Charlie Tobin, from the Olde Wharf Inn on Cape Cod, has relocated for the winter to his Sun City, Fla., home. His granddaughter Lilly acted in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It’s a great holiday production that was funded by our classmate Dick Beal when he was director of the national association of full-service banks. Congratulations to Lilly Tobin and to granddad Charlie. * Ted Shiro of Naples, Fla., spent the fall watching his fantastic grandson Aaron Murray, considered the number-one quarterback in the country by many sports media. Aaron’s team, the Georgia Bulldogs, lost to Alabama in December. Still, the season was a thrill for Ted. * Frank Gavel called—he spoke and I listened for three hours. I heard a lot of famous stories that could be a great biography. Go for it, Frank. Frank is a great classmate and has enough enthusiasm to last a century. * Stan Sorrentino survived Hurricane Sandy at his year-round home in Little Compton, R.I. He stayed in his cold home for five days of improvisation. Somehow he made some heat, but without power. Nice going, Stan. Good luck and stay in touch. * Richard Bowen relates that he and wife Lucy also survived Sandy. Richard was honored by Andover, Mass., as a hero of World War II because he enlisted when he was 17, as others in our class did. Oddly enough, he served on the CVS (carrier) USS F.D. Roosevelt, which was named and commissioned after the war. It was originally built in New York and christened the Coral Sea but changed names to the Roosevelt. I was involved in the notorious shakedown cruise in the 10th naval district. I was a radioman on a sub chaser as part of the flotilla of ships on that cruise. Richard was a radar operator on the FDR. Small world, and another long story. Congratulations, hero Richard. * Walt Russell continues to try to make the world and the USA a better place to live. I enjoy his thoughtful e-mails. You still are a great pitcher—ask Frank Gavel! Keep up the good work. * As for me, Chet Harrington, I will keep my comments to a minimum. Jane and I survived the hurricane but had to spend a week in the local Marriott. We would have preferred the islands. I have been playing as much golf as the weather will allow. Life is good. Jane plays bridge a lot, and we are enjoying our eight grandchildren. * Good luck to our greatest generation, Class of ’51. Enjoy life and remember the fun days at Colby.
Winter 2013