1917
1917 lost six (6) classmates during the past few months. We mourn the deaths of BowenTorrey on May 9, Albert Henley Sturgess on May 25, Paul Lewis Burnham on June 8, Charles Wolf 3rd on June 15, Earle BarryRobinson on July 2, and Natt Harlan Scott on July 3, and were recently informed that William Francis Dobbins Jr. passed away on February 17, 1962. The full obituaries of these men will appear either in this or a subsequent issue of the MAGAZINE.
1917 widow Doris Stevens passed away last December, surviving our classmate, Les, by a little over five years, and being survived by a grandson, Tom Jester '63. Some correspondence with Gil Swett may now be revealed. Back in 1962, it seems that Les and Doris were mindful of Dartmouth in making their wills, and the College has recently received a $1,000 bequest, functioning as endowment under the name "Leslie B. Stevens 1917 Fund."
When Carl Colby and his wife, Ruth, celebrated their fiftieth wedding just about a year ago, they were greeted by over a hundred relatives and friends at a reception at the local Congregational Vestry. The occasion, which was a gala affair, was planned and arranged by their daughter,. Mrs. Margaret C. Rand of Ottawa, Ontario. The Colbys were married in Rockville, Md., in 1917, shortly before Carl sailed for France with the 6th Machine-gun Battalion of the U. S. Marines.
Larry and Lucile Nourse have moved from their old home in Derry, N. H., which they had thought was to be their retirement home, to a modern apartment set-up developed by the Hood family on the original Hood farm lands in the same town. They left a "home" 200 years old, 40 years of which it had been in their possession. According to Larry, "Life is surely different!"
During the latter part of June Helen and I went down to Long Island to visit our son, Bill '51, his wife, Skip, and their two boys. Our daughter, Betty, her husband, John, and their three children were there, too. It seemed that Bill and Betty had planned sort of a family get-together to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary.
On our way home we stopped off in Barrington, R. I., and spent the night with Norm and Mary McCulloch, seeing their new home for the first time, and a lovely home it is. The McCullochs leave on September 9 for a cruise that will not get them back in time for the New London weekend, which they regret as do we.
One day early in August we received a phone call from Hanover and learned that Gil and Jane Swett were staying at the Inn for a while. They came over to Woodstock that evening and had dinner with us and we had a real good, though short, visit. I can assure you all that Gil showed no ill effects resulting from the slight stroke he suffered earlier in the summer. Gil and Jane stayed at Hanover enough longer to take part in one of the Horizons programs, but unfortunately we saw them only the once.
By all means get out your calendar and mark the dates so that you will be sure to remember the period, Monday-Wednesday, June 16-18, 1969. And be prepared to journey to Hanover at that time for it is then that special Bicentennial events are planned to mark the official beginning of Dartmouth's 200th year. The College will make available dormitory accommodations and a special class tax to cover all meals will be established and announced well in advance. So remember the date and keep your eyes open for further information. It will be passed on to you as promptly as received from the College. And by the way, Dr. John P. Bowler '15, of Hanover, will be Honorary Reunion Chairman for the program.
Sherm Smith's son, Alan '50, is at home on leave from the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, where he is the English language aide. He returns to Tokyo in October for another two years.
The Manchester (N. H.) Union Leader of June 11 carried a picture of the executive board members of the Meredith "50 Plus Club" and there, big as life, is our own Almon Bushnell, club secretary.
Here's a bit more about the Nourses' new way of living as contained on a card written to Sherm Smith. Larry said, "Lucile and I are starting to be settled in our new way of life. An apartment - even the best as this is - comes hard after leaving the 57 acres where our children roamed summers for over 30 years, followed by ten years of retirement. How we miss the flower gardens!"
And another card to Sherm from Ed Wagner says, "I still work 45-50 hours per week in the hope that I will be able to enjoy some comfort in my old age - whenever that may be. Anyhow, I would go nuts without some challenging work. I joined the Appalachian Mt. Club some months ago and enjoy the hikes very much, but no mountain climbing or spelunking for me! An 8-10-mile hike in rough country is sufficient." I would think so.
Bob Scott played in the International Senior Championships in Scotland this past July. "Grand time but poor weather. Yesterday we nearly drowned and blew away. Fifteen men gave up because it was so cold and wet."
Interesting clippings received concerning the homes of two of our classmates. The stately pillared home of Em Ward was part of a centennial celebration in Waseca, Minn. Visitors to the House and Garden Tour in McLean, Va., in May enjoyed seeing the estate of Will and Nina Fitch, "Stonebrook," being one of six houses opened for the tour.
Secretary, R.F.D. 1, Box 27 Woodstock, Vt. 05091
Treasurer, 315 Oxford Rd., Havertown, Pa. 19083
