Ships such as the USS King, a guided missile frigate, were stationed just off the country's coast in the Tonkin Gulf . These ships, outfitted with the most up-to-date computer systems for its day, kept track of fighter planes. When an aircraft got into trouble, the ship's crew prayed its pilot would head for the gulf. "We knew that if their feet touched the water, they had about a 95 percent chance of survival," said Capt. Tom Mealey, who was stationed on the King in 1966 and 1967. Mealy, 69, of Rancho Cucamonga served in the Navy and the Navy Reserve for 30 years before retiring in September 1991."

Many of you may recall that Mike Murphy, an Econ major, is an enviable storehouse of history/memorabilia regarding Dartmouth ’s favorite son R.L. Frost 1896. Thus he submits: I think a lot of classmates might be interested in a new book about Robert Frost. ( Oscar saw a review in the LA Times and sent it to me.) Robert Frost - Speaking on Campus: Excerpts From His Talks 1949 - 1962 has just been published. The book is edited by the late Edward Connery Lathem ‘51, former Dartmouth College librarian, editor of Frost's works, and longtime friend of the poet. Lathem collected edited versions of 46 of Frost's talks to a number of college groups -- including, of course, several at Dartmouth . In a review in the Los Angeles Times, Robert Faggen wrote: "Lathem's edition is eminently readable, and his notes identify, for general readers, most of Frost's literary and other allusions. The talks are a treasure for anyone who loves Frost and is interested in American literature. Frost's best quality is to surprise; the shape and outcome of a talk is never predictable but one always senses this is poet's mischief rather than any lack of purpose." Many of our Class of 1961 will remember Frost's visits to Dartmouth during our time on campus—especially those who made their way to Sanborn House to hear his unique commentary. The book is $14.76 on Amazon and the link is: http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Frost-Speaking-Excerpts-1949-1962/dp/0393071235/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258399661&sr=1-1

OK -- that's my Green Card for this month!” [we got our copy via Amazon, along with a tome of Frost’s notes. BTW, Oscar was a History major; howcum nothing from the vast corps of English majors—or are they all busy flipping burgers...? Ed.]

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We read a lot about satisfaction with Pres. Jim Y. Kim’s initial efforts in office, and his extraordinary capacity to feel Dartmouth in his muscles and his brain. So how about an evaluation from one of our own, Barrett Cup man Al Rozycki, MD, who lives just across the rivah, and has worked in and around Hanover for decades: “Yesterday [11/18/09], Jim Kim presented Dartmouth's financial woes to the Medical School faculty. Pretty grim but a lot better than other institutions. Bottom line is that Dartmouth 's endowment total worth is down 19.5%—Stanford's is down 30%!, Yale's 25%, Duke's 24%, etc. Dartmouth did very well in terms of endowment performance over the past decade, ranking in the 95th % for similar institutions. And, like all other institutions, took from the endowment to pay off buildings, programs, faculty etc. Dartmouth was much more profligate than other institutions, spending at a rate of about 7.5% of endowment/year... others were below 5%. Kim called this ‘irresponsible.’ Bottom line is BIG cuts for Dartmouth —50 million this year and next. Emphasized that this will have an incredible impact across the college and graduate schools, and that no programs were sacred cows. He also emphasized that he was definitely surprised at how little was known by the trustees about the financial situation of the college and vowed that there would be public transparency, for the College and into the community. Couple of thoughts: It was an extremely impressive presentation—I have seen him a few times and, although impressed with his intelligence, candor and warmth, felt that he was maybe in over his head with a large institution like this, and that his training in medicine and anthropology didn't prepare him for what he would be faced with. After this presentation, he clearly has a grasp and interpretation of what is going on, an understanding of what has to be done, an appreciation of the time line, and it will be interesting to see the reaction to what will be to pretty impressive cuts. He mentioned that, at Dartmouth , laying off a body, on average, saves $73,000. Would have to lay off a lot to achieve 50 million. Anyway—quite impressive showing.”

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More campus doings —Phi Delt House burns. This initial report from Dave Prewitt: “Our beloved Phi Delt house was destroyed by fire last night. Evidently it was a chimney fire that brewed within the walls all night and was not discovered until 5:30am . No one was hurt. Reportedly it doesn't look too bad from outside but the photo below shows Room 8 (near the old kitchen/cage). Although this is clearly a tragedy for the kids in the house now, if they are well insured perhaps it will represent a case of fortuitous Greek lightning in the long run. Stay tuned.” And confirmed by the Daily D: Phi Delta Alpha fraternity suffered significant fire and water damage early Sunday morning [ 1/10/10 ] when a fire in the physical plant’s attic caused the building’s fire suppression system to initiate, flooding much of the building. Several campus organizations have mobilized support efforts for the members of the fraternity, whose possessions were mostly damaged or lost in the incident. The Hanover Fire Department received the first alarm at 5:27 a.m. , Hanover Fire Department Captain Mike Gilbert said in an interview with The Dartmouth . All fraternity members living in the building were immediately evacuated, and no one suffered any injuries...

What a mess! [btw is that a keg we see at right front...?]

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From the Phi Delt attic to the AD basement —’62 Class Sec. Jim Haines forwards [excerpted by tc - Ed.] : The AD basement does not want to die a quiet death...I'm sending you a post by Richard Hannah ‘62 that I received this morning [12/14/09]. Note that the ruggers are mentioned nicely: “The AD house is better known to the world as Animal House because of the literary skills of Chris Miller an AD brother in the Dartmouth Class of 1963. But outside it was a terrible October Saturday morning with drenching cold rain and high winds . We headed to the AD lawn for a pre-football game outdoor social event called a Tailgate Party...[and] the brother’s of Alpha Delta fraternity were most gracious when our Mini-Reunion Chair approached them and explained the situation, “Hi, my name is Woody Chittick and a bunch of us in the Class of 1962 usually get together on the lawn here before the football game. But there is a typhoon going on and the lawn is under water. Can we come inside?” The brothers of AD said “Sure, help yourself.” Before you knew it carloads of beer, wine, Bloody Marys, and spirits of every description were being lugged inside to the once-spectacular but now uncared for living room. The floor was a mess. The windows were dirty and the old mahogany panelling needed work. Several tables supported more carloads of pizza, subs, chips, dips, casseroles and veggies. Pretty soon the room was full of grateful '62s, their wives and friends. Some AD members passed by, looked us over, nodded and went upstairs unconcerned. Later on, AD members of the Dartmouth Rugby Club showed up; they had just won their match and become Ivy League Champs. We congratulated them as they helped themselves to beer and food. We thanked them for their hospitality. It seemed like there could not be a finer couple of polite young men than these members of AD. Then Charlie Balch '62 took us to the basement. It is hard to describe in words what the AD basement is like. Charlie seemed proud of it and that certainly is his right and privilege. He described the drunken sport of beer bong [sic] and the brothers p**ing against the walls so that intoxicated bodies could be relieved of the effluent. He suggested that the graffiti on the walls was clever and reflected good humored male bonding. Perfectly harmless it was suggested. The stench, medical danger and lack of civility depicted in the AD basement was passed off as a laudable rite of passage. Many of us left the basement shaking our heads, wondering.

I personally do not believe in fire, brimstone (whatever that is) or eternal damnation. I am not a prude. I got drunk when I was at college. I was in a fraternity with a basement that was uncared for and witness to bad stuff at times. But it is hard to imagine that anything other than total destruction by fire could cleanse the AD basement. It would be a good thing for Dartmouth College to have it gone.

Richard Hannah, Salem , MA 12/14/09 ”

[gadzooks: was this a prophetic warning for the unwary Phi Delts...? Ed.]

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In the course of a traditional school year, Hanover usually seems to rally in the fall— when it truly seems to shine: crisp clear skies, leaves turning a kaleidoscope of brilliant hues, pumpkins in the field, Indian corn in centerpieces on harvest tables, cidah in the chillah, barbecues redolent at the tailgate—well, you get the picture. As an old football lineman who also used to rise to the season in the opening term, FJ “Duck” Eicke submitted the following piece, titled “Autumn versus Fall,” from Sam—one of his doctoral graduates “and a bit of an eccentric with a heart of gold, a black man who is truly color-blind”: “The gray cloud cover forming a shadow over us, blocks the sun and the warm feeling of indian summer...the season of pleasant bright air during the day, and cool evenings readying life for the change to harvest time, and then winter, is one of my favorites...the early morning chill, warming to mid-day activity is both a warning, and a safety zone before cooler and colder comes...but, what we are having now is not that...it is a murky, wet, from morning until night...morning fog, showers, sprinkling, then downpours, even storms...plant life, going brown and dismal shades of green, giving up life without ever showing bright orange, red or yellow...without ever signaling a triumphant end of one stage moving toward another...we turn a murky, dark mood matching our indoor watch to that dreary-scape outside...I could sleep until spring, if left alone, but instead, I move at the prompt of external schedules and give and receive grumpy greetings to and from fellow zombies with dampened spirits...

It is not autumn with bright filtered light...it is not Indian Summer with promise of bounty and harvest...it is not a call to come out and greet the smell, the changing scent-on-the­air that my then 8 year-old daughter once said “smells like autumn”...but today, driving in rain that started, stopped, and started again in showers, the water splashing up from the cars ahead spraying more than that coming down...the sun peeping through an odd and broken patch of clouds, gave just the right light to the droplets mixed with oil and dirt from the pavement...the droplets, the light, the oil, a scattering and display of color & a personal rainbow just in front of my hood & just beyond, and in sync with my path... It was and is a glorious day and in the midst of this, in and of this dreadful mess of rain, and more rain, came the image of delightful grace a rainbow a personal, and private, rainbow...

Always, and amen.    Peace in the process.    Life, in the pieces.”

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News from abroad — Rich “Paisan” Marrone tattles on self from Sweden [which is apparently exempt from Global warming...] : “Good morning to you all in sunny California, balmy Hawaii, romantic Spain, and chilly NH, from a snow-laden but clear­ skyed Kumla, with 'bracing' temps descending to -20 C (-4 F), and perhaps even more as the day wears on... where optimistic Richie went out for a ski jaunt, gliding along in splendid isolation, darting over trails that weave in and out of woods surrounding a golf course, skirt lakes, zig-zag up hills and down ravines—an interlacing network of 20 km, which is a winter heaven for nuts like me, and for the first hour or so it was precisely that, but then...

In a moment of physical hubris, poling hard along the base of a hill, not consciously monitoring the surface ahead of me, I rolled onto a fairly steep and icy 'downgrade' and, suddenly, flipped back into lucidity; I desperately tried to stay upright, and did, for a few hairy seconds, until my skis flared away from my body and I heard my behind thumping on the hard packed snow, my legs and skis pointing upwards.

The sun, which only a few moments before had been reflecting off my sunglasses, its rays squinting through a group of birches, had now slipped behind another batch of trees and it felt as though the temperature had decided to dip too. I looked around but, of course, there was not another skier anywhere, giving me a tinge of panic— because releasing the safety bindings on cross country skis is tough, for me anyway [esp. w/two new prosthetic knees], even when standing upright. I began to squirm like a trapped animal, trying to get the skis closer to my arms so that I could release the bindings and get upright, but every time I got my hands on them, they slipped away again, with each puff of exertion pushing me deeper and deeper into the snow.

I was yelling now, swearing up a storm, feeling nervous sweat curdle down my back, soaking into my long underwear. I tried to heave myself up, gouging my long ski poles into the snow behind me, but they buckled and almost snapped, so I gave up that plan and instead curled up into a fetal position, pulling my left leg as close as possible to my gut, which brought the left ski binding within striking distance of my right hand. I pulled off my glove and felt my fingers immediately go numb, but unless I could use them to unlock the binding, I might be stuck for a long, long time (nope, didn't have my cell phone on me, a 'just in case' suggestion that Maggis made before I left the house, but which I naturally ignored)...

In a controlled rage, I stabbed at the freaking mechanism for what must have been 10 minutes, interspersed with frantic puffs of cold breath on my ice cold digits, then let out an exhausted squeal when it finally popped up, freeing my foot from its mechanical prison. I got up and flexed my [new] left knee—it felt fine—reattached the ski boot to the binding, and set off, in a hurry now: it was getting dark, fast, and I still was 5 km from the car...so I stayed clear of hills and ravines, picking out smooth, flat trails, but nonetheless paying very close attention to every crease in the snowy grooves in front of me. When I got to the parking area, next to the 10th tee, mine was the only car left. Next time I go out, it will be with a skiing buddy—and, I'll be carrying my cell phone too! Just another normal day in Kumla!

Be safe, everybody!”

Paisan with granddaughter in warmer climes.

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From other warmer climes: Bob & Kathy Wendell were taking a Hawaii cruise and had asked this former native to suggest an agenda to best utilize their shore leave. Bob: “Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you on our trip to Hawaii . Kathleen and I loved our week on Kauai in a Wyndham timeshare in Princeville. Our NCL cruise from Honolulu to Kahului to Hilo to Kona to Nawiliwili and back to Honolulu went smoothly and we enjoyed our time onboard. Unfortunately, I was not able to access my e-mails while on vacation so I missed your guidance on what to see on Maui . While docked at Kahului we took Polynesian Adventure Tours first to Iao Valley State Park , then a stop at Maui Tropical Plantation for a tour and lunch, then on to Maui Ocean Center for a very enjoyable tour of the facility. All the islands were beautiful, but we enjoyed Kauai the best and invested in a new timeshare with Wyndham at Bali Hai. If not before, we look forward to seeing you in Hanover in 2011 for our 50th.”

Bob Wendell takes off on a big 'un at the 25th Eddie Aikau Big Wave meet, Waimea Bay, O’ahu.

One that Wendell missed...

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And for more lovely scenes: Peter Holbrook logs: “Forgot to mention that my web site is up (but not quite complete) http://peterholbrook.com/ This link is also on the class of 61 site bulletin board.” [simply splendid work. Well worth a visit to his website! Ed.]

Hockey Reunion : On the weekend of Feb. 12-14, the Eddie Jeremiah era hockey champions returned to Hanover , organized by captain Rusty Ingersoll ‘60. It was a wonderful interlude, and many ‘61s who played for the great Jerry showed up: Bob “Rocket” Moore, Jake Haertl, Jim “Workshop” Richards, Chuck Ritchie, Roger Hartley, Bob Fuller, Bob Naegele, Roger McArt, Dick Spencer, Ivar Jozus, David Hugo, and Art Johnson. Missing were Breed, Butler , Babson, Hancock, Stuie Sheldon, Freeman, Duck, Rocky Tonneson, Forsdick , and the late Peter Price and Bill Atkinson. Naegs conducted the blessing at Saturdays’s banquet, and reflects thus: “What a weekend!!!! It so exceeded my expectations. Honestly, after my freshman year I felt close to my team members, but not to the Championship teams of "59 & "60. It was my fault that I left. I was a rebellious kid, mad at Jerry, because he chided me as a player. Looking back, he saw what I could be, could have been. My way of expressing it was to walk away. The biggest loser was me, so I must apologize to my teammates, and to Jerry, his memory... Some of you commented about the invocation at the banquet. I take no credit for it, because Bill Butters, Hockey Ministries director in Minnesota , (former Gopher, Fighting Saint, and North Star player) has used it on a regular basis when he speaks to hockey teams from youth to pro level.

It is titled: ‘Our Penalty has been served by a teammate’

In the world of sports, hockey is unique in the way it handles a goalie who breaks the rules; his penalty is taken by a teammate, chosen by the coach. And while the substitute serves his time in the penalty box, the goalie stays in the game and goes right on playing.” [that player in the sin-bin is, of course, Jesus. Well, just ask Naegs... Ed.]

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Hank Gerfen touched base to say: “Your note on Don O'Neill seeing Steve Dale sent me down memory lane. My first conscious memory of my ‘ Dartmouth experience’ was walking into Robinson Hall, the first day I was there, and Steve was sitting at the piano playing. I remember that so clearly to this day. It was a great way to start my college career.

I'm happy to report I'm still doing pretty good with the big C. I'm still on my retoxin program, one more treatment in april. Have reached 2 years in remission and feeling great.

Maggie and I adopted a dog last year through the American Brittany Rescue group. Great group, great dog. See picture. I'd recommend the group for anyone looking to adopt a dog.

Hope all is well with you. Won't see you at the mini because Mag and I will be in Europe. I half expect to meet another of your friends...”

Gerf and friend......

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Green cards! [apologies for the spate of changed addresses; a little late-in-life resettling for tc... Ed.] Bill Ricker < WGRICKER3***AOL.COM> confesses: “I’ve been remiss in not keeping better contact. Sandy and I will be at the 50th. We now are residents of Fort Myers , FL , and spend six winter months in Florida and the other six in Vermont . The newsletters have been excellent. I sold my insurance business in 2000 and ever since then we’ve spent a great deal of time in Florida , boating on the Caloogahatchee and the Inter-Coastal, along with playing tennis. Wherever we are we see children and grandchildren frequently.”

Never one to pass up a green card, Tony Horan posts: “My book, The Big Scare: Prostate Cancer & Big Business, is now printed but sold out at Sterlinghouse_bookstore_com . Try www.BarnesandNoble.com . I have been on national & regional radio since August. In November the American Cancer Society admitted they had overpromised on the rewards of early discovery and early treatment. I had a letter in the NYTimes about their admission. My wife and I took our first mountain trek w/o son Frank in 19 years. Went to the Trinity Alps . Good granite in northwest Calif. Marcie could not walk in because of swine flu. So we used a horse to carry her in 12 miles. Now there is a Dartmouth wife! Also I came in second for grand prix points in singles 3.0 tennis in the Central Calif. Tennis Assoc. Next year, #1!”

A sort of green card from Pres. Kim, invited “Moneybags” tc [et al.] as guest of the DCF to the Stephen F. Mandel ‘52 Society Reception and Dinner in NYC April 14. The honorees include Don O’Neill, and two others. Any of you NYC denizens wanna go and impersonate your rotund WWW editor...? Forester? Beattie? Denniston? Kandel...?

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Ultimate Passages. Now that the AluMag has decided to no longer publish obituaries, we should take this opportunity to enhance our honoring of past classmates in other fashions [we reluctantly make note of certain special situations in WWW , but it hurts our heart to do so... Ed.] . Here is Brother Conn on the subject: “Guys: This was not announced and it is a shame. The very group of people who need the DAM print version the most are unlikely to see obits of their friends and classmates. It seems to me that we have to take a number of steps:

• Notify the class of this decision. We can do a more timely job than DAM through use of our own web site.
• Ask people to email Harris or me when they spot an obit of a classmate in the newspaper (and send a copy to Vic). In most instances today, the newspaper’s obit also will be available on line, so send that along.
• We have the space and want to publish as complete an obituary as possible on each classmate as death occurs, so newspaper articles help.
• Give Vic the opportunity to publish the obit he is sending in for the DAM website on our website as well, especially for those classmates for whom we have no obit until Vic writes one.
• Make sure that everybody is aware of the critical importance of alumni records in providing the info to Vic and other class secretaries. Most of you probably got yours to complete within the last month or so.
• Encourage classmates to "fess up and send Harris their email addresses.”
• Here's the website of the Alumni Mag where obits will be published by college: http://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/

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So saying, please further note that planned gifts chair “Pale Pete” Palin is urging your membership in the Bartlett Tower Society. As the appeal you recently received observes: “Whatever life might be sending your way, it’s time to ask yourself this question: What will YOUR legacy be?” Aside from our Class Legacy for Performing Arts at the Hop, that is... Even if you don’t have a cog railway to leave to the college, there are advantages to including the college in your estate planning. Oh, and have you glanced at the Actuarial Table lately, ye ancient septuagenarians...?

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Speaking of The ‘61 Legacy, simply must comment on David Birney’s holiday greetings, printed and bound as “Birney Bulletin 2009.” Seventeen pages with photos summarize a full and rich year—of kids and their progress, travels, performances, personal adventures and passages, observations on the middle east “seat of civilization,” and close with some inner thoughts as the holidays capped yet another year. Those lucky enough to receive David’s reflective journal read, from Park City , Utah , at Christmastide with children Kate, Peter & Mollie: “This time amidst colored lights, brilliant flakes outside the window, like the breath of stars whirling in the soft pearl light just before night, is a moment of grace in all our lives. We have made a long voyage through time as a family to come to this place, on this evening, at this time. I know that our being together this way will change. All things will change as our lives change. It is inevitable.

But for this time, this grace and joy of my heart, I am deeply grateful.

I send to each of you a wish for this coming year, for all things that will please your heart and nourish your soul.”

And so we close this issue for now.

• Gitchy butt to the mini in Philly.
• Start writing your reflective musings.
• Clear your calendar for the 50th in June 2011.
• And take a look at your estate plans.

Pax vobiscum,

tc

2009 was a tough year, but we

made it ! How 'bout you . . .?

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