SUMMARY OF CLASS OF 1961 LONDON MINI-REUNION
During May 15-18, 2019, the small (less than 500 surviving classmates) but highly active Class of 1961 (winner of Class of the Year for two of the past four years) held it's first off-campus mini-reunion in a foreign location (London, England). What started as a moment of historical significance almost exactly 30 years ago, when the Class of '61 held its first off-campus mini-reunion (and the College's first official off-campus mini) in early May 1989 in Washington, D.C. evolved over three decades into a celebration of Dartmouth's 250th Anniversary by the Class holding it's first foreign off-campus mini in the city and country from which the then Lord of Dartmouth and the then King of England first held Court and from which the concept of a Dartmouth College in pre-colonial America drifted into becoming a reality.
During the London mini, 19 classmates, spouses and significant others followed a detailed and extensive schedule which included visiting historical sites ranging from remnants of Roman Britain, through the Middle Ages, to World War II and the Nazi Blitz. Modes of transportation intentionally included the Underground (subway), London taxis and boat (via a cruise on the Thames). The class highlight was the final banquet dinner held in the stately Hall of the Worshipful Company of Founders in London.
Classmate Frank Stephens, a long time resident of London, and his wife Dawn planned the itinerary and implemented the entire celebration over a period of two years. Clearly, from post-mini responses from attendees, they were successful. Unfortunately, at the last minute, several classmates and their spouses had to cancel their reservations because of health issues typical of 80 year olds, family issues and/or financial matters. At the final class dinner, class president, Don O'Neill, presented Frank with a framed photograph of the Robert Frost statue at Dartmouth, autographed by the sculptor of the Frost statue, as a formal recognition by the Class for a job well done.
Go to Top
In a major mini coup, Dawn & Frank Stephens put together a splendid gathering of the clansmen in London last month, delighting the intrepid few classmates who voyaged across the seas to Ol' Blighty. In Frank's words: "The Mini-reunion headquarters was the May Fair Hotel, conveniently located near Green (of course) Park and not very far from Buckingham Palace. At the welcoming dinner on Wednesday, there were 17 in attendance counting classmates and their significant others. In his after-dinner remarks, Frank explained that travel would be by London Underground (subway) and how the system worked.
Thursday morning turned out to be gloriously sunny and warm. The group traveled from Green Park Station to Bank Station, successfully negotiating a transfer to a different line on the way. We stopped outside the station to look at the Bank of England, the equivalent of the Federal Reserve, and the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London where many formal banquets are held. We walked past the site of the house in which Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury martyred by King Henry's knights, was born in 1120. Pilgrimages to his shrine inspired Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
At London's mediaeval Guildhall, dating from the mid-1400s, we met our guide who led us on a tour of the area—including remains of the Roman Amphitheatre which were only discovered in 1988 during the digging of foundations for a new art gallery. During the tour, our guide explained the economic importance of the City of London government, its relationship with the National government, and the nature of the Livery Companies which grew out of trade associations dating back to 1155.
Following a pub lunch, we began a meandering walk which took us through an area which had been largely destroyed in late 1940 during the fire-bombing of London by the Luftwaffe. The route took us past many Livery Company Halls including those of the Brewers, Pewterers, Wax Chandlers, Goldsmiths, Plasterers, Barber Surgeons, and Founders. It also took us past remnants of a fort and wall built by the Romans in the First Century AD which had been exposed by the 1940 bombing.
Our next stop was at St Bartholomew the Great church for a tour by the verger. The church dates from 1123 and largely escaped damage from both the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the WWII bombings. The architecture is Romanesque which pre-dates Gothic.
Inside St. Bartholomew's Church
Please Note Ancient Precursor to C3PO
Madge Ginn, Pete Bleyler, Pete Jessup, another visitor, Don O'Neill, Carole Pence, Gordon Furry (Verger and Guide), David Armstrong
That evening, we dined in an intimate pine-paneled room at Guinea Grill, a short walk from the May Fair. The Guinea is famous for its beef dishes and extensive wine list. Over the years, it has been visited by the likes of Gene Autry, Michael Douglas, Ted Danson, and Bob Hope who have left messages on notepaper pinned to a wall in the Men's Room.
Friday morning, in contrast with the previous day, and in keeping with the changeable nature of British weather, was cloudy, cool and looking like it could rain. Dauntless, brollies at the ready, we set off for a walk through Green Park to Hyde Park Corner. On the way, we stopped to look at the recently installed Bomber Command Memorial, a fitting tribute to the 55,573 members of Bomber Command crews who lost their lives in WWII.
We also looked at Wellington Arch, a triumphal arch built to commemorate Wellington's victory over Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo.
>
The Wellington Arch
backs of Don O'Neill, Kathy Jessup, Pete Jessup, unidentified, Bob Conn
A sculpted quadriga, an ancient four horse chariot, is positioned above the arch. The statue is the largest bronze sculpture in Europe, even larger than the quadriga atop the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
The next stop was for a tour of Apsley House, the home of the Duke of Wellington whose descendants still maintain a residence there. On exhibit is a large collection of paintings, porcelain, silver, and other artworks and memorabilia of the career of the First Duke. A colossal statue of Napoleon, depicted as the Roman god Mars, stands in the stairwell.
'61s at Apsely House --Tom Goodridge, Bob Conn, Karla Goodridge, Ruth Bleyler, David Armstrong, Pete Bleyler, Carole Pence, Chris Thomas, Kathy Jessup, Denny Denniston, Frank Stephens, Pete Jessup
At noon, it was "all aboard" for a cruise down the Thames to just past the gothic-styled Tower Bridge for lunch at the Dickens Inn on the side of a yacht basin. Owing to the 23-foot tides on the Thames, boats must leave and enter the basin through a lock.
River Cruise – Big Ben, Captain Stephens, Pete Jessup, Ruth Bleyler, Kathy Jessup, Pete Bleyler
Friday evening, our celebratory 80th Birthday Dinner was held in the Hall of the Worshipful Company of Founders. The Clerk of the Company had prepared a souvenir programme for each guest. The Company was initially established in 1365 as a trade association of foundries making brass and bronze jugs and containers, church bells, weights, etc. Frank Stephens is a Liveryman of the Company and he chose the venue as he thought that none of the other attendees had ever been in a Livery Hall. We were pleased that John Henry & Laura Wilson were able to join us at this final event.
Final dinner at Founders' Hall – Don O'Neill, Kathy Jessup, Tom Goodridge, Karla Goodridge, Carole Pence, Madge Ginn, David Armstrong
After the toast to the Queen, Don O'Neill thanked Frank and Dawn for their efforts in hosting the Mini and asked other participants to comment on their most memorable aspects of the reunion. Following the singing of "Men of Dartmouth," we made our way back to the hotel.
We all said our good-byes the next morning at breakfast.
In summary, the weather was propitious, it never rained, everyone assembled on time for each outing, no one got lost and no one got arrested." [obvioulsy tc was not in attendance…ed.] Now, of course, the pivotal issue us: How we gonna top this…?!
Frank Stephens accepts a thank-you from the class via Pres. Don O'Neill.
Napoleon's Statue
Frank Stephens (for scale), the Little Colonel
Final dinner at Founders' Hall – John Henry, Laura Wilson (opposite), Frank Stephens, Bob Conn, Ruth Bleyler, Pete Bleyler, Chris Thomas, Denny Denniston (partially hidden), Pete Jessup.
Outside the Guildhall – Murray Craig (Clerk of the Chamberlain's Court and Guide), Chris Thomas, Tom Goodridge, Denny Denniston, John Beckert, Jean Beckert, Karla Goodridge, David Armstrong, Carole Pence, Kathy Jessup, Ruth Bleyler, Madge Ginn, Pete Jessup, Pete Bleyler, Dawn Stephens, Don O'Neill, Bob Conn, Frank Stephens (shepherd)
Go to Top
Green Cards—the auld time-honored hard-copy snail mail should be honored with almost-top billing: Ken Walker <walkersken***gmail.com> reports—"Still have lunch every few weeks with Bert Rowley who was one of my buddies on the first floor of Hitchcock during freshman year. He's always fun to spend time with." Art Jacobson <ajacobson7***aol.com> confesses—"Debi & I have lived in Indian Wells, CA, for 30 years. We have 3 children and 7 grandchildren—oldest granddaughter getting married in October—we are so blessed. Been retired for 7 years—play much golf. On Board of Governors of Eisenhower Hosp. and Board of Barbara Sinatra Center for Abused Children. If anyone wants to come out and play golf—give a call, and if in hospital and need help also give a call. Jerry the K [Kaminsky] has left me financially healthy." [Uhh, shouldn't that be Native American Wells…? ed.]
Tony Horan offers "Thanks for a most interesting class letter. My wife & I stayed at Jim Richards's Maplelag during a brief sojourn in the midwest. It burned to the ground shortly after. He rebuilt it and then a tree fell on him. Dartmouth says it is interested in 'resilience'–Jim personifies that. Marcie & I spent two days in April X-country skiing at Royal Gorge resort on Donner Pass here in CA. A 3rd edition of my book on prostate cancer is coming out shortly, aimed at foreign editors. Its new title is The Rise & Fall of the Prostate Cancer Scam."
Brett [Noel] McEntagart & Miriam <brettmac***eircom.net> checked in from Dublin, Ireland: "We have just moved house after 30 years in Sandycove—what an ordeal! I couldn't imagine the amount of stuff we had collected over the years, apart altogether from my artwork & library of books! The conveyancing procedure here is very antiquated & tedious & expensive! I am hoping to have a retrospective of my work in the Academy Gallery here in February 2021—if I live that long… am still hanging in there despite all the aches & pains of aging. The knees are worn out and painful, but still managed to ski in Austria in March—it took me 3 days to learn how to ski again under the tutelage of my daughter Muriel! We hadn't been skiing in 10 years. I thought it would be like riding a bike—they say you never forget…!"
Arthur Bloom <Arthurbloom1@verizon.net> announced that his 3rd book, Edwin Forrest: A Biography and Performance History, has just been published by McFarland & Co. "Forrest was the premier American actor of the early 19th century…born in Philadelphia, performed at the Walnut, Arch Street and Chestnut Street Theatres, lived here, died here, and is buried here." "This is the first fully annotated biography of his work and the only day-by-day account of his performances and reviews. It includes a detailed account of his participation in the Astor Place Riot and a sensational public divorce case, as well as his affinity for the hyper-masculine imagery of the Jacksonian democracy." Arthur talks to David Birney several times a week; David can "still get out a few simple sentences and phrases, and we have basically one or two minute conversations. He is well taken care of by his loving companion Michele Roberge and by an aide who comes in when Michele is not there."
bibliotaph or bibliotaphe
MEANING:
noun: One who hoards books.
[See: your WWW editor, his pals Paisan & Roz, and a few others. Jus' sayin' . . .]
Go to Top
Alan Hale: "Checking in after a long absence. I'm currently enjoying my second tour as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer in the Philippines working on solid waste issues; mostly getting people and communities to stop burning waste and trying to stem the flow of plastic to the ocean. This tour continues until September which will round out 18 months here in two locations. My home is in an idyllic small municipality, Bontoc, in Southern Leyte. Living with a local host family is one of the best parts of my life here. Then there is Sogod Bay, a four minute walk from home to the ocean. I swim often in the biggest swimming pool of my life, one length is 6 kilometers. My swimming friends would love it.
After Peace Corps I may settle near Seattle where my two daughters and four grandchildren live. I pulled up stakes from Ohio several years back, my home for the past 30 years. After selling everything I owned a new life as a volunteer began. Navigating the winds of change and trying to be an active agent in the process keeps me going as an "unyielding Atlas" I read about and was inspired by, so long ago on the Green…It's been a long journey with major potholes along the way as far as women are concerned. Cheers from this little spot in the Wide, Wide World."
[well, we certainly encourage active lifestyles, but is this possibly overdoing it at 80…? ed.]
Speaking of 80, here's Rich Husband and his boys @Fenway on his Big Kanawalu.
(LtoR): Chris (Hotel and Resort construction, Marblehead MA); Rudy, (RR lobbyist, Downingtown, PA); Unidentified (Retired banker and apiarist, Etna, NH); Tim (Executive Chef, Jackson, WY) [we should all look so terrific…ed.]
Rich reports on charter class Prez Jas. Scotty Turnbull: "Dear Richard and Pamela,
This is Andrew Turnbull replying for my dad, Wednesday morning he had a mini stroke and is in rehab at St. John hospital.
He can take calls, and speech is slurred. We are hoping for a strong recovery.
He has left hand and wrist paralysis and left face droop and tongue issues. They are all fixable thru therapy.
Give him a call and encouragement when you can.
And yes, his mind is all there, god help us!"
Latest report is Scotty is making progress, but slowly—hey, we're old, and take more time to heal… e-mail Husband <rickwhetna***gmail.com> or Denny Denniston <denndenn***ix.netcom.com> for Turnbull contact data.
Go to Top
Fritz Kern always keeps in good contact. But is there a downside…?
A Day of Data (A Day of Time-Wasting ?)
How much data is generated in a day – and what could this look like as we enter an even more data-driven future?
- 500 million tweets are sent
- 294 billion emails are sent
- 4 petabytes of data are created on Facebook
- 4 terabytes of data are created from each connected car
- 65 billion messages are sent on WhatsApp
- 5 billion searches are made
By 2025, it's estimated that 463 exabytes of data will be created each day globally – that's the equivalent of 212,765,957 DVDs per day!
Fritz & Janis Kern meet with First Citizen in 1991.
Duck & Kathy Eicke made their annual spring trek to the Coastal Conservation Assoc. convention @Houston in April. "After a trip that started in a downpour and lasted into Louisiana, we emerged in some sun and stayed our customary night at Gulf Coast RV Resort in Beaumont. Ambled into Houston the next day, picked up our Enterprise vehicle, and made the afternoon meetings on Friday…Saturday was a full day of CCA meetings with AM Government Relations and the board meeting that PM. Had a delightful lunch with Liz Hewitt from San Antonio and Rocky Chase from Beaumont. One of the great things about CCA is that we have great people to get to know and share tales. The post-meeting was at Goode & Co at their Armadillo Palace -
interesting…Sunday, we trekked down to Galveston and had lunch at Fish Tales. Galveston is a beachgoers town now on a beautiful sunny day. The old homes as you enter Galveston were impressive and the statue in an intersection is truly notable…Heading out tomorrow and will see how the trip goes before we stop."
Kathy & FJ Eicke w/scenic views of oil tankers in Galveston Bay . . .
That statue of -?- in Galveston
Go to Top
Pat Holbrook confirms that selected work by [the late] Pete Holbrook is at the Tucson Museum of Art: "Just thought I'd let you know that Peter's painting "Isis Temple and Colonnade," which is in the permanent collection at the Tucson Museum of Art, will be part of a group exhibition entitled " Travelogue: Grand Destinations and Personal Journeys." The show will be up from May 18-Sept 29th. If you are in the neighborhood drop by. See attached jpeg.
Please share the announcement below with your friends."
Travelogue: Grand Destinations and Personal Journeys – Tucson Museum of Art
Peter Holbrook "Isis Temple and Colonade"
1995 30" x 45" oil/canvas
Maynard Wheeler received a nice note from Nelly Mendoza-Mendoza'19, one of our Art Award students, who graduates this year. "I just wanted to update you on a new project that I am working on related to granulation. I was just awarded a Dartmouth post-graduate fellowship to continue working with granulation after graduation. I am super thrilled about continuing my work with this beautiful technique. I am grateful for this new opportunity to continue doing what I love. Especially since I am starting my own jewelry business. Just this term I have had over 14 small commissions from my friends. I am already learning a lot, I count this as market research. I hope to see you at the Dartmouth Arts Award Ceremony!" Her website jewelrybynelly.com recognizes her Class of 1961 Award.
Nelly Mendoza-Mendoza
Go to Top
Jim "Workshop" Richards follows up his newsy letter in the previous WWW with: "I finally connected with Jake [Haertl] and we had a great chat; he sounded good. Chatted about friends and all, and I said if I go on a road trip this summer I will stop and see him for sure.
Just got back from Kenya and Thailand. Left Minnesota on 14 March, a week in Kenya, then Thailand, and then back to Kenya for a week—back here the 17th of May. Lots of traveling, and that is the downside for sure as jet-lag and crowded flights are not real relaxing. But while the journey is tough, the destination makes it all worthwhile.
Here the weather has been total crap, cool and gloomy and tons of rain—lake and pond levels are the highest I have ever seen. Just now starting to green up. Finished planting almost 1500 trees and now mowing and brush-cutting. Wedding here weekend after next with 250 guests, and then Chinese Language Camp starts 13 June."
Al Rozycki forwarded some fine shots of Mike Gazzaniga & family on their vacation in Tuscany where his parents had rented a villa.
(LtoR) Leonardo/Francesca'07, Gazz, Charlotte, Richard Novak.
Francesca and Leonardo
Mike Gazz w/grandson. Gramps sez: "Leonardo (who is now 2.5 years) loved getting to eat pasta and gelato every day!"
Go to Top
Dartmouth College Fund: Co-chairs McKee, Eberhardt, and McArt report as you read this WWW, we will be in the last few days of the this years DCF. As we prepare the WWW, the class contributions look good in terms of $$ but we are lagging behind in participation. Thank you if you have already contributed. If you haven't, you can log on to
https://www.dartmouthcollegefund.org/how-give
for links to secure on-line giving as well as an address for mailing your check. Postmark deadline is June 30th.
Go to Top
Bartlett Tower Society (BTS). Dave Armstrong, Co Bequest Chair reports as follows: any classmate who leaves a bequest to Dartmouth, in his Will, Trust or IRA beneficiary designation(including gifts to our '61 Legacy and gifts to one of the Dartmouth, sports groups such as "friends of football") becomes a member of the BTS.
Currently, we have 66 classmates Who are BTS members which I believe makes his number two in the classes within five years of us. Not only does your bequest benefit Dartmouth At your death but you also help the class in it's competition to be named "Class of the Year" again.
Some other facts that may be relevant including:
1)There is no minimum gift amount required to become a member.
2)You can change your mind later just by changing your will, trust or IRA beneficiary designation.
3)Making the bequest is, of course, simple if you are revising your estate planning documents.
4) In the alternative your attorney can easily prepare a simple Codicil to your will or a simple amendment to your trust agreement or your attorney or investment officer can help you add a bequest to Dartmouth in the beneficiary designation portion of your IRA.
5) I will be pleased to provide you with a sample language upon request.
A recent example of a generous classmate making a bequest to Dartmouth, reconfirming his membership in BTS and receiving meaningful tax benefits Is outlined in The following note I received from Gerry Kaminsky:
"You have suggested I write a brief note explaining how and why I joined the Bartlett Tower Society. Not only did I reconfirm my membership but also I receive full credit for a gift to the current capital campaign, the Call to Lead. All I did was to list Dartmouth, as one of the beneficiaries of my IRA rollover. I can and will even direct the gift which will be received by the college only after I pass on-To a specific project rather than leaving it to the discretion of the college trustees (they do have to agree of course). In short, I have tremendous flexibility in making such a gift, get credit (if it is important to me) and as your tax advisor can explain, get meaningful benefits in myEstate planning.Gerry"
If you would like any additional information concerning becoming a BTS member please call or email me (561-573-6316; DG armstrong***bellsouth.net )
Or Vince Wilson at the Dartmouth, college fund (603-646-3078; Vincent.A.Wilson***Dartmouth.edu).Thanks for giving the BTS your consideration.
Go to Top
Football at The House That Ruth Built: Lest ye forget, the Big Green (fka Injuns) will play Princeton at Yankee Stadium on November 8, 2019.
According to the Bulletin Harris has circulated:
Class of '61 Block at Yankee Stadium. We have placed a hold on 30 seats for the members of the Class of 1961 at the Dartmouth-Princeton Football game in Yankee Stadium on 11/9/19. Our seats are in Section 110, Rows 20, 21, 22 & 23.
To purchase tickets in this block you have two options:
- Go to an exclusive link created for the Class of 1961 to purchase these tickets online. Click the link below to the ticket page, click on section 110 (you may want to zoom in with the magnifying glass icon in the top right) and select the seats you want to purchase. Class of 1961 Seats at Yankee Stadium.
- Call the Dartmouth Ticket Office (603-646-2466) and ask to be seated in the Class of 1961 seats in section 110.
As Malibu Fatz [above] would say: "Be there or be square!"
Go to Top
Fall Mini--Maynard Wheeler has announced our Fall Mini October 11 - 13, 2019 in Hanover. It's homecoming, the Yale game, Student Reports, and Class meeting. Click on Fall Mini Letter for details.
Class of 1961 Legacy of the Arts--Our Legacy project has enhanced the presentations available in Hopkins center for years. In the 2019-20 year, three programs are being made possible through funding from our Legacy.
The first in October will be jazz pianist Carla Bley, one of the leaders of the Free Jazz movement. Bley is a NEA Jazz Master, was a Guggenheim Fellow and will work with our student jazz ensemble while in Residence
.
Carla Bley
The second will be the Martha Graham Dance Company. Martha Graham was one of the pioneers of modern dance in America. This company has been presented at the Hop only once before, in 1994. This engagement will include a performance in January of one of Graham's seminal works--Appalachian Spring (to Copland's Pulitzer Prize-winning score).
Martha Graham Dance Company
Finally A "Pasion for Bach & Coltrane", a unique collaboration between the ImaniWinds, the Harlem String Quartet and orator/poet A.B. Spellman is scheduled for March.
'61s can always contribute to the Legacy when they pay class dues or by completing the donation form
http://www.dartmouth.org/classes/61/Legacy_Fund_Donation_Form.pdf:
Only a few months now before our Homecoming (fka Dartmouth Night) mini in Hanover Oct. 11-13. As we have noticed, new college strictures on student behavior have carried over into our own social activities and, for one thing, we cannot get a decent drink at any event on campus. Further, we should always bear in mind the new policies on sexual harassment—should any one of us octogenarians be so inclined… At Cornell, there is a printed manual dictating proper decorum for reunions high above Cayuga's waters:
With that, we think we'll call it a wrap . . .
Aloha,
tc.
Go to Top |
