. Clockwise from Top Left: Jas. "Roach" Roussel, Esq., Puddin' Roussel, FJ "Duck" Eicke, PhD, Kathy Eicke, Kenneth Carlton Kolb, Pani Kolb, RevRici (Standing), Henry Sarpy, Esq. '62, Betty Wood (Sarpy S.O.), Kula Fatz.
Speaking of RevRici, she is having the original full & rich year. Last month she was selected to do the Hawaiian blessings for the Centennial of the Outrigger Canoe Club, the famous beach club in Waikiki . Not only are all her family active members, but her ancestors also have long histories with the organization: her great-uncle Walter Macfarlane once saved the club from financial ruin, later dying tragically of typhoid during WWII because penicillin was not authorized for civilian use at the time. His sister, Rici’s grandmother, from that time on was honored matron of the annual Fourth of July canoe regatta at Kuhio Beach named posthumously for Walter Mac. During the celebration of 100 years, Ric also blessed three new outrigger canoes, one named for her Granny and another for J. Cline Mann ‘45, Captain of the Dartmouth swim team and first polynesian to graduate on the Hanover Plain, who was a dedicated fixture at the OCC and leader in many Hawaii water sports activities until his untimely death in 1996. Cline was an original Director of the Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, Trustee of the Lunalilo Estate, and a huge help to the lowly scribe who engineered the renaissance of the Dartmouth Club of Hawaii back in 1966. Back to Top Class Business Briefs The Legacy: Following is a 2008 report on the ‘61 Legacy by Project Chamberlain David Birney (who humbly requests he not be called “Da Founder”...). It is not long, and constitutes a wonderful statement on what we as a class can do when we put our minds on it. If you are pressed for time, please at least read the last 3 paragraphs: The Class of 1961 Legacy: The American Tradition in Performance A Report The Class of 1961 Legacy: The American Tradition in Performance is a unique creation. As Lewis Crickard, former Director of the Hopkins Center has said, “The Legacy has amazed us all…an endowment that had never been imagined before…” The only endowment dedicated to the American tradition in performance. The only class project dedicated to the Hopkins Center and its vision of the performing arts—music, theatre, dance—as central to the education of Dartmouth students and to the enrichment of the larger community. In its brief, eight year history, The Legacy has presented or supported an extraordinary range of performance at the Hop—some twenty-seven performances, featuring some of the great artists of our time. Performances ranging from Itzhak Perlman to Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Band; jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves to the country sounds of Rosanne Cash; the cutting edge athleticism of the Dartmouth-originated Pilobolus Dance Company, to the innovative classical modern dance of the Mark Morris Dance Company; the shrewd political satire of The Capitol Steps to the stirring Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers, and the groundbreaking Martin Luther King’s Day celebration of the D. J. Spooky’s Hip Hop Rebirth of a Nation. In association with this breathtaking array of performance, The Legacy has been involved with an extensive variety of Master Classes, Workshops, as well as an ongoing dialogue between Visiting or Resident artists and the students. The work of The Legacy, its support, has been astonishing, presenting with The Hop, what is brave and best in Dartmouth’s enduring commitment to the Performing Arts. The Legacy began with a suggestion by then Class President Oscar Arslanian at an Executive Committee meeting at home of Head Agent Peter Bleyler. “I’ve got a great idea for a class project,” said Oscar, “and I know just the guy to head it.” The idea was endorsed by Peter Bleyler and the Executive Committee and, later, by the Class at large. Subsequently, Oscar, with the help of a .45 automatic and several large, dark men of the Armenian persuasion, prevailed upon David Birney to become the first Chair of The Legacy. •After meetings with President Wright, Lewis Crickard, Director of the Hop, several members of Dartmouth’s Drama Dept., and researching Dartmouth’s own long term goals and aspirations for the Performing Arts, David drafted a mandate that would create an endowment that would address both the needs and ideals of the Class and Dartmouth’s long and passionate commitment to the performing arts as central to a liberal arts education of quality and purpose. The Campaign for The Class of 1961 Legacy: The American Tradition of Performance was announced in mid 1999. •The announcement of The Legacyseemed to strike a fire in the imagination of a substantial number of the Class who welcomed the idea of live performance as a gift to the future. Leadership gifts were substantial. Other gifts from a significant number of Classmates created an early measure of enthusiastic endorsement. And the creation of the endowment elicited contributions even from several members of the Class who had not been active in Dartmouth’s fund raising efforts prior to The Legacy. •As the campaign continued into a second phase (with significant help from Peter Bleyler and Oscar Arslanian), donations continued to flow, clearly demonstrating an ongoing, passionate support for the concept. Over the next several years, with continuing support from this generous Class—donors too numerous to list here—by the end of 2007 the market value of The Legacy totaled over $726,000 with over $30,000 in pledges outstanding. •This year, Cleve Carney has agreed to assume the Chair of The Legacy for the current campaign as the Legacy continues its quest for the Class’ recent challenge of one million dollars for our 50th anniversary, and the Hop’s own 50th Anniversary in 2011. This is a rare class, one that is uniquely placed to see both the Dartmouth of the past and that of the future with equal clarity. We missed the opening of the Hop by a year—being the last class to graduate prior to the inauguration of Dartmouth’s bold experiment in the performing arts. We were, and are, intimately acquainted with the undergraduate experience of those pre-Hop years. . .we made do, we endured and thrived within that frame. And consequently have been in the perfect position to witness the extraordinary change that a major performing arts program has brought to Dartmouth—a program of adventure and challenge and bold experiment, a program that in some instances dramatically changed the lives of students and contributed mightily to the American experience of performance... a change that has enriched the Dartmouth experience on beyond measure. Seeing the purpose and the need for a first-rate program and helping to create a process of ongoing support, we have been a creative part of that profound change. We have been in a very real sense, much like those early builders of the great medieval cathedrals and churches—the anonymous artisans, stone masons, glass makers, sculptors, craftsmen—collaborating on a vision of beauty, of wonder not yet built, not fully formed, dedicating their lives to a future whose grace and truth could only be glimpsed and claimed by faith. So we, in fellowship, have contributed our own labor, the fruits of our labor and our lives, to build our own legacy to the future, a future we cannot clearly see, cannot fully know, but surely one that is buttressed and vaulted with the power and majesty of great art. The Class of 1961 Legacy is, in its own way, an act of faith, of commitment to an ideal that is central to the very life and soul of the College and its future. Major works by major artists—the best and bravest of the performing arts. The best of Dartmouth. “Please… convey Dartmouth’s thanks—and mine -- to the members of the great Class of 1961. Their affirmation of the central importance of the performing arts has been critically important to the College and our students . . .” President James Wright What’s not to be proud of? Can we thank David enough? How ‘bout Oscar, Pete, and Cleve? Checks are eternally welcome. The In Memoriam gift program is an excellent vehicle. Back to Top The 1961-2011 Connections Program: Maynard Wheeler submits: The 1961-2011 Connection Program had a very successful weekend on April 25 - 26 in Hanover . Jim & Carol Baum, Pete & Ruth Bleyler, Gim & Eileen Burton , Mort & Susan Lynn , Roger & Sandy McArt, Pat & Alison Walsh, George Whitehead, and Maynard Wheeler were on campus for a program that began with a dinner at the Inn Friday night which was attended by seven officers from the Class of 2011. Saturday morning the '61s had a first ever hard-hat tour of the heating plant (so called 'co-generating' since it produces both steam and electricity) with a full explanation of all its complexity by the very capable head engineer. The tour ended with a walk through the sub-sub-level steam tunnel from the plant, under the Green in front of Dartmouth Hall, past the library ending in Moore Hall (although it goes farther north). We were very impressed by this largely unseen piece of infrastructure which is so vital to the College. We ended up the morning with a visit to the greenhouse and orchid garden atop Gilman Hall. At 2:30 PM with had the unusual opportunity to hear from our Arts Initiative and Academic Award students. Rebecca Ward showed us her impressive film 'Smile Mermaid' about a child in India dealing with her Christian religion and the death of her father. Very moving. John Tepperman gave us a very clear academic lecture on (1) the current position and choices of Hamas in Palestine and (2) his experience in Northern Ireland examining original previously unseen documents of the last 30 years of the conflict there which were extremely sensitive in terms of potentially exposing some of the unresolved sociopolitical issues there. We were all very impressed by their performances. In the afternoon we were treated by a talk accompanied by piano examples in anticipation of the evening concert by Evan Lamont, a gifted 2011. He was introduced by Margaret Lawrence, the Programming Director of the Hop, who reviewed the performances that had been brought to campus with the aid of our Legacy for the Performing Arts. From 6 PM until concert time with the Brad Mehldau Trio we held a reception for the Class of 2011 at the Top of the Hop attended by 50 students which was more than hoped for. We found them to be more than just politely interested in us, our careers and changes in the College over the 50 years that separate us. They seem to already realize and appreciate the fact that they are part of the greater Dartmouth community. We wish that more '61s could have shared in this wonderful experience. For Details and Pictures Click on The 1961-2011 Connections Program. Back to Top Dartmouth Alumni Council Rep Report: Pete Bleyler , Rep for ‘61 & ‘62, circulated his report on the class ListServ, now on ‘61 website, so we won’t duplicate here. However, since he wasn’t able to attend certain sessions, a report on some of the topics visited in the Student-Councilor Discussion Groups is submitted here by Brooks Clark ‘78, Editor’s Rep to the Council: Student-Councilor Discussion Groups The Council weekend began on Thursday afternoon with opportunities for councilors to sit down in classrooms and talk with groups of students on one of four topics. 1) Gender Equity: Who Controls Campus Spaces? A key point, which came up several times during the weekend, was that the seven sororities, which now have more members than the 13 fraternities, need more houses. This situation is exacerbated by Beta Theta Pi returning to campus and reoccupying its house, which has been leased to a sorority. In addition, the alcohol policy makes it difficult for students to throw parties in dormitories and other college spaces. 2) Social Impacts of Student Economic Differences. It was a thought-provoking session. Some students have unlimited resources, and some are scraping for every penny, and that's a reality that really does play into everyday life, although the campus is not segregated along economic lines. 3) Alumni-Student Interaction: Students’ Perspective. The general feeling was that students value opportunities to interact and network with alumni, such as the TASTE (Take a Student to Eat) program. Some students said interaction with alumni on campus was part of what sets their experience at Dartmouth apart from the experiences of their friends at other schools. Others noted that students are not very aware of what sort of alumni resources are available to them outside of campus, say at the club level. 4) What Makes a Great Dartmouth President? Facilitator David Dowd ’79 started the discussion by reading a list of Dartmouth presidents since 1916: Hopkins, Dickey, Kemeny, McLaughlin, Freedman, and Wright. Alumni from the Dickey era described Dickey’s inspiring vision for Dartmouth and the many strong qualities of his character. Those from the ’70s noted that Kemeny, a mathematician, was a great humanist and an inspirational speaker, who piloted Dartmouth through that turbulent era of change, bringing about coeducation, the Dartmouth Plan, and the rededication to Native Americans. The group decided that a great president must be an inspirational speaker; a leader who understands the complex constituencies of students, faculty, alumni, and the Board of Trustees; a great fundraiser, of course; and a visionary who understands the mission, academic spirit, and life of Dartmouth. Students said it’s important to them that the president “be around.” Some students said Wright is around a lot, notably at athletic events. Others felt that he is not around enough at meetings of smaller groups around campus. A lively discussion on that and other topics, notably the inevitable tensions of balancing free expression and openness to differing points of view with civility and sensitivity to others, gave alumni a taste of the complex give and take in the campus community. Based on this short session, what’s on students’ minds? They love Dartmouth and the experience they are having, and they are quick to say so. Some would like improvements in advising and class availability, particularly in the popular economics and government departments. They want their professors to be great teachers, and they are aware of the teaching vs. research debate. Many students in the group were double majors and highly motivated to pursue advanced study in their majors. Just thought you’d like to know. Guess we should call it a wrap. As a parting note, please bear in mind that Sports Illustrated has ranked Punahou School [ Honolulu , HI ] as the Number One scholastic sports program in the USofA. All Pun grads in the class should be duly proud.
70th Birthday Mini-Reunion
Since our February WWW, the mini-reunion committee Jeff Conn, Len DiSavino, John King, Jim Nova, Jay Torok have issued a flyer with additional details. Their content is provided here (Click on Flyer to see Exact Reproduction)
Earlier, an informative Green Card was provided from Len DiSavino <LEN27D***AOL.COM> with key details regarding the 70th Birthday Mini-Reunion in Scottsdale, AZ, in 2009. Len's Cell Phone Number is: 914/980-4373.
.DATE: April 30-May 3, 2009
SITE: Millennium Resort on the Scottsdale McCormick Ranch. The Ranch is a charming blend of intimate surroundings and first class hospitality. Imagine yourself lakeside with a prickly pear margarita soaking in the views of the majestic McDowell Mountains.
WHERE: On Camelback Lake in the Heart of Scottsdale
On Thursday at 5 p.m., the celebration begins on the terrace of the Millennium with a welcoming cocktail party and substantial appetizers. Afterward, you are on your own for a light supper and a stroll down Marshall Way for the Art Walk from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Over 100 art galleries will be open.
Friday morning there will be a desert hike as well as a trip to the Desert Botanical Garden where docent-led tours will be followed by an outdoor lunch in our own private pavilion. In the evening, we will dine at a "cowboy" restaurant and receive instruction in Texas Two Step and Line Dancing.
Saturday will begin with a continental breakfast prior to the Passages session facilitated by Duane Cox. A brief class meeting will follow. We will then travel to the Heard Museum for a tour and lunch. In the evening, we will dine at the Millennium beginning with an open bar and hors d'oeuvres. After dinner we will dance to a-rock 'n roll band under the stars.
We have rooms reserved at the Millenium at a special rate of $1999 per night plus taxes. The cost for all of the above, EXCLUDING room, is $495 per person.
(tear-off)
Please send back the information below ASAP:
I am planning to attend the Reunion (# of people): ________
I am planning to stay at the Millennium (# of nights): ____________________
I am interested in attending the following events _____________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________________________________________________
Mail to: Len DiSavino, 39946 N. 105 Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Aloha,
tc |