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JANUARY
2003
OFFICIAL
KICKOFF!
OUR
50TH REUNION
“Official” because this newsletter contains the first request for you to do something tangible - see 50th Book Editor-in-Chief BILL
WHITE’s letter beginning on Page 3. ‘54 spouses constitute a good half of
the readership of this bi-monthly communication, so here’s your job - nag the
‘ol boy and keep nagging him until he (and you) have composed and submitted
your input to the 50th book. Reflections, the 25th reunion record of our lives
and opinions, was, and continues to be an exceptional vehicle for remembering,
grinning and, still, learning new things about classmates. Bill and WAYNE WEIL
intend to do it again. Let’s make it easy for them.
Questions have already begun to come relative to the 50th. You will begin
to receive reunion mail from John/Dick/Pete soon, but here are a few minimal
specs for you to write down someplace:
Dates: June 11-June 13, 2004
Friday - registration, cocktails and Shore dinner, tent
Saturday -
memorial service, Class meeting, major lunch,
cocktails and banquet, tent
Sunday
- Commencement, Hamburgers at Hestons’, exit
Activities: golf, tennis, tours, lectures, concert, grad school lunches
Cost: Probably around $250 per head, plus housing
Pre/Post: CAROL and STEVE MULLINS will host a party for early arrivers on
Thursday; PETE KENYON and HERB HILLMAN have organized a post-reunion gathering
at the Basin Harbor Club on Lake Champlain.
While some of the above may change a bit, the dates will not, so an
obvious subject for some immediate consideration is housing. Commencement
weekend involves an immense influx of people to Hanover, so it is not too early
to establish your arrangements. Posh,
air-conditioned dorm rooms will be available at reasonable rates. Maybe a buddy
lives in the vicinity. Then there are hotel/motels, which go through this
process every year and are not surprised by reservations requested far in
advance. Here is a short list:
Chieftain Motor Inn, Hanover - 800/845-3557
Norwich Inn, Norwich - 802/649-1143
Hotel Coolidge, White River - 800/622-1124
Ramada Inn, White River - 800/648-6754
Marriott Res. Inn, Lebanon - 800/331-3131
A much more extensive list will be forthcoming in
letters, or immediately with
call to your newsletter editor (203) 661-7611.
Included in all of the above is the all-important schmoozing -
“Remember when the janitor made our beds and the mail came through the slot in
your door? Halcyon days!” So let’s get to it - the 50th Book info is your
current primary assignment.
Click Here
for the Announcement of the 50th Reunion Class Book and Questionnaire
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Holiday Luncheons
Between the Boston and New York venues combined, some 67 classmates
sipped, broke bread and had a merry time at the (now) regular holiday
gatherings. Chair Dick Page, who began the tradition 22 years ago, asked for
recollections of who attended the first luncheon. Editor’s research brought
forth a blurred photo that includes: GILLESPIE, DAVIDOFF, CLEMENTS, WOOLF,
MANDELBAUM, GOLDSTEIN, ADNOPOZ, PAGE, BARKER, STEINBERG, CHAN
and two hard-to-identify ‘54s. All were present this year. A prominent
first was the attendance of our adopted classmate, CARRIE PELZEL, VP of
Development at the College and Black Diamond skier.
In New York, JAY DAVIS presented Jerry Goldstein with the distinctive
Eleazer Wheelock Toby Jug (thanks to Steve Mullins) and a gift for DOROTHY for
the fabulous 70th birthday celebration. DICK LEWIS then rose and announced the
creation of the Gillespie Award, a citation to be laid upon those in the Class
who have contributed to the Connecting Initiative in notable ways. The first one
went to the eponymous Sir John in Boston and the second was presented to Jerry.
While there are many who would be obvious recipients of the award, it was made
clear that future awards would be for efforts expended prospectively - no
resting on laurels. The award itself is a lightly written citation, read by
some Class luminary accompanied by an expensive wooden frame containing a
Gillespie photo of a ‘54 flag at full staff. See later pages for the prose of
the citations. Thanks to DICK BARKER and JOHN POPE for Boston reporting and
photos. In your 2003 book, put down December 9 for Boston and the 11th for NY.
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In case you missed it in the latest AARP magazine, we will be joined in
our eighth decade by Kim Novak and Yoko Ono, who turn 70 in February. Party on!
SKIP WEYMOUTH, in an Xmas fit of nostalgia, sent out the recipe for
Dartmouth Milk Punch to old Sultans and Barbary Coasters. Includes a used sweat
sock. Call for a copy. RON DUNTON replied with a few obscene variations.
Appalachian Trail-hiking, Alp-skiing, 70-year-old DANA LOW has been
elected Chairman of the International Road Federation, an organization
that encourages and promotes development/maintenance of better and safer
roads and road networks for the whole freakin’ world! From offices in Washington and Geneva, the IRF provides
guidance, leadership and strong impetus to innumerable entities leading to
global benefits. As head of a World Executive Board, Dana hopes to unite the two
independent offices into a cooperative single dynamism that works toward common
goals. Quite a challenge!
The economic downturn of 2002 has generated cost reduction programs in
most organizations across the country. The choice of the College’s athletic
department to carve its target solely out of the swimming and diving program has
prompted a strong reaction from alumni swimmers and, along with other cuts on
campus, from students. The most active ‘54s on this front are STEVE MULLINS
and TOM KELSEY, who have individually assailed members of the
College administration for the decision. Steve is leading a
well-organized effort to rescind the decision along with encouragement to all to
provide alternative solutions. Our
lead ‘04 connection, now an AFS student in Europe, sent despairing comments to
PETER KENYON about the swim decision and related plans for shutting down Sanborn
and other library facilities.
Doctor DON BRIEF was one of three staff surgeons at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center to be listed among the “Top Doctors in New York” in New York
Magazine. As chairman of the department of surgery, Don specializes in
endocrinologic surgery, treating thyroid and parathyroid disease and in
oncological surgery. A nice recognition for a talented classmate.
JACK DONAHUE can’t get out of the way of awards. The most recent was
receipt of the Kimball Union Academy’s Alumni Council Sportsmanship Award.
Within the citation are the words: “... instilling a continuing commitment to,
and promotion of, the values and philosophy of sportsmanship including fairness,
dedication, perseverance, winning without boasting and losing without excuse.”
Jack begins his 44th season as head baseball coach at Nauset High in
Massachusetts next spring.
Excerpted from DON SIMOND’s description of his recent two-week trip to
China: “I had long wanted to go to China, but never could for a variety of
reasons. I’d been watching the news on the construction of the extraordinary
Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River and was aware that it will begin flooding
the River and its magnificent gorges this year, so I figured it was time to go.
I flew to Shanghai where I joined my traveling group of 7. We toured
Shanghai, then flew to Wuhan and, after a a bus ride to Shashi, sailed down the
Yangtze for several days, cruising through the three beautiful gorges and
stopping to tour the massive Dam and other sites. Waters will rise as much as
175 meters behind the dam and it’s amazing to see how they’ve moved millions
of people and many (but regrettably not all) of the artifacts that would be
otherwise under water.” Don reclaimed some of his prior fluency in Chinese,
plus he encountered a Dartmouth tour at the Summer Palace. “‘Round the
girdl’d earth.”
Continuing the ‘54 tradition, DON KENNEDY grumps at a professor’s
opinions of the “Iraq Option” in the latest Alumni Magazine.
Dave Rattray ‘85, previously bragged on by his mom, HELEN, appeared in
the “Newsmakers” section of the Alumni Mag - and with a photo, yet!
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The
Gillespie Citations
John Gillespie
John Lodge, you have no peer in the art of connecting people. We of the
Class of 1954 regard ourselves as magnificently fortunate in having you firmly
in our midst. Be it a quinquennial reunion, homecoming or mini-gathering, each
event reflects your imagination, your accumulated experience, your dedication to
detail and your extraordinary instinct for what it takes to continue to draw
more and more ‘54s into our convivial fold. The Class of 1954 is honored to
present you with the first Gillespie Award. You dah man!
Jerry Goldstein
Jerry, you were connecting ‘54s to other ‘54s well before it became
fashionable. A prodigious absorber of the passing scene, you are a constant
source of classmate news to the newsletter. You organize dazzling social events
around happenings that manifest even the slightest tinge of ‘54-ness. As Class
President, you knew every one of us - there is not a single spouse’s name that
you cannot recall. Then, in September of 2002, you blew the top off of
Connecting as the producer, director and leading man of our epic 70th birthday!
The Class of 1954 proudly presents you with the Gillespie Award!
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The editor’s request for “email check-in” has been moderately
successful. There could be quite a bit more response, however. Once more -
please send me a short note (PGBarker54@aol.com)
so that I can produce a list of current email addresses.
Thanks.
The regional Chamber of Commerce of Canton, Ohio pulled out all the stops
in recognizing the contributions of RON DOUGHERTY with its top award, The Award
of Merit. “A little over 40 years ago, a graduate of Dartmouth College and the
University of Virginia School of Law decided to come home to Canton, Ohio, to
practice his profession. What a blessing to Canton, Ohio!” blared out the
local paper. “A civic leader of the first rank, as well as a leader in the
legal profession.” In his acceptance remarks, Ron called his area of Ohio the
“volunteer capital of the world.” The listing of his involvements consumed
most of a newspaper page under the headings of Community and Professional
Activities. Prominent were multiple
chairmanships within the Chamber of Commerce, the Football Hall of Fame Festival
and the United Way. Under “other”, the range included political concerns,
college fund-raising, charities, youth organizations and church activities. A
fantastic panorama of the life of a man who cares. Knowing Ron from the days at
the Phi Psi house, who would have guessed?
BRAD HOLLENBECK is delighted to find that other ‘54 architects are
still active.
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Who are these guys? Click on photo to find
out!
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We have lost two classmates who, in addition to living next door to each
other in 1950, had three things in common - New Jersey roots, a delightful love
of the water and an impish grin (see freshman Greenbook) -LEE KVALNES and PHIL
PENDLETON.
Donovan Lee Kvalnes
Lee died of cancer in July . His brother, Kim ‘59, said that it was the
first time he had ever been in a hospital, other than being born. Lee joined us from Penns Grove Regional High in New Jersey,
where his interests were the choir and studying hard (with results). He
roomed, for no discernible reason, with CHUCK TANNENBAUM and PHIL DETURK in
Fayer. His major was Chemistry. The
“place” enchanted him and he immersed himself in winter sports, becoming the
manager of the freshman ski team and an active member of the Dartmouth Outing
Club. He was not a member of a
fraternity , but found boisterous times as a member of
Germania.
A Phd in Organic Chemistry from the University of Minnesota led him to a
life’s career at DuPont and a life’s love with FLORENCE, whom he met during
a summer job at DuPont. According to Flo, they had “no children, but, over the
years, 6 Dalmatians.” His work was primarily in Technical Service, assisting
customers with problems in new products - fabrics, yarns, carpets, air bags,
etc.
Lee gave up his love of skiing when they moved to Delaware and discovered
scuba diving. A man who immersed himself totally in things that interested him,
he dove all over the world, served on the Board of Directors of the National
Association of Underwater Instructors and worked diligently to improve safety
standards in the activity. He had a love of Bluegrass music. Lastly, he was
awarded a medal by the Explorer’s Club of New York. Truly a diverse man.
Phil died in late November in Winter Park, FL. He arrived in Hanover from
Columbia High in Maplewood, NJ where he excelled in dramatics , football and
captained the swim team. An
economics major, he involved himself in campus activities at WDBS, the
Vigilantes, the Dartmouth Air Society and
as a brother of Theta Delta Chi.
Swimming was his passion, and he was good at it. RIP COFFIN generally
lost to him in their specialty, the backstroke, during the first two years, but
then Phil had to drop our for a year due to illness (graduating with the
‘55s). He came back heavier (Teddy bear-shaped, according to ‘55 teammate
Jim Perkins) and settled for second behind Rip after that. Still, a few College
records are in his file.
Phil’s career was in the cigarette business where he became the CEO of the Cigaret Vending Company in Florida. Ironic, in that Karl Michaels suspended him for two meets for smoking. Teammate STEVE MULLINS, having heard his declaration of abandoning the habit, was surprised to find him, puffing away, years later. Phil retired in 1991 and, when contacted in 1995, bragged about his Olympic-sized pool and his wonderful family, Evelyn and 3 daughters. He served as President of the “D” Club in Florida in the ‘70s. A “wag”, he is missed.