Our London Hosts Pat Giles inducts Lord William Dartmouth (left) and Sir Alistair Goodlad (right) into the Class at our House of Commons Reception.

Gordy McKean summarized, "WOW! 1999 ‘ 62 London Ireland Road Trip. The joy of reminiscing with great guys and gals life’s experiences of 40+ years and sharing together special events and places of exquisite beauty and history: cocktails at sunset on the House of Commons Terrace overlooking the Thames; dinner with Sir Alistair Goodlad and Lord Dartmouth; tennis and lunch at the Queens Club; a personal tour of Oxford (thanks, Nancy and David Giles); Opening Night at the Globe Theater; Stonehenge; Bath; Cardiff; an imbibing trip across the Irish Sea; ‘Irish’ Carl Funke’s dance-a-thon with the ‘young’ Irish lassies (and before he kissed the Blarney Stone!); a shopping spree in Waterford; Blarney Castle; Dan Hummel’s hospitality – a magnificent dinner at his friend’s Cork restaurant to be topped by a ‘country spread’ and swim at his beautiful rustic home by the sea where appetites and thirst were sated both after and before the cross-country treks; the quiet happy hour at the back of the bus each afternoon with Chris and Mike while reflecting on the day’s events choreographed by our Irish guides, Penny and Peter. The only way our ’62 Road trip could have been better is if all ‘62’s could have joined us – we missed you – don’t miss the next ’62 reunion. For this celebration of life many thanks to Charlie Balch, Pat Giles, John Knight, Mike Howard, Dan Hummel and Tom and Judy Komarek for all their efforts. WOW!"

A Gathering of the Clan

Classmates journeyed from all over to attend the London Celebration. In addition to those from the Northeast, Tom and Karen Ackland, Eric Matthies and Judith deBoisblanc, and Dave and Gretchen Bergman came from California; Steve and Alice Reid from Seattle; Dan and Betsy Hadlock from Austin, TX; Pete and Jo Sherwood from New Mexico; Frank and Barb Milon from Jacksonville, FL; and Roy and Gabriele Halstead from Belgium and Corsica.

Roy and Gabriele graciously invited classmates to visit them in Corsica for a few days before London. John Walters reports, "Travelling to Corsica was an exhilarating way to begin our European vacation. Roy and Gabriele Halstead’s beautiful (an understatement) hillside villa overlooking the Bay of Ajaccio – birthplace of that little French guy who always shoved his hand inside his coat - provided a fantastic venue for evening cocktails and dinner and a chance to catch up with Pete and Jo Sherwood (first time since graduation) and Steve and Alice Reid. Corsica has a fantastic mixture of topography and leisure activities with beautiful beaches (lots of skin) and breathtaking mountains. The Halsteads put us through a rigorous conditioning program: hiking the highlands, rock climbing, coping with Roy’s sailboat, snorkeling in some spectacular coves, and checking out innumerable ‘photo ops.’ The highlight was a daylong motor launch expedition up and down the west coast with a friend of Roy’s. La dolce vita….We needed to get to London to get some rest."

Others also took pre London excursions. Charlie and Ann Balch and Al and Pat Huck toured the English countryside together. Being quiet and retiring in nature, both Charlie and Al needed to practice a bit in quiet English countryside pubs before hitting the big time with classmates In London. John and (son) Sean Smith also made interesting pre and post London visits exploring John’s English roots. John provided us a delightful poem (page 10) giving us a window to view his/our London/Ireland experience.

Warming Up for London

Al Huck, Charlie Balch, Ann Balch, and Pat Huck enjoy a pre London toast in "The Georges" Pub in Frant, England.

London Highlights

The highlight of the London Celebration was our reception on the House of Commons Terrace overlooking the Thames in an appropriately green and white striped tent. The program was brief – Pat Giles introduced our host Sir Alistair Goodlad and special guest Lord William Dartmouth. Sir Alistair welcomed us to London and the historic House of Commons. Pat and Class President Charlie Giersch then presented Sir Alistair and Lord Dartmouth with 1962 numeral sweaters and officially made them honorary ’62 Class members. It was an elegant and special evening in a spectacular setting.

Charlie Balch provided this account of our next evening. "Bus with the whole Dartmouth ’62 group went to the ‘Institute of Directors’ (an old private club) – everyone in their finery. Having seen the weather was OK, we trooped over a bridge and up a knoll in St. James Park for a group picture (a little abuse from an anti-American bike-riding vagabond). We then walked back to the Institute of Directors. There was a short cocktail party in one room and assigned dinner seating in another. The evening was highlighted by remarks by Lord Dartmouth. He was shy, but articulate and forceful. His comments were all tied to Dartmouth and his legacy as the 10^th Earl of Dartmouth (it was the 2^nd Earl that granted part of his lands to Eleazer Wheelock and Samuel Occom in the New Hampshire wilderness). A good dinner with much circulating among friends." A great evening, but there was one sad note. After dinner we all stood and toasted our missing classmate, Kent Morton, who with Dianne had planned to be with us in London. We missed Kent particularly this evening.

Let’s Go ‘62s! After our St. James Park photo, Mike Howard raises his Londoner’s umbrella to lead us on to dinner. Mike’s delightful wife, Ngila, a native of New Zealand (left of banner), had earlier provided a staunch defense of her American friends from the vagabond mentioned above by Charlie Balch, with a loud "Shut up, You crazy fool!" Thanks, Ngila and Mike, for guiding us around London.

Charlie Balch reported on our Friday morning activities. "On to the Queens Club for ‘shell (like clay)’ and ‘grass’ court tennis on a beautiful, clear, breezy, 70ish day.… we had a classic rotating doubles tournament with 14 players in our group. Each ‘match" was 15 minutes long. Did all right, especially with Richard Hannah. Then on to the grass courts – a low bounce. Played well against best man and woman (Richard Hannah and Candy Funke) teamed with Nancy Walters. Richard Hannah, Gordy McKean, and John Walters won the tournament. … back to casual clothes for lunch (in the Club President’s Dining Room)… wonderful Pimms/lemonade" That evening Pat Giles invited us all to his own Brooks’s Club for a cocktail reception." Brooks’s, an elegant place, is more than 200 years old and has hosted the likes of Gladstone, Churchill and now the Dartmouth Class of ’62.

Tennis at Queens Club Shown left to right are tennis pros: Dave Bergman, Gordy McKean, Oli Larmi, Pat Giles, Nancy and John Walters, Leslie Schaefer, Charlie Balch, Candy and Carl Funke, Mary Vic Giersch, Richard Hannah, Mike Schaefer, and CharlieGiersch.

Saturday morning Nancy and David Giles provided us with an entertaining, educational tour of Oxford finishing with lunch and a drink at St. Edmund’s College. That evening we had dinner in the Balcony Room of the newly reopened Globe Theater. We enjoyed an opening night performance of Antony and Cleopatra beautifully acted by the traditional all male cast. Many of the ‘62s left their gallery seats and joined the groundlings in front of the stage to really get into the performance. A great evening but all too soon, our time in London was over. Thanks again, Pat, Mike, and John for a great time.

Empty Pockets! Shopping added to the fun. In London almost everyone made it to Harrods. In Ireland the U.S. balance of trade took a big hit at the Waterford Crystal Factory Store. At right, Mary Vic Giersch has broke the bank. Charlie’s deep pockets e finally empty.

London Memories Unexpectedly meeting Frank and Barb Milon (with golf clubs, of course) on the bus into London, finding the well hidden Chelsea Village Hotel, cruising the Thames, getting lost on the way to the H of C, an exciting, elegant evening, Josh and Karen Rich lead us (astray) to Barbarella’s and we dance until closing,

the bum in St. James Park and Ngila’s quick retort, Lord Dartmouth’s warm and informative remarks at the Institute of Directors (we’ll include them in a future Newsletter), sharing adventures with classmates and wives at the hotel or on the Tube, Harrods, double decker bus tours around London, the elegant Brooks’s Club for cocktails on a warm evening, dinner at a pub with Charlie and Mary Vic,Giersch, sons, Mike and Chris Komarek, arrive in London and join the group at the Globe Theater; men and women of Dartmouth together singing "Men of Dartmouth" in the Balcony Room to close the London Celebration.

Ready to Hit the Road After four days in London featuring elegant locales and dress, we were ready to head west to Wales and Ireland. We packed away our dressy attire and hit the road in jeans, shorts, and other comfy clothes.

ENGLAND/IRELAND ROAD TRIP

The Destination… Tom Davies said it best, "Imagine, how can anybody explain (I’ve tried) to a friend how much fun 42 people crammed into a bus, eating ‘British Isles food,’ packing and unpacking daily can have. In addition their destination is a possibly fictitious place simply called ‘Dan’s place’ that has no electricity, no running water, no radio, no TV, mail, or internet; and for a toilet, pick anyone of 158 acres and go use it! Boy does that sound like fun for a Dartmouth Road Trip."

Our Host in Ireland Dan Hummel proudly Shows off the ’62 symbol that he cut into the grassy field below his stone cottage to welcome classmates to his home in Ireland. Dan’s backpack is Full of Murphy’s Irish Stout carried in for our day’s celebration. The only way to get yourself or anything else to Dan’s is by human power.

The Road Trippers… We visited London, Stonehenge, Bath, Cardiff, Waterford, Blarney, Cork, Killarney, the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty, and, of course, Dan’s. The sights were grand; the scenery magnificent; but as with any Dartmouth.‘62 reunion, what made it special was the people. Eric Matthies explained, "Perhaps one of the most remarkable experiences of the Road Trip was the extraordinary graciousness with which 20+ couples interacted over so long a period in the relative confinement that a bus trip involves. Before leaving London, I asked one classmate why he and his wife were not making the Ireland trip, and the response was that they were concerned that the closeness would wear thin very quickly. Not so! Not one tiff, not one outburst, not one marital snit, nothing. The efforts made by all to rotate cocktail hour partners, table partners, conversation groups, etc. to insure that everyone was included, was a mark of a mature civility, and allowed us to get to know each other on a personal and in-depth basis. Truly quite remarkable, and most memorable. Judith and I believe we have made friendships that we will pursue for the rest of our lives."

Friends at the IvoryTower in Cork, Ireland(clockwise around table)Jo and Pete Sherwood, Leslie and Mike Schaefer, Judith deBoisblanc and Eric Matthies, Dan and Betsy Hadlock, Joan and Richard Hannah. Later, that evening Dan Hummel spoketo us on the "Virtues of inefficiency and moving a little more slowly in this life." Sounded like a good idea, particularly after we visited his place.

Let’s Move on Out! Our tour guide, Penny, was glad to see us up and about the Sunday morning we left London. She’d received the following guidance for our group. "The people on this tour are of the older generation, graduated in ’62, so may need help getting around, etc.; however, we have not been advised of anyone that cannot walk, so as far as we are aware, they are all mobile."

Were we ever mobile? We played tennis at the Queens Club. We danced in London, Waterford, and Cork. The ladies even formed a chorus line at Dan’s. Tired of being doctors, lawyers, and businessmen, we loaded luggage into shipping containers in Wales. Many walked the 2.5 miles into Dan’s and back 3 miles to the nearest pub. Also, on the next page is a distant view(this is a family Newsletter) of several ’62 young ladies sprinting from Dan’s Japanese/Irish hot tub to the nearby tidal pool for a swim. Finally, you’ll see below that Sean Smith, Tom Davies, Dan Hadlock, and Carl Funke have climbed onto Dan’s grass roofed cottage to admire the spectacular ocean view. Below right, Marianne Davies, Karen Ackland, Kersten Phifer, Gabriele Halstead, Nancy & John Walters walk the scenic road into Dan’s.

Our Day at Dan’s We piled into our bus in Cork, slowly recovering from our fun filled night at the Ivory Tower Restaurant. An hour earlier a minivan driven by Mike Komarek with eight advance troops had departed to set up our Day at Dan’s. About 2.5 miles from Dan’s, the large tour bus could go no farther. Many walked on in; Mike shuttled the rest of us within a half-mile down a barely passable dirt road. Everyone walked in and out the last half mile. When we arrived, what a sight - a stone cottage overlooking an ocean crashing against cliffs below to the right. Below to the left a field where Dan had cut a 40 foot tall ’62 symbol into the foliage. He and his friendly Irish neighbors had prepared a fantastic country feast befitting this fantastic place. We toured his remarkable grass roofed cottage, tried out his Japanese-Irish hot tub, and most of all stood inawe of `the remarkable scenery and this amazing place. All too soon the day ended. We were on our way leaving behind a place we would all like to visit again someday and spend more time.

Road Trip Memories Worrying over whether the bus will show up early Sunday; it does! Load up and hit the road; Stone Henge impressive, but too many tourists; Bath, a nice surprise on another gorgeous warm afternoon (the weather gods smiled on us the whole trip); we arrive in Bristol, hot and tired; our wonderful guide Penny arranges to have that rare European commodity, ice, sent to everyone’s rooms; a relaxed and pleasant morning strolling around Bristol; then onto Cardiff; the Cardiff Castle on another beautiful afternoon; Nancy Walters goes blond and plays the Muse; John Smith’s after dinner remarks on the Welch people entertain and inform; Penny arranges for birthday cakes for our early 60^th birthday celebration; up and out very, very early heading to the ferry; a flap at the port when the dock workers are slow to load our luggage, but ‘62s get the job done with the dock workers joining us; the fast ferry trip over the Irish Sea with much socializing onboard; celebrating Judith deBoisblanc’s birthday in Waterford with many Irish whiskeys for all compliments of Eric Matthies; under the leadership of John Walters and Carl Funke and their local Irish fan club we hit the dance floor until the band stops playing and the Guinness stops flowing; moving slow the next morning but onto Waterford, Blarney, and Cork; sitting in the sun (nursing a hangover) while most go kiss the Blarney Stone and shop at the Woolen Mills; a gourmet dinner at the funky

Ivory Tower; great food and lively traditional Irish music; Dan Hummel, and Brock and Barbara Saxe join us for dinner; much talk, much wine, much laughter, good music make for a memorable evening; Magpie Walters shows a flash of the old days attempting to lead the young guys (Mike, Chris Komarek and Sean Smith) astray, but only succeeds in getting them home to the hotel early; Judy Komarek and Nancy Walters particularly appreciate and enjoy the fine wine served at the Ivory Tower; the Day at Dan’s - what more can you say?; the scenic trip around the Ring of Kerry; a wild night in Killarney Pubs; the spectacular Cliffs of Moher; Matchmaker Al Huck compiles list of available  sons and daughters; we scheme with Carl and Candy Funke to arrange a meeting of Komarek sons and Funke daughters (storyand pictures in next Newsletter); the friendly Irish people and beautiful hundred shades of green countryside; arriving late at the Bunratty Castle Banquet; we’re stuck being Lord and Lady of the Castle; have to wear silly crowns but ended up being fun; a few tears as the banquet closes with a particularly fine renditionof "Danny Boy"; good-byes begin at Durty Nelly’s Pub. More good-byes and a few more tears the next morning as we ended a very special eleven days together. Last Stop at Durty Nelly’s: Chris, Tom, Judy, Mike Komarek ’62 Road Trippers (left to right kneeling) Carl Funke, Tom Davies, Pete Sherwood, Al Huck, Eric Matthies, Jerry Phiefer; (l to r standing) Mike Schaefer, Oli Larmi, Dave Bergman, John Smith, Clem Edgar, Roy Halstead, Tom Ackland, Dan Hummel, Dan Hadlock, Josh Rich, John Walters, Gordy McKean, Charlie Giersch, Tom Komarek..

New Tricks We had fun, but we also learned a few new tricks from each other and two special people with us. - Peter Howick and John Smith. Our tour guide, Peter, taught much about Irish history and culture as he magically maneuvered our giant bus down those narrow, winding Irish roads. John Smith provided us a thought provoking lecture on the English and Welch people, and now he has sent along a poem he uses to reflect on our ’62 road trip and his own trip home. John has shared both the poem and his "picture frame" with us. The poem, "Going Home" provides a perfect way to end this ‘ 62 London/Ireland Celebration report. Thanks again, John. Finally, let me refrain Gordy McKean’s observation from the front page, "the only way our ‘’62 road trip could have been better is if all ‘62s could have joined us – we missed you – don’t miss the next ’62 reunion."

 "Going Home"

Horizontal distances walked or ridden on bicycle in youth,

Become shorter when ridden in car or tour bus in old age.

Vertical distances easily skipped up or down in youth

Are plodded breathlessly in old age.

Time between places decreases,

While time between memories increases.

The old, rugby club field looks tiny and bedragged

The communal soak tubs look grungy and smaller.

Even the new machine in the old clubhouse,

Dispensing whisky-flavoured condoms, looks kinda shagged.

God bless the Scottish lassies!

The local pub is not the place to meet old friends.

They lie, waiting in the local churches and graveyards

Having heard "Time Gentlemen, Please" for the last time.

The one-room wide houses of one’s birth or youth are minuscule,

Run down, devoid of home and promise.

How did a family live there, so huddled together?

Because there was no family, only frightened individuals trying to survive

In bombed, rationed and post-war Britain.

One strained to hear the heart and emotions stirring music

Of Elgar and Vaughan Williams; to have it drowned

By the Beatles, Reggae and Sting.

City roads widened to accommodate everyone’s mini-car

Truncated the residential streets and avenues,

Creating a jigsaw puzzle, parking lot of the old hometown.

A five decade old, weekly wage after ten years’ toil

Will now only buy a six pack of Pepsi, canned in silver foil.

Fish and Chips are the only constants in a country

That has embraced and devoured the pizza and the curry.

Suddenly, one realizes that home is not the place you left or where you stay

But the place you create around you, each minute, of each day

God gives us a limited memory bank;

To enjoy those around us; those who are here

Not to mourn; those who were here.

I brought a modern, contemporary home, back from Europe.

In my new home, ensconced safely in my old house, you will find

Dan and his visitors munching on gourmet food.

Sean, a son I know, appreciate and love even more.

A nagging feeling that I owe Gordy several suppers.

Kisses from many lovely ladies who had just kissed the Blarney Stone.

An unwashed hand that has shaken the hand of a real Lord.

A glowing compliment from a Welsh college student.

Shakespeare’s unpublished play "Thomas K., Earl of Bunratty "

One whisky flavoured "candy" from Harrods

And finally

Visions of the Courtly Ladies befitting of the Knights of the Hanover Plain

To those who share, nay live in, my new home, I offer you

Each a little picture frame that you can fill, as you will

Or, as you may,

With your trip memories, anew each day.

John L. Smith ‘62

Professor John and Muse Nancy in Cardiff John and Sean Smith in Cork

62’s Class News

Day O. Mount is retiring as our US Ambassador to Iceland and returning stateside. He will be living at 603 Creek Crossing Road, Vienna, VA 22180. Day writes, "As my wife Kathie and I leave Iceland after three years as Ambassador, we have mixed feelings. However, we are ready to see more of our family, to join others in retirement, find new pursuits, and see more of my Dartmouth colleagues."

Neil Drobny was recently selected to direct the growth of IBM’s Net Commerce Technology for the state of Ohio. Neil is President and CEO of Electronic Commerce Technology of Ohio. In a press release, Neil explained that Net Commerce "is a means for extending the reach of a business to all corners of the globe." Neil lives and works in Columbus, OH. He can be reached on e-mail at nldrob@aol.com or by phone at 614 784-0935 (H) or 614 268-6100 (O).

Ed Boselly e-mailed from Chesterfield, MO, "Sounds like the ‘62s had a grand time in England and Ireland. My family and I lived in England for three years when I was in the USAF and loved it…. Had considered coming to Homecoming, but Jan and I will attend a Phi Delt reunion at the same time. We’re finally empty nesters of sorts. The youngest of our blended family of six kids is now attending the University of Missouri-Rolla after two years of community college…. He pledged Sigma Nu (no Phi Delt house there) and was elected pledge class president. Mom and dad are proud." Ed also had some comments on the Dartmouth Student Life Initiative that will be included in the next Newsletter issue. Ed who is President of the Weather Solutions Group can be reached on e-mail at weathersolutions@prodigy.net and by phone at 636 230-5672.

I let Dianne Morton know about our toast in Kent’s memory in London and received this nice note back from her, "We were both so looking forward to the trip to London and being with all of you. The class of ’62 is very special and I’ve felt part of it for a very long time. I wish there was some way I could have gone to London, but emotionally I just wasn’t ready…. This summer I did travel up to New England to visit family and friends.… It was hard doing it without Kent, but I felt as if I needed to make the trip. I had a marvelous time with Paul Weinberg in Beverly, MA… I also spent an absolutely delightful day in Blue Hill, ME, with Sam and Marilee Anderson. It was wonderful to see them and share so many happy memories and tears…. Please give my love to all the ‘62s who wrote and called me. I hope I can get together again with you all someday soon. Love, Dianne." Dianne’s e-mail address is MortonDi@aol.com and phone is 757 258-3088.

Help Wanted -The Class of ’62 Needs Your Help – Webmaster Wanted Bill Sadd’s retirement next May and his transition to a nomadic, RV lifestyle (see our August Newsletter for details) creates an exciting opportunity for a classmate to take over the role of Class Webmaster. Bill has done a great job establishing and maintaining our class website; now he needs to turn this responsibility over to someone else. Bill will help with the transition. Contact Bill at (508) 435-4405 or by e-mail at bsadd@assumtion.edu or check the class website www.alum.Dartmouth.org/classes/62 for further details. Newsletter Editor Wanted Gordy Williamson has advised that he does not wish to resume the editorship of the Class Newsletter. I’ll remain as interim editor until we locate a classmate to fill the job until our next reunion in 1992. If you are interested in being Newsletter editor, please call (561-743-9218) or e-mail me at TCKomarek@aol.com for details. It’s a fun job!