heavy, but always with integrity’”, but his son, George 3rd, put his finger
on the core of the man with: “In his private social life, my father was very
reserved, but when he entered the courtroom, he took on a completely different
personality.” The landmark case which put George into the annals was a
successful eminent domain challenge. The town of
Burlington
had taken a piece of property
from a corporation and paid it a few hundred thousand dollars. When George was
through with
Burlington
, his client was awarded $10.5
million plus interest. That
highlight, bolstered by 40 years of courtroom successes, made George a
sought-after lecturer on trial skills.
Family was foremost and George and Betty took tremendous pride in their
four children, appropriately
Dartmouth
and attorneys. Nine
grandchildren (including an ‘07) enriched their lives.
When not studying briefs, George enjoyed golf in
Massachusetts
and near their second home in
Florida
.
He was a supporter of
Dartmouth
values
and history and enjoyed interviewing candidates in the
Boston
area. Former roommates JOHN
GILLSEPIE and DICK LEARY echo the universally fine things said and printed about
George and added their own recollections.
A book will be placed in Baker Library in his memory.
JOHN F. MELANSON
John Melanson died December 23rd in his hometown of
Littleton
,
NH
. His entry in the Freshman Greenbook includes some
football at Littleton High, the class presidency and 48 months in the Army
Signal Corps. There was no other information available, so I turned to his
freshman roommates, TOM AGAN and PAUL DALTON and from these two men flowed a
most remarkable story: From Paul: “I first met John on the day Tom Agan and I
moved into New Hampshire Hall in Sept. 1950. There sat a rather smallish,
definitely older man whom we assumed was our new roommate’s father, our first
of many wrong decisions as pea green freshmen. John was indeed our new roommate,
all of 33 years old and seasoned by worldly experiences only a Hemingway could
imagine. After that first year, Tom decided to commute from home in
Lebanon
and DICK MOODY joined John and
me for the next two years. With a little help from the small group of classmates
who got to know John, we could write an adventure story that would rival the
best. To the best of my recollection, they would include his fellow philosophy
majors, graphic arts classmates and roommates Tom and Dick.
John grew up in
Littleton
,
NH
, but we learned little of his
family. After completing high school about 1935 at the height of the Depression,
John joined the CCC camps and worked in the woods for a while. He left there to
become a ‘knight of the road’ - hobo to our generation - riding the rails
and wandering the country, serving a brief term on a Georgia chain gang and
ending up destitute in California. Longing for home, he somehow obtained an old
bicycle and rode it across the country. He took the hot, southern route to
lessen the mountains, riding by night and resting from the burning sun during
the day. By the time he arrived back in NH, the war was starting and he was
drafted (or enlisted) in the Army Signal Corps, serving in the
Canal Zone
longer than the medical people
of the time felt was safe for northerners. After his bicycle adventure, it
probably seemed like a temperate climate.
Following the war, John joined the maritime service as an able-bodied
seaman on a merchant ship sailing worldwide. Some of the stories from those days
would curl your hair and are best not reported here. While at sea, he started to
read extensively and finally found a book, F.G. Northrop’s The Meeting of the
East and West, that he could not understand. It was in late 1948 that his ship
became bottled up in Communist China. Unemployed, he learned that schooling
benefits under his W.W.II Bill of Rights had to be activated by the end of 1950.
With nothing but a 15-year old high school background, but a burning desire to
study philosophy, he applied to Harvard and
Dartmouth
. We’ll never know why, but
Harvard said he was too old while
Dartmouth
welcomed him.
In
Hanover
, John applied himself like no
one we had ever seen. He lived in two pairs of work boots, 3-4 pairs of
bell-bottomed jeans, 3-4 sweatshirts and a Navy pea jacket. Beyond classes, he
indulged in three excesses - he learned to play squash in recreation classes,
walked to and from Lebanon about every other Saturday night (winters included)
to drink 10-cent draft beers at the local bars and engaged in debates with his
immature roommates on any topic he could lure us into.
His professors quickly recognized his uniqueness. The weekly freshman
English themes that challenged us were child’s play for someone with his
experiences and his professor quickly suggested he just come in for a weekly
chat. He buried himself in a Latin vocabulary textbook and was exempted from
further language requirements with an 800+ score on the proficiency test, one
that the scorer was unwilling to certify until he could find nothing to
challenge. Finally, he became very involved in graphic arts, especially wood
cuts and block printing, a skill that later led to part-time employment at the
Steinhour Press in
Lunenburg
,
VT.
When classes ended, John went to
New York City
to continue studies at NYU. He
couldn’t see ‘wasting’ the summers. To conserve funds, he lived in the
notorious ‘flop houses’ in the area. He continued to excel and transferred
credits to
Dartmouth
such that he completed all
requirements for graduation with Phi Beta Kappa rank in 3 years. A testament to
his dedication and frugality is that he supported himself completely with the GI
Bill receipts while saving enough money to buy a used Jeep and a small pig farm
back in
Littleton
.
In the spring of 1954, John was nowhere to be found, having established
himself on his farm. The Dean of Students at the time asked me if I could
persuade John to request an exemption from attending graduation and to send in
something like $25 for his Phi Beta Kappa key. The administration was more than
ready to excuse him. His reply was that since he had the knowledge, why
couldn’t they just send him his diploma and the pigs didn’t care if he wore
the key or not! It was a matter of principle after all. As far as I know, he
never got the diploma.
John was a prince of a man, a teacher to all who got to know him and a
Classmate we can all be proud of. He was a true student who pursued knowledge
for knowledge’s sake. It was a privilege to have been his friend.”
In addition to Paul’s recollections, Tom Agan remembered John’s
constant corn cob pipe and the wooden pencil, kept sharpened with a pen knife.
Living with John was like having a Mom and a Dad there, requiring well-made
beds, picked-up clothes and breakfast at Commons in time to make classes. Tom
credits John for his doctorate and his teaching career
- the drive to persevere. In closing, Tom reflected: “John enjoyed long
walks in the woods about
Hanover
. I’m sure that he did some
of his most important thinking there. Thoreau would have enjoyed meeting John;
in retrospect, they seemed to have been kindred spirits. I’m confident that
John took away from the
Dartmouth
experience considerably more
that most of us. He was a true intellectual and I regret that I wasn’t mature
enough at the time to appreciate him more.”
A book will be placed in Baker Library in his memory.
