Class notes March/April-2008

Once again I am delighted to announce a major gift to Dartmouth from Marion and Fred Whittemore.  As Chairman of the Board of Overseers of the Hopkins Center, Fred and his wife Marion  have established The Marion and Frederick Whittemore Distinguished Artists Series Fund  to support the Hopkins Center’s Visiting Artists Program. Its purpose is to provide the funds  for outstanding artists to perform at the Hop, and for them to stay a few days to teach  our faculty as well as some masters programs. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students, faculty as well as the entire community to interact with the  cream of the arts community.  Many thanks, once again, for your seemingly endless altruism,  Marion and Fred.

In another happy bit of news,  I  am proud to inform you that Dick Cahn has been admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers. The College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Membership in the College may not exceed one percent of the total lawyer population in the state. Dick continues to  enjoy practicing with his son Daniel. He is past-President of the Suffolk County Bar Association, and is a Trustee of Adelphi University, and a Member of the Board of Governors of Touro Law School. Congratulations, Dick!

To get a jump on all the kudos headed in the direction of Byron Menides’ daughter Georgia for her  movie Still Green, an independent production which has been making its way through the wild and wacky world of independent film distribution, here is an early review. The reviewer states, “What makes a great indie?  What is a powerful film? By my own definition, one which leaves the audience to fill in the blanks. plus great shots, a moving soundtrack, and what I call indie sensibility…natural lighting, long takes and a bit of an improv. feel……Still Green  is  not a Hollywood movie. All the loose ends are not tied up. It makes you think. Not all ( indies)  are good and just because a film costs pennies to shoot doesn’t make it award-worthy. But, I think Still Green is.”

Sadly, I report the passing of Rev. Edward Boyle S.J. He will be sadly missed by our Class  with whom he has  shared his wisdom, and empathy, his encouragement and his ministrations. He  has served our Class in formal functions as well as in the most personal ways. He dedicated his life’s mission  to “justice in the workplace” and to that end became Director of the Institute of Industrial Relations at  the Labor Guild.  We will all miss him. Our sincere condolences go out to his five siblings and their families.

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