1950

Time caught the April fool.

Three chores compete for attention. One is to groom the lawn and yard now that spring is here. Another is to write this column. The third is to joust with the I.R.S., an annual problem and irritant. Rain, fortunately, deters the first and sets the stage for confrontation. Conscience (and an editor's impending wrath) wins the day.

Just before presstime for the March issue, a note arrived from Phil Hoadley, so we inserted a quick one-liner. The news merited more attention. Phil joined Citibank then known by some other, long-forgotten name two short months after graduation. He endured. By 1968 he had been appointed vice president. His service was the one you sought when you needed quick cash in remote locales such as Afghanistan or Thailand, for he was in charge of marketing Citicorp's travelers checks worldwide from 1974 to 1979. Recently, he was promoted to vice president and director of the advertising and marketing services department; if Citicorp develops an image (or a friend), Phil will have been the mastermind. He keeps his finger on the pulse of creative activity as a director of the American Advertising Federation and as a past president of the Financial Advertising and Marketing Association of Greater New York. (Phil labeled the headshot above gruesome but fairly accurate. At least Citicorp's new v.p. of advertising and marketing can be cited for truth in advertising!)

Both of Phil's daughters attended Dartmouth. Debbie, who was an exchange student from Smith in 1975, is now a resident at the Hitchcock Medical Center. Jennifer '81 is a media planner at Dancer, Fitzgerald, and Sample. Phil and Phyllis have settled in Douglaston, Long Island, where Phyllis organizes her sideline, an antique business, which offers a convenient excuse to wander throughout New England on weekends. (Tax deductible wandering, no doubt. Tough!)

Meredith and Grew, a real estate appraisal organization located in Boston, elected Bob Foster a vice president at a recent director's meeting. Bob joined the company in 1981 after a successful 30-year career in real estate brokerage, appraisal, and development with his private, family-owned firm. Bob had served as president of the Foster Appraisal Company. M&G offered expanded horizons (including the big city). Bob is a member of a number of professional organizations and is a past president of the Boston chapter of the American Society of Appraisers. He is keenly interested in professional educational programs. Bob and Constance, whose family includes two daughters and two sons, still live in Lexington.

The presiding judge at the racketeering trial of a former New Jersey state senator was Lee Sarokin. The senator was convicted, by the jury not the judge. Then there was a hearing for a retrial, and during the proceedings the judge was vilified. Can you imagine Lee terrorizing anyone? "The personal attacks launched against the court [by defense lawyer William Kunstler} have the sole attribute of consistency," wrote the judge in his opinion. And later, "It is difficult for any judge accurately to evaluate himself, but I humbly believe that words such as 'terrorize,' 'intimidate,' and 'heavy-handed' do not properly describe a single moment of my behavior. Case dismissed.

Tidbits here and there: 30 years and out, the new wave of retirement. Two recently. Gerry Sarno is retiring from Bethlehem Steel after 32-plus years; he could be enticed to greener pastures, especially in New England. And Clift Spotholz has retired from General Foods after nearly 30 years to travel and read and think a lot; then, perhaps, to consult a little in flavors and food technology. Flash: Dave Pendleton finished a close second at the William Keohanes individual tournament for duplicate bridge players in Newton. Soccer co-captain Tom Herold '83 was awarded the Norman Grant Clark trophy. Ed Tuck relished his term as an aspiring student and researcher.

Words have exploded over the recent resignation of ALUMNI MAGAZINE Editor Dennis Dinan. My purpose now is not to add to any furor nor to reopen imponderable issues. But I saw him come and I regret to see him go. Simply, the ALUMNI MAGAZINE grew and matured under his leadership; he leaves the magazine a far better publication. We can only hope that it continues to improve under its new editor. Meanwhile, so long, Dennis, and good luck. We shall miss you.

You have long since been out from under, now that the lilacs bloom. But for me there is still a small contest impending with a Form 1040, and Uncle Sam is not renowned for patience. Time enough to chat later. For now, fare well.

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