For your 65th Birthday, the Class of 1961 is going to make you a party! In fact, we are going to make everyone in our class a birthday party next year and it's going to be a weekend bash from April 22-25, 2004 at the Spa Resort and Casino in Palm Springs, CA. The Birthday Reunion Committee spearheaded by Sheldon Baroff, Bill Blue, Duane Cox and Art Jacobson is working very hard to put together a great weekend. All you have to do is show up; you won't have to make any other decisions!

Who said that the "D" Administration is not flexible? After much "input" from current students, alumni, parents, faculty, people involved with the "D" swimming team currently and in the past (including several of our classmates) - and what appeared to be most of the rest of the U.S. - the men's and women's swimming and diving teams were reinstated. It was just unfortunate that matters had to reach that stage. Perhaps it was unavoidable.

Time is running out for this year's Alumni Fund. Thus far, our class is doing OK, better than in many prior years, but not great. There is still time, however, to achieve greatness, which is what our class Alumni Fund chairman, Hank Eberhart, would like us to achieve. He has been working very hard to make sure that our class increases both participation and dollars contributed. There is still time to help him out. Give the guy a break so that he won't relinquish the job out of frustration at the end of the fiscal year.

Bruce Beasley may not have graduated "D", but he sure has accomplished a great deal as a renowned sculptor working and living in Oakland, CA. After two year at "D", Bruce transferred to UC Berkeley, where he graduated. Last year, "D" engaged Bruce to submit six cast bronze sculptures to become part of the permanent collection in the new Baker-Berry Library. Because of economic circumstances, the College does not have the funds to purchase the sculptures outright. Therefore, they will remain on "permanent loan" until some donors from the class or otherwise come forward (one piece has already been spoken for). Any interested persons should contact Bruce directly (tel. # 510-836-1414; fax # 510-763-4431).

Ross Sandler has recently joined the authors' ranks with his recently released tome co-authored and titled "Who's Really Running the Government?", which explores how the courts and lawyers have taken over the job and now control many of the most important programs of state and local government, and what should be done about it? The class list of published authors just keeps growing, and I am feeling more and more inadequate!

Arizona continues to expand its population with '61's John G. King recent move to Scottsdale (21802 N. Calle Rogale, tel. # 480-585-8328). With the amount of snow we had in the east this past winter, I expect that there will be many more '61s moving to warmer winter climates, such as Arizona, Southern California and Florida. I know that Larry and Stephanie Levy recently purchased a residence in Palm Beach and that Bob and Linda Rosier recently acquired one in the same area.

After much deliberation and discussion among the members of the class Executive Committee, the "Class of 1961 Legacy, The American Tradition in Performance" has been established. Monies donated to this Memorial Fund will come primarily from contributions by '61s on behalf of '61s. The initial and quite modest objective is to obtain at least $100 contributed to the Endowment Fund for each deceased classmate, of which there are now 62. Checks should be made out to "The Class of 1961" and earmarked "In Memoriam", and mailed to Ivar Jozus, our Class Treasurer. Kudos to the In Memoriam Committee, consisting of George Bland, chair, John Damon, Glen Gemelli, Mike Houlahan and Pete Bleyler. Remember, be generous now since I can guarantee that your time will come!

Victor S. Rich, Secretary