CLASS NOTESJanuary-February 2008

   Dan Barnard and Cindy were among the many Class of 1966 couples that returned to campus for Homecoming in October. They shared time with Bill and Sharon Risso and Dick and Petrie Birnie, reveled in the Dartmouth football win, swelled with pride when the undefeated 1962 football team was honored at halftime, and recalled, with warmth, the frigid Freshman Father's Weekend when the Upper Valley, at about minus 36 F, was the coldest spot in the U.S. Burr.

Dan closed his manufacturer's rep business after 25 years in 2000, but still works in sales in northern New England from his Melvin Village, NH base. Cindy and Dan celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last July and take great pride in their two sons and "four lovely, gorgeous" granddaughters.

Recently Dan and Cindy have visited with Pete and Marge Titcomb, retired in Yarmouth, ME, and Bob and Susan Brock, in Punta Gorda, FL.

Bob Bach is doing what he can for our troops heading for or returning from Iraqi. After years with the Federal Reserve and NASD, Bob and Jennene took advantage of the robust Washington DC housing market and retired to Portsmouth, NH, home of Portsmouth International Airport, the former Pease Air Base, which is still a stopping point for military charters. Bob joined the local veterans group to treat the soldiers to New England coffee and Dunkin Donuts whenever they touch down.

Bob's son Chris ('96, Th '97) married Diana Malek (Smith '97) last year and continues to work in what Bob characterizes as GM's only profitable division, the Pension Plan.

Lots of good information from Pete Barber, starting with a well-kept secret. It seems that Pete and revered Dartmouth Coach Whitey Burnham are related, tracing back to a Burnham ancestor who survived a ship wreck off the Maine coast some 300 years ago. Who knows what else will be revealed when Burnham Soccer Field is officially dedicated next April?

Meanwhile Pete and Mary broke bread with Tom Clarke and Bill Bower and wives last summer on the Cape. "It is safe to say," Pete observes, "the women are in better shape than the men." Both of Bill's sons went to the Naval Academy and have served in Iraq. The Barber's also dined with Steve and Sally Samaha, who are enjoying their three grandchildren, including the one-year old twins. Pete and Mary have a trio of grandkids of their own.

It's the 60th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan, perhaps the most important and positive decision the U.S. made after WW II. Few know more about it that retired Washington & Lee history professor Barry Machado, whose recently released monograph , "In Search of a Usable Past : the Marshall Plan and Postwar Reconstruction Today ", sheds more light on the issue. Barry and Anice have moved to Lake Geneva, WI. Barry recently returned from an 18-day "Asian Adventure" to Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Class of 1966 received a Special Recognition Award at Class Officers Weekend in early October, for the Habitat for Humanity service effort at a mini-reunion weekend and a variety of other accomplishments, including the Dickey Fellowships we support and Bob Serenbetz's terrific newsletters.

In what may be a new Dartmouth record, three of the eight class officers associations currently are led by presidents from the Class of 1966 -- Bob heads the Newsletter Editors, our Class president Chuck Sherman guides the Webmasters and Larry Geiger the Class Secretaries. At Class Officers Weekend in early October, these three were joined by other 66 class officers – VP Al Keiller, Treasurer Tim Urban, Head Agent Bob Spence, Webmaster Ben Day and Executive Committee member Roger Brett – giving us one of the largest class contingents. The College looked spectacular on a bright Fall day, with the many new buildings blending in seamlessly with the old facilities, and bright-eyed students maintaining the traditions of by-gone days, including tossing Frisbees on the Green.

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