Homecoming in October was a great success and a lot of fun. How can one miss with the Fall colors, the parade, the bonfire, the sports, and the returning friends? The weekend began with the Alumni Parade up Main Street to cheering fans. (Were the cheers a sign of respect for age?) This year, with temperatures in the 40's, our class contingent included Class President Ed Williams and Gail, Bob Bartles clutching the National Champion skating trophy earned by the skating team at Dartmouth which his best, Loren, coaches, Bob Freeman, Mark Kirschner and Nancy, Sandy McGuinnes, Bill Lewis and Mary Ann, Fran Hanlon, myself and Lynne (plus a long time Colombia friend and his wife.) We watched the various athletic teams assemble for the parade - including many club sports like cricket, equestrian, ultimate frisbee, rugby - did I say cricket? Bands were playing, cars were beeping, horses pulling carriages were huffing, and the mood was festive and anxious. The parade brought us to the Green and soon the Freshmen Class of '09 swooped in, en masse, a thundering herd of young people of great diversity, dressed rather native American-like, to begin the traditional circling of the to-be-lit bonfire. As President Wright said at the rally, "This is Dartmouth"- the bonfire, the native energy of the Freshman class, the words of the Alma Mater, the sounds of the Glee Club, and the buzzing returning Alumni. The bonfire was huge. And this was just the beginning of the festivities. We beat Colombia in football; as a matter of fact, the Big Green won most matches that weekend.
We had a productive Class meeting led by Ed Williams. He invited the head of the Rockefeller Institute at the college, Professor Andrew Samwick, to talk about the Class of 1964 Intern Program, and how that program is now integrated into the Dartmouth Curriculum - please see our Class website for more information. Classmates at the meeting were: Professor Dale Eickelman - on crutches having survived a run- in with an SUV in DC; Trustee Brad Evans - "Dartmouth is in good shape;" Mr. Alumni Participation Roy Lewicki who has been honored as Educator of the Year; Chair of the Rockefeller Overseers Ron Schram, and also our class poet as author of "Non Billable Hours;" Bob MacArthur who just finished his new house and started a business; Marc Kirschner who has a very happy Dartmouth '06, Phil Schaefer (more next column), Bob Bartles who keeps "involved", and Sandy McGuinnes as head of his former document management company and Vice Chair of Outward Bound in Boston. Our class hosted a cocktail party for '63's - '66's at the Hanover Inn's Hayward Lounge after the game, and dinner at Zins for classmates and guests afterward. So as you ponder your New Year's "to do" resolutions, would you put down October 13 - 14, 2006 for Homecoming next year? Best for the season, and drop me a line.