AUGUST 2008

www.alum.dartmouth.org/classes/54/

PGBarker54@aol.com...................... (203) 661-7611

enjoyment of life! The pages of this letter will demonstrate the appropriateness of the choice. For future invited to suggest headlines from which I will be happy to roll out the material in my ever-present pile communications.

"Thirty members of the Class of 1954 met in Seville, Spain on March 29 and boarded the

oceangoing ship that had hosted a memorable Greek island cruise some years ago. She even flew a D

all of those on that first cruise were back on board - some staying in their same cabins.

"After a tour of Puerto Santa Maria where Columbus's main ship was built and through much of New World was funneled, the Callisto set out for Morocco. Casablanca was the port, with bus trips to Rabat and tours of Casablanca. It was all fascinating. There were tiny hut villages and shepherds with along the highway, living as they did thousands of years ago. Then in Marrakech there was a very modern

development looking suspiciously like urban sprawl. We saw palaces, Roman ruins, the world's oldest years before Cambridge), gorgeous mosques with elaborate tile work, the Souk with a thousand craftsmen a thousand motorbikes - many with lovely women in beautiful scarves and djellabas hanging on the back.

"Rabat was equally interesting - we explored the Kasbah and enjoyed a delightful Moroccan lunch

dancers (only at dinner).

"The final destination was Malaga with a trip to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain - the only Moorish

governmental site preserved in the world. It was gigantic, fascinating - a World Heritage site - marvelous

workmanship, full of fountains with water piped in from afar 1000 years ago.

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workmanship, full of fountains with water piped in from afar 1000 years ago.

"After leaving the Callisto, many couples went on to Barcelona for more sight-seeing: Roman ruins century buildings on top of them, cathedrals, museums, parks and good food.

"The trip was fabulous. What made it the most special was the closeness we all felt for one another. sat down for meals aboard ship, it made no difference with whom we sat. There was total comfort and dividing up from spouses and mixing together as a family. A joy."

water colors in the balmy weather of the Caribbean, Bill became a devotee of morning scuba diving. Two morning with one going to the maximum depth of 100 feet. One morning, he joined a "dolphin dive" group up-close and personal at 55 feet with a couple of the playful creatures. At one point, the trainer signaled remove his breathing device and tap his lips with two fingers. He was then fully smooched on the lips who turned out to be a male! The photo is posted on the Class web site. During 2007, Bill had both shoulders and is now back to a competitive tennis game. Last March, a vacation in Naples prompted a lunch with

Red-Light Special with a subhead of Staying involved in the game he loves, Irv Sherwood has served Blades home games since the team's inaugural season, the story gets into the intricacies of calling goals. walks into the arena, he is treated like Mr. Everblades because of his expertise and his decade of volunteer photo accompanying the article shows the ever-present twinkle in Irv's eye. Retired from his flight training simulation company in Tulsa, Irv has distinguished himself in the Naples area as the president of Southwest Charities, Inc. and has raised substantial funds for the benefit of local schools and charities.

from their Oviedo, FL home and go across town to bunk in with their son Mike. At the post-move dinner, sipping some Pinot Noir when a heart attack struck and a half glass of wine went unconsumed. After a

Reciprocity

He gave of himself

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He gave of himself

and the world gave back to him:

a blessed exchange."

MA. Joining us in Hanover, married and with 18 months of Army Airborne service under his belt, Frank's on us preppy 17-year-olds must have been a bit jaundiced. Living in Wigwam, the Denietolis's

child while Frank was pursuing the books. Let's see if we can coax him into a more active role in the Class. note at FNDEN@aol.com.

If you still have the May/June issue of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, go to Page 14 and read

"The campaign of Rutgers Professor William Dowling '66 to put academics ahead of athletics ('Mar/Apr DAM) will not spoil sport. It will bring intercollegiate play to where it can thrive as an educational

experience.

"Here's how we might accomplish this goal - simply stop recruiting across the board. Stop recruiting Nobel Prize winners as well as athletes who appear to show promise for winning games. Take basketball example. Admissions would select students on a basketball-blind basis. A non-recruited team of of walk

coached, would provide the spirit and talent to compete in the Ivy League against bought-and-paid

are plenty of talented but unknown high school basketball players who would blossom once given the opportunity. And once the word got out that Dartmouth does not recruit, a lot of great athletes would be attend. To see the result of playing at a high level just for the fun of it, look at the Dartmouth Rugby Club."

Joe speaks from experience. Although he captained the Caldwell, NJ football team, he joined Doggie freshman team as a walk-on in 1950.

importantly, it was good to know that '54s do read what we put out. Recently released statistics show of 1954 led all classes with a (pro and con) voting percentage of 67.6% !!! A phenomenal turnout.

In a front page article in The Dartmouth, a staff reporter quoted incoming AoA president, John move forward, our Association will practice collaboration and persuasion and, as promised, will take prompt ensure the dismissal of the lawsuit against Dartmouth." The suit has subsequently been dismissed with of the court. The reporter was also able to wrest a statement from John McGovern '80, founder of The Institute, that the funds supporting the mailings of the Parity slate had been supplied by DonorsTrust

Washington, DC organization with conservative ties. To read the article from The Dartmouth, go to

AUGUST 2008

dog of uninterested alumni" has been kicked and aroused. It will be interesting to see whether the dog, taken for his walk, will begin to sniff around or just go back to sleep. In a letter to the editors of The Dartmouth

Alumni Magazine, WES DINGMAN raised the level of discussion with: "I suspect that the motivation stems from a desire to take the 'liberal' out of a liberal arts education. Perhaps it would sit better with all liberal arts institutions to re-label these schools 'human arts' institutions, thereby signifying that all views, conservative and liberal, are welcomed and examined for relevance and validity." As for us '54s, take the familiarize yourself with the current members of the Board of Trustees - a relatively young group of high

The Trustees have decided to maintain the freeze on naming additional charter trustees until a new president recruited and elected.

Time for Number Seventeen. If you have never researched the subject, the sixteen presidents of College since its founding in 1769 were:

E. Wheelock/ J. Wheelock/ Brown/Dana/Tyler/ Lord/ Smith/ Bartlett/

Tucker/ Nichols/ Hopkins/ Dickey/ Kemeny/ McLaughlin/ Freedman/

Wright

The longest tenure was achieved by John Wheelock (36 years) and the shortest was The Reverend Dana (less than a year). In our time, John Dickey served for 25 years, John Kemeny for 11, Dave McLaughlin Jim Freedman for 11 and Jim Wright 9 (when he steps down in June 2009). These five had backgrounds government, business and academia. Of the sixteen listed above, most distinguished themselves but a few wanting. So now, in the spring of 2009, we will welcome a new leader who will realize the myriad opportunities to the President of Dartmouth College in this day and age.

Trustee Al Mulley '70 chairs the selection committee which is comprised of six Trustees, six faculty the president of the Student Assembly and the chair of the Alumni Council's Alumni Liaison Committee. firm headed by John Isaacson '68 has been retained to assist in the search. A series of forums have been opinions from faculty, students, administration and alumni and the committee will digest the input received "leadership statement" to all constituencies at the end of August. The statement will describe the many in the candidates to be considered. Quite simply, the new president will be challenged to acceptable balance between the college's history/traditions and its constant evolution. Given the predilections now aroused "sleeping dog" alumni body, it is likely that not everyone will be pleased.

An amusing story caught my attention while pulling this section together. After a long and distinguished in the U. S. State Department, John Dickey was a little uncertain about his duties and responsibilities at college, so he asked the advice of his predecessor, Ernest Martin Hopkins. After a brief silence, Dr. Hopkins him: "Don't have anything to do with murals." And so it goes ........

During the parade of classes at Homecoming when the 1954 contingent reaches the area of the always impressive to hear the step-up in the volume of the shouts and cheers for "54!!!" For decades, we acknowledged for the exceptional contributions we have made to the institution in leadership, financial most importantly, innovations in student experiences. At the top of the list is our visible support of Student Grants which provide "learning outside the classroom" experience for students selected by our blue ribbon committee. Four interns have been chosen from an impressive list of applicants to pursue projects

following foundations:

An extraordinary eight-week adventure in Uganda, where Andrew

created and implemented a nutritional workshop and needs assessment

program for the population living with HIV/AIDS. He dealt successfully with

the language, cultural and philosophical differences he encountered. Most

importantly, Andrew was forced to take the initiative in bringing the program

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importantly, Andrew was forced to take the initiative in bringing the program

into being due to the lack of preparation of his host foundation for volunteers

and the lack of indigenous resources for doing things we take for granted here

in the States. He acknowledged that the experience brought good focus to the

strengths he will be required to call upon to succeed in a career in program

development work.

Watson's project will take him to Tanzania where his objective will be to

be trained in the repair of medical equipment used by hospitals and clinics in

the region. Following an introductory course in Swahili, he will be assigned to

a hospital as site engineer and utilize his background in digital electronics,

product design, machine design and systems engineering to both learn and

contribute. His objective is: "Training the staff in proper orientation and

maintenance of equipment so that they will continue to have use of it long

after I am gone." Watson plans to return to the Thayer School with ideas for

projects which could become new curriculum courses.

Capitol Hill beckons to Jennifer as she undertakes an internship with the

Department of State. She will be involved with the Bureau of European and

Eurasian Affairs within the Office of Regional and Military Affairs. As a

Government and French major, her academic interest in the intersection of

American public policy and international relations will gather dimensions

which she had not anticipated. Jennifer underlined the importance of the '54

support in the "expensive city" of Washington, D.C.

Voss '54

Diana's internship is an extension of the fine work she has already done

in her chosen field. She will intern with Slow Food Chicago in order to build

connections between local farms and communities to create fair and just

sustainable food systems. At the college, she has studied food politics

and will continue the major in her senior year. In 2006, she traveled to India

and worked for an NGO on water management. During the last winter, she

worked on a permaculture farm in Lesotho. In the Hanover area, she has

promoted relationships between Upper Valley farms through an internship

with Vital Communities in White River Junction. She also pitched in in New

Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She hopes to be able to use what she learns

from her DPCS internship with Vital Communities in New Orleans.

While much has been written about our past Tucker intern, Emmanuel Mensah '09, , there is more. '54 web site and read about him under "Peter Kenyon's Report ...." He has been nominated for the

given to only one member of the junior class for "outstanding contributions to the Dartmouth Community" in Ghana have relieved countless people of the agonies which arise from the Guinea Worm, a waterborne His educational programs and installation of simple water filtration equipment at watering holes has demonstrated the indigenous people that the disease can be thwarted.

Tony Kane has taken on the role of mentor for the DCPS interns and reported on last year's intern, Min. Her project involved her with Sanctuary for Families in New York City. The Sanctuary provides and legal services for people, mainly women and children, seeking to escape domestic abuse.

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and legal services for people, mainly women and children, seeking to escape domestic abuse. Tony visited Christine's supervisor and sat in on a session with a client preparing to bring court actions in an abuse case. observation was that Christine was a major source of comfort and support to the woman as she endured the situation. The Sanctuary has indicated that it will be happy to welcome future interns supported by 1954.

The Athletics Department reported the successful recruiting of our 2008 nominee, Sarah Alderman NJ. We sponsored Sarah's trip to Hanover to see whether her prominence at midfield in field hockey match with the needs of the Green team. Bingo! She was admitted to the Class of 2012 as an early decision Last April, the 25th anniversary of the Rockefeller Center was celebrated with a dinner in

reported that no other class was mentioned as many times as was 1954. Our support, leadership and dedication providing the momentum with which to encourage other classes to join in. There are few opportunities specific differences for specific students and this is one of the "magic" ones. It is important that we each financially and that we increase the number of '54 participants in order to show the strength of the pride 1954 takes in being alumni of Dartmouth College.

Jim's note prompted me to investigate the likely population of authors within the men and women of 1954 and the early returns are quite promising. (By the way, Jim claims that there are real Trolls living behind his home). So let me lay out what I have found, then encourage those of you who write or aspire talk to me and get mentioned.

First, the known - reviewed in prior newsletters:

-Tian Ming: Destiny by T. Q. Kong '54

A partially fictional history of TQ's family, including his days at the Chi Phi

task following TQ's death.

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task following TQ's death.

-A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas (Rogin) '54w The story of Abigail and

Rich's life after he suffered massive brain damage in an accident, trying to save

his dog on the streets of the Upper West Side of New York City. Abigail teaches

at The New School in New York and has published five other books.

-Choices Made by David T. McLaughlin '54

Dave's memoir written with Howard J. Coffin and published posthumously.

Choices Made must be required reading for the Search Committee because of

Dave's very specific commentary of the criteria for presidential succession.

-Numerous learned volumes on the History of North Africa by Robert O. Collins

'54

Now, the results of research and interviews:

"How and when I got started writing: This goes back to about third grade at Brownell Hall in Omaha. had boarding students and at the beginning of classes in the fall, these students stood up and told where from. I was envious. It seemed super-glamorous to come from someplace other than Omaha. I began to maybe I came from elsewhere too, and my parents hadn't bothered to tell me. I went home and asked Mother came from. She explained in dutiful scientific detail. This was not quite what I'd had in mind, but I knew when I heard one. I went to my room and wrote it down. The next time we had Show and Tell at school, story aloud. I didn't get to finish. The teacher said we'd talk about it later. But my classmates were inte

and recess, they asked me to read it again. After a few times doing this, I thought to charge for the reading way, accumulated several Tootsie Rolls, chocolate chip cookies, etc. In a short time I saw that being a both sought after and well-paid and this confirmed me in my life's work, though the sought after and well

not turned out quite as I imagined.

"When I started writing for real, it was writing about adolescents that interested me. This period of seemed to me a good source for fiction - so much happening for the first time, so much to understand and cope with. The Language of Goldfish was the first of these. I had intended it to be a lighthearted, funny the course of writing it, that changed. My central character simply refused to be lighthearted and as I followed the story I could see she was leading me into places I vaguely recognized but wasn't eager to explore. Too insisted on going her own way. I was apprehensive. I couldn't believe that anyone would ever

seemed far too dark and upsetting to be suitable for a young audience. But I was lucky. My agent sent Viking and they took it! (I had an agent then because I'd already published a few books for small children.)

"Since then I have let the characters show me where I'm going. I know that sounds like a

only way I know to explain what happens. Any plan I start with pretty quickly changes into something planned at all. Some little bit of dialogue, some seemingly insignificantly event moves the whole story direction. I have learned not to argue. In fact, I have learned to welcome these unexpected alterations. They into the story I really want to tell."

Since we are all seniors, consider the above your first creative writing lesson and let's get after it!

are available from amazon.com.

AUGUST 2008

told me that Bryce had taken a creative writing course at St. Lawrence, but once he got into doing it, he reading his own stuff, so he abandoned the pursuit. Sue, however, does a little writing. Her business, Wisdom produces the "stories and histories" of families, derived from letters, scrapbooks, genealogical sources, A James Kunstler quote in her promotional material: "Chronological connectivity puts us in touch with with the eternities. It suggests that we are part of a larger story than our own individual lives, that we are larger picture of those who came before us, of those who follow us in time, of those who care about us. stories is a way to respect ourselves. Connections with the past and future is a pathway that charms us of sanity and grace." JAY DAVIS availed himself of Sue's services and was surprised at some of the things know about his own family. Sue also wrote Fresh Widows following Bryce's passing - a 100-page book therapeutic value of widows finding each other in their common loss. Sue is looking for a publisher, but bigger problem which besets most writers - procrastination ......tell me about it ........

Home-based Psychiatric Treatment for Children and Adolescents was published in December 2007. She several other books in the same arena broadening to situations involving urban violence and HIV/AIDS.

So - with a Classmate population of 550 and an almost equal number of spouses/signify others, many who have published or aspire to. If nothing else, exposure to over 1000 intelligent Dartmouth

- let me know.

grandchildren who were accepted for the Class of 2012 - Peter Ankeny, graduate of Green Mountain Academy, skier and Heather Rilet, graduating from Deerfield Academy. Heather joins her sister Kendall who is a member of the Dartmouth Sailing Team. Another granddaughter, Katherine Chote, was accepted by Dartmouth year, but decided to go to Harvard in spite of her grandfather's protests and played an important role in Harvard's women hockey team defeat Dartmouth in the NCAA semi-finals - can't win them all!

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Harvard's women hockey team defeat Dartmouth in the NCAA semi-finals - can't win them all!

even know where to start on an appropriate wisecrack ......

("Cat") published letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal. The letter read: "Upon reading Ray A. 'A Short Story: The Rise of 'Floods', which reported on the current fad among young men for shorter pants, hemmed or rolled up, it occurred to me that the same notion can apply to men of advanced age, as mused Eliot's Alfred Prufrock in 1917 -- 'I grow old ... I grow old ... I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled' Eliot was ahead of his time." Ain't it the truth?

communicator role. In a telephone conversation with Don, Pete was told that he had an "eviscerated" liver. was malignant, but the surgeons were confident that they had gotten all of it and the problem had been On the way to their summer digs in Jaffrey, NH, however, Don got an MRI at the UNC medical facility small spots on his liver were found. After a short time on some meds with unsettling side effects, he is an oncologist at the Keane Hitchcock Medical Center for next steps. Demonstrating the hearty '54 spirit and his family, kids, grandkids, etc. took a late July cruise from NYC to New Brunswick and had a ball. call at (603) 532-8322.

abundance in the area. March - London to visit old friends plus granddaughter at London College of Fashion. Galapagos trip with Oregon grandkids Emily (11) and Danny (8). Spectacular experience and great bonding

Anyone with information, please send it to me.

AUGUST 2008

Mark your calendars! Peg your datebook! Plan for transportation! It's scheduled for June 15, 16 As Reunion Chairman JOHN FENN points out, we'll never have another 55th reunion, so make sure to one. There's a committee working on the specifics and we already know that those wacky guys in

While we have a core group of '54s who have attended every reunion and many more who have reunions, there is a body of you out there who have never come to Hanover for our regular celebration. when most of us will be 76 years old, maybe it's time to do it! Drag out More Reflections and make a list would like to tip a cool one with and share life stories, then contact them. It's a bit of a circular

Questions? Send 'em in. Suggestions? Send them with the questions.

Bob died of heart failure on February 6, 2008 in St. Petersburg, FL. He came to Hanover from where he had been a very active student at Lake Forest High School - three-letter man, band, orchestra, council, paper and honors. A Tuck graduate, he spent time in the Air Force ROTC, DCU and the marching Kappa Sig write-up in our Aegis listed his primary idiosyncrasy as "he does get hungry sometimes". During he was "always on the drums."

A single-engine jet pilot in the Air Force, Bob claimed to be the first to ever fly under the Mackinac (unauthorized) and survived one air accident. Mustering out as a captain, he pursued a career with Armstrong which rewarded him with consistent promotions and increasing responsibilities. In the late 70s, he formed M&A and executive search firm in Rowayton, CT which gave him the added plus of enjoying sailing He is survived by three children and four grandchildren. A satisfying life.

"Bugs" left us on March 23, 2008. After waging a successful battle with his heart for seventeen attack, pacer, defib, bypass) he succumbed to a final attack shortly after a hernia repair procedure. Traveling Hanover from West Virginia, Jon spent his freshman year in Topliff rooming, eclectically, with Jerry

Pete Geithner. An Architecture major, he was a member of the French Club and a presence at the

Born in late December 1933, Don was the youngest member of our class. He was blind

AUGUST 2008

young and his immaturity got the best of him his sophomore year and he left the college for academic reasons. pass courses when you're spending all your time reading Mickey Spillane whodunits." His brothers at

a well-groomed, pleasant, open, giving guy with a breezy air about him. After he left Hanover, several sleeping on the floor of his East 89th Street New York apartment (paid for from his job in the CBS mail visiting the Big Apple. Don got his act together and graduated in 1957. With the immaturity out of the an MPA at Princeton then experienced a consistent rise through various aspects of the oil industry, retiring Chairman of Commonwealth Oil & Refining. He and wife KAREN lived on a ranch near San Antonio animal husbandry with continued business interests. Don was a dedicated member of the Class of 1954 contributed financially to the college and Storrs House. He is survived by Karen, four daughters and six High on the list of friends' memories was Don's sense of humor.

Footnotes

Books have been placed in Baker Library inscribed to the memories of Bob, Jon, Don and Leo.

======================================================================

William J. Gmelin

Photo received April 2008:

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Air Force trainees at Marana Air Base, outside of Tucson, AZ in 1955. BILL GMELIN

at second from right.. Bill Sorenson, second from left, is seeking Bill's son in order to share with him.. Photo courtesy Bill Sorenson via JOHN FENN

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