1953
15 Huckleberry Lane Greenwich, CT 06830
During the class officers' May meeting sweeping changes in the Alumni Magazine were ratified by the class secretaries. The objective, of course, is to produce a magazine that is lively, readable, and appealing to an informed alumni. Among the format changes is a tightening of class notes—so profiles and essays can be added to the Class Notes section.
We've elected not to change the approach of the 1953 class column and to continue profiles, albeit shorter. In the last issue, profiles of our classmates who have earned Ph.D.s were started. We have over 30, most of whom are teachers and educators.
Jack "Angus" Cunningham, Silver City, N.M., is no exception. You probably recall he was an exceptional person. But it was not interest in the out-of-doors or geology that set him apart, it was the fact he played the bagpipes—and does, to this day. He continues in other exceptional ways—he is the geology department at Western New Mexico University, a school of 1,500 students, a 20-minute walk from his home. Sil- ver City is in the mountains, adjacent to Gila National Park, so geology quickly transcends the classroom into the field. This is a notable advantage to the school and the area and, as such, attracts students from around the country for field work. Jack did is graduate work at the University of Arizona after the army, a stint exploring for copper, and marriage to Paula. He earned his doctorate in 1965, a year after he started teaching at Western New Mexico. He has now taught a complete generation of students. Jack and Paula have two sons and two daughters, ranging from junior high to just out of college. All are at home or close by in New Mexico. Paula has been teaching the Lamaze childbirth method for a dozen years and is involved with the International Child Birth Educational Association. Jack's avocation is weight lifting to stay fit for geological field trips and playing the bagpipes.
Phil Metzidakis, Wallingford, Pa., came to Dartmouth from an area in Massachu- setts that is rich in Greek-Americans, who, as we have observed, enjoy a heritage of strong familial ties. Phil has been influenced by that heritage, which he shares with Mi- chael Dukakis, governor of Massachusetts and a candidate for the Democratic presi- dential nomination. After graduation, Phil taught English in Mexico and did graduate work at the University of Salamanca in Spain before earning his Ph.D. at Yale in 1960. He taught Spanish at Mills College in California for the next eight years. In 1968 he accepted his current position at Swarth- more. Mills and Swarthmore are small lib- eral arts schools where Phil's work is with undergraduates. From the mid-sixties through the mid-seventies Phil was a vis- iting professor at Trinity College, Hartford, at a graduate level. He has also directed three-year-long programs in Spain for a consortium of schools including Mt. Hol- yoke, Williams, and Hamilton. He has pub- lished books and articles in both Spain and Mexico and is heavily engaged in transla- tion of literary works for magazines. A current book being published in Spain examines the influence of Greek writers on a Spanish author. Spouse Pauline also works for Swarthmore as alumni recorder. She and Phil have a son who is a Swarthmore graduate and a daughter who majored in music at Cornell and earned an M.B.A. at Northeastern. For fun Phil goes fishing. As an avocation, the Metzidakises are active in the Democratic party at the local, state, and national level. Given Mr. Dukakis's heritage, college (Swarthmore), political persuasion, and the fact that their families know each other, it shouldn't be a wonder whom the Metzidakises support.
SEEN AND HEARD: Burt Dorsett, after years of managing investments for others University of Rochester, College Retirement Equities Fund, and Westinghouse has his own firm in New York.
