CLASS NOTESMay-June 2008

   Many of us are turning the page on one career and entering new chapters in our lives. And the paths we're following often lead in unexpected, and surprisingly positive, directions.

Scott Cheyne was held in high regard at the Boston-based ad agency Hill, Holliday, where he enjoyed a long and successful career. When Scott officially retired at the end of 2006, his colleagues paid tribute to contributions in unique fashion. They thanked Scott for his service in the Navy from 1967 to 1971 and noted his tour in Vietnam on the battleship USS New Jersey in 1968-69. "Without question," they concluded, "Scott's discharge from Hill Holliday will be similar to his discharge from the Navy – very, very, honorable."

Scott didn't wait long for his next assignment. In the first half of 2007 his former boss, the legendary Jack Connors, recruited Scott to work with him and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to create a summer camp on Long Island in Boston Harbor for 11 to 14 year old inner city kids. The team raised $12 million, all from private funds and the 12 acre camp opened, with 600 campers in two sessions, last July on a former Army installation.

"It was a total success," Scott proudly reports, and will continue to operate every summer. It was a rewarding experience." Other new experiences include the welcome arrival last August of both a new grandson, Jonathan, a new yellow Labrador puppy, Sailor.

Bob Cohn's also starting a new adventure. He was part of the management team which help family-owned Swedish media conglomerate Bonnier Group evaluate the opportunity to acquire 18 U.S. magazines from Time Warner. Bob had previously been a marketing exec working on many of them, like Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, SKI, etc. when he was with the Times Mirror Magazine division, and his insights paid off. Bonnier was the successful bidder and Bob is now Consumer Marketing Director for several big titles, including the venerable Popular Science, published since 1872, and Science Illustrated, which debuted in December '07. (free copies available from Bob at Bonnier!)

Bob continues noble efforts in two important but reasonably thankless tasks – Class Secretary for the Tuck Class, and president of his building co-op board.

Bill Duval, after a long career as a teacher and coach in Vermont is retired, "and strongly recommends it." It's like having kids, Bill says. "If you wait until you can afford it, you'll never do it". Bill does, however, keep busy. He still refs high school and college soccer games, works part time for a student tour company based in Washington, D.C., cuts his own firewood and skis or snowshoes every winter day. Bill's wife Barb "became so disgusted with my 'gainful unemployment' that she also retired so we now can enjoy all of the above together."

Also "retired", after 33 years in the Earth Science Department at Dartmouth, is Dick Birnie, who still has a grant supported project at the College and is a volunteer AARP tax preparer. . . Dave Dewan is cryptic but enthusiasm about his current status – "Happily retired for four years. Divide my time between NC and upstae NY. Retirement exceeded all, already lofty, expectations."

Mark Budnitz attended a talk by President Wright at the Dartmouth Club of Georgia not too long ago with classmate Dan Gulden and filed this report: "What gave me the most hope for the College's future was talking to several recent graduates I met at the event. They were tremendously bright, talented, and accomplished. They enthusiastically proclaimed their love for Dartmouth and their satisfaction with their Dartmouth experience. Their glowing descriptions of their Dartmouth years was the opposite of those claiming Dartmouth is in serious decline."

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