HOMECOMING!

It was perfect.  Pristine fall weather. A squeaker of a victory over Yale. Impressive words from an impressive new Dartmouth President. A bonfire surrounded by valedictorians. Food and drink to die for. Classmates from ADAMS to WElL. A herd of truly beautiful grandchildren, none of whom resembled their grandfathers. Oh, and a bevy of trophy wives! (All our wives are trophies who we won, adore and respect -whew!). Also some trophy guests. With 45 classmates spotted and/or rep-resented, we set a new record for the last five years. The '54 spirit was palpable and none of us look 65+!

Oddly, the Class of 1954 appeared to be the only class doing anything. At the pre-bonfire parade, the '50s classes around us appeared to be virtually unrepresented (other than the geezers from 'SO - "Touch of Class"). We had the prestigious Hayward Lounge at the Inn to pump us up for the parade with libations and hearty hors d'oeuvres. RICK HARTMAN risked rotator cuff injury by waving the '54 flag with characteristic vigor. From the steps of Dartmouth Hall, the presentations were brief and punched-up. Jim Wright set a good tone for his new constituents. The women's field hockey captain enchanted the crowd with a neat blending of parents/teammates/education/spirit. The football captain did a rumbling no-notes show of strength and drive, culminating with: "it ain't easy, bein' Green, but it's gonna be tougher bein' Black and Blue (Yale)'. Several of us mentioned later that no-one in the Glee Club likely had any idea as to the significance of the mentions of "Pollard's Smut Class" or "Foley's History" when singing Where-Oh-Where-Are-the-Pea-GreenFreshmen?

The growing number of classmates with homes in the vicinity of Hanover were, once again, generous in inviting '54s to bunk in with them, providing wonderful opportunities to share memories in smaller groups. One of the dangers of this aspect of the weekend is that it creates groups of wives who are football-resistant and shopping-prone. It has been rumored hat many of the pricey shops in Hanover actually put on additional sales ~taff purely for the purpose of draining '54 credit cards. Somehow, the "no ,ales tax" situation translates into three more bags of stuff.

The post-game celebration in the Faculty Lounge (we won the lottery for the 20th time) included the presentation of the Class of 1954 award to BILL MANSFIELD (see citation). Bill welcomed the spotlight and held forth on the problems and solutions facing the environmental challenges to the entire globe. His dedication to people through his chosen career(s) was acknowledged with a standing ovation. Paraphrasing Nelson Mandela, Bill said that he wished that his citation had included "once at Fenway Park, he set his steely eyes on the left field fence and ....". PETE SCHENCK, who lives full-time in Florida, was stag because of LYNDA's required attendance at a meeting in St. Martins (tough duty). DICK TROWBRIDGE managed to pry MARGE away from the puppies long enough to trade stories with classmates. PHIL and CAROL CHRISTOPHE were nice enough to chaperone CAROLYN HAYNES while ROLLIE got over some temporary health side-lining. BILL GROVER showed the colors with only a cane to indicate that he had just had a new hip installed. Brief sightings were made of several classmates who popped in for part of the weekend: BOB OSMOND, BRAD BORDEN, DICK and LINDY LEARY, HERB and ANNE HILLMAN, JAY DAVIS, SEAVER PETERS, the McLAUGHLINs (')AVE and GEORGE), HUGH NOLIN, and DICK DANFORTH. WALT ANDERSON, while ELLIE shopped, was seen at the pre-game lunch table, chortling over his 160-pound '54 running back self relative to the 300+ pound linemen on this year's team. CLARK and DONNA DAVIS reclaimed their mastery of the drink table in Leverone and sent the '54s to the game smiling from the magic of Old Maude's juice (with and without).

The full Reunion Committee met for a few hours prior to the parade and considered matters ranging from the Class Gift to salad dressing. '53 set a new 45th reunion record last year of 196 classmates attending. Just because of our primal need to surpass the class of 1953 in everything, we committed, to a man to leave that number in the dust. JOHN HESTON explained the moderated aspects of the Moosilauke "visit". You don't have to climb or stay in triple-bunk rooms. Unless, of course, you want to! (Response cards received to date show enlightened interest in the foray). JOHN GILLESPIE created a disturbing amount of drooling with his descriptions of repasts and their locales. The art exhibition idea was greeted with enthusiasm and you artists out there are encouraged to share your spirit with Dick Danforth and PETE BULLIS. TOM KELSEY has kept it within the '54 family by lining up the Reverend Dr. DAVE RANSOM to lead our memorial service. Classmates who would like to participate in the ceremony through readings, song or words are encouraged to contact Tom or Dave.

For the Class Gift discussion, we were joined by Cornelia Purcell, our new helpmate for class giving. After a great deal of broad-ranging discussion, the group agreed that an underlying principle had to be a campaign which prompted classmates to give to the high end of their capacities. The Class Gift committee met separately and announced a goal of $1,054,000 at the Class Meeting. This number is equivalent to our 25th reunion gift and deserves the consideration of every member of the class.

The traditional Saturday meeting of the executive committee-and every other '54 in town was its usual combination of business and raucousness born of the early '50s. Secretary DON BERLIN threw a cloud over the assemblage by informing us that, by some arcane interpretation of the law, the Class of 1954 is a "charitable trust" and, hence, required every person in the room to sign some document none of us read. A campus dog who had wandered into the room, drawn by the Gillespie doughnuts, was tackled and paw-printed for the '54 "trust" - cocker spaniel. ED SCOTT then took the floor and went on at length, randomly insulting both friends and foes. He had brought bride ISABEL on her first visit to the East side of the continent and entreated his classmates to behave in uncharacteristically moderate form. The resulting guffaws portended ill, but Isabel was more than equal to our number. Rumor has it that she will propose for sainthood by keeping Ed off the streets. HARRY ROBINSON proclaimed our solvency with the sidenote that only 388 '54s ante up for the Alumni Magazine and newsletter costs. Fewer support our Rockefeller interns and mini-reunions. Might seem reasonable to ask that everyone at least pay for their own magazine and newsletter copies.

RICK HARTMAN was proud to announce that 1954 still leads all classes from the 'SOs in life income gifts ($3.3 million from 10 classmates). Additionally, 15 classmates have named the College as beneficiary in their estate plans (the "Bartlett Tower Society"). He also noted that JEAN MYSERIAN had paid a marvelous tribute to CHUCK's love of Dartmouth with a $50,000 gift for scholarships.

Project chair BOB VORSANGER reported the placement of six memorial books in Baker Library this year (103 books to date). Also, the cost of supporting a Rockefeller intern has increased to $2,000. BRYCE BASTIAN chimed in on the worthwhileness of the project, well illustrated by his daughter, a former intern.

The Alumni Council's agenda was described briefly by our representative, PETER KENYON and will appear in a later newsletter.

BOB ADNOPOZ requested nominations for the Class of 1954 Award. Awards will be presented at Class holiday luncheons and at the 45th reunion. To date, 40 awards have been presented, leaving 14. Since we have all likely already done those things which would qualify us for the award, let's look around and reward those good works!

Awardees to date:

Adnopoz     Cunningham      R. Levine           H. Robinson
Alpert           DesCoinbes       D. Levine            R. Rockefeller
R. Barker      Destino               R. Lewis            Sayles
W. Barker     Geithner             Mandelbaum     Steinberg
Beicher         Gillespie             Mansfield           Tyler
Berlin            Goldstein           D. McLaughlin K. Sullivan
Berry             Heston               J. Moore             Veasey
Chan               Hillinan             Morrison           Voss
Chandler       Kelsey               Mullins              W. White
C lements      Kenyon             R. Page               Woodberry

Bob Adnopoz: 1085 Ridge Rd., Hamden, CT 06517-1620; (203) 248-6176

JOHN GILLESPIE accepted accolades for the weekend arrangements, then moved immediately to the next events. SAVE THESE DATES! 1998 Holiday luncheons - December 15th in Boston at the Pillar House; December 16th in New York at the Yale Club. The growing attendance at these two functions bodes well for some fine time to see elderly classmates. Homecoming 1999 is the Cornell game – October 22-23. Highlights of the plans for the 45th reunion next year were previewed. Note the second response card included with this newsletter, in the event you lost the first one. We need to hear from you in order to do initial financial planning. You might also pen a quick, interesting note in the margins if the spirit hits you. Even a simple "Hi, Pete!" makes it seem a little more worthwhile.

President BOB BERRY then prevailed upon JIM ADAMS to break the tedium of the meeting by embellishing the British Columbia fly-fishing trip story recently related in Don Berlin's magazine column. In an ambling style reminiscent of a blend of John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart and Soupy Sales, Jim regaled those assembled with descriptions of daily contests - most fish, biggest fish, etc. The first day, Jim caught 76 fish to the guide's 91, 50 they drowned the guide. PETE ANKENY had the highest aspirations of hooking the biggest fish, so as each day approached its end, the group would hold back so that Pete had the obvious winner, then produce a monster which had been previously purchased from the drowned guide. One day, they were dropped at "El Tazuco", a heavily weeded lake. On crossing to the far side where the fish were purportedly hiding, they passed a man, standing in the water who plaintively told them he was stuck and couldn't move. At the end of the day, they were about to pass him on the way back when fishermen McLaughlin and Ankeny prevailed on the rest to at least rock the guy a little to break the suction. This is what retirement is all about! Oh, yeah .- DICK PAGE, BOB LEVINE, DICK LEWIS and JOHN HESTON were also in the boat. Next year's excursion is open to all fly-fishing '54s.

Trustee Page described the activities of the search committee for the new president. 225 potential candidates were interviewed, then a slate was presented to the Board of Trustees for their final selection. The full list included alums, women, minorities - all people considered to have the background and skills to lead Dartmouth. So Jim Wright came out on top of a tremendously competitive pile of super people. Dick, as chairman of the Hospital Board, mentioned that healthcare delivery systems are having a negative impact on the facility, which threatens the clinic and which also illustrates the dependencies of science courses at the College. Dick has two years left on his second term as Trustee, during which time new executives will be selected to serve as Dean of the College, VP, Treasurer and Provost.

Dick also chairs the '54 nominating committee for class officers to be elected at next year's reunion. He stressed the importance of installing strong, dedicated classmates who will provide leadership during every one of the five years leading up to our fiftieth anniversary. Send recommendations to: 35 Grandview Dr., P0 Box 1092, E. Orleans, MA 02643-1092; (508) 432-2850

The Saturday night dinner at the DOC House was an exultation of nostalgia. The beamed ceilings, the intimate setting on Occum Pond and the essence of camaraderie worked together to cap the weekend nicely. Some 53 of us, including wives and guests, kept the evening going with a variety of commentary enlivening the gathering. Accompanying their prominent husbands (and POSSLQs) were DOROTHY GOLDSTEIN, KIT DEAN, MARY GRAY, ROSEMARY MANDELBAUM, SHELIA WElL JOYCE OUDHEUSDEN, PAT SHORT and Sonja Rand (TONY KANE). DICK BUFFINGTON was there, charmed to Hanover by Ed and Isabel Scott. Kit Mansfield was delightful in acknowledging Bill's award and the friendships she had made during the weekend.

Class Directory

DICK BARKER has received a good number of directory forms to date, but in order to compile the most accurate Class directory, needs to have close to a 100% return. If you have not sent your data in, please do it soon, or, if the form has wandered, Dick needs the basic information of name, wife's name, address(es), telephone number and email address. 62 Ferry St., West Dennis, MA 02679; (508) 398-3564.

Harry Robinson's approach to dues-gathering is so pleasant, including his thank-you notes to all of us, that he receives more mail than the newsletter editor! Some samplings:

-DAVE FITCH determined to pay his dues this year just once (vs last year's twice). He has continued his brave fight against encroaching cancer with three tumor operations since January and a mighty dose of radiation. DOT keeps him smiling and spirited. Daughter Laura '87 expects a child soon. The Fitches are now back at their Florida home.

-Dr. JOHN FENN echoes the Class feelings about Harry's fine administration of '54's treasury from his Florida enclave.

-DON FETHEROLF bragged about his 90 degree weather in Beverly Hills. Misses the fall colors of the East and plans to hit the 45th and SOth reunions.

-TOM and HELEN MALCOLM's

brood of five is 80% Dartmouth and all are pursuing demanding careers - couple of physicians, and investment counselor, a teacher and a showbiz guy. Tom still practices law, but plans to finish up three current cases and take down the shingle around mid-1999. The Malcdlms enjoy their place in Venice, FL but have no intentions of moving there permanently.

In a separate letter, relating to the last newsletter's story about NED HOBAN getting leveled by Don Myers in a freshman scrimmage, Tom described Doggie Julian calling him over from a separate scrimmage and directing him to "get" Myers. Not knowing why, Tom lined up

opposite Myers, took a forearm in the face and joined the list of those leveled. Doggie sent him back to the other scrimmage with the advice to "be careful not to get hurt". Tom seems to recall noticing BAYARD smiling, Amongst the several Malcolm grandchildren there is a small Tommy Malcolm revving up. Lookout, small Myers grandchildren!

Two years ago, HERB BATES finished a satisfying career at the Abington Savings Bank in Massachusetts and began to enjoy the fulltime fruits of all the coat-and-tie days. He and MARIE have split recreation time between New England skiing and sailing on Cape Cod, complete with a summer home on the Cape. Now with their two children out of the nest, Herb is contemplating the possibility of combining the best of the two homes into one magnificent edifice. He's very "good with his hands", having just built a playroom in his son's house - sounds real handy! Two children and two grandchildren makes a nice table-setting for holidays. Like all of us, Herb consumes some of those leisure hours managing his investments. Herb is also a member of the Aegis Page Twelve Club - see said page for the beginning of the '54 alphabet, contemplating a Great Issues speaker - how many can you identify (editor is the only one with a part in his hair). 15 Jane Terrace, Brockton, MA 02401-6710; (508) 583-3881

The perpetual chubbers, DAVE and LOUISE RANSOM, have been at it again! "We're back from our hike on the Appalachian Trail (2/27-7/30). Stalled by three months of tendonitis, bronchitis, impetigo illnesses, we found the meaning of 'trail support' and 'trail magic'. After 6 weeks at Fontana, NC, where we absorbed the common sense of 'massage therapy' and a shelf of books on the Southern Appalachians (and meeting the people - anyone need any 'moonshine'?) we daily gained in strength and mileage. At Rural Retreat, VA, we bussed back to Silver Bay, NY for 3 baptisms, and an ordination in our daughter's family, my Mom's 95th in Madison, CT, family reunion and

now 'nesting' in our new home. Hikes up Cannon (first 4000-footer for two grandchildren), Laraway and Belvedere make us hungry to start north from Rural Retreat next year. We'll be in Hanover June 13-17. Eating plenty of Sunnyfield yogurt and still on sabbatical! 221 Shipman Rd., Waterville, VT 05492-9637; (802)

644-8144

DAVE GLEASON hit our news desk twice in the same mail! First, LUKE CASE filed a story from The Sun Press of the Cleveland area, naming Dave as one of the year's inductees into the Hall of Fame of Shaker Heights High School. According to Luke, Dave joins Paul Newman and Roger Penske as cited alums. He was honored for his success in the explosives business, but, more importantly, for his founding of a secondary drug and alcohol treatment center for teenagers and the establishment of an adult residence for recovering alcoholics. Secondly, Dave sent the photograph on the last page of this newsletter with the following: "...erstwhile '54s who gathered at Ocean City for a three-day golfing shootout. BILL BROOKS is retired and living in Charlotte, NC doing well after bypass surgery. JOEL POORMAN is living in Chestertown, MD enjoying retirement from a career with DuPont. DAVE GLEASON came over from Cleveland and is still working at Austin Powder Company. MIKE FINIGAN came in from Rochester, NY where he is a doctor and also a teaching professor at the University of Rochester Medical School. MIKE MESSORE came down from Providence, RI where he still dabbles in the petroleum brokerage business. Taking the picture is NED JARRETT, who lives near Baltimore where he has retired from the insurance business. The fellowship was great, but the golfing left a lot to be desired." A wonderful celebration of 54-ness. Look at the photo. No-one looks older than 50. Maybe next time, they'll get the caddy to take the picture so we can see what Ned looks like.

Long message from PETER CALDWELL: "Retired - building barn."

Email Addresses

We have accumulated over 100 addresses to date. They will be made available to you in a special newsletter insert in the future. If you have not supplied an address, just email it to the editor or Dick Barker - rdbarker45@juno.com.

Some light has been shed on the mystery of classmate RICHARD J. DOLAN. He graduated Kimball Union with BILL BULLEN in I 950 and was sponsored to Dartmouth by a friend of Bill's father ('22). Bill thinks he may have been a veteran. If anyone else has data, please forward it.

Joyous note from DICK SHELLEY:

"Many enjoyable excursions - thanks to wife Jill who, as a travel consultant, pounces on every perk - were interrupted by a mid-February 6-way by-pass. Now fully recovered, am gearing up for the Mother of all trips - Tahiti and Bora-Bora! 7.75 grandchildren spread all over the lower 48 make for busy, interesting times. Retirement is good! Recently hooked up with 'ol friend and my ex-roomie, Pete Kenyon. Poor devil's still working". Sounds like the bypass really tuned up the old motor. 1220 Petite Terre Ct., New Bern, NC 28560; (252)636-5154

To help build up the file for slow news months, FRED PAGE submitted a hilarious NYU college application featured recently in Harper's. Since the Class runs hot and cold on news, you'll see it in a later newsletter. Having apparently shed his Phi Psi nickname of "Whisky", Fred reports: "In real life, I'm retired from Schering and into consulting (pharmaceutical marketing) and managing my son Tommy who is a song writer and performer - now under contract to a Japanese label (Pony Canyon). I was never scouted by the Mets"

From (Charles) ~PETE~~ DAVIS: "Winter is arriving in Crested Butte (CO). Lifts open on November 21 and we could use about ten feet of snow." Also: "Although I make a lot of them myself; I am often amused by typos - see Page 3, first sentence of October letter: 'Jerry Goldstein's eagle eye spotted a weeding announcement' " Can't trust the spell-checker.

Our retired CIA man, DON SIMONDS, found a typo on the reunion response card, where we ask you to return it right away! Kindly, he suggested that we were merely trying to put a New England accent on it.

Jerry spotted another "weeding" announcement. Tony Kane's daughter, Susan, a successful New York real estate broker, married David Bloom, COO of Omega Advisers, a New York hedge fund. David's got Yale, Columbia and Oxford in his background, so Tony refuses to play Scrabble with him.

At the Leadership Conference in Hanover in September, Harry Robinson was honored by being elected vice president of the Class Treasurer's Association. Unless he is indicted in the interim, he'll move to the president's slot next time around.

Dick Barker's also receiving notes with directory form returns:

-BRUCE LaFOLLETTE: "Travel, biking and volunteer work for the Red Cross, plus more 'honey do' since retirement". (717) 275-0625; bruclaf@aol.com

-ALLEN WOODELL: "Retired from law practice in Honolulu after 35 years in 1991. Now own flower farm at Lollono, Hawaii and act as professional trustee for family trust established by one of my clients. Five grown children - 3 in Bay Area, 1 in Honolulu and 1 here in Waimea. Also a 9-year-old daughter to keep one young (?). Still involved in outrigger, canoe racing. Anyone on the Big Island, give me a call". (808) 885-7977

More from Luke Case: "ANN and I just back from a couple of weeks in the west - San Diego, San Felipe, San Francisco. Attended DICK ARMSTRONG's daughter's (Amy) wedding ceremony. Simply beautiful and Dick threw a terrific reception amid the redwoods. Sort of the John Gillespie of the west.. Ran into Jim Collins, acting editor of the Alumni Magazine, who raised one difference in presidential style - Jim Freedman used to go the route of 'as Homer wrote ..,' while Jim Wright goes the route of 'I remember John Dickey saying...."'.

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WILLIAM H. MANSFIELD, III

During Navy duty after graduation, your destroyer ran aground, (someone else was "steering"), but you've been mostly covering ground in the 40-plus years since. As a member of the U.S. State Department, a foreign service officer, an Assistant Secretary General for the U.N. and its specialized agencies and a key executive for non-profit, independent environmental organizations, you have surely been living proof of the words of Richard Hovey -- "¹round the girdled earth they roam." You have pitched tents from Spitsbergen to Africa and beyond, east and west, north and south.

Moving from your early assignments in Africa to the brisk climes of Norway was serendipitous in leading you to lovely and charming Kirsten (kit) whom you married under iceberg conditions overlooking a fjord from a medieval fortress. The transfer of the two of you back to Washington was the jumping off point for your dedicated involvement to the preservation of the global environment and the building of your family.

You were one of the first U.S. foreign service officers to work in the field of international environmental affairs, helping to develop the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement with Canada and shaping the preservation of the watershed to protect the Panama Canal. Later, in your U.N. duties and as Deputy Executive Director of the U.N. Environment Programme headquartered in Kenya, you were directly involved in shaping global environmental programs and in negotiating treaties to protect the stratospheric ozone layer and to address climate change, transboundary movement of hazardous wastes, preservation of biological diversity and various regional seas.

Maintaining a relationship with Dartmouth while tromping the world is virtually impossible, but you have done it anyway. You were an active undergraduate, one of the first Class secretaries and are now the president of the Dartmouth Environmental Network.

Inspirational is the key word here. Dartmouth was an inspiration in the development of your devotion to an environmental career and you have been an inspiration to us all. We, then, are delighted and privileged to present you with the Class of 1954 Award.

October 1998                                            (signed) Robert V. Berry, President