Reunion 96--Class of 1966
Pre-reunion at the Samoset: the 18 or so of us that met at the Samoset in Rockland, Maine, started off the summer with renewed friendships under blue skies at a wonderful location. On Thursday, 11 of us teed off on what Golf Digest rates the seventh most beautiful golf course in the country, and it certainly lived up to its billing. Friday saw repeat rounds of golf for some while others took the boat trip to Outward Bound Camp on Hurricane Island. There they participated in Outward Bound team building exercises. Oddly, shortly after our departure, a local news item reported a sudden local shortage in lobsters.
Once on campus, our numbers swelled to more than 40 classmates who made at least a visit to Colby during Reunion Weekend. If you haven't been back to Waterville lately, you almost wouldn't recognize the school. The trees and plantings have all matured, and the new educational and cultural facilities are impressive. The campus is more beautiful than ever.
Significant events included Meg Fallon Wheeler being presented a Colby Brick, the first in our class to earn this honor. Meg was rewarded for her tireless support of the College and her lifetime dedication to the field of education.
Brian Shacter, a finisher in this year's Boston Marathon, won the Saturday 5K race in 19:37, blowing off some anonymous youngster from the Class of '81. In fact, the Class of '66 was impressive, with Dick Gilmore placing fifth, Fran Finizio 11th, Larry Eckle 12th, Laura Holmquist Tara 14th, nosing out new husband and new class president John "190 pounds of White Steel" Tara, who was 15th, Linda Mitchell Potter at 18th and Sue Spencer Ebinger and Debbie Anglim Higgins tied at 20th. Not only did the class make a great showing in participation, but had this been a cross country race, the Class of '66 would have outscored the balance of the entire field.
As new class president, John Tara promises a goose in every pot, while Fran Finizio, our new class VP, promises to try to keep John away from the geese. (John's a hunter, don't-cha know.) Natalie Bowerman Zaremba will assume the duties of class secretary and correspondent and Mary Sue Hilton Weeks will succeed Stu Wantman as class agent. Stu finished out his amazing 10-year tenure with another strong performance, enticing us to donate another $250,000-plus to Colby.
Other interesting news tidbits include the fact that the Class of '66 still holds the all-time record for highest rate of participation and largest turnout for a 25th reunion. How many classes can report that four members traveled all the way from Washington state for their 30th reunion?
More important, and something I'm sure you'll hear more about very soon, Colby will be listed in the next Barron's Elite 45, the 45 best educational institutions in the country. Colby rated number one in student satisfaction. We all benefit by this improved stature even now, and it is gratifying to know that Colby continues on its route to excellence.
Class of '66 reunion attendees included Beth Peo Armstrong, Ken Astor, Wes Barbour, Garry Barnes and Gayle Jobson Poinsette, George Cain, Katherine McGee Christie-Wilson and husband David, Betty (Savicki '68) and John "Daisy" Carvellas, Sally Leighton Clutter, Pam and Gil Congdon '67, Larry Eckel, Fran Finizio, Ed and Lynn Seidenstuecker Gall, Dick Gilmore, Carol Severance Glenn, Deborah Anglim Higgins, Pam Harris Holden, Bill and Ruth Loker Ingham, Lea Kouba, Rick Lund, Pat and Sal Manforte, Linda O'Connor McDonough, Susan (Brown '65) and Frank Musche, Len Nelson, Ed Phillips, Lee '67 and Linda Mitchell Potter, Phil Proulx, Joan and Bill Rynne, Brian Shacter, Christina Simpson, Karen (Day '64) and Bill Snow, Sam and Sue Ebinger Spencer, John and Laura Holmquist Tara, Donna (Kievit '68) and Bob Thompson, Pete and Linda Buckheim Wagner, Stu Wantman, Mary Sue Hilton Weeks and "Whizzer" and Meg Fallon Wheeler.