NEWSMAKERSLudy '21 and Pacy Levine '27, of Levine's Clothing Store in Waterville, were featured in the September Yankee magazine for emboding the spirit of New England. . . . The late Thelma Bamford Tracy '31 received tribute in Maine Times from writer Sanford Phippen for her excellence as an English teacher and her attention to his high school literary efforts. . . . Leland C. Burrill '39 received the Bulldog Award from the Lawrence High School Alumni Association. He practiced as a family physician in Menlo Park, Calif., for 37 years. . . . Lester Jolovitz '39, who has been active in the Waterville Area YMCA for 30 years, received the organization's Red Triangle Award for his contributions to young people in Maine. . . . On Easter Sunday, N. Douglas MacLeod Jr. '44 and two of his grandsons rowed through choppy seas to rescue a Barrington, R.I., man who had been in the water more than half an hour after toppling out of his sailboat. "We did what we had to do," MacLeod said. "We couldn't stand by and watch a person die." . . . Lawrence (Mass.) High School inducted John P. Turner '44 into its athletic Hall of Fame. Turner, who lettered in football and track, went on to captain the Colby football team and rose to the rank of captain in the Marine Corps in World War II.
MILEPOSTS |
What follows covers the last 34
of the responses to my questionnaire of March 15, 1994. Two hundred five of you
sent returns so that, of necessity, my coverage has been spread over several
issues. But if you returned a questionnaire and haven't seen your name here
yet, surely you will find it now.
TEENS
Elizabeth Sweetster Baxter '41 sent material on the life of her mother,
Phyllis Sturdivant Sweetser '19, who died at 96 on January 16 at a
Portland, Maine, hospital. Mrs. Sweetser, a woman of many accomplishments, was
a member of the Colby College Alumni Council and a recipient of the Colby Brick
in 1972. She was chairperson of the Cumberland County (Maine) Cancer Crusade.
She was a lifelong member of the Cumberland Congregational Church, president
of the women's fellowship there, head of the children's department for 16 years
and a member of the pulpit supply committee. My dear late sister, Harriet
Eaton Rogers '19, and Phyllis Sweetser were close friends. Mrs. Sweetser
wrote some years ago to say that she remembered me as a 2 year old when she
visited Harriet at our home on Silver Street in Waterville.
TWENTIES
Olive Soule Parmenter '26 writes that her father-in-law was George
Parmenter, head of the Chemistry Department at Colby. (Fondly do I remember
Professor Parmenter's lecture demonstrations.) Olive is blind but keeps fit by
walking.
THIRTIES
Roderick Farnham '31 writes to tell about his brother, the late
Albion Farnham '35, who had a fearsome reputation as the man who pitched
Colby to at least two state championships. In an interview by Harland Durrell
in the Waterville Morning Sentinel of July 19, 1952, Eddie Roundy, coach
at Colby starting in 1924, was quoted as saying that in over 25 years of
coaching Colby baseball, his three best pitchers were right-handers John
Trainor '28 and Al Farnham and lefty Joe Slattery '42. Al's brother
Ray Farnham '36 was a heavy hitter with some of the same teams that Al
played on. . . . Dr. Carl Reed '35 is continuing for
the 16th year as executive secretary of the Florida Association of Academic
Nonpublic Schools comprising 29 organizations with a membership of about 1,000
private schools. A son, Terence J. Reed, Ph.D., is a professor at the
University of Alabama in Huntsville; and a daughter, Sandra D. Reed, Ph.D., is
a professor at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. (Dr. Reed was
principal of Somerset Academy in the late '30s when my father, Harvey D. Eaton,
Colby Class of 1887, was a member of the Board of Trustees. The two were
friends and met often at my father's farm in North Cornville.) To stay fit, Dr.
Reed starts at 6 a.m. with a one-and-a-half mile walk followed by a stint in
his garden. . . . A large change has occurred in the life of Richmond
Noyes '35, because in the 1989 Colby alumni directory he is listed as
living in Milbridge, Maine, whereas his April 8, 1994, questionnaire shows
Oakville, W.Va., as the place to send his mail. He sold out his store after 42
years in business, and he walks one and a half miles a day by way of keeping
fit. . . . Wilfred Kelly '35 up in Middlebury, Vt., spent the
winter of '93-'94 in Florida. His daughter is a "pretty spry girl" whose own
daughter presented Wilfred with a great-grandson five years ago and will, by
now, have presented him with another. . . . According to
Nancy Libby '36, the thing to do about turning 80 is to ignore it. She
retired from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1978 but still
takes part in activities there. She and Lois Lund Giarchardi '36 plan to
attend their 60th reunion in 1996. . . . Ruth Millett Maker
'36 is taking piano lessons again after a hiatus of 50 years. She plays the
organ at the Episcopal Church in New Bedford, Mass., an accomplishment of which
she is proud. She keeps fit by doing the "Senior Stretch," which consists of
mild aerobics twice a week plus daily walking. As a fund raiser for her church,
she walked 10 miles in the fall of 1993. . . . Solomon
Fuller '36 celebrated his 85th birthday March 10. He has six children, 14
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. During January 1994 he visited
Marco Island, Fla., Sanibel Nature Preserve and Everglades City. His #1 and #2
sons, John and Robert, and their wives visited him
there. . . . John Dolan '36, that most stalwart of
Colby alumni, sent me a copy of the nostalgic letter he wrote last year to
President Cotter. In it John reflects on the many features that make Colby
great. The faculty, food service and helpful people in the Alumni Office all
come in for well-deserved praise. . . . In a letter dated
February 13, Marjorie Gould Shuman '37, my predecessor in this column,
writes that she and husband Ed Shuman '38 are traveling extensively and
meeting all manner of Colbyites in their travels. In April last year they spent
two weeks in England and Scotland. Thereafter, Marjorie's sister Dorothy
Gould Rhoades '36 and her husband, Donald Rhoades '33, visited the
Shumans in Oneonta, N.Y. The two couples then visited Marjorie's sister-in-law,
Ruth Stebbins Cadwell '41, in Doylestown, Pa. Following that, Marjorie's
sister Ruth Gould Stebbins '40 and her husband, Roger '40, came
to the Shuman summer home in Florida for a tour of the central part of the
state in the Shuman van. Marjorie's brother, Gilbert, with wife Ellie joined
the tour. Another reunion involved Marion Dugdale '38 and Helen
Foster Jenison '38 at Marion's spacious home in South Daytona, Fla. . .
. Muriel Scribner Gould '37 and her husband, Lewis F., celebrated
57 years of marriage on July 10, 1994. She has affectionate memories of
Professor Eustis--"a real teacher, helping all his students to make the grade
and always willing to listen to our problems." . . . Rod
Pelletier '37 reports from Daytona Beach, Fla., that he worked exclusively
last year on getting a year older. He says he does a little painting (house or
easel, he doesn't make clear) and mows one and a half acres (presumably
grass). . . . Our deepest sympathy coupled with admiration must
be extended to Hildreth Wheeler Finn '37, who has suffered a crushing
series of family tragedies. However, she says, "My support is in my church . .
. a charismatic wonderful group of people." Fortunately, her health is
excellent, permitting her to walk, swim, play golf and read--mostly
inspirational books. . . . Lucile Naples Weston '37 is
too busy reading the questionable news in the political and investment worlds
to have time for any other reading. Three years ago she traveled up and down
France renewing happy relations with relatives there. Her most recent project
has been to obtain a Massachusetts state license in mental health counseling.
Her fond recollections are of the three language professors, John McCoy,
Everett Strong and Gordon Smith: "All fine educators and personalities who
taught with enthusiasm and interest in the students." . . . The Rev. Donald
Thompson '39 reads the Bible a lot. He is reminded of the boy who, when
asked why he did not read the Bible as his grandmother did, answered: "She is
preparing for her final exams." Says Donald: "I am a grandfather, and the time
is coming." Don included detailed observations on the making of maple syrup at
his brother's place in Presque Isle, Maine (sap becomes syrup at a temperature
determined by the barometric pressure at the time, and on the day in question
that was 219 1/2). . . . At our age, the accomplishments of our
children go a long way to offset some of the ills that seem, inevitably, to
befall us. Lois Britton Bayless '39 and her husband, Bill, have two
sons. Steve is vice president of Westlake Chemical Co. in Houston, Texas, and
Bob is a colonel in the Air Force in Brandon, Fla. The sad offset is that Bill
has had to go on kidney dialysis and, although "He has adjusted very well . . .
it has certainly curtailed our impulsive traveling." . . .
Jean Burr Smith '39, suspecting that my mind is going, has sent me a
page of math problems certain to speed the decline. She says: if 4/9=1/9+1/3,
how do you express 3/11 using only 1's in the numerator. My answer is:
1/11+1/11+1/11=3/11. But I suspect Jean doesn't have in mind anything so simple
as that. Thanks a bunch, Jean, for ruining my afternoon!
FORTIES
John E. Gilmore '40 and his wife, Ann Jones Gilmore '42, have two
children, Richard '66 and Susanne Gilmore MacArthur '68, and five
grandchildren, including Cory Snow '91. The Gilmores spend each April at Siesta
Key, Fla. In 1992 they visited London, Paris and the Loire Valley. In 1993 they
took a Princess Cruise along the inside passage to
Alaska. . . . Gardner Oakes '40 submitted the most
complete questionnaire ever received by this correspondent--two pages, solid,
single-spaced, elite type. His three children are all less than an hour's drive
away. After the passing of decades, he has located Kappa Delta Rho frat
brother Phil Grant '40, who he hopes stays well and happy. "Lasting
impression guys," now deceased, whom Gardner (and I) remember with affection
are: Irv Gammon '37, Ray Stinchfield '39 and Bert Rossignol
'39. Gardner still thinks banning the frats was a bad mistake. How has he
changed? Crabby as hell now that he is older. He's learning to fly but can't
afford it. . . . Our sympathies are extended to "Babs"
Walden Palmer '40, who recently lost her husband, Paul '37. Babs and
Bob Bruce '40 have been corresponding about a topic that troubles them:
How come today's college kids do so much better academically than we used to
do? Answer: today's professors are more lenient, Babs theorizes, for fear of
losing students. (A cover story in Maine Times states that high marks
are indeed easier to get these days.) Bob Bruce himself writes that in January
1995 nine World War II members of U.S. Navy Dive Bombing Squadron VB-305 were
awarded Air Medals and Distinguished Flying Crosses 51 years after the event.
As a pilot, Bob won three Distinguished Flying Crosses and nine Air Medals. He
flew Douglas Dauntless dive bombers in the Pacific and finished the war flying
F6F Hellcats. One of Bob's wartime memories is of his landing an F6F fighter on
the aircraft carrier Hornet. As Bob explains it, the landing was "rough"
because his plane had several gaping holes in its rudder and elevator. He
enclosed a censored (1944?) letter from his wife, which read in part: "I almost
forgot, your broker phoned yesterday. He was very XXXX. He told me that your
XXXXX had gone way XXXX with the result that you are now XXXXX and will
probably XXXX XXXXX XXX XXXXXXXX." . . . Doris Peterson Stanley '41
writes that she and her husband, Kenneth '39, had been married 53 years
on July 5, 1994. The Stanleys have three children and four grandchildren (with
two in college). Sadly, she writes, Ken has had several mini-strokes that have
put him in a nursing home. We extend our deepest sympathies. Doris recommends
The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller as a short and nice
love story. . . . The Rev. Lin-wood Potter '41
wishes he could climb mountains but feels that, at 83, he should think about it
a bit longer. His fondest professorial memories are of Richard Lougee in
geology, "Donkey" Morrow in sociology and especially "Bugsy" Chester in
biology. "They all," he says, "added much to my life." . . . Dr. Richard
Dyer '42 has retired after 42 years in general surgery. Dr. Dyer reported
that his wife, Natalie Cousens Dyer '43, is doing well following her
1991 treatment for lung cancer. The Dyers have four daughters. One grandson is
a member of the Class of 1995 at Colby. Dr. Dyer walks, jogs, swims, goes
skiing and plays tennis and golf. Missing from this array of activities is
something he would like to do--fly. . . . Blanche "Sunny"
Smith Fisher '42 retired in December 1993 after 10 years as a legal
advocate for battered women. After that she became busy with Seniors Helping
Others: Meals on Wheels and teaching a watercolor workshop for seniors. She has
two children and two grandchildren. For fitness she works in her garden and
allows Wee Bit, her dog, to take her out walking. . . . For
a man who left Colby after only two years, Phil Jones '42 is as
enthusiastic a Colby man as many who spent the usual four years. In a letter
postmarked April 27, 1994, he tells of a meeting with Dean Marriner at New
York's Hotel Victoria. At the time ('36-'37), Phil was a high school junior and
emerged from the meeting with towering respect for Dean Marriner. The previous
summer, Dr. Johnson assured him that there was no relationship between Colby
and the Colby Hall attended by the Rover Boys of "classics" renown. Later, a
letter informed Phil that he was the recipient of a $50 scholarship--no small
sum in those days. . . . William Conley '42 and his wife,
Betty, have two cats--and three grown children and four grandchildren, all
within a hundred miles of their home in Lansing, Ill. Being 74 has given him
incentive to become an octogenarian. . . . Weston '42
and Jean Cannell MacRae '42 had a mini-reunion last year at the Sun
City Center, Fla., home of Kay Reny Anderson '40. Frances Brewer
Barker '42 also was a member of the party. The MacRaes have three children
and four grandchildren. . . . In January 1994, Harriet
Rex Feeney '43 moved from her home of 30 years in Greenwich, Conn., to a
retirement community in Baltimore, Md., where she enjoys being near her son and
his family. Her plans for keeping fit were "to swim, eat a low-cholesterol diet
and generally lead the healthiest lifestyle you ever saw--it says here." She
would like to settle down to some serious writing--"a novel, a mystery, or who
knows?" She recalls "Prof. Libby and his truly dramatic delivery, Prof. Lougee,
who made geology fascinating, and Dr. Marshall, who really cared about teaching
English." Mrs. Feeny is a retired vice president of the J. Walter Thompson
Advertising Agency in New York City. . . . Muriel McLellan De
Shon '43 reports that her 50th reunion "was wonderful" and says she wishes
she could see more of her great Colby friends. She also wishes she had more
time and energy. She golfs, walks and uses her exercycle, rowing machine and
treadmill "but without great success." . . . Elizabeth
Beale Clancy '43 has a novel suggestion for keeping fit: drink lots of
coffee. This puts her in shape to swim once a week and walk a mile daily.
She says that The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman is
delightful. Elizabeth has five kids and an ocean of
grandchildren. . . . Kay Monaghan Corey '43, a
normal parent, revels in what her children are doing. Charlie, 42, is at
Lawrence Academy in Groton, Mass., where he teaches history, coaches soccer,
hockey and lacrosse and is the assistant athletic director and a member of the
admissions staff. Son Jeffrey, 41, is a psychiatric social worker at the Mental
Health Institute in Augusta, Maine, and is a bicycle racer and the head
lacrosse coach at Oak Hill High School. Kay and her husband, Nels, keep fit by
swimming at the nearby Comfort Inn pool in Augusta, at the beach in St.
Petersburg, Fla., and at their camp in Bridgton, Maine.
Correspondent: Fletcher Eaton
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