1953

It has been 55 years since the class of 1953 emerged from this idyllic place into the real world, a fact that has encouraged me to think of the events that had transpired in 1953 before Commencement in the context of today. We were one month from the end of the Korean War, Ernest Hemingway won the Pulitzer Prize for The OldMan and the Sea. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first humans to reach the summit of Mount Everest. From Here to Eternity won the Academy Award, while former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair entered our planet in May and his life expectancy was 68.2 years. The average income in the United States was $4,651 and the price of a gallon of gasoline was 20 cents. A newly elected President Eisenhower spoke at Commencement and delivered his memorable book-burning speech, off the cuff. As we look to the future, each of these little historical nuggets will be replicated in some form or degree and we hope that each in its own way adds to the peace, health and prosperity of this planet.

Back to the present now, and Put Blodgett continues to enjoy the outdoors. He writes, "The last week of February eight of us, including my oldest son Peter '74, skied crosscountry between two of Appalachian Mountain Club's recently purchased sporting camps and a third privately owned old sporting camp in the area. The ambience of the old log cabins, some dating back to logging camps preceding their conversion to sporting camps in the 1890s, the excellent food (I couldn't help comparing the fresh salads we enjoyed to the salt pork and beans of the early logging camps), the amazing compatibility of the group (we are hosting a reunion) and new powder snow (some of the best crosscountry skiing I have had in years) all combined to make a most memorable trip!"

More than 60 donors have contributed $2.5 million to the Dartmouth Medical School for the purpose of honoring 0. Ross Mclntyre by establishing the O. Ross Mclntyre, M.D., Endowed Professorship, one of the highest honors in academia. Ross led the Norris Cotton Cancer Center from 1974 to 1992, during which time it was recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of only 39 comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Congratulations, Ross!

Blossom Blum tells me that the lead prosecutor in the Elliot Spitzer follies is Boyd Johnson III, son of our Boyd Johnson Jr. Boyd III has been an assistant attorney general in the southern district of Manhattan office for at least five years. We can expect to see his name in the news for a while.

I am saddened to write of so many of our losses: John Anderson, Charles Aye, Jim Boen, John Boyle, Bob Callender Ben Dew, Howard Clery, Lewis Darby, Fritz Harrell Sr., David Polk and Al Stover. All were men of stature, fulfilling that early promise of success. They dealt with challenges and sorrows and became leaders in their respective fields and communities. To each of their families, I offer the sincere condolences of our class.

4 Schuyler Drive, Jericho, NY 11753; (516) 938-3616; dartmark@gmail.com