'63 Newsletter - July '08
HOME PAGE: www.dartmouth.org/classes/63
<http://www.dartmouth.org/classes/63>
EDITOR: schaefer3@gis.net <mailto:schaefer3@gis.net>
RITE OF RETURN WAS RIGHT-ON,
BUT WHERE WERE YOU?
It was a fun reunion. I for one cannot even imagine missing a major
reunion. And so I haven¹t. Believe it or not, the new Class leadership has
already started on the planning for our 50th. And we need your help. We¹re
looking for ideas, people to fill important roles, for instance an editor or
two for a 50th Yearbook, a person to lead a potential 4-year mentoring
project working with the Class of 2013 when they arrive in the fall of 2009.
(We will be part of their graduation). If you¹re interested, contact Prez
Larry Bailey and attend our fall mini in Hanover Oct. 17-19 (Holy Cross
game). Bring your ideas to the Class meeting Sat. Oct. 18.
BOOKS ARE COOL.
TOM BERGER¹S green card/note had this news:
I have retired from teaching at St. Lawrence University after some 36
years of teaching English, Shakespeare mostly.
I now find myself in Staunton, home of the American Shakespeare Center
and a small women¹s college,
Mary Baldwin, which sponsors an MFA/MLitt. program in Shakespeare and early
modern English Drama. This is done in conjunction with the American
Shakespeare Center, which has recently opened a version (reconstruction?) of
Shakespeare¹s Blackfriar¹s Theatre, the (exclusive) indoor one, as opposed
to the open-to-the-elements Globe. Scheduled is a reconstruction of the
Second Globe, the first destroyed by fire in the early seventeenth century
(the nice thing about retirement is that you are no longer compelled to
recall dates in anything other than a vague way).
You may not know that there is in the Baker library the Allerton
Hickmott Collection. I¹ll pause while you regain your composure. It¹s a
hodgepodge of books, many Shakespearean, many to do with Shakespeare¹s
fellow playwrights.
Books are cool. P.O. Box 566, Staunton, VA 24402 tberger@mbc.edu
<mailto:tberger@mbc.edu> tomeberger@stlawu.edu
<mailto:tomeberger@stlawu.edu> 540-885-1497
COOK¹S TOUR.
Along with DAVE COOK¹s green card came a newspaper clipping of Dave on
two wheels instead of four during Ride to Work Day in Frederick, MD, where
he resides. His card reads:
³Alive and well in beautiful (overpriced) Frederick, MD. How many of
those who somehow graduated, are left of the 860+ who matriculated? Could we
start a Œtontine¹? (Actually I think we were closer to 849 with several
joining us after matriculation. 74 of those we know about are deceased.
There are probably others we don¹t know about and may never know about. Ed.)
NEW HOME ADDRESS: 317 Braddock Ave., Frederick, MD 21701 air_cook_david
@yahoo.com
REUNION REGRETS.
I am sorry to say that I will not be attending this year's reunion,
says fraternity brother KEVIN LOWTHER. ³Blame it on a perfect storm of
circumstances. The easiest to explain is that I have just received a
contract from the University of South Carolina Press to write a biography,
which I have been researching for years. Between the deadline and the
several research trips I have to make in the coming months, there is simply
no way I can spare the better part of a week in Hanover.
As you may know, I retired last June from Africare to concentrate on
some serious writing. It was a wise decision, prompted in part by five skin
cancers (including two melanomas) in the past two years. I figured that if I
was going to write this book, I'd better get down to it. The book is based
on the life of a Sierra Leonean who survived slavery in South Carolina and
returned home to fight the slave trade
at its source. The book brings me full circle to Sierra Leone, where I
taught history immediately after Dartmouth. The book will Œgive back a
portion of its lost history to Sierra Leone.
And, yes, I am still playing hockey. I had my three minutes of fame on
the Verizon Center ice early this year when the Gerihatricks (one of the
teams I play for) put on an exhibition between periods of a Caps game.
Incredibly, the sellout crowd stayed in their seats and
cheered. I was one of the youngest players. The oldest, a WWII bomber pilot
from Detroit, was 86.
Hope all is well with you. Give my regards to the Alpha Thetas.
IN MEMORIAM
Sadly, the Class has been informed that its 84th classmate has passed away.
FREDERICK D. THOMPSON died on 8/27/07 from lung cancer. The Executor of his
estate supplied the following:
Frederick spent his early years growing up in Arlington, MA. He
became an avid skier and tennis player in addition to his summers spent
sailing his Snipe.
At Dartmouth he participated in hiking and rock climbing with campus
clubs.
Fred joined the United States Army and served at several locations
including a tour in Japan before being honorably discharged at the end of
his enlistment in 1966.
Fred returned to Dartmouth for the 1966 fall semester to get his
degree and then accepted a job with the U. S. government in December 1966.
Fred served our country in federal service until 1978 and during the late
60s and early 70s, he continued skiing and became an accomplished sport
parachutist and FAA certified parachute rigger. Following his period
federal service, Fred continued to live in his home in Arlington, VA while
pursuing various employments until his passing.
Fred was diagnosed as having lung cancer in February 2007 and remained
active until a couple of weeks before his death. He died peacefully in his
sleep just after sunrise.
I first met Frederick, or Fearless Fred as he called himself, at the
sky diving drop zone, when I returned from basic training as a member of the
U. S. Army Reserve in May of 1967. Over the next several years we jumped
and skied together and we continued to visit over the ensuing years.
My wife taught Fred to pack parachutes when he joined our skydiving
club and some years later, he taught her a great deal about sailing when she
got a sailboat.
(Editor¹s note 84 deceased classmates is about 10% of the class who
matriculated in 1959. There are 848 photos in our Green Book. A few
individuals joined us later. 694 of us were graduated on Sunday, June 16,
1963. Many of the 154 who didn¹t graduate with us came back later and earned
their degrees.)
ADDRESS CHANGES:
Dave Cook
317Braddock Ave.
Frederick, MD 21701
air_cook_david@yahoo.com
CLASS QUICKIES
CQ 1. REUNION RECAP.
Okay, it was hot and humid well into the 90s as we arrived on Monday.
But it couldn't melt our spirit or our enthusiasm for the Alumni College
seminars, the activities, the camaraderie, and especially the fun.
What made this reunion special was a continuation of the honesty,
openness, and forthrightness of classmates and the fact that no one was
pretending any more. It was refreshing to say the least.
But what about you 182 who attended? (102 classmates, 80 spouses/guests
- children (3), widow (1) This editor is requesting that you share your
personal reminiscences - the high points, what was most meaningful, the one
memory of reunion. Whatever. Please send them to me for publication.
And for those of you who weren't there as well as for those who were,
here's a day by day recap as best as I can recall. I invite you to refresh
my memory about any aspects that are a bit fuzzy or need expanding upon.
MONDAY, JUNE 9
It was a day marked by departmental open houses and classmates arriving
en masse.
The majority of those attending stayed in the relatively new dorms, or
if you prefer ³residence halls² McCulloch, Andres, Zimmerman, and Morton
located across from the gym and tennis courts. Brace Commons served as our
Class Headquarters and is where we checked in to pay up, if necessary, and
receive our reunion favors. The favors were quite practical: a green and
white umbrella, pen, notebook, water bottle, hat, canvas tote and coffee
cups. (PS. I brought up 4 large boxes of hats from our 35th, which have been
residing in my basement for 10 years! I also still have 2 1Z2 cases of coffee
mugs as well. Any takers?) The rooms were not like the old dorms. Most
rooms were two-room suites plus a private bath and air conditioning!!!).
Our Monday evening cocktail party was casual and held at the Class tent
(where we ate after slaking our thirst).
By the way, the food was excellent and plentiful and our thanks go to
Mary Barnes who was in charge of catering. Mary, you did a great job!!
After dinner we repaired to Hopkins Center for a concert by the Alumni
Glee Club and University Chorus of the Upper Valley (mostly made up of
retired grads from colleges other than Dartmouth, who enjoy warbling.) We
also got to hear the dulcet tones of former Glee Club members from reunion
classes who were invited on stage to join in on a College medley.
Afterwards we repaired to the Class tent only to find someone had
absconded with our beer and wine!
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
You had a choice of enjoying a Continental Breakfast at the tent. I¹m
not sure which continent it was, but nevertheless it was tasty or dining in
Thayer Hall. I chose the latter. After a second cup of coffee, we traveled
to Brace Commons at 10 AM for our Class meeting. (See write up.)
Then it was off to the BEMA for a box lunch. By the way, Dave Goodwillie
says that BEMA stands for Big Empty Meeting Area. Live and learn.
The rest of the afternoon
was spent either at Alumni College seminars, a tour of the President¹s
perennial gardens, or fraternity mini reunions. I opted for the latter.
Dinner was scheduled for a tent down on the Connecticut by the boathouse,
but a severe weather alert (including a potential tornado watch) caused our
dinner plans to be moved to Levereone Field House. And lucky for us we did!
The storm hit around 7:30 PM and knocked out the lights in Leverone for a
few minutes.
Dinner was merely great.
Ever since the 25th Reunion, the Class has been presenting Soaring Pine
Awards (later amended to the Alan V. Davies ¹63 Soaring Pine Award) for
exemplary achievement in a profession and/or the community and/or giving
back to Dartmouth.
The honor of presenting the awards rested squarely on the shoulders of
yours truly. Fortunately, I simply had to read the wonderful words penned by
my communications colleague and our Class Secretary, HARRY ZLOKOWER, which
were very well received. The 3 recipients of the 2008 Award were DOUG
FLOREN, JERRY HERLIHY, and MIKE PRINCE. I will feature each presentation in
upcoming newsletters. Oh, there was a surprise 4th recipient as well. Yours
truly.
Then it was time to clear the tables and decks, put on our dancing shoes
and trip the light fantastic. Okay, we did the Slop, Frug and Mashed
Potatoes (and some original variations) All the R&R songs of our era were
faithfully played by the band ³Dale and the Duds². They were really good and
we¹d love to see them back for our 50th. The Class thanks BOB HAUBRICH for
arranging for all of the entertainment plus his own appearance on the drums.
(He¹s a former Renegade band member.) And yes, former Reunion Chair BRUCE
NICHOLS lent his vocal cords to the group and did a com-mendable job as he
did at our 35th and 40th. The night actually wrapped up fairly early and I¹m
still trying to figure out whether it was our age or something else.
Wednesday, June 11
Another Continental breakfast or full Thayer Hall breakfast awaited
those who eat breakfast.
At 11:00 AM we journeyed to Rollins Chapel for a memorial service during
which Rev. Dr. DAVE Goodwillie '63 delivered a nostalgic and poignant
remembrance of 84 deceased classmates. Afterwards, Nancy Kiddoo, Tom¹s
widow, spread his ashes on the Green.
Lunch was at Collis Common Ground and patio (former College Hall).
Some classmates played tennis, some attended Alumni College seminars
(by the way, reports indicate all of them were excellent and can be accessed
online.)
Of course, the third Reunion Fishing Derby was also held this
afternoon. STEVE BUCKLEY and I traveled to the outlet of Lake Mascoma for a
few hours of fly-fishing. And the fish cooperated as well. But then it was
my birthday so they were being nice. Steve got two trout; I got four.
Our Wednesday evening dinner found us down at the DOC House at the
foot of Occom Pond.The houses on Rope Ferry Road leading to the DOC House
and golf course command a wonderful view of the pond, and I¹m sure are all
in the million dollar plus price range today. And to think that they¹re the
same $50,000 houses that were there when we were in College. Oh, well,
another missed opportunity.
President Jim Wright stopped by to accept two checks from the Class.
One for around $1.6 million (We are shooting for $1.8 million) and a check
for around $22 million representing all ¹63 contributions to all Dartmouth
related organizations lumped together since 2002.
The Class would like to thank Ken Novack and Launny Steffens for
heading up the reunion major gift giving and donating between them about
$1.0 million of the $1.6 million.
The Class would also like to thank Launny for the 22 cases of delicious
chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon he donated for our dinner from his own
vineyard in California. It was greatly appreciated.
Our 45th took roughly 18 months to script and it was over much too
fast. Several thoughts crossed my mind as we packed up to leave.
Reunions are extremely well organized and run. The food for the 45th
was great. The accommodations were comfortable. I met many more classmates
whom I never knew in college and I am better for it. We¹ve lost 17
classmates since our 40th. How great it would have been to see them there.
And why don¹t more of you make an effort to once again live and laugh
for a short time with the guys who once meant so much to you? That¹s one
reason I come back and why I am honored to serve you in whatever capacity
between reunions.
CLASS MEETING
Outside it was on its way to the 90s, but fortunately we were in an
air-conditioned space. Class President MARTY BOWNE gaveled the Class meeting
to order. Here's a quick rundown of the proceedings:
After Marty welcomed everyone, Class Treasurer, BILL RUSSELL gave the
following report:
Basically, the Class treasury is solidly in the black with $27,168.80.
There have been some expenses that will be resolved by the end of the fiscal
year, June 30th. And we may have a small deficit this fiscal year due to
class projects.
This year, our $63 dues included amounts for Class projects, i.e. the
Scholarship Fund. Additional contributions were also made specifically for
this purpose totaling $6,598. There have been a total of 377 dues payers so
far this fiscal year.
The Class of 1963 Scholar-ship Fund reached the $150,000 level
permitting us to have three named Class scholars each year. Besides the
Scholarship project, we also support the Athletic Sponsor Program at $2,500
per year and the Tucker Foundation project: Dartmouth Partners in Community
Service at $3,000.
For a complete report, contact Bill, address on masthead
ALUMNI FUND REPORT
Head Agent and Reunion Giving Chair BOB BYSSHE reported the Class is
approaching our reunion goal of $1.8 million at about $1.6 as of reunion. He
urged the Class to step up its fund raising efforts before the end of the
drive June 30th. We did set a record for a class 45 years out!
MINI REUNION REPORT
The Class is planning a MAJOR MINI REUNION IN HANOVER FOR HOMECOMING,
OCTOBER 17-19, 2008 - the Holy Cross GAME. Final details will be posted in
the Sept. newsletter with a sign-up sheet. Sam Cabot is making the
arrangements. We will dine together Fri. night (the Canoe Club, Main St.
Hanover again at 5:30 PM) and then take in the parade and bonfire. Sat. 8:30
AM will be our Class meeting (possibly the Treasure Room/Baker), game,
cocktails and dinner again at Dan Muchinsky and Mary Barnes¹s home in
Plainfield, NH. Mark your calendars now to be in Hanover for all the fun!
OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
There was none of either.
CLASS OFFICER ELECTION RESULTS
As has been previously reported in the newsletter, LARRY BAILEY is the
new President, SAM CABOT AND DAN MUCHINSKY are VPs, BILL RUSSELL continues
as Treasurer and HARRY ZLOKOWER as Secretary. Bob Bysshe is Head Agent and
is looking for a helper; Dave Schaefer will continue as Newsletter Editor,
BOB CHAVEY as Class Projects Chair and we need a volunteer for Gift Planning
Chair.
The Class presented out-going Class President Marty Bowne with a
beautiful hand-blown glass bowl from Simon Pearce for his efforts and
leadership the past 5 years. (Marty cut his lip while showing it to the
assembled classmates.) Reunion Chair Dan Muchinsky was the recipient of a
handsome Dartmouth mantle clock. We can¹t say this enough: You (and Mary)
did a terrific job, Dan!
CQ 2. SOARING PINE AWARD WINNERS¹ PROFILES: DOUGLAS C. FLOREN
In this and the next three newsletters, I plan on profiling the winners
of the Alan V. Davies Soaring Pine Award 2008 as written by HARRY ZLOKOWER
and presented by yours truly on June 10 at our Class dinner.
The award continues a tradition started at our 25th Reunion to recognize
classmates, who have excelled in their professions, service to their
communities or in giving back to the College even though their efforts may
have already been recognized elsewhere by others. And now in the words of my
good friend and communications colleague:
Let us begin with our first winner whose qualifications for this award
particularly stand out as a model for all who would aspire to it.
His life begins modestly. A kid from Jackson Heights, Queens in New York
City somehow finds his way to nearby Forest Hills, legendary former home of
the U.S. Tennis Open and scene of some of the greatest matches every played.
There he takes lessons at age 12, becomes a member of the club and, through
an act of providence perhaps, meets fellow member, J. Clarence Davies,
Dartmouth graduate and father of Alan Davies for whom the Soaring Pine award
is named.
Neither has an inkling of where this tennis prodigy will go, but the
rest is history. Our Soaring Pine winner enrolls at Dartmouth where he
captains the tennis team and majors in economics, a challenging subject
which will serve him and the College in good stead for many years to come.
Our classmate plays in local tournaments after college, serves in the
marines, and then settles into learning the trade which will provide him the
means to earn and do future good. He joins a prominent investment firm and
though arduous study becomes expert in biotech investments.
His early success encourages him to found his own company‹DCF
Capital‹and turn it into one of the nation¹s pre-eminent hedge fund
management companies‹a field famous for high risk and high rates of return.
Our Soaring Pine winner marries. The couple has four children, two study
at Dartmouth, the others at Stanford and Princeton.
The story could have easily ended here. But it does not.
Our classmate takes on his next challengeŠhow to give back to his alma
mater and to the community at large, which helped to nurture his success.
From the beginning, our Soaring Pine winner serves the College. He works
on the Leadership Committee during the Campaign for Dartmouth, the Reunion
Giving Committee, and for seven years he is a class agent.
As his company begins to earn more and more, this ¹63 with his wife,
Livi, forms a family foundation with the goal of giving much to Dartmouth as
well as other worthy causes.
True to his dream, he makes a significant gift to the Alex Boss Tennis
Center and Alan D. Gordon Pavilion, which opened at Dartmouth in 2000. He
endows Dartmouth faculty fellowships and student research projects in the
biological sciences.
The family foundation goes on to make numerous grants including Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Greenwich
Country Day School.
And then on a on a crisp autumn day in 2006 came the announcement that
brought our classmate¹s giving program to new and grander heights.
On that day, the college announced that our Soaring Pine winner, and his
family had made a $10 million gift to Dartmouth College to support the
construction of a new $19.5 million Varsity House.
Located to the east of Memorial Field, the new 10,000 square foot
facility for the College¹s athletic programs is a lasting tribute to one
classmate¹s achievement and generosity.
Forever it will be known as the Floren Varsity House. And here I want to
quote Coach Buddy Teevens from his Friends of email from about this new
facility: ³The Floren Varsity House has had a dramatic impact on all aspects
of our program. It is the best facility of its kind in the Ivy League. The
difference made in recruiting, efficiency for our staff, players and the
entire Athletic community at Dartmouth is overwhelming. It is fun to hear
the comments players have made to parents, friends, and relatives about
their new home!²
Ladies and gentlemen, let¹s hear it for this winner of the Class of 63
Soaring Pine Award: Douglas C. Floren. (New Class president, good friend and
fraternity brother of Doug, Larry Bailey, accepted the award for Doug, as he
was absent.)
CAMPUS CLIPPINGS
CC 1. D.A.M. GOOD NEWS!
From the Office of Patsy Fisher Harris, Alumni Relations comes this
note:
³Dartmouth Alumni Magazine (DAM) has been named the Grand Gold Medal
Newsweek Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year by the Council for the
Advancement and Support of Education. (Shorter version: it's the best DAM
alumni magazine in the land!)
This marks DAM's fifth Sibley (1943, 1949, 1991 and 1993. DAM now has
more Magazine of the Year titles than any other alumni magazine.²
cc 2. A TALE OF TWO CANNONS.
From an AP article in the 5/16/08 Boston Globe comes this follow-up
story about the cannon mentioned in the May newsletter:
³The mystery of one cannon has been solved at Dartmouth College, but
another is still missing in action.
Police in Hanover have shot down a story that someone stole a World War
I cannon from the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington and buried it under
Dartmouth¹s football field.
In the process, they tracked down another World War I cannon that had
been on display at Dartmouth for decades, until the college loaned it to
veterans for safekeeping.
The search intensified this year after police said they learned of a
man who gave a deathbed statement that he had stolen the Vermont cannon in
the 1960s and buried it at Dartmouth.
Hanover police Officer Richard Paulsen now says there was no deathbed
confession.
He says the Dartmouth cannon was a gift from France in 1920 in
gratitude for Dartmouth students who died in World War I. The cannon
disappeared often in student pranks, so Dartmouth stored it under the
stadium, Paulsen said.
In 1970, Dartmouth loaned it to a retired military historian for
safekeeping.
Now, it¹s being cared for by a retired Army colonel who wants to remain
anonymous.
CC 3. MEMORIAL FIELD NOTE:
Following the final football game this fall, destruction/ construction
of the home stands of Memorial Field will begin and will be completed in
time for the 2009 season. An expanded Press box, more comfortable and
accessible seating, improved bathrooms and vendor's locations, will be
welcome additions to this historic site. The façade will be kept by the way.
2008 Schedule
(Home games in all caps)
Sept. 20 at Colgate
27 UNH
Oct. 4 at Penn
11 YALE
18 HOLY CROSS
(Hanover ¹63 Mini)
25 at Columbia
Nov. 2 HARVARD
9 at Cornell
16 BROWN
23 at Princeton
(Bill & Pat Russell tailgating)