1980
"Good morning, Mr. Phelps, and welcome back to 'Tales from the Crypt,' volume 3, chapter 1. Noted French activist La Bruyere once observed, 'We come too late to say anything which has not been said already.' Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to disprove La Bruyere. You have three more years to do so. Good, luck, Mr. Phelps. This paragraph will self destruct in five seconds."
Well, anyone in his or her own right mind knows that there are many ways of bringing home the same old truths. And at the risk of offending La Bruyere, I once again take "la plume empoissonnee" in hand, for I have not come too late.
I begin with an item of congratulations to everyone associated with the class of '80. We have set yet another record. Our class contribution to the 1982 Alumni Fund totaled $31,757,682.13 (adjusted for inflation). We are the standard (for second-year-out classes) by which all others are judged. "We've got that goin'forus which is nice . . ./'commented an honorary '80, the Dalai Lama, flowing robes and all. Thank you, hard-working agents, supportive classmates, and Alexander Graham Bell, without whom none of this would have been possible. Let me see, with two records in as many years, we may eclipse Mark Spitz's total by 1989. Largely due to our fine fund feat, we've been recognized by the College as the 1982 Class of the Year," along with the class of 1935. Bien fait! When you get a chance, drop in on Goodspeed in Ann Arbor and check out the prize.
Let us continue with highlights from this summer, the season which a certain Chinese barfly named "the year of the glasshopper." From Providence, the city that brought you the Daily Planet, comes word from Steve Kim. The man who brought Chopin and Billy Joel to the top of the Hop is now directing most of his energies to 1.8.M. But he still finds time to tinkle on the eighty-eights because he recently picked up an upright Steinway ("Hey, hand me that, piano . . .
Way out West: I spoke with Mike Leslie, that man with two first names, who was in Missoula, Mont., for the summer. He is now on his way back to study environmental law at Stanford. When he receives his degree, Mike will be qualified to return to Missoula and slap an injunction on the uranium mining outfit where he worked.
Legal briefs, continued: Between terms at Yale, Bruce Judson spent the summer in New York and Washington at Hughes, Hubbard, and Reed. Bruce, alias "Kid Cerebral," has enlisted in the combined J.D./M.B.A. program. With all that education, job hunting has proven a problem. "The Kid" tried to interview for the spot Al Haig vacated. "I'm sorry sir, you're simply overqualified." On the social side, Bruce recently check-mated a computer chess game. Meanwhile, Liz Pickar spent UVA's summer recess in the halls of that hallowed Wall Street firm, Dewey, Cheathem and Howe.
See Willie run. Run Willie run. See Willie shoot. . . . Bionic biathlete Willie Crow is securing his place as a great American folk hero. Willie, whose event combines riflery with Nordic skiing, carried his fleet feet and steady aim to the U.S. National Championships in Minnesota, where he won the 20 kilometer event and placed third at 10 kilometers. In addition, Willie won the 20K event at the Canadian championships. He's quick to credit oil of ole (speculative Mexican laxative) at the training table for most of his success. Willie is now training with other biathletes (say that with a lisp three times quickly) for the 1983 World Championships in the Soviet Union.
I spoke with Marie-Elise Young, who is happy and healthy at the Boston Consulting Corporation. Specializing in aviation, B.C.C. embraces some novel management philosophies. Marie-Elise points out that every day starts with a rousing rendition of the corporate fight song, "Up in the Air, Junior Birdman."
"Pues, espero que todo vaya bien contigo," the letter began. No, it wasn't upside-down; Claire Johnston was simply testing my Spanish. To the hills of Haight-Ashbury Claire has flown from her teaching and advising role at a Catholic girls' boarding school in Monterey. Apparently, that position holds its share of both frustrations and heartwarming experiences. But I figure that advising 60 15-yearold girls must be a few grins. Nevertheless, Clairevoyant is on a new job hunt and her return address is 1202 Arguello Boulevard, Bohemia, U.S.A.
Dateline: Devonshire, Bermuda, Atlantic Ocean; August 14, 1982. Gentle tropical breezes teased wisps of clouds across the splendid blue sky. Three days before the event, the groupies started to gather. Just when you thought it was safe to be single, Jeff Rutishauser exchanged vows with Nea Wattlington. Peter Benchley feverishly scratched notes for his forthcoming book based on Ruti's wedding night. It's called Paws.
Hymeneal splendor in the grass: Wagons continue to roll down the 'BO marriage trail. Like Custer's reinforcements, I must say, "Better late than never." Last March, Rob Fuller married Andrea Beth Goldenberg between moot court sessions at Fordham Law School. I also have some partial scores: Spiros "Spike" Mitsopoulos and Bill Barbaresi. And here's some exciting news from Devon Jersild, who married English Professor Jay Parini last year. They were planning to move to Middlebury this summer and were expecting a child around September 1. Congratulations!
As a special treat, I consulted my trusty Arapaho scouts who reported the following troop movements: Mike Mace was expected to return from South America in July. If he did not show up, please check with Jack Lemmon or Sissy Spacek. Dave Delucia was spotted (measles?) in Italy. Linda Williams was spotted in Paris. And Jim Hardigg officiated at the royal baptism in Great Britain. Details at 11:00.
Last May, the members of Cabin and Trail very thoughtfully dedicated the Jeffers Brook shelter in the memory of Laurie Van Buskirk and John Baldwin '81. I can't help but feel that Laurie would be touched to know that this is in her honor. This leads me to some very tough news. Susan Marshall died June 4 in a tragic automobile accident near Boulder, Colo. Susan was working towards her M.B.A. at the University of Denver. Her family requests donations to Dartmouth for the Endowment Fund for Susan J. Marshall '80, c/o David T. Eckels, 260 Blunt Alumni Center, Hanover, N.H. 03755. The tragic news this day is twofold. On July 19, Nancy Rockwell was fatally struck by lightning in the White Mountains. Nancy and her husband, Matt Watkins, were leading an Outward Bound group along a trail near the summit of Mount Lincoln. Nancy and Susan were lovely, spirited women. Their deaths are all of our losses. Please keep them in your prayers.
146 Hicks Street Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. 11201
