Class Newsletter August 2005

The New Sun Belt, Our Unknown CEO, and the Trouble with Vermont

Your lucky day: I am back in Leach- and Bond-country, the Great White North, land of the largest mosquitoes in North America, no electricity, a 26,000 something-or-other dial-up connection, and, most importantly, no photos to show what any of you look like and no access to anything remotely resembling political commentary. (There is, as always, the CBC and its anti-American slant, but barely a mention of Iraq or anything else of interest to a newsletter editor with a twisted mind.) Possibly you got your fill of photos in the last edition, and I know most of you got your fill of certain political commentary about 50 editions ago.

So, dutifully as in past years, I have kayaked 30 minutes uphill on this gorgeous lake called Temagami to reach a computer, a little electricity, and a phone line. As for Leach and Bond country, this summer Canada is the Sun Belt, with 90 plus weather some of the time, swimmable water, and, best of all, almost no insects. A Wah-hoo-wah for Global Warming? And, of course, for Gus and David.

As many of you will recall, John Dimling, who has a connection or two with the Nielsen Ratings (such as CEO or something like that) was one of our very fine symposium presenters at the 45th. As luck would have it, we were acting at home as guinea pigs for a week-long Nielsen TV survey in June. For five crisp dollar bills, why not? In the midst of it, I got a call from a nice lady at Nielsen asking if I had any questions. “Yes,” I said, “I do. Do you know who John Dimling is?” “The name vaguely rings a bell,” she told me, but that was as close as she could come.

With the 45th in the record books, it is time to consider your next opportunity to vacation in Hanover, and that, of course, would be the upcoming Fall mini-reunion during Penn weekend, September 30-October 2. As in recent years, plenty is planned, the cost is nominal, and there will be numerous old ’60s about whose faces should look vaguely familiar. Here’s the schedule:

Friday, September 30

1:00 P.M. Lecture and discussion of the book assigned for reading by entering freshmen, Mountains beyond Mountains - “The quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a man who would cure the world.” by Tracy Kidder. The publisher describes the book as follows: “In medical school Paul Farmer found his life calling to cure infectious diseases and to bring life saving tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. Tracy Kidder’s magnificent account shows how one person can make a difference in solving global health problems through a clear-eyed understanding of the interaction of politics, wealth, social systems, and disease.” The seminar will be led by Professor Richard Wright of the Geography Department. Loew Auditorium, Hood Museum of Art.

3:00 P.M. Lecture and discussion of the book, The Ethical Brain by Michael S. Gazzaniga ‘61, the David T. McLaughlin Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience. The book raises a question - Will increased scientific understanding of our brains overturn our beliefs about moral and ethical behavior? Professor Gazzaniga discusses a radical re-evaluation of the nature of moral belief, as he not only looks at possibly manipulating the part of the brain that creates beliefs but also explores how scientific research is building a brain-based account of moral reasoning. Loew Auditorium, Hood Museum of Art.

6:00 P.M. Cocktail reception at the DOC House on Occum Pond. (Dinner on your own).

Saturday, October 1

9:30 A.M. Class meeting in 104 Wilder. Everyone is encouraged to attend to hear from our Class Scholars, SEAD participants, and Class Officers.

11:00 A.M. Tailgate lunch at the end of the parking lot past the Observatory, organized by Roger and Ann Hanlon. The cost is $10.00 per classmate (paid there) which includes family and friends.

12:30 P.M. Football vs. Penn. As an alternative, Roger and Ann will lead a “modest” hike, or you may enjoy free time to visit the Hood Museum, Hanover shops, or other activities.

6:30 P.M. Cocktails (cash bar) followed by Class Dinner in the Webster Room of the Hanover Inn ($45 per person).

A separate registration form is enclosed.

Mini-reunions, like all our Class gatherings, get better and better. Give this one some serious thought.

From Gene Kohn comes this newsy email. Former newsletter editors like< Gene thankfully remain sympathetic to the needs of the current victim. Writes he:

“I do not know whether you have email in the country, but I thought I would give you some news. Consider this a goose for your next issue.

“Marty and Lynn Kraiden have moved from Palm Beach in Florida to Santa Fe in the West. Presently caring for a friend's house while their new place is a-building out in the direction of the Opera. Marty has been relaxing in these venues since 1995 when he stopped his dentistry practice. Marty told me that when they moved before from Miami to Palm Beach, they sold that home to a fellow named Bob Farmer after they both checked the Green Book. [How soon before we read that Bob is raising money for a certain New York senator in ’08?]

“Rich Skolnik figured it out long before most of us. He has been teaching history at CCNY for many years--traveling in from Long Island only two days a week for class sessions. Of course, that does not include summers when he is in the Berkshires. He is joined there on occasion by his wife who is the head of Human Resources for either Nassau or Suffolk County and by their son who is an '89, and grandkids.

“I got Rich's name from a tennis competitor, Bill Scher. Check out his new business venture at www.inkspun.com. Online calligraphy for your next bar mitzvah. Bill and wife live in Westchester.

“Also got to talk with Dave Sendler who put down one of his five daily papers to come to the phone. Dave is playing tennis as well with this group, but actually does guest editing for a few folks and more serious work on a new magazine project for Reader's Digest. No intention of stepping away from the editing business although he claims to be the oldest person--chronologically--wherever he works.

“Joe and Jean Mandel could not make the 45th Reunion for a variety of reasons, so the reunion had to be created anew. They are coming into New York in early July for a mini-reunion which will include Gene and Judy Kohn, Ken and Phyllis Siegel, Alan and Joan Friedman, Harriet Weitzman, Ken and Judy Seslowe, Allan and Marilyn Glick and Dick and Sue Burg. This will all take place at the home of Gil and Ellen Stone in the Village. Burg promised to bring his banjo which he plays all around the US in festivals and concerts--I promised not to try to sing.”

Here is ex-Head Agent (now Class President) Ken Johansen’s latest on our 45th Reunion-year giving to the Dartmouth Fund:

We hit another milestone in our support of the Dartmouth College Fund. For our 45th reunion campaign, we achieved 74.1% participation which was a new record for our class - exceeding last year's record of 72.5%. Here are the details taken from the year-end report,

Gifts (cash in) = $956,862

Number of donors = 447

Participation percent = 74.1%

Leadership donors = 114 (donations of $1,000 or more)

“In addition to the current use gifts shown above, the class presented President Jim Wright another check in the amount of $22,785,000. This was the amount given or pledged by classmates for the Campaign for the Dartmouth Experience and which included our current use gifts. Congratulations! I hope to see you at our mini-reunion in Hanover this Fall.”

A brief follow-up to an earlier story about John and Marcia Friede’s gift to M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco of his New Guinea art collection. A recent press report notes that “The Friedes have just added another cache of remarkable Oceanic art objects to their already peerless holding. It will also come to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. On a recent trip to Australia, John Friede concluded purchase of the Harry Beran Collection of nearly 1,000 objects made by the Massim people and other coastal dwellers of New Guinea.” The entire Friede gift will be known as the Jolika Collection, named after John and Marcia’s three children, John, Lisa, and Karen.

Patsy, aka Rafter Jack, aka Jack Patterson, sends an article from his local CT paper which reads in part: “Jack Patterson, known as ‘Rafter Jack’ on the hiking trail got a little more nature than he had bargained for on his latest hiking excursion—bears have a way of humbling even the most experienced outdoorspeople. The veteran Norwalk hiker, who in 2002 completed all 2,168 miles of the famed Appalachian Trail in 188 days, took on another leg of hiking’s ‘triple crown’……. in the Pacific Crest Trail.

“The trail presented new challenges to the experienced Patterson. There was talk of bears along the Sierra Nevada….Patterson did indeed come face to face with one of these giants while camping in the upper regions of Yosemite…..The hikers eventually shooed the bears away, but Patterson and his crew were forced to build huge fires and guard them through the night.”

Meanwhile, back in the real (CT) world, Rafter has a new job “which requires that I start at 7 a.m. and the day there ends at five. Is long. Too, they are open Saturdays so about twice a month I work Saturday as well…..Rafter hadn’t worked ‘hourly’ overly much in his somewhat varied career…..And I-He (‘we,’ really) still contribute (s) to Social Security (DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH IT, George!) even though I (He-‘us’..) am/are-does-receive-ing, S.S. benefits. I hope you got all that—was important.” [I know most of you have missed Patsy’s inimitable prose, so now you have a little of it. And here’s a little more.] “I keep my hand in as to hiking by sending small amounts of money to friends on the trail and to folks I met—and others—who are helping hikers. I ‘take a hike’, too, occasionally, myself…Sometime up on the AT where it runs for 54 miles through Northwestern CT. I did so yesterday.”

Al Stowe writes of a lunch in July with Dick Griggs “at the TRACK (Monmouth Park) and never needed to find the cashiers counter on the fives races we viewed. [So, golf is not the only sport where Tuffy is, shall we say, challenged.] Looking forward to the Corey Ford and Brophy Field dedications in September. See you there.”

That rugby weekend in September is going to be a major event, or so it seems. Probably not enough to get Bob Wangbichler or Jake Crouthamel back (though we might hope), but there are plenty of other classmates who had their bells rung enough at that sport that they’re planning to be in Hanover. That would include Roli Kolman, Hank Greer, Sam Bowlby, Art Coburn, Bob Phillips, and maybe Don Stoddard and Dana Johnson. Apologies to any I’ve missed.

Ace Left Coast reporter Haskekamp checks in with the following questionable information: “Eight classmates made the midsummer Left Coast Lunch, our tenth: Dick Levy, Peter Farquhar, Sam Parke, Ed Berkowitz, Tom Hannan, John Wheaton, Don Black and Bruce Hasenkamp. Those who had been fortunate enough to attend the 45th reported on the slightly damp adventure for the benefit of those unfortunates who were not in attendance. Apparently it rained some, the Hanover plain was in flood alert, and everyone had a good time and a few (?) beers.

“Talk of Hanover led into Dartmouth memories (an improvement over the earlier old f--- discussion of aches, pains and people-we-know-who-died) with the general consensus that Great Issues was the most enduringly valuable course we took, which coupled with wonderment that it was ever discontinued. Today's students would benefit from it as much or more than we did and become more interested, involved and active citizens as a consequence, or so opined this distinguished cadre of seasoned citizens. The recent trustee election had caught people's attention, and there was some agreement that it is good that the newly elected pair, plus T.J. Rogers, are concerned about enhancing the athletic program and broadening speech on campus. Dick Levy recently attended a Silicon Valley Dartmouth gathering with Trustees Robinson and Rogers, both of whom made presentations and answered questions. Dick knows Rogers from the Valley business world and Robinson seemed serious and committed. The entire table shares a favorable opinion of President Wright and of his wife, who seems active in College affairs as well.

“Several of the retired chubbers are off to the wilderness this summer: Sam and Mandy Parke to Alaska, Peter Farquhar (along with Roger Hackley, absent this time) to the Sierra wilderness where both have family cabins, and Ed Berkowitz likely to the Sierras as well. Ed for many years was president of the Outing Club of Northern California, which operates a cabin near Donner Lake for alumni use. All agreed, however, that the best way to backpack was with several teenagers to carry the packs! Both John Wheaton and Peter Farquhar come from long-time Bay area families, dating back to the Gold Rush in John's case. When the fog rolls in at this time of year their ancestors abandoned San Francisco and went to Marin county or the East Bay. Peter this year will go even farther: to Cabo in Mexico. John lives in the Sacramento area, and the fog (other than that generated by the Legislature) doesn't get that far. The Fraquhars are recently back from another trip to Argentina, visiting friends he and his wife met when they did their long off-road driving trip there a few years ago. This spring they hit more remote locations in the Andes, including the highest mountain in the Americas. Inta and Bruce Hasenkamp went to less remote locales: Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Dresden, Berlin, Riga and--the precipitating reason for the trip--the Paris wedding of a young woman they have known since birth which, unfortunately, conflicted with a certain 45th reunion. The eleventh Left Coast Lunch will be in September.

Some odd summer reading, so far: The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford; Eclipse by Alan Moorehead; The White Nile, also by Moorehead; The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith; The Trial of Henry Kissinger by Christopher Hitchens; Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka; and Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif. Now in the middle of The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa. If there’s a theme in all of that, I’m not sure what it is, but it’s mostly been a pleasure, especially Moorehead’s two volumes and Microbe Hunters, written in 1926. And what are you reading and recommending?

Gary Vandegewhe writes of a New Zealand trip back in February: “Our arrival day dragged. We took a ferry to Waihehe, a small island one-half hour across the Auckland harbor and bussed around in circles visiting three wineries and a beach side village….We had a nice Welcoming Dinner…… etc.” Then comes the reason for this nine-pager: “After a solid night’s sleep courtesy of a healthy dose of melatonin, we headed out to Auckland’s best and most well-known course, Titirangi.” That would be a golf course, as you all must have expected. Anyone interested in golfing in New Zealand would do well to read the whole report. Perhaps, when I return to civilization, I will be able to get Walt Daniels to add this to the travel section of our Class web page.

Apropos of nothing in particular other than the close proximity of Norwich to New Hampshire and the better side of the river, Jack Hodgson sent me this a long time back: “I was coming out of Dan & Whits a couple of years ago and two farmers were talking. One said to the other: You know George, the trouble with Vermont these days is theya too many women with hyphenated names.”

And finally, from a favorite weekly web newsletter, some thoughts on retirement from T.H. Huxley: “On May 4, 1825, T. H. Huxley was born in Ealing, Middlesex, England. The son of a schoolmaster, he was a precocious student, teaching himself German and reading advanced works on geology and logic by age 12. Serving for a number of years as an assistant surgeon with the Royal Navy, Huxley became deeply interested in biology as he sailed around the world. He went on to become one of England's foremost scientific thinkers. He also wrote passionately on philosophy and religion (he coined the word ‘agnosticism’) and was an early supporter of Darwin and a proponent of evolutionary theory. On his memorial is inscribed the chiastic saying:

‘Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.’

“He also authored a sentiment that is part of a centuries-old grand oxymoronic theme. Huxley's version goes this way:

‘A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he like.’”

We shall hope to see many of you do as you like at the Fall mini-reunion, September 30-October 2. Now back to lake and navel gazing.

dg [Separate enclosure to 1960 Newsletter]:

NOTE: Please complete the enclosed form and return with your check by September 15, 2005 to Class of 1960, P.O. Box 866, Hanover, NH. 03755

Name _________________________________________________________ (Please print)

Reservations for Class of 1960 Dinner on October 1, 2005

Please make reservations for ____________ persons at $45 person

My check for $_________ payable to the Class of 1960 is enclosed.

Please indicate your plans for other activities.

FRIDAY

Mountains beyond Mountains seminar (no charge) ________ number attending

The Ethical Brain seminar (no charge) ____________ number attending

Reception at the DOC House (no charge) __________ number attending

SATURDAY

Class Meeting (no charge) ________________ number attending

Tailgate Lunch ($10 per family in cash at event) ___________number attending

Hiking with Roger and Ann (no charge) _____________ number interested

Send your check for the Class dinner to: Class of 1960 P.O. Box 866 Hanover, NH 03755