Enveloped by Cuba
Alumni gather to help Cubans on their own turf.

Medal Round in Sydney
Hilary Gehman '93 rows in the Olympics.

Alumni Club Circuit
Club News, upcoming events, etc.

ALUMNI PROFILES
Robert C. Gerrard '60
Tackling the case
of a lifetime

Kevin Leddy '77

Helena Bonnell
Gilman '78
Microsoft in the Middle East

Todd Coffin '83

Carolyn Treat '82
Turning art into a balm

Christopher Thayer '93

Michael Eash '94
Chopping champion

The reunioning for 1955ers started early for several couples who met at Black Point Inn at Prouts Neck in Scarborough, fairly near Winslow Homer's studio. Besides the fun of being together, we had golf at the edge of the sea, many laughs and wonderful meals. Ann Burnham Deering helped make the arrangements. Then it was back to dorm life–no turned down sheets with chocolates on the pillows, though–with Chaplin and Pepper halls the headquarters for the class. Judy Orne Shorey greeted and made everyone welcome. After Friday morning golf competition, many classmates went to Great Pond in the Belgrades to Paul and Germaine Michaud Orloff's home for some socializing. Then it was the all-College dinner, where Jane Whipple Coddington and Kathy (McConaughy '56) and Lou Zambello were honored with Colby Bricks. Congratulations! On Saturday class president Jean Hahlbohm Hampton, Ann Deering and Jane Coddington carried the 1955 banner in the parade of classes to the field house, where the fund-raising results were announced. (It was a weird feeling to think we are approaching being the oldest class while those younger classes applauded us as we passed by.) We all should be proud of the work of George Haskell and his team of John Dutton, Sid Farr, Judy Holtz Levow, Germaine Orloff, Jean Van Curran Pugh, Ann Eilertson McDonough, Lou Zambello and Jane Millett Dornish as our class surpassed its goal for the annual Alumni Fund. Thanks to all of you who responded so generously. Following the awards we were serenaded by an alumni choral group, directed by Professor Emeritus Peter Ré, which included several of our classmates and which was organized by Kathy Flynn Carrigan. It was very moving to hear some of the old Colby songs and to all join in on the alma mater. Then on to the lobster bake, to museum tours, lectures and naps. One hundred ten of us were gathered for dinner at the Roberts Building–Linda and outgoing president Bill Cotter visited, praising us for the many involved and generous (in time and money) classmates we have. President Jean passed the gavel (and a few funny stories) to Lou Z., who had funny stories of his own. Thanks, Jean, for all your hard work in making this reunion such a success. Vice president will be Kathy Flynn Carrigan, and Ken Van Pragg has agreed to be secretary/treasurer and so will take over writing this column next issue. Karl '54 and I were sorry not to host the Sunday brunch this year (two daughters each had babies at the end of May–we have a new granddaughter and a grandson–yea!). For those of you who were unable to attend, we missed you. We remember those classmates whose lives touched us with their friendship; they are missed. Retirement, grandchildren, travel and memories keep many of us active. Thanks to those who took time to write during the past five years. As I look over the notes and comments from the columns, I greatly appreciate the talent, the ingenuity and the commitment of our classmates, who 45 years ago were eager to move into the world to make their contribution after their Colby education. Keep in touch.

–Jane Millett Dornish

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As I write, I've just returned from the Class of 1955's big 45th reunion at Colby. A wonderful crowd of more than 100 classmates showed up, and many of them were on hand at the awards banquet Friday night as Lou '55 and I received Colby Bricks. It was a wonderful event for us both. I was glad that Larry Pugh was on hand to be a witness for our class. The great weather and wonderful camaraderie has me all charged up for our 45th next year! Next week we have our first planning meeting at Hope Palmer Bramhall's in Falmouth, Maine. Joining us will be Don Rice, John and Joan Williams Marshall, Pete Lunder, Bill Haggett, Harry and Lyn Brooks Wey, Dave Van Allen and Dave and Rosemary Crouthamel Sortor. I encourage any of you who want to be involved or who have questions or suggestions to call any of us and climb on board. We are looking for a slate of new class officers to present at reunion. Since the 50th reunion is practically arranged in toto by the College it would be a very easy five-year stint. I would be more than happy to relinquish this column to a new voice. . . . Frank Huntress had lunch with George Rudolph recently in Beverly, Mass. George left the sunny climate of Jupiter, Fla., to visit his newest grandchild, his seventh and the third child of his son Edward, who lives in Wenham. Dick Adler '57 also was on hand. We hope George will schedule his visit next year to coincide with our reunion. Meanwhile, Frank, our head class agent, has been organizing his group of reunion class agents, and our goal is to have every classmate contacted personally to encourage them to come to Colby next June. I hope these many phone calls will uncover some new news for this column.

–Kathy McConaughy Zambello

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Greetings from Yarmouth, Maine–Cousins Island to be exact. "The Vigs" will be taking pen in hand from our outpost here on the coast where, despite an unbelievably cool and rainy spring, all of our nature has burst forth. . . . Our current news is scant but certainly newsworthy. From Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Mass., comes word that John Cameron, head of the English department, was one of the two first recipients of the James R. Rinehart and Molly Rinehart Faculty Chair in the Humanities at the school. John has been at Dana Hall for 24 years, and his distinguished career has been marked by many academic honors. . . . Jeanne Arnold, M.D., writes from Walpole, N.H., that she takes time each year from her busy medical practice to ski in Utah and work on genealogy. Wonderful change of pace! . . . Now some news that may be on the older side, but . . . Meredith Lermond Vallis and her husband, Peter, are living in Panttygasseg, Wales, where Meredith does volunteer work in a Christian bookstore. A wonderful highlight of July 1998 was a visit from Eleanor Roberts Littlefield and Carol Ann Cobb Christ. Meredith goes on to say, "a mark of true friendship is being able to pick up where we left off"–way back in 1969! An active sportswoman, Meredith also enjoys climbing in the mountains of Wales and hiking on the rocky coastal paths. . . . Nancy and John Conkling are living in New Hampton, N.H., where John works as a real estate appraiser. They have three grown children and two grandsons . . . and maybe more by now. In December 1998, John and Nancy had a great visit with Mary (Stetson '58) and Buddy Bates in Aspen, Colo. . . . From up the coast in Newcastle, Mac Blanchard sends us his good wishes and says he is a "little older, more handsome, no wiser" but still gainfully employed as a builder of custom homes. He and Dorothy have four grown children and four grandchildren. . . . Out on the West Coast in Fayette, Calif., Bill and Judy Prophett Timken are busier than ever! Bill, an investment banker, is vice chairman of Hambrecht and Quint, and in the fall of 1998 Judy accepted the role of chairman of the board of trustees at California College of Arts and Crafts. Congratulations! And may you continue to enjoy excellent health. . . . Some of you may recall that not too long ago I was lamenting about our lack of grandchildren. Well, not to worry! We are now up to seven, three of them born this March within two weeks of each other, including twins (a boy and a girl to our daughter, Anne, and a baby girl to our son Peter '86). Guy has finally completed 18 years on the Yarmouth Town Council, retired once again and will devote full time to the game of golf and carving rocking horses for the grandchildren. . . . Come on gang, send us your news–any way that you can get it to us. We'll accept anything from pony express (just my speed) to e-mail (Guy J's preference). With that information, we won't have to make up stories about your stay in jail, tax evasion problems or paternity suits pending. Our imaginations could lead to some very wild stories if we don't hear from you in the near future.

–Guy and Eleanor Ewing Vigue

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Unfortunately, news has been very scarce. Although we have this technology, and even I have come into the 21st century with an e-mail address of my very own (mhenry58@ yahoo.com), I have not been hearing from you. See the list of 1950s correspondents for my College e-mail address. Unless things improve, this space will be for rent. . . . Jim Bishop (hayduke@sedona.net) has let us know that his news can be found on the Web (www.sedonacreativelife.com). Jim teaches at the Sedona Creative Life Center, which is a primary source of programs in Sedona for spiritual growth. Their programs encourage healing and harmony of the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical bodies of people of all ages and beliefs. This past February Jim conducted a hands-on creative writing seminar titled "Write from the Heart and the Imagination." . . . Leigh Bangs (leigh@bangslab.com) reports that he and his wife, Sonia, still have their business and are still traveling for both business and pleasure. For business they have been to Scotland, Israel (Eilat and Jerusalem), Germany (Dusseldorf for a medical trade show) and Paris. For pleasure they have visited children and grandchildren (four) in Houston, San Francisco and Indianapolis (where the Bangses also live). Leigh commented that he was amazed that they all seemed to like visits from grandpa and grandma, "maybe because we never stay too long." Words of wisdom! . . . I received a copy of a press clipping from The Boston Globe concerning Peter Vlachos, who founded Austin Investment Management in 1989 and has managed Austin Global Equity since its inception in December 1993. Peter has been vice president at Dreyfus Corp., portfolio manager at Neuberger & Berman and now founder of Austin Investment Management. . . . And that is it. Have a great FALL and spare a few minutes to reply to the questionnaire in this issue of Colby or send me a quick e-mail message.

-Margaret Smith Henry

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