Class Notes, May/June 2007

It's hard to believe, but our 55th is just a year away. In that regard Chuck Reilly has sent me the following:

SAVE THESE DATES: June 9th-12th, 2008. They are the dates of our 55th Reunion in Hanover. You all must come. We have a good opportunity to break all existing attendance records, as the present holder of that record is - believe it or not - the Class of 1937! The Class of 1952 will break that record (100+ total persons) in all likelihood and we, in turn, will break their expected record.

But the real reason to come is simply the joy of "re-uning". There will be parties galore, accommodations on campus and off, a class tent on or near the site of the future "Class of 1953 Commons Building" on the north campus and numerous soon-to-be-announced activities. Certainly there will include a Class Memorial Service by Donald Goss and a special Hood Museum program featuring art contributed to the Hood by members of our Class. Two '53 wives, Margie Cook and Donna Reilly, are docents at the Hood and are working on making that program a memorable one.

So plan NOW. It is going to be an extra special occasion!

Speaking of reunions, Dave Donovan sent me the following report:

We had a very good turnout for what was unofficially the 7th Annual Ski '53 Day at Mt. Sunapee. We started this event in 2001 as an informal get together. On Wednesday, Feb.7 seventeen people showed up at our home on Blaisdell Lake for drinks and conversation by the fire, followed by a dinner at the Millstone Restaurant in New London. Those attending were:

Marion and Put Blodgett, Ginny and John Callahan '55, Betsy Chamberlin, Margie and Russ Cook, Cynthia and Dave Donovan, Dick Dunham, Anne and Harlan Fair, Dick O'Connor, Donna and Chuck Reilly, and Bonnie and Dave Siegal.

There were only 3 skiers (Dave, Harlan and Dick O'Connor), but we had a glorious day with some of the best snow conditions ever. We skied everything in sight over the entire day, including the only Mt. Sunapee double diamond trail, which we skied to prep Harlan for his forthcoming Dartmouth ski trip at Vail in March. We also skied the daunting and arduous "Nine Trail Run", where we lost Harlan half way down; but he found a shorter route and beat us to the bottom. Dick O'Connor had such a good time that he stayed overnight and skied a second day.

Several classmates who usually come to ski were on the injured reserve list - Put, Chuck, and Dick McCostis. We expect they will be fully recovered soon, and will hit the slopes with us next year.

I regret that I must end this column with sad news. Three of our classmates, John Alger, Gerald Sorkin, and Tom Fowler have died. To Nancy Alger and their children Sarah '80 and John'83, to Eleanor Sorkin and their daughters Andrea, Lynn, and Jessica, and to Nancy Fowler '87 and her brother we offer our sincere condolences on behalf of the Class.

Mark H. Smoller; 4 Schuyler Drive, Jericho, NY 11753 (516) 938-3616; dartmark@optonline.net