So, it comes to pass that our fall mini-reunion will be another virtual-only operation. Too many college restrictions for in-person presence on campus prompts us to revert to the format which proved so successful for our 60th in June [see announcement].
In Pete Bleyler's September 3 email letter, we indicated the possibility of holding a "hybrid" mini-reunion, with both virtual and in-person components. However, while the classes of 1956, 1951, and 1946 held in-person reunions the weekend of September 11, Dartmouth is now restricting in-person activities on campus. For example, the Dartmouth Club of the Upper Valley has had to resume zoom sessions for their monthly meetings. Consequently, we have decided to have our Saturday, November 6 Mini-Reunion 100% virtual only with NO in-person sessions.
The virtual program will begin at 11:30 AM Eastern and end no later than 3:30. The first ½ hour will be an open mike session the same as we had during the 60threunion. The "formal" program will begin at 12 noon Eastern and four classmates will speak to us about their "roads travelled." We'll have a slideshow of photos by one of our classmates and our two Arts Initiative Students will discuss their projects that the Class of '61 sponsored through the Frost Endowment.
Classmate Panelists
Four classmates will speak about their "roads traveled" over the past 60 years. In the prior two mini-reunion update letters, we've highlighted Doug Zipes and Bob Tunnell. The other two are Chris Bosworth and Jerry Greenfield.
Chris Bosworth will narrate and chronicle her experiences and challenges as the wife of Steve Bosworth, the ambassador to two key U.S. allies: the Philippines (1984 to 1987) and South Korea (1997 to 2001). She will share their dangerous times in the Philippines and relate tales about Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, the People Power revolution and follow the history of the USA's role in the Philippines during their time living there. In South Korea, Steve and Chris witnessed one of the most difficult times in South Korean history – their financial crisis. You will hear about two projects that Chris led that brought Koreans, Americans living there, and the diplomatic community together; and you will meet South Korea's President Kim Dae Jung.
Jerry Greenfield was an engineer, financial analyst, administrator of a contract between two major industrial enterprises, and an elected official
in his city. He will comment on how a young, recent engineering grad became involved in a pioneering effort to put men on the moon, developed software to evaluate complex financial arrangements, and provided legal support for cleanup of a nuclear waste dump. Providing "legal support" motivated Jerry to get a law degree to go along with his Tuck -Thayer Industrial Administration degree and his Tuck MBA.
On a positive note, this should increase "attendance" greatly, and we look forward to seeing your shining [gently used] faces on November 6th!
Green Cards: Got a bunch this time - mahalo. Ken Walker <walkserken@gmail.com> "Just wanted to weigh in on our 60th Virtual Reunion. What a wonderful surprise! I wasn't able to make all of the sessions but I found the ones I attended were fascinating. My congratulations to all who ha obviously worked so hard to put it together. Another great '61 effort!"
Don Wells <donwellsconsulting@yahoo.com> "Still happily married, 2 sons, 5 grands (28-14), all very close. Serve on 2 Boards, consult w/three, mentor 2 amazing women, enjoy woodworking, play decent golf (mostly), walk 2 miles/day, in good health, much enjoy Phi Delt & class Zoom gatherings, hope to make our 70th reunion!" [and who doesn't…? - ed.]
Art Bookstrom <aabookstrom@gmail.com> How long have you been in Medford, OR? Julie & I have been in Spokane, WA, since 1992, and we love it here. Following a 4-year stint of gold exploration in the Red Sea Hills of Saudi Arabia, I got hired by USGS as a mineral resources research geologist, based in Spokane. I've been
studying the region of geology and mineral resources of the Northern Rocky mountains, doing field work in summers, then writing up results & skiing in winters. Since retirement I've been playing accordion & dobro in local jams. Do you still play?" Followed up by some lengthy e-mail exchanges between two old Gile Hall roommates/Phi Gams who have been in sparse touch since June '61. Had to confess that ol' Arthur Idis forced me to give up guitar, relying only on my trusty baritone ukulele. Did offer him my hand-made six-string which Sonja had a lutanist in Germany craft for me in '62. Such fun. Dave Skuce <dave.skuce@centurylink.net> "Betsy and I spend our time between Tucson and our place on the Fall River in far northern California. We continue to have mini reunions with our Russell Sage classmates. We go to John Henry's place on Lake Winnipesaukee in July; attending will be Bill Bull, Bill Wood, Barc Corbus, Steve Dale, and Jon Sperling. Patti Frierson will also be there as Cartter was such an important part of our group, and will be surely missing. I still do a lot of hunting & fishing, but Betsy won't let me get on my horse anymore. After all the parts replacements I've had, I guess she's right." [hang on to what's left, old-timer…! - ed]
Dan Tracy <dantracy2@comcast.net> "As our 60th takes place shortly, I want to remember our classmate, Jay Torok, who passed away 3 years ago. Jay was a [Deke] fraternity brother of mine and we stayed in touch over the years, meeting regularly."
Women's Initiative: lotta good stuff. This extracted from the annual Class Activities Report, filed end of August: "Having amended the class constitution to include spouses as honorary members of the class, this was the first full year of spouse "official" participation. Since the 50th reunion, spouses have had a "gathering" session for women attendees at subsequent Hanover and mini-reunions. While spouses have always made a significant contribution to class activities, three women have been on the Executive Committee providing a valuable conduit for spouse involvement. Nyla Arslanian and Patti Rich co-chair what they call the Women 's Initiative and Joani Prewitt served as mini-reunion co-chair until her passing in May.
As the 60th reunion was being planned, the class wanted to reach out to widows and invite them to return for reunion. When it was determined the reunion would be virtual, the women co-chairs reached out to all spouses and widows to encourage their participation. A team of 10 women was recruited that made over 400 outreach calls to spouses and widows involving several team Zoom meetings from January to June. The purpose of this effort was to inform the spouses of their "new" membership status, obtain their email contact information, and encourage attending the reunion. As a result, 50 women registered for the reunion. A Zoom 60th Reunion Women 's Gathering breakout session, moderated by Nyla Arslanian and Patti Rich. During that session women shared about such topics as downsizing, financial acumen, importance of friendships, etc.
Additionally, Chris Bosworth served as moderator for the January mini-réunion panel that featured classmates speaking about their careers in foreign service. Chris also moderated the 60th Réunion Dickey Students Bosworth Awardee Panel, Jean DeHaven showed her art, Madge Ginn participated in the Memorial Service and Nyla Arslanian designed and produced the 28-page Reunion Program Booklet."
Then Nyla & Patti submitted this for WWW: "Doesn't 't it seem like we just had the 60th reunion? And, now, we 're getting ready for the upcoming Fall reunion. We 're still all basking in
the significant accomplishment—triumph—of the wonderful virtual reunion. We had about fifty attending the Women 's Gathering. We want to give another shout out to the gals on our team who did such great work contacting (maybe not connecting) but contacting all class spouses. An amazing feat that contributed to the success of the 60th. Kudos to our dedicated team: Chris Bosworth, Eileen DiSavino, Laurie Eberhardt, Bonnie Gartner, Madge Ginn, Carol Jozus, Carolyn "Pani" Kolb, Susan Lynn, and Susan Moore.
We also sent a survey to help us prepare for the reunion Gathering. Here are some of the results: Our family, spouse and friends are what keeps us occupied. We are also readers. We 're an involved group and current events is a main issue of concern followed closely by physical health. As many as 60% of us still live in our family home and another 11% have downsized but still live in the same area. The team wanted to make sure that women were financially savvy. Fully 54% reported "being in the know," with 20% having no worries with 12% stating they were the one in charge of finances.
We were very pleased that we had great participation from several widows at our Gathering and there 's been some interest in forming a Widow 's Group. And, thanks to the wonders of Zoom, we are also considering a regularly scheduled "drop in" meeting. We will keep you posted as plans develop. Reminder: Please make sure we have your email address."
Lewis & Clark Reincarnate: Jake Haertl (front) and steersman Jack Crowley '56 navigate rapids on Skagit River, North Cascade Mts, WA, early 1970s. (later replicated in oils by Dave "Bird" Harrison '60)
More Ancient History: Ol' Injun halfback/ midfielder Alan A. Rozycki, MD, stiil extant…!
Kenneth & Carolyn Kolb got a serious whoopin' from Hurricane Ida. Besides having to evacuate 300 miles to Natchitoches (where my cousin owns an island) in order to maintain Ken 's surgery rehab (requires electricity), they lost power back home in NOLA for extended period and suffered severe damage to rental properties as well as their own home. Current update: "Well, we returned after 12 days. Lost some slates and ridge tiles on home roof. Slates are 96 years old and have lasted so long. Two rental buildings lost all their roofs so big loss of income and huge repair costs. Hurricane Ida caused horrible shortage of roofing supplies especially shingles. Supply Chain is a universal problem. My surgeon says I should be able to walk without Gabby Hayes limp by Thanksgiving weekend. Been a long slog. They had to basically rebuild leg plus new hip. And, unfortunately, my right eye had vitreous problems...Underwent surgery on Oct. 5th and am in re-hab. I think, and hope, my vision is restored and eye surgeon agrees…but am hoping these surgeries die a natural death and I can be ahuman being again. Otherwise Pani and I are stronger and taking it a day at a time. People South of I-10 in bayou-marsh-Gulf of Mexico communities are devastated without power, potable water, and no places to live except horrible FEMA trailers. Fishing Industry seafood boats are destroyed, sunk. Mother Nature is Now getting pissed off more often. And, yes, it is the era of Climate Change. It's very real and measurable. Other than all this, I am happy and alive."
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Late US Poet Laureate Billy Colins truly had an eye for life and a hand for getting it down:
Downpour
By Billy Collins
Last night we ended up on the couch
trying to remember
all of the friends who had died so far,
and this morning I wrote them down
in alphabetical order
on the flip side of a shopping list
you had left on the kitchen table.
So many of them had been swept away
as if by a hand from the sky,
it was good to recall them,
I was thinking
under the cold lights of a supermarket
as I guided a cart with a wobbly wheel
up and down the long strident aisles.
I was on the lookout for blueberries,
English muffins, linguini, heavy cream,
light bulbs, apples, Canadian bacon,
and whatever else was on the list,
which I managed to keep grocery side up,
until I had passed through the electric doors,
where I stopped to realize,
as I turned the list over,
that I had forgotten Terry O 'Shea
as well as the bananas and the bread.
It was pouring by then,
spilling, as they say in Ireland,
people splashing across the lot to their cars.
And that is when I set out,
walking slowly and precisely,
a soaking-wet man
bearing bags of groceries,
walking as if in a procession honoring the dead.
I felt I owed this to Terry,
who was such a strong painter,
for almost forgetting him
and to all the others who had formed
a circle around him on the screen in my head.
I was walking more slowly now
in the presence of the compassion
the dead were extending to a comrade,
plus I was in no hurry to return
to the kitchen, where I would have to tell you
all about Terry and the bananas and the bread
To which budding (& ancient) poet Chuck Dayton responded, "Ahh, so close to home. The other day I was grousing about how hard it was to get in and out of my Kayak, and then I thought, 'Half the class is gone, stop complaining.' Did I send you the poem I wrote after taking a master class with Billy Collins?" Here 'tis:
Blink Bonny
Trudging across a frozen lake,
Following tracks in new snow,
A wave of tiny diamond flashes
Just ahead of my snowshoes.
Kayaking on a rippling lake,
snips of the sun bounce off wavelets
shining just before my cutting bow,
But only if I pay attention.
Flying over prairie potholes,
Low sun bounces from a thousand ponds,
Golden dots racing across the landscape,
At six hundred miles an hour.
Gliding into Elderhood, bombarded by beauty.
Blink Bonny, a fleeting glimpse of beauty
Everyday miracles abound,
Astonishing treasures of four billion years,
Everywhere a vast art museum,
But only if I pay attention.
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Back in June, Mort Lynn submitted these very glad tidings: "I thought you might like to hear a success story. About 20 years ago we started a scholarship fund for Native American students. The fund pays a portion of the tuition for one student each year for his or her four years at Dartmouth. I believe that most of the students have graduated. One of them is on Facebook, and he appears to be successful artist. We were fortunate enough to have had personal contact with a student who graduated in 2018. She had some issues at first, but she persisted, and eventually formed a group of Native Americans involved in science. She moved into the Native American house, became comfortable at Dartmouth, and finished the pre medical program. The last we heard was that after year off, she entered medical school.
I have enclosed a picture which was taken at her graduation by her mother. She presented me with a beautiful traditional blanket while she, her grandmother, and Susan looked on. She gave Susan the wrap she is wearing, and which was made by her mother. The gifts were accompanied by a Native American ceremony.
Establishing this scholarship fund has been very gratifying for us. In some small way it acknowledges the problems that Native American face, and the role that Dartmouth has had in supporting their educational needs."
Maybe not so glad: Pres. Maynard Wheeler prefaced the July monthly ExeComm Zoom meeting with these suggestions—"Considering that the best way to have our voice heard may be to join with others through the Alumni Council, we want to come to some consensus in our approach to the issues of the Chicago Principles of free speech on campus and our concerns about apparent mis-steps by the administration."
After that assemblage, Glenn Gemelli offered: "Zoom Afterthoughts: So besides my mentioned smoky skies, after the meeting I discovered a cow standing in my vacated horse corral. The "perks", I suppose, of living in a tinder-dry forested area with free-range grazing nearby… Back on point - I think this linked Freedom of Expression Policy Statement is fine, perhaps even better than the lengthier Chicago Principles. The question, of course - is the College abiding by it? If we as a class are to do anything, it seems that we might first want to focus on administration governing transparency - the why and how of decision-making processes that create the disturbing athletic team, medical school, and Tucker Foundation outcomes. Additionally, who is consulted in the decision process? A few of you mentioned contact sources that might shed light on this; good! Knowing that will help us to determine how we might best influence the process, and if we should even try.
Endorsing the Freedom of Expression Policy Statement is a noble class position, but will likely matter little if we don't have a path to influence those affecting policy. Finally, stupid question: Why doesn't the college limit it's enrollment to fit its current building and staff capabilities - instead of trying to expand everything to facilitate a larger enrollment? Bigger is
not necessarily better - unless it is for some reason, I suppose. Vox Clamantis in Deserto…"
IPP Don O'Neill then summarized: "Lots of good input. I 'm going to attempt to draft a way forward: Working with others is the best way - with ' 60 and '71, both class of the year classes, along with ' 88 led by Catherine Briggs, also a class of the year. Catherine was head of the DCF committee for 4 years. Here are my suggestions:
1. Prepare a draft summary of issues which ' 61 's are concerned about
2. Contact Ed Haldeman and Bill McNabb to get their views on issues
3. Contact Jim Adler ' 60, Peter Pratt ' 71, Catherine Briggs ' 88. See if they have done something similar to us. Get feedback.
4. ExeComm edits issues doc
5. Begin discussions with Alumni Council leadership re our concerns
6. Attempt to influence. Position as a ' 61 initiative so our brand is not pushed out of the way.
Fundamentally, I believe our task is to gather in one place the mission and guiding principles of the College
Then to identify recent events, issues and decisions which may or may not have met these principles.
Then to pursue some sort of action through the Alumni Council"
Comments from the class as a whole?
More glad tidings:
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