The usual suspects (and more than a few unusual suspects) met at Molly's Friday night, for a gathering of about 29 classmates and partners. Molly's was able to accommodate us with a little squeezing.
It had snowed that morning and rained much of the day, sometimes quite hard, but the rain stopped for our parade. As always, the Class of 69 got special recognition from the crowd. As Dick Glovsky used to say, they should have skipped 69 like the 13th floor of a hotel.
After the usual speeches, the bonfire was lit and burned quite nicely in spite of dampness (and a girdle of anti-climber plywood which makes it hard for the fire to breathe). After We retired to a well-attended reception in the Drake Room at the Inn. Two professors emeritus showed up in spite of the weather: Robert Leaton and Christian Jernstedt, both from the Psychology Department. We announced our annual grant to a student-led philanthropic organization, this year to the DREAM Program. They described the program and answered some questions and we voted a grant of $10,000. Students from OLE, the organization that received last year's grant, described how the money was spent. This was the 9th year we have given grants to student organizations totaling over $50K .
The class meeting was held Sat morning. Subjects discussed included the 50th reunion book, the 50th reunion class gift, increasing 50th reunion attendance, and the adoption of female exchange students. Rick Willets will replace Paul Tuhus who asked to step down as treasurer after serving well for years. In recognition of his special talents, Paul was voted Class Schmoozer. Pete Schaeffer asked (forcefully) that our Alumni Council Representative, Jim Staros, do whatever he can to get Homecoming earlier in the season. Jim gave a report from the previous weekend's Alumni Council meeting, focusing on the new House System being used by the College. Norman Jacobs and Dona Heller reported on our Class Connections Program and asked that we save the weekend of July 7-9, 2017 for a mini-reunion in Hanover which will include the '19s. Our Class Connection Program is far more ambitious than previous classes. Arthur Fergenson was elected to the position of Mini-Reunion Chairman. There will be a mini-reunion in the Boston area next Spring.
The tailgate was a success - rain dampened the tent but not the spirits. (Speaking of tents, our class tent is by far the most impressive.) Two professors emeritus joined us - Jere Danielle from the History department and Hoyt Alverson from Anthropology. I believe more would have come if the weather had been better. This was well received and we will try again next year.
Nick Perencevich suggested that because we had not fulfilled our responsibility and stolen the Harvard bass drum freshman year, we should do so next time Harvard comes to Hanover.
We will start a fund for bail money. Alternatively, someone suggested we make a replica and steal that.
The Saturday night dinner at the Tom Dent Cabin was a huge success. Twenty-two classmates (and 37 people total) attended and enjoyed excellent food, good drink, and most importantly, good times with good people.
The attendance list (let us know if we missed you):
Henry Allen and partner Jim
Mark and Ann Bankoff
John and Judy Bisson
Dan and Mariel Cooperman
Tom and Jan Cronan
Peter Elias
Arthur and Shirley Fergenson
Bob Garman
Jud Graves
Bruce and Debbie Henry
Dona Heller
Roy Hitchings
Norman and Irene Jacobs
Paul Jerde
Dudley Kay and Jill Ford
Bill and Anne Kneisel
Greg and Nancy Lau
John Leavitt
John and Julie Mathias
Andy and Linda McLane
Nick Perencevich
Al Peterson
David Prentice
Peter Schaeffer and health aide Barbara
Jim Scott
Bill Stableford
Jim Staros and Alice Harris
Paul Tuhus
Rick and Joan Willets
There are lots of photos in our galleries, and the couple thumbnails below should tempt you to check them out.
